Search Results (2,570)

This paper systematically reviews losartan, a hypertension pharmaceutical compound that is one of many newly identified emerging contaminants in water. Worldwide use of pharmaceuticals continues to grow, and losartan has been identified as a contaminant that frequently accumulates in aquatic systems as a result of this global increase in use. The paper presents systematic reviews on the environmental occurrence, physicochemical characteristics, analytical methods of detection, and remediation techniques associated with losartan contamination. Losartan is often detected at levels of ng L⁻¹–µg L⁻¹ in wastewater systems, surface water and marine ecosystems, very effectively demonstrating the inadequacies of existing conventional wastewater treatment facilities, which are typically capable of removing only 20–70% of the contamination, with this variability largely attributed to differences in hydraulic/solids retention times, operational conditions, influent organic load, and the limited microbial acclimatization to recalcitrant pharmaceutical compounds. Emerging remediation technologies demonstrate the potential for removal efficiencies of >90% include hybrid systems, advanced electrochemical processes, new improved adsorption systems, and novel material for adsorption. However, there are still considerable barriers to progress, including excessive energy use, high operating costs, and perhaps most concerning, potentially toxic transition products generated by partial degradation. Furthermore, the literature review identified key literature gaps: lack of specific regulations, absence of full-scale studies, and inconsistencies in by-product toxicity assessments. The conclusion of this review is that to achieve worldwide water security and sustainability of aquatic resources, effective mitigation of the environmental risks associated with losartan requires combined approaches comprising innovative technologies, comprehensive ecotoxicological investigations, and improved collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and industry. Full article

Against the backdrop of intensifying global climate change and water eutrophication, the increasing occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems, human health, and socio-economic activities. The occurrence and development of HABs are complex processes governed by the interaction of physical, chemical, and biological factors. Therefore, timely and accurate monitoring is essential for early warning and scientific research. This paper comprehensively reviews recent advances in HAB monitoring technologies, with a focus on two core components: sensors and monitoring platforms. First, organized around key environmental parameters, it summarizes the principles, applications, and limitations of in situ sensors, such as multi-parameter water quality sondes, Imaging Flow Cyto-bots (IFCB), and Environmental Sample Processors (ESP), as well as laboratory-based analytical techniques such as HPLC-MS for measuring physical, chemical, and biological indicators. Second, it compares the technical characteristics of three major monitoring platforms (including field surveys, remote sensing, and autonomous systems) and discusses their potential for synergistic application. Finally, this review proposes a future framework for an integrated “Space–Air–Ground–Sea” intelligent monitoring network and explores possible pathways to address current challenges through cross-platform data fusion, sensor miniaturization, intelligentization, and artificial intelligence-driven decision support. This review aims to provide a comprehensive reference for the optimization and innovation of HAB monitoring technologies and to promote the development of the field toward greater integration, intelligence, and real-time monitoring capability. Full article

Background/Objectives: Vaccine development pipelines are forward-looking indicators of public health preparedness, reflecting the capacity to address unmet medical needs and emerging threats. This descriptive analysis aims to characterise the 2025 clinical-stage pipeline of infectious disease vaccines and prophylactic monoclonal antibody candidates developed by Vaccines Europe member companies, and to describe how pipeline characteristics address evolving public health priorities. Methods: A descriptive analysis was conducted using publicly available data compiled in the Vaccines Europe Pipeline Review 2025, with validation by participating companies. Candidates in clinical development or regulatory review were classified using a standardised framework by pathogen/disease, target population, public health priority, and technologies. Results: The Vaccines Europe member company pipeline comprises 91 candidates across clinical development phases, 19% of which are in Phase III and 7% undergoing regulatory review. This pipeline is predominantly targeting respiratory pathogens (75%), with a strong life-course focus (85% evaluated in adults and/or older adults), and sustained activity in bacterial pathogens relevant to antimicrobial resistance. Notably, 41% of candidates were classified as addressing diseases, disease combinations, or indications for which no licenced preventive product exists. This category includes candidates targeting diseases without a preventive solution, as well as novel combination vaccines and therapeutic approaches in areas where individual components or preventive vaccines are already available. This captures vaccines candidates in different stages of development, not necessarily first-in-disease innovation. The pipeline shows broad technological diversity (12 technologies), dominated by RNA approaches and multivalent candidates, with growing focus on climate-sensitive, zoonotic, and pandemic-prone pathogens. Conclusions: Within the pipeline of Vaccines Europe member companies, this analysis describes development activity oriented toward broader prevention, platform-based approaches, and preparedness-relevant targets. As a structured and recurring annual assessment, the Vaccines Europe Pipeline Review supports horizon scanning and evidence-based dialogue between industry and vaccine ecosystem stakeholders. In order to maximise the impact of vaccine development pipelines to public health, predictable investment, streamlined trial and regulatory pathways, strong surveillance, and real-world data systems, coordinated decision-making is required to enable timely and equitable access, and complementary incentive and procurement reforms. Full article

Forest tourism represents an important pathway for promoting green consumption, with forest parks serving as the primary platform for its development. The coordinated development of forest parks is therefore essential for achieving integrated economic, social, and ecological benefits. Investigating the coordination and coupling between ecological resilience and tourism economy in forest parks of the Yellow River Basin along with driving factors carried substantial practical significance for balancing regional economic development with ecological conservation. The present research developed an indicator system that was comprehensive and dynamic for assessing ecological resilience across forest parks in nine provinces of the Yellow River Basin during 2013–2023. To investigate patterns of spatiotemporal evolution and uncover underlying driving mechanisms, exploratory spatial data analysis was combined with a spatiotemporal geographically weighted regression model. The main findings are as follows: (1) The integrated levels of ecological resilience and tourism economy across the Yellow River Basin showed significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity. From north to south, a high–low–high spatial pattern was exhibited by ecological resilience, while a core concentration and gradient diffusion pattern was demonstrated by the tourism economy. (2) The coupling coordination level between forest park ecosystems and the tourism economy increased, with a growing number of provinces transitioning toward coordinated and near–dysregulated states, although pronounced regional disparities persisted. (3) Kernel density analysis indicated an overall improvement in coordination, accompanied by strong regional differentiation. The upper reaches displayed a unipolar leading pattern, while the middle and lower reaches showed multipolar differentiation and a pronounced “Matthew effect”. (4) Technological innovation emerged as the core driving factor, though its influence varied considerably across regions. Overall, these findings provide theoretical support and empirical evidence for policy formulation aimed at achieving a balance between ecological conservation and economic development in forest park systems. Full article

In the context of rapid technological evolution and increasing market uncertainty, technoparks have emerged as critical ecosystems for bridging scientific research and high-tech industrial production; however, their effectiveness is often constrained by limited flexibility, fragmented control mechanisms, and delayed decision-making processes. Motivated by these challenges, this article investigates the automation of control processes in research-driven and flexible manufacturing environments within technopark infrastructures, positioning automation as a strategic lever for enhancing operational adaptability and innovation throughput. The study conceptualizes control process automation as a multi-stage framework encompassing data acquisition, processing, intelligent analysis, and real-time decision execution and examines the role of enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cyber-physical systems in supporting this paradigm. The analysis demonstrates that the integration of these technologies significantly improves production flexibility, resource optimization, and responsiveness to dynamic conditions, while simultaneously accelerating the transformation of scientific and research outputs into measurable economic value. By combining theoretical foundations with illustrative practical applications, the article substantiates the effectiveness of automated control systems and highlights their strategic relevance for increasing the competitiveness of technoparks, fostering sustainable technological innovation, and shaping resilient long-term development strategies. Full article

Transitioning to a circular economy (CE) is now a strategic priority for countries to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. However, in developing contexts, the readiness of environmental resource sectors to adopt CE principles is unknown due to a lack of data and uneven institutional capacity. This study presents the first regional baseline assessment of circularity readiness in Vietnam’s environmental resource sectors, focusing on land, mining, water and waste. A five-dimensional readiness framework (policy, resource management, innovation, business, awareness) was developed and applied across Vietnam’s six ecological–economic regions. A Delphi process with 12 experts was conducted in three rounds to capture and refine expert judgments, supplemented by triangulated proxy indicators (e.g., plastic recycling rates, wastewater treatment coverage). Readiness scores were aggregated at dimension and regional levels and analyzed using radar charts, heatmaps and hierarchical clustering. Results showed significant regional disparities. The Southeast (SE) and Red River Delta (RRD) have high readiness due to clearer policy frameworks, stronger institutions and more dynamic business ecosystems. The Northern Midlands and Mountains (NMM) and Central Highlands (CH) have low readiness due to infrastructural gaps, weak innovation and limited public engagement. The Mekong Delta (MD) and North Central Coast (NCC) have medium readiness, reflecting partial progress but uneven implementation. The study made three contributions: (1) a new context-specific framework for CE readiness in environmental resource sectors; (2) the value of expert-based, proxy-informed methods in data-scarce contexts; and (3) a policy roadmap for different regional readiness levels. Findings suggest that the CE should be integrated into resource planning, regional observatories should be established and CE-related research and development (R&D) should receive investment. Future research should move towards standardized quantitative indicators and predictive models to track how readiness changes under policy interventions. Full article

In a global business environment marked by digital disruption, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) must integrate digital transformation with strategic agility and organizational resilience. This study addresses the fragmentation of the current management literature by developing an AI-driven meta-theory through a high-performance computational synthesis of 4811 academic publications from the OpenAlex database. Utilizing a theoretically grounded hybrid framework of lexical filtering (TF-IDF), semantic embedding (SciBERT), and a diverse ensemble of five Large Language Models (LLMs), we move beyond descriptive mapping to identify the ontological and integrative mechanisms of SME adaptation. The methodology is validated through a multi-stage expert audit of model reasoning traces to ensure theoretical alignment. Results reveal a clear dominance of Contingency Theory (20.5%) and Resource-Based View (14.1%), which are re-conceptualized here as Regulatory–Technical Brokerage and Internal Fortification. Through Social Network Analysis (SNA) and Aggregate Constraint metrics, the study identifies Innovation Frontiers that are operationally challenging to synthesize through traditional manual reviews at this scale. The research concludes by formulating four meta-theoretical propositions and an integrative synergetic mechanism, explaining how SME resilience emerges as an emergent property of cross-layer alignment between technical, cognitive, and structural logics. By providing this causal roadmap, the study establishes a robust, AI-augmented blueprint for SMEs to function as intelligent, self-regulating nodes within a Post-Normal digital ecosystem. Full article

The accelerating convergence of geopolitical volatility, technological disruption, environmental stress, and societal transformation has rendered traditional strategic management frameworks insufficient. Organizations now operate in environments defined not only by disruptions with existential implications but by wickedness—conditions in which problems are ambiguous, stakeholders disagree, and solutions reshape the challenge itself. Building on the premise that strategy itself is a wicked problem, this article advances a central claim: organizational resilience is best understood as an architectural capability largely grounded in humanity-based identity. Unlike organizational structure, mission, or even current strategy, each of which may be transient in turbulent environments, organizational identity, which is a construct that derives from individuals and humanity, provides an enduring basis for harmonizing the organization and its environment. Utilizing the lens of “humanity”—in its two dimensions of humankind and humaneness—we synthesize research on wicked problems, organizational identity, dynamic capabilities, modular design, alliances and smart power, and hybrid intelligence. We then propose an integrative model linking humanity-driven identity to resilience through three vectors—Inspirational Transformative Ambition, Innovative Value Networks, and Hybrid Intelligence Ecosystems—operationalized via a recently developed diagnostic tool. Finally, we offer corroborative evidence for the “Business of Humanity” logic, arguing that aligning humankind (opportunity across the full market spectrum) with humaneness (values-based evaluation) strengthens resilience by expanding opportunity sets while enhancing legitimacy, trust, and stakeholder alignment. Full article

Technology enterprises are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to foster disruptive innovation, aiming to seize first-mover advantages in technological catch-up and strategic transformation. Most existing studies adopt static research methods such as empirical analysis to explore corporate disruptive innovation from the dimensions of technology, market, organization and value creation. However, few scholars dynamically investigate the impacts of multi-stakeholder interactions on the disruptive innovation of AI enterprises from the perspective of innovation ecosystem by employing evolutionary game theory. Against this backdrop, this paper adopts the evolutionary game approach to explore how the bounded rational strategic interactions among AI enterprises, incumbent enterprises and governments in the innovation ecosystem affect the evolutionary dynamics of AI enterprises’ disruptive innovation behaviors. It also examines under what conditions of benefits, costs, risks and policies the system can evolve toward a stable strategic equilibrium. The findings reveal that the sustainable advancement of disruptive innovation by AI enterprises is not merely driven by the unilateral willingness of individual firms. Instead, it is jointly shaped by the innovation investment of AI enterprises, cooperative responses of incumbent enterprises, and regulatory and supportive policies of governments, as well as comprehensively influenced by base benefits, R&D investment pressure, technology spillover effects and niche competition risks. This research provides theoretical references for improving the innovation governance and policy support system of the AI industry. Future research can further analyze the influence of strategic interactions among more heterogeneous stakeholders on the evolutionary process of disruptive innovation of AI enterprises. Full article

Marine macroalgae, microalgae, and associated microorganisms are increasingly recognised as valuable sources of bioactive compounds with applications across biotechnology and health. The environmental and ecological conditions they inhabit shape their metabolite diversity, leading to the production of high-value compounds such as sulphated polysaccharides, lipids, pigments, phenolics, and peptides. These compounds exhibit conserved biological activities that underpin potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and pro-regenerative effects with strong potential for translation. Although external factors drive rich metabolite diversity, continual variation can also lead to translational constraints including heavy-metal accumulation, inconsistency in extract composition, and regulatory complexity. This review examines the environmental drivers of metabolite diversity and the functional potential of bioactives derived from marine algae. We focus on their translational application within four areas of growing interest: nutraceuticals, cosmetics, regenerative medicine, and oncology, where emerging evidence suggests their promise as next-generation bioactive ingredients and therapeutic leads. In addition, insights from Irish and Welsh Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are collated to identify key bottlenecks in commercialisation and the requirements for effective marine biodiscovery pipelines. We consider the importance of controlled cultivation, standardised analytics, preclinical testing platforms, and collaborative innovation ecosystems and highlight the need for coordinated scientific, technical, and regulatory advances to unlock the full translational potential of marine-derived compounds. Full article

The atypical proliferation of Sargassum (Sargassum spp.) in the tropical Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea over the past decade has triggered an unprecedented environmental and socioeconomic crisis along the Mexican coastline. Continuous beaching events of this macroalga on the Riviera Maya have caused coastal ecosystem degradation, severe impacts on the tourism sector, toxic gas emissions during decomposition, and high cleanup costs. To address this challenge, the valorization of Sargassum as a raw material for synthesizing functional materials represents a sustainable management strategy. In this study, a superabsorbent hydrogel was developed from Sargassum biomass (collected in Cancún, Quintana Roo, in 2025) using an innovative process that bypasses the conventional cellulose isolation step. The biomass was subjected to high-energy milling (15 and 30 min) to prepare Sargassum powder, which was subsequently carboxymethylated using monochloroacetic acid. This modified biomass was then crosslinked with citric acid, a process evaluated at three different citric acid/carboxymethylated Sargassum mass ratios. The hydrogel synthesized with the lowest crosslinking agent ratio achieved a maximum water absorption capacity of 1160 wt%, a value that exceeds the typical absorption capacities of 700–900% for biopolymer hydrogels. Successful material formation was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which revealed the characteristic functional groups of CMC and the ester bonds formed during crosslinking. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed a well-defined porous structure with pore sizes ranging from 8.5 to 19.5 µm, which is essential for its high absorption performance. This study demonstrates the feasibility of producing high performance hydrogels from Sargassum through a simplified, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly process. These findings open a promising avenue for the integrated management of this problematic biomass, transforming it into value-added materials with potential applications in agriculture, hygiene, and environmental remediation. Full article

Reusing waste materials is a sustainable practice to reduce the impact of human activities on the global ecosystem. In particular, agro-industrial waste can be explored as an innovative and green source of beneficial bioactive compounds. For this purpose, seventeen different varieties of wine grape pomace were collected from the Apulia region (Italy) to perform extractions and qualitative–quantitative phenolic profile characterization. To ensure an environmentally friendly extraction process, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) were used as privileged media. After an initial screening, Merlot (MEA) and Sangiovese (SGA) varieties were then selected for extraction with betaine/lactic acid 1:4 (mol/mol) +40% water (w/w) and choline chloride/ascorbic acid 2:1 (mol/mol) +40% water (w/w). They were further investigated by LC-QTOF-MS for a comprehensive metabolomic evaluation. Betaine-based extracts from both cultivars exhibited higher polyphenol contents than choline chloride-based ones: 175.0 and 161.8 mg/kg compared to 59.6 and 40.4 mg/kg. Qualitative antimicrobial assays confirmed the effectiveness of betaine/lactic acid (MEA) and choline chloride/ascorbic acid (SGA) extracts on B. allii and E. coli, respectively, as well as the NADES themselves, even though it is difficult to discriminate the individual effects. Finally, the evaluation of both antioxidant activity and total polyphenol content led to good results for betaine/lactic acid (2.8 and 3.2 mg TEAC/g DW and 0.92 and 0.93 mg GAE/g DW for SGA and MEA, respectively), while the content of ascorbic acid, used as a component of NADES, substantially influenced the relevant obtained results in choline chloride/ascorbic acid samples. These findings support the potential of combining NADES with polyphenols recovered from grape pomace as a promising approach for further optimization and application-oriented investigation. Full article

How non-dominant specialized firms sustain systemic innovation influence in modular service ecosystems without occupying architectural control positions remains theoretically underdeveloped. This study develops a dual-path Resource–Strategy–Capability (R–S–C) mechanism framework to explain how structurally distinct network positions generate divergent innovation trajectories among non-dominant firms. The empirical analysis draws on large-scale patent collaboration network data from China’s autonomous driving industry, covering 26 hidden champion firms and 14 global leading enterprises across 2009–2023. The framework identifies two divergent pathways: firms occupying structural hole positions adopt specialization-deepening strategies that build module-anchoring capabilities, while firms with high betweenness centrality adopt T-shaped strategies that build interface-bridging capabilities—both enabling systemic influence without architectural control. To make the resource construct theoretically precise, the framework distinguishes four categories of network-derived resources operative in the R–S–C mechanism—informational, coordination, reputational, and module-definition resources—and specifies three microfoundational processes through which strategic orientation translates into capability: experiential learning, codification of routines, and legitimation through external recognition. Institutional policy environments moderate these mechanisms by reshaping network structural heterogeneity rather than directly driving firm outcomes. The study challenges the canonical prediction of structural hole theory by demonstrating that brokerage positions generate specialization deepening rather than scope expansion when absorptive capacity constraints are binding, extends service ecosystem theory by introducing non-dominant firm pathways to systemic value co-creation, and reframes institutional policy as a network-structural moderator with transferable implications beyond the Chinese context. Full article

Climate change impacts in Europe are accelerating, creating urgent adaptation needs across diverse local contexts. This paper presents the implementation of a Systems Innovation Approach (SIA) through living labs to co-design climate resilience strategies in nine European case studies. SIA provides a structured, participatory framework for systemic change through a stepwise approach, enabling the development of tailor-made sustainability strategies by co-designing a portfolio of short-, mid-, and long-term innovative solutions. Living labs can successfully support open innovation ecosystems by facilitating knowledge exchange, trust-building, and co-creation of tailored innovation pathways for adaptation. Results showcase how the SIA can be operationalized in the context of climate change adaptation and resilience throughout nine case studies. The discussion highlights how living labs, using an SIA, can enhance stakeholder networks and build capacity and co-create knowledge and mutual understanding across diverse stakeholders while fostering actionable strategies. However, challenges remain regarding sustaining living labs beyond project funding, maintaining engagement, and bridging planning-to-implementation gaps. The paper concludes with recommendations for institutionalizing living labs within governance frameworks to accelerate Europe’s transition toward climate resilience. Full article

In the context of the digital economy as a driver of economic transformation, digital enterprises have become pivotal actors in value creation and innovation. A conducive business environment is essential for enhancing productivity, competitiveness, and the long-term resilience of entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, the mechanisms through which this environment influences the entry of newborn digital enterprises, a core indicator of sustainable economic activity, remain inadequately explored. This paper develops a government-led business environment index based on three dimensions: the legal environment, the governmental affairs environment, and public services. Using panel data from 35 major Chinese cities spanning 2016 to 2020, we employ a negative binomial regression model to examine how both the overall business environment and its sub-dimensions affect the entry of newborn digital enterprises. The findings reveal that an overall improvement in the urban business environment significantly promotes the entry of newborn digital enterprises and that all three sub-dimensions, namely the legal environment, governmental affairs environment, and public services, collectively facilitate this process. The principal implication is that local governments should focus on the balanced optimization of all business environment elements. Such policies not only stimulate digital startup formation but also contribute to high-quality, resilient, and economically sustainable urban development. Full article