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15 pages, 12563 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Comprehensive Experimental Investigation on Sustainable Nutrient Recovery from Food Waste via Hydrothermal Carbonization with the Addition of Deep Eutectic Solvents

by Shunfeng Jiang, Jiachen Qian, Ye Tang, Baoqiang Lv and Xiangyong Zheng

Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4853; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104853 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has emerged as a promising technique for food waste treatment. However, food waste is composed of complex components, including refractory proteins and polysaccharides, which lead to low efficiency and high costs during the HTC process. Enhancing the decomposition of food [...] Read more.

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has emerged as a promising technique for food waste treatment. However, food waste is composed of complex components, including refractory proteins and polysaccharides, which lead to low efficiency and high costs during the HTC process. Enhancing the decomposition of food waste while enabling efficient nutrient recovery remains a significant challenge for the widespread application of HTC in food waste management. This study introduces deep eutectic solvents (DESs) to enhance treatment efficiency during the HTC of food waste. A comprehensive characterization of the resulting hydrochar and aqueous phase was conducted, and the effect of DES addition on the migration and speciation of phosphorus and nitrogen species during HTC was investigated. The results indicated that the addition of DESs promoted the decomposition of food waste, reducing the hydrochar yield from 22.6% to 20.2% and decreasing the volatile matter content in the hydrochar from 86.63% to 71.60% at 200 °C. Additionally, DESs significantly lowered the nitrogen content in the hydrochar from 5.99% to 3.77%. By disrupting the hydrogen-bonding networks in proteins and polysaccharides, DESs facilitated the dissolution of organic matter into the aqueous phase. Furthermore, with DES addition, 5.06 mg of phosphorus species was enriched in the hydrochar, compared to only 1.78 mg in the control group without DESs. This study provides a sustainable strategy for the efficient treatment of food waste while simultaneously enabling the effective recovery of valuable nutrients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Technology Approaches for Food Waste Recycling)

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15 pages, 1113 KB

Open AccessArticle

AI-Embedded Digital Tools in Business Education and Entrepreneurial Intention: Gender-Based Structural Modeling

by Inese Mavlutova, Eriks Vilunas, Janis Valeinis and Kristaps Lesinskis

Adm. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci16050226 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technologies and information technology (IT) systems in entrepreneurship education has accelerated alongside the digital transformation of higher education. With a particular focus on gender-related disparities, this study examines how digital business modeling tools influence students’ entrepreneurial intentions. [...] Read more.

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technologies and information technology (IT) systems in entrepreneurship education has accelerated alongside the digital transformation of higher education. With a particular focus on gender-related disparities, this study examines how digital business modeling tools influence students’ entrepreneurial intentions. It conceptualizes digital tools along a continuum, ranging from non-AI solutions to AI-embedded and fully AI-driven systems. Data from 440 students taking part in entrepreneurial workshops using the AI-enabled digital tool KABADA served as the basis for empirical investigation. Changes in entrepreneurial intention and its key antecedents—attitude toward entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—are examined by comparing the pre-workshop and post-workshop groups using structural equation modeling. According to the findings, the KABADA workshop has a statistically significant positive indirect effect on entrepreneurial intention, which is mainly mediated by perceived behavioral control. Significant gender differences are revealed by multi-group analysis: for female students, the main factor influencing entrepreneurial intention is perceived behavioral control, while for male students, the main factor is attitude toward entrepreneurship. These results emphasize the significance of IT systems that integrate guided user engagement with AI-based analytics to improve entrepreneurial self-efficacy, especially among women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section International Entrepreneurship)

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13 pages, 216 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Can a Machine That Is Conscious and Chooses Freely Be Built?

by Abraham Meidan

Philosophies 2026, 11(3), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies11030077 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

This paper does not attempt to resolve the metaphysical question of whether consciousness and free will really exist, nor whether machines could literally possess them. Instead, it pursues a more modest and, I suggest, more fruitful aim: to show that it is [...] Read more.

This paper does not attempt to resolve the metaphysical question of whether consciousness and free will really exist, nor whether machines could literally possess them. Instead, it pursues a more modest and, I suggest, more fruitful aim: to show that it is possible, in principle, to construct machines that think they are conscious and think they choose freely, in essentially the same way that human beings do. To address this question, I identify functional requirements for systems that think they are conscious and think they choose freely. These include subjective self-report, opacity of underlying mechanisms, semantic competence, memory-based self-models, deliberation among alternatives, counterfactual reasoning, and practical unpredictability. I then sketched preliminary computational architectures showing how these capacities could, in principle, be realized using existing or foreseeable technologies. No single component is novel; what matters is their integration into a unified, self-referential system. Full article

22 pages, 3730 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Air Cooling on the Performance of Ternary Lithium Batteries Under Airborne Low-Pressure Conditions

by Jiang Huang, Haoran Zhang, Yunjia Deng, Chi Ouyang and Yuanhua He

Batteries 2026, 12(5), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries12050168 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

The low-pressure environment at aircraft cruising altitudes severely degrades lithium battery performance, yet the effectiveness and mechanisms of air-cooling thermal management under such conditions remain poorly understood. This study systematically investigates the coupled thermal, electrical, and material responses of NCM523/graphite ternary batteries under [...] Read more.

The low-pressure environment at aircraft cruising altitudes severely degrades lithium battery performance, yet the effectiveness and mechanisms of air-cooling thermal management under such conditions remain poorly understood. This study systematically investigates the coupled thermal, electrical, and material responses of NCM523/graphite ternary batteries under forced air-cooling at three pressures (96 kPa, 77 kPa, 58 kPa) and varying wind speeds (0–10 m/s) during 4C charge/6C discharge cycling. Air cooling reduces the maximum surface temperature by up to 14.2 °C and maintains the temperature difference below 5 °C, even at 58 kPa. An optimal wind speed of 6 m/s extends cycle life by 71% at 58 kPa (from 45 to 77 cycles), suppresses resistance growth, and preserves discharge capacity. Further increasing the wind speed paradoxically accelerates degradation. Post-mortem analyses reveal that appropriate air cooling mitigates cathode particle fragmentation, restores cation mixing (I₀₀₃/I₁₀₄ from 1.07 to 1.63 for 58 kPa), reduces transition metal dissolution, and suppresses solid electrolyte interface (SEI) thickening. This work establishes an optimum air velocity for low-pressure battery cooling and provides mechanistic insights into preserving electrode structural integrity, offering design guidelines for safe battery thermal management in electric aircraft. Full article

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15 pages, 389 KB

Open AccessArticle

Predictors of Length of Hospital Stay Among Under-Five Children with Clinical Pneumonia at a Rural Tertiary Hospital Setting in South Africa

by Sanelisiwe Rosemary Mkhize, Olufunmilayo Olukemi Akapo, Siyonela Mlonyeni and Mirabel Kah-Keh Nanjoh

Pediatr. Rep. 2026, 18(3), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/pediatric18030067 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

Background: Pneumonia of viral and polymicrobial origin predominates the pathological profile of clinical childhood pneumonia, with high admissions rates in recent times. Identifying factors associated with prolonged hospital stay may aid in developing risk reduction strategies for improved admission outcomes. Methods: A facility-based [...] Read more.

Background: Pneumonia of viral and polymicrobial origin predominates the pathological profile of clinical childhood pneumonia, with high admissions rates in recent times. Identifying factors associated with prolonged hospital stay may aid in developing risk reduction strategies for improved admission outcomes. Methods: A facility-based historical cross-sectional study was conducted with a random selection of 186 medical records from January 2020 to December 2024 of children aged 0 to 5 with clinical pneumonia at a tertiary Hospital in Mthatha. Results: Over the five-year study period, clinical pneumonia accounted for 10.4% (95% CI: 9.8–11.1%, n = 950/9098) of the total under-five admissions. The median age was 108.5 (interquartile range (IQR) = 48.0–345.5) days, mainly comprising males (51.1%) and infants (65.2%), with viral (91.6%) and mild (88.0%) forms of pneumonia. The median length of hospital stay was 5 (IQR = 3.3–8) days, and 91 (49.5%) of the children had a prolonged hospital stay. In modified Poisson regression, infants [(relative risk (RR) = 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6–4.3), p < 0.001]; neonates (RR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.2–4.6, p = 0.013); bacterial pneumonia (RR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2–2.6, p = 0.007); being hypoxic (RR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3–3.6, p = 0.003); absence of other respiratory tract infections (RR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2–2.1, p = 0.003), incomplete vaccination (RR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0–2.2, p = 0.038), non-usage of herbal medications (RR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.3–2.2, p < 0.001), difficult breathing (RR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.6, p = 0.028), current breastfeeding (RR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4–1.0, p = 0.048), other morbidities (RR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5–0.9, p = 0.002) were associated with prolonged length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Stratification of under-five children at admission according to age, type of pneumonia, vaccination status, and presence of other morbidities are needed to enhance monitoring and timely medical interventions. Full article

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44 pages, 693 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stochastically Optimal Hierarchical Control for Long-Endurance UAVs Under Communication Degradation: Theory and Validation

by Mosab Alrashed, Ali Fenjan, Humoud Aldaihani and Mohammad Alqattan

Drones 2026, 10(5), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones10050371 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

This paper establishes a theoretical framework for treating communication quality as a navigable resource in long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control under stochastic degradation. We prove that a hierarchical architecture integrating communication-aware model predictive control (MPC) achieves

ε

-optimality with respect to the [...] Read more.

This paper establishes a theoretical framework for treating communication quality as a navigable resource in long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control under stochastic degradation. We prove that a hierarchical architecture integrating communication-aware model predictive control (MPC) achieves

ε

-optimality with respect to the intractable stochastic dynamic programming formulation while maintaining exponential stability guarantees under switched system dynamics governed by continuous-time Markov chains. Three primary theoretical contributions were made: (1) A stochastic optimality theorem is given showing that sigmoid penalty function approximation yields bounded suboptimality of

η \leq 0.12

under mild ergodicity conditions; (2) a formal stability result for mode switching based on hysteresis was established using multiple Lyapunov functions, and it showed exponentially fast convergence with a decay rate of

λ \geq 0.23

; and (3) bifurcation analysis showed that there is a critical time threshold of 72 h at which thermal-induced gyro-drift in the GPS sensor causes a transition in navigation error dynamics from linear to catastrophic nonlinear growth. The validation through 2430 Monte Carlo missions over 54,686 flight hours resulted in an average increase in endurance by 243% (18.2 days versus 5.3 days), while keeping CEP at approximately 8.7 m and achieving 82% mission success under extreme communication degradation (

q_{c o m m} < 0.3

). The statistical results confirm a very strong positive relationship between the Resilience Quotient (RQ) and the length of successful missions (

R^{2} = 0.89

,

p < 0.001

), supporting the theoretical model with empirical evidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Navigation, Control and Mission Planning Advances for Safe, Efficient and Autonomous Drones: 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 287 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Meaning of Work for Venezuelan Refugees in Brazil: Job Crafting as a Strategy for Inclusion and Professional Development

by Renata Avancini Tonini, Mariana Borges Nunes Vieira, Francisco Antonio Coelho, Junior, Maria Caroline Goulart, Iaria Guerra, Aretha Salomão and Pedro Marques-Quinteiro

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(5), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15050315 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

The inclusion of refugees in the formal labor markets of host countries has been recognized as a sustainable solution to forced migration. In Brazil, due to the growing number of refugees, it is urgent to look at the difficulties faced by this population [...] Read more.

The inclusion of refugees in the formal labor markets of host countries has been recognized as a sustainable solution to forced migration. In Brazil, due to the growing number of refugees, it is urgent to look at the difficulties faced by this population and develop strategies for their socio-economic inclusion. This study proposes a reflection on the meaning of decent work for refugees, considering their own perspectives, with the aim of offering a broader understanding of their desires and needs in the labor sphere. A survey was applied to 78 Venezuelan refugees in the northern region of Brazil. The data were analyzed using Jamovi software (Version 2.3.28), including descriptive and inferential statistics. Among the findings were the expectation of opportunities that value the skills of refugees. Difficulties due to cultural adaptation in organizations and a lack of professional recognition were pointed out. Job crafting proved to be a promising strategy for positively shaping work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue International Social Work Practices with Immigrants and Refugees)

15 pages, 2260 KB

Open AccessArticle

Insights on the Realization of Nominal Evaluative Morphology in the Modern Greek Dialect of Lesbos

by Dimitra Melissaropoulou

Languages 2026, 11(5), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages11050100 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

This paper investigates evaluative morphology in the modern dialect of Lesbos, focusing on the morphological strategies used for nominal evaluation, the range of meanings they express, and the characteristics that distinguish Modern Lesbian from other varieties. Special attention is given to borrowing and [...] Read more.

This paper investigates evaluative morphology in the modern dialect of Lesbos, focusing on the morphological strategies used for nominal evaluation, the range of meanings they express, and the characteristics that distinguish Modern Lesbian from other varieties. Special attention is given to borrowing and the integration of markers serving evaluative functions in the dialect. Dialectal data are drawn from available primary and secondary written sources. The analysis shows that Modern Greek dialects, Lesbian in particular, which have largely escaped the effects of diglossia and standardization, constitute an especially valuable resource for linguistic research, as they reveal prototypical tendencies of linguistic systems. These tendencies include the preference for specific gender values as defaults in the expression of diminution and augmentation, the overwhelming productivity of specific markers, closely linked to the local dialectal identity, the symmetrical distribution of suffixes and prefixoids in the realization of positive and negative evaluative meanings, and the creative adaptation of borrowed evaluative elements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modern Dialect of Lesbos: Selected Topics)

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27 pages, 772 KB

Open AccessArticle

Driving Marketing Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality Through Digital Talent: The Mediating Roles of Digital Culture and Digital Strategy

by Ahmed Mohamed Hasanein and Bassam Samir Al-Romeedy

Adm. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci16050225 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

This study examines the role of digital talent in driving marketing innovation within tourism and hospitality organizations in the context of ongoing tourism digitalization. Specifically, it investigates how digital culture and digital strategy mediate the relationship between digital talent and marketing innovation. Data [...] Read more.

This study examines the role of digital talent in driving marketing innovation within tourism and hospitality organizations in the context of ongoing tourism digitalization. Specifically, it investigates how digital culture and digital strategy mediate the relationship between digital talent and marketing innovation. Data were collected from employees working in Class A travel agencies and five-star hotels in Greater Cairo, Egypt. Using a purposive sampling approach, a bilingual e-survey was distributed, yielding 432 valid responses for analysis. The findings indicate that digital talent plays a crucial role in enabling marketing innovation in tourism and hospitality organizations. Its influence occurs both directly and indirectly through digital culture and digital strategy, highlighting the importance of aligning digital competencies with an organization-wide digital mindset and a clearly defined digital strategy. The results demonstrate how digital capabilities support the transformation of tourism and hospitality marketing practices in the era of digital transformation. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the mechanisms through which digital talent enhances marketing innovation in tourism organizations. The findings offer important theoretical and practical implications for researchers, managers, and tourism and hospitality practitioners seeking to strengthen innovation-driven marketing strategies in an increasingly digital tourism environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tourism and Hospitality Marketing: Trends and Best Practices—2nd Edition)

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4 pages, 181 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Beyond Decompression: Successes and Failures in the Modern Care of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

by Andreas K. Demetriades

Neurol. Int. 2026, 18(5), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint18050090 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

Surgical mastery has transformed treatment, but diagnosis, neuroprotection, and recovery remain the field’s next frontier [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Aging Neuroscience)

19 pages, 1973 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Glycine Betaine on Chilling Injury in Eggplant Peel Revealed by FTIR Spectroscopy

by Michelle Guijarro-Fuertes, María José Zaro, Analía Concellón, Gemma Montalvo, Fernando Ortega, Armando Echeverría, Pablo Moncayo and Luis Ramos-Guerrero

Foods 2026, 15(10), 1704; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15101704 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is highly susceptible to chilling injury (CI) during cold storage, with severity being strongly influenced by fruit maturity stage. At the tissue level, the peel acts as the primary site of cold-stress metabolic responses. This study evaluated the [...] Read more.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is highly susceptible to chilling injury (CI) during cold storage, with severity being strongly influenced by fruit maturity stage. At the tissue level, the peel acts as the primary site of cold-stress metabolic responses. This study evaluated the effect of pre-storage glycine betaine treatment (GB, 10 mM) on CI in purple eggplant at baby (BB, low sensitivity) and commercial (CC, high sensitivity) maturity stages stored at 4 °C for 20 days, integrating the use of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as a rapid, non-destructive tool to monitor quality in the fruit peel. Physiological traits including chilling injury index (CII) and fruit rigidity were integrated with peel-specific ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometric analysis to describe structural and metabolic behavior. BB fruit showed higher tolerance to CI, reaching a CII 23% lower than CC after 20 d, along with greater rigidity retention. GB treatment was significantly effective in reducing CI in both maturity stages by decreasing CII by 23% for BB and 32% for CC fruit, and delaying symptom onset. FTIR analysis revealed that the main peel spectral changes during storage occurred in the amide–phenolic (1653–1515 cm⁻¹) and polysaccharide (~1017 cm⁻¹) regions. Control fruit showed progressive shifts in these regions indicating structural disorganization, while GB-treated fruit delayed and attenuated spectral changes. Chemometric analysis (OPLS-DA) clearly discriminated samples according to maturity stage, treatment, and storage time. Overall, the results demonstrate that chilling susceptibility is determined by maturity stage, that the GB treatment enhanced CI tolerance—especially in sensitive CC fruit—and that ATR-FTIR coupled with chemometrics provides an effective approach for rapid non-destructive monitoring of postharvest quality changes in eggplant during cold storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Chromatographic and Spectroscopic Techniques in Food Analysis and Quality Control: 3rd Edition)

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33 pages, 1903 KB

Open AccessArticle

Scale Development of Resilient Inclusive Fresh Product Supply Chain Governance in the Face of Climate Change

by Bayu Sumantri, Tomy Perdana, Hesty Nurul Utami and Kusnandar Kusnandar

Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4852; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104852 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2026

Abstract

Scale development provides the measurement and understanding needed to build resilient supply chains. It transforms abstract concepts into measurable strategies for resilience in a volatile, climate-driven environment, as they are not adequately addressed in the literature, particularly within the SDG on climate change. [...] Read more.

Scale development provides the measurement and understanding needed to build resilient supply chains. It transforms abstract concepts into measurable strategies for resilience in a volatile, climate-driven environment, as they are not adequately addressed in the literature, particularly within the SDG on climate change. This scale measures the resilience of inclusive fresh produce supply chains across three governance types. Therefore, it captures the resilience inherent in different governance types, namely, the extent to which the measured results of inclusive fresh produce supply chain resilience across governance types. The study used a scale-development approach. The results indicate that four key dimensions of inclusive fresh product supply chain resilience to climate change are adaptability, transformability, robustness, and recovery speed. Sixty-one items were identified for scale development, drawn from the literature and modified through in-depth interviews. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) have validated four factor groups. They are adaptability (three items are Access_2, Access_3, Access_5), transformability (three items are Awareness_1, Awareness_2, Awareness_3, Awareness_4), robustness (three items are Physics_1, Physics_2, Physics_3), and recovery speed (four items are Recovery_1, Recovery_2, Recovery_3, Recovery_4). Respondents ranked recovery speed as the most critical resilience dimension, reflecting the time-sensitive nature of fresh product supply chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economics and Sustainable Agricultural Food Value Chains)

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22 pages, 2107 KB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Development of High-Power and Extreme Fast Charging Pile Layout Based on Multi-Objective Optimization

by Zibo Ye, Kai Wen, Xingfeng Fu and Feng Pei

World Electr. Veh. J. 2026, 17(5), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj17050263 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026

Abstract

With the rapid increase in electric vehicle (EV) ownership, the strategic planning and layout of charging infrastructure have become essential to encourage EV adoption. This study introduces a comprehensive multi-objective optimization method for selecting locations and designing layouts for high-power and extreme fast [...] Read more.

With the rapid increase in electric vehicle (EV) ownership, the strategic planning and layout of charging infrastructure have become essential to encourage EV adoption. This study introduces a comprehensive multi-objective optimization method for selecting locations and designing layouts for high-power and extreme fast charging stations. By thoroughly accounting for user charging demands, economic expenses, and traffic conditions, a multi-objective optimization mathematical model is created aiming to minimize user time and costs while maximizing service capacity and user satisfaction. The model combines queuing theory, network topology analysis, and genetic algorithms to simultaneously handle discrete variables related to station placement, continuous variables for charging pile setup, and complex constraints. Using Panyu District in Guangzhou as a case study, a simulation model with 20,000 electric vehicles and 20 high-power and extreme fast charging stations is developed, focusing on the optimal arrangement of 120 kW, 240 kW, and 480 kW charging piles. The simulation results demonstrate that the optimized charging station layout scheme (13 units of 120 kW, 6 units of 240 kW, and 1 unit of 480 kW) lowers overall costs by 6.74%, reduces user charging waiting time from 1.54 h to 0.65 h, improves user satisfaction by 8.1%, and cuts the peak-to-valley difference in charging load from 900 kW to 450 kW. This work offers both theoretical insights and practical recommendations for the effective planning of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Charging Infrastructure and Grid Integration)

14 pages, 1676 KB

Open AccessArticle

Marine-Derived Neoagarotetraose Alleviates Dry Eye Disease by Suppressing Inflammation and Apoptosis in a Murine Model

by Nan Wu, Yating Du, Chaocheng Wu, Zhuhua Chan and Runying Zeng

Mar. Drugs 2026, 24(5), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/md24050175 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026

Abstract

Dry eye disease (DED) is a complex ocular surface disorder characterized by tear film instability, chronic inflammation, and epithelial damage, for which current treatments remain limited. Marine-derived bioactive oligosaccharides have attracted increasing interest due to their diverse pharmacological activities and favorable safety profiles. [...] Read more.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a complex ocular surface disorder characterized by tear film instability, chronic inflammation, and epithelial damage, for which current treatments remain limited. Marine-derived bioactive oligosaccharides have attracted increasing interest due to their diverse pharmacological activities and favorable safety profiles. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of neoagarotetraose (NA4), a marine oligosaccharide derived from red algal agar, in a murine model of DED. DED was induced in eight-week-old female C57BL/6 mice by topical instillation of 0.2% benzalkonium chloride for seven consecutive days. NA4 was administered topically at concentrations of 125, 250, and 500 mg/L. Therapeutic outcomes were evaluated by tear secretion, corneal fluorescein staining, histopathological analysis, immunofluorescence staining for Ki67, F4/80, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, TUNEL assay for apoptosis, and ELISA for cytokine levels. NA4 treatment significantly improved tear secretion and reduced corneal fluorescein staining scores. Histological analysis revealed that NA4 preserved corneal epithelial thickness and restored conjunctival goblet cell density. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that NA4 reversed inflammation-associated epithelial hyperproliferation and attenuated macrophage infiltration. Moreover, NA4 markedly suppressed the expression and tissue levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and attenuated corneal epithelial apoptosis, with the 500 mg/L NA4 group showing no significant difference in efficacy compared to the positive control 0.1% sodium hyaluronate. These findings demonstrate that NA4, a marine-derived oligosaccharide, exerts multi-targeted protective effects against DED by improving tear film stability, preserving ocular surface integrity, suppressing inflammation, and reducing apoptosis. Our study highlights the potential of marine oligosaccharides such as NA4 as promising candidates for ocular surface disease management and supports the further exploration of marine resources for ophthalmic therapeutic applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Pharmacology)

19 pages, 963 KB

Open AccessBrief Report

The Circular Economy of EU Construction and Demolition Waste: Persistent Barriers, Digital Innovation, and the Emerging Energy Security Imperative

by Fernando Pacheco-Torgal, Yining Ding and Xin-Yu Zhao

Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4851; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104851 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026

Abstract

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) constitutes the largest single waste stream in the European Union by weight, yet the EU’s circular material use rate remains low, at around 12%, indicating substantial distance from policy ambitions for circular resource use. This paper presents a [...] Read more.

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) constitutes the largest single waste stream in the European Union by weight, yet the EU’s circular material use rate remains low, at around 12%, indicating substantial distance from policy ambitions for circular resource use. This paper presents a systematic narrative review of the literature on circular economy integration in CDW management, with a focus on the EU context. The review pursues three objectives: (i) to critically assess the gap between reported CDW recovery performance and genuine material circularity; (ii) to systematically identify and analyse persistent barrier domains to circular economy adoption in CDW management; and (iii) to evaluate the potential of digital and governance-oriented innovations to address these barriers. The review scope is explicitly delimited to the EU regulatory and institutional context, drawing on a corpus of 42 sources identified through systematic Scopus searches. The review identifies five persistent barrier domains—legal, technical, social, behavioural, and economic—with regulatory fragmentation and secondary material devaluation as the most structurally entrenched. Apparent compliance with the 70% recovery target under Directive 2008/98/EC conceals widespread downcycling and inconsistent reporting. A decisive paradigm shift is observed in recent research, from material characterisation towards systemic circularity, digital demolition frameworks, and governance. Emerging technologies—including AI-enabled sorting, Building Information Modelling, Digital Twins, and Digital Product Passports—offer significant potential to enhance material traceability, recovery quality, and decision-making across the CDW value chain. However, technological innovation alone is insufficient, Design for Deconstruction remains an underutilised upstream strategy, and lasting progress depends on coherent regulatory frameworks, institutional coordination, and market conditions that support circular practices. Future research should therefore focus on governance mechanisms, longitudinal performance assessment, and the scalability of digitally enabled circular solutions. Full article

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15 pages, 2970 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Isovector Spin–Orbit Interaction on the Charge-Weak Form Factor Difference in ⁴⁸Ca, ²⁰⁸Pb, ⁹⁰Zr and ⁶²Ni

by Tong-Gang Yue, Zhen Zhang and Lie-Wen Chen

Particles 2026, 9(2), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/particles9020054 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026

Abstract

The nucleon spin–orbit interaction is a cornerstone of nuclear structure theory, yet its isospin dependence remains insufficiently constrained within modern nuclear energy density functional (EDF) theory. It was recently shown that, within the framework of extended Skyrme EDFs, the charge-weak form factor difference [...] Read more.

The nucleon spin–orbit interaction is a cornerstone of nuclear structure theory, yet its isospin dependence remains insufficiently constrained within modern nuclear energy density functional (EDF) theory. It was recently shown that, within the framework of extended Skyrme EDFs, the charge-weak form factor difference

Δ F_{CW}

in

^{48}

Ca exhibits remarkable sensitivity to the effective isovector spin–orbit (IVSO) interaction, whereas

Δ F_{CW}

in

^{208}

Pb is much less sensitive to this channel. Extending this analysis to other nuclei, we find that

^{90}

Zr, with its ten spin–orbit unpaired

1 g_{9 / 2}

neutrons, displays a

Δ F_{CW}

sensitivity to the IVSO strength similar to that of

^{48}

Ca, arising from modifications to the central mean-field potential rather than the one-body spin–orbit potential. In contrast,

^{62}

Ni, like

^{208}

Pb, remains largely insensitive to the IVSO interaction. This structure-driven distinction suggests an experimental strategy: future parity-violating electron scattering measurements, e.g., the MREX experiment at the MESA facility, on

^{48}

Ca and

^{90}

Zr would help constrain the effective IVSO strength, while measurements on

^{208}

Pb and

^{62}

Ni can provide a cleaner probe of the density dependence of the symmetry energy with reduced IVSO sensitivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the International Symposium Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Halo Nuclei)

20 pages, 4954 KB

Open AccessArticle

Site-Specific Phosphoproteomic Profiling of CAV1 Reveals Co-Regulatory Kinase Networks in Cancer Signaling

by Chrysilla Espy Vaz, Manasa Suresh, Leona Dcunha, Rajesh Raju and Saptami Kanekar

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(10), 4326; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104326 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026

Abstract

Caveolin-1 (CAV1) is a 21 kDa Vesicular Integral-membrane Protein essential for the biogenesis of caveolae, invaginations of the plasma membrane that coordinate membrane trafficking, lipid homeostasis, and signal transduction. CAV1 functions as a scaffolding platform that integrates mechanotransduction, endocytosis, and cellular stress responses, [...] Read more.

Caveolin-1 (CAV1) is a 21 kDa Vesicular Integral-membrane Protein essential for the biogenesis of caveolae, invaginations of the plasma membrane that coordinate membrane trafficking, lipid homeostasis, and signal transduction. CAV1 functions as a scaffolding platform that integrates mechanotransduction, endocytosis, and cellular stress responses, thereby modulating vascular integrity, inflammation, metabolism, and tumorigenesis. To comprehensively understand the phosphorylation landscape of CAV1, global phosphoproteomic datasets and their corresponding experimental metadata were systematically curated and integrated from previously published human cellular studies. The phosphorylation sites with the highest detection frequency across these datasets were considered predominant phosphorylation sites. To assess their functional relevance, phosphosites in other proteins (PsOPs) co-regulated with the predominant CAV1 sites, along with their upstream kinases and high-confidence protein–protein interaction partners, were systematically analyzed. Analysis of global human cellular phosphoproteome datasets revealed that tyrosine 14 (Y14) and serine 37 (S37) of CAV1 are the most frequently detected phosphosites across diverse experimental conditions. Notably, many of the co-regulated proteins obtained were associated with carcinogenesis, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation, including MET and ERBB2. Our analysis revealed SRC, ABL2, ERBB2, ERBB3, LYN, and TEC as potential upstream kinases of CAV1_Y14, whereas CSNK1E and GRK5 were predicted to regulate CAV1_S37. Considering the challenges associated with site-specific interrogation, we employed a global co-regulation analysis approach to characterize CAV1 phosphorylation dynamics. Our findings reveal that key CAV1 phosphosites modulate oncogenic signaling, cytoskeletal remodeling, and membrane organization, providing novel insights into CAV1-mediated cellular functions and its context-dependent role in tumor progression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Kinases in Cancer and Other Diseases, 2nd Edition)

17 pages, 645 KB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Different Regimens of 980 nm Low-Level Laser Therapy to Reduce Pain Caused by Elastomeric Separator Placement in Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Split-Mouth Placebo-Controlled Study

by Alireza Khandan Dezfully, Márió Gajdács, Aliz Eperke Pató, Krisztina Kárpáti and Melinda Madléna

J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(10), 3731; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15103731 - 12 May 2026

Abstract

Background: Effective pain management is crucial during orthodontic treatments with fixed appliances, to ensure adequate patient compliance and to avoid treatment discontinuation. Photobiomodulation approaches, including Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has received substantial attention, due to its potential as an effective, non-pharmacological analgesic [...] Read more.

Background: Effective pain management is crucial during orthodontic treatments with fixed appliances, to ensure adequate patient compliance and to avoid treatment discontinuation. Photobiomodulation approaches, including Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has received substantial attention, due to its potential as an effective, non-pharmacological analgesic modality, however, evidence pertaining to its efficacy is controversial. Our present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of LLLT vs. placebo, following placement of orthodontic elastic separators (ESs) in adult patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliances. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, split-mouth study was carried out, where n = 31 volunteers (18 male and 13 female; aged between 19 and 32 years) were enrolled. ESs were placed at the mesial and distal surfaces of the first permanent molars in both quadrants of lower, as well as upper jaws. Based on the assigned intervention, the four quadrants were divided as follows: three quadrants received LLLT treatment—using a 980 nm wavelength GaAlAs diode laser, with 0.1–0.2 W—according to three treatment regimes, i.e., regime 1 (R1): 6 J, continuous mode, R2: 12 J, continuous mode, and R3: 6 J, pulsed mode; while placebo treatment (P) was applied in the fourth quadrant. A questionnaire with a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0–100) was used for pain assessment (spontaneous pain and pain on mastication), scored directly after separation and after 6, 24, 48 and 72 h of both laser and placebo treatment application. Results: After the 24 h mark, significant differences were detected between the pain readings of LLLT-treated and placebo quadrants, both in resting position and during mastication (p < 0.05); pain readings were highest for R2, P, while lowest for R3 quadrants in resting position, and at R1 during mastication, respectively. Conclusions: Although findings of our study are exploratory in nature, they suggest that a single application of LLLT might be effective in reducing pain caused by ES placement, especially in the vulnerable 24 h following separation. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT07456709 (date of registration: 2 March 2026, retrospectively registered). Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Dentistry, Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine)

26 pages, 4155 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating NSGA-II and TOPSIS for Stacking Model Optimization in Pursuit of Halide Double Perovskite Screening

by Guiqin Liang and Jian Zhang

Materials 2026, 19(10), 2018; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19102018 - 12 May 2026

Abstract

Halide double perovskite materials have been used for various applications; their bandgap (E_g) and heat of formation (ΔH_f) are their key properties. They can be obtained through calculations based on high-throughput density functional theory (DFT), but such calculations are [...] Read more.

Halide double perovskite materials have been used for various applications; their bandgap (E_g) and heat of formation (ΔH_f) are their key properties. They can be obtained through calculations based on high-throughput density functional theory (DFT), but such calculations are computationally expensive and time-consuming. Machine learning (ML) has proved to be an effective tool for screening potential materials. The prediction accuracy of ML models strongly depends on both input features and ML algorithms. However, there is no unified feature set with which ML models can effectively distinguish halide double perovskite materials. Although it has been proven that stacking ML models can achieve higher prediction accuracy than individual ML models, little attention has been paid to the optimization of stacking models. To solve these problems, we constructed a new feature set obtained from periodic tables for predicting the E_g and ΔH_f of halide double perovskites, and we further proposed a method integrating the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) decision-making tool for stacking model optimization to predict the E_g and ΔH_f of 540 compounds of halide double perovskites. Experimental results from 40 runs of 5-fold cross-validation demonstrate that our proposed new feature set enables ML models to achieve better performance than the original feature set. Moreover, the stacking model optimized by our proposed method yields better predicting performance than that of any individual single model and stacking regression models without optimization, with average improvements of 5.02%, 2.70%, 3.72% and 0.28% in MSE, RMSE, MAE and R², respectively, in E_g prediction, thus providing more effective guidance for screening potential compounds for solar cells from a large quantity of materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Materials)

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3 pages, 136 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Closing Editorial—Special Issue on “Vaccines and Vaccination: HIV, Hepatitis Viruses and HPV”

by Sonia Moretti and Ivan Schietroma

Vaccines 2026, 14(5), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14050434 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026

Abstract

We are pleased to present this closing editorial for the Special Issue “Vaccines and Vaccination: HIV, Hepatitis Viruses and HPV”, which we had the privilege of coordinating [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines and Vaccination: HIV, Hepatitis Viruses, and HPV)

16 pages, 3830 KB

Open AccessArticle

Postharvest Treatments of Potential 2,4-D Surrogates Improve Storage Performance and Flavor Quality in ‘Eureka’ Lemon Fruits

by Liuyin Ren, Xufang Ran, Tuan Wang, Hengquan Wu, Feixiang Wu, Genan Han, Yangsheng Wu, Min Hong, Kun Zhou, Wanpeng Xi, Changpin Chun, Liangzhi Peng and Yizhong He

Horticulturae 2026, 12(5), 598; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12050598 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026

Abstract

An issue of common concern in lemon production is finding a safe and efficient alternative to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). In this study, ‘Eureka’ lemon fruits were treated with three concentrations (1, 2 and 3) of fluroxypyr-meptyl (FME), a combination of fluroxypyr-meptyl and fluroxypyr [...] Read more.

An issue of common concern in lemon production is finding a safe and efficient alternative to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). In this study, ‘Eureka’ lemon fruits were treated with three concentrations (1, 2 and 3) of fluroxypyr-meptyl (FME), a combination of fluroxypyr-meptyl and fluroxypyr (FLFM), 2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionic acid (2,4-DP), and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA). Water and 2,4-D served as controls. We measured the storage performance indicators of fruit, such as weight loss rate and decay rate, and shelf-life quality parameters, such as juice yield, flavor compounds and pesticide residues. During storage, weight loss was significantly higher in water than under all other treatments. Weight loss rates under FME2 and 2,4-DP3 were significantly lower than under 2,4-D. Decay rates in FLFM1, 2,4-DP2, and the FME series were significantly lower than in 2,4-D and water, whereas those in 2,4-DP1 and the MCPA series were significantly higher than in 2,4-D at 200 days after treatment. Regarding shelf-life performance, juice yield in water (65.14%) and 2,4-D (68.26%) was significantly lower than under most other treatments. The highest juice yield was observed in FME2 (77.84%). Treatments 2,4-DP1, 2,4-DP2, and FME2 were superior to 2,4-D and water in maintaining total soluble solids, titratable acid, and vitamin C contents, while other treatments showed no negative effects on internal quality. Fruits under MCPA2, 2,4-DP3, 2,4-DP2, and FME2 maintained better flavor compound profiles than those in water. Notably, MCPA2 resulted in significantly higher levels of terpenes (e.g., D-limonene) and aldehydes (e.g., citral); FME2 effectively maintained linalool, geraniol, and α-terpineol; and 2,4-DP3 performed well in maintaining D-limonene, sesquiterpenes, and alcohols compared with other treatments. All treated fruits complied with Chinese National Food Safety Standard Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Food GB 2763-2026 and meet the EU standard limits for citrus. Overall, FME2 treatment resulted in the best storage performance and quality, followed by 2,4-DP3, indicating that these treatments may serve as effective postharvest alternatives for lemon preservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Postharvest Biology, Quality, Safety, and Technology)

44 pages, 1279 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Psychosocial Outcomes in Children and Young People with Long-Term Physical Health Conditions: Systematic Review of Intervention Studies

by Rachel Batchelor, Natasha Cogings, Christopher McCormack and Matthew Hotton

Children 2026, 13(5), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13050672 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Children and young people (CYP) with long-term physical health conditions (LTCs) are at greater risk of psychosocial difficulties. Systematic reviews on adults with LTCs have supported acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in improving several psychosocial outcomes. This systematic review aimed to investigate [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Children and young people (CYP) with long-term physical health conditions (LTCs) are at greater risk of psychosocial difficulties. Systematic reviews on adults with LTCs have supported acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in improving several psychosocial outcomes. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of ACT for CYP-reported psychosocial outcomes among CYP with LTCs. It also examined the factors associated with the effects and the quantitative acceptability of the included ACT interventions. Methods: Eligible studies used a quantitative experimental design to evaluate ACT for CYP-reported psychosocial outcomes in CYP (≤18 years old) with LTCs. Only studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals, from any year, were included. CINAHL (EBSCO), Cochrane Library, Embase (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid) and PsycInfo (Ovid) were systematically searched. Google Scholar and Web of Science were also searched, and forward and backward citation searching was completed for included papers. Research quality was appraised using Cochrane risk-of-bias tools. Results were narratively synthesised. Results: Sixteen studies (nine randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and seven non-RCTs) from 19 reports met inclusion criteria, with 777 participants and five LTCs (chronic pain, diabetes, cancer, obesity and visual impairment). Findings provided preliminary support for the effectiveness of ACT on most CYP-reported psychosocial outcomes studied. Seven studies considered factors associated with intervention effects, with mixed findings. Acceptability was supported in the three studies that assessed it quantitatively. However, almost all studies had overall high/serious risk-of-bias ratings. Conclusions: There is preliminary evidence supporting potential benefits of ACT for improving psychosocial outcomes in CYP with LTCs, with limited but supportive findings for its acceptability. However, findings are constrained by high/serious risk of bias and small sample sizes. Larger, high-quality trials with active controls and longer follow-ups are needed to inform future care pathways. Registration: This systematic review was pre-registered (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023425918). Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pediatric Mental Health)

12 pages, 2255 KB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Interfacial Effects in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide/Ferrimagnetic Alloy Heterostructures

by Leonardo Ramos, Ayomipo Israel Ojo, Yasinthara Wadumesthri, Ibrahim Almuhanna, Humberto Rodriguez Gutierrez and Darío A. Arena

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(10), 4828; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104828 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026

Abstract

Ultrathin ferrimagnetic heterostructures have emerged as promising platforms for next-generation spintronic devices, yet the role of two-dimensional substrates in modulating their magnetic properties remains underexplored. Here, we report a comprehensive study of the thickness- and temperature-dependent magnetic behavior of amorphous Fe

_{73}

Co [...] Read more.

Ultrathin ferrimagnetic heterostructures have emerged as promising platforms for next-generation spintronic devices, yet the role of two-dimensional substrates in modulating their magnetic properties remains underexplored. Here, we report a comprehensive study of the thickness- and temperature-dependent magnetic behavior of amorphous Fe

_{73}

Co

_{8}

Gd

_{19}

films (4–32 nm) deposited on Si, WSe

_{2}

bilayer, and WSe

_{2}

monolayer substrates. Structural integrity and stoichiometry were confirmed via X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Reflectivity (XRR), Raman spectroscopy, and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. In-plane magnetometry from 10–300 K reveals that monolayer WSe

_{2}

promotes stronger interfacial spin alignment, with the 4 nm film exhibiting a sharp increase in coercivity below 50 K, where

H_{c}

exceeds 23 mT and even surpasses thicker counterparts, alongside enhanced saturation magnetization (∼790 kA/m at 100 K). This dramatic enhancement of coercivity is the most significant result of this work, underscoring the dominant role of interfacial coupling in governing low-temperature magnetic hardness. Conversely, films on bilayer exhibit suppressed magnetization and soft magnetic behavior (

H_{c}

< 10 mT) across all temperatures, making them attractive for ultralow-power and high-speed spintronic applications. These findings demonstrate that atomically thin WSe

_{2}

interfaces can modulate coercivity, magnetization, and squareness through proximity effects, establishing a tunable and thermally stable platform for spintronic device applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Magnetic Materials: Recent Advances, Prospects and Challenges)

35 pages, 29266 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Empirical Study on Assessing Classroom Space Utilization Efficiency in Higher Education Institutions: Indicators, Methodological Advances, and a Comprehensive Analytical Framework—A Case Study of the Zhengxin Building at Harbin Institute of Technology

by Jia Li, Wenrui Zhao and Minghui Xue

Buildings 2026, 16(10), 1929; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16101929 - 12 May 2026

Abstract

The accelerating pace of technological innovation has exacerbated the spatial misalignment between the static, supply-driven provision of educational facilities and the dynamic, demand-driven patterns of contemporary pedagogical activities. Assessing and quantifying spatial demand and the operational consumption of teaching environments pose critical challenges [...] Read more.

The accelerating pace of technological innovation has exacerbated the spatial misalignment between the static, supply-driven provision of educational facilities and the dynamic, demand-driven patterns of contemporary pedagogical activities. Assessing and quantifying spatial demand and the operational consumption of teaching environments pose critical challenges for facility asset management in higher education. Accordingly, rigorous investigation into the determinants of classroom spatial utilization efficiency and the formulation of evidence-based spatial optimization strategies are essential to advancing the sustainable evolution of campus infrastructure. This study takes the Zhengxin Building at Harbin Institute of Technology as a descriptive case, integrating timetable data with spatial syntax at the building scale. The scheduling data for 2943 courses in the Spring semester of 2023 was selected as the research basis. Using architectural spatial analysis tools—including space syntax theory, statistical correlation methods, and in situ observational surveys—this study extracts spatial attribute variables such as classroom area (A), seating capacity (S), floor level (F), integration (I), and space utilization efficiency metrics as primary quantitative measures. The interrelationships among these variables are examined to elucidate the principal drivers of teaching space performance. The empirical results indicate that the Overall Space Utilization Rate (OSUR) of the Zhengxin Building ranged from 20% to 50% during the study. The key findings include the following: (1) spatial utilization efficiency is positively associated with classroom scale but shows no significant relationship with integration (I); (2) after controlling for classroom type (T), per capita area index (PCAI), and integration (I), floor level (F) no longer exerts a statistically significant influence on utilization outcomes; (3) teaching spaces with higher integration and spatial entropy are more adaptable to heterogeneous instructional and extracurricular uses. The classroom type (T) directly mediates occupancy patterns and activity programming. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Campus of the University: Spatial Evolution, Societal Response, and Design Innovation)

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29 pages, 1259 KB

Open AccessArticle

Determinants of Energy Consumption in South Africa: Evidence from an ARDL Model (1980–2023)

by Palesa Milliscent Lefatsa and Sanele Gumede

Energies 2026, 19(10), 2329; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19102329 - 12 May 2026

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of energy consumption in South Africa over the period 1980–2023 using a multivariate time-series framework. Unlike conventional studies that focus primarily on the energy–growth nexus, this analysis incorporates financial development, industrialization, and population growth to provide a more [...] Read more.

This study examines the determinants of energy consumption in South Africa over the period 1980–2023 using a multivariate time-series framework. Unlike conventional studies that focus primarily on the energy–growth nexus, this analysis incorporates financial development, industrialization, and population growth to provide a more comprehensive understanding of energy demand dynamics. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach is employed to estimate both short-run and long-run relationships. Unit root tests confirm that all variables are integrated of order one, justifying the application of the ARDL bounds testing approach. The results reveal the existence of a stable long-run relationship between energy consumption and its determinants. Industrialization and population growth emerge as the most significant drivers of energy demand in both the short and long run, reflecting South Africa’s energy-intensive economic structure and rising demographic pressures. Financial development is found to have a positive and statistically significant effect, suggesting that improved access to credit stimulates energy consumption through increased investment and economic activity. In contrast, economic growth exhibits a positive but statistically insignificant long-run effect, indicating partial decoupling between output growth and energy demand. The error correction term is negative and statistically significant, confirming convergence to long-run equilibrium. Causality analysis further indicates that energy consumption is primarily driven by macroeconomic factors rather than acting as a leading indicator. The findings underscore the importance of industrial energy efficiency, population-responsive energy planning, and targeted financial support for sustainable energy investment. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive, country-specific analysis and offers policy-relevant insights for enhancing energy security and supporting sustainable economic development in South Africa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Energy Consumption Analysis and Characterization of Complex Systems)

19 pages, 510 KB

Open AccessArticle

Association Between Multiple Sclerosis Severity and Functional Variants in Key Antioxidant Defense and Ferroptosis-Related Genes

by Tamara Djuric, Jovana Kuveljic, Ana Djordjevic, Milan Stefanovic, Evica Dincic, Mariana Seke, Aleksandra Stankovic and Maja Zivkovic

Biology 2026, 15(10), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15100773 (registering DOI) - 12 May 2026

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory neurodegenerative disease. Oxidative stress and ferroptosis are implicated in MS pathology, contributing to both inflammation and neurodegeneration. Potentially functional variants in genes related to antioxidant defense and ferroptosis were chosen through an extensive selection process [...] Read more.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory neurodegenerative disease. Oxidative stress and ferroptosis are implicated in MS pathology, contributing to both inflammation and neurodegeneration. Potentially functional variants in genes related to antioxidant defense and ferroptosis were chosen through an extensive selection process to investigate their possible association with the progressive form of MS. The study included 845 MS patients (604 relapsing–remitting (RRMS) and 241 progressive (PMS)). The selected gene variants—GCLC rs572496, GCLM rs2273406, GPX4 rs713041, NQO1 rs1800566 and CAT rs2420388—were genotyped using TaqMan^® technology. mRNA expression levels of the corresponding genes in PBMCs were previously determined by targeted RNA sequencing. Circulatory molecular indicators of antioxidant defense and ferroptosis were quantified using ELISA and colorimetric enzymatic recycling assays. The findings indicate that the GCLC rs572496 variant was significantly associated with MS disease severity and had a significant effect on GCLC mRNA levels. Additionally, the NQO1 rs1800566 variant had a significant effect on NQO1 mRNA expression in PBMCs of MS patients overall. The results suggest further analysis of antioxidant defense and ferroptosis-related gene variants with MS severity and validation of the gained results in larger study groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Epigenetics of Neurological Disorders)

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