Research & science

Research & science Bibliometric analysis and systematic review of total quality management research in service industries This bibliometric review systematically analyzes 378 scholarly publications from 1989 to 2024 on the evolution and impact of total quality management (TQM) in the service sector. This study utilizes a robust bibliometric dataset extracted from academic databases, including the Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, to trace the trajectory of TQM practices and their adaptation across variou… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Energy transition in India and the race for renewable energy to outpace fossil fuels in carbon reduction Due to rapid economic growth, India is the world's third-largest emitter of carbon, with a high reliance on fossil fuels. Simultaneously, the country has been on an unparalleled course of renewable energy development, making serious strides through its National Solar Mission and its Paris Pledge. This study examines the linkages among renewable energy use, fossil fuel use, and carbon emissions … Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Numerical modeling for soil slope stability analysis and mitigation measures along the Weyiza–Wulokode section towards Chencha, Southern Ethiopia This study presents a numerical modeling-based assessment of slope stability along the Weyiza–Wulokode section in the Southern part of Ethiopia, where complex geological and climatic conditions are leading to frequent slope failures. For laboratory testing, soil samples were collected from key slope sections following a thorough field investigation. The soils were classified as clay with high c… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Determinants of approved pesticides adoption and its effects on the welfare of cocoa farmers in Nigeria The use of banned pesticides has contributed to reduced cocoa bean prices through export rejections, market restrictions, and price discounts imposed on produce that fails to meet international residue standards, with adverse consequences for the welfare of cocoa farmers. This study examined the impact of approved pesticide adoption on the welfare of cocoa farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. A mult… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Beyond pyrolysis optimization: a systematic review revealing feedstock acquisition and methodological standardization as critical barriers to biochar commercialization Biochar has emerged as a carbon-negative feedstock for soil amendment, carbon sequestration, and waste valorization. It has become a vital feedstock for sustainable energy in the circular economy. The global biochar market was valued at USD 698.2 million in 2025 and is projected to surpass USD 2040 million by 2033. High production costs (USD 200–2000/ton) and methodological inconsistencies in e… Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Effects of different organic and inorganic growing media on morphological characteristics, biomass accumulation and seedling quality in cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower seedlings Cabbage varieties hold an important place among winter vegetables. In vegetable cultivation, starting production with seedlings rather than seeds is essential for yield and quality. This study was conducted in 2025 in an unheated greenhouse belonging to the Research and Application Centre of the College of Agricultural Sciences in Erbil, Iraq. This study examined the impacts of morphological ch… Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science A sustainable development of hygiene materials: innovations in bio-based materials, functional improvements and waste management systems Menstrual hygiene is of greater concern globally as it entirely depends on individual’s personal choice, socioeconomic status, proximity to resources, education, and cultural beliefs. The global feminine hygiene products market size was valued at USD 43.25 billion in 2024 and the market is anticipated to grow at CAGR of 6.98% from USD 45.56 billion in 2025 to USD 73.07 billion by… Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their precursors in biosolids across 15 U.S. states The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) draft sewage sludge risk assessment indicates that land application of biosolids containing as little as 1 ng/g of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) may exceed human health risk thresholds. This study provides updated measurements of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in US biosolids. Twenty-seven biosolid sam… Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Integrating habitat suitability modeling and species-specific qPCR assay development to enable early detection of the freshwater assassin snail Anentome helena (von dem Busch, 1847) in the United States Freshwater snails released through the aquarium trade that have caused ecological effects in invaded habitats were first detected accidentally rather than through systematic monitoring. Anentome helena, a popular aquarium species not yet reported from the wild, is a likely future invader as it is easy to acquire, inexpensive, and hearty. Thus, we developed habitat suitability models using geore… Frontiers in Environmental Science · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Microplastics standards in Australia and around the world: challenges and perspectives This study provides a review of existing microplastic-related standards. In total, 58 active standards were identified on Standards Australia International Global database. Their scope, spanning sampling, extraction, characterisation and reporting protocols, is reviewed in the context of practical applications. The review also evaluates the rollout of policy responses aiming to curb the burden … Frontiers in Environmental Science · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science African water research beyond the narratives of conflict and scarcity Nature Sustainability · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Towards a theory for Earth’s albedo stability and hemispheric symmetry in the 21st Century Communications Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Fingerprinting microbe–mineral electron transfer with differential pulse voltammetry Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Life cycle assessment of ready-made garments industrial sludge disposal, treatment and recycling in Bangladesh The ready-made garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh is a major economic driver, contributing over 80% of the country’s total exports and employing over 4 million people. However, the environmental impact of sludge disposal from RMG industries is a significant challenge. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of various sludge disposal options using life cycle assessment (LCA). Data… Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Nutritional water productivity of five different crops under drip irrigation in Huye district of Rwanda Food insecurity and malnutrition, including hidden hunger and child stunting, remain critical challenges in Rwanda’s semi-arid regions. While traditional metrics prioritize yield, this study evaluates Nutritional Water Productivity (NWP) as a holistic approach that integrates nutritional value with water-use efficiency. This study provides the first multi-nutrient NWP assessment integrating C3 … Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Unravelling the sequential path of digital innovation’s impact on financial performance Whether and through what path digital innovation can be transformed into corporate financial performance is a key issue in digital transformation research. Most of the existing research has proved that there is a correlation between digitization and performance, but the explanation of “how digital innovation capability releases financial value layer by layer through organizational process and p… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science The impact of intellectual property model city development on urban economic resilience Innovation drives technological progress and industrial development, which in turn fuels economic growth, while fair competition improves resource allocation and sustains market vitality. Intellectual property protection (IPP) acts as a vital instrument for catalyzing creativity and preserving a vibrant commercial ecosystem. However, there is still limited empirical evidence at the micro level … Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Advancing sovereign ESG performance in China through renewable energy industrialization and government effectiveness This study examines the relationship between renewable energy use, industrialization, governance effectiveness, population growth, and technological innovation, and sovereign environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, used as a proxy for sustainable development, in China over the period 1996–2023. The analysis employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approa… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Leveraging artificial intelligence for business sustainability through mediating effect of marketing innovation strategies and environmental management The objective of this study is to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) enabled digital strategy causes to improve business sustainability through marketing innovation and environmental sustainability in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Data collection and analysis used structured questionnaire to gather data from 278 owners and managers of tourism-based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science The role of green and AI technology innovation in advancing sustainable industrial development in the United States Reducing carbon intensity is essential for sustainable industrial development in the United States (U.S.), yet it continues to fall short of its net-zero commitments. By addressing this challenge, our study conceptualizes several ecological modernization mechanisms, including Green and AI technology innovation index (GAIT), supply chain digitalization (SCD), private credit depth (PCD), supply c… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science A systematic literature review on green technology adoption in hotels bridging digital technologies and sustainability operations Despite growing intellectual interest in green technology in hotels, the previous reviews have been dominated by answering ‘what’ are the factors influencing green technology adoption, rather than ‘why’ and ‘how’. The study filled the gap by examining the adoption of green technology in hotels by employing the integrated TCM (Theories, Contexts, Methods) and ADO (Antecedents, Decisions, Outcome… Discover Sustainability (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Harmonizing social life cycle impact assessment and interpretation: a consensus framework for zero-tailpipe emission vehicles Purpose This study aims to establish a consensus-based framework for Social Life Cycle Impact Assessment (S-LCIA) or Social Life Cycle Performance Assessment(S-LCPA) tailored for Zero-tailpipe Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) by identifying and classifying social impact subcategories and indicators as mandatory and optional along with providing necessary Interpretation parameters. This framework is pri… The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science An analysis of the effects of changes in Premise databases on the environmental impacts of key products Purpose Premise has been quickly adopted as a major tool for performing prospective LCAs (pLCA). Premise databases are generated by combining the ecoinvent database and data from climate change (CC) scenarios implemented in Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs). Both the extent of changes made with Premise and the focus on CC raise a question on how they affect LCA results. We aim to give practit… The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Experimental and data-driven modeling of multistage freeze desalination for high-salinity reverse osmosis brine treatment This study investigates multistage freeze desalination (MSFD) for the treatment of reverse osmosis (RO) brine, targeting high-purity water production with improved overall recovery efficiency. Experiments were conducted using indirect batch freeze crystallization of seawater samples at − 15 °C, examining the effects of freezing configuration (i.e., top-bottom, and bottom-up). A wide range of in… Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Heat island, pollution load and urban sprawl in the Kolkata metropolitan city of India during 2000–2020: implications for its sustainability The migration of people from rural and small towns to urban centres, driven by employment opportunities and improved living standards, places increasing pressure on infrastructure and raises concerns about sustainability, particularly in rapidly developing economies. In this context, land use changes and their implications for heat and pollution are examined in Kolkata. Between 2000 and 2020, a… Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Modeling AI adoption intention in manufacturing supply chains This study examines the influence of technology compatibility, top management support, competitive pressure, and employee capability on AI adoption intention within Malaysian manufacturing supply chains, as well as the moderating role of organizational size. A predictive association research design was employed using a self-administered survey via purposive sampling of supply chain and manufact… Frontiers in Sustainability · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science The true impacts of the built environment Nature Sustainability · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Diurnal sea surface temperature amplification enhances surface extremes during marine heatwaves Communications Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Constraining high-emission future West African monsoon with physics-weighted deep learning ensembles Communications Earth & Environment (Nature Portfolio) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Mechanisms of mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (CH 3 Hg + ) removal by pristine and thiol-modified açaí waste nanobiochar Mercury (Hg) contamination remains a global environmental challenge, driven by sources such as artisanal gold mining, industrial emissions, and coal combustion. Developing efficient and sustainable remediation strategies is therefore critical. Here we evaluate for the first time the mechanisms controlling Hg and methylmercury (CH 3 Hg + ) removal using nanobiochar derived from açaí ( Euterpe ol… Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer) · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Self-adaptive Ni nanoparticles in perovskite LaNi1-xAlxO3/CaO for durable CO2 capture and in-situ conversion Nature subject feed — Sustainability · 21 Jul 2026 Research & science Students enable widespread water monitoring in India When a local community gets involved in environmental monitoring, its efforts can build awareness of local environmental issues and provide more abundant data than scientists can collect on their own. But how does the quality of the data compare with readings taken by professionals? Phys.org — Environment tag feed · 20 Jul 2026 Research & science A comprehensive review of energy use, climate, and sociocultural influences on residential building practices in Alaska Residential housing in Alaska faces unique challenges driven by extreme climatic conditions, geographic isolation, and socio-cultural priorities. Prolonged winters, permafrost thaw, and increasing climate variability amplify energy demands and structural risks, while Indigenous communities emphasize cultural values and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in housing design. This review applie… Environmental Research Letters (IOP) · 20 Jul 2026 Research & science U.S. winter atmospheric rivers and precipitation associated with the north pacific oscillation Winter precipitation plays a critical role in shaping the hydroclimate variability over the United States, directly affecting water resources and water-related hazards. However, the drivers of spatial and temporal variability of winter precipitation in the United States remain elusive. Here we investigate the influence of the North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) on the spatial patterns of winter pre… Environmental Research Letters (IOP) · 20 Jul 2026 Research & science Century-scale attribution of winter extreme cold events in the East Asian monsoon region Previous attribution studies have investigated the anthropogenic influence on recent individual extreme cold events. Yet, a century‐scale comparison of anthropogenic influences on the probability of high‐impact extreme cold events across different historical periods remains lacking, as does an assessment of the circulation‐mediated effect via the Siberian High (SH). Here we provide a century‐sc… Environmental Research Letters (IOP) · 20 Jul 2026 Research & science Helios exhibition arrives in National Museum Cardiff - UCL | University College London UCL News · 20 Jul 2026 Research & science Research shows those most eager to manage often perform the worst - UCL | University College London UCL News · 20 Jul 2026 Research & science Why the youth jobs crisis is becoming global - UCL | University College London UCL News · 20 Jul 2026 Research & science Community-Led Health and Livelihood Programs Helped Protect Rainforests During the Pandemic As COVID-19 disrupted rural economies, communities living near protected rainforests faced rising uncertainty about jobs, health and basic needs. A new study in The Lancet Planetary Health shows that when communities were supported by health and livelihood programs that they designed with local nongovernment organizations, both people and ecosystems were more resilient. “Before the pandemic,… NC State University News · 20 Jul 2026 Research & science Transforming vibrations into clean fuels and chemicals through piezosynthesis From ocean waves and flowing rivers to the systems used to transport and treat water, vibrations are everywhere. But can vibrations do more than just shake water? Can they split water or drive the production of useful chemicals from water? A research team led by Professor Sai Kishore Ravi from the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has successfully … Phys.org — Materials Science tag feed · 20 Jul 2026