Search Results (87)

Nanofluids are an innovative working medium in solar hot water installations (DHWs), thanks to their increased thermal conductivity and heat transfer coefficient. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of Al₂O₃ nanofluids in a water–ethylene glycol base (40:60%) and with the addition of Tween 80 surfactant (0.2 wt%) on thermal efficiency (ε) and exergy (η_ex) in a plate heat exchanger at DHW flows of 3 and 12 L/min. The numerical NTU–ε model was used with dynamic updating of thermophysical properties of nanofluids and the solution of the ODE system using the ode45 method, and the validation was carried out against the literature data. The results showed that the nanofluids achieved ε ≈ 0.85 (vs. ε ≈ 0.87 for the base fluid) and η_ex ≈ 0.72 (vs. η_ex ≈ 0.74), with higher entropy generation. The addition of Tween 80 reduced the viscosity by about 10–15%, resulting in a slight increase of Re and h-factor; however, the impact on ε and η_ex was marginal. The environmental analysis with an annual demand of Q = 3000 kWh/year and an emission factor of 0.2 kg CO₂/kWh showed that for ε < 0.87 the nanofluids increased the emissions by ≈16 kg CO₂/year, while at ε ≈ 0.92, a reduction of ≈5% was possible. This paper highlights the need to optimize nanofluid viscosity and exchanger geometry to maximize energy and environmental benefits. Nowadays, due to the growing problems of global warming, the analysis of energy efficiency and carbon footprint related to the functioning of a building seems to be crucial. Full article

Background: In September 2023, Storm Daniel triggered catastrophic flooding across Thessaly, in central Greece, leading to the deaths of approximately 483,476 animals and heightening concerns about zoonotic diseases, particularly Q fever caused by Coxiella burnetii. Sofades, a municipality in the Karditsa region that is severely impacted by the floods, emerged as a critical area for evaluating the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence status of Coxiella burnetii Phase 1 IgA antibodies among residents in the rural area of Sofades after the Daniel floods. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from a convenient sample of residents with livestock exposure between 1 March and 31 March 2024. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect Coxiella burnetii Phase 1 IgA antibodies. Descriptive analyses summarized demographic data, and logistic regression was employed to examine the association between gender, age, and positive ELISA results. Results: The overall seroprevalence was 16.66%. Males had a significantly higher positivity rate (28.57%) than females (6.25%). Seropositivity was more frequent among individuals aged 41–80 years, with peak prevalence observed in the 61–80 age group. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study offers a snapshot of Coxiella burnetii exposure in a high-risk rural population post-flood. The slightly higher seroprevalence in Sofades (16.66%) compared to Karditsa (16.1%) suggests limited influence of environmental factors on transmission. Despite limitations in causal inference, the findings highlight the need for enhanced surveillance and targeted public health measures. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess the long-term impact of environmental disasters on Q fever dynamics. Full article

This study investigates the influence of input values for building energy model parameters on simulation results, with the aim of improving the reliability and sustainability of energy performance assessments. Dynamic simulations were conducted in TRNSYS for three theoretical multi-residential buildings, varying parameters such as referent model dimensions, infiltration rates, envelope thermophysical properties, and interior thermal capacitance. The case study, based in Slovenia, demonstrates that glazing-related parameters, particularly the solar heat gain coefficient (g-value), exert the most significant influence—reducing the g-value from 0.62 to 0.22 decreased simulated heating (q_H,nd) and cooling (q_C,nd) demands by 25% and 95%, respectively. In contrast, referent dimensions for modeled floor area proved least influential. For Building III (BSF = 0.36), dimensional variations altered results by less than ±1%, whereas, for Building I (BSF = 0.62), variations reached up to ±20%. In general, lower shape factors yield more robust energy models that are less sensitive to input deviations. These findings are critical for promoting resource-efficient simulation practices and ensuring that energy modeling contributes effectively to sustainable building design. Understanding which inputs warrant detailed attention supports more targeted and meaningful simulation workflows, enabling more accurate and impactful strategies for building energy efficiency and long-term environmental performance. Full article

Nepal is known for its complex terrain, climate, and vegetation dynamics, resulting in tremendous hydrologic variability and complexity. Accurately quantifying the water balances at the national level in Nepal is extremely challenging and is currently not available. This study constructed long-term (2000–2022) water balances for 358 watersheds across Nepal by integrating watershed hydrometeorological monitoring data, remote sensing products including Leaf Area Index and land use and land cover data, with an existing ecohydrological model, Water Supply Stress Index (WaSSI). The WaSSI model’s performance is assessed at both watershed and national levels using observed water yield (Q) and evapotranspiration (ET) products derived from remote sensing (ETMonitor, PEW, SSEBop) and eddy flux network (i.e., FLUXCOM). We show that the WaSSI model captured the seasonal dynamics of ET and Q, providing new insights about climatic controls on ET and Q across Nepal. At the national scale, the simulated long-term (2000–2020) mean annual Q and ET was about half of the precipitation (1567 mm), but both Q and ET varied tremendously in space and time as influenced by a monsoon climate and mountainous terrain. We found that watersheds in the central Gandaki River basin had the highest Q (up to 1600 mm yr⁻¹) and ET (up to 1000 mm yr⁻¹). This study offers a validated ecohydrological modeling tool for the Himalaya region and a national benchmark dataset of the water balances for Nepal. These products are useful for quantitative assessment of ecosystem services and science-based watershed management at the national scale. Future studies are needed to improve the WaSSI model and remote sensing ET products by conducting ecohydrological research on key hydrologic processes (i.e., forest ET, streamflow generations of small watersheds) across physiographic gradients to better answer emerging questions about the impacts of environmental change in Nepal. Full article

This study explores the microbiota and metabolite profile of raw cow’s milk, analyzing the correlation between them and their potential impact on consumer health, focusing on factors like cow’s feeding regimen (conventional vs. grazing), the herd’s geographical location (coastal vs. inland), and the thermal stability of raw milk samples. To achieve this, raw milk quality was assessed through mesophilic bacterial count and thermal stability using the 70° and 80° ethanol test. Metataxonomic analysis was performed using Illumina 16S rRNA hypervariable region sequencing, and untargeted metabolomics was conducted using UHPLC-Q/TOF MS/MS, followed by multivariate correlation analysis. All samples met quality standards. A total of 1258 prokaryotic ASVs were identified, spanning 48 bacterial phyla and one archaeal phylum, with 909 genera and 349 unidentified ASVs. Additionally, 70 metabolites were identified, including essential amino acids, vitamins, and bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and prebiotic properties. Significant correlations between bacterial diversity and metabolite profiles were observed. Feeding regimen and geographical location influence microbial composition and metabolite abundance, while thermal stability was linked to specific metabolites like oleamide and pyridoxal. These findings suggest that microbiota-derived metabolites can enhance the nutritional and functional value of milk. Further research is needed to understand how environmental and processing factors influence these dynamics. Full article

Animal welfare is influenced by the cumulative life experiences of an individual. Among these, exposure to chronic stressors has a significant impact on both physical and mental health, contributing to premature aging—a process linked to telomere shortening. Conversely, positive experiences have been shown to mitigate, delay, and sometimes reverse telomere attrition. This suggests that telomere length could be a reliable indicator for assessing animal welfare. This study explored the association between telomere length and characteristics such as life history, environment, and health in domestic dogs. Buccal swabs collected DNA samples from 250 dogs, and telomere length was quantified via qPCR. Our findings revealed that environmental factors significantly influenced telomere length. Dogs housed in kennels or subjected to low physical activity levels exhibited shorter telomeres. Similarly, dogs living in groups of more than five dogs had shorter telomeres, and male dogs were found to have longer telomeres than females. Overall, these results highlight the importance of environmental conditions in influencing telomere length in dogs and the potential to use this biological indicator to evaluate animal welfare. Full article

The increasing use of nanostructured silver-containing inorganic materials raises concerns about their impact on aquatic organisms. This study assessed the toxicity of silver-modified bentonite composites on Chlamydomonas sp. Two materials were tested: silver-exchanged bentonite (Ben-Ag) and its reduced form (Ben-Ag (H₂)).Microalgae were exposed to 0.5 IC₅₀, 1.5 IC₅₀, and 2 IC₅₀. Ben-Ag showed higher toxicity than Ben-Ag (H₂), which even promoted algal growth at low doses. Fluorescence microscopy revealed morphological shrinkage in treated cells. Increased phenol content, elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and altered antioxidant enzyme activities further confirmed Ben-Ag toxicity, along with reduced growth and photosynthetic pigments. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant changes in gene expression under Ben-Ag exposure. Genes involved in photosynthesis (petB, psbL), caspase activity (casp), and carotenoid metabolism (Q2CHY) were down-regulated, indicating stress-induced damage. In contrast, genes encoding stress response enzymes (SOD, peroxidase), carbon metabolism enzymes (rbcL, PGQ1), and β-carotene biosynthesis (Q2BKT) were up-regulated, reflecting cellular defense mechanisms. Overall, the study highlights the high toxicity of Ben-Ag to Chlamydomonas sp., emphasizing the importance of evaluating environmental risks before using such materials in aquatic environments. Full article

Background: Environmental and cardiometabolic impacts of adherence to plant-based dietary patterns with different quality are unclear. Objectives: To investigate the associations between adherence to the overall, healthy, and unhealthy plant-based dietary patterns, as assessed by the plant-based diet index (PDI), healthy PDI (hPDI), and unhealthy PDI (uPDI), respectively, and risk of myocardial infarction (MI), type 2 diabetes (T2D), stroke, and all-cause mortality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Methods: Data from adults (N = 14,652 for cardiometabolic diseases and 15,318 for all-cause mortality) in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997–2015 wave) were analyzed. PDI, hPDI, and uPDI scores were calculated with dietary intake data. The total GHG emissions were calculated by summing the amount of emissions from all food groups included in the index. Cox proportional hazard regression models and linear regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results: Greater adherence to an unhealthy plant-based dietary pattern, as reflected by higher uPDI scores, was positively associated with risk of MI (Q5 vs. Q1: HR = 5.90; 95% CI: 2.59–13.48), T2D (Q5 vs. Q1: HR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.75–2.73), stroke (Q5 vs. Q1: HR = 5.96; 95% CI: 2.86–12.42) and all-cause mortality (Q5 vs. Q1: HR = 6.87; 95% CI: 4.70–10.03). PDI scores were inversely associated with the risk of MI, T2D, and all-cause mortality, and hPDI scores were inversely and positively associated with the risk of T2D and stroke, respectively. All scores were inversely associated with GHG emissions (all p-trends < 0.001). Conclusions: Long-term adherence to unhealthy plant-based dietary patterns guided by higher uPDI scores may be a risk factor for new-onset cardiometabolic diseases and all-cause death in Chinese adults. Food-based dietary guidelines, clinicians, and dietitians should consider the quality of plant-based dietary patterns prior to making recommendations for both healthy individuals and those with elevated cardiometabolic disease risk. Full article

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-benzoquinone (6PPD-Q) is an emerging environmental contaminant that is widely distributed in aquatic environments and presents significant toxicological risks to aquatic organisms. As 6PPD-Q is primarily derived from oxidative transformation of the tire antioxidant N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), its persistence and potential for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms have raised widespread concerns. This study reviews the environmental sources, spatial distribution, migration, and transformation behaviors of 6PPD-Q, as well as its degradation mechanisms in different environmental media. Additionally, this review systematically explores the toxicological effects of 6PPD-Q on aquatic organisms, including its physiological, biochemical, and molecular impacts on fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and algae, with a focus on potential toxicological mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the limitations of current research on 6PPD-Q and propose key directions for future studies, including long-term ecological risk assessments, mechanisms of bioaccumulation, metabolic pathway analysis, and optimization of pollution control strategies, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the ecological risk assessment and pollution management of 6PPD-Q. Full article

Floods pose significant risks worldwide, impacting lives, infrastructure, and economies. The Susurluk basin, covering 24,319 km² in Türkiye, is highly vulnerable to flooding. This study updates the flood management plan for the basin, integrating hydrological modeling, GIS-based flood mapping, and early warning system evaluations in alignment with the EU Flood Directive. A total of 503 hydrodynamic models (226 one-dimensional and 277 two-dimensional) were developed, analyzing 2116 km of stream length. As a result of the evaluation, the capacities of only 33 streams were found to be sufficient. Flood hazard and risk maps for the Q₅₀, Q₁₀₀, Q₅₀₀, and Q₁₀₀₀ return periods identified the remaining 470 high-risk locations as requiring urgent intervention. Economic risk assessments revealed significant exposure of critical infrastructure, especially in urban areas with populations over 100,000. Furthermore, the study introduces a prioritization framework for intervention that balances socioeconomic costs and environmental impacts. Economic damage assessments estimate potential losses in critical infrastructure, including residential areas, industrial zones, and transportation networks. The findings highlight the importance of proactive flood risk mitigation strategies, particularly in high-risk urban centers. Overall, this study provides a data-driven, replicable model for flood risk management, emphasizing early warning systems, spatial analysis, and structural/non-structural mitigation measures. The insights gained from this research can guide policymakers and urban planners in developing adaptive, long-term flood management strategies for flood-prone regions. Full article

Forests, as a critical component of terrestrial ecosystems, have long been recognized for their vital roles as water, money, grain, and carbon repositories, collectively known as the “Four Repositories” concept. The significance of forests in the context of economic and ecological development has become increasingly prominent. As a novel economic paradigm and a new driver of growth, the digital economy ($DIG$) can significantly improve the management, operation, and preservation of forests, thus offering new prospects for advancing the high-quality development of forestry ($HQDF$) in China. This study constructs indicator systems for the levels of $HQDF$ and $DIG$ using panel data from 30 provinces in China over the period from 2012 to 2021. The empirical analysis utilizes a fixed effect model to assess the influence of $DIG$ in promoting $HQDF$ in China. Moreover, the mediation analysis model is employed to examine the underlying mechanisms. There are four main results as follows. First, the baseline regression results show that $DIG$ can directly drive $HQDF$ in China. Second, the mechanism analysis reveals that $DIG$ positively influences $HQDF$ through three mediating channels: strengthening environmental regulation, enhancing public environmental awareness, and increasing innovation in forestry. Third, the heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive impact of $DIG$ on $HQDF$ is more pronounced in northern provinces, economically advanced regions, and provinces with stronger fiscal support for forestry. Fourth, further analysis reveals significant spatial spillover effects of $DIG$ on $HQDF$ in China. The study findings not only clarify the driving mechanisms of $DIG$ in $HQDF$, but also provide valuable policy insights for exploring practical pathways for $HQDF$ in China in the modern context. Full article

A detailed understanding of the toxic effects of organic UV filters, such as oxybenzone, on living organisms is crucial for assessing the feasibility of bioremediation methods. Due to the widespread use of oxybenzone as an ultraviolet filter in sunscreens, it has become an emerging contaminant of concern in the environment. This concern extends to fungi, which have the potential to neutralize a wide variety of xenobiotics released into the environment. The primary objective of the study was to elucidate the alterations of antioxidant profiles of the white-rot fungus Lentinula edodes in response to oxybenzone exposure. Samples with oxybenzone at a final concentration of 0.1 mg mL⁻¹ were cultured in vitro with the mycelium of L. edodes for 14 days. The contents of the following antioxidant compounds were assessed: indole derivatives (6-methyl-D,L-tryptophan, tryptophan), ergothioneine, and phenolic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid), as well as lovastatin and ergosterol. The addition of oxybenzone negatively affected biomass growth, reducing it from 3.205 ± 0.4022 g to 0.5803 ± 0.1019 g. A considerable reduction in oxybenzone amounts was found in the medium after incubation (from 25 mg to 0.2993 ± 0.1934 mg). After lyophilization, the mycelium contained 1.1591 ± 0.0323 mg of oxybenzone. Additionally, eleven biotransformation products were assessed in the mycelium and medium samples using UPLC-Q ToF. After incubation, the transformation products were identified based on monoisotopic molecular mass and fragmentation spectra. The observed increase in the content of some antioxidants, e.g., ergothioneine, while reducing the content of others, such as lovastatin, suggests that the impact of xenobiotics on the antioxidant profile of in vitro cultures of L. edodes is complex. Marked alterations in biomass growth suggest a potential toxicological risk associated with oxybenzone. This study contributes to the understanding of the environmental impact of UV filters and emphasizes the need for safer alternatives. Full article

Quality risk management, commonly known as QRM, is designed to systematically assess, control, communicate, and review potential risks at every stage of the pharmaceutical manufacturing process. The preservation of consistent product quality across the entirety of the product’s life cycle is of paramount importance. The aim of this article is to formulate a best practice guide that will assist pharmaceutical manufacturers in comprehending and implementing the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) Q9: quality risk management principles. A widely recognized methodology for defining and monitoring risk mitigation strategies within the pharmaceutical sector is the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). ICH Q9 does not, however, offer detailed instructions for applying FMEA to real-world pharmaceutical situations. We previously provided real-world case studies that identify and mitigate risks in the early stages of the manufacturing process of sterile products, such as (1) supply chain and procurement; (2) logistics and warehousing; (3) raw material dispensing; (4) glass bottle washing and handling; (5) product filling; and (6) final product receiving and handling. The final steps of the sterile manufacturing process are the subject of the case study we present in this paper. We identify and control the risks related to (I) product sterilization; (II) product inspection, labeling, and packaging; (III) the finished product’s transfer to storage; and (IV) storing finished products in a warehouse. In order to maximize decision-making and reduce the risk of regulatory noncompliance, this case study describes a proactive strategy for the identification, management, and communication of risks associated with crucial tasks. While each organization’s products and methods are distinct, with varying tolerances for risk, certain stages and associated risks are common. Consequently, the examples provided here offer relevant insights into any pharmaceutical production environment. Managing sustainability-related risks and ensuring the transparency of pharmaceutical company operations are key tasks of success today. These risks, if not managed, will cause serious problems and a negative reputation, as well as environmental and public impact. Full article

Water stress has induced many environmental and developmental conflicts in the arid basins in the Middle East region under the context of climate change and increasing anthropogenic influence. Quantifying the anthropogenic influence on water stress at the basin scale is very challenging because of insufficient anthropogenic-related spatial data. Given that climate change is a global impact that is hard to mitigate at the basin scale, quantifying anthropogenic influence is practical to inform strategies for alleviating regional water stress. Thus, this study attempts to quantify the contribution of potential anthropogenic factors driving the water stress in the Tigris–Euphrates river basin (TERB) using pure spatial data. The water stress level in the studied basin was evaluated via the water stress index (WSI), which can be obtained as the ratio of water demand to water availability, from the Aqueduct 4.0 dataset. The driving contributions of social development (population, POP; fine particulate matter, PM2.5), economic development (gross domestic product, GDP; electricity consumption, EC), and landscape modification (urban expansion index, UEI; cultivated land expansion index, CEI) factors were quantitatively evaluated based on a spatial statistical geographical detector model (GDM). Assessment showed that nearly 66.13% of the TERB area was under severe water stress, particularly in Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. The q statistic of the GDM, adopted to quantify the contribution of driving factors, revealed that CEI (0.174), EC (0.145), and GDP (0.123) were the dominant factors driving water stress. These individual influences were further enhanced particularly in the interaction between economic development and landscape modification factors such as UEI and CEI (0.566), PM2.5 and UEI (0.350), EC and CEI (0.346), GDP and CEI (0.323), and PM2.5 and GDP (0.312). The findings of this research can provide some beneficial references to alleviate the TERB’s water stress for its future sustainable development. Full article

Understanding the tourism resource network attention is crucial for promoting sustainable tourism development. This study utilized multi-source data to assess tourism resource network attention in Western Hunan, with GIS spatial analysis and the Geodetector method applied to identify spatial patterns and influencing factors. The results indicate a distinct “dual-core” spatial clustering in network attention, with natural landscape resources centralized in Zhangjiajie and cultural landscape resources in Xiangxi Prefecture. Recreational tourism resources exhibit a similar clustering pattern around these primary and secondary centers. The factors and intensities influencing network attention differ by tourism resource type. For overall tourism resources, natural landscapes, and cultural landscapes, tourist attractions rating (X₁₁) and attraction clustering degree (X₁₂) are the primary drivers, with the strongest impact on natural landscapes (q = 0.648, 0.373), followed by overall resources (q = 0.361, 0.216) and cultural landscapes (q = 0.311, 0.206). In contrast, recreational resources are most influenced by nearby attractions and tourism service capacity (q(X₁₂) = 0.743, q(X₁₅) = 0.620), alongside notable effects from regional factors related to economic development, industrial structure, and tourism development (X₁–X₉). The interaction between inherent tourism resource characteristics (X₁₀–X₁₅) and regional environmental factors (X₁–X₉) enhances the driving effect on tourism resource network attention. These findings inform differentiated, resource-specific tourism planning strategies for sustainable development in Western Hunan, promoting balanced regional growth and optimized resource management through a data-driven approach. Full article