Search Results (91)

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the energy systems in eight Eastern European countries—Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia—focusing on their energy transition, security of supply, decarbonisation, and energy efficiency. Using principal component analysis (PCA) and clustering techniques, we identify three different energy profiles: countries dependent on fossil fuels (e.g., Poland, Bulgaria), countries with a balanced mix of nuclear and fossil fuels (e.g., the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary), and countries focusing mainly on renewables (e.g., Slovenia, Croatia). The sectoral analysis shows that industry and transport are the main drivers of energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, and the challenges and policy priorities of decarbonisation are determined. Regression modelling shows that dependence on fossil fuels strongly influences the use of renewable energy and electricity consumption patterns, while national differences in per capita electricity consumption are influenced by socio-economic and political factors that go beyond the energy structure. The Decarbonisation Level Index (DLI) indicator shows that Bulgaria and the Czech Republic achieve a high degree of self-sufficiency in domestic energy, while Hungary and Slovakia are the most dependent on imports. A typology based on energy intensity and import dependency categorises Romania as resilient, several countries as balanced, and Hungary, Slovakia, and Croatia as vulnerable. The projected investments up to 2030 indicate an annual increase in clean energy production of around 123–138 TWh through the expansion of nuclear energy, the development of renewable energy, the phasing out of coal, and the improvement of energy efficiency, which could reduce CO₂ emissions across the region by around 119–143 million tons per year. The policy recommendations emphasise the accelerated phase-out of coal, supported by just transition measures, the use of nuclear energy as a stable backbone, the expansion of renewables and energy storage, and a focus on the electrification of transport and industry. The study emphasises the significant influence of European Union (EU) policies—such as the “Clean Energy for All Europeans” and “Fit for 55” packages—on the design of national strategies through regulatory frameworks, financing, and market mechanisms. This analysis provides important insights into the heterogeneity of Eastern European energy systems and supports the design of customised, coordinated policy measures to achieve a sustainable, secure, and climate-resilient energy transition in the region. Full article

The development of efficient and reliable trajectory-planning strategies for swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is an increasingly important area of research, with applications in surveillance, search and rescue, smart agriculture, defence operations, and communication networks. This article provides a comprehensive and critical review of the various techniques available for UAV swarm trajectory planning, which can be broadly categorised into three main groups: traditional algorithms, biologically inspired metaheuristics, and modern artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods. The study examines cutting-edge research, comparing key aspects of trajectory planning, including computational efficiency, scalability, inter-UAV coordination, energy consumption, and robustness in uncertain environments. The strengths and weaknesses of these algorithms are discussed in detail, particularly in the context of collision avoidance, adaptive decision making, and the balance between centralised and decentralised control. Additionally, the review highlights hybrid frameworks that combine the global optimisation power of bio-inspired algorithms with the real-time adaptability of AI-based approaches, aiming to achieve an effective exploration–exploitation trade-off in multi-agent environments. Lastly, the article addresses the major challenges in UAV swarm trajectory planning, including multidimensional trajectory spaces, nonlinear dynamics, and real-time adaptation. It also identifies promising directions for future research. This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and system designers working to develop UAV swarms for real-world, integrated, intelligent, and autonomous missions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dietary patterns have changed over time, characterising a process of nutritional transition that reflects socioeconomic and demographic inequalities among different populations. This study assessed changes in dietary consumption patterns and the associated social determinants, comparing two time periods in a sample of individuals from a state in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Methods: Data from the 2008–2009 and 2017–2018 Household Budget Survey for the state of Paraíba were analysed, totalling 951 and 1456 individuals, respectively. Foods were categorised according to the NOVA classification and compared based on sociodemographic and economic variables. To determine the factors that most strongly explain the contribution of each NOVA food group to the diet, beta regression analysis was conducted. Results: Differences were observed between the two periods regarding the dietary contribution of the NOVA food groups, with a decrease in consumption of unprocessed foods and an increase in ultra-processed foods. Living in urban areas, being an adolescent, and having an income above the minimum wage were associated with reduced intake of unprocessed foods in both periods. Additionally, being an adolescent and having more than eight years of schooling were associated with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods. Conclusions: The population under study showed changes in food consumption, reflecting a transition process that is occurring unevenly across socioeconomic and demographic groups, thereby reinforcing social inequalities. These findings can guide priorities in food and nutrition policies, highlighting the need for intervention studies to evaluate the effectiveness of such actions. Full article

Climate change is one of our most critical challenges, requiring urgent and comprehensive action across all levels of society. Individual actions and their roles in mitigating and adapting to climate change remain underexplored, despite global efforts. Under this context, this study was conducted to evaluate the ecological footprint of individuals for climate change mitigation. A structured online survey was designed and distributed through email lists, social media platforms, and community organisations to over 200 potential participants in the northwest of the UK. Due to the anonymous nature of the survey, only 83 individuals from diverse demographics completed the questionnaire. A carbon footprint calculator using conversion factors has been employed, based on energy consumption, travel, and material goods use. Participants are categorised into four groups based on their annual CO₂ emissions, ranging from less than 2 tonnes to over 10 tonnes. Personalised recommendations provided by the calculator focus on practical strategies, including adopting renewable energy, minimising unnecessary consumption, and opting for sustainable transportation. Results showed that only 5.5% of participants who employed advanced technologies and smart home technologies, 1.8% were implementing water-saving practices and 65.4% preferred to use their own car over other modes of transportation. In addition, the study found that 67.3% of participants had no or only a very limited knowledge of renewable energy technologies, indicating a need for education and awareness campaigns. The findings also highlight the importance of addressing demographic differences in ecological footprints, as these variations can provide insights into tailored policy interventions. Overall, despite the study’s limited sample size, this research contributes to the growing body of evidence on the importance of individual action in combating climate change and provides actionable insights for policymakers and educators aiming to foster a more sustainable lifestyle. Future studies with larger samples are recommended to validate and expand upon these findings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Inadequate intake of indispensable amino acids (IAAs) is a significant challenge in vegan diets. Since IAAs are not produced or stored over long durations in the human body, regular and balanced dietary protein consumption throughout the day is essential for metabolic function. The objective of this study is to investigate the variation in protein and IAA intake across 24 h among New Zealand vegans with time-series clustering, using Dynamic Time Warping (DTW). Methods: This data-driven approach objectively categorised vegan dietary data into distinct clusters for protein intake and protein quality analysis. Results: Total protein consumed per eating occasion (EO) was 11.1 g, with 93.5% of the cohort falling below the minimal threshold of 20 g of protein per EO. The mean protein intake for each EO in cluster 1 was 6.5 g, cluster 2 was 11.4 g and only cluster 3 was near the threshold at 19.0 g. IAA intake was highest in cluster 3, with lysine and leucine being 3× higher in cluster 3 than cluster 1. All EOs in cluster 1 were below the reference protein intake relative to body weight, closely followed by cluster 2 (91.5%), while cluster 3 comparatively had the lowest EOs under this reference (31.9%). Conclusions: DTW produced three distinct dietary patterns in the vegan cohort. Further exploration of plant protein combinations could inform recommendations to optimise protein quality in vegan diets. Full article

The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has become a central topic in discussions surrounding public health, nutrition, and consumer behaviour. This study aimed to investigate the key factors shaping customer perceptions and attitudes towards UPFs and explore their impact on purchase decisions. A total of 290 completed questionnaires from an online survey were analysed to identify the drivers influencing consumer actions and habits. Users’ opinions were systematised based on their attitudes towards UPFs, considering factors such as health consciousness, knowledge, subjective norms, and environmental concerns. Participants were then categorised using both traditional and advanced data analysis methods. Structural equation modelling (SEM), machine learning (ML), and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques were applied to identify hidden dependencies between variables from the perspective of UPF consumers. The developed models reveal the underlying relationships that influence acceptance or rejection mechanisms for UPFs. The results provide specific recommendations for stakeholders across the food production and marketing value chain. Public health authorities can use these insights the findings to design targeted interventions that promote healthier food choices. Manufacturers and marketers can leverage the findings to optimise product offerings and communication strategies with a focus on less harmful options, aligning more closely with consumer expectations and health considerations. Consumers benefit from enhanced product transparency and tailored information that reflects their preferences and concerns, fostering informed and balanced decision-making. As attitudes toward UPFs evolve alongside changing nutrition and consumption patterns, stakeholders should regularly assess consumer feedback to mitigate the impact of these harmful foods on public health. Full article

Improving energy efficiency in post-primary-school buildings is crucial for decarbonisation, yet existing strategies often focus on costly renovations, rather than operational optimisations. This study addresses the research gap by investigating how targeted adjustments in building operation can achieve significant energy savings without major renovations while maintaining user comfort. This research employs the interdisciplinary ENERGE Project framework and a five-step methodology that integrates technical and behavioural approaches to identify savings opportunities. Central to the approach is an energy audit, which analyses building performance, benchmarks consumption against local standards, and categorises energy use to prioritise interventions. The methodology involves planning, implementing, and evaluating savings strategies with stakeholder engagement. Educational buildings were selected as pilot sites due to their important building stock and potential for dissemination. The results of a case study with empirical validation in Luxembourg demonstrate significant energy-saving opportunities, particularly in baseload consumption. By adopting reduced operational modes during unoccupied periods, energy use was minimised without compromising comfort. Monitoring revealed substantial reductions in electricity consumption, with an additional 5% savings achieved by adjusting light levels in common areas to meet standard requirements. Moreover, adapting the operational schedules of pumps and ventilation systems in a swimming pool to actual usage patterns yielded estimated savings of 12 MWh/a. These findings highlight the potential to achieve meaningful energy savings without requiring high investments or deep renovations, which in many cases face performance gaps. Success relies on adaptable operational settings and active engagement of the entire stakeholder chain to realise sustainable and impactful energy-saving measures. Furthermore, the saving measures tested in educational buildings can be replicated in the residential sector. Full article

Data on food supplement (FS) consumption profiles are scarce. This study aims to characterise FS consumption among Portuguese adults and identify personal, social, professional, and health-related factors influencing FS use. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire between July and September 2023. The participants were categorised into healthcare professionals (supplement users and non-users, i.e., HPS and HPnS) and non-healthcare professionals (supplement users and non-users, i.e., nHPS and nHPnS). Group distributions were compared using the χ² test. FS use is very prevalent in Portugal. Significant differences emerged between HPs and nHPs regarding factors associated with FS use. Socioeconomic and professional characteristics, nutritional knowledge, and healthy lifestyles (e.g., eating habits) were all linked to FS consumption. Despite the differences between the groups, across groups, higher education levels, higher nutritional knowledge, and healthier lifestyle habits, such as engaging in sports and healthy food habits, translate into a higher consumption of FSs. The frequent use of FSs in Portuguese adults is associated with higher education, nutritional knowledge, and healthy lifestyles. HPs have specific attitudes through FS use. These findings indicate the need for further research to explore the various types of FSs being utilised and the underlying motivations behind their usage. HPs’ access to FS scientific information and providing practical guidance to promote responsible and informed FS use within the population is crucial. Full article

This paper critically examines the expanding body of literature on ChatGPT, a transformative AI tool with widespread global adoption. By categorising research into six key themes—sustainability, health, education, work, social media, and energy—it explores ChatGPT’s versatility, benefits, and challenges. The findings highlight its potential to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and improve access to knowledge while also revealing critical limitations, including high energy consumption, informational inaccuracies, and ethical concerns. The paper underscores the need for robust regulatory frameworks, sustainable AI practices, and interdisciplinary collaboration to optimise benefits while mitigating risks. Future research should focus on improving ChatGPT’s reliability, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability to ensure its responsible integration across diverse sectors. Full article

Background: Dietary patterns play a crucial role in shaping eating behaviours and influencing health outcomes, such as body weight. Understanding how appetitive traits differ between plant-based and animal-based diets can provide insights into dietary strategies for weight management and improved health. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse the relationships between appetitive traits, as measured by the Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (AEBQ), and dietary patterns in adults consuming plant-based or animal-based diets. It examined how these dietary patterns influence body mass index (BMI) and explored the differences in appetite-related traits between groups with different levels of plant and animal product consumption. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 553 Polish adults was conducted using validated questionnaires, including the AEBQ and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The participants were categorised into four dietary groups: high intake of both plant and animal products, low intake of both, plant-based diet, and animal-based diet. The data were analysed using SPSS version 14.0 software. Results: The participants on a plant-based diet had significantly lower BMIs and slower eating rates than those on an animal-based diet. Positive correlations were observed between ’food approach’ traits (e.g., food responsiveness, emotional overeating) and BMI, particularly in individuals with higher animal product consumption. Conversely, ’food avoidance’ traits (e.g., food fussiness, slowness in eating) were more prevalent among those on a plant-based diet. Conclusions: The results suggest that plant-based diets are associated with favourable appetitive traits and a lower BMI. These findings highlight the potential of plant-based diets to support weight control and improve eating behaviours. Further research is warranted to investigate the causal mechanisms underlying these associations. Full article

The alarming increase in single-use plastic (SUP) consumption, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its detrimental effects on environmental and public health, underscores the urgent need for the public to adopt more environmentally responsible behaviours. This study presents citizen science (CS) initiatives undertaken two years after the onset of the pandemic as an effective means to engage and mobilise citizens in reducing plastic consumption. It combines an inventory of CS actions targeting SUP with a self-designed and implemented CS project. Unlike the predominantly technical focus of existing initiatives, our ‘Plastic Detective’ project was designed to collect behavioural data related to SUP use. The majority of completed and ongoing CS projects addressing SUPs focused on beach clean-ups, which primarily involved reporting the distribution and composition of plastic litter. However, no initiatives were found to address consumer behaviour. CS activities were predominantly initiated in a bottom-up manner, largely coordinated by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and were mostly confined to the Northern Hemisphere. In our project, volunteers were asked to observe, sample and categorise behaviours in their surroundings using a model that distinguished between SUP use and the adoption of alternative materials or practices. Additionally, participants’ perceptions of SUP were assessed through pre- and post-surveys. Our findings reveal that young people, in particular, are eager to participate in CS initiatives. Regardless of age, gender or location, all respondents—despite acknowledging the need to reduce SUP consumption—identified producers as the key group responsible for addressing plastic pollution. We conclude that CS can act as an effective knowledge broker between research and non-research communities, fostering behavioural change towards more sustainable practices. Moreover, CS initiatives can play a vital role in popularising scientific findings and influencing policy-making processes to promote environmentally friendly alternatives to SUPs. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Mediterranean dietary pattern (MedDiet) has numerous health benefits, particularly in preventing chronic diseases and improving well-being. Given the ageing population, understanding its impact on older adults’ physical health is essential. This study examines how adherence to the MedDiet influences the physical component (Comp-p) of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across various age groups, providing insights for tailored dietary interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with active adults aged 41–80, categorised into four age groups (41–50, n = 116; 51–60, n = 225; 61–70, n = 135; 71–80, n = 44). Data were collected using the SF-36 and MEDAS questionnaires. Com-p scores were analysed based on MedDiet adherence (poor or good) and age. Results: In the 71–80 age group, a significant correlation was found between Comp-P and MedDiet adherence (r = 0.367, p = 0.014), with significantly higher Com-P scores in the good adherence group (50.10 ± 7.39) compared to the poor group (44.46 ± 7.73; p = 0.015; d = 0.74). The loss of adherence to the Mediterranean diet in this age group was attributed to low consumption of vegetables (36.36%), tree nuts (47.73%), legumes (50.00%), fish (52.27%), and fruit (56.82%). Conclusions: In individuals aged 71–80, lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a decline in self-perceived physical health, attributed to the reduced intake of fresh vegetables, legumes, fish, and fruit. These findings emphasise the importance of promoting Mediterranean dietary adherence in later life to maintain optimal physical well-being. Full article

The sharing economy (SE) is a nascent phenomenon representing a socio-economic process to optimise underutilised resources through digital platforms. This process facilitates the shared consumption of resources to maximise resource utilisation while supporting the circularity of resources. However, the successful operation of SE practices is hindered by the lack of identification of effective strategies for enhancing the SE implications, which are essential to comprehending SE practices and developing more sophisticated applications. Therefore, this research aims to provide the first insights into the strategies that enhance SE practices across diverse industries and identify knowledge gaps and future research directions. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted by selecting articles published in the 2014–2023 period in Scopus and Web of Science databases. Selected articles were subjected to descriptive and NVivo 14-supported thematic analyses. The descriptive analysis showed that, despite considering articles published in the last 10 years, all relevant articles were published in the last 5 years. Developed and developing countries showed almost equal contributions, while China was recognised as the country with the highest number of publications. Accommodation and transportation sectors were reported as the sectors with the highest number of publications. A cross-analysis was conducted to recognise the varying utilisation of different strategies across diverse industries and sectors. Ten different categories were identified through the thematic analysis that enhance SE practices: economic; environmental; geographic; governance; health, safety, and security; marketing; people; product/services; research, training, education; and technology-related strategies. Each category was discussed along with its relevant strategies, resulting in identifying a total of 84 strategies. These strategies were then presented alongside the responsible parties tasked with their implementation. The study contributes to the SE literature by providing an SLR for contemporary strategies utilised to enhance SE practices, specifically focusing on elucidating the most appropriate categorisation of these strategies. Moreover, this comprehensive SLR provides the first insights into the effective strategies that enhance SE practices across diverse industries. Full article

Background/Objectives: The association between egg consumption and dementia is unclear. We carried out a population-based case-control study in China to determine the independent association of egg consumption with dementia. Methods: We randomly recruited 233 participants with dementia and 233 without dementia from the community health service clinics and the dementia management system in Guangzhou, China to examine their dietary intakes over the past two years and other risk factors for chronic diseases. Egg consumption was categorised by frequency as Non-consuming/<monthly, Monthly, Weekly, Daily or ≥Twice a day. Results: Participants with dementia, compared to controls, were more likely to consume eggs at Monthly (15.5% vs. 8.6%) but less likely to consume at Daily (28.3% vs. 41.6%). The age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of dementia was 1.76 (95% CI 1.10–2.84) in participants who consumed eggs Weekly and 4.34 (2.16–8.72) in Monthly consumption compared to Daily. However, no significant associations were found for those Non-consuming/<monthly 1.35 (0.71–2.56) and ≥Twice a day 3.49 (0.83–14.67). After further adjustments, including gender, education, family income, smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary intakes (including red meats, poultry, fish, vegetables and fruits), cardiovascular disease and other co-morbidities, the corresponding ORs were 2.10 (1.10–4.02), 4.82 (1.90–12.27), 0.73 (0.29–1.88) and 4.16 (0.80–21.63), respectively. Among participants who consumed eggs Monthly, Weekly or Daily, an inverse association between egg consumption and dementia was observed; the multiple adjusted OR of dementia was 0.48 (0.30–0.76) per average increment in egg consumption. Compared to Monthly consumption, the OR for Weekly consumption was 0.44 (0.18–1.08) and 0.22 (0.08–0.59) for Daily consumption. Conclusions: This study suggests that Daily egg consumption could help reduce the risk of dementia, while uncertainties regarding the association of non-consuming/<monthly or ≥Twice a day consumption with dementia warrant further research. Full article

Agriculture plays a significant role in global water consumption, accounting for approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater usage. This makes this sector a critical factor in the depletion of water resources. Accordingly, this paper explores potential mitigatory impacts of climate-smart water management (CSWM) technologies in sub-Saharan Africa. About 70% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is dependent on agriculture for sustaining their livelihoods. This is despite the low agricultural output in smallholder farming systems (SFS) due to water scarcity. This has spurred several attempts to promote the adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) to raise agricultural outputs and improve smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. However, there has not been a comprehensive analysis of data categorised by various aspects of climate-smart water management technologies. In this systematic literature review, climate-smart water management technologies in sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural sector were identified and analysed to determine strategies that could enhance their adoption and impact. To this end, academic articles reporting on the adoption of climate-smart water management technologies in databases were reviewed. Four significant literature databases were used. These were limited to Springer Link, ScienceDirect, MDPI, Wiley Online, and Google Scholar. The findings demonstrate that rainwater harvesting and micro-irrigation are the primary climate-smart water management technologies used by smallholder farmers. The literature review shows that adoption of CSWM practices is constrained by inadequate technological infrastructure, financial implications, unsuitable policies, and low user skills, particularly. It is therefore recommended that government agricultural departments and relevant advocates of CSA should incentivise and subsidise smallholder farmers to encourage CSWM technology adoption. This can be achieved through the implementation of suitable policies directed at technological infrastructure development, financial support for adoption, and technical skills training. Full article