Search Results (1,120)

Sustainable management of antibiotic fermentation residues is critical to mitigating environmental and public health risks associated with pharmaceutical waste. Gentamicin fermentation residue (GFR), a challenging antibiotic byproduct rich in nitrogen and organic matter, presents both environmental risks and untapped resource potential. Pyrolysis can convert GFR into high-value products (pyrolysis oil, gas, and char) and eliminate environmental risks through high-temperature treatment. In this study, the product yields, pyrolytic kinetics, and nitrogen transformation pathways at different temperatures (400–800 °C) were investigated to explore the pyrolysis behavior and mechanism of GFR. Results revealed that temperature strongly influenced product distribution: biochar yield was dominant at low temperatures 51.2 ± 0.4% at 400 °C, oil yield peaked at 600 °C 14.6 ± 0.4%, and gaseous products became prevalent above 700 °C, reaching an estimated 78.4 ± 0.2% at 800 °C by mass-balance difference. Furthermore, isoconversional kinetic analysis (FWO and KAS) yielded apparent activation energies of 226.9–249.4 kJ/mol over α = 0.5–0.8, with R² values of 0.946–0.976, indicating conversion-dependent, multi-step devolatilization behavior. For nitrogen transformation, elemental and spectroscopic analyses showed that nitrogen transitioned from unstable pyrrolic forms in raw GFR to more stable pyridinic and graphitic forms in biochar, enhancing its potential for catalytic and environmental applications. Meanwhile, gaseous nitrogen species such as NH₃ and HCN were released at different temperature stages, and a three-stage nitrogen transformation mechanism was proposed linking the decomposition kinetics to the nitrogen migration pathways. These findings highlight pyrolysis as a promising, controllable, and sustainable method to convert antibiotic residues into valuable energy products and functional materials, with its contribution to sustainable pharmaceutical waste management contingent on proper NH₃/HCN gas treatment. Full article

This study investigates the impact of the “Broadband China” pilot policy on agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) from a new structural economics (NSE) perspective. Using panel data from 297 Chinese cities (2000–2024), we employ a spatial difference-in-differences (SDiD) approach. We find that the policy significantly enhances agricultural TFP by approximately 25.8 percentage points in treated cities. We identify international internet users as a novel partial mediator, explaining why domestic broadband gains depend on international connectivity. We also provide evidence of positive spatial spillovers: a 1% increase in neighboring cities’ digital economy is associated with a 0.292% increase in local agricultural TFP. Heterogeneity analysis reveals stronger policy effects in less-developed regions (Northwest China, low-GDP areas) and areas with higher scientific expenditure. By integrating institutional and spatial structures into the NSE framework, this study contributes a nuanced, endowment-contingent understanding of how state-led digital infrastructure investment reshapes agricultural efficiency. Full article

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) represents a critical infectious disease caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV), posing a substantial threat to the global swine industry. In China, there is currently an epidemic trend characterized by the coexistence of multiple evolving genotypes. Effective prevention and control measures are contingent upon the availability of rapid, precise, and sensitive pathogen detection technologies. Addressing the need for swift differentiation of the predominant circulating strains, including the classical strains (PRRSV-C), the highly pathogenic strains (PRRSV-HP), and NADC30-like strains (PRRSV-NA), this study focuses on the NSP2 region of each lineage. It establishes a triple TaqMan-qPCR method capable of simultaneously genotyping these three lineages. The method demonstrated no cross-reactivity with other viruses, including porcine parvovirus (PPV), porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine pseudorabies virus (PRV), classical swine fever virus (CFSV), African swine fever virus (ASFV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine rotavirus (RV), and porcine circovirus (PCV2), thereby fully affirming its specificity. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the limit of detection (LOD) for the NSP2 gene in each lineage was 1 copy/μL based on the purified plasmids. Both inter-group and intra-group coefficients of variation (CV) were less than 4%, indicating high reproducibility. Comparative studies with commercial kits revealed that the developed TaqMan-qPCR method exhibited 100% relative sensitivity and a relative conformity rate exceeding 98%, suggesting its potential as a viable alternative to commercial kits. Furthermore, the analysis of 1049 clinical samples using the qPCR method indicated that the PRRSV-NADC30-like strains are currently the predominant circulating strain in clinical settings in Hebei Province. In conclusion, this study developed a triple TaqMan-qPCR method capable of simultaneously identifying PRRSV-C, PRRSV-HP and PRRSV-NA, enabling rapid and accurate identification of the PRRSV genotypes prevalent in pig populations. This provides a robust technical tool for the development of targeted immunization and prevention strategies. Full article

Catheter ablation is the cornerstone of rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (AF), yet recurrence remains common, and obesity is among the most consistently implicated modifiable risk factors. Weight reduction and metabolic pharmacotherapy are increasingly used in the periprocedural period, but whether they act through a shared pathway has not been systematically examined. This narrative review compares the two approaches and asks whether metabolic agents confer protection beyond weight loss itself. Three observations argue that they do not act identically. First, the benefit of weight reduction is dose-dependent yet contingent on delivery: a structured, physician-led risk-factor program reduced 12-month arrhythmia recurrence (risk ratio 0.53), whereas nurse-led care that improved guideline adherence without structured delivery did not alter the primary endpoint. Second, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been associated with reduced recurrence across BMI strata despite producing only modest weight loss; notably, a randomized trial in patients without cardiovascular or metabolic comorbidity showed no additional benefit, whereas benefit was observed in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure. Third, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) achieve greater weight loss but yield inconsistent recurrence data, and Mendelian randomization suggests their cardiometabolic benefit is largely BMI-mediated, whereas that of SGLT2i is weight-independent. Together, these observations are consistent with a working hypothesis of two partly distinct atrial substrates—an obesity-related substrate responsive to weight reduction, and a metabolic-inflammatory substrate that may respond to SGLT2i predominantly when metabolic comorbidity is present. This framework is hypothesis-generating: it rests on indirect, cross-study comparisons and has not been tested by formal mediation analysis. If confirmed, it would imply that the two interventions are complementary rather than interchangeable. Full article

Climate risk has become a defining challenge for businesses, influencing strategic decision-making, organisational resilience, and long-term performance. Despite the rapid growth of research in this area, the intellectual development and thematic evolution of climate-related corporate studies remain fragmented. This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of the literature through a bibliometric analysis and systematic review of 643 Scopus-indexed, peer-reviewed articles published between 1993 and 2025, with a systematic thematic synthesis of 23 empirical studies. Using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, science-mapping techniques, including co-citation analysis and bibliographic coupling, were employed to examine publication trends, intellectual foundations, and major research themes. The findings indicate a shift from environmental measurement and compliance toward climate-risk management, carbon disclosure, and sustainable finance. Financial outcomes are heterogeneous, and context-dependent carbon exposure is generally associated with valuation penalties and downside risk, while the relevance of disclosure and climate strategies depends on credibility, substantive implementation, and organisational and institutional conditions. The integrated review shows that the financial implications of climate-related corporate actions are contingent upon climate-risk exposure, disclosure credibility, organisational capabilities, and institutional context. It further explains the coexistence of mixed empirical findings and identifies priorities for future research and policy. The findings offer valuable implications for researchers, corporate managers, investors, and policymakers seeking to strengthen sustainable business practices under an evolving climate risk landscape. Full article

Ordinary architectural conditions interact through arrangements that static representations often detach from time and use. This study examines six selected Turkish popular films as a mediated comparative corpus of apartments, neighborhood interfaces, mobile (route-vehicle) interiors, and domestic spaces in use. Comparative visual–spatial analysis of 24 scene-clusters traces how spatial domains and boundary/connection devices organize visibility, audibility, access, movement, bodily proximity, and collective attention. We define architectures of exposure as an event-level mismatch between scene-supported expected control over sight, sound, access, or bodily distance and the interactional field enabled by a configuration. A provisional, construction-corpus-derived layered model separates four primary spatial domains from boundary/connection devices, six interactional mechanisms, four control relations, three intensifiers, and contingent outcomes. Ten clusters directly demonstrate the mismatch; three show strategic or transformative widening, six provide partial or qualified evidence, and five delimit the concept through intended permeability or retained control. Cross-case comparison shows that the same device can preserve refusal, transmit distress, enable rescue, or support solidarity, while comparable spatial mechanisms acquire different narrative and ethical significance under comic and non-comic framing. The study contributes a scene-cluster method for treating fiction film as mediated architectural evidence and a diagnostic framework for future observation, acoustic assessment, visibility analysis, and post-occupancy research. Full article

Purpose: This study investigates the structural pathways driving the startup potential of Generation Z students in Romania’s post-transition economy. It examines the sequential relationship between Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM), Entrepreneurial Intentions (EIs), and Entrepreneurial Behavior (EB), focusing on the mediating role of intentions in bridging the gap between cognition and action. Design/methodology/approach: Using a quantitative explanatory design, data were collected through a two-stage hybrid framework from a sample of 215 Romanian business students associated with the Hackathon Innovation Labs (HILs), selected via a non-probability purposive sampling method. Hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation, supported by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to ensure statistical rigor. Findings: Results confirm that EM is a robust predictor of EI, which significantly drives EB, explaining 45.2% of its variance. The findings highlight that intentions fully mediate the relationship, suggesting that a growth-oriented mindset turns into firm intentions to overcome institutional and cultural barriers. Originality: This research applies a rigorous SEM framework to a cohort of digital natives in an underrepresented Eastern European emerging market. It integrates mindset as a foundational cognitive precursor and provides empirical evidence of the sequential path to entrepreneurial behavior. Research limitations/implications: The study is limited by its sample size and geographic focus on Romanian business students. Future longitudinal research should explore external contingency factors, such as access to capital and ecosystem support, to validate model generalizability. Practical and social implications: Higher education should shift toward experiential programs like HILs, embedding credit-bearing hackathons and micro-credentials to foster an entrepreneurial mindset. Socially, sustaining this momentum with structured mentorship bridges the intention–action gap, transforming Gen Z’s digital potential into tangible economic value for the post-transition ecosystem. Full article

Forest recreation is a key public-benefit function of forests, but as a non-market good, evidence of the public’s willingness to pay (WTP) for its sustained provision remains scarce. This study applied the double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method to estimate WTP for the forest recreation function and identify its determinants. In September 2025, a nationwide online survey presented a hypothetical continued-provision scenario to 1050 adults aged 20–74 across South Korea’s 17 metropolitan and provincial regions and elicited WTP as a per-visit fee. Sociodemographic characteristics, awareness, use experience, satisfaction, perceived effects, and forest ecological sensitivity were examined, with a parallel analysis excluding 192 protest respondents. Mean stated WTP was KRW 17,418 (approximately USD 12.3). Household income, awareness, satisfaction with rest and leisure in forests, and forest ecological sensitivity were statistically significant determinants. After protest responses were excluded, mean stated WTP was KRW 21,483 (approximately USD 15.1), and use experience emerged as an additional significant determinant. These findings provide empirical evidence on stated WTP under a hypothetical per-visit payment scenario and may inform forest recreation service design and assessment of forests’ public-benefit functions. Full article

The Cambodian Ministry of Education Youth, and Sport (MoEYS) has, over time, made noticeable progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG-4) to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. However, the pace and extent of that progress remain uneven, particularly in the area of teacher training, which is central to achieving inclusive and quality education. Utilising a document analysis framework, this study draws upon national policy reform documents including the Teacher Policy Action Plan to examine the extent to which the MoEYS’s policy commitments to professionalise the teaching workforce are meeting SDG-4.c goals. Changes to pre-service programmes including the 12 + 4 programme, investments in teacher training centres, and continuous professional development (CPD) frameworks have strengthened the system. Yet, significant challenges persist. Limited access to effective CPD, high student/teacher ratios, teacher shortages, especially in rural locations, and resource constraints continue to undermine the consistency and quality of instructional practice. A contention of this paper is that for Cambodia to fulfil its SDG-4.c target relating to teacher preparedness, progress is contingent upon sustained investment, targeted support for rural and remote regions, and stronger implementation capacity to ensure all learners benefit from well-trained and effectively supported educators. Full article

Municipal solid waste landfill leachate represents one of the most environmentally challenging liquid effluents in modern waste management; however, its high nitrogen and phosphorus content renders it a potentially valuable nutrient source for microalgal phycoremediation. Here, Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. were cultivated for 15 days in CHU-10 standard medium and 50% (v/v) municipal landfill leachate from Nauta, Peru, and characterized across 33 biochemical variables, 14 physicochemical parameters, and 32 metal ions and trace elements. A sequential competitive multivariate pipeline comprising principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was applied to both the biochemical and bioremediation datasets. Leachate supplementation increased peak biomass density by 26.6–28.3% and elevated total protein by 56.9% in Chlorella sp. and 73.4% in Scenedesmus sp., while reducing total lipids by 37–46% and suppressing polyunsaturated fatty acid production. Both species achieved net biological removal efficiencies (NBRE) exceeding 86% for ammonium and ammonia; toxic elements, including Cd (~96%), Al (~92%), As (~90%), and Pb (~90%), were removed at higher NBRE than macro- and micronutrient categories. LDA achieved 100% leave-one-out cross-validation accuracy for species classification from both physicochemical and 32-element NBRE profiles. These findings indicate two complementary valorization directions, contingent on further biomass safety verification: leachate-grown Scenedesmus sp. shows a favorable combination of protein enrichment and nutrient removal for single-cell protein production integrated with bioremediation, while Chlorella sp. in standard medium shows a more favorable fatty acid profile for nutraceutical applications. Because leachate-grown biomass also accumulates inorganic and trace-element constituents from the medium, its suitability for protein or nutraceutical use requires direct heavy-metal characterization of the harvested biomass, independent of the demonstrated removal efficiency from the liquid phase. Full article

Background: Inclusive educational assessment requires tools that capture how learners with diverse cognitive profiles engage with tasks. This study examines whether a game-based, gaze-contingent eye-tracking task can generate relevant indicators for inclusive assessment of autistic children and children with dyslexia. Methods: Forty-five children (15 autistic, 15 with dyslexia, 15 neurotypical) completed a Unity 3D eye-tracking task assessing implicit joint attention, inhibitory control, and task engagement. Six gaze-based metrics were analyzed alongside standardized measures of joint attention, theory of mind, working memory, and processing speed. Group differences in the eye-tracking metrics were examined using permutation-based analysis of covariance controlling for chronological age and Full-Scale IQ, and associations with clinical measures were examined using a small set of pre-specified, Holm-corrected Spearman correlations. Results: Significant group differences were observed for five of the six metrics (partial η² = 0.33–0.81). The autistic group showed the highest values on difficulty-related metrics and differed significantly from both the neurotypical and dyslexia groups on nearly every measure, while the neurotypical and dyslexia groups did not differ significantly from each other. One correlation remained significant after correction for multiple comparisons: task efficiency in the autistic group was linked to a behavioral correlate of theory of mind. Conclusions: Gaze-based indicators within a game-based task can differentiate autistic children from neurotypical and dyslexic peers and show a preliminary behavioral correlate of theory of mind in autism specifically. These findings offer narrow, preliminary support for the value of process-oriented tools for inclusive educational assessment. Future research should examine feasibility, validity, and psychometric stability in larger, matched samples and in authentic school contexts. Full article

Background: Cardiac arrhythmias in children and adolescents may present with nonspecific symptoms such as precordial pain, palpitations, and syncope. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and rhythm findings of symptomatic pediatric patients and examined cross-sectional associations between reported symptoms and selected rhythm diagnoses, with particular attention to the diagnostic and management yield of ambulatory Holter monitoring. Because symptom timing is not always captured during diagnostic monitoring, associations between reported symptoms and detected rhythm abnormalities must be distinguished from temporal symptom–rhythm correlation and causation. Methods: We conducted an observational study of 119 children and adolescents aged 1–18 years, who were evaluated at a tertiary pediatric hospital for symptoms potentially suggestive of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Data included demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, personal and family history, resting electrocardiography, ambulatory Holter monitoring, and exercise testing where clinically indicated. The primary analysis was cross-sectional. Because symptom timing during ambulatory monitoring was not recorded, the study was not designed to establish temporal symptom–rhythm correlation or causality. Descriptive analyses were performed for the final 119-participant cohort. Selected symptom–rhythm associations were evaluated using the contingency table methods with odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and Fisher’s exact tests where appropriate. Holm’s adjustment was applied to the prespecified family of reconstructed symptom–rhythm comparisons. Results were interpreted according to both statistical evidence and effect-size precision. Results: The cohort comprised 119 participants, including 75 females (63.0%) and 44 males (37.0%). The most frequently reported symptoms were precordial pain (105/119, 88.2%), palpitations (80/119, 67.2%), and syncope or lipothymia (39/119, 32.8%). A family history of sudden cardiac death was reported by 28 participants (23.5%). Forty-two participants (35.3%) had a normal resting ECG, while 77 (64.7%) underwent ambulatory Holter monitoring. Among those undergoing Holter monitoring, 65/77 (84.4%) had rhythm abnormalities detected exclusively by ambulatory monitoring and not identified on the resting ECG. Holter findings resulted in at least one documented management change in 38/77 participants (49.4%). Management categories were not mutually exclusive and included lifestyle or activity adjustment in 21 participants, initiation of antiarrhythmic therapy in 19, medication monitoring in 19, and targeted cardiac imaging, including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, in 5. In this cross-sectional analysis, reported syncope/lipothymia was strongly associated with the presence of complete atrioventricular block (10/39 [25.6%] versus 1/80 [1.3%]; OR 27.24, 95% CI 3.34–222.29; Fisher’s exact p < 0.001; Holm’s adjusted p approximately 0.0004). The unadjusted association between syncope/lipothymia and the WPW-labelled diagnosis did not remain statistically significant after Holm’s adjustment. No statistically significant associations were identified between syncope/lipothymia and PSVT or VT. Conclusions: In this pediatric cohort, ambulatory Holter monitoring identified rhythm abnormalities not detected on resting ECG in a substantial proportion of monitored participants and resulted in documented changes in clinical management in approximately half of those monitored. Reported syncope/lipothymia was strongly associated with the presence of complete atrioventricular block in the reconstructed cross-sectional analysis. Because symptom timing during monitoring was not recorded, these findings do not establish that the detected rhythm abnormalities caused the reported symptoms or that symptoms predict future rhythm outcomes. Further studies using prospectively defined symptom–rhythm event recording and longitudinal follow-up are needed to evaluate temporal correlation and prognosis. Full article

Industry–University–Research (IUR) networks are vital for knowledge sharing and collaborative innovation, yet existing network research largely ignores the maintenance cost of inter-organizational ties, which creates persistent theoretical tension between social capital theory (advocating dense connections) and structural hole theory (advocating sparse non-redundant ties). This study constructs a simulation model integrating barter knowledge exchange and multi-dimensional relational maintenance cost loss and systematically simulates the evolution of average knowledge stock (AKS) under regular, small-world and random network structure. The simulation results show that there exists a stable optimal node degree range of 20–40 for IUR actors, which is robust against changes in network scale, initial knowledge endowment and relational cost coefficients. Under moderate technological complexity, small-world networks realize the highest efficiency of knowledge accumulation; when technological complexity rises to a high level, regular networks with local agglomeration advantages become more efficient. This study supplements a cost-based analytical perspective to reconcile the contradiction between two core network theories and provides preliminary simulation evidence for the contingent design of IUR collaborative networks. From a practical perspective, the findings offer reference for adaptive governance of IUR alliances to balance relational costs and knowledge gains and further respond to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Limitations of this simulation-based analysis are clearly acknowledged in the discussion section. Full article

This paper presents a resilience-driven probabilistic multiobjective framework for reactive power planning in islanded microgrids under extreme contingencies, explicitly integrating sustainability objectives and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The proposed planning framework simultaneously optimizes technical reliability, economic viability, environmental sustainability, and social resilience using the IEEE 33-bus distribution system as a representative test network. Uncertainties associated with solar irradiance, wind speed, and load demand are modeled using the Two-Point Estimation Method (2PEM), while the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) determines Pareto optimal planning solutions for five reactive power support strategies. The results demonstrate that planning solutions optimized for grid-connected operation are not necessarily the most effective under islanded conditions. Within the adopted multi-criteria evaluation framework, the dedicated D-STATCOM strategy achieves the highest overall normalized performance, providing 87.2% load preservation, 93.7% critical-load protection, and an 8.7 h representative survival time, while reducing total load shedding to 12.8% and eliminating high-risk shedding events (>30%). Furthermore, it decreases event-related economic losses by more than 75% and achieves the lowest environmental impact, with a 62.5% reduction in life-cycle CO₂ emission intensity relative to the conventional grid baseline. A normalization sensitivity analysis confirms that the comparative ranking of the investigated strategies remains unchanged under alternative normalization methods, demonstrating the robustness of the proposed evaluation framework. From a sustainability perspective, the proposed framework contributes to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) through reliable low-carbon microgrid operation, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) through resilient power system planning, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by enhancing the continuity of critical urban services, SDG 13 (Climate Action) through reduced life-cycle emissions, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by supporting local employment associated with distributed energy deployment. Full article

Fuel cells (FCs) are critical for decarbonizing the transport industry, with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) serving as the standard evaluation framework. However, existing literature exhibits severe methodological heterogeneities and divergent system boundaries that introduce deep epistemic uncertainties. This review conducts a systematic analysis to critically harmonize FC environmental performance across the road, aviation, and maritime sectors. Quantitative synthesis reveals global warming potential (GWP) as the dominant metric. For light-duty vehicles, GWP drops to around 30 gCO₂eq/km, matching battery-electric configurations exclusively under deeply decarbonized grids. Manufacturing FC stacks and advanced storage imposes a severe upfront carbon debt, particularly prominent in heavy-duty freight (60–130 tCO₂eq). In aviation, 80–90% in-flight GWP reductions trigger massive burden-shifting, transferring 60–70% of lifecycle damages to ground-based infrastructure. Maritime FCs shrink GWP to 0.06–0.60 kgCO₂eq/kWh, strictly contingent on upstream hydrogen production. Crucially, despite long-term GWP advantages, FC pathways face systematic penalties in acidification, eutrophication, and ecotoxicity, heavily driven by platinum-group catalysts and fluoropolymer membranes. By isolating software-driven biases and database discrepancies, this work delivers an actionable methodological roadmap, establishing a policy-aligned baseline for future FC transportation sustainability frameworks. Full article