Search Results (29,567)

Smallholder agricultural systems in tropical and subtropical regions are threatened by climate change. This systematic review of 218 peer-reviewed studies (2000–2024) synthesizes evidence on agroforestry’s role as a climate-smart economic strategy across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Using a PRISMA-guided approach, we evaluated carbon sequestration pathways, biophysical adaptation benefits, and socioeconomic outcomes. Findings indicate that agroforestry systems can sequester 0.5–5 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in biomass and soils. The results show that agroforestry has the potential to improve above- and below-ground carbon stocks, moderate microclimates, decrease erosion and improve functional biodiversity. The results, however, differ greatly depending on the type of system, ecology and practice. The socioeconomic advantages can be diversification of income and stability of the yield, and adoption is limited due to barriers related to the economy, lack of security in tenure, information asymmetry, and insufficient policy encouragement. We find that agroforestry is a multifunctional and climate resistant land-use approach, but the potential that agroforestry has cannot be fulfilled without context-specific policies, better extension services and inclusive carbon financing schemes. Full article

Recently, how to improve the aquaculture efficiency of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and promote the sustainable development of its artificial cultivation has become an increasingly important issue. The pond water environment plays important roles in the survival rate and growth of A. japonicus seedlings. This study investigated the changes in water quality and plankton from June to November in A. japonicus ponds. The seawater temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, nitrogen, and active phosphate contents were measured, and the planktonic species were detected and identified. The results showed that the seawater temperature ranged from 11.2 to 29.9 °C, and the highest temperature did not exceed the tolerance survival limits of A. japonicus. The changes in pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity were also suitable for growth. A total of six phyla and 14 species of planktonic algae were detected, among which diatoms were dominant, and the dominant species changed over time. In the early stage, it was Chroomonas acuta, then, after it was Nitzschia sp., and then it returned to C. acuta again later. The biomass and density of algae peaked in week 5 (p < 0.05), but decreased to their lowest in week 18. The changes in chlorophyll-a content were consistent with the biomass of algae. Both the chlorophyll-a and pheophytin contents peaked in weeks 5 and 10 (p < 0.05). The changes in suspended particulate matter (SPM) and particulate organic matter (POM) were synchronized, and they peaked in weeks 5 and 12. These results suggested that the planktonic algae have the functions of a food supply and an environmental indication, and changes in chlorophyll-a, pheophytin, SPM, and POM support the food source reserve for A. japonicus. This study provides important information for the artificial cultivation of sea cucumber seedlings in a pond, and it is useful to promote the sustainable development of the sea cucumber industry. Full article

Karst aquifers provide critical water resources in the Mediterranean region, yet climate change threatens their sustainability. This study integrates stable isotope analysis (δ²H, δ¹⁸O), hydrochemistry, and hydrological time series to characterize precipitation–groundwater dynamics in the Mt. Učka karst system (Croatia). Precipitation samples collected across an altitudinal gradient of approximately 1400 m and groundwater from three major groundwater sources were analyzed over a 2.5-year period. Precipitation exhibits pronounced isotopic variability with d-excess values indicating mixed Atlantic–Mediterranean moisture sources. Groundwater is primarily recharged by precipitation from the cold part of the hydrological year. It exhibits substantial attenuation of isotopic signals, which indicates extensive mixing processes but prevents quantitative estimation of mean residence time. Groundwater is predominantly recharged from elevations above 900 m a.s.l., with one spring showing evidence of higher-elevation recharge. Analysis confirms the system’s dual porosity: a rapid, conduit-dominated response indicates high vulnerability to surface contamination, while a sustained, matrix-dominated response provides greater buffering capacity. These findings highlight the vulnerability of karst systems to projected reductions in autumn precipitation, the critical recharge season, and demonstrate the necessity of multi-tracer approaches for comprehensive aquifer characterization. Full article

This study presents a robust framework for optimizing the site selection of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) in Qatar by integrating a Geographic Information System (GIS) with a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) model. The core innovation lies in the enhancement of the conventional Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with a Removal Sensitivity Analysis (RSA). This unique integration moves beyond traditional, subjective expert-based weighting by introducing a transparent, data-driven methodology to quantify the influence of each criterion and generate objective weights. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to evaluate fourteen criteria related to accessibility, economic and environmental factors that influence EVCS site suitability. To enhance robustness and minimize subjectivity, a Removal Sensitivity Analysis (RSA) was applied to quantify the influence of each criterion and generate objective, data-driven weights. The results reveal that accessibility factors, particularly proximity to road networks and parking areas exert the highest influence, while environmental variables such as slope, CO concentration, and green areas have moderate but spatially significant impacts. The integration of AHP and RSA produced a more balanced and environmentally credible suitability map, reducing overestimation of urban sites and promoting sustainable spatial planning. Environmentally, the proposed framework supports Qatar’s transition toward low-carbon mobility by encouraging the expansion of clean electric transport infrastructure, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving urban air quality. The findings contribute to achieving the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and align with global efforts to mitigate climate change through sustainable transportation development. Full article

Coptis chinensis var. brevisepala W. T. Wang & P. G. Xiao is an endemic and endangered medicinal plant in China whose wild populations are rapidly declining under the combined pressures of overharvesting, climate change, and habitat fragmentation. Using genotyping-by-sequencing, we analyzed 87 individuals from 15 populations in Zhejiang Province, China, and identified 155,611 high-quality SNPs. The species exhibited low genetic diversity and strong genetic differentiation among populations with restricted gene flow (population-averaged H_o = 0.066, H_e = 0.067, π = 0.078, F_IS = 0.029, F_ST = 0.503, Nm = 0.329, gRelMig = 0.136). Analysis of molecular variance showed that variation among populations accounted for 73.58% of the total genetic variation (p < 0.001). A phylogenetic tree, principal component analysis (PCA), and admixture analysis consistently resolved the 15 populations into two major groups, which could be further subdivided into four subgroups. Mantel and partial Mantel tests indicated that geographic isolation is the primary driver of genetic differentiation, while environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation and low temperature may contribute to fine-scale divergence at local spatial scales. Furthermore, MMRR analysis provided further confirmation of the independent and dominant role of geographic isolation. This study provides key data on the genetic diversity and population structure of C. chinensis var. brevisepala and offers a genetic basis for developing regionally differentiated conservation strategies and promoting its sustainable utilization. Full article

Background: Climate change is a serious threat to global health. The healthcare sector contributes substantially to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with anaesthetic gases being a major source of Scope 1 emissions. We aimed to evaluate the 2024 impact of the Sustainable Anesthesia Project, designed to reduce the environmental footprint of anaesthetic gases by eliminating and/or replacing the most polluting agents (nitrous oxide and desflurane) with more sustainable alternatives (sevoflurane, total intravenous anaesthesia, and regional/local anaesthesia). Methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of anaesthetic gas consumption in 2023 and 2024, as well as a comparison of emissions in tons of CO₂, the impact on the carbon footprint, and the potential future emissions savings that full implementation of the project would entail. Results: In the first year, nitrous oxide consumption decreased by 64% and desflurane by 63%. Overall anaesthetic-gas emissions fell by 8386 tCO₂e versus 2023, a 54% relative reduction. Furthermore, the contribution of these gases to the total Scope 1 emissions markedly declined from 35.18% in 2023 to 21.22% in 2024. An additional reduction potential of around 4800 tCO₂e was identified for consolidation by 2025 with full implementation. Conclusions: The results observed in this study demonstrate the success of the Sustainable Anesthesia Project, whose strategy represents an extensible and applicable option to other centers and companies in the health sector to reduce their environmental impact. Full article

Bump feeding is a nutritional management strategy in swine production that involves increasing feed allowance and/or dietary nutrient density during the final weeks of gestation, usually from day 90 to farrowing, to support rapid fetal growth and prepare sows for lactation. This strategy is widely applied to improve piglet birth weight, neonatal viability, and subsequent reproductive performance. This review synthesizes current evidence on the effects of increased maternal feed intake during late gestation on sow body condition and feeding-related behavioral responses, and farrowing outcomes. Available studies suggest that increasing feed allowance during late gestation can influence litter characteristics, piglet survival at birth, and sow energy reserves, as reflected by changes in backfat thickness (BFT) and body condition score (BCS). The nutritional composition of bump-feeding diets, including dietary energy and amino acid balance, is critically evaluated in relation to pregnancy maintenance, farrowing duration, and early lactation performance. In addition, the roles of parity and feeding behavior during late gestation are examined, with particular emphasis on their associations with sow activity patterns, restlessness around parturition, and farrowing efficiency. Despite these reported effects, findings across studies remain inconsistent, particularly regarding the balance between improved reproductive outcomes and the risk of excessive fat deposition in sows. This review highlights key knowledge gaps and underscores the need for optimized, parity-specific bump-feeding strategies that integrate nutritional management with feeding behavior to enhance farrowing performance, piglet survival, sow welfare, and economic sustainability in modern pig production. Full article

Background/Objectives: People often engage in small, repetitive movements—or “fidgeting”—while listening. This behavior has traditionally been regarded as a sign of inattention. However, recent perspectives suggest that these movements may support engagement and arousal regulation. Yet, little is known about how different types of fidgeting affect the allocation of cognitive resources during auditory processing. This study examined whether hand and leg fidgeting influence pupil-linked arousal and auditory task performance. Methods: Young, healthy adults aged 18–26 years completed four auditory processing tasks while performing either hand fidgeting (manipulating a small fidget toy) or leg fidgeting (very light ergometer pedaling). A control group did not fidget. Pupil-linked arousal was assessed using changes in pupil diameter, and listening performance was evaluated across tasks of varying difficulty. Results: Both forms of fidgeting caused pupil dilation compared to the control group, particularly in the case of Hand Fidgeting during the listening task with speech in noise and the fast speech task. Despite these physiological changes, there were no measurable differences in auditory task performance across conditions. Conclusions: Fidgeting modulates pupil-linked arousal without impairing auditory processing in young, healthy adults. Hand fidgeting may help sustain engagement during demanding listening tasks. However, because the fidgeting was intentional and task performance approached ceiling or floor levels, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary. Future studies should examine whether fidgeting supports arousal maintenance or listening performance in individuals with attentional vulnerabilities or auditory processing difficulties. Full article

In this study, small-scale experiments were performed to examine fuel distribution effects on discrete flame spread behavior under natural convection and ambient wind. To this end, birch rod arrays with regularly varying column number (n) and array spacing (S) were designed. The results indicate that fuel distribution exerts a comparable influence on flame spread under both natural convection and ambient wind conditions. The flame spread rate (V_f), flame length (L_f), and mass loss rate (MLR) are insensitive to changes in S but have an exponential relationship with n. Based on the mass conservation law, prediction correlations for the mass loss rate based on S and n in the stable flame spread stage are proposed. We discovered that nondimensional mass loss has a power law dependence on the fuel coverage rate. In addition, radiative heat transfer dominates the flame spread process for the discrete array. Horizontal flame spread across discrete rod arrays exhibits critical spacing under natural convection. Finally, we established a comprehensive heat transfer model for flame spread under natural convection conditions and obtained a derivation of a critical sustainability criterion for the discrete flame spread process, which considers radiative and convective heat transfer. Full article

Tea (Camellia sinensis) cultivation is a major global industry that faces sustainability challenges due to soil degradation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from intensive management. Biochar—charcoal designed and used as a soil amendment—has emerged as a potential tool to improve soil health, enhance carbon sequestration, and mitigate GHG fluxes in agroecosystems. However, field-scale evidence of its effects on GHG dynamics in woody crops like tea remains limited, particularly regarding methane (CH₄). Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first field assessment of biochar impacts on CO₂, CH₄, and H₂O vapour fluxes in a subtropical tea agroforestry system with and without shade trees in northeastern Bangladesh. Using a closed dynamic chamber and real-time gas analysis, we found that biochar application (at 7.5 t·ha⁻¹) significantly enhanced average soil methane (CH₄) uptake by 84%, while soil respiration (CO₂ efflux) rose modestly (+18%) and water-vapour fluxes showed a marginal increase. Canopy conditions modulated these effects: biochar strongly enhanced CH₄ uptake under both shaded and open canopies, whereas biochar effects on water-vapour flux were detectable only when biochar was combined with a shade-tree canopy. Structural equation modelling suggests that CH₄ flux was primarily governed by biochar-induced changes in soil pH, moisture, nutrient status, and temperature, while CO₂ and H₂O fluxes were shaped by organic matter availability, temperature, and phosphorus dynamics. These findings demonstrate that biochar can promote CH₄ uptake and alter soil carbon–water interactions during the dry season in tea plantation systems and support operational biochar use in combination with shade-tree agroforestry. Full article

Sustainable diet transitions are required to protect human and planetary health, and consumers are important food systems actors who can foster positive changes. However, little is known about how consumers perceive the concept of sustainable diets. This study explored perceptions of sustainable diets across five high- and middle-income countries: Japan, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, and Mexico. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 184 young adults (30–45 per country), and transcripts were analyzed using values coding to understand the values, attitudes, and beliefs that shape behaviours related to sustainable diets. Results revealed that defining “sustainable eating” was challenging for participants across all countries. While participants’ values regarding sustainable diets were often context-specific with marked differences across countries, common themes across countries included concern about food waste and packaging and the belief that sustainability should be the responsibility of all actors across the food system, not just the individual. These findings indicate that food policy should address both individual and systemic dimensions of food sustainability, specifically prioritizing strategies for waste and packaging infrastructure. Furthermore, public health strategies must be values-oriented and culturally tailored to ensure they resonate with local consumer priorities. Full article

Food security and income generation remain a critical issue for small-scale farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to population growth, climate change, and market instability. Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) offer high nutritional value and have the capability to mitigate food insecurity but are underutilized due to social stigma. This review aims to systematically analyze the food and income contribution of cultivation and utilization of ILVs by small-scale farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa. This review analyses the literature on the role of ILV cultivation in enhancing food security and household income over the past two decades. A systematic search across five databases was conducted and identified 53 relevant studies. Findings indicate that ILVs contribute significantly to household nutrition and income through consumption and surplus sales. However, ILV cultivation faces barriers such as climate change, pest infestations, land degradation, water scarcity, insecure land tenure, limited agricultural training, poor communication networks, and restricted market access. Policy interventions are necessary to support small-scale farmers in ILV cultivation by providing agricultural extension services, promoting sustainable farming practices, and integrating ILVs into food security strategies. Further research should examine policy frameworks and supply chain mechanisms to enhance farmer participation and economic benefits from ILV production. Full article

This study examines the systemic integration of entrepreneurship education and the culture of self employment within higher education as a component of sustainable institutional reform. Using a comparative analytical approach, it analyzes international practices across five higher education systems. Finland, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea were selected to represent diverse yet mature models of entrepreneurship education integration. The findings reveal significant variation in the depth and coherence of integration across national contexts. Rather than identifying a single transferable model, the study shows that effective integration depends on the interaction of key institutional dimensions, including policy alignment, curricular embedding, faculty capacity, infrastructure, external partnerships, and impact evaluation. Finland demonstrates the most coherent configuration, while other systems exhibit partial or fragmented integration shaped by contextual factors. The study concludes that entrepreneurship education is most sustainable when embedded as a system-level institutional strategy rather than implemented through isolated initiatives. It offers an analytical framework, supported by an adapted ADKAR change model, to guide context-sensitive reform. For Arab higher education systems, the primary implication is diagnostic, emphasizing contextual adaptation over direct replication. Full article

To clarify the spatial–temporal evolution patterns and climate-driven mechanisms of carbon sinks of forest ecosystems under climate change, we calculated the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of forests in the Guangxi region using remote sensing and meteorological data from 2000 to 2023. By employing trend analysis, spatial clustering, the Hurst index, and climate contribution evaluation, we analyzed the spatial and temporal changes, sustainability, and the relative contribution of climate impacts on forest carbon sinks. The results are as follows: The carbon sink capacity of forests in Guangxi increased continuously from 2000 to 2023, at a rate of 3.57 g C·m⁻²·a⁻¹, reaching 39.19% higher in 2023 than in 2000. The carbon sink capacity was higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast, with hotspots mainly located in evergreen/deciduous broad-leaved forest areas. The Hurst index indicates that 84.44% of regions are likely to maintain this increasing trend, suggesting stability in forest carbon sink function. The climate contribution rate to forest carbon sinks was moderate, with significant temporal fluctuations. Temperature governed annual variation in forest carbon sinks, influencing up to 36.37% of the area. The annual average contribution rate of climate change to forest carbon sinks was 30.28%, but there were temporal fluctuations and spatial heterogeneity. Over time, climate contributions had a positive driving impact; however, extreme climate events tended to produce a negative effect. The pattern of forest carbon sinks in Guangxi showed a “heat sink-coupling” phenomenon, with 16.23% of the hotspots of forest carbon sinks coinciding with temperature control zones, highlighting the enhancing effect of temperature rise on carbon sinks against a background of water and heat synergy. This study provides a scientific basis for the assessment of forest carbon sink potential and climate suitability management in Guangxi. Full article

Sustainable port development in coastal regions necessitates robust frameworks for quantifying hydrodynamic risks under climate change. To bridge the gap between generic guidelines and site-specific resilience planning, this study proposes and applies a numerical modeling-based risk assessment framework. Within the context of the Port Master Plan, the framework is applied to the critical case of Takoradi Port in West Africa, employing a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model to simulate current fields under three current regimes, “Normal”, “Stronger”, and “Estimated Extreme” scenarios, for the first time. The model quantifies key hydrologic parameters such as current velocity and direction in critical zones (the approach channel, port basin, and berths), providing actionable data for the Port Master Plan. Key new findings include the following: (1) Northeastward surface currents, driven by the southwest monsoon, dominate the study area; breakwater sheltering creates a prominent circulation zone north of the port entrance. (2) Under extreme conditions, the approach channel exhibits amplified currents (0.3–0.7 m/s), while inner port areas maintain stable conditions (<0.1 m/s). (3) A stark spatial differentiation in designed current velocities for 2–100 years return periods, where the 100-year extreme current velocity in the external approach channel (0.87 m/s at P1) exceeds the range in the internal zones (0.01–0.15 m/s) by approximately 5 to 86 times. The study validates the framework’s utility in assessing hydrodynamic risks. By integrating numerical simulation with risk assessment, this work provides a scalable methodological contribution that can be adapted to other port environments, directly supporting the global pursuit of sustainable and resilient ports. Full article