Search Results (29,815)

With only 15.4 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population covered by formal social protection, most people depend on indigenous social provisioning. Despite their extensive coverage and socio-cultural legitimacy, these arrangements remain marginal in policy design, largely due to their persistent framing as residual, informal coping mechanisms within state-centric paradigms. This paper challenges that framing by conceptualising indigenous social provisioning as an institutionally autonomous domain with transformative potential. Using an integrative literature review, the study analyses key provisioning arrangements across sub-Saharan Africa and maps their functions onto the framework of Transformative Social Policy (TSP), which emphasises production, protection, redistribution, reproduction, and social cohesion. The findings show that indigenous systems extend beyond safety net functions to enhancing productive capacities and supporting livelihoods, redistributing resources, sustaining social reproduction, and fostering social cohesion for collective agency. However, their transformative capacity is often limited by internal inequalities. The paper argues that inclusive social policy requires a shift from substitution to institutional complementarity, in which indigenous and formal systems operate as mutually reinforcing pillars. By foregrounding Africa’s institutional heritage, the study contributes to ongoing efforts to decolonise social policy theory and practice. Full article

The transition from conventional silica nanoparticle (SiNP) production based on purified alkoxysilanes and high-temperature flame hydrolysis of silicon tetrachloride to renewable and waste-derived silicon resources requires more than precursor substitution. It requires a mechanistic understanding of how feedstock mineralogy, silicon speciation, impurity chemistry, and processing history propagate through dissolution, nucleation, condensation, gelation, aging, drying, and pore evolution to determine material performance, environmental burden, and manufacturing feasibility. Although previous reviews have established the technical feasibility of producing silica from secondary resources, their predominant organization by feedstock, synthesis route, or application provides limited ability to explain why nominally similar processes generate materials with markedly different structural and functional properties. This review addresses these through a resource-pull, feedstock-to-function framework that links resource chemistry and process design to critical material attributes, application-specific specifications, sustainability, and scale-up requirements. Agricultural residues, industrial by-products, geothermal resources, waste glass, and fluorosilicate streams are critically compared according to silicon form and phase, reactivity, impurity profile, compositional variability, purification demand, and attainable product quality. Particular attention is given to waste-derived alkaline silicate systems, in which molecular, oligomeric, and colloidal silica coexist and therefore require characterization beyond bulk SiO₂ concentration. Established and emerging processing strategies, including controlled combustion and alkaline extraction, alkali fusion, ambient-pressure drying, microwave and mechanochemical activation, biogenic and biomimetic templating, and continuous processing, are evaluated according to their mechanistic effects, technological maturity, structural control, and demands for energy, reagents, water, solvents, effluent treatment, and capital. Across these routes, gelation and aging emerge as critical transfer stages through which feedstock composition is translated into network connectivity, pore architecture, shrinkage behavior, and ultimately functional performance. Evidence from secondary-source aerogels further shows that properly controlled waste-derived systems can attain BET surface areas of approximately 350–500 m² g⁻¹, within the textural range of many alkoxide-derived materials, indicating that feedstock variability, impurity management, and process control are more important constraints than an inherently lower performance ceiling. On this basis, this review proposes a minimum evidence framework comprising feedstock traceability, intermediate-speciation and colloidal characterization, silicon mass balance, gelation and aging metrics, application-specific qualification criteria, performance-normalized life cycle and techno-economic assessment, process analytical control, and staged pilot validation. Collectively, these principles provide a mechanistically grounded basis for moving sustainable silica synthesis beyond isolated proof-of-concept demonstrations toward reproducible, scalable, application-matched, and commercially credible manufacturing platforms. Full article

As they discuss ways to make our planet a better and safer place to live, environmental preservation, and the numerous actions that must be taken to clean air, water, solid waste, and a host of other issues created by human action (mainly by industrial activities) are constantly on the agenda of different institutions. In addition to treating industrial waste, environmental treatment facilities attempt to make industrial operations more sustainable. These environmental treatment facilities are intriguing because they may be specially designed to satisfy the three fundamental ideologies of environmental control: licensing, inspection, and monitoring. For that reason, scientists set out to find innovative, reliable, and safe methods of cleaning air, water, and soil that would use less energy and money, use fewer chemicals, and have a lower negative environmental impact. Within this framework, this review aims to provide an overview of relevant studies conducted in the scientific field of environmental treatment to help professionals at environmental treatment plants develop efficient engineering plans that work in tandem with the reduction of pollution and the rationalization of natural resources, such as energy and water, to maximize the use of these facilities. Above all, it is crucial to use an instrument that adheres to both national and international environmental monitoring standards. This guarantees precise regulation of polluting agent emissions into the environment and ensures optimal resource utilization, efficient production, and waste reduction or reuse. Full article

This research assesses the practical synthesis of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Autodesk Forma and Dalux to support LEED-oriented sustainable design for a higher education building. Autodesk Revit 2025 functioned as the central BIM platform, while Autodesk Forma enabled early-stage simulations of solar exposure, daylight potential, wind conditions, microclimate, noise and solar-energy potential. Dalux supported model coordination and information management in accordance with ISO 19650 principles. The workflow links simulation outputs to BIM elements through project-defined parameters, allowing performance evidence to inform design refinement. Quantitative indicators were consolidated for daylight exposure, wind comfort, outdoor thermal stress, acoustic exposure and photovoltaic potential. The solar-energy analysis considered an area of approximately 970 m², an annual potential of 1030 kWh/m² and a theoretical yield of approximately 999,100 kWh/year. Assuming 70% roof coverage and 18% panel efficiency, the estimated photovoltaic the expected output is approximately 125,113 kWh/year. These findings demonstrate the value of combining BIM, cloud-based analysis and CDE-based coordination for early-stage sustainable design, while LEED certification, operational energy modelling and lifecycle assessment require additional specialist validation. The proposed workflow provides a consistent approach for aligning design development with sustainability objectives and can be applied to similar building types. Full article

Background: Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at substantially increased risk for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), which leads to significantly higher morbidity and mortality compared to the general population. However, comprehensive national-level analyses of long-term mortality trends in this population remain limited. This study examines mortality trends associated with IBD and CDI in the United States from 1999 to 2023. Methods: This descriptive study utilized the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause-of-Death database. Deaths involving IBD (ICD-10: K50, K51) and CDI (A04.7) were identified among adults aged 25 years and older. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 population were calculated with 95% confidence intervals and stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, urbanization, and census region. Joinpoint regression was applied to estimate the annual percent change (APC) in mortality. Results: Between 1999 and 2023, 76,084 deaths were recorded. Medical facilities accounted for 46% of deaths, followed by decedents’ homes (28.3%) and nursing home/long-term care facilities (16.5%). Overall mortality declined gradually from 1999 to 2018 (APC: −0.23, p < 0.05), increased sharply through 2021 (APC: +12.75, p < 0.05), and was then followed by a non-significant change through 2023 (APC: −2.69; 95% CI: −8.24 to 3.19), consistent with a plateau. Men consistently exhibited higher AAMRs than women. Non-Hispanic White individuals had the highest AAMRs (1.844 in 2023), while Non-Hispanic Black individuals experienced a sustained increase from 2016 onward (APC: +7.11, p < 0.05). Hispanic mortality increased steadily throughout the study period (APC: +1.31, p < 0.05). Rural populations had higher overall AAMRs than urban populations. The Midwest recorded the highest regional AAMRs by 2023 (1.867). Conclusions: Mortality increased significantly between 2018 and 2021, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, though our study design cannot prove causation. Disparities by race/ethnicity, urbanization, and region persisted. These findings underscore the need for ongoing antibiotic stewardship, equitable healthcare access, and targeted public health interventions for this vulnerable population. Full article

Lignin-derived chemicals are important renewable building blocks for a sustainable chemical industry, and their selective hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) into cyclohexanol offers a promising route to high-value products; however, efficient C–O bond cleavage over non-noble-metal catalysts remains challenging. Herein, a series of oxygen-vacancy-regulated Co/CeO₂ catalysts was prepared by supporting Co on hydrothermally synthesized CeO₂ nanocubes, with the CeO₂ calcination temperature (400–800 °C) used to tune the defect density and interfacial structure. Low-temperature calcination preserved the nanocubic morphology, high surface area, abundant Ce³⁺–OV sites, and highly dispersed reduced Co species, whereas higher calcination temperatures promoted crystallite growth, surface-area loss, oxygen-vacancy depletion, and Co aggregation. These structural changes directly governed guaiacol HDO performance. Under optimized conditions (160 °C, 2 MPa H₂, 4 h, isopropanol), Co/CeO₂-400 achieved nearly complete guaiacol conversion, with cyclohexanol accounting for approximately 99% of the relative GC–MS product distribution. Mechanistic studies indicate that metallic Co promotes H₂ activation and aromatic-ring hydrogenation, while adjacent Ce³⁺–OV sites facilitate adsorption and cleavage of oxygen-containing groups. The resulting Co–CeO₂ interfacial synergy drives a sequential hydrogenation–deoxygenation pathway and suppresses the accumulation of partially hydrogenated intermediates. Co/CeO₂-400 also showed activity toward representative lignin-derived oxygenates and retained over 90% of its initial activity after five cycles. This work highlights oxygen-vacancy engineering as an effective strategy for designing robust non-noble-metal catalysts for selective lignin valorization. Full article

The study explores the paradigm shift in education brought about by the introduction of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, focusing on educational stakeholders’ self-reported perceptions rather than observed changes in teaching or learning outcomes. We consider stakeholders’ views on AI-based technologies within the teaching–learning process. The current study uses a cross-sectional empirical survey design with a sample of N = 917 respondents, including teachers, students, administrators, and management. It examines the use of advanced AI technologies such as ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, and Grok, and stakeholders’ perceived connection between digital skills and classroom performance, student motivation, and critical thinking. We also discuss the ethical dilemmas and structural challenges that accompany this digital change. Inferential statistics, such as One-Way ANOVA and the Pearson Chi-Square test, show statistically significant differences in perceptions and regulatory expectations across organizational responsibilities. The findings contribute to understanding how advanced digitalization is perceived to reshape traditional academic roles, offering practical insights for creating effective, responsible, and sustainable teaching practices. Full article

Construction on very soft peaty clay remains a major geotechnical challenge due to its high compressibility and low-bearing capacity. The deep mixing method (DMM) is widely adopted for in situ stabilization using cement; however, environmental concerns associated with cement production have driven the search for sustainable alternatives such as geopolymers using low-carbon materials. Existing studies predominantly rely on dried peat, processed precursors such as fly ash or calcined ground rice husk ash (RHA), and high concentrations of alkali activators such as sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which increase both environmental and economic burdens. This study develops a novel waste-based geopolymer incorporating untreated brick kiln-derived RHA, activated solely with low-concentration NaOH, while completely eliminating Na₂SiO₃. The avoidance of precursor pre-treatment and Na₂SiO₃ significantly reduces processing energy, cost, and associated environmental emissions. A systematic investigation was conducted to determine the optimum mixing time for maximizing strength under field-relevant conditions. Mechanical performance was evaluated using unconfined compressive strength tests considering variations in binder content, curing duration (7, 28 days), alkali concentration (6, 3 M), and alkali-to-binder ratio (0.3, 0.5, 0.7). Failure characteristics were examined, and an integrated framework combining cost analysis, life cycle assessment, and grey relation analysis was employed to optimize mix design. The optimized geopolymer achieved 2.2 times higher strength than cement-treated soil, with 25% cost reduction and more than 85% reduction in environmental impact. These findings demonstrate a scalable and sustainable solution for stabilizing highly organic soils, while promoting the valorization of supplementary cementitious materials without energy-intensive preprocessing. Full article

The construction sector is a complex industry whose growth and development are closely associated with overall economic expansion and the circular economy. Within this sector, Building Energy Simulation (BES) is widely employed to evaluate and compare the energy performance of proposed office buildings under both baseline conditions and with alternative heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) and domestic hot water (DHW) system configurations. The primary objective of this research was to conduct an energy performance assessment of administrative buildings located in Bratislava, Slovakia. A progressive methodology based on dynamic heat transfer simulation algorithms was applied to evaluate five alternative scenarios (C1–C5). Building performance and heat flow behavior were modeled and analyzed using DesignBuilder software (Version 7). The simulation results revealed that Scenario C5 represents the most effective solution for both administrative building A and administrative building B. From an economic standpoint, Scenario C5 also achieved the lowest energy costs when the DD3 electricity tariff was applied. The DD3 tariff is a dual-rate electricity pricing scheme intended for consumers with higher levels of electricity consumption during off-peak (low-tariff) periods. The findings indicate that a high level of energy sustainability in office buildings can be achieved through the effective implementation of optimized HVAC and DHW systems. Moreover, the integration of energy-efficiency measures contributes to enhanced economic performance by reducing overall energy consumption and associated operating costs. Full article

This study presents an integrated approach for sustainable food supply chain design by evaluating how sourcing geography and logistics network structure influence Global Warming Potential (GWP) in a multi-echelon Mexican cold chain integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Linear Programming (LP) network optimization. Three soy products are evaluated: edamame from China, tofu from the U.S., and textured vegetable protein (TVP) modeled as a soy-based alternative. Results are calculated using a cradle-to-retailer system boundary, normalized to 100 g of delivered protein. Four network configurations are evaluated, varying sourcing geography, port selection, and warehouse allocation. Distribution-stage emissions are minimized through LP optimization, while upstream emissions are incorporated as exogenous LCA parameters. Sourcing geography, distribution-network design, and protein density significantly affect GWP per functional unit, with domestic sourcing yielding the lowest impacts for all products and network configurations. Tofu under the baseline configuration exhibits the highest GWP (1.2236 kg CO₂e/100 g protein), whereas TVP with domestic sourcing exhibits the lowest (0.1146 kg CO₂e/100 g protein), representing a 90.64% difference. The integrated approach provides a decision-support framework for lower-emission sourcing and distribution in emerging-economy food supply chains. Full article

Brackish water utilization provides an alternative strategy for alleviating freshwater scarcity in arid agricultural regions; however, the synergistic regulation of salinity, irrigation, and nitrogen management remains unclear. A two-year field experiment was conducted in 2025 and 2026 to investigate the effects of water–nitrogen–salinity interactions on growth, yield formation, resource use efficiency, and fruit quality of pigment pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under arid conditions in Xinjiang, China. An L9(3³) orthogonal experimental design was adopted with three levels of brackish water salinity, irrigation amount, and nitrogen application rate. The comprehensive production performance of different management strategies was further evaluated using a combined weighting Cloud–TOPSIS approach. The results showed that water–nitrogen–salinity interactions significantly regulated pigment pepper growth, yield formation, and resource utilization, with consistent responses observed across the two experimental years. Increasing irrigation water salinity reduced leaf chlorophyll content (CHL) and nitrogen balance index (NBI), whereas flavonoid content (FLAV) exhibited an increasing trend under moderate salinity stress. Low-salinity irrigation combined with appropriate water and nitrogen inputs maintained higher photosynthetic capacity and nitrogen nutritional status. Yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN) were jointly affected by salinity, irrigation, and nitrogen supply. Excessive salinity significantly reduced crop productivity, while optimized irrigation and nitrogen management alleviated salt stress effects. The T2 treatment (1 g L⁻¹ salinity, 2400 m³ ha⁻¹ irrigation, and 300 kg ha⁻¹ nitrogen application) achieved the highest yield and maintained favorable WUE and PFPN values in both years. Fruit quality responses demonstrated that moderate salinity promoted capsaicinoid accumulation, whereas excessive salinity restricted biomass production and quality improvement. Correlation analysis revealed that photosynthetic nitrogen metabolism indicators were closely associated with yield formation, while flavonoid accumulation showed stronger relationships with quality attributes. The Cloud–TOPSIS evaluation identified T2 as the optimal management strategy under the experimental conditions by balancing yield, quality, and resource use efficiency. These findings indicate that coordinated regulation of irrigation water salinity, water supply, and nitrogen input is essential for achieving efficient brackish water utilization and sustainable pigment pepper production in arid regions. Full article

Global biodiversity policy increasingly depends on community-led conservation, yet the comparative evidence base contains little from South Asia’s frontier regions. This article asks how a long-running grassroots organisation in a politically and ecologically marginal region combined community mobilisation, vernacular knowledge, scientific evidence, and engagement with public institutions in pursuing conservation outcomes, and which features of that process may be relevant beyond Northeast India. Four campaigns of Nature’s Beckon, founded in Dhubri, Assam, in 1982, are compared as distinct types of intervention: species-led protected-area mobilisation at Chakrashila; landscape-scale conservation against extractive pressure at Dihing Patkai; species research with public ecological education; and community-managed institution-building. The available evidence indicates a documented and substantial, though not exclusive, role in campaigns associated with the notification of two protected areas whose current notified areas total approximately 279.83 km². Advocacy alone does not adequately explain these outcomes: where a formal government decision was required, sustained organisational capacity became consequential only when it coincided with a favourable political and administrative opening. Measured against four design features associated with successful community-based conservation, the model corresponds strongly to capacity-building investment and external linkage, in qualified form to equitable benefit-sharing, and only partly to tenure security. The article develops an ecology of the margins framework and specifies which elements appear transferable and which do not. Full article

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping sustainability reporting, influencing how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) information is collected, analysed, and disclosed. While AI-assisted reporting improves efficiency and analytical capability, it also raises important concerns regarding transparency, accountability, verification, and AI-enabled greenwashing, creating new challenges for the credibility of sustainability disclosures. This study adopts a doctrinal legal research design supported by qualitative analysis, comparative regulatory assessment, and a structured review of legal, regulatory, and academic sources. It examines how emerging approaches to AI governance and sustainability reporting address these challenges and identifies the governance principles required to support trustworthy AI-assisted ESG reporting. Existing regulatory initiatives strengthen important aspects of sustainability reporting, yet AI governance, ESG disclosure, and greenwashing continue to be addressed through separate regulatory instruments. To bridge this gap, the study develops an integrated governance framework that combines transparency, meaningful human oversight, AI auditing, sustainability verification, and clearly allocated accountability within a coherent governance structure. The proposed framework contributes to the literature by offering a structured governance model specifically designed for AI-assisted sustainability reporting. The framework also provides practical guidance for regulators, standard setters, organisations, and assurance providers seeking to strengthen reporting integrity and stakeholder confidence in AI-assisted ESG reporting. Full article

This article investigates the thermal performance of a conventional W-70 large-panel building system and a modern prefabricated wall system incorporating recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) regranulate. The study aims to compare the thermal performance of two prefabricated wall systems representing different construction technologies and to evaluate the combined influence of their structural and material solutions on heat losses and thermal bridging. Numerical simulations were performed using THERM 7.6 based on the finite element method (FEM). Three representative structural junctions were analysed: the external corner, the external wall-to-internal wall junction, and the floor slab-to-external wall junction. The evaluation included thermal transmittance (U-value), heat flow rate, thermal coupling coefficient, linear thermal transmittance (Ψ), minimum internal surface temperature, and the internal surface temperature factor (f_Rsi). The results demonstrated that the analysed prefabricated wall system exhibited lower heat losses and improved thermal performance than the conventional W-70 large-panel system. The observed differences reflect the combined effect of the wall build-up, material properties, insulation thickness, and structural junction geometry. The incorporation of recycled EPS regranulate constitutes one of the design features of the analysed wall system and may contribute to more sustainable use of construction materials through the utilisation of recycled polymer waste. Full article

Benzaldehyde is a key intermediate in the fine chemical, pharmaceutical, fragrance, and agrochemical industries, and the development of efficient and sustainable synthetic routes remains a major research priority. This review critically examines the principal catalytic pathways reported for benzaldehyde production, with particular emphasis on the oxidation of benzyl alcohol and the partial oxidation of toluene. Reaction conditions, catalytic systems, and performance descriptors such as conversion and selectivity are systematically analyzed, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each approach. Special attention is given to the choice of oxidants, reaction phase, and operating temperature, as these factors strongly influence process efficiency and product distribution. From a sustainability perspective, conventional routes are compared with greener alternatives based on molecular oxygen or air, aiming to reduce energy consumption and the generation of hazardous by-products. The review further discusses current challenges associated with catalyst stability, overoxidation, and process scalability. It identifies the principal scientific gaps limiting the industrial implementation of heterogeneous catalytic systems and critically examines how catalyst design, synthesis methodologies, sustainable feedstocks, waste-derived materials, and techno-economic considerations can collectively contribute to scalable and environmentally responsible benzaldehyde production. Finally, future research directions are proposed to guide the development of highly selective, economically viable, and sustainable catalytic processes. Full article