Search Results (76)

A Si/SiC/SiO₂ (53/44/3 wt.%) composite is evaluated as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. This material, a result of the high-energy ball-milling of a by-product of the carbothermal reduction of silica (Si slag), is predominantly made up of micrometric particles of amorphous or short-range order Si in which submicrometric SiC inclusions are dispersed. Its capacity is 860 mAh g⁻¹ (1.7 mAh cm⁻²) after 200 cycles in half-cell configuration and 1.6 mAh cm⁻² after 70 cycles in full-cell. The SiC component is not electroactive for lithiation but plays a key role in the electrode stability by preventing the formation of the c-Li₁₅S_i4 phase, known to accelerate electrode degradation. It is shown that capacity decay with cycling mainly originates from solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth rather than particle disconnections. Complementary wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) analyses confirm the SEI grows alongside cycling and allows for the highlighting of its major components, namely, Li₂CO₃ and LiF. The morphological evolution of the electrode upon cycling is studied by electrochemical dilatometry, operando optical microscopy, and focused ion beam (FIB) and broad ion beam (BIB) scanning electron microscopy (SEM). No particle cracking is observed. However, reconstructed 3D imaging of the electrodes before and after 10 and 200 cycles clearly shows that the particles progressively evolve a dendritic structure. The SEI grows on and within the particles and induces a significant decrease in the electrode’s porosity and an increase in its thickness. Full article

The main load-bearing structure of offshore wind power is mainly metal, and the corrosion of metal structures is particularly serious when exposed to corrosive environments, such as high salt and humidity for a long period of time and has attracted more and more attention from researchers at home and abroad. Epoxy resin is used as a matrix resin in both primer and middle coatings. In anti-corrosion coatings, when additives are added to the epoxy system, the affinity and hydrophobicity of the additives themselves affect the protective effect of the system. In this study, the effects of two additives, BIB (containing hydrophilic groups) and HFTC (containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups), on the corrosion protection properties of epoxy adhesives were investigated. The impact of these additives on the contact angle, water absorption rate, salt spray resistance, and overall corrosion resistance was evaluated using various experimental methods. The results show that the BIB additive is not conducive to the enhancement of epoxy coatings’ anti-corrosive properties due to its good hydrophilicity. The addition of HFTC can effectively improve the protective performance of the coating, and when the addition of HFTC is 0.6%, the salt spray resistance of the composite coating is optimized. This study provides valuable insights into the optimization of epoxy systems for enhanced corrosion protection in marine environments. Full article

Digitalization has significantly reshaped human and social life worldwide, serving as a powerful enabler of a sustainable economy, while being directly aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 9, among others. The literature on digitalization and sustainability boosted since 2017, confirming its importance. Unlike most previous studies, this paper extracted articles from both the Scopus and Web of Science platforms, and the bibliometric analysis was conducted using the new Python library, pyBibX, for the cleaned concatenated dataset, as well as Bibliometrix in R for the parallel analysis on the two platforms. We conducted both a performance analysis to measure scientific impact and citations in the quest to better understand the research field and also a science mapping to visually represent the scientific research and its development. Our findings suggest that Sustainability is the main journal with published articles on digitalization and sustainability, whereas China has the largest number of papers in the field and collaborations between countries. Finally, by applying Natural Language Processing, we identified as best topics: digital, sustainable, development, sustainability, digitalization, study, research, transformation, innovation, and model. Moreover, we dug deeper into policy implications to show how these findings could serve policymakers and stakeholders in academia and industry. Full article

Carbon nitrides are polymeric materials with a broad range of applications, including photocatalysis. Among them, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), a low-cost material, is an excellent photocatalyst under visible light irradiation owing to its features such as correct band positions, high stability and non-toxicity. g-C₃N₄ is a metal-free material that is easily synthesized by polymerizing nitrogen-rich compounds and is an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for many reaction procedures due to its distinctive electronic structure and the benefits of the mesoporous texture. In addition, in situ or post-modification of g-C₃N₄ can further improve catalytic performance or expand its application for remediating environmental pollution. Water pollution from organic compounds such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals is increasing dramatically and is becoming a serious problem around the world. These pollutants enter water supplies in a variety of ways, including industrial and hospital wastewater, agricultural runoff, and chemical use. To solve this problem, photocatalysis is a promising technology. Without the use of other oxidative chemicals, g-C₃N₄ uses renewable solar energy to transform harmful pollutants into harmless products. As a result, much recent research has focused on the photocatalytic activity of g-C₃N₄ for wastewater treatment. For this reason, the main objective of this paper is to contribute a chronological overview of the bibliometrics on g-C₃N₄ for the removal of pesticides and pharmaceuticals from water using the tools BibExcel, Bibliometrix and R-Studio IDE. A bibliometric analysis was performed using the Science Citation Index Expanded (WoS^©) database to analyze the scientific literature published in the field over the last 10 years. The results were used to identify limitations and guide future research. Full article

This work evaluated the effects of incorporating chicken eggshell waste in a low-water-absorption bi-layered red ceramic tile composition, focusing on its porosity. Red ceramic tile formulations were prepared with incorporations of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 wt.% of chicken eggshell waste. The bi-layered red floor tile processing method consisted of dry powder granulation, double uniaxial pressing and firing at 1220 °C using a fast-firing cycle. The physical properties and microstructural development of the tile specimens were investigated. It was found that chicken eggshell waste exhibited good chemical compatibility for use in red ceramic tile formulations, enabling its recycling. The novel bi-layered red ceramic tiles presented water absorption between 0.34 and 0.97% and apparent density between 2.09 and 2.14 g/cm³. The results demonstrated that chicken eggshell waste, when incorporated up to 15 wt.%, can be used as an efficient pore-forming carbonate source to manufacture low-water-absorption bi-layered red ceramic tiles (BIa and BIb groups—ISO 13006), which allows use in ventilated façades. It was concluded that the proposed approach is suitable for recycling chicken eggshell waste into red ceramic tile formulations, with relevant repercussions for the circular economy. Full article

Plastic waste pollution has become a global crisis, with millions of tons of plastic expected to accumulate in landfills and in natural environments, posing a serious threat to wildlife and human health. As current recycling methods remain inefficient, there is an urgent need for innovative enzymatic solutions to break down plastics and enable a circular economy approach. In this study, we explore the plastic-degrading potential of microorganisms enriched from activated sludge (AS) sourced from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)—a known microplastic-contaminated industrial niche. Five microbial consortia (i.e., microbiomes) were enriched under selective pressure using low-carbon conditions and high concentrations of polyester polymers, including post-consumer PET, post-consumer PLA, and virgin PLA. Enrichment was performed for 100 days at 37 °C and 50 °C, followed by microbiomes isolation and metagenomic analysis to identify plastic-active bacteria and their enzymes. The results revealed that PLA polymers, but not post-consumer PET, were effectively degraded by the microbiomes, as confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), showing significant molecular weight reduction compared to the abiotic controls. Microbial community analysis highlighted a distinct enrichment profile driven by the polymer composition and the temperature. At 50 °C, the Bacillales order became the predominant population, whereas at 37 °C, a more diverse community within the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla were selected. Nonetheless, the enriched microbial communities at both temperatures included phyla with members known for polyester degradation. Moreover, at 50 °C, enrichment of putative PET/PLA hydrolases was also observed. These findings suggest that AS microorganisms are a reservoir of polyester-active enzymes, particularly PLA-depolymerases, and hold promise for advancing biotechnological strategies to mitigate plastic pollution through re- and up-cycling. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adiposopathy is the cause of many secondary disorders in the function and structure of many organs and systems in the body. In the progression of obesity and the increasing dysfunction of anti-inflammatory me-diators, chronic inflammation occurs. This may be accompanied by the development of metabolic complications. Methods: A diet with highly bioactive properties was formulated, and an element of diet therapy was introduced as a key component to support treatment in obese patients following bariatric surgery. Patients underwent a BIB (Bioenteric Intragastric Balloon) procedure. As obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, this study aimed to regulate cardiovascular factors in adiposopathy. Anti-inflammatory dietary components with modulating properties were included, with increased bioflavonoids, vitamins A, E, C, folic acid, and synbiotics, and altered fatty acid composition. Results: The results showed satisfactory effects on fat reduction and the regulation of isoprostanes, plasminogen, angiotensin, prostacyclin, triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood rheology parameters. Cardiovascular co-morbidities are common in obesity. This is due to the endocrine function of adipocytes. As such, we decided to investigate the possibility of using bioactive dietary components as an adjunct to the safety of reducing prothrombotic parameters in obese patients after BIB surgery. This study hypothesised that the enrichment of the recommended diet after bariatric surgery with the addition of n-3 EFAs, bioflavonoids, vitamins, and synbiotics might result in comparable or greater fat mass loss in the subjects. In addition, the use of a functional diet might show a beneficial modifying effect on antihyperglycemic parameter values. We then compared the results to those obtained among patients fed a reducing, standard diet. Conclusions: Using a functional diet, a significant reduction in visceral fat was achieved. A decrease in VFA was shown to reduce whole-blood viscosity. Furthermore, this study showed a significant effect of bioactive components on pro-thrombotic parameters in obese patients. Full article

This study investigated the effectiveness of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator operating in burst-in-burst (BIB) mode for flow separation control on a NACA 0015 airfoil. Time-resolved particle image velocimetry measurements were conducted at a Reynolds number of 66,000 and 13° angle of attack. Various BIB signal configurations were tested, with actuation periods of 70 ms and 150 ms, non-actuation periods ranging from 5 ms to 50 ms, and burst frequencies of 300 Hz and 600 Hz. Proper orthogonal decomposition was applied to analyze the flow field dynamics. The results showed that BIB actuation maintained flow attachment with reduced power consumption compared with continuous burst actuation. However, the effectiveness was highly sensitive to the BIB parameters, with some configurations failing to achieve consistent reattachment and becoming unstable. This study reveals complex interactions between actuation vortices and separation processes, highlighting both the potential and challenges of intermittent plasma actuation for efficient flow control. Full article

Demographic aging results in a growing number of older people in need of care in many regions all over the world. Germany has witnessed steady population aging for decades, prompting policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss how to fulfill the rapidly growing demand for care workers and finance the rising costs of long-term care. Informed decisions on this matter to ensure the sustainability of the statutory long-term care insurance system require reliable knowledge of the associated future costs. These need to be simulated based on well-designed forecast models that holistically include the complexity of the forecast problem, namely the demographic transition, epidemiological trends, concrete demand for and supply of specific care services, and the respective costs. Care risks heavily depend on demographics, both in absolute terms and according to severity. The number of persons in need of care, disaggregated by severity of disability, in turn, is the main driver of the remuneration that is paid by long-term care insurance. Therefore, detailed forecasts of the population and care rates are important ingredients for forecasts of long-term care insurance expenditures. We present a novel approach based on a stochastic demographic cohort-component approach that includes trends in age- and sex-specific care rates and the demand for specific care services, given changing preferences over the life course. The model is executed for Germany until the year 2050 as a case study. Full article

The rise of agro-industrial activities over recent decades has exponentially increased lignocellulose biomasses (LCB) production. LCB serves as a cost-effective source for fermentable sugars and other renewable chemicals. This study explores the use of microbial consortia, particularly thermophilic consortia, for LCB deconstruction. Thermophiles produce stable enzymes that retain activity under industrial conditions, presenting a promising approach for LCB conversion. This research focused on two microbial consortia (i.e., microbiomes) that were analyzed for enzyme production using a cheap medium, i.e., a mixture of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and digestate. The secreted xylanolytic enzymes were characterized in terms of temperature and pH optima, thermal stability, and hydrolysis products from LCB-derived polysaccharides. These enzymes showed optimal activity aligning with common biorefinery conditions and outperformed a formulated enzyme mixture in thermostability tests in the digestate. Phylogenetic and genomic analyses highlighted the genetic diversity and metabolic potential of these microbiomes. Bacillus licheniformis was identified as a key species, with two distinct strains contributing to enzyme production. The presence of specific glycoside hydrolases involved in the cellulose and hemicellulose degradation underscores these consortia’s capacity for efficient LCB conversion. These findings highlight the potential of thermophilic microbiomes, isolated from an industrial environment, as a robust source of robust enzymes, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective bioconversion processes in biofuel and biochemical production and other biotechnological applications. Full article

Dining plays a pivotal role in the travel experience, with numerous studies identifying the significant impacts of restaurant attributes on tourists’ destination experiences and their sense of place. The identified attributes include the origin of food produce, menu design, the physical and social servicescape, and restaurant reputation, all of which have the potential to enhance customers’ sense of place. Therefore, based on theories of the production of locality, this study explores how destination restaurants “put place on the plate” and identifies how destination restaurants promote place. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the representatives of seventeen Michelin (one star, two stars, three stars, and Bib Gourmand)-awarded restaurants across Mainland China. The results reveal three primary strategies employed by destination restaurants in promoting place: forging partnerships with the local community to produce, present, and reproduce localities; leveraging local knowledge embedded in the local produce, recipes, cooking techniques, and local culture; and practicing translocality to introduce a regional cuisine to diverse and cosmopolitan consumers. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of the way in which notions of locality and place are used by destination restaurants and the way in which this may promote not only restaurants but also regional culinary cultures and destination attractiveness. Full article

As the use of antibiotics increases, the increasing resistance of bacteria is the main reason for the reduced efficiency of antibacterial drugs, making the research of new antibacterial materials become new hot spot. In this article, two novel coordination polymers (CPs), namely, [Cd₂(L)₂(bibp)₂]_n (1) and [Ni(L)(bib)]_n (2), where H₂L = N,N′-bis(4-carbozvlbenzvl)-4-aminotoluene, bibp = 4,4′-bis(imidazol-1-yl)biphenyl, and bib = 1,3-bis(1-imidazoly)benzene, have been synthesized under solvothermal and hydrothermal condition. Structural clarification was performed through infrared spectrum and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, while thermal analysis and XRD technology were used for the performance assessment of compounds 1 and 2. In addition, antibacterial performance experiments showed that compounds 1 and 2 have certain selectivity in their antibacterial properties and have good antibacterial properties against S. aureus. As the concentration of the compound increases, the inhibitory effect gradually strengthens, and when the concentration of the compound reaches 500 μg/mL and 400 μg/mL, the concentration of the S. aureus solution no longer increases and has been completely inhibited. Full article

The immobilisation of bacteria on biochar has shown potential for enhanced remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the effect of bacterial immobilisation on biosolids-derived biochar for the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. This current study aimed to assess the impact of the immobilisation of an autochthonous hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria, Ochrobacterium sp. (BIB) on biosolids-derived biochar for the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. Additionally, the effect of fertiliser application on the efficacy of the BIB treatment was investigated. Biochar (BC) application alone led to significantly higher hydrocarbon removal than the control treatment at all sampling times (4887–11,589 mg/kg higher). When Ochrobacterium sp. was immobilised on biochar (BIB), the hydrocarbon removal was greater than BC by 5533 mg/kg and 1607 mg/kg at weeks 10 and 22, respectively. However, when BIB was co-applied with fertiliser (BIBF), hydrocarbon removal was lower than BIB alone by 6987–11,767 mg/kg. Quantitative PCR (q-PCR) analysis revealed that the gene related to Ochrobacterium sp. was higher in BIB than in the BC treatment, which likely contributed to higher hydrocarbon removal in the BIB treatment. The results of the q-PCR analysis for the presence of alkB genes and FTIR analysis suggest that the degradation of alkane contributed to hydrocarbon removal. The findings of this study demonstrate that bacterial immobilisation on biosolids-derived biochar is a promising technique for the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. Future studies should focus on optimising the immobilisation process for enhanced hydrocarbon removal. Full article