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18 pages, 939 KB  
Article
Anthropogenic Environments Are Associated with High Body Surface Temperatures in an Equatorial Mammal, the Banded Mongoose
by Lucie A. Murphy, Monil Khera, Onismus Bwambale, Kevin Arbuckle, Francis Mwanguhya, Michael A. Cant and Hazel J. Nichols
Diversity 2026, 18(5), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18050243 (registering DOI) - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
Global land use is changing rapidly, particularly in the tropics, where human populations have had relatively high growth rates in recent decades. This has resulted in wildlife increasingly living in or using anthropogenic environments, which often have different thermal properties in comparison to [...] Read more.
Global land use is changing rapidly, particularly in the tropics, where human populations have had relatively high growth rates in recent decades. This has resulted in wildlife increasingly living in or using anthropogenic environments, which often have different thermal properties in comparison to natural habitats. For example, materials used for buildings, such as concrete and brick, typically absorb, retain and radiate more heat than vegetated surfaces. The mosaic of man-made and natural areas formed when anthropogenic environments expand is therefore likely to generate microhabitats with different thermal properties. Here, we investigated the association between microhabitats and the body surface temperature of wild banded mongooses (Mungos mungo), a social mammal living in equatorial Uganda. After controlling for the significant effects of air temperature, humidity, time of day and body contact, we found that mongooses had the highest body surface temperatures when present on anthropogenic substrates, such as discarded roofing straw and refuse, while mongooses present on building materials, dead vegetation and bare soil had intermediate body surface temperatures. In contrast, mongooses had the lowest body surface temperatures when present in more natural, vegetated habitats. Although our study is relatively small scale and limited in scope, our results indicate that anthropogenic modifications to natural environments may result in hotter microhabitats, which may in turn impact space use, movement and thermoregulation in wildlife. We hope that our study encourages further research into this understudied but emerging topic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mammalian Diversity and Life-History Responses to Climate Change)
43 pages, 8252 KB  
Systematic Review
Sustainable Recycling and Reuse of Marble Waste in the Construction Industry: A Systematic Review Towards a Circular Economy
by Salmabanu Luhar and Ismail Luhar
J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10(5), 221; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10050221 (registering DOI) - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
The global construction sector, a major consumer of virgin raw materials, is under increasing pressure to transition from a linear to a circular economy model. Marble waste, generated in large quantities during quarrying, cutting, and polishing operations, represents a promising secondary resource for [...] Read more.
The global construction sector, a major consumer of virgin raw materials, is under increasing pressure to transition from a linear to a circular economy model. Marble waste, generated in large quantities during quarrying, cutting, and polishing operations, represents a promising secondary resource for sustainable construction applications. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 reporting guidelines to critically evaluate the utilization of marble waste in concrete and other building materials. A comprehensive literature search was performed using major scientific databases, and relevant studies published between 2000 and 2025 were analyzed. The findings consistently indicate that marble waste performs most effectively as a fine aggregate replacement at 10–20%, resulting in improved compressive strength, pore refinement, and durability. As a cement substitute, the optimum replacement level is generally 5–10%, beyond which dilution effects may adversely affect strength development. The performance is primarily attributed to improved particle packing and microstructural refinement. This review further highlights future pathways for industrial-scale implementation, mix optimization, standardisation, and policy integration to accelerate circular construction practices. These findings support the potential of marble waste as a sustainable material in advancing circular economy principles in the construction industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Composite Construction Materials, 3rd Edition)
27 pages, 6306 KB  
Article
Dynamic Thermal Resistance-Capacity Modeling and Thermal Short-Circuit Analysis: A Study on Natural Convection in a Direct-Expansion CO2 Downhole Heat Exchanger
by Yang Yu, Jing Wang, Xinyue Li, Jinyu Zhao, Shuman Wang, Fei Ma, Jun Zhao and Yang Li
Energies 2026, 19(9), 2015; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19092015 (registering DOI) - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
This study addresses the challenge of thermal accumulation and low efficiency in conventional ground heat exchangers for building heating and cooling applications. A novel direct-expansion CO2 borehole heat exchanger (BHE) backfilled with well water is proposed to enhance heat transfer and mitigate [...] Read more.
This study addresses the challenge of thermal accumulation and low efficiency in conventional ground heat exchangers for building heating and cooling applications. A novel direct-expansion CO2 borehole heat exchanger (BHE) backfilled with well water is proposed to enhance heat transfer and mitigate soil thermal imbalance. A dynamic thermal resistance-capacity model (TRCM) coupling CO2 phase change with natural convection in well water is developed and validated against full-scale field experiments (135 m depth), with prediction errors below 5% under cooling conditions (MAPE 2.29%, RMSE 2.49%). Quantitative analysis reveals that natural convection in well water enhances overall heat transfer by 14.9% compared to soil-backfilled systems, despite intensifying thermal short-circuiting. Two practical enhancement strategies for building energy efficiency are proposed: (1) adding insulation to the rising pipe, which increases the heat transfer rate by up to 35.1%; and (2) implementing artificial well-water circulation, which achieves up to 50.5% enhancement, with an equivalent coefficient of performance (COP) reaching 52.5 under intermittent operation. The proposed system and the parametric analysis of these strategies offer effective solutions for improving the energy performance of ground-source heat pumps in buildings, contributing to reduced operational energy consumption and enhanced system reliability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heat Transfer Performance and Influencing Factors of Waste Management)
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12 pages, 2306 KB  
Case Report
Case Report: Physiological Stress Responses to Repeated, Standardized Short-Distance Transport in a Transport-Experienced Horse
by Lore Pellens, Louis Freson, Johan Buyse and Bert Driessen
Animals 2026, 16(9), 1293; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16091293 (registering DOI) - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
Transport is a fundamental component of equestrian training and competition. However, even horses with extensive transport experience may exhibit physiological stress responses during routine travel. This case report describes physiological stress responses in a transport-experienced 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding subjected to repeated, standardized [...] Read more.
Transport is a fundamental component of equestrian training and competition. However, even horses with extensive transport experience may exhibit physiological stress responses during routine travel. This case report describes physiological stress responses in a transport-experienced 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding subjected to repeated, standardized short-distance transport. The horse was transported on 17 occasions along a fixed route to a riding school for dressage training using the same vehicle, handler, and protocol to minimize environmental variability. Physiological stress markers were assessed using continuous heart rate monitoring and salivary cortisol sampling at standardized time points before, during, and after each transport and training session. Salivary cortisol concentrations increased during transport and remained slightly elevated relative to preloading reference values throughout the transport–training–return sequence. Heart rate was elevated relative to typical resting values prior tooading, peaked during training, and remained moderately elevated during subsequent transport phases. Longitudinal visualization across repeated transport events revealed a gradual decline in cortisol concentrations after approximately ten transport events, suggestive of partial physiological habituation. However, the occurrence of a physiological outlier during the fifth transport event underscores that even in experienced horses, acute stress responses can occur independently of the general habituation trend. These findings indicate that repeated short-distance transport can elicit measurable physiological stress responses in transport-experienced horses and that habituation may be incomplete despite standardized conditions and familiarity with the procedure. Taken together, these results challenge the assumption that routine transport is minimally stressful, highlighting the importance of individualized transport management, adequate recovery periods, and ongoing welfare monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Equine Behavior and Welfare)
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42 pages, 4923 KB  
Article
A Multi-Objective Optimized Drone-Assisted Framework for Secure and Reliable Communication in Disaster-Resilient Smart Cities
by Bader Alwasel, Ahmed Salim, Pravija Raj Patinjare Veetil, Ahmed M. Khedr and Walid Osamy
Drones 2026, 10(5), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones10050315 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
In today’s densely populated and technology-driven smart cities, natural and human-made disasters increasingly threaten the resilience of communication infrastructures, creating critical challenges for maintaining reliable connectivity. The failure of conventional networks during crises significantly hampers emergency response, coordination, and information dissemination. To address [...] Read more.
In today’s densely populated and technology-driven smart cities, natural and human-made disasters increasingly threaten the resilience of communication infrastructures, creating critical challenges for maintaining reliable connectivity. The failure of conventional networks during crises significantly hampers emergency response, coordination, and information dissemination. To address these challenges, this paper presents Weighted Average Algorithm-based Clustering and Routing (WAA-CR), a novel, secure, and adaptive UAV-based framework for disaster response and recovery. WAA-CR integrates three key components: shelters or Ground Control Stations (GCSs) as communication anchors and support hubs, survivable clustering and routing using a WAA-based metaheuristic optimizer, and secure and trustworthy drone communication enabled by a lightweight trust evaluation mechanism, and authentication model. The framework formulates a multi-objective optimization model that simultaneously minimizes the number of active UAVs and routing cost, while maximizing trust, communication reliability, and coverage. Cluster head (CH) election and routing decisions are guided by a composite fitness function that considers residual energy, link stability, mobility, and dynamic trust scores. Additionally, an adaptive maintenance mechanism enables dynamic reconfiguration to handle CH failures, trust degradation, or mobility-driven topology changes. Extensive simulations conducted in MATLAB R2020ademonstrate that WAA-CR significantly outperforms existing baseline FANET protocols in terms of energy efficiency, cluster stability, trust accuracy, and end-to-end delivery performance. These results validate the proposed framework’s effectiveness in building resilient, scalable, and secure UAV-based communication networks for post-disaster environments. Full article
45 pages, 3192 KB  
Review
Exploring Artificial Intelligence in Orthopedic Surgery: A Review of Perception, Decision, and Execution Systems
by Dehan Li, Wanshi Liu, Md. Mihraz Hossain Niloy, Zhang Yi and Lei Xu
Sensors 2026, 26(9), 2591; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26092591 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an indispensable tool in orthopedic surgery. It provides new methods to increase surgical precision, improve patient safety, and support personalized treatment plans. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of AI-assisted orthopedic surgery across three core domains. Based on [...] Read more.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an indispensable tool in orthopedic surgery. It provides new methods to increase surgical precision, improve patient safety, and support personalized treatment plans. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of AI-assisted orthopedic surgery across three core domains. Based on 89 recent studies, this review organizes findings around a perception–decision–execution framework. It groups diverse AI applications into certain categories while highlighting the mutuality across domains. Perception systems have progressed from basic CNN-based segmentation models to advanced transformer architectures. They support multi-modal data fusion and enable uncertainty quantification. Decision systems have moved far beyond rigid rule-based methods and evolve into data-driven models that support surgical planning, accurate risk prediction and continuous outcome optimization. And execution systems have advanced from passive navigation tools to active robotic assistance systems with real-time adaptive capabilities. Beyond mapping technological advances, this review also identifies pivotal challenges that hinder clinical translation and concludes with a clear roadmap for future research, which marks closed-loop surgical assistance systems as the next key development direction. Building on these findings, this review illuminates the potential of AI-assisted orthopedic surgery and guides future research toward innovations that can be translated into clinical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biomedical Sensors)
31 pages, 2890 KB  
Article
Numerical and Experimental Assessment of Structural Performance and Axial Compression Capacity of Screw-Connected Built-Up Cold-Formed Steel Members
by Nefya Soysal and Zeynep Fırat Alemdar
Buildings 2026, 16(9), 1651; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16091651 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
Recently, cold-formed steel (CFS) structural systems have been increasingly used in building applications due to their lightweight characteristics, ease of fabrication, and efficient construction processes. Among these systems, built-up CFS columns are widely adopted to enhance load-carrying capacity; however, their axial compression behavior [...] Read more.
Recently, cold-formed steel (CFS) structural systems have been increasingly used in building applications due to their lightweight characteristics, ease of fabrication, and efficient construction processes. Among these systems, built-up CFS columns are widely adopted to enhance load-carrying capacity; however, their axial compression behavior and failure mechanisms have not yet been fully clarified. This study aims to investigate the axial compression performance of built-up cold-formed steel columns through a combined experimental and numerical approach. This study investigates the axial compression performance of built-up cold-formed steel columns using a combined experimental and numerical approach. Following the full-scale testing of five different configurations, finite element models were developed in ABAQUS using the obtained material properties. The experimental results were used to validate and calibrate the finite element models, which provided a detailed simulation of the nonlinear structural behavior of the columns. The experimental load–displacement responses were compared with the numerical results to evaluate the accuracy of the finite element models and to identify the axial load-carrying capacity and dominant failure modes of the built-up columns. Furthermore, the tensile pull-out behavior of 3.9 mm diameter self-drilling screws utilized in the built-up column connections was examined through expedient fastener tests to facilitate a more profound understanding of the load transfer mechanism. The results highlight the influence of built-up configuration and connection behavior on the axial compression performance of CFS columns, providing practical insights for improving the design and numerical modeling of screw-connected built-up cold-formed steel column systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)
24 pages, 10535 KB  
Article
High-Resolution Numerical Simulations of Urban Air Quality Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Model: Applications in Madrid, Spain
by Roberto San Jose, Juan L. Perez-Camanyo and Miguel Jimenez-Gañan
Algorithms 2026, 19(5), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/a19050326 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
This paper presents a high-spatial-resolution 3D system to simulate air quality in urban environments by coupling the WRF/Chem regional model with the PALM4U computational fluid dynamics model, together with an emission model using the SUMO microscopic traffic model. The system has been applied [...] Read more.
This paper presents a high-spatial-resolution 3D system to simulate air quality in urban environments by coupling the WRF/Chem regional model with the PALM4U computational fluid dynamics model, together with an emission model using the SUMO microscopic traffic model. The system has been applied to two experiments in the city of Madrid, Spain. The first study quantifies the impact of four high-rise buildings on pollutant dispersion. The second evaluates the effect of changing tree types (broad-leaf vs. needle-leaf) in the Retiro Park on NO2 and O3 concentrations. Both simulations adopt a multiscale approach, using detailed 3D urban morphology, traffic flow data and meteorological conditions. In the first experiment, high-rise buildings caused local variations in NO2 and O3 of up to 15% and 20%, respectively. In the second experiment, replacing broad-leaf trees with needle-leaf trees led to a mean NO2 reduction of 1.69% across 90.67% of the study area. This research demonstrates the value of integrated CFD modeling for planning urban mitigation strategies and optimizing air quality in complex urban environments. Full article
29 pages, 22785 KB  
Article
Frequency-Output Autogenerator Gas Transducers and FPGA-Based Multichannel Monitoring System for Smart Biogas Plants in Cloud-Integrated Energy Infrastructures
by Oleksandr Osadchuk, Iaroslav Osadchuk, Andrii Semenov, Serhii Baraban, Olena Semenova and Mariia Baraban
Electronics 2026, 15(9), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15091780 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
The rapid development of smart energy infrastructures and renewable energy systems requires advanced sensing solutions that provide high accuracy, expandability, and stability under real operating conditions. However, conventional gas monitoring systems are predominantly based on resistive or voltage-output sensors, which require complex analog [...] Read more.
The rapid development of smart energy infrastructures and renewable energy systems requires advanced sensing solutions that provide high accuracy, expandability, and stability under real operating conditions. However, conventional gas monitoring systems are predominantly based on resistive or voltage-output sensors, which require complex analog front-end circuits and analog-to-digital conversion, leading to increased system complexity, cost, and susceptibility to electromagnetic interference. This paper tackles this limitation by proposing a frequency-domain sensing approach for multichannel monitoring of biogas plant parameters. The objective of this study is to develop and experimentally validate an extendable sensing architecture based on autogenerator microelectronic gas transducers with direct gas concentration–frequency conversion and FPGA-based digital acquisition. The proposed method is grounded in a physical–mathematical model of the space-charge capacitance of gas-sensitive semiconductor structures derived from Poisson’s equation, facilitating analytical formulation of conversion and sensitivity functions. A multichannel FPGA-based measurement system is implemented to process frequency signals without analog conditioning or ADC stages. Experimental validation was performed for CH4 (0–85%), CO2 (0–60%), H2, NH3, and H2S (1–20,000 ppm). The results demonstrate measurement uncertainty within 0.25–0.5%, with sensitivity reaching 350–748 Hz/ppm for H2, 455–750 Hz/ppm for NH3, and 253–375 Hz/ppm for H2S, while methane and carbon dioxide sensitivities reach up to 112 kHz/% and 98.7 kHz/%, respectively. Spectral analysis in the LTE-1800 band confirms improved noise immunity (up to 4.5×) and extended transmission capabilities. A 12-channel FPGA-based monitoring system (RDM-BP-1) with a 1 s sampling interval, IP67 protection, and wireless connectivity is developed and validated. The proposed architecture eliminates analog signal conditioning, reduces hardware complexity, and provides an easily expandable and reliable sensing solution for smart buildings, renewable energy systems, and cloud-integrated energy infrastructures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Energy Saving, Smart Buildings and Renewable Energy)
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31 pages, 504 KB  
Article
Harmony-Weakness: Yan Zun’s Theoretical Reconstruction of Laozi’s Softness-Weakness Thought
by Yajuan Deng and Zhibin Chen
Religions 2026, 17(5), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17050509 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
Softness-Weakness constitutes a core category in Laozi’s philosophy, while in Yan Zun’s Laozi zhigui of the Western Han dynasty, Harmony-Weakness becomes the key concept for interpreting Laozi’s thought. This conceptual transformation from Softness-Weakness to Harmony-Weakness both reflects the intellectual background of Confucian–Daoist synthesis [...] Read more.
Softness-Weakness constitutes a core category in Laozi’s philosophy, while in Yan Zun’s Laozi zhigui of the Western Han dynasty, Harmony-Weakness becomes the key concept for interpreting Laozi’s thought. This conceptual transformation from Softness-Weakness to Harmony-Weakness both reflects the intellectual background of Confucian–Daoist synthesis in the Han dynasty and marks the creative development of Daoist philosophy during this period. Building upon complete inheritance of Laozi’s Softness-Weakness thought, Yan Zun achieved a theoretical reconstruction of Daoist philosophy through introducing Harmony—this Confucian core category. At the cosmological level, Yan Zun creatively incorporated Supreme-Harmony into the sequence of the Dao’s generation, establishing its ontological position as the “progenitor” of the myriad things. Through the proposition “Harmony is its destination, Weakness is its function”, Yan Zun endowed Harmony-Weakness with a clear teleological dimension and value orientation, elevating Harmony-Weakness from a survival strategy to a fundamental principle of cosmic generation. At the practical level, through the Harmony-Weakness concept, Yan Zun constructs a complete system integrating self-cultivation and politics, developing Daoist thought from relatively dispersed wisdom discourse into systematic theory. This conceptual transformation transcends the simple opposition between Softness-Weakness and hardness-strength, achieving a unity in which hardness and Softness mutually assist each other under Harmony’s regulation. However, while the introduction of Harmony deepened the theory, it may also have somewhat weakened the critical edge of Softness-Weakness thought, and the substantialization of Supreme-Harmony may have departed from Laozi’s nihilistic spirit. This theoretical tension precisely demonstrates the theoretical dilemmas and historical choices that Daoist thought faced in its Han dynasty development. Full article
17 pages, 478 KB  
Article
Turning Points, Values, and Career Development in First-Year University Initial Teacher Education Students
by Kaili C. Zhang
Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16050665 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
This study examines how first-year Initial Teacher Education (ITE) students navigate early career development through critical turning points, the articulation of personal values, and the development of resilience. While teacher identity and professional formation have been explored conceptually, there remains limited empirical insight [...] Read more.
This study examines how first-year Initial Teacher Education (ITE) students navigate early career development through critical turning points, the articulation of personal values, and the development of resilience. While teacher identity and professional formation have been explored conceptually, there remains limited empirical insight into students’ lived experiences at this formative stage. Adopting a qualitative design, in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 first-year ITE students from three UK universities, representing diverse cultural backgrounds and entry pathways, at the end of their first academic year. Data were analysed using a general inductive approach. Four interconnected themes emerged: clarifying purpose through critical turning points, negotiating tensions between personal values and institutional expectations, building resilience through community and reflective practice, and articulating meaning through spiritual perspectives in early teacher development. The findings demonstrate that formative experiences are not isolated events but are embedded within broader developmental trajectories shaped by relational support and opportunities for meaning-making. The study contributes to wider debates on early professional identity formation by offering an integrated, empirically grounded account of how purpose, values, and resilience interact to shape sustainable career pathways. Implications are discussed for ITE programme design and for supporting early-career development in the teaching profession and beyond. Full article
40 pages, 3593 KB  
Review
Building Aerial Corridors for 6G Sky Infrastructure
by Sofia Anagnostou, Abdul Saboor, Harris K. Armeniakos, Fotios Katsifas, Konstantinos Maliatsos and Zhuangzhuang Cui
Electronics 2026, 15(9), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15091773 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
The sixth-generation (6G) mobile networks are envisioned to deliver seamless three-dimensional(3D) coverage from ground to sky and vice versa. In parallel, aerial corridors are emerging to elevate ground-based transportation into the air, enabling smart air mobility for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The convergence [...] Read more.
The sixth-generation (6G) mobile networks are envisioned to deliver seamless three-dimensional(3D) coverage from ground to sky and vice versa. In parallel, aerial corridors are emerging to elevate ground-based transportation into the air, enabling smart air mobility for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The convergence of this intelligent transportation system (ITS) with 6G introduces new challenges: how to ensure reliable, efficient connectivity within aerial corridors, and how these corridors can serve as foundational sky infrastructure to advance the 6G ecosystem. This paper presents a comprehensive survey that systematically presents aerial corridors as integrated 6G sky infrastructure, unifying corridor geometry, network architecture, channel modeling, and key enabling technologies within a single framework. It conceptualizes the aerial corridor as a tube-shaped, multi-lane, bidirectional structure to manage drone-based roles, including user equipment (UE), base stations (BS), and communication relays. To support this vision, key enablers such as air-to-ground channel modeling and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) are investigated. The proposed infrastructure aligns with the IMT-2030 vision, supporting machine-type communication, ubiquitous connectivity, and immersive services in regulated aerial space. Full article
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17 pages, 7069 KB  
Article
Optical and Thermal Control of Pore Architecture in Collagen Hydrogels for Vascular-like Tissue Engineering Scaffolds
by Mareni Arishima, Shigehisa Aoki, Sayaka Masaike and Takayuki Narita
Micro 2026, 6(2), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/micro6020028 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
Vascularization remains a central challenge in thick tissue engineering. Building on our prior demonstration that carbonate buffer concentration governs multi-channel collagen gel (MCCG) architecture and perfusion culture performance, this study aimed to establish non-contact, orthogonal control of pore size and density in riboflavin-sensitized [...] Read more.
Vascularization remains a central challenge in thick tissue engineering. Building on our prior demonstration that carbonate buffer concentration governs multi-channel collagen gel (MCCG) architecture and perfusion culture performance, this study aimed to establish non-contact, orthogonal control of pore size and density in riboflavin-sensitized Type I collagen hydrogels via UV irradiation intensity and preparation temperature. UV intensity was modulated by varying the source-to-sample distance (25–52 mm); preparation temperature was set at 5, 25, or 40 °C; gelation kinetics were quantified using a vial-tilt assay. Pore area fraction ranged from 0.9% to 8.6% and Young’s modulus from 16 to 49 kPa depending on UV dose. Higher preparation temperatures accelerated gelation and produced smaller, more densely distributed pores, consistent with kinetically arrested phase separation. NIH/3T3 fibroblasts cultured on intermediate- and low-intensity UV scaffolds achieved >80% confluency by Day 7, with three-dimensional tissue-like organization and directionally aligned cellular bundles within large pores; cell metabolic activity, assessed by CCK-8 assay, remained consistently high throughout the culture period. These results demonstrate that UV irradiation intensity and preparation temperature are independently tunable, non-contact parameters for reproducible fabrication of collagen scaffolds with tunable vascular-like pore networks, complementing and extending the chemical (buffer concentration) design space of MCCG-based perfusion culture systems. Full article
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27 pages, 1308 KB  
Review
Farming System Dynamics of Agrivoltaics: A Review of the Circular Eco-Bridge on Improving Sustainable Agroecosystems
by Tupthai Norsuwan, Kawiporn Chinachanta, Thakoon Punyasai, Rattanaphon Chaima, Pruk Aggarangsi, Masaomi Kimura, Napat Jakrawatana and Yutaka Matsuno
Agriculture 2026, 16(9), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16090919 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
Agrivoltaics (AV) has emerged as an integrated land-use innovation capable of simultaneously addressing food, energy, and water challenges, yet its systemic implications for farming system sustainability remain insufficiently synthesized. This review adopts a farming system dynamics perspective to examine how AV systems reorganize [...] Read more.
Agrivoltaics (AV) has emerged as an integrated land-use innovation capable of simultaneously addressing food, energy, and water challenges, yet its systemic implications for farming system sustainability remain insufficiently synthesized. This review adopts a farming system dynamics perspective to examine how AV systems reorganize biophysical, ecological, and socio-economic interactions across agroecosystems. Drawing upon agroecological principles, pathways of sustainable intensification and ecological intensification, and resource-loop strategies in circular economy, we identify the key elements and cause-and-effect relationships that shape AV system performance. Evidence indicates that the co-location of photovoltaics (PV) structures and crop cultivation generates new system properties, altered light distribution, moderated microclimates, redistributed soil moisture, and diversified production functions that influence productivity, resource-use efficiency, ecological services, and farm resilience. Using causal loop analysis, we conceptualize four central feedback dynamics: (i) PV–crop trade-offs and spatial-sharing relationships; (ii) microclimate modifications and crop physiological responses; (iii) ecological performance and landscape-level interactions; and (iv) circularity loops connecting resource conservation, renewable-energy substitution, soil processes, and material flows. This feedback collectively determines eco-efficiency outcomes, including enhanced land-equivalent productivity, improved water-use efficiency, strengthened regulating services, and reductions in external energy dependence. At the farming-system scale, AV diversifies income streams and stabilizes yields under climatic variability, whereas at the landscape scale, it fosters multifunctionality by supporting regenerative resource flows and ecological resilience. Building on these insights, we propose an integrated framework that links agroecological elements with dynamic feedback structures to guide context-specific AV design, management, and governance. This system-oriented synthesis provides a foundation for future research and policy efforts aimed at optimizing AV as a circular, resilient, and sustainable farming system innovation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Systems and Management)
17 pages, 468 KB  
Article
Proximity-Based Digital Practices in Fashion—Ateliers of Social Integration as Relational Infrastructures of Care and Innovation
by Cecilia Manzo, Silvia Mazzucotelli Salice and Michele Varini
Societies 2026, 16(5), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16050135 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
This article advances a critical rethinking of digital transformation in craft-based and socially embedded production systems by examining ateliers of social integration as community-led solidarity spaces where sewing and embroidery practices intersect with relational, care-oriented, and collective dimensions. Existing debates on digitalisation [...] Read more.
This article advances a critical rethinking of digital transformation in craft-based and socially embedded production systems by examining ateliers of social integration as community-led solidarity spaces where sewing and embroidery practices intersect with relational, care-oriented, and collective dimensions. Existing debates on digitalisation remain largely centred on automation, scale, and efficiency, overlooking how technology operates within care-based and territorially embedded economies. To address this gap, the article develops an alternative analytical framework grounded in relational economies and the ethics of care. While the phenomenon is transnational, the empirical analysis focuses on the Italian context and draws on data from CreAbility, an ongoing action-research project aimed at building a digital community of micro and small fashion enterprises, associations, and designers characterized by social and cultural impact. Against dominant, scale-oriented models of innovation, the article conceptualises ateliers of social integration as relational ecosystems in which value is co-produced through social ties, inclusion practices, and localized knowledge. From this perspective, digital technologies serve as situated mediators that extend and amplify proximity-based relations. This reframing challenges linear and growth-centred accounts of digital innovation, instead proposing a non-linear, care-centred, and place-based model of digital transformation. Methodologically, the study adopts a mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. Data were collected between June and July 2025 through an online questionnaire distributed to a broader population of Italian ateliers of social integration and were complemented by participatory focus groups involving organisational representatives. The findings show that these ateliers operate as infrastructures of proximity in which production, care, and community are co-constitutive, and where digital practices support forms of extended embeddedness rather than substitution. In doing so, the article contributes to debates on digitalisation, social innovation, and the care economy by showing how alternative, relational, and non-scalable models of production can reshape the meaning and the trajectories of innovation. Full article
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