Search Results (1,636)

The intensification of anthropogenic pressures, particularly those related to agriculture driven by increasing demands for food and cash crops, generates negative environmental externalities. Assessing these externalities is essential to better identify and implement measures that promote the environmental sustainability of rural landscapes. This study aims to develop a multi-criteria assessment method of the negative environmental externalities of rural landscapes in the northern Benin agricultural basin, based on satellite-derived data. Starting from a 12-class land cover map produced through satellite image classification, the evaluation was conducted in three steps. First, the 12 land cover classes were reclassified into Human Disturbance Coefficients (HDCs) via a weighted sum model multi-criteria analysis based on nine criteria related to the negative environmental externalities of anthropogenic activities. Second, the HDC classes were spatially aggregated using a regular grid of 1 km² landscape cells to produce the Landscape Environmental Sustainability Index (LESI). Finally, various discretization methods were applied to the LESI for cartographic representation, enhancing spatial interpretation. Results indicate that most areas exhibit moderate environmental externalities (HDC and LESI values between 2.5 and 3.5), covering 63–75% (HDC) and 83–94% (LESI) of the respective sites. Areas of low environmental externalities (values between 1.5 and 2.5) account for 20–24% (HDC) and 5–13% (LESI). The LESI, derived from accessible and cost-effective satellite data, offers a scalable, reproducible, and spatially explicit tool for monitoring landscape sustainability. It holds potential for guiding territorial governance and supporting transitions towards more sustainable land management practices. Future improvements may include, among others, refining the evaluation criteria and introducing variable criteria weighting schemes depending on land cover or region. Full article

The objective of this study is to create an integrated and sustainability-centered framework to identify optimal locations for wind energy projects in Indonesia. This research employs a novel two-phase multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework that combines the strengths of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), and Fuzzy Combined Compromise Solution (F-CoCoSo). Initially, DEA is utilized to pinpoint the most promising sites based on a variety of quantitative factors. Subsequently, these sites are evaluated against qualitative criteria such as technical, economic, environmental, and socio-political considerations using FAHP for criteria weighting and F-CoCoSo for ranking the sites. Comprehensive sensitivity analysis of the criteria weights and a comparative assessment of methodologies substantiate the robustness of the proposed framework. The results converge on consistent rankings across methods, highlighting the effectiveness of the integrated approach. Notably, the results consistently identify Lampung, Aceh, and Riau as the top-ranked provinces, showcasing their strategic suitability for wind plant development. This framework provides a systematic approach for enhancing resource efficiency and strategic planning in Indonesia’s renewable energy sector. Full article

Wind power has gained attention as a vital renewable energy source capable of reducing emissions and serving as an effective alternative to fossil fuels. Floating wind farms could significantly enhance the energy capacities of Mediterranean countries. However, location selection for offshore wind farms (OWFs) is a challenge for renewable energy policy and marine spatial planning (MSP). To address these issues, this study considers the marine space of Greece to propose a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to identify suitable sites for OWFs. The approach assesses 19 exclusion criteria encompassing legislative, environmental, safety, and technical constraints to determine the eligible areas. Subsequently, 10 evaluation criteria are weighted to determine the selected areas’ level of suitability. The study considers baseline conditions (1981–2010) and future climate scenarios based on RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 for two horizons (2011–2040 and 2041–2070), integrating projected wind velocities and sea level rise to evaluate potential shifts in suitable areas. Results indicate the central and southeastern Aegean Sea as the most suitable areas for OWF deployment. Climate projections indicate a modest increase in suitable areas. The findings serve as input for climate-resilient MSP seeking to promote sustainable energy development. Full article

This article presents a comprehensive assessment of mudflow risk in the Talgar River basin through the application of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods and numerical modeling using the Rapid Mass Movement Simulation (RAMMS) environment. The first part of the study involves a spatial assessment of mudflow hazard and susceptibility using GIS technologies and MCDA. The key condition for evaluating mudflow hazard is the identification of factors influencing the formation of mudflows. The susceptibility assessment was based on viewing the area as an object of spatial and functional analysis, enabling determination of its susceptibility to mudflow impacts across geomorphological zones: initiation, transformation, and accumulation. Relevant criteria were selected for analysis, each assigned weights based on expert judgment and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The results include maps of potential mudflow hazard and susceptibility, showing areas of hazard occurrence and risk impact zones within the Talgar River basin. According to the mudflow hazard map, more than 50% of the basin area is classified as having a moderate hazard level, while 28.4% is subject to high hazard, and only 1.8% falls under the very high hazard category. The remaining areas are categorized as very low (4.1%) and low (14.7%) hazard zones. In terms of susceptibility to mudflows, 40.1% of the territory is exposed to a high level of susceptibility, 35.6% to a moderate level, and 5.5% to a very high level. The remaining areas are classified as very low (1.8%) and low (15.6%) susceptibility zones. The predictive performance was evaluated through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, and the Area Under the Curve (AUC) value of the mudflow hazard assessment is 0.86, which indicates good adaptability and relatively high accuracy, while the AUC value for assessing the susceptibility of the territory is 0.71, which means that the accuracy of assessing the susceptibility of territories to mudflows is within the acceptable level of model accuracy. To refine the spatial risk assessment, mudflow modeling was conducted under three scenarios of glacial-moraine lake outburst using the RAMMS model. For each scenario, key flow parameters—height and velocity—were identified, forming the basis for classification of zones by impact intensity. The integration of MCDA and RAMMS results produced a final mudflow risk map reflecting both the likelihood of occurrence and the extent of potential damage. The presented approach demonstrates the effectiveness of combining GIS analysis, MCDA, and physically-based modeling for comprehensive natural hazard assessment and can be applied to other mountainous regions with high mudflow activity. Full article

The exponential growth of lithium-ion battery consumption has amplified the urgency of identifying sustainable and economically viable recycling solutions. This study proposes an integrated decision-making framework based on the T-Spherical Fuzzy Einstein Interaction Aggregator DEMATEL-CoCoSo approach to comprehensively evaluate and rank battery recycling technologies under uncertainty. Ten key evaluation criteria—encompassing environmental, economic, and technological dimensions—were identified through expert consultation and literature synthesis. The T-Spherical Fuzzy DEMATEL method was first applied to analyze the causal interdependencies among criteria and determine their relative weights, revealing that environmental drivers such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation exert the most systemic influence. Subsequently, six recycling alternatives were assessed and ranked using the CoCoSo method enhanced by Einstein-based aggregation, which captured the complex interactions present in the experts’ evaluations and assessments. Results indicate that Direct Recycling is the most favorable option, followed by the Hydrometallurgical and Bioleaching methods, while Pyrometallurgical Recycling ranked lowest due to its high energy demands and environmental burden. The proposed hybrid model effectively handles linguistic uncertainty, expert variability, and interdependent evaluation structures, offering a robust decision-support tool for sustainable technology selection in the circular battery economy. The framework is adaptable to other domains requiring structured expert-based evaluations under fuzzy environments. Full article

Objective: To determine reference values of liver stiffness during the first week of extrauterine life in healthy newborns, according to gestational age, sex, and birth weight, using three elastography techniques: point shear wave elastography (pSWE) and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) with convex and linear probes. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted at a single center on a hospital-based cohort of 287 newborns between 24 and 42 weeks of gestation, admitted between January 2023 and May 2024. Cases with liver disease, significant neonatal morbidity, or technically invalid studies were excluded. Hepatic elastography was performed during the first week of life using pSWE and 2D-SWE with both convex and linear probes. Clinical and technical neonatal variables were recorded. Liver stiffness values were analyzed in relation to gestational age, birth weight, and sex. Linear regression models were applied to assess associations, considering p-values < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: After applying exclusion criteria, valid liver stiffness measurements were obtained in 208 cases with pSWE, 224 with 2D-SWE (convex probe), and 222 with 2D-SWE (linear probe). A statistically significant inverse association between liver stiffness and gestational age (p < 0.03) was observed across all techniques except for 2D-SWE with the linear probe. Only 2D-SWE with the convex probe showed a significant association with birth weight. No significant differences were observed based on neonatal sex. The 2D-SWE technique with the convex probe demonstrated significantly shorter examination times compared to pSWE (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Neonatal liver stiffness measured by pSWE and 2D-SWE with a convex probe shows an inverse correlation with gestational age, potentially reflecting the structural and functional maturation of the liver. These techniques are safe, reliable, and provide useful information for distinguishing normal findings in preterm neonates from early hepatic pathology. The values obtained represent a valuable reference for clinical hepatic assessment in the neonatal period. Full article

Background: Environmental enrichment is a promising strategy to improve the welfare of dairy goats and sheep. However, studies in this field remain scattered, and its effects on productivity are unclear. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of environmental enrichment on behavioral, physiological, and productive parameters in dairy goats and sheep. Data sources: Scopus and Web of Science were searched for studies published from 2010 to 2025. Study eligibility criteria: Experimental or observational peer-reviewed studies comparing enriched vs. non-enriched housing in dairy goats or sheep, reporting on welfare or productivity outcomes. Methods: This review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the PICO framework. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data. Risk of bias was assessed with the SYRCLE tool. Results: Thirteen studies were included, mostly with goats. Physical, sensory, and social enrichments showed benefits for behavior (e.g., activity, fewer stereotypies) and stress physiology. However, results varied by social rank, enrichment type, and physiological stage. Only three studies assessed productive parameters (weight gain in kids/lambs); none evaluated milk yield or quality. Limitations: Most studies had small samples and short durations. No meta-analysis was conducted due to heterogeneity. Conclusions: Environmental enrichment can benefit the welfare of dairy goats and sheep. However, evidence on productivity is scarce. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate its cost-effectiveness and potential impacts on milk yield and reproductive performance. Full article

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have been reshaping maternal, fetal, neonatal, and reproductive healthcare by enhancing risk prediction, diagnostic accuracy, and operational efficiency across the perinatal continuum. However, no comprehensive synthesis has yet been published. Objective: To conduct a scoping review of reviews of AI/ML applications spanning reproductive, prenatal, postpartum, neonatal, and early child-development care. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus through April 2025. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality using AMSTAR 2 for systematic reviews, ROBIS for bias assessment, SANRA for narrative reviews, and JBI guidance for scoping reviews. Results: Thirty-nine reviews met our inclusion criteria. In preconception and fertility treatment, convolutional neural network-based platforms can identify viable embryos and key sperm parameters with over 90 percent accuracy, and machine-learning models can personalize follicle-stimulating hormone regimens to boost mature oocyte yield while reducing overall medication use. Digital sexual-health chatbots have enhanced patient education, pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence, and safer sexual behaviors, although data-privacy safeguards and bias mitigation remain priorities. During pregnancy, advanced deep-learning models can segment fetal anatomy on ultrasound images with more than 90 percent overlap compared to expert annotations and can detect anomalies with sensitivity exceeding 93 percent. Predictive biometric tools can estimate gestational age within one week with accuracy and fetal weight within approximately 190 g. In the postpartum period, AI-driven decision-support systems and conversational agents can facilitate early screening for depression and can guide follow-up care. Wearable sensors enable remote monitoring of maternal blood pressure and heart rate to support timely clinical intervention. Within neonatal care, the Heart Rate Observation (HeRO) system has reduced mortality among very low-birth-weight infants by roughly 20 percent, and additional AI models can predict neonatal sepsis, retinopathy of prematurity, and necrotizing enterocolitis with area-under-the-curve values above 0.80. From an operational standpoint, automated ultrasound workflows deliver biometric measurements at about 14 milliseconds per frame, and dynamic scheduling in IVF laboratories lowers staff workload and per-cycle costs. Home-monitoring platforms for pregnant women are associated with 7–11 percent reductions in maternal mortality and preeclampsia incidence. Despite these advances, most evidence derives from retrospective, single-center studies with limited external validation. Low-resource settings, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, remain under-represented, and few AI solutions are fully embedded in electronic health records. Conclusions: AI holds transformative promise for perinatal care but will require prospective multicenter validation, equity-centered design, robust governance, transparent fairness audits, and seamless electronic health record integration to translate these innovations into routine practice and improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. Full article

Background: Oxidative stress is a critical factor contributing to male infertility, impairing spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and disrupting normal spermatogenesis. This study aimed to isolate and characterize human SSCs and to investigate oxidative stress-related gene expression, protein interaction networks, and developmental trajectories involved in SSC function. Methods: SSCs were enriched from human orchiectomy samples using CD49f-based magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and laminin-binding matrix selection. Enriched cultures were assessed through morphological criteria and immunocytochemistry using VASA and SSEA4. Transcriptomic profiling was performed using microarray and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to identify oxidative stress-related genes. Bioinformatic analyses included STRING-based protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks, FunRich enrichment, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and predictive modeling using machine learning algorithms. Results: The enriched SSC populations displayed characteristic morphology, positive germline marker expression, and minimal fibroblast contamination. Microarray analysis revealed six significantly upregulated oxidative stress-related genes in SSCs—including CYB5R3 and NDUFA10—and three downregulated genes, such as TXN and SQLE, compared to fibroblasts. PPI and functional enrichment analyses highlighted tightly clustered gene networks involved in mitochondrial function, redox balance, and spermatogenesis. scRNA-seq data further confirmed stage-specific expression of antioxidant genes during spermatogenic differentiation, particularly in late germ cell stages. Among the machine learning models tested, logistic regression demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy for antioxidant gene expression, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.741. Protein oxidation was implicated as a major mechanism of oxidative damage, affecting sperm motility, metabolism, and acrosome integrity. Conclusion: This study identifies key oxidative stress-related genes and pathways in human SSCs that may regulate spermatogenesis and impact sperm function. These findings offer potential targets for future functional validation and therapeutic interventions, including antioxidant-based strategies to improve male fertility outcomes. Full article

To address the issue of low accuracy in identifying the transition states of rolling bearing performance degradation when relying solely on vibration signals, this study proposed a vibration–temperature fusion-based adaptive method for bearing performance degradation assessments. First, a multidimensional time–frequency feature set was constructed by integrating vibration acceleration and temperature signals. Second, a novel composite sensitivity index (CSI) was introduced, incorporating the trend persistence, monotonicity, and signal complexity to perform preliminary feature screening. Mutual information clustering and regularized entropy weight optimization were then combined to reselect highly sensitive parameters from the initially screened features. Subsequently, an adaptive feature fusion method based on auto-associative kernel regression (AFF-AAKR) was introduced to compress the data in the spatial dimension while enhancing the degradation trend characterization capability of the health indicator (HI) through a temporal residual analysis. Furthermore, the entropy weight method was employed to quantify the information entropy differences between the vibration and temperature signals, enabling dynamic weight allocation to construct a comprehensive HI. Finally, a dual-criteria adaptive bottom-up merging algorithm (DC-ABUM) was proposed, which achieves bearing life-stage identification through error threshold constraints and the adaptive optimization of segmentation quantities. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method outperformed traditional vibration-based life-stage identification approaches. Full article

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity are strongly associated, with a high prevalence of these concomitant conditions contributing significantly to global healthcare costs. Given this burden, there is an urgent need for effective interventions. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies represent a promising strategy to address both conditions simultaneously. Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth-based interventions for the management of adults with T2D and overweight/obesity. Specifically, it assessed the quantitative impact of these interventions on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from inception to 9 July 2025. The inclusion criteria focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using mHealth interventions in adults with T2D and overweight/obesity, reporting HbA1c or weight as primary or secondary outcomes. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2. A total of 13 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Results: Meta-analysis indicated significant improvements after 6–12 months of intervention in HbA1c (MD −0.23; 95% CI −0.36 to −0.10; p < 0.001; I² = 72%), body weight (MD −2.47 kg; 95% CI −3.69 to −1.24; p < 0.001; I² = 79%), total cholesterol (MD −0.23; 95% CI −0.39 to −0.07; p = 0.004; I² = 0%), and LDL (MD −0.27; 95% CI −0.42 to −0.12; p < 0.001; I² = 0%). Conclusions: mHealth interventions are effective and scalable for managing T2D and obesity, particularly when incorporating wearable technologies to improve adherence. Future research should focus on optimizing personalization, engagement strategies, and long-term implementation. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted critical vulnerabilities in urban logistics systems, particularly in last-mile delivery. To enhance logistics resilience and efficiency, the Korean government has initiated an innovative project that repurposes idle spaces in subway vehicle bases within the Seoul Metropolitan Area into logistics centers. This study proposes a comprehensive multi-criteria evaluation framework combining the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to assess the suitability of ten candidate sites. The evaluation criteria span four dimensions, facility, geographical, environmental, and social factors, derived from the literature and expert consultations. AHP results indicate that geographical factors, especially proximity to urban centers and major logistics facilities, hold the highest weight. Based on the integrated analysis using TOPSIS, the most suitable locations identified are Sinnae, Godeok, and Cheonwang. The findings suggest the strategic importance of aligning infrastructure development with spatial accessibility and stakeholder cooperation. Policy implications include the need for targeted investment, public–private collaboration, and sustainable logistics planning. Future research is encouraged to incorporate dynamic data and consider social equity and environmental impact for long-term urban logistics planning. Full article

Consumers are increasingly exposed to environmental claims on food products. These claims often lack scientific validation and there are different methodologies that can be used for grounding these claims, which can lead to misleading results. The European Union’s (EU) Environmental Footprint methodology excludes the aggregation of environmental impacts, including damage to human health. This fact reduces transparency and limits the consumers’ ability to make information-based sustainable choices. This study aims to address this issue by calculating aggregated impacts on human health via life cycle assessment (LCA) in the agriculture and food-production sectors. In the study the IMPACT World+ method was used, including trustworthy databases and proper functional unit definition. The assessment encompassed three types of vegetables, four types of fruit, and four types of ready meals. The study also attempts to assess the impact of different farming systems (organic and conventional) on human health. Two standardised functional units, i.e., the unit based on product weight and product energy value were considered for each group of products. Our findings showed significant differences in results when different functional units were used. Additionally, no conclusion could be drawn regarding which farming system is more sustainable. Therefore, it is essential that the regulator clearly defines the criteria for selecting the appropriate functional unit in LCA within the agriculture and food-production sectors. In the absence of these criteria, results should be presented for all alternatives. Although not required by EU regulation, the authors suggest that companies should nevertheless disclose information regarding the environmental impact of agriculture and food production on human health, as this is important for consumers. Full article

Flood susceptibility mapping is essential for urban planning and disaster risk management, especially in rapidly urbanizing areas exposed to extreme rainfall events. This study applies an integrated approach combining Geographic Information Systems (GIS), map algebra, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assess flood-prone zones in Ananindeua, Pará, Brazil. Five geoenvironmental criteria—rainfall, land use and land cover (LULC), slope, soil type, and drainage density—were selected and weighted using AHP to generate a composite flood susceptibility index. The results identified rainfall and slope as the most influential criteria, with both contributing to over 184 km² of high-susceptibility area. Spatial patterns showed that flood-prone zones are concentrated in flat urban areas with high drainage density and extensive impermeable surfaces. CHIRPS rainfall data were validated using Pearson’s correlation (r = 0.83) and the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NS = 0.97), confirming the reliability of the precipitation input. The final susceptibility map, categorized into low, medium, and high classes, was validated using flood events derived from Sentinel-1 SAR data (2019–2025), of which 97.2% occurred in medium- or high-susceptibility zones. These findings demonstrate the model’s strong predictive performance and highlight the role of unplanned urban expansion, land cover changes, and inadequate drainage in increasing flood risk. Although specific to Ananindeua, the proposed methodology can be adapted to other urban areas in Brazil, provided local conditions and data availability are considered. Full article

Rizhao Reservoir, Shandong Province, China, as a key regional water supply hub, provides water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses in and around Rizhao City by intercepting runoff, which plays a central role in guaranteeing water supply security and supporting regional development. This study systematically collected 66 surface water samples to elucidate the hydrochemical characteristics within the reservoir area, identify the principal influencing factors, and clarify the sources of dissolved ions, aiming to enhance the understanding of the prevailing water quality conditions. A systematic analysis of hydrochemical facies, solute provenance, and governing processes in the study area’s surface water was conducted, employing an integrated mathematical and statistical approach, comprising Piper trilinear diagrams, correlation analysis, and ionic ratios. Meanwhile, the entropy weight-based water quality index (EWQI) and irrigation water quality evaluation methods were employed to assess the surface water quality in the study area quantitatively. Analytical results demonstrate that the surface water system within the study area is classified as freshwater with circumneutral to slightly alkaline properties, predominantly characterized by Ca-HCO₃ and Ca-Mg-SO₄-Cl hydrochemical facies. The evolution of solute composition is principally governed by rock–water interactions, whereas anthropogenic influences and cation exchange processes exert comparatively minor control. Dissolved ions mostly originate from silicate rock weathering, carbonate rock dissolution, and sulfate mineral dissolution processes. Potability assessment via the entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) classifies surface waters in the study area as Grade I (Excellent), indicating compliance with drinking water criteria under defined boundary conditions. Irrigation suitability analysis confirms minimal secondary soil salinization risk during controlled agricultural application, with all samples meeting standards for direct irrigation use. Full article