Search Results (103)

Ensuring sustainable food systems is an urgent global priority as populations grow and environmental pressures mount. Technological innovations such as genetic engineering (GE) and nanotechnology (nano) have been promoted as promising pathways for achieving greater sustainability in agriculture and food production. Yet, the sustainability of these technologies is not defined by technical performance alone; it hinges on how they are perceived by key stakeholders and how well they align with broader societal values. This study addresses the critical question of how expert stakeholders evaluate the sustainability of GE and nano-based food and agriculture (agrifood) products. Using a multi-method online platform, we engaged 42 experts across academia, government, industry, and NGOs in the United States to assess six real-world case studies—three using GE and three using nano—across ten different dimensions of sustainability. We show that nano-based products were consistently rated more favorably than their GE counterparts in terms of environmental, economic, and social sustainability, as well as across ethical and societal dimensions. Like prior studies, our results reveal that stakeholders see meaningful distinctions between nanotechnology and biotechnology, likely due to underlying value-based concerns about animal welfare, perceived naturalness, or corporate control of agrifood systems. The fruit coating and flu vaccine—both nano-enabled—received the most positive ratings, while GE mustard greens and salmon were the most polarizing. These results underscore the importance of incorporating stakeholder perspectives in technology assessment and innovation governance. These results also suggest that responsible innovation efforts in agrifood systems should prioritize communication, addressing meaningful societal needs, and the contextual understanding of societal values to build trust and legitimacy. Full article

The maritime industry faces growing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reflected in the progressive adoption of stricter international energy regulations. Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) offer a promising solution by significantly contributing to decarbonization. This paper presents a versatile simulation and optimization platform that supports the conceptual design of WAPS-equipped vessels and evaluates the viability of such investments. The platform uses a steady-state force equilibrium model to simulate vessel performance along predefined routes under realistic weather conditions, incorporating regulatory frameworks and economic assessments. A multi-objective optimization framework identifies optimal designs across user-defined criteria. To demonstrate its capabilities, the platform is applied to a bulk carrier operating between China and the USA, optimizing for capital expenditure, net present value (NPV), and CO₂ emissions. Results show the platform can effectively balance conflicting objectives, achieving substantial emissions reductions without compromising economic performance. The final optimized design achieved a 12% reduction in CO₂ emissions, a 7% decrease in capital expenditure, and a 6.6 million USD increase in net present value compared to the reference design with sails, demonstrating the platform’s capability to deliver balanced improvements across all objectives. The methodology is adaptable to various ship types, WAPS technologies, and operational profiles, offering a valuable decision-support tool for stakeholders navigating the transition to zero-carbon shipping. Full article

Wildfires are becoming an increasingly severe threat to European forests, driven by climate change, land use changes, and socio-economic factors. Integrated solutions for wildfire prevention, early detection, emergency management, and ecological restoration are urgently needed to enhance forest resilience. The Horizon 2020 SILVANUS project developed a comprehensive multi-sectoral platform combining technological innovation, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable forest management strategies. This report analyses the Slovak Republic’s participation in SILVANUS, applying a seven-criterion fit–gap framework (governance, legal, interoperability, staff capacity, ecological suitability, financial feasibility, and stakeholder acceptance) to evaluate the platform’s alignment with national conditions. Notable contributions include stakeholder-supported functional requirements for wildfire prevention, climate-sensitive forest models for long-term adaptation planning, IoT- and UAV-based early fire detection technologies, and decision support systems (DSS) for emergency response and forest-restoration activities. The Slovak pilot sites, particularly in the Podpoľanie region, served as important testbeds for the validation of these tools under real-world conditions. All SILVANUS modules scored ≥12/14 in the fit–gap assessment; early deployment reduced high-risk fuel polygons by 23%, increased stand-level structural diversity by 12%, and raised the national Sustainable Forest Management index by four points. Integrating SILVANUS outcomes into national forestry practices would enable better wildfire risk assessment, improved resilience planning, and more effective public engagement in wildfire management. Opportunities for adoption include capacity-building initiatives, technological deployments in fire-prone areas, and the incorporation of DSS outputs into strategic forest planning. Potential challenges, such as technological investment costs, inter-agency coordination, and public acceptance, are also discussed. Overall, the Slovak Republic’s engagement with SILVANUS demonstrates the value of participatory, technology-driven approaches to sustainable wildfire management and offers a replicable model for other European regions facing similar challenges. Full article

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) imposes a significant global health burden across all age groups, annually causing over 600 million cases of pharyngitis and more than 18 million severe invasive infections or sequelae. The resurgence of scarlet fever globally and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) outbreaks in Japan have brought GAS infections back into the spotlight as a pressing global health concern. Unfortunately, no licensed vaccine against GAS is yet available for clinical use. Our comprehensive review examines the developmental history of GAS vaccines, outlining the research trajectory from early inactivated vaccines to contemporary multivalent, conjugate, multi-antigen, and mRNA-based vaccine platforms. It systematically analyzes clinical trial outcomes of GAS vaccines, highlighting recent advances in both M protein-based and non-M protein vaccine candidates while summarizing promising target antigens. The review concludes with critical strategies to accelerate vaccine commercialization, including enhanced investment in research and development, expanded collaborations, leveraging advanced vaccine technologies, streamlined clinical trials, and strengthened public health advocacy. This review critically evaluates the current evidence and future prospects in GAS vaccine development, emphasizing innovative strategies and engaging broader stakeholders to accelerate GAS vaccine development. Full article

Against the backdrop of China’s urban transformation from incremental expansion to stock regeneration, community regeneration has emerged as a critical mechanism for enhancing urban governance efficacy. As fundamental units of urban systems, the regeneration of communities requires comprehensive approaches to address complex socio-spatial challenges, with public participation serving as the core driver for achieving sustainable renewal goals. However, significant regional disparities persist in the effectiveness of public participation across China, necessitating the systematic institutionalization of participatory practices. Guangzhou, as a pioneering city in institutional innovation and the practical exploration of urban regeneration, provides a representative case for examining the evolutionary trajectory of participatory planning. This research employs Arnstein’s Ladder of Participation theory, utilizing literature analysis and comparative case studies to investigate the evolution of participatory mechanisms in Guangzhou’s community regeneration over four decades. The study systematically examined the transformation of public engagement models across multiple dimensions, including organizational frameworks of participation, participatory effectiveness, diversified financing models, and the innovation of policy instruments. Three paradigm shifts were identified: the (1) transition of participants from “passive responders” to “active constructors”, (2) advancement of engagement phases from “fragmented intervention” to “whole-cycle empowerment”, and (3) evolution of participation methods from “unidirectional communication” to “collaborative co-governance”. It identifies four drivers of participatory effectiveness: policy frameworks, financing mechanisms, mediator cultivation, and engagement platforms. To enhance public engagement efficacy, the research proposes the following: (1) a resilient policy adaptation mechanism enabling dynamic responses to multi-stakeholder demands, (2) a diversified financing framework establishing a “government guidance + market operation + resident contribution” cost-sharing model, (3) a professional support system integrating “localization + specialization” capacities, and (4) enhanced digital empowerment and institutional innovation in participatory platform development. These mechanisms collectively form an evolutionary pathway from “symbolic participation” to “substantive co-creation” in urban regeneration governance. Full article

Due to the rapid development of China’s economy, the current situation of fishing villages in the southeastern coastal areas is spatial disorder caused by changes in population composition and industrial transformation. This study analyses the differences between the clan structure and the multi-stakeholder engagement model in traditional fishing villages. The main aim is to illustrate contemporary issues that fishing villages’ spaces need to deal with in governance and decision making. With the development of information technology, social media has become an important platform through which stakeholders can communicate and make decisions. The aims of this paper were as follows: (1) Identify the stakeholders involved in the governance of fishing villages; (2) explore how stakeholders participate in the planning and governance of fishing villages through social media; (3) examine the mechanisms of social media and its impact on the spatial planning of fishing villages. Through qualitative research methods such as field surveys and in-depth interviews, the following results were obtained: (1) Social media subverts the traditional fishing village governance model, and the scope of the governance subject is expanded; (2) spatial changes in fishing villages are affected by the joint influence of people, the environment, and the economy, and a social network acts as an intermediary to compensate for the deficiencies that existed in previous fishing village governance processes. Full article

The Malabo Declaration commits African Union member states to eliminating hunger by 2025. Progress toward this target has been uneven and poorly understood. While some countries have recorded gains in non-hunger thematic areas such as finance, trade, resilience to climate variability, and governance and accountability mechanisms, the extent to which these improvements contribute to hunger reduction remains unclear. This study investigates whether performance in non-hunger areas, as measured through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Biennial Review C-scores, is statistically associated with outcomes under Commitment 3, which focuses on hunger reduction. We used random effects panel regression model covering 55 African countries from 2017 to 2023, the analysis identifies five significant predictors: agricultural GDP and poverty reduction (PC 4.1), foreign private investment (PC 2.3), multi stakeholder coordination (PC 1.2), inclusive public–private partnerships (PC 4.2), and trade policies (PC 5.2). Investment in resilience (PC 6.2) and capacity for planning and monitoring (PC 7.1) showed marginal associations. Our findings suggest that institutional presence alone does not drive hunger outcomes. We reflect that what matters is the structure, inclusiveness, and functionality of these mechanisms, including whether investments reach food-insecure populations, coordination platforms influence decisions, and policies adapt to local conditions. This study concludes that some high-performing categories fail to deliver tangible hunger reduction benefits when implementation is fragmented or disconnected from context. These findings challenge how progress is currently measured and interpreted at the regional level. Finally, we reiterate that as the region prepares for the post-2025 agenda, future strategies must directly link agricultural transformation to hunger reduction through targeted interventions and accountable institutions. Full article

Background and Objectives: Cervical cancer remains a critical public health challenge in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), where systemic barriers have hindered prevention efforts. This descriptive regional study evaluates progress toward achieving Target 1 of the WHO Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination—vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15—in 17 countries and territories. The research is situated within the context of the Regional Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention in EECA, a multi-stakeholder platform launched by UNFPA in 2021 to accelerate regional progress toward WHO targets. The Alliance supports countries through technical collaboration, shared learning, and political engagement. Therefore, as a secondary endpoint, the study explores possible correlations between national achievements and the post-2021 scale-up efforts supported by the Alliance. Methods: A standardized questionnaire, consolidated by United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) technical experts, was disseminated in November 2024 to 17 national focal points, yielding 19 responses due to disaggregated submissions from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The survey collected data on HPV vaccination policies, delivery models, vaccine type, target populations, and coverage. Results: By late 2024, six countries had implemented HPV vaccination before 2021, while six more launched programs after the Regional Alliance’s formation in 2021. Coverage varied widely, from 0.2% in Brčko District to 99.3% in Uzbekistan. Most countries targeted girls aged 9–14, with increasing male inclusion and catch-up cohorts. Gardasil 4 was the most used vaccine, though Gardasil 9 is gaining ground. School-based and hybrid delivery strategies were associated with significantly higher coverage (p = 0.0121). Inferential analysis also showed significant variation by vaccine type (p = 0.0067) and a positive correlation with program maturity (ρ = 0.52, p = 0.067). However, findings should be interpreted considering limitations including reliance on self-reported country data and absence of independent validation. Conclusions: The results offer actionable insights into delivery models, gender inclusion, and regional disparities—supporting efforts to close the gap toward 2030 elimination targets in EECA Countries. Full article

The advancement of biomedical research depends on efficient data sharing, integration, and annotation to ensure reproducibility, accessibility, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. International collaborative research is crucial for advancing biomedical science and innovation but often faces significant barriers, such as data sharing limitations, inefficient sample management, and scalability challenges. Existing infrastructures for biosample and data repositories face challenges limiting large-scale research efforts. This study presents a novel platform designed to address these issues, enabling researchers to conduct high-quality research more efficiently and at reduced costs. The platform employs a modular, distributed architecture that ensures high availability, redundancy, and interoperability among diverse stakeholders, as well as integrates advanced features, including secure access management, comprehensive query functionalities, real-time availability reporting, and robust data mining capabilities. In addition, this platform supports dynamic, multi-criteria searches tailored to disease-specific patient profiles and biosample-related data across pre-analytical, post-analytical, and cryo-storage processes. By evaluating the platform’s modular architecture and pilot testing outcomes, this study demonstrates its potential to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, streamline research workflows, and foster transformative advancements in biomedical research. The key is the innovation of a real-time dynamic e-consent (DRT e-consent) system, which allows donors to update their consent status in real time, ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory frameworks such as GDPR and HIPAA. The system also supports multi-modal data integration, including genomic sequences, electronic health records (EHRs), and imaging data, enabling researchers to perform complex queries and generate comprehensive insights. Full article

In modern aerospace systems, effective sensor optimisation is essential for ensuring reliable diagnostics, efficient resource allocation, and proactive maintenance. This paper presents Normalised Diagnostic Contribution Index (NDCI) integration into the Multi-Objective Sensor Optimisation Framework (MOSOF) to address application-specific performance nuances. Building on previous work, the proposed approach leverages a multi-objective genetic algorithm to optimise key criteria, including performance, cost, reliability management, and compatibility. NDCI is derived from simulation data obtained via the Boeing 737-800 Environmental Control System (ECS) using the SESAC platform, where degradation level readings across four fault modes are analysed. The framework evaluates sensor performance from the perspectives of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), Airlines, and Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) organisations. Validation against the Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance (mRMR) method highlights the distinct advantage of NDCI by identifying an optimal set of three sensors compared to mRMR’s six-sensor solution, and MOSOF’s multi-objective insertion enhances sensor deployment for different stakeholders. This integration not only expands the feasible solution space for sensor-pair configurations but also emphasises diagnostic value over redundancy. Overall, the enhanced NDCI-MOSOF offers a scalable, multi-stakeholder approach for next-generation sensor optimisation and predictive maintenance in complex aerospace systems. The results demonstrate significant improvements in diagnostics efficiency for stakeholders. Full article

The increasing demand for clean and reliable water resources, coupled with the growing threat of water pollution, has made real-time water quality (WQ) monitoring and assessment a critical priority in many urban areas. Urban environments encounter substantial challenges in maintaining WQ, driven by factors such as rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and the impacts of climate change. Effective real-time WQ monitoring is essential for safeguarding public health, promoting environmental sustainability, and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. The rapid advancement of Internet of Things (IoT) sensor technologies and smartphone applications presents an opportunity to develop integrated platforms for real-time WQ assessment. Advances in the IoT provide a transformative solution for WQ monitoring, revolutionizing the way we assess and manage our water resources. Moreover, recent developments in Location-Based Services (LBSs) and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) have significantly enhanced the accessibility and accuracy of location information. With the proliferation of GNSS services, such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou, users now have access to a diverse range of location data that are more precise and reliable than ever before. These advancements have made it easier to integrate location information into various applications, from urban planning and disaster management to environmental monitoring and transportation. The availability of multi-GNSS support allows for improved satellite coverage and reduces the potential for signal loss in urban environments or densely built environments. To harness this potential and to enable the seamless integration of the IoT and LBSs for sustainable WQ monitoring, a systematic literature review was conducted to determine past trends and future opportunities. This research aimed to review the limitations of traditional monitoring systems while fostering an understanding of the positioning capabilities of LBSs in environmental monitoring for sustainable urban development. The review highlights both the advancements and challenges in using the IoT and LBSs for real-time WQ monitoring, offering critical insights into the current state of the technology and its potential for future development. There is a pressing need for an integrated, real-time WQ monitoring system that is cost-effective and accessible. Such a system should leverage IoT sensor networks and LBSs to provide continuous monitoring, immediate feedback, and spatially dynamic insights, empowering stakeholders to address WQ issues collaboratively and efficiently. Full article

A System-of-Systems (SoS) approach is characterized by a strong cooperation between multiple constituent systems to achieve the desired objectives; the performance of an SoS will therefore be dependent on the performance of its constituent systems. However, due to the large number of stakeholders involved in a general SoS scenario, it is not the case that designing and optimizing the constituent systems’ performance with respect to their local design variables will lead to the optimal performance of the given SoS. The aim of the present work is to describe how the design and optimization of two aerial platforms, an all-electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicle and a multi-role hybrid-electric seaplane, will be carried out for a multimodal mobility scenario, accounting not only for the performance-based design requirements but also for needs of all the relevant actors identified in the scope of the proposed use case, illustrating their effects on the architecting of the multidisciplinary design process. This research demonstrates how a structured methodology for the integration of needs and requirements from multiple perspectives can improve the efficiency of the design process, strengthening the connection between the vehicle level and the System-of-Systems level. Full article

Sustainable food consumption is crucial for mitigating environmental degradation and promoting social and economic well-being. Despite growing interest in sustainability, significant challenges persist in consumer adoption and market integration. This study conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to explore the key drivers, obstacles, technological innovations, and corporate strategies shaping sustainable food consumption. The review synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed research published between 2015 and 2024, analyzing patterns across economic, geographic, and sociobehavioral contexts. Health concerns and environmental awareness are primary drivers, complemented by ethical values, taste perception, and social norms. However, economic constraints, limited product availability, lack of awareness, and behavioral inertia hinder its widespread adoption. Technological advancements, including digital platforms, AI-driven food safety solutions, blockchain for traceability, and alternative proteins, present opportunities to address these challenges. Corporate initiatives such as corporate social responsibility (CSR), fair-trade programs, and eco-labeling enhance consumer trust and accessibility. This study highlights key research gaps, particularly regarding cross-cultural variations in sustainable consumption patterns, long-term behavioral shifts, and the role of digital interventions in influencing consumer decision-making. A multi-stakeholder approach involving academia, businesses, and policymakers is crucial for developing strategies to facilitate the transition toward a sustainable and resilient food system. Full article

To address the pressing challenges of quality and sustainability in agricultural product supply chains, this paper proposes a multi-stakeholder collaborative governance framework. Adopting the perspective of collaborative governance and sustainability, the paper develops an evolutionary game model of the Chinese agricultural product supply chain. This model involves four key stakeholders: agricultural enterprises, the government, NGOs, and consumers. It integrates sustainability principles to ensure that the decisions of each stakeholder contribute to the quality and safety of agricultural products while also promoting long-term environmental and social well-being. The simulation results demonstrate the critical importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in strengthening governance and promoting sustainability. Based on these findings, the government is advised to implement technology-driven oversight mechanisms, such as AI-based inspections and blockchain traceability. Additionally, a tiered penalty system should be established, escalating penalties for repeat offenders. Regulatory cost-sharing mechanisms can also help ensure continuous enforcement without imposing excessive financial burdens on any single party. NGOs play a vital role in exposing corporate violations and can be more effective through targeted financial support and crowdsourced monitoring platforms. Consumers, as active participants in governance, should be incentivized with reward-based reporting systems and verified compliance feedback, which influence enterprise reputation. Public–private sustainability partnerships and real-time transparency platforms can further facilitate active participation from all stakeholders. By implementing these measures, the regulatory framework can evolve from traditional enforcement to a dynamic, data-driven governance model, fostering long-term sustainability and risk reduction in agricultural production. Full article

Multi-sided platforms (MSPs) can enable multiple user groups to create coordinated value. Like all transformative business models, these platforms emerged to resolve platform-related issues. Among the well-known MSPs, this research has focused on the ride-hailing platform InDrive as a successful case of MSP in Pakistan. Despite the presence of major companies like Uber and Careem, InDrive has gained recognition in a short period and has become the most downloaded ride-hailing application in Pakistan. InDrive focuses on empowering riders and drivers with greater fare-setting autonomy through negotiation; this peer-to-peer pricing model distinguishes it from its counterparts (Uber and Careem). This research examines the strategic features and innovations of InDrive’s business model to create a comprehensive framework for evaluating the effectiveness of strategic management, focusing on generating value by balancing the well-being of all stakeholders, ensuring equity, boosting productivity, and enhancing the impact of network effects. Notably, ride-hailing services (RHSs) are highly dynamic, as the features and offerings of these platforms may evolve. Therefore, balancing the sustainability of MSPs requires ongoing effort and an iterative approach. Full article