Search Results (450)

The craft beer market is continually expanding, driven by the consumers’ demand for product diversification, which leads to innovation in the brewing industry. While traditional brewing focuses on consistency and high-volume efficiency using standard yeasts, craft brewing prioritizes small-batch experimentation and flavor complexity. Traditionally, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Ale beer) and Saccharomyces pastorianus (Lager beer) yeast are used in brewing. The craft brewing revolution introduced the use of non-conventional yeast. These yeasts possess distinct technological characteristics compared to commercial starters, such as a richer enzyme profile. This biological diversity produces beers with novel, complex aroma profiles, and opens exciting avenues for flavor creation. Recently, non-alcoholic beer and low-alcoholic beer (NABLAB), and functional beer have become the new horizons for the application of non-conventional yeasts. In recent years, the brewing potential of these alternative yeasts has been extensively explored. However, some aspects relating to the interactions between yeast and raw materials precursors involved in the aroma of the final beer, and the management of yeasts in fermentation, remain unexplored. This review systematically outlines the various innovative ways in which non-conventional yeasts are applied in brewing, including healthier beer. Here, we explore how these yeasts can foster innovation in the beer sector and provide the possibility for sustainable development in contemporary brewing. Full article

Microgrids are evolving from simple hybrid systems into complex, multi-energy platforms with high-dimensional optimization challenges due to technological diversification, sector coupling, and increased data granularity. This review systematically examines the intersection of microgrid optimization and metaheuristic algorithms, focusing on the period from 2015 to 2025. We first trace the technological evolution of microgrids and identify the drivers of increased optimization complexity. We then provide a structured overview of metaheuristic algorithms—including evolutionary, swarm intelligence, physics-based, and human-inspired approaches—and discuss their suitability for high-dimensional search spaces. Through a comparative analysis of case studies, we demonstrate that metaheuristics such as genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, and the gray wolf optimizer can reduce the computation time to under 10% of that required by an exhaustive search while effectively handling multimodal, constrained objectives. The review further highlights the growing role of hybrid algorithms and the need to incorporate uncertainty into optimization models. We conclude that future microgrid design will increasingly rely on adaptive and hybrid metaheuristics, supported by standardized benchmark problems, to navigate the growing dimensionality and ensure resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable systems. This work provides a roadmap for researchers and practitioners in selecting and developing optimization frameworks for the next generation of microgrids. Full article

Transition to renewable energy leads to assumed economic diversification; however, the institutional risks for hydrocarbon-dependent economies remain high. This paper identifies the conditions under which transitioning economies enter a novel dependency during the renewable transition. Our analysis combines the Multi-Level Perspective with Historical Institutionalism to explore Azerbaijan’s 30-year trajectory across the oil, gas, and emerging renewable phases, serving as an illustrative case. Evidence from the literature and expert interviews illustrates that renewable investments are channelled through hydrocarbon-era institutional practices, enclave-style contracting, centralised decision-making, and reliance on foreign technology providers. These conditions constrain domestic niche formation and limit opportunities for local capability development. As a result, renewables become embedded within the existing institutional architecture rather than displacing it, serving primarily to substitute hydrocarbons as an export commodity rather than to catalyse diversification. The paper conceptualises this trajectory as a possible renewable dependence: a pathway in which renewable energy is integrated into an export-oriented, state-dominated political economy without altering its core institutional logic. The identified configurations are common across hydrocarbon economies in Central Asia and MENA, offering transferable insights into when and why renewable transitions risk reproducing, rather than transforming, established development models. Full article

In the context of open innovation, innovation cooperation has become an important path to strengthen the resilience of urban economics. This study aims to explore how different innovation cooperation patterns impact urban economic resilience by utilizing panel data from 280 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2020. The results show that intra-provincial buzz has a nonlinear relationship with economic resilience, while the inter-provincial pipeline consistently enhances that resilience. Furthermore, intra-provincial buzz primarily promotes economic resilience by improving the technology agglomeration level, while the inter-provincial pipeline achieves the same by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship vitality. Further analysis reveals heterogeneous effects across geographic locations, city sizes, and levels of industrial diversification. These findings highlight the complex impacts of two innovation cooperation patterns on urban economic resilience, underscoring the requirement for strategies tailored to specific situations depending on geographic and economic contexts. Full article

The urgent need for silver-based antibacterial agents in clinical settings has driven the diversification of their delivery systems, evolving from traditional silver salt preparations to new silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver-based composite functional materials. Research and application of various carrier systems have established a solid foundation for the clinical translation of silver. However, it is important to recognize that the clinical use of silver-based materials still faces several key challenges: one is the potential risk of cytotoxicity, another is the growing trend of bacterial resistance to silver, and the third is the heterogeneity of antibacterial properties in different wound microenvironments. Additionally, this study thoroughly examines the significant gap between basic research and clinical application of silver-based materials, highlighting that the lack of standardized clinical endpoint indicators and high-quality clinical research evidence are the main barriers to its standardized use. Future research should focus on four key areas: developing precise targeted delivery systems, creating combined treatments with silver and other antibacterial agents, enhancing biosafety through material engineering, and establishing a unified framework for clinical efficacy evaluation. Through systematic innovation and evidence-based clinical implementation, silver-based technologies hold broad potential and significant clinical value for addressing complex wound infections and alleviating the global antibiotic resistance crisis. Full article

Winter beverage formulations made from baru almonds with the addition of sucrose (FS) or allulose (FA) were evaluated in two acceptance sensory sessions (blind test and test with information about the ingredients, their benefits, and the product label) by 100 potential consumers. The beverages were characterized for their proximate composition, pH, soluble solids content, instrumental color, microbiological analyses, steady state rheology, and kinetic stability test. The sensory acceptability of both formulations increased with information provision, reaching an acceptability index exceeding 70%. Furthermore, the sweet taste was the primary driver of acceptance, with consumers generally preferring sucrose as the sweetener. The perception of the sweet taste of FA compared to FS was 67% and 63% in the blind and informed tests, respectively, and showed similar results for physical, chemical, and rheological properties, as well as physical and microbiological stability. Thus, this study underscores the potential of allulose to replace sucrose without significantly altering product characteristics, showcasing its importance from both technological and sensory perspectives. Additionally, the novel product developed with baru contributes to the diversification and valorization of this Brazilian fruit, as well as being a tasty alternative for consumers. Full article

This study aims to explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing cost planning and control within Qatar’s construction industry. By examining both opportunities and challenges associated with the adoption of AI, it seeks to uncover that AI can lead to significant improvements in accuracy in cost estimates and optimisation of various resources. The nation faces significant cost-overruns influenced by delays, shifting market conditions, and although AI has demonstrated its benefits in cost-control management globally, there is a lack of research on its practical applications in Qatar’s construction industry. Existing practical applications are more likely to experience errors due to them requiring manual labour and limited pattern recognition. Meanwhile, this study attempts to align AI-driven advancements with Qatar’s Vision 2030, which emphasises sustainable development and economic diversification. It adopts an analysis of semi-structured interviews with a group of experienced professionals from leading construction companies in Qatar, giving a comprehensive picture of the current landscape and future prospect for AI in the construction industry. The findings of this study reveal that AI technologies can significantly mitigate common issues in the construction industry, such as cost overruns, project delays, and resource wastage. On the other hand, this study identifies various obstacles that inhibit AI adoption, including high financial costs and insufficient training data. By weaving together theoretical understandings and practical experiences, it highlights the importance of integrating AI technologies within existing workflows while addressing key concerns. Full article

Hydrogen production technologies are undergoing rapid diversification, driven by the dual imperative of decarbonization and resource circularity. While conventional water electrolysis, particularly PEM and alkaline systems, represents a mature and scalable solution for centralized hydrogen generation, biologically mediated pathways such as microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), dark fermentation, and anaerobic digestion are gaining visibility as decentralized, low-energy alternatives. This review presents a bibliometric analysis of hydrogen research from 2021 to 2026, based on three multi-query strategies that retrieved 6017 works in MQ1, 7551 works in MQ2, and 1930 works in MQ3. The year 2026 is included in the dataset because Scopus indexes articles already accepted and released in early access, assigning them their forthcoming official publication year. Keyword co-occurrence mapping using VOSviewer highlights thematic clusters and disciplinary shifts. The results reveal a strong dominance of electrochemical research, with biohydrogen production emerging as a distinct but less mature frontier rooted in biotechnology and environmental science. MECs, in particular, occupy a transitional zone between electrochemical and biological paradigms, offering multifunctional platforms for simultaneous waste valorization and hydrogen generation. However, their low Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and unresolved engineering challenges limit their current scalability. The comparative analysis of bibliometric queries underscores the importance of integrating electrochemical and biotechnological approaches to build a resilient and context-adaptive hydrogen economy. This study provides a structured overview of the evolving knowledge landscape and identifies key directions for future interdisciplinary research and innovation. Full article

Driven by technological innovation, service diversification, and the evolution and defects of current networks, the 6th-generation (6G) network architecture is lacking in research. One of the challenges in this research is that the architectural design should take into account multiple factors: customers, operators, and vendors. For service-oriented and network-oriented design requirements, this article proposes a data-driven distributed autonomous architecture (DDAA) for 6G with a three-layer four-plane logical hierarchy. The architecture is simplified as four network function units (NFUs), the interaction among which is carried via dual-bus interfaces, i.e., the service-based interface (SBI) and data transmission interface (DTI). In addition, it is user data-centric and rendered as distributed autonomous domains (ADs) with different scales to better adapt to customized services. Different transition stages from the 5th generation (5G) to 6G are discussed. Network simplification evaluation is further provided by going through several signaling procedures of the 3rd-generation partnership project (3GPP), inspiring advanced research and subsequent standardization of the 6G network architecture. Full article

Grasshoppers and their allies (Orthoptera) are numerous and diverse insects globally, while being significant components of biodiversity and nutrient cycling. They are variously responsive to environmental change but are paradoxical, as some species are major pests while others are threatened or even extinct. Most orthopteran species are somewhere in between, with their assemblage composition shifting in response to changing conditions and according to the response traits of the constituent species. With global concern over the impact of conventional agriculture on biodiversity, there is currently a strong transition to agroecology. The agroecological approach is two-fold: to set aside land and to better manage the overall landscape. Both approaches aim to boost the numbers and diversity of most orthopterans, while reducing the impact of the pest species using biologically based pesticides instead of chemical pesticides as part of an integrated pest management program. Set-aside land is present at various spatial scales for conservation action, involving a diversity of practical approaches. Management depends on understanding orthopteran responses to change, and harnessing the positive responses using, for example, improved grazing, fire management, and vegetation diversification for maximizing habitat heterogeneity. These initiatives also recognize the additional interactive effect of climate change and extreme weather events. Importantly, improvement of orthopteran abundance and diversity is an integral component of overall biodiversity conservation. New technologies, both aerial and genomic, are advancing the field of orthopteran biology and ecology greatly. We review advances being made in the field that hold the most promise and suggest ways forward based on three themes: appreciating orthopteran value, recognizing the adverse drivers of orthopteran abundance and diversity, and better design and management of agroecosystems. Full article

Micronutrient deficiencies, also known as “hidden hunger,” remain a pervasive public health issue in low- and middle-income countries, particularly among vulnerable populations within these countries. The main drivers of these deficiencies are poverty, limited dietary diversity, weak nutritional strategies, poor health service delivery and general health access barriers. This review assesses the prevalence, drivers, and consequences of selected micronutrient deficiencies: iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin D, within the scope of undernutrition, food insecurity, and socioeconomic inequity. The consequences associated with these deficiencies include stunted growth, increased susceptibility to illness, poor cognitive and social functioning, and deepened poverty. The primary strategies to address these deficiencies include dietary diversification, supplement provision, biofortification, and the production of fortified foods. Barriers to progress include the high cost of food, weak healthcare infrastructure, low educational levels, and ineffective policy implementation. Integrated food systems, personalised nutrition, and innovative food technologies have the potential to address both nutritional and health inequities. Addressing barriers to safe and nutritious food and healthcare systems in order to address health inequities requires integrated, multisectoral planning and contextual policy. Improving individual health outcomes is crucial, but addressing micronutrient deficiencies has a ripple effect throughout society, enabling economic development through poverty reduction and increased productivity. Full article

The aviation industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In this context, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) have emerged as a critical alternative to conventional jet fuels. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of SAF technologies from a chemical engineering perspective, highlighting key production routes, technological maturity levels, and implementation challenges. A bibliometric analysis using the Scopus database and VOSviewer software was conducted to identify research trends and thematic clusters in SAF literature. The analysis reveals a growing interest in advanced biofuels and physicochemical conversion technologies, particularly those supported by catalytic and thermochemical processes. Certified and emerging SAF pathways were examined with respect to their process efficiency, feedstock availability, and scalability. Additionally, the study explores the potential of Latin America as a strategic region for SAF development, considering its abundant biomass resources and ongoing pilot projects. This critical and holistic analysis aims to support researchers, engineers, and policymakers in understanding the current state and future directions of SAF technologies within the framework of chemical process design and optimization. Overall, Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (HEFA-SPK) and Fischer–Tropsch Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (FT-SPK) are identified as the most mature and widely deployed SAF production routes, whereas Alcohol to Jet (ATJ), Synthesized Iso-Paraffins (SIP), and Direct Sugar to Hydrocarbons (DSHC) remain at earlier technological stages despite their long-term potential for feedstock diversification and reduced environmental impacts. The analysis also underscores Latin America, where abundant biomass resources, consolidated agro-industrial systems, and emerging SAF research initiatives create favorable conditions for future development and deployment. Full article

The growing proportion of older adults has created significant societal pressure for sustainable, inclusive solutions that enhance health, autonomy, and well-being in old age. Smart elderly care has therefore emerged as a multidisciplinary research frontier at the intersection of technology, health, and social sustainability. This study provides a comprehensive systematic review to map and conceptualize its evolving landscape in the digital era. Following the PRISMA guidelines, 55 peer-reviewed articles published in the Web of Science database were analyzed using document co-citation analysis and natural language processing-based content analysis, utilizing CiteSpace and Leximancer for implementation. The findings reveal that existing studies have predominantly focused on technology acceptance and adoption among older adults, with quantitative approaches such as Structural Equation Modeling within the Technology Acceptance Model framework being most frequently used. Building on these insights, the review identifies five key directions for advancing sustainable wellbeing: (1) conceptual clarification and operationalization of smart elderly care, (2) theoretical integration across disciplines, (3) examination of influencing factors shaping user engagement, (4) evaluation of social and well-being outcomes, and (5) methodological and disciplinary diversification. By synthesizing fragmented knowledge into a coherent framework, this study contributes to the understanding of smart elderly care as a critical component of sustainable aging societies and lays the groundwork for future academic inquiry and policy innovation. Full article

This study presents a scenario-based modeling framework to evaluate potential decarbonization pathways for Portugal’s road transport sector. The model simulates the evolution of a light-duty vehicle (LDV) fleet under varying degrees of electrification and biofuel integration, accounting for energy consumption, CO₂ emissions and market shares of alternative propulsion technologies. Coupled with projected energy mix trajectories, the framework estimates final energy demand and well-to-wheel (WTW) emissions for each scenario, benchmarking outcomes against national and European climate targets. A key structural limitation identified is the long vehicle survival rate—averaging 14 years—which constrains fleet renewal and delays the transition to full electrification. Diesel-powered light commercial vehicles exhibit even slower replacement dynamics, rendering the Portuguese targets of full electrification by 2030 highly improbable without targeted scrappage and incentive programs. Scenario analysis indicates that even with accelerated electric vehicle (EV) uptake, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) would comprise only 12% of the fleet by 2030 and 77% by 2050. Electrification scenario raises electricity demand fortyfold by 2050, stressing generation and infrastructure. Scenarios that consider diversification of energy sources reduce this strain but require triple electricity for large-scale green hydrogen and synthetic fuel production. Full article

This study explores the effect of Energy Inequality (EINQ) on environmental sustainability within the frameworks of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and the Load Capacity Curve (LCC), while accounting for technological progress (TECH), financial development (FD), and foreign direct investment (FDI). Using annual data for six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from 2005 to 2024, the analysis applies the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) to capture heterogeneous effects across the distribution of the Load Capacity Factor (LCF). The results show that energy inequality consistently reduces environmental sustainability, indicating that unequal access to efficient and clean energy services heightens ecological pressure. In contrast, technological innovation and financial development enhance sustainability by improving energy efficiency and supporting green investments. Economic growth exhibits an inverted U-shape, validating the EKC and LCC hypotheses. These findings are especially important for the GCC, where hydrocarbon dependence, uneven access to clean energy, and rapid structural change intensify the environmental consequences of inequality. The study underscores the need for policies that promote equitable energy access, innovation-led diversification, and sustainable financial mechanisms. Full article