Search Results (1,738)

Public understanding of complex sustainability concepts like life cycle assessment (LCA) is crucial for promoting environmentally responsible consumption yet remains a significant educational challenge. This study introduces and evaluates Paper Goes Green, a competitive board game designed to make abstract LCA principles tangible and personally relevant. The game simulates the paper production chain, compelling players to make strategic decisions about resource allocation, production pathways (conventional vs. green), and waste management to fulfill paper orders. Through a single-group pre-test/post-test design with 85 participants (25 environmental educators and 60 public members), the game’s efficacy was assessed. Paired-sample t-tests revealed significant improvements in participants’ perceived knowledge of green chemistry/LCA (pre-game mean 2.05, post-game 3.24 on a 5-point scale, p < 0.001), pro-environmental attitudes (3.38 to 4.22, p < 0.001), and behavioral intentions toward green consumption (3.97 to 4.44, p < 0.001). These gains correspond to medium-to-large effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0.94 for knowledge, 0.70 for attitude, 0.71 for behavior), indicating substantial practical impact. Qualitative feedback further highlighted the game’s engaging and thought-provoking nature. Notably, specific design features—such as immediate feedback, player control, and interactivity—were identified as key contributors to learning, fostering systems thinking in players. These findings suggest that Paper Goes Green is a promising educational tool for translating complex environmental science into an engaging, impactful learning experience. The game effectively bridges the gap between abstract concepts and real-world consumer choices, fostering life cycle thinking and empowering players to make greener choices in their daily lives. Full article

The development of smart sustainable cities is closely linked to the advancement of city manufacturing, which aims to meet local demand while maintaining economic, social, and environmental balance. This concept is realised in large cities through City Multifloor Manufacturing Clusters (CMFMCs) equipped with City Logistics Nodes (CLNs) that manage intra- and extra-cluster logistics. These flows depend on supplies arriving via Intermodal Logistics Nodes (ILNs) located on city outskirts, where disruptions caused by intermodal supply chain uncertainty can significantly affect production continuity and urban sustainability. This study aims to develop a stochastic inventory management model for city manufacturing clusters operating under intermodal supply chain uncertainty. The model is designed to ensure stable and resilient material supply to city manufacturers by optimising buffer stock (BS) levels, reducing delivery delays, and improving transport and storage efficiency. Based on the Multi-Layer Bayesian Network Method (MLBNM), the model integrates probabilistic reasoning and resilience principles to support decision-making under uncertainty. A simulation-based case study of a representative CMFMC system was used for model verification and validation. The results show that the MLBNM-based approach enhances Sustainable Supply Chain Resilience (SSCR), improves inventory flexibility, and reduces environmental impacts. The study contributes to theory and practice by providing a quantitative framework for ensuring resilient and sustainable inventory management in city manufacturing systems. Full article

This paper presents a systematic literature review of articles that include a life cycle assessment and sustainability assessment to measure the potential impacts of seashell waste usage in concrete production, the geographical context, and existing knowledge gaps. Concrete’s extensive production has significant environmental impacts due to resource depletion and ecosystem threats. Sustainable alternatives, like seashell waste, are explored, with life cycle assessment and sustainability analysis aiding in evaluating their environmental performance and promoting circular economy principles. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive review of eco-concrete with seashell waste was conducted. Search strategies were refined to include related terms, and rigorous screening processes were employed for article selection and data extraction. A literature search yielded 66 articles on seashell waste in concrete, with 33 selected for review through initial and secondary screenings of studies. Studies primarily focused on seashells as an aggregate or cement substitute. Findings indicate that seashell waste as a construction material has been studied to a limited extent, with few studies utilizing life cycle assessment tools. However, some existing quantitative and qualitative sustainability analyses suggest seashell waste could be a promising and sustainable option for construction materials. Geographically, Spain leads in research, with China and Iran also prominent. Furthermore, we conducted a content analysis using Leximancer software to identify and evaluate concept maps through current research domains and emerging trends. Life cycle assessment, environment, and sustainability are common themes among the articles studied. This review also identifies limitations in bias, article heterogeneity, and search scope. Opportunities exist for a circular economy approach in cement production using seashell waste, but future research should explore its economic, environmental, and social impacts. Recommendations include expanding life cycle assessment studies, improving sustainability analyses, and using tools like the Integrated value model for sustainable evaluation. Full article

Background/Purpose: Reproductive health and fertility outcomes are essential but often overlooked aspects of occupational well-being. Organizational dysfunction, demanding workloads, and limited workplace accommodations may negatively affect fertility, while supportive policies and inclusive cultures can mitigate risks. This review aimed to map current evidence on these relationships and their economic consequences. Methodology/Approach: A scoping review was conducted using the PCC (Population–Concept–Context) framework. Systematic searches across multiple databases identified 30 eligible studies, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method designs, spanning different sectors and international contexts. Findings: Four main domains emerged: shift work and circadian disruption, organizational stress and burnout, workplace flexibility and accommodations, and fertility-related policies and organizational support. Hazardous working conditions, long hours, and psychosocial stressors were consistently associated with impaired fertility, reduced fecundability, and pregnancy complications. Conversely, flexible scheduling, fertility benefits, and supportive organizational cultures were linked to improved well-being, retention, and productivity. Originality/Value: This review integrates evidence across occupational health, organizational psychology, and labor economics, offering a comprehensive overview of workplace influences on reproductive health. It highlights gaps in equity and representation—particularly for men, LGBTQ+ employees, and workers in precarious jobs—and calls for longitudinal, interdisciplinary, and intervention-based studies to inform effective workplace policies. Full article

Background: Retained products of conception (RPOC) can be managed via hysteroscopic removal using mechanical or electrosurgical techniques. Electrosurgery introduces greater technical complexity and may reflect more adherent or vascular tissue, yet preoperative predictors for its necessity remain poorly defined. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and identify preoperative predictors associated with the use of electrosurgery during hysteroscopic removal of RPOC. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study conducted at a single tertiary center, we reviewed 551 cases of hysteroscopic RPOC removal performed between January 2008 and December 2022. Patients were categorized based on intraoperative use of electrosurgical instruments. Clinical, sonographic, and operative data were compared between groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of electrosurgical use. Results: Electrosurgical intervention was required in 84 patients (15.2%). Compared with those treated without electricity, these patients were older (33.2 ± 6.4 vs. 31.2 ± 5.8 years, p = 0.004), more likely to be smokers (15.4% vs. 8.1%, p = 0.033), and had higher rates of prior hysteroscopy (5.9% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.002). Electrosurgical use was more common following vaginal delivery than abortion (57.1% vs. 24.8%, p < 0.001), particularly when manual placental removal was performed (23.8% vs. 5.7%, p < 0.001). Larger RPOC size and positive Doppler flow were also associated with the use of electrosurgery. On multivariate analysis, maternal age, postpartum RPOC, manual placental removal, and Doppler vascularity remained independent predictors. No significant differences were observed in short-term postoperative complications. Conclusions: Older age, postpartum RPOC, manualysis, and vascularity on ultrasound are preoperative predictors for the need of electrosurgical intervention during hysteroscopic removal of RPOC. Identifying these factors may improve surgical planning and patient counseling. Future prospective studies incorporating advanced hysteroscopic technologies are warranted. Full article

Recent research has increasingly emphasized the synergies between Supply Chain Management Practices (SCMPs) and Quality Management Principles (QMPs), particularly through the emerging concept of Supply Chain Quality Management (SCQM). Despite this recognition, empirical evidence on how these practices interact to influence performance remains very limited, especially in the context of developing countries. This study addresses the gap by interviewing 70 Tunisian agri-food companies to investigate the relationships between five dimensions of SCMP, strategic supplier partnerships, customer relationship, information sharing, information quality and postponement, and the seven principles of ISO9001 QMP: leadership, engagement of people, improvement, customer focus, process approach, evidence-based decision making, and relationship management. Using factor analysis and structural equation modelling, the study explores the mediating role of competitive advantage (CA): price/cost, product quality, product innovation, delivery dependability and time-to-market—on operational performance. The findings indicate that analyzing SCMP, QMP, and CA as aggregated blocks does not produce significant explanatory correlations. Instead, judiciously reorganizing their sub-constructs into five integrated groups provides a more effective model: (1) information and decision capacity, (2) customer-centric innovation, (3) process management and agility, (4) supplier and network management, and (5) leadership and workforce engagement. This integrated classification offers managers a coherent framework for implementing SCMP and QMP to enhance competitiveness results. Full article

The increasing demand for monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics has intensified the need for more efficient and consistent biomanufacturing processes. We present a data-driven, machine-learning (ML) approach to exploring and predicting upstream yield behavior. Drawing on industrial-scale batch records for a single mAb product from a contract development and manufacturing organization, we applied regression models to identify key process parameters and estimate production outcomes. Random forest regression, gradient boosting machine, and support vector regression (SVR) were evaluated to predict three yield indicators: bioreactor final weight (BFW), harvest titer (HT), and packed cell volume (PCV). SVR outperformed other models for BFW prediction (R² = 0.978), while HT and PCV were difficult to model accurately with the available data. Exploratory analysis using sequential least-squares programming suggested parameter combinations associated with improved yield estimates relative to historical data. Sensitivity analysis highlighted the most influential process parameters. While the findings demonstrate the potential of ML for predictive, data-driven yield improvement, the results should be interpreted as an exploratory proof of concept rather than a fully validated optimization framework. This study highlights the need to incorporate process constraints and control logic, along with interpretable or hybrid modeling frameworks, to enable practical deployment in regulated biomanufacturing environments. Full article

Reverse Logistics (RL) plays a fundamental role in supply by addressing returns, undelivered or damaged products, exchanges, and environmental concerns, directly contributing to more sustainable supply chain practices. Although firms recognize the importance and benefits of this concept, their supply chain remains focused on direct logistics, often overlooking RL’s potential to enhance sustainability performance. The aim of this article is to analyse the interaction between the barriers that challenge or prevent the implementation of RL in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). First, a literature review identified 22 barriers to developing RL in SMEs. Then, through experts’ opinions gathered in a Focus Group (FG), an Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) model was used to understand the hierarchy relations between barriers, and a Matrix Cross Impact Matrix Multiplication (MICMAC) analysis was carried out to aggregate the barriers in four categories according to their influencing power and dependence. Applying the methodology to the Portuguese case resulted in an ISM model with seven hierarchical levels and a MICMAC diagram without dependent barriers. Moreover, six key barriers emerged, namely, Lack of adequate organizational structure and support for RL practices, Lack of corporate social responsibility, Complexity of the operation, Lack of shared understanding of best practices, Difficulty with members of the supply chain, and Lack of support from supply chain players, which proved to be the most critical as they are positioned at the highest hierarchical levels of the ISM model and fall within the independent variable quadrant of the MICMAC analysis, thus revealing a strong driving power over the other barriers. The findings highlight that overcoming these barriers is crucial for SMEs to unlock the full sustainability potential of RL and transition towards supply chain models that are greener through a reduced carbon footprint, improved resource efficiency, and the adoption of circular economy practices. Academically, this research advances the literature by applying the ISM–MICMAC approach to SMEs, offering novel insights into the structural role of barriers in reverse logistics implementation. Full article

Products such as toothpaste tablets align with the concept of sustainable cosmetic production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and functional properties of toothpaste tablets with different formulations—with and without fluoride, surfactants, and dried herbs. The following parameters were determined: friability (using a shaking method), compressive strength (using a tensile testing machine), colour parameters (spectrophotometrically), pH, and foaming capacity. The study results showed that tablet durability is closely dependent on the formulation. Tablets made with commonly used ingredients (control sample) had the highest breaking force (55.24 N). Tablets without fluoride had the lowest friability (1.46%). Optical tests showed that different formulations affected tablet brightness and colour saturation. The largest changes were observed for samples containing dried herbs—ΔE > 5. The tablets with clove added had improved foam quality, which is important from a functional perspective. The disintegration time of the tablets was significantly shorter for the modified formulation samples. The study results indicate that the developed tablets, especially the control and fluoride-free samples, are sufficiently hard and durable. The tablets with added herbal ingredients, on the other hand, exhibit good foaming and dissolving properties and are waterless products without preservatives. Full article

Facing the diversity of the market, the industry has to move towards Industry 4.0, and smart manufacturing based on cyber-physical systems is the only way to move towards Industry 4.0. However, there are two key concepts in Industry 4.0: cyber-physical systems (CPSs) and digital twins (DTs). In the paper, we propose a smart manufacturing system suitable for stamping press processes based on the CPS concept and use DT to establish a manufacturing-end robot guidance generation model. In the smart manufacturing system of stamping press processes, fog nodes are used to connect three major architectures, including device health diagnosis, manufacturing device, and material traceability. In addition, a special hook end point is designed, and its lightweight visual guidance generation model is established to improve the production efficiency of the manufacturing end in product manufacturing. Full article

Waste management is essential for advancing sustainable development and applying circular economy principles. The growing generation of waste—particularly organic municipal waste—combined with limited processing technologies, financial constraints, and overconsumption, intensifies its negative environmental and social impacts. This study examines the conditions necessary for implementing the circular economy concept in the context of organic municipal waste management. The research is based on literature review and an experiment involving the composting of biodegradable waste classified under code 20 02 01, analyzing its transformation into a soil improver commonly known as compost. Two composting approaches—single-stage and two-stage—were compared to evaluate their effectiveness in producing a high-quality end product that complies with national and EU legal standards, as well as the requirements for obtaining decisions (certificates) from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The study is particularly relevant in light of the increasing volume of this waste stream, which exceeds 1.8 million tons annually in Poland, and the ambitious recycling targets set by the European Union, requiring 55% to be achieved by 2025. Results demonstrate that both composting methods contribute to circular resource use but differ in process efficiency and final product quality. These findings provide practical guidance for selecting composting technologies and support progress towards more sustainable, circular waste management. Moreover, they help define the output parameters of the products, which enables proper categorization and facilitates the issuance of relevant decisions from the MARD. Full article

In this study, we propose a novel adaptive algorithm for approximate nearest neighbor (ANN) search, based on the inverted file (IVF) index (cluster-based index) and online query complexity classification. The concept of the classical IVF search implemented in vector databases is as follows: all data vectors are divided into clusters, and each cluster is assigned to its central point (centroid). For an ANN search query, the closest centroids are determined, and the further search continues in the corresponding clusters only. In our study, the complexity of each query is assessed and classified with the use of results of an initial trial search in a limited number of clusters. Based on this classification, the algorithm dynamically determines the presumably sufficient number of clusters which is sufficient to achieve the desired Recall value, thereby improving vector search efficiency. Our experiments show that such a complexity classifier can be built with the use of a single feature, and we propose an algorithm for its training. We studied the impact of various features on the query processing and discovered a strong dependence on the number of clusters that contains at least one nearest neighbor (productive clusters). The new algorithm is designed to be implemented on top of the IVF search which is a well-known algorithm for approximate nearest neighbor search and uses existing IVF indexes that are widely used in the most popular vector database management systems, such as pgvector. The results obtained demonstrate a significant increase in the speed of nearest neighbor search (up to 35%) while maintaining a high Recall rate of 0.99. Additionally, the search algorithm is deterministic, which might be extremely important for tasks where the reproducibility of results plays a crucial role. The developed algorithm has been tested on datasets of varying sizes up to one billion data vectors. Full article

Dry reforming of methane and ethanol is a promising catalytic process for the conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon feedstocks into synthesis gas (H₂/CO), which serves as a key platform for the production of fuels and chemicals. Over the past decade, substantial progress has been achieved in the design of catalysts with enhanced activity and stability under the demanding conditions of these strongly endothermic reactions. This review summarizes the latest developments in catalyst systems for DRM and EDR, including Ni-based catalysts, perovskite-type oxides, MOF-derived materials, and high-entropy alloys. Particular attention is given to strategies for suppressing carbon deposition and preventing metal sintering, such as oxygen vacancy engineering in oxide supports, rare earth and transition metal doping, strong metal–support interactions, and morphological control via core–shell and mesoporous architectures. These approaches have been shown to improve coke resistance, maintain metal dispersion, and extend catalyst lifetimes. The review also highlights emerging concepts such as multifunctional hybrid systems and innovative synthesis methods. By consolidating recent findings, this work provides a comprehensive overview of current progress and future perspectives in catalyst development for DRM and EDR, offering valuable guidelines for the rational design of advanced catalytic materials. Full article

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria represent a significant challenge across various industries due to their prevalence and pathogenicity and the limitations of existing detection methods. Traditional approaches, such as the rabbit pyrogen test (RPT) and the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay, have served as gold standards for endotoxin detection. However, these methods are constrained by high costs, lengthy processing times, environmental concerns, and the need for significant reagent volumes, which limit their scalability and application in resource-limited settings. In this study, we introduce an innovative microfluidic platform that integrates the LAL assay within microdroplets, addressing the critical limitations of traditional techniques. By leveraging the precise fluid control and reaction isolation offered by microdroplet technology, the system reduces reagent consumption, enhances sensitivity, and enables high-throughput analysis. Calibration tests were performed to validate the platform’s ability to detect LPS, using colorimetric measurements. Results demonstrated comparable or improved performance relative to traditional systems, achieving lower detection limits and greater accuracy. This work demonstrates a proof-of-concept miniaturisation of the pharmacopoeial LAL assay. The method yielded low intra-assay variability (σ ≈ 0.002 OD; CV ≈ 0.9% over n = 50 droplets per point) and a LOD estimated from calibration statistics after path-length normalisation. Broader adoption will require additional comparative validation and standardisation. This scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable approach offers a practical solution for endotoxin detection in clinical diagnostics, biopharmaceutical production, and environmental monitoring. The proposed technology paves the way for advanced LPS detection methods that meet stringent safety standards while improving efficiency, affordability, and adaptability for diverse applications. Full article

The low-altitude economy represents an important facet of emerging productive forces, and flying cars serve as key vehicles driving its development. This paper proposes an aerodynamic design for the aerial vehicle module of split-type flying cars, which meets the functional requirements for vertical takeoff, climb, and cruising, and provides a reference solution for urban air mobility. A multidisciplinary constraint-based approach was employed to define the design requirements of the aerial vehicle module, ensuring its capability to operate in various complex environments. Through theoretical analysis and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) methods, key geometric, aerodynamic, and stability parameters were developed and evaluated. After finalizing the design concept of the aerial vehicle module, aerodynamic analysis was conducted, and aerodynamic coefficients were assessed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations across angles of attack ranging from −5° to 20°. The results indicated that the aerial vehicle module achieved a maximum lift-to-drag ratio of 13.40 at an angle of attack of 2°, and entered a stall condition at 13°. The aerodynamic design enhances the module’s stability under various operating conditions, thereby improving handling performance. Overall, the aerial vehicle module demonstrates favorable aerodynamic characteristics during low-altitude flight and low-speed cruising, satisfying the design requirements and constraints. Full article