The area of lake surface water is shrinking rapidly in Central Asia. We explore anthropogenic and climate factors driving this trend in Shalkar Lake, located in the Aral Sea region in Kazakhstan, Central Asia. We employ the Landsat satellite archive to map interannual changes in surface water between 1986 and 2021. The high temporal resolution of our dataset allows us to analyze the water surface data to investigate the time series of surface water change, economic and agricultural activities, and climate drivers like precipitation, evaporation, and air temperature. Toward this end, we utilize dynamic linear models (DLM). Our findings suggest that the shrinking of Shalkar Lake does not exhibit a systemic trend that could be associated with climate factors. Our empirical analysis, adopted to address local conditions, reveals that water reduction in the area is related to human interventions, particularly agricultural activities during the research period. On the other hand, the retrospectively fitted values indicate a semi-regular periodicity despite anthropogenic factors. Our results demonstrate that climate factors still play an essential role and should not be disregarded. Additionally, considering long-term climate projections in environmental impact assessment is crucial. The projected increase in temperatures and the corresponding decline in lake size highlights the need for proactive measures in managing water resources under changing climatic conditions.

Infrastructure decision-making has traditionally been focused on the use of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA). Nevertheless, there remains no consensus in the infrastructure sector regarding a favored approach that comprehensively integrates resilience principles with those tools. This review focuses on how resilience has been evaluated in infrastructure projects. Initially, 400 papers were sourced from Web of Science and Scopus. After a preliminary review, 103 papers were selected, and ultimately, the focus was narrowed down to 56 papers. The primary aim was to uncover limitations in both CBA and MCDA, exploring various strategies for amalgamating them and enhancing their potential to foster resilience, sustainability, and other infrastructure performance aspects. Results were classified based on different rationalities: i) objectivist, ii) conformist, iii) adjustive, and iv) reflexive. The analysis revealed that while both CBA and MCDA contribute to decision-making, their perceived strengths and weaknesses differ depending on the chosen rationality. Nonetheless, embracing a broader perspective, fostering participatory methods, and potentially integrating both approaches seem to offer more promising avenues for assessing the resilience of infrastructures. The goal of this research proposal is to devise an integrated approach for evaluating the long-term sustainability and resilience of infrastructure projects and constructed assets.

In order to diversify a portfolio, find prices, and manage risk, derivatives products are now necessary. There is a lack of understanding of the true influence of derivatives on the behavior of the underlying assets, their volatility consequences, and their pricing as complex instruments. There is a dearth of empirical research on how these instruments impact company risk exposures and inconsistent findings. This study examines corporate derivatives’ impact on stock price exposure and systematic risk in South African non-financial firms. Using a dataset of listed firms from 2013 to 2023, we employ Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models to assess the effect of derivatives on return volatility and beta, a measure of systematic risk. Additionally, we apply the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to address potential endogeneity between firm characteristics and derivatives use. Our findings suggest that firms using derivatives experience lower overall volatility and reduced systematic risk compared to non-users. The results are robust to various control factors, including firm size, leverage, and macroeconomic conditions. This study fills a gap in the literature by focusing on an underrepresented emerging market and provides insights relevant to global risk management practices.

Increasing levels of everyday cycling has many benefits for both individuals and for cities. Reduced traffic congestion, improved air quality and safer spaces for all vulnerable road users are among the significant benefits for urban developments. Despite this, public opposition to cycling infrastructure is common, particularly when it involves reprioritising road space for cycles instead of vehicles. The purpose of the research was to examine various stakeholders’ perspectives on proposed cycle infrastructure projects. This study utilised an innovative data collection approach through detailed content analysis of 322 public consultation submissions on a proposed active travel scheme in Limerick City, Ireland. By categorising submissions into support, opposition, and proposals, the study reveals the nuanced public perceptions that influence behavioural adaptation and acceptance of sustainable transport infrastructure. Supportive submissions, which outnumbered opposition-related submissions by approximately 2:1, emphasised the need for dedicated cycling infrastructure, enhanced cyclist safety, and potential improvements in environmental conditions. In contrast, opposition submissions focused on concerns over car parking removal, decreased accessibility for residents, and safety issues for vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly. Proposal submissions suggested design modifications, including enhanced safety features, provisions for convenient car parking, and alternative cycle routes. This paper highlights the value of structured public consultation data in uncovering behavioural determinants and barriers to cycling infrastructure adoption, offering policymakers essential insights into managing public opposition and fostering support. The methodology demonstrates how qualitative data from consultations can be effectively used to inform policy by capturing community-specific needs and enhancing the design of sustainable urban mobility systems. These findings underscore the need for innovative, inclusive data collection methods that reveal public sentiment, facilitating evidence-based transport policies that support climate-neutral mobility.

This study examines aggressive behavior among adolescents in school settings, focusing on its associations with mental health dimensions such as dysfunctional negative emotions and anxiety. A total of 403 adolescents (234 girls and 169 boys) aged 12 and 13 years participated in the study. Self-report questionnaires assessed aggressive tendencies and mental health symptoms, while demographic variables such as age and gender were also collected. Data analysis revealed a non-normal distribution, as determined by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. Consequently, non-parametric statistical methods were employed, including the Spearman correlation coefficient to explore relationships between variables and the Mann-Whitney U test to analyze gender differences. The results demonstrated significant positive correlations between aggressive behavior and dysfunctional negative emotions (r = 0.191, p < 0.01) and between aggression and anxiety (r = 0.275, p < 0.01). Additionally, gender differences emerged, with females reporting higher levels of mental health symptoms than males (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the complex relationship between mental health challenges and aggression, emphasizing the significant roles of gender and emotional regulation in shaping these dynamics. The study calls for the development of tailored psychological interventions that not only address aggressive behaviors but also consider the unique mental health needs and emotional profiles of adolescents, ensuring a more personalized and effective approach to support their well-being.

Over the last few decades, countries in the South have been undergoing rapid urbanization, as if to make up for lost time. Sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by a very low urbanization rate compared to0 the rest of the world. Although the African continent reached its urban transition in 2015, Niger remains by far the least urbanized country, with a rate of 17%. The city of Niamey is the main urban center, with an estimated population of 1,449,801 hbts in 2023, spread over an area of around 33,100 ha. The aim of this study is to analyze the spatial expansion of the city of Niamey from 1984 to 2023. The main data used in this study are raster images from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), vector data from Open Sources Map (OSM) and GoogleEarth, secondary data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS) and field observation. This study enabled us to conclude that between 1984 and 2023, the city of Niamey underwent very strong spatial expansion. The city grew from 4,690 ha to 33,100 ha, i.e. 28,410 ha absorbed in 39 years, with exceptional growth between 2014 and 2023, when the urban area doubled. Its population has risen from 397,437 at the time of the 1988 general population and housing census to an estimated 1,449,801 in 2023 (INS), an increase of 1,052,364 in 35 years. Between these two dates, population density fell from 87.7 to 43.8 inhabitants/km², i.e. half that of 1984. This spatial expansion has resulted in unprecedented peri-urbanization.