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17 pages, 681 KB  
Article
CareConnect: An Implementation Pilot Study of a Participatory Telecare Model in Long-Term Care Facilities
by Miriam Hertwig, Franziska Göttgens, Susanne Rademacher, Manfred Vieweg, Torsten Nyhsen, Johanna Dorn, Sandra Dohmen, Tim-Philipp Simon, Patrick Jansen, Andreas Braun, Joanna Müller-Funogea, David Kluwig, Amir Yazdi and Jörg Christian Brokmann
Healthcare 2026, 14(3), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14030335 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
Background: Digital transformation in healthcare has advanced rapidly in hospitals and primary care, while long-term care facilities have often lagged behind. In nursing homes, nurses play a central role in coordinating care and accessing medical expertise, yet digital tools to support these [...] Read more.
Background: Digital transformation in healthcare has advanced rapidly in hospitals and primary care, while long-term care facilities have often lagged behind. In nursing homes, nurses play a central role in coordinating care and accessing medical expertise, yet digital tools to support these tasks remain inconsistently implemented. The CareConnect study, funded under the German Model Program for Telecare (§ 125a SGB XI), aimed to develop and implement a multiprofessional telecare system tailored to nursing home care. Objective: This implementation study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and early adoption of a multiprofessional telecare system in nursing homes, focusing on implementation processes, contextual influences, and facilitators and barriers to integration into routine nursing workflows. Methods: A participatory implementation design was employed over 15 months (June 2024–August 2025), involving a university hospital, two nursing homes (NHs), and four medical practices in an urban region in Germany. The telecare intervention consisted of scheduled video-based teleconsultations and interdisciplinary case discussions supported by diagnostic devices (e.g., otoscopes, dermatoscopes, ECGs). The implementation strategy followed the Standards for Reporting Implementation Studies (StaRI) and was informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Data sources included telecare documentation, nurse surveys, researcher observations, and structured feedback discussions. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed descriptively and triangulated to assess implementation outcomes and mechanisms. Results: A total of 152 documented telecare contacts were conducted with 69 participating residents. Most interactions occurred with general practitioners (48.7%) and dermatologists (23%). Across all contacts, in 79% of cases, there was no need for an in-person visit or transportation. Physicians rated most cases as suitable for digital management, as indicated by a mean of 4.09 (SD = 1.00) on a 5-point Likert scale. Nurses reported improved communication, time savings, and enhanced technical and diagnostic skills. Key challenges included delayed technical integration, interoperability issues, and varying interpretations of data protection requirements across facilities. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that telecare can be feasibly introduced and accepted in nursing home settings when implemented through context-sensitive, participatory strategies. Implementation science approaches are essential for understanding how telecare can be sustainably embedded into routine nursing home practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Patient Experience and the Quality of Health Care)
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22 pages, 1974 KB  
Review
Interoperability to Improve Science-Based Decision Making: Adapting a Risk Analysis Framework to Improve Translational Environmental Health Science
by John M. Johnston, Edward Perkins, Pierre D. Glynn, Katherine von Stackelberg, Bruce K. Hope and Matthew C. Harwell
Electronics 2026, 15(3), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15030574 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
The protection of human and ecological health has become more challenging because of the myriad of human and climate stressors, and the sustainability of our social, economic, and environmental systems would be enhanced by further defensible risk assessment. There are scientific, technological, and [...] Read more.
The protection of human and ecological health has become more challenging because of the myriad of human and climate stressors, and the sustainability of our social, economic, and environmental systems would be enhanced by further defensible risk assessment. There are scientific, technological, and cultural challenges to interoperability, bridging the necessary disciplines and integrating data from the genome to globe. Interoperability makes possible the use and reuse of data and modeling approaches and is a contemporary and rapidly progressing area advancing toxicology and exposure science. We present a coherent vision of human and ecological risk assessment, including the types of information and modeling science to create knowledge and apply it for improved decision-making. We focus on science-based decision-making, emphasizing decisions where science is the primary or sole driver, as in human toxicology and ecological risk assessment. This contrasts with decision-making where science has a minor role, if at all, in weighing decision options. We also examine the barriers that exist in the creation and application of systems thinking. We identify: the (1) needs and challenges for the application of a systems approach to informing decisions; (2) case studies that illustrate informatics needs for 21st-century science-based decision-making; and (3) recommendations on how to progress towards a systems approach to informing decisions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data Management, Integration, and Interoperability)
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27 pages, 1465 KB  
Review
Soil Amendments in Cold Regions: Applications, Challenges and Recommendations
by Zhenggong Miao, Ji Chen, Shouhong Zhang, Rui Shi, Tianchun Dong, Yaojun Zhao and Jingyi Zhao
Agriculture 2026, 16(3), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16030326 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
Soil amendments are widely applied to improve soil fertility and structure, yet their performance in cold regions is constrained by low accumulated temperatures, frequent freeze–thaw (FT) cycles, and permafrost sensitivity. In this review, ‘cold regions’ refers to high-latitude and high-altitude areas characterized by [...] Read more.
Soil amendments are widely applied to improve soil fertility and structure, yet their performance in cold regions is constrained by low accumulated temperatures, frequent freeze–thaw (FT) cycles, and permafrost sensitivity. In this review, ‘cold regions’ refers to high-latitude and high-altitude areas characterized by long winters and seasonally frozen soils and/or permafrost. We screened the peer-reviewed literature using keyword-based searches supplemented by backward/forward citation tracking; studies were included when they assessed amendment treatments in cold region soils and reported measurable changes in physical, chemical, biological, or environmental indicators. Across organic, inorganic, biological, synthetic, and composite amendments, the most consistent benefits are improved aggregation and nutrient retention, stronger pH buffering, and the reduced mobility of potentially toxic elements. However, effectiveness is often site-specific and may be short-lived, and unintended risks—including greenhouse gas emissions, contaminant accumulation, and thermal disturbances—can offset gains. Cold-specific constraints are dominated by limited thermal regimes, FT disturbance, and the trade-off between surface warming for production and permafrost protection. We therefore propose integrated countermeasures: prescription-based amendment portfolios tailored to soils and seasons; the prioritization and screening of local resources; coupling with engineering and land surface strategies; a minimal cold region MRV loop; and the explicit balancing of agronomic benefits with environmental safeguards. These insights provide actionable pathways for sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration in cold regions under climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Soils)
17 pages, 9161 KB  
Article
Conserving the Memory of Hammurabi: A Sustainable Model for Ancient Heritage Management at the Old Babylonian Site of Tell Muhammad, Iraq
by Nicola Laneri, Germana Barone, Paolo Mazzoleni, Chiara Pappalardo, Alice Mendola, Rachele Mammana, Maura Fugazzotto, Aurora Borgesi, Vittorio Azzaro and Marilisa Spironello
Heritage 2026, 9(2), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage9020047 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
An archaeological project requires a complex heritage management approach that includes excavation, scientific research, conservation of unearthed objects, protection of the site’s architecture, and, finally, public engagement. Based on these premises, the Baghdad Urban Archaeological Project aims to create a model for Ancient [...] Read more.
An archaeological project requires a complex heritage management approach that includes excavation, scientific research, conservation of unearthed objects, protection of the site’s architecture, and, finally, public engagement. Based on these premises, the Baghdad Urban Archaeological Project aims to create a model for Ancient Heritage Management that includes the research, conservation, and public outreach at the Old Babylonian site of Tell Muhammad, located in the southern suburbs of Baghdad (Iraq). In so doing, thanks to the recovery at the site during the mid-19th century of objects with inscriptions related to Hammurabi (1810–1750 BCE), the sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon, the project attempts to conserve and promote this fundamental period in the history of ancient Mesopotamia by applying a sustainable model of management of archaeological heritage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue History, Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage)
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56 pages, 7509 KB  
Project Report
Farmers’ Land Sustainability Improvement with Soil, Geology, and Water Retention Assessment in North Kazakhstan
by Dani Sarsekova, Janay Sagin, Akmaral Perzadayeva, Ranida Arystanova, Asset Arystanov, Aruana Kezheneva, Saltanat Jumassultanova, Gulshat Satybaldiyeva and Askhat Ospangaliyev
Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1316; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031316 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
Land degradation issues are getting complicated worldwide. Kazakhstan’s land use has sharply deteriorated over several decades, necessitating comprehensive assessment and restoration. Farmlands in Kazakhstan are grappling with multiple challenges related to climate change, intense anthropogenic disturbances, and aggressive industrial agricultural practices involving monoculture [...] Read more.
Land degradation issues are getting complicated worldwide. Kazakhstan’s land use has sharply deteriorated over several decades, necessitating comprehensive assessment and restoration. Farmlands in Kazakhstan are grappling with multiple challenges related to climate change, intense anthropogenic disturbances, and aggressive industrial agricultural practices involving monoculture crop production. Soil depletion is widespread in Kazakhstan due to flood erosion and drought expansion, causing desertification. The land sustainability of farmland improvement, including the soil, geology, and water retention assessment, is currently under investigation through our project activities in North Kazakhstan. Nature-based methods for forest plantation along contour strips and topography-based design landscapes are rarely applied or are absent in many rural areas these days. The land use issues have resulted in the loss of the soil moisture protective functions and a reduction in agricultural efficiency. Geodesy geomatics tools were applied for a topography investigation with digital elevation, digital terrain model preparation, and potential retention ponds’ location identification for managed aquifer recharge introduction. The combination of effective water accumulation methods, considering topography, with the development of protective forest shelterbelts should enhance the land use strategies for sustainable development. This strategy is expected to reduce soil erosion, promote moisture accumulation, by improving the soil’s quality as a sponge in water collection, and increase crop yields. Alongside this, a system for developing the retention ponds with managed aquifer recharge locations for proper water collection to improve the agrolandscapes was presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Strategies for Sustainable Development)
28 pages, 9186 KB  
Article
River Functional Assessment: Model Development and Application in Yangtze Estuary, China
by Geng Qu, Mengyu Li, Yiming Chen, Hualong Luan, Hanlin Yang and Hao Lin
Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031309 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
The Yangtze Estuary is confronting unprecedented challenges due to intensifying human activities and a rising incidence of extreme weather events, which collectively threaten its essential functions in flood control, water supply, ecological sustainability, and navigation. In this study, the functions of the Yangtze [...] Read more.
The Yangtze Estuary is confronting unprecedented challenges due to intensifying human activities and a rising incidence of extreme weather events, which collectively threaten its essential functions in flood control, water supply, ecological sustainability, and navigation. In this study, the functions of the Yangtze Estuary under evolving hydrological and sediment conditions are comprehensively investigated and evaluated based on long-term measurement and statistical data. Using the comprehensive indicator evaluation method (CIEM) and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), a River Functional Assessment Model for the Yangtze Estuary (RFAM-YE) is developed. The model incorporates four sub-models: flood control, water supply, ecological protection, and navigation demand. The southern branch of the Yangtze Estuary is selected as a case study for evaluation. The results show that in recent years, the flood control capacity, waterway stability, and ecological conditions in the southern branch have improved. However, the ongoing overall erosion trend poses a threat to water supply security and the integrity of biological habitats. The assessment results are generally consistent with actual engineering conditions, demonstrating the validity and applicability of the proposed model. Finally, recommendations for the protection and restoration of the Yangtze Estuary are proposed based on the evaluation. This study provides both theoretical and practical references for the management and conservation of the Yangtze Estuary. Full article
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20 pages, 3225 KB  
Article
Landscape Evolution and Ecosystem Service Value Responses Under Multi-Scenario Simulations in the Erhai Lake Basin, China
by Xiao Shi, Zejian Fan, Sixi Duan, Yanying Chen, Lihong Shen, Fuyi Chen and Youjun Chen
Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1307; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031307 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
The evolution of landscape patterns in plateau lake basins directly influences the sustainable provision of ecosystem services. Revealing and predicting the impacts of landscape changes on ecosystem service value (ESV) under different development scenarios are essential for maintaining regional ecological security, enhancing ESV, [...] Read more.
The evolution of landscape patterns in plateau lake basins directly influences the sustainable provision of ecosystem services. Revealing and predicting the impacts of landscape changes on ecosystem service value (ESV) under different development scenarios are essential for maintaining regional ecological security, enhancing ESV, and formulating policies for ecological conservation and restoration. As a typical representative of China’s plateau lake basin, the Erhai Lake Basin faces multiple challenges arising from rapid urbanization, tourism commercialization, and agricultural modernization. It is therefore crucial to understand its potential future landscape dynamics and their effects on ecosystem services. Based on landscape data, natural environmental data, and socio-economic data, we applied GIS-based spatial analysis and the equivalent factor method to simulate and assess landscape pattern changes and corresponding variations in ESV in 2030, 2040, and 2050 under three distinct scenarios. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis was further employed to identify the spatial clustering patterns of ESV. There were three findings: (1) From 2030 to 2050, forest increased continuously under the natural evolution scenario (NES) and ecological protection scenario (EPS) but declined under the economic growth scenario (EGS). Farmland expanded under the NES and EGS, whereas it decreased under the EPS. Grassland declined across all three scenarios, while built-up area showed consistent expansion. (2) In all simulated years, the total ESV of the Erhai Lake Basin ranked as EPS > NES > EGS. Between 2030 and 2050, total ESV exhibited an increasing trend under the EPS but declined under the other two scenarios, with the sharpest reduction under the EGS. Forests and water body were the main contributors to total ESV, while farmland and grassland played a critical role in driving ESV dynamics—the scale and direction of their transformation directly determined the overall ESV trends. (3) Across the three scenarios, ESVs all exhibit significant spatial heterogeneity. Local Moran’s I analysis indicated a dominant cluster of high values (HH) or a cluster of low values (LL), with LL clusters mainly concentrated in the northern basin and the western side of Erhai Lake, and HH clusters primarily located within the lake area. This study, through multi-scenario simulations, elucidates the spatiotemporal dynamics of landscape and ESV changes, providing valuable insights for green transformation, landscape spatial allocation, ecological restoration, and sustainable development in the Erhai Lake Basin. Full article
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24 pages, 665 KB  
Article
Can Digital–Real Economy Integration Enhance Urban Green Innovation Efficiency? Evidence from Environmental and Intellectual Property Regulation Perspectives
by Bohan Xiong, Yongqing Feng, Jinsong Kuang and Peiru Xie
Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031306 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
Green innovation efficiency (GIE) serves as a key indicator of urban development toward “dual carbon” goals and sustainable growth. However, systematic evidence remains scarce regarding the impact of the digital-real economy integration (DRI) in urban green innovation efficiency (UGIE). Based on the dual [...] Read more.
Green innovation efficiency (GIE) serves as a key indicator of urban development toward “dual carbon” goals and sustainable growth. However, systematic evidence remains scarce regarding the impact of the digital-real economy integration (DRI) in urban green innovation efficiency (UGIE). Based on the dual institutional perspectives of government environmental regulation (ER) and intellectual property protection (IPP), this paper proposes an integrated theoretical framework that incorporates integration level, institutional environment, and green innovation. Leveraging panel data from 281 prefecture-level and higher-administered cities in China spanning 2013 to 2023, this paper explores the underlying mechanism and the observed threshold effect of DRI on UGIE. The primary findings are summarized below: (1) DRI promotes UGIE, which is mediated significantly through the institutional roles of ER and IPP. (2) The influence of DRI on GIE is characterized by a threshold effect at a value of 0.9657. Beyond this threshold, the marginal effect rises from 0.47463 to 0.52555, thereby providing evidence for the positive feedback hypothesis between integration level and institutional response. (3) A more significant effect of DRI on GIE could be observed in non-resource-based cities, such as the central cities, southern cities and eastern cities. This paper expands the interdisciplinary research on digital economy and urban sustainability, providing micro-level evidence for the tailored development of digital–green institutional combinations. Full article
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15 pages, 1917 KB  
Article
Natural Product Epipyrone A from Epicoccum nigrum Exhibits Antiproliferative Activity on Canine Mammary Tumor Cells Through PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway Modulation
by Consiglia Longobardi, Daria Lotito, Alessia Staropoli, Valeria Iervolino, Nunzio Antonio Cacciola, Serena Montagnaro, Francesco Vinale, Sara Damiano and Roberto Ciarcia
Antioxidants 2026, 15(2), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15020173 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) are among the most frequent neoplasms in female dogs, with current therapeutic options being limited and non-standardized, prompting the search for alternative treatments such as fungal secondary metabolites. In this study, the fungal pigment Epipyrone A (Epy A) was [...] Read more.
Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) are among the most frequent neoplasms in female dogs, with current therapeutic options being limited and non-standardized, prompting the search for alternative treatments such as fungal secondary metabolites. In this study, the fungal pigment Epipyrone A (Epy A) was first isolated from Epicoccum nigrum and then tested in vitro on two CMT cell lines, P114 and CF33. The compound significantly reduced cell viability in both lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner (p < 0.05), with the strongest effect observed at 175 µg/mL after 48 h (p < 0.0001), while showing no cytotoxicity in MDCK non-tumor cells. Epy A also inhibited cell migration and increased total antioxidant capacity in P114 cells, accompanied by a significant reduction in ROS levels. Western blot analysis revealed modulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, crucial in CMT biology. Specifically, P114 cells showed downregulation of mTOR and p-Akt, indicating inhibition of proliferative signaling, whereas CF33 cells exhibited increased Akt and p-Akt alongside reduced mTOR, consistent with a compensatory feedback mechanism, probably linked to the changing in oxidative balance after treatment. Overall, these results identified Epy A as a promising natural molecule with potential applications in innovative therapeutic approaches for veterinary and comparative oncology. Full article
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22 pages, 656 KB  
Systematic Review
Emotional Well-Being in Journalists: Conceptualization, Experiences, and Strategies in the Literature (2010–2025)
by Susana Herrera Damas and José M. Valero-Pastor
Journal. Media 2026, 7(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia7010021 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
This systematic review examines how emotional well-being in journalism has been de-fined, experienced, and supported between 2010 and 2025. It draws on 15 peer-reviewed empirical studies identified in Web of Science and Scopus and evaluated using PRISMA 2020 and the MMAT. The review [...] Read more.
This systematic review examines how emotional well-being in journalism has been de-fined, experienced, and supported between 2010 and 2025. It draws on 15 peer-reviewed empirical studies identified in Web of Science and Scopus and evaluated using PRISMA 2020 and the MMAT. The review addresses three main gaps in the field: unclear definitions, limited synthesis of risk and protective factors, and scarce assessment of support interventions. Across studies, emotional distress emerges from structural pressures, such as overwork, trauma exposure, online harassment, job precarity, and the erosion of collegial networks. These pressures, rather than inherent traits of journalistic work, shape vulnerability. Protective factors include social support, editorial autonomy, professional experience, purpose-driven motivation, and practices like mindfulness or digital disconnection. Yet their impact is often limited by weak organizational infrastructures. Vulnerability is higher among women, freelancers, and early career journalists, although intersectional analyses remain rare. Sectoral and organizational responses—peer networks, resilience programs, trauma-informed training, and emerging digital safety policies—show promise but remain fragmented. The review concludes that emotional well-being should be framed as an ethical and structural responsibility within journalism, and that sustainable progress requires systemic measures that foster psychological safety and professional dignity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in the Headlines)
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21 pages, 816 KB  
Article
How Media Trust Mediates the Adoption of Fish Screens by Irrigators in Australia: The Intermediate Effect of Resource Efficacy
by Tahmid Nayeem, Nicholas Pawsey, Fahad Asmi and Lee Baumgartner
Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1297; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031297 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
Fish screens are a sustainable agricultural innovation that offers economic and environmental benefits by protecting aquatic life and enhancing the efficiency of irrigation. In freshwater irrigation ecosystems, fish screens help protect aquatic organisms by reducing fish entrainment, facilitating ecological connectivity, and lowering mortality [...] Read more.
Fish screens are a sustainable agricultural innovation that offers economic and environmental benefits by protecting aquatic life and enhancing the efficiency of irrigation. In freshwater irrigation ecosystems, fish screens help protect aquatic organisms by reducing fish entrainment, facilitating ecological connectivity, and lowering mortality at early life stages. Therefore, they contribute significantly to aquatic biodiversity conservation. However, the role of trust in media in influencing Australian irrigators’ intentions to use fish screens remains underexplored. The study, guided by the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and incorporating the Theory of Consumption Values, examines trust in media as a persuasive factor impacting the functional, environmental, and Interpersonal Trust Cue of fish screens. The irrigators’ willingness to test, adopt, or implement fish screens can also predict the irrigators’ readiness to act for biodiversity-relevant outcomes. Data were collected between December 2021 and May 2023 from 192 Australian irrigators (sampling frame = 3736; response rate = 5.1%). The PLS-SEM results reveal that trust in media significantly predicts adoption intention (β = 0.134, 95% CI [0.021, 0.246]) and resource (time) efficacy (β = 0.170, 95% CI [0.054, 0.289]), with resource efficacy partially mediating this relationship. The study offers a theoretical contribution by integrating the ELM, the Theory of Consumption Value, and resource efficacy to explain how trust in media influences adoption through different persuasive routes. The model explains 22.5% of the variance in adoption intention. The findings indicate that resource efficacy is a critical enabling factor in translating conservation-oriented communication into an effective measure to protect freshwater biodiversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Sustainability in Aquatic Environments)
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31 pages, 10004 KB  
Review
Nanopesticides by Design: A Review of Delivery Platforms, Environmental Fate, and Standards for Safe and Sustainable Crop Protection
by Yujiao Wang, Zhiwei Tang, Chuhela Tabusibieke, Haixiang Gao and Wei Lu
Molecules 2026, 31(3), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31030453 - 28 Jan 2026
Abstract
Nanopesticides are pesticide formulations in which intentionally designed nanoscale carriers shape how an active ingredient (AIng) is deposited, transformed, and released. These systems can improve retention and efficacy, but carrier complexity introduces challenges: nanomaterials can transform in real soil–water matrices, reshaping exposure and [...] Read more.
Nanopesticides are pesticide formulations in which intentionally designed nanoscale carriers shape how an active ingredient (AIng) is deposited, transformed, and released. These systems can improve retention and efficacy, but carrier complexity introduces challenges: nanomaterials can transform in real soil–water matrices, reshaping exposure and risk. These processes are hard to quantify because test protocols and risk assessment frameworks for nanopesticides remain underdeveloped. In this review, we relate design choices across major carrier families—including polymer and lipid particles, nanoemulsions, porous inorganic carriers, and bio-based nanomaterials—to transformations in soil–water systems. We then connect these transformations to ecotoxicological evidence across key non-target taxa. We also address a central “measurement gap” in current risk assessment. Many standard tests were developed for dissolved chemicals. As a result, they do not capture (i) particle stability in realistic matrices, (ii) particle-bound versus dissolved (and ion-released) forms, or (iii) time-resolved exposure. Finally, we propose a Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design roadmap that prioritizes low-hazard materials, predictable degradation, life-cycle thinking, and staged data generation to enable scalable, field-relevant adoption. Full article
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26 pages, 2383 KB  
Review
The Role of Crosstalk Between the Unfolded Protein Response and Autophagy in Diseases Associated with Sympathetic Nervous System Imbalance: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives
by Bo Xu, Yi Yang and Renjun Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(3), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031282 - 27 Jan 2026
Abstract
Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) imbalance is a common pathological basis for cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes. This review focuses on these diseases, analyzing two core mechanisms: excessive sympathetic excitation induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) or autophagy dysfunction in key [...] Read more.
Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) imbalance is a common pathological basis for cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes. This review focuses on these diseases, analyzing two core mechanisms: excessive sympathetic excitation induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) or autophagy dysfunction in key central nuclei (e.g., hypothalamus, rostral ventrolateral medulla); and ERS/autophagy abnormalities in peripheral target organs caused by chronic SNS overactivation. Existing studies confirm that chronic SNS overactivation promotes peripheral metabolic overload via sustained catecholamine release, inducing persistent ERS and disrupting the protective unfolded protein response (UPR)–autophagy network, ultimately leading to cell apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Notably, central ERS or autophagy dysfunction further perturbs autonomic homeostasis, exacerbating sympathetic overexcitation. This review systematically elaborates on SNS overactivation as a critical bridge mediating UPR–autophagy network dysregulation in central and peripheral tissues, and explores therapeutic prospects of targeting key nodes (e.g., chemical chaperones, specific UPR modulators, nanomedicine), providing a theoretical basis for basic research and clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of the UPR and Cell Stress)
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14 pages, 2700 KB  
Article
High Interfacial Adhesion of PET/Rubber Composites by a New Eco-Friendly Dipping System
by Aolian Wu, Yanlin Liu, Tong Sun and Mei Shen
Polymers 2026, 18(3), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18030338 - 27 Jan 2026
Abstract
Fiber-reinforced rubber composites (FRRC) are widely employed in critical industries, such as the automotive, aerospace, and construction protection industries, due to their excellent deformation resistance and superior mechanical properties. Polyester (PET) fiber, with its outstanding dimensional stability and cost-effectiveness, has increasingly replaced nylon [...] Read more.
Fiber-reinforced rubber composites (FRRC) are widely employed in critical industries, such as the automotive, aerospace, and construction protection industries, due to their excellent deformation resistance and superior mechanical properties. Polyester (PET) fiber, with its outstanding dimensional stability and cost-effectiveness, has increasingly replaced nylon as the primary reinforcement in radial tires. However, the lack of polar groups on PET surfaces results in poor interfacial adhesion with rubber matrices, limiting composite performance. Traditional resorcinol–formaldehyde–latex (RFL) dipping systems enhance adhesion but raise environmental and health concerns due to the release of hazardous substances. This study develops a novel eco-friendly γ-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550)–glycerol triglycidyl ether–sorbitol glycidyl ether–2-Ethyl-4-methylimidazole–latex (KG-SML) dipping system to enhance PET–rubber interfacial adhesion. At an optimal KH550 dosage of 2 phr, the 180° peel force and H pull-out force reached maximum values of 23.5 N/piece and 109.0 N, respectively, significantly surpassing the performance of the conventional RFL system. The KG-SML system offers an effective and sustainable alternative to RFL, with enhanced interfacial performance and less environmental impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Polymer Fibers)
86 pages, 1852 KB  
Review
Targeting Microorganisms in Lignocellulosic Biomass to Produce Biogas and Ensure Sanitation and Hygiene
by Christy Echakachi Manyi-Loh, Stephen Loh Tangwe and Ryk Lues
Microorganisms 2026, 14(2), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14020299 - 27 Jan 2026
Abstract
Microbial components are part of the composition of all waste, including lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., agricultural, domestic, industrial, and municipal wastes) generated via human activities. If little attention is given to these wastes or if they are not adequately managed, they tend to end [...] Read more.
Microbial components are part of the composition of all waste, including lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., agricultural, domestic, industrial, and municipal wastes) generated via human activities. If little attention is given to these wastes or if they are not adequately managed, they tend to end up in the environment (soil, water, and farmland), decomposing naturally through microbial activities, producing greenhouse gases, causing eutrophication, preventing sunlight penetration, and depleting oxygen in the water. Several treatment methods are applicable to these wastes. However, anaerobic digestion is presented as the best option to properly treat the waste. It is regarded as the best technique to achieve sustainable energy development in both developing and developed countries. During anaerobic digestion, the organic matter in the waste is converted via the concerted activities of microbes belonging to different trophic levels, in the absence of oxygen, to yield biogas (renewable energy), bio-fertiliser, and sanitisation of the waste, rendering it better and safer for human handling. Varying levels of loss of bacterial viability and their antibiotic-resistance genes are observed with this process, as bacteria differ in susceptibility to temperature, pH, nutrient scarcity, and the presence of antimicrobials. Anaerobic digestion of agricultural residues and the immediate processing (post-treatment) of the digestate help to stabilise the digestate, making it safe for land applications, tackling waste management, and protecting food chains from contamination, in addition to the environment. This review focuses on the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass, yielding biogas as energy, alongside sanitising the wastes by inactivating microbial components found therein, therefore reducing the contamination potential of the effluent or digestate discharged from the biodigester following the process. Several findings registered by different researchers through different studies performed in different countries under different scenarios while employing varying methods have been assembled in a chronological fashion to emphasise similarities and divergences or variations that deepen knowledge pertaining to the significance of the anaerobic digestion process in terms of the microbial interactions responsible for producing energy, addressing sanitisation and hygiene crisis, and the post-treatment of the digestate to ensure its use as biofertiliser. In other words, it is a comprehensive review that synthesises knowledge from multiple fields covering comparative aspects of anaerobic digestion in terms of sanitation, hygiene, and energy production and consolidates it in a single document to present and address the problem of waste management through anaerobic digestion technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Foodborne Pathogens: From Molecular to Safety Perspectives)
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