Search Results (53)

This article aims to describe a novel workflow designed for generating a new family of minimal surface-based lattice structures with improved performance in terms of material budget compared to the well-known cells like Gyroid and Schwartz. The implemented method is based on the iterative resolution of a dynamic model, where proper forces are applied to generate minimal surface lattices, considering the boundary conditions and the constraint configurations. The novelty of the approach is given by the ability to create a minimal surface without resolving the partial differential equation and without knowing the exact minimal surface generative function. The starting geometry used for the lattice generation is the hypercube, parametrized to create different lattice configurations. Creating five different starting geometries and two constraint configurations, ten different lattice cells were created. For the comparison, a representative parameter of the material budget has been introduced and used to define the two best cells. The material budget is crucial for particle accelerator components, sensors, and detectors. These cells have been compared with Gyroid and Schwartz of the same thickness and bounding box, highlighting improvements of a factor of 2.3 and 1.7, respectively, in terms of material budget. The same cells have also been 3D-printed and tested under compression, and the obtained force–displacement curves were compared with those from a finite element analysis, demonstrating good agreement in the elastic region. Full article

This study investigates how women at a Muslim island community-based tourism (CBT) site convert performed respectability and routine paperwork into everyday organizational authority. Drawing on four months of ethnographic fieldwork in Bang Rong, Phuket—supported by seventeen semi-structured interviews, three years of social-media observation (2023–2025), and analysis of rosters, ledgers, receipts, and LINE threads—the study examines how gendered norms and material devices structure authority in daily tourism practice. The analysis identifies an authorization stack (veil, uniform, tone) and a set of paperwork devices (ledgers, rosters, receipts, digital groups) that make women’s visibility both morally credible and institutionally legible. Using a poststructural feminist lens and Barriteau’s gender-system framework, the article develops an interpretive, case-derived Respectability-in-Action Conversion Model, showing that moral credit converts into procedural authority only when respectability cues align with control of at least one device. Conversion, however, remains partial and contingent: strategic levers stay largely male or mosque-adjacent unless women obtain rights-bearing tools, such as co-signature authority, petty-cash control, or platform access, along with institutional protection against sanction. Age, class, and endorsement shape these trajectories, enabling some women to consolidate authority while rendering others easily replaceable. The study contributes: (1) a case-specific, empirically grounded account of authority formation in island CBT; (2) an analytic lens for understanding how performance, devices, and rights interact in this setting; and (3) practice-oriented implications for small-island CBT contexts that emphasize shared device access, rotating administrative duties, co-signature and budget rights, and safeguards against organizational capture. Full article

This study examines how sustainability accounting practices are integrated into a Romanian medium-sized enterprise in the context of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), addressing the lack of applied evidence from Central and Eastern Europe. The research uses a qualitative single-case study design based on internal documents, ESG and financial reports, carbon accounting data, and six semi-structured interviews with key organizational actors. The methodological framework includes mapping ESG data flows within accounting systems, applying an extended Return on Investment (eROI) model, and using an internal carbon price to assess the environmental benefits of energy-efficiency investments. The results show a structural transformation of the accounting function, including expanded sustainability-related roles, integration of ESG indicators into budgeting and reporting cycles, and improved transparency in evaluating investment projects. The use of analytical tools strengthened decision-making, increasing the assessed return of the investment portfolio when environmental and operational co-benefits were incorporated. The analysis also identifies key barriers—fragmented data systems, limited ESG expertise, and partial digitalization—and enabling factors such as CFO leadership and cross-functional collaboration. The study concludes that accountants play a strategic role in operationalizing CSRD requirements and demonstrates how SMEs can integrate financial, environmental, and operational metrics to support sustainability-oriented decisions. The findings provide theoretical contributions and practical guidance for organizations seeking to improve sustainability accounting in line with EU regulations. Full article

Infectious-disease dynamics depend on heterogeneous contact structure, which classical homogeneous-mixing models such as SIR/SEIR cannot capture. We develop a curvature-informed network SIR framework that embeds Forman–Ricci curvature (FRC), a discrete topological descriptor of fragility and robustness, into per-edge transmission. We compute FRC on undirected and directed Erdős–Rényi, Watts–Strogatz, Barabási–Albert, and Power–Law Cluster networks, and relate curvature to degree, clustering, and betweenness to identify structurally influential nodes and bridge edges. Using curvature-adjusted transmission, we simulate epidemics across topologies and infection rates, then validate predictively with a controlled “hidden-truth” benchmark: posterior-calibrated FRC models are compared with advanced centrality-weighted baselines (EdgeBetweenness, Degree, Eigenvector) under identical fit/holdout splits. On heterogeneous graphs (Barabási–Albert/Power–Law Cluster), FRC improves holdout Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), peak-time accuracy, and final-size proximity. A compact sensitivity analysis over baseline transmission and clustering, with Partial Rank Correlation Coefficient (PRCC), shows these gains are robust across parameter regimes. Intervention ablations (cases averted vs. budget) further show that vaccinating high-curvature nodes and protecting extreme negative-curvature bridges can outperform EdgeBetweenness targeting at practical budgets. Directed networks exhibit sharper peaks and faster resolution, with strongly negative out-curvature marking putative exporters. In general, FRC provides a principled geometric signal that enhances network epidemic models and yields concrete, topology-aware guidance for targeted vaccination and community-bridge control. Full article

This study reconstructs seven decades (1949–2019) of morphodynamic changes and sediment dynamics in the Diable River (Québec, Canada) using nine series of aerial photographs, a high-resolution LiDAR Digital Elevation Model (2021), and grain-size analysis. The objectives were to document long-term river evolution, quantify erosion and deposition, and evaluate sediment connectivity between eroding sandy bluffs and depositional zones. Planform analysis and sediment budgets derived from DEMs of Difference (DoD) reveal an oscillatory trajectory characterized by alternating phases of sediment export and temporary stabilization, rather than a simple trend of degradation or aggradation. The most dynamic interval (1980–2001) was marked by widespread meander migration and the largest net export (−142.5 m³/km/year), whereas the 2001–2007 interval showed net storage (+70.8 m³/km/year) and short-term geomorphic recovery. More recent floods (2017, 2019; 20–50-year return periods) induced localized but persistent sediment loss, underlining the structuring role of extreme events. Grain-size results indicate partial connectivity: coarse fractions tend to remain in local depositional features, while finer sediments are preferentially exported downstream. These findings emphasize the geomorphic value of temporary sediment sinks (bars, beaches) and highlight the need for adaptive river management strategies that integrate sediment budgets and local knowledge into floodplain governance. Full article

Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) are a staple commodity in the marine aquarium trade and an emerging model organism for research. Bottlenecks during larviculture affect the survival of juvenile fish and continued reliance on live feeds, such as rotifers (Brachionus spp.) and Artemia spp. nauplii, increasing the complexity and cost of raising this species. This study utilized known digestive physiology of clownfish larvae to experimentally reduce the use of live feeds. First, larvae were weaned from rotifers to Artemia at three time points (3, 5, and 7 days post-hatch [DPH]), demonstrating that larvae can be transitioned to Artemia as early as 5 DPH without negative impacts on survival, total length (TL), or whole-body cortisol. A second weaning trial tested the introduction of a commercial microdiet (MD) at 5, 8, and 11 DPH. Survival was greatest when the MD was introduced at 5 DPH (mean ± SD; 64.47 ± 0.10%), and no differences in TL nor whole-body cortisol were detected, suggesting that Artemia may not be required prior to MD weaning. Next, three commercially available MDs were tested for their effects on survival, growth, and coloration of clownfish larvae. Survival and growth did not differ among diets, but fish fed TDO Chroma Boost™ exhibited significantly red-shifted hues, higher saturation, and greater brightness scores in some body regions compared to fish fed Golden Pearl or GEMMA Micro 300. A partial budget analysis indicated a net profit increase of ~$1.60 per fish, highlighting the potential for cost savings and streamlined clownfish production. Full article

This study examines the factors influencing the adoption of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems within Romanian organizations. The objective is to develop a comprehensive framework for ERP adoption decisions, thereby advancing the field of knowledge and offering managerial insights. To accomplish this research goal, a questionnaire is envisioned, employing various research hypotheses, and distributed to a representative sample. Quantitative econometric regression analysis is employed, considering potential factors such as user training and education, competitive pressures, user involvement and participation, decentralized ERP features, top management support, data quality, the quality of the ERP system, cost and budget considerations, and business process reengineering. Of the 12 factors analyzed, 9 were found to be relevant in terms of influence on the decision to adopt ERP systems, in the context of the Romanian market. The other three factors were found to be irrelevant, thus obtaining results partially different from other areas of the world. By validating the hypotheses and answering the research questions, this work addresses a research gap regarding the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the influencing factors that shape the adoption process of ERP systems in Romania. Full article

With the growing deployment of latency-sensitive applications, the Age of Information (AoI) has emerged as a key performance metric for the evaluation of data freshness in networked systems. While prior studies have extensively explored the AoI under centralized scheduling or random-access protocols such as carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) and ALOHA, most assume that sources generate independent information. However, in practical scenarios such as environmental monitoring and visual sensing, information correlation frequently exists among correlated sources, providing new opportunities to enhance network timeliness. In this paper, we propose a novel analytical framework that captures the interplay between CSMA channel contention and spatial information correlation among sources. By leveraging the stochastic hybrid systems (SHS) methodology, we jointly model random backoff behavior, medium access collisions, and correlated updates in a scalable and mathematically tractable manner. We derive closed-form expressions for the average AoI under general correlation structures and further propose a lightweight estimation approach for scenarios where the correlation matrix is partially known or unknown. To our knowledge, this is the first work that integrates correlation-aware modeling into AoI analysis under distributed CSMA protocols. Extensive simulations confirm the accuracy of the theoretical results and demonstrate that exploiting information redundancy can significantly reduce the AoI, particularly under high node densities and constrained sampling budgets. These findings offer practical guidance for the design of efficient and timely data acquisition strategies in dense or energy-constrained Internet of Things (IoT) networks. Full article

This study was performed to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FD777 (BA) and Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) on the performance, morbidity and mortality rates, body measurements, immunity, rumen parameters, antioxidant parameters, microbiome level, and profitability of calves during the pre-weaning period. In the study, 51 calves were divided into three groups as one control and two treatment groups considering their age (1 day old), gender (nine females and eight males in each group), and birth weight (37.7 ± 0.4 kg). The calves in the control group (CON) were fed milk without supplements whereas the first treatment group (BA) was fed milk containing 10 mL/day/head of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FD777 and the second treatment group (MCE) was fed milk containing 2 g/day/head of MCE. As a result, supplementing BA and MCE to calf milk had no significant effect on body weight (BW), dry matter intake (DMI), feed efficiency (FE), morbidity and mortality rates, rumen pH, IgG, IgA, and IgM values, and gastrointestinal microbiota (p > 0.05). On the other hand, it was determined that body weight gain (BWG), body length, body depth, rump width, withers height change, rump height change, rump width change, and serum GSH level increased significantly in the BA group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). According to the partial budget analysis, despite the additional cost of supplementing BA to the calf milk, no calf deaths and lower disease were observed in this group, unlike the other groups, resulting in a lowest calf rearing cost and highest profit. In calves receiving MCE, withers height, rump height, body length, rump width, body depth, chest circumference change, withers height change, rump height change, and rump width change values increased significantly compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results obtained not only reveal the positive effects of BA and MCE on calves during the pre-weaning period, but also encourage the necessity of investigating their effects on the long-term performance of animals and farm economies. Full article

This study evaluated water quality, growth, and partial budget analysis (PBA) for Penaeus vannamei, comparing super-intensive Biofloc Technology (BFT) and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). The 69-day trial used 100 L units with two treatments (RAS and BFT), each with three replicates. Shrimp were initially reared in a 30-day nursery to a weight of 0.10 ± 0.04 g and then stocked at 500 shrimp m⁻³. Biofloc growth in BFT was promoted by maintaining a C:N ratio of 15:1, adding dextrose when total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) reached 1 mg L⁻¹. Probiotics (3 g m⁻³) were administered daily to both groups. TAN levels in BFT initially spiked but stabilized after 36 days. Vibrio abundance was initially higher in RAS, but by the end of the trial, it was higher in BFT. Final weight, weekly growth ratio, and yield were greater in BFT, whereas feed conversion ratio (FCR) and water use were higher in RAS. Survival rates were 83.33% in BFT and 88% in RAS. BFT achieved a superior net benefit/cost compared to RAS. Although RAS more effectively controlled nitrogenous compounds, BFT exhibited better growth performance, with higher final weights, lower FCR, and better Vibrio management. The partial budget analysis indicated an economic advantage for BFT, with a net positive benefit of $2270.09 when shifting from RAS to BFT due to lower operating costs and higher shrimp yield. Among these two sustainable production systems, BFT was more productive while utilizing less natural resources. Full article

This study overviews the keywords overspending, family, and sustainable budget from different perspectives in the existing literature. Its goal is to identify the gap through keyword analysis and formulate a methodological direction for the future, using an overview of the methodologies used for researching individual keywords. This publication is based on a systematic literature review, including articles from the Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. The resulting publications are analyzed from several angles, such as the number of publications per keyword per year, which methodologies were applied, and at which level (micro, meso, macro) the topic was previously researched. As an output of the partial analyses, both the lack of research on the sustainable spending habits of Hungarian households and the need for a methodology that can be applied for this purpose emerges. The results enable the development of a combined method, with which current research can be carried out on a micro level regarding sustainable spending habits in Hungary. Full article

The gross primary productivity (GPP) of vegetation stores atmospheric carbon dioxide as organic compounds through photosynthesis. Its spatial heterogeneity is primarily influenced by the carbon uptake period (CUP) and maximum photosynthetic productivity (GPP_max). Grassland, cropland, and forest are crucial components of China’s terrestrial ecosystems and are strongly influenced by the seasonal climate. However, it remains unclear whether the evolutionary characteristics of GPP are attributable to physiology or phenology. In this study, terrestrial ecosystem models and remote sensing observations of multi-source GPP data were utilized to quantitatively analyze the spatio-temporal dynamics from 1982 to 2018. We found that GPP exhibited a significant upward trend in most areas of China’s terrestrial ecosystems over the past four decades. Over 60% of Chinese grassland and over 50% of its cropland and forest exhibited a positive growth trend. The average annual GPP growth rates were 0.23 to 3.16 g C m⁻² year⁻¹ for grassland, 0.40 to 7.32 g C m⁻² year⁻¹ for cropland, and 0.67 to 7.81 g C m⁻² year⁻¹ for forest. GPP_max also indicated that the overall growth rate was above 1 g C m⁻² year⁻¹ in most regions of China. The spatial trend pattern of GPP_max closely mirrored that of GPP, although local vegetation dynamics remain uncertain. The partial correlation analysis results indicated that GPP_max controlled the interannual GPP changes in most of the terrestrial ecosystems in China. This is particularly evident in grassland, where more than 99% of the interannual variation in GPP is controlled by GPP_max. In the context of rapid global change, our study provides an accurate assessment of the long-term dynamics of GPP and the factors that regulate interannual variability across China’s terrestrial ecosystems. This is helpful for estimating and predicting the carbon budget of China’s terrestrial ecosystems. Full article

The need to increase agricultural production to feed a steadily growing population may clash with the more environmentally friendly but less efficient production methods required. Therefore, it is important to try to reduce the use of chemical inputs without compromising production. In this scenario, natural biostimulants have become one of the most sought-after and researched technologies. In the present study, the results of a greenhouse experiment on hydroponic tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are presented, which involved comparing the use of ordinary NPK fertilizer (Cerbero^®) with the use of NPK fertilizers enriched with 0.5% protein hydrolysate of plant origin (Cerbero Green^®) at both standard (100%) and reduced (70%) fertilization rates. The results highlight how the use of Cerbero Green^® fertilizers improves the production performance of tomatoes. More specifically, they show that the use of Cerbero Green^® leads to higher marketable yields, especially under reducing fertilizer use, ensuring a positive net change in profit for the grower. In addition, carbon footprint analysis has revealed that the use of Cerbero Green^® reduces the environmental impact of hydroponic tomato growing practices by up to 8%. The observed higher yield of hydroponically grown tomatoes even with reduced fertilization rates underlines once again the key role of natural biostimulants in increasing both the economic and environmental sustainability of horticultural production. Full article

Since 2023, a new format of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been implemented in Europe. Market forces alone cannot guarantee land services, which can be described as flows of goods and services from ecosystems to human systems as functions of nature. Market forces also cannot ensure food security everywhere and at all times, so deliberate measures should incentivize farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and maintain necessary skills and resources. This study identifies, quantifies, and interprets four narratives that are typical in the approach to food security and the public debate about the land services in the CAP Strategic Plans: (A) provision of land services within the Pillar 1 economics; (B) small vs. large farms; (C) direct payments in comparison with rural development; and (D) choices by the old and new member states. Participatory processes, descriptive statistics, and partial component analysis were used in terms of the methodology. The key finding is that the importance attached to eco-schemes varies among member states, although a majority dedicate approximately 25% of the Pillar 1 budget to them. We showed that small-scale farming countries move resources from Pillar 2 to strengthen direct payments. In contrast, affluent countries with robust agricultural structures can afford to reinforce Pillar 2 rural development through transfers from direct payments. To support small-scale and medium farms, appropriate support requires a combination of several measures, including the sizable hectare payment in Pillar 1 and farmer-oriented agri-environmental measures. Full article

Woody biomass feedstock processing, including sorting, drying, and size reduction of biomass to provide standardized reactor-ready biomass to the biorefinery, is crucial to biofuel conversion. This study compares two comminution technology systems applied to woody biomass processing at a depot before being utilized for biofuel production at a biorefinery. The conventional comminution technology, known as the hammermill system, is compared with a rotary shear system developed by Forest Concepts™. Potential economic savings of using the new technology are evaluated by applying a deterministic and a stochastic partial capital budgeting model based on results from an experiment that processed chipped hybrid poplar chips and forest residues with both systems. The stochastic partial capital model estimates that savings will vary between approximately USD 28 and USD 42 per ton of reactor-ready processed biomass, with mean and median values around USD 34 per ton. It is 90% likely that savings will be between USD 30 and USD 39 per ton of reactor-ready processed biomass. The estimated savings are mainly due to differences in input (feedstock) to output (reactor-ready biomass) yields between technologies, affecting feedstock and drying costs. Full article