Search Results (97)

This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Delphi SWOT tool in formulating a bio-economy strategy for an isolated region. The analysis will highlight the management and planning aspects that are essential for assessing the internal and external circumstances of the region. A total of 16 experts were selected to participate in the Delphi method, which was used to investigate the current state of the bio-economy in the agricultural sector of a small isolated region in Greece. Following the convergence of the experts’ opinions, a SWOT analysis and a set of policy recommendations for the formulation of a bioeconomy strategy were derived. The formulation of a bioeconomy strategy in an isolated region reveals a promising landscape full of opportunities, but also full of challenges. The region has a number of intrinsic advantages that can be used to advance the bioeconomy. The focus on an isolated region limits the applicability of the findings to other regions with different socio-economic contexts. In addition, the Delphi method relies on expert opinion, which is inherently subjective. The bioeconomy concept has the potential to address the challenges faced by a small, mountainous, rural region whose economy has historically been based on energy production from lignite. To facilitate a sustainable transition, it is essential to harness the region’s human capital, promote sustainable agricultural practices, develop innovative products and processes, and establish new value chains that can stimulate economic growth. Full article

This paper focuses on identifying the human health risks as a result of the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in groundwater due to the Bucharest landfill leakages. The main subjects were neighboring areas as the main receptors. The functional landfill located near the capital of Romania was selected as a case study. Fluorene (Pf), phenanthrene (Phe), anthracene (Ant), fluoranthene (Flu) and pyrene (Pyr) were detected using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis. The health risks for receptors via ingestion and dermal exposure scenarios were developed considering dermal contact once per day during showering for 20 min and regular ingestion of the groundwater most contaminated with PAHs at a rate of 2 L per day. The concentration ranges of PAHs in groundwater wer <0.0010–0.0037 μg L⁻¹ for Pf, 0.0014–0.0065 μg L⁻¹ for Phe, <0.0010–0.0013 μg L⁻¹ for Ant, <0.0010–0.0011 μg L⁻¹ for Flu, and 0.0030–0.0032 μg L⁻¹ for Pyr. The rest of the PAHs were under the limit of detection. Both the cumulative hazard and risk quotient are well below the value of 1, which indicates a significant low risk for the ingestion of PAH-contaminated groundwater. However, the risk due to daily groundwater consumption and skin contact is minimal. Full article

Background/Objectives: A properly functioning musculoskeletal system is imperative for human well-being at every stage of life, including at an older age. This study’s aim was to assess the relationship between sociodemographic and physical functioning variables and the presence of individual musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), MSD comorbidity, and multimorbidity, as well as to determine factors that are independent predictors of the presence of MSDs in people over 65 years old. Methods: This population-based study included 3701 participants aged 65 years and older. Data on individual MSDs addressed cervical and lumbosacral spine regions and degenerative joint disease (arthrosis). The subjects were categorized into four groups: those without any diseases; those with one MSD; those with two MSDs (comorbidities); and those with three MSDs (multimorbidities). The sociodemographic and physical functioning variables were analyzed. Results: Females were more likely to have MSDs (two: OR 1.95 and three: OR 2.25) than men. Elderly people aged 75 and above were 1.49 times more likely to have three MSDs. Elderly people with elementary school education were more likely to have MSDs (two: OR 1.34 and three: OR 2.06) than those with high school/university education. The low-income population was 2.47 times more likely to have three MSDs. Individuals with partial activity limitations because of health problems had greater chances of having one, two, or three MSDs (OR 1.60, 1.59, and 1.94, respectively), and elderly individuals with severe limitations had an OR of 1.43, 2.17, and 4.12, respectively. Individuals with some/many difficulties in walking up or down 12 steps were more likely to have MSDs (two: OR 2.26 and three: OR 2.28). Conclusions: The significant predictors of experiencing a single MSD, MSD comorbidity, or MSD multimorbidity include residing in the Serbian capital city and having limitations in activities due to health problems. A significant predictor of having a single MSD or MSD comorbidity is residing in the northern region of Serbia. A significant predictor of MSD comorbidity is residing in the southeastern region of Serbia. Significant predictors of MSD comorbidity or MSD multimorbidity include female gender, an elementary school educational level, and experiencing difficulty in walking up or down 12 steps. Significant predictors of MSD multimorbidity are being 75 years of age and above and having a lower income. Full article

Corrosion in the sheets produced leads to significant material losses, including the loss of resources, capital, labor, energy and knowledge. Corrosion control is significant for sheets produced and sent to customers in iron and steel factories. Surface corrosion testing of produced sheets and the accurate detection of corrosion levels are of great importance. The corrosion detection process for sheets in steel factories is performed visually with the naked eye. This is a subjective and time-consuming method. Identifying corrosion damage by visual detection and accurately determining the type and extent of corrosion requires expertise. Wrong decisions at this stage lead to losses during the production phase. Therefore, there is a need for systems that can automate this process and make it human-independent. In this study, a decision support system was designed to automatically detect the level of corrosion in galvanized sheets using convolutional neural networks. The average accuracy of the system is 97.5%, the average precision is 0.98, the average recall is 1 and the average F1 score is 0.99. The results we obtained indicate that a successful system has been developed for the detection and determination of corrosion levels. The high performance of the convolutional neural network models used for corrosion detection supports the practical applicability of the developed system. This system will increase the reliability and efficiency of industrial processes by enabling the accurate and automatic classification of corrosion. This system, which meets a significant need in this area for industrial organizations, reduces production costs and also makes the corrosion detection process more consistent and faster. Full article

Human arboviral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika can be transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The insecticide-based vector control strategy is critical in reducing transmission of these Aedes-borne diseases but is threatened mainly by the emergence of insecticide resistance. Adult Ae. aegypti from the National Capital Region (NCR), Philippines, were subjected to bioassays to determine their susceptibility to diagnostic doses of pyrethroid, organochlorine, and organophosphate insecticides following the standard World Health Organization insecticide susceptibility test. This study reports the detection of insecticide resistance to pyrethroids and organochlorine in Ae. aegypti from the Philippines for the first time. Most of the Ae. aegypti populations from NCR exhibited phenotypic resistance to permethrin, etofenprox, and DDT. Varying resistance levels to deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin were observed in the different mosquito populations, while all populations tested to malathion were susceptible to this organophosphate. This finding should alert public health authorities to consider modifying the existing vector management package for greater control efficacy. Best practices proven to prevent or delay the development of insecticide resistance, such as insecticide rotation, should also be implemented, while alternative chemicals with a different mode of action should be explored to ensure the continuing efficacy of program interventions. Full article

Nietzsche’s declaration of “God is dead” signifies not only the collapse of classical metaphysical systems in philosophy but also shifts in the psychological structure of individuals and society after the secularization of Christianity. A philosophical reading is crucial to understanding its whole process and real-world ramifications. We first delineate the fundamental meanings and historical context of the term “God” or “Absolute” and expound upon the mechanisms of spiritual functioning under it, highlighting the significance of God, or the Absolute, as the highest object of spiritual operation. Next, we analyze the death of God, i.e., the retreat of the Absolute, in the realms of reason and faith, exploring its causes and repercussions, particularly the disruption of the operation of the spirit. Then, building upon this analysis, we conclude that the metaphysical life supported by Kant and Hegel faces failure in the present age, because the Absolute has ceased to be the foundation. The roots of spiritual operation are no longer secure; the return to the Absolute points to emptiness, and exit without return creates disruptive division between subject and substance, essence and phenomenon, reason and reality. Meanwhile, the departure of God and the development of capitalism are intertwined, calling for a resurgence in the form of secularization, heralding a renewed human judgment of God. Full article

Taking the innovation chain (IC) as the perspective, we discuss the effect of digital transformation (DT) on enterprises’ green innovation (GI) using data from Chinese listed companies from 2013 to 2021. The results show that DT has a positive effect on enterprises’ GI, and this effect is not only reflected in the quantity of green patent applications but also the GI efficiency and quality. Heterogeneity analysis shows that DT has a positive effect on GI for both large firms and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but the effect is greater for SMEs. Relative to enterprises that have received governmental incentive-based industrial policies, the effect is smaller in the enterprises that have no incentive-based industrial policies and are subjected to command-based environmental regulations. As the level of industry competition increases from low to high, the impact of DT on GI will grow. However, when the level of industry competition becomes excessively high, the impact will decrease. DT positively affects enterprises’ GI behaviors by facilitating the cultivation of human capital, improving the allocation of innovation resources, and increasing the level of cooperative green innovation. Full article

Rural women’s development is a problem related to current and future rural development, as well as the development of society as a whole. This paper takes the theory of planned behaviour as the basis, researches the mechanism of women’s rural development participation with the five indicators of participation behaviour, determines the indicators of rural development participation with the theory of informed behaviour; explores the relationship between the external environment, women’s family economy, human capital, social network and family roles and the persistent poverty and determines the indicators of sustainable and responsible capacity; and constructs a hypothetical model of the influence mechanism of rural development participation on the sustainable and responsible capacity building. It also constructs a hypothetical model of the influence mechanism of rural development participation on sustainable and responsible capacity building; conducts a questionnaire survey and collects data from women in the former poverty-stricken areas of Yunnan Province; empirically analyses and verifies the hypothetical model using structural equation modelling and, finally, puts forward policy recommendations, which will serve as important references for poor rural women to improve their sustainable development capacity. The results of the empirical study indicate that the impact of participation indicators on sustainability is that cognitive participation, emotional participation and behavioural participation of female subjects all positively affect sustainability. Cognitive participation affects behavioural participation, and increasing the cognitive level of rural development participation helps increase female rural development participation. Cognitive participation and affective participation also affect sustainability through behavioural participation but not exclusively through behavioural participation. In the analysis of the role of the external environment, the external environment directly affects the effect of rural development participation on the sustainable development capacity. According to the results of the data analysis, the external environment plays a significant positive moderating effect on the economic dimension and human capital in rural development participation and sustainable development capacity. The innovations of the study on the impact mechanism of rural women’s rural development participation on sustainable development capacity building are expanding the research perspective and research methods for studying rural women’s rural development participation, constructing a scale of rural development participation and sustainable development capacity building measurement indicators and exploring the impact mechanism of rural development participation on sustainable development capacity building of rural women in Yunnan. Full article

Micro-enterprises are at the heart of industrialized countries’ political concerns, particularly in Europe. If the latter are the subject of such special attention, it is because of their important role in terms of economic growth. This study evaluated the factors of business success as a multidimensional and multifaceted construct that integrates three aspects: entrepreneurial continuity, economic success, and entrepreneur satisfaction. Together, we included these three aspects in an econometric analysis using an ordered Probit model. We propose, from a new angle, an understanding of the determinants of the sustainable performance of micro-enterprises, in this case, those financed by microcredit in France. Our results show that total success seems to be explained in particular by elements from financial and human capital, motivation, and entrepreneurial support. Full article

The average country in Asia–Pacific experiences more natural disasters than average countries of other developing regions. This paper presents stylized facts on natural disasters, human development, and external debt in Asia–Pacific. The paper also contains estimates of the effects that natural disasters have on human development. Controlling for country- and time-fixed effects, the dynamic panel model estimates show that external debt has a mitigating effect on the adverse impacts that natural disasters have on human development; in countries with low external debt-to-GDP ratios, natural disasters significantly decrease the human development index, but not so in countries with high external debt-to-GDP ratios. External debt (i.e., borrowing from abroad) is a financial contract for obtaining resources from abroad (i.e., imports of goods and services). When a country experiencing a natural disaster borrows from abroad to increase imports of goods and services, the population suffers less when a natural disaster strikes. Natural disasters destroy goods and capital (e.g., food, machinery, buildings, and roads) in the countries in which they occur. If imports of goods and services do not increase, then the population has less goods and services to consume following a natural disaster. By increasing imports, which are mirrored on the financial side by an increase in external debt, the population of a country that was struck by a natural disaster can experience consumption smoothing. As the incidence of natural disasters increases globally, a policy recommendation for disaster-prone countries, supported by the empirical results of this paper, is the need for deeper and innovative mechanisms of access to international financing, including reforms in both domestic and international financial systems. The paper’s most significant contribution is the unique lens through which it analyzes the often-studied subject of natural disasters. Rather than looking at disasters as merely adverse events and debt as an unwelcome obligation in isolation, it connects the two and uncovers the paradoxically positive and beneficial role a healthy level of external debt can play in mitigating the adverse effects of these disasters. It provides a fresh perspective, a shift in thinking that may immensely benefit external debt and disaster management policies. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to examine how varied environmental and social factors in urban environments affect human wellbeing, which is an important dimension of urban sustainability. Past research has focused on individual dimensions of health and isolated nature interactions, limiting knowledge about how different environmental and social factors affect distinct aspects of residents’ wellbeing. Through quantitative analyses of social survey and environmental data in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona (USA), we explored how distinct nature recreation activities—along with nature satisfaction and social capital—affected residents’ subjective, mental, and physical wellbeing across diverse neighborhoods during the COVID-19 pandemic, controlling for socio-demographics. Results reveal how distinct drivers shape different dimensions of wellbeing. Perceived social and environmental attributes of neighborhoods and proximity to nature preserves were associated with subjective wellbeing, while park visitation was linked to physical health. Nature interactions largely were unrelated to mental health. Changes in nature recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly impact any dimension of wellbeing. Our research suggests that multiple local environmental and social features should be considered when designing healthy communities for urban sustainability. Full article

According to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory, the interaction between micro- and macro-factors improves human development. Previous studies suggest that community social capital, which refers to the interaction between residents and communities, promotes the subjective well-being of residents in residential communities. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study explored the link between community social capital and life satisfaction among urban residents and examined the mediating role of psychological flourishing and moderating effect of educational level. Data were obtained from a cross-community survey of 816 urban residents in China aged 20–60 years. The results indicated that psychological flourishing mediated the link between community social capital and life satisfaction among urban residents after controlling for gender, age, marital status, dwelling time, and monthly income. Furthermore, educational attainment moderated the association between community social capital and psychological flourishing. The mediating effect of psychological flourishing was stronger among residents with low educational attainment than those with high educational attainment, indicating that the benefits of community social capital were greater among the former group. This study extends our knowledge of the effect of community social capital on urban residents’ subjective well-being, including its role in reducing educational inequality in human well-being. Full article

Agricultural cropping structure is related to the quality of the agricultural supply system and is a key element of the structural reform of the agricultural supply side. Based on China’s provincial panel data from 2000 to 2021, this paper empirically examines the impact and mechanism of rural population aging on the planting structure of food and cash crops by using a two-way fixed-effects model, which fills the gap in the research on the impact mechanism of the rural population aging on agricultural planting structure. The conclusions of the study show that: as the aging of the rural population deepens, the proportion of food crops planted will further increase, while the proportion of cash crops planted will decrease; agricultural mechanization will promote the further increase of the proportion of food crops planted while the proportion of cash crops planted will decrease in the deepening of the aging of rural population; the aging of the rural population has a more significant impact on the structure of agricultural planting in the eastern region and does not have a significant impact on the central and western provinces. The aging of the rural population has a significant impact on the agricultural planting structure in the eastern region, but not in the central and western provinces. This paper argues that we should fully respect the willingness of agricultural management subjects to choose planting varieties, increase the research, development, and promotion of agricultural machinery, continuously improve the level of farmers’ human capital, and further enhance the degree of organization, scale, and specialization of agricultural production. Full article

Green agricultural development opens up a feasible way for China to construct sustainable communities and promote rural revitalization strategies. However, a clear gap on the subject sets apart various regions in China, resulting in off-balance development. This paper, based on the panel data from 31 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) in China from 2013 to 2020, established an evaluation index system for China’s green agricultural development levels, measured the green agricultural development in different regions, and applied the log(t) model, the Ordered Probit model, and the Ordered Logit model to identify convergence trends and causes of China’s green agricultural development level club convergence, respectively. Our research found the following: (1) The green agricultural development levels in various regions in China are on the rise, and regional gaps are still significant. The output of green agricultural products is the focus of various regions in promoting green agricultural development. (2) The green agricultural development levels in China’s 31 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) have converged to four clubs. China is gradually forming a convergence pattern of green agricultural development levels, with the main agricultural production areas as the core. (3) The regional gap at the level of environmental regulation for green agricultural development first narrows, then expands, and then narrows. The intensity of environmental regulation in most areas is in the first stage. This indicates that China should continue to maintain the current intensity and promote green agricultural development levels to converge towards high-level clubs. In addition, the GDP, grain production area, fiscal support for agriculture, and rural human capital can narrow the gaps in green agricultural development levels between regions. Full article

In the policy arena of the rapid development of China’s digital village, understanding how internet use enhances the happiness of forest farmers’ families holds theoretical and practical significance for promoting the protection of the ecological environment and the sustainable development of forests. This study utilizes survey data from 2023 on forest farmers in ecologically fragile ethnic areas in China. Based on sustainability, a five-dimensional evaluation index system for the happiness of forest farmers’ families has been constructed. First, the CRITIC-TOPSIS model is employed to calculate the happiness scores of forest farming households. Subsequently, the Tobit model and the mediation effect model are applied to examine and analyze the influencing factors and mechanisms of internet usage on the happiness of forest farmers’ families. The study finds that, first, an increase of one unit in terms of internet use is associated with a 0.031-unit increase in the happiness of forest farmers’ families, and that education, social perception, and policy perception all have a positive effect on the happiness of forest farmers’ families. Second, the mechanism of action suggests that internet use significantly increases forest farmers’ families’ happiness through subjective class identity. Third, further heterogeneity analyses revealed that internet use contributed to the happiness of forest farmers’ families in the male group, the low human capital group, and the group with an ecological forest ranger in the family. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the construction of digital rural infrastructure and develop new models such as digital forestry; cultivate and introduce specialized digital talents in rural areas and enhance the digital literacy of forestry farmers; and assist forestry farmers in establishing class identity concepts and social values conducive to the sustainable development of forests and implement ecological values in production practices, thereby improving the happiness of forest farmers’ families. Full article