Search Results (2,193)

 Asbestos, consisting of six natural mineral fibrous silicate phases, was widely utilized in industrial development during the 20th century and has left a global legacy of health, environmental, and regulatory challenges. Its remarkable properties (e.g., heat resistance, sound absorption, and tensile strength) made it a useful material in numerous applications. However, scientific research revealed its serious health risks in the early 1900s, with growing evidence during the 1960s, and nowadays its role in the development of different diseases (e.g., respiratory diseases, such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis) is well defined. Mapping this complex history requires integrating heterogeneous and often inconsistent information from nearly 200 countries. In this study, we tested the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools as exploratory and comparative instruments to support the collection of asbestos-related data worldwide. Using Google Gemini (version 2.5 flash) and OpenAI ChatGPT (GPT-4-turbo variant), we gathered historical, medical, and regulatory information and then systematically verified and contextualized it with expert analysis. This dual approach allowed us to assess both the global asbestos situation and the reliability, advantages, and limitations of AI-assisted research. Our results highlight how AI can accelerate data collection and provide useful first drafts while underscoring the necessity of human expertise for validation, interpretation, and critical integration. This study, therefore, contributes a dual perspective: a comprehensive overview of the asbestos legacy across countries and a methodological reflection on the opportunities and pitfalls of employing AI in geoscientific and environmental research.  Full article

This study investigates the environmental dimension of sustainable development across fifteen post-Soviet republics in 2022. While sustainability is generally understood as a triadic construct—economic, social, and environmental—this paper isolates the ecological pillar to highlight cross-country differences shaped by industrial legacies, institutional capacity, and governance models. A composite Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is developed using the Mazziotta–Pareto Index (MPI), which captures both average performance and internal consistency across three SDG-related domains: SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The study adds to existing literature as it includes a non-compensatory composite index and cluster analysis, and in policy terms, it provides a benchmarking system for facilitating ecological transition in the post-Soviet context. The results reveal strong divergence across the region: Baltic countries and Moldova achieve higher scores, reflecting policy convergence with the European Union and stronger environmental institutions, while Central Asian republics lag due to resource dependence, water scarcity, and weaker governance. Geographic cluster analysis corroborates these differences, showing clear spatial patterns of environmental convergence and divergence. Correlation analysis further demonstrates that environmental sustainability is positively associated with GDP per capita, HDI, and life expectancy, while negatively linked with inequality and fertility rates. These findings stress the need for context-sensitive and evidence-based policies, intra-regional cooperation, and integrated governance mechanisms to advance ecological transition in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Full article

Given the climate change observed in the past few decades, sustainable development and the use of renewable energy sources are urgent. In this scenario, hydrogen production through electrolyzers is a promising renewable source and energy vector because of its ultralow greenhouse emissions and high energy content. Hydrogen can be used in a variety of applications, from transportation to electricity generation, contributing to the diversification of the energy matrix. In this context, this paper presents an autonomous isolated DC microgrid system for generating and storing electrical energy to be exclusively used for feeding an electrolyzer hydrogen production plant, which has been retrofitted for green hydrogen production. Experimental verification was performed at Itaipu Parquetec, which consists of an alkaline electrolysis unit directly integrated with a battery energy storage system and renewable sources (e.g., photovoltaic and wind) by using an isolated DC microgrid concept based on DC/DC and AC/DC converters. Experimental results revealed that the new electrolyzer DC microgrid increases the system’s overall efficiency in comparison to the legacy thyristor-based power supply system by 26%, and it autonomously controls the energy supply to the electrolyzer under optimized conditions with an extremely low output current ripple. Another advantage of the proposed DC microgrid is its ability to properly manage the startup and shutdown process of the electrolyzer plant under power generation outages. This paper is the result of activities carried out under the R&D project of ANEEL program No. PD-10381-0221/2021, entitled “Multiport DC-DC Converter and IoT System for Intelligent Energy Management”, which was conducted in partnership with CTG-Brazil. Full article

The secularization of religion in late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century Britain profoundly altered the ethical foundations of the modernist novel, challenging writers to reimagine the role of literature in the absence of religious authority. Against this backdrop, the present study investigates how modernist authors—exemplified by Virginia Woolf—both inherited and transformed the ethical ideals of religious communities. Through a comparative approach, this article traces the secularization of the Clapham Sect’s “moral covenant” and the Quaker notion of the “inner light”, revealing how these religious legacies, as mediated through the intellectual frameworks of Leslie Stephen and George Moore, contributed to Woolf’s construction of an author–reader intellectual community. The study demonstrates how this religious inheritance is reconfigured in Woolf’s theory of the ‘common reader,’ highlighting her contribution to modernist aesthetics and ethics. Through the figure of the ‘common reader,’ religion emerges not as a set of fixed doctrines, but as a foundation for constructing ethical communities in a secular age. Full article

Hydrogen-assisted fatigue cracking presents a critical challenge to the structural integrity of legacy carbon steel natural gas pipelines being repurposed for hydrogen transport, posing a major barrier to the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure. This study systematically evaluates the fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior of API 5L X60 pipeline steel under varying hydrogen–natural gas (H₂–NG) blending conditions to assess its suitability for long-term hydrogen service. Experiments are conducted using a custom-designed autoclave to replicate field-relevant environmental conditions. Gas mixtures range from 0% to 100% hydrogen by volume, with tests performed at a constant pressure of 6.9 MPa and a temperature of 25 °C. A fixed loading frequency of 8.8 Hz and load ratio (R) of 0.60 ± 0.1 are applied to simulate operational fatigue loading. The test matrix is designed to capture FCG behavior across a broad range of stress intensity factor values (ΔK), spanning from near-threshold to moderate levels consistent with real-world pipeline pressure fluctuations. The results demonstrate a clear correlation between increasing hydrogen concentration and elevated FCG rates. Notably, at 100% hydrogen, API X60 specimens exhibit crack propagation rates up to two orders of magnitude higher than those in 0% hydrogen (natural gas) conditions, particularly within the Paris regime. In the lower threshold region (ΔK ≈ 10 MPa·√m), the FCG rate (da/dN) increased nonlinearly with hydrogen concentration, indicating early crack activation and reduced crack initiation resistance. In the upper Paris regime (ΔK ≈ 20 MPa·√m), da/dNs remained significantly elevated but exhibited signs of saturation, suggesting a potential limiting effect of hydrogen concentration on crack propagation kinetics. Fatigue life declined substantially with hydrogen addition, decreasing by ~33% at 50% H₂ and more than 55% in pure hydrogen. To complement the experimental investigation and enable predictive capability, a modular machine learning (ML) framework was developed and validated. The framework integrates sequential models for predicting hydrogen-induced reduction of area (RA), fracture toughness (FT), and FCG rate (da/dN), using CatBoost regression algorithms. This approach allows upstream degradation effects to be propagated through nested model layers, enhancing predictive accuracy. The ML models accurately captured nonlinear trends in fatigue behavior across varying hydrogen concentrations and environmental conditions, offering a transferable tool for integrity assessment of hydrogen-compatible pipeline steels. These findings confirm that even low-to-moderate hydrogen blends significantly reduce fatigue resistance, underscoring the importance of data-driven approaches in guiding material selection and infrastructure retrofitting for future hydrogen energy systems. Full article

For centuries, artisans have resolved intricate engineering conundrums with intuitive ingenuity, bequeathing a legacy of design wisdom that remains largely untapped in contemporary biomimetics. This “anthro-creative” form of biomimicry, deeply embedded within traditional crafts such as Chaozhou woodcarving, is predominantly tacit and qualitative, which has traditionally eluded systematic interpretation. To address this, we propose the Hierarchical Biomimetics-Based Evaluation System (HBBES), a transdisciplinary framework that couples expert-defined hierarchies through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with perceptual assessments from one hundred public evaluators via Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE). Applied to canonical works—including the Lobster and Crab Basket (overall score: 4.36/5.00)—the HBBES revealed a striking finding: both expert and public valuations are anchored not in structural hierarchy, but in aesthetic resonance, particularly the craft’s lifelike morphological analogy and nuanced modulation of light. Beyond offering a replicable pathway for translating artisanal intuition into operative design principles, this study proposes a culture-driven paradigm for biomimetics, bridging intangible heritage with technological innovation. Full article

Mining activity has been and is one of the most important and indispensable industries for the development of society. Given its role in the provision of raw materials, advancing the development of environmentally friendly mining practices is essential for meeting the globally established goals of sustainable development. In this regard, actions and incentives are being promoted by the European Union, such as the Mine.io project presented in this research. In response to the needs identified within the mining sector, this research seeks to explore the functional and non-functional requirements across several mining contexts. The objective is to establish effective patterns that positively influence the sector activities. This effort is envisioned as a critical foundation for developing a digital architecture that addresses sector limitations and fosters the integration of Industry 4.0 principles into the mining domain. The results provide a solid basis for understanding the needs of the different mining sectors analyzed, while also demonstrating the potential advancements achievable through the project’s technological developments. They enable a comprehensive evaluation of the current technological state in relation to the broader context of global legacy practices, establishing informed guidelines for effective sector responses based on digitalization and the application of sustainable tools. Full article

Plastic pollution has emerged as a pervasive and systemic driver of ecological and biogeochemical disruption in freshwater and marine environments. Unlike natural materials that circulate within closed biogeochemical loops, synthetic polymers predominantly follow unidirectional and irreversible trajectories, a phenomenon we describe as “irreversible plastic transport.” These flows culminate in sedimentary entrapment, where plastics persist as long-term ecological stressors and potential vectors of contaminant transfer. Recent global syntheses indicate that sedimentary microplastic loads can exceed 27,000 particles/kg dry weight in certain river systems, highlighting the urgency of sediment-inclusive risk assessments. This review synthesizes interdisciplinary findings to conceptualize plastics as both pollutants and governance challenges. We highlighted the dominant transport pathways of micro- and nanoplastics and emphasize that sedimentary sinks are critical long-term retention zones. Current monitoring frameworks often underestimate sedimentary burdens by focusing on surface water and overlooking subsurface ecological legacies. We propose an integrated governance approach combining cross-media monitoring, Earth system modeling, and adaptive policies to address these persistent synthetic agents. Embedding plastic dynamics within comprehensive risk assessment frameworks is essential for sustainable water management during the Anthropocene. Our synthesis supports risk-based decision-making and encourages proactive, transdisciplinary global governance strategies that integrate sediment-focused monitoring and long-term ecological risk management. Full article

In the context of increasing climate variability and flood risk, this study explores how long-standing agricultural practices in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia, have fostered flood resilience through the integration of local agro-environmental knowledge and geomorphologic conditions. Employing a morpho-typological framework, the research identifies three flood adaptation landscape types (FALTs)—rolling hills, foot slopes, and flood plains—each reflecting distinct interactions between landform, soil, biodiversity, hydrology, and viticultural management. Through geospatial analysis, field surveys, and interviews with local farmers, the study reveals how adaptive strategies—ranging from flood avoidance to attenuation and acceptance—have evolved in response to site-specific hydrological and ecologic dynamics. These strategies demonstrate a form of ‘sponge landscape’ design, where agricultural systems are co-shaped with natural processes to enhance systemic resilience and long-term productivity. The findings underscore the value of preserving biocultural legacies and suggest that spatially explicit, context-based approaches to flood adaptation can inform sustainable landscape planning and climate resilience strategies in other rural regions. The FALT framework offers a replicable methodology for identifying flood adaptation patterns across diverse agricultural systems in Australia, supporting proactive land use planning and nature-based solutions. This research contributes to the discourse on climate adaptation by bridging traditional environmental knowledge with contemporary planning frameworks, offering practical insights for policy, landscape management, and rural development. Full article

Cultural organizations have traditionally been viewed as resistant to change, often bound by legacy structures, public dependency, and non-commercial missions. However, recent advances in digital technologies—ranging from AI and VR to IoT and big data—are reshaping the operational and strategic landscape of these institutions. Despite this shift, academic literature has yet to comprehensively map how technological innovation transforms cultural organizations into practice. This paper addresses this gap by introducing the concept of the Cultural Organizational System (COS)—a holistic framework that captures the multi-component structure of cultural entities, including space, tools, performance, management, and networks. Using a PRISMA-based scoping review methodology, we analyze over 90 sources to identify the types, functions, and strategic roles of technological innovations across COS components. The findings reveal a taxonomy of innovation use cases, a mapping to Oslo innovation categories, and a quadrant model of enablers and barriers unique to the cultural sector. By offering an integrated view of digital transformation in cultural settings, this study advances innovation theory and provides practical guidance for cultural leaders and policymakers seeking to balance mission-driven goals with sustainability and modernization imperatives. Full article

This paper presents a critical review of urban accessibility frameworks, standards, and implementation challenges, grounded in the principles of Universal Design (UD), Social Inclusion Theory, and Sustainable Urbanism. Drawing upon global guidelines, regulatory instruments, and recent academic discourse, it identifies common gaps between accessibility policy and the lived realities of urban space users. This paper integrates these insights with an applied case study of Kaimakli Linear Park in Nicosia, Cyprus—an observational field audit and stakeholder interview series that illustrates the practical challenges of implementing inclusive design in legacy urban environments. Key barriers identified include inconsistent application of design standards, limited tactile and sensory guidance, inadequate mobility infrastructure, and insufficient stakeholder coordination. The case is not offered as a statistically generalizable sample but as an illustrative microcosm of systemic accessibility deficits. This integrative approach offers a framework for diagnosing spatial exclusion in public parks and provides cost-effective, policy-aligned strategies for inclusive urban transformation. Full article

Since the end of Apartheid in 1994, South Africa has striven to address past discrimination against members of marginalized groups such as Africans, women and LGBTQ+ individuals. Sophisticated media legislation and a vibrant civil society forged in the struggle against Apartheid ensure limited discrimination in traditional media and relatively fringe online forums. However, subtle forms of undermining signal the persistent legacy of a colonial and patriarchal past. While incidents of online racism and sexism are relatively well documented, ableism deserves more attention. Despite growing scholarship on digital discrimination, a significant research gap remains in understanding how ableist microaggressions manifest online, particularly when intersecting with race and gender. As a result of established media tropes, microaggressions against people with disabilities are somewhat naturalized and reproduced on social media, yet their intersectional dimensions—especially targeting Black women with disabilities—remain underexplored. This paper addresses this gap through a focused case study of jokes targeting Black women with disabilities in one TikTok video and the approximately 700 comments. Considering (dis)ability’s intersections with race, gender, and socio-economic status, these media texts are subjected to a critical thematic analysis. The study also problematizes the methodological challenges associated with finding, identifying, and purposively selecting such content. The analysis reveals a set of historically and contextually rooted microaggressions expressed through humor, which, as a cultural expression, is inherently covert and thus hard to detect and regulate. This research contributes to understanding how intersectional ableism operates digitally and highlights the need for nuanced approaches to identifying subtle forms of discrimination in online spaces. Full article

Background/Objectives: End-of-life (EoL) experiences are critically important for everyone involved, giving rise to a set of needs that extend far beyond bio-physiological aspects, to encompass the spiritual dimension as the core of human beings. Understanding the processes of spiritual awakening (SA) assists palliative care professionals in enhancing the quality of care provided to individuals with life-threatening illnesses, as well as to their families. SA is a fundamental occurrence linked to the fulfilment of our spiritual needs when facing an existential crisis, such as the proximity of death. However, its conceptual boundaries need to be clarified to provide qualified and humanized palliative care. Therefore, this study aims to identify the key attributes, antecedents, consequents, and empirical referents of SA at EoL, as well as to clarify the concept’s existing ambiguities. Methods: Walker and Avant’s eight-step concept analysis was used. A literature search was conducted in May 2025 across three databases (PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus). Results: Following the review, 21 articles were included for analysis. The concept analysis revealed four main attribute domains: (1) sensory–perceptual domain; (2) affective/cognitive domain; (3) relational domain; and (4) transcendental domain. Moreover, spiritual consciousness and the existential matrix were antecedents to this concept; revaluation of beliefs, finding spiritual serenity and inner freedom, fostering spiritual growth, and the desire to leave a legacy were its consequences. Conclusions: The concept of SA at the EoL reveals itself to be a complex and multifactorial phenomenon, with a profound impact on a person’s confrontation with finitude. Recognizing and integrating SA into palliative care allows for a more comprehensive understanding of human consciousness. To deal with SA experiences in healthcare settings, a multifaceted approach is needed. This encompasses acknowledging spirituality as a determinant of health, including spiritual care in standard practice, and offering education and training on spiritual care competence for healthcare practitioners. Further transdisciplinary research should be undertaken to explore SA phenomenological variations, guide clinical interventions, and evaluate SA impacts on spiritual well-being and spiritual growth. Full article

Background: Interoperability is fundamental for advancing digital health and digital therapeutics, particularly with the integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and federated learning. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where digital infrastructure remains fragmented, face specific challenges in implementing standardized and scalable systems. Methods: This scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley framework, refined by Levac et al., and the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar) were searched for peer-reviewed English language studies published between 2015 and 2025. We identified 255 potentially eligible articles and selected a 10% random sample (n = 26) using Stata 18 by StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA, for in-depth data charting and thematic synthesis. Results: The selected studies spanned over 15 countries and addressed priority technologies, including mobile health (mHealth), the use of Health Level Seven (HL7)’s Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) for data exchange, and blockchain. Interoperability enablers include standards (e.g., HL7 FHIR), data governance frameworks, and policy interventions. Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) face common issues related to digital capacity shortages, legacy systems, and governance fragmentation. Five thematic areas were identified: (1) policy and governance; (2) standards-based integration; (3) infrastructure and platforms; (4) emerging technologies; and (5) LMIC implementation issues. Conclusions: Emerging digital health technologies increasingly rely on interoperability standards to scale their operation. Although global standards such as FHIR and the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) are gaining momentum, LMICs require dedicated governance, infrastructure, and capacity investments to make equitable use feasible. Future initiatives can benefit from using science- and equity-informed frameworks. Full article

The increasing complexity of modern food production demands advanced solutions for quality control (QC), safety monitoring, and process optimization. This review systematically explores recent advancements in machine learning (ML) for QC across six domains: Food Quality Applications; Defect Detection and Visual Inspection Systems; Ingredient Optimization and Nutritional Assessment; Packaging—Sensors and Predictive QC; Supply Chain—Traceability and Transparency and Food Industry Efficiency; and Industry 4.0 Models. Following a PRISMA-based methodology, a structured search of the Scopus database using thematic Boolean keywords identified 124 peer-reviewed publications (2005–2025), from which 25 studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, methodological rigor, and innovation. Neural networks dominated the reviewed approaches, with ensemble learning as a secondary method, and supervised learning prevailing across tasks. Emerging trends include hyperspectral imaging, sensor fusion, explainable AI, and blockchain-enabled traceability. Limitations in current research include domain coverage biases, data scarcity, and underexplored unsupervised and hybrid methods. Real-world implementation challenges involve integration with legacy systems, regulatory compliance, scalability, and cost–benefit trade-offs. The novelty of this review lies in combining a transparent PRISMA approach, a six-domain thematic framework, and Industry 4.0/5.0 integration, providing cross-domain insights and a roadmap for robust, transparent, and adaptive QC systems in the food industry. Full article