Search Results (33,019)

Urban sustainability governance has long been dominated by growth-oriented metrics that measure aggregate improvement without establishing whether neighborhoods provide enough for all residents without continuous territorial expansion or resource-intensive redevelopment. Drawing on the post-growth planning, sufficiency theory, spatial justice, land governance, and the adaptive planning literature, this paper proposes a Spatial Sufficiency Multifunctionality Framework (SSMF). SSMF is a provisional conceptual framework requiring empirical validation and aiming to reorient neighborhood land assessment from growth optimization to sufficiency thresholds. The framework organizes planning around five interconnected dimensions: social sufficiency, economic resilience without growth dependence, ecological resilience, spatial governance and land-use sufficiency, and institutional and participatory capacity. Each is operationalized through illustrative indicators, thresholds, and linked governance instruments. SSMF asks whether per-capita land use remains within ecological capacities and whether access to services, green space, and affordable space is equitably distributed. The framework is developed through a systematic scoping review of the literature on urban sustainability, land governance, and post-growth planning, and provides a diagnostic logic and a menu of governance instruments. By shifting the evaluative focus from “more” to “enough, equity distributed within neighborhood capacities,” SSMF offers a provisional architecture for understanding post-growth principles at the neighborhood scale. Full article

Environmental sustainability has become an increasingly critical issue in the inland shipping sector. The adoption of green-fuelled vessels, data-driven speed optimization enabled by digital and intelligent technologies, and the use of shore power during berthing can substantially reduce harmful emissions from shipping activities and enhance environmental performance. This study investigates the evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) of inland shipowners’ green initiatives under government subsidy schemes. Firstly, a decision-making framework is developed by incorporating price elasticity, market competition, green investment, and subsidy intensity, through which pricing, subsidies, demand, and profit decisions are jointly modeled. Secondly, a game-theoretic model involving two market participants under three alternative strategies is constructed, together with an effective solution approach. Thirdly, based on evolutionary game theory, the equilibrium strategies ultimately adopted by the majority of inland shipowners are derived, and sensitivity analyses of key parameters are conducted. The results indicate that: (1) shipowners implementing green strategies can achieve higher economic returns, and green strategies are expected to be adopted by approximately 71.55% of inland shipowners in the long-term; (2) governments should increase subsidy intensity in the early stage of green strategy development, while gradually reducing subsidies once the market reaches a stable equilibrium. The findings provide theoretical insights for inland shipowners’ strategic decisions in environmentally conscious markets and offer policy implications for governments seeking to design stable and effective subsidy mechanisms to promote the green transition of inland shipping services. Full article

Quality control in green coffee bean production is critical for food safety and economic sustainability. A persistent gap in existing automated inspection systems is their inability to capture both sides of each bean, which leads to systematic under-detection of surface defects. This work presents three contributions: (i) a novel mechatronic apparatus that mechanically guarantees dual-sided imaging of every bean, (ii) a public 12-class dataset of green coffee bean defects, and (iii) an embedded, real-time inspection pipeline validated on low-cost hardware. The apparatus sequentially presents each bean, from a standard 350 g sample, to two 16-megapixel cameras under controlled LED illumination. A dataset of 9600 images spanning 12 classes (11 defects and 1 normal) was generated from expert-classified samples and enriched through data augmentation. Four convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures, VGG-16, VGG-19, ResNet-50 and YOLOv8, were trained and benchmarked using precision, recall, F1-score and mean average precision. YOLOv8 achieved the best overall performance, with a precision of 97.4%, a recall of 99.6%, an F1-score of 0.930 and a mean average precision of 96.5%, outperforming VGG-16 (accuracy 86.07%), VGG-19 (accuracy 67.03%) and ResNet-50 (accuracy 87.76%). Dual-sided acquisition raised mean per-class detection accuracy from 0.727 to 0.908, a relative gain of 25.7% over an equivalent single-sided configuration. Deployed in real-time “track” mode on a Raspberry Pi 4, the system simultaneously classifies defects and counts beans by category, processing a 350 g sample in approximately 38 min. Combining mechanical innovation with lightweight deep learning enables practical, scalable, and cost-effective quality control for laboratories specialized in coffee analysis. Full article

This paper reviews the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA), and ship design optimisation methods and examines the extent to which these approaches have been integrated to support sustainable electric ship design. The main goal is to understand how these methods have been applied and where the key gaps remain. The review analyses current practices in environmental and cost assessments of ship systems and design, along with ship design optimisation methods aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions. Overall, the reviewed literature shows that LCA, LCCA, and ship design optimisation are generally applied as separate processes rather than parts of an integrated framework. Key gaps include the lack of models that account for time-varying costs, changes in technology and energy systems. Additionally, this paper highlights the need for integrated and adaptive frameworks, supported by open and standardised data and digital tools, to better connect environmental and economic considerations across a vessel’s life cycle, for more practical and sustainable ship design. Full article

Background: Pharmaceutical waste presents significant economic and environmental challenges, necessitating systemic interventions for sustainable healthcare. Community pharmacists are pivotal in mitigating this waste through optimized dispensing, patient education, and facilitating safe disposal. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the perceptions, practices and perceived barriers of community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. Data regarding barriers and mitigation strategies were collected using a five-point Likert scale. Results: A total of 275 pharmacists participated, with an average age of 33.86 ± 7.46 years. Pharmacists showed strong understanding of the economic impact of medication waste, with an average score of 4.41 ± 0.85. The lowest score, 2.80 ± 1.25, reflected poor public awareness about proper disposal practices. The most identified source of waste was the discarding of unopened medication packages, scoring 3.80 ± 1.05. The top barrier was the lack of national guidelines, with a score of 3.82 ± 1.01. Unified patient records and e-prescribing were viewed as the most effective strategies, scoring 4.17 ± 0.94. Practice gaps were clear, as 27.64% of pharmacies did not provide any disposal service. Conclusions: Saudi community pharmacists demonstrate high readiness but are hindered by logistical gaps and fragmented frameworks. Achieving sustainable pharmaceutical stewardship requires standardized national guidelines, formalized take-back pathways, and the expansion of digital tools like Wasfaty to align clinical practice with Saudi Vision 2030 sustainability goals. Full article

Amid accelerating climate change, natural resource depletion, and rising consumer demand for sustainable, health-promoting products, circular agriculture has emerged as a strategic pathway for reconciling agricultural productivity with environmental and social sustainability; however, empirical evidence on how circular production, health-product innovation, and experiential tourism can be jointly evaluated within a single model remains limited. This study aims to propose a multidimensional value assessment framework for circular agriculture through a case study of the Tam Dao Mushroom Cooperative (TDMC) in Phu Tho Province, Vietnam, centered on the cooperative’s Cordyceps militaris-based production system, nanotechnology-enabled health-product processing, most notably the Nano Cordy Milk functional beverage and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-oriented experiential tourism activities, comprising guided production tours, hands-on cultivation and processing demonstrations, and on-site product tastings offered to school and university groups, domestic and international tourists, and visiting farmers and cooperatives. The research integrates a case study approach with the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy-AHP) to determine the priority weights of value dimensions based on the evaluations of seven experts. The findings identify five key dimensions of value generated by the circular agricultural model: economic value, environmental value, social value, educational value, and tourism value. The Fuzzy-AHP results indicate that economic value has the highest priority weight (Best Non-fuzzy Performance, BNP = 0.4050), followed by environmental value (0.2715), social value (0.1307), educational value (0.1313), and tourism value (0.0621). The study demonstrates that the circular agriculture model not only generates economic benefits but also simultaneously creates significant environmental, social, educational, and tourism values. These findings contribute to the theoretical foundation for assessing the multidimensional value of circular agriculture while providing practical references and policy implications for the sustainable development of circular agricultural models. Full article

This study develops an integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework to systematically evaluate and rank composite material combinations based on 24 fibers (16 natural and 8 synthetic), 15 matrices (thermosets, thermoplastics, and biopolymers), and 9 fiber volume fractions (30–70%) for UAV inlet applications. Ten evaluation criteria covering technical performance, environmental sustainability, and economic viability were weighted using AHP pairwise comparisons based on Saaty’s 1–9 scale, yielding a consistency ratio of CR = 0.009, which confirms the reliability of the judgments. The TOPSIS analysis identified Carbon (PAN-HM)/Epoxy as the optimal composite material, achieving the highest TOPSIS score of 0.8893. In contrast, Flax/Epoxy emerged as the best natural fiber composite, with a TOPSIS score of 0.2686, indicating a performance gap of approximately 231% in favor of the synthetic composite. Comprehensive sensitivity analysis across four weighting scenarios (Equal, Technical, Environmental, and Economic) confirmed the stability of the reinforcement rankings, with Carbon (PAN-HM) remaining the top synthetic fiber and flax the top natural fiber across all scenarios. The findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable aerospace materials and provide practical guidance for UAV designers seeking to optimize material selection for micro-turbojet engine inlet components, supporting the development of more environmentally responsible UAV designs while maintaining the performance requirements for safe and reliable operation. Full article

Purpose: This study investigates the structural pathways driving the startup potential of Generation Z students in Romania’s post-transition economy. It examines the sequential relationship between Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM), Entrepreneurial Intentions (EIs), and Entrepreneurial Behavior (EB), focusing on the mediating role of intentions in bridging the gap between cognition and action. Design/methodology/approach: Using a quantitative explanatory design, data were collected through a two-stage hybrid framework from a sample of 215 Romanian business students associated with the Hackathon Innovation Labs (HILs), selected via a non-probability purposive sampling method. Hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation, supported by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to ensure statistical rigor. Findings: Results confirm that EM is a robust predictor of EI, which significantly drives EB, explaining 45.2% of its variance. The findings highlight that intentions fully mediate the relationship, suggesting that a growth-oriented mindset turns into firm intentions to overcome institutional and cultural barriers. Originality: This research applies a rigorous SEM framework to a cohort of digital natives in an underrepresented Eastern European emerging market. It integrates mindset as a foundational cognitive precursor and provides empirical evidence of the sequential path to entrepreneurial behavior. Research limitations/implications: The study is limited by its sample size and geographic focus on Romanian business students. Future longitudinal research should explore external contingency factors, such as access to capital and ecosystem support, to validate model generalizability. Practical and social implications: Higher education should shift toward experiential programs like HILs, embedding credit-bearing hackathons and micro-credentials to foster an entrepreneurial mindset. Socially, sustaining this momentum with structured mentorship bridges the intention–action gap, transforming Gen Z’s digital potential into tangible economic value for the post-transition ecosystem. Full article

The search for antioxidant compounds from aquatic or marine environments to cope with the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the major challenges in contemporary blue biotechnology. Among marine microorganisms, microalgae have emerged as promising candidates for the discovery and production of natural bioactive molecules with antioxidant properties. This review highlights the potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria as a sustainable source of antioxidant compounds and examines their growing relevance in biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications. A broad range of antioxidant metabolites produced by microalgae, including carotenoids, fatty acids, vitamins, polyphenols, and flavonoids, has also been discussed, with particular emphasis on their antioxidant mechanisms and bioactive properties. This review also integrates antioxidant mechanisms with the physiological and metabolic responses, underlying antioxidant production and sustainable strategies used to enhance their accumulation. Furthermore, microalgae offer the advantage of sustainable production systems, with the potential to enhance the biosynthesis and accumulation of valuable compounds through optimized cultivation strategies. Thus, different sustainable approaches aimed at increasing antioxidant compound production or reducing operational costs in microalgae cultivation are discussed to identify efficient and economically viable processes that maximize the biotechnological potential of these microorganisms for future industrial applications. Full article

Responsible tourism practices are essential for sustainable tourism development, yet evidence on their implementation across different types of tourism enterprises remains limited. This study examines reported responsible tourism practices, together with the motivations and barriers influencing their implementation among tourism enterprises in Kien Giang province, Vietnam. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving focus group discussions with 24 participants to develop the measurement indicators and a questionnaire survey of 125 tourism business representatives and 70 employees. Descriptive analysis revealed that only a few responsible tourism practices were reported at very high levels, including employee welfare, customer protection, fair recruitment, price transparency, avoidance of legally protected wild flora and fauna, and the provision of multiple waste bins. Most economic, social, and environmental practices were reported at lower levels, indicating substantial room for improvement. The main motivations were environmental protection, long-term business sustainability, tourist satisfaction, operational efficiency, and ethical responsibility, whereas inadequate training, limited awareness, insufficient implementation knowledge, and weak institutional support were the principal barriers. These findings suggest that targeted capacity building and stronger institutional support are needed to address implementation gaps and strengthen responsible tourism practices in Kien Giang province and other emerging tourism destinations. Full article

We examine the impact of board gender diversity on the financial and operating performance of the banking sector in Egypt over the period 2016–2024. We document a clear upward trend in female board representation, particularly following regulatory reforms introduced in 2019 and beyond. Our results show that board gender diversity is positively associated with bank performance, including profitability, efficiency, asset quality, and capital adequacy. However, this relationship becomes economically and statistically meaningful only after a critical mass of female directors is reached. Within the limited range of female board representation observed in the sample, we do not observe a declining or inverted U-shaped pattern. We further show that the positive role of gender-diverse boards is amplified under stronger governance structures—particularly where board independence is high, state ownership is limited, and CEO–chairman roles are separated. These findings provide support for regulatory initiatives aimed at increasing female representation on corporate boards, including Egypt’s Vision 2030 target of 30% female leadership representation. At the same time, the results highlight that the effectiveness of such policies depends on institutional readiness, governance quality, and meaningful participation beyond symbolic compliance. These results suggest that compliance-driven board gender diversity mandates can contribute to sustainable governance, supporting SDG 5 objectives and the long-term institutional resilience of the banking sector in emerging economies. Full article

Mothers of preterm infants (PT; <37 weeks gestational age) face economic barriers to mother’s own milk (MOM) provision, including lack of paid maternity leave and unpaid workload that may prevent sustained MOM provision. The objective of this study was to understand how mothers of PT infants navigate decisions about MOM provision and paid and unpaid work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mothers of PT infants between 5 days and 10 weeks postpartum. Interviews included questions about responsibilities in the home, pre-delivery work experience and plans to provide MOM, and postpartum work experience and MOM provision. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke’s method. This study included 18 mothers, who were predominantly non-White (79%) and covered by Medicaid (72%) with infants born at a median gestational age of 32 weeks. Three themes emerged: (1) unexpected prenatal events create postpartum job uncertainty; (2) breastfeeding intentions are often derailed after PT delivery; and (3) the unpredictable reality of having a PT infant shifts maternal priorities and obligations related to paid and unpaid workload. PT delivery creates emotional and financial stress and uncertainty for new mothers. Although federal and employment-based paid leave may alleviate some financial stress for mothers employed prior to delivery in the United States, mothers who leave the workforce before delivery will not benefit from these policies. Policies are needed to support all mothers of PT infants in facilitating long-duration MOM provision, independent of employment status. Full article

Ecuadorian aquaculture plays an increasingly important role in food security, providing a sustainable complement to capture fisheries. Manabí constitutes a key economic sector that contributes to employment generation, income diversification, and supply of high-quality protein. However, the sector’s heterogeneity and limited legal registration of enterprises hinder the development of policies and targeted interventions. This study characterizes aquaculture enterprises in Manabí, integrating productive, technological, and socio-economic variables obtained from field surveys. Three distinct entrepreneurship patterns were identified: small-scale, informal farms cultivating native species with low technology but characteristics that may contribute to socio-ecological resilience; semi-formal producers operating with intermediate technology and mixed species; and freshwater shrimp farms operating at the largest relative scale within the sample, though still small-scale and family-based, with moderate technological development and market integration limited mainly to local and regional markets. The typology focused on a gradient in formalization, technological sophistication, and market orientation among enterprises. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of aquaculture diversity in Manabí and offer a practical framework for differentiated policy design using a Strategic Producer Positioning Map. Strengthening formalization, technological innovation, environmental management, and social inclusion is essential to enhance the sector’s sustainability and competitiveness, contributing to sustainable blue economy development in coastal Ecuador. Full article

Tourism is a complex economic activity all over the world shaped by distinct local resources: culture, nature, industrial heritage, urban ambiance, place-based uniqueness, and geographical accessibility. The simultaneous governance and management of economic growth motives, preservation of the cultural heritage base, and respect for nature and ecological quality calls for an evidence-based and multi-faceted policy analysis that seeks to achieve sustainable development among conflicting policy objectives in tourist areas. The present paper seeks to explore the feasibility of a sustainable balance for various heterogeneous cultural heritage areas in Europe (‘urban pilot regions’), with particular attention to sustainable local development characterized by circular economic objectives and an ecological balance strategy based on the principle of stakeholders’ co-creation. The paper addresses the knowledge gap between generic policy aims and site-specific views of actors or visitors. To that end, an extensive survey experiment was administered in the urban regions concerned, in which a wide range of relevant management issues/questions related to environmental preferences and perceptions were posed to stakeholders and visitors. The data were analyzed by means of a novel respondent-oriented multivariate statistical tool, viz. Generalized Q-Analysis, which is suitable for handling big databases with many respondents. The paper shows that the application of Generalized Q-Analysis to common survey data enriches the results from the application of a conventional Q-Analysis. Furthermore, the study also highlights that, based on the views expressed by the surveyed visitors, the tourist areas concerned are quite different from each other in attracting specific classes of visitors. Therefore, functional specialization in the tourist sector seems to be an important anchor point for effective governance of urban tourism, not only in Europe, but also elsewhere in the world. Full article

Oral, live-attenuated rotavirus vaccines (ORVs) have significantly reduced severe diarrheal disease and deaths; however, vaccine performance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains lower than in high-income countries. With increasing global use, real-world data now provide important insights into strategies to improve vaccine impact in these settings. This review summarizes current evidence on the effectiveness and impact of ORVs in LMICs, with a focus on approaches to optimize performance, including alternative dosing schedules, booster doses in late infancy, and mixed vaccine regimens. Evidence on vaccine interchangeability offers practical solutions for countries facing supply disruptions and financial constraints. The review also highlights the growing importance of economic sustainability, particularly in the context of transitions from external funding support. Despite lower efficacy, ORVs continue to provide substantial public health benefits in LMICs. Sustained impact will depend on strengthening programme delivery, ensuring stable vaccine supply, and advancing next-generation vaccines. Continued evaluation of effectiveness, cost, and implementation strategies will be critical to maximizing long-term benefits in high-burden settings. Full article