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Found 6383 publications
Water stress-based price for global sustainability: a study using generalized global sustainability model (GGSM)
Publication Name: Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 27
Issue: 3
Page Range: 1131-1150
Description:
Abstract: Considering the importance of water in the global Food-Energy-Water nexus, stress-dependent water pricing can be a valuable tool to achieve water sustainability. Given the large variability in water availability and demands across the globe, such mechanism should be implemented at regional scale. However, water pricing explicitly incorporating regional water stress has been rarely studied and used. Here, the generalized global sustainability model is modified and used to model continent-level stress-based water price and its effectiveness as a policy tool. The water price model includes a constant component representing the base price and a variable component which is a linear function of the water stress. The water stress feedback is modeled through the demand elasticity of water price. These models are parameterized for six global regions and three water-consuming sectors. Regional distribution of parameters is carried out based on GDP per capita, whereas sectoral distribution is obtained based on literature. The simulation results indicate that incorporating stress-based water price feedback reduces water stress for otherwise high water stress regions like Africa. Since the response to water price changes can reduce water stress, a water stress-based price model can be used as a policy instrument. This model can also capture the systemic progression of the influence of water price rise. The African continent may experience a reduction in food production by about 26% due to rising water prices. Because of the trade-off between regional food production and water stress, cooperation between various regions could help reduce the impact of the impending water crisis. North America and Europe may produce surplus food products and play a pivotal role in alleviating the critical situation in Africa.
Open Access: Yes
A FIRM’S MARKET PERFORMANCE: HOW DOES SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICE INFLUENCE IT?
Publication Name: Economics Innovative and Economics Research Journal
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Page Range: 267-287
Description:
The study’s central theme is sustainability practice. It aims to measure the impact of sustainability practices on market performance. The study is quantitative, and data was obtained through a structured questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale. Different firms, such as manufacturing, non-manufacturing, and service support, run the survey by sharing the data (n=200). Data were analysed through Smart PLS version 4.1.0.0, employing a structural equation model (SEM) technique to measure the impact of exogenous variables. All three variables (Employee engagement in sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and environmental concern) positively and significantly impact sustainability practice. Thus, the study’s central finding is that sustainability practice positively influences the market performance of the firms, and the association is also significant. Companies that adopt sustainable practices can differentiate themselves in the market, potentially improving their competitiveness. Companies can exploit the notion that sustainability is a highly efficient technique for stimulating growth. Integrating sustainable principles can lead to long-lasting economic advantages. The novelty of this work is that it considers sustainability practices to determine the impact on market performance. Future work can be conducted on the specification of market performance, such as sales growth, return on investment (ROI), return on assets (ROA), and earnings per share (EPS).
Open Access: Yes
Towards Climate-Smart Agriculture: Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Production, Food Security, and Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Publication Name: Agronomy
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 3
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Without transformative adaptation strategies, the impact of climate change is projected to reduce global crop yields and increase food insecurity, while rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions further exacerbate the crisis. While agriculture is a major contributor to climate change through unsustainable practices, it also offers significant opportunities to mitigate these emissions through the adoption of sustainable practices. This review examines climate-smart agriculture (CSA) as a key strategy for enhancing crop productivity, building climate resilience, and reducing GHG emissions, while emphasizing the need for strategic interventions to accelerate its large-scale implementation for improved food security. The analysis revealed that while nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has improved in developed countries, the global NUE remains at 55.47%, emphasizing the need for precision nutrient management and integrated soil fertility strategies to enhance productivity and minimize environmental impacts. With 40% of the world’s agricultural land already degraded, sustainability alone is insufficient, necessitating a shift toward regenerative agricultural practices to restore degraded soil and water by improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and increasing carbon sequestration, thus ensuring long-term agricultural resilience. CSA practices, including precision agriculture, regenerative agriculture, biochar application, and agroforestry, improve soil health, enhance food security, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. However, result variability highlights the need for site-specific strategies to optimize benefits. Integrating multiple CSA practices enhances soil health and productivity more effectively than implementing a single practice alone. Widespread adoption faces socio-economic and technological barriers, requiring supportive policies, financial incentives, and capacity-building initiatives. By adopting climate-smart technologies, agriculture can transition toward sustainability, securing global food systems while addressing climate challenges.
Open Access: Yes
The Effects of Skill Level on Lower-Limb Injury Risk During the Serve Landing Phase in Male Tennis Players
Publication Name: Applied Sciences Switzerland
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 5
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The kinematic and kinetic performance of tennis players differs across skill levels, with joint range of motion (ROM), moments, and stiffness being strongly linked to injury risk. Focusing on the biomechanical characteristics of lower-limb joints throughout the landing stage, especially among athletes of different skill levels, aids in understanding the link between injury risk and performance level. This study recruited 15 male campus tennis enthusiasts and 15 male professional tennis players. The kinematic and kinetic differences between amateur and professional players during the landing phase of the tennis serve were analyzed using SPM1D 0.4.11 and SPSS 27.0.1, with independent-sample t-tests applied in both cases. Throughout the tennis serve’s landing stage, the professional group exhibited significantly greater sagittal plane hip-joint stiffness (p < 0.001), horizontal plane moment (59~91%; p = 0.036), and a significantly higher peak moment (p = 0.029) in comparison with the amateur group. For the knee joint, the professional group exhibited significantly larger ROM in flexion–extension (0~82%; p = 0.003); along with greater ROM (0~29%; p = 0.042), moment (12~100%; p < 0.001), peak moment (p < 0.001) in adduction-abduction; and internal–external rotational moments (19~100%; p < 0.001) were markedly higher. The professional group showed significantly higher ankle joint ROM (p < 0.001) and moments (6~74%; p = 0.004) in the sagittal plane, as well as greater horizontal-plane ROM (27~67%; p = 0.041) and peak moments (p < 0.001). Compared with amateur tennis players, professional tennis players exhibit greater ROM, joint moments, and stiffness in specific planes, potentially increasing their risk of injury during the landing phase.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/app15052681
Effect of pore size and temperature on the behaviour of alpha-lactalbumin and the A and B genetic variants of beta-lactoglobulin during protein fractionation microfiltration
Publication Name: Food Hydrocolloids
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 160
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of membrane pore size and filtration temperature on six individual milk protein fractions (αS -CN, β- CN, κ-CN, α-LA, β-LG A, β-LG A) during the protein fractionation microfiltration process. Pasteurised skimmed milk was microfiltrated using two different pore sizes of spiral-wound membranes, with pore sizes of 0.2 μm and 0.5 μm, at temperatures of 15 °C and 45 °C respectively. The microfiltration process was carried out with a final volume reduction of 66% and a diafiltration volume of 120% (300 L) of the original feed (250 L). It was observed that neither the pore size nor the filtration temperature significantly (p < 0.05) affected the permeation of the α-LA fraction. However, the permeation of the β-LG A and β-LG B fractions can be influenced by membrane pore size and filtration temperature, and the behaviour of the three whey protein fractions, A and B genetic variants of the β-LG and α-LA fractions differs significantly during the microfiltration process. The results of this study could form the basis for the development of new, unique tailor-made milk protein ingredients.
Open Access: Yes
Analysis of wind power generation potential and wind turbine installation economics: A correlation-based approach
Publication Name: Results in Engineering
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 25
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Wind energy production is rapidly expanding worldwide, yet studies on wind energy potential in India remain limited. This study evaluates the wind power potential and conducts an economic cost analysis of wind turbine generator installations at varying hub heights (10m to 150 m) across 21 locations in India, representing a novel contribution to the field. The selected locations include 11 sites in Gujarat (Location-1), 10 sites in Tamil Nadu (Location-2), and one site in Ravangla, Sikkim (Location-3). Cubic factors methods are implemented to estimate Weibull parameters. Results reveal that at 150 m hub height, wind power density ranges from 123.17 to 308.86 W/m² in Gujarat, 80.64 to 427.12 W/m² in Tamil Nadu, and 183.24 W/m² in Sikkim. Kaluneerkulam in Tamil Nadu demonstrates excellent wind category potential, with energy costs ranging from $0.0165 to $0.0076 per kWh, decreasing as hub height increases. Sites across all three locations exhibit moderate to steady wind speeds, making them suitable for wind energy exploitation. An economic analysis of nine wind turbine types shows that Tamil Nadu achieves the lowest energy cost variation, followed by Gujarat and Sikkim. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing wind energy utilization in India.
Open Access: Yes
Experimental Analysis of a Turbocharger: Influence of Oil Supply Temperature and Pressure on the Bifurcation Phenomenon in Subsynchronous Frequencies
Publication Name: Lubricants
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study presents an experimental analysis of a turbocharger equipped with a semi-floating bearing system, with a particular focus on the bifurcation phenomenon within the subsynchronous vibration spectrum. A predefined design of experiments (DoE) methodology was employed to determine the measurement domains to be analyzed, where the primary input parameters included the lubricant supply temperature and pressure values. The bifurcation phenomenon in relation to the physical parameters of the system is observed via vibration and displacement sensors in two directions, enabling the collection of subsynchronous frequency data for further insights into the influence of lubricant parameters on the rotor system. While the nonlinear effect of oil temperature is well studied in the literature. However, the combined effect of oil supply temperature and pressure was not yet examined, which was the focus of the present study. This paper aims to investigate its coupled effects on the bifurcation phenomenon associated with both lubricant temperature and pressure. The occurrence of the introduced phenomenon is further examined to enhance the understanding of the uncharted behavior of turbocharger rotors and other rotor-bearing-based machinery.
Open Access: Yes
Editorial overview: Climate Change Special Issue
Publication Name: Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 47
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
No description provided
Open Access: Yes
Enhancing the Nutritional Quality of Low-Grade Poultry Feed Ingredients Through Fermentation: A Review
Publication Name: Agriculture Switzerland
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 5
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Feed accounts for up to 80% of poultry production costs, with high-quality grains such as soybean meal and corn traditionally serving as primary ingredients. However, increasing costs and competition for these grains have driven interest in low-grade and unconventional feed ingredients, including by-products like rapeseed meal and cottonseed meal. These alternatives are often constrained by high fiber content, anti-nutritional factors, and reduced nutrient bioavailability. Fermentation has emerged as a promising strategy to address these limitations, enhancing digestibility, palatability, and antioxidant properties while degrading harmful compounds such as tannins, trypsin inhibitors, and free gossypol. Solid- and liquid-state fermentation techniques utilize microbial inoculants, including lactobacilli and Bacillus species, to enzymatically break down complex macromolecules, thereby releasing essential nutrients. When combined with pretreatments like enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation significantly improves the nutritional quality of feed ingredients while reducing costs without compromising poultry health or performance. This review examines the mechanisms, benefits, and challenges of fermentation techniques in poultry feed production, underscoring the importance of further research to optimize fermentation parameters, identify novel microbial strains, and ensure scalability and safety in industrial applications.
Open Access: Yes
