Sustainability

The relevance of Industry 5.0 confirms the collaborative relationship between humans and machines through an inclusive automation process. The healthcare industry at present is facilitated by the use of these emerging technologies, which promise a more personalized, patient-centric approach, enabling more prompt, cost-effective, and efficacious medical care to the affected. However, managing enormous data volumes, lack of standards, risks to data security, and regulatory obstacles, such as regulatory compliance, are critical issues that must be addressed to ensure that Industry 5.0 can be effectively integrated into the healthcare industry. This research assumes significance in the stated context as it seeks to reveal the gaps between security risks and threats assessments for personalized healthcare services based on Industry 5.0. The study’s investigations cite that the identification of security risks and various threats is an imperative need and must be prioritized so as to ensure optimal security for the healthcare system. Furthermore, the study peruses various security threats and security risk assessments for enhancing and safeguarding the healthcare industry. Moreover, the study also proposes a framework for security risk assessment based on Industry 5.0 (SRVF^HI5.0) for the healthcare security system. A step-wise procedure is applied to validate the proposed framework and provide support for designing feasible security evaluation criteria and tools for future research. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the measure of the applicability of multiple criteria, the tool’s reliability, and factor analysis. This offers an adequate basis for accepting the suggested risk assessment methodology based on Healthcare Industry 5.0 for implementation as well as further research and analysis. Full article

Pandemics, political instability, social conflict and unrest, the economic crisis resulting from changes in energy supply contracts, terrorism, and civil and international wars exert a negative impact on the lives of millions of people. These events undermine economic and social stability, and they affect travel behaviour (TB). Understanding preferences in travel behaviour is essential for designing effective and sustainable transport systems. Agenda 2030 (the global sustainable development strategy) assigns a central role to mobility and transport in sustainable development and its components: economic, social, and environmental. Relevant research is scarce, which is why potential threats, including changes in socioeconomic factors that affect TB in functional urban areas (FUAs), should be identified and prioritised. The main aim of this study was to determine changes in the prioritisation of threats to TB resulting from the socioeconomic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis in Europe. The study involved an analysis of the literature, a comprehensive classification of potential threats that could impact TB, as well as an expert survey. The results of these analyses were used to develop a list of 46 factors that were grouped into six categories of key threats: social, economic, legal, infrastructural, technological/SMART, and environmental. The level of significance, similarities, and differences in the prioritisation of threats during the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis after the outbreak of the military conflict in Ukraine (duration and range) were compared across 22 European countries. Full article

This study evaluates and validates how BIM functionalities can foster the consideration of lean construction and sustainability principles in building design. To this end, a plugin was developed and implemented in a BIM-enabled visualization environment. This system aims to help a user decide the best design between alternatives, while considering the user’s perspective on what generates value in the project. To illustrate and validate the usability and importance of the system, the design of a warehouse with specific requirements was considered. Four design alternatives were modeled considering different types of superstructures, building envelopes, and materials. The system imported an external database and calculated the general costs, CO₂ emissions, and thermal comfort indicators for each model. It also incorporated user-defined weights for each indicator and graphically displayed the results indicating the best options through a multiple attribute decision method. From the obtained results, it was concluded that it is possible to integrate BIM and lean principles to support sustainable development in the construction industry. Through an experiment with warehouse alternatives, the proposed approach revealed that the best project could save nearly 50% of CO₂ emissions when compared to the worst project and that the second-best project had the best performance in terms of thermal heat flow (1.80 Megawatts). The results also indicate that the system can be a great asset in supporting the decision-making process of selecting the best design alternative and understanding the impact of design changes on cost and on the environment. Full article

An overview of different adsorbents, based on agricultural and household waste, for chlorophenoxy herbicides removal from water is presented. Several groups of adsorbents are discussed, taking into account the modification method used on the initial material and the type of final product obtained. The adsorbent characteristics and the conditions of the adsorption measurements are given, and a discussion on the obtained results is presented, along with a theoretical description, following the application of various equations and models. A group of the most effective adsorbents is indicated, based on the analysis of the adsorption capacity, towards 2,4-D and/or MCPA, and the adsorption rate. Some important problems connected with adsorbent utility are discussed, taking into account economic and ecological aspects. Moreover, the effectiveness of the analyzed materials is observed through the analysis of its interactions with other components present in real systems. Full article

The ecological scarcity method (ESM) is a widely used system for assessing the environmental impact of pollutant emissions and resource extractions in the context of life cycle assessment (LCA). Its mathematical principles have been described in various reports, but not in scientific journals, which typically only quote the ESM or challenge the numerical values of the targets. It is, therefore, appropriate to carefully dissect the method and critically reassemble the resulting fragments. Our analysis introduces a substantial number of modifications, in terms of overall formulation, detail and interpretation, while it respects most of the existing numbers and is still applicable to the full range of pollutants and resources. It also yields the conclusion that, although the developers of ESM have tried to align the approach with the ISO 14040/14044 standards for LCA, this attempt has been less successful than foreseen. We finally conclude that the reference to ESM as a “distance-to-target” method further obscures the interpretation of the method. Full article

The study of the Peña Negra paleoglacier during the Last Glacial Maximum reveals its sensitivity to paleoclimatic variations. The evolutionary phases of the paleoglacier are correlated with the evolutionary models proposed for the Sierra de Béjar-Candelario and the Central Iberian System. To recognize the mechanisms of ice advance/retreat and the response of the glacier to paleoclimatic variations, modeling is carried out based on a geographic information system tool. This model is key to establishing the spatial extent of the ice and the estimation of the Equilibrium line altitudeequilibrium line altitudes at each moment, which makes it easier to infer the approximate climatic conditions of each phase (temperature and precipitation) and allows us to improve the understanding of the glacial dynamics versus variations in paleoenvironmental conditions and paleoglacial morphometry. The spatial reconstruction data show that the paleoglacier had 0.526 km³ of ice during the phase of maximum extension, while the paleoclimatic data reflect an increase in precipitation and a slight decrease in average summer temperatures compared to today. The stability phases are associated with the periods of greatest precipitation when the mass balance was positive. Full article

Over the past two decades, Rwanda has positioned itself as a leading producer of specialty coffee. The strategic move from ordinary to specialty coffee has overall been economically beneficial to the country. However, the multitude of incentives provided by both the Government and international donors spawned a rush to build a large number of coffee washing stations (CWS) throughout Rwanda. This trend gave rise to an oversupply of these plants, with most operating below their processing capacity. Our study uses cost benefit analysis to estimate the economic welfare loss that Rwanda has suffered owing to the combined effect of the oversupply of CWS, the coffee zoning policy, and the government regulated cherry coffee prices. Our results reveal that, if the coffee industry were rendered more competitive by dint of a reduction in the number of CWS, then the annual savings to Rwanda would be substantial. Furthermore, farmers could potentially receive prices that are 150% higher than the mandated fixed prices they are currently been paid. Our analysis could potentially be beneficial to Rwandese policy makers in devising fairer incentives to keep farmers interested in coffee farming, thus ensuring the sustainability of the coffee value chain in the long term. Full article

The construction and operation of information systems are valuable for the implementation of an integrated environmental permit system (IEPS). This study introduces an IEPS and examines its implementation in South Korea. Using operational cases from the IEPS, we demonstrate how the system is structured for each permit application procedure and the mechanisms by which permits are processed. In South Korea, the operation of an IEPS has made it easy to track the progress of permits and immediately notify the relevant authorities regarding permit applications and supplementary requests, thereby reducing the time required for permit reviews and amendments. Furthermore, disclosing the review results and other permit information ensures the reliability of permits. Additionally, the regular input of data, such as pollutant monitoring data from facilities and compliance with permit conditions, into the IEPS facilitates the stable management of all data related to facility permits and operations. Regulatory agencies can utilize the database within the IEPS to gain insight into facility conditions before conducting on-site inspections, ultimately reducing the time required for such inspections. Moreover, by accessing past inspection records through this system, facilities requiring more focused management can be identified, and data from the system can be used in planning future inspections. Full article

High-temperature Superconducting (HTS) maglev trains are vulnerable to the effects of crosswinds when operating at high speeds in open-air conditions, potentially compromising riding comfort and safety. This study established a vehicle dynamic model based on the nonlinear maglev-track relationship and added aerodynamic loads under crosswinds to the train’s simplified load center to address this issue. Using the maximum vibration acceleration limit and the Sperling index, we evaluated the riding comfort of the HTS maglev train under different conditions. Further, the vibration acceleration power spectral density was analyzed to reveal the impact of increasing the train’s operating speed and crosswind speed. The results indicated that the lateral and vertical Sperling index achieved an “excellent” rating, even at crosswind speeds of up to 20.7 m/s when the train was traveling at speeds of up to 600 km/h. However, it was noted that particular attention should be given to the riding comfort in the head car when the speed reaches 600 km/h. Moreover, the influence of the increase in train speed on the vibration frequency domain distribution of the three car bodies and the train’s riding comfort is greater than that of the increase in the crosswind speed. These findings may provide a valuable reference for the future engineering application of the HTS maglev train. Full article

Heavy metal content in agricultural soils potentially impacts the food chain and human health. The present study assessed the levels of heavy metals in topsoil samples collected within an agricultural region situated in Bonao, Dominican Republic. The Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique was utilized to measure the concentrations of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in the samples. The assessment of soil pollution status and potential ecological risk (RI) involved the utilization of various soil pollution indices, such as the single pollution index (PI), integrated pollution index (IPI), and enrichment factor (EF). The average total concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, and As were 103,000, 2000, 347, 36, 92, 32, 9.6, and 4.2 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively. The results showed that the Mn, Ni, Cu, and As levels exceeded the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s recommended levels for healthy agricultural soils. The distribution pattern of each individual metal was different, indicating they had different sources of origin. The average pollution indices indicated low-to-moderate pollution, and the potential ecological risk obtained was low. This study emphasizes the need for soil management practices to mitigate heavy metal contamination for food safety and environmental health. Full article

In recent decades, large-scale urbanisation has developed rapidly, resulting in significant changes in the local and regional environment and climate. Large metropolitan areas worldwide induce significant changes in local atmospheric circulation and boundary layer meteorology by modifying the underlying surface characteristics and through the emission of anthropogenic heat and pollutants into the atmosphere. We investigate the urban heat island (UHI) characteristics in the city of Athens, Greece, which is one of Europe’s largest metropolitan complexes with a population of approximately 3.7 million inhabitants. The UHI effect is intense due to the city’s size, dense construction, high incident solar radiation, and almost complete lack of natural vegetation, with previous studies suggesting a temperature rise of 4 °C on average in the city centre compared to summer background conditions. We used high-resolution WRF simulations (1-km horizontal grid) driven with ERA5 reanalysis data to produce surface temperature maps in the city of Athens and the surrounding areas (Region of Attiki) during the summer period of 1 July–20 August 2021. Different model parameterizations were tested, both with respect to urban characteristics and physical parameters. The daily minimum and maximum temperatures (T_min and T_max) derived from the model were validated against observational data from a dense network of weather stations covering metropolitan Athens and surrounding locations. We further investigate the influence of different meteorological conditions on the UHI gradients as produced by the model and the observational dataset, including the extreme heat wave of 28 July–5 August 2021, during which persistent maximum temperatures of >40 °C were recorded for nine consecutive days. The results indicate a strong correlation between WRF output and recorded minimum and maximum temperatures throughout the test period (R ranges from 0.80 to 0.93), with an average mean absolute bias (MAB) of 1.5 °C, and reveal the intensity and spatiotemporal variability of the UHI phenomenon in the city of Athens, with UHI magnitude reaching 8–9 °C at times. Our work aims to maximise the potential of using high-resolution WRF modelling for simulating extreme heat events and mapping the UHI effect in large metropolitan complexes. Full article

Addressing soil pollution by metals and metalloids necessitates innovative and efficient adsorbent materials. This study scrutinizes layered double hydroxides (LDHs) for their structural versatility and enhanced adsorption capabilities, pivotal in soil remediation. The paper systematically explores the structural characteristics, synthesis methods, and modification techniques of LDHs, as well as their interaction mechanisms with diverse metal(loid) species, such as anionic forms (e.g., AsO₄³⁻) and oxygenated ions (e.g., CrO₄²⁻, MnO₄⁻). It presents a methodical review of the current understanding and progress in soil treatment strategies, emphasizing the application potential of LDHs. This comprehensive analysis not only underscores the efficacy of LDHs in decontaminating soils but also lays the groundwork for future research trajectories in environmental remediation technologies. Full article

The palm oil industry, integral to Indonesia’s economy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), faces emerging economic, environmental, and social challenges. These compel the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in light of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification system’s implementation by 2025. This study develops a model integrating Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior and Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation theory to elucidate factors influencing farmers’ adoption of sustainable palm oil farming. Data from 300 palm oil farmers in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicated significant positive effects in terms of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, relative advantage, compatibility, and trialability on sustainable practice adoption, while the complexity negatively influenced adoption. These findings underscore the need to address farmers’ motivations, social norms, perceived control, and practice advantages for successful implementation. The study offers critical insights for policymakers and practitioners to formulate strategies that encourage the voluntary adoption of sustainable practices, balancing farmers’ needs and environmental sustainability. Full article

Numerous cities around the world are currently experiencing surges in population growth and urban expansion, often accompanied by uncontrolled sprawl. It is widely recognized that unplanned urban development contributes to a decline in urban sustainability. In this research, our goal is to identify instances of sprawl development in the Kansai region of Japan by utilizing remote sensing data. As a result, we have discovered that nighttime light data are valuable for gaining additional insights into sprawl, even when time-series land-use data and spatial population data are available. Specifically, when comparing the changes in these indices between circa 2010 and 2020, it becomes evident that these indices exhibit very weak correlations. Consequently, they can be used as independent variables for identifying urban sprawl. Each index comes with its own advantages and disadvantages in the context of urban sprawl detection. Therefore, we can conclude that a combination of multiple data sources is necessary for a comprehensive determination and detection of urban sprawl. Full article

While commercial aviation has received considerable social, political, and scholarly attention, general aviation (GA) has largely operated beneath the radar of sustainability discourse. GA grapples with a spectrum of sustainability challenges, encompassing the persistent use of leaded aviation gasoline, outdated technology, evolving demographics, escalating operational costs, noise pollution, adverse environmental perceptions, and public discontent. The sustainability transition in GA, akin to other transport sectors, is an intricate, sociotechnical process necessitating the integration of stakeholder and community perspectives. Existing literature primarily concentrates on technological aspects, offering a partial view of GA stakeholder viewpoints. This paper draws on quantitative methodology and conducts several statistical analyses, foremost ANOVA, t-tests, and regressions, of data from a 2022 online survey (N = 427) involving a diverse range of GA stakeholders. This study examines sustainability consciousness and perceptions within the GA community. The findings underscore shared sustainability concerns among GA stakeholders and illustrate how sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, income, and education exert varying degrees of influence on these perceptions. Additionally, a positive relationship emerges between non-aviation-related and aviation-related sustainability consciousness. Lastly, pilots with prior experience in electric aircraft display a more favorable view of electric aviation. Full article

This article analyzes the appropriate types of water rights systems for different regions with varying water resource conditions in China. The most appropriate water rights systems for various zones were determined by comparing the value of influencing factors with corresponding thresholds in China’s second-class zones of water resources. It is shown that a riparian rights system under water withdrawals permission could be adopted in most regions of southern China. For most northern Chinese regions, the quantity proportional water rights systems should be adopted and further improved. In contrast to the implementation of a single quantity proportional water rights system, this paper innovatively proposes a zoning scheme for China’s water rights system. The appropriate type of water rights system can be identified according to the region’s specific water resource conditions. It can provide a scientific reference for the reform of water rights systems in China and other countries or regions. Full article

Background: Global population aging poses challenges for healthcare. Digital health technologies may benefit older adults through enhanced access, monitoring, and self-care. This systematic review evaluates the intersection of digital health interventions and healthy aging, focusing on adoption, efficacy, and user experience. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for studies on digital health technologies for adults aged 50+ years. Randomized controlled trials, observational studies, surveys, and qualitative studies were included. Outcomes were adoption rates, efficacy, and qualitative feedback. Study quality was assessed using standardized tools. Results: 15 studies were included. Adoption increased during COVID-19, but divisions persist. Barriers like technology challenges and distrust require addressing. Web-based programs and telerehabilitation demonstrated benefits for behaviors and balance. Users had positive attitudes but emphasized patient-centric, ethical design. Most efficacy data were preliminary; more rigorous trials are needed. Discussion: Digital health interventions show promise for supporting healthy aging, but thoughtful implementation strategies tailored to user needs and capacities are essential to realizing benefits equitably. More efficacy research and studies on real-world integration and ethics are warranted. Conclusions: Digital health has significant potential for promoting healthy aging through enhanced access, monitoring, and self-care. However, evidence-based, patient-centered solutions are imperative to maximize adoption, efficacy, and positive user experience for diverse older adult populations. Full article

This paper presents the first study that assesses the vulnerability and risk of contamination of groundwater in the Varaždin aquifer system. The alluvial aquifer system is mostly unconfined with favorable hydrogeological features. Out of three wellfields, two still operate at full capacity, while the Varaždin wellfield, once the major source of drinking water, has been abandoned due to high concentrations of nitrates in the groundwater. Index-based methods are employed to assess groundwater vulnerability—two DRASTIC-based methods, standard and P-DRASTIC; two SINTACS-based methods, with normal and severe weighting strings; and the GOD method. Hazard is evaluated according to recommendations from the EU COST 620 action, while the risk intensity of the resource is calculated using the results of vulnerability and hazard assessments. The results reveal that for all vulnerability models, the resulting maps have a similar distribution pattern of vulnerability classes, with the high vulnerability class prevailing. However, notwithstanding the generally high groundwater vulnerability, a moderate resource contamination risk prevails as a consequence of a dominantly low hazard index. The validation of the groundwater vulnerability models demonstrates a weak correlation between the vulnerability indices and mean nitrate concentrations in groundwater. Conversely, a significantly higher correlation coefficient (0.58) is obtained when the groundwater vulnerability index is replaced by the resource risk intensity index, indicating that the results of resource risk intensity assessments are superior to groundwater vulnerability results in predicting the level of groundwater contamination. Full article

The current study aims to assess the effectiveness of three essential oils derived from neem, citrus, and garlic against papaya mealybug. Papaya seedlings were transplanted in the field in a completely randomized block design with eight treatments with four replications. The treatments included neem, citrus, and garlic oils in combination with isopropyl alcohol or paraffin oil as an adjuvant. Results from this study showed that neem oil at 1.5% + 0.2% isopropyl alcohol was effective against papaya mealybug by 93.0% equivalent to the positive control (imidacloprid) (99.4%), followed by citrus oil at 1.5% + isopropyl alcohol (76.3%) and citrus oil at 1.5% + paraffin oil (68.8%), compared with the untreated 0.01%. Similarly, application of the plant-derived essential oils and adjuvants resulted in positive effects on plant parameters (plant height, number of leaves, flower buds, number of fruits, and fruit weight) and, hence, increased papaya yield from an average of 38 to 90 fruits/plant at first harvest. The finding from this study provides an understanding of papaya farmers towards the use of natural plant products, particularly plant-derived essential oils, and their benefits, which may encourage farmers to increase papaya production and minimize the usage of synthetic pesticides to avoid pest resistance. Full article