Artificial Intelligence in the Water–Energy–Food Model: A Holistic Approach towards Sustainable Development Goals

This study aims to analyze the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus under the lens of institutional, stakeholder, and innovation theories. Specifically, this study focuses on AI as the technology adopted by companies to promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A structured literature review has been conducted on 94 articles published from 1990 to 2021 in ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. This study develops an in-depth review of the literature on the main articles arguing about these issues. The findings highlight the increasing relevance of AI in the water, energy, and food industries individually considered, but the study of AI as a connector between water, energy, and food to achieve SDGs is still under investigation. Research on AI for WEF nexus management has adopted mostly a technical perspective, neglecting the relevance of management tools and the business model concept. Most of the articles did not adopt a specific theoretical lens, but scholars recognize the need to adopt a multi-stakeholder approach and the important role played by AI and other digital technologies to address the WEF nexus challenge. This study proposes an integrated approach for managing the nexus through AI technologies to meet sustainable and responsible business models. The gap between research and policy making could be filled by combining scientific data and policy needs with inclusive tools that are technically viable for sustainable resource utilization

Anchoring Inflation Expectations in the Face of Oil Shocks & in the Proximity of ZLB : A Tale of Two Targeters

This paper applies a N-ARDL framework to two longstanding inflation targeting policy regimes in order to assess the relation between oil prices dynamics and inflation expectations and the further consequences created by a proximal ZLB situation. The application is based on data from January 1994 to June 2018 for New Zealand and the UK. We focus on oil price shocks as a variable of interest and this was found to have an asymmetric effect on inflation expectations. One further key finding is that the real effective exchange rate has significant impacts on inflation expectations and this is indicative of an exchange rate pass-through to inflation via an inflation expectations channel. In general, we find that inflation, exchange rate, money supply, output growth, unemployment and fiscal deficit/surplus have significant implications for inflation expectations. Inflation expectations are also influenced by their past behaviour indicating adaptive inflation expectations. This study contributes to the debate on the inflation targeting at ZLB

Modelling coal rent, economic growth and CO2 emissions: Does regulatory quality matter in BRICS economies?

Global warming issues have been on the front burner of most economies and Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa countries (BRICS) are no exception. The region has joined the rest of the world on the global strides to mitigate against global warming in terms of decoupling carbon dioxide emissions from economic growth. This is the motivation for the present study to consider the interaction between economic growth, pollutant emissions, coal rent while accounting for the role of other covariates like regulatory quality. The study is conducted in a balanced panel setting over annual frequency data from 1990 to 2014. To this end, Pooled mean group with dynamic autoregressive distributed lag [PMG-ARDL (1,1,1,1,1)] was conducted to explore the coal-rents-energy nexus. The empirical study shows that for BRICS countries, unlike coal consumption, coal rents have a significant but negative impact on CO2 emissions. Also, in contrast to expectation, regulations on coal rents in the form of carbon damage costs have a significant but positive impact on CO2 emissions. This suggests that in line with the drive for growth by BRICS countries, and to achieve a reduction in the levels of CO2 emissions for green growth and sustainable development, more stringent environmental-energy-related regulations are inevitable. Thus, for policymakers, it is vital to reinforce the use of stringent regulations as these economies open up to more use of coal energy. However, the need to shift, the energy mix in BRICS to renewables is pertinent in a time of global environmental consciousness for cleaner energy sources and environmentally friendly ecosystem

Consequences of Covid-19 on the Social Isolation of the Chinese Economy: Accounting for the Role of Reduction in Carbon Emissions

The main contribution of the present study to the energy literature is linked to the interaction between economic growth and pollution emission amidst globalization. Unlike other studies, this research explores the effect of economic and social isolation as a dimension of globalization. This allows underpinning the effects on the Chinese economic development of the isolation phenomenon as a consequence of coronavirus (COVID-19). To this end, annual time frequency data is used to achieve the hypothesized claims. The study resolutions include (i) The existence of a long-run equilibrium bond between the outlined variables (ii) The long-run estimates suggest that the Chinese economy over the investigated period, is inelastic to pollutant–driven economic growth as reported by the dynamic ordinary least squares, fully modified ordinary least squares and canonical regressions with a magnitude of 0.09%. (iii) The Chinese isolation is less responsive to its economic growth while the country political willpower is elastic as demonstrated by current government commitment to dampen the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is marked by the aggressive response on the government officials resolute by flattening the exponential impact of the pandemic. Based on these robust results some far-reaching policy implication(s) are underlined in the concluding remark section

Grupo español de cirugía torácica asistida por videoimagen: método, auditoría y resultados iniciales de una cohorte nacional prospectiva de pacientes tratados con resecciones anatómicas del pulmón

Introduction: our study sought to know the current implementation of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for anatomical lung resections in Spain. We present our initial results and describe the auditing systems developed by the Spanish VATS Group (GEVATS). Methods: we conducted a prospective multicentre cohort study that included patients receiving anatomical lung resections between 12/20/2016 and 03/20/2018. The main quality controls consisted of determining the recruitment rate of each centre and the accuracy of the perioperative data collected based on six key variables. The implications of a low recruitment rate were analysed for '90-day mortality' and 'Grade IIIb-V complications'. Results: the series was composed of 3533 cases (1917 VATS; 54.3%) across 33 departments. The centres' median recruitment rate was 99% (25-75th:76-100%), with an overall recruitment rate of 83% and a data accuracy of 98%. We were unable to demonstrate a significant association between the recruitment rate and the risk of morbidity/mortality, but a trend was found in the unadjusted analysis for those centres with recruitment rates lower than 80% (centres with 95-100% rates as reference): grade IIIb-V OR=0.61 (p=0.081), 90-day mortality OR=0.46 (p=0.051). Conclusions: more than half of the anatomical lung resections in Spain are performed via VATS. According to our results, the centre's recruitment rate and its potential implications due to selection bias, should deserve further attention by the main voluntary multicentre studies of our speciality. The high representativeness as well as the reliability of the GEVATS data constitute a fundamental point of departure for this nationwide cohort

Consequences of COVID-19 on the social isolation of the Chinese economy: accounting for the role of reduction in carbon emissions

The main contribution of the present study to the energy literature is to explore the relationship between economic growth and pollution emission amidst globalization. In contrast to the existing studies, this research examines the effects of economic and social isolation as dimensions of globalization. The present paper allows underpinning the impact on the Chinese economic development of the isolation phenomenon as a consequence of coronavirus (COVID-19). To this end, annual time–frequency data is used to achieve the hypothesized claims. The study resolutions include (1) the existence of a long-run association between the outlined variables; (2) the long-run estimates suggest that the Chinese economy, over the investigated period, is inelastic to pollutant-driven economic growth; and (3) the Chinese isolation is less responsive to its economic growth while the country political willpower is elastic as demonstrated by a government commitment to dampen the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. This confinement is marked by the aggressive response by the government officials resolute by flattening the exponential impact of the pandemic. Based on these robust results, some far-reaching policy implications are underlined in the concluding remarks section. © 2020, Springer Nature B.V

Artificial Intelligence and Attestation of Sustainability Reports: How Can Artificial Intelligence Tools be Used for the Assurance Process of Sustainability Reports?

This book provides a critical reflection on the state and perspectives of the accountancy and auditors profession, addresses the AI technology's supportive role in accounting and auditing tasks, reporting processes and reports' attestation, as well as stresses the necessity to modify educational curriculums in business accounting in response to changing circumstances, and set the regulatory frameworks regarding the use of generative AI by academics and students. The considerations covered in the book are timely and can be helpful for business practitioners, academics and students. Moreover, the international context of the publication, reference to the latest literature on AI applications in business accounting, and presented research study can make this work valuable for all those interested in the opportunities and threats that AI may bring into the professional lives of many

Influence of growth and urbanization on CO2 emissions: The moderating effect of foreign direct investment on energy use in BRICS

This study analyses the relationship between foreign direct investment, economic growth, urbanization, energy use, and carbon emissions in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS countries) between 1990 and 2014. According to the empirical results, both environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and pollution haven hypotheses (PHH) are confirmed. Urbanization contributes to reducing carbon emissions, while energy use is one of the main driving forces of ascending carbon emissions. The main advance of this paper lies in the moderating effect of foreign direct investment and energy usage on carbon emission in the case of the BRICS. The empirical results confirm a dampening impact of foreign direct investment on energy use, generating a correction in carbon emission. Thus, structural transformations are highlighted with a positive influence on energy efficiency and sustainable growth. It is expected that policymakers must promote renewable sources and boost clean foreign industries in selected host countries. © 2021 ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd

The Effects of Air Transportation, Energy, ICT and FDI on Economic Growth in The Industry 4.0 Era: Evidence from The United States

This study analyses the causal and long-run linkage between air transport and economic growth. It was conducted to validate the tourism-led growth hypothesis for the United States (US) during the period 1981-2017 and includes Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) alongside coal rents in the tourism-led growth hypothesis. This study presents a new direction for future studies by considering the relevance of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), particularly in the US. To achieve the stated claim, this study considers as additional explanatory variables how ICTs moderate the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on GDP. The empirical result confirms a connection between the Industry 4.0 era and the role of ICTs, which promotes substantial changes in the way of life and productivity. This has led to a vast technological advancement, which is in line with but at a faster pace than the technological advancement of previous revolutions. From empirical results, the study provides relevant policy recommendations related to the role of natural resources, new technologies and tourism on US GDP, while it also provides evidence of the positive effect of ICTs over FDI under the Industry 4.0 era

Carbon and Decarbonization Disclosure: Role of Responsible Innovation in Adoption of Artificial Intelligence of Things towards SDGs

This chapter relates carbon disclosure and performance in three different levels i.e., financial performance by incorporating financial reporting, operational performance by incorporating operational reporting and sustainability performance by incorporating sustainability reporting with decarbonization practices supporting by the institutional, legitimacy and stakeholder theories. It further discusses the relation of digital technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) in decarbonization processes as the worldwide use of technology gives a solution to maintain development without harming the nature. This chapter focuses on these technologies to understand the role of digital transformation in decarbonizing processes and the challenges for the non-financial disclosure on the decarbonization practices adopted by the enterprises. The enterprises are engaged in the "accountable" behaviors and "transparent" sustainability disclosure to demonstrate their governance model based on Responsible Innovation (RI) for the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) adoption in the decarbonization practices to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially SDG 5. This sustainable goal purposes to achieve gender equality as strategic resource for business success, which often treated as "victim" of technological innovations adoption. The analysis based on literature and international organizations’ reports is developed regarding carbon disclosure and decarbonization practices which adopt AIoT and its implementation with respect to RI to meet SDG 5 adopted by UN 2030 Agenda