Search Results (22,436)

Background: Pathological cardiac remodeling is a major driver of heart failure progression and is closely associated with fibroblast activation, myocardial inflammation, oxidative injury, and impaired autophagic homeostasis. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling participates in adverse remodeling through activation of MAPK pathways, but the relationship between pharmacologically modulated EGFR turnover and cardiac remodeling remains insufficiently defined. Methods: This study investigated the protective effects of cycloastragenol (CAG), a triterpenoid sapogenin derived from Astragalus membranaceus, in Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cardiac remodeling and examined changes in EGFR turnover and associated MAPK signaling and autophagy-related processes. Circulating soluble EGFR was associated with heart failure severity after adjustment for age and sex. Separately, an independent exploratory transcriptomic analysis of left ventricular samples from GSE161472 showed that myocardial EGFR expression distinguished HFrEF from non-failing samples with an AUC of 0.870. Male C57BL/6 mice subjected to continuous Ang II infusion at 500 ng/kg/min for 28 days were used to establish the in vivo cardiac remodeling model and evaluate the effects of CAG on cardiac function, myocardial injury, fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy-related changes, with enalapril used as a positive control. Primary cardiac fibroblasts were further used to assess proliferation, migration, collagen production, EGFR membrane accumulation, lysosomal trafficking, MAPK signaling, and autophagic flux. Circulating soluble EGFR increased with heart failure severity and was associated with BNP elevation, ventricular dilation, and reduced ejection fraction. Results: CAG improved cardiac performance, reduced myocardial injury markers, alleviated fibrosis and hypertrophy, and suppressed inflammatory and oxidative responses in Ang II-treated mice. In cardiac fibroblasts, CAG reduced sustained EGFR membrane accumulation, increased EGFR recovery in pan-ubiquitin immunoprecipitates and lysosomal localization, and accelerated EGFR protein turnover, consistent with a predominantly lysosome-associated pathway. The K716R mutation attenuated CAG-associated changes in EGFR turnover, MAPK phosphorylation, and autophagic flux. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CAG attenuates Ang II-induced cardiac remodeling and is associated with enhanced EGFR lysosomal turnover, accompanied by changes in MAPK signaling and autophagy-related processes. Full article

This review aims to synthesise existing knowledge on the efficacy, underlying mechanisms, and practical relevance of biostimulants within low-input agroecosystems, with particular emphasis on South Africa as a representative semi-arid, resource-constrained agricultural system, while highlighting broader implications for similar low-input agroecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa. This review paper reviews peer-reviewed and selected grey literature sources published between 1997 and 2026, retrieved through structured searches of Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using predefined keywords related to biostimulants, sustainable agriculture and South Africa. Across the literature, there is general agreement that biostimulants may indirectly support biodiversity through improved soil biological activity and reduced dependence on synthetic inputs, although direct field evidence remains limited. Methodologically, most studies are conducted under controlled or semi-controlled conditions, including greenhouses, growth chambers, and pot experiments. While these approaches allow for mechanistic understanding and precise variable control, they often fail to capture the complexity of field environments typical of low-input farming systems. This review synthesises peer-reviewed literature identified through structured searches of major databases utilising terms related to biostimulants, with an emphasis on studies conducted in both controlled environments and field settings. Evidence suggests that biostimulants can enhance plant physiological performance, improve stress tolerance, and contribute to more efficient resource use when integrated into appropriate management practices. However, their effectiveness is highly context-dependent, and they should not be considered substitutes for soil fertility management or sound agronomic practices. Future research, particularly in South Africa as a representative semi-arid and resource-constrained system, should prioritise field-based assessments and incorporate ecological indicators such as species abundance, pollinator visitation, and ecosystem resilience under biostimulant regimes to generate more robust and context-relevant evidence. Full article

Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and its various fractions are assessed as sustainable functional feed additives that address both nutritional requirements and health challenges in intensive aquaculture systems. This review is based upon existing knowledge of yeast-derived products, critically evaluating their applications within aquafeeds. Specifically, it explores the use of whole yeast, yeast cell walls, autolysates, hydrolysates, and individual bioactive compounds. The main emphasis is placed on the yeast products containing β-glucans, mannanoligosaccharides (MOS), nucleotides, and other bioactive compounds, which provide significant advantages for enhancing innate and adaptive immunity, thus modulating gene expression, and raising antioxidant responses across diverse aquaculture species. We state the optimal inclusion levels from the scientific literature, which may range from as low as 0.1% for whole yeast products and about 0.4% for specific fractions, though species-specific responses vary considerably. Furthermore, this review integrates some of these areas to present a cohesive overview of different mechanisms of action, species-specific applications, physiological impacts on the gut, and related organ and systemic health. We also note specific haematological parameters and disease resistance across fish and crustacean species that may be affected by yeast products. By integrating the mechanistic insights with production-oriented application, this review fills the knowledge gap by establishing a framework for the powerful nature of yeast’s multiple roles in aquaculture nutrition. It serves to scope the potential future of commercial technologies leading to novel yeasts as functional feed additives. Although the literature suggests potential benefits for growth, immunity, antioxidant status, and gut health, the magnitude of response is highly variable amongst investigations. Full article

The efficient management of solid waste remains a persistent challenge worldwide, particularly in developing countries, due to increasing waste generation driven by rapid population growth and urbanisation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative approach to improving solid waste management (SWM) by enhancing waste collection, sorting, recycling, and resource recovery processes. Several countries have integrated AI into their SWM systems; however, the extent of AI-driven automation across the SWM value chain remains insufficiently understood. This study examines the implementation of AI-powered systems across various areas of SWM in ten selected countries to identify progress, benefits, challenges, and opportunities for advancing sustainable SWM practices. A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 268 studies published between 2005 and 2025 were identified and analysed. The findings indicate that the selected countries have made significant progress in adopting AI-powered systems across different areas of the SWM value chain, contributing to improved efficiency, resource recovery, and sustainability. However, challenges related to data availability and quality, privacy, cost, infrastructure, and ethical considerations remain. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among governments, waste management agencies, technology providers, private companies, and researchers. The study provides best-practice insights and recommendations for leveraging AI to optimise resource efficiency and support improved economic, environmental, and social outcomes in sustainable solid waste management. Full article

The Vietnamese textile and garment industry faces a critical sustainability paradox under the impending Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Firms are pressured to maintain high-volume export growth while aggressively minimizing carbon and resource intensity. To empirically resolve this tension, this study develops a novel three-phase benchmarking framework that integrates the Best–Worst Method (BWM), VIKOR, and Super-Efficiency Slacks-Based Measure (Super-SBM) under Variable Returns to Scale. Applied to 12 listed enterprises using 2024 fiscal data, the methodology first identifies Energy Intensity as the paramount strategic priority via the BWM. Next, VIKOR mathematically compresses six heterogeneous environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into a single composite index, thereby eliminating standard Data Envelopment Analysis dimensionality constraints. The Phase 3 Super-SBM results reveal profound sector heterogeneity. The macro-scale giant VGT defines the absolute efficiency frontier with an unprecedented score of 18.6729 and zero operational slack. However, the λ reference matrix identifies mid-cap operators such as Tien Son Thanh Hoa and Binh Duong Garment as highly replicable, agile benchmarks for the broader industry. Crucially, the non-radial projection analysis uncovers hidden structural vulnerabilities. The data show that while certain firms possess massive operational buffers, others operate on the absolute edge of the efficiency frontier, leaving them dangerously exposed to impending carbon-taxation shocks. Furthermore, the model identifies critical instances of ESG decoupling in which green investments fail to yield proportional increases in export revenues. These findings suggest that addressing the sustainability paradox requires targeted structural interventions informed by diagnostic benchmarking. Policymakers and corporate executives must integrate open innovation frameworks and systematic problem-solving methodologies to structurally decouple economic output from fossil-fuel energy dependence and outdated labor-arbitrage models. Full article

Open government data is a key institutional arrangement in market-oriented data factor reforms. Using the staggered rollout of city-level government data platforms in China as a quasi-natural experiment and panel data of listed manufacturing firms (2011–2024), we employ a staggered difference-in-differences design to examine the effect of open government data on firms’ resource allocation efficiency. We find that government data platforms significantly reduce resource misallocation, a result robust to propensity score matching, exclusion of concurrent policy shocks, and double machine learning. Channel-level tests do not find statistically significant transmission through government transparency, firm digital innovation, or fiscal subsidy reallocation. Directional identification shows that the effect operates primarily as a corrective force on capital-overallocated firms by curbing inefficient investment, rather than as a relief effect on constrained firms, and is more pronounced in high-digital-intensity industries, smaller cities, and regions with lower digital development. By reducing the wasteful use of capital, labour, and energy and improving the information environment in factor markets, open government data offers a low-cost, institutionalized instrument for reconciling productivity growth with sustainable resource use, with direct relevance to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

This review article synthesizes the results of four previously published empirical studies to provide a unified framework for understanding the economic and energy processes underlying the European Union’s (EU) energy transition. This study aims to demonstrate how energy efficiency improvements, the expansion of renewable energy sources, and the strengthening of energy security are linked in the EU’s long-term energy policy transformation. This review integrates the relationship among energy use and economic growth, the economic determinants of renewable energy sources, and the evolution of energy security and import dependence into a common analytical framework. The four studies cover different but partly overlapping time periods: Studies 1 and 2 cover 2010–2019, Study 3 covers 2015–2023, and Study 4 covers 2014–2023. The period 2010–2023 represents this review’s aggregated temporal scope, rather than a continuous empirical period common to all studies. The results of the synthesis show that the EU energy transition can be interpreted through three closely related strategic dimensions: improving energy efficiency, expanding renewable energy sources, and strengthening energy security. This study’s novelty lies in integrating the results of four previously published empirical studies into a coherent conceptual framework. Rather than establishing new causal relationships, this framework provides a synthetic perspective on the relationships between the main dimensions examined in the author’s research program. Full article

The heart–kidney axis has emerged as a central framework for understanding the bidirectional interactions that drive cardiorenal syndrome and broader cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic (CKM) disease. However, existing interpretations have often emphasized hemodynamic and neurohormonal mechanisms without fully integrating the growing evidence for endocrine, inflammatory, and metabolic mediators that coordinate injury across organs. This Review was therefore undertaken to provide an updated and clinically relevant synthesis of the physiological basis of heart–kidney communication, the mechanisms underlying its disruption, and the therapeutic implications of these insights. To achieve this aim, we performed a systematic narrative review of the literature using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies, supplemented by manual screening of reference lists. Priority was given to original studies, large cohort analyses, randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and authoritative reviews. We integrated evidence spanning physiological regulation, maladaptive signaling pathways, emerging mediators, experimental models, and evolving treatment strategies. The reviewed evidence indicates that heart–kidney crosstalk is driven not only by altered perfusion and venous congestion, but also by sustained activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS), inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, anemia, uremic toxins, and disordered mineral metabolism. Among novel mediators, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) emerges as a major bone-derived, chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated endocrine mediator linking renal injury to cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, calcium mishandling, and diastolic dysfunction, whereas Klotho appears to exert counter-regulatory protective effects. Heart-derived natriuretic peptides, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), remain important modulators of renal blood flow, natriuresis, and volume homeostasis. We further highlight the translational relevance of newer biomarkers and therapies, including sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 receptor agonists), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), which may help address cardiac and renal dysfunction in parallel. Overall, this Review supports a revised conceptual model in which the heart–kidney axis is governed by multidirectional hemodynamic, neurohormonal, immune, and endocrine signaling networks. A more integrated understanding of these mechanisms may improve biomarker discovery, refine risk stratification, and promote therapies that target both organs simultaneously. Full article

Yam bean (Pachyrhizus spp.) is a promising, yet underutilized, leguminous crop with considerable potential for biopesticide development. However, baseline data on seed yield, the heritability of pod traits, and antibacterial effects against Ralstonia solanacearum (RS) are lacking, limiting informed selection for seed production and biopesticide use. This study evaluated the morpho-agronomic traits of nine Amazonian yam bean progenies and screened their seed extracts for in vitro antibacterial activity against RS. We conducted the experiment on a Spodosol, using a trellis system in a randomized complete block design with four replications and four plants per plot. Seed yield varied from 0.56 to 0.98 t ha⁻¹, with progenies P14, P20, and P23 exhibiting the highest numerical yields. Broad-sense heritability (H²) was high for pod length (0.77), pod width (0.81), and 100-seed mass (0.85), suggesting considerable potential for genetic improvement of these traits. In vitro antibacterial assays revealed concentration-dependent biphasic activity: 0.5% (w/v) extracts initially stimulated bacterial growth at 6 and 12 h but suppressed multiplication by 88–90% at 24 h, whereas 5% (w/v) extracts promoted growth throughout the 24 h period. These findings establish baseline seed yield data for yam bean grown in Amazonian Spodosols and highlight the genetic variability available for breeding programs in the region. Progenies P14, P20, and P23 warrant further investigation as sources of natural compounds for sustainable plant protection, underscoring the need for optimized formulations and extended exposure periods. Full article

In the context of the global implementation of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), urban green development serves as a core practical pathway to advance SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG15 (Life on Land). This study constructed a three-dimensional evaluation framework encompassing the green economy, green ecology, and green society, and utilized panel data from 282 Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2009 to 2021. By integrating the CRITIC weighting method, spatial autocorrelation, the Standard Deviational Ellipse (SDE) approach, and the Dagum Gini decomposition, we systematically quantified multi-scale spatiotemporal evolution and disparity patterns at the national scale, as well as across four major economic zones and five core urban agglomerations. Nationwide, the composite green development index rose from 0.422 to 0.522 (+23.70%), while the overall Dagum Gini coefficient declined from 0.072 to 0.053 (−26.39%), with the spatial center of gravity gradually shifting toward the southwest. Eastern China persistently maintained the highest development level; Western China achieved the fastest cumulative growth (26.43%), and Northeastern China lagged behind with the lowest growth rate (20.10%). Among five major urban agglomerations, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD) shared an identical average score of 0.582, whereas the Chengdu–Chongqing (CC) agglomeration recorded the highest growth of 33.07%. This research contributes multi-scale empirical evidence for localized SDG implementation in China and provides differentiated policy insights for cross-regional green transition governance. Full article

Sustainable public transport in South Africa has become a policy priority over the past few decades. Safety is recognised as a fundamental component of this agenda. In many cities, public transport systems are often characterised by poor safety standards, which undermine ridership and public confidence. In the City of Polokwane, despite the successful recent completion of the first phase of Leeto La Polokwane bus system, an Intelligent Transportation System designed for sustainable transport management, the safety performance of the system and its subsequent influence on travel behaviour remain underexplored. This study addresses this gap by investigating the safety performance of the Leeto La Polokwane Phase 1A and its relationship with commuters’ sustainable travel mode choice. Commuter surveys (n = 344), field observations, and actual ridership data were used to collect data. Principal component analysis extracted two key factors (commuter safety and crime prevention), which together explained 63.14% of the total variance in commuters’ perceptions of safety. Commuters reported a neutral perception of commuter safety (mean = 4.03) and a negative perception of crime prevention (mean = 3.90). Multinomial logistic regression revealed that commuters’ perceptions of safety, particularly concerns related to crime prevention, were statistically significant predictors of sustainable travel mode choice. Multiple linear regression further showed that operational continuity and system maturation were positively associated with ridership growth, with operating days (β = 0.307, p = 0.044) and time in operation (β = 0.670, p < 0.001) emerging as significant predictors. Although taxi protests (β = −0.036, p = 0.804) and school holidays (β = −0.199, p = 0.181) were negatively correlated with ridership. The study concludes that safety is a critical determinant of sustainable public transport use that extends beyond the onboard environment to include the entire commuter journey. To improve public transport safety requires a holistic strategy that integrates safe pedestrian infrastructure, effective crime prevention, operational reliability, and strengthened institutional collaboration. Full article

Complex hollow metallic microstructures are essential for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), lab-on-a-chip microfluidics, and bio-integrated devices, yet their fabrication remains challenging because geometric complexity, microscale precision, and high aspect ratios must be satisfied simultaneously. This study proposes filament-guided electrolyte–column electrodeposition (FG-ECD), which couples a removable filament template with a nozzle-confined electrolyte column to define internal channels in situ during localized metal growth, thereby avoiding the collapse risks associated with conventional template removal routes. A two-dimensional axisymmetric multiphysics model reveals that the embedded filament reorganizes the electrolyte into a stable annular flow and shifts the cathodic current density maximum from the substrate toward the advancing dome front, establishing a self-consistent, quasi-stable localized reaction zone, while a parametric sweep shows that the total current scales the current density magnitude without altering its spatial profile. Experiments demonstrate that a current of 3.6 mA produces smooth dome front growth at approximately 20 μm/min, whereas 5.5 mA triggers sustained hydrogen evolution and a transition to cellular deposition. Under optimized conditions, straight, 540° spiral, and R-shaped dual-channel hollow nickel microstructures were fabricated with continuous, collapse-free internal channels of 50 ± 5 μm, aspect ratios exceeding 10:1, and dimensional accuracy within ±35 μm. FG-ECD provides a low-temperature processing route for complex hollow metallic architectures and offers process regulation principles based on co-regulation of the flow field and current density for electrochemical microfabrication. Full article

This paper examines how circular economy (CE) policies relate to sustainable economic growth and environmental sustainability across eight major emerging economies between 2005 and 2023, with particular attention to how that relationship shifts across time horizons. Much of the existing literature has a temporal aggregation problem: short- and long-run dynamics are averaged together into a single coefficient, which can obscure the underlying relationship or, worse, produce a misleading sign. We address this by decomposing two central CE variables—renewable energy share and energy intensity—into short-, medium-, and long-term frequency components using a Level-2 discrete wavelet transform. Each component is then estimated via two-way fixed-effects panel regressions; given the constraints of a relatively small panel, we validate inference using a Wild Cluster Bootstrap procedure. Three findings stand out. First, although the growth elasticity of renewable energy rises across horizons—a descriptive pattern consistent with short-run adjustment costs giving way to longer-run sustainable gains—Wild Cluster Bootstrap (WCB) inference indicates that these structural coefficients are not statistically significant in this sample. Second, the energy intensity coefficient reverses the sign, moving from a weakly significant negative short-run effect (p < 0.10) to positive estimates in the longer run; these longer-run effects, however, fail to reach statistical significance, and so offer only suggestive theoretical alignment with the macroeconomic Jevons Rebound Effect rather than firm empirical confirmation of it. Third, Industry Value Added stands out as the one robust macroeconomic factor in the model, remaining a significant and positive driver of sustainable development at every frequency horizon. Taken together, these results suggest that while CE transitions display suggestive multi-horizon dynamics, industrial expansion remains the more statistically dependable engine of sustainable growth across these emerging markets. Although statistical significance is dependent on the sample size, the identified trajectories provide a useful structural diagnosis for policymakers who need to plan different investment horizons for the sustainable green transition. Full article

The global ‘Blue Transition’ presents a critical policy dilemma for marine fisheries: how to achieve ecological sustainability and carbon neutrality while maintaining socio-economic vitality. This study addresses this challenge by analyzing the complex interplay between the ecological, social, and economic systems within China’s marine fisheries. Our research purpose is to identify effective governance pathways for a coordinated and sustainable transition. We developed a system dynamics model, informed by panel data from 2010–2022, to simulate the long-term outcomes of different policy scenarios. This approach allows us to move beyond static analysis and understand the dynamic feedback mechanisms that shape the fishery sector. Our analysis of historical data reveals that the overall system coordination improved initially but has since stagnated at a basic level. The most significant outcome of our simulations is the identification of the social system—encompassing technological innovation, governance, and human capital—as the central lever for progress. Our findings demonstrate that policies focused narrowly on either economic growth or ecological restoration are suboptimal. The optimal path to high-quality, sustainable development is an integrated strategy that prioritizes investment in the social system to mediate the conflict between economic and ecological goals. This provides a crucial insight for marine policy, suggesting that effective governance frameworks are the key enablers of a successful Blue Transition. Full article

As climate change increasingly threatens sustainable development goals, climate risk has emerged as a critical factor shaping corporate strategic decisions and capital allocation behavior. Using a sample of Chinese A-share listed firms over the period 2008 to 2024, this study constructs a firm-level climate risk index through textual analysis of annual report disclosures and examines its effect on corporate green investment. We find that climate risk is positively associated with corporate green investment. Mechanism analysis reveals that climate risk operates through dual pathways: it enhances firms’ green strategic orientation as the internal governance mechanism, and heightens public green attention as the external governance mechanism, both of which are positively related to increasing firms’ green investment. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the promoting effect is more pronounced for state-owned enterprises, heavy-polluting firms, firms with negative media coverage, and firms located in northern regions of China. Further analysis reveals that climate risk is more strongly associated with green transformation investment over end-of-pipe treatment investment, and firms that increase green transformation investment in response to climate risk achieve stronger firm growth. These findings provide new evidence on how climate risk shapes corporate environmental behavior, offering practical insights for promoting sustainable investment and advancing corporate contributions to sustainable development. Full article