Search Results (597)

It is possible to reduce the self-weight of buildings by using high-performance lightweight concretes (HPLCs) instead of conventional concrete. It is known that many provinces of Turkey are in dangerous earthquake zones. In this context, one of the most appropriate ways to reduce the self-weight of buildings, in terms of minimizing earthquake damages, is to use lightweight concrete. Due to the increasing need for HPLCs today, the related study draws attention to this aspect. In the present study, it is planned to evaluate the fresh and hardened concrete properties of HPLCs produced with pumice aggregates in two stages, experimentally and statistically. In the first stage, a 28-day series of HPLCs with different mix ratios and different concrete components was produced. Fresh and hardened concrete properties, such as slump and strength of the produced HPLCs, were determined. As a result of the experiments, all results for each concrete recipe were examined comparatively, and the best concrete recipes were determined. Then, in the second stage, after the experiments were completed, the slump, compressive strength, and splitting tensile strength of HPLCs were analyzed with the multi-objective optimization method using the Response Surface Method. With these developed equations, it was observed that the machinability and strength properties of HPLCs for different test parameters were predicted with high accuracy. Consequently, developing HPLC mix designs through this predictive approach significantly reduces experimental workload, leading to substantial savings in labor, time, and costs. Full article

The growing demand for electric traction batteries, together with their high content of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), necessitates comprehensive life cycle environmental assessments. Limited attention in the literature has been devoted to explicitly disentangling the role of individual CRMs in shaping both environmental burdens and potential end-of-life benefits. This study presents a “cradle-to-grave” life cycle assessment (LCA) of a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery for electric vehicle applications, aiming to identify the contributions of individual life cycle phases and quantify the role of CRMs. The life cycle inventory was developed using data from the literature and the Ecoinvent database, with impacts assessed using the ReCiPe 2016 midpoint hierarchist (H) method. LCA results indicate that the material manufacturing phase dominates most impact categories. A gravity analysis demonstrates that a limited set of CRMs (aluminium, copper, and lithium) structurally governs both environmental burdens and recycling benefits. Monte Carlo analysis indicates low uncertainty for most impact categories. A first sensitivity analysis reveals that improvements in round-trip efficiency exert the strongest influence on environmental performance. A second sensitivity analysis assesses the effect of different energy mixes used to model electricity consumption during the use phase. Full article

Wet grinding is an important operation in the technological process of ceramic tile production. The properties of the slurry obtained from grinding (slip) are conditioned by the raw materials (the type and characteristics of raw material in mixture, recipes for mixture), and by the operating parameters in grinding (technical characteristics of mill, type of grinding system, mill charge, grinding media body, grinding time, etc.). The optimal selection of these influential parameters results in satisfactory properties of slip, i.e., in efficient grinding as process operation, and, consequently, in smooth and efficient realisation of subsequent operations in the process, particularly spray drying. At the end of the technological process, the final goal is to obtain a ceramic tile of satisfactory quality. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) is an increasingly applied tool for selecting optimal technological parameters for the purpose of optimisation, problem solving and improvement of technological processes. This paper presents the application of the symmetry point of criterion—ranking alternatives by perimeter similarity (SPC-RAPS) as an MCDM hybrid method for the selection of optimal technological parameters in grinding in the ceramic tile production process. The ranking and selection of alternatives (raw materials, grinding balls and grinding time) were performed according to various criteria. In addition to the technological parameters related to the characteristics of the products from the grinding (slip), and to the technical characteristics of the final product (ceramic tiles), the criteria also included economic parameters (the market price of raw material and specific energy consumption in grinding). The developed mathematical model enabled the selection of the best alternative as a solution for this problem. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dental procedures are generally not considered environmentally sustainable; however, there is a growing emphasis on the implementation of environmentally conscious practices in dentistry. Despite this shift, the environmental impact of oral surgical interventions remains insufficiently investigated. The odontectomy of impacted teeth represents the most frequently performed procedure in oral surgery. The aim of this study was to conduct a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of the odontectomy of submucosal and intraosseous impacted teeth. Methods: To perform the life cycle assessment, a life cycle inventory was compiled based on the observation and measurement of odontectomy procedures carried out at the dental clinic of George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, Romania. The analysis was carried out using the OpenLCA 2.5 software and the ReCiPe 2016 v1.03 midpoint and endpoint impact categories. Results: Odontectomy of intraosseous impacted teeth had higher environmental impact values than submucosal procedures across all midpoint categories examined. The climate change (GWP) results were 1.43 kg CO₂-eq (submucosal) and 1.56 kg CO₂-eq (intraosseous) in the average-case scenario, while in the worst-case scenario these values increased to 2.21 and 2.35 kg CO₂-eq, respectively. The overall DALY value was also higher in the intraosseous group. Single-use materials contributed the most to the majority of impact categories, while the contribution of reusable instruments was also noticeably higher in intraosseous procedures. Conclusions: A comparison of the two surgical procedures indicates that the environmental burden is primarily associated with the complexity of the procedure and the associated equipment requirements. Integrating sustainability considerations into clinical protocols could potentially yield significant environmental benefits in oral surgery. Full article

Background: Capturing the healthfulness of mixed dishes per serving can be a challenge. Objectives: To develop a Nutrient Density Calculator (NDC) for mixed dishes to guide recipe innovation and reformulation. Methods: Recipe files and nutrient composition data for mixed dishes came from the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS 2021–2023). Included were mixed dishes with meat, poultry, seafood, grains, vegetables or legumes as their main ingredient, Asian and Mexican dishes, pizza, sandwiches, burgers, and nuts and seeds (n = 1570). Observed servings as consumed came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (NHANES 2017–2020/2021 –2023). The NDC version 643 had three components: NR6 based on six nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin D); MP4 based on ingredients (fruits and vegetables, whole grains, pulses, nuts and seeds); and LIM based on three nutrients to limit (saturated fat, added or total sugar, sodium). An abbreviated version, NDC343, used NR3 (protein, fiber, calcium). Alternative NDC models tested different component weights. Nutrient density was calculated per serving. Results: Both NDC643 and NDC343 gave higher scores to vegetables, pulses, and nuts and lower scores to meat-based dishes. Equal weighting of the three components produced NDC scores that were correlated with Nutri-Score (r = −0.64 for NDC343 and −0.70 for NDC643) and Health Star Rating values (r = −0.74 for NDC343 and −0.75 for NDC643). Correlations with energy density were −0.25 for NDC343 and −0.33 for NDC643. The NDC643 model was sensitive to recipe improvements for a variety of mixed dishes—more so than the Nutri-Score or the Health Star Rating. Conclusion: The three-component NDC model, combining both nutrients and ingredients, successfully captured nutrient density of mixed dishes and was sensitive to recipe improvements. Full article

Sustainable and circular materials for renewable energy applications are essential for reducing the life-cycle burdens of photovoltaic (PV) power plants and improving the resource efficiency of low-carbon energy infrastructure. This study assesses the material-related environmental performance of an existing 2 MW mono-crystalline silicon (sc-Si) photovoltaic power plant in northern Poland and a prospective perovskite solar cell (PSC) module scenario modelled as an equivalent system with the same location, installed capacity, and annual electricity output. The functional unit was defined as 2000 MWh of electricity delivered annually. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed in SimaPro 9.4.0 using the ReCiPe 2016 method, complemented by an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)-based greenhouse gas assessment. The inventory included photovoltaic modules, support structures, electrical installations, inverter stations, and transformers, with landfill and recycling-oriented material recovery considered as alternative post-consumer management strategies for materials after the end of the technical facility’s life. The results show that material-intensive upstream production stages and key balance-of-system components are major contributors to life-cycle impacts, while recycling can reduce selected burdens through material recovery and avoided production of primary materials. These recycling benefits were modelled using material-specific recovery rates and avoided-production credits assigned only to recovered fractions assumed to meet secondary material quality requirements. Under the adopted modelling assumptions, the PSC module scenario indicates potential for lower life-cycle impacts than the sc-Si baseline. For the prospective perovskite module scenario, this potential benefit is conditional on intact encapsulation during operation and controlled collection, separation, and recovery of lead-containing fractions at the end of life. The study demonstrates that material composition, component design, and circular end-of-life management are decisive factors for improving the environmental performance of PV power plants. Full article

The wood furniture sector, heavily reliant on wood panels, faces supply risks and generates significant waste, which can be managed through recycling or energy recovery. This study investigates the environmental impacts of wood waste end-of-life management and the use of virgin versus recycled raw materials in the wood furniture sector, aiming to identify the most sustainable scenario in wood manufacturing between wood waste recycling as output and recycled wood as input. Environmental impacts of four scenarios were analyzed and compared through the life cycle assessment with the “grave-to-cradle” approach. Inventory was supported by information and data from an Italian furniture company, while the impact assessment was performed using the ReCiPe method and the SimaPro software. The results from the impact assessment and gravity analysis show the main contribution of different scenarios due to the incineration of wood waste and the manufacturing of wood panels; the sensitivity analysis highlights how increasing recycling allows for greater performance improvement than increasing recycled inputs. Although limited by the assumptions related to the case study, this research enriches the discussion on the environmental convenience of recycling manufacturing waste and using recycled materials and confirms the importance of life cycle assessment for implementing circular economy strategies in companies. Full article

Designing consumer products with lower environmental impact and acceptable cost requires designers to interpret life-cycle evidence across competing alternatives. This study compares two contrasting weighting approaches for multi-criteria decision-making in sustainability-focused consumer product design: the stakeholder-preference-driven Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the data-driven Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation–Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (CRITIC–TOPSIS) method. An electric-bike case study was constructed from 24 feasible configurations defined by frame material, battery type, tire material, and coating method. Environmental performance was quantified using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with ReCiPe midpoint indicators, and economic performance was represented using a component-level life-cycle cost proxy. The methods identified broadly similar high- and low-performing regions of the design space, but they differed in the ranking of specific alternatives. Statistical comparison showed strong agreement among the ranking methods, although differences remained in the exact ordering of some alternatives. These findings show that weighting methods do not determine product sustainability on their own; rather, they shape how environmental and economic evidence is translated into design decisions. For consumer product development, AHP is useful when stakeholder priorities must be made explicit, whereas CRITIC–TOPSIS is advantageous when repeatable data-driven screening is needed. Full article

The broiler industry plays a crucial role in global food security and faces sustainability challenges that drive research aimed at assessing the environmental impacts of production. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental performance of different growth stages of broiler chickens in a Brazilian poultry industry. The analysis followed the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology and the ReCiPe 2016—Midpoint H calculation method. The data used were primary, provided by a company in the sector, and secondary, obtained from the Ecoinvent 3 inventory database. SimaPro version 9.5 software was used to perform the LCA analyses, with a functional unit of 1 kg of live broiler chicken and a system boundary at the farm gate. The results revealed that, at all stages, freshwater ecotoxicity had the greatest environmental impact, linked to the production of feed ingredients such as soybean and corn grains and crude soybean oil. Across the entire chain, the global warming potential value was 1.69 kg CO₂-eq, with the final fattening stage showing the worst environmental performance. The study contributes to quantifying environmental performance and identifying critical inputs associated with environmental burdens in broiler production systems, providing evidence to support environmental management and sustainability assessment in poultry production. Full article

The cement industry accounts for approximately 8–9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to clinker production. Replacing Portland cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is a promising strategy to reduce these environmental impacts. This study evaluates the mechanical performance and environmental profile of sugarcane ash (SCA) and energy cane ash (ECA) as SCMs in Portland cement mortars. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to integrate the mechanical performance and life cycle environmental assessment of energy cane ash as a supplementary cementitious material in Portland cement mortars. Mortars incorporating 5–20% ash were tested for compressive strength and accelerated carbonation. An attributional life cycle assessment (LCA), following ISO 14040/44 and using the ReCiPe 2016 method, was conducted with a cradle-to-gate approach. At 28 days under wet curing, 10% ECA replacement achieved slightly higher compressive strength than the reference mortar (102%), while 10% SCA replacement also achieved compressive strength similar to the reference mortar, although slightly lower than that of ECA. Both ashes significantly reduced carbonation depth, indicating improved durability. From a life cycle assessment perspective, replacing cement with 10–20% ECA reduced environmental impacts in nine of the ten impact categories evaluated, including climate change (up to 18.6%), fossil depletion, and metal depletion. SCA also improved most categories, although to a lesser extent. The superior performance of ECA is associated with its higher biomass yield and environmental credits from potassium recovery during ash washing. These results demonstrate that agro-industrial ashes, particularly energy cane ash, can enhance mortar performance while reducing environmental burdens, mitigating industrial waste accumulation, and supporting circular economy strategies and climate change mitigation, thereby offering a viable pathway toward more sustainable cement production. Full article

Background: Diet plays a central role in the development of chronic diseases, making nutrition-focused interventions a powerful tool for improving population health. However, substantial gaps in nutrition education persist in the U.S. medical education, and medical students frequently report receiving limited nutrition training despite its importance in patient care. Methods: A non-randomized pre-post intervention study with a one-month follow-up was conducted among osteopathic medical students. Participants attended a culinary medicine food-demonstration featuring five case-based topics and three chef-prepared recipes. Nutrition knowledge, satisfaction with nutrition education, confidence in nutrition counseling, and personal nutrition-related behaviors were assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and one month later. Paired-samples t-tests with effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were used to compare scores over time. Results: Forty-six participants were assessed for nutrition knowledge and satisfaction, of whom forty-three completed a one-month follow-up in which confidence and behavior modification were evaluated. Nutrition knowledge significantly improved, with quiz scores increasing from 57.8 ± 13.8 to 75.2 ± 13.3 (p < 0.001, d = 1.04). Satisfaction with nutrition education and confidence in nutrition counseling also increased significantly (both p < 0.001), with a large effect size for confidence (d = 2.26). No significant change was observed in personal nutrition-related behaviors (p = 0.65, d = −0.06). Fifteen students who had previously completed a culinary medicine elective demonstrated higher baseline knowledge, satisfaction, and counseling confidence than students without prior training (all p ≤ 0.006), while nutrition-related behaviors remained largely unchanged in both groups. Conclusions: A brief culinary medicine food-demonstration session produced improvements in medical students’ nutrition knowledge, satisfaction with nutrition education, and confidence in nutrition counseling, and did not measurably change short-term personal nutrition behaviors. These findings support this model as an efficient approach to enhancing medical students’ nutrition-related competencies. Full article

The growing demand for acrylic acid, driven by its widespread use in polymers and specialty chemicals, raises concerns regarding the environmental impact of its conventional fossil-based production. In this context, the present study evaluates the techno-environmental performance of a glycerol-based acrylic acid route compared to the conventional propylene pathway. Process simulations were carried out using CHEMCAD for an annual capacity of 50,000 tons. The environmental impact is assessed through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology and LCA for Experts software, following the ReCiPe 2016 (H) impact method. The results show that the glycerol-based route requires higher raw material input (1.90 kg/kg acrylic acid) than the propylene pathway (0.84 kg/kg acrylic acid), yet generates slightly lower liquid wastes (3.25 kg/kg acrylic acid vs. 3.60 kg/kg acrylic acid). From an environmental standpoint, the glycerol route performs better in 12 of 16 impact categories. The conventional process is dominated by the propylene supply chain, contributing up to 62% of the global warming impact, while electricity demand ranks second in the glycerol-based route. Scenario analysis based on future European electricity mixes (EU-2030 and EU-2050) further reduces climate and fossil depletion impacts, although with increased mineral resource use. Overall, the results highlight the potential of glycerol as an alternative feedstock and the key role of electricity sourcing. Full article

Background: According to well-known dietary recommendations, herbs and spices are part of a healthy, balanced diet, and their consumption may contribute to improved health. Globalisation fosters greater exposure to other cultures and cuisines, including the use of spices. This study aimed to assess the awareness and attitudes towards spices among Polish students in a rural area. Methods: A survey study was conducted among 278 Generation Z students (aged 18–28 years old) from a university located in a small town in southeastern Poland. Questions concerning, a.o., preparing meals, awareness of spices’ properties, and the use of seasoning were included. Results: Most of the respondents declared using a lot of spices beyond salt and pepper (61.2%), more often women than men (67.9% vs. 45.1%; p = 0.0004), and more often participants aged ≥23 years than ≤22 years (82.9% vs. 58.0%; p = 0.005). Participants who grew their own spices and often watched TV culinary programs used more seasonings (72.4%; p = 0.001 and 85.2%; p = 0.0002, respectively). Less than half of the respondents (45%) recognised health properties in some of the spices, and 28.1% of them recognised health properties in spices in general, with more older participants (45.7%; p = 0.0402). Respondents with the highest awareness of the health properties of spices used them more often to improve their health (42.3%; p < 0.00). Conclusions: Exposure to cuisines from other cultures and their spices and the willingness to try new flavours among respondents were low. This might be due to sociodemographic factors, including origin from small, rural, traditional communities, where attachment to familiar recipes might be observed. Moreover, awareness of the healing benefits of spice use was low. Therefore, education about the composition and use of local spices might be helpful in increasing their intake for the benefit of health. Full article

Back-ground: In 2022, in Niger, undernutrition was highly prevalent in 6–23-month-old infants and their diet was poorly diversified. Methods: This cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Zinder region of Niger to monitor food and nutritional intakes from two food solutions, fortified infant flours (FIF) and ten nutritionally improved traditional recipes (NITR), in breastfed 6–11-month-old infants divided into four groups: control, responsive feeding (RF) awareness raising, RF + FIF, and RF + NITR. Data were collected at T0 (n = 322 infants) and 3 months later (T3, n = 300 infants). Results: At T0, 29% and 52% of infants had stunting and anemia, respectively, and 24% of them achieved minimum dietary diversity (MDD) in all groups. At T3, the MDD rates significantly increased, particularly in the RF + FIF and RF + NITR groups (71% and 81%, respectively). Food intake remained low in all groups, below the gastric capacity of children. Nevertheless, at T3, food intake was significantly higher in the RF + NITR group than in the other groups (p = 0.0209). Although porridges made with FIF were consumed in smaller quantities, thanks to their high energy density, the mean energy intake was higher in the RF + FIF group than in the control and RF groups. The energy intake of the RF + NITR group was even higher. This can be attributed to the fact that NITR-based meals were more varied, and colorful and offered different tastes and textures, thus appearing more appetizing and stimulating. Conclusions: A strategy that combines FIF and NITR appears relevant for improving nutritional intake in these contexts. Full article

Biogenic metal nanoparticles are naturally covered with the phytochemical corona, which includes plant-derived metabolites. Emerging evidence suggests that the phytochemical corona, together with the intrinsic properties of the metallic core, contributes significantly to the biological identity, therapeutic behavior, and safety profile of biogenic nanoparticles. In this review, we go beyond the traditional view of plant extracts as reducing and capping agents to the phytochemical corona as a programmable nano–bio interface. Green synthesis from Indian flora has potential that can yield coronas rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Each corona composition contributes to different physicochemical properties, such as cellular interactions and downstream effects on reactive oxygen species, endocytic uptake and signaling pathways (p53, AKT, MAPK). When in contact with biological fluids, the corona adsorbs host proteins, giving rise to a hybrid interface that further influences the therapeutic outcome. The corona composition directly contributes to the biological activities of these nanoparticles: for example, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiparasitic. The corona offers intrinsic targeting, stimuli-responsive release and improved stability for drug delivery. Toxicity and safety assessment shows dose-dependent effects, organ accumulation and long-term concerns for which standardized testing is needed. Translational challenges include: reproducibility, seasonal and geographic phytochemical variation, variability in extraction methods, scalability, shelf life and regulatory ambiguity. Future directions include Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven phytosynthesis, precision nanomedicine, nano–bio interface engineering, multi-omics integration, exploration of endangered Indian flora, and digital twin modeling. This review provides a roadmap for engineering phytochemical coronas as precision nanomedicine platforms by shifting the focus from core to corona and from empirical recipes to predictive design. It positions biogenic nanoparticles not only as eco-friendly alternatives, but as programmable, superior therapeutics for cancer and drug-resistant infections. Full article