Search Results (27,840)

Recent studies in the Romanian Western Carpathians have revealed increasing socio-demographic fragility in rural areas and small towns, driven by depopulation, population aging, and declining living standards. These trends stem from the legacy of forced collectivization and industrialization (1950–1990) and the post-1990 transition, which triggered extensive out-migration and the erosion of local socio-economic structures. This study examines the fragility of human communities in the Trascău Mountains in order to evaluate spatial, demographic, and economic recovery dynamics and to assess settlement vulnerability as a major obstacle to sustainable regional development. Fragility was measured using indicators of population density and change, age structure, accessibility, and socio-demographic dynamics, based on comparative data for the interval of 1977–2021. These variables were integrated into a composite development index (Id), derived from twelve indicators covering demography, economy, infrastructure, and living standards, enabling the hierarchical classification of settlements by degree of vulnerability. The methodological framework combines empirical and analytical methods, statistical, cartographic, bibliographic, and field-based analyses within evolutionary, structural–functional, and typological perspectives. The results identify the main drivers of decline, quantify their impacts, and outline development prospects and policy directions for reducing territorial disparities. Overall, fragile settlements emerge as critical pressure points that undermine sustainability, intensify regional instability, and increase risks related to migration and social cohesion. Full article

Amidst the ongoing global energy crisis, environmental deterioration, and the exacerbation of climate change, the development of renewable energy, particularly solar energy, has become a central topic in the global energy transition. This study investigates a solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) heat pump system that utilizes an expanded honeycomb-channel PVT module to enhance the comprehensive utilization efficiency of solar energy. A simulation platform for the solar PVT heat pump system was established using Aspen Plus software (V12), and the system’s performance impact mechanisms and engineering applications were researched. The results indicate that solar irradiance and the circulating water temperature within the PVT module are the primary factors affecting system performance: for every 100 W/m² increase in solar irradiance, the coefficient of performance for heating (COP_h) increases by 13.7%, the thermoelectric comprehensive performance coefficient (COP_co) increases by 14.9%, and the electrical efficiency of the PVT array decreases by 0.05%; for every 1 °C increase in circulating water temperature, the COP_h and COP_co increase by 11.8% and 12.3%, respectively, and the electrical efficiency of the PVT array decreases by 0.03%. In practical application, the system achieves an annual heating capacity of 24,000 GJ and electricity generation of 1.1 million kWh, with average annual COP_h and COP_co values of 5.30 and 7.60, respectively. The Life Cycle Cost (LCC) is 13.2% lower than that of the air-source heat pump system, the dynamic investment payback period is 4–6 years, and the annual carbon emissions are reduced by 94.6%, demonstrating significant economic and environmental benefits. This research provides an effective solution for the efficient and comprehensive utilization of solar energy, utilizing the low-global-warming-potential refrigerant R290, and is particularly suitable for combined heat and power applications in regions with high solar irradiance. Full article

Carbon emission reduction in the construction industry is pivotal for global carbon emission reduction, yet the lack of coordination mechanisms within the sector limits its effectiveness. This study examines the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2010 to 2022, capturing the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and key influencing factors of carbon emission efficiency in the construction industry (CEECI) to achieve coordinated emission reduction. Using the super-efficiency Slack-Based Measure (SBM) model and the Malmquist–Luenberger (ML) index, the study analyzes changes in CEECI, revealing significant regional variations: downstream, midstream, and upstream regions demonstrated average values of 1.10, 1.00, and 0.68, respectively. Resource redundancy is a major issue affecting CEECI, with energy redundancy rates exceeding 20%. The ML index indicates continuous improvement in CEECI, with technological change (TC) contributing the most to this improvement, as shown by index decomposition. Spatial analysis using Moran’s index (Moran’s I) revealed significant positive spatial autocorrelation, with distinct “high-high” (H-H) and “low-low” (L-L) clustering patterns, suggesting that regions with high CEECI positively influence their neighbors. Finally, we built a spatial econometric model to identify key influencing factors, including industrialization level, construction industry production level, energy consumption structure, human resources, and internal innovation levels, which directly or indirectly impact CEECI to varying degrees. These findings highlight the importance of regional coordination and targeted policy interventions to enhance carbon emission efficiency in the construction industry, addressing resource redundancy and leveraging technological advancements to contribute to global carbon reduction goals. Full article

With socioeconomic development, cities face increasingly complex and diverse disaster risks, making the construction of resilient cities an inevitable choice. However, the driving forces and tactical approaches behind urban resilience development remain unclear for urban safety development, thus posing challenges to cities urgently needing to enhance their resilience. Therefore, this paper investigates this issue, covering the following aspects: (1) Eighteen influencing factors within the complex system of urban resilience were identified and summarized from five perspectives: Economic, Social, Environmental, Infrastructure, and Organizational & Institutional. The attributes of the influencing factors were analyzed using the Decision-Making Experimentation and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, and key factors were identified accordingly. (2) The Total Adversarial Interpretive Structure Model (TAISM) method was applied to construct a multi-perspective adversarial recursive structural model with integrated impact values. This model illustrates the interrelationships among the influencing factors and clarifies their hierarchical structure. (3) A Fuzzy Reachability Matrix (FR) was introduced to handle uncertain relationships between factors in the comprehensive influence matrix, enabling an explicit analysis of the hierarchical structure of the urban resilience complex coupling giant system, clearly showing the impact of factor hierarchical changes on the system structure. (4) Building upon the analysis of factors affecting urban resilience, the specific pathways and mechanisms were articulated, followed by recommended measures formulated from both internal (governmental) and external (community) perspectives. The results can provide theoretical support for resilient city construction and serve as a practical cornerstone. Full article

Driven by the national policy of total water resources control and efficiency improvement, the behavior of water resource utilization reduction by firms is widespread, which may have an impact on the value of firms. This study integrates dynamic capability theory and signaling theory to construct a dual-path analytical framework, systematically investigating the impact of water utilization reduction on firm value and its intrinsic mechanisms. Based on data from Chinese A-share listed companies spanning 2012–2023, fixed-effect models, mediation-effect tests, and heterogeneity analysis are employed for empirical verification. The results reveal that water utilization reduction exerts a significant dual-path promoting effect on firm value: it enhances financial performance (ROA) primarily through technological innovation, reflecting the process of resource orchestration and dynamic capability construction; concurrently, it boosts market performance (Tobin’s Q) mainly by improving ESG performance as a signaling channel, mirroring the capital market’s positive pricing of green signals. Further heterogeneity analysis indicates that these effects are more pronounced during the policy deepening stage, in non-water-intensive industries, and in humid/sub-humid regions. This study contributes theoretical support and empirical evidence for firms’ green transformation and the formulation of differentiated water resource policies by the government, highlighting the synergistic development of high-quality economic growth and ecological civilization construction. Full article

Although mining activities are economically essential, they have led to significant environmental contamination, particularly in northern Chile. The discharge of untreated tailings has impacted coastal and soil ecosystems. This analysis investigates the biosorption and desorption of copper using the dried biomass of Lessonia berteroana, a brown alga, focusing on its reuse over multiple cycles. Biosorption experiments were conducted using synthetic copper sulfate solutions and real leachates (PLS) obtained from historically contaminated soils, obtaining maximum uptakes of 66.1 and 41.1 mg/g, respectively. In addition, four isotherm models—Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R)—were applied to describe equilibrium behavior. In synthetic systems, the Langmuir model described the data better. In the real matrix, the D–R model showed superior performance, indicating a more heterogeneous mechanism and a lower adsorption capacity. Desorption experiments, fundamental to evaluating the recyclability capacity of biosorbents, used HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, and C₆H₈O₇ as desorbing agents. These experiments showed high initial efficiency (>95%) for all desorbents, and regeneration remained consistent over five cycles. In real PLS systems, nitric and citric acids maintained high desorption efficiencies with minimal degradation of biosorbent capacity. This study highlights the potential of L. berteroana as a sustainable biosorbent for copper recovery in both controlled and real-world applications, supporting its integration into circular economy strategies for mine-impacted environments. Full article

The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal location for siting an onshore wind farm on the island of Skyros, thereby maximizing performance and minimizing the project’s environmental impacts. Seven evaluation criteria are defined across various sectors, including environmental and economic sectors, and six criteria weighting methods are applied in combination with four multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) ranking methods for suitable areas, resulting in twenty-four ranking models. The alternatives considered in the analysis were defined through the application of constraints imposed by the Specific Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development for Renewable Energy Sources (SFSPSD RES), complemented by exclusion criteria documented in the international literature, as well as a minimum area requirement ensuring the feasibility of installing at least four wind turbines within the study area. The correlations between their results are then assessed using the Spearman coefficient. Geographic information systems (GISs) are utilized as a mapping tool. Through the application of the methodology, it emerges that area A9, located in the central to northern part of Skyros, is consistently assessed as the most suitable site for the installation of a wind farm based on nine models combining criteria weighting and MCDM methods, which should be prioritized as an option for early-stage wind farm siting planning. The results demonstrate an absolute correlation among the subjective weighting methods, whereas the objective methods do not appear to be significantly correlated with each other or with the subjective methods. The ranking methods with the highest correlation are PROMETHEE II and ELECTRE III, while those with the lowest are TOPSIS and VIKOR. Additionally, the hierarchy shows consistency across results using weights from AHP, BWM, ROC, and SIMOS. After applying multiple methods to investigate correlations and mitigate their disadvantages, it is concluded that when experts in the field are involved, it is preferable to incorporate subjective multicriteria analysis methods into decision-making problems. Finally, it is recommended to use more than one MCDM method in order to reach sound decisions. Full article

Life-cycle assessment is crucial for evaluating materials’ environmental impact and guiding the development of low-carbon and sustainable buildings. However, conventional LCA methods often overlook critical impacts during the operation and maintenance stage. To address this gap, this study proposes an improved framework using four composite indicators to enable systematic evaluation of six wall materials across China’s five climate zones. Using a university teaching building in the Hot Summer and Cold Winter Zone as a case study, this study quantitatively analyzed the economic viability and carbon reduction potential of each material. Results indicate that lower thermal conductivity does not necessarily imply superior economic and carbon reduction performance. Factors including the material carbon emission factor, cost, and thermal properties, must be comprehensively considered. Buffering materials also exhibit climate dependency—WPM and BWPM (moisture-buffering plastering mortars) perform better in hot–humid zones than temperate zones. All five buffer materials reduce operational energy consumption; WPM and BWPM stand out with 15.7% and 16.7% life-cycle cost savings and 17.3% and 18.0% carbon emission reductions, respectively. This study addresses the limitations of traditional LCC/LCA and provides theoretical and practical support for scientific material selection and low-carbon building design. Full article

Green finance is increasingly recognized as an important instrument for improving sustainable development. Existing research has focused on green finance’s impact on corporate environmental performance, failing to account for the complex regional mechanisms that shape its contribution to systemic sustainability. This study fills the gaps by examining the mechanism and spatial heterogeneity of green finance’s influences on regional sustainability measured by environmental performance. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces during 2010–2022, it shows that green finance increased from 0.318 to 0.539, while environmental performance improved from 0.441 to 0.656. The empirical evidence demonstrates that green finance has a robust positive effect on environmental performance, acting as an effective tool for environmental governance. This impact is primarily channeled through technological innovation and green consumption, with environmental regulation providing a synergistic moderating role. Furthermore, significant regional heterogeneity in sustainability outcomes is observed, while the effect is strongest in eastern China, unstable or negligible in old industrial bases, and unexpectedly negative in ecologically fragile Northwest China. The disparities are attributed to variations in local economic structure, institutional capacity, and development stage. Corresponding policy recommendations include improving the institutional framework, channeling financial resources to green technology R&D and sustainable consumption incentives, integrating green finance with environmental policies, and implementing region-specific strategies. This study offers practical benchmarks for China and other developing economies to leverage green finance as a driver of sustainable development. Full article

This study investigates the factors influencing the expansion of organic farming in Europe between 2000 and 2022. Driven by consumer demand and EU support through the Common Agricultural Policy, organic farming has grown significantly. The research uses panel data and linear regression to assess the impact of socio-economic, agronomic, and environmental variables, including GDP, HDI, population density, education, broadband access, pesticide use, and biodiversity indicators. Data sources include FAOSTAT, FiBL, Eurostat, and the World Bank. The analysis also incorporates crop-specific organic farming data and environmental metrics such as ammonia emissions. The results show that expansion is shaped simultaneously by environmental pressures and socio-economic conditions: greater pesticide use, larger land availability, higher human development, and agricultural employment support organic adoption, while intensive livestock-related emissions and indicators of urbanization, such as broadband access, tend to constrain it. Full article

Wildfires are among the most frequent and destructive natural hazards in Europe, particularly in Portugal. They have severe impacts on forests, ecosystems, human health, and infrastructure, leading to substantial socio-economic losses due to firefighting efforts and post-fire recovery costs. Moreover, wildfires cause numerous casualties each year, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of fire behaviour to support effective firefighting strategies and ensure the safety of both responders and communities. This study examines the influence of wind flow velocity variation on fire behaviour, both in the presence and absence of an edge wall in the fuel bed, aiming to replicate the characteristics of real wildfire fronts at a laboratory scale. Experimental tests were conducted at the Combustion Laboratory of the University of Coimbra using a shrub mixture, composed of Ulex europaeus, Baccharis trimera, and Caralluma adscendens, representing one of the most common fine fuels in Portuguese forested landscapes. This research provides novel insights by experimentally analyzing the combined effect of wind velocity variation and fuel bed edge presence on fire behaviour, paving the way for future comparisons with numerical simulations and real wildfire fronts. As expected, increasing wind velocity and the presence of fuel bed edges resulted in higher values of rate of spread, fireline intensity, and fire intensity. Full article

The debate over CEO compensation persists despite extensive efforts by academics and technocrats to understand its determinants. Most research has focused on how firm-specific characteristics and CEO-specific traits influence CEO compensation. However, the results have been contradictory, indicating that other factors may also play a role. This study examines the impact of macroeconomic factors on the compensation of CEOs. It examines how price variables such as interest rates, inflation, and exchange rates affect the fixed salaries and total compensation of CEOs at six South African banks listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Conducted over a 15-year period, this quantitative longitudinal study utilized secondary data from annual reports and the IRESS database. Panel data regression analysis was employed to interpret the data. The findings reveal a positive relationship between interest rates and fixed salaries, as well as between exchange rates and fixed salaries. Additionally, interest rates and total compensation are positively related, and exchange rates also have a positive relationship with fixed salaries. Understanding how macroeconomic conditions influence CEO pay helps Compensation Committees contextualize performance. It allows them to differentiate between achievement driven by a CEO’s abilities and that resulting from external factors, ensuring fair compensation and minimizing excessive rewards for “luck”. This knowledge supports the adjustment of incentive plans based on relative performance and economic-adjusted metrics, reducing the cyclical influence of macroeconomic variables on firm performance and, ultimately, CEO compensation. Full article

Climate change and the resulting projected rise in sea level put densely populated urban communities at risk of river flooding, storm surges, and subsurface flooding. Miami finds itself in an increasingly vulnerable position, as compound inundation seems to be a constant and unavoidable occurrence due to its low elevation and limestone geomorphology. Several recent studies on compound overflows have been conducted in Miami-Dade County. However, in-depth research has yet to be conducted on its economic epicenter. Owing to the lack of resilience to tidal surges and extreme precipitation events, Miami’s infrastructure and the well-being of its population may be at risk of flooding. This study applied HEC-RAS 2D to develop one- and two-dimensional water flow models to understand and estimate Miami’s vulnerability to extreme flood events, such as 50- and 100-year return storms. It used Hurricane Irma as a validation and calibration event for extreme event reproduction. The study also explores novel machine learning metamodels to produce a robust sensitivity analysis for the hydrologic model. This research is expected to provide insights into vulnerability thresholds and inform flood mitigation strategies, particularly in today’s unprecedented and intensified weather events. The study revealed that Miami’s inner bay coastline, particularly the downtown coastline, is severely impacted by extreme hydrometeorological events. Under extreme event circumstances, the 35.4 km² area of Miami is at risk of flooding, with 38% of the areas classified as having medium to extreme risk by FEMA, indicating severe infrastructural and community vulnerability. Full article

The phenomenon of underachievement of working-class young people in the English education system reveals long-standing prejudices surrounding English language development. This article reports the findings of a small-scale, qualitative study exploring the power of aesthetic experience in supporting the acquisition and development of the English language in a Further Education (FE) college in England. Findings provide evidence of how engagement with aesthetic experiences enables learners to access new ways of thinking and relate to new and complex ideas and concepts that may once have seemed beyond their reach. Findings also suggest that experimentation with various forms of art, as sources of inspiration, impacts confidence, engagement, and the learners’ experience of education in profound ways. This study challenges hierarchical and class-based socio-political forces which elevate one form of language or expression above another on the grounds that this can cause serious damage to the confidence and self-esteem of learners from lower socio-economic groups. With reference to data from the study and the works of Gadamer, Bernstein, and Dewey, the article concludes that pedagogic engagement through aesthetic experiences in FE can help learners from lower socio-economic groups access their Pedagogic Rights, to which they have been previously denied. Full article

Based on panel data from China’s 31 provinces and municipalities covering 2011–2023, this study constructs a multidimensional evaluation system for digital economic development and agricultural industrial chain resilience within the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework. It systematically examines the impact of the digital economy on agricultural industrial chain resilience and its sub-dimensions, while introducing green finance as a moderating variable. The findings reveal: First, the development of the digital economy significantly enhances the resilience of the agricultural industrial chain. This conclusion withstands multiple robustness tests, and the impact of the digital economy on the three dimensions of agricultural industrial chain resilience (resistance, recovery, and reconstruction) varies, particularly exhibiting a negative effect on reconstruction. Second, the enabling effect of the digital economy on agricultural industrial chain resilience shows a significant spatial gradient. Regionally, resilience is ranked as “Production-Sales Balance Zones > Main Sales Zones > Main Production Zones” within grain functional zones, and “Northeast > West > East > Central” across China’s four major economic regions. Third, green finance development exerts a negative moderating effect on the pathway through which the digital economy enhances agricultural supply chain resilience, higher green finance levels weaken the marginal improvement effect of the digital economy. This study fills research gaps regarding the multidimensional impact of digital economic development on agricultural industrial chain resilience and empirically supplements the lack of evidence on the negative moderating mechanism of green finance and its sub-dimensions, providing policy tools for agricultural modernization and resilience governance. Full article