Search Results (15,490)

Barite, a mineral composed of barium sulphate, holds global significance due to its wide range of industrial applications. It plays a crucial role as a weighting agent in drilling fluids for the oil and gas industry, in radiation shielding, and as a filler in paints and plastics. Although there are significant deposits of the mineral in commercial quantities in Nigeria, the use of barite of Nigerian origin has been low in the industry due to challenges that require further research and development. This research employed nanoindentation experiments using a model Ti950 Tribo indenter instrument equipped with a diamond Berkovich tip. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), we gained information about the structure and elements in the samples. The load–displacement curves were examined to determine the hardness and reduced elastic modulus of the barite samples. The SEM images showed that barite grains have a typical grainy shape, with clear splitting lines and sizes. XRD and EDX analysis confirmed that the main components are chlorite, albite, barium, and oxygen, along with small impurities like silicon and calcium from quartz and calcite. The average hardness of the IB3 and IB4 samples was 1.88 GPa and 1.18 GPa, respectively, meaning that the IB3 sample will need more energy to crush because its hardness is within the usual barite hardness range of 1.7 GPa to 2.0 GPa. The findings suggest further beneficiation processes to enhance the material’s suitability for drilling and other applications. Full article

Driven by carbon neutrality and peak carbon policies, hydrogen energy, due to its zero-emission and renewable properties, is increasingly being used in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (H-FCVs). However, the high cost and limited durability of H-FCVs hinder large-scale deployment. Hydrogen internal combustion engine hybrid electric vehicles (H-HEVs) are emerging as a viable alternative. Research on the techno-economics of H-HEVs remains limited, particularly in systematic comparisons with H-FCVs. This paper provides a comprehensive comparison of H-FCVs and H-HEVs in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO) and hydrogen consumption while proposing a multi-objective powertrain parameter optimization model. First, a quantitative model evaluates TCO from vehicle purchase to disposal. Second, a global dynamic programming method optimizes hydrogen consumption by incorporating cumulative energy costs into the TCO model. Finally, a genetic algorithm co-optimizes key design parameters to minimize TCO. Results show that with a battery capacity of 20.5 Ah and an H-FC peak power of 55 kW, H-FCV can achieve optimal fuel economy and hydrogen consumption. However, even with advanced technology, their TCO remains higher than that of H-HEVs. H-FCVs can only become cost-competitive if the unit power price of the fuel cell system is less than 4.6 times that of the hydrogen engine system, assuming negligible fuel cell degradation. In the short term, H-HEVs should be prioritized. Their adoption can also support the long-term development of H-FCVs through a complementary relationship. Full article

Introduction: The gut microbiota is vital for human health, and its modulation through dietary and pharmaceutical compounds has gained increasing attention. Among gut microbes, Akkermansia muciniphila has been extensively researched due to its role in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, regulating energy metabolism, and influencing inflammatory responses. Subject: To analyze and synthesize the available scientific evidence on the influence of various bioactive compounds, including prebiotics, polyphenols, antioxidants, and pharmaceutical agents, on the abundance and activity of A. muciniphila, considering underlying mechanisms, microbial context, and its therapeutic potential for improving metabolic and intestinal health. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, SciFinder-n, and Google Scholar were searched for publications from 2004 to 2025. Experimental studies in animal models or humans that evaluated the impact of bioactive compounds on the abundance or activity of A. muciniphila were prioritized. The selection process was managed using the Covidence platform. Results: A total of 78 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. This review compiles and analyzes experimental evidence on the interaction between A. muciniphila and various bioactive compounds, including prebiotics, antioxidants, flavonoids, and selected pharmaceutical agents. Factors such as the chemical structure of the compounds, microbial environment, underlying mechanisms, production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and mucin interactions were considered. Compounds such as resistant starch type 2, GOS, 2′-fucosyllactose, quercetin, resveratrol, metformin, and dapagliflozin showed beneficial effects on A. muciniphila through direct or indirect pathways. Discussion: Variability across studies reflects the influence of multiple variables, including compound type, dose, intervention duration, experimental models, and analytical methods. These differences emphasize the need for a contextualized approach when designing microbiota-based interventions. Conclusions: A. muciniphila emerges as a promising therapeutic target for managing metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Further mechanistic and clinical studies are necessary to validate its role and to support the development of personalized microbiota-based treatment interventions. Full article

The remarkable advantages of zinc anodes render aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) a highly promising energy storage solution. Nevertheless, the uncontrolled growth of zinc dendrites and side reactions pose significant obstacles to the practical application of ZIBs. To address these issues, a straightforward strategy has been proposed, involving the addition of a minute quantity of AgNO₃ to the electrolyte to stabilize zinc anodes. This additive spontaneously forms a hierarchically porous Ag interphase on the zinc anodes, which is characterized by its zinc-affinitive nature. The interphase offers abundant zinc nucleation sites and accommodation space, leading to uniform zinc plating/stripping and enhanced kinetics of zinc deposition/dissolution. Moreover, the chemically inert Ag interphase effectively curtails side reactions by isolating water molecules. Consequently, the incorporation of AgNO₃ enables zinc anodes to undergo cycling for extended periods, such as over 4000 h at a current density of 0.5 mA/cm² with a capacity of 0.5 mAh/cm², and for 450 h at 2 mA/cm² with a capacity of 2 mAh/cm². Full zinc-ion cells equipped with this additive not only demonstrate increased specific capacities but also exhibit significantly improved cycle stability. This research presents a cost-effective and practical approach for the development of reliable zinc anodes for ZIBs. Full article

This study conducts a numerical simulation of the working performance of a single horizontal shaft forced mixer using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). It systematically investigates the effects of blade installation angle, feeding method, mixing speed, and coarse aggregate particle size on the mixing uniformity. A 1:2 scale model was developed, incorporating Newton’s laws of motion and a soft-sphere contact model to simulate the particle trajectories and interactions during mixing. The results indicate that top–bottom feeding enhances mixing efficiency significantly by forming vertical convective circulation, achieving a mixing uniformity above 0.9. A moderate rotation speed of 30 rpm provides the best balance between energy consumption and mixing performance. As the coarse aggregate size increases (from 9 mm to 15 mm), the enhanced particle inertia leads to a decrease in mixing uniformity (from 0.9 to 0.6). Additionally, the discrepancy between simulation and experimental results is less than 0.1, validating the reliability of the model. This research offers theoretical guidance for the structural optimization and parameter selection of single-shaft mixers, contributing to improved mixing efficiency and concrete quality in engineering applications. Full article

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are voluntary coalitions of citizens, small and medium-sized enterprises and local authorities, which cooperate to share locally produced renewable energy, providing environmental, economic, and social benefits rather than profits. Despite a favorable European and Italian regulatory framework, their development is still limited in the Member States. To this end, this paper proposes a methodology to identify optimal spatial configurations of RECs, based on proximity criteria and maximization of energy self-sufficiency. This result is achieved through the mapping of the demand, expressive of the energy consumption of residential buildings; the suitable areas for installing photovoltaic panels on the roofs of existing buildings; the supply; the supply–demand balance, from which it is possible to identify Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) and Negative Energy Districts (NEDs). Through an iterative process, the optimal configuration is then sought, aggregating only PEDs and NEDs that meet the chosen criteria. This method is applied to the case study of the Avellino Province in the Campania Region (Italy). The maps obtained allow local authorities to inform citizens about the areas where it is convenient to aggregate with their neighbors in an REC to have benefits in terms of energy self-sufficiency, savings on bills or incentives at the local level, including those deriving from urban plans. The latter can encourage private initiative in order to speed up the RECs’ deployment. The presented model is being implemented in the framework of an ongoing research and development project, titled Renewable Energy Communities Monitoring, Optimization, and Planning (RECMOP). Full article

Reducing the application of chemical fertilizers and remediating heavy metal pollution in soil are important directions in current agricultural research. Utilizing the plant-growth-promoting and remediation capabilities of bacteria can provide more environmentally friendly assistance to agricultural production. In this study, the Burkholderia alba YIM B08401 strain was isolated and identified from rhizospheric soil, subjected to whole-genome sequencing and analysis, and its Cd²⁺ adsorption efficiency and characteristics were confirmed using multiple experimental methods, including atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The results showed that the genome of strain YIM B08401 has a total length of 7,322,157 bp, a GC content of 66.39%, and predicts 6504 protein-coding sequences. It contains abundant functional genes related to nutrient conversion (phosphate solubilization, sulfur metabolism, zinc solubilization, siderophore production), plant hormone regulation (indole-3-acetic acid secretion, ACC deaminase production), phenolic acid degradation, root colonization, heavy metal tolerance, pathogen antagonism, and the production of antagonistic secondary metabolites. Additionally, strain YIM B08401 can specifically bind to Cd²⁺ through various functional groups on the cell surface, such as C-O-C, P=O, and O-H, enabling biosorption. In conclusion, strain YIM B08401 is an excellent strain with plant-growth-promoting, disease-resistant, and bioremediation capabilities, warranting further development as a biofertilizer for agricultural applications to promote green and sustainable agricultural development. Full article

Dark asphalt surfaces, absorbing about 95% of solar radiation and warming to 60–70 °C during summer, intensify urban heat while providing substantial prospects for energy extraction. This review evaluates four primary technologies—asphalt solar collectors (ASCs, including phase change material (PCM) integration), photovoltaic (PV) systems, vibration-based harvesting, thermoelectric generators (TEGs)—focusing on their principles, efficiencies, and urban applications. ASCs achieve up to 30% efficiency with a 150–300 W/m² output, reducing pavement temperatures by 0.5–3.2 °C, while PV pavements yield 42–49% efficiency, generating 245 kWh/m² and lowering temperatures by an average of 6.4 °C. Piezoelectric transducers produce 50.41 mW under traffic loads, and TEGs deliver 0.3–5.0 W with a 23 °C gradient. Applications include powering sensors, streetlights, and de-icing systems, with ASCs extending pavement life by 3 years. Hybrid systems, like PV/T, achieve 37.31% efficiency, enhancing UHI mitigation and emissions reduction. Economically, ASCs offer a 5-year payback period with a USD 3000 net present value, though PV and piezoelectric systems face cost and durability challenges. Environmental benefits include 30–40% heat retention for winter use and 17% increased PV self-use with EV integration. Despite significant potential, high costs and scalability issues hinder adoption. Future research should optimize designs, develop adaptive materials, and validate systems under real-world conditions to advance sustainable urban infrastructure. Full article

The transition to clean energy is not inherently positive or negative, and its impacts depend on the social context, power relations, and mechanisms to include marginalized voices. India, with its ambitious climate targets and commitment to the UN SDG Agenda, is a key country for ensuring an inclusive and sustainable transition. This paper aims to understand whether India’s commitment to the SDG Agenda’s overarching principle of ‘leaving no one behind’ is reflected in the design of its domestic solar policies. It analyzes how energy justice concerns are addressed in state-level solar policies. To that end, a pragmatic framework was developed to identify key justice dimensions and indicators, linked to the SDG targets, that are essential for an inclusive transition. This research conducted a qualitative interpretive content analysis of 29 solar energy policies, using the three identified framework dimensions—income growth, enhancing inclusion, and equal opportunities. We found that the themes around energy access, employment, and skill development are reflected in policies, while those around the inclusion of the poor, women, and community remain limited. The findings indicate that the policies have focused on low-impact justice concerns, lacking structural transformation. To address these gaps, the study proposes targeted subsidies, community ownership, and gender-inclusive mechanisms. The framework offers a pragmatic tool for the evaluation of clean energy policies in the Global South, and the empirical results provide insights for the synergistic implementation of the climate and sustainable development agenda. Full article

The rice-wheat rotation is the main agricultural cropping system in Jiangsu Province, playing a vital role in ensuring food security and promoting economic development. However, current research on rice-wheat systems mainly focuses on in-situ controlled experiments at the point scale, with limited studies addressing carbon footprint (CF) and energy balance (EB) at the regional scale and long time series. Therefore, we analyzed the evolution patterns of the CF and EB of the rice-wheat system in Jiangsu Province from 1980 to 2022, as well as their influencing factors. The results showed that the sown area and total yield of rice and wheat exhibited an increasing–decreasing–increasing trend during 1980–2022, while the yield per unit area increased continuously. The CF of rice and wheat increased by 4172.27 kg CO₂ eq ha⁻¹ and 2729.18 kg CO₂ eq ha⁻¹, respectively, with the greenhouse gas emissions intensity (GHGI) showing a fluctuating upward trend. Furthermore, CH₄ emission, nitrogen (N) fertilizer, and irrigation were the main factors affecting the CF of rice, with proportions of 36%, 20.26%, and 17.34%, respectively. For wheat, N fertilizer, agricultural diesel, compound fertilizer, and total N₂O emission were the primary contributors, accounting for 42.39%, 22.54%, 13.65%, and 13.14%, respectively. Among energy balances, the net energy (NE) of rice exhibited an increasing and then fluctuating trend, while that of wheat remained relatively stable. The energy utilization efficiency (EUE), energy productivity (EPD), and energy profitability (EPF) of rice showed an increasing and then decreasing trend, while wheat decreased by 46.31%, 46.31%, and 60.62% during 43 years, respectively. Additionally, N fertilizer, agricultural diesel, and compound fertilizer accounted for 43.91–45.37%, 21.63–25.81%, and 12.46–20.37% of energy input for rice and wheat, respectively. Moreover, emission factors and energy coefficients may vary over time, which is an important consideration in the analysis of long-term time series. This study analyzes the ecological and environmental effects of the rice-wheat system in Jiangsu Province, which helps to promote the development of agriculture in a green, low-carbon, and high-efficiency direction. It also offers a theoretical basis for constructing a low-carbon sustainable agricultural production system. Full article

This paper presents a study on open energy data in Spain and its contribution to sustainability, analyzing its content and its reuse potential. Since energy plays an important role in the sustainability and economic development of a country or region, energy strategies must be managed through public policies that promote the development of this sector. In this sense, open data is relevant for decision-making in the energy sector, especially in areas such as energy consumption and renewable energy policies. Our research aims to analyze the work of Spain’s autonomous communities in the field of energy information by conducting a population analysis of all datasets tagged in the energy category. After compiling the information and eliminating irrelevant datasets (those that are mislabeled, obsolete, or have a scope less than the level of the autonomous community), it can be seen that the supply is very scarce and that this category is one of the least populated among all existing categories. The typological analysis indicates that information on consumption is the one offering the most datasets, followed, at a short distance, by heterogeneous and difficult-to-classify information and by the set related to energy certificates or audits (the most recurrent, as it is offered only once by the autonomous communities). One of the main findings of the research is the heterogeneity of the initiatives and the significant differences in scores on an indicator created for this purpose. The ranking has taken into account both the existence of information and the quality of reuse, with Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Cantabria being the leaders (with Castilla y León, the performance reaches 60%, so the three remaining communities do not reach 40%). The research concludes with recommendations based on the gaps detected: more data should be published that can drive economic development and environmental sustainability, reduce heterogeneity, and facilitate the use of these data for greater applicability, which will increase the chances that open energy data can contribute more to sustainability. Full article

Rail transit as a high-energy consumption field urgently requires the adoption of clean energy innovations to reduce energy consumption and accelerate the transition to new energy applications. As an energy-saving fluid machinery, the ejector exhibits significant application potential and academic value within this field. This paper reviewed the recent advances, technical challenges, research hotspots, and future development directions of ejector applications in rail transit, aiming to address gaps in existing reviews. (1) In waste heat recovery, exhaust heat is utilized for propulsion in vehicle ejector refrigeration air conditioning systems, resulting in energy consumption being reduced by 12~17%. (2) In vehicle pneumatic pressure reduction systems, the throttle valve is replaced with an ejector, leading to an output power increase of more than 13% and providing support for zero-emission new energy vehicle applications. (3) In hydrogen supply systems, hydrogen recirculation efficiency exceeding 68.5% is achieved in fuel cells using multi-nozzle ejector technology. (4) Ejector-based active flow control enables precise ± 20 N dynamic pantograph lift adjustment at 300 km/h. However, current research still faces challenges including the tendency toward subcritical mode in fixed geometry ejectors under variable operating conditions, scarcity of application data for global warming potential refrigerants, insufficient stability of hydrogen recycling under wide power output ranges, and thermodynamic irreversibility causing turbulence loss. To address these issues, future efforts should focus on developing dynamic intelligent control technology based on machine learning, designing adjustable nozzles and other structural innovations, optimizing multi-system efficiency through hybrid architectures, and investigating global warming potential refrigerants. These strategies will facilitate the evolution of ejector technology toward greater intelligence and efficiency, thereby supporting the green transformation and energy conservation objectives of rail transit. Full article

Sustainable Development Reserves are organized units in the Amazon that are essential for the proper use and sustainable management of the region’s natural resources and for the livelihoods and economy of the local communities. This study aims to provide a climatic characterization of the Madeira River Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR), offering scientific support to efforts to assess the feasibility of implementing adaptation measures to increase the resilience of isolated Amazon communities in the face of extreme climate events. Significant statistical analyses based on time series of observational and reanalysis climate data were employed to obtain a detailed diagnosis of local climate variability. The results show that monthly mean two-meter temperatures vary from 26.5 °C in February, the coolest month, to 28 °C in August, the warmest month. Monthly precipitation averages approximately 250 mm during the rainy season, from December until May. July and August are the driest months, August and September are the warmest months, and September and October are the months with the lowest river level. Cold spells were identified in July, and warm spells were identified between July and September, making this period critical for public health. Heavy precipitation events detected by the R80, Rx1day, and Rx5days indices show an increasing trend in frequency and intensity in recent years. The analyses indicated that the MSDR has no potential for wind-energy generation; however, photovoltaic energy production is viable throughout the year. Regarding the two major commercial crops and their resilience to thermal stress, the region presents suitable conditions for açaí palm cultivation, but Brazil nut production may be adversely affected by extreme drought and heat events. The results of this study may support research on adaptation strategies that includethe preservation of local traditions and natural resources to ensure sustainable development. Full article

During the last few years, the requirements for highly efficient, sustainable, and versatile materials in modern biomedicine, aircraft and aerospace industries, automotive production, and electronic and electrical engineering applications have increased. This has led to the development of new and innovative methods for material modification and optimization. This can be achieved in many different ways, but one such approach is the application of surface thin films. They can be conductive (metallic), semi-conductive (metal-ceramic), or isolating (polymeric). Special emphasis is placed on applying semi-conductive thin films due to their unique properties, be it electrical, chemical, mechanical, or other. The particular thin films of interest are composite ones of the type of transition metal oxide (TMO) and transition metal nitride (TMN), due to their widespread configurations and applications. Regardless of the countless number of studies regarding the application of such films in the aforementioned industrial fields, some further possible investigations are necessary to find optimal solutions for modern problems in this topic. One such problem is the possibility of characterization of the applied thin films, not via textbook approaches, but through a simple, modern solution using their electrical properties. This can be achieved on the basis of measuring the films’ electrical impedance, since all different semi-conductive materials have different impedance values. However, this is a huge practical work that necessitates the collection of a large pool of data and needs to be based on well-established methods for both characterization and formation of the films. A thorough review on the topic of applying thin films using physical vapor deposition techniques (PVD) in the field of different modern applications, and the current results of such investigations are presented. Furthermore, current research regarding the possible methods for applying such films, and the specifics behind them, need to be summarized. Due to this, in the present work, the specifics of applying thin films using PVD methods and their expected structure and properties were evaluated. Special emphasis was paid to the electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method, which is typically used for the investigation and characterization of electrical systems. This method has increased in popularity over the last few years, and its applicability in the characterization of electrical systems that include thin films formed using PVD methods was proven many times over. However, a still lingering question is the applicability of this method for backwards engineering of thin films. Currently, the EIS method is used in combination with traditional techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and others. There is, however, a potential to predict the structure and properties of thin films using purely a combination of EIS measurements and complex theoretical models. The current progress in the development of the EIS measurement method was described in the present work, and the trend is such that new theoretical models and new practical testing knowledge was obtained that help implement the method in the field of thin films characterization. Regardless of this progress, much more future work was found to be necessary, in particular, practical measurements (real data) of a large variety of films, in order to build the composition–structure–properties relationship. Full article

Concrete structures increasingly face dynamic loading conditions, such as seismic events, vehicular traffic, and environmental vibrations, necessitating enhanced energy dissipation capabilities. The damping ratio, a critical parameter quantifying a material’s ability to dissipate vibrational energy, is typically low in conventional concrete, prompting extensive research into strategies for improvement. This review comprehensively explores the impact of advanced concrete types—such as Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECCs), Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC), High-Performance Concrete (HPC), and polymer concrete—on enhancing the damping behavior. Additionally, key mix design innovations, including fiber reinforcement, rubber powder incorporation, and aggregate modification, are evaluated for their roles in increasing energy dissipation. External factors, particularly curing conditions, are also discussed for their influence on the damping performance. The findings consolidate experimental and theoretical insights into how material composition, mix design, and external treatments interact to optimize dynamic resilience. To guide future research, this paper identifies critical gaps including the need for multi-scale numerical simulation frameworks, standardized damping test protocols, and long-term performance evaluation under realistic service conditions. Advancing work in material innovation, optimized mix design, and controlled curing environments will be essential for developing next-generation concretes with superior vibration control, durability, and sustainability. These insights provide a strategic foundation for applications in seismic-prone and vibration-sensitive infrastructure. Full article