Search Results (1,046)

Habitats are fundamental for maintaining biodiversity, supporting ecological processes, and delivering essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water regulation, and soil conservation. Habitat degradation has become an increasingly critical environmental concern, particularly in coastal regions where anthropogenic pressures intersect with natural dynamics under the accelerating impacts of climate change. (1) This study explores the spatially stratified heterogeneity and underlying driving factors of habitat quality and degradation in Çeşme, a rapidly developing coastal district in western Türkiye. (2) The InVEST Habitat Quality model was applied to assess both habitat quality and habitat degradation across the study area for the years 2017 and 2024. The GeoDetector method was applied to analyze the spatial heterogeneity in habitat quality and degradation, enabling the assessment of dominant environmental and anthropogenic drivers, including urban development pressure, tourism activities, energy-related infrastructure, road density, and vegetation conditions. (3) Night-time light intensity showed the highest explanatory power among the tested variables, although its absolute explanatory power for habitat degradation remained limited, while protection status represented a contrasting human-related factor associated with higher habitat quality. (4) These findings underscore the importance of carefully directing human interventions to balance development pressures with effective conservation strategies. Full article

Small municipalities often lack the resources and infrastructure necessary to implement advanced digital twin solutions commonly adopted in larger cities or industries. This study addresses the challenge of designing a replicable and interoperable local digital twin architecture specifically suited for low-infrastructure environments. A gap in the current literature and practice is identified: most digital twin implementations are domain-specific, resource-intensive, or proprietary, which limits their applicability in low-infrastructure contexts such as small rural areas. To address this issue, a requirement-driven architecture based on open standards and minimal-footprint, edge-based technologies is proposed. The approach is validated through real-world implementation in Codogno, Italy, with subsequent replication in Varna, Bulgaria, and Lausanne, Switzerland. The findings indicate that the proposed architecture can be deployed with minimal local infrastructure while maintaining interoperability with existing systems and enabling scalability to larger contexts. Interoperability is achieved through standardized data models and APIs, while replicability is ensured by a modular design utilizing open-source components. These contributions offer a practical blueprint for small municipalities to develop local digital twins, thereby supporting digital transformation at the community level. Full article

Surfactant adsorption onto reservoir rocks remains a critical challenge in chemical enhanced oil recovery (cEOR), as it directly impacts flooding efficiency and chemical costs. This study presents a comprehensive scientometric analysis of research on surfactant adsorption for EOR applications over the period 2005–2025. Based on the Scopus database, 877 publications accounting for more than 22,100 citations were retrieved and analyzed to map the intellectual and conceptual structure of this research field. VOSviewer 1.6.20 software was employed to generate keyword co-occurrence networks, author bibliographic coupling, and country-level contributions. The results reveal a strong growth in scientific output after 2016, with annual publications increasing from fewer than 30 papers per year before 2010 to more than 100 papers per year after 2021. “Enhanced Oil Recovery” (165 occurrences), “Adsorption” (101 occurrences), and “Surfactant” (88 occurrences) emerged as the most frequent and highly interconnected keywords. At the geographical level, China (29.4%), the United States (22.3%), and Iran (9.6%) were identified as the leading contributors, together accounting for more than 60% of the global research output. Bibliographic coupling analysis highlighted a core group of highly influential authors shaping the field through strong collaborative networks. Emerging themes such as nanoparticle-assisted EOR, wettability alteration, and low-salinity surfactant systems were identified as rapidly growing research frontiers. This scientometric analysis provides the first quantitative mapping dedicated specifically to adsorption phenomena in cEOR, while highlighting future opportunities for optimizing adsorption control strategies and improving reservoir performance. Full article

Urban–rural fringes within contaminated regions frequently exhibit severe socio-environmental fragmentation and territorial stigmatization. This study evaluates the implementation of a Successional Agroforestry System (SAFS) in the “Land of Fires” (Southern Italy), which is conceptualized as a multifunctional socio-ecological infrastructure. Adopting a six-year longitudinal case study design (2019–2025), the research utilizes the Gioia methodology to triangulate retrospective field records and systematic monitoring with iterative qualitative narratives. Semi-quantitative and retrospective ecological evaluations indicate that the established multi-layered vertical stratification improved proxy indicators of structural complexity and soil functionality. Estimated soil surface coverage increased from 5.0 ± 1.2% to 85.0 ± 4.3%, while proxy vegetation density rose from 4.8 ± 1.2 to 36.4 ± 4.7 plants/m² (p < 0.001). Beyond these biophysical trends, the intervention catalyzed a “narrative inversion,” transitioning the site from a stigmatized wasteland to a socio-ecological hub that fostered a significant increase in community engagement (from 6.2 ± 1.4 to 34.8 ± 6.5 participants per event). By integrating agroecological practices with the EcoFoodFertility framework, the project highlights the potential of localized interventions to support primary environmental prevention strategies aligned with a One Health paradigm. The findings suggest that this SAFS represents a scalable model for territorial re-signification, offering transferable insights for aligning ecological restoration with social innovation in degraded peri-urban landscapes in accordance with Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) and European Green Deal objectives. Full article

The influence of debonding in concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns on the dynamic characteristics of super high-rise buildings is a common concern that remains insufficiently understood. The abnormal vibration incident of the SEG Plaza on 18 May 2021, also known as the 5·18 incident, serves as a typical case highlighting this issue. After two decades of service, the first-order bending frequency of the building decreased by approximately 6.1%, and extensive CFST column debonding was observed, with the maximum debonding rate reaching up to 97% on certain middle floors. To investigate the influence of CFST column debonding on structural dynamic characteristics, this study first derives a theoretical relationship between debonding parameters, namely angle and distance, and the equivalent bending stiffness of CFST columns. This analytical formulation is then implemented and validated through finite element simulations at multiple scales, including planar frame analysis in ABAQUS, a thin-interlayer simulation method in ANSYS, and full-building modeling in ETABS. Results show that for a planar frame, when a CFST column debonds at 270°, the structural natural frequency decreases by 0.984%; when the debonding angle is 180° with a 2 mm gap, the first-order frequency decreases by 0.141%. Numerical simulation of the SEG Plaza structural model predicts a reduction in the first-order frequency of 0.987% under the observed debonding conditions, confirming that debonding impairs force transmission, reduces structural stiffness, and alters natural frequencies. This study provides a mechanistic basis for evaluating stiffness degradation in long-service super high-rise buildings. Full article

Platinum ditelluride (PtTe₂) is an emerging topological semimetal with intriguing optoelectronic properties. Scalable and controllable growth techniques are fundamental for its technological exploitation. Here, we synthesize large-area PtTe₂ films by tellurization of pre-deposited platinum layers. By selectively modifying the tellurization parameters, we demonstrate the possibility of controlling the layer orientation of tellurized films and of introducing microscopic corrugation in the PtTe₂ film. The first result is obtained by increasing the thermal budget of the process, which changes PtTe₂ preferential crystalline orientation from (001) to (1−13)/(103) growth directions. The latter result is achieved by modifying the heating rate of the process at a fixed growth temperature equal to 550 °C. From the Raman analysis of a wrinkled sample, we find the coexistence of tensile and compressive strains depending on the corrugation site. The demonstrated control over grain orientation and microscopic corrugation provides a powerful strategy to tailor the structural and strain landscape of topological semimetals, providing a robust platform for strain engineering. Full article

As cultural heritage representation increasingly shifts toward immersive and spatial experiences, mixed reality (MR) has emerged as an embodied medium for combining real settings with virtual content. However, numerous existing cultural scenarios remain site-specific and difficult to reconfigure or transfer across contexts. To address this limitation, this study proposes a prototype-based framework. Using traditional Chinese opera as a case study, the generative approach translates the representative graphics into parametric geometries and embeds them in two modular systems: block and panel. Through MR overlay, the modules were fabricated as physical prototypes and integrated with interactive cultural elements. To evaluate the framework, deployment and user testing were conducted in Portugal and Italy. The experimental results show that the framework supports rapid assembly, flexible spatial transformation, and digital access while retaining the prototype structure. Participants’ feedback indicates positive usability, favorable experiential responses, and increased interest associated with opera engagement. Overall, the study demonstrates the adaptive potential of parametric modular aggregation for facilitating deployable MR experiences, contributing a methodological reference for cultural communication. Full article

Contemporary cities face environmental, social and economic challenges that highlight the vulnerabilities of urban structures, spatial connections, infrastructure and socio-economic systems. These critical issues have been amplified by the pandemic and the intensification of climate change, generating significant impacts on the territory. In this uncertain context, urban planning plays a crucial role in responding to the new needs of cities, promoting proximity and environmental sustainability, and encouraging adaptation and proactive responses to change. The research aims to promote strategic planning based on an integrated and multi-scale approach, capable of generating synergies between the various complex aspects that characterize urban environments. This approach allows spatial relationships and considerations to be articulated at different scales, from the territorial to the local level, translating urban challenges into multi-level actions and strategies. However, this requires a supporting structure on which to articulate multiple urban planning strategies, resulting from the overlap and interrelation of two complementary design urban backbones: the proximity one, aimed at connecting services and public spaces through wide slow mobility networks; the natural one, aimed at integrating green areas on different scales, with both ecological functions, to promote biodiversity, and social functions, to improve collective well-being and strengthen the resilience of the urban ecosystem. The complementarity of these two backbones was explored through the revision of the Territorial Government Plan of the City of Mantua, particularly within the Services Plan, as part of the research project entitled “Re-knowing Urban Complexity through New City Awareness: In Search of Urban Proximity Systems.” This research provided an opportunity to read and interpret the urban complexity of the city while guiding effective, sustainable, and resilient intervention strategies in response to its ongoing transformations. Full article

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are widespread environmental pollutants, with increasing evidence of human exposure through multiple routes. Their detection in human tissues, including the lungs, raises concerns about their potential impact on respiratory health, including lung cancer (LC). This review synthesizes current evidence on the biological effects of MNP exposure, with a focus on mechanisms potentially relevant to LC. In particular, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are discussed as mediators potentially linking environmental exposure to cellular responses. Experimental studies suggest that MNPs may induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and genotoxicity, and may alter EV biogenesis and cargo, thereby influencing pathways involved in epithelial–mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and immune modulation. We also explore the potential contribution of the gut–lung axis, where MNP-induced dysbiosis and intestinal barrier disruption may promote systemic inflammatory responses, with bacterial EVs acting as additional mediators. However, evidence directly linking MNP exposure, EV-mediated signaling, and LC is limited and largely derived from experimental models. Key challenges include the lack of standardized detection methods, insufficient dose–response data, and scarce epidemiological evidence. Integrating exposomic and multi-omic approaches, including EV-omics, lipidomics, and metabolomics, is needed to clarify the relevance of these mechanisms and support the identification of potential biomarkers in human disease. Full article

China and Italy both possess rich operatic traditions, yet both encounter challenges in sustaining engagement among younger generations. This study investigates how infrastructural conditions influencing young audiences’ willingness to experience with traditional opera through a comparative study of two cultural contexts. Drawing on focus group interviews with participants across both countries, the research examines three interrelated theoretical dimensions: accessibility, experience, and mediation. Through systematic qualitative content analysis, the results indicate that while both Chinese and Italian participants recognized opera as a culturally significant art form, their participation modes differed. In China, attendance was often perceived as a planned and formal activity tied to modern cultural districts, with a strong reliance on media support to reduce entry barriers. In Italy, opera was described as embedded in historical urban environments and social routines, prioritizing the preservation of live performance integrity, maintained through continuity and familiarity. Such findings define opera engagement as a process shaped by interwoven access, experiential, and mediating infrastructures. Overall, this research identifies the needs of young opera audiences in both countries and offers cross-national perspectives for theatrical institutions, aiming to enhance operations and global communication of traditional opera. Full article

Battery-based electrification is increasingly recognised as a key pathway for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions in maritime transport, particularly for vessel segments characterised with short, predictable operation profiles. To ensure an environmentally sustainable transition, it is essential to quantify the potential environmental benefits of these solutions. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), standardised by ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, is the internationally recognised methodology for evaluating environmental impacts across the entire life cycle and for consistently comparing options providing the same function. This study presents a methodological review of LCA applications to battery-based ship electrification, with the objective of analysing key assumptions, comparability issues, and limitations across the existing literature. A systematic review was conducted on 24 studies, focusing on core methodological aspects, including product system definition, functional unit selection, system boundaries, life cycle inventory modelling, and impact assessment methods, while considering contextual elements such as fleet segmentation and propulsion configurations to support the interpretation of methodological choices. The analysis reveals significant methodological heterogeneity across studies, particularly in product-system definitions, functional unit selection, modelling detail, and impact category coverage, which limits cross-study comparability. This review also highlights a strong concentration of applications on short-route passenger ferries, while other vessel categories remain underrepresented, further constraining the generalisability of the findings. Although a direct quantitative comparison of results is not methodologically appropriate due to this heterogeneity, climate change mitigation consistently emerges as a key benefit across the analysed studies. At the same time, the multi-impact perspective of LCA highlights relevant trade-offs related to material use, toxicity, and resource depletion. Overall, the findings underline the need for more harmonised methodological approaches and a holistic life cycle perspective to support robust and comparable environmental assessments as battery-based solutions expand within the maritime sector. This review provides a structured interpretation of methodological variability and identifies priorities for future LCA applications. Full article

The growing demand for concrete poses a significant environmental challenge, but alkali-activated high-performance concrete (AA-HPC) offers a more sustainable alternative by potentially reducing carbon emissions and ecological harm. This study explores the latest developments in machine learning (ML) applications aimed at predicting the compressive strength of AA-HPC, with a focus on minimizing experimental expenses, construction duration, and environmental impact. Among nine evaluated ML models, the combination of extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) with the African vultures optimization algorithm (AVOA) emerged as the most effective. AVOA proved highly efficient in optimizing model parameters, achieving the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) during hyperparameter tuning. On the training dataset, XGB-AVOA reached an R² of 0.994 and an RMSE of 2.368, while on the testing dataset, it maintained superior performance with an R² of 0.975 and an RMSE of 5.664. These findings highlight AVOA’s strength in fine-tuning XGBoost compared to alternative optimizers such as grey wolf optimizer (GWO), whale optimization algorithm (WOA), social spider optimization (SSO), and gorilla troops optimizer (GTO). To support practical implementation, a graphical user interface (GUI) has also been developed, allowing researchers to efficiently utilize the XGB-AVOA model for accurate, cost-effective, and time-saving predictions in laboratory environments. Full article

Background: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is an established nephron-sparing technique for localized renal tumors. It is performed using on-clamp (temporary renal artery clamping) or off-clamp (without hilar clamping) strategies. Comparative real-world evidence remains limited and is often confounded by non-randomized treatment allocation. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 146 consecutive patients undergoing RAPN between 2020 and 2025. Patients were allocated to on-clamp (n = 108) or off-clamp (n = 38) groups based on tumor characteristics and intraoperative surgeon judgment. Perioperative, functional, and early oncological outcomes were analyzed. Tumor complexity was assessed using the RENAL nephrometry score. Surgical quality was evaluated using the Trifecta outcome (negative margins, warm ischemia time ≤25 min, and absence of Clavien–Dindo ≥III complications). Results: Off-clamp RAPN was more frequently applied in smaller tumors (p = 0.008), while RENAL scores were comparable between groups. Estimated blood loss was higher in the off-clamp group (260 ± 62 vs. 110 ± 35 mL; p < 0.0001), whereas transfusion rates and overall complication rates did not differ significantly. Trifecta achievement was similar between on-clamp and off-clamp RAPN (91.0% vs. 96.8%; p = 0.45). No significant differences were observed in early postoperative renal function (creatinine, hemoglobin, eGFR) or positive surgical margin rates. Conclusions: In this retrospective cohort, both on-clamp and off-clamp RAPN demonstrated comparable perioperative safety, functional outcomes, and early oncological efficacy. Differences in baseline tumor characteristics reflect selection bias rather than treatment effect. These findings support the feasibility of both techniques in appropriately selected patients, while highlighting the need for prospective comparative studies with adjustment for confounding factors. Full article

Full-arch implant-supported rehabilitations are widely recognized as an effective treatment option for edentulous patients. Nevertheless, clinical decision-making regarding patient selection, surgical planning, prosthetic material choice, and long-term maintenance protocols remains heterogeneous and requires structured evidence-based guidance. A modified Delphi consensus process was conducted involving 29 experts during the Italian Consensus Conference. A systematic literature review covering the period 2015–2024 was performed, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Consensus was predefined as ≥90% agreement. Seven evidence-based consensus statements were developed addressing: (1) periodontal risk assessment using validated tools; (2) guided bone regeneration outcomes with technique-specific indications; (3) comparative survival of four versus six implants in mandibular full-arch rehabilitations; (4) equivalence of tilted and axial implant configurations; (5) prosthetic material selection, with monolithic zirconia showing high survival; (6) risk-stratified supportive maintenance protocols associated with a reduction in peri-implantitis incidence; and (7) systemic risk stratification, including absolute and relative contraindications, medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) risk management, and perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Full article

In the contemporary educational landscape, quality education requires a shift toward pedagogical models that develop knowledge and prepare students for the complexities of professional careers. This manuscript is an exploratory investigation of an educational innovation centred on podcast production within a Master of Science course (21 students). By moving beyond traditional oral assessment, this intervention fosters active learning and soft skills, such as metacognition, scientific communication, and collaborative problem-solving, which are essential for contributing to a sustainable society. The study examines the translation of a written technical essay on sustainable materials into digital storytelling. Students engaged in a multi-stage process of research, synthesis, and peer review. Marks across three consecutive course editions using the same evaluation rubric were compared, and qualitative feedback was gathered from 15 students through a questionnaire. The learners reported enhanced topic mastery (93.3%) and critical thinking (80%). By bridging the gap between academic research and non-specialist communication, this activity provides a scalable model across diverse disciplines. This research showcases how podcasting can overcome traditional learning barriers, ensuring that higher education remains responsive to the evolving requirements of our global society. Full article