Rapid urban expansion gives rise to smart cities which pose immense logistical and supply chain challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the holistic system identified by Zhao et al. in 2021. The system encompasses logistics and supply chain integral to the concept of smart cities, with a focus on sustainability. This transformation requires an in-depth study on challenges of a common framework of policies for smart cities in countries comprising the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The study employs an extensive literature analysis for the period 2020–2022. an approach which contextualizes the model. The model identifies the causes, impact, and spillovers of new trends in logistics and supply, including the sustainability of adopted technologies. The study includes the variables involved, and barriers to creating a shared model. The results reveal that the two elements affecting the supply chain and transport in smart cities are Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies supporting specific sectors. The resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises positively impacts the sustainability of large urban centres. The study presents both factors that help and hinder the adoption of environmental, social, and economic sustainability technologies.

Analysis of the factors influencing the price of carbon emissions trading in China and its time-varying characteristics is essential for the smooth operation of the carbon trading system. We analyse the time-varying effects of public concern, degree of carbon regulation, crude oil price, international carbon price and interest rate level on China’s carbon price through SV-TVP-VAR model. Among them, the quantification of public concern and the degree of carbon emission regulation is based on microblog text and government decisions. The results show that all the factors influencing carbon price are significantly time-varying, with the shocks of each factor on carbon price rising before 2019 and turning significantly thereafter. The short-term shock effect of each factor is more significant compared to the medium- and long-term, and the effect almost disappears at a lag of six months. Thanks to public environmental awareness, low-carbon awareness and the progress of carbon market management mechanisms, public concern has had the most significant impact on carbon price since 2019. With the promulgation of relevant management measures for the carbon market, relevant regulations on carbon emission accounting, financing constraints, and carbon emission quota allocation for emission-controlled enterprises have become increasingly mature, and carbon price signals are more sensitive to market information. The above findings provide substantial empirical evidence for all stakeholders in the market, who need to recognize that the impact of non-structural factors on the price of carbon varies over time. Government intervention also serves as a key aspect of carbon emission control and requires the introduction of relevant constraints and incentives. In particular, emission-controlling firms need to focus on the policy direction of the carbon market, and focus on the impact of Internet public opinion on business production while reducing carbon allowance demand and energy dependence.

There are several factors that generate postharvest losses of Citrus sinensis, but none have been focused on the central jungle of the Junín region of Peru. The objective of this research was to evaluate postharvest losses of Citrus sinensis in the province of Satipo, Junín region of Peru, considering the stages of the production chain. The methodology was applied to descriptive and cross-sectional design. A sample of 10 orange trees, 3 transport intermediaries and 5 traders selected for compliance with minimum volume and quality requirements were used. The °Brix, pH and acidity characteristics of the fruit were determined. Subsequently, absolute and percentage losses were quantified through direct observation, surveys and interviews. The main postharvest losses of Citrus sinensis were 1.50% in harvesting and detaching, 1.75% in transport to the collection center, 2.23% in storage and transport by intermediaries, and 2.90% in storage and sale by retailers. The overall loss was 8.12% throughout the production chain and US$5.75 per MT of C. sinensis harvested. The main damages found were mechanical and biological, caused by poor harvesting and packaging techniques, precarious storage and careless transport of the merchandise.

This study conducts a systematic literature review to analyze the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within business excellence frameworks. An analysis of the findings in the reviewed articles yielded five major themes: AI technologies and intelligent systems; impact of AI on business operations, strategies, and models; AI-driven decision-making in infrastructure and policy contexts; new forms of innovation and competitiveness; and the impact of AI on organizational performance and value creation in infrastructure projects. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of how AI can be integrated into organizational excellence emerged frameworks to address challenges in infrastructure governance, and sustainable development. Key questions addressed include: how AI affects consumer behavior and marketing strategies. What AI’s capabilities for businesses, especially marketing and digital strategies? How can organizations address the drivers and barriers to help make better use of AI in these business operations? Should organizations even do anything with these insights? These questions and more will be tackled throughout this discussion. This paper attempts to derive a comprehensive conceptual framework from several fields of human resources, operational excellence, and digital transformation, that can help guide organizations and policymakers in embedding AI into infrastructure and development initiatives. This framework will help practitioners navigate the complexities of AI integration, ensuring profitability and sustainable growth in a highly competitive landscape. By bridging the gap between AI technologies and development-related policy initiatives, this research contributes to the advancement of infrastructure governance, public management, and sustainable development.

Finding the right technique to optimize a complex problem is not an easy task. There are hundreds of methods, especially in the field of metaheuristics suitable for solving NP-hard problems. Most metaheuristic research is characterized by developing a new algorithm for a task, modifying or improving an existing technique. The overall rate of reuse of metaheuristics is small. Many problems in the field of logistics are complex and NP-hard, so metaheuristics can adequately solve them. The purpose of this paper is to promote more frequent reuse of algorithms in the field of logistics. For this, a framework is presented, where tasks are analyzed and categorized in a new way in terms of variables or based on the type of task. A lot of emphasis is placed on whether the nature of a task is discrete or continuous. Metaheuristics are also analyzed from a new approach: the focus of the study is that, based on literature, an algorithm has already effectively solved mostly discrete or continuous problems. An algorithm is not modified and adapted to a problem, but methods that provide a possible good solution for a task type are collected. A kind of reverse optimization is presented, which can help the reuse and industrial application of metaheuristics. The paper also contributes to providing proof of the difficulties in the applicability of metaheuristics. The revealed research difficulties can help improve the quality of the field and, by initiating many additional research questions, it can improve the real application of metaheuristic algorithms to specific problems. The paper helps with decision support in logistics in the selection of applied optimization methods. We tested the effectiveness of the selection method on a specific task, and it was proven that the functional structure can help the decision when choosing the appropriate algorithm.

Several studies have investigated Islamic endowment (Waqf), but less attention has been given to the application of legal principles of Islamic objectives in the regulation and management of Islamic endowments in Muslim communities. The primary focus of this study is to explore the legal implementation of Maqasidush-Shari’ah or otherwise known as the Objectives of Islamic Law, as evidenced in Islamic charitable endowments. This study employs an analytical research approach (ARA), systematic literature review (SLR) and content analysis (CA) to demonstrate and evaluate how the Waqf institution can be revitalized in contemporary times, drawing parallels with its effective implementation during the formative years of Islam, rooted in the principles of Maqasidush-Shari’ah. The results demonstrate that the efficacy of Waqf typically stems from the societal advantages it offers, derived from the safeguarding of faith, property, life, honour, and lineage, which are fundamental of Maqasidush-Shari’ah or objectives of Islamic law. The study further demonstrated that Islamic endowment has various benefits such as providing grant to the social development and interests to the public. However, various challenges such as knowledge deficit in the application of Shari‘ah principles in Waqf, lack of a developed framework for managing various types of Waqf among others are identified. Nonetheless, effective regulation and management of Waqf applications of Islamic objectives on Waqf. In conclusion, this study has underscored the significant contributions of the Islamic endowment system across various spheres, including social welfare, scientific advancements, economic prosperity, and healthcare, all of which align with the objectives of Islamic legal principles encapsulated in Maqasidush-Shari’ah. Hence, the research ultimately proposes several favourable elements that could bolster the resurgence of Waqf in contemporary times, reviving its significance and societal impact. It is therefore suggested that the stakeholders should enhance understanding of the policies, legal principles, and governance structures governing Waqf as an Islamic charitable foundation, substantiated by Islamic objectives (Maqasidush-Shari’ah).