Search Results (1,151)

Agriculture faces the challenge of transitioning toward sustainable practices, driving the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). However, these bacteria suffer critical losses in viability due to environmental stress and drying processes. Although synthetic hydrogels offer protection, their low biodegradability and toxicity pose ecological risks, positioning dextran hydrogels produced by Leuconostoc sp. as a biocompatible biotechnological alternative, despite challenges related to their mechanical stability. The methodology employed consisted of systematic literature mapping in the Scopus database for the period 2010–2026. The search was conducted on 2 May 2026, using a defined search equation, and 447 documents were processed using RStudio (Bibliometrix), VOSviewer, and Plotly Studio to analyze trends and collaboration networks. The results of the systematic mapping reveal an exponentially growing field (R² = 0.998), led by Agricultural Sciences (23.5%) and Biochemistry (16%). China and India dominate scientific output in terms of volume, while Italy and the United States lead in qualitative impact, with researchers such as Cimini, Schiraldi, and Pandey as key references. An evolution is confirmed from the basic characterization of Leuconostoc sp. toward the development of matrices for immobilizing PGPB, reducing viability losses from 6 log to manageable levels of 4 log CFU. Cluster analysis shows a clear trend toward nanotechnology and “smart hydrogels” responsive to multiple stimuli. Finally, strategic gaps were identified in the creation of predictive release models, as well as an urgent need to democratize the technology through low-cost processes, essential aspects for consolidating sustainable precision agriculture. Full article

The assessment of sustainable ecological carrying capacity (SECC) serves as a crucial scientific foundation for supporting high-quality urbanization, advancing ecological civilization, and achieving the strategic goals of the “Dual Carbon” initiative. However, existing assessment methods largely rely on subjective expert scoring, making them difficult to apply at the large-scale urban level; simultaneously, traditional fuzzy assessment frameworks lack effective mechanisms for representing uncertainty when dealing with objective panel data. This paper proposes a temporal-uncertainty-driven interval-valued Fermatean fuzzy set (TU-IVFFS) theoretical framework and integrates it with an improved decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), the method based on the removal effects of criteria (MEREC), and the measurement of alternatives and ranking according to compromise solution (MARCOS) approach to construct an integrated urban ecological carrying capacity assessment framework: TU-IVFF-DEMATEL-MEREC-MARCOS. Using panel data from 2021 to 2024 for 690 major Chinese cities (at the county-level-city level and above) as the sample, the analysis found that Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing, and Chongqing ranked in the top five for SECC, while some small cities in the northeast and northwest ranked lower. Sensitivity analysis showed that the city rankings remained stable across the entire range of weight combination coefficients λ ∈ [0, 1], verifying the robustness of the proposed framework. This study provides a methodological breakthrough for the reproducible and generalizable assessment of urban ecological carrying capacity in large-scale samples. Full article

Copper and its alloys are indispensable for electronics, communications, new energy systems, and aerospace engineering due to their exceptional electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. However, the thin cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) layer that naturally forms on copper and its alloys is prone to failure under elevated temperatures and high humidity, particularly in chloride-rich environments, leading to accelerated localized corrosion. While conventional chromate-based passivation has long been the industrial standard for preventing corrosion, its use has been increasingly restricted by global regulations (such as RoHS and REACH) due to its severe toxicity and health risks. To address the conflict between environmental compliance and protective performance, this review systematically evaluates recent advances in environmentally friendly, chromium-free anti-corrosion coatings in the present review. These alternative coatings are critically analyzed and categorized into four mechanistic groups: (i) inorganic conversion coatings (including molybdate, tungstate, rare earth, and phosphate systems); (ii) organic films formed via chemical or physical adsorption (such as organic inhibitors, thiol-based monolayers, and organosilane self-assembled films); (iii) conversion coatings engineered through covalent bonding, coordination chemistry, and microstructural tailoring; and (iv) multifunctional coatings that integrate self-healing capability with high electrical conductivity. Beyond providing a technical summary, this review explored how the swift progression of electronic information technology, new energy infrastructure, and robotics has imposed more exacting, multifunctional demands on copper components. This review provides a strategic roadmap for future research and prioritizes the creation of protection strategies that operate robustly in multi-physics coupling environments—integrating high conductivity, autonomous self-healing, and long-term chemical stability to ensure the reliability of next-generation infrastructure. Full article

Background/Objectives: Revolutionary small molecule, targeted, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in the clinic have engendered the perception that optimal treatment has already been established for diseases like chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Addressing BCR::ABL1 oncokinase domain mutations in CML is unlikely to redress disease recrudescence owing to persistent leukemia stem cells (LSCs). Therefore, it is necessary to consider an alternative strategic approach: disrupting LSC interactions with the protective microenvironment and/or immune system. The interaction of the TNF-α superfamily member, CD27, with its upregulated ligand, CD70, initiates survival signaling specifically in CML cells when BCR::ABL1 is inhibited by TKIs and thus represents an attractive target. Previous studies modulating the expression of CD27 on LSCs in a mouse model of advanced phase CML were encouraging. In our study, we explored the CD70/CD27 axis as a therapeutic target in early-phase disease. Methods: Primitive CD34+ cells from treatment-naïve chronic phase (CP) CML patients were drug-exposed in an in vitro co-culture system; combination drug treatments of the therapeutic anti-CD70 antibody and TKIs, nilotinib, were assessed in our CP CML murine model. Results: The blockade of the CD70/CD27 axis in combination with TKIs did not result in greater LSC elimination than with nilotinib as a single agent in our CP CML models. Nonetheless, there was an observed reduction in CD70+ cells with combination treatment. Conclusion: Further preclinical study of the antibody as an adjunct in CD70-expressing hematological malignancy is perhaps warranted. Full article

Underground storage of green hydrogen is a strategic enabler of large-scale renewable deployment, but its feasibility rests on a hard problem: keeping a small, highly mobile molecule confined underground for decades without safety or environmental risk. This critical review examines the containment mechanisms of hydrogen across underground storage types, focusing on geological barriers, well integrity and sealing materials. We evaluate the containment capabilities of salt cavities, deep aquifers and depleted reservoirs, with particular attention to the viscoplastic, self-healing properties of salt that promote confinement, and to the vulnerabilities of well infrastructure and salt–cement interfaces. Emerging alternatives, including lined rock caverns and repurposed abandoned mines, are assessed alongside their distinct operating configurations and use cases. Leakage mechanisms including diffusion, advection, microcracking, cement degradation and hydrogen–material interactions are analysed alongside geomechanical modelling, microbial activity, monitoring strategies, regulatory frameworks, and techno-economic and environmental considerations, including the integration of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) with underground hydrogen storage. Well integrity emerges as the dominant risk factor across storage types. The review concludes with design criteria, monitoring priorities and research needs to guide the safe, sustainable deployment of underground hydrogen storage, providing a scientific foundation for future numerical and experimental work on storage tightness. Full article

Larissa Castle of Argos in the Peloponnese represents one of the most significant fortified landscapes in Greece, reflecting architectural transformation and military adaptation from prehistory to the twentieth century. Amongst its parts, one of the best-preserved towers has recently regained much of its original form through partial restoration works, emerging as a dominant landmark within the castle and the wider Argolic landscape. This study investigates the complete restoration and adaptive reuse of the tower, focusing on the challenge of providing public access while respecting its historical and architectural integrity. Based on detailed architectural analysis, two alternative design approaches for vertical circulation and access to the battlement level are examined. The first proposal employs traditional materials and construction principles, whereas the second introduces a contemporary intervention through a lightweight metal spiral structure. The comparative assessment demonstrates how both solutions can facilitate visitor access, enhance the interpretation of the monument, and reveal the tower’s defensive operation and architectural evolution, while respecting the construction phases of the monument and the international principles of cultural heritage. The proposed reuse as an observation point capitalizes on the tower’s strategic position and exceptional panoramic views over the major archaeological landmarks of the Argolic plain. The original contribution of this study lies in the systematic comparison of two evidence-based intervention strategies—one historically referenced and one explicitly contemporary—within a common conservation framework applicable to similar defense monuments. Full article

Mediterranean agriculture is increasingly constrained by severe and recurrent water scarcity. Rising temperatures, declining precipitation, and more frequent droughts are driving higher crop water demand and reducing rainfall reliability. Combined with growing competition for limited freshwater resources, these climatic pressures pose a major challenge to the long-term sustainability and productivity of farming systems in the region. In this context, urban treated wastewater (UTWW) is increasingly recognized as a strategic alternative resource. Regulation (EU) 2020/741 establishes minimum quality requirements for agricultural water reuse based on the fit-for-purpose principle. The Italian regulatory framework requires regional authorities to plan water reuse by mapping reclamation facilities, water demand, and distribution networks. From this perspective, to support the planning process, this study describes the application of a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based methodology to assess the potential for UTWW reuse in Sicily by integrating national datasets (regularly updated) and comparing reclaimed water supply with irrigation demand from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. UTWW supply was estimated by integrating data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) Census of Water for Civil Use and the European Environment Agency (EEA) dataset, while irrigation demand was derived by combining Copernicus crop data, ISTAT irrigated-to-total UAA ratios and crop-specific irrigation demand (Seasonal Specific Volumes) derived from the SIGRIAN database. Two scenarios were analyzed for grasslands, vineyards, olive groves, and orchards. Scenario 1 included only wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located inside irrigation areas, whereas Scenario 2 also included selected WWTPs located outside irrigation areas where orographic and distance constraints allowed potentially feasible connections. Under Regulation (EU) 2020/741, potential compatibility with the required water quality classes was identified at the screening level for all crop categories considered, which require classes B, C or D. From a quantitative perspective, Scenario 1 identified 19 WWTPs serving 11 out of 38 irrigation areas with an aggregated uncapped demand coverage of 53%; only two areas reached full local demand satisfaction. Scenario 2 added 23 external WWTPs, increased potentially served areas to 20, and raised the aggregate uncapped coverage to 73%. When surplus volumes were capped within each irrigation area, effective demand satisfaction was 12% and 22% in Scenarios 1 and 2, respectively, highlighting the importance of storage, conveyance and inter-area transfer. The results indicate that treated wastewater reuse could contribute to agricultural water security and climate-resilient water management in Mediterranean regions. The framework supports the first-order identification of candidate reuse areas, but site-specific assessments of effluent quality, risk management, costs, and seasonal storage remain necessary before implementation. Full article

Bioenergy development from biomass resources requires multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to rank and select suitable feedstock alternatives. Conventional TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) is a widely used MCDM method that assists in selecting alternatives based on their relative closeness to the ideal solution. Unlike the existing TOPSIS, which provides only an overall ranking of alternatives, this study proposes a framework that integrates TOPSIS ranking with threshold-based performance classification and mapping to enable a more comprehensive assessment and support decision-making, thereby improving the interpretability of complex multi-criteria decision problems. The proposed framework was applied to evaluate, rank, and select eight potential biomass feedstocks in Ethiopia by integrating feedstock availability, technological readiness, and economic criteria. The ranking results indicate that molasses is the most suitable, followed by non-edible oil crops (castor seed, Ethiopian mustard, and Jatropha curcas) and lignocellulosic residues (cereal, cane, and coffee residues), while water hyacinth ranked lowest. The results were mapped into a strategic implementation timeline, with molasses prioritized for the short term, non-edible oil crops for the medium term, and lignocellulosic residues for the long term in Ethiopia’s bioenergy development. The study further supports decision-makers in strategic energy planning and facilitates bioenergy development. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) literacy has emerged as a foundational competency for sustainable higher education aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education). Although AI literacy coursework is expanding rapidly, classroom instruction alone is insufficient for cultivating the applied, ethical, and reflective dimensions of AI competency, and systematic research on the components of curriculum-linked AI/data extracurricular programs remains scarce. This study employed a sequential mixed-methods design integrating the Delphi technique and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to identify and prioritize the key components of such programs. Ten experts spanning AI education, curriculum development, extracurricular administration, and industry participated in two Delphi rounds, followed by AHP pairwise comparisons and content validity ratio (CVR). The Delphi rounds yielded a consensus framework of 24 components across seven domains; six domains served as AHP Level 1 evaluation criteria and the seventh (program type) as Level 2 alternatives. AI practice integration and curricular linkage jointly accounted for 57.2% of the criterion weight, and three program types—AI tool workshops, AI-based problem-solving challenges, and data analytics projects—exhibited distinct strategic priorities. The final framework achieved a content validity index of 0.84, providing an empirically validated design framework for sustainable AI literacy education, with potential applicability to resource-constrained settings. Full article

Global agricultural productivity is increasingly threatened by climate change, soil salinization, and freshwater scarcity. In response, edible halophytes such as Crambe maritima L. (sea kale) are emerging as resilient, promising alternative crops for biosaline agriculture. This review comprehensively evaluates the agronomic, phytochemical, and commercial potential of C. maritima and related Crambe species. We examine current propagation protocols and highlight the application of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) to leverage “saline eustress,” strategically enhancing secondary metabolite biosynthesis without penalizing harvestable biomass. Nutritionally, Crambe species exhibit a highly favorable profile, selectively accumulating essential macro- and micro-minerals alongside potent bioactive compounds, particularly characteristic glucosinolates, including sinigrin, together with diverse phenolic acids. These specific secondary metabolites confer antioxidant defense system and antimicrobial properties, positioning the genus as an unexploited resource for functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. However, successfully transitioning C. maritima from a wild coastal halophyte into a reliable horticultural crop necessitates overcoming critical domestication bottlenecks, including mechanical seed dormancy, polygenic salinity tolerance, and a scarcity of long-term field data. By addressing these multidisciplinary challenges through targeted breeding and advanced agronomy, C. maritima represents a highly promising candidate for dietary diversification and the advancement of climate-resilient agricultural systems. Full article

Under the strategic goals of “peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality”, traditional methods for solving economic dispatch problems involving carbon emission trading costs, wind power, and energy storage devices lack real-time performance and are difficult to support in real-time decision-making. This paper proposes an accelerated solution framework that expands the projection gradient descent method into a Deep Projected Gradient Network (D-PGNet). The network consists of K structured layers, each layer strictly embedding differentiable projection operations corresponding to physical constraints such as power balance, unit ramp-up, and energy storage timing dynamics. This paper systematically derived the projection closed-form solutions of each constraint set to the basic subset, designed an efficient differentiable projection layer based on Dykstra alternating projection, and analyzed the differentiability and convergence properties of the network. Multiple scenario tests have shown that the optimal gap of D-PGNet results is less than 1.08%, the carbon emission deviation is less than 0.2%, the solving speed is improved by more than 64 times at most, and the maximum violation of all physical constraints is below 1.3 × 10⁻⁵ p.u. Full article

This study examines whether state capital refocusing promotes innovation-driven development by reshaping the scale and technological direction of innovation in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Using 499 firm-year observations for 42 Beijing municipal SOEs from 2013 to 2024, we distinguish innovation output from innovation allocation across invention-oriented, green, and internationally oriented patents. Two-way fixed-effects estimates show that a one-standard-deviation increase in core business focus is associated with increases of 0.610, 0.468, 0.383, and 0.090 log points in overall, invention-oriented, green, and internationally oriented innovation output, respectively. Refocusing also raises the shares of invention-oriented and green innovation, while leaving the international share unchanged. The main patterns remain broadly robust to alternative measures, additional controls, alternative specifications, and a continuous-treatment difference-in-differences design based on the 2020–2022 SOE Reform Three-Year Action Plan. Mechanism analyses provide evidence consistent with industrial-chain control as an important transmission channel, while heterogeneity analyses show that functional missions, industrial-chain positions, and strategic-sector status condition the effects. The findings indicate that state capital refocusing influences not only how much SOEs innovate, but also where innovation resources are directed, providing firm-level evidence on how public-capital reallocation can support mission-oriented innovation. Full article

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have attracted significant attention as sustainable alternatives to conventional liquid electrolytes due to their biodegradability, non-toxicity, and excellent film-forming capability. However, pristine CMC suffers from inherent limitations, including low ionic conductivity, poor mechanical strength, and limited electrochemical stability. This systematic literature review comprehensively evaluates recent advances in CMC-based SPEs, focusing on the roles of lithium salts (e.g., LiCH₃COO, LiClO₄, LiI, LiBF₄, and LiNO₃) and functional additives, including plasticizers, ionic liquids, nanofillers, and cross-linking agents, in tailoring the physicochemical and electrochemical properties. The findings reveal that ionic conductivity can be significantly enhanced from ~10⁻⁷ to 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ through synergistic modifications that reduce crystallinity and promote segmental mobility. Electrochemical stability is improved by up to ~3.85 V with the incorporation of ionic liquids, while ion transference numbers approaching unity (t⁺ ≈ 0.96) indicate highly efficient Li⁺-dominated transport. Mechanical properties exhibit a trade-off between flexibility (elongation up to ~699%) and tensile strength (up to ~12.84 MPa), depending on the balance between plasticization and cross-linking. The degradation temperature is also strongly influenced by system composition, reaching ~508 °C in ionic liquid-modified systems. Overall, the performance of CMC-based SPEs is governed by the interplay between salt chemistry, polymer structure, and additive functionality. This review highlights key structure–property relationships and identifies critical research gaps, including salt-concentration optimization, long-term stability, and scalability, providing strategic insights for the rational design of high-performance, sustainable polymer electrolytes for next-generation energy storage applications. Full article

Corporate carbon information disclosure is shaped not only by external regulatory and stakeholder pressures but also by firms’ internal strategic orientation and the prominence of environmental transformation in organizational reporting. Using 31,625 firm-year observations from Chinese A-share listed firms between 2016 and 2024, this study examines the association between green strategic orientation (GSO) and carbon information disclosure (CID) and evaluates reported green-transformation intensity (RGTI) as a statistical indirect pathway. GSO is measured using an author-constructed seven-item index based on firm-level environmental disclosure indicators. RGTI is constructed from database-provided annual-report frequencies of green-transformation-related terms and is assessed against contemporaneous and one-year-ahead green investment obtained from a separate CSMAR green-investment database. The empirical analysis employs firm and year fixed effects, firm-clustered standard errors, and a three-wave design using GSO at t − 2, RGTI at t − 1, and CID at t. The results show that GSO is positively associated with CID. A one-standard-deviation increase in GSO is associated with an approximately 4.7-percentage-point increase in the disclosure index, equivalent to about 16.5% of its sample mean. The three-wave analysis identifies a positive and statistically significant indirect association through RGTI, although its economic magnitude is modest, accounting for approximately 8.0% of the total association. The findings remain robust to alternative measures of GSO and CID, fractional-response estimation, industry-year fixed effects, controls for general reporting propensity, and one-year-ahead disclosure specifications. Industry-based estimates indicate a weaker GSO–CID association among heavy-polluting firms, although this pattern is not reproduced when pollution exposure is measured using firm-level carbon intensity. Overall, the findings link internal environmental strategy and reported organizational attention to corporate carbon transparency while indicating that most of the GSO–CID association operates through channels beyond the measured indirect pathway. Full article

Escalating energy demand and the evolving landscape of power transmission have intensified the operational pressures on electrical grids, specifically during N-1 contingency events. The unexpected loss of a single transmission circuit often precipitates critical system instabilities, including power flow congestion, voltage degradation, and heightened transmission losses. While conventional grid expansion remains the standard for maintaining reliability, its implementation is frequently hindered by lengthy permitting processes, significant capital investment, and regulatory complexities. This research offers an alternative by presenting a robust optimization-based framework for the strategic placement and sizing of a battery energy storage system (BESS) within the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) transmission network. Focusing on the N-1 contingency resulting from the 115 kV Thatako Substation (TTKS)–Bueng Sam Phan Substation (BGSS) circuit outage during peak load hours, this study introduces the musk ox optimizer (MOO) to solve the complex, non-linear allocation problem. The objective function is formulated to minimize cumulative system costs while enforcing strict network operational envelopes. Simulation results indicate that the optimized BESS configuration achieves compliant grid performance, successfully restoring the post-fault bus voltage, enhancing voltage profile, reducing transmission losses, and mitigating peak line loading. These findings demonstrate that the proposed MOO-based strategy provides a physically compliant, flexible, and robust non-wire alternative for transmission constraint management, confirming its viability as a sustainable, low-environmental-impact framework for enhancing modern grid resilience and utility development. Full article