Search Results (206)

This study explores the role of egoistic and altruistic values on green real estate purchase intention among young consumers in Canada aged between 20 and 40 years. In addition, this study examines the mediating effects of pro-environmental self-identity between social consumption motivation and green real estate purchase intention. A quantitative cross-sectional research design with an explanatory nature is employed. A total of 432 participating consumers in Canada, comprising 44% men and 48% women, with a graduate educational background accounting for 46.7%, and the ages between 24 and 35 contributing 75.2%, were part of the study, and the data collection used a survey method with a purposive sampling, followed by a respondent-driven method. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed on the scales used for the study variables. A structural equational model and path analysis were conducted to derive the results, and the relationships were positive and significant. The study results infer the factors contributing to green real estate purchase intention, including altruistic value, egoistic value, social consumption motivation, and pro-environmental self-identity, with pro-environmental self-identity mediating the relationship. This study emphasizes the relevance of consumer values in real estate purchasing decisions, urging developers and marketers to prioritize ethical ideas, sustainable practices, and building a feeling of belonging and social connectedness. Offering eco-friendly amenities and green construction methods might attract clients, but creating a secure area for social interaction is critical. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to explore the role of egoistic and altruistic values on purchase intention, mainly in the housing and real estate sector, with the target consumers being young consumers in Canada. Full article

This study employs a mixed method. In-depth interviews and observational studies are among the data collection approaches used in qualitative research. The quantitative method measures the weight of respondents’ answers to the distributed questionnaire. The questionnaire, containing 82 items, was distributed to 202 tourists to collect their perceptions based on the 4A tourist components. The results indicate that tourists’ perceptions of attractions, accessibility, and ancillary services are generally positive. In contrast, perceptions of amenity services are less favorable. Using the scores from IFAS, EFAS, and the I-E matrix, the total weighted scores for IFAS and EFAS are 2.68 and 2.83, respectively. The appropriate strategy for BTV is one of aggressive growth in a position of strengths and opportunities. The study highlights key techniques, including the application of information technology in service and promotion, the strengthening of community and government roles, the development of infrastructure and facilities, the utilization of external resources, sustainable innovation, and the encouragement of local governments to issue regulations for halal tourism villages. By identifying drivers and barriers from an economic, environmental, social, and cultural perspective, the SWOT analysis results help design strategies that can make positive contributions to the development of sustainable, community-based halal tourism and digital information in the future. Full article

Public open spaces have recently attracted significant attention in the national development programs aimed at improving urban livability and quality of life in Saudi Arabia. While many studies have examined the design quality of public open spaces in the country, a contextualized evaluation index that takes into account users’ preferences and the nation’s social context is still lacking. This gap calls for additional field studies to better understand users’ needs and their interactions with the current urban design practices of public open spaces. This study provides deeper insights into the design quality of public open spaces in Saudi Arabia. The study first identified 16 attributes of design quality of public open spaces, and then assessed a case study, Alrabie Park in Al-Khobar city, based on field observation and a survey of users’ satisfaction levels in relation to these quality attributes The findings revealed that the average of users’ satisfaction was 3.76 out of 5.0, indicating a neutral to satisfied response. Key strengths were noted in accessibility and users’ comfort, while areas needing improvement included environmental quality and amenities and services. The study recommends the development of a national evaluation index for public open spaces to create inclusive, safe, and vibrant environments that reflect Saudi Arabia’s urban and socio-cultural context. It also emphasizes the importance of community engagement in this regard to ensure that the design of public spaces aligns well with the users’ needs and helps to create sustainable urban spaces in the city. Full article

China’s rapid urbanization has driven tremendous socioeconomic development while posing new forms of social–spatial inequalities that challenge environmental sustainability and spatial justice. This study investigates urban park-accessibility patterns across 10 s-tier provincial capital cities in China, examining how these patterns relate to housing-price dynamics to reveal diverse manifestations of social–spatial (in)justice. Using comprehensive spatial analysis grounded in distributive justice principles, we measure park accessibility through multiple metrics: distance to the nearest park, park size, and the number of parks within a 15 min walk from residential communities. Our findings reveal significant variation in park accessibility across these cities, with distinctive patterns emerging in the relationship between housing prices and park access that reflect different forms of social–spatial exclusion and inclusion. While most cities demonstrate an unbalanced spatial distribution of parks, they exhibit different forms of this disparity. Some cities show consistent park access across housing-price categories, while others display correlations between high housing prices and superior park accessibility. We argue that these divergent patterns reflect each city’s unique combination of economic development trajectory, politically strategic positioning within national urban hierarchies, and geographical constraints. Through this comparative analysis of second-tier cities, this study contributes to broader understandings of social–spatial (in)justice and urban environmental inequalities within China’s urbanization process, highlighting the need for place-specific approaches to achieving equitable access to urban amenities. Full article

Nanomaterials’ special features enable their extensive application in chemical and biochemical nanosensors for food assays; food packaging; environmental, medicinal, and pharmaceutical applications; and photoelectronics. The analytical strategies based on novel nanomaterials have proved their pivotal role and increasing interest in the assay of key food components. The choice of transducer is pivotal for promoting the performance of electrochemical sensors. Electrochemical nano-transducers provide a large active surface area, enabling improved sensitivity, specificity, fast assay, precision, accuracy, and reproducibility, over the analytical range of interest, when compared to traditional sensors. Synthetic routes encompass physical techniques in general based on top–down approaches, chemical methods mainly relying on bottom–up approaches, or green technologies. Hybrid techniques such as electrochemical pathways or photochemical reduction are also applied. Electrochemical nanocomposite sensors relying on conducting polymers are amenable to performance improvement, achieved by integrating redox mediators, conductive hydrogels, and molecular imprinting polymers. Carbon-based or metal-based nanoparticles are used in combination with ionic liquids, enhancing conductivity and electron transfer. The composites may be prepared using a plethora of combinations of carbon-based, metal-based, or organic-based nanomaterials, promoting a high electrocatalytic response, and can accommodate biorecognition elements for increased specificity. Nanomaterials can function as pivotal components in electrochemical (bio)sensors applied to food assays, aiming at the analysis of bioactives, nutrients, food additives, and contaminants. Given the broad range of transducer types, detection modes, and targeted analytes, it is important to discuss the analytical performance and applicability of such nanosensors. Full article

Lifestyle blocks (LBs) are small rural holdings primarily used for residential and recreational purposes rather than commercial farming. Despite the rapid expansion of LBs over the last 25 years, which has been driven by lifestyle amenity preference and land subdivision incentives, their environmental performance remains understudied. This is the case even though their proliferation is leading to an irreversible loss of highly productive soils and accelerating land fragmentation in peri-urban areas. Through undertaking a systematic literature review of relevant studies on LBs in New Zealand and comparable international contexts, this paper aims to quantify existing knowledge and suggest future research needs and management strategies. It focuses on the environmental implications of LB activities in relation to water consumption, food production, energy use, and biodiversity protection. The results indicate that variation in land use practices and environmental awareness among LB owners leads to differing environmental outcomes. LBs offer opportunities for biodiversity conservation and small-scale food production through sustainable practices, while also presenting environmental challenges related to resource consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and loss of productive land for commercial agriculture. Targeted landscape design could help mitigate the environmental pressures associated with these properties while enhancing their potential to deliver ecological and sustainability benefits. The review highlights the need for further evaluation of the environmental sustainability of LBs and emphasises the importance of property design and adaptable planning policies and strategies that balance environmental sustainability, land productivity, and lifestyle owners’ aspirations. It underscores the potential for LBs to contribute positively to environmental management while addressing associated challenges, providing valuable insights for ecological conservation and sustainable land use planning. Full article

The increase in temperature in the built environment impedes the utilization of outdoor amenities and non-motorized transportation by residents of Arabian Gulf cities throughout the prolonged hot season. The urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon, denoted by the substantial temperature difference between the city and its periphery, is associated with multiple parameters. Building heights, setbacks, and configurations influence the temperature within street canyons. Nowadays, it is vital for urban designers to understand the role of these parameters in UHI effect, and translate those insights into design guidelines and urban forms they propose. This study delves into the relationship between building geometry and urban heat island effects in the context of Doha City, using residential building areas as the basis for comparison. Using dual-pronged methodology, the study entails simulating the dry bulb temperature and the sky view factor, alongside field measurements for land surface temperature (LST), across two residential zones within the city. This analytical approach integrates both prescribed building regulations and the physical characteristics of the extant urban fabric and configuration. Climate data were collected from the weather station in the format of EnergyPlus weather data, and LST historical data were collected from satellite imagery datasets. The results show a correlation between building geometry and UHI-related metrics, particularly evident during nocturnal periods. Notably, a negative correlation was found between the sky view factor and temperature increments. The study concludes with a strong correlation between building geometry and UHI, underscoring the imperative of integrating the building geometry and configuration considerations within the broader context of urban environmental assessments. While similar studies have been undertaken in different regions, there is a research gap in UHI within the GCC region. This study aims to contribute valuable insights to understanding urban heat island dynamics in Gulf cities. Full article

With the goal of sustainable urbanization, eco-cities have garnered significant global attention in recent decades. Unlike eco-city renovation or renewal, the construction of a new eco-city represents a comprehensive urbanization process that integrates environmental sustainability with livability. To evaluate the outcomes of new eco-city construction in China, this study employs a dual approach combining objective achievements and residents’ subjective satisfaction to systematically examine the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City. The analysis encompasses five dimensions: environmental amenity, life safety, residential functionality, traffic capability, and economic well-being, with the relative weights of specific indicators determined through the entropy method, expert scoring, and analytic hierarchy process. The findings reveal that based on objective indicators, the eco-city’s overall performance nearly doubled during its first phase of development, with life safety showing the most notable improvements. However, subjective assessments revealed that overall resident satisfaction remained below 70%, with residential functionality receiving the highest rating. The annual progress of the eco-city did not consistently align with residents’ needs, and no clear correlation was found between the eco-city’s current state and public sentiment. For sustainable development, the eco-city must address its shortcomings and better cater to residents’ demands across various dimensions through targeted and effective strategies. Full article

Health and wellness tourism is a rapidly expanding segment of the global tourism industry, driven by increasing consumer awareness of well-being and lifestyle enhancement. As the demand for wellness travel grows, destinations are expected to offer high standards of safety, hygiene, rehabilitation, and holistic experiences. This study aims to identify and evaluate the key attributes and determinants for developing health and wellness tourism destinations by applying the 6As Tourism Development framework: Attractions, Accessibility, Amenities, Activities, Available Packages, and Ancillary Services. A multi-criteria decision-making approach, specifically the TOPSIS, was employed to assess destination potential through a case study of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. The results indicate that Attractions, Accessibility, and Amenities are the top three priorities for wellness tourists. Sub-criteria such as natural scenery, cultural significance, accessibility for all, safety, and accommodation quality are particularly influential. Three districts in Nakhon Ratchasima were found to exhibit distinct strengths—Pak Chong is best suited for rehabilitative tourism (e.g., aroma and water therapy), aligning with mind and nutrition wellness components; Wang Nam Khiao is ideal for ecotourism and cultural experiences, supporting environmental and nutritional dimensions; while Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima excels in sports tourism, supporting physical and nutritional well-being. The study offers practical insights for policymakers and tourism stakeholders to design sustainable, visitor-centered wellness destinations. The proposed framework supports strategic planning and resource allocation for health-focused tourism development. Full article

Background: The marine bacterium Vibrio campbellii has been a model system for the study of bacterial quorum sensing and is increasingly recognized as a formidable aquatic animal pathogen. While genetically tractable, the study of this species in basic and applied research still relies upon laborious and time-consuming conjugation methods for plasmid DNA transformation. Methods: In this study, we developed an electroporation protocol using the most studied strain of this species, V. campbellii ATCC BAA-1116. An electroporation efficiency of up to 3 × 10⁴ CFU/μg DNA was demonstrated using derived parameters (10 kV/cm, 400 Ω, 25 μF), which took cell growth phase at harvest, plasmid DNA amount, and recovery conditions into account. The electroporation protocol was tested using several different plasmids and with additional strains of V. campbellii and sister species V. harveyi. Results: Interestingly, of the eight other V. campbellii strains tested, only three others, which also happened to be the three most recent environmental isolates with the fewest number of laboratory passages, were amenable to electroporation-mediated transformation. Conclusions: This electroporation protocol expands the tool set for studying V. campbellii and provides interesting insights into DNA transformation and uptake in this and related bacterial species. Full article

Extreme weather events and rising temperatures pose significant risks, not only in urban areas but also in metropolitan forests, that affect the well-being of the people who visit them. City forests are considered one of the best bets for mitigating high temperatures within civic areas. Such areas modulate microclimates in contemporary cities, offering environmental, social, and economic advantages. Therefore, comprehending the intricate relationships between municipal forests and the climatic changes of various destinations is crucial for attaining healthier and more sustainable city environments for people. In this research, the thermal comfort index (Modified Temperature–Humidity Index (MTHI)) has been analysed using Landsat images of six urban forests in London during July 2022, when the area first experienced record-breaking temperatures of over 40 °C. Our results show a significant growth in the MTHI that goes from 2.5 (slightly hot) under normal conditions to 3.4 (hot) during the heat wave period. This situation intensifies the environmental discomfort for visitors and highlights the necessity to enhance their adaptability to future temperature increases. In turn, it was found that the places most affected by heat waves are those that have grass cover or that have small associated buildings. Conversely, forested regions or those with lakes and/or ponds exhibit lower temperatures, which results in enhanced resilience. These findings are noteworthy in their concentration on one of the UK’s most severe heat waves and illustrate the efficacy of integrating spectral measurements with statistical analyses to formulate customized regional initiatives. Therefore, the results reported will allow the implementation of new planning and adaptation policies such as incorporating thermal comfort into planning processes, improving green and blue amenities, increasing tree densities that are resilient to rising temperatures, and increasing environmental comfort conditions in metropolitan forests. Finally, the applicability of this approach in similar urban contexts is highlighted. Full article

This study presents a sustainable approach to transform waste cooking oil (WCO) into a multifunctional 3D-printable photocurable elastomer with integrated self-healing capabilities. A linear monomer, WCO-based methacrylate fatty acid ethyl ester (WMFAEE), was synthesized via a sequential strategy of transesterification, epoxidation, and ring-opening esterification. By copolymerizing WMFAEE with hydroxypropyl acrylate (HPA), a novel photocurable elastomer was developed, which could be amenable to molding using an LCD light-curing 3D printer. The resulting WMFAEE-HPA elastomer exhibits exceptional mechanical flexibility (elongation at break: 645.09%) and autonomous room-temperature self-healing properties, achieving 57.82% recovery of elongation after 24 h at 25 °C. Furthermore, the material demonstrates weldability (19.97% retained elongation after 12 h at 80 °C) and physical reprocessability (7.75% elongation retention after initial reprocessing). Additional functionalities include pressure-sensitive adhesion (interfacial toughness: 70.06 J/m² on glass), thermally triggered shape memory behavior (fixed at −25 °C with reversible deformation/recovery at ambient conditions), and notable biodegradability (13.25% mass loss after 45-day soil burial). Molecular simulations reveal that the unique structure of the WMFAEE monomer enables a dual mechanism of autonomous self-healing at room temperature without external stimuli: chain diffusion and entanglement-driven gap closure, followed by hydrogen bond-mediated network reorganization. Furthermore, the synergy between monomer chain diffusion/entanglement and dynamic hydrogen bond reorganization allows the WMFAEE-HPA system to achieve a balance of multifunctional integration. Moreover, the integration of these multifunctional attributes highlights the potential of this WCO-derived photocurable elastomer for various possible 3D printing applications, such as flexible electronics, adaptive robotics, environmentally benign adhesives, and so on. It also establishes a paradigm for converting low-cost biowastes into high-performance smart materials through precision molecular engineering. Full article

Pharmaceuticals are a class of emerging contaminants that have been widely detected in wastewater treatment facilities’ influent and effluent. They threaten the environment and non-target life. Thus, a promising treatment method, soybean peroxidase (SBP; EC 1.11.1.7), which catalyzes the oxidation of phenolic and anilino donors in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, was investigated as a treatment method. The aim was to remove two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diclofenac (DCF) and aceclofenac (ACF), from synthetic wastewater via enzymatic oxidation, oligomerization, and precipitation. SBP can be extracted from soybean hulls, a byproduct of the soybean industry. DCF (0.10 mM) and ACF (0.10 mM) were amenable to SBP-catalyzed removal under the optimal operational parameters of pH 5 and 4; hydrogen peroxide: 0.40 and 0.45 mM; and minimum effective enzyme concentration: 0.15 and 0.60 U/mL, respectively. The initial first-order rate constant and half-life of each substrate were also determined under the established optimum conditions. Under these optimum conditions, the half-lives for DCF and ACF were 1.43 ± 0.01 and 0.84 ± 0.05 min, respectively. The results demonstrated that SBP is a robust enzyme that can achieve more than 95% removal for both compounds. Mass spectrometric analysis of the enzymatic treatment products of DCF revealed the formation of an oxidative tetramer. The SBP-catalyzed reaction is a highly effective method for removing DCF and ACF from synthetic wastewater, highlighting its potential for environmental cleanup of pharmaceutical contaminants. Full article

This study aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of the decision-making process among older adults regarding leaving their homes and relocating to senior living communities (SLCs) in the United States. Specifically, it explored various aspects of the relocation experience, including the reasons behind their decision to relocate, the factors influencing their choice of destination, and the challenges encountered during the decision-making process. The study’s data were collected from 44 older adults residing in SLCs through five in-depth, semi-structured focus group discussions. The study results revealed that older adults’ decisions to relocate to an SLC were influenced by health-related factors, housing- and property-related factors, family dynamics, and socio-psychological factors. Older adults evaluated environmental and locational factors, facility attractions and amenities, and opportunities for socialization when selecting an SLC for relocation. Additionally, the study identified several barriers faced by older adults, including family-related barriers, economic constraints, socio-psychological barriers, and barriers related to knowledge and information about SLCs. Full article

Green roofs are becoming common in cities around the world. Rooftop vegetation faces severe and unique conditions ranging from shallow substrates, high irradiance, water limitation, flooding, extreme temperatures, and strong winds. To benefit the most from this technology for improving urban climate, ecological interactions, and human life quality, it is important to have a toolbox of candidate plant species adapted to the rooftop environment. Herein, an effort was made to provide an overview of the global scenario of green roof plants. A quantitative and qualitative review examining 439 articles published within an approximate 14-year time window (2009 to mid-2023) was conducted to categorize plants amenable to use in green roof conditions, and to identify and discuss their key morphophysiological phenotypic features. This dataset allowed the establishment of archetypal green roof plants for use in different climates. Similar traits were recorded between temperate and continental climate species on one side and between tropical and dry climate plants on the other. The identified set of species and their archetypes within each major climate zone can be useful for readily adopting and expanding new green roofs and as a guideline for incorporating new taxa into this urban environmental technology. Full article