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The goals of the European Union towards the energy transition imply profound changes in the energy field, so as to promote sustainable energy development while fostering economic growth. To achieve these changes, the incorporation of sustainable technologies supporting decentralisation, energy efficiency, renewable energy production, and demand flexibility is of vital importance. Blockchain has the potential to change energy services towards this direction. To optimally exploit blockchain, innovative business models need to be designed, identifying the opportunities emerging from unmet needs, while also considering potential risks so as to take action to overcome them. In this context, the scope of this paper is to examine the opportunities and the risks that emerge from the adoption of blockchain in four innovative business models, while also identifying mitigation strategies to support and accelerate the energy transition, thus proposing optimal approaches of exploitation of blockchain in energy services. The business models concern Energy Performance Contracting with P4P guarantees, improved self-consumption in energy cooperatives, energy efficiency and flexibility services for natural gas boilers, and smart energy management for EV chargers and HVAC appliances. Firstly, the value proposition of the business models is analysed and results in a comprehensive SWOT analysis. Based on the findings of the analysis and consultations with relevant market actors, in combination with the examination of the relevant literature, risks are identified and evaluated through a qualitative assessment approach. Subsequently, specific mitigation strategies are proposed to address the detected risks. This research demonstrates that blockchain integration into these business models can significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, enhance security, and support a more decentralised energy system, providing actionable insights for stakeholders to implement blockchain solutions effectively. Furthermore, according to the results, technological and legal risks are the most significant, followed by political, economic, and social risks, while environmental risks of blockchain integration are not as important. Strategies to address risks relevant to blockchain exploitation include ensuring policy alignment, emphasising economic feasibility, facilitating social inclusion, prioritising security and interoperability, consulting with legal experts, and using consensus algorithms with low energy consumption. The findings offer clear guidance for energy service providers, policymakers, and technology developers, assisting in the design, deployment, and risk mitigation of blockchain-enabled business models to accelerate sustainable energy development. Full article

Recently, the incidence of diabetes has increased across all socioeconomic groups, with a notable increase in developing countries. Although advances in medical devices have enhanced healthcare accessibility, these benefits remain largely out of reach for individuals residing in remote areas. Concurrently, a variety of devices have been created to detect glucose biomarkers. Among these, microfluidic paper-based sensors have received substantial attention due to their affordability, disposability, and ease of production. Research on microfluidic paper-based glucose sensors has become particularly prominent owing to their considerable potential and wide applicability, especially in the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in glucose sensor processing. This review aims to examine recent advancements and progress in the development of microfluidic paper-based glucose sensors over the past five years, highlighting their advantages, limitations, and prospects. The sensors combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning have potential for future applications. Full article

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is essential for global food security, especially in tropical regions. As an important genetic resource, its genetics plays a key role in crop breeding, enabling the development of more productive and pest- and disease-resistant varieties. Scientometrics, which quantitatively analyzes the production and impact of scientific research, is crucial for understanding trends in cassava genetics. This study aimed to apply bibliometric methods to conduct a scientific mapping analysis based on yearly publication trends, paper classification, author productivity, journal impact factor, keywords occurrences, and omic approaches to investigate the application of genetics to the species from 1960 to 2022. From the quantitative data analyzed, 3246 articles were retrieved from the Web of Science platform, of which 654 met the inclusion criteria. A significant increase in scientific production was observed from 1993, peaking in 2018. The first article focused on genetics was published in 1969. Among the most relevant journals, Euphytica stood out with 36 articles, followed by Genetics and Molecular Research (n = 30) and Frontiers in Plant Science (n = 25). Brazil leads in the number of papers on cassava genetics (n = 143), followed by China (n = 110) and the United States (n = 75). The analysis of major methodologies (n = 185) reveals a diversified panorama during the study period. Morpho-agronomic descriptors persisted from 1978 to 2022; however, microsatellite markers were the most widely used, with 102 records. Genomics was addressed in 87 articles, and transcriptomics in 65. By clarifying the current landscape, this study supports cassava conservation and breeding, assists in public policy formulation, and guides future research in the field. Full article

Digital transformation (DT) has emerged as a key strategic lever for enhancing firm resilience and competitiveness, yet its influence on non-productive investment behaviors, such as corporate financial investment, remains underexplored. Existing studies have largely focused on DT’s role in innovation and operational efficiency, leaving a significant gap in understanding how DT reshapes firms’ financial asset allocation. Drawing on a unique panel dataset of A-share main board-listed firms in China from 2011 to 2023, this study provides novel empirical evidence that DT significantly restrains financial investment, with pronounced heterogeneity across ownership types. More importantly, this paper uncovers a multi-layered mechanism: DT enhances the corporate information environment, which subsequently reduces financial investment. In addition, the analysis reveals a moderated mediation mechanism wherein economic uncertainty dampens the information-enhancing effect of DT. Unlike previous research that treats corporate risk-taking as a parallel mediator, this study identifies a sequential mediation pathway, where improved information environments suppress financial investment indirectly by influencing firms’ risk-taking behavior. These findings offer new theoretical insights into the financial implications of DT and contribute to the broader understanding of enterprise behavior in the context of digitalization and economic volatility. Full article

Bee products, in particular honey, propolis and bee venom, are of growing scientific interest due to their broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. In the face of increasing antibiotic resistance and the limitations of conventional therapies, natural bee-derived substances offer a promising alternative or support for the treatment of infections. This paper summarizes the current state of knowledge on the chemical composition, biological properties and antimicrobial activity of key bee products. The main mechanisms of action of honey, propolis and bee venom are presented, and their potential applications in the prevention and treatment of bacterial, viral and fungal infections are discussed. Data on their synergy with conventional drugs and prospects for use in medicine and pharmacology are also included. The available findings suggest that, with appropriate standardization and further preclinical and clinical analyses, bee products could become an effective support for the treatment of infections, especially those caused by pathogens resistant to standard therapies. Full article

Public transport companies are aware that the success of their operations largely depends on the proper sizing and optimization of their processes. Among the key activities are the maintenance and repair of the vehicle fleet. This paper presents the application of mathematical optimization methods from the field of operations research to improve the efficiency of service workshops for bus maintenance and repair. Based on an analysis of collected data using queueing theory, the authors assessed the current system performance and found that the queueing system still has spare capacity and could be downsized, which aligns with the company’s management goals. Specifically, the company plans to reduce the number of bus repair service stations (servers in a queueing system). The main question is whether the system will continue to function effectively after this reduction. Three specific downsizing solutions were proposed and evaluated using queueing theory methods: extending the daily operating hours of the workshops, reducing the number of arriving buses, and increasing the productivity of a service station (server). The results show that, under high system load, only those solutions that increase the productivity of individual service stations (servers) in the queueing system provide optimal outcomes. Other solutions merely result in longer queues and associated losses due to buses waiting for service, preventing them from performing their intended function and causing financial loss to the company. Full article

Ruminant livestock production plays a crucial role in the agricultural systems of Sub-Saharan Africa, significantly supporting rural livelihoods through income generation, improved nutrition, and employment opportunities. Despite its importance, the sector continues to face substantial challenges, such as low feed quality, seasonal feed shortages, and climate-related stresses, all of which limit productivity and sustainability. Considering these challenges, the adoption of natural feed additives has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance animal performance, optimise nutrient utilisation, and mitigate environmental impacts, including the reduction of enteric methane emissions. This review underscores the significant potential of natural feed additives such as plant extracts, essential oils, probiotics, and mineral-based supplements such as fossil shell flour as sustainable alternatives to conventional growth promoters in ruminant production systems across the region. All available documented evidence on the topic from 2000 to 2024 was collated and synthesised through standardised methods of systematic review protocol—PRISMA. Out of 319 research papers downloaded, six were included and analysed directly or indirectly in this study. The results show that the addition of feed additives to ruminant diets in all the studies reviewed significantly (p < 0.05) improved growth parameters such as average daily growth (ADG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group. However, no significant (p > 0.05) effect was found on cold carcass weight (CCW), meat percentage, fat percentage, bone percentage, or intramuscular fat (IMF%) compared to the control. The available evidence indicates that these additives can provide tangible benefits, including improved growth performance, better feed efficiency, enhanced immune responses, and superior meat quality, while also supporting environmental sustainability by reducing nitrogen excretion and decreasing dependence on antimicrobial agents. Full article

In the process of producing ferroalloys, a large amount of secondary raw materials is formed, including slag, aspiration dusts and sludge. The recycling of secondary raw materials can create resources and bring environmental and economic benefits. Wet secondary raw materials (WSRMs) are characterized by a high chromium oxide content (averaging 24%), but due to their high moisture levels, they cannot be directly used in arc furnaces. As a strategic approach, mixing WSRMs with drier, more chromium-rich dusts (up to 45% Cr₂O₃) has been proposed. This not only reduces the overall moisture content of the mixture but also enhances the metallurgical value of the charge material. This paper presents the results of laboratory studies on the agglomeration of secondary wet raw materials using briquetting, extrusion and pelletizing methods. The main factors influencing the quality of the resulting product were analyzed, including the method of agglomeration, the composition of the mixture, as well as the type and dosage of the binder component. The strength characteristics of the finished agglomerated samples were evaluated in terms of resistance to splitting, impact loads and falling. Notably, the selected binders are organic and polymer substances capable of complete combustion under metallurgical smelting conditions. Full article

In the context of the global response to climate change and the active promotion of energy transformation, a number of low-carbon policies coupled with the development of synergies to help power system transformation is an important initiative. However, the insufficient articulation of the green power market, tradable green certificate (TGC) market, and carbon emission trading (CET) mechanism, and the ambiguous policy boundaries affect the trading decisions made by its market participants. Therefore, this paper systematically analyses the composition of the main players in the electricity-CET-TGC markets and their relationship with each other, and designs the synergistic mechanism of the electricity-CET-TGC markets, based on which, it constructs the optimal profit model of the thermal power plant operators, renewable energy manufacturers, power grid enterprises, power users and load aggregators under the electricity-CET-TGC markets synergy, and analyses the behavioural decision-making of the main players in the electricity-CET-TGC markets as well as the electric power system to optimise the trading strategy of each player. The results of the study show that: (1) The synergistic mechanism of electricity-CET-TGC markets can increase the proportion of green power grid-connected in the new type of power system. (2) In the selection of different environmental rights and benefits products, the direct participation of green power in the market-oriented trading is the main way, followed by applying for conversion of green power into China certified emission reduction (CCER). (3) The development of independent energy storage technology can produce greater economic and environmental benefits. This study provides policy support to promote the synergistic development of the electricity-CET-TGC markets and assist the low-carbon transformation of the power industry. Full article

The connection between sugar and ethanol prices is in line with concerns about the connection between oil and food prices. This paper studies the nexus between Colombia’s ethanol and sugar prices and the role that weather shocks play. Data on production and prices from the sugar mills and climate data on precipitation and temperature are used to estimate two ways to capture the relationship between prices and the role of weather shocks. First, a reduced-form estimation is made, where the study finds evidence of the pass-through of the international price to domestic prices and how high precipitation and temperature shocks increase prices. Then, the study addresses potential simultaneity problems between prices and estimates a VEC model with exogenous variables such as weather shocks. Results show that all domestic prices are affected by the international price, and the international price is affected by the white sugar domestic prices. Additionally, sugar prices react to shocks in ethanol prices, but ethanol prices do not react to shocks in sugar prices. Finally, weather shocks affect sugar prices, with daytime temperature shocks being the most damaging. Full article

In UGC-based knowledge trading platforms, the abundance of personalized content often leads to varying quality levels. By incorporating embedded advertising, platforms can incentivize knowledge producers to produce high-quality content; however, the uncertainty in managing embedded advertisements increases the complexity of pricing knowledge products. This paper examines the impact of embedded advertising on the pricing of knowledge products, aims to maximize the profits of both knowledge producer and the platform. Based on Stackelberg game theory, two pricing decision models are developed under different advertising management modes: the platform-managed mode (where the platform determines the advertising intensity) and the advertiser-managed mode (where the advertiser determines the advertising intensity). The study analyzes the effects of UGC product quality, consumer sensitivity to advertising, and power structure on knowledge product pricing, and derives threshold conditions for optimal pricing. The results indicate that (1) When the quality of UGC knowledge product exceeds a certain threshold, platform-managed advertising becomes profitable. (2) Under the platform-managed mode, both the platform and knowledge producer can adopt price-increasing strategies to enhance profits. (3) Under the advertiser-managed mode, the platform can leverage differences in power structure to optimize revenue, while knowledge producer can actively enhance his pricing power to achieve mutual benefits with the platform. This study provides theoretical support and practical guidance for advertising cooperation mechanisms and pricing strategies for knowledge products in UGC-based knowledge trading platforms. Full article

Weed management remains a critical challenge in the U.S. container ornamental production industry, where weeds not only compete with crops for limited resources but also harbor pests and pathogens, thereby diminishing plant quality and marketability. The paper explores the economic impact of weed infestations, herbicide resistance development, and the limited availability of selective herbicides for ornamental crops in the United States. This review synthesizes current chemical weed control tactics, focusing not only on both preemergence and postemergence herbicides commonly used in ornamental nurseries, but also organic alternatives and integrated weed management (IWM) approaches as complementary strategies by evaluating their effectiveness, crop safety, and usage. There is a critical need for research in the areas of alternative chemical options such as insecticides, miticides (e.g., Zerotol and Tetra Curb Max), and organic products for liverwort control in greenhouses. Although essential oils and plant-based extracts show some potential, their effectiveness and practical use remain largely unexplored. Full article

This paper examines the effect of digital innovation on cost stickiness in manufacturing firms, focusing on the underlying mechanisms and contextual factors. Using data from Chinese A-share listed manufacturing firms from 2012 to 2023, we find that, first, for each one-unit increase in the level of digital technology, the cost stickiness index of enterprises decreases by an average of 0.4315 units, primarily through digital process innovation and digital business model innovation, whereas digital product innovation does not exhibit a statistically significant impact. Second, manufacturing servitization and the optimization of human capital structure are identified as key mediating mechanisms. Digital innovation promotes servitization by transitioning firms from product-centric to service-oriented business models, thereby reducing fixed costs and improving resource flexibility. It also optimizes human capital by increasing the proportion of high-skilled employees and reducing labor adjustment costs. Third, the effect of digital innovation on cost stickiness is found to be heterogeneous. Firms with high financing constraints benefit more from the cost-reducing effects of digital innovation due to improved resource allocation efficiency. Additionally, mid-tenure executives are more effective in leveraging digital innovation to mitigate cost stickiness, as they balance short-term performance pressures with long-term strategic investments. These findings contribute to the understanding of how digital transformation reshapes cost behavior in manufacturing and provide insights for policymakers and firms seeking to achieve sustainable development through digital innovation. Full article

Medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides (MCTs) possess antibacterial, antiviral, nutritional, and other biological activities and have demonstrated significant application potential in humans and terrestrial animals. In recent years, with the development of the green aquaculture industry, MCTs have been gradually applied to aquaculture animals, which can enhance growth performance, improve flesh quality, regulate lipid metabolism, boost immune activity, and modulate the intestinal flora, thereby improving the production efficiency of aquaculture. This paper elaborates in detail on the biological activities of MCTs and their applications in aquatic animals, providing a theoretical and practical basis for the application of MCTs in aquaculture. Full article

In this paper, we introduce Kluitenberg’s formulation of non-equilibrium thermodynamics with internal variables in the context of a Riemannian space, as required by Einstein’s general relativity. Using the formulation of the second law of thermodynamics in general coordinates with a pseudo-Euclidean metric, we derive a Levi-Civita-like energy tensor and propose a generalization of the second law within a Riemannian space, in agreement with Tolman’s approach. In addition, we determine the expression for the entropy density in a general Riemannian space and identify the new variables upon which it depends. This allows us to deduce, within this framework, the equilibrium inelastic and viscous stress tensors as well as the entropy production. These expressions are consistent with the principle of general covariance and Einstein’s equivalence principle. Full article