Abstract: Capsizing, sinking, and flooding accidents occurring in the coastal waters of the Republic of Korea constitute a persistent marine safety concern, accounting for approximately 17% of total fatalities associated with marine accidents. Previous statistical analyses of accident causation have identified key contributing factors such as adverse weather conditions, improper cargo loading, and deficiencies in vessel maintenance; however, the complex interdependencies among these factors have not been sufficiently quantified. To address this limitation, this study proposes a Fuzzy Bayesian Network (FBN) model to systematically evaluate and quantify the risk factors associated with capsizing, sinking, and flooding accidents. A total of 164 adjudicated marine accident cases that occurred in Korean coastal waters over a 10-year period (2015–2024) were analyzed to estimate prior probabilities for six major causal categories. Conditional Probability Tables (CPTs) were derived through a structured Delphi survey conducted with marine safety experts possessing more than 10 years of professional experience. To mitigate the subjectivity inherent in expert judgment, Triangular Fuzzy Numbers (TFNs) and centroid-based defuzzification were applied. Sensitivity analysis identified sea state (SI = 0.0155) and cargo loading condition (SI = 0.0125) as the two most influential factors affecting the probability of capsizing. Scenario analysis further revealed that when adverse weather conditions and improper cargo loading occur simultaneously, the probability of capsizing increases to 39.3%, representing a 5.3 percentage point increase compared to the baseline. In addition, the model demonstrated a close agreement with observed accident outcome distributions, with a Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence of 0.038, indicating differences within 1.3 percentage points across all outcome categories. The findings of this study provide practical implications for targeted marine safety interventions and the prioritization of regulatory measures in the coastal waters of the Republic of Korea.

Abstract: The post-World War II international order is undergoing simultaneous collapse on two fronts: a geopolitical fragmentation driven by twenty consecutive years of democratic decline, and an accelerating concentration of economic power driven by advances in artificial intelligence. This paper argues that the convergence of these two forces is producing a structural transformation unprecedented in human history, one that could stabilize into a neo-feudal equilibrium in which a vanishingly small class of infrastructure owners wields power comparable to pre-Enlightenment monarchs, while the vast majority of humanity loses both its labor value and its political leverage. Unlike previous feudal orders, this one may prove uniquely resistant to revolution, because the mechanisms of enforcement (autonomous weapons, AI surveillance, algorithmic propaganda) do not require human cooperation and therefore cannot be undermined by human dissent. The paper examines the historical parallels (and crucial disanalogies) between contemporary populist-authoritarian movements and their twentieth-century predecessors, models the emerging class structure under conditions of artificial general intelligence, evaluates Universal Basic Income through the lens of incentive structure, arguing that without the revolutionary threat that historically forced redistribution, UBI will default to a pacification mechanism rather than a genuine solution, and examines the future of the nation-state under conditions where AI infrastructure owners command more wealth and capability than most governments.

Abstract: This study examines how the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and the implementation of policies shape inclusive educational outcomes for marginalized learners in Bangladesh, using evidence from Sherpur Sadar Upazilla. A convergent mixed-methods design integrated a student survey (N = 213; seven institutions; March–September 2024) with qualitative data from 37 stakeholders (teachers and policymakers) collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative findings show that AI tool adoption was the strongest predictor of a composite educational outcome score (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), followed by institutional support (β = 0.25, p = 0.01). In contrast, the policy implementation gap—defined as the mismatch between policy intent and on-the-ground delivery—was negatively associated with outcomes (β = −0.12, p = 0.04). Digital infrastructure quality was positively associated with the outcome but was not statistically significant in the multivariable model (β = 0.17, p = 0.12). The model demonstrated strong explanatory power (R² = 0.67; F(4, 208) = 42.3; p < 0.001). Disparity analyses revealed persistent urban–rural inequities in reliable internet access (94.6% vs. 69.7%) and device readiness, with tablet access emerging as a key enabler of advanced AI-supported learning. Qualitative results corroborated three binding constraints: limited teacher AI preparedness, affordability barriers, and trust concerns related to privacy and algorithmic bias. Building on these findings, the paper proposes a policy–innovation framework centered on localized AI toolkits, sustained teacher upskilling, device-access interventions, and enforceable fairness and transparency safeguards to advance equitable learning opportunities.

Abstract: In addition to immediate material losses, disasters can trigger secondary psychosocial processes that increase the risk of various forms of deviant and violent behavior. This paper examines citizens’ perceptions in Serbia regarding the association between disasters and violence and deviant behavior, as well as the factors related to awareness, self‑assessed readiness to respond, and attitudes about the role of institutions in prevention. The study was conducted via an online survey of 106 respondents in Serbia. Likert‑type items (P26–P30) and categorical variables (P12–P25) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, chi‑square tests of independence, one‑way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. The findings indicate a very high level of basic awareness of natural disasters and violence, but also a pronounced perception that a significant share of the Serbian population lacks adequate practical knowledge about post‑disaster consequences and actions (M = 4.39). Respondents strongly recognize the impact of disasters on mental health (M = 4.21) and the importance of competent services in preventing violence (M = 4.12), while self‑assessed readiness to respond is moderate (M = 3.82). The strongest association among attitudes is observed between support for education and the assessment of the impact of disasters on mental health (r = 0.40; p < 0.001). Chi‑square analyses indicate several significant associations between gender and income (small to moderate effects). At the same time, ANOVA differences were confirmed in two cases: by gender for the PTSD/mental‑health attitude and by income for self‑assessed response readiness. Regression models suggest limited explanatory power of sociodemographics for attitudes, suggesting a likely greater role for experiential and contextual factors (disaster experience, trust in institutions, exposure to training). The results support the need for systematic risk communication and practically oriented educational programs, which—together with clear reporting protocols and inter‑institutional coordination—can reduce the risk of escalation of violence and deviant behavior under crisis conditions.

Abstract: Community disaster resilience is increasingly guiding risk-reduction investments, but in many Southeast European settings, comparable subnational data remain scarce. This study develops and tests a predictive model of perceived community disaster resilience across Serbia by combining BRIC–DROP dimensions into a single index and analyzing differences across hazard types and sociodemographic factors. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted using multistage random sampling and the “next birthday” method for respondent selection. The final sample included 1, 1,200 adults from 22 local government units across four regions: Belgrade, Vojvodina, Šumadija & Western Serbia, and Southern & Eastern Serbia. Participants evaluated preventive measures and societal resilience for ten hazard types and considered five social dimensions: social structure, social capital, social mechanisms, social equity/diversity, and social beliefs. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses (including Pearson correlations, t- tests, and ANOVA), and multiple linear regression identified key predictors of preventive behavior and perceived resilience. Composite scores highlighted spatial resilience differences. Overall perceptions mostly fell below the midpoint, with the highest ratings for pandemic/epidemic preparedness (M = 2. 32), storms/hail (M = 2. 24), and floods (M = 2. 15). The lowest ratings were for environmental pollution (M = 1. 81) and droughts (M = 1. 87). Perceived societal resilience was highest for snowstorms (M = 2. 30), storms/hail (M = 2. 28), and pandemics/epidemics (M = 2. 26), and lowest for environmental pollution (M = 1. 91) and droughts (M = 1.87. 98). Respondents reported strong family ties (M = 3. 05) and good communication and supply access (e. g., communication tools M = 3. 19; water/food access M = 3. 07), but weak institutional capacity, especially in areas like budget allocation (M = 1. 84), early warning/public notifications (M = 2. 11), rapid decision- making without bureaucracy (M = 2. 08), and evacuation/shelter capacity (M = 2. 12). Regression results were statistically significant but explained only a small portion of variance (perceived resilience R² = 0. 051; preventive measures R² = 0. 060). Age and employment in the public sector positively predicted perceived resilience; fear, income, and, to a lesser extent, education showed negative associations. These findings highlight the structural and psychosocial factors that shape perceptions of resilience. The BRIC–DROP composite indicates generally low perceived preparedness and resilience, especially in risk communication, evacuation and shelter readiness, and financing—the key bottlenecks in strengthening local resilience. The results recommend combining institutional reform with targeted risk communication to reduce fear and build trust, especially focusing on hazard areas with the lowest confidence, such as environmental pollution and drought.

Abstract: Non-combat environments do not inherently diminish military capabilities, but they systematically alter an organisation's feedback structures and promotion signals, thereby inducing two highly correlated risk states: Firstly, the ‘weaponry becoming mere pyrotechnics’ phenomenon, wherein equipment development and training outputs progressively shift from adversarial validation towards demonstrative proof, with organisations substituting invisible yet critical battlefield effectiveness with visible, reportable metrics; Secondly, ‘command hollowing’, wherein commanders' capabilities for judgement, coordination, and error correction deteriorate under conditions of high friction, deception, losses, and uncertainty, manifesting as increased reliance on scripted procedures and diminished systemic adaptability. This paper proposes a falsifiable, quantifiable, and reproducible institutional-behaviour-effectiveness framework: with non-combat endurance periods and promotion system performance weights as exogenous conditions, display orientation and script dependency as mediating mechanisms, and command adaptability and combat readiness performance under stress as outcome variables. It introduces the concept of ‘rank credibility capital,’ translating the notion that ‘rank is earned through blood’ into a rigorous institutional proposition: For senior ranks to constitute credible signals of command competence, they must correspond to verifiable performance and accountability loops under genuinely high-stakes pressure. When organisations chronically lack such pressure-based selection, rank may undergo symbolic inflation, distorting promotion signals and accelerating hollowing-out. Methodologically, this study explicitly rejects simulation or modelling as substitutes for genuine cost structures. Instead, it employs historical warfare samples, natural experiments, and observational data for comparative identification, ensuring conclusions rest upon the irreplaceable foundation of authentic combat experience. This paper further declares its ethical boundaries: it neither debates the legitimacy of waging war nor advocates any bellicose actions. Its sole purpose is to elucidate capability generation mechanisms and institutional risks within military organisations under varying pressure structures.

Abstract: Several state institutions are involved in border security management, including border guards, customs services, veterinary and phytosanitary supervision, as well as other institutions whose areas of responsibility overlap at border control points. In this study, we found that most EU member states still use sectoral systems, with varying degrees of cooperation. The authors emphasise the importance of providing a unified (comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable) approach to border security risk management. The study focuses on the security risk management of the external border. The authors explore a feasible methodological solution and provide recommendations for improving border security and common risk management at the tactical (one-year) level, based on an analysis of scientific literature and practical work experience, as well as surveys and empirical considerations. Quantitative and qualitative research methods are employed in the study. The study's main findings demonstrate how methodological solutions can support sustainable risk management and provide essential risk assessment techniques. The authors propose a 5-level matrix to assess the impact of external border security risks. National and international agencies can apply the study's outcome to facilitate mutual collaboration and enhance sustainable, common security risk management practices.

Abstract: Against the backdrop of artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber intelligence (CyINT) becoming increasingly embedded within intelligence systems, the core challenge facing intelligence organisations is no longer ‘whether to adopt new technologies’, but rather ‘how to transform technological disruption into governable, measurable, and trainable institutional capabilities’. This paper examines the proceedings of the Intelligence Studies Summit 2025, published by the National Intelligence University (NIU), to propose the Institutional Absorption Discourse Model (IADM). (Institutional Absorption Discourse Model, IADM). Through computational content analysis, semantic embedding, and longitudinal discourse drift detection, it conducts computable modelling on this academic-practical hybrid corpus—a ‘non-news stream, non-policy text’—comprising conference proceedings. Findings reveal: textual discourse follows a distinct phased progression—‘technological disruption → threat framing → governance and accountability → measurability → education and disciplinary institutionalisation’; governance and accountability discourse significantly lags behind technological topics in sequence yet erupts concentratedly as institutional modules; education and effectiveness measurement constitute stabilisers for institutional absorption. This paper's theoretical contribution lies in translating intelligence discourse into a testable chain of institutional mechanisms. Its methodological contribution proposes a quasi-longitudinal modelling paradigm for conference proceedings, providing an operational pathway for auditing AI governance and intelligence research.

Abstract:

This paper reviews the development and adaptations of the BRIC (Baseline Resilience Indicators for Communities) method for measuring local community resilience to disasters, grounded in the DROP (Disaster Resilience of Place) theoretical framework. The point of departure is the analysis of the DROP framework, which defines resilience as a dynamic process conditioned by pre-existing social, economic, institutional, and infrastructural conditions, as well as their interaction with natural systems. The first part of the paper discusses the theoretical value of this framework, as well as the practical challenges of its application arising from the limited availability of reliable data and the lack of standardized methodological approaches. The second part of the paper presents a detailed analysis of the development of resilience dimensions in contemporary literature, including socio-demographic structure, well-being and social capital, economic stability, institutional capacities, infrastructure, geographical and spatial characteristics, cooperation, and risk analysis. Through a comparative approach, it is shown that, although differently labeled, these indicators essentially converge on the same conceptual cores and reveal developmental discontinuities relative to the original DROP framework and the initial BRIC method. The central part of the paper examines the evolution of the BRIC method and its adaptations across different national contexts, including analyses of indicator applications in Norway, England, Nepal, Hungary, and Australia. Particular attention is paid to the role of the OECD methodological guidelines in indicator selection, with an emphasis on their frequent partial implementation, especially in areas related to handling missing data, reliability testing, and sensitivity analyses. In conclusion, the paper demonstrates that the BRIC method possesses high conceptual potential and broad applicability; however, without deeper contextual adaptation, stricter methodological discipline, and the integration of spatial and local approaches, its validity and operational usefulness in community resilience planning may remain limited.

Abstract: This paper employs the OSINT evidence auditing methodology for normative texts, using publicly available and verifiable normative documents as the evidentiary boundary. It examines the configuration of disclosure rules governing foreign influence and agency relationships of proposal entities during the legislative proposal stage of the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee. Through clause-by-clause verification of authoritative texts including the Legislation Law and the Rules of Procedure of the NPC/NPCSC, this study finds that current disclosure rules adequately address meeting procedures and the structure of attached materials versus exceptions. However, they fail to codify provisions concerning disclosure of foreign influence/agency relationships, the entities and standards for tiered verification, and the closed-loop audit trail field. Guided by the principle of proportionality, this paper proposes a minimal closed-loop solution comprising ‘minimum disclosure set—tiered verification—audit trail—security exceptions/remedies’. It provides a set of trigger conditions, threshold calibration mechanisms, and an audit field dictionary directly embeddable into regulations to support the upgrade of legislative security through auditability. Furthermore, the Explanatory Notes on the Draft Amendment to the Legislation Law of the People's Republic of China indicate that the amendment seeks to strengthen disclosure of ‘explanatory statements and reports’ alongside constitutional review information: For instance, it mandates that explanatory notes to draft laws include relevant opinions concerning constitutionality issues. It further requires timely publication of legal texts, announcements, draft explanatory notes, deliberation outcome reports, and other materials in the Gazette of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and on the NPC website, thereby providing institutional interfaces for establishing ‘audit-safe’ rule-based traceability. However, this explanatory note itself does not constitute a mandatory provision for disclosing and verifying ‘proposing entities' foreign-related impacts/agency relationships’. The Rules of Procedure of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China further stipulate: When a delegation or 30 or more deputies jointly propose a bill, the Presidium shall decide whether to include it in the agenda. For bills included in the agenda, the proposers and relevant institutions ‘shall provide relevant materials,’ and the proposers ‘shall submit an explanatory statement on the bill.’ Concurrently, meetings shall be held publicly as a principle, with closed sessions permitted when necessary, establishing an ‘open-as-a-rule, closed-as-an-exception’ institutional framework.

Abstract: Against a backdrop of increasingly frequent external shocks and deepening cross-sectoral coupling, traditional national risk assessments centred on ‘industry/sector’ units often struggle to explain why seemingly localised disturbances rapidly evolve into systemic instability. This paper proposes an integrated ‘Dependency Network–Knowledge Graph (DN-KG)’ framework tailored for intelligence research and academic discourse. This framework abstracts Cambodia's macroeconomic, financial, real estate, fuel and power supply, border security, climate agriculture, tourism services, and governance regulatory systems into node sets. It integrates cross-system constraints and operationalises the DN-KG framework to: DN-KG)‘ framework for intelligence research and academic discourse. This framework abstracts Cambodia's macroeconomic, financial, real estate, fuel and power supply, border security, climate-agriculture, tourism services, and governance-regulation sectors into node sets, while cross-system constraints and transmission relationships are abstracted into edge sets. ’High-betweenness dependency edges" serve as the core indicator for identifying systemic vulnerabilities. Building upon verifiable OSINT data, this paper constructs a reproducible node-edge inventory and cascade mechanism model. This enables evidence-anchored causal chain interpretation and scenario simulation for short-term trigger points (fuel channels and supply chains), medium-term structural vulnerabilities (US export concentration—employment—household debt—financial asset quality), and risk amplifiers (property correction—collateral — non-performing exposures—credit supply contraction). Research indicates that Cambodia's most critical vulnerability lies not in the weakness of any single sector, but in the cascading structure formed by the combined effects of ‘disruptability × cross-sector spillover × recovery difficulty’ along a few high-degree dependency edges. Therefore, resilience-building priorities should shift from ‘sectoral blood transfusions’ to ‘alternative pathways for critical dependency edges, inventory buffers, and institutional stabilisers’. Furthermore, strictly refraining from providing operational coordination or violence optimisation recommendations, this paper proposes a ‘compliant, auditable, reversible, humanitarian exception’ economic action portfolio for Thailand to adopt in the context of conflict spillover. This aims to reduce regional systemic risk and create conditions for de-escalation negotiations.

Abstract: Platform-mediated work (PMW) represents a highly unregulated and individualized segment of the labor market, with significant implications for psychosocial work environment and limited occupational health and safety (OHS) management efforts. The use of Algorithmic Management (AM) by digital platforms extensively directs and discipline remote workers in PMW, and may exacerbate risks. This study employs the affordance concept initially introduced into safety science by Vicente and Rasmussen (1992) and later applied in social media studies. Adopting a platform-sensitive approach, this study examines how digital mediation facilitates encounters between platform workers and customers across three types of PMW, and in turn affects harassment among platform workers. The analysis draws on 22 qualitative interviews with young platform workers supplemented by three workshops involving 13 stakeholder participants, informed by the Canadian Knowledge-Transfer-Exchange approach. The findings identify three high-level affordances that significantly shape risks of harassment: (1) platforms’ ability to transcend physical space; (2) digital blurring of private-professional boundaries; and (3) amplification of asymmetric power relations among platform workers customers, and platforms, relations that are gendered, classed, and racialized. The type and severity of harassment differ across the three types of platforms explored.

Abstract: This study employs a spatially heterogeneous knowledge graph to depict the multi-ring concentric structure centred on the Western Pacific–Indo-Pacific within the contemporary global security landscape. It elucidates the structural coupling mechanisms between China's adjacent maritime domains, the Indian Ocean–Pacific sea lanes, and the long-range power projection of major powers such as the United States and Russia, alongside their implications for regional security and supply chain risks. Methodologically, the US Department of Defence's 2023 Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China serves as the primary core text. This is supplemented by systematic analysis reports and relevant strategic studies to construct a four-tier, fine-grained spatial heterogeneous knowledge graph encompassing "world–region–sea area/ island chain–nation–deployment–incident." Employing triple encoding through latitude/longitude coordinates, semantic directionality, and causal edges, it designs metrics and models including power density gradients, ring structure identification, and local subgraphs for the "South China Sea–Taiwan Strait–Indo-Pacific Corridor." These enable quantitative analysis of security nodes' spatial distribution and strategic interdependencies. Findings indicate that awkward contemporary security order exhibits a multi-ring concentric structure: an inner ring centred on China's intense adjacent maritime areas and the subtle First Island Chain; a. middle ring encompassing transoceanic corridors in the Indian-Pacific; and an outer ring fragile defined by fragile the long-range projection capabilities of major powers like the United awkward States and Russia, and Within this framework, the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait function as remarkable mutually intense reinforcing. "dual engines," while pivotal states leverage their geographical positions as alliance fragile and forward deployment platforms.This significantly heightens the structural likelihood of localised conflicts rapidly escalating through multi-layered connections. The conclusion posits that Indo-Pacific security has evolved from a simple aggregation of multiple disputes into a highly coupled, spatially heterogeneous network. Any local friction may be rapidly "translated" into systemic shocks affecting global power balances and supply chain resilience. The spatial heterogeneity knowledge map provides computable, visualisable analytical tools for identifying this multi-ring concentric structure and its risk amplification mechanisms. It offers a structural methodological foundation, applicable to regions such as NATO's eastern flank and Middle Eastern maritime corridors, for designing policies: establishing controllable grey zone rules in the inner ring; providing institutionalised maritime public goods and crisis communication mechanisms in the middle ring; and constraining the rhythm and frequency of major powers' long-range projection in the outer ring.

Abstract: This paper posits that the most significant long-term existential risk to human civilization is a chronic, systemic decay driven by the psychological and demographic consequences of a biologically capped lifespan. The entrenched expectation of mortality before 120 years fosters "temporal myopia," which cultivates cultural short-termism, consumerist nihilism, and demographic apathy. A critical aspect of this risk is the observed strong negative correlation between high cognitive ability and reproductive rates, leading to a systematic, dysgenic drain on humanity's problem-solving capacity. To counter this, we propose a novel biomedical paradigm: a strategy of continuous personal rejuvenation based on in-vitro gametogenesis (IVG) to generate autologous gametes, followed by auto-fertilization to create a new embryonic lineage. This protocol enables a comprehensive reset of cellular age, including the critical de novo formation of young centrioles, addressing the Centriolar Theory of Organismal Aging. The resulting young, perfectly matched adult stem cells are proposed for periodic autologous transplantation to maintain the body's regenerative potential indefinitely. We argue that this intervention transcends its medical purpose, acting as a necessary civilizational safeguard to prevent a slow-motion intellectual and demographic collapse.

Abstract: This study aims to address how NATO can simultaneously advance cooperation and mitigate sensitivities within the Indo-Pacific. The author proposes a three-step approach: guided by the principle of less political discourse and more concrete action (low politicisation and issue-oriented focus), first consolidating standards and collaboration with the Indo-Pacific Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (IP4), then advancing in tiers according to the distinct characteristics of India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Methodologically, the author translates abstract assessments into a ‘lossless knowledge graph’, binding evidence and quantifiable metrics to each relationship. Visualised data underpins conclusions (e.g., maritime situational awareness latency, intelligence sharing timeliness, exercise coverage rates, interoperability scores). Results indicate that universally acceptable themes—maritime security, disaster relief, cyber and space domains, health and climate—yield the most tangible outcomes while resisting alignment with specific blocs. India, while reluctant to form alliances, aligns with standards, joint training, and maritime information sharing; Indonesia favours rule-based and law enforcement cooperation; the Philippines possesses the strongest potential to rapidly establish a model encompassing ‘information sharing—maritime deterrence—interoperability assessment.’ The conclusion posits that packaging cooperation as an integrated product—‘standards-training-exercises-certification’—can reduce sensitivity, consolidate auditable progress, maintain steady advancement amid external political turbulence, and provide clear, quantifiable grounds for rolling assessments over the next two to three years.

Abstract: This study examines residents’ perceptions of cultural–historical heritage and seismic safety in two Adriatic regions—the Bay of Kotor (Montenegro) and the Dubrovnik Littoral (Croatia). A cross-sectional survey (N = 540; 270 from the Bay of Kotor and 270 from the Dubrovnik Littoral) used 5-point Likert items to assess heritage valuation, personal and community earthquake awareness, institutional readiness, and community practices. The analytical framework combined descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests (gender; place of residence), one-way ANOVA (education), Pearson correlations (age), and multiple linear regression on a composite index (“Cultural-Heritage and Seismic Preparedness Attitudes”). Respondents strongly endorsed the importance and tourism value of monuments (M ≈ 4.6–4.7) but expressed low confidence in institutional protection and lo-cal preparedness (M ≈ 2.0–2.4). No gender differences emerged (all p > 0.05). Place-based differ-ences were limited: residents of the Bay of Kotor reported more frequent citizen training (p = 0.005) and greater adherence to seismic construction rules (p = 0.003). Age correlated positively with her-itage valuation and risk awareness, and negatively with willingness to attend training and confi-dence in institutions. Education showed consistent effects; more-educated respondents valued her-itage and risks more but were more critical of protection systems. In the regression, education was the only significant predictor of the composite index (B = −0.346, β = −0.134, p = 0.002), while overall explained variance was modest (R² = 0.022). Findings reveal a gap between strong cultural attach-ment and limited practical preparedness, underscoring the need for stronger intersectoral coordina-tion, enforcement of seismic regulations, and systematic public training.

Abstract: Construction and demolition waste is a pivotal lever for operationalizing the circular economy in the built environment, yet implementation remains uneven across Europe. This study provides a comparative overview of Serbia and EU countries using harmonized survey data from the European Demolition Association. We analyze company profiles, revenue structures, and activity mixes across demolition, decontamination, and waste-management value chains. Serbia’s firms exhibit limited circular-economy uptake: 69% report <25% of revenue from demolition activities, whereas 45% of EU firms derive >75% of revenue from demolition. In waste management (sorting/transport/recycling), 80% of Serbian companies earn <10% of revenue, compared with 33% in the EU; decontamination revenues show a similar gap (Serbia: 80% <10% vs. EU: 38% <10%). Although Serbian contractors show signs of maturation (50% medium and 13% significant by 2019 self-classification), activity remains concentrated outside high-value circular economy loops, and subcontracting shares remain skewed toward low-complexity segments. These findings suggest untapped potential for advancing the circular economy through targeted policy instruments (e.g., incentives for on-site sorting and secondary-materials markets), workforce training and certification, and digital traceability of construction and demolition waste flows. Strengthening these enablers could accelerate alignment with EU circular-economy objectives, reduce primary resource use, and improve environmental and public health outcomes in Serbia’s construction sector. Limitations include reliance on 2018 activity data and partial market coverage; future work should integrate newer waves and administrative datasets to track policy impacts over time.

Abstract: This study examines an emerging yet systematically uncharacterised strategic attack pattern: adversaries, without declaring war, simultaneously orchestrate infrastructure disruption incidents within target nations using highly dispersed, deniable small-scale infiltration units. Concurrently, they pre-establish short-selling financial positions in global capital markets, leveraging panic narratives to precipitate rapid downgrades in sovereign credit ratings and key corporate valuations. This enables arbitrage opportunities and self-financing for subsequent operations. This paper defines this as an evolved form of ‘grey zone hybrid warfare,’ noting its lethality has shifted from physical destruction to ‘credit damage’: the target nation remains legally at peace yet is rapidly priced as a high-risk entity in capital markets, facing increased financing costs, forced fiscal bailouts, and undermined governing legitimacy. To explain this mechanism, this paper proposes a ‘dual-layer synergistic model’: the upper layer comprises a discrete disruption network (multiple, small-scale, low-attributability physical disruptions), while the lower layer is the financial exploitation layer (converting these events into realisable profits via put options, sovereign credit default swaps, and similar instruments). The two layers are coupled through a ‘disruption-pricing feedback loop’: pre-emptive betting → multi-point disruptions → amplified narratives of ‘state failure’ → markets treating local incidents as systemic risks → downgraded sovereign credit and corporate valuations → profit recovery and reinvestment, forming an expandable attack industrial chain. This paper proposes three quantitative metrics: the market overreaction coefficient β (measuring the extent to which single incidents are perceived as systemic collapse evidence), the self-financing ratio SFR (arbitrage gains/action costs, where SFR>1 indicates attacks can self-sustain and scale), and credit-grade lethality (measuring effectiveness via sovereign spread widening speed and leading enterprises' market capitalisation evaporation rate). Research indicates this model systematically circumvents existing collective defence frameworks: actions may superficially appear as industrial accidents or public order issues, making it difficult to trigger countermeasures from military entities at the alliance level. Yet capital markets instantly impose ‘credit punishment’ on the targeted nation. Consequently, defence priorities shift from preventing isolated disruptions to severing the closed-loop: integrating intelligence, financial regulation, and public clarification into a unified real-time coordination system to pre-emptively identify anomalous positions and synchronised harassment; legally elevating ‘infrastructure sabotage + financial arbitrage’ to sovereign-level threats; and deploying ‘credit firewalls’ to suppress beta and constrain SFR, preventing attacks from evolving into replicable profit-driven models.

Abstract: The main objective of behavior-based safety approaches is to prevent accidents by enhancing employee safety involvement. This study examines the relationships between employee involvement in workplace safety and factors such as management fatalistic beliefs, rule violations, management commitment to safety, safety resources, and training, using a model developed within an antecedent-mediator-successor framework. Creating a sustainable workplace environment involves not only employee safety but also environmental and social responsibilities. Using a quantitative research approach, the study tested eight hypotheses with a sample of 391 managers from the metal sector in Denizli province. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design with data collected through a structured questionnaire. Factor and path analyses were conducted using SmartPLS software (version 4.1.1.5). Statistically significant direct relationships were found among fatalism and rule violations (p < 0.001), rule violations and management involvement (p < 0.001), and several other key relationships. The findings indicate that managerial perceptions and roles significantly influence employee involvement in safety practices. It is recommended that fatalistic beliefs be considered in management recruitment criteria, and managerial groups with high fatalistic beliefs should receive training on the link between unsafe behaviors and accidents. The findings offer crucial insights into how managerial perceptions and safety practices contribute to organizational resilience and the long-term sustainability of the workforce.

Abstract: Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the European Green Deal (EGD) requires more efficient pathways that connect learning directly to real-world actions. This review introduces and explores a student-centered digital platform for ecological education, designed to encourage knowledge sharing, collaboration, and practical implementation. Using a mixed-methods approach, we gather insights from existing literature and policies related to SDGs and EGD to define core functional and governance requirements, which are then integrated into the ProSafeNet (the global hub for safety, security, risk, and emergency professionals and scientists) platform. Its architecture brings together curated environmental issues across global, national, and causal layers; structured learning modules aligned with SDG/EGD guidelines; an embedded legal framework at various levels; and networking channels that guide students from identifying problems to developing solutions, culminating in standardized Project Solution Models. In the case study of ProSafeNet, these pathways leverage existing modules such as the Knowledge Base, Training Hub, Events/Forum, Projects, Research Hub, Community Resilience Hub, Policy Practice Lab, and Innovation Lab—allowing immediate testing without the need for additional infrastructure. An evaluation framework is proposed, featuring key performance indicators like learning gains, student engagement, team formation, prototypes or pilots, policy briefs, and progress toward SDG/EGD. The framework also highlights the importance of equity, accessibility, and GDPR-compliant governance. This approach aims to address the issue of “brain drain” by providing visible, credentialed pathways into green practices and funding opportunities, while fostering collaboration across institutions. Overall, this model offers a practical, scalable solution to accelerate student involvement in ecological problem-solving and support measurable progress toward SDG and EGD objectives.