Search Results (85)

In recent decades, the digital transformation has increasingly influenced structures and practices in community social services in Spain and other European countries. The progressive integration of telecare systems, home automation, mobile applications, and digital tools into the community sphere has enabled the optimisation of certain interventions, but it has also generated ethical dilemmas and new forms of inequality. This article examines how technologies are incorporated into community social services and home care practices in Spain within a context marked by gender, class, and age inequalities. Drawing on qualitative research involving thirty-two interviews with care recipients, carers, and representatives of social organisations, we analyse the socio-technological networks that mediate care, their impact on self-determination, and the limits and resistance to digitalisation. Our findings indicate that, within the community sphere, technologies can only contribute effectively to greater well-being when they are integrated into an ethical framework that prioritises human accompaniment, social co-responsibility, and the recognition of care as a right. We further discuss the tensions faced by cooperative and community organisations in providing sustained inclusive and dignified services within a precarious socio-economic context that highlights shared responsibility. Finally, we offer reflections on technological innovation, advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration that strengthens community networks and advances social justice. Full article

The global trade of tin-containing products has become increasingly complex due to supply–demand imbalances, geopolitical risks, and high trade concentration. Ensuring supply chain stability is critical for sectors such as electronics. This study constructed a global tin trade network (2000–2024), applied complex network analysis, and developed a cascading failure model to assess structural vulnerability and simulate supply disruptions. Results showed a highly concentrated network, with China, the United States, and Germany acting as key hubs. China emerged as the largest exporter of tin-containing final products in 2024 (84.70 kt), while the United States was the largest importer (27.82 kt) in 2024. The electronics and machinery sectors were particularly vulnerable, exhibiting large avalanche sizes and deep propagation hierarchies, while home appliances and food packaging showed comparatively lower risks. Simulations further revealed that disruptions in major supplier countries, particularly China, could trigger cascading failures affecting 193 economies (80.1% of all trading partners). To improve resilience, this study highlighted the importance of supply diversification and inventory buffers, industry differentiation management, and real-time monitoring systems, which are essential for building a more robust and sustainable global tin trade network. Full article

Regulations of next-generation networks (NGNs) have played a central role in the transition from copper networks to broadband networks in Fiber to The Home (FTTH), also allowing for a reduction in asymmetries between incumbent operators and their competitors. Despite common European Union directives, telecom infrastructure development varies across countries due to differences in regulation, investment models, legacy networks, operators’ behavior, and public policies. This study analyzes the evolution of Very High-Capacity Networks (VHCNs), focusing on the implementation of FTTH in four European countries (Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany), and in South Korea. The latter was included as a benchmark in government-driven broadband development. The analysis considers key factors influencing FTTH development, including infrastructure regulation, fiber investment incentives, incumbent strategies, infrastructure sharing and co-investment, rural coverage plans, and demographic differences of each country. The results show that regulatory measures directly influence the pace of FTTH installation; but its effectiveness also depends on investment incentives, market competition, and demand factors. Portugal, Spain, and France have high FTTH coverage despite different regulatory and investment models. In contrast, Germany relied on xDSL over copper networks for a long time, causing significant delays, with an FTTH coverage rate of 42.5% and a penetration rate of only 12.3%, putting the European Union’s 2030 goal of universal 1 Gbps coverage at risk. South Korea shows that long-term public policies, demand-side incentives, and high digital adoption accelerate mass FTTH adoption and turn telecommunications infrastructure into a key driver of economic and technological development. Full article

Adopting a parent-firm perspective, this study investigates how digital transformation and its synergy with the specific advantages of emerging market multinational enterprises affect the performance of overseas subsidiaries. Using panel data from 448 Chinese listed manufacturing multinationals and their 1179 overseas subsidiaries over the period 2011–2021, regression analyses reveal that parent-firm digital transformation significantly enhances overseas subsidiary performance. Moreover, this positive effect is more pronounced when the parent firm exhibits a stronger Institutional void coping capability. The moderating analysis further indicates that the firm’s internal business group network strengthens this relationship, whereas parent-firm host-country experience does not show a significant moderating role. By examining how market multinational enterprises integrate home-country-specific advantages with digital capabilities, and by analyzing the contingent roles of organizational capabilities and host-country experience, this research extends the theoretical framework of multinational enterprises’ competitive advantage in the digital era. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for emerging market firms to enhance overseas operational efficiency and strengthen sustainable global competitiveness through digital transformation. Full article

Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide, with ischemic stroke accounting for approximately 62.4% of all cases. This condition often results in persistent motor dysfunction, significantly reducing patients’ productivity. The effectiveness of rehabilitation therapy is crucial for post-stroke motor recovery. However, limited access to rehabilitation services particularly in low- and middle-income countries remains a major barrier due to a shortage of experienced professionals. This challenge also affects home-based rehabilitation, an alternative to conventional therapy, which primarily relies on standard evaluation methods that are heavily dependent on expert interpretation. Electromyography (EMG) offers an objective and alternative approach to assessing muscle activity during stroke therapy in home environments. Recent advancements in deep learning (DL) have opened new avenues for automating the classification of EMG data, enabling differentiation between post-stroke patients and healthy individuals. This study introduces a novel methodology for transforming EMG signals into time–frequency representation (TFR) spectrograms, which serve as input for a convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The proposed Tri-CCNN model achieved the highest classification accuracy of 93.33%, outperforming both the Shallow CNN and the classic LeNet-5 architecture. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of spectrogram amplitude distributions revealed distinct patterns in stroke patients, demonstrating the method’s potential for objective stroke assessment. These findings suggest that the proposed approach could serve as an effective tool for enhancing stroke classification and rehabilitation procedures, with significant implications for automating rehabilitation monitoring in home-based rehabilitation (HBR) settings. Full article

The accelerated expansion of telework, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, has transformed global work dynamics. Despite this, limited research exists on the implications of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) on home workspaces. Factors like thermal comfort, lighting, air quality, and noise significantly influence the well-being, productivity, and health of teleworkers. Home spaces are often not designed to meet the environmental quality standards of traditional offices, altering indoor conditions. This scoping review investigates the IEQ–telework relationship, analyzing 41 studies from 18 countries. Findings show that elevated noise levels and insufficient lighting increase stress and fatigue, while inadequate air quality reduces cognitive performance and creativity. Conversely, access to natural light, pleasant views, and thermal comfort improves overall satisfaction and productivity. The study identifies a fragmented and poorly connected research network, with few active global groups studying IEQ in home workspaces. These results underscore the need for interdisciplinary research to address the societal and environmental challenges of teleworking and develop equitable, healthy remote environments. Future studies must consider cultural diversity and underrepresented regions to bridge existing knowledge gaps. Full article

The Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) Fellowship Program, established in 2008, aims to develop future leaders in sustainable forest management (SFM) within the Asia-Pacific region. This study represents the first systematic evaluation of the APFNet Fellowship Program, focusing on its effectiveness in building capacity for forest conservation and management. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative pre- and post-program surveys with qualitative interviews and case studies of fellows. Quantitative analysis of survey data from 57 fellows revealed significant improvements in knowledge and skills related to forest conservation and sustainable development. Paired-sample t-tests showed statistically significant increases in the knowledge and abilities of participants, with an average improvement of 23% across key survey domains (t = 5.24, p < 0.05). The analysis also indicated that 95% of participants perceived the program to be highly relevant to their career goals and sustainable development objectives, with 87% reporting strong satisfaction with the quality of learning opportunities. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and focus groups revealed that while fellows appreciated the academic rigor and practical training, challenges such as financial limitations, language barriers, and institutional support issues were prevalent. Despite these challenges, fellows expressed strong commitment to applying their training to sustainable forestry practices in their home countries. This study highlights the critical role of the APFNet program in nurturing the next generation of forestry leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. The findings provide a foundation for future evaluations, highlighting the need for continued program refinement to address the identified challenges and maximize the long-term impact on forest conservation. Full article

Throughout history, humans have used the environment to build structures for defense. Fortifications are clear examples of buildings created to better protect important settlements and homes. Over time, these structures have gone beyond their original purpose of shielding residents inside and around the walls, now functioning as complex centers for political, economic, administrative, and cultural governance. Additionally, communication networks have been established between strongholds, forming a defensive system for a region or country. Therefore, Fortifications and military heritage exemplify typologies of heritage developed in an organic relationship with the unique environment shaped by human activities. Walled towns are safeguarded by maintaining their functions or being designated cultural heritage among these fortifications and military heritage. Through this study, we analyze the Haemi-eupseong Walled Town (in Korean ‘읍성,’ in Chinese ‘邑城’) as one of Korea’s typical walled towns concerning the attributes that reflect the authenticity according to ‘the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention’ and examine the efforts of the conservation management entity to sustain and utilize this authority by applying the theory and methodology outlined in the ICOMOS Guidelines on Fortifications and Military Heritage, officially adopted in 2021 by ICOMOS, the cultural heritage advisory body under UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, to Haemi-eupseong. The goal is to explore theoretical approaches to heritage value, develop systematic methods for heritage utilization, and propose strategies for sustainably preserving the importance of heritage. Full article

Rapid population aging in developing countries has intensified demand for accessible nursing home services, yet spatial disparities in service distribution remain insufficiently examined in secondary cities. This study investigates spatial distribution and multi-dimensional accessibility of nursing homes in Kunming, China, using comprehensive spatial analytical methods to inform sustainable urban development. We analyzed 205 nursing homes with 47,600 beds, evaluating spatial distribution patterns, economic accessibility, and spatial accessibility across different transportation modes. Our analysis reveals a pronounced monocentric pattern with nursing resources concentrated within central urban districts, creating a “primary core-multiple satellite” structure and spatial mismatch between service supply and older adult population needs. A distinct institutional dichotomy exists between publicly and privately operated facilities, establishing a dual-track system with different accessibility implications for social equity. Economic accessibility analysis demonstrates significant barriers in central urban and tourism-oriented districts dominated by higher-priced private facilities, where minimum prices frequently exceed average monthly pension. Spatial accessibility remains inadequate across all transportation modes, with only 24.3% of communities achieving normal or higher accessibility via private car, 21.5% via public bus, and merely 13.9% via walking. These limitations primarily stem from insufficient service capacity (34 beds per 1000 older adults) relative to demographic needs rather than transportation constraints. We recommend three sustainable interventions: implementing demand-based planning mechanisms, establishing progressive pricing policies, and developing older adult-friendly transportation networks. This framework supports sustainable urbanization by promoting spatial equity and efficient resource allocation, providing valuable insights for secondary cities pursuing sustainable development goals. Full article

Social embeddedness describes the extent to which firms are integrated into a social network in different situations and is an important concept in the entrepreneurship literature. Much of the existing research on embeddedness focuses on how entrepreneurs integrate into their host countries or the business activities of transnational entrepreneurs who operate across both their host and home countries. While a limited number of studies have examined sustainable entrepreneurs, previous studies have not sufficiently examined the nature of entrepreneurs’ social embeddedness and its effect on their sustainable entrepreneurial activities. This study seeks to understand how sustainable entrepreneurs utilize their social embeddedness when navigating business challenges. This study followed a multiple-case study approach based on data collected from in-depth inquiries into eight founders of sustainable startups in Nigeria. The findings show that sustainable entrepreneurs use social embeddedness as a strategy to navigate challenges encountered at different stages of their business. The findings make a theoretical contribution by describing how sustainable entrepreneurs use social embeddedness as a strategy to navigate business challenges in a developing country context. The findings offer implications for policymakers of emerging economies and sustainable entrepreneurship support organizations. Full article

Considering that nowadays the economy plays a crucial role, time series forecasting has become an essential tool across various economic areas and industries. The process of predicting future trends based on historical values in a reliable and accurate manner has generated numerous benefits, such as simplified decision-making processes or strategic planning and reduced risk management. Furthermore, with the advancement made through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods, time series forecasting has quickly become more precise, adaptive, and scalable, being able to better overcome real-world challenges. In this context, the present paper analyzes the implications of artificial intelligence in time series forecasting by evaluating the scientific articles from the field indexed in Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science Core Collection database. Through a bibliometric approach, the research identifies key journals, affiliations, authors, and countries, as well as the collaboration networks among authors and countries. It also analyzes the most frequently used keywords and authors’ keywords. The annual growth rate of 23.11% indicates sustained interest among researchers. Prominent journals such as IEEE Access, Energies, Mathematics, Applied Sciences—Basel, and Applied Energy have been the home for the most published papers in this field. Further, thanks to the Biblioshiny library in R, a variety of visualizations have been created, including thematic maps, three-field plots, and word clouds. A comprehensive review of the most cited papers has been performed to highlight the role of AI in time series forecasting. Research results and methods confirmed the versatility of the topics, which have been applied in various fields, such as, but not limited to, finance, energy, climate, and healthcare, and are further discussed. Cutting-edge methodologies and approaches that lead to the transformation of the field of time series analysis in the context of AI are uncovered and discussed through the use of thematic maps. Full article

The surge in electric vehicles (EVs) in Denmark challenges the country’s residential low-voltage (LV) distribution system. In particular, it increases the demand for home EV charging significantly and possibly overloads the LV grid. This study analyzes the impact of EV charging integration on Denmark’s residential distribution networks. A residential grid comprising 67 households powered by a 630 kVA transformer is studied using DiGSILENT PowerFactory. With the assumption of simultaneous charging of all EVs, the transformer can be heavily loaded up to 147.2%. Thus, a voltage-droop based autonomous control approach is adopted, where the EV charging power is dynamically adjusted based on the point-of-connection voltage of each charger instead of the fixed rated power. This strategy eliminates overloading of the transformers and cables, ensuring they operate within a pre-set limit of 80%. Voltage drops are mitigated within the acceptable safety range of ±10% from normal voltage. These results highlight the effectiveness of the droop control strategy in managing EV charging power. Finally, it exemplifies the benefits of intelligent EV charging systems in Horizon 2020 EU Projects like SERENE and SUSTENANCE. The findings underscore the necessity to integrate smart control mechanisms, consider reinforcing grids, and promote active consumer participation to meet the rising demand for a low-carbon future. Full article

The safe management of traffic on rail networks requires that trains can be reliably located at all times. In many countries, this is achieved by electrically identifying their presence using ‘track circuits’ at regular intervals along each track: these devices detect when the wheels and axles of a train short-circuit the two rails (they are said to ‘shunt’ them) and the information is passed on to the signaling system. The quality of the electrical contacts between the rails and the wheels obviously plays a decisive role in the correct operation of this detection principle. The occurrence of high wheel–rail contact resistances can lead to malfunctions, known as ‘deshunting’, in which the system is unable for a certain period of time to conclude whether a train is present or absent on a section of track. This type of potentially risky event must obviously be avoided at all costs. In this article, we present the second part of a study devoted to the degradation of the wheel–rail contact resulting from steel oxidation, using a scaled-down home-made test bench that reproduces the real contact in the laboratory under controlled conditions. Following on from the first part, which dealt with the static characterization of the contact studied in the direct current, we are now tackling its dynamic characterization (rolling contact) under AC electrical conditions close to those of a track circuit. These new investigations again involve different degrees of rail oxidation, and analyze the influence of parameters such as contact force, speed, and current intensity. Full article

The reserves of hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal resources are huge. The main method used to develop HDR geothermal resources is called an enhanced geothermal system (EGS), and this generally uses hydraulic fracturing. After nearly 50 years of research and development, more and more countries have joined the ranks engaged in the exploration and development of HDR in the world. This paper summarizes the base technologies, key technologies, and game-changing technologies used to promote the commercialization of HDR geothermal resources. According to the present situation of the exploration, development, and utilization of HDR at home and abroad, the evaluation and site selection, efficient and low-cost drilling, and geothermal utilization of HDR geothermal resources are defined as the base technologies. Key technologies include the high-resolution exploration and characterization of HDR, efficient and complex fracture network reservoir creation, effective microseismic control, fracture network connectivity, and reservoir characterization. Game-changing technologies include downhole liquid explosion fracture creation, downhole in-situ efficient heat transfer and power generation, and the use of CO₂ and other working fluids for high-efficient power generation. Most of the base technologies already have industrial applications, but future efforts must focus on reducing costs. The majority of key technologies are still in the site demonstration and validation phase and have not yet been applied on an industrial scale. However, breakthroughs in cost reduction and application effectiveness are urgently needed for these key technologies. Game-changing technologies remain at the laboratory research stage, but any breakthroughs in this area could significantly advance the efficient development of HDR geothermal resources. In addition, we conducted a comparative analysis of the respective advantages of China and the United States in some key technologies of HDR development. On this basis, we summarized the key challenges identified throughout the discussion and highlighted the most pressing research priorities. We hope these technologies can guide new breakthroughs in HDR geothermal development in China and other countries, helping to establish a batch of HDR exploitation demonstration areas. In addition, we look forward to fostering collaboration between China and the United States through technical comparisons, jointly promoting the commercial development of HDR geothermal resources. Full article

As numbers of displaced people throughout the world steadily increase with the rise in global conflicts, many Western nations, including Australia, increasingly thwart asylum-seeking and place harsh restrictions on entry. Nonetheless, Afghanistan’s troubled political history over several decades has generated steady movement of refugees to Australia, and Australia has offered protection, although often conditional and limited. Little is known about the experiences of women who fled, giving up their homes, professions, education, extended family, and social lives that were rich in connection. Despite expanding research and literature, there are still gaps in what is known about what happens to refugee women who resettle in Australia. The research outlined in this article uncovers the stories of six Afghan women, highlighting their agency to counter stereotypes. The article focuses not only on losses experienced, but ways in which this group of Hazara women negotiated their way in their new home of Australia, with the support of STARTTS, a not-for-profit organisation. Some of the initial barriers to resettlement in Australia involved accessible and timely information, limited proficiency in English, and comprehending laws and norms. The ongoing effects of trauma along with these barriers often accelerated the ageing process for these women, limiting their ability as well as opportunity for employment. These barriers were exacerbated in the context of the yearnings for their homeland and loved ones who were still in Afghanistan. Women were torn between feelings of gratitude for their own security and of guilt and pain for those in Afghanistan. Through STARTTS-facilitated groups, women found opportunities to connect with one another. They also used these connections to gather information about support programs, for themselves or their families, crucial for them to reconstruct their lives in Australia. For refugees experiencing dislocation, the formation of social networks in the host country contributes to belonging and connectedness and facilitates rebuilding trusting relationships that have been intentionally destroyed, where they can share their experiences in a safe, trauma-informed environment. Full article