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Environmental degradation is increasingly attracting the attention of public opinion; however, the rise in environmental concern is not accompanied by a parallel growth of green product consumption. This paper aims to detect and classify all the main drivers to green consumption in an attempt of systematizing previous research results and identifying the most relevant drivers for pushing the transition toward a greener economy. The paper systematically analyzes 113 articles published from 2000 to 2018 within major peer-reviewed English-language scholarly publications in management, economics, environmental, agricultural and biological, decision and social sciences, energy and psychology that adopted a survey-based quantitative approach to measure drivers to green consumption. The research is identified using the keywords green, sustainable, environmental or pro-environmental behavior/intention/purchase or consumption/consumer. The analysis highlights the identification of seven categories of drivers to green consumption: behavioral factors, socio-demographic variables, intrapersonal values—environment, intrapersonal values—non environment, personal capabilities, products and producers-related factors and context-related factors.

Cities are facing an ever faster change of their population, their needs and thus the requirements and demands on the city. Urbanization and population heterogenization require an urban planning approach that addresses the needs of different population groups in a differentiated way and develops measures for gender+-responsive urban planning. This means a consideration of gender-, age- and group-specific requirements and impacts in all planning tasks and steps. In urban planning, digital planning tools are increasingly used to analyse socio-spatial structures and to simulate planning measures and their effects. An increasing number of social and spatial data are available that can be processed in these analyses. However, the tools usually lack an integration of gender-, age- and group-specific aspects. An intersection of social and spatial data as well as a gender-differentiated data processing rarely happens due to a lack of (digital) methods, meaningful indicators or resources. The research project "Smart through Gender+" (SMTG+) develops solutions for this. The overall goal of the project was to develop a set of socio-spatial analysis and assessment tools to support gender+-responsive urban planning that integrates the diverse needs of residents and addresses gender-, age- and group-specific requirements. The tool-set consists of i) quantitative digital analysis and simulation tools and ii) qualitative methods applied in urban and landscape planning, landscape architecture and sociology. On the basis of a case study in the Austrian city of Linz, the research team developed a proof of concept for the tool-set. The team investigated whether and how available data can be used to develop criteria and indicators that enable (partially standardized) analysis and monitoring of social and spatial structures considering the Gender+ approach. Using the case study as an example, this report presents the structure and functioning of the SMTG+ tool-set and outlines possible applications of the tool-set in planning practice.

Plastics are extremely useful, but their mismanagement has affected the environment and our health. Rethinking the development and use of plastics is central to the circular economy paradigm, to provide less harmful options for the environment. Thus, more types of plastic packaging are available, but each reflects diverse circular economy strategies (we refer to these as potentially circular packaging - PCP). We aim to explore consumers’ awareness of these strategies and its effect during the purchasing moment. This study consists of a between-subject experiment, where five types of PCP (i.e., bottled juice packaged in different plastics) were tested on a representative panel of the Italian population (1236 individuals) through stratified random sampling. We designed a 2×2 factors experiment (recycled plastics vs. compostable plastics × third-party certification vs. no certification) with a control group (recyclable plastic). Data were processed through Bayesian Generalized Linear Modeling. We found that despite the assumptions about sustainable plastic packaging consumption in the food sector, all of our options can be considered as valuable alternatives. Consumers may be confused and unable to establish the consequences in the circular economy in terms of each type of PCP. Regardless of whether third-party certifications are provided, consumers’ purchasing intentions are mainly affected by the attractiveness, perceived quality, and eco-friendliness of the packaging. Concerns about pollution, affluent behavior, and openness to change are also found to be relevant in PCP choices. Our findings provide various theoretical and managerial implications.

While prior research suggests that consumers are willing to pay higher prices for products with environmentally friendly attributes, this relationship may not apply to “circular economy” products because of their perceived quality issues. The main aim of this study is to assess the circumstance under which consumers pay more for circular economy products. We examine consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for circular products in an experimental setting that considers three conditions: consumers’ WTP for garments that are made from either recycled fibers or are reused; WTP when consumers are provided information about the circular product's reduced environmental impacts; WTP when the source of environmental information is third-party verified. We use an online survey and randomly assignment to each one of the three conditions (n = 2,400). Our results suggest that WTP for circular products, both recycled and reused, is lower than the conventional version of the same product. However, when consumers are provided with information about the environmental virtues of the product, and especially when that information is verified by a third-party, consumers’ WTP increases significantly. These findings expand the discussion about consumers’ WTP for environmentally friendly products and how businesses can better market their “circular economy” products.

Kmetovalci v Sloveniji v območjih z omejenimi možnostmi za kmetijsko dejavnost (OMD) so v Sloveniji od sredine 1980-ih upravičeni do prejemanja različnih oblik javnofinančnih podpor, s katerimi bi se preprečevalo opuščanje kmetijske rabe zemljišč. Skozi leta so se oblike javnofinančnih podpor kmetovanju za OMD spreminjale. V prvih letih izvajanja so podpore potekale v obliki naložbenih podpor za infrastrukturne izboljšave. Po osamosvojitvi Slovenije je bil vzpostavljen sistem izravnalnih plačil, namenjenih kompenzaciji za nižjo produktivnost, oziroma višje stroške kmetijske pridelave v OMD. Sprva so se izravnalna plačila izvajala v obliki proizvodno vezanih plačil, po letu 2000 pa v obliki proizvodno nevezanimi plačili. Od pristopa Slovenije k EU se OMD plačila izvajajo v okviru skupne kmetijske politike EU (SKP). V diplomskem delu so opisane tudi spremembe, ki jih lahko glede na trenutne informacije pričakujemo z novim programskim obdobjem skupne kmetijske politike EU (SKP) in spremljevalni ukrepi, ki poleg OMD plačil lahko izboljšujejo pogoje kmetovanja v OMD. Diplomsko delo zaključujemo s predlogi za boljše izvajanje, spremljanje in vrednotenje OMD plačil v prihodnje. Areas facing natural constraints (ANC) in Slovenia have been entitled for various forms of public since 1980s for continuing farming, because these areas are often attributed with natural handicaps which make farming harder. Initially, support was given in the form of government investments in infrastructure, later after independence of Slovenia in form of coupled compensatory payments and after 2000 in form of decoupled compensatory payments. After Slovenia’s accession to the EU, ANC compensatory payments have been carried out as a part of the Common agricultural policy. This B. Sc. Thesis also discusses likely changes to the Common agricultural policy and how these may affect the ANC scheme. B. Sc. Thesis concludes with a set of proposal on additional interventions that can be used for tackling viable farm income in ANC and on the improvements to the monitoring and evaluation framework.

Much of the literature has investigated what the most innovative business models are in order to successfully implement circular economy principles within a company. However, the majority of modern companies are still based on traditional business models thus, it is important to study how to get these companies to adopt more circular practices. Data were collected through a questionnaire-based survey of 821 Italian companies. A cluster analysis was performed to classify their current level of implementation of the circular economy principles and a logit regression was carried out to identify the most effective drivers. Five clusters were identified: 1) “information-oriented companies” (24%), the best at communication and marketing-related activities, but the worst in relation to all the other aspects; 2) “linear companies” (41.6%), those that perform poorly in all five phases; 3) “green marketers” (15.5%), which perform well in relation to design, production and consumption; 4) “optimizers” (10.6%), which focus more on production and logistics and 5) “circular companies” (8.1%), those that register a good performance with respect to all aspects. The bad performers, clusters 1 and 2, also registered the worst economic results in the last three years, whereas the “circular champions” reported the best performance. Finally, the logit regression showed that economic drivers were the most effective at encouraging “linear companies” to adopt more circular business models. On the other hand, no significant evidence was found of any influence exerted by the drivers related to regulatory pressure, resource exploitation risks, and the pursuit of environmental values.

In the last fifteen years, the organization and staging of large-scale events have been progressively included in the sustainability debate. As today, it is widely accepted that such events may have multiple impacts on - and leave an important legacy to - the host cities and regions, as there can be structural, economic, environmental, social, cultural and political impacts. Literature and empirical evidence on the multiple legacies of events have mainly focused on large-scale sport events so far. The debate on the role and contribution of Universal Expositions to long term urban and local development strategies is instead relatively young. This article seeks to contribute to the literature that assesses the impacts of large-scale "one-off" events, by taking the forthcoming Universal Exposition of Milan in 2015 as an example to further explore the conditions and requirements that may eventually bring true meaning to the term "sustainable event". The analysis is mainly based on the Expo Milan 2015 experience in sustainability reporting activities, whose goal is to measure, assess and communicate the social and environmental performance of the organising company, the impacts on the territory of the activities that are being carried out, and the level of engagement and dialogue with the stakeholders involved.

Climate change impacts on water resources, particularly groundwater, is a highly debated topic worldwide, triggering international attention and interest from both researchers and policy makers due to its relevant link with European water policy directives (e.g. 2000/60/EC and 2007/118/EC) and related environmental objectives. The understanding of long-term impacts of climate variability and change is therefore a key challenge in order to address effective protection measures and to implement sustainable management of water resources. This paper presents the modeling approach adopted within the Life+ project TRUST (Tool for Regional-scale assessment of groUndwater Storage improvement in adaptation to climaTe change) in order to provide climate change hazard scenarios for the shallow groundwater of high Veneto and Friuli Plain, Northern Italy. Given the aim to evaluate potential impacts on water quantity and quality (e.g. groundwater level variation, decrease of water availability for irrigation, variations of nitrate infiltration processes), the modeling approach integrated an ensemble of climate, hydrologic and hydrogeologic models running from the global to the regional scale. Global and regional climate models and downscaling techniques were used to make climate simulations for the reference period 1961-1990 and the projection period 2010-2100. The simulation of the recent climate was performed using observed radiative forcings, whereas the projections have been done prescribing the radiative forcings according to the IPCC A1B emission scenario. The climate simulations and the downscaling, then, provided the precipitation, temperatures and evapo-transpiration fields used for the impact analysis. Based on downscaled climate projections, 3 reference scenarios for the period 2071-2100 (i.e. the driest, the wettest and the mild year) were selected and used to run a regional geomorphoclimatic and hydrogeological model. The final output of the model ensemble produced information about the potential variations of the water balance components (e.g. river discharge, groundwater level and volume) due to climate change. Such projections were used to develop potential hazard scenarios for the case study area, to be further applied within climate change risk assessment studies for groundwater resources and associated ecosystems. This paper describes the models' chain and the methodological approach adopted in the TRUST project and analyzes the hazard scenarios produced in order to investigate climate change risks for the case study area.

The use of dietary supplements for various ailments enjoys unprecedented popularity. As part of this trend, Sabal serrulata (saw palmetto) constitutes the complementary treatment of choice with regard to prostate health. In homeopathy, Sabal serrulata is commonly prescribed for prostate problems ranging from benign prostatic hyperplasia to prostate cancer. The authors' work assessed the antiproliferative effects of homeopathic preparations of Sabal serrulata, Thuja occidentalis, and Conium maculatum, in vivo, on nude mouse xenografts, and in vitro, on PC-3 and DU-145 human prostate cancer as well as MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. Treatment with Sabal serrulata in vitro resulted in a 33% decrease of PC-3 cell proliferation at 72 hours and a 23% reduction of DU-145 cell proliferation at 24 hours (P

The Italian Ministry of Public Works has funded a study aimed at assessing the technical feasibility and financial viability of a disalination plant to be implemented in Agrigento, Sicily. The plant, with a design production capacity of 40,000 m 3 and an estimated cost of € 120 million, will serve 19 municipalities of the Agrigento province with a total population of 300,000. The study has reviewed all the technologies presently available on the market. An indepth analysis has been carried out on multi-flash and osmosis based processes. For both technologies implementation and operational cost have been assessed. The study has placed particular emphasis on the possible solutions enabling: energy saving; power co-generation (multi-flashes); renewable energy sources (reverse osmosis). The study has also explored the potential for the production of Aeolian energy and identified solutions ensuring from 20,000 kW to 30,000 kW. Each solution has taken into account current town planning regulations, environmental impacts, possible mitigation measures, pre-treatment requirements, water in-take works, production waste dumping structures, as well as operation and management problems to be tackled. Implementation and operation costs have also been estimated. The study provides an assessment of the administrative, institutional and financial viability of the proposed solutions, in compliance with regional plans and regulations. Econometric models have been developed in order to enable project financing and water tariffs to be established.

Cast Double Base (CDB) propellants were first developed in the 1960s and 70s. This propellant, unlike extruded double base propellants, can be cast into any shape. The motor grain can also be cast in several layers with different plateau burn rates to obtain an optimal boost-sustain characteristic. This ability to tailor the burn rate in conjuction with an higher maximum web fraction offsets the lower theoretical impulse when compared to cross liked double base (XLDB) and composite propellants. In addition CDB propellants are true minimum smoke propellant and the secondary combustion in the plume can be suppressed with flame suppressants thus minimizing the chance of early detection. Lockheed Martin’s Hellfire (XLDB), MBDA’s Brimstone (Cast Double Base), and Denel Dynamics’ Mokopa (Composite) missiles are all air/ground launched tactical missiles of the same caliber and mass. Interestingly Brimstone out performs both the Mokopa and the Hellfire in terms of maximum range, reported as 12 km, with Mokopa at 10 km and unexpectedly Hellfire with the highest specific impulse propellant has the shortest range of 8 km. This is because a system that is velocity constrained requires a boost sustain motor that can boost the missile to the maximum velocity as quickly as possible and sustain this velocity as long as possible. In such a system the primary driver is not total impulse but rather the propellant burn rate flexibility. Star port grain designs that use area to obtain the required boost-sustain profile suffer from volumetric losses. High energy propellants such as XLDB have a limited usable burn rate range, limiting their use to all boost motors. This investigation considered the requirements of the internal ballistician rather than the pursuit of maximum impulse. It will be shown that flexibility in propellant burn rate is a far more important factor in the tactical missile environment when single stage motors are the only option.

The peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) is an 18-kDa high affinity drug- and cholesterol-binding protein that is involved in various cell functions, including cell proliferation and apoptosis. PBR was shown to be overexpressed in certain types of malignant human tumors and cancer cell lines, correlating with enhanced tumorigenicity and cell proliferation rates. The present study was conducted in order to further define the role of PBR in cancer and to extend our recent findings regarding the possible anticancer effects of the standardized Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761. Treatment with EGb 761 decreased PBR mRNA levels and inhibited the proliferation of breast, glioma and hepatocarcinoma cell lines, further corroborating our previous contention that its mechanism of action is through the modification of PBR expression. In vivo treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract led to dose-dependent decreases in xenograft growth of both MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and U-87 glioma cell lines in nude mice, although the effects were not maintained after 50 days of treatment in the latter. The results obtained in MDA-MB-231 xenografts indicated pronounced inhibition of tumor growth, verified by MRI imaging. These results were obtained using a modified experimental protocol where the animals were treated with the extract before cell inoculation. Although an exact role for PBR in relation to the initiation and progression of various types of cancer remains to be defined, our results indicate that PBR overexpression in certain cancer cells is related to an aggressive phenotype. Since EGb 761 treatment opposes this aggressive phenotype by decreasing PBR overexpression, it could be useful in preventing or treating cancer invasiveness and metastasis.

Integrated coastal zone and river basin management systems are being developed to meet important societal needs such as the sustainable development of coastal areas, the exploitation of their resources and the protection of the coastal environment. The sustainable development of coastal areas depends on the quality of the marine environment. In this context, the ADRICOSM project (ADRIatic sea integrated COastal areaS and river basin Management system pilot project) has developed an assessment/forecasting system that enables policy decisions to be taken in a modern and efficient way. The integrated approach imposed by the EC’s Water Framework Directive has been validated in a pilot area located in Croatia that includes all the main components responsible for pollution generation and transportation: urban watershed, river basin and coastal area. An integrated model has been developed combining different tools to simulate the hydraulic and waterquality performance of the overall system. This model has then been used to forecast the benefits derived from priority works focused on reducing land-based pollution., Izrađen je integralni sustav upravljanja obalnim područjem i riječnim bazenom s ciljem ostvarenje društvenih ciljeva veznih uz održivi razvoj obalnih područja te korištenje i zaštite prirodnih resursa - okoliša. Održivi razvoj obalnih područja u znatnoj mjeri ovisi o kakvoći morskog okoliša pa se isti mora cjelovito obuhvatiti i tretirati. U skladu s tim ciljem izrađen je ADRICOSM projekt (Pilot projekt Integralnog sustava upravljanja jadranskim obalnim područjima i riječnim bazenima). To je jedan moderan i učinkovit sustav -alat za analizu i prognozu stanja okoliša koji pomaže i omogućava donosiocima odluke da donose dobre dugoročne razvojne odluke. Integralni koncept i pristup upravljanja vodnim bogatstvima koji se zahtjeva EU okvirnom direktivom o vodama je u ovom projektu primijenjen, analiziran i vrednovan. Razvijeni su modeli za simulaciju i prognozu stanja u urbanom vodnom sustavu, riječnom bazenu i obalnom moru te integrirani u jedan jedinstveni upravljački sustav. Ovaj alat je primijenjen na rješavanje problema vezanih za upravljanje rijekom Cetinom, kanalizacijskim sustavom Splita i splitskim obalnim područjem. Rezultat ovog projekta su smjernice za upravljanje vodnim resursima pilot područja, te integralne mjere za kontrolu zagađenja mora i vode riječnog bazena.

Integrated coastal zone and river basin management systems are being developed to meet important societal needs such as the sustainable development of coastal areas, the exploitation of their resources and the protection of the coastal environment. The sustainable development of coastal areas depends on the quality of the marine environment. In this context, the ADRICOSM project (ADRIatic sea integrated COastal areaS and river basin Management system pilot project) has developed an assessment/forecasting system that enables policy decisions to be taken in a modern and efficient way. The integrated approach imposed by the EC’ s Water Framework Directive, has been validated in a Pilot area located in Croatia that includes all the main components responsible for pollution generation and transportation: urban watershed, river basin and coastal area. Anintegrated model has been developed combining different tools to simulate the hydraulic and waterquality performance of the overall system. This model has then been used to forecast the benefitsderived from priority works focused on reducing land-based pollution.

On July 2003, the Italian Ministry of Environment financed a project called “New Eden” to the Iraq Foundation, an NGO active in the reconstruction effort in Iraq. The objective of the project focuses on the identification and prioritization of key water management problems, and on development of a comprehensive policy using a participatory process for water resources management in Iraq. Through resource planning, the project has identified actions to bring major improvements to the welfare of the Iraqi population and condi tion of their environment, both of which have significantly deteriorated over the last decade. The project would guide donor assistance for development and contribute beneficially to water management, including investments from other economic sectors. The first phase of the project was dedicated to data gathering to create an organized and comprehensive overview of the biophysical and socio-economical data. On the basis of collected data, the development of an integrated water management model is important to understand Iraq’s water needs and to prepare an action plan for the management of water resources in Iraq. A major objective of the project includes concrete proposals for immediate actions that do not require substantial financing, but which can bring significant and rapid results to the Iraqi people and their environment. These analyses define the Priority Action Plan in agreement with local authorities and stakeholders to outline the capital investment program of emergency water works in selected critical areas. Successful completion of this project entailed the collaboration and cooperation of the existing engineering and scientific community in Iraq through missions of Italian and U.S.A. technicians coupled with the efforts of local Iraqi Foundation experts. Our approach included collaboration with local experts to identify and assist in solving key water - and environment-related problems.

Integrated coastal zone and river basin management systems are being develop to meet urgent societal needs such us the sustainable development of the coastal areas, the exploitation of its resources and protection of coastal environemnt. In this context, The ADRICOSM project ha developed an assessemnt/forecasting system that enables policy decisions to be taken in a modern and efficient way. Project takes place in four coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea and in a Croatian test site which includes the Cetina river basin, the sewerage system of the coty of Split, and the corresponding coastal area between the mainland and the Island of Brac.

The list of Postojnska jama fauna by E. Pretner