Alternative biomass pellets may expand the feedstock base for heat production, but their selection requires consideration of fuel quality, combustion performance, implementation constraints, and life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) savings. This study compares ten woody and non-wood pellet alternatives through parallel multi-criteria ranking and RED II/III-aligned GHG assessment. Fuel-quality, combustion, and life-cycle inventory data were obtained from the authors' previous studies and subsequently refined through additional testing and data validation. Socio-economic and socio-technical performance was assessed using context-specific expert input. The alternatives were ranked using WSM-AHP and MULTIMOORA-AHP, while pathway-specific GHG savings were calculated according to the RED II/III methodology and compared with the 80 % requirement for heat installations entering operation from 2026. Brewer's spent grain and wood pellets formed the leading group in the overall multi-criteria assessment. Buckwheat husk and sunflower husk pellets received the lowest consolidated MULTIMOORA-AHP scores. When only technical criteria were considered, wood pellets ranked above brewer's spent grain pellets, demonstrating the influence of deployment-related criteria on the complete assessment. All pathways except hemp pellets met the 80 % GHG savings requirement, while grass pellets remained closest to the threshold at 82 %. Processing-energy requirements and use-phase emissions were the principal sources of variation in pathway-specific GHG savings. By contrasting multi-criteria preference with GHG compliance, the proposed approach identifies alternatives that would be evaluated differently by either assessment alone and supports the assessment of pellet pathways lacking directly applicable RED II/III default values.
Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) systems are gaining attention as an innovative solution for structural reinforcement, particularly in masonry structures. While their short-term mechanical performance is well-documented in the literature, significant gaps remain in understanding their long-term behavior, especially under extreme environmental conditions. In particular, the effects of high-intensity acidic environments on TRM composites are largely unexplored. To address this gap, this study investigates the long-term durability and mechanical performance of TRMs through an accelerated aging campaign under varying acidic conditions. Using a lime-based mortar and a glass-fiber textile, a total of 315 specimens, including TRM tensile coupons, textile reinforcement, and mortar samples, were exposed to sulfuric acid solutions with pH levels of 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 for durations of 1000, 3000, and 6000 h. Reference conditions included water immersion and climatic chamber environments. Material characterization tests, such as compressive and flexural tests on the mortar and direct tensile tests on TRM coupons and textile reinforcement, were conducted to examine deterioration mechanisms and the mortar-textile interaction. Results show that acidic intensity and exposure duration significantly affect TRM performance, with high acidity leading to pronounced degradation and moderate acidity exhibiting slight strength gains. These findings bridge a critical knowledge gap, providing insights into the design and application of TRM in aggressive environments, particularly for masonry reinforcement.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increasingly rely on digital technologies in everyday operations, often without having sufficient resources or structured mechanisms to manage the cyber risks that accompany this dependence. As digitalization deepens, cyber incidents in SMEs are shaped not only by technical vulnerabilities but also by human behavior and organizational practices. However, much of the existing research still approaches cyber resilience through fragmented technological or managerial lenses. This study takes a conceptual and theory-driven approach to examine cyber resilience in SMEs as a socio-technical system. Building on systems theory and adaptive management, the analysis draws on a structured synthesis of interdisciplinary literature to develop a systemic model of adaptive digital risk management. The model is developed through a structured conceptual process combining systematic exploration of interdisciplinary literature, analytical synthesis of recurring conceptual patterns, and system-level model construction informed by systems theory and adaptive management principles. Cyber resilience is therefore interpreted as a dynamic capability that develops over time, especially in digital environments characterized by increasing automation and evolving forms of human–technology interaction. The study contributes to cyber resilience research by offering a system-oriented perspective and provides SMEs with a conceptual basis for strengthening adaptive approaches to digital risk management.
This study develops and empirically tests a change management framework that incorporates crisis preparedness as a critical success factor, thereby addressing the dual challenges of digital transformation and recurring crises in the emerging era of artificial intelligence (AI). A systematic literature review identified four groups of factors that influence change success: change management processes, change communication, people factors, and crisis preparedness. Survey data obtained from 191 respondents in Latvia were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with the assistance of WarpPLS 8.0 software. The results reveal that implementation practices, systematic review, employee experiences, and communication implementation directly predict change success. External consideration, multilevel planning, and leadership support have indirect effects in this context. While crisis preparedness does not directly drive success, it strengthens employees’ perceptions of readiness, thereby indirectly supporting transformation. The study extends Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) through a human-centered lens by reframing employee resistance as constructive engagement that supports organizational resilience. It highlights leadership and capability-building as key HRM mechanisms and offers practical guidance for embedding preparedness, transparent communication, and employee development into change initiatives.
Metal additive manufacturing, and in particular laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M), enables the fabrication of components with complex geometries and high functional integration, but typically results in relatively rough as-built surfaces that can adversely affect both mechanical and functional performance. Surface quality is especially critical for particle accelerator components, such as radio-frequency circuits, waveguides, and antennas, where skin effects become increasingly relevant with uncontrolled surface roughness. This paper provides an overview of the origin of surface features in PBF-LB/M parts, with specific attention to pure copper components, highlighting the effects of melt pool dynamics, defect generation and build orientation on surface morphology and roughness. The processing of high-purity copper using both infrared and green laser sources is then discussed, showing that optimized parameters allow the production of nearly fully dense parts with electrical and thermal properties comparable to wrought copper. The influence of build orientation on surface roughness is quantitatively analysed. Furthermore, mass finishing treatments are investigated as an effective post-processing strategy to significantly reduce surface roughness of PBF-LB/M copper components. A two-step vibro-finishing process is shown to decrease the average roughness from the as-built condition to sub-micrometric values, effectively removing surface defects associated with the additive manufacturing process. These results demonstrate the key role of surface engineering in enabling high-performance PBF-LB/M copper components for demanding applications.
