Search Results (7,436)

Digital finance has emerged as a rapidly evolving field shaped by advances in financial technology (FinTech), blockchain, artificial intelligence, digital banking, and payment innovations. Our analysis applied bibliometric techniques to examine the evolution, trends, intellectual structure, and future directions of research in the field. Data were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection using a search strategy designed to capture publications that explicitly address research trends, evolution, and future directions in digital finance. After applying predefined screening criteria, a final dataset of 334 publications published between 2016 and 6 March 2026, was analyzed using Bibliometrix, Biblioshiny, and VOSviewer. The analysis included performance indicators, science mapping, co-authorship networks, co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence analysis, thematic mapping, thematic evolution, author productivity analysis using Lotka’s Law as a descriptive reference, and Bradford’s Law. The findings indicate a substantial increase in publications over the study period, with an annual growth rate of 33.35%. Research output is highly concentrated in China and India, which together account for approximately 70.06% of the publications. The intellectual structure of the literature is primarily organized around themes related to FinTech, blockchain, cryptocurrency, innovation, and financial inclusion. At the same time, emerging areas include artificial intelligence, sustainability, ESG, green finance, and decentralized finance. The results also reveal fragmented collaboration networks and significant geographical concentration in research production. This study contributes to the literature by providing an overview of the evolution and thematic development of trend-focused digital finance research and identifies promising directions for future investigation. The findings should be interpreted within the scope of the selected trend-oriented literature and not as a representation of the digital finance literature landscape. Full article

Sustainable nutrient management in sweet potato requires matching fertilizer inputs with site-specific soil nutrient supply while maintaining productivity and processing quality. This study characterized site-specific NPK responses and identified fertilization regimes coordinating yield and starch content under contrasting soil nutrient backgrounds. To address this objective, a three-factor, five-level quadratic orthogonal rotatable composite design comprising 23 N–P–K experimental runs was conducted independently at two sites in Beibei and Youyang, Chongqing, China, using the starch-type sweet potato cultivar ‘Yushu 17’. The two sites differed markedly in initial soil nutrient status. Photosynthetic characteristics, nutrient accumulation, dry matter production and partitioning, fresh storage-root yield, and quality were measured. Quadratic regression models combined with a desirability function were used to characterize site-specific nutrient responses and optimize yield and starch content. The effects of N, P, and K differed markedly between sites. In Beibei, fresh storage-root yield was mainly affected by the linear effect of N, while P and K also had positive effects, and the P × K interaction was significant. In Youyang, yield was primarily regulated by the linear effect of K and showed a significant negative quadratic response to P. Photosynthetic performance; N, P, and K accumulation; total dry matter accumulation (TDMA); and root-to-top ratio (R/T) responded mainly to N in Beibei but were more sensitive to K in Youyang. Fresh storage-root yield was positively correlated with net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, leaf area index, nutrient accumulation, R/T, and TDMA, but negatively correlated with starch content, indicating a yield–starch trade-off. When yield was prioritized while starch content was maintained, the optimal N–P₂O₅–K₂O rates were 155.02–116.42–300.00 kg·ha⁻¹ in Beibei, predicting 42,800 kg·ha⁻¹ yield and 20.09% starch, and 153.34–75.00–282.90 kg·ha⁻¹ in Youyang, predicting 35,850 kg·ha⁻¹ yield and 24.92% starch. These site-specific optima provide a quantitative basis for more targeted fertilizer allocation while coordinating yield and starch content, thereby supporting sustainable nutrient management of starch-type sweet potato. Full article

Polymer Additive Manufacturing (AM) offers substantial opportunities for material-efficient and distributed production, yet its transition towards genuine circularity remains constrained by cumulative material degradation, fragmented recovery strategies, and the limited integration of lifecycle, environmental, economic, and industrial considerations. This critical systematic review examines circularity in polymer AM beyond conventional end-of-life recycling by integrating material behaviour, manufacturing-induced evolution, degradation mechanisms, lifecycle performance and value retention, recovery pathways, and sustainability assessment within a unified systems perspective. Following a PRISMA-based selection process, 3214 records were progressively screened to a final corpus of 175 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025. The evidence demonstrates that polymer circularity is not an intrinsic material property, but an emergent lifecycle outcome governed by polymer chemistry, manufacturing history, cumulative degradation, functional-value retention, waste-stream quality, recovery technology, infrastructure, and environmental and economic conditions. Based on this synthesis, the review introduces Intelligent Circular Polymer Additive Manufacturing (ICPAM), a lifecycle-wide framework integrating Design for Circularity, degradation-aware manufacturing, adaptive recovery, digital intelligence, industrial implementation, and continuous feedback. ICPAM further incorporates multi-criteria decision support for selecting context-dependent circular strategies and a qualitative/semi-quantitative maturity assessment for identifying lifecycle bottlenecks and implementation priorities. The resulting framework shifts polymer AM circularity from reactive waste management towards proactive lifecycle engineering, while recognizing that emerging regenerative materials and digital technologies still require substantial industrial validation before their full circular potential can be realized. Full article

Biomass is widely recognized as a critical renewable energy source for supporting global decarbonization and energy diversification. However, the financial viability of bioenergy investments depends heavily on how climate policies and sustainable finance mechanisms interact under environmental uncertainty. This study develops a land-constrained bioenergy valuation model to examine the joint effects of carbon pricing, climate finance arrangements, and land-use regulations on the economic sustainability of biomass producers. Environmental and financial policies enter the framework through carbon costs, land-use constraints, and financial intermediation conditions, thereby linking climate regulation to firm-level capital performance. Using a contingent-claim framework, producer equity and financing risks are evaluated to capture the complex effects of market asset volatility on energy investment incentives. The framework is evaluated through a literature-informed baseline calibration and comparative-static numerical analysis; accordingly, the reported results are model-implied comparative-static mechanisms designed to evaluate bioenergy project viability under policy and market uncertainty. The numerical analysis employs a non-region-specific representative benchmark and is intended to identify structural and comparative-static mechanisms rather than to forecast outcomes for a particular geographical market. The results show that higher carbon prices reduce producer viability by increasing operating costs, although this financial strain is partially mitigated by the option-like nature of equity under higher asset volatility. In contrast, improvements in agronomic productivity, greater land availability, and higher biomass market prices enhance investment returns and financing conditions. The findings further indicate that climate policies shape bioenergy deployment not only through physical production costs but also through financial transmission channels and risk-sharing mechanisms. The study contributes to the energy policy and climate finance literature by integrating carbon pricing, land governance, and financial options within a unified analytical framework. The results highlight the importance of policy coordination between renewable energy incentives, sustainable finance management, and carbon regulation to mitigate investment risks in the bioenergy sector. Full article

Phosphorus (P) is one of the main limiting factors for sugarcane establishment and longevity in tropical soils, requiring biotechnological strategies to improve fertilizer use efficiency. This study evaluated the effects of inoculation with Bacillus velezensis UFV 3918, alone or combined with reduced monoammonium phosphate (MAP) doses, on the morphological, nutritional, and root nutrient uptake responses of sugarcane grown in a dystrophic Red Latosol under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replicates: absolute control (AC, without MAP), commercial control (CC, recommended MAP dose), B. velezensis alone (Bv), and Bv combined with 1/3, 2/3, or the full recommended MAP dose. Plant growth responses varied across treatments and stages, with Bv promoting greater leaf area than the CC at 120 and 180 DAP, whereas Bv + 1/3 MAP maintained leaf area comparable to the CC throughout the evaluation period. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a clear separation among treatments, with Bv exhibiting the most distinct plant response, primarily associated with greater stalk diameter, root and stalk biomass, higher concentrations of potassium and phosphorus in stalks, sulfur and magnesium in roots, and greater boron-use efficiency. Bv + 1/3 MAP displayed an intermediate multivariate profile, mainly associated with phosphorus uptake per unit root length and nutritional attributes related to phosphorus acquisition under reduced fertilizer supply. Correlation analysis further revealed strong positive associations among growth-related traits, biomass accumulation, and phosphorus-related variables, indicating a close relationship between P acquisition and plant responses to bacterial inoculation. Overall, inoculation with B. velezensis UFV 3918 improved early sugarcane growth and nutrient acquisition, and its combination with 1/3 of the recommended MAP rate maintained plant performance. These findings indicate the potential for reducing mineral P inputs during early sugarcane establishment; however, long-term field trials are required to determine whether these responses can be sustained throughout the crop cycle and under commercial production conditions. Full article

Developing stable plant-based probiotic beverages requires innovative formulation strategies. While chickpea aquafaba, a protein-containing by-product, shows promise for the development of functional foods, its specific application in probiotic matrices remains underexplored. This study evaluated a coconut-based probiotic beverage supplemented with aquafaba by monitoring viable cell counts, pH, sugar and organic acid profiles, and antioxidant activity during 30 days of refrigerated storage. A 2² full factorial experimental design was used to investigate the effects of aquafaba and sucrose concentrations on the viability of Lacticaseibacillus casei NRRL B-442. The selected formulation (30% aquafaba and 50 g/L sucrose) achieved the highest viable cell count after fermentation (9.88 ± 0.09 log CFU/mL), compared with 8.40 ± 0.07 log CFU/mL in the control (coconut). During 30 days of refrigerated storage, the formulation R4 maintained probiotic viability above the recommended functional threshold (>7.0 log CFU/mL), reaching 7.40 log CFU/mL at day 30, whereas the control (coconut) declined to 6.77 log CFU/mL. R4 formulation also exhibited a slower decline in pH (4.50 vs. 3.20 in the control (coconut) at day 30) and higher lactate concentration after fermentation (2.04 vs. 0.79 g/L). Carbohydrate profiling revealed sustained sucrose utilization during storage, while the control (coconut) showed early metabolic stabilization. Monte Carlo simulation estimated an 87.9% probability for R4 and 24.8% for the coconut control of meeting the predefined viability criterion of 7.0 log CFU/mL under the modeled storage conditions. R4 beverage maintained viable cell counts above the predefined criterion of 7.0 log CFU/mL throughout storage, unlike the control (coconut). These results emphasize that integrating formulation optimization with predictive microbiology and stochastic modeling is a key component for developing robust probiotic plant-based beverages. This approach provides a complementary framework for evaluating uncertainty in predicted probiotic viability under the evaluated storage conditions. Full article

The agro-industrial valorization of unripe plantain peels through flour production represents a sustainable strategy for waste reduction and nutrient recovery. This study investigated the process intensification of plantain peel drying by evaluating the combined effects of UV-C-assisted hot-air drying with ultrasound and oxalic acid pretreatments. A 2³ full factorial design was employed to evaluate the effects of UV-C lamp distance, ultrasound time and oxalic acid concentration on drying kinetics, effective moisture diffusivity, and the retention of bioactive compounds. The combination of the most intense levels of the pretreatments with a 9 cm distance between the radiation source and the sample achieved a 40.68% reduction in drying time compared to the control (without pretreatments). Among the mathematical models tested, the Logarithmic model provided the most accurate fit (R² > 0.99), effectively describing the falling-rate period and mass transfer phenomena. Scanning electron microscopy revealed structural modifications, including microchannels and surface pores, consistent with enhanced moisture transport and increased effective moisture diffusivity. The accelerated drying kinetics also led to higher contents of bioactive compounds, including total phenolics, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids, while maintaining adequate water activity and color stability. These findings demonstrate the combined potential of UV-C radiation, ultrasound, and oxalic acid to intensify drying efficiency while improving the functional quality of unripe plantain peel flour. Full article

Despite the growing use of social media to promote green agricultural products, firms still face challenges in translating green advertising into purchase intentions. Drawing on dynamic capability theory and an ambidexterity perspective, this study examines two parallel consumer acceptance pathways involving user-generated content (UGC)-based social media green advertising and targeted green advertising on social media, with green trust as a mediating mechanism and sustainability-focused value orientation as a boundary condition. Survey data from 739 respondents were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results show that acceptance of both advertising approaches is positively associated with green trust and green purchase intention, with green trust partially mediating both relationships. Sustainability-focused value orientation strengthens the relationship between acceptance of UGC-based social media green advertising and green purchase intention but does not significantly moderate the relationship between acceptance of targeted green advertising on social media and green purchase intention. These findings extend the ambidexterity perspective to consumer-facing green advertising by showing how distinct advertising approaches operate through parallel acceptance pathways and converge on green trust as a shared psychological mechanism. The study also offers practical implications for designing more effective social media strategies to promote sustainable consumption. Full article

Hydrogen is acknowledged as a clean and sustainable energy source due to the increasing demand for renewable energy sources. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting presents a viable approach for directly producing hydrogen from solar energy with negligible implications for the environment. However, regardless of the intensive studies over several years, a major hurdle to translating impressive laboratory-scale efficiency into robust, dependable, large-scale production of hydrogen is increasing competition from quickly advancing photovoltaic (PV)–based electrolysis technology. In parallel, Z-scheme or S-scheme artificial leaf catalyst systems mimicking photosynthesis are gaining ground in the research community. The performance and reliability of photo-electrocatalytic large-scale hydrogen production should be evaluated via pilot-scale and field studies, along with life cycle and economic studies. In the present manuscript, a comprehensive overview of technologies related to scalability is presented, with a focus on semiconductor materials and reactor design. In conclusion, problems and opportunities for future research on large-scale production technologies are presented. Full article

Consumers face increasing pressure to choose more environmentally sustainable foods and evidence-based behavioural interventions can support consumers in this task. This study seeks to provide insight into intervention design in the Australian context using two behavioural frameworks: the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Model of Behaviour Change (COM-B) and the Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change (TTM). Consumer data were collected through an online survey conducted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) from November 2021 to February 2022 (n = 1307). Behavioural barriers affecting environmentally sustainable food choice (based on COM-B) were assessed, and chi-square tests of independence were used to identify barriers and other participant variables associated with different ‘stages of change’ (based on TTM). The top three barriers reported were: “know how to identify these food products” (n = 837, 64%); “have more information about these food products” (n = 640, 49%); and “have more access to these food products” (n = 614, 47%). Regarding intent to make environmentally sustainable food choices, the most common ‘stages of change’ were ‘Action’ (n = 573), ‘Maintenance’ (n = 411), and ‘Pre-Action’ (n = 266). These groups were found to be significantly associated with participant characteristics, including age, diet quality, and climate concern, as well as specific COM-B barriers. For example, Action-stage individuals were found to have a statistically significant and strong association with statements relating to product identification (χ2(2) = 43.54, p = 0.017, V = 0.19) and requiring more triggers to prompt action (χ2(2) = 28.67, p = 0.017, V = 0.15). Based on the presented findings, which were collected using a dual COM-B and TTM framework, a range of behaviour-stage tailored behavioural intervention approaches are discussed that may ease the consumer transition to more consistent environmentally sustainable food choices. Full article

This study proposes an integrated Industry 5.0 framework that compares and combines generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) with traditional machine learning (ML) to enhance the sustainability of manufacturing systems. This framework supports energy-efficient process optimisation, waste minimisation, material recycling and environmentally friendly production planning through data-driven decision-making. GenAI is more commonly used to generate sustainable process configurations and alternative eco-design solutions, whilst traditional ML models predict energy consumption, emissions and material losses in real time. It is proposed that a life cycle assessment (LCA) be carried out to estimate the environmental impact at all stages of production. Preliminary analyses indicate significant potential for reducing resource consumption, improving the circular economy, and supporting more sustainable and resilient manufacturing ecosystems and supply chains. Full article

High-purity quartz (HPQ) is an essential material for photovoltaic, semiconductor, optical fiber, and advanced glass industries. However, natural quartz commonly contains gangue minerals, inclusions, and lattice impurities, and therefore requires deep purification. Owing to its ability to dissolve impurity-bearing components, acid leaching is widely adopted for quartz purification. This review critically summarizes recent advances in the mechanisms and enhancement strategies of acid purification of quartz sand. The partitioning characteristics of impurities in quartz are discussed; fundamental mechanisms of acid leaching are then reviewed. Particular attention is given to the differences between non-HF acid systems and HF-containing systems. Process enhancement strategies, including mechanical activation, thermal pretreatment, pressure leaching, and ultrasound-assisted leaching, are critically discussed. These strategies improve impurity accessibility, accelerate mass transfer, and improve reaction kinetics. This review provides guidance for the design of efficient, selective, and sustainable acid purification for HPQ production. Full article

The environmental and land management issues associated with disposal of large quantity of pond ash (PA) from coal-fired thermal power plants are substantial, necessitating sustainable reuse strategies. The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of a ternary binder system of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) for the engineering properties of PA for geotechnical applications. The Box–Behnken Design (BBD) approach in Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used for the evaluation of the effect of binder composition on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), and maximum dry density (MDD). The proportions of OPC, FA and GGBS were varied within predetermined limits, and 15 experimental mixtures were prepared. The experimental results indicated that the UCS was between 760 to 1260 kPa, soaked CBR was between 5.92% to 12.36%, and MDD ranged from 14.32 to 15.88 kN/m³. The developed quadratic models showed high statistical adequacy, with p-values below 0.0001 and coefficients of determination (R²) greater than 0.99 for all responses. The optimum combination of binders was obtained using multi-response optimization which yielded 2.45% OPC, 10.84% FA and 19.58% GGBS with a desirability index of 1.0, with a predicted UCS of 1272.81 kPa, soaked CBR of 12.63%, and MDD of 15.90 kN/m³. The validation experiments showed excellent agreement with the predicted results, with small deviations (less than 1%). SEM and EDS observations revealed a denser matrix with Ca–Si–Al-rich cementitious products. These features may indicate the development of C–S–H- and C–A–S–H-type phases, along with fewer visible voids and stronger bonding between the particles. The results demonstrate that the addition of OPC, FA, and GGBS is an effective and environmentally beneficial approach for improving the mechanical and compaction characteristics of PA, supporting its potential use in pavement foundations and other geotechnical engineering applications. Full article

Driven by the escalating worldwide consumption of animal-sourced commodities, the livestock industry faces intensified constraints regarding its ecological consequences, encompassing large-scale deforestation, elevated greenhouse gas emissions, progressive soil deterioration, and the suboptimal management of hydrological resources. In response to these challenges, the concept of sustainable livestock husbandry integrates production practices with environmental management strategies designed to conserve biodiversity, optimize resource use, and reduce emissions. The objective of this review is to emphasize the significance of sustainable cervid farming as an integral element of contemporary food supply chains, comprehensively addressing its environmental, production, and nutritional dimensions. A comprehensive assessment of current scholarly articles from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was performed to explore topics concerning eco-conscious livestock practices, non-conventional farming models, organic rearing, animal well-being, and the evolution of deer breeding. Particular attention was paid to the role of permanent grasslands in venison production, soil protection, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity preservation. The nutritional value of red deer and fallow deer meat and its significance in sustainable food systems are also outlined. As indicated by the analysis of available research findings, extensive cervid farming based on the use of permanent grasslands and local feed resources can reduce environmental pressures through support of landscape conservation, preservation of ecosystem functions, and efficient utilization of biomass that is inedible for humans. Venison is shown to be a valuable source of high-quality protein, minerals, and essential fatty acids, which meets growing consumer demands for high-quality food. The literature review has confirmed that properly managed cervid farming can be an important element of sustainable food production systems combining production goals with environmental protection and animal welfare. It also emphasizes the need for further research into the environmental, economic, and social aspects of this branch of animal production. Full article

This study explored the relationship between safety leadership and project success in the construction industry, with a focus on the medium-sized Egyptian construction industry, and examined the mediating role of safety culture and the moderating role of team size. The research design was a cross-sectional survey, with 245 site engineers selected purposively. The data collection method used was a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Hayes Process Macro (Model 4 and Model 1) with 5000 bootstrap resamples in SPSS to examine the mediation and moderation effects as hypothesized. The results show that safety leadership is positively related to both safety culture and project success. In addition, safety culture mediated the relationship between safety leadership and project success. Using the Johnson–Neyman technique, team size was found to moderate this relationship, with teams of fewer than 19 site engineers showing a greater moderation effect. These findings show that safety leadership and safety culture are crucial factors that increase key pillars of sustainable project delivery. This study offers practical recommendations for medium-sized construction firms to improve safety measures and team management, thereby enhancing safety and productivity. It also points out areas for future research, such as the moderating roles of other contextual factors on safety and project performance. Full article