Search Results (615)

Socio-economic resilience and sustainable development have become central themes in contemporary public debate, with the transition to sustainable, low-carbon energy systems emerging as a strategic priority. Within this context, our research specifically examines how CSR engagement, renewable energy deployment, and sustainable finance jointly influence firms’ exposure to climate-related financial risks, addressing a gap in the literature regarding corporate-level resilience. The empirical analysis employs a structured two-fold methodological framework comprising robust regression with Huber and biweight iterations, and quantile-on-quantile (Q–Q) regression. The dataset includes 300 European energy companies for 2024, extracted from the LSEG Data & Analytics platform. Our findings reveal that companies in the European energy sector must accelerate their transition to low-carbon operating models. Specifically, firms with stronger sustainability commitments exhibit reduced exposure to climate-induced financial instability and improved long-term performance indicators. These findings underscore the moderating role of CSR and renewable energy investments in enhancing corporate resilience. Sustainability-oriented firms are better positioned to absorb, mitigate, and adapt to climate-related shocks, supporting both environmental objectives and financial stability. Policy recommendations should focus on balancing ESG objectives with financial performance requirements, ensuring that energy companies receive adequate support for the green transition. Such alignment is essential to strengthen corporate resilience and improve the effectiveness of sustainable energy policies amid escalating climate challenges. Full article

Microalgae display remarkable resilience to harsh environments, partly through the biosynthesis of diverse secondary metabolites. Cyanobacteria and red algae are well known to produce mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs)—low-molecular-weight, water-soluble UV-absorbing compounds with anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities. By contrast, green microalgae typically lack detectable MAAs under standard conditions, and their responses under abiotic stress remain poorly characterized. Here, we investigated the freshwater green microalga Jaagichlorella luteoviridis grown under three stressors (salinity, heat, and UV) and assessed MAA induction. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that stressed cultures accumulated multiple MAAs, whereas untreated controls showed no such accumulation. All stress treatments (UV, salinity, and heat) produced a substantial increase in peak intensity at 323–350 nm, whereas the control samples showed significantly lower absorption in this region. We also optimized an MAA extraction protocol suitable for “green” downstream applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical sectors and formulated an emulsion showing preliminary positive results and exhibiting an increased SPF index from 3.60 (control) to 3.78 when 0.2% MAA extract was added. Transcriptomic profiling against a reference genome revealed stress-specific differential gene expression and overexpression of specific genes of the MAA pathway, like ArioC and AroM/Aro1 SAM methyltransferases, thus identifying candidate targets for engineering enhanced MAA production. Given market demand for environmentally friendly and safe bioactives, microalgae represent a promising source of these valuable molecules. Full article

The contamination of water bodies by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) poses a significant concern for the ecological systems, along with public health. Magnetic adsorption stands out as a green and practical solution for treating polluted water. To make the process more efficient and economical, it is important to create materials that not only absorb contaminants effectively but also allow for easy recovery and reuse. This study proposes a simple yet effective method for coating Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin polymer (HP-β-CDCP). The physicochemical properties of the synthesized sorbent were characterized using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) analysis. The adsorption performance of HP-β-CDCP/Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was well-described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, thermodynamic analysis, and the Freundlich isotherm model, indicating multiple interaction mechanisms with PAHs, such as π–π interactions, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces. Using HP-β-CDCP/Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles as the adsorbent, the purification rates for the fifteen representative PAHs were achieved within the range of 33.9–93.1%, compared to 15.3–64.8% of the unmodified Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The adsorption of all studied PAHs onto HP-β-CDCP/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites was governed by pH, time, and temperature. Equilibrium in the uptake mechanism was obtained within 15 min, with the largest adsorption capacities for PAHs in competitive adsorption mode being 6.46–19.0 mg·g⁻¹ at 20 °C, pH 7.0. This study points to the practical value of incorporating cyclodextrins into tailored polymer frameworks for improving the removal of PAHs from polluted water. Full article

We show that financial integration in emerging Asia is state-dependent in the sense that cross-market linkages vary systematically across regimes of global uncertainty and market stress. Focusing on Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, this study combines a time-varying parameter VAR (TVP–VAR) with a GARCH–MIDAS volatility model to link short-run transmission to long-run behavioural effects. We construct a regional investor-sentiment (IS) index from Google search data on five macro-financial topics using principal component analysis and analyse it together with global benchmarks (MSCI EM, S&P 500), gold, clean-energy equities, and macro-uncertainty indicators. The TVP–VAR maps dynamic spillovers among the ASEAN-5 and external nodes, while the GARCH–MIDAS relates the slow component of variance to investor attention. The evidence indicates that connectedness tightens in stress regimes, with global benchmarks and policy uncertainty acting as transmitters and ASEAN equities absorbing incoming shocks. In the volatility block, the Google-based IS factor exerts a negative and economically meaningful influence on the long-run component over and above global uncertainty, supporting the view that attention and uncertainty function as complementary channels of risk propagation. The integrated framework is parsimonious and replicable, and it offers actionable insights for regime-aware risk management, policy communication, and the timing of green-finance issuance in emerging markets. Full article

Mechanical energy is a plentiful, environmentally friendly, and sustainable energy source in the natural world. In this work, we successfully use friction to transform mechanical energy into ZnO and ZnO/Nd₂O₃ (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mol%) tribocatalysts. Under magnetic stirring, the catalyst particles and the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-sealed magnetic bar rubbed against one another, transferring electrons across the contact interface. While the PTFE absorbed the electrons, holes were simultaneously left on the catalyst. Because of their potent oxidative power, the holes in the valence band of sol–gel catalysts can efficiently oxidize organic pollutants, much like photocatalysis. In the absence of light, the tribocatalytic tests showed that ZnO and ZnO/Nd₂O₃ flowers could remove antibiotics (Doxycycline) when magnetized. We could further improve the tribocatalytic performance by adjusting the quantity of rare earth elements (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mol%), stirring speed, and magnetic rod type. Besides creating a green tribocatalysis method for organic pollutants’ oxidative purification, this work provides a possible pathway for transforming environmental mechanical energy into chemical energy, which may be applied to environmental remediation and sustainable energy. Full article

Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are now ubiquitous and represent a form of pollution that threatens ecosystems and human health, infiltrating the environment, air, and food chain. The search for solutions to microplastics requires industrial policies that limit plastic production and technological innovations for removal and recycling. Specifically, this paper reports a sustainable and cost-effective method for the detection of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics using nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CD) synthesized from onion peel and L-cysteine via hydrothermal carbonization. Two precursor ratios (1:1 and 1:0.30 w/w) were evaluated. The resulting N-CDs exhibited bright yellow-green fluorescence (470–500 nm) and excitation-dependent photoluminescence under 365 nm UV light. FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the presence of nitrogen-containing functional groups and effective graphitization, particularly in the 1:0.30 ratio. Fluorescence imaging revealed stronger intensity and greater stain uniformity in thermally softened MPs treated with 1:0.30 N-CDs, with a peak emission of 10,230.02 a.u. at 2 h and PMT 11—surpassing the 1:1 ratio. Bandgap and absorbance analyses supported the superior optical behavior of the lower-concentration formulation. Image analysis further indicated increased luminescent area over time, and two-way ANOVA confirmed statistically significant effects of heating time and PMT settings (p < 0.05). Compared to traditional filtration staining, thermal-assisted application offered enhanced and stable fluorescence. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of green-synthesized N-CDs for MP detection, with potential scalability and environmental applicability. Future work should explore alternative biomass sources and assess N-CD performance under field conditions to optimize environmental sensing strategies. Full article

Despite the well-established ability of urban green belts to reduce traffic noise, a comprehensive analysis of the specific role played by mixed coniferous trees and shrubs in noise mitigation remains lacking. This study aimed to clarify how different planting patterns and the characteristics of plants affect their noise-reduction performance. To achieve this, noise reduction was measured at 18 roadside green spaces comprising mixed coniferous trees and shrubs in Harbin, China, and Moscow, Russia. The results indicate that in lanes 5–15 m wide, the ‘Abreast’ planting pattern consistently offered greater noise reduction than the ‘Taffy’ configuration at all measured distances (5, 10 and 15 m). In addition, in winter the effectiveness of noise reduction improved due to snow cover, which enhanced the sound-absorbing properties of the vegetation. In our analysis, key factors such as diameter at breast height, minimum height under branches and road width emerged as crucial predictors of traffic noise reduction. Among these, carriageway width and sidewalk width exhibited the strongest correlations with noise attenuation. Finally, we developed a quantitative model for roadside green spaces that incorporates plant characteristics, planting schemes and road features. This model allows us to assess the contribution of each factor to overall noise reduction. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for designing and optimising vegetation-based noise-mitigation strategies to enhance the urban acoustic environment while also offering an analytical framework to support evidence-based urban forestry planning and policy. Full article

The indoor environment of buildings is of fundamental importance for the health of people and other living organisms residing in them. From this perspective, key factors include indoor temperature, relative humidity and the concentration of CO₂ or other pollutants. These healthy indoor conditions are typically maintained through functional heating and ventilation systems. However, in the case of indoor humidity, increasing moisture levels when they are low can be relatively challenging. There are more energy-efficient solutions that can be combined with ventilation systems. These include, for example, placing plants and green walls in the interior, which have a significant impact not only on microclimatic and acoustic conditions of the interior, but also on the overall psychological well-being of occupants. Green elements contribute to the effective regulation of CO₂ and certain other harmful substances within the indoor environment. Another possible solution involves the use of sorption-active materials in the form of cladding panels—elements capable of functioning as indoor regulators, i.e., absorbing moisture and releasing it back into the indoor environment when necessary. This study investigates the moisture behavior of natural composites based on montmorillonite clay and straw fibers, as well as their possible integration with green elements to create healthy indoor conditions for their inhabitants. The developed clay composite can be classified as water and steam absorption class WSIII according to DIN 18948—the moisture buffering capacity value was 152.73 g/m² after 12 h. Based on the research results, it can be stated that these composites could serve as interior cladding elements in synergy with green elements (Chlorophytum comosum, Epipremnum aureum), ideally regulating the indoor microclimatic conditions, especially as an effective solution for short-term humidity changes. The maximum difference in relative humidity between the reference testing chamber (without green elements and clay plates) and the chamber containing plant Chlorophytum comosum and three clay composite plates was 23.04%. Full article

The integration of environmental education into sustainable development is essential for preparing future generations to understand and value ecosystems. This exploratory study examines the short-term effectiveness of two pedagogical approaches—traditional classroom lectures and field workshops with a game-based format—in enhancing adolescents’ awareness of ecosystem services, with emphasis on intangible cultural values. The intervention involved 150 sixth- and seventh-grade students from two schools in Lublin, Poland. The control group attended a lecture, while the experimental group engaged in a six-hour outdoor lesson including a 90 min workshop in the semi-natural green area of Górki Czechowskie. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with t-tests, ANOVA, regression, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Both methods improved knowledge, but workshops significantly enhanced place-based awareness (p = 0.017) and showing a statistical trend on recognition of intangible values (p = 0.063). Cluster analysis identified learner profiles: Absorbers (low baseline knowledge, strong relative gains), Narrators (high-achieving girls with improved recognition of intangible services), Eco-Masters (high baseline, limited gains), and Nature Lovers (frequent contact with nature, modest improvement). Notably, low-achieving boys also benefited substantially from experiential activities. These results highlight the value of experiential, narrative-driven education in fostering both cognitive understanding and value-based environmental awareness. Tailoring strategies to learner diversity and preserving semi-natural urban green areas as “living laboratories” are crucial for effective sustainability education. As this research was based on a single-session intervention, the findings should be interpreted as indicative rather than generalizable, offering a preliminary insight into how experiential formats can enhance environmental awareness among adolescents. Full article

In this paper, by employing an eco-friendly and green approach, semiconductor CuO/ZnO nanocomposite are synthesized using an aqueous extract of Urtica urens. FT-IR, XRD, TEM, SAED, EDX, TGA, and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used for semiconductor characterization. The data revealed the successful formation of crystalline spherical nanocomposites with sizes ranging from 5 to 45 nm. The main components of the synthesized nanocomposites were Cu, Zn, and O, which had different weights and atomic percentages. The maximum absorbance of nanocomposites was 358 nm, with a direct bandgap of 2.25 eV, which is suitable for photocatalysis under visible light. The maximum photocatalytic activity of the synthesized semiconductor nanocomposites for photodegradation of methylene blue dye was 95.8%, where it was 44.5% and 65.5% for monometallic CuO and ZnO, respectively. The optimum conditions for maximum photocatalytic activity were a pH of 9, a dye concentration of 5 mg L⁻¹, and nanocomposite concentration of 1.0 mg mL⁻¹ after 70 min. The reusability of the synthesized semiconductor was promising for the fourth cycle, with a reduced capacity of 5%. Complementary investigations, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic activity, were performed to increase the application of semiconductor nanocomposites. The data revealed the promising activity of the nanocomposite against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, S. aureus, C. parapsilosis, C. albicans, and C. tropicalis with low MICs ranging between 50 and 25 µg mL⁻¹. Additionally, compared with normal cell line, the synthesized nanocomposite targeted the cancer cell line HepG2 with a low IC50 value of 69.9 µg mL⁻¹ (vs. IC50 220 µg mL⁻¹ of normal cell line HFB4). Overall, the green-synthesized semiconductor CuO/ZnO nanocomposite showed promising activity as environmental contaminant cleaner and was integrated with antimicrobial and in vitro cytotoxic activities. Full article

Straw return is a potential practice for adsorbing salt and retaining moisture in saline–alkali soils. However, adverse climate conditions such as prolonged drought and cold winters shorten the effective structural turnover of returned straw biomass in soils. Furthermore, the rigid crystalline cell walls and recalcitrant lignin components of undecomposed plant residues lower the adsorption capacity towards salt. Here, we report the pretreatment of neutral oxalic acid to destroy the dense crystalline structure of cotton straw cellulose. Through laboratory experiments, combined with the changes in the structural and chemical properties of cotton straw, the optimal oxalic acid pretreatment (OAC) conditions were determined. Subsequently, the application effectiveness of OAC was evaluated via pot experiments and field trials. The optimal conditions of OAC were 0.2% dosage, 60 °C, and 24 h, displaying a maximum increase in salt absorption and water retention capacities of cotton straw materials, through exposing the hydroxyl network of cellulose and chemically hydrolyzing recalcitrant lignin. In the indoor potted plant experiments, the feasible application of oxalic acid pretreatment can be regarded as an active barrier, increasing soil moisture by 16–43% and reducing total salts by 23–26% in the topsoil (0–20 cm) within a 45-day laboratory incubation. Additionally, the OAC pretreatment had negligible adverse impacts on soil microbial communities. Moreover, some plant-beneficial microbes (e.g., Sphingomonadaceae and Gemmatimonadaceae) were stimulated, with their relative abundance increasing by 26–40% and 27–63%, respectively. Ultimately, under the pretreatment of oxalic acid-modified cotton straw salt-absorbing water-retention agent (OAC-SR), cotton seedling emergence rates, plant height, and biomass all increased to varying degrees across different concentrations of saline–alkali soil (0.05–1.0%) in the field. Then OAC-SR can be potentially applied to the process of cotton straw return to facilitate the turnover of straw structure in soil, enhance the salt-adsorption and water-retention capacities of returned straw, and provide a low-salt microenvironment for crop growth. This study demonstrates a further low-carbon and in situ applicable route to accelerate the destruction of cotton straw structure, thereby alleviating crop salt damage and promoting the green circular development of saline–alkali soil remediation. Full article

In recent decades, accelerated urban growth in Arequipa has led to the loss of more than 40% of riparian vegetation and increased ecological fragmentation in the Chili River valley. This transformation has degraded water quality and limited equitable access to green and public spaces. Therefore, this research aims to design a Green Corridor along the Chili River as an ecosystem-based strategy to enhance social connectivity and ecological resilience in Arequipa, Peru. The methodology combined an extensive literature review, a comparative analysis of international case studies, and a territorial diagnosis supported by geospatial and climatic data. The process is supported by digital tools such as Google Earth Pro 2025, AutoCAD 2024, SketchUp Pro 2023, and solar simulations with Ladybug-Grasshopper, complemented by data from SENAMHI, SINIA, and the Solar Atlas of Peru. The results propose a resilient green corridor integrating passive and active sustainability strategies, including 40 photovoltaic panels, 44 solar luminaires, biodigesters producing between 90 and 150 kWh per month, and phytotechnologies capable of absorbing 75,225 kg of CO₂ annually, based on WHO conversion factors adapted to high-altitude conditions. The proposal employs eco-efficient materials such as reforested eucalyptus wood and volcanic sillar, creating recreational and productive spaces that promote social cohesion and circular economy. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of ecosystem-based design to regenerate arid urban riverbanks, harmonizing environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and cultural identity. Thus, the Chili River corridor is consolidated as a replicable model of green-blue infrastructure for Andean cities, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, and 15. Full article

In systemic diseases, controlling oral bacteria and cancer is an important issue. As biomaterials, recently, carbon dots (DSs) are the focus of a variety of studies owing to their extensive applicability in life sciences. In this study, the effectiveness of carbon dots (CDs) for the elimination of both oral bacteria and oral cancer in vitro was assessed using a dental light-curing unit (LCU) as a light source. CDs were synthesized using an amino acid. The absorbance of CDs and the emission spectrum of the LCU were measured. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated spectroscopically. Changes in glutathione (GSH) content were evaluated. Using oral bacteria and cancer cells, in vitro antibacterial and antitumor capabilities of CDs were evaluated under light irradiation. Confocal microscopy was used to observe live/dead cells and intracellular lipid peroxidation (LPO). The emission spectrum of the LCU fully matched the absorbance of CDs. After CD treatment, the initial peak absorbances of the p-nitrosodimethylaniline-imidazole (for singlet oxygen assay) and nitroblue tetrazolium (for superoxide oxide assay) solutions changed under light irradiation. The initial peak absorbance of the GSH assay solution decreased during and after light irradiation. Both CD-treated oral bacteria and oral cancer cells were near totally eliminated at 50 and 200 μg/mL concentrations, respectively, after light irradiation. In the live/dead cell and C11-BODIPY^581/591 dye assays, red and green fluorescent spots were, respectively, observed in the CD-treated and light-irradiated cells. Accordingly, CDs effectively eliminated both oral bacteria and cancer cells in vitro in conjunction with dental LCU with less damage to normal cells through ROS-induced or ROS-initiated GSH depletion-induced intracellular LPO. Dental LCU plays a crucial role in ROS production through CD photoexcitation. Dental LUC has the potential to be used as a light source in dentistry for the treatment of oral bacteria and cancer cells. Full article

There has been an increasing demand for high-resolution image sensing technologies in recent years due to their diverse and advanced optical applications. With recent advances in nanofabrication technologies, this can be achieved through the realization of high-density pixels. However, the development of high-density and miniaturized pixels introduces challenges to the conventional color filters, which generally transmit and absorb different spectral components of light. A significant portion of the incident light is inherently lost using conventional color filters. Moreover, as the pixel size is shrunk, optical losses appear to be substantial. To address these fundamental limitations, a novel nanophotonic optical router is proposed in this work. Our router utilizes a single-layer, all-dielectric metasurface as a spectral router. The metasurface is designed through an inverse design approach that exploits adjoint sensitivity analysis. A novel figure of merit is developed and incorporated in the inverse design process, enabling the metasurface design to effectively sort and route the incoming light into four targeted channels, each corresponding to a distinct spectral component—red, green, blue, and near-infrared. We demonstrate that the proposed quad-spectral metasurface router, having a compact footprint of $2 \mathsf{\mu }\mathrm{m}\times 2 \mathsf{\mu }\mathrm{m}$, achieves an average optical efficiency of approximately 39% across the broad spectral range, i.e., 400–850 nm, with each spectral channel exceeding an efficiency of 25%. This surpasses the maximum efficiency attainable by the conventional four-channel color filters. Our proposed quad-spectral metasurface router offers a wide range of applications in low-light imaging, image fusion, computational photography, and computer vision. In addition, this work highlights the applicability of an adjoint-based inverse design approach to accelerate the development of compact, efficient, and high-performance nanophotonic devices for the next generation of imaging and sensing systems. Full article

The manufacturing techniques, structural features, and optical attributes of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles are highlighted in this study. These nanoparticles are notable for their remarkable photocatalytic activity, cheap cost, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. TiO₂ consists of three polymorph structures: anatase, rutile, and brookite. Because of its electrical characteristics and large surface area, anatase is the most efficient for photocatalysis when exposed to UV light. The crystallinity, size, and shape of titania nanoparticles (NPs) are influenced by diverse production techniques. Sol-gel, hydrothermal, solvothermal, microwave-assisted, and green synthesis with plant extracts are examples of common methods. Different degrees of control over morphology and surface properties are possible with each approach, and these factors ultimately affect functioning. For example, microwave synthesis provides quick reaction rates, whereas sol-gel enables the creation of homogeneous nanoparticles. XRD and SEM structural investigations validate nanostructures with crystallite sizes between 15 and 70 nm. Particle size, synthesis technique, and annealing temperature all affect optical characteristics such as bandgap (3.0–3.3 eV), fluorescence emission, and UV-visible absorbance. Generally speaking, anatase has a smaller crystallite size and a greater bandgap than rutile. TiO₂ nanoparticles are used in gas sensing, food packaging, biomedical coatings, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), photocatalysis for wastewater treatment, and agriculture. Researchers are actively exploring methods like adding metals or non-metals, making new composite materials, and changing the surface to improve how well they absorb visible light. Full article