Search Results (312)

The global automotive industry faces significant challenges with respect to its supply chain, particularly component scarcity and the increasing complexity of modern vehicles, which have severely impacted the production of high-tech harnesses. This study addresses the issues faced by a leading automotive harness manufacturing company in Ciudad Obregón, Mexico (an international company that requested confidentiality), which has suffered considerable economic losses (over USD 2870) and production downtime due to component scarcity and delivery delays in component deliveries, affecting “Crew Grande” harness production. This proposal aims to develop a technological solution with a graphical interface to support decision-making in the face of this scarcity. The methodology employed system dynamics to model the supply chain’s complexity, using software such as Stella^® Architect for Forrester diagrams and equations and Vensim^® PLE for causal diagrams. The model was validated with a relative error, confirming its reliability. Multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) was performed using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Faire Un Choix Adequate (FUCA) methods to evaluate 15 scenarios (normal, pessimistic, and optimistic), identifying the four most favorable scenarios for optimizing operational performance. The results demonstrate these solutions’ potential to mitigate losses, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen the company’s position against market and demand fluctuations, especially for its main client, Ford Motor Company, using a graphical user interface (GUI) to support analysis and decision-making. Full article

In an era defined by the imperative for sustainable, high-performance materials, this review examines the development and utility of key ester and ether derivatives from both cellulose and hemicellulose sourced from lignocellulosic biomass, with a special emphasis on waste feedstocks. Our findings indicate that these derivatives exhibit tunable physicochemical properties, enabling their broad use in established industrial sectors while also fueling the emergence of novel technological applications in nanotechnology, controlled delivery, tissue engineering, environmental remediation, electronics, and energy fields. This dual-polysaccharide platform demonstrates that underutilized biomass streams can be repurposed as valuable feedstocks, promoting a circular supply chain and supporting more sustainable solutions, thereby aligning with the goals of eco-friendly innovation in materials science. Future progress will likely depend on integrating green chemistry synthesis routes, optimizing waste-to-product conversion efficiency and scalability, and engineering derivatives for multifunctional performance, thus bridging the gap between commodity-scale use and high-tech material innovation. Full article

The transition to a circular economy depends on the widespread adoption of sustainable products by consumers. However, the point-of-sale purchase decision is a complex process, influenced not only by ethical arguments but also by sensory cues. This study investigates how the aesthetics (visual design) and materiality (tactile sensation) of green products shape value perception and purchase intention. Using a qualitative methodology based on a focus group, the research directly compares consumer reactions to green products (e.g., a bamboo toothbrush) versus their conventional alternatives (e.g., plastic). Thematic analysis of the data reveals a fundamental dichotomy among consumers: while one segment associates high-tech aesthetics and perfect finishes with quality and hygiene, another segment values natural materials and their “imperfections” as signs of authenticity and responsibility. The results demonstrate that there is no single, universally accepted “sustainable aesthetic” and highlight the need for designers and marketers to align the visual and tactile language of products with the value system of the target consumer segment. The study provides a framework for understanding how design can act as either a barrier to or a catalyst for the adoption of sustainable products. Full article

The integration of renewable energy sources (RES) into energy systems is becoming increasingly widespread around the world, driven by various factors, the most relevant of which is the high environmental friendliness of these types of energy resources and the possibility of creating stable generation systems that are independent of the economic and geopolitical situation. The large-scale involvement of green energy leads to the creation of distributed energy networks that combine several different methods of generation, each with its own characteristics. As a result, the issues of data collection and processing necessary for optimizing the operation of such energy systems are becoming increasingly relevant. The first stage of renewable energy integration involves building models to assess theoretical potential, allowing the feasibility of using a particular type of resource in specific geographical conditions to be determined. The second stage of assessment involves determining the technical potential, which allows the actual energy values that can be obtained by the consumer to be determined. The paper discusses a method for assessing the technical potential of solar energy using the example of a private consumer’s energy system. For this purpose, a generator circuit with load models was implemented in the SimInTech dynamic simulation environment, accepting various sets of parameters as input, which were obtained using an intelligent information search procedure and intelligent forecasting methods. This approach makes it possible to forecast the amount of incoming solar insolation in the short term, whose values are then fed into the simulation model, allowing the forecast values of the technical potential of solar energy for the energy system configuration under consideration to be determined. The implementation of such a hybrid assessment system allows not only the technical potential of RES to be determined based on historical datasets but also provides the opportunity to obtain forecast values for energy production volumes. This allows for flexible configuration of the parameters of the elements used, which makes it possible to scale the solution to the specific configuration of the energy system in use. The proposed solution can be used as one of the elements of distributed energy systems with RES, where the concept of demand distribution and management plays an important role. Its implementation is impossible without predictive models. Full article

The manufacturing sector’s pursuit of green transformation amidst the digital revolution presents a critical challenge. Using a comprehensive panel dataset from 2012 to 2022, we analyze how digital technology, through its influence on a firm’s human capital structure, impacts green innovation. Our findings show that digital technology significantly boosts a firm’s green innovation efficiency. We identify two distinct mechanisms: digitalization indirectly enhances efficiency by reconfiguring the workforce to decrease the proportion of production personnel, while it directly drives innovation by increasing the share of sales and technical staff. The analysis also reveals a dual effect of an expanding internal compensation gap, which intensifies the displacement of production workers while weakening the firm’s ability to attract and retain core talent. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that the impact of digital technology on green innovation efficiency is more significant in high-tech industries, non-capital-intensive industries, and non-heavily polluting industries. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the interdependent mechanisms linking digital transformation to sustainable innovation, offering valuable insights for managers and policymakers aiming to strategically align digital, human, and organizational factors for green development. Full article

The potential of thin-section petrography for the analysis of ancient ceramic materials, such as pottery vessels, figurative objects and building materials made of fired clay, was already recognized during the 19th century, but its use has become more intensive during the past 80 years. Since pottery is the most common and typologically datable artifact in archaeological excavations from the pottery Neolithic period onwards (some 7000–8000 years ago), the analysis of pottery, including its composition, is a central component of archaeological research. As ceramic materials are made of fired clay, which in turn is procured from soils, weathered rocks and geological formations, the mineralogical composition of the ceramic artifacts represents the clay sources. The study of the mineralogical and rock fragment composition of thin sections of ancient ceramic artifacts can yield the characterization of the clay and soil type and thus the geographic location or area of the clay source. Since in antiquity we assume clay was not precured from a distance of more than one day’s walk from the production site (‘site catchment area’), the production location can be detected as well. Thus, petrographic analysis can identify the trade of artifacts and commodities (if the ceramics are containers) in antiquity, which can shed light on political and cultural links and trade between ancient societies and their economic and social structure. In addition, since clay was often treated by ancient potters to improve its quality (levigation, clay mixing, addition of temper), technological aspects of the production sequence (chaîne opératoire) can also be acquired by petrographic analysis. Today, petrographic analysis is part of many standard studies of ancient pottery. While it is an old and relatively ‘low tech’ method, the accessibility of the equipment needed and its high analytic potential maintains its important and common position in archaeological research. This article describes the method and its analytical potential from the archaeological point of view and briefly mentions several archaeological case studies exemplifying its wide and diversified potential in the study of ancient ceramics in past decades. Full article

Against the backdrop of stricter global carbon emission policies, corporate green transition performance has become a key driver for advancing sustainable development. Based on data from A-share listed companies in China from 2015 to 2022, this study empirically examines the mechanisms by which digital transformation impacts corporate green transformation performance. The findings reveal that (1) Digital transformation significantly promotes corporate green transformation, with supply chain innovation serving as a critical mediating factor; (2) The environmental awareness of senior executives and the strategic proactiveness of enterprises exert a significant moderating effect on this relationship. Enhanced environmental awareness among executives drives enterprises to leverage digital tools for green transformation; conversely, excessive strategic proactiveness exerts a constraining influenc; (3) Heterogeneity analysis indicates that firm-specific characteristics, industry attributes, and regional disparities produce differentiated effects. State-owned enterprises, benefiting from their policy support and resource advantages, are more likely to advance green innovation through enterprise digital transformation. Non-high-tech industries tend to optimize production processes, control pollution, and improve operational efficiency through digitalization. Moreover, in regions with stringent environmental regulations, the positive impact of digitalization on both innovation performance and environmental outcomes becomes particularly pronounced. This study enriches theoretical understanding of the integration between digitalization and greening, and by uncovering the pivotal role of supply chain innovation provides practical guidance and policy insights for enterprises advancing sustainable development. Full article

This paper presents ALMODES, a discrete-time modeling approach for social systems that uses matrix algebra and directed graphs. The method bridges the gap between static network analysis and continuous System Dynamics, offering a transparent framework that reduces data requirements. The method enables clear causal mapping, rapid simulation, straightforward sensitivity analysis, and natural hybridization with agent-based or discrete-event models. Two case studies illustrate its utility for sustainable-development strategy: in an urban public-health setting, modernization and sanitation policies drive sustained declines in disease despite growth, whereas reversing the population-to-modernization link triggers a morbidity rebound that can be prevented by strengthening the modernization-to-sanitation pathway; in a high-tech services Balanced Scorecard model, a baseline backlog spike depresses customer satisfaction, aggressive hiring shortens the spike but erodes income, and coordinated boosts to training and incentives (about twelve percent productivity gain) remove the backlog early, stabilize customers, and improve income, highlighting human-capital policy as a robust lever. ALMODES thus supports pragmatic policy design under limited, expert-elicited parameters. Future research will address uncertainty quantification, time-varying structures and shocks, automated calibration and empirical validation at scale, optimization and control design, richer integration with hybrid simulation, participatory interfaces for stakeholders, and standardized benchmarks across domains. Full article

Bioactive food proteins play multifunctional roles in human health and functional food development. Beyond their nutritional value, these proteins contain peptide sequences capable of exerting physiological effects, such as antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities. This review summarises the processing and functional technologies applied to bioactive proteins; the increasing use of alternative protein sources including plants, microorganisms, and insects; and how these proteins exert their activity. Advances in high-tech production methods—such as fermentation and cultured meat—are also discussed, alongside current challenges related to safety, regulation, and consumer acceptance. Bibliometric and patent analyses further demonstrate sustained innovation and interest in this field, highlighting the potential of bioactive proteins to contribute to sustainable, health-promoting food systems. Full article

Vegetables such as lettuce, tomato, carrot, and beet are vital to the global food industry, providing essential nutrients and supporting sustainable agriculture. Their cultivation in greenhouses across diverse climatic zones (temperate, Mediterranean, tropical, subtropical, and arid) has gained prominence due to controlled environments that enhance yield and quality. However, these crops face significant threats from climate change, including rising temperatures, erratic light availability, and resource constraints, which challenge optimal growth and nutritional content. This study investigates the influence of microclimatic conditions—temperature, light intensity, and CO₂ concentration—on the growth, physiology, and biochemistry of these vegetables under varying greenhouse types and climatic zones, addressing these threats through a systematic review. The methodology followed the PRISMA guidelines, synthesizing peer-reviewed articles from 1995 to 2025 sourced from Web of Science, Pub Med, Scopus, Science Direct, Springer Link, and Google Scholar. Search terms included “greenhouse microclimate”, “greenhouse types”, “Climatic Zones, “and crop-specific keywords, with data extracted on microclimatic parameters and analyzed across growth stages and climatic zones. Eligibility criteria ensured focus on quantitative data from greenhouse studies, excluding pre-1995 or non-peer-reviewed sources. The results identified the following optimal conditions: lettuce and beet thrive at 15–22 °C, 200–250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, and 600–1100 ppm CO₂ in temperate zones; tomatoes at 18–25 °C, 200–300 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, and 600–1100 ppm in Mediterranean and arid zones; and carrots at 15–20 °C, 150–250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, and 600–1000 ppm in subtropical zones. Greenhouse types (e.g., glasshouses, polytunnels) modulate these optima, with high-tech systems enhancing resilience. Conclusively, tailored microclimatic management, integrating AI-driven technologies and advanced greenhouse designs, is recommended to mitigate threats and optimize production across climatic zones. Full article

Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is globally recognized for its high nutritional value and potential as a sustainable food source. However, the influence of targeted nutrient supplementation on its biochemical composition and microbial safety under tropical open-pond conditions remains underexplored, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the effects of three nutrient supplementation regimes (compositions A, B, and C) and a control on Spirulina cultivated over 30 days in raceway ponds at the Nomayos Spirulina Production Farm in Cameroon. All treatments maintained physicochemical parameters within ranges favorable for Spirulina growth. Composition A significantly enhanced protein content (60.38 ± 0.68%), while composition C promoted carbohydrate accumulation (28.02 ± 0.41%). Microbial assessments revealed variable contamination levels, with composition B exhibiting the highest Escherichia coli (1.05 ± 0.075 × 10⁵ CFU/g) and Salmonella/Shigella (4.09 ± 1.81 × 10⁵ CFU/g) counts, potentially due to nutrient-induced changes or post-harvest handling factors. Correlation analyses revealed a moderate positive relationship between nitrogen input and protein synthesis (r = 0.309), which was not statistically significant (p = 0.329). Additionally, higher pH was significantly correlated with total mesophilic counts (r = 0.661, p = 0.019) and E. coli (r = 0.655, p = 0.020). These findings highlight the importance of nutrient formulation and environmental management in improving nutritional quality while minimizing microbial risks during Spirulina cultivation in tropical, low-tech settings. Full article

Major powers compete over the 17 rare earth elements (REEs), which are strategic resources in traditional, green, and high-tech areas. The escalation of international trade conflicts poses a serious threat to the sustainable growth of the rare earth industry, triggering an investigation of the global trade landscape for diverse rare earth products. Taking cerium, the most abundant and widely traded REE, as an example, this study selected seven representative cerium products, constructed their global trade networks from 2000 to 2022, depicted macro, meso, and micro trade patterns, and revealed the impact of four major events on China’s trade influence. The findings demonstrate that (1) the trade volume of cerium products in green and high-tech sectors has increased significantly, surpassing that of cerium products in traditional sectors and upstream primary products, and (2) the global cerium trade networks are interconnected, regionalized, stable, and efficient. Germany, the U.S., and other European nations have long dominated mid- and downstream cerium product commerce, but China’s involvement has grown. (3) China’s cerium trade influence has significantly increased, positively shocked by major events. The research findings provide solid empirical support and policy insights for promoting the sustainable and high-quality development of the global cerium industry chain. Full article

Taohuawu woodblock New Year prints are one of the most representative traditional multicolor woodblock print forms from the Jiangnan region of China and are recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage at the provincial level in Jiangsu. However, the development of mechanized and high-tech production methods, combined with the declining role of traditional festive customs in modern society, has posed significant challenges to the preservation and transmission of this art form. Existing digital preservation efforts mainly focus on two-dimensional scanning and archival storage, largely neglecting the essential processes of color separation and multicolor overprinting. In this study, a digital restoration method is proposed that integrates image processing, color clustering, and edge detection techniques for the efficient reconstruction of the traditional multicolor woodblock overprinting process. The approach applies the K-means++ clustering algorithm to extract the dominant colors and reconstruct individual color layers, in combination with CIELAB color space transformation to enhance color difference perception and improve segmentation accuracy. To address the uncertainty in determining the number of color layers, the elbow method, silhouette coefficient, and Calinski-Harabasz index are employed as clustering evaluation methods to identify the optimal number of clusters. The proposed approach enables the generation of complete, standardized digital color separations, providing a practical pathway for efficient reproduction and intelligent application of TWNY Prints, contributing to the digital preservation and innovative revitalization of intangible cultural heritage. Full article

Supply chains are increasingly exposed to sudden disruptive events (SDEs) such as natural disasters and trade wars. We develop a multi-stage game-theoretical model to investigate a novel coping mechanism: when a firm is forced to exit the market because of SDEs, the firm can regain profits by licensing its proprietary production tech to a competitor. We find that, compared with the scenario before SDEs, such events can even increase the profit of each manufacturer under certain conditions. Under certain conditions, the cooperative strategy (i.e., supply chain reshaping) yields a higher supply chain system profit than the non-cooperative strategy. After SDEs, the common manufacturer may either accept or reject cooperation, depending on the customer transfer rate and the cooperation cost. Notably, under the cooperation strategy, the high-tech manufacturer extracts part of the common manufacturer’s profit through patent licensing, and the existence of cooperation cost further contributes to a misalignment between the common manufacturer’s optimal decision and the supply chain system optimum. These findings contribute to the literature by identifying a novel supply chain reshaping mechanism driven by patent licensing and offer strategic guidance for firms and policymakers navigating SDE-induced market exits. Full article

The efficient recovery of rhenium (Re), a critical metal in high-tech industries, is essential to address its growing demand and reduce reliance on primary mining. In this study, we developed novel anion-exchange resins for the selective adsorption and recovery of Re(VII) ions from acidic solutions, simulating industrial by-products. The resins were synthesized from a vinylbenzyl chloride-co-divinylbenzene copolymer modified with aliphatic, heterocyclic, and aromatic weakly basic amines, selected from among bis(3-aminopropyl)amine (BAPA), 1-(2-pyrimidinyl)piperazine (PIP), thiosemicarbazide (TSC), 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine (AHP), 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine (HEP), 4-amino-2,6-dihydroxypyrimidine (AHPI), and 2-thiazolamine (TA). The adsorption of Re on BAPA, PIP, and HEP resins obeyed the Langmuir model, and the resins exhibited high adsorption capacities, with maximum values reaching 435.4 mg Re g⁻¹ at pH 6. Furthermore, strong selectivity for ReO₄⁻ ions over competing species, including Mo, Cu, and V, was noted in solutions simulating the leachates of the by-products of Cu-Mo ores. Additionally, complete elution of Re was possible. The developed resins turned out to be highly suitable for the continuous-flow-mode adsorption of ReO₄⁻, revealing outstanding adsorption capacities before reaching column breakthrough. In this context, the novel anion-exchange resins developed offer a reference for further Re recovery strategies. Full article