Pilot-Scale Feasibility Study for the Stabilization of Coal Tailings via Microbially-Induced Calcite Precipitation

Sustainable long-term solutions to managing tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are integral for mines to operate in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. The long-term storage of subaqueous tailings can pose significant safety, environmental, and economic risks, therefore alternative containment strategies for maintaining geochemical stability of reactive materials must be explored. In this study, the physical and geochemical stabilization of coal tailings using microbial induced calcite precipitation (MICP) was evaluated at a laboratory pilot scale. Three application techniques simulated commonly used agricultural approaches and equipment that could be deployed for field-scale treatment: spraying on treatment solutions with irrigation sprinklers, mixing tailings and treatment solutions with a rototiller, and distributing treatment solutions via shallow trenches using an excavator ripper. Test cells containing 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.5m of tailings were treated with ureolytic bacteria (Sporosarcina pasteurii) and cementation solutions composed of urea and calcium chloride for 28 days. Penetrometer tests were performed following incubation to evaluate the extent of cementation. The spray-on application method showed the greatest strength improvement, with in an increase in surface strength of more than 50% for the 28-day testing period. The distribution of treatment solution using trenches was found to be less effective and resulted in greater variability in particle size distribution of treated tailings and would not be recommended for use in the field. The use of rototilling equipment provided a homogenous distribution of treatment solution, however, the disruption to the tailings material was less effective for facilitating effective cementation. Bacterial plate counts of soil samples indicated that S. pasteurii cultures remained viable in a tailings environment for 28 days at 18˚C and near-neutral pH. The treatment was also found to stabilize the pH of tailings porewater sampled over the 28-day incubation period, suggesting the potential for the treatment to provide short-term geochemical stability under unsaturated conditions.

The perception of local communities in non-financial reports of companies

Local communities are one of the important areas in the perspective of social development in the 21st century. Enterprises increasingly identify them as key stakeholder. This process is visible especially in companies that declare that they operate in a socially responsible manner. Currently, non-financial reports, which present key data on the achievements and priorities of activities in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), become one of the basic tools of corporate communication. Non-financial reports are prepared based on standards and guidelines developed by independent international organizations and associations. The article verifies two aspects of addressing the subject of local communities in non-financial reports. First, it was analyzed to what extent the adopted standards require organizations to report in detail their activities for or with the participation of local communities, and then to what extent companies communicate their activities concerning local communities.

Mathematical and physical techniques of modeling and simulation of pattern recognition in the stock market

The following article presents the analysis through mathematical and physical techniques of large databases, which are very common today, due to the large number of variables (especially in the information and physics industry) and the amount of information that results from a process, therefore an analysis is necessary that allows the Decision in a responsible manner, looking for scientific criteria that support said decisions, in our case a database of the forex system will be taken. Initially, a study and calculation of different measurements between the samples and their characteristics will be carried out to make a good prediction of the data and their behavior using different classification methods inspired by basic sciences. Below is an explanation of the techniques based on the analysis of data components and the correlations that exist between the variables, which is a technique widely used in physical processes to determine the correlations between variables.

Small-scale shrimp farming and community supported fisheries in Southeast Asia

Shrimp farming in Southeast Asia is often touted as a globalisation success story. The region emerged as a key area for farmed shrimp production in the 1990s, and it remains a leading producer of shrimp for export to international markets to this day. This achievement has not, however, been without cost. Small-scale shrimp farmers in Southeast Asia have suffered persistent social, economic and environmental dislocations stemming from price pressures imposed by globalisation and neoliberal economic policies in the seafood sector. Community supported fisheries (CSF) represent an alternative marketing model which could potentially support small-scale producers in Southeast Asia whose viability is threatened by the intensification of shrimp production by large corporate interests. This article investigates opportunities for CSF in the region, encourages research that builds social capital in aquaculture communities, and identifies opportunities to link small-scale shrimp farming operations with local markets that seek high quality seafood produced in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible manner.

Cannabis and web marketing strategies-A study of Colorado cannabis vendors

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the level of adoption of digital marketing by cannabis vendors in the state of Colorado.Design/methodology/approachThe study surveyed a random sample of 30 cannabis vendors in the state of Colorado. The analysis of the vendors’ use of digital marketing methods was conducted using a rubric based on a modified 7C Framework.FindingsIn the state of Colorado, the cannabis industry is nascent and has made an initial investment in digital marketing. While most companies had deployed a website, these websites featured basic elements of digital marketing. Though limited, the industry has made initial attempts to engage customers in a socially responsible manner. The industry would also benefit from better age verification, educational programs and profit sharing.Originality/valueThe study furthers the application of 7C Framework used in evaluating e-commerce sites for cannabis marketing.

Microbial Degradation of Rubber: Actinobacteria

Rubber is an essential part of our daily lives with thousands of rubber-based products being made and used. Natural rubber undergoes chemical processes and structural modifications, while synthetic rubber, mainly synthetized from petroleum by-products are difficult to degrade safely and sustainably. The most prominent group of biological rubber degraders are Actinobacteria. Rubber degrading Actinobacteria contain rubber degrading genes or rubber oxygenase known as latex clearing protein (lcp). Rubber is a polymer consisting of isoprene, each containing one double bond. The degradation of rubber first takes place when lcp enzyme cleaves the isoprene double bond, breaking them down into the sole carbon and energy source to be utilized by the bacteria. Actinobacteria grow in diverse environments, and lcp gene containing strains have been detected from various sources including soil, water, human, animal, and plant samples. This review entails the occurrence, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular characteristics of Actinobacteria with respect to its rubber degrading ability, and discusses possible technological applications based on the activity of Actinobacteria for treating rubber waste in a more environmentally responsible manner.

Roasting Videos: A YouTube-based Vernacular Discourse

This research endeavors to investigate the impact of a novel genre, that is, roasting. It also aims to know how this YouTube discourse finds its way into the vernacular discourse in the Pakistani context. The researchers selected two highly subscribed Pakistani YouTube channels, that is, KhujLee Family and CBA-Arslan Naseer. Using the purposive sampling technique two videos from each channel were selected, which made a total of four videos selected as sample. The researchers meticulously observed the trending section of YouTube with the purpose to select far reaching roasting videos of the aforementioned channels. This phenomenological research employed the Interactive Alignment Model as its theoretical framework. The conclusions suggested that conversation designs are the outcomes of addressee feedback and penetrate the vernacular discourse (Chiarello & Clark, 2012), casting a deep impact on its viewers particularly in terms of desensitization. The findings further explicated that desensitization has amplified because of the consumption and reciprocation of such content by the receivers, courtesy of the participatory culture of YouTube. This allows the viewers to not only enjoy roasting videos but also to imitate the abusive vocabulary used as punch line, mostly in Punjabi. The participation of viewers was observed through the comment section of the selected videos, advocating the consequent desensitization of the vernacular discourse. Subsequently, the study implies that the creation and dissemination of the roasting content can be achieved in a responsible manner by decreasing the use of curse words.

Improvisation as Responsible Innovation in Organizations

Improvisation might be seen as a method of responsible innovation in organizations, due to its potential to be more responsive and enable bottom-up initiative. Considering that improvising involves the ability to pivot we argue that enhancing entrepreneurial orientation of existing firms means that their entrepreneurial behaviors can be also displayed in more responsible manner. The paper aims at investigating the influence of improvisation on entrepreneurial orientation (EO). While intuitively improvisation is closely connected to EO, surprisingly, there is very little theoretical and empirical evidence on that relation. The paper closes that gap by empirically investigating the role that improvisation plays in enhancing EO. Building on empirical evidence on the role of improvising in individual entrepreneurship, we use Hmieleski and Corbett’s framework of improvisation as a three-dimensional construct (creativity and bricolage, ability to function and excel under pressure and in stress-filled environments, and spontaneity and persistence) and entrepreneurial orientation as a three-dimensional construct (innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk taking) to investigate the impact of improvisation on individual components of EO. Using the data from 567 senior managers from medium and large organizations we find that improvisation has moderate effect on entrepreneurial orientation. Importantly, different dimensions of improvisation shape components of EO in different way: Creativity and bricolage have positive impact on innovativeness and proactiveness and ability to function and excel under stress has impact on propensity to take risk. The study has implications for the theory of responsible innovation by highlighting the potential of improvising to generate more responsive and stakeholder-involving and, in consequence, more responsible innovation.

Orientasi Tata Kelola Perlindungan Dan Pemberdayaan Nelayan Kecil Di Provinsi Banten (Studi di Kabupaten Serang Dalam Masa Pandemi Covid 19)

The relationship between fishermen and fisheries (sea) is very close, the dependence of fishermen on fish as a source of livelihood makes fish the main sector in coastal areas. Fish resources can be utilized for the greatest prosperity and welfare of the people, however the utilization of these fish resources must be carried out in a sustainable and responsible manner. This means that the utilization of fish resources must be carried out in a balanced manner and taking into account their carrying capacity and the ability of the resources to recover. During the current Covid 19 pandemic, fishermen's “fishing” activities in the Serang District of Banten Province have been disrupted, due to limited supply of fuel due to the PSBB (Large-Scale Social Restrictions), the catch is not selling well in the market or the reduced end (consumers) to the fish market . Indonesia since 2016 has had Law Number 7 of 2016 concerning the Protection and Empowerment of Fishermen, Fish Farmers and Salt Farmers, however the implementing regulations have not yet existed, so it is difficult to implement, moreover this regulation is urgently needed during a pandemic civid 19 this time.This writing is the result of an independent internal research that has been completed using legal (juridical) normative and empirical research methods (as supporting data and research arguments) carried out in the coastal area of Serang Regency.

Liwetan, The Boardroom for Managing Horizontal Conflicts in Tourism Village Sustainability

In the tourism development and sustainability literature, conflicts among local communities, i.e. horizontal conflicts, about community-based tourism have been found to be detrimental to the sustainability of their village. This qualitative study aims to counter that perception. In-depth interviews were conducted with the village’s communities, including local community group members and local authorities. The findings revealed that the ‘responsible manner of local communities’ is the best practice to mitigate horizontal conflicts. Specifically, we discovered that local community groups in the tourism village are aware that their collaborations may potentially lead to conflicts; therefore, they preemptively prepared themselves with a platform that enables them to discuss intrapersonal, intragroup, and intergroup matters in a manner that avoids and minimizes horizontal conflicts. This platform emerged through their ancestral tradition called liwetan. Although liwetan is not a new concept, using it in the management of tourism villages is not a common practice. We thus suggest that the approach discussed in this study be replicated and applied in other tourism villages all over Indonesia, given that the liwetan tradition can be found in many villages, albeit with different names.