Search Results (149)

It is difficult to collect fine graphite particles because of the large size and small specific area of traditional flotation bubbles. The contrast experiment between nanobubble flotation and traditional flotation of micro-fine flake graphite in the Hegang area of Heilongjiang Province was carried out in this paper. Under the conditions of feed fineness 78% (−74 μm), pH 10.5, sodium hexametaphosphate 800 g/t, No. 2 oil 350 g/t, pulp concentration 10%, diesel 400 g/t, and pulp cycle time 3 min, the enhanced behavior of nanobubbles on micro-flake graphite flotation was discussed by studying the differences in the flotation rate, selectivity, pulp size, and concentrate size between traditional flotation and nanobubble flotation. The results showed that the nanobubble flotation completed the flotation 20 s earlier than the traditional flotation, and the final concentrate recovery of nanobubble flotation was 1.5 percentage points higher than the traditional flotation. In addition, the average particle size of the slurry from nanobubble flotation is 13 μm larger than that from traditional flotation. In addition, the minimum size of nanobubble flotation is only 2 μm, 11 μm smaller than the minimum size of traditional flotation. Nanobubbles effectively reduce the electrostatic repulsion between fine particles and enhance the hydrophobic attraction, making the hydrophobic aggregates of fine particle graphite more stable. At the same time, the presence of nanobubbles makes the surface hydrophobicity of graphite stronger, effectively promoting the recovery of fine particle graphite. Full article

Women entrepreneurs in rural South Africa face structural and socio-cultural barriers in accessing funding. This study investigated how existing financial structures and support programs influence the sustainability and growth of female-owned businesses in rural areas. Using bibliometric analysis and sentiment mapping with ATLAS.ti, 36 documents were analyzed from a screened pool of 613, focusing on keywords, titles, and abstracts. Results reveal that over 65% of documents reflect themes of discrimination and systemic financial exclusion. Findings show that while government initiatives and non-governmental organizations’ (NGOs) efforts (e.g., Department of Small Business Development (DSBD Women’s Development Business, (WDB) are making strides, challenges, such as collateral requirements, limited financial literacy, and infrastructure gaps, persist. The originality of this research lies in its hybrid methodological approach and the emphasis on rural-centric funding misalignments. The study contributes to policy dialogues by recommending tailored financial products co-designed with rural women, improved outreach programs, and integration of gender-sensitive financing mechanisms. It also lays a foundation for further empirical studies on institutional responses to female entrepreneurship in marginal communities. This study applied a novel hybrid method, combining bibliometric analysis with sentiment mapping using ATLAS.ti to uncover both systemic patterns and discursive trends. Its policy relevance lies in offering evidence-based recommendations that align with G20 strategies on gender equity and financial inclusion. Full article

Tight sandstone reservoirs generally exhibit poor physical properties and characterization of microscopic pore structure is crucial for evaluating reservoir quality and fluid flow behavior. Fractal dimension provides an effective means to quantify the complexity and heterogeneity of pore structures in such reservoirs. This study investigates tight sandstone reservoirs of the Kongdian Formation in the Nanpi Slope, Cangdong Sag, using cast thin sections, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-pressure mercury injection (HPMI), and constant-rate mercury injection (CRMI) experiments. We establish a full-range fractal model to characterize pore-throat distributions and elucidate the correlation between fractal dimensions and reservoir properties, alongside factors influencing pore-structure heterogeneity. Key findings include that (1) pore types are predominantly residual intergranular pores, intergranular dissolution pores, and clay mineral intercrystalline pores, with throats primarily consisting of sheet-like and curved sheet-like types, exhibiting strong pore-structure heterogeneity; (2) full-range fractal dimensions D₁, D₂ and D₄ effectively characterize the heterogeneity of pore structure, where higher D₁ and D₂ values correlate with increased macro–mega pore and micro-fine throat abundance, respectively, indicating enhanced pore connectivity and superior flow capacity, while elevated D₄ reflects greater nano throat complexity, degrading reservoir properties and impeding hydrocarbon flow; (3) compared to conventional methods splicing HPMI and CRMI data at 0.12 μm, the fractal-derived integration point more accurately resolves full-range pore-throat distributions, revealing significant disparities in pore-throat size populations; (4) the fractal dimensions D₁, D₂, and D₄ are collectively governed by clay mineral content, average throat radius, displacement pressure, and tortuosity. Full article

This paper examines a prospect scenario of adopting Child Development Accounts (CDAs) as a social welfare innovation in Jordan. CDAs are considered as an asset-building policy aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and socio-economic well-being. This paper discovers the feasibility of CDAs that have proven successful in several countries, as their potential in Middle Eastern countries, particularly in Jordan, remains unexplored. The application of CDAs in the social welfare system aims to support sustainable asset accumulation and improve the living standards of diverse segments in Jordan by integrating CDAs within the efforts made by Jordan to achieve financial inclusion, alleviate poverty, and supplement household income through asset development. There are opportunities to implement the program in Jordan, including expanding the scope of microfinance, public–private partnerships, and targeted programs for women, youth, and refugees. However, several challenges may hinder its application, including limited financial literacy, high unemployment rates, income inequality, regulatory obstacles, and difficulties in implementing social reforms. The paper contributes to the debate on social welfare policies adopted in developing countries by providing solutions based on global practices in CDA execution and has implications and recommendations for decision makers to achieve economic development. Future research in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries should target pilot projects and comparative studies to refine CDA strategies. Full article

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are vital to economic growth, innovation, and job creation across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Women entrepreneurs are key contributors to this sector, yet they face persistent barriers to accessing finance, which constrain their business growth and broader economic participation. This study investigates the role of financial institutions in closing the financing gap for women-owned SMEs and assesses the effectiveness of various financing mechanisms, including traditional banking, micro-finance, fintech innovations, and government-backed credit schemes. Adopting a quantitative approach, this study utilises structured surveys with women SME owners across multiple SSA countries. Supplementary secondary data from sources such as the World Bank and national financial statistics provide additional context. Econometric modelling and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) are employed to identify key factors influencing loan accessibility, such as collateral requirements, interest rates, financial literacy, and the regulatory environment. Findings reveal that high collateral demands and interest rates remain major obstacles, particularly for smaller or informal women-led enterprises. Financial literacy emerges as a critical enabler of access to credit. While fintech solutions and digital lending platforms show promise in improving access, issues around infrastructure, regulation, and trust persist. Government-backed schemes also contribute positively but are hindered by implementation inefficiencies. This study offers practical recommendations, including the need for harmonised regional credit reporting systems, gender-responsive policy frameworks, and targeted financial education. Strengthening digital infrastructure and regulatory support across SSA is essential to build inclusive, sustainable financial ecosystems that empower women entrepreneurs and drive regional development. Full article

Tunneling in structurally complex, tectonically active regions such as southwest China poses significant environmental risks to groundwater, especially in heterogeneous karst fault systems where conventional prediction methods often fail. This study innovatively coupled MODFLOW’s STREAM package (for simulating karst conduit networks) and DRAIN package (for tunnel inflow prediction) within a 3D groundwater model to assess hydrogeological impacts in complex mountainous terrain. The simulations show that an uncased tunnel lining causes significant groundwater changes under natural conditions, with predicted inflows reaching 34,736 m³/d. Conventional cement grouting (permeability: 1 × 10⁻⁵ cm/s; thickness: 10 m) mitigates the effects considerably and reduces the inflows in the tunnel sections by 27–97%. Microfine cement grouting (5 × 10⁻⁶ cm/s; 10 m thickness) further improves performance by achieving a 49–98% reduction in inflows and limiting the reduction in spring discharge to ≤13.28%. These results establish a valid theoretical framework for predicting groundwater impacts in heterogeneous terrain and demonstrate that targeted seepage control—particularly grouting with microfine cement—effectively protects groundwater-dependent ecosystems during infrastructure development. Full article

This study evaluates the socio-economic impact of rural electrification through photovoltaic (PV) systems in Morocco. As part of the country’s broader energy transition strategy, decentralized renewable energy solutions like PV kits have been deployed to improve energy access in isolated rural areas. Using quasi-experimental econometric techniques, specifically propensity score matching (PSM) and estimation of the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT), the study measures changes in household income, expenditures, and economic activities resulting from PV electrification. The results indicate significant positive effects on household income, electricity spending, and productivity in agriculture and livestock. These findings highlight the critical role of decentralized renewable energy in advancing rural development and poverty reduction. Policy recommendations include expanding PV access with complementary support measures such as microfinance and technical training. Full article

We propose a conceptual framework to analyze how crises dynamically affect the operations, performance, and strategic choices of digital platforms and how these effects impact their sustainability. Drawing on the theory of two-sided platforms, we propose a framework that considers two key dimensions: (1) the nature of shocks affecting each side of the platform and (2) the time horizon of their impact. We apply this framework to evaluate how sharing-economy platforms responded to the COVID-19 crisis, focusing on Airbnb, Uber Eats, and Prosper as illustrative cases. Full article

To achieve efficient preparation of microfine tool electrodes with a large aspect ratio, a bipolar pulse vertical liquid membrane electrochemical etching technique was proposed. The difference in current density distribution on the surface of tungsten rods under single-ended and double-ended vertical liquid membrane methods was analyzed using COMSOL software. The effects of negative voltage and pulse width on the distribution of electrolytic products and electrode preparation were investigated. It was found that when a large number of hydrogen bubbles were generated on the surface of the electrode, the electrode lost the protection of the diffusion layer, and the length was drastically shortened. When the pulse width was large, the electrode surface was covered with a coating layer of insoluble electrolysis product, and the shortening of electrode length was suppressed. Subsequently, the effects of forward voltage and bias on electrode preparation were investigated for large pulse widths. The optimal parameters are as follows: electrolyte concentration of 0.5 M, forward voltage of 4 V, negative voltage of −2 V, pulse period of 50 microseconds, and pulse width of 40 microseconds. Finally, the tool electrode with an average diameter of about 23.8 μm and an aspect ratio of 91.2 was prepared. Full article

Peanut production in Benin has experienced impressive growth, from 69,222 tons in 1989 to 156,901 tons in 2018, despite the liberalization of the sector, which has deprived it of significant public support. This ethnographic study conducted in Ouessè aims to understand this evolution using the path dependency theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with several actors, including producers, collectors, traders and processors. The results show that these actors and private microfinance have reappropriated the historical past of peanuts in the commune of Ouessè, as well as the previous orientations of agricultural policy, to reorganize the financing, collection and marketing of peanuts in order to meet the growing demand from processing units. Full article

This study examines the role of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in advancing sustainable development by integrating environmental and social objectives into their operations. Using panel data from 30 MFIs across nine countries (2018–2023), the analysis applies Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Instrumental Variables (2SLS), and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to assess policy impacts over time. “Access to environmental finance” is used as a validated instrument to address endogeneity. Results show that green lending and environmental risk management significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve gender empowerment. Larger institutions with stronger governance achieve better outcomes, and dynamic models (GMM) confirm the persistence of these effects over time. The findings highlight the importance of regulatory support, green finance infrastructure, and institutional capacity-building for scaling sustainable microfinance. Full article

Developmental approaches over time have been largely economistic and overlooked local sustainability preconditions. They were greatly influenced by a host of doctrines, theories, and strategies argued through macro-level, macro-scale policies. This research retrospectively views these approaches as they have evolved post-WWII and their effect on sustainability at a community level. It eventually focuses on a specific community-level developmental strategy, i.e., “microfinance”, which has led to the establishment of millions of microenterprises. In recent decades, community-based enterprise (CBE) development has been a widely practiced mode of developmental intervention to develop underdeveloped communities in developing countries. The primary goal of CBEs is to generate profit for people’s livelihood. This research indicates that CBEs offer potential. They can be ecologically sustainable and socially responsible too. A shift in the present model to encourage CBEs’ pursuit of ecological principles is tenable. Foucault’s notion of “dispositif” allows such a shift with incorporation of environmental alongside economic and social goals as a new strategic disposition (model). Therefore, this study presents a social–ecological model of CBE and asserts that it embeds the necessary components to bring about sustainability at a community level. Full article

This paper examines the financial health risks that private sector water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) businesses in rural Vietnam face. It investigates the challenges faced by water operators and sanitation suppliers involved in donor-funded development projects aimed at supporting poor and vulnerable households. Through surveys and focus group discussions with 15 suppliers who worked in public–private partnerships, this research examines the financial risk factors affecting water and sanitation suppliers and their impact on financial viability through two case studies. For water operators, the risks primarily involve infrastructure management, operational costs, and revenue instability. In the sanitation sector, risks center around fluctuating material prices, limited business expansion capital, and household affordability. This study highlights the dual role of government and donor subsidies, which enhance service accessibility but potentially distort market dynamics. It also underscores the need for targeted financial and policy interventions, including better access to microfinance, regulatory improvements, and human resource development. The findings aim to inform strategies for government, donors, and private sector actors in similar WASH development contexts to enhance financial sustainability, ensuring inclusive WASH services in underserved areas. This paper contributes to policy discussions by proposing mechanisms to balance public–private collaboration while fostering market resilience and equitable access to WASH services in emerging economies similar to that of Vietnam. Full article

This paper explores how credit risk management and human capital development sustain financial stability in microfinance institutions. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods allow this study to investigate credit risk management strategies while examining policies for inclusivity plus incentive plans along with debt portfolio selection efficiency. This research emphasizes that financial operations depend on skilled employees who require motivating interventions alongside training programs while developing ethical practices. The research discovers that organizations with strong credit risk management frameworks along with dedicated personnel achieve enhanced financial performances and reduced default incidents. This study confirms that microfinance institutions need both superior risk management along with human resource development systems to achieve sustainable development. This study enriches economic development research by demonstrating that implementing an equal mixture of financial and human resources produces successful economic results. Full article

Sustainable finance is critical for solving global concerns such as climate change, social inequality, and fostering a circular economy, which seeks to decouple economic progress from resource extraction and waste production. This study explores how sustainable finance tools, such as green bonds, microfinance, and impact investing, can advance financial inclusion and sustainable development in developing countries. Employing a mixed-methods approach that encompasses financial analysis alongside case studies from Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the study discerns both successful initiatives and ongoing challenges in reconciling CE objectives with financial accessibility. The results indicate that the global green bond issuance exceeded $575 billion in 2023, while efforts toward financial inclusion have enabled mobile money access for over 70% of the adult population in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, the uptake of CE remains constrained, with merely 7.2% of materials within the global economy being classified as circular. These findings emphasize the necessity for integrated policies and innovative financial instruments to dismantle systemic obstacles and amplify sustainable finance solutions in resource-limited contexts. The study contributes to the literature by building on the existing frameworks and offering an integrated approach that provides empirical insights and pragmatic strategies for policymakers and financial institutions to enhance sustainable development and foster equitable economic growth, addressing gaps in traditional finance and regulatory frameworks to support circular economy adoption in resource-constrained nations. Full article