Search Results (277)

It is crucial to clarify the grassland carrying capacity (CC) and the balance between grass and livestock under different scenarios for ecological protection and sustainable development in the Three River Headwaters Region (TRHR). This study focused on the TRHR and used livestock data, MODIS Net Primary Productivity (NPP) data, and artificial supplementary feeding data to analyze grassland CC and explore changes in the grass–livestock balance across various scenarios. The results showed that the theoretical CC of edible forage under complete grazing conditions was much lower than that of crude protein under nutritional carrying conditions. Furthermore, without increasing the grazing intensity of natural grasslands, artificial supplementary feeding reduced overstocking areas by 21%. These results suggest that supplementary feeding effectively addresses the imbalance between forage supply and demand, serving as a key measure for achieving sustainable grassland livestock husbandry. Despite the effective mitigation of grassland degradation in the TRHR due to strict grass–livestock balance policies and ecological restoration projects, the actual livestock CC exceeded the theoretical capacity, leading to overgrazing in some areas. To achieve desired objectives, more effective grassland management strategies must be implemented in the future to minimize spatiotemporal conflicts between grasses and livestock and ensure the health and stability of grassland ecosystems. Full article

This study explored the impact of network structure on conflict and project value creation. Network density and network centrality are two network structure dimensions. A survey was undertaken among professionals working in Chinese construction projects. A total of 308 surveys were analyzed using the structural equation model. The results revealed that network centrality has a negative impact on project value creation while network density has a positive impact. Network centrality has a negative impact on substantive conflicts but a positive impact on affective conflicts. The link between centrality and project value creation is weakened by substantive conflict but strengthened by affective conflict. This research gives a new direction for construction project governance and project value management. Furthermore, this research validates the constructive role of substantive conflicts, as well as the destructive impact of affective conflicts, thereby adding to the literature on conflict governance. Full article

The Three Gorges Reservoir Area in China presents a critical conflict between industrial development and ecological conservation. It functions as a key hub for water management, energy production, and shipping, while also serving as a vital zone for ecological and environmental protection. Focusing on Zigui County, this study developed a 16-indicator evaluation system integrating geological, ecological, and socioeconomic factors. It utilized the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), coefficient of variation (CV), and the Real-Coded Accelerating Genetic Algorithm-Projection Pursuit (RAGA-PP) model for evaluation, the latter of which optimizes the projection direction and utilizes PP to transform high-dimensional data into a low-dimensional space, thereby obtaining the values of the projection indices. The findings indicate the following: (1) The RAGA-PP model outperforms conventional AHP-CV methods in assessing Zigui County’s eco-geological environment, showing superior accuracy (higher Moran’s I) and spatial consistency. (2) Hotspot analysis confirms these results, revealing distinct spatial patterns. (3) From 2000 to 2020, “bad” quality areas decreased from 17.31% to 12.33%, while “moderate” or “better” zones expanded. (4) This improvement reflects favorable natural conditions and reduced human impacts. These trends underscore the effectiveness of China’s ecological civilization policies, which have prioritized sustainable development through targeted environmental governance, afforestation initiatives, and stringent regulations on industrial activities. Full article

The management of public health projects in a BANI (brittle, anxious, non-linear, incomprehensible) environment, exemplified by the ongoing war in Ukraine, presents unprecedented challenges due to fragile systems, heightened uncertainty, and complex socio-political dynamics. This study proposes an AI-driven framework to enhance the resilience and effectiveness of public health interventions under such conditions. By integrating a coupled SEIR–Infodemic–Panicdemic Model with war-specific factors, we simulate the interplay of infectious disease spread, misinformation dissemination, and panic dynamics over 1500 days in a Ukrainian city (Kharkiv). The model incorporates time-varying parameters to account for population displacement, healthcare disruptions, and periodic war events, reflecting the evolving conflict context. Sensitivity and risk–opportunity analyses reveal that disease transmission, misinformation, and infrastructure damage significantly exacerbate epidemic peaks, while AI-enabled interventions, such as fact-checking, mental health support, and infrastructure recovery, offer substantial mitigation potential. Qualitative assessments identify technical, organisational, ethical, regulatory, and military risks, alongside opportunities for predictive analytics, automation, and equitable healthcare access. Quantitative simulations demonstrate that risks, like increased displacement, can amplify infectious peaks by up to 28.3%, whereas opportunities, like enhanced fact-checking, can reduce misinformation by 18.2%. These findings provide a roadmap for leveraging AI to navigate BANI environments, offering actionable insights for public health practitioners in Ukraine and other crisis settings. The study underscores AI’s transformative role in fostering adaptive, data-driven strategies to achieve sustainable health outcomes amidst volatility and uncertainty. Full article

Tourism offers many economic benefits but can have long-lasting ecological effects when improperly managed. Tourism can cause overwhelming pressure on wastewater treatment systems, as in Belize, where some of the over 400 small islands (cayes) that were once temporary sites for fishermen have become popular tourist destinations. An overabundance of nitrogen, in part as a result of incomplete wastewater treatment, threatens human health and ecosystem services. The tourism industry is a complex and dynamic industry with many sectors and stakeholders with conflicting goals. In this study, a systems thinking approach was adopted to study the dynamic interactions between stakeholders and the environment at Laughing Bird Caye National Park in Belize. The project centered on nutrient discharges from the caye’s onsite wastewater treatment system. An archetype analysis approach was applied to frame potential solutions to nutrient pollution and understand potential behaviors over time. “Out of control” and “Underachievement” were identified as system archetypes; “Shifting the Burden” and ‘‘Limits to Success’’ were used to model specific cases. Based on these results, upgrading of the wastewater treatment system should be performed concurrently with investments in the user experience of the toilets, education on the vulnerability of the treatment system and ecosystem, and controls on the number of daily tourists. Full article

Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) efforts are critical for sustainable natural resource governance in Northwest Ethiopia. This study investigated the various aspects of CBFM, emphasizing practical implementation in the context of the Awi Administrative Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. A structured questionnaire was handed out to 412 farmers across three districts—Dangila, Fagita Lokoma, and Banja. The quantitative data was analyzed using the Likert scale with SPSS version 23 software. Findings indicate that insufficient financial support (44%), limited community participation (30%), and weak institutional arrangements (19%) are the major factors impeding effective CBFM, with statistically significant regional variation (χ² = 242.8, df = 3, p = 0.000). On the other side, increased awareness and international support (34%) and enhanced local participation (36%) were the leading facilitators (χ² = 512.05, df = 11, p = 0.000). We look at the practical aspects of CBFM, from community-led conservation efforts to sustainable harvesting techniques, emphasizing the importance of indigenous knowledge alongside modern methodologies. The CBFM project in the northwest part of Ethiopia have facilitated biodiversity protection and environmental resilience by integrating local perspectives with broader developmental goals. However, obstacles such as land tenure, resource conflicts, and capacity restrictions continue, requiring adaptive methods and legislative reforms. This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion on sustainable natural resource management by offering empirical insights into the dynamics of CBFM in the Awi administrative zone of northwest Ethiopia. Full article

This study explores the application potential of a lean–Agile hybrid method in complex construction project management. By integrating Scrum iterative development, the Last Planner System, and a BIM collaboration platform, a dual-engine model is established to optimize the dynamic priority mechanism (MoSCoW 2.0) and interface conflict entropy algorithm (ICE model). Through a combination of theoretical and practical approaches, the study elucidates the implementation pathway of this hybrid method and evaluates its benefits in enhancing project efficiency, reducing waste, and accelerating digital transformation. The study provides a replicable management framework for the construction industry and proposes a blockchain-based decentralized knowledge management framework based on blockchain technology. Full article

This paper explores the concept of evolutionary urban resilience by framing cities as complex, open, and adaptive Social-Ecological-Technological Systems (SETS), shaped by multi-scalar dynamics, systemic uncertainty, and interdependent crises. It challenges the reductionist view of resilience as a fixed capacity or linear sequence of risk management phases, and instead proposes a process-based paradigm rooted in learning, creativity, and the ability to navigate disequilibrium. The framework defines urban resilience as a continuous and iterative transformation process, supported by: (i) a combination of tangible and intangible qualities activated according to problem typology; (ii) cross-domain processes involving infrastructures, flows, governance, networks, and community dynamics; and (iii) the engagement of diverse agents in shared decision-making and coordinated action. These dimensions unfold across three incremental and interdependent scenarios—baseline, critical, and chronic crisis—forming a ladder of resilience that guides communities through escalating challenges. Special emphasis is placed on the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as relational and adaptive tools enabling distributed intelligence and inclusive governance. The framework also outlines concrete operational and policy implications for cities aiming to build anticipatory and transformative resilience capacities. Applied to the case of Taranto, the approach offers insights into how structurally fragile communities facing conflicting adaptive trajectories can unlock transformative potential. Ultimately, the paper calls for a shift from government to governance, from control to co-creation, and from reactive adaptation to chaos generativity, recasting urban resilience as an evolving project of collective agency, systemic reconfiguration, and co-production of emergent urban futures. Full article

Security in public spaces has long been the subject of debate and extensive experimentation. With the exponential growth in risks (both expected and unexpected) that public spaces are exposed to, further exacerbated by the pandemic crisis, urban security management increasingly conflicts with the right to social interaction in space. To avoid creating overly controlled spaces that are unsuitable for generating sociality and spontaneous interactions, and which often reproduce discriminatory social dynamics, while at the same time ensuring users’ awareness of being in a safe environment, it is necessary for all three dimensions of public space security—policy, design, and governance—to converge. This study focuses on governance, exploring how security management shapes public life and how it can align with planning that supports vibrant, spontaneous interaction. Using a multi-method qualitative approach, including a critical literature review, EU policy analysis, and empirical research from the Horizon Europe SAFE CITIES project, the study introduces two tools: the Security and Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) framework and the Atlas for Safe Public Spaces Design. These were tested in pilot sites, including the Gorizia-Nova Gorica cross-border square. Results support a governance model integrating “security by design,” which aligns with Foucault’s view of governance as adaptable to uncertainty and flow. This mixed-method approach allowed for a comprehensive examination of the governance dynamics shaping urban security, ensuring that the study’s conclusions are grounded in theoretical insights and practical implementation, though necessarily limited in generalizability. By framing security as a process of negotiated governance rather than a set of technical constraints, the study offers a conceptual contribution to urban security discourse and practical guidance for planning secure, inclusive public spaces. Full article

In the context of global “dual carbon” objectives, land use dynamics exhibit a strong correlation with regional carbon storage. Facing significant ecological–economic conflicts, the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle in western China necessitates multi-scenario modeling of carbon storage. This research integrates the PLUS model (simulation accuracy Kappa = 0.84) and InVEST model to project land use and carbon storage trajectories under natural development (NDS), urban development (UDS), carbon peak (CPS), and carbon neutrality (CNS) scenarios from 2030 to 2060, leveraging historical data from 2000 to 2020. The results show the following: (1) The study area is dominated by forest land and cultivated land (accounting for more than 90%). From 2000 to 2020, cultivated land decreased, and construction land increased; construction land continued to expand under all future scenarios. (2) Carbon storage showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, reaching 4974.55 × 10⁶ t in 2020 (an increase of 4.0 × 10⁶ t compared with 2000). The peak carbon storage in the CPS scenario reached 5015.18 × 10⁶ t, and the overall spatial pattern was “high around and low in the middle”. (3) The CPS achieved a carbon peak through intensive land use and ecological restoration, and the CNS further strengthened carbon sink protection and promoted carbon neutrality. Constructing a multi-scenario coupling model chain provides a new method for regional carbon management, which has important guiding significance for the low-carbon development of the Chengdu–Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle. Full article

One of the emerging forms of cooperation in managing government projects is partnering (samspill) to address repetitive problems in large projects. Inefficiency, conflict, and cost volatility remain work issues in the public sector. Although risk sharing and incentive schemes are other aspects of partnering that are the subject of a significant amount of research, there is limited investigation into the softer aspects of partnering. The nature of partnering and how it is practiced depends on various components, such as trust, leadership, and culture; however, they are not well defined or appreciated. This paper investigates how these soft aspects are implemented and perceived in four mega Norwegian public construction projects that use a partnering model. In the present study, a qualitative research approach was adopted, and nine face-to-face interviews were conducted with project leaders from four case organizations in public sector healthcare, government, and education sectors. However, despite having similar contractual provisions, the projects exhibited varying degrees of collaboration success, indicating that formal agreements alone do not determine effective partnering. The outcomes from this study established that value-based leadership is central to the success of collaboration and should, therefore, be a priority when designing partnering in the public sector. Additionally, the results add to the existing debates regarding the application of soft values in the formal structures of the business and support the notion of leadership-based approaches in construction management, especially in the public domain. Full article

Community Forest Management (CFM) and REDD+ projects have emerged as key strategies for promoting environmental conservation and livelihood improvement. This review explores the effectiveness of incorporating free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), safeguard principles, grievance redress mechanisms, and benefit-sharing mechanisms into CFM and REDD+ in Cambodia, with a focus on enhancing communities’ livelihoods and climate change adaptation. This paper synthesizes findings from recent literature on CFM and REDD+ in Cambodia and internationally, analyzing key case studies, policy frameworks, and community engagement strategies. Findings suggest that while REDD+ projects offer potential economic and ecological benefits, challenges related to land tenure, equity in benefit-sharing, and community participation remain. This review highlights the need for stronger community engagement, a robust conflict management structure, clear land tenure policies, equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, and more climate change adaptation activities to ensure the success of CFM and REDD+ projects in Cambodia and the Global South. Full article

Effective project management depends on a deep understanding of the human attributes that influence project success. This study aims to quantify the causal relationships between human resource variables in order to establish a prioritisation criterion for workforce allocation in industrial projects. Traditional statistical models often overlook the multidimensional nature of these factors, limiting their effectiveness in complex planning contexts. To address this, the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method is used to assess and prioritise the key competencies required of project personnel. The analysis is based on an extensive literature review of management and industrial project studies, combined with data collected from experienced managers through structured questionnaires. Respondents assessed how different human resource attributes interact and influence each other. The results show that personal motivation, innovation, education, work–life balance, flexibility and adaptability are dominant causal factors. Stakeholder relations, conflict management, negotiation skills, objectivity and impartiality are more reactive. This study is differentiated in that it analyses a complex network of 400 influence relationships, providing a more comprehensive perspective than previous research. By integrating a structured decision-making approach, the results contribute to both the academic literature and practical applications, supporting more effective workforce planning and improved performance in industrial projects. Full article

Background: Statins are essential for managing cholesterol levels but can induce musculoskeletal side effects, including tendinopathy of the shoulder. Rotator Cuff Disease (RCD) is one of the most common shoulder tendinopathy. The aim of the present study is to report a clinical case of statin-induce RCD after performing a systematic review on the subject. Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature and report the case of a 49-year-old man with statin-induced RCD treated with a personalized individual rehabilitation project (IRP) (steroid and HA injections, mesotherapy, and therapeutic exercise) to investigate the relationship between statins and shoulder tendinopathy. The review followed PRISMA guidelines (2020 version), searching PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS. Results: Out of a total of 217 articles, three cohort studies were suitable for our review. Conflicting evidence emerged regarding the association between statins and shoulder tendinopathy from the included papers. The case report describes a patient who experienced RCD after increasing atorvastatin dosage, with symptoms improving after dose reduction and a multimodal personalized IRP. Conclusions: Statins may contribute to tendon injury by altering the extracellular matrix and cell membrane integrity. While tendinopathy and statin relation is still under discussion, clinicians should monitor patients for tendinopathy and consider switching to alternative treatments in case symptoms arise. The case report demonstrated the successful management of statin-induced RCD with a multimodal personalized IRP. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between statins and shoulder tendinopathy. Early diagnosis and appropriate personalized management are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. Full article

Work is a key social determinant of mental health, and adverse organizational conditions in healthcare settings increase psychosocial risks. Leadership influences workplace well-being, yet its impact on mental health and gender inequalities remains underexplored. Despite the feminization of the health sector, disparities persist in leadership access, role expectations, and work–family reconciliation, exacerbating occupational stress. Aims: This study examines leadership practices in public hospitals, focusing on their relationship with mental health, organizational dimensions (recognition and role stress), and gender disparities. It explores the perspectives of both workers and managers to understand how leadership shapes workplace conditions and well-being. Methods: A qualitative, cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the FONDECYT project 1220547. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 64 workers from public hospitals in Santiago, Chile, including clinical and administrative staff. The analysis supported by Grounded Theory identified key categories: constructive and destructive leadership, recognition, role stress, and gender disparities in leadership. Results: Constructive leadership—characterized by communication, fairness, and recognition—was linked to a healthier work environment and improved well-being. In contrast, destructive leadership (characterized by abuse of power and imposition, or inaction, lack of support, and absence of effective direction) contributed to role stress, workplace mistreatment, and job dissatisfaction. Recognition was a crucial but insufficient motivator, as the lack of formal mechanisms led to frustration. Role stress emerged as a significant risk for well-being, with subordinates experiencing overload, ambiguity, and conflicting expectations. Gender inequalities persisted as women faced more tremendous barriers to leadership and difficulties balancing work and family responsibilities. Workers and managers had differing perspectives, with subordinates prioritizing fairness and recognition while managers emphasized operational constraints. Conclusions: Leadership training should emphasize trust, equity, and recognition to enhance workplace well-being. Institutional policies must address role stress, strengthen formal recognition systems, and promote gender equity in leadership. Future research should integrate quantitative methods to explore leadership’s impact on organizational conditions and mental health outcomes. Full article