Search Results (2,859)

Due to the perishable nature of products, high uncertainty, and conflicting objectives, food supply chain logistics management requires dynamic and adaptive decision-making frameworks. In this study, an integrated decision-making architecture is presented that integrates a multi-objective fuzzy optimization model into an adaptive digital twin along with an agentic AI-based dynamic goal reset mechanism. The main methodological innovation of this study is not in the separate development of each of these components but in their structured integration in the form of a self-regulating decision-making loop in which the priority of goals is dynamically adjusted based on the current state of the system. Computational results based on real and simulated data show that the proposed framework reduces the total logistics cost by about 4–5% and reduces product waste by about 13% while simultaneously improving the service level by about 4%. Resilience analysis shows faster performance recovery in the face of operational disruptions, and scalability results confirm the controlled growth of computational time with increasing problem size. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating adaptive digital twins and agentic AI in a multi-objective fuzzy optimization environment for intelligent and resilient food logistics management. Full article

Urbanization significantly reshapes urban form, affecting the spatial and quantitative dynamics of urban land use under carbon constraints. However, the role of macro-scale urban form in guiding low-carbon urban expansion remains underexplored. Our study introduces an integrated Cellular Automata (CA) model to simulate urban land use patterns with regard to the low-carbon goal, focusing on urban form optimization. The model employs a top-down strategy to adjust future urban land demand by balancing urban development needs with carbon emission (CE) reduction targets. The adjusted demand is then used to optimize urban form parameters (i.e., the inverse S-shaped function) to predict future urban land patterns and allocate land increments within concentric rings. Subsequently, a bottom-up strategy incorporating carbon sequestration (CS) conservation is applied to refine urban land conversion. The CA model integrates a maximum probability transformation rule to allocate urban land efficiently. We used the model to simulate urban land use patterns under four scenarios (i.e., Low-carbon Urban Development Scenario (L-UDS), Top-up Urban Development Scenario (T-UDS), Bottom-up Urban Development Scenario (B-UDS), and inverse S-shaped constraint Urban Development Scenario (S-UDS)) for the Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan (CZX) urban agglomeration in 2035. Results show that the proposed model effectively reconciles the conflict between rapid urbanization and urban carbon management strategies, as evidenced by a 31.25% reduction in carbon emissions in the L-UDS and T-UDS relative to the S-UDS and B-UDS. Furthermore, urban form constraints promote the development of compact and dense urban structures, advancing sustainable urban development goals. This study not only proposes a simulation model capable of effectively promoting compact urban development at the theoretical level, but its findings also offer actionable policy insights for China to address urban sprawl and actively advance low-carbon urban development. Full article

This study examines the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on crude oil tail risk using the Conditional Autoregressive Value at Risk (CAViaR) framework. We analyzed 2364 daily observations of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures spanning 1 January 2015 to 11 December 2023, thereby capturing both the pre-war period and the conflict regime. To operationalize the geopolitical shock, we identify four theoretically grounded event dates (21 February, 24 February, 11 May, and 15 June 2022) associated with military escalation and energy-supply disruptions, and incorporate them as exogenous dummy variables. Methodologically, we implement a two-step approach. First, we estimate 1-day Value at Risk (VaR) at the 5% and 1% levels using four alternative CAViaR specifications (Adaptive, Symmetric, Asymmetric, and Indirect GARCH(1,1)) within a rolling-window framework to capture the dynamic evolution of tail risk. Second, we regress the resulting VaR series on geopolitical-event indicators to quantify the marginal effect of war-related developments on downside risk. The empirical results show tail risk increases in oil-market after the most important geopolitical events in all the model specifications across the market characteristics. The Indirect GARCH(1,1) CAViaR model exhibited the highest sensitivity, producing event coefficients of 0.795 (5% VaR) and 0.710 (1% VaR), both significant at the 1% level. Our adaptive specification has magnitudes that are even higher at the extreme tail (2.002 at 1% VaR), further supporting increased vulnerability during periods of escalation in conflict. Evidence from the asymmetric model would also indicate stronger market response to unfavorable news, in line with loss-sensitive investor behavior. In sum, the outcomes indicate that the Russia–Ukraine war considerably elevated the downside risk of crude oil markets and that geopolitical events have economically and statistically significant effects on the tail dynamics. Incorporating event-based geopolitical indicators in the framework of CAViaR, contributes to the literature in energy-market risk modeling and applies practical information to investors, risk managers, and policymakers operating under a dynamic environment characterized by geopolitical uncertainty. Full article

The primary objective of this research is to identify, analyse, and compare the development of risk management approaches adopted by Slovak industrial enterprises in two distinct economic periods: during a phase of economic growth (2019) and during a period of global crises and regional crises with significant global implications, which have had substantial global economic, energy, and security impacts, as well as the increasing intensity of cyber threats affecting enterprises in Slovakia (2022–2023). Emphasis is placed on identifying key factors influencing the effectiveness of risk management implementation, as well as on assessing the use of individual stages of the risk management process in business practice. The research has a quantitative character and consists of two empirical surveys conducted through questionnaire-based data collection. The first survey was carried out in 2019 under conditions of economic growth, while the second was conducted in 2022–2023 in the context of multiple global crises and regional crises, particularly the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global energy crisis, the military conflict in Ukraine, and increasing cyber threats. The first study obtained 450 valid responses, and the second obtained 390 responses from enterprises operating across various sectors of the private economy in Slovakia. The results of the study confirmed the existence of significant differences in companies’ approaches to risk management depending on the economic context. During the period of economic growth, the main reason for insufficient attention to risks was low staff motivation, with enterprises focusing primarily on risk identification, analysis, and assessment, and less on designing specific mitigation measures. In contrast, during the period of global crises and regional crises, companies’ attitudes shifted, with stronger resistance to implemented measures but, at the same time, increased attention to the development of risk-reduction actions. Neglecting systematic preventive steps increases companies’ vulnerability to crises, which may result in operational, financial, and reputational losses, delayed responses, and a decline in competitiveness. The two-phase nature of the research made it possible to capture the dynamics of managerial behaviour under different economic conditions and to formulate practical recommendations for integrating risk management into both strategic and operational levels of management. Full article

Sarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, represents a major public health challenge in aging populations. This condition affects approximately 10–16% of community-dwelling older adults and is associated with increased risks of falls, frailty, functional decline, and mortality. The pathogenesis of sarcopenia involves chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging), oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and anabolic resistance. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have emerged as promising nutritional interventions due to their anti-inflammatory properties and potential anabolic effects on skeletal muscle. This comprehensive review evaluates the current evidence on omega-3 PUFA supplementation for the attenuation and management of sarcopenia. Mechanistically, omega-3 PUFAs appear to enhance muscle protein synthesis through activation of the mTOR-p70S6K signaling pathway, reduce inflammation via specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), improve mitochondrial bioenergetics, and attenuate muscle disuse atrophy. Clinical trials demonstrate that omega-3 supplementation, particularly at doses exceeding 2 g/day of combined EPA and DHA, can increase thigh muscle volume, handgrip strength, and one-repetition maximum strength in older adults. When combined with resistance exercise training, the benefits appear more pronounced, especially in women. However, heterogeneity in study designs, intervention durations, dosages, and outcome measures has produced some conflicting results. Large-scale trials, such as the MAPT study, have shown null findings for long-term supplementation alone, suggesting that omega-3s may be most effective as part of multimodal interventions. The evidence also supports benefits in clinical populations at risk for muscle wasting, including cancer patients experiencing cachexia and individuals with neuromuscular disorders. Future research should focus on identifying optimal dosing strategies, understanding sex-specific responses, and elucidating the mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of omega-3s with exercise. Overall, omega-3 PUFA supplementation represents a safe, accessible, and potentially effective nutritional strategy for attenuating muscle decline in aging and clinical populations, though its benefits appear most pronounced when combined with resistance exercise as part of a multimodal approach. Full article

Balancing tourism development with ecological integrity remains a central challenge in the management of protected areas. This study proposes a spatial framework that integrates the Outdoor Recreation Suitability Index (ORSI) and the Landscape Ecological Risk Index (ERI) to identify and optimize low-impact recreation corridors within Giant Panda National Park, China. Recreation suitability and ecological risk were modeled using environmental variables and landscape metrics, respectively. The results reveal a clear spatial pattern: high-suitability zones are concentrated in the central and northeastern areas, characterized by gentle terrain and extensive forest cover, while ecological risk is elevated in fragmented, human-disturbed peripheral regions. Although ORSI and ERI exhibit an overall negative spatial correlation, bivariate analysis reveals localized mismatches—areas where high recreation potential coincides with ecological vulnerability—indicating potential conflict zones. These zones are typically located along transitional park boundaries where accessibility intersects with ecological sensitivity. To mitigate such conflicts, a least-cost path analysis was conducted based on a composite resistance surface combining ORSI and inverted ERI values. The resulting corridor network connects 40 core areas while effectively avoiding ecological hotspots. Corridor buffers are predominantly composed of forest and shrubland, suggesting high environmental compatibility, particularly in the Qinling region. By translating spatial trade-offs into practical corridor design, this study provides a replicable approach for harmonizing recreation planning with conservation objectives. The proposed framework offers actionable guidance for evidence-based zoning, visitor flow management, and adaptive tourism development in ecologically sensitive protected landscapes. Full article

Given a turbulent work environment, employee resilience, defined as the capacity to bounce back, adapt, and even flourish at work in the face of challenging situations, has been receiving increasing attention. Previous studies have demonstrated the personal and organizational benefits of employee resilience and have underscored the need for further research on how to foster it. Nonetheless, in the organizational context, certain job demands may hinder its development. Drawing on the Job Demands–Resources theory and the challenge–hindrance framework, the paper aims to reveal the hindrance job demands that undermine employee resilience. For this, qualitative data were collected from 21 employees in Lithuania. The results revealed that social (toxic relationships with managers, difficulties in managing team dynamics, interpersonal conflicts with colleagues), organizational (role-related demands, generational clashes, workload, and scheduling), and emotional (dealing with clients) demands play an important role in undermining resilience. Moreover, ethical demands (dishonesty when dealing with clients and idea stealing) were also indicated. The results draw attention to the need to conduct training programs, including leadership training, to foster a supportive organizational culture and to rethink job design while aiming for organizational sustainability and employee well-being. Full article

Ecotourism in protected areas creates a conservation paradox: tourism revenue funds protection, yet tourism infrastructure simultaneously degrades the wildlife it protects. We examined this paradox in white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator) in Tortuguero National Park, comparing behaviour across a high-tourism accommodation site (2152 monthly guests) and a strictly regulated terrestrial trail. Using focal animal and sweep sampling methods, we recorded 477 behavioural units across 261 min, analysing locomotion, feeding, and agonistic behaviours through generalized linear models. Primates in accommodation areas exhibited significantly reduced high substrate use (p = 0.005), showed a trend toward increased anthropogenic food reliance (p = 0.070), and higher—but not statistically significant—rates of agonistic behaviours (p > 0.05). The negative correlation between natural foraging and active food supply (r = −0.31) is consistent with anthropogenic provisioning that may alter primate ecological functions. These findings demonstrate that effective conservation in tourism contexts requires integrated management addressing three interconnected challenges: (1) habituation to human presence, (2) food provisioning with cascading consequences, and (3) ecosystem-level degradation through altered primate functions. We recommend evidence-based interventions including secured waste management, enforcement of wildlife feeding prohibitions, and environmental education programs with community participation. Ecotourism sustainability requires managing human–wildlife interactions and integrating local stakeholder perspectives to preserve animal welfare and ecosystem functions essential for conservation. Full article

Land subsidence (LS) is a major global geo-environmental issue that profoundly affects the suitability and safety of land use planning (LUP). However, existing LUP systems generally neglect the dynamic evolution of LS and lack a systematic framework for assessing conflicts between land use and subsidence. To address this gap, this study develops an integrated evaluation framework that combines SBAS-InSAR, GeoDetector, and a spatial conflict detection model. A total of 166 Sentinel-1A images acquired from 2017 to 2024 were processed using SBAS-InSAR to derive the spatiotemporal characteristics of LS. GeoDetector was subsequently applied to identify the dominant driving factors and their interactions. A sensitivity classification scheme for current land use (CLU) and LUP types with respect to LS hazards was then developed, and a spatial conflict detection model was constructed to delineate conflict zones and quantify conflict intensity. Using Huainan City as a case study, the results show the following: (1) from 2017 to 2024, LS was generally characterized by slight or negligible subsidence, with severe subsidence mainly concentrated in coal mining areas; ongoing and recently suspended mines exhibited pronounced LS, whereas early-closed and unmined areas showed an overall uplift trend. (2) LS in Huainan was primarily driven by soil type, annual rainfall, and mining activities, and two-factor interactions generally exhibited enhancement effects. (3) Compared with CLU, LUP has, to some extent, incorporated LS risk considerations and implemented corresponding mitigation measures, although certain areas still insufficiently account for LS risks. (4) The proposed framework demonstrates strong rationality and applicability in LS monitoring, driving factor identification, and spatial conflict assessment, providing scientific support for LS risk management and land use spatial optimization. Full article

As family structures and workforce compositions evolve, individuals increasingly navigate multiple roles across work and family domains. Despite growing research interest, a comprehensive synthesis examining the relationship between work–family conflict and health behaviors remains absent. This systematic review and meta-analysis addresses this significant gap by quantifying associations between work–family conflict and five important health behaviors: sleep disturbances, smoking behaviors, alcohol consumption, physical activity levels, and healthy diet. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science) were searched. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using forest plots, I², Cochran’s Q-statistics, Funnel plots, and the Egger test, respectively. A total of 33 articles were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Work–family conflict had a small-to-medium positive association with sleep disturbances (r = 0.188; 95% CI [0.128, 0.247]); a negative association with healthy diet (r = −0.129; 95% CI [−0.219, −0.037]); and a modest and positive association with smoking behaviors (r = 0.082; 95% CI [0.033, 0.206]) and alcohol consumption (r = 0.074; 95% CI [0.039, 0.109]). The findings of this study suggest that individual, family, and organizational strategies reducing work–family conflict may facilitate the development and adoption of healthier behaviors, such as improving sleep and dietary practices. This study enhances understanding of work–family conflict’s relationship with health behaviors, bridging the management and occupational health psychology literature with the general and public health literature by systematically examining, for the first time, how work–family conflicts impair personal health behaviors. Full article

Protected area management plays a crucial role in conserving biodiversity, especially in areas where increasing demand for natural resources is associated with fast-growing human populations, such as West Africa. Investigating the perceptions of people with first-hand knowledge of protected area management provides important insights about biodiversity conservation, wildlife law enforcement, and human activities to inform adaptive management. Using 442 semi-structured interviews, we assessed the perceptions of park rangers and local residents in and around Fazao-Malfakassa National Park in Togo, West Africa, which was managed by the non-profit Franz Weber Foundation from 1990 to 2015, and since 2015 has been managed by the government of Togo. Both rangers and residents reported significant economic concerns following the park’s transfer from private to state management, with salary declines negatively affecting rangers and declines in community development projects and income-generating activities negatively affecting residents. Law enforcement capacity and resources also declined under state management, severely undermining the ability of rangers to curb illegal activities in the park, especially poaching and the destruction of trees to harvest wild honey and produce commercial charcoal. All rangers and most residents who had experience with both private and state park management preferred private management. There is an urgent need to increase surveillance and law enforcement capacity in the park to combat poaching and other illegal activities, and to engage local communities in the park’s long-term protection. To this end, rangers and residents are calling for change, and specifically recommend returning the park to competent private management to safeguard Togo’s last large refuge for nature and wildlife. Full article

Managing trans-jurisdictional water scarcity conflicts is a thorny task, as it is usually challenged by multiple institutionally independent decision-making agents, which requires developing cooperative and self-enforcing solutions. This study proposed a decision-making method that combines fairness and stability concerns to solve trans-jurisdictional water allocation conflicts under scarcity. Based on the water allocation alternatives yielded by seven bankruptcy rules, the Gini coefficient and Shapley–Shubik power index were used to separately quantify their fairness and stability criteria from distributive justice and individual-level acceptability, and then game theory was employed to integrate the quantitative results of the two criteria to make final water allocation decisions. The decision-making method was applied to the Hanjiang River Basin of Hubei Province in China under two water scarcity scenarios, which is shared by ten city-level jurisdictions. Numerical results indicate that bankruptcy rules are considered practical for performing trans-jurisdictional water allocations under scarcity, but their realistic eligibility should be investigated before implementation. An apparent trade-off between fairness and stability exists among the water allocation alternatives, and there exists room for identifying compromise alternatives; the constrained equal losses and adjusted proportional rules are identified as the preferred rule by the proposed decision-making method for allocating water resources in the Hanjiang River Basin of Hubei Province, respectively, in dry and extremely dry years. The findings highlight the necessity and significance of balancing fairness and stability criteria in managing trans-jurisdictional water scarcity conflicts, and the proposed method has proved to be an effective decision-making tool to facilitate negotiation over trans-jurisdictional water allocations under scarcity. Full article

While typical benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) presents with reproducible patterns of nystagmus and vertigo during positional testing, atypical variants often deviate from typical patterns, making diagnosis more complex. Recognizing atypical BPPV is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate management. This study aims to describe the clinical spectrum of atypical BPPV, differentiate it from central positional vertigo, and provide practical diagnostic guidance for clinicians. A narrative review was conducted to explore the clinical spectrum of atypical BPPV. Findings indicate that it may present with vertigo without nystagmus, conflicting torsional components in bilateral cases, or persistent symptoms despite repositioning maneuvers. Canal switch and pseudo-spontaneous nystagmus have also been described. Although these variants may mimic central etiologies, the absence of consistent neurological signs supports a peripheral mechanism. Diagnosis relies on detailed assessment of nystagmus characteristics—such as latency, /duration, and direction—as well as the exclusion of red flags, like direction-changing nystagmus without head movement, vomiting, or non-positional ocular motor abnormalities. Atypical BPPV remains a diagnostic challenge and requires careful bedside assessment and clinical testing. Understanding these variants is essential for timely and appropriate treatment. When doubt persists and resolution with treatment does not occur, neuroimaging should be considered to exclude central pathology. Full article

Drones are expected to support applications such as emergency response, parcel delivery, and infrastructure monitoring in dense urban airspaces, creating traffic levels that are unmanageable for human operators. Autonomous separation management is therefore essential, combining strategic and tactical control to prevent conflicts. This paper addresses the tactical landing phase by introducing a centralized landing flow manager—a reinforcement learning (RL) agent that adjusts drone speed and heading to merge landing flows safely and efficiently prior to a final approach fix. The objective of the work was to demonstrate the potential of reinforcement learning in this novel context, by implementing and evaluating it in simulation and testing its capabilities with 10 concurrent landing drones. The RL agent learns to successfully separate traffic, thereby lowering intrusion counts compared to the baseline autopilot, but is outperformed in safety by the decentralized Modified Voltage Potential (MVP) method due to outlier scenarios. Nevertheless, the RL-based system achieves faster scenario completion and thus a higher overall throughput, by speeding up the vehicles towards the final approach fix. Future work will explore improved network architectures, transfer learning across varied scenarios, and algorithmic fine-tuning to further enhance safety performance. Full article

Introduction: Assertive communication is a fundamental component of effective teaching, particularly in the context of the increasing shift toward online higher education. Despite its importance, there is a need for validated instruments specifically designed to assess assertive communication in online teaching environments. The present study aims to examine the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the Assertive Communication Scale in Online Teaching (ACSOT). Methods: The study involved 374 students from “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, Romania. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to investigate the factorial structure of the ACSOT. Correlational analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among the identified dimensions, and group differences were assessed by gender and age. Results: The exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure comprising expressiveness, communicativeness, and conflict management. Significant positive correlations were found among the three dimensions. Gender differences indicated that women demonstrated stronger conflict management skills than men. Age-related differences showed that older participants reported higher levels of assertive communication in terms of expressiveness and communicativeness compared to younger participants. Conclusions: The findings support the factorial validity of the ACSOT and suggest that the instrument is a reliable tool for assessing assertive communication in online teaching contexts. The identified gender and age differences underscore the importance of considering demographic variables when developing training programs designed to enhance assertive communication skills in higher education. Full article