Search Results (430)

Reliable battery health assessment is essential to accelerate battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption, yet most existing in-vehicle methods do not capture the complex processes driving ageing. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) offers deeper diagnostic insight but faces significant architectural and integration constraints. This study establishes a rigorous system-level framework for practicable onboard EIS implementation, focusing on the integration within Battery Management System (BMS) and powertrain architectures. Various integration topologies for cell-, module- and pack-level EIS are evaluated, highlighting their key trade-offs. The viability of the presented architectures is assessed through an application-specific Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for mass-market, high-performance and circular economy use-cases. This study confirms the feasibility of onboard EIS while providing industry and scientific stakeholders with practical guidance to advance battery diagnostics for next-generation BEVs. Full article

This study aims to design and develop an innovative manual kitchen tool that integrates the functionalities of a Lazy Susan and a Dough Kneader into a two-in-one setup, addressing common challenges experienced by students during laboratory activities—crowdedness, inconvenience, and physical strain associated with manual dough kneading. Employing a descriptive–developmental research design, the study focused on the prototype’s conceptualization, construction, and evaluation in terms of its design, construction quality and availability of materials, functionality, usability, aesthetics, modularity, and ergonomics. Survey questionnaires were administered to faculty members and field experts to assess the overall acceptability of the product. The study was conducted at Caraga State University—Cabadbaran City. Results indicated a high level of acceptability across all evaluative criteria. Although minor design issues emerged during testing, these were addressed and refined accordingly. Findings suggest that the two-in-one Lazy Susan and Dough Kneader offers significant benefits in terms of space-saving, user convenience, and manual labor reduction. With its practical design and market viability, the product is a promising tool for educational and domestic culinary settings. Further research is recommended to enhance the tool’s features, particularly by exploring the integration of solar-powered functionality to improve efficiency and sustainability. Full article

Eggplant is a crop of significant global importance. However, strict selection criteria generate large amounts of biomass that contain hydrophilic bioactive compounds. These compounds are associated with the prevention and treatment of diseases such as cancer. This research aimed to explore the valorization of eggplant biomass through microencapsulation of hydrophilic extracts to enhance stability and evaluate the biological potential. Additionally, the study assessed the effects of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and permeability. Optimization of the microencapsulation process determined ideal parameters: inlet temperature (175 °C), pressure (0.15 MPa), and extract amount (1.15 g), which maximized response variables: %EE (67.06), %Y (66.09), and %RPC (88.84). After in vitro gastrointestinal simulation, the microparticles showed increased TRC (29.32%) and TEAC (112%) values. The UPLC-MS-TQ chromatographic profile of both the free extract and the microencapsulate before and after digestion confirmed the presence of phenolic acids, including chlorogenic, quinic, caffeic, and ferulic. In the in vitro permeability test, only quinic acid was found on the basolateral side. Finally, viability assays on FHC cells showed that DM was not cytotoxic; meanwhile, an antiproliferative effect was observed in HCT 116 cells, with IC₅₀ values in DE and DM (2.47 and 8.79 mg/mL) after 48 h. Full article

The transition to automated vehicles (AVs) introduces complex human factors and system-level challenges across Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Levels 0–5, with profound implications for the long-term viability of future transport infrastructure. Drawing on a synthesis of socio-technical, cognitive, and behavioural adaptation theories, this study develops an integrated framework to analyse the evolving relationships among driving automation, human behaviour, system risks, and urban sustainability. The findings demonstrate that human-factor risks are inherently nonlinear, meaning they do not decrease proportionally as technology advances; instead, risk profiles peak significantly at intermediate automation levels (SAE 2–3) due to supervisory fatigue and delayed takeovers, introducing severe traffic flow volatility and localised micro-congestion that directly compromise the environmental efficiency of sustainable transport systems. As these risks reconfigure into institutional and digital infrastructure dependencies at higher levels (SAE 4–5), the primary constraint shifts toward network readiness. Through an analysis of real-world AV deployment case studies and a structured narrative literature review, this paper identifies critical operational discontinuities and mixed-traffic complexities that threaten urban grid resilience. This study proposes a conceptual framework that translates these cross-level socio-technical insights into actionable deployment pathways, providing policymakers with adaptive governance models, transportation planners with mixed-traffic management strategies aimed at preserving network efficiency, infrastructure agencies with physical and digital readiness criteria for long-term asset sustainability, and AV developers with human–machine interface optimisation frameworks to secure human-centric safety within sustainable smart city networks. Full article

Background: Precision medicine aims to improve early, individualized risk stratification using biologically relevant biomarkers. In early pregnancy, markers reflecting placental function remain limited. Kisspeptin, a placentally derived peptide that rises during normal gestation, has emerged as a potential indicator of pregnancy viability. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate evidence on maternal serum kisspeptin levels and placental KISS1/KISS1R expression in early pregnancy loss, and to assess its potential relevance as a precision biomarker within personalized pharmacy and individualized monitoring frameworks. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (up to 2025) was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies assessing circulating kisspeptin and/or placental expression in early pregnancy loss versus viable pregnancies were included. A formal meta-analysis was not performed due to substantial heterogeneity in study design, biological material, assay methods, gestational age, and outcome reporting formats. Under these conditions, quantitative pooling was considered methodologically inappropriate; therefore, qualitative synthesis was performed. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Most reported significantly lower maternal serum kisspeptin levels in early pregnancy loss, with good discriminatory accuracy. Immunohistochemical analyses showed reduced placental and choriodecidual KISS1/KISS1R expression in miscarriage and recurrent pregnancy loss, indicating disrupted local signaling. Concordant systemic and tissue findings suggest that circulating kisspeptin reflects placental dysfunction. Conclusions: Kisspeptin appears to be a promising precision biomarker for monitoring early pregnancy viability and supporting individualized pharmaceutical care. Standardized assays and large prospective studies are needed before routine clinical implementation. Full article

The sustainable development of all economic sectors, including transport, requires decarbonization approaches that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions while preserving operational viability. This article develops a segment-based preliminary multi-criteria framework for evaluating the rational applicability of decarbonization technologies to commercial fishing vessels and demonstrates it for existing medium-to-large trawlers. The central premise is that decarbonization technologies cannot be ranked universally for the whole fishing fleet because vessel type, fishing gear, operating cycle, autonomy, onboard energy demand, and port dependence strongly affect practical applicability. Ten alternatives are assessed: sustainable drop-in biofuels/biodiesel/HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), LNG/BioLNG/LBG, methanol, hydrogen fuel cells, ammonia, hybrid systems, operational measures, hull-form or hydrodynamic modifications, waste heat recovery and wind-assisted propulsion. Seven benefit-type criteria are combined using trawler-specific Rank-Order Centroid weights, Simple Additive Weighting, and a dynamic rationality extension for 2026, 2030, 2040, and 2050. The 2026 baseline results place operational measures and sustainable drop-in biofuel/HVO pathways in the leading practical group, while hydrogen and ammonia remain weak because of storage, safety, infrastructure, cost, and integration constraints. By 2050, a mixed long-term group emerges where HVO, LNG/BioLNG/LBG, methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen are all relevant, with no single dominant alternative. The framework supports early-stage screening before vessel-specific LCA, LCCA, CFD, safety assessment, and retrofit or newbuild design. Although this methodological approach was demonstrated for existing medium-to-large trawlers, the authors believe that it can be adapted for retrofit cases, other fishing vessel segments, and other types of seagoing vessels. Full article

Industrial heat demand is a major source of CO₂ emissions, making the decarbonization of this sector essential for achieving sustainability. This study explores and compares different methods for supplying useful heat to the industrial sector through a multi-criteria approach that considers technical performance, economic viability, and environmental impact. Both conventional and alternative systems are examined, aiming to develop sustainable designs. These include solar-based systems using parabolic trough collectors, supported by either electric heaters or natural gas boilers. In addition, a high-temperature heat pump (HTHP) utilizing waste heat is analyzed, also combined with either electric heaters or gas boilers as backup. For reference, a conventional natural gas boiler system is included as a baseline case. In total, five scenarios are evaluated for applications in the chemical industry. Each scenario is assessed in terms of energy and exergy efficiency, cost, and CO₂ emissions. A multi-criteria analysis is then applied to determine the most sustainable option under varying electricity and waste heat price conditions. The results indicate that the configuration combining a high-temperature heat pump with electric heaters (Scenario 3) achieves the highest performance, with energy and exergy efficiencies of 0.952 and 0.666, respectively. The lowest CO₂ emissions are observed in the case of using solar collectors with electric heaters (Scenario 1), reaching 4154 tons per year. From an economic perspective, Scenario 3 emerges as the most favorable option at lower electricity prices (0.10 €/kWh), with a levelized cost of heating (LCOH) of 0.0555 €/kWh. At higher electricity prices, the optimal design shifts to Scenario 2, which combines solar collectors with a natural gas boiler, resulting in an LCOH of 0.0603 €/kWh. Full article

One of the most critical challenges in maritime transport decarbonization, as part of the EU greenhouse gas (GHG) neutrality strategy, is the reduction in GHG and harmful emissions from the energy systems of existing vessels. Furthermore, the potential for implementing decarbonization technologies in operating vessels remains significantly more limited compared to newly constructed ships. Selecting appropriate decarbonization measures requires a comprehensive evaluation of technological feasibility, economic viability, and environmental performance, in accordance with the regulatory frameworks established by the IMO and the EU. A major limitation in such decision-making processes is ensuring the representativeness and reliability of expert judgments. In order to improve the reliability of results by expanding and structuring the information base, this study proposes and implements a method based on the integration of SWOT analysis with multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. The objective of this study was to examine the methodological aspects of testing the integrated application of comprehensive analysis and ranking methods for decarbonization technologies as applied to a prototype oil tanker. Based on the SWOT analysis method, technological solutions that are available for practical application were identified for the medium-term decarbonization period considered in the study, up to 2030–2035. Subsequent rating based on several applied multi-criteria (MCDM) analysis methods (TOPSIS, COPRAS, SAW) allowed us to examine the range, stability and sensitivity of the obtained solutions in relation to the methods themselves and scenarios with variations in the weighting factors of the evaluation criteria. The complete match of the ratings obtained using the TOPSIS and COPRAS methods confirms the stability of the multi-criteria decision-making process (priority-compromise order): CCS, kite, air lubrication, Flettner rotor. The performed sensitivity analysis showed that the technology rankings remain relatively stable when the weighting factor for the CO₂ reduction criterion varies within a range of approximately ±10%, while larger deviations result in an increasing difference between all three MCDM methods. For the TOPSIS method, the change limits for the critical values of the threshold indicators were ±20%, the COPRAS method showed intermediate results, and changing the weighting coefficients within a ±20% range did not alter the selection of the best technology. The results obtained allow for a positive assessment of the effectiveness of the proposed integrated methodology when applied as an alternative in the initial stage of ranking decarbonization methods for in-service ships. Full article

The electrification of public transport, particularly Bus Rapid Transits (BRT), is a significant step toward achieving sustainable urban mobility and reducing dependency on fossil fuels. However, rapid adoption of Electric Vehicles Smart Charging (EVSC) infrastructure presents grid stability, economic and environmental concerns. The rising demand for electric cars, particularly in developing nations such as Nigeria, highlights the urgent need for a sustainable hybrid renewable energy charging infrastructure for BRT systems. This study presents a techno-economic assessment of an off-grid hybrid systems that use photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines (WTs), hydrogen (H₂), fuel cell (FC) and battery technologies to power Electric Vehicles Smart Charging within Bus Rapid Transits networks. The Lagos BRT charging system at City Mall Station (CMS) serves as a case study, with hourly renewable resources obtained from National Aeronautics and Space Administration database (NASA). Using the HOMER pro-optimization tool, a multi-criteria analysis is performed to evaluate system viability, with special focus on key metrics such as levelized cost of energy (LCOE), net present cost (NPC), renewable energy fraction (REF), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The simulation results demonstrate that the hybrid PV/wind/FC/battery configuration is exceptionally economical, with an LCOE as low as $0.222/kWh, $2.03M NPC, 51.3% REF, and 159,209 kg of carbon dioxide emissions per year compared to grid-dependent charging. The study shows that integrated renewable-hydrogen systems are not only financially feasible, but also provide significant insights for policymakers, transportation authorities, and energy planners seeking to accelerate the transition to green public transportation infrastructure through innovative hybrid energy schemes. Full article

The development of biodegradable scaffolds for load-bearing bone tissue engineering (BTE) presents a fundamental multi-criteria optimization challenge, requiring a simultaneous balance among mechanical performance, biological integration, and degradation kinetics. These criteria are inherently conflicting: composite formulations with the highest compressive strength frequently exhibit suboptimal porosity, while those with superior osteoconductivity often lack sufficient load-bearing capacity. To address this challenge rigorously, this study establishes a hybrid Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process–Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS) framework to evaluate and rank five clinically relevant biodegradable polymer–ceramic composite candidates: PLA/Hydroxyapatite (PLA/HA), PCL/Hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA), PLGA/Bioactive Glass (PLGA/BG), PLA/Carbon Nanotubes (PLA/CNT), and PLA/Magnesium (PLA/Mg). Quantitative property data were systematically extracted from ten peer-reviewed experimental studies published between 2021 and 2025, and converted into Triangular Fuzzy Numbers (TFNs) to explicitly model inter-study variability arising from differences in fabrication methods, filler loading, and testing conditions. Fuzzy AHP analysis identified Compressive Strength (w = 25.2%) and Cell Viability (w = 21.5%) as the dominant decision criteria for load-bearing cortical bone repair. The Fuzzy TOPSIS ranking identified PLA/HA as the optimal composite candidate (Closeness Coefficient, CCᵢ = 0.677), demonstrating the superior multi-criteria balance required for cortical bone repair applications. Although PLA/CNT achieved the highest mechanical strength, it was outranked due to lower osteoconductivity and elevated cytotoxicity uncertainty at high nanotube concentrations (CCᵢ = 0.544). Sensitivity analysis across five distinct weighting scenarios confirmed the robustness of PLA/HA as the primary candidate. These findings provide a validated, replicable computational blueprint for evidence-based scaffold material selection, with direct implications for reducing the burden of costly trial-and-error experimentation in BTE research. Full article

The steno-endemic Verbascum rupicola faces a precarious future due to its extreme habitat specialization on tectonically active hydrothermal quartz veins. This study presents a long-term assessment based on periodic population censuses spanning 18 years (2007, 2016, and 2025) to assess the demographic and spatial trends of its global population in the Tahtalı Dam basin, Türkiye. Field surveys, GIS-based habitat mapping, and controlled pollination experiments were integrated with seed germination kinetics and ex situ cultivation trials. Results reveal a precipitous 69.12% global population decline, primarily driven by a 33.41% habitat loss from agricultural expansion in 2011 and the total extirpation of three sub-populations by a major wildfire in 2017. Furthermore, a “reproductive squeeze” was identified, where climate-induced reductions in flower production (18.87%) are compounded by intensifying floral predation by Pieris rapae. Reproductive analysis revealed random monomorphic enantiostyly—reported for the first time in the genus—which functions as a flexible mating system prioritizing outcrossing while providing reproductive assurance. Despite high intrinsic seed viability (69.12%), ex situ cultivation largely failed (3.5% survival; 1 out of 28 transplanted individuals), underscoring the species’ obligate chasmophytic nature. Consequently, V. rupicola meets the criteria for Critically Endangered (CR) status, necessitating urgent “micro-reserve” protection of its remaining habitat and in situ restoration efforts. Full article

Candida albicans-associated denture stomatitis is a common inflammatory condition in denture wearers. Conventional tissue conditioners provide temporary relief but lack intrinsic antifungal activity, allowing persistent microbial colonization and biofilm formation. Functionalization with bioactive agents represents a promising preventive strategy. This study evaluated the antifungal efficacy and biocompatibility of pterostilbene (PTE), a natural stilbenoid compound, incorporated into a commercially available tissue conditioner. Antifungal activity of PTE against C. albicans ATCC 10231 was evaluated using broth microdilution and XTT biofilm assays. Tissue conditioner discs containing 1% and 2.5% (w/w) PTE were fabricated and tested after 24 h, 72 h, and 1 week using colony-forming unit (CFU) counts and metabolic activity assays. Biocompatibility was assessed by exposing mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells to conditioned eluates followed by an MTT viability assay. PTE inhibited biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent manner, with significant suppression observed at ≥8 µg/mL (p < 0.001). A time-dependent antifungal effect was observed over one week. PTE-functionalized tissue conditioners significantly reduced fungal adhesion compared with controls at all-time points (p < 0.001). Cell viability remained above 70%, meeting ISO 10993-5 criteria for non-cytotoxicity, indicating potential for localized prevention of denture stomatitis. Full article

At the outset, startups need to choose a strategy that will enable them to operate in the long term. A proper strategy for startups ensures the development and overall viability of their products or services. The present research was conducted to identify the most suitable development strategies for startups in the Baltic States. Accordingly, the research aims to evaluate alternative startup strategies, considering external and internal factors. Research methods: monographic, SWOT analysis, and the quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM). Experts were selected using the targeted sampling method, based on the following selection criteria: experience in startup management or active involvement in the startup ecosystem in the Baltic States. The research involved 12 experts from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The research was conducted between November 2025 and January 2026. The geographical coverage was Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. First limitation of the research was that it provided insight into the five proposed startup strategies for the Baltic States, while other alternative strategies were not considered, given the limited scope and the need for in-depth analysis. The second limitation was that the sample includes 12 experts, including representatives from all three Baltic ecosystems, but they are not in the same numerical ratio. The main conclusion was that the intensive strategy was the most significant one. The second most important alternative strategy was the financial strategy. The least important alternative strategy was the sustainability strategy. The results showed that startups in the Baltic States focused on intensive market entry and product development, as well as strategic financial management, to develop in the long term. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable industrial practices has intensified the search for manufacturing processes that minimize environmental impacts without compromising technical performance or economic viability. In this context, powder metallurgy has emerged as a promising alternative in mechanical manufacturing due to its potential for raw material reuse, waste reduction, lower energy consumption, and near-net-shape production. However, despite the growing body of research on this topic, there is still a lack of a comprehensive and integrated framework that systematically organizes and correlates the factors influencing sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, which limits a holistic understanding of the process. Therefore, this study aims to analyze and classify the main factors affecting sustainability in powder metallurgy. A Systematic Literature Review was conducted following the PRISMA method, using the Scopus, Web of Science and Wiley databases. The initial search identified 1753 articles, of which 56 were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis considers the three pillars of sustainability and examines how variables related to raw materials, energy consumption, processing technologies, waste reuse, product performance, and operational conditions influence process sustainability. The results enable the identification of the most recurrent factors in the literature and support the development of a structured theoretical framework, contributing to a more integrated understanding of sustainability in powder metallurgy. Full article

Unconventional oil and gas reservoirs naturally have low porosity and low permeability, which necessitate reservoir stimulation during production to achieve commercial exploitation. Therefore, to improve reservoir stimulation effectiveness, this study established a thermal–hydraulic–mechanical coupled numerical model suitable for hydraulic fracturing experiment scales based on rock mechanics, elasticity mechanics, damage mechanics, and flow mechanics theories, combined with maximum principal stress and Mohr–Coulomb damage criteria. The model was numerically solved within a finite element framework and used to simulate the reservoir hydraulic fracturing process. The results indicate that the propagation behavior of hydraulic fractures is controlled by reservoir rock mechanical properties, geostresses, reservoir temperatures, fracturing fluid viscosities, and injection rates. Among these, the increase in principal stress difference, reservoir temperature, fracturing fluid viscosity and injection rate promotes the propagation of hydraulic fractures along the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress, whereas an increase in the rock’s elastic modulus reduces the propagation length of the hydraulic fractures. During fracturing, the fracturing fluid fractures the reservoir rock, significantly improving its porosity and permeability. This not only enhances the mobilization of unconventional oil and gas resources but also provides effective flow pathways for their migration, thereby ensuring the commercial viability of unconventional oil and gas resource extraction. Additionally, selecting a fracturing process that matches the geological characteristics of the study area during fracturing design is a prerequisite for improving the reservoir stimulation effect. The results of this study provide a reference for fracturing design and optimization. Full article