Search Results (136)

Against the backdrop of global climate change, drought–flood abrupt alternation (DFAA) has become a major compound climate extreme threatening ecosystem stability and sustainable watershed management. This study investigated the spatiotemporal characteristics and ecological responses of DFAA in the Jialing River Basin, China, using meteorological and hydrological observations from 1971 to 2020. DFAA events were identified using the Standardized Weighted Average Precipitation Index (SWAP) and run theory, and their spatiotemporal heterogeneity was characterized using spatial autocorrelation analysis. The Long-duration DFAA Index (LDFAI) was derived using the WEP-L distributed hydrological model. Ecological responses during 2000–2020 were evaluated by integrating the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI), grey relational analysis, and a Copula-based conditional probability model. The results showed that drought-to-flood events exhibited stronger spatial clustering than flood-to-drought events. Ecosystem responses showed significant lag effects, averaging 6.9 months for spring–summer events and 5 months for summer–autumn events, with greater sensitivity during the summer–autumn period. Under DTF events, the probability of maintaining relatively high ecological quality was significantly higher than under FTD events, whereas FTD events were associated with a higher probability of ecological degradation. Under compound scenarios, consecutive same-type events were more conducive to ecosystem stability, while alternating sequences of different event types significantly amplified negative ecological stress and represented high-risk scenarios for ecological degradation. These findings provide scientific support for adaptive watershed management, ecological restoration, and climate change adaptation in drought–flood-prone regions. Full article

Investigating the influence level and law of various factors on the distribution of reflected overpressure resulting from explosions in vehicles carrying hazardous chemicals or explosives is of great significance for accounting for the impact of load distribution in the blast-resistant design of structures. This paper uses LS-DYNA software to simulate and investigate the effects of five factors (charge mass ($M$), charge eccentricity ($X$), the aspect ratio of cuboid charge (${\delta }_{L/H}$), charge inclination ($\theta$), and tunnel diameter ($D$)) on the distribution of reflected overpressure on the lining. The grey relational degree reveals the relative influence of each factor on the reflected overpressure parameters of the lining cross-section (RPP_CS) at the blast center. The results show that $M$, $X$, and $D$ have the greatest influence on the RPP_CS of the blast center. An independent analysis of each factor revealed that the distribution of reflected overpressure from the central charge changes from two-dimensional symmetry to one-dimensional symmetry. Non-central charge disrupts its symmetric distribution. Inclined charge results in an asymmetric distribution. The intensity and incident angle of the shock wave have a significant effect on the location of the maximum reflected overpressure on the lining cross-section (RP_CS-max) at the blast center. In the RP_CS-max at the blast center, $X$ and $\theta$ change their location. $\theta$ can alter its distribution shape. When ${\delta }_{L/H}$ is too large, increasing $M$ or ${\delta }_{L/H}$ will both reduce the reflected overpressure. The influence of various factors on RPP_CS is different. Increases in $M$ and $D$ reduce the non-uniform distribution of RP_CS, but other factors have the opposite effect. The research findings provide a basis for considering the effects of load distribution in the design of structures resistant to internal explosions. Full article

ICT governance is becoming indispensable for the planning and delivery of public sector services as more digital platforms are utilised in these processes. This research presents an overview and interpretation of the ICT governance adoption process in Africa’s public sector organisations using McClelland’s Need Theory. This systematic review used the SPAR-4-SLR methodology and the ADO framework. A collection of scholarly articles and grey literature on ICT governance between 2010 and 2025 was obtained through searches of the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Based on the results, it is apparent that ICT governance adoption in Africa is institutionally uneven and cannot be explained solely by technological models. While factors such as governance systems, regulations, and alignment contribute to institutional adoption of governance, relational factors such as stable leadership, cooperation, accountability, and trust seem to carry more weight. From the review, it becomes clear that, in some instances, governance structures are used symbolically to demonstrate adherence and legitimacy without operational integration within the institutions. This study concludes that ICT governance reforms in the African public sector must strike a balance among authority, cooperation, and governance performance to create value for society. Full article

Operational risk assessment in complex industrial systems like mineral processing plants is hindered by inherent uncertainty and incomplete information. This study presents an integrated grey system theory-based framework to address this challenge. Combining Grey Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (GST-MCDM) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), the methodology enables a systemic analysis that prioritizes risks, quantifies interdependencies, and measures cumulative burden across four key objectives: time, cost, quality, and safety. Applied to a case study at the Gohar Zamin iron ore processing plant (Iran), the model analyzed 26 operational risks, classifying them into Critical (8 risks), Significant (9), and Controllable (9) tiers. Electrical power shortage (RPS: 0.19) and raw material supply delay (RPS: 0.21) were identified as the most critical risks. The analysis quantified that the safety objective bears the highest cumulative risk burden at 32%, primarily due to human factor vulnerabilities, while cyber-physical threats ranked among the top 8 critical risks. Strong interdependencies were revealed, notably a quality cascade (relational grade: 0.84) between poor consumable materials and final product failure. Sensitivity analysis confirmed high model robustness (Spearman’s p = 0.91). The framework provides managers with an actionable tool for strategic, cluster-based mitigation and evidence-based resource allocation, emphasizing investment in human capital as a core risk reduction strategy. This research contributes a replicable, quantitative methodology for enhancing operational resilience under uncertainty in capital-intensive industries. Full article

Background/Objectives: Associations between scores on tests of sensory integration functions demonstrated in numerous studies over six decades have contributed to the development of Ayres Sensory Integration^® (ASI) theory and practice. Understanding these “patterns” aids therapists in their interpretation of assessment results, ensuring appropriate and effective intervention. This study aimed to describe and discuss published research on identified patterns related to constructs in the Ayres Sensory Integration^® approach. Methods: Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist were used. The literature review search was guided by the following criteria: population (children aged from 3 years to 12 years and 11 months), context (the literature within ASI), and concept (sensory integration patterns). Data were sourced from the following databases: CHINAL, ProQuest (Health & Medical Complete), SABINET, Web of Science, PubMed, OpenGreyEU, Greylit.org, and CADTH GreyMatters. There was no date constraint, and all available data were collected. Results: After reviewing 998 peer-reviewed articles, 17 articles met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction, charting, and analysis indicating a clear pattern of assessments were used to determine the sensory integration patterns. Similarities and differences between sensory integration patterns were found over time, in different diagnostic groups and different settings. Conclusions: The ASI approach is based on detailed research on the development of assessment instruments used for evaluation and sensory integration patterns used for interpretation of the assessment results. This research has been conducted over the past 60 years and contributes to an evidence-based therapeutic approach. Full article

To reveal the damage–seepage coupling mechanism of delayed floor water inrush induced by small fault activation under mining-induced stress, a cubic cement mortar specimen containing a persistent small fault was prepared based on similarity theory. Systematic triaxial loading–seepage tests were conducted under different fault fracture zone particle gradations, fracture zone widths, and fault angles, with simultaneous monitoring of stress–strain behavior, acoustic emission (AE) characteristics, and seepage flow evolution. The results show that: ① The peak strength decreases with increasing fracture zone width, but increases with increasing Talbot gradation coefficient (a fractal grading method) and fault angle. The failure mode transitions from shear-dominated to tension–shear composite failure. The spatial localization of AE events corresponds well with macroscopic fracture surfaces, and the AE source amplitude is positively correlated with compressive strength. ② The seepage flow exhibits a nonlinear evolution pattern of “compaction stabilization—stepwise rise—plateau stabilization” during loading. In the early loading stage, compaction of the fracture zone causes a slight decrease in flow. Approaching peak strength, the initiation and propagation of through-going fractures create interconnected seepage channels, leading to a stepwise jump in flow. In the post-peak stage, accompanied by fine particle erosion and framework reconfiguration, the flow tends to stabilize. A larger fracture zone width, smaller gradation coefficient, and smaller fault angle result in a more significant post-peak seepage surge, with the maximum flow rate reaching 3.6 times that of the specimen with a 2 mm wide fracture zone. ③ Grey relational analysis indicates that the fault angle is the most sensitive factor affecting the risk of delayed water inrush (correlation degree 0.788), followed by particle gradation and fracture zone width. The study demonstrates that under monotonic loading conditions, the damage evolution and seepage response of small faults are jointly controlled by their geometric parameters and internal structure, with the fractal grading method effectively quantifying the role of particle gradation. The findings provide a theoretical basis for risk assessment of delayed water inrush from small faults in working faces above confined aquifers. Full article

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is considered a critical tool for sustainable supply chains within the scope of the European Green Deal. DPP significantly contributes to improving traceability, transparency, reliability, and circularity in supply chains, enabling a more robust and secure structure. However, despite this significant potential, achieving full integration of DPP is hampered by various organizational, technological, and environmental barriers. This study used the Grey Decision Making Testing and Evaluation Laboratory (Grey DEMATEL) approach, the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, and Force Field Theory to identify and categorize these barriers. A total of 27 barriers were identified based on a comprehensive literature review and the opinions of academic and industry experts, and these barriers were categorized into organizational, technological, and environmental categories. The study findings demonstrate that technological barriers, in particular, have a causal effect that strongly triggers both organizational and environmental challenges. The causal analysis conducted reveals the interdependencies among barriers and guides practitioners and policymakers in identifying resistance points to change. Furthermore, the study offers important insights that will help supply chain stakeholders transition from reactive approaches to proactive strategies when managing DPP-related barriers. The insights gained in this regard support the design of collaborative governance mechanisms to create a more resilient, transparent, manageable, secure, and circular supply chain ecosystem. Full article

Background: Breast cancer survivorship extends beyond physical recovery to include psychological and social adjustment, particularly how women construct and perceive their identity as survivors. While survivor identity has been widely studied in high-income countries, there is limited evidence from African contexts. This review synthesizes existing literature on breast cancer survivor identity in Africa, with a focus on patterns of self-perception, associated psychosocial factors, and implications for survivorship care. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, African Index Medicus, and grey literature for studies published between 2010 and 2026. Eligible studies reported primary data on survivorship and survivor identity among African women with Breast Cancer. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Confidence in qualitative findings was evaluated using the CERQual approach. Results: Of 32 records identified, seven studies met the inclusion criteria, representing Nigeria, Ethiopia, Botswana, and South Africa. Most studies employed qualitative methodologies, including grounded theory, phenomenology, interviews, and focus groups, with two incorporating quantitative or mixed methods. Key psychosocial domains included self-identity, coping strategies, social support, quality of life, and body image. Three overarching survivor identity patterns were identified: (1) Embracing/Constructive, characterized by acceptance of the survivor identity and its integration into personal growth and empowerment; (2) Ambiguous/Fluctuating, reflecting uncertainty and shifting between patient and survivor identities; and (3) Non-salient/Resisting, where the survivor identity was rejected or deemed irrelevant. Methodological appraisal indicated generally high study quality, with strong credibility and confirmability, though transferability was moderate. CERQual assessments indicated high confidence in findings related to embracing identity, moderate-to-high confidence for ambiguous identity, and moderate confidence for resisting identity. Conclusions: Breast cancer survivor identity among African women is diverse and shaped by cultural, psychosocial, and healthcare contexts. Constructive identity formation is associated with empowerment and personal growth, whereas ambiguous or resistant identities suggest ongoing psychosocial challenges. Interventions should incorporate psychosocial support, peer engagement, and culturally responsive survivorship programs to promote positive identity development. Future research should prioritize rural populations and longitudinal designs to better understand identity trajectories over time. Strengthening survivorship care in Africa requires a holistic approach that addresses both psychological and physical dimensions to enhance overall quality of life. Full article

Water scarcity and water quality degradation in river basins are critical issues addressed by water resources management authorities. Grey relational analysis is adopted to rank key factors affecting water resources in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Bankruptcy theory is combined with an improved Nash bargaining game model, and spatiotemporal constraints of cross-regional water resources are incorporated to analyze water allocation under multiple water supply scenarios. Results indicate that the GM (1,1) model achieves Level II (good) prediction accuracy, with relative errors below 6% in most years. The cooperative game model (CGM) yields the highest correlation coefficient of 0.996, indicating the optimal allocation performance. The water demand satisfaction rate in Beijing is the highest among the three regions. An economic compensation range indicator (e) is established for water resource trading games. As the trading water volume increases from 0.01 to 20 billion m³, the feasible compensation range expands from 463.57 to 1,757,045.78 ten thousand yuan. These results provide a scientific basis for rational, stable, and sustainable water resources allocation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Full article

Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s, introduced in December 2025, made it the first country worldwide to implement a nationwide prohibition on major platforms for adolescents. This narrative literature review compares Australia’s age-based restriction with international approaches to protecting young people from online risks. The review synthesized 26 academic studies and 15 grey literature sources (policy documents, legislation, and official reports published between 2015 and 2025). It employed Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory to examine effects across family, platform, institutional, and broader socio-legal contexts. Three key themes emerged: (A) Empirical findings on age-threshold policies remain inconclusive and context-dependent. While unregulated use relates to psychological vulnerabilities, structured and intentional engagement can promote social connection, identity exploration, and support access, especially for marginalized youth. (B) Global responses vary, favoring alternatives like parental consent, platform duty-of-care obligations, and screen-time control measures. (C) Balanced, sustainable harm reduction depends on combining parental involvement, platform accountability, and digital literacy education. Overall, while Australia’s precautionary approach addresses legitimate developmental and public health concerns, its effectiveness seems limited by enforcement challenges, risks of digital exclusion, and potential human rights issues. Bronfenbrenner’s framework underscores the need for coordinated governance across interconnected systems to lessen online harm. Full article

Mountain railway engineering is constrained by fragile ecology, complex terrain, and intensive construction interfaces, making the project-level selection and implementation of green technologies a critical management issue. Existing studies mainly focus on single-technology assessment or static weighting and provide limited support for linking planning-stage prioritization with implementation-stage demonstration. This study proposes a multi-stage importance–performance evaluation framework for green technologies in mountain railway engineering. The framework integrates rough set theory for factor screening, the CRITIC–grey relational method for planning-stage importance assessment, Extremely Randomized Trees for implementation-stage importance identification, and the Logical Framework Approach for deviation diagnosis and management feedback. In the example application, four of seven candidate evaluation factors were retained after rough set reduction, and the corresponding weights for environmental impact, lifecycle, technical efficiency, and compatibility were 0.247, 0.263, 0.264, and 0.238, respectively. Under the simulated construction scenario, stage-to-stage deviations ranged from −0.24 to 0.11. These results show that the proposed framework can identify key factors, compare prescribed and implementation-stage importance patterns, and support adjustment-oriented management decisions. Because the implementation-stage demonstration is based on simulated rather than real project data, this study is positioned as a methodological and conceptual demonstration rather than an empirically validated case study. Full article

[Problem] Converting viral tourism popularity into long-term destination sustainability is a central governance challenge in the digital era. [Aim] This study aims to explicitly measure how emotional value mediates the transition from ephemeral online traffic to durable offline place attachment. [Methodology] Adopting a descriptive mixed-methods approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 purposively selected participants (including tourists and locals) recruited via on-site intercepts and online snowball sampling. The inclusion criterion required active engagement with Harbin’s digital tourism discourse. Qualitative transcripts were coded using the NVivo 12 software and subsequently converted into panel data. Grey Panel Relational Clustering was then utilized to geometrically track tourist emotional trajectories. [Results] The analysis identified three structural tourist typologies—the Full-Link Empathy Type, Pragmatic Verification Type, and Traffic-Driven Co-conspirator Type—and revealed three corresponding synergistic paths driving online–offline integration: Virtual–Real Isomorphism, Complementarity, and Symbiosis. [Conclusions] The findings demonstrate that sustainable destination resilience depends fundamentally on the qualitative composition of emotional engagement across different tourist types, rather than sheer visitor volume. [Implications] This study contributes an empirically grounded, emotional value-driven framework to sustainable tourism theory, offering differentiated governance strategies for destinations navigating the volatility of platform-driven attention economies. Full article

This critical review interrogates how contemporary diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) reforms in STEM education engage the deeper project of epistemic decolonisation. Framed by critical race theory, feminist science studies, and decolonial scholarship, it asks whether inclusion agendas move beyond representational expansion to disrupt Eurocentric hierarchies of legitimacy; which pedagogical and curricular innovations enact pluriversal STEM; and what institutional conditions constrain transformation. A multi-stage search of Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, Google Scholar, and grey literature (2010–2025) yielded 152 records; PRISMA-informed screening produced 80 sources for interpretive thematic synthesis. Findings show that DEI initiatives have increased access and participation, yet typically preserve assumptions of scientific neutrality and universalism, leaving epistemic injustice largely intact. In contrast, decolonial innovations, such as two-eyed seeing, culturally sustaining and place-based pedagogies, history, philosophy, and sociology of science integration, and project-based learning grounded in indigenous knowledge systems, reposition learners and communities as co-producers of knowledge and reframe science as situated and relational. However, these practices remain peripheral due to assessment regimes, accreditation pressures, funding and tenure incentives, disciplinary gatekeeping, and limited educator preparation. The review argues that meaningful reform requires structural reconfiguration of curricula, evaluation, and institutional reward systems to recognise multiple epistemologies, cultivate ethical relationality, and enable sustained community partnership. Full article

The engawa, a threshold space in traditional Japanese architecture, has been widely cited as the archetypal manifestation of Kurokawa’s grey space theory. However, prevailing interpretations treat it as a static prototype, overlooking the transformation of its spatial mechanisms across history. The present study addresses this lacuna through a comparative case analysis of three representative teahouses. The following three styles are examined in this study: the sixteenth-century sōan style, the early seventeenth-century samurai style, and the early seventeenth-century shoin-zukuri style. The evolution of the engawa’s mediating function is traced through these three styles. An analytical framework comprising five dimensions—boundary permeability, sequential flow, material tactility, integration of natural elements, and visual transparency—is applied consistently across all cases. The analysis demonstrates a discernible evolutionary trajectory, commencing with an inwardly contracting spiritual threshold in Myōki-an, progressing to an outwardly differentiating social interface in ma, and culminating in a meticulously crafted aesthetic artefact in Mittan. The present findings demonstrate that the engawa is not a fixed spatial prototype but rather a dynamic mediator whose form adapts to shifting social, cultural, and spiritual demands. The study posits that the essence of intermediary space does not lie in any specific configuration, but rather in its capacity to mediate between opposing realms, including self and nature, individual and society, and function and beauty. This reinterpretation provides a theoretical foundation for contemporary architectural practice, proposing that designers should prioritize diagnosing the relational challenges that intermediary spaces are designed to address, as opposed to merely imitating historical forms. Full article

As countries confront rapid population ageing alongside escalating climate hazards, long-term care (LTC) systems are increasingly exposed to climate-related risks yet remain under-recognised within climate adaptation policy. This study aims to bridge the gap between climate and health adaptation frameworks and LTC system planning by developing a climate-tailored integrated LTC framework. A horizon scanning and theory-informed synthesis approach was employed, drawing on peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 2010 and 2025 to identify climate hazards affecting LTC users and systems. Evidence was organised by hazard type and analysed in relation to system-level disruption mechanisms and adaptation functions. Findings demonstrate that major climate hazards, including heatwaves, flooding, storms, droughts, wildfires, and air pollution, disproportionately affect LTC users, leading to increased morbidity, cognitive decline, and functional deterioration. At the same time, LTC systems are vulnerable to cascading infrastructure failures, workforce strain, supply chain disruptions, and service discontinuities. Despite these risks, the WHO Operational Framework for Climate-Resilient and Low-Carbon Health Systems does not explicitly address LTC, while the WHO Integrated LTC Framework does not incorporate climate-related risks. In response, this paper proposes a climate-tailored LTC framework that systematically embeds climate risk, adaptation, and mitigation within the four core LTC domains of needs, governance, service delivery, and system enablers. Equity, user participation, and decarbonisation are integrated as cross-cutting principles. The framework provides a policy-oriented architecture to strengthen climate-resilient LTC systems and align long-term care reform with broader climate and sustainable development strategies. Full article