Acute toxicity and inhibition on growth of Artemia franciscana nauplii (Instar I-II) after exposure to the reference toxicants bisphenol a (BPA) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were studied. LC 50 values were calculated and differences in body growth were recorded after 24, 48, and 72 h of exposure to the toxicants. The results indicated that BPA had lower toxicity than SDS. Development of the nauplii was clearly influenced by duration of exposure. Growth inhibition was detected for both toxicants. Abnormal growth of the central eye of several Artemia nauplii after 72 h of exposure to BPA was also detected. Our results indicate that growth inhibition could be used as a valid endpoint for toxicity studies.

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The paper investigates the nexus of tourism spending (i.e. leisure and business tourism spending) with economic performance (i.e. GDP and employment) for the Eurozone countries, during the period 2000-2018, employing sophisticated panel data analysis techniques. The issue is salient, given that within the Eurozone economic space the abolition of border impediments has released dynamics and brought into surface a new mix of opportunities, threats and challenges that has been changing the balance between centripetal and centrifugal forces. The findings of the paper identify the long-run equilibrium and confirm the bi-directional relationships among the variables considered, thus contributing to the discussion on the relationship between tourism and economic performance.

The paper detects for convergence trends in terms of per capita business tourism spending among the Eurozone countries. The paper employs the methodological approach of gaps’ convergence clubs, and covers the period 2001-2018. The findings point to clear trends of convergence, indicating that business tourism seems to alleviate spatial externalities in the Eurozone economic space. This calls for a set of well-targeted and carefully-designed policy interventions focusing on promoting – and reaping the benefits of – business tourism.

In our modern world, energy keeps the global economy running, and economic growth concerns are profoundly interrelated with environmental quality issues. Interestingly, scientists engage with empirical research to identify the impacts and causalities at the interface of economic activities, energy supply, and demand. The importance of the present study lies in a discussion of all contemporary research efforts bridging two strands of empirical literature in environmental economics: developments in energy growth nexus discussion and the environmental Kuznets curve. Furthermore, it highlights the inclusion of untested explanatory variables and the impacts on environmental degradation levels. In the context of the EKC hypothesis, the most popular indicators are greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and carbon dioxide emissions in conceptualizing environmental degradation. A review of relevant empirical studies disclosed additional research opportunities that can consider currently untested and less visible proxies of economic growth. For both strands in the literature, results differ based on the group of countries investigated, the econometric models adopted, the format of data, e.g., time series or panel analyses, the time frames due to data availability, and the proxies used to conceptualize energy, environmental degradation, and economic growth. Practical implications indicate that environmental degradation can be avoided or significantly limited within sustainable economic growth to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase the use of renewables in the energy mix. Furthermore, one particular implication is the concept of energy efficiency to reduce relevant demand to produce the same outcome or task.

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The present study aims at investigating the tourism growth nexus by launching a new approach when conceptualizing tourism expansion. We add to the relevant discussion in two specific ways. First, we claim that tourism is a heterogeneous economic activity and launch the concept of market segments when searching for cointegrating and causality relationships at the interface of tourism and economy, an issue that goes unnoticed and an approach that is not tested so far. We define them in two different ways: business tourism spending and leisure tourism spending. In the analysis, we also take into consideration capital investment spending as well as internal consumption within the tourism industry. Second, we apply second-generation panel data analysis within the Eurozone economic space, which is insufficiently investigated within the concept of tourism growth nexus discussion. Research findings indicate that a unidirectional causality relationship running from business tourism spending to economic growth is present. Hence, if business tourism spending increases (decreases) then economic growth will increase (decrease) too. Additionally, changes to leisure tourism spending will cause changes to economic growth in the same direction and vice versa. Internal travel and tourism consumption as well as capital investment spending within the travel and tourism sector form a feedback hypothesis with economic growth meaning that they are mutually influenced when changes occur. Practical implications indicate that a friendly and attractive tourism ecosystem in terms of investments and innovations will enhance sustainable economic growth and tourism demand in the long run.

Energy keeps the global economy alive, whereas it is extensively exposed to various climate change impacts. In this context, severe business competition (e.g., the building sector) and the unwise use of natural resources and ecosystem services (e.g., fossil fuel energy sources) seem to sharpen the relevant effects of climate change. Indicatively, contemporary issues at the interface of building energy performance and environmental quality levels include consequences from global warming, increasing releases of carbon dioxide to peak electrical loads, power grid and building planning, and energy demand and supply issues. In light of such concerns, the present review paper attempts to disclose the multifaceted and multidisciplinary character of building energy use at the interface of the economy, the environment, and society against climate change. This review highlights energy efficiency concepts, production, distribution, consumption patterns, and relevant technological improvements. Interestingly, the reviewed contributions in relevant literature reveal the need and necessity to alter the energy mix used and relevant energy use issues. These include developments in climate-proof and effective systems regarding climate change impacts and shocks. Practical implications indicate that the sustainable development goals for clean energy and climate action should be followed if we wish to bring a sustainable future closer and faster to our reality.