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Sustainability, Development, and Financial Performance of Banks in the United Kingdom
No full textSustainable development, driven by responsibility toward the planet and society, has become a central focus across sectors. In response, the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework has emerged as a key approach to evaluating corporate sustainability performance. While extensive literature explores ESG's broader implications, limited research has specifically addressed its impact on the financial performance of the banking sector in the United Kingdom. This study investigates the relationship between ESG performance and the financial outcomes of UK-listed banks included in the FTSE 100 Index. ESG scores are used as the independent variable, with financial performance measured through accounting-based indicators—Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE), and the market-based measure of market value. Using panel data from 2017 to 2022, the results show that ESG performance has a significant positive impact on ROA, a significant negative impact on ROE, and an insignificant negative effect on market value. These findings offer practical insights for UK banking managers and policymakers in balancing ESG initiatives with financial goals, particularly in optimizing ESG strategies that align with profitability and shareholder value
Evaluation of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells using Rutile-Mesoporous-SiO2@TiO2/CQDs as Scattering Layer
No full textGlobal warming is one of the most pressing environmental challenges worldwide. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have garnered significant attention as an eco-friendly alternative for energy generation, as they produce electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. Achieving a breakthrough in DSSC efficiency is crucial for overcoming the performance ceiling of conventional photoanodes. This work presents a highly scalable and simple light-harvesting strategy that significantly advances the state of the art in TiO₂-based composite architectures. In this study, we investigated the impact of incorporating Rutile-Mesoporous-SiO₂@TiO₂/carbon quantum dots (CQDs) particles into the scattering layer of DSSCs. The synthesized particles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Their performance as a component of DSSCs was also evaluated in terms of power conversion efficiency. SEM analysis revealed that the addition of CQDs induced distinct surface irregularities, which were not observed in the undoped samples. UV–Vis measurements demonstrated that Rutile-MP-SiO₂@TiO₂/CQDs particles exhibited higher reflectance in the 380–780 nm range compared to their CQD-free counterparts. Furthermore, the proposed Rutile-MP-SiO₂@TiO₂/CQDs scattering layer markedly enhanced light scattering, yielding a 32.77% higher power density than cells with Anatase-MP-SiO₂@TiO₂. This simple and effective strategy overcomes conventional limitations and enables high-performance DSSCs
A Community-Driven Approach to Nature-Based Master Planning for Emilio Aguinaldo Park, Baguio City, Philippines
No full textBaguio City, a Highly Urbanized City (HUC), faces challenges in balancing built-up zones with open spaces, which impacts social cohesion and well-being. This study aimed to develop a decentralized approach to redesigning Emilio Aguinaldo Park using nature-based solutions (NBS) and capitalize on its potential as a green lung within the metropolis. Residents and park visitors provided information for this study through surveys and focus group discussions. The findings of this study guided the development of a master plan for EAP, giving community-led initiatives and nature-based solutions of the most significant importance to strengthen the park's function as a green area and community resource. Key themes reveal that the community prioritizes strategies that address environmental quality, health and wellness, recreational spaces, social interaction and community, safety and security, nature and aesthetics, and amenities and facilities. With the overall social acceptability of nature-based solutions as "Acceptable". The results of this study guided the development of a master plan for EAP, giving community-led initiatives and nature-based solutions of the most significant importance to strengthen the park's function as a green area and community resource. The decentralized master plan promotes resilience and a sense of ownership among the local community and prioritizes the need for recreational space. Also, it targets the crisis in urban resilience by balancing the coexistence of public areas with integrated urban management techniques
Urban Regeneration for the Resilient City: Implementation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Solutions in Pisa's High Flash Flood Risk Areas
No full textPolicies and international cooperation widely acknowledge the imperative to enhance the resilience of cities, ensuring effective multi-risk disaster management. Nature-based solutions (NBS) provide approaches aimed at conserving, sustainably managing, and preserving natural ecosystems. This research, funded by UNIPI PRA_2022_22, titled “Mitigating Risks in Urban Areas”, aims to develop a methodology to analyse and evaluate the benefits of increased resilience in urban contexts following the implementation of NBS. To control water runoff sources, improve soil infiltration, retain, or detain water volume, and filter contaminants, we designed small-scale sustainable urban drainage interventions in 4 areas of the city of Pisa prone to high hydraulic and flash flood risk. To verify their impact on stormwater management, the i-tree Hydro Plus was used. We tested the software using input data that simulated generic interventions, such as green roofs, permeable pavements, and rain gardens. The application showed promising results, but several challenges were encountered in data acquisition, as much of the data was not readily available, requiring the use of default values in some cases. Additionally, the complexity of the i-Tree Hydro Plus software limited its practical application to those with specialized expertise and, in its current state, unfortunately, it is not an accessible tool for local authorities
Preserving Historical Structures, Motivations of Property Owners, and the Effects on Community Socio-Economic Renewal in Japan
No full textJapan, perhaps more than any nation, embodies the issues and contradictions surrounding depopulation and its subsequent effects on rural communities, including the conservation of a locality’s traditional vernacular architecture and the cultural practices associated with their construction and preservation. Official programs aimed at revitalization of the Japanese countryside or smaller regional centers have proven ineffective, largely due to funding or a reliance on “return to hometown” programs aimed at retirees or a small number of the working-age cohort wishing to pursue an alternative to urban lifestyles. As a result, these communities have continued to rapidly decline, resulting in an estimated 8 million abandoned or underutilized buildings throughout the country, including perhaps up to 1 million extant vernacular-built heritage structures. The loss of these structures and their attendant use values, artisanal techniques and practices used in their construction and maintenance, as well as the more intangible aspects of their presence in a community, represents a profound challenge which evades simple solutions. Adaptive reuse, or the renovation or rehabilitation of built structures for new purposes, may present the most comprehensive strategy through which a variety of stakeholders may arrest or at least slow these processes. By examining the motivations of, and obstacles faced by, a small but growing group of enthusiasts undertaking rehabilitation projects of these built heritage structures, a new, more grassroots-based revitalization strategy can be elucidated and exported to similarly challenged communities
Sustainable plant nutrients generated from symbiotic waste treatment for safe application in food crop production
No full textAdequate soil nutrients are necessary for plant growth and health. Nitrogen sources from synthetic ammonia production have a high energy requirement, with implications for global warming. Innovative ways of producing nitrogen, such as crop nutrients from municipal organic waste, have significance on materials circularity and the achievement of a number of sustainable development goals. The feasibility of transforming potentially hazardous waste into plant nutrients is explored. The physiological response of tomato crops cultivated with the as-produced nitrogen source in a completely randomized design pilot field trial to evaluate the quality and health risk associated with the recycling of potentially hazardous waste into nutrient sources for food cultivation is reported. The recycled solid nutrient source can support the cultivation of tomatoes with plant physiological responses comparable to the same nitrogen levels application of artificial fertilizer. The risk associated with heavy metals and pathogen contamination of food is also limited
Numerical Analysis of Upcycled Iron Ore Tailings in Ballast Columns for Hydrocarbon Storage Tanks
No full textThe upcycling of iron ore tailings (IOT) as an alternative material for ballast columns presents a sustainable and cost-effective solution for ground improvement. This study investigates the performance of limestone-based and shale-based IOT ballast columns in controlling vertical displacement and reducing the settlement of hydrocarbon storage tanks. A numerical analysis was conducted to compare their effectiveness against conventional ballast columns under a 67 m diameter tank, subjected to an operational pressure of 184 kPa. The results indicate that limestone-based IOT columns reduced maximum settlement to 128.94 × 10⁻³ m, representing a 55.6% decrease compared with conventional ballast columns (290.51 × 10⁻³ m), and a 59.7% reduction relative to shale-based IOT columns (319.47 × 10⁻³ m). This improvement highlights the enhanced mechanical behaviour of limestone-based IOT, making it a promising alternative for geotechnical applications. The findings confirm that IoT-based ballast columns, particularly those using limestone, can serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional materials while contributing to sustainable waste management. By upcycling mining waste, this approach not only improves ground stability but also minimises the environmental impact of tailings disposal. These results encourage further research into the optimisation of IOT mixtures and their application in large-scale construction projects. The use of IOT in geotechnical engineering aligns with global efforts to promote sustainability in infrastructure development
The Pilot Project: Beirut and its Port
No full textLocated in the heart of the city, the port of Beirut has always been designed to be open to the city. The port-city relationship has evolved over the years, going from a Phoenician village with a small coastal shipping port, to a strategic port for the Ottoman city founded in Beirut. After the capitalist movement, the port was privatized and disconnected from the city, working as a private entity under the supervision of the government and obstructing the city's access to the sea. After the explosion of the port of Beirut in August 2020, the question of recovering the port-city relationship is once again discussed as part of a global vision for the reconstruction of the port. The pilot project consists of recovering the port-city relationship through an urban regeneration approach. The work will include intervening in the territory of the port area and studying the problems presented by this area and the different interfaces between the port and the city. The ambition is to propose a strategy that can ensure a connection between the port and the city, through an urban design proposal, and lead to the creation of a new image of the waterfront of the port area
The Key Role of Community Archaeology in Enhancing Local Identity and Territorial Bonds in Turkey and Jordan
No full textThe present research study, part of an ongoing doctoral project, is an interpretative-comparative analysis conducted considering two geographically distinct contexts: the archaeological site of Arslantepe with its village of Orduzu (Malatya) in Turkey, and the archaeological site of Tell Hisban with its village of Hisban (Amman), in Jordan. In both cases, the site is situated almost at the centre of the anthropic and natural landscape, forming a historical and natural monument. A qualitative research survey was carried out through interviews with semi-structured questions directed towards the resident population, to understand: the vision of the site, the level of involvement, the impact on society, and the relationship with the archaeological team. The research aims to understand whether community archaeology applications can contribute to increasing the recognition of the archaeological site as a fundamental part of their territory. The result is that such practices can foster a stronger connection with the past and the contemporary landscape, contributing to the transformation of the area by enhancing local well-being and benefits in sustainable development. This study is entered into the field of Community archaeology that, by establishing continuous communication between archaeologists, the local community, and their cultural heritage, and incorporating the local perspective into the interpretation of the past, aims to contribute to increasing awareness of the cultural heritage and its incorporation within the local identity
Potential Adoption of Smart Living and Universal Design for Aging Population Wellbeing in Malaysian Housing Development: A Systematic Literature Review
No full textThe rapid growth of the ageing population triggers the demand for innovative solutions to support independent living for seniors, given the changes in physical health, cognitive function, and mobility. Smart Living and Universal Design principles are trusted to play crucial roles in improving the quality of life, especially for the elderly and disabled individuals. Hence, this paper aims to present a theoretical background on the potential adoption of smart living and universal design in housing development in response to cater to the ageing population’s well-being. A systematic literature review utilizing bibliometric analysis through the visualization of similarity viewer software is conducted to synthesise existing research on smart living and universal design housing features catering to the ageing population. Findings highlighted the potential for extensive smart living and universal design adoption in housing, with several challenges derived from the lack of standard regulations. Despite the drawbacks, the incorporation of extensive smart living and universal design is noteworthy for its efficacy in extending the life expectancy of the ageing population, particularly the elderly residing in their residences. This study provides practical implications for policymakers, designers, and practitioners to implement smart living and universal design in Malaysian housing development to foster the ageing population well-being in Malaysia