Search Results (1,576)

Water Resources Plans (WRPs) are foundational policy instruments globally, yet implementation rates remain persistently low. Without consistent action classification, policymakers cannot define what to measure, track outcomes systematically, or generate evidence for adaptive learning. This study develops and validates a comprehensive typology of water resources actions, positioning it as a foundational framework for systematic performance measurement and international transferability. The typology was constructed through a rigorous multi-phase methodology: initial consolidation and unification of actions from Ceará’s hydrographic plans (serving as a methodological foundation due to the state’s comprehensive participatory water resources planning process, 2021–2024), expert consensus via focal group discussions, and empirical validation across the entire Brazilian national context. Validation encompassed 53 Water Resources Plans (20 Brazilian state plans, 14 Brazilian river basin plans, and 19 international plans), achieving 99.6% applicability. The typology operationalizes action classification through 13 first-order categories and 160 subtypes, organized around the concept of ‘deliverable’—a governance-neutral principle that permits instantiation across diverse institutional arrangements. The identified action categories reflect universal principles of water management maturity recognized in international planning contexts (European Water Framework Directive, Turkish and Moroccan water governance systems), demonstrating that the typology captures generalizable patterns of adaptive planning behavior rather than Brazil-specific peculiarities. Furthermore, the typology’s governance-agnostic design—based on deliverable-centered logic rather than institutional-specific procedures—enables its adaptation to diverse water governance models, from highly decentralized (Brazil’s basin committees) to centralized systems (as in other countries). By offering a structured and comprehensive categorization, this typology functions as a valuable menu of action types for future Water Resources Plans development, ensuring a holistic consideration of potential interventions. Its dual role—as a precursor to robust indicator development and as a guide for future planning—underscores its transformative potential for both assessing past actions and informing prospective water management. Full article

Background: The United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Antenatal Preparation of a multiple micronutrient supplement (UNIMMAP MMS or MMS) is replacing iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) in antenatal care (ANC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). An investigation into determining how to secure a sustainable supply of MMS began in response to the Indonesian Ministry of Health (MOH)’s decision to introduce MMS into its national health services. Objective: We aimed to identify and test sustainable strategies for securing MMS supplies. Methods: A three-phase implementation science framework was applied to (1) foster an enabling environment for securing MMS supplies, (2) undertake implementation research (IR) to compare sourcing strategy options, and (3) plan and execute actions to scale MMS supply availability and distribution. The MOH assumed ownership of the initiative and guided policy, procurement, and program decisions. Results: (1) Landscaping resulted in recommendations that triggered supply-related policies, an accommodating regulatory framework, integration of MMS into key government support systems (i.e., budget, finance, procurement, and distribution), and identification of supply strategy options. (2) IR resulted in the selection of a local manufacturing and sourcing strategy for acquiring a sustainable supply of high-quality MMS product while retaining an option to import a limited supply of MMS during scaling. (3) A multi-year plan was developed to scale MMSs within ANC services. Conclusions: Applying implementation science provided an evidence-based framework with which to identify, establish, and test a sustainable strategy for securing MMS supplies and yielded insights useful for other countries introducing MMS into their national health systems. Full article

Local threshold limits translate abstract information on hydrological drought into concrete operational guidance for individual water resources. For reservoirs, surface water intakes, and groundwater sources that are important to a region, key monitored quantities and failure conditions are identified, critical levels corresponding to loss of function or unacceptable quality are derived, and an advance time to reach them is set. From these, threshold values analogous to flood stages are calculated, possibly varying over the year with the hydrological regime and demand. Implemented through regional drought plans and displayed in the HAMR (Hydrology–Agronomy–Meteorology–Retention drought monitoring and prediction system, hamr.chmi.cz), local threshold limits complement nationwide warnings by capturing the specific behaviour of each resource and enabling timely, proportionate and locally accepted drought management actions. Full article

Contemporary zoning-driven planning has been associated with traffic hazards, pollution and noise, loss of human scale and public space, socio-spatial separation, and rigid development patterns that impede incremental renewal. In response, the New Urbanism movement promotes traditional urbanism, with Form-Based Codes (FBCs) that regulate urban form and spatial structure, as a central tool. However, FBC practice remains concentrated in North America, and evidence from other contexts is limited. This study examines whether and how FBCs can be implemented within a hierarchical, centralized planning system. Using an exploratory case study approach, we analyzed an approved urban renewal plan for Ramat Verber in Petah Tikva, Israel. The study combines plan analysis, a conceptual FBC simulation, and expert consultations, with findings derived through an inductive analysis of implementation barriers. The FBC simulation showed that goals could be translated into more effective actionable provisions, whereas the statutory plan diluted objectives between vision and implementation. Identified barriers clustered into (1) legal and institutional constraints, (2) social and professional norms, and (3) management and coordination needs. We conclude that FBCs can be advanced without legislative change through municipal policy-level codes that standardize subsequent statutory local plans, supported by clear conversion protocols and existing urban renewal governance mechanisms. Full article

Background: Community-based mental health promotion has gained increasing relevance as a strategy to strengthen population well-being and complement formal healthcare services. However, existing initiatives remain fragmented, and their integration into health systems and public policy frameworks has not been systematically examined. This scoping review aimed to map community-based mental health promotion strategies and analyze their alignment with public health systems and policy frameworks. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were conducted in April 2025 across major databases, including Scopus and PubMed, covering studies published between 1990 and 2024. The retrieved records were subsequently reviewed and analyzed by the researchers between 1 May 2025 and September 2025 Documents published after 2024 were used only as contextual or policy references and were not included in the review corpus. Eligibility criteria were defined using the Population–Concept–Context framework. Two reviewers independently screened records and extracted data. Results: A total of 3799 records were identified, of which 76 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most interventions were implemented in school (18.4%) and community (21.1%) settings and focused on strengthening psychosocial skills, social support, and resilience. Common intervention components included community participation, cultural adaptation, and facilitator training. Several strategies were linked to broader public health frameworks, such as primary health care, intersectoral action, and social determinants of health. Reported outcomes were generally positive, although evaluation methods and indicators varied widely. Conclusions: Community-based mental health promotion interventions represent a valuable complement to healthcare systems, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Strengthening their integration into public policies and health system planning may improve sustainability, equity, and population impact. This review highlights key gaps in implementation and evaluation and provides evidence to inform decision-making in community health, prevention, and mental health policy development. Full article

Standardized drought indices such as the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) are widely used in both monitoring and climate-change impact assessments. However, SPI values are not uniquely defined unless the reference climatology used for standardization is explicitly stated and justified−a methodological issue that becomes critical under non-stationary climate conditions. Here, we present a methodological assessment of how reference-climatology strategy affects SPI-based drought projections under climate change, using Türkiye’s 26 major basins as a hydroclimatically diverse testbed. These assessments inform sustainable water resources planning, agricultural adaptation, and climate-resilient infrastructure design under non-stationary climate. Daily precipitation projections from 56 GCM-RCM pairs (EURO-CORDEX EUR-11, 0.11° (approximately 12 km at the mid-latitudes of the study domain); CMIP5 RCP8.5) were bias-corrected against ERA5-Land and aggregated to basin means. We computed SPI-9 and compared two commonly used reference strategies: (i) a fixed historical baseline (1970–2005), applied consistently to both historical and future periods (fixed-baseline SPI); and (ii) a period-specific baseline (period-specific SPI; future SPI values are standardized to the climatology of the future evaluation period itself). Using the same climate simulations, the two strategies yield markedly different drought projections. At the country scale, end-of-century drought time reaches 458 months under the fixed-baseline strategy, whereas the period-specific strategy indicates 393 drought months. Corresponding severity summaries are likewise stronger under fixed-baseline standardization. The contrast is even stronger in several Mediterranean basins, where fixed-baseline standardization produces persistently severe drought conditions. These results show that SPI-based drought projections are substantially sensitive to the choice of reference-climatology strategy, and that the same climate ensemble can support materially different drought narratives depending on how anomalies are standardized. Because the two strategies differ in both reference-timing and calibration-window length (36 versus 95 years), the headline contrast should be interpreted as a combined effect rather than as a pure baseline-timing result. In the present implementation, the period-specific strategy uses a single future calibration period (2006–2100), so the comparison should be interpreted as a stress test of reference framing under non-stationary climate rather than as an equal-length baseline experiment. An equal-length late-baseline sensitivity check (1970–2005 versus 2065–2100; both spanning 36 years) shows that the fixed-to-late-baseline contrast is larger than the fixed-to-period-specific contrast in 25 of 27 spatial units, including a 3.0-fold amplification at the national scale, indicating that the reference-timing effect persists when calibration-window length is held constant. Because the analysis is based on a CMIP5-driven RCP8.5 ensemble, the numerical projections should be interpreted as a high-end stress-test envelope rather than as the most likely outcome. We therefore recommend that drought projection studies explicitly report the reference-climatology strategy, justify the calibration window, and distinguish between analyses designed to quantify change relative to a historical climate and analyses designed to describe anomalies relative to an evolving future climate. These methodological choices have direct implications for sustainable water resources management and drought-risk preparedness in water-stressed Mediterranean systems, and contribute to broader sustainability targets such as Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Full article

This article examines the challenges and solutions related to frequency deviation (FD) in Continental Europe’s electric power systems, focusing on the effectiveness of Combined Cycle Power Blocks (CCPBs) in managing these deviations. Since 2023, persistent and significant frequency deviations (FDs) have been a concern, leading to the establishment of a working group by the ENTSO-E System Operation Committee to develop a robust action plan. The study highlights the necessity of employing advanced control strategies in CCPB to enhance frequency quality and ensure stable system operation. It delves into the mechanisms of Automatic Generation Control (AGC) to maintain power balance and frequency stability through primary and secondary controls. These controls are critical in adapting to real-time changes in load and generation, thereby securing the power system’s reliability and efficiency. The paper also discusses the implementation of Frequency Containment Reserves (FCRs) and their role in stabilizing system frequency following disturbances by automatically adjusting power outputs. Additionally, the research explores the integration of the Baltic States into the European Union (EU) energy market, aiming for enhanced system security and reliability. After all, the Baltic States achieved full synchronization with the Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA). The outcomes confirm the suitability of the investigated CCPB for participation in AGC and FCR services under interconnected system operation. Full article

Low-carbon development (LCD) and intensive urban land use (IULU) are critical objectives for sustainable urban development. Existing studies have usually evaluated LCD or IULU separately, whereas the dynamic relationship between carbon-transition capacity and land-use intensification under rapid urbanization remains insufficiently clarified. This gap limits the ability of policymakers to design spatially differentiated and synergistic actions for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study investigates the relationship between LCD and IULU and its transformation within the sustainable development framework, using the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River Urban Agglomeration (MRYRUA) in central China as a case study. Results indicate a strong positive correlation between LCD and IULU. Crucially, their coupling exhibited a distinct U-shape trajectory from 2005 to 2020; it decreased from 0.89 in 2005 to 0.73 in 2013 and then recovered to 0.84 in 2020, suggesting a relative weakening of the interaction followed by recoupling rather than complete decoupling. The identified U-shaped trajectory holds vital implications for other developing nations, suggesting that integrating low-carbon goals into spatial planning and land policies from the early stages of urbanization can pave the way for a faster transition to a green, intensive, and high-quality development model. Moreover, although both LCD and IULU exhibited positive trends, a widening gap was observed between provincial capitals and non-provincial cities. We, therefore, recommend integrating multi-stakeholder collaboration and implementing differentiated strategies to enhance the synergistic effects of LCD and IULU for cities at different phases of the LCD–IULU transition. Full article

Cathaya argyrophylla Chun et Kuang is an endangered relict gymnosperm endemic to China. Its habitat has been severely fragmented due to Quaternary glaciations, a condition further exacerbated by modern, fragmented administrative management. We compiled 98 spatially filtered occurrence records across four provinces and developed a combined analysis framework integrating the Biomod2 ensemble model with the Marxan systematic planning algorithm. Our optimal model (TSS = 0.911, AUC = 0.986) identified mean diurnal range and ultraviolet-B seasonality radiation as the dominant ecophysiological drivers of the species’ distribution. Currently, suitable habitats cover 7.10% of the study area, with highly suitable habitats accounting for only 3.08% (21.76 × 10³ km²). Priority conservation areas account for 2.48% (17.55 × 10³ km²) of the total area. A gap analysis revealed that 76.98% (13.51 × 10³ km²) of the optimized priority conservation areas currently lack formal protection under China’s protected area system and the World Database on Protected Areas. Under four future climate scenarios (2030s–2090s), projections indicated overall habitat contraction, with limited spatial expansion observed only under specific scenarios (SSP1-2.6 in the 2030s and 2090s; SSP5-8.5 in the 2030s), and the population centroid was projected to shift southeastward by an average of 42.67 km in Huaihua City. Twenty-one core habitat patches were identified under current climate conditions. As these core habitat patches are concentrated along interprovincial boundaries, specifically the Dalou Mountains and the Yuecheng Ridge, our findings emphasize the need to bridge local administrative barriers. This spatial framework provides actionable guidelines for establishing transboundary protected areas, optimizing in situ conservation networks, and implementing model-based assisted migration. Full article

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) remains a fundamental risk management methodology in the automotive industry. This review provides a structured comparative analysis of the classical AIAG FMEA (4th edition, 2008) and the harmonized AIAG & VDA FMEA (1st edition, 2019) across Design (DFMEA), Process (PFMEA), and System (SFMEA) levels. Unlike conventional descriptive reviews, this study presents an integrative analytical synthesis that systematically evaluates methodological differences, decision-making logic, and structural transformations between the two frameworks. The analysis focuses on key developments, including the transition from Risk Priority Number (RPN) to Action Priority (AP), the introduction of a mandatory seven-step methodology, the formalization of structure–function–failure relationships, and enhanced traceability to downstream quality documentation such as Control Plans. The findings demonstrate that the harmonized framework represents a conceptual shift from a primarily scoring-based approach to a structured systems engineering methodology, improving consistency, completeness, and auditability of risk analysis. Particular emphasis is placed on the implications of AP-based prioritization, which alters traditional decision logic by preventing the suppression of safety-critical risks. The paper contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive cross-level comparison (DFMEA–PFMEA–SFMEA) within a single analytical framework, identifying both strengths and limitations of the harmonized approach, and outlining its practical implications for industrial implementation. Future research directions include quantitative validation, application-based case studies, and integration with digital and AI-driven FMEA systems. Full article

Predicting forest fire occurrence is essential for proactive disaster preparedness and environmental protection. We introduce a machine learning-based system that forecasts next-day fire probability at high spatial resolution using satellite-derived, multi-modal geospatial data. In contrast to existing reactive systems that rely on thermal anomaly detection (e.g., MODIS or VIIRS-SNPP), our approach is fully predictive, generating pixel-wise fire risk maps a day in advance. Our study focuses on Uttarakhand, India, which is an ecologically sensitive region that experiences frequent and severe forest fires. We curated a domain-specific geospatial dataset spanning 1 April to 29 May 2016. It includes daily 30 m GeoTIFF images with 10 bands comprising weather (e.g., temperature, wind, precipitation), topography (slope, aspect), fuel map, and fire mask. We constructed this dataset from diverse sources and aligned all bands spatially and temporally. To demonstrate the usefulness of this dataset, we implement a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) using the ResUNet-A architecture, chosen for its robust performance in the semantic segmentation of high-resolution remote sensing data. Our model is trained from scratch to produce high-resolution fire probability maps and classify fire/no-fire pixels. Our solution helps with planning and decision-making for early intervention, especially in areas with high risk. It supports the UN’s SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by enhancing resilience and conserving ecosystems. The presented dataset and methodology can serve as a benchmark for future research on wildfire risk prediction using Earth observation data. Full article

Introduction: The Touvedo hydropower plant, located on the Lima River 47 km from its mouth, is equipped with a fish lift (2.14 m long × 1.29 m wide × 2.85 m high) on the left bank designed to facilitate fish migration past the dam. This mechanical system attracts fish by means of a guide current, traps them in a water-filled cage, and then lifts and releases them upstream, enabling passage over the dam. Within the framework of the Sustainability Policies from the EDP Group, particularly those related to Environment and Biodiversity, and under the Eel Management Plan, a long-term video-monitoring program has been implemented since 2011 to collect data on the species using the device and to evaluate its effectiveness. Objective: This study aims to present and analyze nine years of video-monitoring data collected across three programs—the “Action Plan for the Optimization of the Fish Lift at the Touvedo Hydroelectric Facility (2011/2014)”, which aimed to diagnose and assess the effectiveness of the fish lift and to define and implement measures needed to optimize its operation; “Video Monitoring of the Touvedo Fish Lift (2017/2020)”, that was carried out as a follow-up to the Action Plan; and more recently, a new video-monitoring project (2021–2024) which was implemented to expand the dataset and validate the patterns observed in the previous studies. Methodology: The fish lift was continuously monitored using an automatic video-recording system, which consists of a video camera installed at the top of the lift to capture images of the trapping cage during the final stage of its ascent, and a server for video storage. The trapping cage is lined with 20 cm × 20 cm white tiles to increase contrast and allow estimation of fish body length. Collected data included the timing of fish passage (day and hour), the number of fish per cycle, species-level identification and the estimated total length of each individual. Results: The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has remained the dominant species using the lift, and, consistent with observations from Video-Monitoring 1, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) has become the second most representative species, replacing the northern straight-mouth nase (Pseudochondrostoma duriense), whose proportion has declined. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) showed a slight but continued increase in Video-Monitoring 2, following the decrease recorded in Video-Monitoring 1 compared to the Action Plan. Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of continuing video monitoring of the Touvedo fish lift to assess its operability, confirm the observed passage patterns, determine the success of the implemented improvements, and evaluate the possible need for additional measures. Full article

This study presents the revision of the Rabaçal River Recreational Fishing Area Management Plan (ZPL), implemented in 2020, aiming to evaluate its effectiveness and identify the need for adjustments after five years. The study area includes part of Montesinho Natural Park, covering water bodies upstream of the Vale de Armeiro Reservoir (RH3—Douro Basin), excluding the Assureira River sub-basin. The methodology followed the initial study design, with electrofishing conducted at ten stations (30 surveys). Hydromorphological and riparian conditions were assessed using the River Habitat Survey (RHS), enabling the calculation of the Riparian Quality Index (RQI), Habitat Modification Score (HMS), and Habitat Quality Assessemt (HQA). Results indicate high habitat diversity and overall good-to-excellent hydromorphological quality, although they are locally affected by human pressures and global change. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) was recorded at all sites, showing wide spatial distribution. Population structure was dominated by young individuals (≤2 years; 70%), indicating high recruitment rates. However, growth patterns and reduced body condition suggest that habitat features, particularly flow regime and riparian quality, are influencing population dynamics, highlighting the need to explicitly integrate habitat–population relationships into management measures. A notable expansion of the invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) was also observed (now present at stations T₃, T₄, and T₅), reinforcing the need for targeted monitoring and control actions. Overall, the results support the continuation of the current management model, aligned with the conservation objectives defined in the initial plan and in project POSEUR-03-2215-FC-000096, while emphasizing the importance of habitat conservation to ensure the long-term sustainability of trout populations and aquatic ecosystems. Full article

In heavy-haul railway systems, effective empty railcar distribution (ERD) can optimize composition planning and meet empty railcar requirements (ERRs) at all loading ends, thereby improving the efficiency of train operations. To solve practical challenges such as the imbalanced supply–demand of empty trains, redundant loading and unloading cycles, and prolonged waiting times, this study establishes a multi-objective and 0–1 integer programming model for ERD at the loading end of a heavy-haul railway. The model can simultaneously maximize the fulfilment of all ERRs, minimize the ERD delay time, and reduce the waiting time in the heavy-train combination problem under complex constraints, including the passing capacity of sections, combination capacity of stations, and ERR at the loading end. While traditional optimization methods such as mathematical programming or heuristic algorithms partially address these issues, they are ineffective under dynamic constraints and state-space explosion. Furthermore, traditional reinforcement learning-based methods, such as Q-learning, exhibit limitations in railway scheduling due to the state-space explosion problem and inadequate model generalization. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes an innovative framework; the ERD at the loading end of the heavy-haul railway is formalized as a Markov decision process and optimized using deep Q-network (DQN) reinforcement learning. In addition, this study proposes an experience data fusion mechanism that integrates the empirical rules of the dispatchers through a modular architecture, achieving real-time constraint compliance while maintaining scalability for practical implementation. The NSGA-II genetic algorithm for multi-objective problems is used in this study to evaluate the performance of the DQN algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate that the DQN algorithm can fully meet ERRs with zero delay and produce optimal schemes for train combinations. Meanwhile, NSGA-II presents superior performance in minimizing the combination waiting time and same-destination train combinations. Meanwhile, the DQN algorithm can identify superior ERD strategies in the expanded-action and state spaces, enabling the effective handling of complex constraint-based ERD. Full article

The present study provides a multi-faceted validation and refinement of a distributed system architecture designed to improve emergency response in resource-constrained urban areas. The architecture integrates IoT sensors, edge computing, field-programmable gate arrays and distributed shortest-path algorithms to enhance resilience and operational efficiency. As a primary validation strategy, a survey of 78 Cameroonian experts in software engineering, distributed systems, urban planning and emergency technologies was conducted. The survey yielded quantitative and qualitative data across multiple analytical dimensions, including subgroup analysis and a transferability assessment covering Nigeria, Senegal, and Kenya. The statistical analysis confirmed that the architecture is technically feasible, adaptable to local constraints, and has the potential to reduce response times. As a secondary validation strategy, a simulation-based study was conducted using iFogSim on smart-city models ranging from 25 to 100 nodes, encompassing five experiments: result consistency, geographic sensitivity, concurrent incident management, path-caching efficiency, and scalability analysis. The simulation results quantitatively corroborate the expert assessments, demonstrating low end-to-end latency and sustained throughput with realistic urban load conditions. Key challenges identified include interoperability, urban data structuring, financial sustainability and inter-institutional coordination. Experts have proposed a hierarchical structure of priority actions and concrete recommendations for engineers, researchers and policymakers. The combined findings validate the architecture and establish a replicable expert-simulation evaluation framework applicable to analogous distributed emergency-response systems in comparable resource-constrained contexts. The empirical results further constitute a reference baseline for the design and implementation of similar architectures. Full article