Search Results (22,365)

Arachidonic acid (AA) is a high-value long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid commonly produced by submerged fermentation of oleaginous fungi. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) using low-cost agro-industrial by-products represents a promising alternative approach for sustainable microbial lipid production. In this study, spent malt, a by-product of the brewing industry, was evaluated as a solid substrate for AA production by Mortierella alpina under SSF conditions. Four M. alpina strains were screened for growth, lipid accumulation, and AA production, and M. alpina 959 was selected as the most promising strain. The effects of nitrogen supplementation and oil incorporation on biomass formation, lipid accumulation, and AA productivity were subsequently investigated. Sunflower oil incorporation into spent malt-based substrates improved AA productivity under the most favorable conditions, resulting in an AA proportion of 38.6% of total fatty acids and 102.5 mg AA g⁻¹ of final dry mass of the SSF system (FDW-SC). Comparison of selected vegetable oils further demonstrated that the lipid source affected AA production, while having only a limited effect on fungal growth and total lipid accumulation. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of spent malt-based SSF for AA production by M. alpina and highlights the valorization of brewery spent malt as a low-cost agro-industrial by-product for the production of value-added microbial lipids. Full article

With the backdrop of the coexistence of sustainable development of marine economy and ecological environment restrictions, how to enhance the efficiency of marine environmental governance (MEGE) has become a significant topic whereby coastal regions should attain green transformation. The research object in this paper is 11 coastal provincial administrative units in mainland China between 2013 and 2021, and marine environmental governance is divided into two stages of production and governance. MEGE and its stage efficiency are measured with the help of the two-stage super-efficiency Network SBM model, and the efficiency growth is characterized with the help of the Network Malmquist index. It is on this basis that, using the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework, six antecedent conditions of digital economy, technological innovation, marine industrial structure, marine industrial agglomeration, environmental regulation, and degree of openness are chosen and fsQCA is applied to determine the multiple configuration paths of high MEGE growth. The findings indicate the following: (1) The MEGE in the coastal regions of China is improving in general, although the differences in the region remain evident. The efficiency characteristics of the production stage and the governance stage differ, and the inter-provincial differentiation of the governance stage is more pronounced. (2) No single condition is required to achieve high MEGE growth but four equifinal configurations created by the combined action of several conditions can be further reduced to three types, namely technology–environment driven, technology–organization–environment synergistic and technology–organization driven. (3) There exists apparent synergy, compensation, and substitution relationships between technology, organization, and environmental conditions. The most important aspect of high-efficiency growth is not that all positive conditions are on a high level simultaneously, but that a complex of conditions corresponding to the foundation of regional development is created. (4) High and non-high MEGE growth have a strong causal asymmetry and the effective driving routes in various regions are also different. This paper extends the study of the efficiency of marine environmental governance in the two dimensions of internal stage structure and configuration mechanism, and applies accurate, path adaptation, and regional differentiation governance to coastal regions. Full article

The cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a globally distributed polyphagous pest that damages various crops. Pesticides remain a primary and effective strategy for controlling cotton bollworm populations. This study evaluated the effects of broflanilide on H. armigera by integrating life-table analysis, detoxification enzyme activity assays, and gut microbiome characterization. Broflanilide showed high toxicity against third-instar larvae. Parental LC₅₀ exposure prolonged larval development and reduced larval survival in the F₁ generation. In addition, parental exposure to both LC₃₀ and LC₅₀ reduced adult emergence, fecundity and major population growth parameters, especially the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and net reproductive rate (R₀), demonstrating a significant transgenerational inhibitory effect. Enzyme assays showed that carboxylesterase (CarE) activity was induced after broflanilide exposure, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity showed a time-dependent response with the strongest induction generally observed under LC₁₀ treatment, whereas cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) activity was generally inhibited. Gut microbiota analysis showed that LC₅₀ exposure significantly reduced the relative abundance of Enterococcus. Functional prediction further indicated enrichment trends in pathways related to xenobiotic degradation and metabolism. Overall, broflanilide not only exhibited strong lethal activity against H. armigera, but also produced sustained effects on population fitness, detoxification metabolism and gut microbial ecology. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the rational use of broflanilide and improve our understanding of its sublethal physiological and microbial effects on H. armigera. Full article

Colonias are historically underserved communities along the Texas–Mexico border facing infrastructure deficiencies, socioeconomic vulnerability, and environmental hazards. This study examines parcel-level development conditions across 66,160 properties in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, Texas. Property appraisal records, colonia boundaries and 2014 classifications, and geographic information system analyses were integrated to evaluate property values, platting, public service district coverage, floodplain exposure, and reconstructed building patterns from 1990 to 2025. These indicators represent physical and economic conditions associated with resilience rather than a comprehensive measure of community resilience. Results reveal variation among counties and 2014 baseline classification categories. Communities classified as Green exhibited higher property values, greater district coverage, and more established development, whereas those classified as Red showed lower values and greater developmental disadvantages. Reconstructed building inventories more than doubled in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties and increased in Starr County, although survivorship bias and missing year-built data limit interpretation of growth rates. Many colonia properties remain within mapped floodplains, particularly in Hidalgo County. Because the analysis is descriptive, these patterns cannot be causally attributed to specific policies. This study provides a replicable parcel-level framework for evaluating development disparities and floodplain exposure to inform equitable infrastructure investment and planning in underserved border communities. Full article

This study examines the association between financial development and selected telecommunications infrastructure indicators in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), focusing on mobile cellular subscriptions (MBS) and fixed telephone subscriptions (FTS). It also examines whether urbanization moderates these associations and explores the relationships of trade openness, final consumption expenditure, and economic growth with telecommunications infrastructure. The study is based on an unbalanced panel of 44 SSA countries with data for the period 1981–2021 and includes two-way fixed effects (TWFE) models as the baseline specification, Panel Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) to estimate long-run associations within the cointegrating framework, and TWFE models with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors as a robustness procedure. The results indicate that financial development is positively and significantly associated with both FTS and MBS across the main specifications, with a substantially stronger association for MBS. These results validate the hypotheses that financial development has a positive relationship with the fixed and mobile telecommunications infrastructure. The moderation analysis also shows that financial development is positively associated with MBS when the level of urbanization increases, while such a positive moderating relationship is not statistically significant for FTS. Trade openness is generally positively associated with telecommunications infrastructure, while the associations of final consumption expenditure and economic growth vary across the MBS and FTS specifications. Overall, the findings suggest that the association between financial development and telecommunications infrastructure is technology-specific and varies with the level of urbanization. Robustness tests with the balanced panel sample and the post-1990s subsample generally give similar results, but caution should be taken in comparing results across specifications because of the differences in samples. The findings provide evidence relevant to the telecommunications infrastructure dimension of the broader Sustainable Development Goal 9 agenda, but they should not be inferred as evidence of comprehensive SDG 9 progress or causal effects. Future studies should use more comprehensive digital infrastructure indicators, disaggregated data, and better identification strategies to mitigate potential reverse causality and other forms of endogeneity. Full article

Urban sustainability governance has long been dominated by growth-oriented metrics that measure aggregate improvement without establishing whether neighborhoods provide enough for all residents without continuous territorial expansion or resource-intensive redevelopment. Drawing on the post-growth planning, sufficiency theory, spatial justice, land governance, and the adaptive planning literature, this paper proposes a Spatial Sufficiency Multifunctionality Framework (SSMF). SSMF is a provisional conceptual framework requiring empirical validation and aiming to reorient neighborhood land assessment from growth optimization to sufficiency thresholds. The framework organizes planning around five interconnected dimensions: social sufficiency, economic resilience without growth dependence, ecological resilience, spatial governance and land-use sufficiency, and institutional and participatory capacity. Each is operationalized through illustrative indicators, thresholds, and linked governance instruments. SSMF asks whether per-capita land use remains within ecological capacities and whether access to services, green space, and affordable space is equitably distributed. The framework is developed through a systematic scoping review of the literature on urban sustainability, land governance, and post-growth planning, and provides a diagnostic logic and a menu of governance instruments. By shifting the evaluative focus from “more” to “enough, equity distributed within neighborhood capacities,” SSMF offers a provisional architecture for understanding post-growth principles at the neighborhood scale. Full article

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) currently face substantial challenges in maintaining their operating standards. Implementing occupational health and safety practices (OHSPs) can be an important strategy for success. This empirical study assessed the performance of OHSPs in SMEs. A framework was developed comprising four performance indicators: operations, customer satisfaction, finance, and employee satisfaction. Data were collected from 35 SMEs in the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) in Kotri, Sindh, Pakistan, through a self-administered questionnaire and convenience sampling. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess data reliability, yielding a coefficient of 0.85 and indicating acceptable reliability. The data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and intercorrelations among the components. Most SMEs reported improved performance, including greater employee motivation (94.2%), target achievement (85.7%), timely order delivery (91.4%), product quality (80%), ease of supervision (57.1%), company reputation (94.3%), profitability (60%), productivity (91.5%), and sales (57.1%). Overall, the SMEs reported improvements across all four key performance areas, primarily following the effective implementation of OHSPs. Intercorrelation analysis also indicated positive relationships among all factors, most of which were statistically significant at the 0.05 level. These findings demonstrate that implementing OHSPs can support sustainable growth and promote healthy lives and decent work, thereby contributing to SDGs 3 and 8. Full article

Climate risk has become a defining challenge for businesses, influencing strategic decision-making, organisational resilience, and long-term performance. Despite the rapid growth of research in this area, the intellectual development and thematic evolution of climate-related corporate studies remain fragmented. This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of the literature through a bibliometric analysis and systematic review of 643 Scopus-indexed, peer-reviewed articles published between 1993 and 2025, with a systematic thematic synthesis of 23 empirical studies. Using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, science-mapping techniques, including co-citation analysis and bibliographic coupling, were employed to examine publication trends, intellectual foundations, and major research themes. The findings indicate a shift from environmental measurement and compliance toward climate-risk management, carbon disclosure, and sustainable finance. Financial outcomes are heterogeneous, and context-dependent carbon exposure is generally associated with valuation penalties and downside risk, while the relevance of disclosure and climate strategies depends on credibility, substantive implementation, and organisational and institutional conditions. The integrated review shows that the financial implications of climate-related corporate actions are contingent upon climate-risk exposure, disclosure credibility, organisational capabilities, and institutional context. It further explains the coexistence of mixed empirical findings and identifies priorities for future research and policy. The findings offer valuable implications for researchers, corporate managers, investors, and policymakers seeking to strengthen sustainable business practices under an evolving climate risk landscape. Full article

Maintaining sustainable production of healthy and nutritious food represents a major global challenge. Cultivated meat could reduce the environmental impact of livestock production, but it remains costly, largely due to the expense of fetal bovine serum, a common cell culture media supplement. Algal and cyanobacterial proteins, particularly phycobiliproteins, represent promising sustainable sources of potentially bioactive peptides that may contribute to the development of serum-reduced or serum-free culture media. This study investigated the potential of hydrolysates prepared using the protein extracts of the red alga Porphyra haitanensis and the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis as functional supplements for cell cultivation in a low-serum environment. Twelve hydrolysates were generated by treating protein extracts from Arthrospira platensis and Porphyra haitanensis with six proteolytic enzymes: pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, subtilisin, thermolysin and proteinase K. The effects of these hydrolysates were studied in three cell models of mammalian (CHO-K1), avian (QM7), and fish (MACK1) origin. The effects of hydrolysates on cell viability, proliferation, and antioxidant activity were evaluated. A. platensis–chymotrypsin hydrolysate significantly improved QM7 cell viability compared to control in both 80% reduced-serum and tryptose phosphate broth conditions (p ≤ 0.0001). Additionally, peptide composition analysis and identification of amino acid sequences provided preliminary insights into potentially bioactive chromopeptides associated with the maintenance and promotion of cellular growth. Algae/cyanobacteria-derived hydrolysates positively regulated cell viability and proliferation in serum-reduced conditions, although effects were dependent on the algal species, enzymatic treatment, and cell type. These findings highlight their potential as sustainable supplements for alternative cell culture media. Full article

Background/Objectives: Achondroplasia is the most common genetic skeletal dysplasia associated with disproportionate short stature and is primarily caused by gain-of-function variants in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene. Constitutive FGFR3 activation disrupts growth plate homeostasis and endochondral ossification through complex alterations in chondrocyte proliferation, differentiation, hypertrophy, extracellular matrix organization, and intracellular signaling. The increasing understanding of these mechanisms has enabled the transition from exclusively supportive management toward disease-modifying and precision-based therapeutic strategies. This narrative review aimed to critically synthesize current evidence on the genetic basis, molecular pathogenesis, growth plate abnormalities, and current and emerging targeted therapies in achondroplasia. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection, with Google Scholar used as a supplementary source, together with manual screening of the reference lists of relevant original studies, clinical trials, reviews, consensus documents, and clinical guidelines. The principal literature search covered publications from January 2010 to March 2026, while selected seminal primary studies published before 2010 were included when necessary to document the original identification of pathogenic FGFR3 variants and foundational mechanisms of FGFR3-mediated growth plate regulation. Particular emphasis was placed on FGFR3 variants, receptor activation mechanisms, growth plate dysfunction, intracellular signaling pathways, vosoritide, C-type natriuretic peptide-based therapies, FGFR3 inhibitors, ligand–receptor blockade, drug repurposing, Wnt/β-catenin modulation, and gene-based therapeutic approaches. Results: Achondroplasia is characterized by marked molecular homogeneity, with the recurrent p.Gly380Arg substitution accounting for most cases. Mutant FGFR3 displays sustained activity through partial ligand independence, enhanced receptor dimerization and kinase activation, increased receptor stability, and reduced degradation. Excessive signaling through MAPK/ERK, STAT, PI3K/AKT, IHH/PTHrP, and related pathways impairs chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophic differentiation, alters extracellular matrix turnover, disrupts primary cilium function, and reduces longitudinal bone growth. Vosoritide provides clinical proof that pharmacological modulation of FGFR3-related signaling can improve growth velocity. Additional therapeutic strategies under clinical or preclinical investigation include long-acting CNP analogues, selective FGFR inhibitors, decoy receptors, RNA aptamers, repurposed drugs, Wnt/DKK1 pathway modulation, and gene- or enhancer-targeted interventions. Conclusions: Achondroplasia is increasingly understood as a disorder of dysregulated growth plate signaling rather than solely a condition of reduced stature. Although vosoritide has established the feasibility of disease-modifying treatment, substantial uncertainty remains regarding final adult height, skeletal proportionality, cranio-spinal development, orthopedic outcomes, and long-term safety. Future progress will depend on mechanistically informed therapeutic combinations, improved biomarkers, advanced cellular and animal models, and long-term clinical and real-world evidence. Full article

Purpose: This study investigates the structural pathways driving the startup potential of Generation Z students in Romania’s post-transition economy. It examines the sequential relationship between Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM), Entrepreneurial Intentions (EIs), and Entrepreneurial Behavior (EB), focusing on the mediating role of intentions in bridging the gap between cognition and action. Design/methodology/approach: Using a quantitative explanatory design, data were collected through a two-stage hybrid framework from a sample of 215 Romanian business students associated with the Hackathon Innovation Labs (HILs), selected via a non-probability purposive sampling method. Hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation, supported by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to ensure statistical rigor. Findings: Results confirm that EM is a robust predictor of EI, which significantly drives EB, explaining 45.2% of its variance. The findings highlight that intentions fully mediate the relationship, suggesting that a growth-oriented mindset turns into firm intentions to overcome institutional and cultural barriers. Originality: This research applies a rigorous SEM framework to a cohort of digital natives in an underrepresented Eastern European emerging market. It integrates mindset as a foundational cognitive precursor and provides empirical evidence of the sequential path to entrepreneurial behavior. Research limitations/implications: The study is limited by its sample size and geographic focus on Romanian business students. Future longitudinal research should explore external contingency factors, such as access to capital and ecosystem support, to validate model generalizability. Practical and social implications: Higher education should shift toward experiential programs like HILs, embedding credit-bearing hackathons and micro-credentials to foster an entrepreneurial mindset. Socially, sustaining this momentum with structured mentorship bridges the intention–action gap, transforming Gen Z’s digital potential into tangible economic value for the post-transition ecosystem. Full article

This study examines the complex dynamics of water scarcity and infrastructure challenges in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Despite its coastal location, the municipality faces persistent water shortages driven by rapid population growth, urbanization, climate change risks, aging and deteriorating infrastructure, and service delivery constraints. Communities including KwaXimba, Phoenix, Inanda, and Tongaat experience inconsistent access to clean water. The study aimed to identify root causes of scarcity, assess the effectiveness of existing water infrastructure, and propose sustainable, community-informed strategies to improve water resilience and equitable access. A qualitative research design was adopted to capture lived experiences and perceptions of water access across seven wards (1, 3, 52, 54, 56, 57, and 61), representing approximately 357,492 residents. Focus group discussions involved five randomly selected participants per ward, identified through councilor databases. Structured discussions were recorded for accuracy. Data were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo through systematic coding, thematic analysis, and organization of data into structured project folders aligned with research objectives. The analysis revealed recurring themes related to infrastructure decay, climate vulnerability, rapid urban expansion, and service delivery inefficiencies, highlighting significant barriers to reliable water access and community well-being. Findings provide evidence-based insights to guide policymakers, planners, and water authorities in strengthening infrastructure planning, climate resilience, and sustainable water governance. Full article

Tourism is a complex economic activity all over the world shaped by distinct local resources: culture, nature, industrial heritage, urban ambiance, place-based uniqueness, and geographical accessibility. The simultaneous governance and management of economic growth motives, preservation of the cultural heritage base, and respect for nature and ecological quality calls for an evidence-based and multi-faceted policy analysis that seeks to achieve sustainable development among conflicting policy objectives in tourist areas. The present paper seeks to explore the feasibility of a sustainable balance for various heterogeneous cultural heritage areas in Europe (‘urban pilot regions’), with particular attention to sustainable local development characterized by circular economic objectives and an ecological balance strategy based on the principle of stakeholders’ co-creation. The paper addresses the knowledge gap between generic policy aims and site-specific views of actors or visitors. To that end, an extensive survey experiment was administered in the urban regions concerned, in which a wide range of relevant management issues/questions related to environmental preferences and perceptions were posed to stakeholders and visitors. The data were analyzed by means of a novel respondent-oriented multivariate statistical tool, viz. Generalized Q-Analysis, which is suitable for handling big databases with many respondents. The paper shows that the application of Generalized Q-Analysis to common survey data enriches the results from the application of a conventional Q-Analysis. Furthermore, the study also highlights that, based on the views expressed by the surveyed visitors, the tourist areas concerned are quite different from each other in attracting specific classes of visitors. Therefore, functional specialization in the tourist sector seems to be an important anchor point for effective governance of urban tourism, not only in Europe, but also elsewhere in the world. Full article

Global population growth, climatic extremes and rising resource pressures necessitate innovative agricultural methods to boost food, feed, fibre and fuel production sustainably. Seed enhancement technologies (SETs), such as seed coating and priming, have emerged as effective strategies to improve seed viability and vigour, seedling establishment and overall crop yield. Conventional seed treatments include seed coating (film coating, encrusting, pelleting) and seed priming (hydro-, osmo-, halo- bio-, nutri-, hormonal-, chemical- and solid matrix priming). They offer advantages such as improved seed handling, uniform germination and promotion of early growth. However, they also have significant drawbacks, including on soil health and off-target pollution from synthetic polymers and pesticides, seed longevity issues from re-drying and outcomes that can vary among different crops, soils and environments. To tackle these issues, new non-traditional SETs are being investigated, including nanotechnology, novel biodegradable coatings and agrichemical-free biostimulants, such as plant growth promoting microorganisms. These innovative methods demonstrate great promise in enhancing active and crop performance while minimising environmental impacts by providing alternatives to materials derived from fossil fuels and that contribute to waste and pollution. This review critically examines both conventional and novel SETs, discusses their pros and cons and outlines strategic research and industry directions to enhance agricultural sustainability and productivity in light of global food and resource security challenges. Full article

Since the implementation of the Grain-for-Green Program (GGP), vegetation across the Loess Plateau (LP) has substantially recovered. However, whether the associated increase in ecosystem carbon gain was accompanied by a proportional increase in water consumption and whether groundwater storage changed synchronously remain unclear. This study integrated multi-source remote sensing products, GLDAS-Noah land-surface assimilation data, GRACE/GRACE-FO satellite gravimetry, irrigation water-use data, provincial water-use statistics, and coal-resource information to examine long-term changes in gross primary productivity (GPP), evapotranspiration (ET), water-use efficiency (WUE), soil moisture (SM), and groundwater storage anomaly (GWSA) during 2002–2023. GPP increased significantly by 10.67 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ ($p<0.01$), whereas ET increased more modestly by 1.97 mm yr⁻¹ ($p<0.05$). The relative growth rate of GPP (1.66%) was approximately 3.5 times that of ET (0.47%), and WUE increased by 0.018 g C m⁻² mm⁻¹ yr⁻¹ ($p<0.01$). In the XGBoost–SHAP models for 2004–2019, LAI showed the strongest model-based association with GPP and WUE, whereas ET was associated more broadly with LAI, air temperature, and precipitation. SM declined during 2002–2015 but showed an increasing tendency during 2016–2023, particularly in the middle and deep layers. The long-term GWSA slopes derived from CSR and JPL were −8.707 and −9.505 mm yr⁻¹, respectively, and the averaged CSR–JPL GWSA series showed a Sen’s slope of −9.131 mm yr⁻¹. GWSA declined during 2002–2020 and showed only a short-term, nonsignificant increase during 2020–2023 (4.110 mm yr⁻¹, $p>0.05$). These contrasting trajectories indicate that increases in surface carbon uptake and improvements in soil-water conditions were not accompanied by synchronous regional groundwater recovery. Overall, the ecological-restoration period was accompanied by increased carbon gain and WUE without a proportional increase in regional ET, while groundwater storage followed a distinct trajectory. These findings provide regional-scale evidence and a quantitative basis for coordinating sustainable water-resource management with ecological-restoration optimization on the LP. Full article