Search Results (7,467)

Tourism development has, in the past decades, brought new opportunities and challenges to residents’ livability in urban destinations, due to mobility, landscape and environmental quality effects. Quality of life may comprise, inter alia, a clean environment, historic atmosphere, cultural identity or a relaxed inner city. In recent years, uncontrolled tourism has led to ‘overcrowding’ and has prompted ‘mixed feelings’ on tourism among residents, despite clear economic benefits. Clearly, tourism takes place in a conflicting domain with different local actors. There is a rising fear in many historic cities that the long-run effects of mass tourism may be detrimental to the locals. This study seeks to examine local tensions among different interest groups in the tourism sector as a result of negative externalities such as decay of local livability, traffic congestion, or quality decline in the supply of tourism attractions. In this paper a novel supply-oriented concept, Local Leisure Resources, is put forward to uncover the externality effects of tourism and tourism mobility on urban livability, as well as the moderating effect of intra-city destination mobility of visitors. This concept will be tested for sustainability challenges in urban areas in China. Our empirical modeling analysis, based on data from 247 Chinese tourist places over the years 2008–2018, shows that local leisure resources have a clear mediating effect on the relationship between tourist visits and quality of life in urban destinations. The internal mobility appears to have a positive moderating effect on the role of diverse local leisure resources in supporting place-based livability of various local groups of actors involved. This research highlights the complex mechanism of tourism development on urban livability and environmental landscapes from the new concept of local leisure resources. It provides a solid basis and reference for sustainable development strategies for local policy actors regarding local destination livability. Full article

This research aims to study the compressive behavior of concrete with partial replacement of fine aggregate by recycled rubber. In addition, the mechanical capacity of these concretes will be analyzed when reinforced by carbon fibers (CFRP) and basalt (BFRP) confinement. To carry out the work, 48 cylindrical test specimens were made, corresponding to 4 mixes, with different percentages of recycled rubber by volume (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%). The compressive behavior of unreinforced concrete with and without recycled rubber, reinforced concrete made from concrete with and without recycled rubber previously taken to failure, and reinforced concrete with and without recycled rubber without prior failure were evaluated in order to assess the influence of concrete quality before placing the reinforcement. The results show that replacing fine aggregate with recycled rubber in concrete reduces its strength and stiffness, increasing its ductility, with the optimum replacement percentage being 10%. On the other hand, confining concrete with FRP (BFRP and CFRP) improves its strength and ductility compared to unconfined concrete, obtaining similar values regardless of the initial strength of the reinforcing concrete. Confining concrete with CFRP achieves strength improvements of 26% compared to reinforcement with BFRP. Full article

This study investigates the Container Consolidation Problem (CCP), a critical operational challenge in container terminals where containers with specific attributes must be relocated during yard crane idle periods. The primary objective is to maximize yard space availability for incoming vessels by strategically grouping containers, thereby alleviating storage pressure and enhancing throughput. A mixed-integer programming model is formulated to minimize the total handling time, incorporating complex constraints related to crane availability, relocation sequencing, and slot assignment. Due to the combinatorial complexity inherent in large-scale yard operations, a comprehensive optimization framework is proposed. This framework balances computational efficiency with solution quality, offering a robust approach to solve large-scale instances within practical time limits. Computational experiments demonstrate that the proposed methodology consistently yields high-quality solutions, effectively resolving the trade-off between solution speed and optimality. The research provides not only a novel methodological perspective for solving this NP-hard problem but also offers significant practical value. By optimizing crane scheduling, the model directly contributes to reducing operational costs, improving the turnover rate of yard space, and strengthening the overall efficiency of the maritime supply chain. Full article

As modern energy systems become increasingly complex and multi-source integrated, efficient coordination between diverse energy carriers and dynamic demand is essential. This study identifies a structural parallel between integrated energy system (IES) scheduling and the weapon-target assignment (WTA) problem in joint command and control, and proposes a quantity–quality–spatiotemporal (QQST) framework to model multi-dimensional supply–demand matching. The QQST framework formulates scheduling as a coupled optimization problem integrating quantity balance, energy quality (exergy), spatial distribution, and temporal dynamics. A real-world industrial IES case, involving 60 textile enterprises and a 62 km steam network, is used for validation. The proposed model is benchmarked against a conventional mixed-integer linear programming-based scheduling approach under identical system configurations. Results show that QQST improves overall exergy efficiency by 8.4% and reduces energy quality mismatch by 18.2%, as measured by an exergy-based index. Sensitivity analysis under varying load conditions further confirms the robustness of the approach. These findings demonstrate that the QQST framework provides a structured and effective methodology for enhancing multi-dimensional coordination in complex energy systems. Full article

Surface water quality, serving as a key link between domestic water use and agricultural production, impacts both the drinking water safety of local residents and the sustainable use of irrigated soil. To better protect water resources and enhance their sustainable value, this study collected 50 water samples from the areas surrounding Nansi Lake. Using the Piper trilinear diagram, Gibbs model, and ion ratio analysis, the main hydrochemical types were identified. Based on this, the entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) was used to evaluate the water’s suitability for drinking, while irrigation water quality indicators were applied to assess its suitability for irrigation. The results indicate that during both dry and rainy seasons, Na⁺ and SO₄²⁻ dominate the water, with average total dissolved solids (TDS) of 1279 mg/L and 1163 mg/L, respectively, indicating moderately elevated salinity. The ion concentrations follow the order: SO₄²⁻ > HCO₃⁻ > Cl⁻ > NO₃⁻ > F⁻ and Na⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺. From a hydrochemical perspective, mixed-type and Cl-Na-type waters prevailed in both seasons. The chemical composition of surface water in the study area is largely governed by rock weathering, with ions primarily originating from the dissolution of silicate and evaporite minerals. Furthermore, cation exchange processes play a significant role in shaping the evolution of the water chemistry. The water quality evaluation indicates that surface water in the study area is generally Class II, representing good water quality. However, Class IV and Class V water exist in some areas, where the primary exceedance parameter is SO₄²⁻, which is a key factor influencing water quality. Irrigation suitability is generally good. Systematic investigation of surface water hydrochemistry and quality is of great practical significance for ensuring safe drinking and irrigation water and promoting sustainable socio-economic development. Full article

Air pollution poses a major public health threat, yet longitudinal evidence on its impact on infant health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains limited. This study investigated the longitudinal associations between early-life exposure to outdoor air pollution and infant HRQoL, focusing on psychological and physiological domains. Between November 2021 and September 2022, 779 mother–newborn pairs were recruited, with 696 completing follow-up at 12 months. HRQoL was assessed at 1, 4, 6, and 12 months using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™, and exposures to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂ were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models adjusted for infant sex, household income, sibling status, and other covariates. Higher concentrations of all pollutants were associated with lower total HRQoL scores. Stratified analyses showed that PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and SO₂, but not NO₂, were associated with steeper age-related declines in total scores. Inverse associations with psychosocial health were consistent across pollutants, with pronounced age-related declines in high-exposure groups; for physical health, only SO₂ and NO₂ remained significant after adjustment, with modest age-related changes. These findings suggest that early-life air pollution exposure is associated with smaller gains in HRQoL during infancy, particularly in psychosocial well-being, highlighting the importance of improving air quality to support early development. Full article

Background: Quality of life (QoL) after transradial access in diagnostic cerebral angiography may be shaped by procedural demands as well as by the ambulatory setting itself. This study, for the first time, prospectively explored this dimension through follow-up assessments of QoL after the procedure. Methods: In this prospective study, QoL was assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), including the Physical and Mental Component Summary (PCS and MCS) as well as eight domain-specific subscales. After right transradial cerebral angiography, the SF-36 questionnaire was administered at baseline (pre-procedure), as well as at 1-month and 3-month follow-up visits. Mean PCS and MCS values were analyzed over time using linear mixed-effects regression models. In post hoc analyses, univariate and multivariable models were used to assess the influence of potential confounders. For subgroup analysis, patients were classified as transient deteriorators if PCS and/or MCS worsened by more than 0.5 SD at 1 month compared with baseline but not at 3 months. Permanent deteriorators were defined as worsening by more than 0.5 SD at both 1 month and 3 months compared with baseline. Results: A total of 35 patients (62.9% female) were recruited over the 12-month study period, with a mean age of 59.1 ± 10.1 years. No significant overall time effect was observed for mean PCS and MCS (p = 0.970 and p = 0.076). MCS showed a significant increase at 1 month compared with baseline (p = 0.046), with a trend toward significance at 3 months (p = 0.053). In post hoc analyses, sex, neurosurgical status, and dose area product were associated with MCS in univariate analyses (p < 0.05), but these associations did not persist after multivariable adjustment. For PCS, only age showed a significant association in univariate analysis (p < 0.05). In subgroup analyses, transient deterioration was more frequent in PCS than in MCS (11.4% [95% CI 3.2–26.7%] vs. 5.7% [95% CI 0.7–19.2%]), and permanent deterioration was also more common in PCS at 1- and 3-month follow-up (14.3% [95% CI 4.8–30.3%] vs. 8.6% [95% CI 1.8–23.1%]). Impairment predominantly involved the bodily pain subscale (88.9% [95% CI 51.8–99.7%]) within PCS and the vitality (80.0% [95% CI 28.4–99.5%]) and mental health sub-scales (80.0% [95% CI 28.4–99.5%]) within MCS. Conclusions: This short-term follow-up assessment demonstrated preserved QoL following transradial diagnostic cerebral angiography. Transient or permanent deterioration occurred in no more than five patients per subgroup (14%). These findings support the notion that a radial-first approach can be safely considered for diagnostic cerebral angiography without compromising patient-reported outcomes. Full article

Novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), including 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE), are emerging endocrine-disrupting chemicals, though their direct effects on female gamete maturation remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, we used a refined zebrafish oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) model integrating germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) assessment with real-time, image-based oocyte diameter quantification. The workflow incorporated donor-condition optimization and diameter-based quality control during sorting. Oocytes from donors 4 to 5 months post-fertilization (mpf) showed more consistent diameter dynamics at the dish level than those from donors 3 to 4 mpf. Mixed-sex co-housing was associated with higher GVBD and larger Δdiameter than separated housing, although this comparison should be considered preliminary. Under DHP induction, BTBPE (1–1000 nM) consistently suppressed GVBD and attenuated maturation-associated diameter increases, with a non-monotonic-like response pattern. These findings indicate that BTBPE impairs oocyte maturation competence in vitro and supports real-time morphometric tracking as a practical QC component for zebrafish IVM workflows. Full article

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) three-dimensional (3D) object detection degrades under point sparsity, outliers, coordinate noise, and calibration drift, yet detector evaluation remains largely limited to clean benchmarks. This study focuses on sensing robustness rather than detector redesign. We introduce Bounded Graph Conditioning (BGC)—a deterministic pre-voxelization front-end that applies k-nearest-neighbor (kNN) neighborhood averaging with bounded residual correction upstream of an unchanged detector backbone. BGC is evaluated together with a reproducible sensor-degradation stress protocol and a risk-constrained operating-boundary analysis. Experiments on KITTI with PointPillars, SECOND, and Voxel R-CNN show that BGC most clearly improves retained detection quality and feasible operating coverage under strong noise and strong outlier stress; gains under other degradation types are smaller and backbone-dependent. In the primary score-level box-disjoint calibration/test evaluation on SECOND, maximum feasible coverage at a target risk bound of $0.2$ improves from $0.0754$ to $0.1374$ under strong noise ($\sigma =0.10$ m) and from $0.1323$ to $0.1591$ under strong outliers ($p=0.10$); a cross-backbone check on Voxel R-CNN confirms the same direction ($0.1860\to 0.2864$). Comparison with traditional filtering (SOR and ROR) reveals complementary strengths across fault types. A range-adaptive BGC variant that adjusts parameters per distance bin further improves performance under mixed unknown faults, spherical-coordinate noise, and on a dataset-matched nuScenes validation (adaptive BGC mAP/NDS: $0.2687/0.4493$ vs. baseline $0.2471/0.3846$ under strong noise). Severe translation drift collapses all configurations to full rejection, exposing an explicit sensing boundary beyond the reach of local conditioning. These results support BGC as a practical sensor-side robustness enhancement under the studied degradation protocol, with conditional rather than universal applicability across backbones and fault types. Full article

To address the issues of high energy consumption and unstable construction quality caused by high-temperature heating during the preparation of traditional hot-mixed/grouted semi-flexible pavement (SFP) mixtures, a cold-mixed integrated (CMI) process was proposed. In addition, the material composition of the mixtures was optimized. The effects of the preparation process and binder type on the high- and low-temperature performance, water stability, and fatigue performance were then analyzed. Furthermore, the microstructural characteristics of the semi-flexible mixture were also investigated. The results indicated that the CMI process facilitated the formation and uniform distribution of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), enhanced the binder’s ability to encapsulate aggregates and fill skeletal voids, significantly reduced the mixture’s void ratio, and improved its pavement performance. The proposed procedure was a means of enhancing high-temperature stability and fatigue life (an increase of 80% and 200 times compared to the hot-mixed/grouted (HMG) process, and 5 times and 300 times compared to AC-13, respectively). Compared with the HMG process, the CMI process offered greater advantages in enhancing the high-temperature stability and fatigue resistance of the mixture, particularly when using SBS-modified asphalt, where fatigue performance exhibited an order-of-magnitude improvement. Furthermore, while SBS modification could improve the road performance of SFP materials, mixtures prepared with SBS-modified emulsified asphalt demonstrated more significant enhancements in high-temperature stability and fatigue resistance, approximately 2 times and 10 times higher than SBS-modified mixtures, respectively. The addition of styrene–acrylic emulsion (SAE) could further enhance the low-temperature crack resistance by approximately 7%. The research results can provide a reference for the development and application of preparation processes for semi-flexible mixtures. Full article

The transformation of university libraries into learning commons has highlighted the importance of informal learning spaces (ILSs). However, the mechanisms through which spatial elements influence learning experiences remain underexplored, particularly in western China. Drawing on person-environment fit theory and a multi-coupling framework, this study develops a four-dimensional analytical model comprising spatial layout, facility configuration, environmental quality, and cultural perception. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including 532 valid questionnaires, behavioral observations, and comprehensive environmental measurements (illuminance, noise, CO₂, PM2.5, TVOC, thermal conditions) across three university libraries in Lanzhou, China. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and coupling coordination degree modeling were used for analysis. Spatial layout (β = 0.324, p < 0.001), facility configuration (β = 0.287, p < 0.001), environmental quality (β = 0.196, p < 0.01), and cultural perception (β = 0.158, p < 0.05) all significantly predicted learning satisfaction, jointly explaining 67.3% of the variance. Learning satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between spatial elements and learning outcomes (indirect effect 31.2%). Coupling coordination degrees ranged from 0.578 to 0.634, revealing a “high coupling, low coordination” pattern, with cultural perception as the common shortfall. Environmental measurements showed CO₂ concentrations ranging from 823 to 946 ppm in quiet zones and up to 1085 ppm in lounge areas, correlating negatively with satisfaction (r = –0.41, p < 0.05). Spatial elements influence learning outcomes primarily through satisfaction enhancement. An integrated optimization framework is proposed, offering actionable strategies for ILS design in similar contexts. Full article

A novel amorphous Hf-MOFs precursor was successfully synthesized and converted into HfC nanoparticles via one-step pyrolysis. The effects of metal/ligand molar ratios, solvent types, and pyrolysis temperature were systematically studied. High-purity spherical HfC nanoparticles (44.30 ± 9.63 nm) were obtained at 1500 °C using a 1.5:1 metal/ligand molar ratio with mixed anhydrous ethanol/deionized water solvents. At a pyrolysis temperature of 1700 °C, the as-synthesized HfC nanoparticles possessed an exceptionally low oxygen content of 0.76%, alongside a carbon content of 6.42% that almost perfectly matches the theoretical value of stoichiometric HfC. The formation mechanism involving Hf-O-C coordination and carbothermal reduction was clarified. Additive-free HfC ceramics were fabricated using the as-synthesized HfC nanoparticles via spark plasma sintering (1950 °C, 30 MPa, 20 min). The resulting ceramics exhibited a relative density of 96.7% and a Vickers hardness of 20.2 GPa, both of which are significantly superior to those of ceramics sintered from commercial HfC powders under identical conditions (95.8% and 17.8 GPa, respectively). This work provides a promising and feasible pathway for the preparation of other high-quality ultra-high temperature hafnium-based carbide powders and ceramics. Full article

Flat glass waste from building demolition is an underused resource with potential to reduce the climate impact of construction materials. This study compares two recycling pathways for flat glass waste: the first is closed-loop recycling into new glass, and the second is the use of glass in concrete as a replacement for cement. The comparison is based on life cycle, circularity assessment and experimental evaluation of concrete performance. Recycling flat glass into new glass can reduce emissions by 945 kg CO₂eq per ton of recycled glass when the production mix contains 65 percent recycled content. However, only between 1 and 3% percent of demolition flat glass is suitable for this process because of contamination and quality limitations. As a result, the practical climate benefit of demolition glass in new glass production is limited to about 38 kg CO₂eq per ton of demolition glass. Concrete offers a much larger waste sink. Replacing 20% of cement with milled glass powder results in emission savings of 776 kg CO₂eq per ton of glass. A concrete mix containing 33% glass shows the same compressive strength as a reference mix. Full article

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) strongly influences health, comfort, and learning performance in academic buildings, yet assessment practices remain fragmented and rarely aligned with sustainability goals. This study conducted a PRISMA 2020-guided systematic literature review to identify, screen, and map IEQ indicators for educational facilities and to develop a sustainability-aligned framework for classroom evaluation. Searches of Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science (2010–2025) yielded 365 records; after de-duplication and eligibility screening, 142 peer-reviewed studies were included. From these, 118 unique IEQ indicators were extracted and classified into six domains: thermal comfort, indoor air quality, acoustic quality, visual comfort, environmental quality, and spatial quality. Using sustainability-oriented screening criteria (measurability, relevance, reliability, data accessibility, understandability, and long-term applicability), 50 indicators (42%) were retained as methodologically robust, while 68 (58%) were excluded due to weak standardization or limited practical applicability. The retained indicators were systematically mapped to the environmental, social, and economic pillars and aligned with key SDGs (3, 4, 7, 11, and 13). The resulting Sustainability-Aligned IEQ Indicator Framework integrates quality-screened indicators with pillar/SDG alignment and a mixed-method pathway that combines objective monitoring and occupant perception, supporting context-sensitive evaluation, particularly for naturally ventilated and tropical learning environments. Full article

Milk production in tropical smallholder systems is constrained by limited high-quality roughage during the hot–dry season. Sweet sorghum silage is drought-tolerant and may replace corn stover silage. Twelve Holstein–Friesian crossbred cows were assigned to the same commercial concentrate plus either corn stover silage or sweet sorghum silage as the primary roughage source (n = 6 per diet). Intake, apparent digestibility, milk yield and composition, and feed-use efficiency were evaluated on day 15 and 30 and analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with cow as a random effect. Compared with corn stover silage, sweet sorghum silage increased dry matter intake (p < 0.05) and improved the digestibility of fibre fractions, including crude fibre, NDF and ADF (p ≤ 0.003), while crude protein- and nitrogen-free extract digestibility were not different (p > 0.05). Milk yield, 4% fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, and feed-use efficiency indices were unaffected by silage source (p > 0.05). Milk protein concentration was higher with sweet sorghum silage (treatment effect p < 0.05), whereas milk fat and lactose were unchanged. Sweet sorghum silage can therefore replace corn stover silage in tropical dairy diets, improving intake and fibre utilization without compromising milk output. Full article