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Investigating natural rubber latex (NRL) composites through compressive testing for renewable and sustainable building materials This article explores the innovative use of natural rubber latex (NRL) as a fundamental component in the development of sustainable and renewable composite building materials, particularly focusing on incorporating wood chips as reinforcing particles. The study investigates the compressive mechanical properties of various composite formulations, analysing the influence of NRL contents and particle types – considering different wood species, shapes and sizes. Key factors such as particle geometry, NRL content, and sample preparation methods are identified as crucial factors in enhancing the mechanical properties of these composites. The results show that NRL composites exhibit distinctive characteristics like non‐linear behaviour, hysteresis, stress relaxation, and the Mullins effect during compression tests. The significance of these composite materials in construction is heightened by their potential to utilize NRL sourced from plants other than rubber trees, such as dandelions, thus advancing sustainable construction practices. This research aims to focus attention on exploring new, flexible, and highly customized composite materials by utilizing natural fibres and NRL across a range of construction applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the development and evaluation of a novel cement-free gamma-ray-resistant ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC), known as UHPC-CAS. UHPC-CAS is composed of calcium oxide–activated slag, iron and barite powders, and steel fibers, making it a type of ultrahigh-performance geopolymer concrete (UHPGC). In this study, the effects of replacing silica sand with varying percentages of iron and barite powders on the mechanical and radiation properties of UHPC-CAS were investigated. The optimal replacement ratio of iron powder was found to be 50%, resulting in the highest compressive, tensile, and bending strengths among all mixtures without fibers. Furthermore, the UHPC-CAS samples reinforced with steel fibers and containing barite powder exhibited a more pronounced softening zone than those containing iron powder. With 100% iron powder and 3% steel fibers, UHPC-CAS achieved superior resistance to gamma rays, as evidenced by the highest attenuation coefficient of 0.234 cm and the lowest half-value layer of 2.96 cm. This research demonstrates the potential for developing sustainable cement-free UHPC for use in nuclear facilities and other applications requiring high radiation shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand views of staff in relation to attitudes, enablers, and barriers to implementation of environmentally sustainable surgery in operating theatres. This will ultimately help in the goal of successfully implementing more sustainable theatres. Background: Global health care sectors are responsible for 4.4% of greenhouse gas emissions. Surgical operating theatres are resource intensive areas and improvements will be important to meet Net-Zero carbon emissions within health care. Methods: Three databases were searched (Web of Science, Ovid, and PubMed), last checked January 2024. We included original manuscripts evaluating staff views regarding sustainable operating theatres. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for quality appraisal and data analysed using thematic synthesis. Results: A total of 2933 articles were screened and 14 fulfilled inclusion criteria, using qualitative (1), quantitative (2), and mixed methods (11). Studies were undertaken in a variety of clinical (Department of Anaesthesia, Surgery, Otolaryngology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Ophthalmology) and geographical settings (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland). Across studies there was a lack of evidence exploring enablers to implementation, but barriers mainly related to the following themes: education and awareness, leadership, resistance to change, facilities and equipment, time, and incentive. Conclusions: This systematic review identified attitudes and barriers perceived by clinicians towards improving environmental sustainability within operating theatres, which may inform future strategy towards sustainable surgery. Most studies used a survey-design, whereas use of interviews may provide deeper insights. Future work should be extended to wider stakeholders influencing operating theatres. In addition, implementation studies should be carried out to examine whether barriers do change in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examine the factors in the adoption of high-efficiency irrigation system (HEIS) for socio-economic development in southern Punjab, Pakistan. Multi-stage sampling is used to select the sample of 400 farmers (200 HEIS adopters and 200 non-adopters) from major districts of south Punjab. The results demonstrated that determinants including average landholding, age, education and awareness of HEIS all had a significant impact on the adoption of HEIS. The adoption rate of HEIS was also found to be impacted by energy crises, operational and maintenance issues, high installation prices and a lack of experienced employees. A higher proportion of participants strongly believed that HEIS might increase agricultural productivity while simultaneously saving water for future use. Additionally, respondents believed that shifting HEIS to high-value crops improves social status, particularly in rural areas. BCR values for wheat, guava and citrus using SI and DI were found to be larger than 1. The SI system's NPV values for the wheat crop ranged from Rs. 248034 to Rs. 463191. Similarly, the results are consistent for DI for guava and citrus orchards (BCR > 1 and NPV positive values demonstrate that HEIS project is more economically feasible and viable than TI). Moreover, the benefit-cost ratio demonstrated that, when compared to conventional irrigated growers, the yield and net benefit due to HEIS of a variety of crops, including citrus, wheat, and guava, improved significantly to 48.48%, 70%, 44.83%, 102%, 178% and 107%, respectively. Water productivity of HEIS-irrigated wheat, guava and citrus were calculated as 1.2, 2.6 and 2.5 kg/m³, respectively and increased highly significantly than TI. The findings suggested that government initiatives should focus to enhance adoption rate of HEIS. This could be accomplished by providing modest subsidized HEIS and imparting awareness to farmers about the socioeconomic benefits of HEIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquifer artificial recharge is one method of restoring groundwater supplies and storing extra water to compensate for losses. In this regard, this research simulates the Dammam aquifer in the MODFLOW code in GMS software. The other objective is to simulate the effect of artificial recharge on groundwater levels in the Dammam-confined aquifer in Iraq. Modeling was done by specifying boundaries and initial conditions. The model was calibrated for steady and unsteady conditions. The calibrated model was utilized to predict groundwater levels in 2030 and assess five artificial recharge scenarios with different proportions of injection water. The water source in the simulation recharge model was excess water from sand-washing plants. The effect of these scenarios was evaluated on the available monitoring wells. The artificial recharge by injecting 60% of the daily excess water into 15 and 51 wells showed a maximum groundwater level increment of about 17–30%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work portrays a sustainable utilization of fruits and vegetable waste (FVW) and aims in extraction of valuables. The waste chosen for the study are papaya peel, pea pod, mustard oil cake, banana peel, orange peel, pomegranate peel, pineapple peel, used coffee bean, onion peel, and apple peel. The extraction of bioactive components was done with methanol by percolation method at room temperature. The extraction was also done using microwave extractor and bath ultrasonicator. The extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC) using Folin-Ciocalteu method in terms of mg/ml of gallic acid equivalents (GAE). Total phenolic content was found to be highest in apple peels (0.171 mg/ml), papaya peels (0.166 mg/ml), onion peel (0.146 mg/ml), and pomegranate (0.126 mg/ml). The extracts were analyzed for their antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assays. Pomegranate peel showed 51.05% degradation in comparison to pure ascorbic acid which is a super antioxidant showing 90% degradation of DPPH (0.2 mM). Total protein content was determined by Biuret method. Anthrone reagent was used to determine the amount of carbohydrate in each sample quantitatively. The results underscore the immense potential for sustainability and innovation within the domain of food waste utilization for extraction of valuables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telecommunication plays a crucial role in the modern society, and its importance in Ghana's rapid digital and economic transformation is very relevant. Ghana is however confronted with huge telecommunication towers doted in the skylines of its major cities with some towers mounted in homes and on roof top of structures. The objective of this research was to investigate the major challenges associated with the urban deployment of the towers and suggest sustainable approach to its deployment. Using quantitative descriptive design, data was collected from the three leading telecommunication companies in Ghana receiving a response rate of 77.6%. Analysis of responses showed that, land acquisition and use challenges, compliance with regulatory and statutory issues, community occupational health issues, neighbourhood challenges and urban planning regulations are the key factors that affect the deployment of towers in Ghana. The research postulates that the urban deployment of telecommunication towers would require an integrated and regulated planning approach that constrains environmental impact, diminishes land use, optimises existing urban infrastructure through co-location and the deployment of advanced technologies such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites, High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G in managing the growing urban demand for urban telecommunication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is exacerbating events such as floods and droughts, and trends including sea-level rise, leading to failures in sanitation technologies, increased public health risks and environmental pollution. To reduce these risks, it is crucial to incorporate climate resilience into sanitation technology designs. In this study, we reviewed academic and selected grey literature and identified 25 design features that can contribute to the technology’s resilience to an increasingly volatile and extreme climate. Design features that were conceptually similar were collated into seven categories. These categories included: (i) avoid exposure to hazards, (ii) withstand exposure to hazards, (iii) enable flexibility, (iv) contain failures, (v) limit consequences of complete failure, (vi) facilitate fast recovery and (vii) features that provide resilience benefits beyond technological resilience. In this paper we define the categories and design features, and provide examples of each feature in practice. We also outline how the resilience design features can support sanitation designers and implementers to critique the climate resilience of sanitation technology, and prompt more resilient designs of sanitation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the recycling of metals from electrical and electronic waste is of great relevance due to its direct and indirect impact on environmental, social, and economic fields. Therefore, this study, conducted at the laboratory level, focuses on the recovery of copper from printed circuit boards through dynamic acid leaching in an H2SO4-O2 system, with the stirring rate controlled as the main parameter. Initially, the metallic pins were characterized by SEM-EDS, revealing that they consist of 7.56 wt% of copper, the predominant element serving as the base material. A thin gold film (79 wt%) is deposited on the copper to enhance its electrical conduction properties. In the subsequent leaching step, a random sample of 10 g was taken in a 500 mL volume, with an acid concentration of 0.03 M. The system was heated to 298.15 K under an oxygen partial pressure of 101.3 kPa. The stirring rate was varied from 450 to 1000 rpm, resulting in a maximum copper concentration of 645.294 ppm in the solution. The experimental constants were calculated for low (0–60 min) and high (60–240 min) chemical attack times, yielding ranges of 0.026 to 0.923 and 0.019 to 2.577 min− 1, respectively. On the other hand, one of the main outcomes of this research lies in the implementation of an artificial neural network to intelligently model the experimental process. It exhibited a mean squared error, correlation coefficient, and determination coefficient of 0.99690. Artificial neural networks emerge as an exceptional tool in predicting hydrometallurgical processes. This innovative application not only optimizes copper recovery but also ensures a cost-effective and environmentally friendly management of electronic waste. In the same way, it is possible to generate models of problems through learning. For all the aforementioned reasons, in the present work, an artificial neural network is developed to predict the dissolution of Cu in an electronic waste leaching process, considering the stirring rate as a key factor. Highlights: • Electronic waste as secondary source of precious and non-precious metals. • Copper is obtained from recycled computer printed circuit boards through an environmentally friendly chemical process. • Artificial neural networks enable design and fault finding in complex systems by validating, aggregating and analyzing data. • Application of an artificial neural network for processing, identification and modeling of dynamic acid leaching systems. • A novel combined hydrometallurgical and artificial neural network process for the recovery of copper from electronic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standard of health is considered to be a fundamental human right worldwide. Currently, the healthy city approach is widely recognized as a prominent method in urban and rural studies, as well as on a national level. This particular study aimed to analyze the stability of neighborhoods in the city of Bandar Mahshahr, focusing on healthy city indicators across three key components: economic, social, and environmental. To evaluate and assess these indicators, a total of 22 sub-indicators were derived from 2016 statistics pertaining to different neighborhoods in Bandar Mahshahr. The T-Test was employed in the SPSS software to gauge the overall stability of the aforementioned indicators. Subsequently, the weights obtained through the critical method and Ida's technique in the GIS environment were used to rank and categorize neighborhoods based on their integrated index of healthy city indicators. Lastly, the path analysis model in PLS software was utilized to identify and measure the most influential factors related to sustainability in Mahshahr city neighborhoods. The findings reveal that, out of the 35 neighborhoods examined, only neighborhoods 1, 2, 6, and 11 demonstrate a stable and developed condition in terms of possessing healthy city indicators. Conversely, the remaining 31 neighborhoods are characterized by deprivation and underdevelopment, thus indicating an unfavorable situation and a significant discrepancy from the desired standards of a healthy city in the port city of Mahshahr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since cellulose is the most common biopolymer in the world, there has been a lot of interest in its nanoscale version called nanocellulose due to the growing demand for sustainable products. To validate nanocellulose as a key component in the shift to a bio‐based economy, this review provides a thorough and critical assessment of the valorization of cellulose into nanocellulose, highlighting its unique properties, cutting‐edge extraction methods, surface modifications, and multiple applications. The study thoroughly compares nanocellulose with other natural and synthetic polymers, in contrast to earlier research, emphasizing the latter's inferior mechanical qualities, biocompatibility, and adaptability. In addition, we discuss recent developments in surface modification and extraction techniques that improve the performance of nanocellulose in high‐impact applications like medication administration, electronics, packaging, and environmental remediation. This analysis demonstrates the economic and sustainability potential of nanocellulose and suggests strategic options for future research by summarizing recent advances and identifying research gaps. Our study shows that turning cellulose into nanocellulose is valuable not just as a research project but also as a critical first step in creating long‐lasting materials to deal with the pressing issues of the twenty‐first century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose consists of a natural, rigid polymer that is widely used to improve the mechanical and water‐holding properties of hydrogels. However, its abundant hydroxyl groups make it highly absorbent to free water, leading to swelling behavior. This increased free water content will also decrease mechanical and adhesive performance. In this study, cellulose is successfully hydrophobically modified to reduce its absorption of free water. Gelatin is then cross‐linked with cellulose through a Schiff‐base reaction, resulting in increased bound water content. This significantly enhances resistance to swelling and permeability, and improves the freeze–thaw stability of the hydrogel. Due to its internal hydrophobicity, water molecules can quickly penetrate into the interior, reducing their residence time on the hydrogel surface. This allows the hydrogel to maintain high adhesion in natural environments, achieving an adhesion strength of up to 3.0 MPa on wood and bamboo‐based materials. The hydrogel can retain its adhesive properties even after prolonged exposure to a humid environment. Additionally, Na+ ions enhance the electrical conductivity and sensitivity of the hydrogel (gauge factor (GF) = 1.51), demonstrating its potential applications in flexible sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant turning point in the search for environmentally friendly energy storage options is the switch from lithium‐ion to sodium‐ion batteries. This review highlights the potential of sodium‐ion battery (NIB) technology to address the environmental and financial issues related to lithium‐ion systems by thoroughly examining recent developments in NIB technology. It is noted that sodium is more abundant and less expensive than lithium, NIBs have several benefits that could drastically lower the total cost of energy storage systems. In addition, this study examines new findings in important fields including electrolyte compositions, electrode materials, and battery performances of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and NIBs. The article highlights advancements in anode and cathode materials, with a focus on improving energy density, cycle stability, and rate capability of both LIBs and NIBs. The review also covers the advances made in comprehending the electrochemical mechanisms and special difficulties associated with NIBs, such as material degradation and sodium ion diffusion. Future research directions are discussed, with an emphasis on enhancing the scalability and commercial viability of sodium‐ion technology over lithium on Electric Grid. Considering sustainability objectives and the integration of renewable energy sources, the review's assessment of sodium‐ion batteries’ possible effects on the future state of energy storage is included in its conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing trend in the construction industry to adopt environmentally friendly practices, and innovative materials are becoming increasingly popular. Within the scope of this paper, the potential of natural fiber-reinforced cement composites (NFRCs) as an environmentally friendly building material is examined. This work introduces plant fiber aspects such as micromorphology, primary components, physical and mechanical properties, chemical components, thermal properties, and degradation mechanisms in cement composites. It explores how plant fibers affect concrete's mechanical performance, durability, and thermal qualities. It is responsible for increasing permeability and decreasing durability in concrete material because plant fibers have porosity and a weak interface. The purpose of this in-depth investigation is to investigate the features, sustainability (social, environmental, and economical) performance, and applications of NFRCs, with a particular focus on environmentally responsible innovation and potential future applications. The exhaustive study also addresses the difficulties associated with attaining the highest possible level of compatibility between fibers and matrixes. The physical and chemical treatments of natural fibers in cement components give more resistance to aging by reducing water absorption and increasing roughness at the surface. It is also possible to reduce the effect of alkalinity of the cement mixture through optimization of the binder component and curing regimes, which retard the breakdown of natural fibers. The purpose of this study is to present a summary of existing research, with a particular emphasis on the benefits, drawbacks, and prospective ways in which NFRCs could potentially improve throughout the construction industry in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three decades, global aquaculture production has significantly increased, emphasizing the need for sustainable and cost‐effective alternatives to traditional fish meal in aquafeed. This study's objective was to elucidate the impact of utilizing a combination of fish and crustacean byproducts—namely, smoked salmon (Salmo salar) skins (SSs), smoked salmon trimmings (STs), and shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) heads (SHs)—as primary ingredients in pelleted aquafeed. Importantly, this work focuses on nonextruded pellets, where the physical properties are more influenced by ingredient composition compared to extruded pellets. The tested formulations were not nutritionally comprehensive for any specific commercial aquaculture species, as the goal of this study was to highlight the effect of the byproducts on pellet physical integrity. SH and de‐oiled solid fractions of SS and ST were dehydrated for 24 h at 60°C, ground into dried powders, and formulated into six samples at a 1:1 (w/w) ratio and one sample at a 1:1:1 ratio. Potato starch (80 g/kg) was added to each sample, along with varying deionized (DI) water amounts before steam conditioning, pelletizing, and drying. Analyses included pellet nutrient composition, floatability, durability, water stability, bulk density, water absorption index (WAI), and water solubility index (WSI). Results revealed that SS pellets exhibited 97% floatability at 1 min, decreasing to 70% at 60 min. SS and ST combinations showed slow sinking behavior, while all other formulations sank quickly. Pellets containing SH had lower water stability (65.65% ± 4.44% to 0.05% ± 0.07%), in contrast to over 92% for SS and ST pellets. Durability ranged from 98.48% ± 0.37% for SS to 75.29% ± 5.82% for SH and ST combinations, further underlining the significant impact of byproduct choice on pellet performance. Overall, the inclusion of SS or ST and their combination as primary ingredients for pelleted aquafeed produced pellets that scored well on important quality parameters, while pellets containing SH performed poorly. This information may be used in the development of nutritionally comprehensive nonextruded aquafeeds containing SS and/or ST to conduct feeding trials with commercially relevant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractShape-memory polymers (SMPs) are predominantly derived from nonrenewable resources due to their low production cost, wide availability, and refined techniques for processing and tailoring SMP properties. However, the heavy reliance on these nonrenewable resources poses significant concerns regarding resource depletion and the long-term sustainability of the technology. As petroleum-based resources, which have traditionally fueled the polymer industry, become increasingly scarce, it is imperative to develop bio-based SMPs. This shift is essential not just for resource conservation but to ensure the continued viability and sustainability of SMP technology in the face of dwindling petroleum supplies. This review provides an overview of bio-based SMPs, which are synthesized from renewable precursors or through chemical variation and functionalization of biopolymers. The molecular mechanism and design strategy for the shape-memory effect (SME), syntheses, unique characteristics and shape-memory performance for these bio-based SMPs are covered. Furthermore, this review highlights novel insights and proposes promising directions for the development of sustainable SMPs with comparable performance to their nonrenewable counterparts. By focusing on bio-based alternatives, this work aims to motivate the exploration and advancement of next-generation sustainable SMPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upcycling iron slag into a monolithic catalyst has led to low‐cost heterogeneous catalytic ozonation (HCO) strategies for water treatment. The primary industrial challenges are the low chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction rate in treating authentic wastewater and difficulties sustaining close‐loop reaction cycles. In this study, we present a monolithic catalyst transformed from low‐cost iron oxide scale slag (IOSM) for highly efficient, sustainable ozone catalysis. The IOSM, constituted of 59.70 % Fe2O3 and 40.30 % Fe3O4, effectively decomposes ozone into superoxide radicals (⋅O2−) through a close‐loop cyclic reaction facilitated by interfacial charge transfer. This mechanism enables super‐fast degradation of 100 mg L−1 tetracycline at ozone concentrations below 1.00 mg L−1 in just four minutes, with the iron leaching merely at 59 μg L−1 after 10 cycles. In tests with authentic antibiotic wastewater, the IOSM‐based HCO system achieves a record‐breaking 81.70 % COD reduction within two hours. This research underscores the potential of upcycling industrial waste into highly effective ozone catalysts for sustainable practices in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ASGM in the Chocó region (Colombian Pacific) has generated abandoned puddles with concentrations of Hg; however, these sites can generate ecosystem services from contaminated biomass with a circular economy approach. (1) Background: The plant biomass contaminated with Hg from these puddles could be used to produce compost as a bioremediation strategy and as an alternative to generate ecosystem resources (organic fertilizer) with nature-based solutions, representing a circular economy approach and sustainable management of contaminated biomass. (2) Methods: Six treatments were established to produce compost; closed-system plastic composters were used, with a capacity of 15 kg of biomass and organic waste, consisting of contaminated and uncontaminated biomass of macrophytes with Hg and fruit and vegetable waste (fruit and vegetable waste, pruning waste, and poultry manure). The concentrations of As and total and bioavailable Hg were monitored during the composting process by atomic absorption spectroscopy and so were properties such as pH; electrical conductivity; temperature; CO, TN, S, and SiO2 contents; and C/N ratio. (3) Conclusions: The concentrations of bioavailable Hg during the composting process were between 658.1 and 1.2 µg/kg, decreasing in the following order: T-2 > T-3 > T-1 > C-3 > C-2 > C-1. Composting in the treatments was shown to be an efficient bioremediation technique, as all of the treatments reduced the bioavailability of Hg to below 1.5%, and the physicochemical properties of pH (r: −0.3675; p < 0.007) and %S content (r: −0.6303; p < 0.0025) showed a significant moderate negative correlation with bioavailable Hg concentrations, playing a crucial role in reducing the bioavailability of Hg during the purification process of composting. The results show that all treatments significantly reduced Hg bioavailability below 1.5%; however, T-2 proportionally showed the highest reductions during the process. Compost production was proven to be a sustainable strategy for the management of biomass contaminated with mercury, which is very important for recovering ecosystem services in communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the potential of using ChatGPT at the primary school level from the teachers' perspective within a sustainability framework. The research was conducted as a qualitative case study involving 40 primary school teachers in Turkey during the 2023–2024 academic year, all of whom had no prior experience with ChatGPT. Data collection tools included semi-structured interview forms and researcher diaries developed by the researchers. The data obtained were analysed using content analysis. The findings indicate that most primary school teachers believe ChatGPT is suitable for primary education and can contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4. Additionally, teachers noted that ChatGPT enriches the teaching process and is user-friendly. These findings suggest potential contributions to SDG 4.1 and SDG 4.2. However, concerns were raised regarding ChatGPT's potential to provide false information, which may negatively impact SDG 4.7. The study also identified that ChatGPT is particularly suitable for mathematics, Turkish, and English courses. This study's main contribution is that it shows how ChatGPT can help sustainable practices in primary education by getting teachers more involved and meeting specific curriculum needs. This gives us useful information for incorporating AI tools into education that is in line with SDG 4. It is recommended that training programs about ChatGPT and similar AI-supported tools be organised for teachers and parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms play a crucial role in addressing the challenges related to the increasing detrimental effects of intensive agriculture in vineyards by contributing to various aspects, from maintaining soil health and vine vitality to influencing fermentation and the overall wine features. Among microorganisms, mycorrhizal fungi are widely distributed in both natural and agricultural ecosystems, and their mutually beneficial relationship with most terrestrial plants provides valuable ecological benefits. Nowadays, the wine industry is increasingly moving toward the production of organic wines, highlighting the need for novel and healthier strategies that prioritize both the consumer well-being and the quality of the final wine product. Following our previous study in collaboration with the Bioma SA Company (Quartino, Switzerland), the investigation was continued by extending the organic practice to the cultivation. The present work, indeed, aimed to evaluate the influence of the treatment with mycorrhizal fungi on the metabolism of "Sangiovese" grapevines. In particular, the chemical parameters, including alcohol content, pH, acidity, phenolic composition, and sulfur dioxide, were assessed on the must, while the analysis of the volatile emission was conducted both on whole and pressed grapes, on must, as well as on the grape skins. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the mycorrhizal fungi association effect on the quality of "Sangiovese" grapes and, further, its effect on the VOCs emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is an essential factor in many activities. The need to generate adequate energy from various sources is becoming increasingly crucial to meeting the rising needs of the world's population. Nevertheless, energy storage plays a vital role in meeting the energy demand, notably since affordable yet eco-friendly sources should meet it. Several recommendations were provided to overcome this limitation, with an increasing emphasis on energy sources. However, ecologically sustainable, and effective energy storage systems are the primary focus. Carbonaceous substances produced by pyrolyzing biomass, such as biochar, have recently gained attention as a sustainable material with the potential to be used in electrochemical energy storage technologies. It is an attractive option for electrode materials in supercapacitors, batteries, and hydrogen storage devices due to its abundant availability and distinct physicochemical characteristics, which include, excellent electric conductivity, tuneable surface functional groups, a densely porous structure, a high surface area, porosity, chemical stability, and pore volume. This review addresses the electrochemical performance, production, and characterization of materials based on biochar for energy storage developments. It investigates the choice of feedstock, various preparation routes, various controlling parameters for producing biochar, the biochar activation process, and post-treatment techniques that affect the electrochemical and structural characteristics of biochar for energy storage device fabrication in detail. Additionally, it reveals that recent developments in biochar modification methods like doping, activation, and hybridization have improved the material's capacity for energy storage. Furthermore, an in-depth discussion on the environmental impacts of biochar-based energy storage devices is elaborated, along with the opportunities and challenges presented in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns about fishmeal use and its ecological footprints must be addressed for the aquaculture industry to move on as a sustainable food production sector. Through recent research outcomes, the insect-based meals in fish diets have promise and harnessed promises for commercial applications. In this midst, the efficiency of the selected insects in valorizing biological waste, as well as the nutritional profile of the harvested insects for use in fish diets, will be the driving forces behind such an approach. More extensive research has been published on the suitability of the waste substrate, the nutritional profiling of the meals, the level of substitution, the effects on growth, the immune physiology, and the flesh quality of the animals. Previously, there are only a few reviews available in insect protein applications in aqua feed that focused particularly on the nutritional quality and substitution levels. Considering the dearth of available work, the goal of this review is to provide a more comprehensive account of the resource recovery potential of insects and its derivatives, with a special emphasis on quality as determined by substrate used and processing techniques. Suggestions and policy implications for a sustainable approach to achieving a circular bio-economy of insect farming and its application in aquaculture are discussed for progression and advancement of the existing state of the art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid waste management is a demanding issue globally. Zimbabwe is among nations in Southern Africa that faces political and socio-economic challenges in solid waste management including landfill management. However, proper landfill management is critical to minimise environmental health risks of solid waste and Zimbabwe is no exception. Therefore, this paper focuses on sustainable landfill management in Zimbabwe based on SHEQ management systems by reviewing existing literature. Literature denotes that generation of solid waste destined for landfills accelerate due to increase of population, urbanisation and diseases. Hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste from institutions, households and industries is transported by municipalities to landfills. Solid waste is disposed and left uncovered or compacted on improperly engineered landfills devoid of gas and leachate control systems. Landfills in Zimbabwe are far from sustainable since they cause negative impacts to terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric ecosystems and human health is not spared as hazardous wastes are found at landfills. Nevertheless, literature reveals that SHEQ management systems are vital to attain sustainability in the realm of landfill management. SHEQ management systems contribute to continuous improvement of landfills management strategies through application of the Deming cycle. SHEQ management systems that support protection of workers and waste workers are included. The system supports inclusion of various stakeholders, correct documentation of data and conformity to national and international legislation, policies and standards when dealing with waste. SHEQ management systems support recycling, reuse and recovery processes during waste management. The review concludes that SHEQ management systems are necessary to reach sustainable landfill management in Zimbabwe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic caught the world unprepared. Large-scale testing efforts were urgently needed, and diagnostic strategies had to rapidly evolve in response to unprecedented worldwide demand. However, the rollout of diagnostic testing and screening for SARS-CoV-2 was often impeded by logistical challenges, including regulatory delays, workforce shortages, laboratory bottlenecks, and supply chain disruptions. Recognizing these hurdles early on, we developed a testing approach that supported frequent, repeat testing, particularly as communities reopened. We hypothesized and experimentally demonstrated that saliva was a suitable specimen for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. This finding was advanced into the development of open-source, extraction-free reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction protocols using readily available, "off-the-shelf" reagents and equipment for the direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva ("SalivaDirect"). Working with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we established a novel regulatory framework wherein the FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization to Yale University to offer the SalivaDirect test protocol to high-complexity diagnostic laboratories (as designated by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) with quality oversight provided by Yale. This grew into a network of more than 200 labs across the United States that, as of May 2024, resulted in over 6.5 million SARS-CoV-2 tests. By making the protocol flexible and open-source, laboratories were able to rapidly and economically scale testing using a simple, self-collected saliva specimen. Additionally, fostering a national network of laboratories enabled real-time exchanges, problem solving, and the development of community best practices. Preparing for the next pandemic, or simply the next seasonal epidemic, the SalivaDirect model of deploying a readily available, expandable solution and accompanying network provides a proven method for the successful implementation of pathogen testing in the United States and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzothiazole derivatives, a class of heterocyclic compounds, hold significant relevance in medicinal chemistry, materials science, and agrochemicals due to their diverse biological activities and applications. The conventional synthetic routes often involve harsh conditions and generate significant waste, prompting the exploration of more sustainable approaches. This work offers a comprehensive analysis of the developments in the use of heterogeneous catalysts for the production of benzothiazole derivatives, covering research from 2013 onward. Compared to traditional techniques, heterogeneous catalysts provide improved sustainability, efficiency, and recyclability. The review covers many heterogeneous catalysts and discusses their selectivity, recyclability, and catalytic activity. The utilization of heterogeneous catalysts is noteworthy as it facilitates the synthesis process's overall sustainability by allowing for milder reaction conditions, less environmental effect, and easier catalyst separation and recovery. The potential of heterogeneous catalysis in promoting the production of benzothiazole derivatives and satisfying the increasing need for these substances in various industrial applications is also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerative agriculture aims to utilise more diverse pasture species and enhance animal performance through sustainable soil management and pasture quality. This study evaluated the influence of regenerative and conventional farming on dairy cow performance and milk production under different pasture mixes and management strategies. Monthly herd test records were used to model individual lactation curves for daily milk, fat, and protein yield for the 2022–2023 season using random regression with third-order orthogonal polynomials. Total yields were calculated from predicted daily yield. Treatments were SPCM: Standard pasture under conventional management, DPCM: Diverse pasture mix under conventional management, and DPRM: Diverse pasture mix under regenerative management. Total milk yield was similar across treatments, averaging 3370 kg (SPCM), 3649 kg (DPCM), and 3626 kg (DPRM) for the 2022–2023 season. No significant differences were observed in fat, protein, milk solids yield, or milk composition. Cows on diverse pastures, regardless of management approach, showed heavier liveweights than those on standard pastures. DPCM and DPRM cows averaged 474 kg, significantly greater than SPCM cows at 464 kg (P < 0.0001), likely due to longer grazing rotation and higher post-graze mass. These findings suggest that pasture species diversity, regardless the management, enhances liveweight without affecting milk composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell culture is a cornerstone of in vitro biological research. Whilst glassware was once commonplace in tissue culture facilities, in recent decades laboratories have moved towards a heavy reliance on single use plastics for routine procedures. Single use plastics allow for accessible, sterile, and often affordable equipment that comes at a high environmental cost. We developed a glassware preparation and cleaning process that allowed the comparison of "traditional" plastic-heavy, and adapted "sustainable," cell culture practices, to empirically compare the sterility, viability, and proliferative capacity of cells cultured with differing techniques, by observing IL-6 production, morphology, and proliferation rate of cultured human pulmonary fibroblast cells. During which, we calculated the carbon footprint of traditional versus sustainable methods. We additionally endeavored to provide a realistic overview of the steps required to transition to more sustainable cell culture practices and make suggestions to ease the cost, labor, and time required to uptake similar practices in other laboratories. Cells cultured using reusable glassware did not show signs of contamination or stress compared to cells grown solely with plasticware, and glassware baked at 180°C for 120 min was sufficiently decontaminated and depyrogenated for culturing these cells. An individual researcher adopting the same methodology could reduce their carbon footprint by 105.92 kg of Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) whilst also saving money (£408.78) over a 10-year period. We predict that these benefits would be greater if more researchers were to uptake these adapted practices. We intend for this paper to reassure researchers that viable, sterile, and sustainable routine cell culture can be achieved with little upfront cost to the researcher, with the prospective benefit of greatly reducing the cost to the environment. We additionally hope that increased uptake, and thus demand of more sustainable practices, encourages suppliers, policy makers, and funding bodies to make sustainable practices more accessible to individual researchers and institutions worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the importance of plant biomonitoring, bioremediation, and biomining in addressing environmental pollution. It highlights the use of hyperaccumulator plants for bioremediation and the challenges in developing ready-to-use technologies. The research also explores the role of different plant species in environmental recovery and the potential of lichens as biological indicators of air pollution. The study emphasizes the need for further investigations to enhance pollution monitoring and develop cost-effective bioremediation methods. [Extracted from the article]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is an important photocatalyst that is widely studied for environmental applications, especially for water treatment by degradation of pollutants. A range of methods have been developed to produce TiO2 in the form of nanoparticles and thin films. Solution-based synthesis methods offer the opportunity to tune the synthesis through a choice of reagents, additives and reaction media. In particular, the use of biomolecules, such as proteins and amino acids, as bio-inspired additives in TiO2 synthesis has grown over the last decade. This review provides a discussion of the key factors in the solution-based synthesis of titania, with a focus on bio-inspired additives and their interaction with Ti precursors. In particular, the role of bio-inspired molecular and biomolecular additives in promoting the low-temperature synthesis of titania and controlling the phase and morphology of the synthesised TiO2 is discussed, with a particular focus on the interaction of TiO2 with amino acids as model bio-inspired additives. Understanding these interactions will help address the key challenges of obtaining the crystalline TiO2 phase at low temperatures, with fast kinetics and under mild reaction conditions. We review examples of photocatalytic applications of TiO2 synthesised using bio-inspired methods and discuss the ways in which bio-inspired additives enhance photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanomaterials. Finally, we give a perspective of the current challenges in green synthesis of TiO2, and possible solutions based on multi-criteria discovery, design and manufacturing framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overconsumption of nonbiodegradable materials, particularly plastics, has had a significant and detrimental impact on the environment. Advancements in research sector have led to the development of biodegradable materials, namely starch‐based biodegradable films, which have the potential to reduce this environmental impact. Starch is a unique biopolymer with distinctive chemical, physical, mechanical, thermal, and optical properties that make it an attractive alternative to nonbiodegradable and harmful materials. This review paper comprehensively discusses the properties of starch and the techniques involved in transforming native starch into starch‐based films. Further a broad overview of recent research on combining starch with several composites to enhance the physicochemical properties has been discussed herein. In addition, this paper also discusses recent insights into the development of starch‐based composite films and their potential applications in food packaging systems. Future studies must focus on the development of starch composites that strike a balance between different versatile properties of the biopolymer. Additionally, a critical examination of the interactions at the molecular level will help to expand our understanding of this sustainable biopolymer. Ultimately, the findings of this review paper will provide valuable insights for researchers and industry professionals interested in the development and utilization of starch‐based biodegradable films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field level investigation was during the month of November, 2021-22 to observe integrated effect of different nutrient sources on growth, yield, quality and economics of tomato. The field work was conducted in Randomized Block Design consisting of eight different nutrient combinations like-Treatment-1: (control), Treatment-2: (100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer), Treatment-3: [100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer+15 t Farm yard manure-ha ], Treatment-4 [75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer+7.5 t ha-1 Farm Yard Manure+Biofertilizer (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria+Azotobacter)], Treatment-5 [75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer+4 t ha-1 vermicompost+Biofertilizers (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria+Azotobacter), Treatment-6 [75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer+2 t ha-1 vermicompost+Biofertilzers (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria+Azotobacter)], Treatment-7 [75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer+0.5 t ha-1 Neem cake+Biofertilizers (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria+Azotobacter)], Treatment-8[75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer+2 t ha-1 Mustardcake+Biofertilizers (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria+Azotobacter)]. Combined application of 75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer+2 t ha-1 vermicompost+Biofertilzers (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria+Azotobacter) recorded significantly maximum values for the vegetative parameters. This treatment also recorded maximum values for number of fruits plant-1 (45.89), fruit weight (35.62 g), yield plot-1 (40 kg) and yield ha-1 (70.08 t) and benefit:cost ratio (2.8). Maximum TSS (4.8°Brix), ascorbic acid (24.05 mg 100 g-1) and lycopene content (4.69 mg 100 g-1) were noticed with 75% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer+4 t ha-1 vermicompost+Biofertilizers (Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria+Azotobacter). Experiment data showed that combination of 2t ha-1 of vermicompost and mixture of phosphate solubilizing bacteria, Azotobacter along with 75% of recommended dose of fertilizer was proved as beneficial for sustainable production of tomato in new alluvial plains of West Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycopene is a natural carotenoid with well-known benefits due to its antioxidant properties, including an anti-inflammatory effect in colorectal cancer and anti-angiogenic effects along with a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer and coronary heart disease. Due to their poor water solubility, photosensitivity and heat sensitivity, their incorporation in cosmetic and food matrices should be through encapsulation systems. In the present work, lycopene-loaded emulsions were prepared using two different types of stabilizers: non-ionic surfactants, testing several ratios of Tween 80 and Span 80, and chitosan, using chitosans of different viscosities and molecular weights. Soybean oil was found to be a suitable candidate for O/W emulsion preparation. Lycopene encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 70–75% and loading capacities of 0.14 mg/g were registered in stable emulsions stabilized either by non-ionic surfactants or acidified chitosans. Therefore, chitosan is a good alternative as a sustainable stabilizer to partially replace traditional synthetic ingredients with a new biodegradable, renewable and biocompatible material which could contribute to reduce the environmental impact as well as the ingestion of synthetic toxic materials by humans, decreasing their risk of suffering from chronic and complex pathologies, among which several types of cancer stand out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the use of surface-modified biochar as a porous electrode material for the capacitive deionization removal of chloride and fluoride ions. Incorporation of titanium dioxide and amine groups on biochar aims to increase surface-active sites, facilitate salt ion diffusion, and improve charge efficiency and cation/anion selectivity in asymmetric capacitive deionization. Titania, amine, and activated biochar are denoted as TB, AmB, and AcB, respectively. Physical and electrochemical characterizations were performed to investigate the surface properties of fabricated materials. At the optimum TiO2 loading of 5% (TB-05), the specific capacitance of TB-05 electrode was improved by 35% at scan rate of 1 mV s–1 in comparison to the AcB electrode, despite a decrease in the specific surface area. Three different asymmetric capacitive deionization cell designs—AmB||TB-05, AcB||TB-05, and AmB||AcB—and two symmetrical cell designs—AcB||AcB and TB-05||TB-05 (anode||cathode)—were tested. A symmetric cell design TB-05||TB-05 had a NaCl removal capacity of 8.51 mg g−1, a 42% improvement in comparison to a symmetric AcB cell (6.01 mg g−1). Further, an asymmetric cell AmB||TB-05 showed 67% charge efficiency improvement over symmetric AcB cell, likely due to a reduced co-ion effect. For fluoride removal, a symmetric TB-05 cell showed a removal capacity of 3.51 mg g−1. This study promotes simple surface-modification methods to make inexpensive commercial biochar into a sustainable, and efficient electrode material available for a scale-up asymmetric capacitive deionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'objectif était de rapporter un résumé des recommandations de bonnes pratiques sur la consultation écoresponsable ainsi que des actions concrètes de mise en place. Ce travail est basé (1) sur les données disponibles dans la littérature sur les actions écoresponsables qui peuvent être mises en place dans un service de consultation en urologie ; (2) sur les travaux de la commission développement durable de l'AFU, et (3) sur un retour d'expérience bicentrique des services d'urologie de l'hôpital Nord à Marseille et l'hôpital Privé Francheville à Périgueux. Ce travail de synthèse illustre les actions écoresponsables pouvant être mise en place en cabinet, impliquant les domaines de l'énergie, de la bureautique, du transport soignant et patient, la gestion des déchets, ainsi que les données environnementales disponibles lors des actes réalisés en consultation : retrait de sonde JJ, cystoscopie, champage et décontamination. De nombreuses actions permettent d'optimiser l'impact environnemental de notre service de consultation. Le déploiement de ces méthodes implique différents partenaires et une sensibilisation de l'ensemble des équipes est primordiale pour des résultats probants. The aim was to present a summary of best practice recommendations for sustainable consultations, with concrete actions to be implemented. This work is based on (1) the data available in the literature on the sustainable actions that can be implemented in a urology consultation department; (2) the work of the AFU sustainability commission, and (3) the bi-centric feedback from the urology departments of the Hôpital Nord in Marseille and the Hôpital Privé Francheville in Périgueux. This summary illustrates the sustainable actions that can be implemented within the practice, covering the areas of energy, office automation, nursing and patient transport, waste management, as well as the environmental data available for the procedures carried out in consultation: removal of the JJ catheter, cystoscopy, draping and decontamination. There are a number of actions that can be taken to optimise the environmental impact of our consultation service. Deploying these methods involves a number of partners, and raising the awareness of all our teams is essential if we are to achieve convincing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the significance of the utilization of biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil in diesel engines and its impact on engine output and environmental pollution after blending with diesel and 1-pentanol. The higher values of the ignition index and comprehensive performance index of 4.34 × 10 − 4 mass/min°C2 and 13.71 × 10 − 6 mass2/min2 °C3, respectively, for D70B20P10 (70 % diesel, 20 % biodiesel & 10 % 1-pentanol by volume) indicate superior combustion performance. At full load, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions from 1-pentanol blended fuels decrease significantly, ranging from 40 % to 52 % and 30.76–46.15 % compared to diesel. The D70B20P10 also showed an improved thermal efficiency of 28.68 % among all tested fuels at full load but slightly lower than diesel (29.56 %). Diesel demonstrated superior in-cylinder pressure (ICP) of 77 bar and heat release rate (HRR) of 41.1 J/ºCA owing to its excellent combustion characteristics. Introducing 5–10 % 1-pentanol in blend improved combustion, elevating ICP and HRR, attributed to enhanced fuel atomization and oxygen content. The sustainable process index value obtained for a global index per person is 0.002 × 10 − 4 cap Litre-1, which lies between 0 and 1, indicates sustainability and compatibility of biodiesel production demonstration by universal biofuels (Andhra Pradesh). [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deterioration of steel infrastructures is often caused by corrosive substances. In harsh conditions, the protection against corrosion is provided by high-performance coatings. The major challenge in this field is to find replacements for the fossil-based resins constituting anticorrosive coatings, due to increasing needs to synthesize new environmentally friendly materials. In this study, softwood Kraft lignin was epoxidized with the aim of obtaining a renewable resin for anticorrosive coatings. The reaction resulted in the formation of heterogeneous, solid, coarse agglomerates. Therefore, the synthetized lignin particles were mechanically ground and sieved to break up the agglomerates and obtain a fine powder. To reduce the use of fossil fuel-based epoxy novolac resins in commercial anticorrosive coatings, a series of formulations were prepared and cured on steel panels varying the content of epoxidized lignin resin. Epoxidized lignin-based coatings used in conjunction with conventional epoxy novolac resin demonstrated improved performance in terms of corrosion protection and adhesion properties, as measured by salt spray exposure and pull-off adhesion test, respectively. In addition, the importance of size fractionation for the homogeneity of the final coating formulations was highlighted. The findings from this study suggest a promising route to develop high-performing lignin-based anticorrosive coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest for sustainable energy materials, wood is discovered to be a potential piezoelectric material. However, the rigidity, poor stability, and low piezoelectric properties of wood impede its development. Here, we obtained a superelastic roasted wood nanogenerator (RW‐NG) by unraveling ray tissues through a sustainable roasting strategy. The increased compressibility of roasted wood intensifies the deformation of cellulose microfibrils, significantly enhancing the piezoelectric effect in wood. Roasted wood (15 × 15 × 15 mm3, longitudinal × radial × tangential) can generate a voltage and current outputs of 1.4 V and 14.5 nA, respectively, which are more than 70 times that of natural wood. The wood sample can recover 90% of its shape after 5000 compressions at 65% strain, exhibiting excellent elasticity and stability. Importantly, roasted wood does not add any toxic substances and can be safely applied on the human skin as a self‐powered sensor for detecting body movements. Moreover, it can also be assembled into self‐powered wooden floors for energy harvesting. These indicate that roasted wood has great potential for sustainable sensing and energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigate the Malaysian early childhood practitioners’ science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) integrating understanding and practices. Several research studies continuously report that the learners’ interest and motivation in STEAM are declining worldwide, and this reflects the current reality of the shortage of STEAM leaders and experts in the workforce. One of the primary purposes of STEAM learning in the classroom is to enhance the learning process and outcomes to prepare young children for a future STEAMfocused career. A qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews and classroom observations was employed to deeply understand the participants’ practices on Malaysian early childhood STEAM integration. This study adopted the ground-up approach of the constructivist paradigm. This study interviewed 15 early childhood practitioners (including one center director) in several small groups from early childhood centers in the Metropolitan area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The findings showed how practitioners utilize their understanding and translate this into an integrated STEAM enactment. This study focused on practice-based inputs, where the practitioners also attempted to teach a makerspace lesson that focused on designing and constructing STEAM solutions. Using thematic analysis and coding of the practitioners’ inputs and discussions, five themes arose from the analysis of the interviews. ‘Character building STEAM educators’, ‘locus of control’, ‘risk-taking as part of STEAM learning’, ‘differentiating in STEAM lesson’ and ‘where interest-based learning fit in the local Malaysian curriculum’ were factors that impacted the participants’ drive and actions to integrate STEAM and makerspace. The findings informs other early childhood practitioners understanding and STEAM integration practices. Future study may include a continuous investigation to support early childhood practitioners to facilitate and deliver STEAM integration both inclusively and sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed weaknesses in traditional supply chain finance systems, highlighting the need for digital change. Blockchain technology, with its ability to create secure and transparent records of transactions, offers a potential solution. This study uses bibliometric analysis and a literature review to examine research on blockchain-enabled supply chain finance, drawing on a database of 446 articles from ScienceDirect and Scopus. The findings show a growing interest in how blockchain can improve transparency, efficiency, and security in supply chain finance, addressing challenges like information asymmetry. This study suggests future research should focus on real-world applications of blockchain, how it can be used with other technologies, regulations and governance, and the social and environmental impacts of blockchain-based supply chain finance. This research also highlights the different priorities of the Global North and South in blockchain-enabled supply chain finance. The North focuses on efficiency and traceability, while the South emphasizes adding value and transparency. A lack of research on fair pricing, especially in the Global South, points to a critical gap that future research needs to address to ensure fairness in global trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise forecasting of groundwater levels significantly influences plant growth and the sustainable management of ecosystems. Nonetheless, the non-stationary characteristics of groundwater level data often hinder the current deep learning algorithms from precisely capturing variations in groundwater levels. We used Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) and an enhanced Transformer model to address this issue. Our objective was to develop a deep learning model called VMD-iTransformer, which aims to forecast variations in the groundwater level. This research used nine groundwater level monitoring stations located in Hangjinqi Ecological Reserve in Kubuqi Desert, China, as case studies to forecast the groundwater level over four months. To enhance the predictive performance of VMD-iTransformer, we introduced a novel approach to model the fluctuations in groundwater levels in the Kubuqi Desert region. This technique aims to achieve precise predictions of the non-stationary groundwater level conditions. Compared with the classic Transformer model, our deep learning model more effectively captured the non-stationarity of groundwater level variations and enhanced the prediction accuracy by 70% in the test set. The novelty of this deep learning model lies in its initial decomposition of multimodal signals using an adaptive approach, followed by the reconfiguration of the conventional Transformer model's structure (via self-attention and inversion of a feed-forward neural network (FNN)) to effectively address the challenge of multivariate time prediction. Through the evaluation of the prediction results, we determined that the method had a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0251, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.0262, a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 1.2811%, and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9287. This study validated VMD and the iTransformer deep learning model, offering a novel modeling approach for precisely predicting fluctuations in groundwater levels in a non-stationary context, thereby aiding sustainable water resource management in ecological reserves. The VMD-iTransformer model enhances projections of the water level, facilitating the reasonable distribution of water resources and the long-term preservation of ecosystems, providing technical assistance for ecosystems' vitality and sustainable regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is classified as the second most abundantly available biopolymer after cellulose and as a main aromatic resource material. Lignin structure differs based on sources of origin and species of biomass with around 15–40% of lignin content based on dry weight. It is extracted from various types of lignocellulosic biomass through different pulping extraction methods. After extraction, lignin can be further functionalized through different chemical reactions to meet the requirements and specifications before being used in end products. Therefore, in this review paper, the details on extraction and the type of lignin, as well as chemical functionalization, are discussed. The chemical functionalization can be used to modify the lignin such through phenolic depolymerization or by other aromatic compounds, creating novel chemical active sites to impact a reactivity of lignin and through functionalization of hydroxyl functional group for enhancing its reactivity. Furthermore, the recent sustainable application of lignin was discussed in different fields such as nanocomposite, flame retardant, antioxidant, cosmetic, natural binder and emulsifier. This review hence provides a summary of the current stateoftheart in lignin technology and future outlook of potential application areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban waterfronts have evolved into vibrant centres of recreation, tourism, and economic activities, becoming focal points for social, cultural, and religious gatherings in modern cities. The historical development of riverfronts sought to elevate the economic status and image of neighbouring cities during the industrial era. However, with the growing emphasis on riverfront revitalization projects in recent times, it has become imperative to prioritize environmental sustainability and ecological considerations in the planning and execution of these initiatives. This paper delves into the revitalization plans of the Sabarmati and Patna riverfronts in India, undertaking a comparative assessment of their development strategies and challenges encountered in ecological preservation. The study seeks to explore the interplay between the river and environmental concerns and analyse the positive impacts of ecological improvements on the social and economic dimensions of these urban waterfronts. Additionally, the research scrutinizes the alignment of these various aspects with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, presenting an integrated approach towards fostering holistic and sustainable urban riverfront development. The study on riverfront development projects revealed that successful projects prioritize social inclusivity, economic vitality, and environmental sustainability, contributing to the long-term success and well-being of both communities and ecosystems. The research demonstrates the potential for holistic and sustainable urban development through riverfront revitalization, offering valuable insights and case studies for future urban redevelopment projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jackfruit seeds are a highly nutritious, underutilized byproduct that can combat malnutrition and promote a healthy diet. This review evaluates the effects of jackfruit seed flour (JSF) on extrusion and bakery processing, examining its nutritional, functional, and physical properties. Comprehensive analysis showed that JSF in extruded and bakery products improves their nutritional properties and increases functional properties such as bulk density and water holding capacity, whereas it decreases oil holding capacity and expansion ratio. Furthermore, the textural and colour properties became poorer with the higher concentration of JSF due to the absence of gluten. Consumer studies revealed that the overall acceptability of extruded products containing JSF was higher than that of bakery products with similar substitutions. However, optimal formulations are needed to balance nutritional enhancement with desirable textural properties, and the sustainable utilization of this byproduct can lead to the development of a variety of nutritious food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioregenerative food systems that routinely produce fresh, safe-to-eat crops onboard spacecraft can supplement the nutrition and variety of shelf-stable spaceflight food systems for use during future exploration missions (i.e., low earth orbit, Mars transit, lunar, and Martian habitats). However, current space crop production systems are not yet sustainable because they primarily utilize consumable granular media and, to date, operate like single crop cycle, space biology experiments where root modules are sanitized prior to launch and discarded after each grow-out. Moreover, real-time detection of the cleanliness of crops produced in spacecraft is not possible. A significant paradigm shift is needed in the design of future space crop production systems, as they transition from operating as single grow-out space biology experiments to becoming sustainable over multiple cropping cycles. Soilless nutrient delivery systems have been used to demonstrate post-harvest sanitization and inflight microbial monitoring technologies to enable sequential cropping cycles in spacecraft. Post-harvest cleaning and sanitization prevent the buildup of biofilms and ensure a favorable environment for seedling establishment of the next crop. Inflight microbial monitoring of food and watering systems ensures food safety in spaceflight food systems. A sanitization protocol, heat sterilization at 60°C for 1 h, and soaking for 12 h in 1% hydrogen peroxide, developed in this study, was compared against a standard hydroponic sanitization protocol during five consecutive crop cycles. Each cropping cycle included protocols for the cultivation of a crop to maturity, followed by post-harvest cleaning and inflight microbial monitoring. Microbial sampling of nutrient solution reservoirs, root modules, and plants demonstrated that the sanitization protocol could be used to grow safe-to-eat produce during multiple crop cycles. The cleanliness of the reservoir and root module surfaces measured with aerobic plate counts was verified in near real time using a qPCR-based inflight microbial monitoring protocol. Post-harvest sanitization and inflight microbial monitoring are expected to significantly transform the design of sustainable bioregenerative food and life support systems for future exploration missions beyond low earth orbit (LEO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of maritime shipping is leading to the creation of larger vessels. However, this expansion in size brings with it several challenges, including the development of maritime infrastructure, the potential for growth in third-world countries, and the emission of greenhouse gases. In response to these challenges, this research explores the feasibility of designing an autonomous ship capable of transporting a single standardized 40 ft. container overseas using mainly passive propulsion methods. Using advanced design tools, including CAD software and CFD simulations, as well as conducting a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature, the designs for a hull and sails were developed, and an overview of the potential active control systems required for autonomous operation was provided. The study also performed an initial analysis of strength, stability, and velocity to validate the design choices. The ship proves to adhere to the basic strength and stability requirements while reaching its maximum hull velocity at certain wind speeds. The results of the study indicate that it is possible to design and manufacture a mainly passively propelled ship capable of transporting a 40 ft. standardized container overseas and rethink the logistics at scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study compared the weed suppression ability of a native cover crop species phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia), an introduced cover crop species rye (Secale cereale L.), and a no cover crop (herbicide‑managed) system in a vineyard. Cover crops were sown in the interrow spaces of the grapevine rows. Percent weed cover after the cover crop termination was lower in the interrow of the phacelia than the no cover crop plots. During the cover crop growing season, phacelia suppressed weeds more than rye. However, the weed seedbank of the cover crop plots was greater than that of the no cover crop plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]