This study investigates the impact of toll road construction on 59 micro, small, and medium enterprises in Kampar, Pekanbaru, and Dumai cities. The research aims to analyze the economic and environmental effects of infrastructure expansion on businesses’ profitability and sustainability, providing insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop mitigation strategies to support MSMEs amidst ongoing infrastructure development. Structural equation modeling, spatial environmental impact analysis, and qualitative data analysis using five-level qualitative data analysis (FL-QDA) were all used together in a mixed-methods approach. Data collection involved observations, interviews, questionnaires, and geospatial analysis, including the use of a Geo-Information System (GIS) supported by drone reconnaissance to map affected areas. The study revealed that the toll roads significantly enhanced connectivity and economic growth but also negatively impacted local economies (β = 0.32, R2 = 0.60, P-value ≤ 0.05). and the environment (β = 0.34, P-value ≤ 0.05), as 49% of respondents experienced a 50% decrease in profitability. To mitigate the risk of impact, policymakers should prioritize the principle of prudence to evaluate the significance of mitigation policy implementation (β = 0.144, P-value ≥ 0.05). In a nutshell, toll road construction significantly impacts MSMEs’ business continuity, necessitating an innovative strategy involving monitoring and participatory approaches to mitigate risk.
This article examines the factors influencing sustainable entrepreneurship (SE) in Arab countries, focusing on economic, social, and technological dimensions. Using data from various sources and structural equation modeling, the study explores the relationships between these factors and SE sustainability. The findings reveal that economic factors, such as GDP per capita and foreign direct investment (FDI), positively influence SE sustainability, emphasizing the need for a conducive economic environment. Social factors, measured by Internet usage and the Human Development Index (HDI), also significantly impact SE sustainability, highlighting the importance of access to information and education. However, technological factors like patent applications and high-tech exports did not show a significant positive relationship with SE sustainability, suggesting a minimal direct impact on SE longevity in Arab countries. These insights have implications for policymakers, stressing the importance of fostering economic growth and enhancing social infrastructure to support sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems. Despite its robust methodology, the study has limitations, such as incomplete data for certain countries, affecting the generalizability of the findings. Future research could explore additional factors influencing SE sustainability, further investigate the role of technology, and expand the geographical scope to include more Arab countries.
This article identifies the role of anti-corruption legislation in sustainable development. The descriptive approach is used to achieve the research objectives, as it is the appropriate scientific method suitable for the nature of the study subject in terms of presenting information related to combating administrative corruption. The results indicate that efforts to combat administrative corruption to achieve sustainable development in countries can only be achieved through strict legislation specialized in combating administrative corruption with the activation of accountability mechanisms in all state departments, bodies, and ministries. The results also demonstrate the alignment of the national and international efforts to reduce the phenomenon of corruption through international agreements and treaties. Towards the end, key conclusions and recommendations are also appropriately incorporated.
Conspiracy theories during Covid-19 pandemic spread worldwide, including in Indonesia. What political and religious factors explain their spread in Indonesia with particular reference to the DKI Jakarta province, its surrounding municipalities, and West Sumatera province? This study aimed to answer the questions. It employed a qualitative approach with multi-data collection methods, including those from media, documents, and interviews. The spread of Conspiracy theories benefited from the democratic system that promotes the freedom of information in using social media. First, the government officials initially spread conspiracy theories to satisfy people’s anxiety about the obscured Pandemic. However, they resulted in the government’s ambiguous, controversial, and reckless policies leading to people’s distrust of the government. Jokowi-Makruf Amien, political opponents capitalized on the government’s poor policies to spread conspiracy theories which partly discredited the Jokowi-Amien administration. Both government officials and the opposition capitalized on politics and religious teaching or supra-natural pretexts to posit their conspiracy theories.
The present work conducts a comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of a 150 MWe Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) using Indian coal as the fuel source. The plant layout is modelled and simulated using the “Cycle-Tempo” software. In this study, an innovative approach is employed where the gasifier's bed material is heated by circulating hot water through pipes submerged within the bed. The analysis reveals that increasing the external heat supplied to the gasifier enhances the hydrogen (H2) content in the syngas, improving both its heating value and cold gas efficiency. Additionally, this increase in external heat favourably impacts the Steam-Methane reforming reaction, boosting the H2/CH4 ratio. The thermodynamic results show that the plant achieves an energy efficiency of 44.17% and an exergy efficiency of 40.43%. The study also identifies the condenser as the primary source of energy loss, while the combustor experiences the greatest exergy loss.
The obtaining of new data on the transformation of parent materials into soil and on soil as a set of essential properties is provided on the basis of previously conducted fundamental studies of soils formed on loess-like loams in Belarus (15,000 numerical indicators). The study objects are autochthonous soils of uniform granulometric texture. The basic properties without which soils cannot exist are comprehensively considered. Interpolation of factual materials is given, highlighting the essential properties of soils. Soil formation is analyzed as a natural phenomenon depending on the life activity of biota and the water regime. Models for differentiation of the chemical profile and bioenergy potential of soils are presented. The results of the represented study interpret the available materials taking into account publications on the biology and water regime of soils over the past 50 years into three issues: the difference between soil and soil-like bodies; the soil formation as a natural phenomenon of the mobilization of soil biota from the energy of the sun, the atmosphere, and the destruction of minerals in the parent materials; and the essence of soil as a solid phase and as an ecosystem. The novelty of the article study is determined by the consideration of the priority of microorganisms and water regime in soil formation, chemical-analytical identification of types of water regime, and determination of the water regime as a marker of soil genesis.
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