Search Results (40,054)

Against the backdrop of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets alongside the drive for high-quality urban development, the rollout of new energy vehicle pilot initiatives has become a core pathway to facilitate low-carbon transition in the transport sector. China launched the demonstration and promotion pilot policies for NEVs in 2009. Based on the externality theory, Porter Hypothesis, and financial resource allocation theory, this paper analyzes how different stakeholders respond to policy shocks and systematically elaborates on the internal mechanism through which NEV pilot policies affect urban green transition. It thoroughly clarifies the inherent transmission channels through which NEV trial policies reshape urban low-carbon development. Using a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) framework with panel data spanning 282 cities from 2003 to 2022, the findings indicate that pilot policies have significantly enhanced the urban green transition in China. However, this positive effect is predominantly driven by improvements in green technical efficiency (GTE), while the policy’s impact on green technological progress (GTP) is notably weaker. The effects of these policies exhibit regional heterogeneity: the marginal gains generated by the trials turn out to be more substantial within central and western China, as well as in resource-growing and regenerative cities. Further tests reveal that green technological innovation and financial support positively moderate the impact of new energy vehicle pilot policies on urban green transition. Full article

Regenerative farming practices, including the use of leguminous green manures, are increasingly recognized for their potential to improve soil quality, enhance nutrient cycling, and reduce nitrogen losses. In this study, we investigated the effects of two leguminous green manure crops, lupine (Lupinus albus L.) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), on maize (Zea mays L.) yield and soil mineral nitrogen dynamics in two soil layers (0–25 cm and 25–50 cm). The treatments were compared with mineral nitrogen fertilization (80 kg ha⁻¹ N) and an unfertilized control under field conditions on humic sandy soil in Hungary between 2021 and 2023. The results showed that under extreme drought conditions (2022), maize yield in mineral-fertilized plots (0.90 t ha⁻¹) was significantly lower than in the unfertilized control (1.61 t ha⁻¹), while green manure treatments maintained substantially higher yields (4.11–4.21 t ha⁻¹). Soil nitrogen dynamics were strongly influenced by precipitation patterns. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that increasing precipitation reduced mineral nitrogen content in the topsoil, while promoting its accumulation in deeper soil layers. This effect was particularly pronounced in mineral-fertilized treatments, where a significant negative correlation was observed in the 0–25 cm layer and a positive correlation in the 25–50 cm layer, suggesting greater downward movement of mineral nitrogen within the soil profile. Principal component analysis further indicated that mineral fertilizer-derived nitrogen was more strongly associated with precipitation variables than nitrogen originating from green manure treatments. The results suggest that the application of leguminous green manures promotes a more stable soil nitrogen distribution and reduces sensitivity to precipitation-driven nitrogen redistribution compared with mineral fertilization. Full article

Efficient utilization of agricultural residues plays an important role in advancing sustainable bioenergy development in China. This study established a multi-criteria evaluation framework integrating energy quality, economic performance, and environmental impact to assess three representative straw-to-energy pathways: direct combustion for power generation, anaerobic digestion for biogas production, and lignocellulosic ethanol production. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to determine indicator weights and calculate composite scores using operational and pilot-scale data obtained for each pathway. The results showed that anaerobic biogas achieved the highest overall performance (composite score 0.41), with balanced performance in economic viability, energy utilization efficiency, and environmental performance. Direct combustion demonstrated favorable economic performance (0.37) but exhibited higher process emissions, whereas lignocellulosic ethanol showed superior environmental performance but suffered from low energy conversion efficiency and negative economic returns (0.00). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of the pathway ranking and highlighted the dominant influence of economic and energy-related indicators on the overall sustainability assessment. The study demonstrated that anaerobic biogas exhibited the most balanced performance among the evaluated pathways under the investigated technological and economic conditions, while integrated biorefining approaches, such as co-production of ethanol and biogas, showed potential for further enhancing resource efficiency and sustainability. Full article

This study focuses on how modulating the electrical pulse frequency alters both the topographic features and corrosion resistance of ceramic coatings produced via micro-arc oxidation (MAO) on an AZ31B magnesium substrate. In a silicate-based electrolyte, MAO treatments were executed utilizing four distinct frequencies: 300, 500, 800, and 1000 Hz. Phase configurations, microstructural features, and surface patterns were thoroughly evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) integrated with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and an ultra-depth-of-field microscope. Furthermore, the fabricated coatings underwent rigorous assessments for their porosity, contact angle, Vickers hardness, and electrochemical attributes. The outcomes demonstrate that the surface appearance, phase structure, defect state, and density of the MAO coatings are highly sensitive to variations in pulse frequency. Notably, although the coating prepared at 800 Hz exhibited elevated surface roughness (Ra), it achieved a highly consolidated microstructure and the lowest porosity level, underscoring that roughness alone is not a definitive quality indicator. This structural refinement was driven by the presence of well-crystallized Mg₂SiO₄ and MgO phases. This group recorded a peak inner barrier layer resistance (R_b) of 1.62 × 10⁴ Ω·cm² alongside a minimum corrosion current density (I_corr) of 3.38 × 10⁻⁷ A·cm⁻², confirming its exceptional protective capacity. Consequently, the structural quality and corrosion resistance of MAO coatings can be strategically enhanced by tuning the electrical frequency, offering valuable engineering guidelines for utilizing AZ31B alloy parts under aggressive environmental conditions. Full article

The aim of this study was to develop functional crackers enriched with young barley powder and to evaluate the young barley powder’s impact on the product quality. The experiment was designed as a single-factor study, in which the effect of young barley powder addition (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 15% wheat flour substitution) on the physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory properties of crackers was evaluated. The results showed that young barley powder incorporation affected color and selected texture parameters of both the dough and the baked crackers. The enriched crackers exhibited higher antioxidant capacity and improved nutritional value compared with the control sample, including increased total polyphenol (TP) content and higher levels of chlorophylls and carotenoids. The product containing 15% young barley powder had over three times higher TP content (2.074 mg GAE/g dm vs. 0.464 mg GAE/g dm in the control), approximately eightfold and sixfold higher levels of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, respectively, and over 16-fold higher carotenoid content than the control. These crackers also contained over threefold more Ca and K, nearly twice as much Mg, and fourfold more Fe. Dialyzable iron constituted 8.4–12.3% of total iron present in the crackers. Consumer evaluation showed that crackers containing 2% and 4% young barley powder were rated the highest in terms of taste and had optimal hardness and crispness. These findings suggest that young barley powder can be successfully incorporated into cracker formulations not only to modify their technological properties but, more importantly, to enhance their nutritional quality, particularly their mineral content. Full article

Agricultural subsidy policies have increasingly shifted from production-oriented support toward incentives that reward environmental stewardship and the provision of ecosystem services. Despite their rapid expansion, evidence regarding the environmental effectiveness, economic efficiency, market implications, and food-security consequences of these eco-centric agricultural subsidies remains fragmented across policy frameworks and regions. This review synthesizes current evidence on eco-centric agricultural subsidies by comparatively evaluating their environmental, economic, and policy outcomes across developed and developing economies. The review was conducted using a structured literature search following PRISMA-informed review procedures, drawing upon peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, policy evaluations, and international institutional reports retrieved from major scientific databases and policy sources. The evidence indicates that eco-centric subsidies generally improve biodiversity conservation, soil health, carbon sequestration, water quality, and reductions in chemical inputs when payments are appropriately targeted and supported by effective monitoring and institutional capacity. Performance-based and results-oriented payment schemes frequently demonstrate greater environmental additionality and cost-effectiveness than conventional practice-based payments; however, their broader implementation remains constrained by monitoring costs, verification requirements, administrative complexity, and regional institutional capacity. Economic outcomes are more heterogeneous, with benefits depending on program design, agroecological conditions, market structures, and farm characteristics. While these subsidies can enhance environmental returns on public investment, challenges including land-value capitalization, unequal benefit distribution, transaction costs, market distortions, and potential short-term productivity trade-offs remain important policy concerns. Evidence regarding food-security impacts is similarly context-dependent and varies across production systems and geographical regions. Overall, the review demonstrates that no single subsidy instrument is universally effective. Instead, the greatest environmental and economic benefits are achieved through integrated policy portfolios combining targeted incentives, outcome-based payments, robust monitoring systems, digital technologies, carbon-market integration, and equitable program design. The review also identifies important evidence gaps concerning developing-country experiences, long-term cost-effectiveness, and standardized evaluation frameworks, providing priorities for future research and policy development. Full article

Assessing ecosystem services, identifying their driving factors, and optimizing their spatial patterns are essential for coordinating ecological conservation and socioeconomic development in mountainous regions. Taking the Anning River Basin in southwestern China as the study area, this study quantitatively assessed ecosystem services from 2010 to 2024, integrated trade-off intensity into the Integrated Ecosystem Services Index, applied a Bayesian network model to identify the driving factors of ecosystem services, and proposed strategies for spatial pattern optimization. The results showed that: (1) the mean values of water conservation and soil conservation in the Anning River Basin were 94.45 mm and 1179.64 t ha⁻¹, respectively, both showing substantial interannual fluctuations. The habitat quality index was 0.83, and the mean carbon storage was 132.68 t ha⁻¹; both habitat quality and carbon storage declined slightly. The mean food production was 0.46 t ha⁻¹, indicating an improvement in the food production function. (2) The trade-off intensity among ecosystem services was 0.33, and the Integrated Ecosystem Services Index was 0.51, remaining generally stable overall. Ecosystem services were mainly influenced by land use, precipitation, population count, and fractional vegetation cover. Their spatial heterogeneity was pronounced, with relatively low values in the Anning River Plain, the Jinsha River dry-hot valley, and the Yanyuan Basin. (3) The identified priority conservation areas for ecosystem services covered 8307 km² and were mainly distributed within ecological conservation redline areas and regulated zones. The general functional areas for ecosystem services covered 149 km² and were concentrated in urban construction areas and along major transportation corridors in the basin. Targeted strategies were further proposed to enhance the synergistic improvement of ecosystem service supply. This study provides theoretical and practical support for ecosystem management in the Anning River Basin and other mountainous watersheds. Full article

Belt conveyors are essential systems for the continuous transport of various materials in many sectors and applications, including heavy industry or mining, which are characterized by demanding environmental and operational conditions. Our research is focused on the development of the system based on magnetic sensors for the detection of ferromagnetic objects. These detection systems are designed to prevent damage to conveyor belts and the downstream vehicles, machines, and processing equipment involved in material transport and processing. By detecting hazardous foreign objects, they help avoid belt damage or tearing, thereby reducing operational disruptions and the associated maintenance and repair costs. Our study confirmed that in addition to the development of the hardware and software solutions, it is also necessary to develop methods for the processing and evaluation of the data recorded by the detection system, as the data represent a valuable source of information not only for the operational workers but also for the managers and are very helpful in the creation of the sustainable transportation system. The article describes an innovative application of the Weibull distribution for the operational enhancement of the system and its comparison to the conventionally used histograms. In addition to that, the utilization possibilities of the obtained statistical data to evaluate the belt conveyor loading for a better planning of the process, to monitor the work of the operational or other employees’ quality of the supported material, or to reveal failures of the detection system or even of the belt conveyor are overviewed and discussed. Full article

Background: Rotator cuff disease and osteoporosis are frequently overlapping pathologies in the older patient population. Increasing evidence suggests that impaired bone health negatively impacts rotator cuff tear development and healing after repair. Methods: An online search of PubMed and MEDLINE was performed from inception to April 2026, using the keywords “osteoporosis” and “rotator cuff”. Thirty-two studies met all criteria. These studies summarize the current literature on the relationship between osteoporosis and rotator cuff disease, with an emphasis on epidemiology, evaluation, treatment implications, and future directions. Results: Osteoporosis is associated with rotator cuff tear development, poorer local bone quality, and impaired tendon-to-bone healing following repair. Chronic rotator cuff pathology may also contribute to localized osteopenia of the greater tuberosity, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between bone loss and rotator cuff degeneration. Despite this overlap, osteoporosis remains under-recognized and under-treated in patients with rotator cuff disease. Vitamin D status, bone health assessment, and emerging bone-active therapies have demonstrated improved outcomes. Conclusions: Osteoporosis is an important comorbidity to consider in patients with rotator cuff disease. Improved recognition and optimization of bone health may enhance both skeletal and shoulder-specific outcomes. Further prospective studies are needed to better define optimal management strategies. Full article

This paper proposes a phase-compensated enhanced second-order generalized integrator phase-locked loop (ESOGI-PLL) to suppress the frequency coupling effect (FCE) and its associated power quality degradation in grid-following inverters (GFLIs). An output impedance model incorporating FCE dynamics is formulated via signal perturbation analysis to quantify grid-current harmonic amplification and weak-grid instability boundaries. To suppress the FCE, the proposed ESOGI-PLL structurally embeds a phase-lead compensator, directly neutralizing the inherent phase lag of conventional filters. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed ESOGI-PLL effectively mitigates PLL-induced frequency coupling, thereby improving the output-current quality and stability of GFLIs under weak-grid conditions. Compared with the synchronous reference frame phase-locked loop (SRF-PLL), the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the grid-current decreases from 24.33% to 2.47% under harmonic disturbances, while the transient settling time is significantly reduced, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed approach in enhancing both dynamic performance and output-current quality. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of Fibrafid, a plant-based functional feed additive, on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and intestinal histomorphometry of broilers fed standard or moderately nutrient-reduced diets. A total of 432 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks (initial body weight, 44.9 ± 0.30 g) were randomly allocated to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement comprising two dietary nutrient densities (standard or diets with 1.5% lower metabolizable energy and 5% lower digestible amino acid density) and three Fibrafid inclusion levels (0, 1.5, or 2.5 kg/ton). Each treatment comprised six replicates of 12 birds (six males and six females) and was evaluated from day 1 to 24. Dietary nutrient reduction affected growth performance and breast meat quality pH and ultimate lightness values, whereas Fibrafid supplementation, particularly at 2.5 kg/ton, improved overall gain by 5.3%, grower-phase feed conversion ratio by 4.0%, EPEF by 8.08%, relative thymus weight by 64.8%, while reducing abdominal fat deposition by 27.1% relative to the unsupplemented control (p < 0.05). Several breast meat quality traits were also improved, including greater water-holding capacity and myofibril fragmentation index and lower drip and cooking losses (p < 0.05). Jejunal morphology was enhanced, as indicated by increased villus dimensions and goblet cell density (p < 0.05). Significant Diet × Fibrafid interactions were observed for grower performance, EPEF, overall feed intake, and several intestinal morphological variables (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Fibrafid supplementation, particularly at 2.5 kg/ton, was associated with improved growth performance, EPEF, selected carcass and breast meat quality traits, and jejunal morphology during the first 24 days of age. These findings suggest that Fibrafid may be a promising natural feed additive for broiler diets formulated at standard or moderately reduced nutrient densities. However, further studies extending to market age and evaluating nutrient digestibility, intestinal microbiota, blood biochemical indices, and economic returns are warranted to clarify its mechanisms and practical value under commercial production conditions. Full article

Accurate prediction of plough layer thickness (PLT) in cropland is essential for soil quality assessment and sustainable land management, yet regional-scale PLT mapping remains challenging because PLT is a subsurface structural attribute that cannot be directly retrieved from surface spectral signals. This study developed an interpretable framework for province-scale mapping of cropland plough layer thickness (PLT) in Hubei Province, China, by integrating multi-source remote sensing observations, including Landsat 8 optical spectral bands, Sentinel-1 SAR backscatter, and crop dynamic spectral response metrics derived from multi-year Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) time series, together with topographic, climatic, soil physicochemical, and land-use variables. A total of 1926 cropland soil samples were used to train and validate random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and Cubist models, while prediction uncertainty was quantified using 90% prediction intervals. The relative contributions of different environmental variable groups were assessed, and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) were used to interpret key predictors. The all-variable scenario achieved the best overall performance, with RF showing the highest accuracy (R² = 0.46; RMSE = 3.12 cm) and the narrowest prediction interval. Climatic and topographic factors dominated PLT spatial variability, whereas other variable groups provided complementary predictive information. These findings demonstrate the potential of integrating multi-source environmental data and interpretable machine learning for regional PLT mapping, and the mapped distribution of cropland PLT provides a spatial basis for cropland quality assessment and targeted soil management, although further improvements will require spatially explicit agricultural management information and more direct PLT-related predictors. Full article

Gastronomy is a factor in destination competitiveness; however, studies addressing the integrated role of gastronomic identity and perceived authenticity as determinants of tourist satisfaction remain insufficiently explored. This systematic review examines how both constructs jointly shape satisfaction in gastronomic tourism destinations. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Science using a Boolean search strategy based on four conceptual blocks. After applying eligibility criteria and assessing methodological quality using JBI protocols, 12 empirical articles published between 2017 and 2026 were selected. This relatively small corpus reflects the concept-driven focus of the review, which required the simultaneous presence of terms related to gastronomic identity, perceived authenticity, and experience satisfaction, thereby increasing the specificity of the search and reducing its sensitivity. It should therefore not be interpreted as an exhaustive representation of all research on gastronomic tourism. Findings reveal that gastronomic identity operates as a multidimensional cultural stimulus, while perceived authenticity (objective, constructive, and existential) plays a mediating or interpretive role in the relationship between culinary stimuli and satisfaction. Together, these constructs enhance tourist satisfaction and strengthen destination loyalty. Key gaps were identified, including geographic concentration in Europe and Asia, sampling biases, and the absence of hospitality as a moderating variable. The reviewed evidence suggests that both constructs function as interrelated determinants within the Stimulus-Organism-Response model, highlighting the need for destination managers to articulate local culinary heritage to maximize tourism competitiveness coherently. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by tear film instability, inflammation, and ocular surface damage, which significantly impairs visual function and quality of life. Conventional ophthalmic formulations, such as eye drops, have low bioavailability owing to rapid elimination, necessitating frequent administration. In this study, we developed an eyelid-applied drug delivery system (DDS) based on troxipide (TRO) nanoparticle formulation (TRO-NP@EG) to achieve sustained ocular surface delivery. Methods: TRO nanosuspensions were prepared by wet bead milling and incorporated into a Carbopol-based gel. Particle size, dispersion stability, and uniformity were evaluated, and in vitro drug release studies was compared with that of TRO-MP@EG. In vivo drug transfer into tear fluid was assessed in rabbits following eyelid application, and therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in an N-acetylcysteine-induced dry eye model. Results: TRO nanosuspensions had a mean particle size of approximately 118 nm. TRO-NP@EG exhibited superior dispersion stability and uniformity and achieved 2.5-fold higher drug release than TRO-MP@EG, while the nanoparticles remained in solid form. In vivo studies in rabbits, TRO-NP@EG significantly enhanced drug transfer into tear fluid, primarily via the meibum pathway. Furthermore, TRO-NP@EG significantly improved mucin levels, tear secretion, and tear film stability compared with TRO-MP@EG in an N-acetylcysteine-induced dry eye model. Conclusions: These findings suggest that eyelid application of nanoparticle-based formulations enables efficient and sustained drug delivery to the ocular surface via the meibomian glands. Therefore, TRO-NP@EG represents a promising therapeutic strategy for DED, providing enhanced efficacy and a novel route of administration for ophthalmic DDSs. Full article

The mechanical performance of CFRP/2024 Al alloy hybrid laminates joined by transverse ultrasonic vibration-assisted riveting (TUVAR) was investigated. The experiments were conducted on a self-developed ultrasonic riveting system with a power of 3000 W and a vibration frequency of 19.8 kHz, covering ultrasonic amplitudes from 0 to 24 μm. Test specimens were fabricated from T300/CFRP laminates, 2024 Al alloy sheets, and 2A10 Al alloy rivets. The influences of ultrasonic amplitudes (12 μm, 16 μm, 20 μm, and 24 μm) on riveting load, driven head geometry, interference, static tensile strength, and cyclic loading behavior were systematically analyzed. The results showed that TUVAR reduced the riveting force and promoted rivet deformation. As the amplitude increased, the driven head diameter increased, and the driven head height decreased, with a maximum reduction of 6.62%. The mean interference generally increased up to 20 μm and then decreased slightly at 24 μm; the relative interference variance coefficient ranged from 0.070 to 0.155 under TUVAR. Static tensile tests showed that the joint strength first increased and then decreased with increasing amplitude, with the highest mean static tensile load obtained at 20 μm. Cyclic tensile tests indicated that load-bearing capacity was improved with increasing amplitude, while the maximum deviation was maintained within 3.5%. These findings demonstrate that TUVAR can enhance both the forming quality and the mechanical performance of CFRP/2024 Al alloy riveted joints, and provide a useful reference for the high-performance joining of composite-metal hybrid structures in aerospace applications. Full article