Search Results (183)

This study examines how platformized e-commerce logistics reshapes urban land use at the neighborhood scale, using Shanghai as an empirical case. It argues that last-mile logistics infrastructure operates through two intertwined mechanisms: as physical service nodes that generate localized pedestrian flows sustaining neighborhood retail, and as neighborhood-level execution points within a digitally coordinated logistics system that produces citywide substitution pressures and restructures commercial spaces, particularly community-oriented shopping malls. Theoretically, the study advances platform and logistics urbanism by reconceptualizing last-mile infrastructure as a dual-role urban system with scale-dependent land-use effects. Methodologically, it combines street-segment regression analysis with shopping-mall case studies to link logistics proximity to fine-grained spatial outcomes. Empirically, the findings reveal complementary effects for street retail alongside accelerated restructuring and functional repurposing in community malls—patterns not captured by uniform displacement models. Planning analysis further identifies a governance mismatch in Shanghai’s 2017–2035 Master Plan, underscoring the need for platform-responsive planning to address emerging hybrid commercial–logistics spaces. Full article

This paper argues that despite two decades of reform, the European Union’s (EU) insolvency framework remains structurally and behaviourally inaccessible to micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). While policy rhetoric has embraced the idea of a “rescue culture,” practical implementation has prioritised larger, well-resourced firms. Drawing on international guidance and case studies from Ireland, France, and the United States (US), the paper shows that legal reform alone is insufficient. Structural complexity, cultural stigma, and weak institutional outreach continue to block MSMEs’ access to rescue. The paper proposes a forward-looking agenda for EU reform centred on three pillars: legal simplification tailored to MSMEs, institutional scaffolding to enhance visibility and support, and cultural reframing to normalise restructuring as a second chance. It concludes that a functioning rescue culture must treat MSMEs not as scaled-down versions of large firms but as distinct users with unique constraints and capacities. Full article

The long-standing separation of agro-pastoral relations has adversely affected the agricultural economy and ecology, hindering sustainable agricultural development. The process of reconstructing agro-pastoral relations involves moving from separation to reintegration. To further verify the scientific validity of reconstructing agro-pastoral relations to improve economic and ecological benefits and enhance the capacity for sustainable agricultural development in the major corn-producing areas of Northeast China, this study used survey data from 521 sample farmers in Jilin Province, China, collected during the agricultural production cycle from 2020 to 2022. Using an endogenous switching regression (ESR) model and a counterfactual scenario, the integrated crop–livestock family farm (ICFF) model was shown to have a comparative advantage in improving economic and ecological benefits. The ICFF model can serve as a foundation for reconstructing agro-pastoral relations, thereby enhancing sustainable agricultural development capacity. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that larger-scale cultivated land, intensive cultivated land management, and higher education have a more significant impact on farmers’ choice of the ICFF model. To promote the restructuring of agro-pastoral relations through the ICFF model, farmers should be encouraged and supported to standardize the transfer of farmland, engage in livestock farming according to the principle of land-based livestock management, implement large-scale and intensive management, improve agricultural production technologies and improved varieties, strengthen publicity on the positive role of integrated crop-livestock management, and improve the financial support system. Full article

Coastal ecosystems are among the most biodiverse and economically valuable environments on Earth, yet they face escalating threats from climate change, development, and resource exploitation. Traditional conservation approaches have proven insufficient to address the systemic drivers of biodiversity loss, calling for transformative change that fundamentally reconfigures social–ecological systems. This semi-structured systematic literature review synthesizes current knowledge on transformative change in coastal biodiversity conservation, guided by the Social–Ecological Systems Framework (SESF) and expanded to include behavioral transformation as a central dimension. Behavioral transformation is defined as the sustained embedding of new attitudes, norms, and practices within governance, institutional, and community settings. Through a comprehensive review of academic databases (SCOPUS, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts) and gray literature, 134 studies published between 2010 and 2024 were analyzed. The synthesis identifies four interdependent pathways of transformation: (1) governance innovation and power redistribution, (2) behavioral change and stakeholder engagement, (3) socio-ecological restructuring, and (4) normative and cultural shifts in human–nature relations. Successful initiatives integrate trust-building, social justice, and participatory decision-making, linking behavioral change with institutional redesign and adaptive management. However, critical gaps remain in understanding long-term durability, equity outcomes, and scalability across governance levels. The review proposes three research priorities: (1) embedding behavioral science in conservation design, (2) employing longitudinal and cross-scale analyses, and (3) advancing adaptive, learning-based governance to enhance socio-ecological resilience. Full article

The coal mining subsidence area constitutes a distinct ecotone in the transition from agricultural soil to sediment, yet the microbially mediated nitrogen cycle within it remains inadequately understood. This investigation comprehensively analyzed physicochemical properties, microbial communities, functional genes, and co-occurrence networks along a 0–6500 mm depth gradient. Results indicated that pH transitioned from acidic to alkaline, while TN, TP, OM, and NH₄⁺–N accumulated with depth. NO₃⁻–N decreased rapidly within 1000 mm and then stabilized. Alpha-diversity showed an S-shaped increase in richness, with Shannon index peaking at 1500 mm. Beta-diversity shifted along PC1, and the shallow subsidence area (SS) influenced by NO₃⁻–N; the transition zone (TZ) regulated by OM, TN, and NH₄⁺–N; deep subsidence area (DS) was constrained by TP and pH. Microbial communities transitioned from aerobic/facultative to strictly anaerobic phyla, yet Pseudomonadota remained dominant (24–32%) across depths. With increasing depth, gene abundances for denitrification, assimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (ANRA), and nitrate assimilation declined, while those for dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and nitrification increased; nitrogen fixation remained weak. Co-occurrence networks shifted from highly connected, short-pathlength, and clustered in TZ to highly modular and long-pathlength in DS, with Aminicenantes, Syntrophus, and Methanoregula as key taxa. Overall, the thick and stable reducing zone in the subsidence area restructured the nitrogen cycle, shifting terminal products from N₂ removal to NH₄⁺ retention. These findings advance the understanding of nitrogen transformation in soil-sediment ecotones and provide a mechanistic framework for nitrogen cycling in mining-affected ecosystems. Full article

Deep well injection and storage (DWIS) technology provides an effective alternative to address the high cost, energy intensity, and limited scalability of conventional treatments for high-salinity mine water from coal mines. However, the absence of a dedicated site suitability evaluation framework remains a major gap. Unlike previous approaches that directly applied CO₂ storage criteria, this study refines and restructures the framework based on a systematic analysis of the fundamental differences in mechanisms and risk characteristics unique to mine water storage. Building on the experience of CO₂ geological storage assessment, this study analyzes the key differences in fluid properties and storage mechanisms between water and CO₂ and, for the first time, establishes a comprehensive site suitability evaluation framework for mine water geological storage. The framework integrates three main dimensions—stability and safety, effectiveness, and socio-economic factors—covering 80 key parameters. The indicator system is organized hierarchically at the basin, target-area, and site levels, and incorporates a multi-scale weight adaptation mechanism that assigns scale-dependent weights to the most influential indicators at each evaluation level. An innovative evaluation methodology combining a “one-vote veto” mechanism, progressive filtering, and multi-factor weighted superposition is proposed to determine storage suitability. This work fills a critical research gap in systematic site selection for deep mine water storage in China. It offers theoretical guidance and an engineering paradigm for overcoming technological bottlenecks in high-salinity water treatment, enabling efficient and low-carbon disposal. The study has important implications for promoting the green transformation of the mining industry and achieving national carbon peaking and neutrality goals. Full article

Understanding long-term changes in mammal communities is essential for evaluating ecosystem dynamics under large-scale environmental transformation. This study analyzed nationwide data from the 3rd (2006–2013), 4th (2014–2018), and 5th (2019–2023) National Ecosystem Surveys to assess temporal shifts in the abundance and dominance structure of medium- and large-sized mammals across the Korean Peninsula. Using standardized survey data, we compared changes in detection frequency, dominance rank, and diversity indices among survey phases. Results revealed a significant restructuring of dominance from the 3rd to 4th survey, followed by stabilization in the 5th phase, indicating a gradual simplification of community structure. The water deer remained the most dominant species throughout all surveys, while the wild boar showed a consistent increase in relative frequency. In contrast, smaller or specialist species such as the Korean hare exhibited notable declines. These patterns correspond to ecological changes driven by forest recovery and the absence of apex predators, which have facilitated the proliferation of adaptable generalist species. The findings suggest that ongoing habitat recovery, though beneficial for biomass and productivity, may simultaneously reduce functional diversity and community balance. This study highlights the value of long-term, standardized monitoring for identifying structural transitions in wildlife communities and understanding their broader implications for biodiversity conservation on the Korean Peninsula. Full article

Regional economic diversity and unevenly allocated space-based resources have created unprecedented difficulties for collaborative and innovative supply chain construction. This paper sets up a tripartite evolutionary model of the government, upstream companies, and downstream companies to explore dynamic processes of regional supply chain collaborative innovation with bounded rationality. Through incorporation of hierarchical space organizations and policy incentive differentiation mechanisms, the model discerns actors’ behavioral evolution and strategic adjustment in a geographically divided structure. Adopting evolutionary game theory and numerical simulation, this paper includes crucial parameters like the conversion efficiency of return conversion, information-sharing coefficient, mutual trust coefficient, and fiscal subsidy coefficient for examining policy and spatial heterogeneity effects on information collaborative innovations. The results reveal that fiscal incentives are the primary driving factor for collaborative evolution across local supply chains. Adaptive profit-sharing and subsidy intensities both stimulate upstream innovation investments and downstream cooperation adoption efficiently, stimulating a shift out of inefficient equilibrium states towards sustainable high-cooperation states. Furthermore, the restructuring of space accelerates hierarchical differentiation—core region companies are able to act like initiators and leaders for collaborative innovations, while periphery companies encounter participatory barriers in terms of elevated coordination costs and incentive shortages. In light of this, it is therefore crucial to have a “core-driven, periphery-subsidized” policy system for eliminating spatial gaps, stimulating cross-regional information exchange, and building systemic robustness. These findings contribute to enhancing the overall efficiency, stability, and innovation capacity of regional supply chain systems. They also provide a theoretical basis for policy decision making and industrial upgrading across regions of varying scales and environments. Full article

In Poland, the gradual reduction in hard coal mining represents a cornerstone of the energy transition and economic restructuring strategy, with all mines scheduled to close by 2049 under the Social Agreement. Given Poland’s strong reliance on coal, this process has far-reaching implications for energy security, employment, regional development, and macroeconomic stability. The aim of this study is to assess the role and scale of the hard coal mining sector’s contribution to GDP and to examine the consequences of its gradual decline for the national energy mix. In the input–output framework, a reduction in domestic hard coal supply is modelled as a shock to the output of the disaggregated hard coal sector, affecting both intermediate demand and value added through inter-industry linkages. The analysis applies an inter-industry input–output framework based on a decomposed Input–Output Table of Poland, where the aggregated “hard coal and lignite” branch was disaggregated into thermal hard coal, coking coal, and lignite. Reduction Variants (WR25%, WR50%, WR75%, and WR100%) were combined with Substitution Variant WS2, which assumes replacement of domestic hard coal with imported coal, natural gas, and electricity under varying price scenarios (−40% to +40% relative to reference levels). The Migration Variant was also included to account for labour market effects. This approach generated a set of 100 scenarios, reflecting possible pathways of Poland’s energy transition. The results demonstrate that in every scenario, reducing domestic hard coal supply leads to a decline in GDP. Losses range from −0.175% to −0.25% under WR25% scenarios to between −0.775% and −1.1% under WR100%, depending on the relative prices of imported substitutes. Substitution patterns are highly sensitive to price dynamics: under low natural gas prices, gas dominates the replacement mix (over 57% share), while under high gas prices, imported coal prevails (70–90%). Electricity imports consistently remain marginal. These outcomes highlight Poland’s structural dependence on coal, the vulnerability of GDP to external price shocks, and the limitations of substitution options. This study concludes that the reduction in domestic coal mining, though inevitable in the context of the EU climate policy, will not be economically neutral. It requires careful management of substitution pathways, diversification of the energy mix, and socio-economic support for coal regions. The input–output framework used in this research offers a robust tool for quantifying both direct and indirect effects of the coal phase-out, supporting evidence-based policy for a just and sustainable energy transition. Full article

Background: Anxiety disorders are common in childhood, yet access to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often limited. Internet-delivered CBT (iCBT) can help overcome these barriers, but evidence in younger children remains scarce. This pilot study describes the development and preliminary evaluation of an Italian iCBT platform for children with mild to moderate anxiety. Methods: Five children aged 8–12 years and their caregivers were recruited through pediatricians. Eligibility was assessed using the MASC-2 and a psychiatrist interview. Each child completed a supervised session with the WebApp, which delivers CBT modules combining psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, relaxation, and gamified activities. Usability was evaluated using the ita-MAUQ, observation, and interviews. Results: All participants completed the session without dropouts. Mean ita-MAUQ scores were consistently above the midpoint, with the highest ratings for interface design and satisfaction. Children appreciated the interactive, game-like features, while caregivers valued the clarity and practicality of content. Qualitative feedback indicated good comprehensibility and engagement, with suggestions for improving navigation flow and language adaptation. No adverse events occurred. Conclusions: This pilot study supports the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of the new iCBT platform and provides essential insights for its refinement and future large-scale clinical trials. Full article

The Gaia System is a tabletop projection mapping system for museum exhibitions, now in its third iteration and installed at the Sortland Museum (Norway). It presents socio-economic, environmental, and historical topics through an interactive spatial display. The system supports both multi-user interaction—allowing many visitors to engage simultaneously—and a tour guide mode for staff-led presentations. It combines scientific, data-driven visualizations with popular-science, story-driven content and integrates both real-time and locally stored data streams. Its design and development processes are thoroughly described. A field study with 32 participants yielded a System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 84.14 and a mean User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ-S) overall score of 1.93, indicating high usability and a positive user experience. The participants found the projection technology impressive and the content informative while noting challenges such as information overload, unclear temporal structuring of the content, and minor technical issues. Planned developments focus on restructuring the content for shorter sessions, implementing a new content management system, and refining the technical stability. Finally, this work reframes projection mapping as operational infrastructure rather than a fixed display, offering practical guidance for researchers advancing PM methodologies and museum practitioners deploying innovative, technology-driven exhibitions. Full article

Quantitative reliability evaluation is essential for optimizing control policies and maintenance strategies in complex industrial systems. While Reliability Block Diagrams (RBDs) are a natural formalism for modeling these hierarchical systems, modern applications require highly efficient, online reliability assessment on resource-constrained embedded hardware. This demand presents two fundamental challenges: developing algorithmically efficient RBD evaluation methods that can handle diverse custom distributions while preserving numerical accuracy, and ensuring platform-agnostic performance across diverse multicore architectures. This paper investigates these issues by developing a new version of the librbd open-source RBD library. This version includes advances in efficiency of evaluation algorithms, as well as restructured computation sequences, cache-aware data structures to minimize memory overhead, and an adaptive parallelization framework that scales automatically from embedded processors to high-performance systems. Comprehensive validation demonstrates that these advances significantly reduce computational complexity and improve performance over the original implementation, enabling real-time analysis of substantially larger systems. Full article

In 2013, Portugal implemented a major restructuring of Allied Health (AH) education by merging multiple separate first-cycle degree programmes into a smaller number of broader qualifications. The reform was designed to streamline curricula, increase efficiency, boost graduate employability, and align national qualifications with international standards. This study examines how Portuguese AH professionals, academics, and researchers perceive these reforms ten years on. A cross-sectional web-based survey collected 495 responses from AH stakeholders. Perceptions were quantified with a validated 21-item scale organised into three domains through exploratory factor analysis: (A) curricular change and structural effects; (B) educational quality and international harmonization; and (C) Professional Consequences of the Mergers. Differences between groups were examined by Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests. There were notable differences by age, educational background, experience, and academic qualifications. Younger practitioners and post-merger graduates indicated more favourable perceptions of the reforms (Domains A and B), whereas older, pre-merger-trained, and doctoral-level respondents were more critical, especially regarding autonomy and specialization (Domain C). Views on the reform are influenced by generational, experiential, and academic factors. Individualized communication and policy-focused approaches are needed to promote stakeholder engagement and maintain the legitimacy of subsequent health education reforms in Portugal. Full article

Rapid urbanization in China has intensified spatial and social disparities between urban and rural areas, posing major challenges to sustainable rural development. Traditional top-down rural construction and evaluation models often neglect villagers’ everyday practices, resulting in mismatches between spatial planning and actual use. This study develops a cross-scale, bottom-up framework for assessing rural construction through social network analysis (SNA), taking Xiongfan Village in Dawu County, Hubei Province, as a case study. At the village scale, the comparison between the “Public Space Structure Network” and the “Villagers’ Space Usage Behavior Network” reveals a significant mismatch between spatial compactness and behavioral dispersion, with high-frequency activities concentrated along the north–south axis while peripheral and east–west spaces remain underutilized. At the township scale, GPS-based analysis shows that the revitalization of Xiongfan transformed it from a peripheral node into a central hub, restructuring the network into a new pattern of “characteristic towns—traditional villages—ecological scenic areas.” These findings highlight the dual role of rural construction in both meeting residents’ daily needs and fostering regional integration. The proposed cross-scale SNA framework not only advances methodological tools for evaluating rural construction but also provides practical guidance for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban–rural development in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

Energy consumption and environmental pollution pose significant challenges to sustainable development. This study develops a comprehensive coupled framework model that advances the quantitative integration of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles driven by multiple anthropogenic pollution sources. This paper used Panjin city as a case study to analyze the dynamic changes and interconnections among C, N, and P. Results indicated that net anthropogenic carbon inputs (NAI_C) increased by 33% from 2016–2020, while net anthropogenic nitrogen inputs (NAI_N) and net anthropogenic phosphorus inputs (NAI_P) decreased by 14% and 28%, respectively. The primary driver of NAI_C was energy consumption, while wetlands were the dominant carbon sequestration sink. Agricultural production was identified as the primary source of NAI_N and NAI_P, and approximately 4.5% of NAI_N and 2.9% of NAI_P were discharged into receiving water bodies. We demonstrate that human activities and natural processes exhibit dual attributes, producing positive and negative environmental effects. The increase in carbon emissions drives economic growth and industrial restructuring; however, the enhanced economic capacity also strengthens the ability to mitigate pollution through environmental protection measures. Similarly, natural ecosystems, including forests and grasslands, contribute to carbon sequestration and the release of non-point source pollution. The comprehensive environmental impact assessment of C, N, and P revealed that the comprehensive environmental index for Panjin city exhibited an improved trend. The factors of energy structure, energy efficiency, and economic scale promoted NAI_C growth, with the economic scale factor alone accounting for 93% of the total increment. Environmental efficiency factor and population size factor were the primary drivers in reducing NAI_N and NAI_P discharges into the receiving water bodies. We propose a novel management model, ecological restoration, clean energy utilization, resource recycling, and pollution source reduction to achieve systemic governance of C, N, and P inputs. Full article