Search Results (98,656)

Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) mixtures are widely used in high-capacity road pavements due to their durability and resistance to permanent deformation. However, although electric arc furnace (EAF) steel slag and recycled crumb rubber have been individually investigated as alternative materials in asphalt mixtures, evidence regarding their simultaneous incorporation in SMA mixtures under full-scale construction and real traffic conditions remains limited. Moreover, quantitative environmental assessments are often restricted to simplified or qualitative approaches, with limited reporting of carbon footprint results. This study investigates the combined use of electric arc furnace (EAF) steel slag aggregates and recycled crumb rubber in SMA mixtures, integrating laboratory evaluation with full-scale field application on a high-traffic motorway. Two SMA 11 mixtures were designed and assessed: one incorporating steel slag aggregates as a replacement for natural coarse aggregates, and another combining steel slag aggregates with recycled crumb rubber added through the dry process (0.8% by mixture mass). Laboratory testing included volumetric characterization, moisture sensitivity and rutting resistance, while field validation covered surface macrotexture, skid resistance, executed thickness and interlayer bonding. Both mixtures fully complied with the applicable technical specifications, achieving indirect tensile strength ratios (ITSR) above 90% and wheel-tracking slopes below 0.07 mm/10³ cycles. A simplified comparative life-cycle assessment (LCA), limited to modules A1–A3, showed a reduction in CO₂-equivalent emissions of approximately 2% for the mixture containing steel slag and up to 27% for the mixture combining steel slag and recycled crumb rubber, mainly due to the valorization of industrial by-products and end-of-life tyres. Overall, the results demonstrate the technical feasibility and potential environmental benefits of these SMA mixtures within the defined scope of laboratory verification, short-term field performance and screening LCA. The contribution of this study lies in providing applied evidence from a full-scale motorway intervention, complementing predominantly laboratory-based studies and offering a quantified environmental comparison under consistent methodological assumptions. Full article

Aquaculture sustainability requires a reduction in the reliance on marine-derived raw materials such as fish oil in aquafeeds while maintaining fish health and product quality. This study investigated the effects of replacing fish oil with plant oils supplemented with DHA-rich Schizochytrium limacinum biomass on the gut microbiota of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). S. limacinum SR21—an oleaginous microalga naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids—was produced through heterotrophic fermentation using crude glycerol, a waste stream from biodiesel production, within a circular economy framework. A 21-week feeding trial was conducted in an indoor recirculating aquaculture system using 280 fish distributed across eight tanks. Four experimental diets were tested: fish oil-based (FO), plant oil-based without microalga (VO + 0), and plant oil-based supplemented with 5% (VO + 5) or 10% (VO + 10) microalgal biomass. Gut microbiota was analyzed in 22 fish per group using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. While alpha and beta diversity analyses of gut microbiota revealed modest structural shifts at phylum and class ranks, genus-rank differences were evident, with Lactobacillus and Clostridium sensu stricto associated with FO and VO + 0 diets, and Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus enriched in microalga-supplemented groups. Functional inference highlighted enhanced bile acid biosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in VO + 0, whereas antioxidant-related pathways, including ubiquinone and carotenoid biosynthesis, were stimulated in VO + 5 and VO + 10 groups. These results demonstrate that S. limacinum biomass modulates microbiota functional capacity, potentially contributing to oxidative stress mitigation and host resilience. The findings support microbiota-informed feed formulation strategies to advance sustainable aquaculture. Full article

This work experimentally examines the seismic performance of steel frames with masonry infill walls produced with geopolymer and traditional mortars under both rigid and flexible joint configurations. Four single-span specimens were evaluated on a uniaxial shake table utilizing eleven scaled earthquake records that represent both in-plane and out-of-plane excitations. Flexible joints markedly diminished acceleration requirements and enhanced deformation capacity in comparison to stiff systems. Rigid frames attained maximum accelerations of 1.82 ± 0.21 g, whilst flexible-joint specimens measured 1.15 ± 0.18 g; the associated lateral displacements were 6.8 ± 0.9 mm and 10.5 ± 1.1 mm, respectively. Geopolymer mortar improved interface adhesion and rigidity, elevating dominant frequencies in rigid systems by around 40% and fostering more ductile behavior in flexible structures. Frequency-domain analysis indicated that decreases in dominant frequency correlated with stiffness deterioration. Geopolymer–flexible systems yielded the minimal acceleration responses and displayed only negligible cracking, indicating enhanced seismic performance. Full article

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) represent a sustainable protein source for animal feed, efficiently converting organic waste into high-value biomass. This study aimed to valorize agricultural by-products (apple, potato, and red beetroot peels) as rearing substrates to obtain larvae enriched with bioactive phenolic compounds, while evaluating their nutritional, functional, and safety characteristics. Larvae were reared on diets with varying inclusion levels of each peel’s by-products. Proximate analysis showed that the substrate type and inclusion level significantly (p < 0.05) influenced larval composition, with consistently high protein and variable ash and fat contents. Colorimetric measurements indicated that phenolic-rich diets, particularly apple by-products, promoted cuticle darkening, reflecting the impact of dietary phenols on pigmentation. Functional properties were also modulated by the substrates: 2% potato peel yielded the highest phenolic content, while 20% apple peel produced the highest flavonoid concentration, both enhancing antioxidant capacity across CUPRAC-Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity, ABTS-2,2′-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, and DPPH-1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assays. Rheological analysis confirmed desirable non-Newtonian, shear-thinning behavior, suggesting improved technological quality. Mycotoxin testing revealed low Aflatoxin B1 but variable Zearalenone levels, highlighting the influence of substrate composition on toxin metabolism. Overall, agricultural by-products can produce enriched BSFL with enhanced nutritional and antioxidant properties, as long as the substrate choice and inclusion levels are carefully optimized for safety. Full article

This study investigates whether long-term global warming is associated with fertility decline across 195 countries from 1960 to 2023, and whether this relationship varies by economic development and adaptive capacity. We analyze Total Fertility Rate (TFR) data from the World Bank alongside temperature anomaly measures from NOAA and NASA using Pearson correlations and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models. Regional analyses include Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Arctic, with GDP per capita serving as a proxy for economic development and adaptive capacity. Globally, temperature anomalies and fertility exhibit a strong negative correlation ($r\approx -0.90$, $p<0.001$). However, substantial regional heterogeneity emerges after controlling for GDP. In Africa ($r=-0.89$) and the Middle East, temperature anomalies remain statistically significant predictors of fertility decline even after GDP adjustment ($\beta =-0.99$, $p<0.001$; $\beta =-1.27$, $p<0.001$, respectively). In contrast, temperature effects become statistically insignificant in South Asia, East Asia, Europe, and the Arctic once GDP is controlled, indicating that fertility decline in these regions is driven primarily by socioeconomic modernization rather than climatic stress. These findings suggest that global warming functions as a conditional demographic stressor whose impact depends critically on adaptive capacity. In regions with limited infrastructure, including constrained access to air conditioning, healthcare, and occupational heat protection, rising temperatures remain significant predictors of fertility decline, potentially mediated through heat-sensitive biological mechanisms such as impaired spermatogenesis. By contrast, in higher-income regions, high adaptive capacity appears to buffer reproductive systems from thermal stress, allowing socioeconomic factors to dominate fertility dynamics. Full article

Background: This paper addresses the need to clarify and highlight the vital roles non-state actors play in strengthening the disaster management ecosystem, drawing on knowledge and experience across sectors and entities. The objective is to underscore the irreplaceable roles of non-state actors in disaster response and the need for shared capacities through the coordination, adoption, and application of agreed-upon protocols across actors and contexts. The research’s ultimate goal is to provide policymakers, crisis managers, non-state actors, and volunteer coordinators with a comprehensive overview of the functional areas, competencies, and capacities of civic organisations across all phases of disaster management. Integrating these organisations into existing governmental crisis management systems offers an opportunity to enhance community resources and capacities through unified communication and interoperability protocols based on existing technical and ethical standards. Methods: The research reviews academic literature, legal and policy frameworks, and grey literature, including recommendations and experiences documented in a repository of 140 CORDIS EU-funded initiatives that illustrate expert and institutional opinions on disaster management. The manuscript also relies on secondary data analyses presenting the opinions collected from 50 participants in an interactive group exercise on the role of non-state actors and volunteers. It further draws on aggregated knowledge from nine consultative workshops involving 20 civic and governmental organisations, synthesising practices, formal standards, robust coordination frameworks, and command-and-control system rules into an innovative voluntary disaster response protocol for non-state actors and volunteers. The findings demonstrate the value of non-state actors in disaster management and how gaps in their engagement can create opportunities to strengthen the disaster management ecosystem by enhancing the cohesion of capacities and resources. Compared with international standards (INSARAG, etc.), a protocol incorporating technical and integrity norms in an accessible, adaptable format emphasises the importance of integrating non-state actors into the formal disaster crisis management system. Conclusions: Establishing a set of standards for coordinated awareness and response, facilitated by continuous communication of roles and competencies among disaster responders at both local and international levels, is essential for the sustainable mitigation of negative impacts before, during, and after emergencies or catastrophic events. Full article

The study first demonstrated that burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO) could inhibit peel browning in green banana, with 0.5% BFO treatment showing the most significant suppression of peel browning during low-temperature storage (7 ± 1 °C). The results revealed that 0.5% BFO treatment effectively restrained the increase in electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content and maintained cell membrane integrity. Furthermore, BFO treatment enhanced total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, alleviated oxidative damage, and better preserved the external quality of banana peel. Simultaneously, BFO treatment markedly inhibited both the activities of chlorophyll-degrading enzymes and their relative gene expression levels in banana peel, thereby maintaining higher chlorophyll content. This research provided a new insight into the mechanism of inhibiting peel browning for low-temperature storage preservation of banana. Full article

This study aims to investigate how an organization’s purpose (raison d’être) dictates first responder resilience-building. While existing studies often treat first responders as a homogeneous group, this research argues that significant interprofessional differences exist. Using a socioecological framework, the study employs a qualitative, comparative design to analyze three first responder systems: the Slovenian Armed Forces, the Slovenian Police, and Slovenia’s public healthcare system. The analysis is grounded in 31 semi-structured interviews, supplemented by analysis of official documents. The findings reveal three pillars of resilience—training, planning, and experience—and three distinct institutional paradigms. The military fosters a culture of proactive, institutionalized resilience-building oriented toward macro-level crises. The police exhibit a more reactive approach, where resilience-building is often undermined by chronic organizational stressors. In the healthcare system, resilience-building is fragmented and localized, with the burden falling on smaller organizational units to manage micro-level crises of capacity overload. The study concludes that an organization’s raison d’être is a vital socioecological factor that shapes its approach to resilience. Full article

This paper presents a simulation-based methodology for evaluating maintainable asset criticality in production systems modelled as complex repairable flow networks (CRFNs). The proposed Flow-Based Asset Criticality Evaluation Methodology (FACE) adopts a consequence-based perspective, assessing criticality according to network-level economic impact rather than probability-weighted risk. FACE introduces two profitability-oriented metrics, the Minimum Consequence of Failure (MCoF) at the maintainable item (MI) and failure mode (FM) levels, computed using multilayered network simulation integrating topology, capacity, failure behaviour, and profitability-driven flow allocation. By directly linking asset unavailability to system-wide gross profitability, the methodology enables objective, data-driven criticality assessment without reliance on subjective inputs, such as guided scoring processes. The approach supports both strategic and operational maintenance decisions by identifying assets and failure modes most consequential to production throughput and profitability. Full article

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of global mortality, with aortic pathologies such as atherosclerosis and thoracic aortic aneurysm posing significant risks due to their asymptomatic nature and potential fatal complications. This study investigates molecular mechanisms underlying CVDs by examining key cellular components of the aortic wall—vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), fibroblasts, and macrophages—and their responses to low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). Using in vitro models, we analyzed phenotypic characteristics, LDL internalization capacity, and secretion/expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, CCL2) in primary VSMCs (from tunica intima and media), fibroblasts (977hTERT), and THP-1 macrophages. Fluorescence staining with BDP 630/650 revealed that all cell types internalize LDLs, with macrophages showing the highest lipid accumulation. ELISA and RT-qPCR demonstrated cell-specific patterns of cytokine secretion and gene expression, both in control conditions and after LDL exposure. The results indicate that VSMCs and fibroblasts, normally involved in vascular tone maintenance and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, acquire pro-inflammatory features under pathological conditions, including increased secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and CCL2. Macrophages exhibited enhanced expression of the scavenger receptor CD36 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (especially IL-1β) after LDL treatment. Full article

The family Caliciviridae encompasses a diverse group of non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA viruses that are significant pathogens in veterinary medicine. This narrative review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the clinical, molecular, and epidemiological features of the three calicivirus genera identified in bovine hosts: Norovirus, Nebovirus, and Vesivirus. Bovine noroviruses and neboviruses are neglected enteric pathogens, frequently detected in association with neonatal calf diarrhea and often present in co-infections with other enteric agents. Clinical presentations for these enteric viruses range from severe, watery diarrhea to asymptomatic shedding, with distinct pathogenic profiles observed between norovirus genotypes GIII.1 and GIII.2. In contrast, the genus Vesivirus exhibits a broad host range, and bovine vesivirus strains are phylogenetically linked to vesiviruses identified in pigs and marine animals. Bovine vesivirus infections are associated with a broader spectrum of clinical manifestations, including respiratory disease, vesicular lesions, and abortion. Serological and virological surveys indicate that exposure to these viruses is ubiquitous in cattle populations globally. While direct evidence of human infection by bovine noroviruses and neboviruses remains limited, vesiviruses possess a confirmed capacity for cross-species transmission to humans. Significant knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding in vitro culture systems, necessitating further research to facilitate vaccine development and clarify transmission dynamics. Full article

Subtropical forest ecosystems, especially evergreen broad-leaved forests in the East Asian monsoon region, are a crucial component of the global terrestrial carbon cycle and make a key contribution to the “missing carbon sequestration” in the Northern Hemisphere. This review systematically integrates recent research progress on the carbon pool patterns, aboveground-subsurface biogeochemical processes, and global change responses of subtropical forests, summarizing the potential mechanisms of their sustainable carbon sequestration capacity and identifying current cognitive bottlenecks. Studies have shown that subtropical mature forests have carbon sequestration potential that exceeds traditional theoretical expectations, but there are still significant shortcomings in terms of carbon stability in deep soil (>1 m), quantitative constraints on rhizosphere activating effects, and assessment of ecosystem resilience under extreme climate events. Furthermore, the nonlinear interactions between factors such as climate warming, precipitation changes, and nitrogen deposition may trigger a critical turning point in carbon sink functions, and the water-carbon-geological coupling processes in special habitats such as karst and mangrove forests are often underestimated. We further propose that future research should focus on developing coupled models of “plant–soil–microbe hydrology”, combining molecular and isotopic techniques to elucidate microbial carbon pump mechanisms and strengthening long-term in situ experiments under combined extreme events to provide scientific support for subtropical forest carbon sink management and prediction. Full article

Fiscal and tax new media has emerged as a new channel for government-enterprise engagement, linking policy communication with firms’ sustainability-oriented decisions. This study hand-collects the launch status of official microblog accounts for finance and taxation departments in China’s prefecture-level cities. This paper combines these data with firm-level observations on China’s green enterprises from 2008 to 2022, and clearly defines the sample of green enterprises. Defining the sustainable spirit among green entrepreneurs from the perspective of entrepreneurship and innovation. This is to estimate how government communication and policy signaling shape firms’ sustainability-oriented behavior. Treating the introduction of official fiscal and tax new media as a quasi-natural experiment, we apply a staggered difference-in-differences design to identify its effect on green entrepreneurs’ sustainable spirit. The study finds that launching official fiscal and tax new media significantly stimulates the sustainable spirit of green entrepreneurs. Mechanism tests suggest that the effect operates through improvements in information infrastructure and governance capacity, including higher internet penetration, reduced fiscal and tax irregularities, and stronger digital governance. Particularly in regions with weaker government–business relations, more integrated administrative systems, lower fiscal pressure, and higher government subsidies, the promoting effect is more significant. Overall, the findings offer policy implications for strengthening the effectiveness of public digital communication and for fostering green entrepreneurs’ sustainable spirit. Full article

This study examined the policies governing the teaching workforce in China’s higher vocational education system. We developed a two-dimensional analytical framework (“policy content elements–policy tools”) to conduct an in-depth analysis of 124 central and provincial policy texts. The key findings are as follows: (1) Imbalance in policy tools: Authoritative and capacity-building tools dominate, while symbolic and exhortative tools are underutilized. Disparities exist between the central and provincial policies regarding the deployment of specific tools. (2) Prioritization of content elements: The strongest emphasis is placed on teacher cultivation, followed by teacher evaluation and safeguarding. Policies concerning teacher recruitment (access) have received little attention. (3) Policy misalignment: Poor coordination between policy tools and content elements undermines overall policy effectiveness. To address these issues, we propose the following: (1) Optimizing the policy tool portfolios: Reduce overreliance on authoritative tools for teacher recruitment and strengthen the use of incentive-based and capacity-building tools for evaluation and safeguards. (2) Strengthening recruitment policies: Formalize qualification standards, rigorously enforce teaching certifications, and standardize hiring procedures. (3) Enhancing policy coordination: Incorporating regional variations to improve the evidence-based integration of policy tools. These recommendations aim to refine the teaching workforce policies and advance the high-quality development in higher vocational education. Full article

Perovskite possess tunable crystal structures that enable the creation of active sites favorable for CO₂ adsorption and activation through appropriate doping, while their electronic structures facilitate electron transfer during catalytic reactions. In this study, BaSnO₃ was modified by substituting 4% of Ba with Mg to obtain Ba_0.96Mg_0.04SnO₃ via a co-precipitation method. Structural and physicochemical characterization (ICP, XRD, SEM-EDS, BET) revealed that Mg doping reduced particle size, increased specific surface area by 26%, and enhanced oxygen storage capacity by 6.1%. The doped catalyst also exhibited improved thermal stability, with smaller losses in surface area and oxygen storage after 1200 °C thermal aging. CO₂ adsorption tests showed higher adsorption rates and capacities, while catalytic reduction experiments demonstrated that Mg doping prolonged the catalyst’s lifetime from 24 to 40 cycles and increased maximum carbon deposition from 12.68% to 22.54%. These results indicate that Mg doping effectively enhances BaSnO₃’s catalytic activity, structural stability, and durability, making Ba_0.96Mg_0.04SnO₃ a promising candidate for CO₂ thermal reduction applications. Full article