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Found 6515 publications
Categorisation of SDG targets into ESG pillars based on ESRS taxonomy
Publication Name: Discover Sustainability
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study examines the alignment between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pillars through the lens of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) taxonomy, complemented by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The research introduces a policy-relevant framework that categorizes SDG targets within ESG pillars, offering structured guidance for policymakers and regulatory bodies to harmonize global sustainability goals with corporate reporting practices. By mapping 199 GRI and 201 ESRS accounting entries to the 17 SDGs, the study identifies significant opportunities to address thematic and procedural gaps in existing reporting systems. The findings demonstrate that SDG 8 (“Decent Work and Economic Growth”) exhibits the highest linkage rate to ESRS accounting items, reinforcing its relevance for policy-driven frameworks that integrate economic resilience with social equity. This harmonized approach underscores the role of policy in fostering alignment between corporate ESG strategies and broader sustainability objectives, mitigating greenwashing risks, and advancing standardization across regions and sectors. The study advocates for policy interventions that leverage this framework to enhance transparency, accountability, and long-term decision-making for sustainable development.
Open Access: Yes
Application of healthcare data mining techniques to planning for nursing length of stay in surgical departments
Publication Name: Systems and Soft Computing
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 9
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Effective allocation of nurse resources in surgical departments is essential for improving patient care and controlling operating costs in a health society. Length of stay (LOS) is the metric that connects clinical workload to staffing decisions, yet ward-level forecasting and its translation into daily nursing schedules remain limited. This study presents a hybrid, data-driven decision-support system that combines machine-learning LOS prediction with Reinforcement Learning (RL) for the surgical ward. A dataset of 137,145 records is used to evaluate Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, Decision Tree, and a Multi-layer Perceptron. Random Forest achieved the most accurate and stable performance (R² = 0.84; RMSE = 1.63), and its predicted LOS states drive an RL agent that adjusts staffing and triggers early-discharge reviews. The novelty lies in focusing on the understudied surgical ward, converting predicted LOS into a daily scheduling policy, and integrating forecasting with RL-based scheduling. The hybrid model reduced average LOS from 6.12 to 4.82 days, lowered weekly nurse overtime by approximately 47%, and improved staff utilization.
Open Access: Yes
Microplastic pollution in the Szigetköz section of the Danube: sources, composition and FTIR-based quantification
Publication Name: Environmental Systems Research
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Microplastic (MP) pollution in river systems has become an increasing environmental concern, particularly in transboundary rivers such as the Danube. This study provides the first detailed assessment of microplastic contamination in the Szigetköz section of the Danube and its major tributary, the Mosoni-Danube. Depth-resolved pumped water samples were collected at three locations (Rajka, Mecsér and Gönyű) and analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with automated spectral evaluation. MP concentrations showed a clear downstream increase, with average values of 83.8 particles/m³ at Rajka, 237.6 particles/m³ in the Mosoni-Danube at Mecsér, and 795.9 particles/m³ at Gönyű. Polyethylene (PE) was the dominant polymer in the tributary (70.6%), whereas both PE and alkyd resins were prevalent at the main Danube sites (Rajka: alkyd 37.7%, PE 31.8%; Gönyű: alkyd 39.9%, PE 37.3%). Particle size distribution also shifted downstream, with a higher proportion of smaller (50–100 μm) particles detected at Gönyű compared to upstream sites. The results suggest that the tributary may represent an important input to the main Danube channel in this section, while differences in polymer composition point to varying source characteristics within the study area. These findings provide an important baseline for future monitoring and support the development of targeted mitigation strategies in this transboundary river system.
Open Access: Yes
Explaining the variation in sustainable development through the lens of key macroeconomic and environmental factors
Publication Name: Discover Sustainability
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This paper investigates the role ofenvironmental and macroeconomic stabilityin achieving sustainable developmentin Pakistan from 1990 to 2022.The objective of this study is to investigate the contagion effects of both ecological and macroeconomic variables on Pakistan's sustainable development, employing the structural VAR methodology. The research addresses an important gap in the literature to jointly analyze macroeconomic stability and environmental sustainability within a unified framework for a developing economy like Pakistan. The need for this study arises from Pakistan’s dual challenges of persistent macroeconomic instability and rising environmental stress, which together threaten progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Positive energy shocks are strongerth annegative shocks arising from CO2 , external debt, and inflationin explicating variation inPakistan’s sustainable development. The study finds that renewable energy consumption has the most significant long-term impact on sustainable development, accounting for 33.83% of the forecast error variance. Overall, 55.50% of sustainable development is predicted by environmental factors,14.66% by macroeconomic variables, and 29.84% by its shock. Such results lead to accepting the hypothesis that ecological and macroeconomic stability significantly affect the sustainable development of Pakistan. In the long run, renewable energy consumption has a positive impact on sustainable development, promoting energy security, supporting economic growth, and maintaining environmental stability. The results of diagnostic tests suggest that the structural VAR approach is specified correctly. This study recommends that all economic policies be designed to highlight the need for comprehensive reforms that align economic stability with environmental resilience to achieve sustainable development. In the context of Pakistan, positive shocks arising from renewable energy consumption demonstrate a stronger influence on variations in sustainable development compared to negative shocks arising from CO₂ emissions, external debt, and inflation. This highlights the central role of energy transitions in achieving sustainability.
Open Access: Yes
Stochastic Breather and Soliton Dynamics of a Third-Order Complex mKdV (Higher-Order NLS-Type) Equation
Publication Name: Journal of Nonlinear Mathematical Physics
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 33
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study presents a comprehensive investigation of optical solitary waves governed by a third-order complex modified Korteweg-de Vries (higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger-type, mKdV-NLS) equation incorporating stochastic effects. Initially, the methodology outlines the general procedure of this approach. Subsequently, by applying the traveling waves transformation to the given equation, it is reformulated into nonlinear ordinary differential equations (NLODEs). These NLODEs are then decomposed into their imaginary and real components. Furthermore, the proposed methodology is implemented to derive new solutions for optical solitary waves within the mKdV-NLS type model, encompassing stochastic breather-like waves, singular solitons, periodic waves, and various wave interactions. Additionally, numerical visualizations of the exact analytical solitary waves are provided, facilitating an examination of the stochastic term’s influence on wave dynamics. This study advances the understanding of optical wave behavior and clarifies the effects of stochastic contributions, offering valuable insights for both theoretical studies and practical applications in optics and related fields.
Open Access: Yes
Wedelolactone Inhibits Hepatitis B Virus Replication by Modulating NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling: An in-vitro Huh7 1.3-mer HBV Plasmid Model
Publication Name: Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 25
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a well-recognized cause of hepatic injury through prolonged viral replication, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Existing antiviral drugs limit viral replication but cannot eliminate viral transcription or even totally preclude liver injury, thus reemphasizing the significance of drugs with combined antiviral and hepatoprotective effects. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of wedelolactone on HBV replication, gene expression, inflammation, and oxidative stress in an in-vitro model of HBV plasmid transfection with human hepatic cells. Methods: Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Huh7) were transfected with a 1.3-mer plasmid and treated with wedelolactone (2.5 - 10 µM). Luciferase assays for HBV promoter activity, Northern blotting and Southern blotting for transcripts and replicative intermediates, qPCR for extracellular HBV DNA, and western blotting for viral antigens such as HBx were performed. Cell cytotoxicity was measured. NF-κB/IκB, inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), and antioxidant markers (Nrf2, HO-1, Keap1) were assessed to evaluate inflammatory and oxidative responses. Results: Wedelolactone significantly suppresses HBV promoter activity, RNAs, core particle formation, and extracellular HBV DNA. It reduced the expression of HBcAg and HBsAg. It inhibited NF-κB activation and cytokine release, while simultaneously enhancing Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, including induction of heme oxygenase-1 by lowering levels of Keap1. Conclusions: Wedelolactone exerts dual antiviral and hepatoprotective actions by inhibiting HBV replication and modulating inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.5812/ijpr-168329
Decentralized finance and sustainability analysis of global research patterns and emerging themes
Publication Name: Discover Sustainability
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is rapidly transforming financial systems, yet its environmental, social, and economic sustainability implications remain underexplored. To address this gap, we conducted a structured review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2022 and 2025, drawing on 239 records retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science and screened through the PRISMA 2020 protocol in Covidence. The review combined bibliometric analysis, thematic mapping, and a systematic review to synthesize patterns, clusters, and critical insights. Bibliometric results show a sharp post-2023 rise in outputs, with China leading in publication volume and Switzerland achieving the highest citation impact, although collaboration networks remain fragmented and weakly connected. Thematic analysis reveals three dominant clusters: blockchain-driven financial innovation, AI and fintech applications for sustainability, and green economy transitions, highlighting DeFi’s dual role as a driver of transparency and inclusion but also a source of energy inefficiency and systemic risk. The systematic review further identifies regulatory gaps, particularly around Maximal Extractable Value (MEV), and emphasizes the need for energy-efficient consensus mechanisms, standardized ESG metrics for tokenized assets, and inclusive platform designs to bridge digital divides. By aligning DeFi’s disruptive potential with sustainability objectives, the study proposes hybrid governance models and interdisciplinary collaboration to foster a resilient, equitable, and low-carbon financial ecosystem, underscoring the urgency of balancing technological innovation with planetary boundaries to realize DeFi’s promise as a catalyst for sustainable development.
Open Access: Yes
Learning-aided observer design for improving autonomous vehicle safety
Publication Name: Scientific Reports
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This paper introduces a novel method for the enhancement of automated vehicle safety and efficiency during critical manoeuvres. The fundamental of the presented method is the observer design architecture, in which lateral dynamic states of the vehicle are evaluated. The novel observer consists of both model-based and machine-learning-based methods to ensure the selected design performances, such as efficient trajectory tracking and safety evaluation of the autonomous vehicle. In contrast to the already introduced and applied stability index-based methods, the proposed safety evaluation process is able detect stability loss and performance degradation of the autonomous vehicle. In the proposed observer-based safety evaluation method, stability and performance loss detection is based on the comparison of model-based and learning-based state observation. The main novelty of the paper is the design of the reinforcement learning (RL) based observer in a guaranteed structure that results in small observation error even under nonlinear vehicle dynamics. Furthermore, a lateral safety index is defined based on the value of the improvement vector representing the addition to the model-based estimation. By this means, with the proposed safety evaluation method both safety and performance loss hazards can be identified simultaneously.
Open Access: Yes
Seismic rehabilitation of steel buildings with semi-rigid connections under fifth generation of ETEF
Publication Name: Scientific Reports
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study assesses the effectiveness of seismic base isolation using triple friction pendulum isolators (TFPIs) as a retrofitting strategy for a five-story steel building. This building is characterized by vulnerable Satchel connections, which suffered extensive brittle failures during the 1990 Manjil and 2003 Bam earthquakes in Iran. Four different experimentally calibrated Satchel connection configurations (S1 to S4) were modeled within a typical five-story building. These configurations varied in parameters such as rotational stiffness (780t.m/rad to 1380t.m/rad), angle lengths (15 cm to 20 cm), and beam sections (IPE180 and IPE220). For each of the four building models, all connections were uniformly assigned one of the four specimen types. The structural and non-structural performance of these models was evaluated using nonlinear endurance time (ET) analysis. The assessment covered seismic hazard levels corresponding to 475-year, 2475-year, and return periods beyond 2475 years. The results showed that implementing a base isolation system avoids the need for extensive strengthening of the existing connections. Moreover, by adding the isolators to the current connections, the structure’s performance can significantly surpass that of a brand-new, code-compliant design.
Open Access: Yes
