Search Results (6,130)

Background/Objectives: Physical activity and sports participation are widely recognized as effective strategies for enhancing quality of life (QoL) in individuals with disabilities. This study aimed to examine the relationship between QoL and athletic performance among male and female athletes with physical disabilities who participate in individual sports. Methods: This descriptive–correlational study involved 338 Iranian athletes with physical disabilities competing at various levels of competition. QoL was measured using the SF-36 questionnaire, and sports performance was assessed based on official competition records. Data were analyzed using SPSS v21, applying descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations. Results: Both male and female athletes reported high levels of overall QoL. No statistically significant differences were found between genders in terms of physical health, psychological well-being, or total QoL scores (p > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant correlations between QoL and sports performance at the provincial, national, or international levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The findings indicate that athletes with physical disabilities report relatively high levels of QoL, irrespective of their competitive achievements or medal standings. Although no statistically significant correlations were observed, participation in individual sports may be linked to better physical functioning and psychological resilience. These associations should be interpreted with caution and do not imply causality. Nonetheless, encouraging such participation could be beneficial in supporting various dimensions of health and promoting social inclusion among individuals with disabilities. Full article

Climate change observed in recent decades has, in most cases, negatively impacted on the operations of non-financial and agricultural enterprises. Filling a gap in the economic literature, this article presents the results of a study on the impact of rising temperature on the resilience to bankruptcy risk of over four thousand agricultural enterprises operating in Poland between 2016 and 2023, taking into account temperature and macroeconomic conditions of regions of their operation and assessing resilience with Altman (Z-score) and Zmijewski (X-score) methods. Using panel regression, it was demonstrated that temperature changes have a significant nonlinear (parabolic) effect on enterprise resilience. An increase in annual average temperatures above the long-term average weakens enterprise resilience. A generally similar, although individually variable relationship occurs for changes in average temperatures in spring, autumn, and winter. In the summer, this relationship is ambiguous. Furthermore, the resilience to bankruptcy risk improves growth in regional GDP and agricultural production, as well as enterprise’s assets, profitability and the share of equity in the financing structure. The conclusions can be used by agricultural enterprises in preparing contingency plans in the event of potential temperature shocks, and public administration for developing programs to protect agriculture against temperature shocks and food security plans. Full article

The world is being orchestrated by dramatic changes caused by technological and innovative disruptions. Accordingly, Industry X.0 terminology was coined because the revolutionary numbers could not represent this industrial disruption. Coping with these technological disruptions is essential for an organization’s sustainability and resilience. Therefore, defining the technological gaps, as well as mapping the potential innovative disruptions for industrial systems, becomes compulsory. Technology Readiness Levels is a standardized method widely adopted to evaluate the maturity of a technology, using a scale from 1 (concept) to 9 (commercialized solution). This framework helps stakeholders to benchmark different industrial systems from a technology innovation perspective. However, TRL sometimes fails to capture the maturity of breakthrough innovations and lacks quantification. In this paper, a comprehensive framework for assessing technological readiness levels is proposed. The automotive industry was selected as one of the top technology-related industries to validate this framework. This framework maps the technological readiness levels of the following three main industry components: product, engineering, and operations. A tailored Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model has been employed as a benchmarking approach to evaluate the technological readiness gaps and map the technological footprint position of a selected automotive company across the best practices in the automotive industry.  Full article

Despite severe particulate matter (PM) pollution in Central Asia, limited air composition and health impact data are hindering sustainable air quality management and resilient urban planning. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of PM_2.5 and PM_2.5–10 in the urban environment of Astana, Kazakhstan, a rapidly expanding city with intense winter heating demands. We characterized PM and atmospheric precipitation and assessed health risks using bioaccessible fractions of PM-bound potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Among 388 samples, PM_2.5 and PM_2.5–10 concentrations peaked at 534 and 1564 μg·m⁻³, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) identified soot and coal fly ash, indicating fossil fuel combustion as a major source. Precipitation characterization also showed elevated SO₄²⁻ (17.8 μg⋅L⁻¹), V (108 μg⋅L⁻¹), Ni (84.0 μg⋅L⁻¹), and Mn (63.2 μg⋅L⁻¹). Bioaccessibility tests showed high solubility for Fe (16,229 mg·kg⁻¹) followed by V: key indicators of combustion emissions. Non-carcinogenic risk for Ni and V exceeded acceptable limits for adults and children (e.g., HQ: 6.07 for V for adults). Carcinogenic risk exceeded the threshold 10⁻⁶ for Cd (adults), Co, Cr, and Ni. These findings may help advance urban air quality management via integrating bioaccessibility-based health risk assessment and source apportionment, supporting evidence-driven policies for environmentally responsible development in rapidly urbanizing cold-climate regions. Full article

The rapid growth of renewable energy integration in modern power systems brings new challenges in terms of stability and quality of electricity supply. Hybrid AC/DC microgrids represent a promising solution to integrate photovoltaic panels (PV), wind turbines, fuel cells, and storage units with flexibility and efficiency. However, maintaining adequate power quality (PQ) under variable conditions of generation, load, and grid connection remains a critical issue. This paper presents the modelling, implementation, and validation of a hybrid AC/DC microgrid equipped with a fuzzy-logic-based energy management system (EMS). The study combines PQ assessment, measurement architecture, and supervisory control for technical compliance and economic efficiency. The microgrid integrates a combination of PV array, wind turbine, proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), battery storage system, and heterogeneous AC/DC loads, all modelled in MATLAB/Simulink using a physical-network approach. The fuzzy EMS coordinates distributed energy resources by considering power imbalance, battery state of charge (SOC), and dynamic tariffs. Results demonstrate that the proposed controller maintains PQ indices within IEC/IEEE standards while eliminating short-term continuity events. The proposed EMS prevents harmful deep battery cycles, maintaining SOC within 30–90%, and optimises fuel cell activation, reducing hydrogen consumption by 14%. Economically, daily operating costs decrease by 10–15%, grid imports are reduced by 18%, and renewable self-consumption increases by approximately 16%. These findings confirm that fuzzy logic provides an effective, computationally light, and uncertainty-resilient solution for hybrid AC/DC microgrid EMS, balancing technical reliability with economic optimisation. Future work will extend the framework toward predictive algorithms, reactive power management, and hardware-in-the-loop validation for real-world deployment. Full article

The gas oil hydrocracking process is a cornerstone of modern refining, enabling the conversion of heavy fractions into high-value fuels such as diesel, kerosene, LPG, and naphtha. However, despite its economic significance, its considerable water requirements for cooling, washing, and steam generation lead to high utility costs, which may undermine profitability, representing the problem of the study. This study addresses the issue through a techno-economic assessment and resilience analysis of an industrial-scale, mass and energy-integrated gas oil hydrocracking process, utilizing the novel FP²O methodology. The process was modeled in Aspen HYSYS^® V14.0 with a capacity of 1.94 Mt/year, assuming a feedstock cost of USD 350/t and a primary product (diesel) price of USD 1539/t. The total capital investment (TCI) was estimated at USD 175.68 million, while utility expenses reached USD 1312.18 million/year, representing nearly half of the total product cost (TPC) of USD 2692.20 million/year. A set of twelve techno-economic and three financial indicators was determined, yielding a gross profit (GP) of USD 97.69 million, profitability after tax (PAT) of USD 64.96 million, and a net present value (NPV) of USD 229.62 million. The payback period (PBP) was 1.41 years, with a depreciable payback period (DPBP) of 2.99 years. The return on investment (ROI) was 36.97%, and the internal rate of return (IRR) reached 44.81%, evidencing strong profitability relative to comparable petrochemical operations. Resilience analysis highlighted sensitivities to fluctuations in product prices, feedstock costs, and normalized variable operating costs (NVOC), identifying a critical NVOC of USD 1435/t against the current operation at USD 1384.74/t, which suggests a narrow buffer before profitability deteriorates. Overall, the findings confirm that mass and energy integration enhances resource efficiency but does not fully mitigate exposure to feedstock and utility price volatility. This work constitutes the first application of FP²O to a mass and energy-integrated gas oil hydrocracking facility, establishing a benchmark for holistic techno-economic and resilience assessments in complex petrochemical systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ensuring quality of life (QoL) is a key aspect of promoting healthy aging. This cross-sectional study investigated whether and to what extent personal views of aging (VoA)—individuals’ perceptions, attitudes, and expectations regarding their own aging—and psychological resilience are associated with QoL and its domains in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: A sample of 224 individuals (46–85 years) was recruited. All participants reported their felt age (FA) and completed the Awareness of Age-Related Change (AARC) questionnaire, assessing awareness of age-related gains (AARC-Gains) and losses (AARC-Losses). They also completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale for psychological resilience. Multiple regressions and path analyses were run to examine the associations among personal VoA, psychological resilience, and QoL. Results: Regression analyses showed that AARC-Gains and AARC-Losses (but not FA) predicted overall QoL, with AARC-Losses and, to some extent, FA also explaining specific QoL domains. Resilience also emerged as a significant positive predictor for overall QoL and its psychological and environmental domains. Path analyses confirmed and extended the role of personal VoA and resilience on QoL. Resilience directly influenced QoL and its domains, in turn mediating the effects of personal VoA, depending on the specific facets of VoA and the QoL domains examined. Conclusions: These findings suggest that promoting positive/correct personal views of aging and fostering psychological resilience may be promising healthcare strategies for enhancing QoL in adulthood into older age. Full article

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of steel bridges is vital for ensuring the longevity, safety, and reliability of critical transportation infrastructure. This review synthesizes recent advancements in SHM technologies and methodologies for steel bridges, highlighting the shift from traditional vibration-based monitoring to data-driven, intelligent systems. It covers core technological themes, including various sensing systems such as wireless sensor networks, fiber optics, and piezoelectric transducers, along with the impact of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and statistical pattern recognition. The paper explores applications for damage detection, such as fatigue life assessment and monitoring of components like expansion joints. Persistent challenges, including deployment costs, data management complexities, and the need for real-world validation, are addressed. The future of SHM lies in integrating diverse sensing technologies with computational analytics, advancing from periodic inspections to continuous, predictive infrastructure management, which enhances bridge safety, resilience, and economic sustainability. Full article

This paper deals with the optimal design-for-control of water distribution networks (WDNs) with the objectives of minimizing pressure-induced background leakage and maximizing resilience. This problem entails defining locations for installing valves and/or pipes and for simultaneously determining valve settings and belongs to the class of non-convex mixed-integer nonlinear problems. Solving highly complex infrastructure problems, such as WDNs, raises a fundamental question about the accuracy of the solutions to be implemented for sound water management. Therefore, two kinds of optimization methods are applied and assessed on two case studies. While the first is an exact global optimization method, the second is the metaheuristic based on the concept of simulated annealing. This paper proposes an innovative methodological analysis to interpret and discuss the results provided by both methods, as well as to identify their impact on the performance of the WDN. This type of analysis may help in highlight how the integration of the best features of both solution methods can promote a step forward in solving WDN problems. Full article

Background: Young adults, particularly university students, are at increased risk for psychological distress and burnout. Regular physical activity is widely recognized as a protective factor for mental health. This study aimed to compare physically active and inactive college students in terms of perceived stress, well-being, burnout, and resilience. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Hungarian university students (N = 264; 24.6% male; mean age = 24.21 years). Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing physical activity habits, perceived stress, resilience, and academic burnout. Results: Results showed that students engaging in regular physical activity reported significantly lower levels of perceived stress (Cohen’s d = 0.288) and burnout (Cohen’s d = 0.277), and higher resilience (Cohen’s d = 0.258) and well-being (Cohen’s d = 0.322) compared to their inactive peers. Correlation analyses confirmed strong associations between lower stress, reduced burnout, and greater resilience and well-being. Cluster analysis revealed two distinct psychological profiles: one characterized by higher mental hazards (stress and burnout) and the other by higher mental assets (resilience and well-being). Physical activity was strongly associated with membership in the mentally resilient cluster. Conclusions: These findings underscore the mental benefits of remaining physically active and highlight the importance of physical activity within university settings as a key strategy to enhance resilience, reduce academic burnout, and support the maintenance of mental health among young adults. However, the cross-sectional design, reliance on self-report measures, and convenience sampling limit causal interpretation and generalizability. Full article

The intensifying global warming and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events have created an urgent need for targeted resilience building in mountainous villages. This study focuses on three typical villages in the Hengduan Mountains region. From the perspective of individual villagers, a disaster resilience evaluation index system was constructed, encompassing four dimensions: disaster prevention capacity, disaster resistance capacity, disaster relief capacity, and recovery capacity. Using the entropy method and a village disaster resilience assessment model, the disaster resilience levels of each village were quantitatively evaluated. The results indicate the following: (1) Disaster resistance capacity is the key factor constraining the disaster resilience level of mountain villages. (2) The overall disaster resilience of mountain villages is at a medium level, with minor differences among villages. (3) Significant disparities exist in capacity dimensions across villages: Qina Village demonstrates the strongest disaster resistance capacity, while Xiamachang Village excels in disaster prevention capacity but shows relative weakness in recovery capacity. (4) Household material endowment has a significant positive impact on disaster prevention, resistance, relief, and recovery capacities, while individual self-rescue capability and individual–government collaboration capacity also significantly enhance disaster prevention, resistance, and relief capacities. We propose the following: Leveraging the rural revitalization strategy as a pivotal point, this approach promotes the diversified development of the village economy. It facilitates the increase in villagers’ income through the implementation of employment skill training programs, thereby strengthening household material foundations to enhance individual disaster resilience. By relying on the mass monitoring and mass prevention mechanism and a disaster information sharing platform, real-time exchange of disaster situation information is achieved, which enhances communication and collaboration between villagers and the government, consequently improving the synergistic efficiency between individuals and governmental bodies. Simultaneously, a villager-centered disaster prevention system is constructed. Through measures such as disaster prevention publicity and practical disaster response drills, villagers’ awareness of disasters and their capabilities for self and mutual rescue are elevated, ultimately strengthening the overall disaster resilience of rural areas in the Hengduan Mountains region. Full article

Medicine and vaccine supply chains in Nigeria are socio-technical systems exposed to persistent uncertainty and disruption. Existing studies rarely integrate systems thinking with uncertainty-aware decision tools to jointly prioritize challenges and policy responses. This study asks which policy mix most effectively strengthens these supply chains while balancing multiple, conflicting criteria and stakeholder judgments. We develop a two-stage Fermatean fuzzy framework that first weights 35 challenges using Fermatean Fuzzy Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (FF-SWARA) and then ranks four policy alternatives via Fermatean Fuzzy VIšeKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (FF-VIKOR), based on expert elicitation and linguistic assessments. Results identify interruption of drug supplies, limited vaccine funding, cold-chain potency loss, human resource shortages, and product damage as the most critical challenges. FF-VIKOR prioritizes Effective Implementation of Existing Policies as the best alternative, followed by Improving Access to Medicines and Vaccines, indicating that governance quality and access-enabling infrastructure are complementary levers for resilience. To further enhance robustness, we embed the VIKOR outcomes into a policy-oriented game-theoretic analysis, where strategic weighting scenarios (e.g., cost-focused, infrastructure-driven, human-capital focused) interact with policy choices. The equilibrium results reveal that a mixed strategy combining Effective Implementation of Existing Policies and Strengthening Distribution and Storage Systems guarantees the best compromise performance across adversarial scenarios. The proposed framework operationalizes systems thinking for uncertainty-aware and strategically robust policy design and can be extended with real-time data integration, scenario planning, and regional replication to guide adaptive supply chain governance. Full article

Climate change is driving the need for forest management strategies that simultaneously enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to climate change mitigation. Voluntary carbon markets (VCMs), regulated in the European Union by the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF), offer potential financial incentives for such management, but eligibility criteria—particularly biodiversity requirements—limit the applicability of certain species. This study assessed the ecological and economic outcomes of six alternative management scenarios for a 4.7 ha, 99-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stand in western Hungary, comparing them against a business-as-usual (BAU) regeneration baseline. Using field inventory data, species-specific yield tables, and the Forest Industry Carbon Model, we modelled living and dead biomass carbon stocks for 2025–2050 and calculated potential CO₂ credit generation. Economic evaluation employed total discounted contribution margin (TDCM) analyses under varying carbon credit prices (€0–150/tCO₂). Results showed that an extended rotation yielded the highest carbon sequestration (958 tCO₂ above BAU) and TDCM but was deemed operationally unfeasible due to declining stand health. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) regeneration provided high mitigation potential (690 tCO₂) but was ineligible under CRCF rules. Grey poplar (Populus × canescens) regeneration emerged as the most viable option, balancing biodiversity compliance, climate adaptability, and economic return (TDCM = EUR 22,900 at €50/tCO₂). The findings underscore the importance of integrating ecological suitability, market regulations, and economic performance in planning carbon farming projects, and highlight that regulatory biodiversity safeguards can significantly shape feasible mitigation pathways. Full article

This research examines the pursuit of behavioral change for climate-resilient tourism along the Catalan coast by engaging territorial stakeholders in a co-creation process. This study is guided by the following research question: how can the co-creation of integrated climate services, water and energy management, and beach-dune conservation foster behavioral change among stakeholders towards climate-resilient tourism along the Catalan coast? Focusing on two destinations in Catalonia (Costa Daurada and Terres de l’Ebre), it examines three interconnected dimensions of tourism activity: (1) weather, climate, and climate change; (2) energy and water; and (3) beach-dune systems. Through our analysis, we pursue three secondary objectives: (1) to assess the influence of meteo-climatic conditions on tourist activity, (2) to identify necessary adaptation measures related to water and energy management, and (3) to explore how historical photographs can shape stakeholders’ perceptions regarding the relevance and conservation of the beach-dune system. By bringing together expertise in climate services, resource management, and ecosystem conservation, this study explores how collaborative engagement with public and private stakeholders can foster adaptive strategies that enhance the sustainability and resilience of coastal tourism. The findings directly respond to the research question by showing that co-creation processes integrating climate, resource, and ecosystem management can effectively foster behavioral change among stakeholders. Specifically, the main results highlight (1) a clear relationship between meteo-climatic conditions and tourism activities, underscoring the importance of climate awareness; (2) stakeholder recognition of practical adaptation measures focused on water and energy management to increase sector resilience; and (3) the use of the historical photographs as an effective tool to enhance participants’ understanding of beach-dune systems, improving their knowledge of these ecosystems’ dynamics, formation, and evolution. Full article

A techno-economic-environmental assessment tool was tailored to a fish sector case study. The fish sector, combined with two renewable components (wind and hydro), was analysed, and sensitivity analyses were carried out to integrate other renewables in a specifically developed optimization model (i.e., HY4RES-AHS). The model used an evolutionary method and resulted in the following conclusions: Scenario 2 excels financially, with the highest IRR (42%), shortest payback (4 years), and lowest investment (EUR 14,500), though it suffers from high energy losses (27.4%) due to a limited grid feed-in (120 kW). Scenario 4 is the most sustainable, with the highest SSR (97.8%) and SCR (63.4%) and lowest grid emissions (12.83 t CO₂ eq.), supported by 600 kW PV and strong biomass use, but it has the lowest NPV (EUR 2241) and longest payback (25 years). Scenario 3 offers the best overall balance, achieving the highest NPV (EUR 741,293), solid IRR (20%), low energy losses (2.8%), and strong SSR (94%). Scenarios 5 and 7 prohibit grid feed-in, resulting in the highest energy losses (46.7% and 48.4%) and poor sustainability. Scenario 6 is financially strong (NPV EUR 602,280) but lacks biomass and biogas, reducing system resilience and autonomy. In summary, Scenario 2 is cost-efficient, Scenario 4 leads to sustainability, and Scenario 3 exhibits balanced performance. Full article