Search Results (80)

Consumer food waste is a major challenge for food system sustainability and a governance problem that cannot be addressed by individual behavioral change alone. Previous reviews have examined the causes of food waste or evaluated specific intervention strategies, but less attention has been paid to how behavioral drivers, intervention strategies, and the roles of governance actors can be examined within an integrated analytical framework. Against this background, this review aims to synthesize the behavioral drivers of consumer food waste, classify the main types of behavioral interventions, and develop a multi-level governance perspective that connects these elements. Using a narrative review approach supported by a structured literature search, the review identifies three broad categories of behavioral drivers, namely cognitive biases, motivational drivers, and environmental and situational influences. It then classifies behavioral interventions into five types, namely information-based interventions, social norm interventions, choice architecture and environmental design interventions, incentive-based interventions, and education and capacity-building interventions. The review indicates that no single intervention type is likely to be effective across all settings. Instead, intervention outcomes are closely linked to the alignment among targeted behavioral drivers, intervention strategies, consumption contexts, and governance support. From a multi-level governance perspective, this review views consumers as the actors engaged in everyday food-related practices, businesses as the designers of the consumption environments and operational routines, and policymakers as the providers of institutional, informational, and economic support. By bringing behavioral drivers, intervention strategies, and governance roles into a shared analytical framework, this review moves beyond fragmented, individual-centered approaches to reducing consumer food waste. The framework suggests that food waste reduction efforts may be more effectively implemented and maintained when consumer practices, business environments, and policy conditions are mutually supportive. Full article

The aesthetic value of agricultural landscapes is gaining importance as rural tourism burgeons during urbanization. To ascertain key elements influencing the visual appeal of agricultural landscapes, this research employed a visual choice experiment in Hangzhou Plain during the spring flowering period to assess public preferences for four landscape attributes in ground and aerial perspectives. The mixed logit model was utilized to evaluate the respondents’ average preference, while the latent class logit model helped in identifying distinct preference groups. The research revealed that participants exhibited different preferences between the two perspectives. The diversity within public preferences was highlighted, with respondents favoring oilseed rape-dominated landscapes with a single agricultural land cover proportion in ground perspective while favoring diverse landscapes in aerial perspective. Gender, education level, landscape familiarity, connection to agriculture, and membership in relevant organizations significantly shape individual preferences. These results can help refine multi-objective policy targeting by incorporating aesthetic value perspective in agricultural landscapes. Full article

Addressing the issues of forest resource fragmentation and difficulties in value realization caused by traditional development models, China has explored the Natural Resource Asset Portfolio Supply Model (PSM), offering a new pathway for realizing Forest Ecosystem Service Value (FESV). However, existing studies are mostly descriptive case summaries and have yet to reveal the process mechanisms through which PSM drives forest value enhancement. Accordingly, this study selects five typical cases released by the Ministry of Natural Resources and employs multi-case research and grounded theory to deeply analyze their evolutionary pathways. The findings show that PSM promotes forest value enhancement through a gradient evolutionary pathway of “asset aggregation, functional coupling, and property rights conversion”. Asset aggregation addresses fragmentation through resource integration; functional coupling generates synergies through element combination; and property rights conversion transforms ecosystem services into transferable value carriers through institutional innovation, completing the transition from physical assets to capital. The study further identifies two roles of forest resources in composite asset packages, namely dominant resources and background resources, along with their distinct value enhancement pathways, and reveals how institutional innovation in property rights releases ecosystem services from physical constraints into transferable value carriers. The gradient evolutionary pathway constructed in this paper provides a novel process explanation for theoretical research on ecosystem service value realization, and its cross-context applicability offers a theoretical reference for natural resource management in similar global contexts. Practically, it provides managers with actionable value enhancement pathway choices and institutional design references, while also offering a viable analytical tool for policy optimization of PSM. Full article

Parallel, data-intensive applications are now commonly executed on infrastructures that combine Cloud, Fog, and Edge resources. In these environments, execution takes place on devices with markedly different computational power and over networks whose latency and bandwidth can fluctuate over time. Under these conditions, overall performance is influenced not only by processing speed but also by communication delays arising from data dependencies between tasks. This leads to a basic issue: whether scheduling strategies developed under computation-focused assumptions continue to perform well once communication costs are made explicit. This work examines the behavior of simple and widely adopted scheduling heuristics when network effects are modeled directly within the system. No new scheduling algorithms are introduced. Instead, the analysis focuses on how execution time and monetary cost change for deterministic parallel workloads deployed on hierarchical Cloud–Edge infrastructures exposed to stochastic latency and bandwidth variations. For this purpose, we introduce CLOWNSim, a lightweight discrete-event simulation framework that supports large-scale Monte Carlo experiments on fixed task graphs, allowing infrastructural and scheduling effects to be examined independently of workload variability. The experimental analysis covers fully centralized Cloud deployments, intermediate Fog configurations, and resource-constrained IoT scenarios. Scheduling policies based on computational speed, execution cost, or random device selection are evaluated across these settings. In Cloud and Fog environments, communication latency and data transfers represent a substantial portion of the overall makespan, weakening the impact of scheduling decisions driven primarily by computation. In IoT scenarios, limited processing capacity becomes the main limiting factor, while communication overhead remains present but less influential in comparison. The results indicate that performance trends across the Cloud–Edge continuum cannot be attributed to scheduler choice alone. Execution behavior arises from the combined effects of workload structure, placement decisions, and network properties, with different elements becoming dominant depending on the deployment context. The proposed simulation framework offers a practical way to study these interactions and to assess cost–performance trade-offs under communication conditions that reflect realistic operating environments. Full article

Natural protected areas harbor ecosystems with significant ecological functions and economic value. The scientific accounting of Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) is therefore critical for harmonizing ecological conservation with regional development. Using China’s Xilingol Grassland National Nature Reserve as a case study, this paper develops and applies a novel “3M” GEP accounting framework, integrating the three core elements of multi-dimensional indicators, multi-source data, and multi-method adaptation. This framework was employed to systematically quantify the values of the reserve’s provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services. The results show an annual GEP of CNY 170.5229 billion for the 5835.65 km² reserve. Regulating services constituted the dominant share (97.77%), with climate regulation being the most significant component (CNY 160.15 billion). It is important to note that this high proportion is method-dependent, stemming from the industrial-substitution scenarios used to value non-market services. The combined contribution of provisioning and cultural services was 2.23%, representing 1.00% and 1.23%, respectively. Uncertainty analysis indicated a total error margin of ±9.3% (95% confidence interval), which is within an acceptable range for ecological accounting. The primary sources of uncertainty were data-resolution limitations, methodological choices, and regional parameter variability. These findings, corroborated by sensitivity analysis, confirm the robustness of the GEP estimate and clarify the influence of key ecological parameters on the valuation. By optimizing regional indicator adaptation, methodological localization, and multi-source data cross-validation, the proposed framework enhances the accuracy and policy relevance of ecosystem service valuation. It thus provides a methodological reference for GEP accounting and ecological asset management in other natural protected areas. Full article

Agriculture in the European Union operates in a context where productivity, output growth, and sustainability increasingly shape policy priorities and economic choices. This research explores how these elements have interacted and influenced one another from 2000 to 2024, focusing on the dynamic relationships among economic performance, sustainability, labor productivity, and agricultural output across EU member states. The methodology is straightforward: it starts with factor analysis to uncover the fundamental structures linking key variables and to clarify connections that are often hidden in aggregated data. Building on these insights, a General Linear Model provides a clearer picture of how economic performance and sustainability affect changes in labor productivity and agricultural output, revealing the mechanisms through which these factors promote or hinder agricultural progress. To enhance understanding, cluster analysis groups EU countries according to shared patterns, enabling interpretation of national differences within broader structural trends rather than as isolated cases. The findings show that countries with stronger economies and more consistent sustainability initiatives tend to achieve higher productivity and output, while the clusters identified demonstrate significant differences that explain the diverse development paths within the Union. Full article

Local United Arab Emirates (UAE) inhabitants have shown heightened awareness and interest in renewable energy (RE), resulting in a rise in the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in their residences; however, electric utility earnings have decreased due to this tendency. Energy decision-makers are concerned about discriminatory resident access to incentives and publicly funded solar PV frameworks. To reduce solar PV installations, utilities and energy players have adjusted RE initiatives. Utility companies provide solar PV-assisted installations. Nonetheless, adopting such frameworks requires a comprehensive feasibility study of all elements to achieve a win–win condition for all stakeholders, namely energy consumers, grid operators, solar PV company owners, regulators, and financiers. This article predicts the success of numerous local UAE solar PV models using agent-based modeling (ABM) to assess stakeholders’ measurements and objectives. Agents represent prosumers who choose solar PV. The effects of their installation choices on stakeholder performance measures are studied over time. ABM results show that suitable solar community pricing policies can benefit all stakeholders. Therefore, enhanced RE implementation rates can grow equitably. Also, electric utility companies can recoup profit losses from solar PV installations, and solar PV firms can thrive. The proposed modeling technique provides a viable policy design that supports all parties, preventing injustice to any stakeholder. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study explores the concept of dignity in care for older patients with cancer in Korea using the hybrid model. Methods: A three-phase hybrid model approach was employed for concept analysis. In the theoretical phase, a literature review was conducted to determine the attributes and definition of dignity in care. In the fieldwork phase, the practicability of the defined concept was assessed through practical observations. In the final analysis phase, findings from the theoretical and fieldwork phases were compared and synthesized to validate the attributes and definition of the concept. Results: Four dimensions of dignity in care were found identified: intrinsic, relational, social, and illness-related. Professional dimension was added based on nurses’ perspective. Attributes of dignity in care for older cancer patients include eight key elements: personal identity, a deepened sense of value and meaning of life, respect, relationships (with medical staff, family, and fellow patients), support for society’s care policies, systemic support from healthcare systems, free will and choice, and proactive coping strategies. For nurses, dignity in care involves seven attributes: understanding and respecting human values, ethical and moral attitudes, interaction-based communication through the cultivation of rapport, systemic support from healthcare systems, protection of dignity, activities promoting dignity, and professional competency. Conclusions: This study provides concept definitions and attributes for dignity in care, equipping clinical nurses with assessment tools to better understand and enhance the dignity of older cancer patients. Full article

Against the backdrop of inclusive development and modernization of employment governance, the limitations of traditional approaches to promoting employment for persons with disabilities—such as information asymmetries and inefficient resource allocation—have become increasingly salient. Building a systematic promotion framework for disability employment has therefore emerged as a critical agenda for advancing modern social governance. Drawing on bounded rationality and information asymmetry theories, this study develops a tripartite evolutionary game model encompassing government, employers, and persons with disabilities. By incorporating key elements such as initial intentions, skill matching, and policy signal transmission, the model analyzes the strategic choices and dynamic interactions among stakeholders. We conduct numerical simulations using delay differential equations (DDEs), perform stability and sensitivity analyses in MATLAB R2024b, and triangulate findings with a practice-based case from Shanghai. The results indicate that persons with disabilities exhibit the highest policy responsiveness within the employment ecosystem and act as the core driver of convergence toward desirable equilibria through four mechanisms: skill-matching effects, policy signal diffusion, perceived institutional fairness, and system-level synergy gains. Although employer subsidies and penalties directly target firms, they exert the strongest psychological incentive effects on persons with disabilities, revealing a “misaligned incentives” feature in policy signaling. Systemic synergy gains activate market network effects, facilitating a pivotal shift from “policy transfusion” to “market self-sustenance.” Based on these findings, we propose a diversified policy toolkit, enhanced policy signaling mechanisms, and innovations in concentrated employment models to support the modernization of disability employment governance. Full article

The food consumption stage, the final step in the food supply chain (FSC), where food has already undergone resource-intensive processes, plays a central role in the transition to a sustainable food system. Consumers’ food choices and consumption practices directly influence food demand, production methods, and resource use across the FSC. These factors affect global challenges such as overconsumption, malnutrition, hunger, and food waste (FW)—issues integral to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, this study aims to identify key aspects of the food consumption stage that influence the shift toward sustainability and to develop a conceptual framework to guide this transition. To achieve this, an integrative literature review (ILR), supported by bibliometric analysis and narrative review elements, was conducted to strengthen the conceptual foundation. The results reveal four central aspects: FW and its reduction, the need for dietary shifts, changes in consumer behaviour, and policy reform, highlighting the consumer and their behaviour as the central connecting element. Based on the findings, a framework was developed linking the identified problems with targeted solutions, which can be implemented through various tools that also act as drivers of change, enhancing sustainable food consumption, food system sustainability, and the achievement of global SDGs. Full article

Urban metabolism frameworks offer insight into flows of energy, materials, and services in cities, yet tree species selection is seldom treated as a metabolic indicator. In Amman, Jordan, we integrate spatial metabolic metrics to critique monocultural greening policies and demonstrate how species choices forecast long-term urban metabolic performance. Using ENVI-met 5.61 simulations, we compare Melia azedarach, Olea europaea, and Ceratonia siliqua, mainly assessing urban flow related elements like air temperature reduction, CO₂ sequestration, and evapotranspiration alongside rooting depth, isoprene emissions, and biodiversity support. Melia delivers rapid cooling but shows other negatives like a low biodiversity value; Olea offers average cooling and sequestration but has allergenic pollen issues in people as a flow; Ceratonia provides scalable cooling, increased carbon uptake, and has a high ecological value. We propose a metabolic reframing of green infrastructure planning to choose urban species, guided by system feedback rather than aesthetics, to ensure long-term resilience in arid urban climates. Full article

Understanding the drivers of green consumption behavior is crucial for promoting sustainable practices among households. This study explores the key factors influencing green consumer behavior, including environmental awareness, subjective norms, attitudes, green promotional activities, and household characteristics. By examining their interactions and the mediating role of consumer intention, this research provides a comprehensive perspective on how these elements shape household consumption choices. These findings highlight the significant impact of environmental awareness and subjective norms on shaping green consumer intentions, which, in turn, drive actual behavior. This study offers insights for policymakers and businesses to design targeted strategies that encourage sustainable consumption habits. Practical implications include the need for awareness campaigns, community engagement, and supportive policies to foster green consumer behavior. Full article

This innovative study focuses on identifying the primary trends in citizens’ decision-making regarding sustainable and healthy water use and the promotion of tap water options. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether there was a connection between citizen-consumer choices of tap water versus bottled water and their socio-demographic attributes or environmental awareness and consciousness, which both influence the access to and quality of drinking water. The availability, safety and quality of drinking water is a basic human right and an important public health issue. Water plays a crucial role in terms of increasing geo-political and socio-economic importance. Several researchers have examined the multiple elements influencing customers’ opinions about the quality of water and services, finding that a variety of internal and external factors play a role. To accomplish the study goals, a variety of research methodologies were applied to the use case of Kilkis city, Region of Central Macedonia, Greece. Gaining insight was first facilitated via communication with a focus group of local professionals and policy-makers. Then, a social survey of 407 randomly chosen citizens was conducted to collect the data. The key determinants influencing citizens’ drinking water choices were investigated using multivariate data analysis. Specifically, cluster analysis was employed to group customers exhibiting similar water usage patterns, resulting in the identification of two groups: (a) individuals who favored bottled water and (b) individuals who favored tap water with no filtration. The comparison of the distribution of water consumers between these two clusters, via a Chi-Square test with cross tabulation analysis, showed that customers’ drinking water buying habits were not influenced by their socio-demographic traits. On the other hand, the choice of tap water was found to be positively connected to citizens’ increased level of environmental consciousness. The outcomes of this study can help the stakeholders involved to assist in making improvements to customer service programs for encouraging tap water use, as a more sustainable and healthy water option. Moreover, the population could potentially be motivated to adopt updated technologies for recycling water down the line, moving towards sustainable water resource management. Full article

This article explores the features of speech practices of young people in Kazakhstan in the conditions of interaction between Kazakh, Russian, and English, taking into account the influence of the digital environment and modern socio-cultural factors. The relevance of this study is determined by the rapid transformation of the language situation in Kazakhstan, where traditional bilingualism is evolving under the influence of globalisation and digital factors, contributing to the formation of new models of language interaction in the youth environment. The aim of this research is to study the mechanisms of language functioning in different communicative contexts, including digital communication. As a methodological basis, the methods of sociolinguistic and discourse analysis were applied, including the collection and interpretation of young people’s written texts, as well as interviewing respondents to identify their language preferences and communication strategies. The empirical analysis allowed us to identify new models of young people’s linguistic behaviour in various communicative environments, including online space. The leading factors influencing the choice of language code were identified, and the characteristic mechanisms of integrating elements of Kazakh, Russian, and English into a single speech act were recorded. Special attention is paid to the specifics of language interaction in digital environments, where hybrid forms of communication are observed due to technological and globalisation processes. This study considers the speech of young people not only as a linguistic phenomenon, but also as an instrument of intercultural communication, reflecting trends in the development of polylingualism. The findings of this study can be used to improve language policy and to develop educational programmes that take into account modern trends in youth communication. Full article

The choice of efficient methods for the immobilization of high-level waste (HLW) resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is an important scientific and practical task. The current policy of managing HLW within a closed nuclear fuel cycle envisages its vitrification into borosilicate (B-Si) or alumina–phosphate (Al-P) glasses. These wasteforms have rather limited waste loading and can potentially impair their retaining properties on devitrification. The optimal solution for HLW immobilization could be separating radionuclides into groups using dedicated capacious durable matrices. The phases of the Nd₂O₃–ZrO₂–TiO₂ system in this respect are promising hosts for the REE (rare earth elements: Nd, Ce, La, Pr, Sm, Gd, Y) –MA (MA: Am, Cm) fraction of HLW. In this manuscript, we present data on the composition of the samples analyzed, their durability in hot water, their behavior under irradiation, and their industrial manufacturing methods. Full article