Search Results (85)

Italy and Slovenia have recently adopted their first Maritime Spatial Plans (MSP). These plans belong to a new generation of spatial planning acts that introduce numerous innovations. This article presents the differences and similarities between the Italian and Slovenian MSP. The aim is to determine how a new planning approach can support joint spatial development and management in a transboundary perspective with particular reference to the cross-border area of the Gulf of Venice. Descriptive and comparative scientific methods were applied in the study. We analysed the structure of both plans and the content of the individual planning instruments and tools for three key sectors: Fisheries, Maritime Transport and Nature Conservation. We found that both plans offer new opportunities for transboundary spatial coordination and planning, while the process of preparing the plans themselves is particularly important. Both plans provide instruments to address transboundary environmental impacts, spatial development and sectoral management regimes. The implementation tools include provisions on the spatial, temporal and technical conditions for carrying out a particular activity at sea. The Italian plan adopts a strategic approach that offers possibilities for intersectoral and cross-border planning coordination. The Slovenian plan is more detailed and binding. Regardless of individual differences, the adoption of both plans represents a major step towards achieving the common goals of sustainable spatial development in the shared marine area of the Gulf of Venice. Full article

Coastal waters are sensitive habitats that support high biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem goods. Changes in sedimentation regimes due to land-use and engineering activities in the coastal zone affect biodiversity and these habitats’ ecological value. This study aims to characterize the meiobenthic communities inhabiting the Zwin tidal lagoon, located on the border between Belgium and the Netherlands, and to evaluate to what extent the sedimentological characteristics and the quantity and composition of organic matter influence the composition and distribution of meiofauna. The meiobenthic community showed traits of a well-established population dominated by nematodes, followed by copepods + nauplii. Notably, meiofauna rapidly colonized the area after its opening to the sea in February 2019 (two years before sampling), showing that even very weak tidal currents were sufficient to suspend and transport these animals to the new environment. Our results suggest that the Zwin lagoon is a productive system with high food quality (i.e., PRT/CHO ≥ 1), predominantly of marine origin. Major structural differences in communities were related to the sedimentary environments at the investigated stations and estimations of the quantity of food. The present findings confirm that sedimentary dynamics and depositional processes, through their influence on sediment properties (e.g., grain size) and organic matter’s quantity and composition, shape meiofaunal communities and their vertical and horizontal distributions. Full article

This study synthesizes the rapidly expanding evidence on how digital technologies reshape international trade, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Guided by two research questions—(RQ1) How do digital tools influence the volume and composition of cross-border trade? and (RQ2) How do these effects vary by countries’ development level and firm size?—we conducted a PRISMA-compliant systematic literature review covering 2010–2024. Searches across eight major databases yielded 1857 records; after duplicate removal, title/abstract screening, full-text assessment, and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT 2018) quality checks, 86 peer-reviewed English-language studies were retained. Findings reveal three dominant technology clusters: (1) e-commerce platforms and cloud services, (2) IoT-enabled supply chain solutions, and (3) emerging AI analytics. E-commerce and cloud adoption consistently raise export intensity—doubling it for digitally mature SMEs—while AI applications are the fastest-growing research strand, particularly in East Asia and Northern Europe. However, benefits are uneven: firms in low-infrastructure settings face higher fixed digital costs, and cybersecurity and regulatory fragmentation remain pervasive obstacles. By integrating trade economics with development and SME internationalization studies, this review offers the first holistic framework that links national digital infrastructure and policy support to firm-level export performance. It shows that the trade-enhancing effects of digitalization are contingent on robust broadband penetration, affordable cloud access, and harmonized data-governance regimes. Policymakers should, therefore, prioritize inclusive digital-readiness programs, while business leaders should invest in complementary capabilities—data analytics, cyber-risk management, and cross-border e-logistics—to fully capture digital trade gains. This balanced perspective advances theory and practice on building resilient, equitable digital trade ecosystems. Full article

During the 10th to 12th centuries, the Song, Liao, and Goryeo Dynasties and Japanese regimes in East Asia engaged in frequent activities of requesting and granting the Chinese Tripitaka (the Chinese Buddhist Canon), forming a distinctive diplomatic phenomenon termed “Tripitaka Diplomacy”. This paper examines the political and cultural dynamics underlying these cross-border interactions by analyzing the historical records of such activities among the polities. It also explores the multifaceted role of the Tripitaka in East Asian international relations, which transcended its religious significance to shape diplomatic strategies and power dynamics. Through this lens, this paper reveals the complexity of the East Asian international order during this period, emphasizing how the circulation of the Tripitaka served as both a cultural bridge and a tool for political negotiation. Full article

Against the backdrop of global climate change, extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, typhoons, tsunamis, and rising sea levels, have become frequent, posing unprecedented challenges to human society. As an important strategy for coastal cities to respond to climate change, climate-induced evacuation is influenced by complex and diverse factors. This study delves into the driving mechanisms of population migration willingness, revealing the dynamic balance of push, pull, and resistance factors and their interaction with individual value orientations affecting migration decisions. By constructing a Logistic Regression Model, this research quantitatively analyzes the significant impacts of personal circumstances, family characteristics, living conditions, risk perception, compensation relocation, and supportive policies on climate-induced migration willingness, using Shanghai as a case study. The findings indicate that age, education level, household size, housing type, risk perception, and compensation policies are key factors. Building upon the multidimensional capital interaction mechanisms and dynamic threshold response patterns identified in the research, this study proposes a three-phase progressive policy framework: initially, establishing an integrated human–material–social capital framework to implement tiered relocation incentive programs, which address decision window constraints through cognitive empowerment and asset replacement strategies; subsequently, creating a dynamic compensation adjustment mechanism by developing policy toolkits aligned with inverted U-shaped utility curves while enhancing synergistic effects between cultural cognition transformation and vocational training; and ultimately, innovating an institutional–cultural co-governance paradigm that rebalances public service dependency and place attachment through spatial equity redistribution. Specific recommendations encompass designing modular risk education curricula, establishing social network transplantation mechanisms, piloting climate citizenship regimes, and constructing cross-border governance knowledge platforms. These multidimensional interventions encompassing capital restructuring, threshold responsiveness, and cultural adaptation offer valuable policy insights for resolving the “development resilience–migration inertia” paradox in coastal cities. Full article

The climate of the south of Brazil is characterized by northern winds in a hegemonic way for the transfer of moisture. Thus, the goal here is to verify the impact of the meridional water vapor transport on the rainfall of the Mirim–São Gonçalo Watershed (MSGW), located in the extreme south of Brazil and essential for regional development. The study is based on the precipitation data from MSGW weather stations and ERA5 reanalysis data for the period 1981–2020, which allowed the analysis of the interactions between different climatological variables. The water vapor transport was analyzed using the vertically integrated water vapor flux (VIVF). Coefficients were obtained according to the VIVF values in two locations placed between the Amazon basin and southern Brazil, namely in Bolivia and Paraguay. The results show that the MSGW is directly impacted by moisture transport from the north in all seasons, and this transport is most significant at the 850 hPa level. In addition, the moisture and rainfall in the MSGW are also influenced by changes in the magnitude and direction of this flow, with an increase in transport in periods of El Niño, especially during spring. Therefore, the study brings insights into how changes in tropical South American climate, through a cascading effect, may affect the Mirim–São Gonçalo Watershed development in the middle latitudes from changes in the meridional water vapor transport, highlighting the importance of studying the tropical and extratropical interactions in South America for the MSGW management and sustainable development. Full article

Self-excited vibrations represent one of the most unfavorable phenomena in the cutting process because they can lead to the accelerated wear or breakage of the tool, a sudden deterioration in the quality of the machined surface, and an increase in noise and energy consumption. To avoid these negative effects, stability diagrams are used when defining the cutting regimes, which, depending on the main spindle speed and the cutting depth, show the border between the stable and unstable machine tool operation states from the aspect of self-excited vibrations. These diagrams, known as “stability lobe diagrams”, can be defined using mathematical models (analytical or numerical) or through experimental methods. However, when machining at relatively low main spindle revolutions, process damping occurs, which increases the system stability, i.e., enables a greater cutting depth limit. For the stability diagram to be effectively used for predicting the cutting depth limits at low machining speeds, it is necessary to take the effect of process damping into account. This paper introduces an experimental method for the determination of process damping and its integration into the mathematical framework of the Fourier series method, commonly utilized for the construction of stability lobe diagrams. Full article

Understanding the aerodynamic performance of scaled-down models is vital for providing crucial insights into wind energy optimization. In this study, the aerodynamic performance of a scaled-down model (12%) was investigated. This validates the findings of the unsteady aerodynamic experiment (UAE) test sequence H. UAE tests provide information on the configuration and conditions of wind tunnel testing to measure the pressure coefficient distribution on the blade surface and the aerodynamic performance of the wind turbine. The computational simulations used shear stress transport and kinetic energy (SST K-Omega) and transitional shear stress transport (SST) turbulence models, with wind speeds ranging from 5 m/s to 25 m/s for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Phase VI and 4 m/s to 14 m/s for the 12% scaled-down model. The aerodynamic performance of both cases was assessed at representative wind speeds of 7 m/s for low, 10 m/s for medium, and 20 m/s for high flow speeds for NREL Phase VI and 7 m/s for low, 9 m/s medium, and 12 m/s for the scaled-down model. The results of the SST K-Omega and transitional SST models were aligned with experimental test measurement data at low wind speeds. However, the SST K-Omega torque values exhibited a slight deviation. The transitional SST and SST K-Omega models yielded aerodynamic properties that were comparable to those of the 12% scaled-down model. The torque values obtained from the simulation for the full-scale NREL Phase VI and the scaled-down model were 1686.5 Nm and 0.8349 Nm, respectively. Both turbulence models reliably predicted torque and pressure coefficient values that were consistent with the experimental data, considering specific flow regimes. The pressure coefficient was maximum at the leading edge of the wind turbine blade on the windward side and minimum on the leeward side. For the 12% scaled-down model, the flow simulation results bordering the low-pressure region of the blade varied slightly. Full article

In this study, we visualize and analyze the literature on the Brahmaputra river using a spectral clustering algorithm, tracking research trends over time. We found that the focus of research on the Brahmaputra has changed over time in the last decade, with a shift from geology to hydrology and geochemistry and a rapid growth in climate change research in recent years. In the future, potential hot topics may be “water resource management” and other topics related to transboundary water resource management and cooperation. At the same time, this study also analyzes in detail the keywords and clusters “geohydrology” and “ecological risk and sustainable development”, among other topics. We believe that future research should carefully consider the potential effects of transdisciplinary research trends. For instance, it is urgent that transborder governance and management regimes be renovated through joint efforts and cross-border effective actions carried out by multifaceted and multi-scalar agencies along this river. Full article

This study presents an analysis of the relationship between the servitization process and energy sustainability in the years 2015–2020. The research refers to 164 selected countries, also divided into two regimes: developed and developing. The transformation of the manufacturing process, and as a result, the economy’s structure, towards servitization, is observed in most countries worldwide. The positive influence of the servitization of production by individual manufacturers on sustainability is widely known. In this research, this relationship is considered on a macroeconomic scale, which is one of the novelties of the study. Particularly, sustainability in the energy sector, indicated as an achievement of the 7th goal of Sustainable Development, is discussed. Energy sustainability is evaluated using a synthetic measure by Perkal. This part of the research shows the problem of the low level of energy sustainability in developing countries (particularly in Africa) compared with developed ones. Moreover, spatio-temporal sensitivity models are estimated and verified. The sensitivity parameter in these models shows the impact of the progress in the servitization process on energy sustainability. The models have been enriched with the effects of spatial dependence between countries, taking into account two types of proximity matrices based on (1) the common border criterion and (2) the similarity of the development levels measured by the Human Development Index. Additionally, the differences in sensitivity between developed and developing countries are considered. The results of the study show that in both cases, the economic servitization positively influences energy sustainability, but the strength of the relationship is stronger in the group of developed countries. This can be, for example, the result of the individual characteristics of the given countries, where African countries mainly benefit from agricultural development. Only after reaching a certain level of economic growth will they be able to obtain sustainability faster through economic servitization. Full article

The thermal water deposit in Lądek-Zdrój (SW Poland) occurs in fractured reservoir rocks, and its hydrogeological regime is controlled by the features of the local geology and lithology of the hosting crystalline complexes, mainly impermeable high-grade metamorphosed mica schists and gneisses. The fractured thermal water aquifer is confined by a thrust fault-type aquitard that creates artesian pressure and, therefore, the water intakes and natural springs in Lądek Zdrój provide spontaneous outflow. Classical geothermometers yield an estimation of reservoir temperatures that ranges from 50 to 70 °C, with a maximum of 88 °C. The heat flux (HF) value of the Lądek-Zdrój region is 64 mW/m². The new borehole, LZT-1, is in the border zone of a local thermal anomaly with a geothermal degree of 25–27 m/°C. The estimated temperature at the bottom of the LZT-1 borehole, under thermal equilibrium conditions, ranges between 70 °C and 80 °C. A stream of heated waters from the deep system flows from the recharge areas, shaping the local geothermal anomaly and thus influencing the thermal conditions in the Lądek-Zdrój area. The activation of this water circulation system occurred in the Pleistocene. Full article

This article examines the strategies of resistance enacted by an informal network of solidarity comprised of Afghan youths on the move in Europe and their Swedish allies. In 2015, thousands of Afghan children fleeing from the Taliban regime arrived in Europe as unaccompanied minors. Many have been hosted in Sweden and lived there for several years, until coming of age. Reaching 18 years prompted a series of consecutive losses, as the Swedish state limited their opportunities to remain in the country or even illegalized them. Subjected to threats of detention, deportation, and ill treatment, many Afghan youths re-escaped into other European countries, crafting networks of informal solidarity to help them resist border violence. This article is based on an ethnographic study that delves into the lived experiences of four Afghan youths who lived in Lisbon between February 2019 and February 2020, particularly focusing on the journey of Ahmed, a young man of Hazara ethnicity. The empirical data shed light on the solidarity enactments that enhanced the youths’ resistance in hostile environments, inviting reflection on the impacts of the European border regime and the importance of agency, care, and political contestation. Full article

An analysis of the current potential range of the Pleistocene relict plant species Schoenus ferrugineus and modeling of changes in its future range under moderate (RCP4.5) and strong (RCP8.5) climate change in the middle and second half of the 21st century were carried out. The MaxEnt program was used for modeling. Climate variables from CHELSA Bioclim, the global digital soil mapping system SoilGrids, and a digital elevation model were used as predictors. Modeling has shown that climate change will lead to a significant reduction in the suitability of S. ferrugineus habitat conditions by the mid-21st century. The predicted changes in the distribution of habitats of S. ferrugineus, a diagnostic species of calcareous mires and an indicator of their ecological state, indicate a possible strong transformation of wetland complexes in the Southern Urals region even under moderate climate change. A reduction in the distribution of S. ferrugineus at the eastern limit of its range will also be facilitated by more frequent extreme droughts. To maintain the distribution of S. ferrugineus on the eastern border of its range, a number of measures are proposed to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change, contributing to the preservation of the hydrological regime of calcareous mires. Full article

Climate change is increasing air temperatures and altering the precipitation and hydrological regime on a global scale. Challenges arise when assessing the impacts of climate change on the local scale for water resource management purposes, especially for low-mountain headwater catchments that not only serve as important water towers for local communities but also have distinct hydrological characteristics. Until now, no low-flow or hydrological drought studies had been carried out on the Lauter River. This study is unique in that it compares the Lauter River, a transboundary Rhine tributary, with a nearby station on the Rhine River just below its confluence at the French–German border. The Lauter catchment is a mostly natural, forested catchment; however, its water course has been influenced by past and present cultural activities. Climate change disturbances cascade through the hydrologic regime down to the local scale. As we are expecting more low-flow events, the decrease in water availability could cause conflicts between different water user groups in the Lauter catchment. However, the choice among different methods for identifying low-flow periods may cause confusion for local water resource managers. Using flow-rate time series of the Lauter River between 1956 and 2022, we compare for the first time three low-flow identification methods: the variable-threshold method (VT), the fixed-threshold method (FT), and the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI). Similar analyses are applied and compared to the adjacent Maxau station on the Rhine River for the same time period. This study aims at (1) interpreting the differences amongst the various low-flow identification methods and (2) revealing the differences in low-flow characteristics of the Lauter catchment compared to that of the Rhine River. It appears that FT reacts faster to direct climate or anthropogenic impacts, whereas VT is more sensitive to indirect factors such as decreasing subsurface flow, which is typical for small headwater catchments such as the Lauter where flow dynamics react faster to flow disturbances. Abnormally low flow during the early spring in tributaries such as the Lauter can help predict low-flow conditions in the Rhine River during the following half-year and especially the summer. The results could facilitate early warning of hydrological droughts and drought management for water users in the Lauter catchment and further downstream along some of the Rhine. Full article

Graphene–silicon Schottky diodes are intriguing devices that straddle the border between classical models and two-dimensional ones. Many papers have been published in recent years studying their operation based on the classical model developed for metal–silicon Schottky diodes. However, the results obtained for diode parameters vary widely in some cases showing very large deviations with respect to the expected range. This indicates that our understanding of their operation remains incomplete. When modeling these devices, certain aspects strictly connected with the quantum mechanical features of both graphene and the interface with silicon play a crucial role and must be considered. In particular, the dependence of the graphene Fermi level on carrier density, the relation of the latter with the density of surface states in silicon and the coupling between in-plane and out-of-plane dynamics in graphene are key aspects for the interpretation of their behavior. Within the thermionic regime, we estimate the zero-bias Schottky barrier height and the density of silicon surface states in graphene/type-p silicon diodes by adapting a kown model and extracting ideality index values close to unity. The ohmic regime, beyond the flat band potential, is modeled with an empirical law, and the current density appears to be roughly proportional to the electric field at the silicon interface; moreover, the graphene-to-silicon electron tunneling efficiency drops significantly in the transition from the thermionic to ohmic regime. We attribute these facts to (donor) silicon surface states, which tend to be empty in the ohmic regime. Full article