Management Solutions Research Articles

Research on Innovation of Food Logistics Supply Chain Management

In the context of globalization and constantly changing consumer demand, the management of food logistics supply chains has become increasingly complex and important. This paper mainly studies the problems and innovative methods in food logistics supply chain management, aiming to improve the efficiency and adaptability of the supply chain by optimizing management strategies. This paper adopts literature analysis and case analysis methods to analyze in detail the problems of information asymmetry, cost control, transportation efficiency, and inventory management in the food logistics supply chain. It proposes innovative supplier management models, digital management, modern supply chain management concepts, inter chain cooperation, and risk management solutions. Research has found that adopting information-sharing mechanisms and advanced information technology, as well as strengthening collaboration among various links in the supply chain, can effectively improve management efficiency and reduce operating costs. This study provides some useful references for food logistics enterprises in practical operation, helping them improve service quality and reduce operating costs in a fiercely competitive market environment, enhance market competitiveness, ensure food safety and freshness, and meet the growing needs of consumers.

Reimagining urban waste management: Addressing social, climate, and resource challenges in modern cities

Governments worldwide are seeking better solutions for solid waste management. Thermal treatment projects are presented as quick fixes for rising waste challenges, without addressing the limitations of incineration. Currently, there is a rise in proposals for thermal treatment technologies in developing countries. Scrutiny of the risks and impacts of these alternatives is necessary due to social, climate, and resource considerations. Energy from waste incineration is considered fossil energy since about half of the CO2 emissions come from fossil polymers in the waste. From a sustainability perspective, landfilling is a short-term option for materials currently unsuitable for recycling. Landfills act as bioreactors, producing valuable biogas, and serve as “resource banks,” storing unrecyclable resources until better recycling techniques are developed. In developing countries manual labor is abundant and material sorting and landfilling are more valuable and have a lower climate and resource footprint. This paper offers a novel, integrated perspective of waste management in view of poverty reduction, climate change and resource conservation.

Understanding the potential of coal gangue as photocatalyst for antibiotic degradation: The role of abundant oxygen vacancies and electron-hole pairs

Coal gangue (CG) offers promising potential as a cost-effective photocatalyst for antibiotic degradation. However, current approaches do not emphasize the origin of its photocatalytic activity. This study investigates the photocatalytic activity of CG through a comparative analysis with one-pot aerobic/anaerobic calcinated CG. The potential application of CG as a photocatalyst for tetracycline (TC) decontamination in water was evaluated under dark and light. Characterization results identified anatase and kaolinite as the critical photosensitive minerals in CG. Batch removal experiments indicated that CG achieved up to 98 % TC removal at 1 g/L dosage, with most biotoxic intermediates reduced to below 0.9 mg L−1 Lethal Concentration 50 (LC50) of Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Degradation pathways identified by density functional theory (DFT) and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) indicated that superoxide anion (⁎O2−) and electron-hole (e−-h+) pairs were predominant contributors to TC photodegradation. Theoretical calculations suggest that the oxygen vacancies on the CG surface can accelerate the production of ⁎O2−, while fast electron transport channels within surface hydroxyl groups facilitate e− and h+ separation. The findings of this research elucidate the origin of CG's photocatalytic activity and highlight the potential to serve as a photocatalyst for low-cost antibiotic removal, offering a promising solution for coal waste management and utilization.

Innovative hybrid energy storage systems with sustainable integration of green hydrogen and energy management solutions for standalone PV microgrids based on reduced fractional gradient descent algorithm

This paper investigates innovative solutions to enhance the performance and lifespan of standalone photovoltaic (PV)-based microgrids, with a particular emphasis on off-grid communities. A major challenge in these systems is the limited lifespan of batteries. To overcome this issue, researchers have created hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) along with advanced power management strategies. This study introduces innovative multi-level HESS approaches and a related energy management strategy designed to alleviate the charge/discharge stress on batteries. Comprehensive Matlab Simulink models of various HESS topologies within standalone PV microgrids are utilized to evaluate system performance under diverse weather conditions and load profiles for rural site. The findings reveal that the proposed HESS significantly extends battery life expectancy compared to existing solutions. Furthermore, the paper presents a novel energy management strategy based on the Reduced Fractional Gradient Descent (RFGD) algorithm optimization, tailored for hybrid systems that include photovoltaic, fuel cell, battery, and supercapacitor components. This strategy aims to minimize hydrogen consumption of Fuel Cells (FCs), thereby supporting the production of green ammonia for local industrial use. The RFGD algorithm is selected for its minimal user-defined parameters and high convergence efficiency. The proposed method is compared with other algorithms, such as the Lyrebird Optimization Algorithm (LOA) and Osprey Optimization Algorithm (OOA). The RFGD algorithm exhibits superior accuracy in optimizing energy management, achieving a 15 % reduction in hydrogen consumption. Its efficiency is evident from the reduced computational time compared to conventional algorithms. Although minor losses in computational resources were observed, they were substantially lower than those associated with traditional optimization techniques. Overall, the RFGD algorithm offers a robust and efficient solution for enhancing the performance of hybrid energy systems.

Occupational Safety, Health, and Well-Being Concerns and Solutions for Management Reported by Sign Language Interpreters: A Qualitative Study

While the occupational health of sign language interpreters has traditionally focused on physical health, evidence demonstrating mental health concerns is growing and supporting a shift to a more integrated approach. We embarked on a qualitative study to guide the adaptation of a previously developed Total Worker Health® program to the context of sign language interpreting. Eight unstructured 90-min focus groups were conducted. Interpreters reported occupational safety, health, and well-being concerns and shared their solutions for management. Twenty-seven interpreters participated (aged 53.7 years; 81% female; 85% white). Predominant concerns centered on topics like workplace violence, secondary traumatic stress or vicarious trauma, lack of work–life integration or boundaries, and loss of agency or loss of self. The organizational culture of the field fostered deprioritization of self, oppression, elitism, sexism, and unhealthy relationships with interpreter peers and community members. Physical health remained a contributor, specifically the physical effects of non-physical work, aging, and differences in exposures across interpreting settings but paled in comparison to mental health and organizational culture. Solutions for management included but were not limited to prioritization of jobs, creating safe spaces/communities of supported practice, and exercise. This study supports the evolution of future research, practice, policy, and capacity building aspiring to a more integrated approach.

The Problems and Solutions of Enterprise Financial Management in the Perspective of Digital Economy

From the perspective of the digital economy, enterprise financial management is facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Traditional financial management models are no longer suited to current development needs. Fine-tuning financial management is essential to support the modernization of enterprises, guard against operational risks, and promote coordination across the entire value chain for greater economic efficiency. With the help of digital technology, data-driven, highly interconnected, and intelligent decision-making processes are becoming more prominent, profoundly transforming the operational and financial management models of enterprises. This enables financial management to keep pace with modern developments. In light of this, the paper explores the connotations and mechanisms of the digital economy and enterprise financial management, clarifies relevant conceptual characteristics, and identifies problems in financial management under the digital economy. It also offers strategies for optimization and problem-solving, with the aim of providing valuable insights for educators and practitioners.

Nonvolatile reconfigurable polarization rotator at datacom wavelengths based on a Sb2Se3/Si waveguide

Silicon photonics has become a key platform for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) due to its high refractive index and compatibility with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor manufacturing. However, the inherent birefringence in silicon waveguides requires efficient polarization management. Here, we report a reconfigurable polarization rotator (PR) using a Sb2Se3/Si waveguide operating at datacom wavelengths (1310 nm), providing nonvolatile switching with zero static power consumption. The polarization conversion relies on the interference of hybrid electric-magnetic (EH) modes, which can be reconfigured by changing the Sb2Se3 state between amorphous and crystalline. Our experimental device exhibits a polarization conversion efficiency (PCE) and a polarization extinction ratio (PER) as high as -0.08 dB and 17.65 dB, respectively, in a compact footprint of just 21 µm length. Therefore, the proposed reconfigurable PR offers a compact and energy-efficient solution for polarization management in silicon photonics, with potential applications in data communication networks and emerging applications benefiting from polarization information encodings, such as optical neural networks and quantum computing.

Digital Phenotyping of Mental and Physical Conditions: Remote Monitoring of Patients Through RADAR-Base Platform.

The use of digital biomarkers through remote patient monitoring offers valuable and timely insights into a patient's condition, including aspects such as disease progression and treatment response. This serves as a complementary resource to traditional health care settings leveraging mobile technology to improve scale and lower latency, cost, and burden. Smartphones with embedded and connected sensors have immense potential for improving health care through various apps and mobile health (mHealth) platforms. This capability could enable the development of reliable digital biomarkers from long-term longitudinal data collected remotely from patients. We built an open-source platform, RADAR-base, to support large-scale data collection in remote monitoring studies. RADAR-base is a modern remote data collection platform built around Confluent's Apache Kafka to support scalability, extensibility, security, privacy, and quality of data. It provides support for study design and setup and active (eg, patient-reported outcome measures) and passive (eg, phone sensors, wearable devices, and Internet of Things) remote data collection capabilities with feature generation (eg, behavioral, environmental, and physiological markers). The back end enables secure data transmission and scalable solutions for data storage, management, and data access. The platform has been used to successfully collect longitudinal data for various cohorts in a number of disease areas including multiple sclerosis, depression, epilepsy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer disease, autism, and lung diseases. Digital biomarkers developed through collected data are providing useful insights into different diseases. RADAR-base offers a contemporary, open-source solution driven by the community for remotely monitoring, collecting data, and digitally characterizing both physical and mental health conditions. Clinicians have the ability to enhance their insight through the use of digital biomarkers, enabling improved prevention, personalization, and early intervention in the context of disease management.

Blockchain in Supply Chain Management: Enhancing Transparency, Efficiency, and Trust

Supply chain management has become an area of focus as organizations around the world work to leverage blockchain technology to increase supply chain visibility, productivity, and reliability. As a novel approach to innovation, this paper aims at assessing whether or not blockchain technology could help overcome problems that have attributed lack of consensus between SCM and its stakeholders including, inadequate information flow, complex logistics, ad inadequate inter-organizational trust. As such, using scientific data I investigate how innovations built on the blockchain enhance efficiency, contain costs, and create instant permanent transparency, including in the supply chain. The research methods include a literature search and analysis, calculations of blockchain benefits in relation to the most important SCM indicators: transaction time, cost cutting, and transparency of suppliers. From our research, it can be suggested that advanced use of blockchain results in improved efficiency by around 20-25% of OM costs, while the error rate will be decreased up to 30%. In addition, by enhancing the history of each product, blockchains decrease fraud rates in high-risk sectors, including the pharmaceutical marketplace, by a half. These findings emphasize the positive impact that blockchain implements to alter the supply chain by promoting trust between the chain’s participants and allowing for secure transfer of necessary information. This research helps to complete the existing literature by giving concrete information about blockchain’s efficiency in the real business environment which could be useful for those companies and government agencies which are aiming to implement blockchain-based solutions in supply chain management. Finally, the ethical issues and implications related to the practical realization of blockchain in SCM are highlighted and analyzed with the help of corresponding recommendations.

Synthesis of biocompatible hydroxyapatite from quail eggshell, oyster shell, and periwinkle snail shell

This study focuses on the synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) from calcium carbonate (CaCO3)-rich quail eggshells, oyster shells, and periwinkle snail shells (Filopaludina bengalensis) through the use of the wet precipitation method. The methodology involved calcining the shell waste to convert CaCO3 to calcium oxide (CaO), undergoing hydration, and reacting with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) to synthesize HA. The results indicated that periwinkle snail shells had the highest percent yield of HA at 92.12%, followed closely by quail eggshells at 92.01%, and oyster shells at 73.65%. For producing CaO, oyster shells provided the highest percent yield of CaO at 103.72%, followed by quail eggshells at 98.6% and periwinkle snail shells at 92.09%. The synthesized HA exhibited high biocompatibility, which is crucial for its potential applications in medical fields such as bone replacement and regeneration. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of high-quality HA, with characteristic peaks indicative of excellent crystallinity and purity and near identicality to the standard XRD pattern of HA of ICDD 9-432 and the XRD pattern of successfully synthesized HA in other studies, indicating high biocompatibility. The research highlights the potential of recycling food waste, specifically shell waste, into valuable biomaterials. This not only addresses environmental concerns but also supports sustainable practices in the food industry. Moreover, the study contributes to advancements in biomaterials for medical applications, emphasizing the viability of utilizing organic waste for high-value products. By transforming food waste into useful medical materials, this research offers promising solutions for waste management and resource utilization, particularly within Thailand's ecological and industrial framework.

Infrared thermochromic antenna composite for self-adaptive thermoregulation

Self-adaptive thermoregulation, the mechanism living organisms use to balance their temperature, holds great promise for decarbonizing cooling and heating processes. This functionality can be effectively emulated by engineering the thermal emissivity of materials to adapt to background temperature variations. Yet, solutions that marry large emissivity switching (Δϵ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\varDelta \\epsilon$$\\end{document}) with scalability, cost-effectiveness, and design freedom are still lacking. Here, we fill this gap by introducing infrared dipole antennas made of tunable thermochromic materials. We demonstrate that non-spherical antennas (rods, stars and flakes) made of vanadium-dioxide can exhibit a massive (~200-fold) increase in their absorption cross-section as temperature rises. Embedding these antennas in polymer films, or simply spraying them directly, creates free-form thermoregulation composites, featuring an outstanding Δϵ~0.6\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\varDelta \\epsilon \\sim 0.6$$\\end{document} in spectral ranges that can be tuned at will. Our research paves the way for versatile self-adaptive heat management solutions (coatings, fibers, membranes, and films) that could find application in radiative-cooling, heat-sensing, thermal-camouflage, and other.

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of MALDI-TOF for the Identification of Waterborne Pathogenic Bacteria

The study focuses on the application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) combined with MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry) for the identification of waterborne pathogenic bacteria in urban water networks. In this comprehensive research, 168 bacterial strains were meticulously isolated from the water networks of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, a region known for its inadequate wastewater treatment infrastructure. The analysis aimed to rapidly and precisely identify these bacterial pathogens, leveraging the power of MALDI-TOF MS and the sophisticated data reduction capabilities of PCA. This approach not only accelerates the identification process but also enhances the accuracy of detecting various pathogens. The study identified a diverse range of pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholerae, Morganella morganii, Proteus mirabilis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Providencia rettgeri, Providencia stuartii, Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus cereus, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, and Staphylococcus aureus. These findings underscore the critical public health risks posed by microbial contamination in water networks, particularly in areas with deficient waste management systems. This study highlights the necessity for improved wastewater management practices, robust public health strategies, and regular monitoring to mitigate the risks associated with waterborne pathogens. Moreover, the integration of PCA with MALDI-TOF MS proves to be a powerful tool for enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of pathogen identification in environmental water samples, offering a promising solution for better public health protection and water quality management in urban settings.

Characterization, fractionation and untapped potential of phosphate-amended sewage sludge biochar in soil-plant systems

Sewage sludge, a byproduct of wastewater treatment, poses serious environmental and health risks due to its content of organic contaminants, heavy metals, and pathogenic microorganisms. With the growing global production of municipal wastewater, finding effective methods for managing and disposing of sewage sludge has become increasingly urgent. Traditional methods such as land disposal, dumping, and incineration have limitations and environmental drawbacks. However, recent advancements have shown promise in the valorization of sewage sludge, particularly through pyrolysis, which converts it into biochar for use in soil amendment and pollutant mitigation. This study aims to characterize and fractionate phosphate-amended sewage sludge biochar produced at 300 °C, 400 °C, and 500 °C, and to evaluate its potential use in soil-plant systems. It examines nutrient bioavailability in soil after the addition of this biochar and its effects on plant growth. The pyrolysis process resulted in biochar with high alkalinity (7.2–11.1), ash content ranging from 56.9% to 87.3%, and significant phosphorus retention, with phosphorus concentrations increasing with pyrolysis temperature (5.35%–9.38%). Phosphorus fractionation showed a shift toward more stable fractions particularly at 500 °C. Soil incubation experiments indicated increased phosphorus availability with HCl-extractable P showing a high extraction efficiency of up to 94.95%. In plant growth experiments, the amended biochar significantly enhanced growth, with corn showing an increase of up to 28.8% and wheat showing an increase of up to 86% compared to the control in the first four weeks after emergence. These findings indicate that phosphate-amended sewage sludge biochar enhances nutrient availability and supports plant growth, providing a sustainable solution for sewage sludge management, contributing to soil improvement and carbon sequestration, thereby addressing global environmental challenges.

Open-Source Solutions for Real-Time 3D Geospatial Web Integration

Abstract. The recent development of Urban Digital Twin (UDT) structures and the spread of Internet of Things (IoT) technology have extended the concept of Digital Twin (DT) to urban environment representation, enabling real-time connections between geospatial representations and their real-world counterparts. Concurrently, advancements in surveying technologies and web geospatial services have facilitated the acquisition of extensive 2D and 3D geospatial data, making their spatial integration essential. While some proprietary software solutions have recently enabled initial examples of UDT by integrating various 3D geospatial data and real-time sensor acquisition, the development of open-source solutions for real-time web-based geospatial management remains a challenge. This work demonstrates a possible open-source solution for developing a UDT accessible via the web. The case study involves the web visualization platform of the new Faculty of ITC building at the University of Twente in Enschede (The Netherlands), which is connected in real-time with weather data services provided by Visual Crossing (1). The platform is based on an HTML5 framework and employs WebGL JavaScript graphic libraries to visualize different modules of 3D web visualization that integrate various local and remote 3D datasets. The framework adopted in this experiment can be used in the future for developing low-cost UDT web platforms beneficial for researchers, municipalities, and private companies interested in the real-time geospatial management of urban environments.

Assessment of nature-based solutions for water resource management in agricultural environments: a stakeholders' perspective in Southern Italy.

This paper explores the potential implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) in agriculture, specifically focusing on soil and water management in Southern Italy, particularly in the Apulia and Basilicata regions. Through a tailored questionnaire, it investigates farmers' perceptions of the utility of NBSs, addressing key issues in the region and evaluating their role in addressing soil and water management challenges. Findings reveal primary challenges such as drought, floods, and water pollution, with soil erosion being a major concern. Several NBSs, including wetlands and bioswales, demonstrate consistent utility and performance, while disparities exist for agroforestry and strip cropping. The study underscores a significant gap in the economic valuation of NBSs, emphasizing the need for comprehensive assessments that incorporate livability improvements, water quality enhancement, and socio-cultural benefits. Additionally, an analysis of NBS implementation across Italian agriculture reveals limited case studies, suggesting the need for strategic expansions to meet Sustainable Development Goals. This research offers critical insights into the effectiveness and challenges of NBSs in agricultural soil and water management, advocating for enhanced stakeholder engagement and the development of multidimensional evaluation frameworks to support sustainable practices.

A comparative analysis of intelligent energy modelling approaches for a grid-tied PVT system application

Renewable energy resources are a long-term answer to the current chronic energy dilemma. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are the most often used form of a practical solution for power supply and energy management in buildings. A PV-thermal (PVT) system is essential to lowering the demand for grid energy by capturing electrical and thermal energy from sunlight, optimising energy usage and encouraging sustainable energy practices. The most significant difficulty faced by developing countries, such as South Africa, is a lack of power supply to meet demand while limiting grid overload. An alternative source of energy is a critical component. This research compares two intelligent energy modelling methodologies: optimal control scheme-based open loop and model predictive control (MPC) in a PVT application. The primary goal of the modelling is to limit the electricity required from the grid while stressing the system’s energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The open loop approach uses mathematical optimisation techniques to establish the best control strategy for the PVT system. The ideal set-points for various system parameters are found by presenting the problem as an optimisation task to reduce grid power usage. The optimal control technique delivers a global optimisation solution based on the system dynamics and constraints. The MPC technique employs a predictive control technique of the PVT system to create optimal control actions in a receding horizon manner. The MPC algorithm anticipates future system behaviour and generates control actions that minimise grid power drawn by iteratively solving an optimisation problem at each time step. This robust online control scheme enables real-time modifications and responses to system disruptions that effectively and dynamically coordinate system behaviour.

Characterizing nano-indentation and microstructural properties of mine tailings-based geopolymers

The mining industry's extraction processes produce vast amounts of waste, including mine tailings (MT), traditionally stored in large ponds, causing significant environmental harm due to a lack of effective recycling methods. This research explores the potential of converting MT into a resource i.e., precursors in geopolymer synthesis. By analyzing the physicochemical and mineralogical properties of MT, the study formulates four geopolymer composites, substituting up to 30 wt% MT for fly ash. The composites' mechanical and microstructural properties show a contribution of MT in the stability of the matrix. Compressive strength of 59 MPa when incorporating 30 wt% MT, along with water absorption, microstructural analysis, and environmental impact assessments, support the hypothesis that the matrix is improved. Nano-indentation techniques further evaluated the nanomechanical properties, such as Young's modulus and fracture toughness. The findings reveal that geopolymers with 30 wt% MT exhibits up to 130 % increased strength. This research highlights the potential for innovative, eco-friendly solutions in waste management and material production, contributing to sustainable mining practices and advancing the field of geopolymer technology.

Ethnicity: A Trojan Horse for the Perpetuation of Armed Civil Conflicts in Africa

Abstract Purpose: The prevalence of armed conflicts in Africa seems commonplace, with little possibility to their end. This study aims to challenge a narrative that seem to consider ethnicity, or ethnic differences as the main causes of armed civil conflicts in Africa. This study argues that while ethnicity might play a role in conflict formation, ethnicity is simply a Trojan horse that is impishly presented as the main cause of armed conflicts in Africa. Design/Methodology: Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. To evaluate the ethnicity vs. conflict nexus more conscientiously, this study provided two case examples: Ethiopia and Kenya, each providing distinct political trajectories. Findings: The study finds that ethnicity is not the main cause of armed conflicts in Africa; rather, the main causal factors are embedded in bad governance practices by political elites and their cronies. Notable is the practice of politics of power grab and marginalisation of certain groups to achieve Machiavellian ends. The additional causal factor is tied to external imperial exploitative motives of looting Africa’s natural resources, often using African puppets, bagmen and traitors of their own homeland. Thus, a combination of bad local governance practices and external economic interests is mainly what has led to a surge in armed civil conflicts in Africa. Originality/Value: The novelty of this study is that it challenges conventional political standpoints on the causes of ethnic-related conflicts and the solutions needed to end/reduce them. The study has achieved this by pushing the cloak of appreciating the scope and scale of Africa’s armed conflicts by advancing the argument that conflict management solutions lie inward rather than outward through the utilisation of local or homegrown conflict resolution mechanisms. Such local mechanisms must focus on addressing bad governance practices. The current penchant of relying on international or foreign mediatory systems as solutions is done merely at the behest of global politicking and, as such, only provides cosmetic solutions, hence themselves responsible for those protracted ethnic-related conflicts.

How do termite baits work? implication of subterranean termite colony demography on the successful implementation of baits.

In 1995, the launch of the first commercial chitin synthesis inhibitor (CSI) bait led to the transformation of the subterranean termite control industry around the world. Their slow mode of action, which relies on both their ability to be transferred among nestmates and termite molting biology, has made them cost-effective solutions for subterranean termite colony elimination while minimizing the introduction of pesticides into the soil toward an environmentally sustainable strategy. However, despite successful commercial implementations, the acceptance of their use varies within the pest control industry around the world. Notably, the nuanced complexity of how CSI baits lead to colony elimination upon feeding by termite foragers has, in part, remained elusive for the past 3 decades, allowing for long-lasting misconceptions to persist. A recent series of studies has since provided complementary elements of understanding how CSI baits utilize termites' inherent colony demography, behavior, and physiology to trigger colony elimination after a characteristic succession of events within the colony collapse process. I here provide a synthetic overview of subterranean termite colony characteristics when exposed to CSI baits using Coptotermes (Wasmann) (Blattodea: Heterotermitidae) as a primary model system. The changes in colony demography through the colony collapse reflect how the mode of action of CSI baits makes them a prime solution for sustainable subterranean termite pest management. Following decades of innovation, ongoing interactions among termite researchers, bait product manufacturers, and pest management providers must continue to bring solutions to existing and emerging termite pest problems around the world.

The Use of Waste Materials Red Mud and Fly Ash as Road Embankment Fill

This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of red mud as a sustainable material for road base construction, particularly in combination with bottom ash. Red mud, a by-product of the Bayer process used in alumina extraction, is known for its high alkalinity and heavy metal content. For this reason, this waste material causes environmental challenges. Red mud sourced from the Eti Aluminum Factory in Seydişehir, Konya (Turkey), was stabilized with bottom ash. Then, these waste materials were tested through a number of experiments, such as in relation to their Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR), and microstructure through a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The results highlight that the UCS of stabilized red mud samples significantly improved with the addition of bottom ash and longer curing periods. Specifically, the UCS values increased from 0.5 MPa to 2.5 MPa after 28 days of curing. Moreover, RM specimens stabilized with 25% bottom ash achieved a CBR value of 146.64% after 28 days, far exceeding Turkey’s road fill material requirement, which mandates a minimum unsoaked CBR value of 15%. These findings indicate that red mud stabilized with bottom ash not only meets but exceeds the structural requirements for road base materials. This approach provides a sustainable solution for the environmental management of red mud while contributing to infrastructure development. Through the recycling of these industrial by-products, this study presents a viable method to reduce waste and support economic and environmental sustainability in road construction projects.