Search Results (4,928)

Small-scale inland fisheries in the Amazon are critical for food security, yet their sustainability is increasingly threatened by overexploitation and environmental degradation. In data-limited contexts such as the northern Ecuadorian Amazon, the absence of continuous monitoring constrains the development of adaptive management strategies. This study develops an integrated socio-ecological baseline to support the establishment of fisheries agreements in five Indigenous communities of the Napo and Aguarico rivers. Through a participatory monitoring approach, we generated reproductive parameters (gonadosomatic index, fecundity, size at first maturity), population structure metrics, and length–weight relationships for key subsistence species across three hydrological phases. Reproductive investment exhibited marked seasonality, with peak gonadosomatic indices during rising waters in most species, identifying a critical period for protection. Life-history strategies ranged from high-fecundity periodic strategists to low-fecundity equilibrium species, implying differentiated vulnerability to harvesting. Community perceptions prioritized large migratory catfish and floodplain habitats, aligning with biological indicators of vulnerability. High performance in technical training demonstrated the feasibility of long-term local monitoring systems. By linking biological indicators with local ecological knowledge, this study proposes a pathway from baseline assessment to adaptive co-management. The framework presented here provides a transferable model for strengthening sustainability, governance, and food security in tropical small-scale fisheries facing persistent data limitations. Full article

Cladocora caespitosa is an endemic hermatypic scleractinian in the Mediterranean Sea, currently threatened by both environmental and anthropogenic pressures, whereas Oculina patagonica is a cryptogenic hermatypic scleractinian that is expanding across the basin. This study provides the first assessment of co-occurring natural populations of these shallow-water taxa, examining their population structures, habitat preferences, and responses to environmental stressors based on SCUBA surveys conducted in the summers and autumns of 2022 and 2023. Both species were dominated by medium- to large-sized colonies, indicating relatively stable population structures, with C. caespitosa exhibiting significantly higher densities than O. patagonica. Both scleractinians showed a preference for sub-vertical and vertical rocky substrates, although O. patagonica appeared more tolerant of horizontal surfaces. Disease events were more frequent and severe in C. caespitosa, particularly affecting larger colonies during autumn 2022, whereas O. patagonica showed lower incidence and greater resilience overall. Temporal comparisons suggest that O. patagonica may act as a strong competitor to C. caespitosa; however, both species demonstrate a considerable capacity for recovery, likely due to adaptation to high-stress environments. These findings highlight key differences in ecological strategies and vulnerability to environmental stressors, emphasizing the need for targeted conservation approaches to preserve Mediterranean shallow-water coral communities under accelerating climate change. Full article

Rural hospitals are essential access points for healthcare delivery in the United States, yet they continue to experience disproportionate rates of closure and service disruption that threaten community health, economic stability, and equity. This rapid systematic review synthesizes recent peer-reviewed evidence examining rural hospital closures and service disruptions, with emphasis on financial, policy, workforce, and performance-related factors and their downstream impacts. Guided by PRISMA methodology, four databases were searched for U.S.-based studies published between January 2024 and June 2025. Following screening and consensus-based review, 59 articles met inclusion criteria. Across studies, financial vulnerability, characterized by revenue instability, low patient volumes, unfavorable payer mix, and reliance on non-operating revenue, emerged as a dominant precursor to closure and service reductions. Policy context, particularly Medicaid expansion status, telehealth and broadband infrastructure, and reimbursement adequacy, strongly shaped hospital sustainability. Closures and service disruptions were consistently associated with increased travel distances, reduced access to maternal, surgical, mental health, and chronic care services, higher prices at surviving hospitals, and increased strain on remaining providers. Workforce shortages further compounded these challenges. Collectively, findings demonstrate that rural hospital closures reflect interconnected structural weaknesses rather than isolated organizational failure. Coordinated policy action, targeted financial stabilization, workforce development, and technology-enabled care models are necessary to mitigate continued erosion of rural healthcare access. Full article

The rapid development of cyber–physical technologies has led to enhanced observability and controllability of shipboard power systems. However, the reliance of shipboard power systems on information networks undermines the traditional security provided by physical isolation; under malicious attacks, faults in the information domain can propagate rapidly, causing physical power outages and reducing the resilience of shipboard power systems. To address this issue, this paper investigates the cascading failure reconstruction and resilience enhancement in shipboard cyber–physical systems (SCPSs) under uncertain network attacks. First, a cascading failure propagation model is established to capture the interaction between attack paths and system vulnerabilities, revealing how cyberattacks spread through communication links and infiltrate the power topology. Then, a reinforcement learning-based load recovery strategy is developed, in which a masked proximal policy optimization (masked-PPO) algorithm is employed to optimize reconfiguration decisions under operational constraints. The proposed approach enables adaptive and efficient recovery actions in complex cross-domain environments. Case studies based on representative SCPS scenarios demonstrate that the proposed method improves cascading-failure reconfiguration capability by 13.21% and reduces the average decision time by 18.6%, validating its effectiveness, real-time performance, and scalability. Full article

In contemporary debates on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, there is growing recognition that artificial intelligence (AI) may contribute meaningfully to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), particularly by enhancing the efficiency of food aid distribution and resource allocation. However, such optimism must be critically situated within the broader institutional and ethical contexts in which AI operates. This study argues that the effectiveness of AI in conflict-affected settings is contingent not only on technical capacity but also on governance structures, ethical safeguards, and institutional trust, dimensions closely aligned with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Using the Gaza Strip as a case study, this article demonstrates that AI-driven food assistance mechanisms may inadvertently reinforce structural vulnerabilities. Specifically, algorithmic targeting of aid risks deepening dependency, exacerbating digital exclusion, and weakening already fragile governance systems. The absence of robust data accountability frameworks further complicates these dynamics, raising concerns regarding transparency, fairness, and long-term sustainability. The findings caution against privileging technical efficiency at the expense of socio-political stability. Rather, they highlight that the sustainability of AI interventions in humanitarian contexts fundamentally depends on the credibility and legitimacy of institutions. Accordingly, this study proposes a conceptual model for AI in hunger relief and digital humanitarianism that integrates technical innovation with institutional accountability and social trust. This study presents a narrative review informed by structural searching that examines the influence of AI on food security interventions in fragile contexts. This analysis applies a combined ethical governance and sustainability lens to assess current applications and risks. This research advances a broader analytical framework that moves beyond purely technical interpretations of AI, emphasizing its role as a socio-political tool, through identifying five key pillars for sustainable AI governance: data sovereignty, algorithmic accountability, inclusive system design, community-led governance, and market integrity. Full article

This study examines the evolution of the scientific literature on mining and heavy metals, with a particular focus on biosanitary risks associated with childhood exposure. The research integrates a systematic literature review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology, combined with a bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed publications, international epidemiological data, and an evaluation of the socio-environmental context in Ecuadorian mining regions. The PRISMA-based screening process was applied to identify, filter, and select relevant peer-reviewed studies, enabling the delimitation of a focused corpus of literature, with particular attention given to scientific contributions produced by Latin American researchers and institutions. The results reveal a significant concentration of knowledge production among a limited number of countries and institutions, the dominance of English as the main language of scientific communication, and the centrality of journals in environmental sciences and toxicology. While notable progress has been made in identifying contaminants and exposure pathways, governance structures, territorial disparities, and policy implementation processes remain insufficiently explored. In Ecuador, the rapid growth of mining concessions in ecologically sensitive zones presents potential threats to children’s neurocognitive development, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing surveillance, biomonitoring programs, and preventive public health measures. The study emphasizes the importance of strengthening regional research capacity and fostering more equitable international scientific collaborations to ensure that knowledge production is responsive to local contexts and effectively safeguards vulnerable populations. Full article

The current study provides a comprehensive overview of the socioeconomic and sociodemographic conditions of Vietnamese fishing crews, who form the backbone of the nation’s marine capture fisheries but remain among the most vulnerable labor groups. Based on interviews with 2037 captains and crew members across six coastal provinces, the study examines demographic characteristics, education, working conditions, legal arrangements, and income determinants. Results show that the fishing labor force is entirely male, predominantly middle-aged, and characterized by limited formal education and long occupational experience. Employment relationships are largely informal and verbal, leaving crews without labor protection, social or health insurance, or contractual stability. Statistical analysis revealed significant income disparities between captains and crew members, between inshore and offshore fleets, and among fisheries and provinces. Fishing experience and professional certification were positively correlated with income, highlighting the importance of skill development. The findings underscore the urgent need for socioeconomic policies that formalize labor contracts, expand insurance coverage, promote vocational training, and modernize fishing technologies. These measures, combined with income diversification and community welfare programs, are critical to improving the well-being, safety, and resilience of Vietnam’s fishing workforce and advancing sustainable marine economic development. This study provides valuable baseline information on an underrepresented segment of the commercial fishing industry, informing fisheries managers and policymakers in designing future development programs that account for the socioeconomic and demographic conditions of fishing crews. Full article

Processed parameters from sensors located on seismically isolated buildings (maximum acceleration, spectral acceleration and oscillation periods) are compared against free-field ground motion to evaluate the improvement in seismic response for these buildings. The study is carried out for three structures in Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. The data used in this research correspond to moderate magnitude earthquakes, 4.2 ≤ M_W ≤ 5.5 generated from the Vrancea-intermediate-depth seismic area, with focal depths greater than ~90 km. The methodology helps to evaluate amplification/reduction in the seismic motion, and confirmed that base-isolation devices reduce the seismic parameters’ amplitudes of the structure directly above the isolating layer. The effectiveness of the base-isolation technique is further assessed by comparing the amplitude of the seismic parameters recorded under and above the earthquake protection devices. The results show a clear decrease in the values right above the isolating system, supporting the efficiency of base-isolation systems. The outcomes provide necessary empirical data for refining seismic design and improving the resilience of critical structures. The work contributes to the mitigation of the seismic risk in the city area, thus targeting a more resilient urban community and sustainable city through implementation of modern base-isolation systems for the retrofitting of vulnerable buildings exposed to a high risk of seismic hazards. Full article

Green communities play a critical role in advancing sustainable development; however, evaluating their performance and identifying appropriate improvement strategies remain challenging due to uncertain, incomplete, and multidimensional information. This study formalizes three key processes essential to green community governance—sustainability evaluation, attribute reduction, and decision-rule generation—and proposes a rough set-based decision framework that integrates quantitative indicators, expert knowledge, and rule-based reasoning. Using empirical assessment data from Nantou County, the framework identifies the most influential determinants of community performance, including accessibility-related facilities, remote-area status, and socioeconomic conditions. The results reveal clear drivers of sustainable community performance. Remote villages lacking community hubs face structural barriers to participation. Communities without facilities supporting vulnerable groups tend to stall at the registration stage, while bronze-level villages require equity-focused engagement despite possessing stronger resource endowments. Notably, silver-level performance is consistently associated with moderate income levels and moderate income disparity, underscoring socioeconomic balance—rather than economic extremes—as a key precondition for stable sustainability advancement. Together, these findings provide interpretable, evidence-based guidance for policymakers and community managers to identify performance gaps and allocate resources more effectively. Full article

Marine mucilage events are intensifying in semi-enclosed seas under accelerating climate- and nutrient-driven pressures, yet their ecosystem-level consequences for aquaculture-linked coastal habitats remain insufficiently documented. This study provides an integrated spatiotemporal assessment of water quality, phytoplankton community structure, and biometric responses of Mytilus galloprovincialis during and after the 2025 mucilage outbreak in the Gulf of Erdek (Sea of Marmara, Türkiye). Mucilage accumulation was associated with sharp increases in turbidity, total suspended solids, and particulate organic matter, alongside declines in dissolved oxygen and pH. Phytoplankton assemblages exhibited marked seasonal restructuring: the mucilage period was characterized by the coexistence of mucilage-forming taxa, non-toxic bloomers, and multiple harmful algal bloom (HAB) groups, including DSP- and ASP-related species, whereas post-mucilage conditions were dominated by non-toxic diatoms with substantially reduced HAB representation. The dinoflagellate species representing the May period in terms of abundance were Noctiluca scintillans and Prorocentrum micans; the diatom species were Chaetoceros radiatus, Cylindrotheca closterium, Pseudo-nitzschia pseudodelicatissima, and Thalassiosira rotula; and the coccolithophore was Phaeocystis pouchetii. Mussel biometric analyses revealed biometric indices and condition values markedly below regional historical baselines during the mucilage event, alongside reduced meat yield, followed by pronounced compensatory growth during the post-mucilage period. Our findings demonstrate that mucilage acts as both a physical and biological stressor, driving short-term ecological shifts in phytoplankton diversity and imposing substantial but reversible physiological impacts on mussel stocks. These results underscore the need for continuous biodiversity monitoring frameworks that integrate mucilage dynamics, HAB occurrence, and aquaculture resilience in regions vulnerable to climate-enhanced organic aggregate formation. Full article

The accelerated development of Smart Cities globally, driven by rapid urbanization and urgent climate challenges, underscores the critical role of advanced energy infrastructures integrated with emerging digital technologies. This article explores the evolution of smart cities from an energy-centric viewpoint, emphasizing the interdependence among energy systems, digitalization and cutting-edge communication technologies. Adopting a system-of-systems perspective, we examine how different urban subsystems, including energy grids, transportation networks and data management systems, interact to improve overall urban functionality and long-term viability. Through a structured analysis of recent literature, we highlight the transformative potential of renewable energy integration, intelligent energy management systems and the crucial transition from 5G to 6G communication infrastructures, which collectively promise significant enhancements in urban sustainability, efficiency and resilience. Additionally, we address key challenges such as cybersecurity vulnerabilities, fragmented standardization frameworks and the need for comprehensive data governance. Viewing smart cities as a complex system of systems, this article argues for a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, emphasizing enhanced interoperability, robust cybersecurity protocols and inclusive participatory governance frameworks. Full article

Oceanfront relief varies along coastlines and serves as the first barrier to wave and surge damage. However, forecasted increases in storm frequency and sea levels are anticipated to enhance coastal erosion, potentially weakening this protection. The land–sea transition is variable along the New England coast, USA, and this variability has produced a range of coastal morphologies that can vary over short distances. It is important to track the beach transition zone to better understand transformations of the system and related hazard risks. A combination of field and computer-based methods was used to evaluate the beach transition zone of southwestern Rhode Island to determine alongshore variability and dynamics. More specifically, a decadal-scale study was conducted to examine changes in morphology from 2011 to 2022, and a short-term study at South Kingstown Town Beach examined changes from November 2023 to January 2024 using time-series drone-derived elevations. Classification of over 500 cross-shore transects illustrated the dominance of sedimentary shorelines, with smaller areas of rocky outcrops and hardening. Analysis of four different years (2011, 2014, 2018, and 2022) determined that beaches with dune morphology were the most common type of transition zone (41–47% of the transects) and transects with a high bank upland were the next most frequent class (34–41%). Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, a 6% decrease in the number of dune-classified transects was measured; however, one-third of those recovered dune morphology by 2022. The greatest beach transformations over the short-term study occurred in response to strong storms in the 2023–2024 winter season, during which lateral beach movement (erosion) exceeded 15 m in portions of South Kingstown Town Beach. Dune erosion was accompanied by overwash flooding and deposition, and the area remained low-lying and thus vulnerable to future impacts. The beach transition zone classification and insights from this research will be informative for future planning by coastal communities by determining at-risk shorelines based on underlying geology and the stability of morphological features. Full article

Children are some of the most vulnerable members of society who must be protected at all costs. Zimbabwe has a long history of disjointed formal and indigenous social protection systems, which have resulted in the exclusion of many children, leading to high levels of child abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. In policy and practice, there is a strong bias towards the ineffective statist formal system, yet the indigenous social protection system is the mainstay for the protection of most children. The study aimed to explore how asset-based community development can be used as a strategy to integrate the fragmented formal and indigenous social protection systems for sustainable child protection. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods research design was employed, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from 76 participants. The study findings indicate that asset-based community development by positioning the indigenous social protection system at the centre of the social protection framework provides a blueprint for a community-led and integrated social protection system, which can translate into effective child protection. This system, which utilises a wider network of community and external resources, can counteract the limits of fragmented social protection and sustainably promote child protection among impoverished households in Zimbabwe and similar contexts. The recommendation is that asset-based community development should be promoted as a strategy towards integrated social protection and sustainable child protection. Full article

The increasing digitalization of energy transmission and distribution infrastructures has made industrial control systems (ICS), and especially IEC 61850-based communication structures, critical. IEC 61850 performs protection and control functions in substations in real time via GOOSE and MMS protocols. The fast and low-latency operation of these protocols is essential; however, their open structure leaves systems vulnerable to cyberattacks. Traditional signature-based solutions are insufficient for detecting such anomalies, and models capable of learning both time and state relationships are needed. This study develops a time-aware probabilistic NFA model to detect anomalous behavior in IEC 61850 traffic. The model analyzes GOOSE and MMS message sequences with both state transitions and time differences (Δt). Thus, not only the message sequence but also the timing variations between events are learned. The probability of each transition is dynamically updated, and deviations from normal behavior are marked as “anomalies”. The dataset used in this study was created based on normal and attack scenarios conducted in the Sakarya University Critical Infrastructure National Testbed Center Energy Laboratory (Center Energy). The experimental results obtained in the study show that the model detects time-based, structural, and behavioral anomalies with high accuracy. With a dual-model configuration, results of 91.7% accuracy, 88.9% precision, 100% recall, and a 94.1% F1-score were achieved; particularly in time-based attack scenarios, the model performance reached an accuracy level of up to 93%. Full article

This study examines the relationship between institutional embeddedness, community factors, and the outcomes of labor market integration programs in contexts characterized by high social vulnerability and unemployment. The aim is to analyze how the local embeddedness of organizations and the mobilization of community resources influence the effectiveness of interventions designed to enhance employability. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques. Data were collected from 100 participants in a labor market integration program in a southern Spanish city, using standardized scales that measured the sense of community, perceptions of community assets, employability, and perceived impact of the program. Additionally, the program’s implementation team was interviewed, a documentary analysis was conducted, and direct observations of training and job-placement activities were carried out. The findings highlight that the institutional and community embeddedness of organizations facilitates access, sustained participation, and the contextual adaptation of interventions. Connection with local dynamics is crucial for enhancing the impact of labor market integration programs, allowing for more personalized interventions that are sensitive to sociocultural barriers and focused on improving employability and the overall well-being of individuals at risk of exclusion. Full article