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Sustainable transport and selected environmental assessment tools
Get PDFPURPOSE: The main purpose of this article is to analyse the role of environmental assessment
tools in the context of sustainable transport development. The paper aims to identify the most
relevant and widely used tools and methods that support the integration of environmental
considerations into transport planning and decision-making processes.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study is based on a critical review of literature and
selected case studies illustrating the application of environmental assessment tools in
transport. The article presents a structured classification of the most relevant tools and their
planning-level applications.FINDINGS: Although numerous tools are available, their application in transport remains
fragmented and often limited to procedural compliance. Strengthening their integration can
improve the sustainability and transparency of planning processes.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The article provides a knowledge base for planners, policymakers,
and stakeholders seeking to improve environmental performance in transport systems. It
highlights the importance of early-stage environmental assessment in reducing long-term
costs and mitigating environmental impacts. The findings can guide the development of
better regulatory frameworks and planning practices.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study presents a comprehensive classification and evaluation of
environmental assessment tools specifically in the context of transport. It emphasizes the
need for systemic integration of assessment methods into planning rather than treating them
as formalities. The article also outlines future directions in digitization and data-driven
assessments.peer-reviewe
Climate resilient Mediterranean cities : the ReMED framework
Get PDFBuildings and urban areas are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The ReMED (Interreg Euro Med Programme) project, aims to support Mediterranean cities in their climate adaptation efforts by developing an innovative set of assessment tools and a comprehensive decision-support framework. This framework is designed to assess climate risks at both urban and building scales, design optimal adaptation measures tailored to local conditions, implement these measures using the most appropriate policy instruments, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of adaptation measures over time and promote Multi-Level Governance (MLG) in climate adaptation, as recommended by the UN COP26. To establish the ReMED framework, a review of various methodologies for assessing building and urban resilience was conducted, focusing on climate change impacts and hazards. The findings served as a foundation for developing the ReMED approach, tools, and decision-support system, which are integrated into the ReMED Platform—a web-based tool designed to facilitate the practical application of the project’s outcomes. ReMED also offers capacity-building initiatives for public authorities, including an e-learning platform and pilot activities in five countries. These pilots explore how the ReMED Platform can be applied in conjunction with key policy instruments. By enhancing the ability of public authorities to deploy effective adaptation measures, ReMED aims to strengthen the overall resilience of cities in the Mediterranean region. The Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta is the lead partner of the ReMED Project: Towards Climate Resilient Mediterranean Cities https://remed.interreg-euro-med.eu/peer-reviewe
Editorial : multimodality in face-to-face teaching and learning : contemporary re-evaluations in theory, method, and pedagogy
Get PDFSites of teaching and learning have long been a concern in the study of multimodality
because of the impact education has on the production of future social subjects and the
individual and collective potentials they embody. As such, it is incumbent upon teachers
and researchers in education to take into account the impact that modes such as gesture,
gaze, image, and the use of classroom space have in teaching, both independent of and
in conjunction with spoken or written language.peer-reviewe
Volatility modeling of the impact of geopolitical risk on commodity markets
Get PDFThis study analyses the impact of the Geopolitical Risk Index (GPR) on the volatility of commodity futures returns from 4 January 2010 to 30 June 2023, using Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (EGARCH) models. It expands the research scope to include precious metals, agricultural products, energy, and industrial metals. The study differentiates between the impacts of geopolitical threat events and actions using GPRACT and GPRTHREAT indicators. Findings reveal that negative geopolitical shocks increase commodity returns’ volatility more than positive shocks. Specifically, gold, silver, and natural gas are negatively affected, while wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, zinc, nickel, lead, WTI oil, and Brent oil experience positive effects. Platinum, cocoa, coffee, and copper show no significant impact. These insights highlight the importance of geopolitical risks on commodity market volatility and returns, aiding in risk management and portfolio diversification. Policymakers, financial market stakeholders, and investors can leverage these findings to better understand the GPR’s relationship with commodity markets and develop effective strategies.peer-reviewe
Managing the leadership crisis and institutional security in the non-governmental sector in Poland
Get PDFPURPOSE: This article analyses the crisis of leadership and institutional security in the Polish
NGO sector, focusing on structural factors that threaten the continuity of operations,
management stability, and operational efficiency of social organisation.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The basis of the paper is a qualitative analysis of the data
contained in the report “The Condition of NGOs 2024”, supplemented by an interpretation
from the perspective of institutional resilience theory, risk management and leadership
succession, as well as an analysis of both domestic and foreign literature on the subject. The
article adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, with elements of normative inference. The
research problem formulated: To what extent does the leadership crisis affect the institutional
security of NGOs in Poland, and what measures can increase their operational resilience?
The research hypothesis assumes: The crisis of leadership in NGOs - manifested by lack of
succession, burnout of leaders and staff stagnation - significantly reduces the institutional
resilience of these entities, but it is possible to rebuild it by implementing strategies of
management professionalisation, mentoring and cross-sectoral cooperation.FINDINGS: The analysis showed that the non-governmental sector in Poland is facing a
serious human resources and strategic crisis, which limits its ability to adapt and sustain
itself. Only a few organisations plan for succession, have financial reserves, and develop
long-term development strategies. Nevertheless, there is a clear need and potential for
reforms based on leadership development, knowledge management, and institutional
partnership building.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The article's conclusions point to the need for the systematic
introduction of succession programs, leadership training, employment stability in the NGO sector, and closer cooperation with local governments and universities. These measures can
significantly increase non-governmental organisations' operational resilience in growing
socio-political uncertainty.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The article brings new value to the discussion on managing social
organisations by treating the leadership crisis as a real threat to institutional security. An
integrated approach to management, leadership, and stability in the non-governmental
sector is valuable for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers involved in developing
civil society.peer-reviewe
Market challenges and their impact on the Polish international road freight transport sector
Get PDFPURPOSE: The main objective of the research is identifying the key market driven challenges
facing currently the EU road freight sector, as well as, assessing their impact on Polish
road freight haulers, in both economic and financial aspects, as well as regulatory ones with
respect to its decarbonizing.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: To conduct this data-driven research, the following
methods were applied: critical literature analysis, data mining and analysis, factor analysis,
market analysis and comparative analysis.FINDINGS: The Polish road freight transport companies play key role in both domestic and
international freight transport market, generating at the same time significant amount of
GHG. Being under the restrictive regulatory measures aimed at transforming it towards
zero emission, they streive to achieve the EC targets in the scheduled time through the
accelerated development of electromobility. However, such a path towards decarbomization
is associated with huge upfront costs, they need to bear. Capital-weak Polish road freight
transport companies, characterized by low profitability and operating in highly competitive,
atomized polypoly-type EU market, are not able, however, to carry out the necessary
replacement of the vehicle fleet driven by combustion engines by green electric trucks
without sufficiently high financial state support. Due to the long lasting market disruptions
caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine, temporary abolition of permits for Ukrainian
carriers, reconfiguration of supply chains and many macroeconomic reasons that affected
severely road freight sector, without significant public financial support, there majority of
SMEs will go bankrupt.The road transport market will progressing towards consolidation
and oligopolization.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The current fast-track implementation of the EU road transport
decarbonization strategy, focused almost exclusively on achieving ecological goals, should
be revised. It needs not only to be extended in time, but also much more strongly than before,
take into account the economic and social aspects resulting from its implementation.
Otherwise, it may cause serious economic effects for all parties involved in the road
transport chains and the EU economy.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Without bridging the gap between the currently overemphasized
environmental dimension and the economic and social ones of the sustainable mobility
strategy, it will not be possible to proceed smoothly towards decarbonizing the EU road
freight transport. This is the only way to avoid excessive costs and social losses
accompanying this type of deep structural change.peer-reviewe
La International collaboration of pharmacy journal editors (ICPJE) se constituye formalmente para fomentar la calidad en torno a las publicaciones de investigación sobre farmacia práctica, clínica y social
Get PDFThe Granada statements were a result of the need to strengthen clinical,
social and administrative pharmacy practice as an area of knowledge that
translates into practice, research and policy. As a response, a group of clinical
and social pharmacy practice journal editors launched an initiative in Granada in 2022 to discuss ways to improve the quality of publications in this area,
which culminated in the Granada statements. Eighteen statements were developed, clustered into six main domains:1) the appropriate use of terminology; 2) developing impactful abstracts; 3) having the required peer reviews;
4) preventing journal scattering; 5) more effective and wiser use of journal
and article performance metrics; and 6) authors’ selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work. The full Granada
statements have been published in 14 journals. These pioneering statements are rooted in similar endeavors undertaken by scholars in other health
professions groups, fostering the concept of interdisciplinary consensus and
advancing scientific paradigm.peer-reviewe
Looking, experimenting, creating, telling – testing a pedagogical model for design learning
No full textThis article shares the outcomes of international workshops focused on traditional costume construction and surface embellishment techniques and designs. These workshops were inspired by the findings of the Creative Europe TRACtion (Traditional Costume Innovation) project. The latter motivated students and adult learners in the Republic of Ireland, Finland, and Malta to develop creative, sustainable, and innovative responses to traditional textile artefacts. The Finnish Association of Design Learning (SuoMu) Design Learning Model was applied to support the development of creative thinking in the workshops. Additionally, teaching strategies developed by textile educators and craftspeople in each context complemented the SuoMu Design Learning Model, facilitating interactions between workshop ideas, materials and participants. The workshops aimed to foster design, creative thinking, sustainability, innovation, and a deeper appreciation of textile heritage. Participant feedback was analysed through thematic data analysis, and the visual outcomes were examined for indicators of creative thinking, such as fluidity, flexibility, elaboration, and uniqueness. The SuoMu model played a key role in guiding the design process and developing creative thinking skills. Sketching and brainstorming techniques sparked a wealth of ideas, while group activities and practical and experiential learning supported the ideation process. The workshops led to numerous fluent and flexible responses and ideas, many of which evolved into unique and innovative designs. Participants developed visual literacy skills and textile cultural empathy while achieving sustainability in material usage.peer-reviewe
Xenotransplantation review : immune barriers, tissue engineering, and clinical integration
No full textThe imbalance between the high demand for organ transplantation in humans and the insufficient organ
supply makes xenotransplantation a promising technology to provide unlimited organs to patients on the
waiting list and thus decrease the mortality rate. Xenotransplantation is associated with multiple
immunological barriers that can result in xenograft rejection, in addition to the risk of transmitting
microorganisms, such as viruses. Scientists continue to develop techniques, including immunosuppressive
therapy and genetic modification, to reduce the immunogenicity of xenografts. Decellularisation techniques
facilitate the clinical use of porcine heart valves. Additionally, the recellularisation using stem cells offers a
new avenue for enhancing graft functionality. This review presents the current understanding of
xenotransplantation and the related mechanisms in xenograft infection, discussing the progress in the genetic
editing process and the latest clinical trials of pig-to-human xenotransplantation.peer-reviewe
Estimating the costs and quality of life impact of vision loss in the population aged 50-80 years in Malta : evidence from The Malta Eye Study
No full textBackground: Visual impairment and related ocular conditions impose substantial
direct, indirect, and intangible costs, encompassing healthcare expenses,
productivity losses, and reduced quality of life. Despite the global relevance of
visual impairment, no comprehensive cost analysis has yet been conducted in
an older adult Maltese population aged 50–80 years.
Methods: Prevalence estimates from the population-based Malta Eye Study
were used to calculate indirect costs via the gross national income per capita
method with disability weight assumptions. Direct medical costs for key
ocular conditions, including refractive error, cataract, age-related macular
degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, were estimated using
prevalence, hospital, and private data performance indices and relevant cost
data, enabling estimation of service coverage and unmet care needs. Intangible
costs were derived from quality-of-life measures using the National Eye Institute
Visual Function Questionnaire–39 to calculate disability weights and years lived
with disability (YLD).
Results: The productivity losses from blindness and moderate–severe visual
impairment among individuals aged 50–80 were estimated at €16.0 million per
annum (95% CI €6.0–€43.0 million). The estimated annual direct medical costs
from the main ocular causes were estimated to sum up to €53.4 million (95%
CI €44.6–€67.0 million), with unmet needs amounting to €20.8 million (95% CI
€15.5–€28.5 million). Cataract (56.9%) and refractive error (24.5%) accounted
for the highest shares of such costs. Vision-related quality of life correlated with
the severity and laterality of visual impairment. Mild unilateral visual impairment
carried the highest YLD rate 2264.4 YLDs per 100,000 while uncorrected
refractive error carried the highest YLD rate among the visually impairing causes
(2452.7 YLDs per 100,000).
Discussion: Visual impairment imposes a considerable economic and quality-of-life burden on an older adult population in Malta, driven largely by cataracts,
refractive error, and productivity losses. These results emphasize the need for
preventive and treatment strategies and underscore the importance of future
cost–benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses to help guide eye health policy in
Malta.peer-reviewe