Search Results (3,662)

Magnesium alloys, characterized by high specific strength and low density, have high potential for applications in transportation and aerospace. Nevertheless, ensuring the reliable joining of thin-walled components remains a major technical challenge. This study examines how rotational speed affects the microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded AZ61 magnesium alloy hollow profiles (3 mm thick), with particular focus on the underlying mechanisms. The results show that higher rotational speed during friction stir welding promotes dynamic recrystallization and weakens the basal texture. It also affects microstructural homogeneity, where an optimal rotational speed produces a relatively uniform hybrid microstructure consisting of refined recrystallized and un-recrystallized regions. This balance enhances both texture strengthening and microstructural optimization. The weld joint fabricated at a rotational speed of 1500 rpm showed the best overall mechanical properties, with ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation reaching peak values of 286.7 MPa, 154.7 MPa, and 9.7%, respectively. At this speed, the average grain size in the weld nugget zone was 4.92 μm, and the volume fraction of second-phase particles was 0.67%. This study establishes a critical process foundation for the reliable joining of thin-walled magnesium alloy structures. The optimized parameters serve as valuable guidelines for engineering applications in lightweight transportation equipment and aerospace manufacturing. Full article

Reducing food loss and waste (FLW) is a global priority under UN SDG 12.3, yet Taiwan has lacked stage-specific FLW data and systematic valuation of its environmental and economic implications. This study addresses these gaps by integrating localized FLW estimates from the APEC-FLOWS database with an enhanced analytical framework—the Environmentally Extended Input–Output Valuation (EEIO-V) model. The EEIO-V extends conventional input–output analysis by monetizing multiple environmental burdens, including greenhouse gases, air pollutants, wastewater, and solid waste, thereby linking FLW reduction to tangible economic benefits and policy design. The simulations reveal substantial differences in environmental cost reductions across supply chain stages, with downstream interventions delivering the largest benefits, particularly in reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases. By contrast, upstream measures contribute relatively smaller improvements. These findings highlight the novelty of EEIO-V in bridging environmental valuation with system-level FLW analysis, and they provide actionable insights for designing cost-effective, stage-specific strategies that prioritize downstream interventions to advance Taiwan’s sustainability and policy goals. Full article

(1) Background: Marine eutrophication represents a formidable challenge to sustainable global aquaculture, posing a severe threat to marine ecosystems and impeding the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14. Current methodologies for identifying eutrophication events and tracing their drivers from vast, heterogeneous text data rely on manual analysis and thus have significant limitations. (2) Methods: To address this issue, we developed a novel automated attribution analysis framework. We first pre-trained a domain-specific model (Aquaculture-BERT) on a 210-million-word corpus, which is the foundation for constructing a comprehensive Aquaculture Eutrophication Knowledge Graph (AEKG) with 3.2 million entities and 8.5 million relations. (3) Results: Aquaculture-BERT achieved an F1-score of 92.1% in key information extraction, significantly outperforming generic models. The framework successfully analyzed complex cases, such as Xiamen harmful algal bloom, generating association reports congruent with established scientific conclusions and elucidating latent pollution pathways (e.g., pond aquaculture–nitrogen input–Phaeocystis bloom). (4) Conclusions: This study delivers an AI-driven framework that enables the intelligent and efficient analysis of aquaculture-induced eutrophication, propelling a paradigm shift toward the deep integration of data-driven discovery with hypothesis-driven inquiry. The framework provides a robust tool for quantifying the environmental impacts of aquaculture and identifying pollution sources, contributing to sustainable management and achieving SDG 14 targets. Full article

When this Special Issue was planned, it was initially intended to solicit contributions from a diverse group of international scholars on various innovative, theoretical, empirical, and policy-focused studies related to inequity and social and environmental justice issues relevant to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [...] Full article

The Community and Civil Research Group of Eötvös Loránd University (Budapest) investigated sustainable community activities in Hungary and abroad to identify local responses to global challenges. Using qualitative research methods, focus groups and interviews, this research defined the concepts of community service, community practice and working methods by analysing nearly 80 practical examples and 65 interviews in Hungary. The practical examples were used to create a “sustainable community model” and a methodological guide for community developers on how to implement community services. The steps of the process presented in the model are based on building community involvement and participation, mobilising local resources and capacities, creating community-based services, building sustainability and self-sufficiency and consolidating innovative training and community working practices. The research resulted in the creation of an online Community Repository, which provides community responses to the 17 UN Global Sustainability Challenges and Goals —economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection—by organising the collected community services, small community practices and working methods around seven community development perspectives: governance, place, sustainable livelihoods, culture (and the arts), identity (belonging and connection), human rights and resilience and engagement and knowledge. This study provides a methodological foundation for developing resilient community-based services that contribute to sustainability, inclusivity and innovation. Full article

Magnetocardiography (MCG) offers a noninvasive method for early screening and precise localization of cardiovascular diseases by measuring picotesla-level weak magnetic fields induced by cardiac electrical activity. However, in unshielded magnetic environments, geomagnetic disturbances, power-frequency electromagnetic interference, and physiological/motion artifacts can significantly overwhelm effective magnetocardiographic components. To address this challenge, this paper systematically constructs an integrated denoising framework, termed “AOA-VMD-WT”. In this approach, the Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm (AOA) adaptively optimizes the key parameters (decomposition level K and penalty factor α) of Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD). The decomposed components are then regularized based on their modal center frequencies: components with frequencies ≥50 Hz are directly suppressed; those with frequencies <50 Hz undergo wavelet threshold (WT) denoising; and those with frequencies <0.5 Hz undergo baseline correction. The purified signal is subsequently reconstructed. For quantitative evaluation, we designed performance indicators including QRS amplitude retention rate, high/low frequency suppression amount, and spectral entropy. Further comparisons are made with baseline methods such as FIR and wavelet soft/hard thresholds. Experimental results on multiple sets of measured MCG data demonstrate that the proposed method achieves an average improvement of approximately 8–15 dB in high-frequency suppression, 2–8 dB in low-frequency suppression, and a decrease in spectral entropy ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 without compromising QRS amplitude. Additionally, the parameter optimization exhibits high stability. These findings suggest that the proposed framework provides engineerable algorithmic support for stable MCG measurement in ordinary clinic scenarios. Full article

Background/Objectives: Worldwide, millions of infants under 6 months are at increased risk of poor growth and development, illness, and death. We investigated the coherence of global policy characteristics, vulnerability, and continuity of care, which guides the care of vulnerable infants under 6 months and their mothers. Methods: We conducted a scoping review according to PRISMA-ScR guidance. We included English publications with no time limit, applicable to low- and middle-income countries, sourced through Google Scholar, contacts, WHO and UNICEF databases, global networks, and agency websites. The search was conducted from August 2023 to February 2024. We identified 34 documents for review. We categorised policies into guidelines, namely, WHO evidence-based recommendations and multi-source guidance documents with implementation details. We consolidated 49 vulnerability descriptors into 28 vulnerability factors and four sub-groups. We did not assess policy quality. Results: We found rich but fragmented global policy guidance. Multiple terminologies create superficial differences and mask important ones. Growth appraisal was mostly limited to nutrition-oriented guidance and was lacking in health-centric documents. Continuity of care lacked scope and depth. WHO policies are out of sync with each other and the latest evidence on mortality risk markers. WHO procedures need to accommodate non-UN documents to leverage existing guidance potential. A living policy system to manage evidence-to-policy processes and policy interactions is needed. The WHO-INTEGRATE evidence for decision frameworks could help country-led adaptations, system-sensitive global support, and WHO methodological development. Conclusions: There are immediate opportunities for interdisciplinary policy cooperation. Action is urgently needed to secure coherent evidence-based policies for equitable and effective care. Full article

This article investigates the (im)possibilities of Peace Education as a critical pedagogical practice in contexts marked by liberal ideologies. The question that guides the text is: has Peace Education ‘gone out of style’ in times marked by wars, democratic crises, deepening social inequalities, and the rise of authoritarian discourses? Based on a literature review, the study points out chronological advances and setbacks, highlighting the role of international organizations, such as the UN and UNESCO, in the affirmation, boom, and subsequent decline of the theme. The study also examines educational scenarios in Brazil and Portugal, highlighting their convergences and specificities. It emphasizes, however, that despite liberal pressures, Peace Education, even if not properly named, remains essential for the formation of autonomous and critical individuals, committed to questioning and confronting structural and cultural inequalities, and defending social justice, human rights, and historical memory. Full article

This research presents Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and development of biomass for combined heat and power (CHP) generation in Nigeria. It includes crop and forest classification, thermodynamic, and exergo-economic analyses using ArcGIS, Engineering Equation Solver, and Microsoft Excel. Syngas generated from biomass residues powered an integrated CHP system combining a gas turbine (GT), dual steam turbine (DST), and a cascade organic Rankine cycle (CORC) plant. The net power output of the integrated system stood at 2911 MW, with a major contribution from the gas turbine cycle (GTC) unit. The system had a total exergy destruction of 6480 MW, mainly in the combustion chamber (2143 MW) and HP-HRSG (1660 MW), and produced 3370.41 MW of heat, with a flue gas exit temperature of 74 °C. The plant’s energy and exergy efficiencies were 87.16% and 50.30%, respectively. The BCHP system showed good economic and environmental performance, with an annualized life cycle cost of USD 93.4 million, unit cost of energy of 0.0076 USD/kWh kWh, and a 7.5-year break-even. The emissions and impact factors align with those of similar existing plants. It demonstrates that biomass residue can significantly support Nigeria’s energy needs and contribute to clean energy goals under the Paris Agreement and UN-SDGs. This work suggests a pathway to tackle energy insecurity, inform policymakers on biomass-to-energy, and serve as a foundation for future techno-economic–environmental assessment of biomass residues across suitable locations in Nigeria. Full article

For this article, we reviewed and synthesized narratological theories on reliability and unreliability and used them as the basis for an exploratory study, examining how real readers respond to a literary short story that contains several unreliable or conflicting narrative accounts. The story we selected is “In a Grove” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (orig. 藪の中/Yabu no naka) from 1922 in the English translation by Jay Rubin from 2007. To investigate how readers evaluate trustworthiness in narrative contexts, we combined quantitative and qualitative methods. We analyzed correlations between reading habits (i.e., Author Recognition Test), cognitive traits (e.g., Need for Cognition; Epistemic Trust), and trust attributions to characters while also examining how narrative sequencing and character-specific reasons for (dis)trust shaped participants’ judgments. This mixed-methods approach allows us to situate narrative trust as a context-sensitive, interpretive process rather than a stable individual disposition. Full article

Soil is fundamental to life on Earth through the provision of many ecosystem services. The current model of economic development exerts significant pressure on this resource, leading to degradation processes that are accelerated by the effects of climate change. This situation hinders the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and some parts of the world have started a process to reverse this trend, among them the European Union, which has chosen the living labs approach as a strategic solution. The growing interest in this subject within the EU has led to the establishment of a new framework to design and test sustainable policies to improve soil health and management at the continental scale. This review presents State-of-the-Art information on the use of the living labs approach to improve soil health. It also introduces the SOILL Support Structure for Soil Health Living Labs (SHLLs) and Lighthouses and the significant role of the SOILL-Startup project to help establish a network of 100 such structures across the EU. Following the PRISMA methodology, the review describes the main features of SHLLs (definition, types of stakeholders, field and scale of application), as well as their current geographical distribution. The work provides information that can be used by the scientific community, policy makers, and soil stakeholders who prioritise soil health, regardless of the context in which they operate. Full article

Ensuring the stability of surrounding rock in underground excavations is a critical prerequisite for safe mining operations. This study examines the mechanisms of wedge failure formation and determines the performance of a combined support system (rock bolts + shotcrete) through probabilistic analysis. Field investigations in the Zhylandy ore field (Kazakhstan) included fracture mapping, rock mass quality assessment (RQD), fracture frequency (FF), and in situ stress measurements, which confirmed a thrust-faulting regime. Numerical modeling with Dips ver.8 and UnWedge ver.6 software (Rocscience) identified critical excavation orientations of 120° and 141° associated with maximum-volume wedge formation, as well as a “safe orientation window” of 70° ± 10°. The probabilistic analysis showed that rock bolts alone yield a factor of safety (FS) < 1.2, whereas the combined support system increases FS to 2.4–3.5, significantly reducing the likelihood of wedge failures. An adaptive framework integrating numerical modeling with intelligent monitoring (“monitor → update model → adjust support”) is proposed, allowing real-time adjustment of support parameters and optimization of material consumption. The practical significance of this work lies in providing design-ready recommendations for support selection and excavation orientation, contributing to accident prevention and sustainable mining operations. Full article

Aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 11 and 13), this study examines how dynamic subsidy thresholds steer environmental resilience, social inclusion, and fiscal sustainability in China’s urban renewal. Using evolutionary game theory (EGT) and system dynamics (SD), stakeholder strategies are modeled under varying policy interventions, with key parameters calibrated through Chongqing’s LZ case and MATLAB simulations. These include government subsidies (M₁, M₂), penalties (S₂), and stakeholder benefits (R₁–R₅). The results reveal the following two distinct types of critical thresholds: a universal and robust fiscal warning line for developers (M₁ > 600 k RMB) and a threshold for residential subsidies that is moderated by psycho-social factors (M₂), with its value fluctuating within a certain range (approximately 550 k RMB to 850 k RMB). A sequential synergy pathway is proposed: “government-led facilitation → developer-driven implementation (when R₃ > 450 k RMB) → resident participation (triggered by R₂ > 150 k RMB).” The study advocates differentiated incentives and penalties, prioritizing early-stage governmental leadership to foster trust, promote inclusive participation, and align with environmental, social, and economic sustainability goals. This integrated framework reveals critical policy leverage points for enhancing social and fiscal resilience, providing a replicable model for sustainable and resilient urban governance in the Global South. Full article

This benchmarking study situates Jordan’s trade indicators relative to comparators (Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) with descriptive analysis. Using indicators for port competitiveness, geopolitical stability, logistics infrastructure, and trade facilitation within a Modified Input–Process–Output framework, based on secondary data from conventional international indicators (“Fund for Peace Fragile States Index,” “Institute for Economics & Peace Global Peace Index,” “OECD Trade Facilitation Indicators,” “UN Comtrade Trade Volume Records, 2022–2023,” “UN Conference on Trade and Development Port Performance Scorecard,” and “World Bank Logistics Performance Index”). The outcomes of this analysis demonstrate that Jordan’s strengths in terms of institutional quality and geopolitical stability are countermanded by relatively poor digital technology adoption and governance of ports, and homogeneity in exports. Using M-IPO model and SWOT analysis, it was identified that specific actions are needed to improve Jordan’s trade performance, especially as a hub for regional logistics, including investment and facilitation of digital system adoption, commensurate infrastructure, and flexibility in governance. Full article

This case study evaluates the efficiency of STEM-based sustainability initiatives at the University of Brasilia (UnB) using a Bootstrap Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach. Twenty projects were analyzed based on input variables—team size, budget, and workload—and output variables—number of beneficiaries and published papers. The results indicate higher efficiency in the Mathematics and Civil Engineering departments, while Energy Engineering showed the lowest performance. A strong correlation (r = 0.78) was observed between budget and publication volume, but no significant relationship was found between the inputs and number of beneficiaries. SDG 4 (Quality Education) was the most frequently addressed, whereas SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water) received less attention. The study identifies key areas for improvement, emphasizing the need for more balanced resource allocation and contextual awareness over sustainability priorities. It also offers an adaptive and replicable framework to other faculties or institutions seeking to optimize sustainability efforts through the lens of resource allocation optimization. Full article