Medet Junussov, Geroy Zh. Zholtayev, Maxat K. Kembayev
et al.
Driven by cleaner energy demands, environmental regulations, and technological advances, coal science is rapidly evolving, creating the need to understand its transition and transformation within the global energy research landscape. Building upon earlier national- and topic-specific bibliometric studies, this study presents a comprehensive long-term global bibliometric analysis of coal research (1975–2024), based on 272,370 Web of Science records, applying the Cross-Disciplinary Publication Index (CDPI), the Technology–Economic Linkage Model (TELM), VOSviewer, and Excel to assess research growth, structural shifts, and interdisciplinary integration. Results show that coal research is dominated by articles (74%) with publication output peaking at ~19,500 in 2024, reflecting fluctuations in global coal prices due to energy transition market dynamics. CDPI results highlight Energy & Fuels (0.83), Chemical Engineering (0.80), Environmental Sciences (0.77), Materials Science (0.74), and Geosciences (0.66), showing coal’s central role across technology, environment, and geological research domains and revealing a clear shift toward sustainability-oriented and advanced material applications. China leads output (122,130 publications), with strong contributions from the China University of Mining and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, while the USA, Australia, and Europe maintain strong international collaboration networks. The evolution of coal research can be divided into three major phases: conventional mining, coal preparation, combustion, and coalbed methane commercialization (1975–2004; ~64,000 publications); integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies (2005–2014; ~58,707 publications); and a recent phase dominated by by-product valorization, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), and digital technologies (AI, IoT, ML) (2015–2024; ~146,174 publications). Contemporary coal research spans three interconnected domains: energy supply (≈36% of global electricity generation and ~15 Gt CO<sub>2</sub> emissions), resource and geoscience applications (including large-scale fly ash utilization and critical element recovery), and environmental and health impacts related to greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. The findings demonstrate that coal science is transitioning from a conventional fossil fuel-centered discipline toward an integrated, interdisciplinary energy research field, emphasizing emission reduction, resource efficiency, digitalization, and circular economy applications, thereby extending prior bibliometric studies through unprecedented temporal coverage, global scope, and the combined application of CDPI and TELM frameworks, providing critical insights for future energy strategies and policy development.
This paper presents a substrate-dependent performance evaluation of a defected ground structure (DGS)-integrated multiband hexagonal microstrip patch antenna operating in the 22–28 GHz millimetre-wave band for 5G FR2 applications. To examine the influence of dielectric properties on electromagnetic behaviour, the same antenna geometry is implemented on three commonly used substrates—Duroid (relative permittivity εr ≈ 2.2, loss tangent tanδ ≈ 0.0009), Rogers (εr ≈ 2.94, tanδ ≈ 0.0012), and FR4 (εr ≈ 4.4, tanδ ≈ 0.02). A controlled substrate-based comparison is conducted with respect to the reflection coefficient, impedance bandwidth, gain, and radiation efficiency. The results indicate that substrate characteristics significantly affect resonance depth, impedance stability, and radiation performance at millimetre-wave frequencies. The Duroid-based configuration achieves S₁₁ below −32 dB, peak gain of 8–8.5 dBi, and high radiation efficiency due to reduced dielectric loss. The Rogers substrate exhibits stable multiband behaviour with moderate gain, whereas the FR4-based design shows reduced resonance depth and lower gain due to increased dielectric dissipation. By maintaining identical geometry across all substrates, the study isolates the direct impact of dielectric constant and loss tangent on modal excitation and efficiency degradation in the 22–28 GHz band. The presented analysis supports informed substrate selection for compact multiband mmWave antenna designs in next-generation wireless systems.
Fermentation remains central to food manufacturing and to the bio-based production of organic acids, solvents, and functional metabolites. This review integrates the biochemical pathways, key microorganisms, and application space of five major industrial fermentations—alcoholic, acetic, butyric, lactic, and propionic. We summarize the principal metabolic routes (EMP/ED glycolysis; oxidative ethanol metabolism; butyrate-forming pathways; and the Wood–Werkman, acrylate, and 1,2-propanediol routes to propionate) and relate them to the dominant microbial groups involved, including yeasts, acetic acid bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, clostridia, and propionibacteria. We highlight how the resulting metabolite spectra—ethanol, acetic acid, butyrate, lactate, propionate, and associated secondary metabolites—underpin product quality and safety in fermented foods and beverages and enable the industrial synthesis of platform chemicals, polymers, and biofuels. Finally, we discuss current challenges and opportunities for sustainable fermentation, including waste stream valorization, process intensification, and the integration of systems biology and metabolic engineering within circular economy frameworks.
Aluminum scrap is a globally traded metal commodity. Its recycling and utilization are not only crucial for global aluminum resources security, but also the abatement of climate change impacts and environmental pollution caused by aluminum production. Taking the perspective of international trade, a comparative analysis of the life cycle environmental footprints (carbon, water, and energy) of aluminum scrap recycling is carried out, for different trade pathways. Herein China, Southeast Asia, the European Union and the United States are selected as the typical countries or regions for aluminum scrap trade, with 1 t of recycled aluminum ingots being the functional unit. The results show that the carbon footprint for Southeast Asia is relatively high, due to the underlying energy mix of grid. Among the different trade pathways, the alternative with comparatively lower levels of environmental footprints involves EU-based recycling followed by transporting to China, which yields the carbon footprint at a level of 500.86 kg, water footprint 24.65 m ^3 , and energy footprint 7612.42 MJ per ton. The US-China aluminum scrap trade pathways show similar trends. Compared with direct export and transit export, the environmental footprints are markedly reduced if recycling takes place in the exporting regions such as the EU or the US, due to relatively higher recycling efficiency and reduction in weight transported.
As an energy carrier characterized by its high energy density and eco-friendliness, hydrogen holds a pivotal position in energy transition. This paper elaborates on the scientific foundations and recent progress of photo- and electro-catalytic water splitting, including the corresponding mechanism, material design and optimization, and the economy of hydrogen production. It systematically reviews the research progress in photo(electro)catalytic materials, including oxides, sulfides, nitrides, noble metals, non-noble metal, and some novel photocatalysts and provides an in-depth analysis of strategies for optimizing these materials through material design, component adjustment, and surface modification. In particular, it is pointed out that nanostructure regulation, dimensional engineering, defect introduction, doping, alloying, and surface functionalization can remarkably improve the catalyst performance. The importance of adjusting reaction conditions, such as pH and the addition of sacrificial agents, to boost catalytic efficiency is also discussed, along with a comparison of the cost-effectiveness of different hydrogen production technologies. Despite the significant scientific advancements made in photo(electro)catalytic water splitting technology, this paper also highlights the challenges faced by this field, including the development of more efficient and stable photo(electro)catalysts, the improvement of system energy conversion efficiency, cost reduction, the promotion of technology industrialization, and addressing environmental issues.
Kelly Gbeve, Virginie Francoeur, Virginie Francoeur
et al.
BackgroundCollaboration between scientists and artists is a growing trend driven notably by the need to take action against climate change. Consequently, the role of art is evolving to serve purposes beyond communication in the scientific community. With artistic projects increasingly becoming a form of intervention to influence pro-environmental behaviors, diverse methods are being deployed to assess their influence on behavior, yet little effort has been made to document coherently this emerging diversity of research designs and learnings.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to explore methodological approaches used to assess the effects of visual arts in promoting pro-environmental behaviors to fight climate change and determine whether some general trends can be observed.MethodologyWe conducted a scoping review to identify empirical papers published between 2001 and 2024, from which 8 studies were selected. The selected papers assessed the influence of artistic intervention on pro-environmental behaviors and its defining variables.ResultsWe found six redundant attributes in research designs. Four of them (mixed-method approach, literature-based conceptual basis, longitudinal studies, baseline environmental profiles) can help support better research designs, while two others (supplementary material, co-creation) can enhance the influence of science-art projects on behavior. We also found that, among the diverse types of art forms (movies, festivals, exhibitions, murals, immersive installation), none were able to directly and significantly affect behaviors, but they could all affect environmental attitudes or awareness to some degree.OriginalityThis scoping review stands out from prior studies by highlighting the challenges and opportunities in assessing the influence of art on pro-environmental behaviors, as well as by exploring the role of visual arts for engaging the public in such behaviors.
Loloah Alasmari, Michael Packianather, Ying Liu
et al.
Logistics and warehouse operations experience an increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. The logistics industry generates substantial material waste, with cardboard being the primary packaging material. Adopting Circular Economy (CE) principles to control this waste is important for enhancing sustainability. However, there is a lack of studies on transforming warehouses into more sustainable operations. This paper studies the ability to transform the linear supply chain of a distribution warehouse into a circular supply chain by applying lean manufacturing principles to eliminate cardboard waste. A structured framework is presented to outline the project’s methodology and illustrate the steps taken to apply the concept of CE. The paper also tests the capability to simulate warehouse operations with engineering software using limited available data to generate various scenarios. This study contributes by showing how discrete-event simulation combined with VSM and 6R principles can provide operational insights under data-constrained conditions. Bridging the gap between theory and practice. Multiple operational scenarios were modelled and run, including peak and off-peak demand periods, as well as a sensitivity analysis for recycling durations. A comparative evaluation is shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of each alternative and determine the most feasible solution. Results indicate that introducing recycling activities created some bottlenecks in the system and reduced its efficiency. Furthermore, suggestions for future improvements are presented, ensuring that on-site actions are grounded in a simulation that reflects reality.
This study provides a comprehensive insight into solid recovered fuel (SRF) production and its potential as a coal supplement in the post-coal region of Moravia-Silesia, Czech Republic. Such studies on waste-to-energy (WtE) applications are often lacking, particularly at critical moments when decisions about regional energy strategies are being made. As a result, viable and less environmentally harmful pathways stand outside consideration.In this study, SRF production is investigated using life cycle assessment (LCA), applying the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology with data from EF 3.0, ELCD and Ecoinvent 3.8. A scenario analysis was also conducted on transport modes and distances. The initial region-oriented scheme of the LCA study included the following steps: separation of waste material, transport to a processing plant, SRF production, and transport to an energy facility. The results present the overall environmental burden associated with SRF production. The most significant impact is observed in “climate change” indicator, accounting for 78 % of the total impact. The primary contributors to the impact are plastics (77.2 %), wood (13.5 %), coal (3.1 %), and transport (2.1 %). The scenario analysis, covering transport distances of 200–400 km, clearly demonstrated that rail transport is a more environmentally friendly option compared to road transport, with minimal sensitivity to variations in distance within the evaluated range. This study uncovers unique insights into alternative SRF production and evaluates its environmental burden through available interpretations.
Marilena De Simone, Daniel-Viorel Ungureanu, Daniele Campagna
AbstractWind energy is one of the most widely distributed renewable energy sources. Generally, wind turbines have an expected lifetime of 20–25 years after which decommissioning is expected. Life cycle assessments show that optimal recycling at the end of life is of economic and environmental interest and is in line with the principles of a circular economy. Despite these benefits, current recycling processes cannot guarantee high-end material quality, but the reuse of parts of wind turbines as construction elements in buildings and infrastructures has been demonstrated to be a suitable option. This study presents an overview of wind power installations in Europe, emphasizing the typology of farms, onshore and offshore, and trends of the wind industry that promote an increase in the size and power of wind turbines. The study aims to make it clear how the different types of materials used in wind turbines, such as steel, iron, aluminium, copper, polymers, glass and carbon fibres, change according to the development of the technology. Moreover, examples of reusing wind turbine components in cities and buildings are collected and illustrated to provide a panorama of the potential for the reuse of these components in the concept of a circular economy in the construction sector.
Олексій Ляшенко, Микола Стародубцев, Геннадій Макаренко
et al.
Предметом дослідження є метод керування швидкістю асинхронного двигуна, увімкненого за схемою асинхронно-вентильного каскаду, що підвищує коефіцієнт потужності привода й позитивно впливає на енергосистему загалом. Мета роботи – розроблення та дослідження методів керування електромеханічними системами на базі асинхронного електропривода, що забезпечують високоефективну роботу реалізованих на їх основі конвеєрних ліній як елементів складного технологічного обладнання автоматизованої системи керування технологічними процесами. У статті виконуються такі завдання: аналіз задач керування конвеєрними лініями в межах інтегрованої автоматизованої системи управління технологічними процесами виробничих систем; розгляд виконавчих елементів електропривода конвеєрних ліній; розроблення методу регулювання швидкості асинхронного двигуна, увімкненого за схемою асинхронно-вентильного каскаду. Методологія дослідження основана на методах теорії електричних машин, теорії електропривода, чисельних і аналітичних методах розв’язання диференційних рівнянь, теорії моделювання. Результати роботи передбачають метод керування швидкістю асинхронного двигуна, що ґрунтується на реалізації імпульсного керування, що виділяється можливістю підтримки кутів керування повністю керованими силовими напівпровідниковими елементами для досягнення високого значення коефіцієнта потужності та зміни частоти увімкнення силового елемента електронного ключа, що закорочує інвертор. Досліджено вплив тривалості відносної тривалості комутації ключа на характеристики виконавчого елемента. Висновки: застосування запропонованого методу імпульсного регулювання електропривода дає змогу розширити верхню межу регулювання швидкості, підвищити коефіцієнт корисної дії та коефіцієнт потужності електропривода, зменшити індуктивність згладжувального дроселя.
In soft robotics, the most used actuators are soft pneumatic actuators because of their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and safety. However, pneumatic actuation is also disadvantageous because of the strong non-linearities associated with using a compressible fluid. The identification of analytical models is often complex, and finite element analyses are preferred to evaluate deformation and tension states, which are computationally onerous. Alternatively, artificial intelligence algorithms can be used to follow model-free and data-driven approaches to avoid modeling complexity. In this work, however, the response surface methodology was adopted to identify a predictive model of the bending angle for soft pneumatic joints through geometric and functional parameters. The factorial plan was scheduled based on the design of the experiment, minimizing the number of tests needed and saving materials and time. Finally, a bio-inspired application of the identified model is proposed by designing the soft joints and making an actuator that replicates the movements of the scorpion’s tail in the attack position. The model was validated with two external reinforcements to achieve the same final deformation at different feeding pressures. The average absolute errors between predicted and experimental bending angles for I and II reinforcement allowed the identified model to be verified.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 has meant an uphill battle for city management. However, due to deficiencies in facilities and management experience, many megacities are less resilient when faced with such major public health events. Therefore, we chose Wuhan for a case study to examine five essential modules of urban management relevant to addressing the pandemic: (1) the medical and health system, (2) lifeline engineering and infrastructure, (3) community and urban management, (4) urban ecology and (5) economic development. The experience and deficiencies of each module in fighting the pandemic are analyzed, and strategies for revitalization and sustainable development in the future are proposed. The results show that in response to large-scale public health events, a comprehensive and coordinated medical system and good urban ecology can prevent the rapid spread of the epidemic. Additionally, good infrastructure and community management can maintain the operation of the city under the pandemic, and appropriate support policies are conducive to the recovery and development of the urban economy. These precedents provide insights and can serve as a reference for how to change the course of the pandemic in megacities that are still at risk, and they provide experience for responding to other pandemics.
Quentin Baire, Miruna Dobre, Anne-Sophie Piette
et al.
Precipitation is among the most important meteorological variables for, e.g., meteorological, hydrological, water management and climate studies. In recent years, non-catching precipitation gauges are increasingly adopted in meteorological networks. Despite such growing diffusion, calibration procedures and associated uncertainty budget are not yet standardized or prescribed in best practice documents and standards. This paper reports a metrological study aimed at proposing calibration procedures and completing the uncertainty budgets, to make non-catching precipitation gauge measurements traceable to primary standards. The study is based on the preliminary characterization of different rain drop generators, specifically developed for the investigation. Characterization of different models of non-catching rain gauges is also included.
The construction industry has not been an early adopter of social media and digital marketing, due largely to lack of knowledge of and skills in these areas. Nevertheless, effectively deployed, digital and social media marketing can be a disruptive force allowing smaller residential construction companies to build brand awareness and win business from larger competitors. This study uses a qualitative approach - interviews with residential construction small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and adjacent industry actors - to obtain data addressing the key questions of the residential construction sector SMES' digital marketing attitudes and capabilities; whether digital and social media marketing is as or more effective than traditional marketing strategies; and the challenges facing SMEs in making effective use of digital marketing strategies. The findings confirm widespread recognition of the value of digital marketing strategies among SMEs but reveal that uptake and effective use of digital marketing is undermined by deficiencies in external environment analysis and a lack of the investment and training needed to plan, monitor and maintain effective and up-to-date marketing mixes, strategies and objectives. Based on the findings, recommendations are offered for improving residential construction SMEs’ uptake and effective use of digital and social media marketing.
Dmitry A. Sinitsin, Ulfat Sh. Shayakhmetov, Olga N. Rakhimova
et al.
ntroduction. Foam-ceramic heat-insulating building materials have the greatest stability of the demanded technological characteristics due to their unique physical and technical properties. Increasing the large-capacity production of nanostructured foam-ceramic products and developing educational programs for advanced training of process engineers remains an urgent task. Methods and materials. A technological method for manufacturing nanostructured foam ceramics is the method of direct foaming: ceramic foams are created by involving atmospheric air in a suspension. Further, the consolidated foams are carefully dried
and sintered for 12 hours by heat treatment (950–1100оC) to obtain sufficiently high-strength foam ceramics for building purposes. The most important raw materials for the production of construction foam ceramics are clays, diatomites, siliceous minerals, zeolite rocks, etc., as well as ceramic and slag waste, and the like. Results. The technology of production of foam-ceramic materials for building purposes based on clay raw materials has been developed. As a result of physical and chemical transformations in the production cycle, including firing, uniformly closed micropores of foam ceramics with a diameter of up to 120 microns are formed, and the wall thickness varies from 1.8 microns to 6.3 microns. The compressive strength of the obtained nanostructured construction foam-ceramic products with an average density of 450–850 kg/m3 is 3–8 MPa, thermal conductivity is 0.12–0.15 W / (m●о
C), frost resistance is at least 50 cycles. Discussion. In large-scale technological production, bubbles mass (three-phase foam) can be obtained by mixing nanostructured foam with a highly dispersed mineral powder. By controlled sintering, a dried foam mass is produced with the required technological characteristics due to the crystal bond of a solid-phase mullite based on cluster microparticles with dimensions of 15–200 nm, and the walls of micropores and nodal joints of nanostructured foam ceramics provide high mechanical strength, hydrophobicity and chemical resistance. Conclusions. Nanostructured foam ceramics for building purposes is sufficiently moisture-resistant, since it has a microstructure of closed ultramicropores; it is resistant to chemical and physical effects and therefore is the optimal thermal insulation material.
ABSTRACT In the U.S. the economic damages of natural disasters have increased substantially over time. While private insurance payouts tend to arrive relatively quickly, federal recovery monies are often allocated unevenly, with some communities waiting years to receive previously designated funds. We examine the costliness of delay by linking an economic model of the Joplin, Missouri economy to a civil engineering model that replicates the damage from a tornado that devastated the community in 2011. Building damage estimates from the natural hazard and engineering models are translated into capital stock losses, which subsequently impact the local economy through lost output. We examine several different recovery paths, with a focus on differences in the timing of recovery assistance. Our results show that delaying financial assistance can have important, irretrievable adverse outcomes in the short run.
The explosive growth of fake news and its erosion to democracy, journalism and economy has increased the demand for fake news detection. To achieve efficient and explainable fake news detection, an interdisciplinary approach is required, relying on scientific contributions from various disciplines, e.g., social sciences, engineering, among others. Here, we illustrate how such multidisciplinary contributions can help detect fake news by improving feature engineering, or by providing well-justified machine learning models. We demonstrate how news content, news propagation patterns, and users’ engagements with news can help detect fake news.