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19 pages, 4759 KiB  
Article
Research on User Experience and Continuous Usage Mechanism of Digital Interactive Installations in Museums from the Perspective of Distributed Cognition
by Aili Zhang, Yanling Sun, Shaowen Wang and Mengjuan Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(15), 8558; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158558 (registering DOI) - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 145
Abstract
With the increasing application of digital interactive installations in museums, their role in enhancing audience engagement and cultural dissemination effectiveness has become prominent. However, ensuring the sustained use of these technologies remains challenging. Based on distributed cognition and perceived value theories, this study [...] Read more.
With the increasing application of digital interactive installations in museums, their role in enhancing audience engagement and cultural dissemination effectiveness has become prominent. However, ensuring the sustained use of these technologies remains challenging. Based on distributed cognition and perceived value theories, this study investigates key factors influencing users’ continuous usage of digital interactive installations using the Capital Museum in Beijing as a case study. A theoretical model was constructed and empirically validated through Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling (Bayesian-SEM) with 352 valid samples. The findings reveal that perceived ease of use plays a critical direct predictive role in continuous usage intention. Environmental factors and peer interaction indirectly influence user behavior through learner engagement, while user satisfaction serves as a core mediator between perceived ease of use and continuous usage intention. Notably, perceived usefulness and entertainment showed no direct effects, indicating that convenience and social experience outweigh functional benefits in this context. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing interface design, fostering collaborative environments, and enhancing user satisfaction to promote sustained participation. This study provides practical insights for aligning digital innovation with audience needs in museums, thereby supporting the sustainable integration of technology in cultural heritage education and preservation. Full article
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24 pages, 623 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Competitiveness and Sustainable Development Prospects of French-Speaking African Countries Based on TOPSIS and Adaptive LASSO Algorithms
by Binglin Liu, Liwen Li, Hang Ren, Jianwan Qin and Weijiang Liu
Algorithms 2025, 18(8), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/a18080474 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 222
Abstract
This study evaluates the competitiveness and sustainable development prospects of French-speaking African countries by constructing a comprehensive framework integrating the TOPSIS method and adaptive LASSO algorithm. Using multivariate data from sources such as the World Bank, 30 indicators covering core, basic, and auxiliary [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the competitiveness and sustainable development prospects of French-speaking African countries by constructing a comprehensive framework integrating the TOPSIS method and adaptive LASSO algorithm. Using multivariate data from sources such as the World Bank, 30 indicators covering core, basic, and auxiliary competitiveness were selected to quantitatively analyze the competitiveness of 26 French-speaking African countries. Results show that their comprehensive competitiveness exhibits spatial patterns of “high in the north and south, low in the east and west” and “high in coastal areas, low in inland areas”. Algeria, Morocco, and six other countries demonstrate high competitiveness, while Central African countries generally show low competitiveness. The adaptive LASSO algorithm identifies three key influencing factors, including the proportion of R&D expenditure to GDP, high-tech exports, and total reserves, as well as five secondary key factors, including the number of patent applications and total number of domestic listed companies, revealing that scientific and technological investment, financial strength, and innovation transformation capabilities are core constraints. Based on these findings, sustainable development strategies are proposed, such as strengthening scientific and technological research and development and innovation transformation, optimizing financial reserves and capital markets, and promoting China–Africa collaborative cooperation, providing decision-making references for competitiveness improvement and regional cooperation of French-speaking African countries under the background of the “Belt and Road Initiative”. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Intelligent Algorithms (2nd Edition))
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23 pages, 1075 KiB  
Article
How Does Social Capital Promote Willingness to Pay for Green Energy? A Social Cognitive Perspective
by Lingchao Huang and Wei Li
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6849; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156849 - 28 Jul 2025
Viewed by 213
Abstract
Individual willingness to pay (WTP) for green energy plays a vital role in mitigating climate change. Based on social cognitive theory (SCT), which emphasizes the dynamic interaction among individual cognition, behavior and the environment, this study develops a theoretical model to identify factors [...] Read more.
Individual willingness to pay (WTP) for green energy plays a vital role in mitigating climate change. Based on social cognitive theory (SCT), which emphasizes the dynamic interaction among individual cognition, behavior and the environment, this study develops a theoretical model to identify factors influencing green energy WTP. The study is based on 585 valid questionnaire responses from urban areas in China and uses Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to reveal the linear causal path. Meanwhile, fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) is utilized to identify the combined paths of multiple conditions leading to a high WTP, making up for the limitations of SEM in explaining complex mechanisms. The SEM analysis shows that social trust, social networks, and social norms have a significant positive impact on individual green energy WTP. And this influence is further transmitted through the mediating role of environmental self-efficacy and expectations of environmental outcomes. The FsQCA results identified three combined paths of social capital and environmental cognitive conditions, including the Network–Norm path, the Network–efficacy path and the Network–Outcome path, all of which can achieve a high level of green energy WTP. Among them, the social networks are a core condition in every path and a key element for enhancing the high green energy WTP. This study promotes the expansion of SCT, from emphasizing the linear role of individual cognition to focusing on the configuration interaction between social structure and psychological cognition, provides empirical evidence for formulating differentiated social intervention strategies and environmental education policies, and contributes to sustainable development and the green energy transition. Full article
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38 pages, 2094 KiB  
Article
Degenerative ‘Affordance’ of Social Media in Family Business
by Bridget Nneka Irene, Julius Irene, Joan Lockyer and Sunita Dewitt
Systems 2025, 13(8), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13080629 - 25 Jul 2025
Viewed by 223
Abstract
This paper introduces the concept of degenerative affordances to explain how social media can unintentionally destabilise family-run influencer businesses. While affordance theory typically highlights the enabling features of technology, the researchers shift the focus to its unintended, risk-laden consequences, particularly within family enterprises [...] Read more.
This paper introduces the concept of degenerative affordances to explain how social media can unintentionally destabilise family-run influencer businesses. While affordance theory typically highlights the enabling features of technology, the researchers shift the focus to its unintended, risk-laden consequences, particularly within family enterprises where professional and personal identities are deeply entangled. Drawing on platform capitalism, family business research, and intersectional feminist critiques, the researchers develop a theoretical model to examine how social media affordances contribute to role confusion, privacy breaches, and trust erosion. Using a mixed-methods design, the researchers combine narrative interviews (n = 20) with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) on survey data (n = 320) from family-based influencers. This study’s findings reveal a high explanatory power (R2 = 0.934) for how digital platforms mediate entrepreneurial legitimacy through interpersonal trust and role dynamics. Notably, trust emerges as a key mediating mechanism linking social media engagement to perceptions of business legitimacy. This paper advances three core contributions: (1) introducing degenerative affordance as a novel extension of affordance theory; (2) unpacking how digitally mediated role confusion and privacy breaches function as internal threats to legitimacy in family businesses; and (3) problematising the epistemic assumptions embedded in entrepreneurial legitimacy itself. This study’s results call for a rethinking of how digital platforms, family roles, and entrepreneurial identities co-constitute each other under the pressures of visibility, intimacy, and algorithmic governance. The paper concludes with implications for influencer labour regulation, platform accountability, and the ethics of digital family entrepreneurship. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science)
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19 pages, 2201 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Agricultural Digital Transformation in China
by Jinli Wang, Jun Wen, Jie Lin and Xingqun Li
Agriculture 2025, 15(15), 1600; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15151600 - 25 Jul 2025
Viewed by 261
Abstract
With the digital economy continuing to integrate deeply into the agricultural sector, agricultural digital transformation has emerged as a pivotal driver of rural revitalization and the development of a robust agricultural economy. Although existing studies have affirmed the positive role of agricultural digital [...] Read more.
With the digital economy continuing to integrate deeply into the agricultural sector, agricultural digital transformation has emerged as a pivotal driver of rural revitalization and the development of a robust agricultural economy. Although existing studies have affirmed the positive role of agricultural digital transformation in promoting rural development and enhancing agricultural efficiency, its spatiotemporal evolution patterns, regional disparities, and underlying driving factors have not yet been systematically and thoroughly investigated. This study seeks to fill that gap. Based on provincial panel data from China spanning 2011 to 2023, this study employs the Theil index, kernel density estimation, Moran’s index, and quantile regression to systematically assess the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of agricultural digital transformation at both national and regional levels. The results reveal a steady overall improvement in agricultural digital transformation, yet regional development imbalances remain prominent, with a shift from inter-regional disparities to intra-regional disparities over time. The four major regions exhibit a stratified evolutionary trajectory marked by internal differentiation: the eastern region retains its lead, while central and western regions show potential for catch-up, and the northeastern region faces a “balance trap.” Economic development foundation, human capital quality, and policy environment support are identified as the core driving forces of transformation, while other factors demonstrate pronounced regional and phase-specific variability. This study not only deepens theoretical understanding of the uneven development and driving logic of agricultural digital transformation but also provides empirical evidence to support policy optimization and promote more balanced and sustainable development in the agricultural sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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21 pages, 588 KiB  
Article
Systemic Configurations of Functional Talent for Green Technological Innovation: A Fuzzy-Set QCA Study
by Mingjie Guo, Menghan Yan, Xin Yan and Yi Li
Systems 2025, 13(7), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13070604 - 18 Jul 2025
Viewed by 236
Abstract
Achieving high-level green technological innovation in heavily polluting enterprises is critical for advancing sustainable development, particularly in the context of both organizational and regional digitalization. This study adopts a configurational perspective grounded in the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework and integrates theoretical insights from resource [...] Read more.
Achieving high-level green technological innovation in heavily polluting enterprises is critical for advancing sustainable development, particularly in the context of both organizational and regional digitalization. This study adopts a configurational perspective grounded in the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework and integrates theoretical insights from resource orchestration, resource dependence, and IT capability theories. It investigates how different types of skilled talent, such as production, technical, sales, and managerial employees, contribute to green innovation under varying digital conditions. By applying fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to a sample of 96 publicly listed firms from China’s heavily polluting industries, this study identifies four distinct talent-based configurations that can lead to high levels of green innovation: production-centric, management-led, technical talent driven, and regionally enabled models. Each configuration reflects a specific system state in which a core group of skilled employees plays a leading role, supported by complementary functions, and shaped by the interaction between internal digital transformation and the external digital environment. This study contributes to the systems literature by elucidating the combinational roles of digital resources and talent deployment within the systemic TOE framework, and offers practical guidance for enterprises aiming to strategically utilize human capital to enhance green innovation performance amid ongoing digital transformations. Full article
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27 pages, 1820 KiB  
Article
Bank-Specific Credit Risk Factors and Long-Term Financial Sustainability: Evidence from a Panel Error Correction Model
by Ronald Nhleko and Michael Adelowotan
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6442; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146442 - 14 Jul 2025
Viewed by 552
Abstract
This study examines the long-term financial sustainability of commercial banks, emphasizing the crucial role of credit risk management. Given that the core function of credit creation inherently exposes banks to credit risk, this analysis evaluates how five key bank-specific risk variables, namely expected [...] Read more.
This study examines the long-term financial sustainability of commercial banks, emphasizing the crucial role of credit risk management. Given that the core function of credit creation inherently exposes banks to credit risk, this analysis evaluates how five key bank-specific risk variables, namely expected credit losses (ECL_BS), impairment gains or losses (ECL_IS), non-performing loans (NPLs), common equity tier 1 capital (CET1), and leverage (LEV) affect long-term financial sustainability. Applying a panel error correction model on data from listed South African banks spanning 2006 to 2023, the study reveals a stable long-term relationship, with approximately 74% of short-term deviations corrected over time, indicating convergence towards equilibrium. By taking into account the significance of major exogeneous shocks such as the 2009–2010 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as regulatory framework changes, the results reveal persistent relationships between credit risk factors and banks’ long-term financial sustainability in both short and long horizons. Notably, expected credit losses, and impairment gains and losses exert significant negative influence on long-term financial sustainability, while higher CET1 and NPLs exhibit positive effects. The study findings are framed within four complementary theoretical perspectives—the resource-based view, institutional theory, industrial organisation, and the dynamic capabilities framework—highlighting the multidimensional drivers of financial resilience. Thus, the study’s originality lies in its integrated approach to assessing credit risk, offering a holistic model for evaluating its influence on long-term financial sustainability. This integrated framework provides valuable, actionable insights for financial regulators, bank executives, policymakers, and banking practitioners committed to strengthening credit risk frameworks and aligning banking sector stability with broader sustainable development goals. Full article
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35 pages, 3495 KiB  
Article
Demographic Capital and the Conditional Validity of SERVPERF: Rethinking Tourist Satisfaction Models in an Emerging Market Destination
by Reyner Pérez-Campdesuñer, Alexander Sánchez-Rodríguez, Gelmar García-Vidal, Rodobaldo Martínez-Vivar, Marcos Eduardo Valdés-Alarcón and Margarita De Miguel-Guzmán
Adm. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15070272 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 504
Abstract
Tourist satisfaction models typically assume that service performance dimensions carry the same weight for all travelers. Drawing on Bourdieu, we reconceptualize age, gender, and region of origin as demographic capital, durable resources that mediate how visitors decode service cues. Using a SERVPERF-based survey [...] Read more.
Tourist satisfaction models typically assume that service performance dimensions carry the same weight for all travelers. Drawing on Bourdieu, we reconceptualize age, gender, and region of origin as demographic capital, durable resources that mediate how visitors decode service cues. Using a SERVPERF-based survey of 407 international travelers departing Quito (Ecuador), we test measurement invariance across six sociodemographic strata with multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. The four-factor SERVPERF core (Access, Lodging, Extra-hotel Services, Attractions) holds, yet partial metric invariance emerges: specific loadings flex with demographic capital. Gen-Z travelers penalize transport reliability and safety; female visitors reward cleanliness and empathy; and Latin American guests are the most critical of basic organization. These patterns expose a boundary condition for universalistic satisfaction models and elevate demographic capital from a descriptive tag to a structuring construct. Managerially, we translate the findings into segment-sensitive levers, visible security for youth and regional markets, gender-responsive facility upgrades, and dual eco-luxury versus digital-detox bundles for long-haul segments. By demonstrating when and how SERVPERF fractures across sociodemographic lines, this study intervenes in three theoretical conversations: (1) capital-based readings of consumption, (2) the search for boundary conditions in service-quality measurement, and (3) the shift from segmentation to capital-sensitive interpretation in emerging markets. The results position Ecuador as a critical case and provide a template for destinations facing similar performance–perception mismatches in the Global South. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tourism and Hospitality Marketing: Trends and Best Practices)
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25 pages, 689 KiB  
Article
Urbanization in Resource-Based County-Level Cities in China: A Case Study of New Urbanization in Wuan City, Hebei Province
by Jianguang Hou, Danlin Yu, Hao Song and Zhiguo Zhang
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6335; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146335 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 389
Abstract
This study investigates the complex dynamics of new-type urbanization in resource-based county-level cities, using Wuan City in Hebei Province, China, as a representative case. As China pursues a high-quality development agenda, cities historically dependent on resource extraction face profound challenges in achieving sustainable [...] Read more.
This study investigates the complex dynamics of new-type urbanization in resource-based county-level cities, using Wuan City in Hebei Province, China, as a representative case. As China pursues a high-quality development agenda, cities historically dependent on resource extraction face profound challenges in achieving sustainable and inclusive urban growth. This research employs a multi-method approach—including Theil index analysis, industrial shift-share analysis, a Cobb–Douglas production function model, and a composite urbanization index—to quantitatively diagnose the constraints on Wuan’s development and assess its transformation efforts. Our empirical results reveal a multifaceted situation: while the urban–rural income gap has narrowed, rural income streams remain fragile. The shift-share analysis indicates that although Wuan’s traditional industries have regained competitiveness, the city’s economic structure is still burdened by a persistent negative structural component, hindering diversification. Furthermore, the economy exhibits characteristics of a labor-intensive growth model with inefficient capital deployment. These underlying issues are reflected in a comprehensive urbanization index that, after a period of rapid growth, has recently stagnated, signaling the exhaustion of the city’s traditional development mode. In response, Wuan attempts an “industrial transformation-driven new-type urbanization” path. This study details the three core strategies being implemented: (1) incremental population urbanization through development at the urban fringe and in industrial zones; (2) in situ urbanization of the existing rural population; and (3) the cultivation of specialized “characteristic small towns” to create new, diversified economic nodes. The findings from Wuan offer critical, actionable lessons for other resource-dependent regions. The case demonstrates that successful urban transformation requires not only industrial upgrading but also integrated, spatially aware planning and robust institutional support. We conclude that while Wuan’s model provides a valuable reference, its strategies must be adapted to local contexts, emphasizing the universal importance of institutional innovation, human capital investment, and a people-centered approach to achieving resilient and high-quality urbanization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)
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25 pages, 2584 KiB  
Article
Network Structure and Synergy Characteristics in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
by Shaobo Wang, Yafeng Qin, Xiaobo Lin, Zhen Wang and Yingjun Luo
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(14), 7705; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15147705 - 9 Jul 2025
Viewed by 367
Abstract
In regions where transportation and the economy are closely integrated, optimizing network structure and enhancing synergy are vital for regional integration. This paper constructs a dual-factor linkage network using enterprise investment and liner shipping data to analyze linkage strength and synergy effects among [...] Read more.
In regions where transportation and the economy are closely integrated, optimizing network structure and enhancing synergy are vital for regional integration. This paper constructs a dual-factor linkage network using enterprise investment and liner shipping data to analyze linkage strength and synergy effects among cities in the Greater Bay Area. The findings reveal that (1) a core-periphery structure exists, with core cities dominating resource flows while secondary cities remain weak. The logistics network is led by Hong Kong and Shenzhen, while the capital flow network showcases the dominance of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. (2) From 2016 to 2021, interactions between transportation and the economy deepened, showing strong correlations in logistics and capital flows among core cities and between core and edge cities, but weaker correlations with sub-core and edge cities. Core cities stabilize regional transportation and economy, fostering agglomeration, while sub-core cities are more reliant on them, indicating a need for better resource balance. (3) The spatio-temporal coupling analysis reveals significant heterogeneity in flows among cities, with many exhibiting antagonistic couplings outside core areas. This study enhances understanding of synergy mechanisms in transportation and economic networks, offering insights for optimizing layouts and improving capital flow efficiency. Full article
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25 pages, 885 KiB  
Article
Income Effects and Mechanisms of Farmers’ Participation in Agricultural Industry Organizations: A Case Study of the Kiwi Fruit Industry
by Yuyang Li, Jiahui Li, Xinjie Li and Qian Lu
Agriculture 2025, 15(13), 1454; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15131454 - 5 Jul 2025
Viewed by 371
Abstract
Eliminating all forms of poverty is a core component of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. At the household level, poverty and income inequality significantly threaten farmers’ sustainable development and food security. Based on a sample of 1234 kiwi farmers from the Shaanxi [...] Read more.
Eliminating all forms of poverty is a core component of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. At the household level, poverty and income inequality significantly threaten farmers’ sustainable development and food security. Based on a sample of 1234 kiwi farmers from the Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces in China, this paper empirically examines the impact of participation in agricultural industry organizations (AIOs) on household income and income inequality, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The results indicate the following: (1) Participation in AIOs increased farmers’ average household income by approximately 19,570 yuan while simultaneously reducing the income inequality index by an average of 4.1%. (2) Participation increases household income and mitigates income inequality through three mechanisms: promoting agricultural production, enhancing sales premiums, and improving human capital. (3) After addressing endogeneity concerns, farmers participating in leading agribusiness enterprises experienced an additional average income increase of 21,700 yuan compared to those participating in agricultural cooperatives. Therefore, it is recommended to optimize the farmer–enterprise linkage mechanisms within agricultural industry organizations, enhance technical training programs, and strengthen production–marketing integration and market connection systems, aiming to achieve both increased farmer income and improved income distribution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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27 pages, 18002 KiB  
Article
Quantifying Ecological Dynamics and Anthropogenic Dominance in Drylands: A Hybrid Modeling Framework Integrating MRSEI and SHAP-Based Explainable Machine Learning in Northwest China
by Beilei Zhang, Xin Yang, Mingqun Wang, Liangkai Cheng and Lina Hao
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(13), 2266; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17132266 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 381
Abstract
Arid and semi-arid regions serve as crucial ecological barriers in China, making the spatiotemporal evolution of their ecological environmental quality (EEQ) scientifically significant. This study developed a Modified Remote Sensing Ecological Index (MRSEI) by innovatively integrating the Comprehensive Salinity Indicator (CSI) into the [...] Read more.
Arid and semi-arid regions serve as crucial ecological barriers in China, making the spatiotemporal evolution of their ecological environmental quality (EEQ) scientifically significant. This study developed a Modified Remote Sensing Ecological Index (MRSEI) by innovatively integrating the Comprehensive Salinity Indicator (CSI) into the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) and applied it to systematically evaluate the spatiotemporal evolution of EEQ (2014–2023) in Yinchuan City, a typical arid region of northwest China along the upper Yellow River. The study revealed the spatiotemporal evolution patterns through the Theil–Sen (T-S) estimator and Mann–Kendall (M-K) test, and adopted the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) combined with the Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) to quantify the contributions of ten natural and anthropogenic driving factors. The results suggest that (1) the MRSEI outperformed the RSEI, showing 0.41% higher entropy and 5.63% greater contrast, better characterizing the arid region’s heterogeneity. (2) The EEQ showed marked spatial heterogeneity. High-quality areas are concentrated in the Helan Mountains and the integrated urban/rural development demonstration zone, while the core functional zone of the provincial capital, the Helan Mountains ecological corridor, and the eastern eco-economic pilot zone showed lower EEQ. (3) A total of 87.92% of the area (7609.23 km2) remained stable with no significant changes. Notably, degraded areas (934.52 km2, 10.80%) exceeded improved zones (111.04 km2, 1.28%), demonstrating an overall ecological deterioration trend. (4) This study applied LightGBM with SHAP to analyze the driving factors of EEQ. The results demonstrated that Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) was the predominant driver, contributing 41.52%, followed by the Digital Elevation Model (DEM, 18.26%) and Net Primary Productivity (NPP, 12.63%). This study offers a novel framework for arid ecological monitoring, supporting evidence-based conservation and sustainable development in the Yellow River Basin. Full article
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26 pages, 28926 KiB  
Article
Large Terrace Structure Unearthed in the Heart of the City Zone of Īśānapura: Could It Be the ‘Great Hall’ Described in the Book of Sui?
by Shimoda Ichita, Chan Vitharong and Chhum Menghong
Heritage 2025, 8(7), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8070258 - 1 Jul 2025
Viewed by 268
Abstract
The archaeological complex of Sambor Prei Kuk is identified with Īśānapura, the capital of the Chenla Kingdom in the early 7th century, a political predecessor to the Angkor Empire. Previous studies have largely focused on the eastern temple zone, where numerous Hindu religious [...] Read more.
The archaeological complex of Sambor Prei Kuk is identified with Īśānapura, the capital of the Chenla Kingdom in the early 7th century, a political predecessor to the Angkor Empire. Previous studies have largely focused on the eastern temple zone, where numerous Hindu religious structures are concentrated, while the western moated city area—presumably the core of urban and political activity—has remained underexplored. This paper presents the results of recent archaeological excavations at a large central mound within the city zone, which is hypothesized to have functioned as a key administrative facility. The excavation revealed a large-scale and uniquely configured terraced structure, unprecedented within the site, and radiocarbon dating suggests its construction dates from the mid 6th to mid 7th century. Notably, a Chinese historical source from the same period, the Book of Sui, describes a “Great Hall” in Īśānapura where the king administered state affairs. The characteristics and spatial context of the excavated structure suggest a possible correspondence with this account. In addition, LiDAR-derived topographic data identified multiple linear and structural features extending eastward from the mound, indicating that it may have stood at the rear of a more extensive administrative compound. These findings offer new insights into the urban structure of Īśānapura and the political architecture of early Khmer civilization. Full article
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35 pages, 1039 KiB  
Article
Forging the Sacred: The Rise and Reimaging of Mount Jizu 雞足山 in Ming-Qing Buddhist Geography
by Dewei Zhang
Religions 2025, 16(7), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16070851 - 27 Jun 2025
Viewed by 893
Abstract
From the mid-Ming to early Qing dynasties, Mount Jizu 雞足山 in Yunnan achieved unexpected prominence within China’s Buddhist sacred landscape—an event of regional, national, and transnational significance. Employing an explicit comparative lens that juxtaposes Jizu with China’s core-region sacred sites like Mount Wutai [...] Read more.
From the mid-Ming to early Qing dynasties, Mount Jizu 雞足山 in Yunnan achieved unexpected prominence within China’s Buddhist sacred landscape—an event of regional, national, and transnational significance. Employing an explicit comparative lens that juxtaposes Jizu with China’s core-region sacred sites like Mount Wutai and Emei, this study investigates the timing, regional dynamics, institutional mechanisms, and causal drivers behind the rapid ascent. Rejecting teleological narratives, it traces the mountain’s trajectory through four developmental phases to address critical historiographical questions: how did a peripheral Yunnan site achieve national prominence within a remarkably compressed timeframe? By what mechanisms could its sacred authority be constructed to inspire pilgrimages even across vast distances? Which historical agents and processes orchestrated these transformations, and how did the mountain’s symbolic meaning shift dynamically over time? Departing from earlier scholarship that privileges regional and secular frameworks, this work not only rebalances the emphasis on religious dimensions but also expands the analytical scope beyond regional confines to situate Mount Jizu within national and transnational frameworks. Eventually, by analyzing the structural, institutional, and agential dynamics—spanning local, imperial, and transnational dimensions—this study reveals how the mountain’s sacralization emerged from the convergence of local agency, acculturative pressures, state-building imperatives, late-Ming Buddhist revival, literati networks, and the strategic mobilization of symbolic capital. It also reveals that Mount Jizu was not a static sacred site but a dynamic arena of contestation and negotiation, where competing claims to spiritual authority and cultural identity were perpetually redefined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monastic Lives and Buddhist Textual Traditions in China and Beyond)
18 pages, 4709 KiB  
Article
Spatial Layout Optimization of Rural Tourism Destinations in Mountainous Areas Based on Gap Analysis Method: A Case Study in Southwest China
by Tashi Lobsang, Min Zhao, Yi Zeng, Jun Zhang, Zulin Liu and Peng Li
Land 2025, 14(7), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071357 - 26 Jun 2025
Viewed by 334
Abstract
Rural tourism plays a crucial role in promoting industrial revitalization in mountainous regions. Drawing inspiration from the site selection mechanisms of nature reserves, this study constructs a gap analysis framework tailored to rural tourism destinations, aiming to provide technical support for their spatial [...] Read more.
Rural tourism plays a crucial role in promoting industrial revitalization in mountainous regions. Drawing inspiration from the site selection mechanisms of nature reserves, this study constructs a gap analysis framework tailored to rural tourism destinations, aiming to provide technical support for their spatial layout and systematic planning. By integrating a potential evaluation system based on tourism resources, market demand, and synergistic factors, the study identifies rural tourism priority zones and proposes a development typology and spatial optimization strategy across five provinces in Southwest China. The findings reveal: (1) First- and second-priority zones are primarily located in the core and periphery of provincial capitals and prefecture-level cities, while third-priority zones are concentrated in resource-rich areas of Yunnan and Guizhou and market-oriented areas of Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guangxi. (2) The Chengdu Plain emerges as the core region for rural tourism development, with hotspots clustered around Chengdu, northern and western Guizhou, central Chongqing, eastern Guangxi, and northwestern Yunnan, whereas cold spots are mainly situated in the western Sichuan Plateau and the Leshan–Liangshan–Zhaotong–Panzhihua–Chuxiong–Pu’er belt. (3) The alignment between tourism resources and rural tourism destinations is highest in Yunnan and Guizhou, while Chongqing exhibits the strongest match between destinations and tourism market potential and synergistic development conditions. Overall, 79.35% of rural tourism destinations in the region are situated within identified priority zones, with Chongqing, Guizhou, and Sichuan exhibiting the highest proportions. Based on the spatial mismatch between potential and existing destinations, the study delineates four development types—maintenance and enhancement, supplementation and upgrading, expansion, and reserve development—and offers regionally tailored planning recommendations. The proposed framework provides a replicable approach for spatial planning of rural tourism destinations in complex mountainous settings. Full article
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