Search Results (6,456)

Agrivoltaics (AVs), the co-location of photovoltaic panels and agricultural production, is increasingly promoted as a strategy to enhance land-use efficiency and support renewable energy transitions. While numerous studies emphasize potential synergies, growing evidence indicates that AV systems also entail significant biophysical, ecological and socio-economic trade-offs. This review synthesizes published literature on the negative impacts and management challenges associated with agrivoltaics across diverse crops, climates and institutional contexts. A structured literature analysis was conducted, integrating findings from experimental field studies, ecological assessments, economic evaluations and policy analyses. The reviewed evidence demonstrates that panel-induced shading and altered microclimatic conditions frequently reduce photosynthetically active radiation, modify soil temperature and moisture regimes, and impair photosynthetic efficiency, yield stability, and quality in light-demanding crops. Open-field AV installations further alter understory vegetation, pollinator activity and soil arthropod communities, leading to functional biodiversity losses beneath panel-covered areas. Economic and institutional analyses reveal high investment costs, regulatory ambiguity and land-tenure constraints that disproportionately transfer agronomic and financial risks to farmers, while land-use conflicts may reduce food production and contribute to indirect land-use change. Overall, open-field AV outcomes are strongly context- and design-dependent. The review highlights the need for long-term, integrative assessments and governance frameworks that explicitly address trade-offs to ensure that AVs contribute to sustainable land-use transitions rather than undermining agricultural and ecological functions. Full article

In Taiwan, with the increase in the elderly population and the emergence of a super-aging society, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has developed various long-term care (LTC) centers, offering different types of services to effectively improve the overall service quality. The Taiwanese LTC Service Quality Enhancement Plan, based on Articles 5 and 39 of the LTC Services Act and Article 3 of the Regulations Governing the Assessment of LTC Centers, seeks to realize guidance, supervision, inspection, and assessment, and reward successful actions. One of the most important purposes of LTC service assessment auditing is to guide the subsidization of LTC facilities by the MOHW. In this study, a rigorous and impartial assessment system was used to measure the service quality of the majority of the LTC centers (approximately 92.07%) in a county in Taiwan from 2023 to 2025, covering both community-based service centers (daycare centers) and home-care centers. According to the results, the perceived service quality is a multidimensional and multilayered reflection of the intrinsic assessment results, rather than a value judgment based solely on interim results. It is suggested that customer-oriented and customer rights concepts should be progressively introduced when planning and designing assessments of the implications and effectiveness of LTC services, with differences in competitive strategies between centers. Moreover, according to this study, LTC centers should focus on case-centered, integrated professional care and seek to establish a continuous competitive advantage. With the increasing burden on informal caregivers and the gradual disappearance of traditional family care functions, maintaining the most basic levels of safety and professional care to ensure the quality of LTC services is crucial, seeking to ensure the sustainable development of the care system and realize significant socioeconomic benefits. Full article

Introduction: Respiratory rehabilitation programs for geriatric patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after COVID-19 require a precise assessment of needs and an individualized approach. However, there is a lack of specific recommendations for aerobic training in this patient group. Objective: The study aimed to compare two types of aerobic training—continuous and interval—and to determine which one is more effective and should be included in the respiratory rehabilitation program for geriatric patients with COPD after COVID-19. Methods: Of the 480 patients examined, 80 were included in the study. All patients underwent exercise tolerance tests (6-Minute Walk Test—6MWT) and functional performance tests (get-up-and-go test—TUG) before and after a 3-week intensive respiratory rehabilitation program. Results: Both types of training—interval and continuous—contributed to improved exercise tolerance and functional fitness in patients. However, analysis of the differences between the groups showed that continuous training with increasing exercise intensity resulted in significantly greater improvements in distance covered during the 6MWT, energy expenditure (METs), and TUG test time (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Continuous training on a cycle ergometer is more effective in the rehabilitation of geriatric patients with COPD after COVID-19 and should be included in therapeutic programs. Full article

The Three-River Connectivity Zone in the lower Tarim River Basin (TRCZ) is a typical area that has experienced decades of river cut-off, followed by artificial ecological water transfers and vegetation restoration. However, the long-term patterns of ecological water requirements and their response mechanisms to ecosystem services in this region remain unclear. This study aims to quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of ecological water requirements in the TRCZ from 1990 to 2020. We integrated multi-temporal remote sensing land cover data with the FAO Penman–Monteith equation to estimate vegetation evapotranspiration (as a proxy for ecological water requirement) and coupled the InVEST model with Random Forest modeling to identify key climatic and hydrological drivers. Unlike previous studies that focused primarily on precipitation inputs, our approach explicitly considers the ecosystem’s water yield function alongside water demand, offering new insights into the constraints on ecosystem services. Key findings reveal: (1) During the period of 2005–2010, the land cover types underwent significant changes, characterized by a marked expansion of sparse forest (14–21%) and a pronounced decline in forest land, which fundamentally reconfigured the ecosystem’s water demand structure. (2) Accordingly, the multi-year average ecological water requirement quota in the study area is 2.95 × 10⁷ m³, and the total ecological water requirement exhibited a fluctuating decline at a rate of −1.39 × 10⁵ m³/yr, yet sparse forest persisted as the dominant water-consuming component. (3) The Random Forest model (R² = 0.942) identified water yield (importance: 0.527) and precipitation (0.255) as the primary drivers, establishing the ecosystem’s water yield function rather than precipitation input alone as the critical constraint. (4) A widespread increase in the unit area ecological water requirement across vegetation types signaled escalating pressures from climate change. This research provides a quantitative framework and a transferable methodology for adaptive water resource management and ecological restoration in arid regions, emphasizing the balance between ecosystem water demand and supply functions. Full article

The drying process in indirect solar dryers is strongly influenced by rapidly changing ambient conditions, resulting in highly nonlinear and dynamic system behavior. Accurate modeling is therefore essential for performance evaluation, process optimization, and reliable prediction of the drying chamber temperature, which plays a key role in ensuring efficient moisture removal while preserving the nutritional and sensory quality of dried products. In this study, a fuzzy logic–based modeling approach using the Mamdani inference system is developed to predict the drying chamber temperature over a wide range of operating conditions. Experimental measurements were carried out with solar radiation varying from 400 to 950 W/m² and ambient temperature ranging from 20 to 50 °C, covering both static and dynamic system responses. The fuzzy model employs solar radiation and ambient temperature as input variables, represented by five and three triangular membership functions, respectively, while the drying chamber temperature is defined as the output variable using five triangular membership functions (T1–T5). The Mamdani inference system consists of 15 “if–then” rules, and centroid defuzzification is applied to obtain crisp output values. Model validation across the investigated operating range demonstrates a strong agreement between predicted and experimental temperatures. For example, at a solar radiation of 700 W/m² and an ambient temperature of 46 °C, the predicted chamber temperature is 50.9 °C compared to a measured value of 51.0 °C, while at 750 W/m² and 50 °C, the predicted temperature of 52.0 °C closely matches the experimental value of 51.8 °C. Statistical evaluation yields RMSE = 0.38 °C, MAE = 0.29 °C, and R² = 0.997, demonstrating effective temperature tracking capability within the tested operating range. These results show that the Mamdani fuzzy logic approach can effectively represent the thermal behavior of an indirect solar dryer within the tested operating range. The proposed model also provides a promising basis for the future development of real-time intelligent control strategies aimed at improving energy efficiency and product quality. Full article

This paper presents a cover lens concept for camera modules based on surface acoustic waves (SAW) to mitigate the degradation of physical AI optical sensor field-of-view performance caused by surface contamination. The proposed approach utilizes a single-phase unidirectional transducer (SPUDT) that intentionally breaks left–right symmetry through a geometrically asymmetric electrode array to generate SAW, thereby removing droplet contamination. First, the acoustic streaming induced inside a single sessile droplet by the SAW was visualized, and the dynamic behavior of the droplet upon SAW actuation was observed using a high-speed camera. The internal flow developed into a recirculating vortex structure with directional deflection relative to the SAW propagation direction, indicating a symmetry-broken streaming pattern rather than a purely symmetric circulation. Upon the application of the SAW, the droplet was confirmed to move a total of 7.2 mm along the SAW propagation direction, accompanied by interfacial deformation and oscillation. Next, an analysis of transport trajectories for five sessile droplets dispensed at different y-coordinates ($y_1$–$y_5$) revealed that all droplets were transported along the x-axis regardless of their initial positions. Furthermore, the analysis of transport velocity as a function of droplet viscosity (1 $\mathrm{c}\mathrm{P}$ and 10 $\mathrm{c}\mathrm{P}$) and volume (2$\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{L}$, 4$\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{L}$, and 6 $\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{L}$) demonstrated that the transport velocity gradually increased with driving voltage but decreased as viscosity increased under identical actuation conditions. Finally, the proposed cover lens was applied to an automotive front camera module to verify its effectiveness in improving object recognition performance by removing surface contamination. Based on its simple structure and driving principle, the proposed technology is deemed to be expandable as a surface contamination cleaning technology for various physical AI perception systems, including intelligent security cameras and drone camera lenses. Full article

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of soil thickness on seedling growth in rice machine transplanting. Zhongzu 53 was selected as the test variety, and three different soil thickness treatments were applied: 0 cm (CK), 0.5 cm (T1), and 1 cm (T2). The emergence rate, plant height, root length, leaf age, number of green leaves, total root length, projected area, root surface area, and total root volume were measured. The results demonstrated that, compared with the CK treatment, the seedling emergence rate of the T1 treatment increased significantly by 68.6%, while no significant difference was observed in the emergence rate between the T1 and T2 treatments. The plant height, root length, and leaf age of the T1 treatment were significantly higher than those of both the CK and T2 treatments. In terms of root morphological indicators, the total root length, total root projected area, and number of root tips in the T1 treatment were significantly greater than those in the CK and T2 treatments. Correlation analysis revealed that the seedling emergence rate was extremely significantly positively correlated with the total root number (p < 0.01) and significantly positively correlated with the number of white roots, number of root tips, and total root length (p < 0.05). Grey correlation analysis indicated that the total root number had the highest correlation degree with the seedling emergence rate. Principal component analysis (PCA) results showed that the cumulative contribution rate of PCA1 and PCA2 reached 67.5%. Membership function analysis revealed that the T1 treatment had the highest average membership value, whereas the CK treatment exhibited the poorest performance. In conclusion, an appropriate cover soil thickness can effectively improve the growth performance of mechanically transplanted rice seedlings. Full article

The complexity of city centre functions and urban intensity often result in lower safety indicators and a decreased sense of security among users. The author attempts to explain the relationship between the structurally, spatially, and functionally distinctive city centre and the level of residential development intensity. This relationship is analysed from the perspective of security criterion as one of the basic components of the quality of urban life and the construction of sustainable residential spaces. The research method used in the paper was a case study. Based on CEN/TS 14383-2:2022 and the source literature, security aspects were defined and divided into three frameworks of safety and security strategy. The aforementioned aspects formed the basis for the qualitative assessment of the area. The assessment covered areas of city centre development divided according to the concentration of residential function. The results of the conducted research justified the accuracy of the adopted research method, especially taking into account the structure of the division related to the context, the urban structure of the area and its management. The subject area of the research is consistent with current sustainability urban policy approaches related to building urban cohesion and sustainable intensity of city centre spaces. Full article

In 1994, P. Shor discovered quantum algorithms that can break both the RSA cryptosystem and the ElGamal cryptosystem. In 2007, D-Wave demonstrated the first quantum computer. These events and further developments have brought a crisis to secret communication. In 2016, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) launched a global project to solicit and select a handful of encryption algorithms with the ability to resist quantum computer attacks. In 2022, it announced four candidates, CRYSTALS-Kyber, CRYSTALS-Dilithium, Falcon, and Sphincs+, for post-quantum cryptography standards. The first three are based on lattice theory and the last on a hash function. The security of lattice-based cryptosystems relies on the computational complexity of the shortest vector problem (SVP), the closest vector problem (CVP), and their generalizations. As we will explain, the SVP is a ball-packing problem, and the CVP is a ball-covering problem. Furthermore, both the SVP and CVP are equivalent to arithmetic problems for positive definite quadratic forms. This paper will briefly describe the mathematical problems on which lattice-based cryptography is built so that cryptographers can extend their views and learn something useful. Full article

The rapid expansion of China’s immersed tunnel construction has resulted in substantial consumption of reinforced concrete and construction energy, thereby generating considerable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the construction stage. Unlike conventional tunnels, immersed tunnels require large cross-sectional dimensions, complicated geological conditions (e.g., varying seabed burial depth and settlement grade requirements), and unique structural parameters, leading to distinct emission characteristics that are currently insufficiently understood. To address this gap, this study aims to quantify construction-stage GHG emissions of immersed-tube segments, identify key influencing factors linking construction parameters and material input with GHG emissions, and develop simplified predictive models for design-stage estimation. A total of 51 immersed-tube segments from three representative cross-sea tunnel projects in China were examined. Under a unified system boundary and functional unit (covering material production and processing, material transportation, and on-site construction energy consumption), the life-cycle assessment (LCA) framework was applied to quantify the construction-stage emissions of each immersed-tube segment. The construction-stage GHG emissions of a single segment range from 1.56 × 10⁴ to 2.71 × 10⁴ t CO₂ eq (mean ≈ 2.40 × 10⁴ t CO₂ eq). Correlation and partial correlation analyses demonstrated that the total mass of construction materials exhibits the strongest correlation with GHG emissions, followed by the element volume, concrete cross-sectional area, settlement grade, and burial depth. The results further indicate that material intensity is the dominant determinant of GHG emissions for immersed tubes, while the effects of seabed and settlement conditions mainly operate through structural scale and material demand. Finally, two linear regression models were developed, and the model based on total material mass provides the most accurate prediction of construction-stage emissions. The immersed-tube volume can be used to estimate approximate GHG emissions at the design stage, whereas the total material mass serves as a better predictor when detailed material input data are available. This study is based on segment-level data from three Chinese projects and focuses on the construction stage; therefore, transferability requires further validation. Material intensity is the dominant determinant, and the total-material-mass model is the most accurate predictor. Full article

Globally, coffee-based agroforestry systems are recognized for their capacity to integrate agricultural production with biodiversity conservation, particularly in tropical landscapes under intense anthropogenic pressure. However, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding floristic composition, arboreal structure, and the ecological importance of woody species in Andean agroforestry systems of the Peruvian Amazon, especially along altitudinal gradients. The objective of this study was to characterize the diversity, floristic composition, arboreal structure, and ecological value of woody species in coffee-based agroforestry systems in the Department of Amazonas, Peru. Forest inventories were conducted in twelve one-hectare plots, recording dasometric variables, estimating diversity indices, analyzing floristic affinity, and calculating the Importance Value Index of species. A total of 57 tree species belonging to 41 genera and 25 families were recorded, with moderate diversity levels and a marked dominance of species from the Fabaceae family. The structure showed a predominance of young individuals, concentrated in low and intermediate diameter and height classes, and a moderate shade cover suitable for coffee cultivation. The species with the highest ecological and productive value were Pinus tecunumanii, Colubrina glandulosa, Clitoria juninensis, Inga edulis, and Inga mendozana, which perform key functions related to shade provision and soil fertility. These results are transferable to other coffee agroforestry systems in tropical montane regions and provide relevant evidence for sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and productive optimization, issues of international interest in the agricultural and agroforestry sectors. Full article

Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations constitute the largest artificial ecological forest systems in tropical regions of China, while long-term monoculture has significantly reduced biodiversity, particularly among insect communities. Rubber-based agroforestry systems are widely recognized as a promising approach to improving ecosystem functionality. However, the mechanisms by which different intercropping patterns affect insect community dynamics remain poorly understood. This study systematically evaluated the effects of eight rubber-based agroforestry systems on insect community diversity, functional group composition, and associated environmental drivers. Using rubber monoculture as a control, seven rubber-based agroforestry systems were investigated from April 2024 to March 2025. A total of 94,483 insect individuals belonging to 16 orders, 222 families, and 1560 species were recorded. The results indicate that the rubber–fig (Ficus hirta) and rubber–banana (Musa nana) agroforestry systems supported higher insect richness, diversity, and community stability than other systems, while the more complex rubber–coconut (Cocos nucifera)–fig (Ficus hirta) system exhibited a relatively lower value. Functionally, herbivores dominated the rubber monoculture system. The moderately grazed rubber–forage grass (Brachiaria eruciformis)–black goat agroforestry system promoted predators and detritivores, whereas the rubber–konjak (Amorphophallus bulbifer) agroforestry system attracted more omnivores. The permutational multivariate analysis of variance revealed that insect species composition was primarily negatively driven by canopy cover (R² = 14.65%) and management intensity (R² = 11.54%). The ecological benefits of rubber-based agroforestry systems depend not only on crop species diversity but also on vegetation structural complexity and management practices. It is recommended to promote the rubber–banana and rubber–fig agroforestry systems as optimized models and to enhance insect-mediated ecosystem services by maintaining understory vegetation structure, regulating canopy cover, and implementing low-intervention management practices. Full article

Construction safety has garnered extensive attention, among which the hoisting construction safety of prefabricated buildings constitutes a distinct concern warranting further focus, as it fundamentally differs from traditional cast-in situ construction. However, relevant studies remain relatively scarce, and there is a lack of research frameworks that enable the multi-dimensional comprehensive assessment of the significance of influencing factors. This study aims to comprehensively account for both the mechanisms of influence and the inherent importance of factors, thereby determining the significance of the influencing factors for hoisting construction safety in prefabricated buildings. Fifteen influencing factors were identified, and the fuzzy-DEMATEL and ANP methods were adopted, respectively to investigate the inter-factor mechanisms of influence and the systemic importance of these factors. This study finds that: at the level of the influence mechanism, factors such as workers’ behavior and construction process control play a core hub role in the system; management factors and external environments are the primary factors affecting workers’ behavior, and workers’ behavior tends to influence physical factors and construction site coordination; at the level of system importance, factor weights show a stepped distribution, among which management personnel competence is the most important factor; factors such as policies and regulations, as well as safety assurance plans, are also relatively significant. A comprehensive analysis of the two calculation results reveals that construction process control is the most critical factor, followed by workers’ behavior, the competence of management personnel, and construction operation coordination. Drawing on the functions of these factors, a series of recommendations was put forward, covering the aspects of safety resource allocation, safety training, and safety supervision. The present study facilitates a more comprehensive evaluation of the importance levels of each influencing factor and delivers practically accessible guidance for safety management in the hoisting operation of prefabricated buildings. Full article

Energy-Dispersive X-ray Diffraction (EDXRD) employs a polychromatic (white) X-ray beam and an energy-discriminating detector at a fixed scattering geometry to measure diffracted intensity as a function of photon energy. This technique enables the rapid acquisition of diffraction data over a wide range of d-spacings without mechanical scanning of the scattering angle, making it particularly valuable for time-resolved, bulk-penetrating, and operando studies. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of EDXRD, covering the fundamental principles and underlying physics, experimental methodologies and data analysis workflows, synchrotron white-beam implementations compared to monochromatic approaches, detector strategies, parameter optimization for accurate and efficient measurements, and representative applications in high-pressure science and battery research. Finally, we discuss current challenges and future prospects, including advances in detector technology, machine learning-assisted spectral analysis, and the development of standardized, automated EDXRD systems. Full article

Background: This study aims to characterize the musculoskeletal injury landscape among Italian adolescent and adult breakdancers, specifically evaluating the correlation between technical execution and various risk factors. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on a cohort of 97 practitioners (68 professionals and 29 amateurs). Data were retrieved using the “Breakdance Injury Questionnaire” (BIQ), a specialized 28-item tool covering training volume, clinical history, and technical specialization. Results: The data reveal a striking injury burden, with an overall prevalence rate of 94.84%. The most frequent sites of injury were the knee (63.9%), shoulder (60.8%), and wrist (57.7%). A significant statistical disparity in injury risk was observed between professionals and amateurs (p = 0.037), with amateurs exhibiting a higher vulnerability to acute trauma. Of clinical note is the significant correlation between intensive powermoves practice and shoulder pathology (p = 0.029). Conversely, generic preventive measures, including standard warm-ups (p = 0.168) and protective equipment (p = 0.164), showed no significant efficacy in reducing trauma incidence. Conclusions: Breakdancing is a high-demand discipline with a traumatic profile comparable to elite gymnastics. The functional inversion of the upper limbs predisposes athletes to specific overuse syndromes. Future prevention strategies must focus on specific conditioning protocols and qualified coaching rather than generic warm-up routines. Full article