Search Results (12,453)

The evolution toward 6G Computing Power Networks (CPN) aims to deeply integrate multi-tier computing resources across Cloud, Edge, and end devices. However, the significant heterogeneity of computing resources, characterized by varying hardware architectures such as CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs, coupled with the time-varying network topology caused by terminal mobility, poses severe challenges to realizing efficient integrated scheduling that satisfies Quality of Service (QoS). To address spatiotemporal mismatches between task requirements and hardware architectures, this paper proposes an integrated scheduling method combining Discrete Time-Varying Graph (DTVG) construction with Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL). Specifically, we model the dynamic interaction between mobile tasks and heterogeneous nodes as a DTVG to capture spatiotemporal evolution and employ a QMIX-based algorithm to enable collaborative decision-making among distributed agents. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach effectively solves the joint optimization problem of heterogeneous resource matching and dynamic path planning, significantly outperforming traditional baselines in terms of resource utilization and average latency. This study confirms that incorporating graph-theoretic modeling with reinforcement learning offers a robust solution for the complex coupling of communication and computation in dynamic 6G networks. Full article

The increasing penetration of wind energy is a key enabler of the global transition toward low-carbon and sustainable power systems. However, ensuring high efficiency, power quality, and operational reliability under variable wind and grid conditions remains a critical challenge for doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind energy conversion systems. Conventional direct power control (DPC) strategies based on proportional–integral (PI) regulators are simple and widely implemented, yet their performance degrades in the presence of nonlinear system dynamics, parameter uncertainties, and rapid wind speed fluctuations—factors that directly affect energy yield, component lifetime, and grid stability. To enhance the sustainability and resilience of wind power generation, this study proposes a cascaded neural network-based control architecture for DFIG-driven systems. The outer neural control loop regulates active and reactive power references to optimize energy capture and support grid requirements, while the inner neural loop ensures fast and precise tracking by generating appropriate control signals for the rotor-side converter. Leveraging their adaptive learning capability, the neural controllers effectively model nonlinear dynamics and compensate for uncertainties in real time. Compared with the conventional DPC-PI scheme, the proposed approach achieves improved dynamic response, reduced power and electromagnetic torque ripples, enhanced disturbance rejection, and greater robustness under varying wind and grid conditions. These improvements contribute to sustainable energy production by increasing conversion efficiency, reducing mechanical stress, minimizing maintenance requirements, and extending turbine service life. Furthermore, improved reactive power control enhances grid integration and supports stable operation in renewable-dominated power systems. Simulation results validate the superior performance of the cascaded intelligent control strategy. The findings demonstrate that advanced adaptive control techniques can play a significant role in strengthening the reliability, efficiency, and long-term sustainability of wind energy systems, thereby supporting global decarbonization goals and the broader transition to sustainable energy infrastructures. Future work will focus on real-time implementation, stability assessment, and experimental validation to facilitate practical deployment. Full article

Ridesplitting is a promising strategy to enhance vehicle efficiency in urban mobility services during mega-events. However, designing dispatching algorithms that effectively balance high service rates with acceptable passenger delays under high-demand, reservation-based scenarios remains a significant challenge. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel two-stage dispatch framework: Offline Grouping and Online Matching (OGOM). In the offline stage, the request grouping problem is formulated as a weighted hypergraph maximum matching (WHMM) problem. A sequence inference (SI) method is introduced to accelerate the construction of candidate ridesplitting trips, and the WHMM problem is solved optimally using the Gurobi solver. In the online stage, the dispatch process is completed within an event-based simulation environment built with MATSim. The framework is validated through a comprehensive case study of the Hangzhou Asian Games. The results demonstrate that the proposed OGOM framework achieves a mean service rate of 92.12%, representing an 8.74% improvement over a rolling horizon batching benchmark. Concurrently, the average passenger delay is maintained between 2 and 4 min across all simulation runs. Furthermore, the framework reduces the average request completion distance by over 30% compared to a non-ridesplitting baseline. The proposed SI method also shows a 49.35% reduction in computation time for hypergraph construction compared to conventional methods. These findings confirm that the OGOM framework provides an effective and scalable operational strategy for mega-event ridesplitting services, simultaneously improving service quality through optimized supply–demand matching and controlled passenger delays. Full article

Public bus systems are vital to achieving sustainable urban mobility in developing countries; yet, the quality of bus stops, a critical interface between users and transit services, remains widely overlooked. This study evaluates bus stop quality in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, from bus users’ perspectives by integrating importance–performance analysis (IPA) and the customer satisfaction index (CSI) with level of conformity analysis (CR) using extensive, real-world survey data. The objective was to identify priority areas to help improve the quality of public bus stop provision in the city and ensure the most efficient allocation of resources by focusing on the quality attributes that matter most to bus users. The results highlight six critical service quality attributes that require immediate improvement due to their high importance to users and low service quality performance: (i) safety barriers to prevent traffic accidents while waiting at bus stops; (ii) accessibility of bus stops for elderly and disabled users; (iii) availability of signage and timetables/maps; (iv) overall bus stop quality; (v) narrow bus stop platforms; and (vi) waiting time at bus stops. Addressing these gaps is essential to enhance user satisfaction and ensure that users have a safer, more inclusive, and reliable PT experience. This study offers evidence-based recommendations to enhance bus stop design and service quality, thus contributing to improved user satisfaction and increased ridership. More broadly, the results can be applied to other rapidly urbanizing developing cities seeking to provide equitable, safe, and user-centered bus transit systems. Full article

Coastal cities are complex spatial systems shaped by intertwined economic, environmental, demographic, and governance pressures. This study develops a multidimensional comparative framework to analyze coastal cities in the Black Sea basin across five dimensions: physical–morphological structure, demographic scale, economic–functional profile, transportation and accessibility, and urban quality–governance. To address cross-country data heterogeneity, an ordinal (0–1–2) indicator system is employed and analyzed through multiple multivariate techniques, including Gower dissimilarity, NMDS, Ward hierarchical clustering, MCA, Spearman rank correlation, network analysis, and rank-transformed PCA. Findings indicate that Black Sea coastal cities do not form a single homogeneous typology but cluster around distinct structural patterns. A major axis of differentiation separates port–industrial production-oriented cities from tourism–service-oriented cities, while a considerable group of multifunctional and transitional cities exhibits moderate values across several dimensions. Results show that city typologies are shaped less by national planning regimes than by structural dynamics such as port scale, economic specialization, accessibility, and spatial pressure. By integrating non-metric and metric approaches, the study proposes a context-sensitive and multi-criteria comparative methodology. The findings highlight the need for multi-scalar and multidimensional planning perspectives to better understand structural differentiation in coastal urban systems within semi-enclosed marine regions such as the Black Sea. Full article

Background/Objective: Breast cancer is one of the leading diseases affecting the Brazilian population and is often diagnosed at advanced stages. Due to its heterogeneity, treatment involves multiple therapeutic modalities, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to characterize the profile of patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer in a private hospital in southern Brazil, and to assess the physical and psychological effects associated with different therapeutic modalities. Methods: An ambidirectional longitudinal cohort study was conducted from September 2018 to December 2024, incorporating retrospective data since 2013. Clinical and therapeutic data were collected, and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) using the QLQ-C30 Summary Score (QLQ-BR23, FACT-ES, BREAST-Q, LMC21) and Symptom Global Score questionnaires were analyzed using mixed-effects models to evaluate physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and overall quality-of-life domains, as well as body image. The temporal trend of time-to-treatment was assessed via linear regression. Results: Among 871 individuals evaluated, 98.4% were female, and invasive ductal carcinoma was the predominant histological type (75.1%). Radiotherapy was one of the most frequently used treatment modalities (39.2%), while immunotherapy had the lowest usage rate (2.7%). A significant reduction in the time between diagnosis and initiation of treatment was observed from 2013 to 2024 (from 21.0 to 10.9 days; p < 0.01), reflecting improvements in healthcare services. Mixed-effects models for PROMs indicated significant improvements across all assessed domains (p < 0.01) over the 48-month follow-up, despite a median follow-up of 22 months. Conclusions: High-quality and timely oncological care provided to breast cancer patients in a private hospital in southern Brazil demonstrates the implementation of a dynamic, agile, and human-centered care model, contributing to improved clinical and patient-reported outcomes validated by robust longitudinal analysis. Full article

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) represent a growing global health burden, affecting nearly one in ten adults worldwide. CKD is associated with high morbidity, premature mortality, reduced quality of life and enormous healthcare costs, and is primarily driven by dialysis and kidney transplantation. The silent and progressive nature of CKD means that most patients are diagnosed late, when irreversible damage has already occurred and costly kidney replacement therapies (KRT) become necessary. Dialysis services are resource-intensive, requiring significant infrastructure, specialized staff, and consumables, which makes them especially challenging to sustain in low- and middle-income countries. Traditional models of nephrology, care center-based dialysis and fragmented follow-up are increasingly inadequate in meeting the demands of a rising CKD population. These challenges highlight the urgent need for innovative approaches that enhance efficiency, improve patient outcomes, and expand access. Objective: This review aims to analyze the current landscape of information and communication technology (ICT) applications in nephrology and to evaluate how digital innovations are reconfiguring kidney therapy. Specifically, it seeks to identify the major ICT tools that are currently in use, assess their clinical and operational impact, and discuss their role in creating more sustainable, patient-centered kidney care models. This study reviews and analyzes ICT tools that are reconfiguring nephrology, including remote monitoring, AI, wearables, patient engagement apps and data dashboards. Methods: Narrative and scoping review of recent innovations in nephrology, including remote patient monitoring (RPM), telehealth, artificial intelligence (AI) analytics, wearable sensors, and clinical decision support platforms. Results: ICT tools such as Sharesource, Versia, telenephrology platforms, medical assistant for Chronic Care Service (MACCS), AI-based predictive analytics, wearable devices and patient engagement apps have improved patient outcomes, adherence, and early detection of complications. Key metrics include technique survival, hospitalization rate, patient-reported outcomes, workflow efficiency, and prediction accuracy. The relevant literature describing the potential of digital health technologies, including ICT platforms, artificial intelligence tools, and remote monitoring systems, to transform nephrology care was retrieved and screened for inclusion in this narrative review. Conclusions: ICT has shifted nephrology from reactive to proactive care, enhancing accessibility, patient empowerment and clinical efficiency. Future directions include precision nephrology, fully wearable kidneys, AI integration and large language models for education and triage. Challenges include digital divide, regulatory heterogeneity, cost and the need for long-term evidence. Full article

Intercropping is a pivotal strategy for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 2—End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture (SDG 2)—by enhancing food security agroecosystem resilience and sustainability. By integrating diverse species within the same plot, this sustainable approach takes advantage of the beneficial interactions between them. The simultaneous cultivation of multiple crop species within the same field increases agricultural diversification and contributes to a more resilient production system, breaking the uniformity of modern intensive agriculture. The objective of this review is to evaluate intercropping practices throughout the Mediterranean, specifically in Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece), North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia), and the Middle East (Turkey, Israel, and Jordan). This review intends to show advantages and disadvantages of intercropping and crops used and also highlight how intercropping systems affect crop production and quality, soil quality and microbiome, and proliferation of weeds, pests and diseases. The literature suggests that diversification in agriculture supports biodiversity and ecosystem services by the cultivation of diverse crop species together and, hence, may reduce independence in external outputs such as nutrient supply, pesticides and soil amendment. Despite the potential benefits of intercropping, the major caveats of this practice are the competition between different crops on resources, potential risks of plant protection, technical challenges of integrating the different requirements of each crop used in the system, and culture-related restrictions or regulations. Full article

Sustainability has become a strategic priority in the hospitality sector, particularly in luxury hotels where environmental responsibility must be balanced with high service quality. This study explores hotel managers’ perceptions and experiences of implementing environmentally friendly practices in five-star hotels in Gauteng, South Africa. A qualitative research approach, guided by a constructivist paradigm, was employed using semi-structured interviews with seventeen middle-level managers from major departments in the hotels. Data were manually and software-coded, and thematic analysis produced nine interrelated themes: Adoption Culture, Collaboration Networks, Consumption Tracking, Guest Revenue Drivers, Operational Shifts, Operational Prioritisation, Staff Enablement, Structural Constraints, and Valued Pragmatism. The findings indicate that managers generally perceive sustainability as both an ethical responsibility and a business imperative, particularly in relation to brand reputation, guest expectations, and cost efficiency. However, implementation is constrained by infrastructural instability, high initial investment costs, limited supplier availability, and occasional resistance from staff and guests. The study highlights the importance of embedding sustainability within governance systems, staff practices, and organisational culture to support long-term adoption. This research offers context-specific insights into sustainability implementation in South African luxury hotels and provides practical value for hotel managers, policymakers, and sustainability stakeholders operating in resource-constrained environments. Full article

Floodplain disconnection caused by channel incision and/or levee construction has led to widespread loss of riparian habitats and ecosystem functions globally. Restoring full stream–floodplain connectivity is increasingly promoted, yet evidence of ecological outcomes remains limited. This study evaluates the initial performance of two Stage 0 restoration projects on Whychus Creek, Oregon, which reconnected incised channels to their historical floodplains in 2012 and 2016. We combined pre- and post-restoration vegetation surveys along fixed transects with hydrogeomorphic-based riparian and wetland function assessments and applied quantitative analyses, including Kruskal–Wallis tests, Jaccard correlations, Sorensen similarity indices, and factor analysis, to compare changes in plant assemblages and ecosystem functions across restored, transitional, and unrestored reaches. Our research results indicate that two years post-restoration, the active riparian area expanded 2.5-fold, species richness and structural diversity increased significantly, and riparian and wetland functions such as water storage, sediment retention, and habitat support for fish and amphibians improved markedly. Numbers of anadromous salmonids also increased markedly. This is important as salmon recovery is a regional stream restoration goal. Comparisons with a reach restored six years earlier suggest a positive trajectory toward mature, resilient ecosystems. These findings demonstrate that Stage 0 restoration can rapidly reestablish complex habitat mosaics and enhance ecosystem services critical for biodiversity, water quality, and flood resilience. Practically, this evidence supports process-based restoration strategies that prioritize full floodplain reconnection as a cost-effective approach to reversing long-term ecological degradation. Continued monitoring is essential to guide adaptive management and strengthen the evidence base for the wide-scale implementation of valley-floor wide stream restoration. Full article

Land use change profoundly impacts the trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services in ecologically fragile watersheds. Optimizing land use patterns based on ecological function zoning is an important approach to coordinate multiple ecosystem services and promote sustainable watershed management. This study focuses on the Wuding River Basin within the Chinese Loess Plateau, using Self-Organizing Map, multi-objective genetic algorithms, and the Future Land-Use Simulation model to explore land use optimization schemes. The results show that the windbreak and sand fixation service in the Wuding River Basin presents a spatial pattern of higher values in the northwest and lower values in the southeast, while the other six services exhibit a pattern of higher values in the east and lower values in the west. Based on the ecosystem service cluster characteristics, the basin can be divided into soil and water conservation zones, habitat conservation zones, and ecologically fragile zones. The trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services within different zones differ significantly, with the trade-off between food supply, soil conservation, and habitat quality being particularly prominent. After optimization, the food supply and soil conservation in the soil and water conservation zones increased by an average of 0.63 × 10⁴ t and 1.94 × 10⁵ t, respectively. The food supply in the habitat conservation zones increased by 0.11 × 10⁴ t, while habitat quality remained stable. In the ecologically fragile area, water production and carbon sequestration services increased by an average of 0.26 × 10⁴ t and 0.58 × 10⁵ t, respectively. During the optimization process, the reasonable allocation of grassland and unused land played a key role in balancing service conflicts. This study provides a scientific basis for coordinating trade-offs in watershed ecosystem services and achieving land use optimization management through the framework of service clusters, functional zones, and multi-objective optimization. Full article

This study employs a constructivist grounded theory approach based on 69 in-depth interviews conducted between March 2022 and December 2023 to examine socio-cognitive dynamics in Korea’s bottled water and household water purifier markets. The study addresses a gap in prior research by explaining how product meanings and stakeholder strategies co-evolve across adjacent “safe-water” markets under regulatory and sustainability pressures. Drawing on qualitative data from 69 stakeholders, including producers (n = 30), consumers (n = 19), and institutional experts (n = 20), we analyze how distrust, risk perception, and health consciousness reshape conceptual systems and market strategies. These shifts drive innovation across markets, including new technologies, service models, and branding strategies. The findings show that socio-cognitive stabilization arises through iterative interactions among institutional shocks, producer reinterpretation, and consumer adaptation. In the bottled water market, the meanings of “natural purity” became materially embedded in packaging, mineral labeling, and brand narratives. In the purifier sector, “technological reliability” was institutionalized through service-based maintenance systems and visible quality control technologies. These processes developed within asymmetric communicative environments shaped by corporate branding capacity and media amplification. This study refines socio-cognitive market theory by specifying boundary conditions under institutional distrust in developed economies. Although Republic of Korea possesses advanced drinking water infrastructure comparable to that of other developed economies, public confidence in tap water has periodically weakened following highly salient contamination incidents and regulatory transitions. This paradox provides a theoretically informative context for examining how product meanings and stakeholder behaviors mutually adapt over time. Although environmental impact metrics were not directly measured, the findings suggest that sustainability policies must address socio-cognitive trust dynamics alongside regulatory instruments such as plastic levies, certification schemes, and transparent risk communication. Full article

Air quality improvement represents a critical challenge for the European Union, with particulate matter (PM) being the most harmful pollutant in urban areas. Urban Green Infrastructures (UGIs) provide essential ecosystem services that mitigate air pollution, notably through PM₁₀ removal via deposition on leaf surfaces, reducing health risks associated with poor air quality. This study quantifies the PM₁₀ removal supplied by urban forests in the Bydgoszcz–Toruń area (Poland) using a spatially explicit modeling framework. Remotely sensed Leaf Area Index, vegetation cover, and PM₁₀ concentration data were integrated within a GIS environment, with all analyses conducted on a seasonal basis to capture temporal variability in vegetation phenology and pollutant levels. Resulting maps of mean seasonal PM₁₀ removal efficiency (kg/ha) reveal distinct functional group patterns: deciduous broadleaves reach peak efficiency in summer, whereas conifers provide a more consistent year-round contribution, resulting in the highest annual removal. Monetary valuation was performed using externality costs from the European Environmental Agency. Overall, urban forests remove 3360.40 Mg of PM₁₀ annually, corresponding to an estimated value of 255.69 M€. Integrating biophysical and economic perspectives supports urban planning and highlights UGIs as nature-based solutions to enhance air quality, protect public health and promote ecosystem biodiversity and resilience. Full article

What drives persistent urban–rural tourism satisfaction gaps: whether from promotional over-promising or structural service deficits? This distinction fundamentally determines whether territorial development resources should target marketing sophistication or productive capacity, yet remains empirically unresolved. Text-mining for 33,174 attractions across 349 Chinese cities reveals that both rural and urban destinations systematically under-promise, with description sentiment falling consistently below actual ratings, contradicting the “digital facade” hypothesis. Urban attractions nonetheless generate more positive surprises through superior service delivery (gap = 0.62 vs. 0.55). Sentiment measurement robustness is validated through triangulation of two independent dictionary-based methods ($r=0.58$, $p<0.001$) and cross-paradigm verification using a pre-trained BERT transformer ($\tau =1.000$ ranking stability). SHAP decomposition quantifies the policy implication: controllable service quality indicators, including description quality (23.2%), information richness (30.7%), and price positioning (16.5%), collectively explain over 70% of the variance in satisfaction, while fixed geographic factors (rural classification 14.9% and city-tier 14.7%) account for 29.6%, yielding a controllable-to-geographic ratio of 2.4:1. Propensity score matching with six covariates confirms a 0.074–0.100-point rural penalty persists after controlling for confounders, while non-linear analysis demonstrates that rural attractions face no marginal productivity disadvantage, and the challenge is baseline capacity, not investment efficiency. For policymakers pursuing Sustainable Development Goals 8, 10, and 12 through tourism-led regional strategies, these results mandate redirecting resources from demand-side expectation management toward supply-side infrastructure and workforce development, the true binding constraint on rural competitiveness. Full article

Urban sprawl promotes significant changes in land use and occupation by interfering with the dynamics of functional ecosystems. Among other things, it encourages forest fragmentation, the degradation of woodland edges, and altered habitat integrity. This study aims to propose a simplified and low-cost methodological framework that integrates open data and open-source tools to monitor the potential of ecosystem services (ESs) at the municipal scale. Guided by the hypothesis that rapid suburbanization leads to measurable declines in ecological integrity, the InVEST Habitat Quality model was used as a proxy to analyze the landscape’s capacity to support ES. The procedure included data acquisition and organization, land use reclassification, and scores for the threats and sensitivities, implemented through the InVEST software 3.14.2. Results indicated that urban areas more than doubled between 1985 and 2005, while habitat quality scores declined across Campinas, reflecting a decrease in the potential for ES provision. Urban expansion, mainly concentrated in the central region, occurred at the expense of agricultural and pasture areas. Forest remnants, which currently occupy only 8.5% of the municipal territory, are small and fragmented, intensifying edge effects and reducing the potential capacity to provide regulatory ES. Fragmentation and adjacent land use changes limit these habitats’ capacity to provide ES. The proposed methodology demonstrates the potential for simple and reproducible monitoring of ecosystem services at the municipal scale, providing support to local governments with limited financial and technical capacity in geospatial data processing. This framework enables municipalities to incorporate environmental indicators into planning tools, offering a scalable approach for monitoring ecosystem dynamics in urbanized regions. Full article