Power has become a central theme in sustainability transitions research (STR) since the field’s political turn in the 2010s. Yet this literature remains difficult to navigate because it draws on diverse conceptualisations whose differences are not always made explicit. Readers may therefore struggle to identify how power is understood and how it is traced empirically. This article addresses this problem through a scoping review of 57 peer-reviewed journal articles that explicitly engage with power, combining a systematic Scopus search, backward and forward snowballing, and thematic analysis. The review identifies three broad analytical views of power centred on agency, structure, and their interaction. It also develops two practical tools. The first is a glossary that introduces recurring power-related concepts and points readers towards further reading. The second is a reading template that helps identify how studies define, locate, and operationalise power through their conceptual views, units of analysis, methods, adjacent traditions, and empirical signals. Together, these contributions provide an accessible entry point into power research in STR, while supporting experienced researchers in reflecting on their approaches and their dialogue with other conceptualisations in the field.
This review focuses on the emerging role of multi-energy microgrids (MEMG) in addressing energy poverty in remote regions, drawing on 220 highly cited publications from 2019 to 2026. PRISMA-guided research on ScienceDirect and IEEE Xplore was conducted to explore key trends, challenges, and opportunities in implementing MEMG. The findings reveal that growing research interest is focused on MEMG that integrates multiple types of renewable sources (e.g., solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, and biomass) with various energy storage technologies to overcome intermittency and improve reliability. The review identifies four major research efforts: problem formulation and simulation (52%), experimental (10%), systematic review (24%), and state-of-the-art assessments (14%). While most of the literature focuses on technical optimisation studies, several gaps in the experimental validation, socio-economic impact assessments, and community engagement strategies were identified. The review indicates that integrating advanced energy management systems, hybrid storage solutions, and decentralised control architectures is critical to efficiently deploying MEMG in remote areas. The present review provides perspectives to leverage the synergies of renewable energy via MEMG to address energy poverty in remote communities.
Background Family members of ICU decedents are at high risk of adverse psychological outcomes, including prolonged grief. However, evidence regarding the effectiveness of existing family support interventions remains limited. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to prevent or treat prolonged grief symptoms among families of patients who die in ICUs. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following JBI methodology. Family members of ICU decedents were included. Databases searched included CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE via PubMed, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus. The primary outcome was prolonged grief symptoms. Secondary outcomes included post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety and depression symptoms. Mean differences (MD) were pooled using random-effects models with 95% CI. Certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Results Eight studies were included. Evidence regarding prolonged grief symptoms at six months was uncertain, with no consistent pooled effect observed (MD 0.50; 95% CI –6.41 to 7.41; very low certainty). The pooled estimate was limited by the small number of studies contributing to the meta-analysis. Post-traumatic stress symptoms were reduced at three months (MD –9.29; 95% CI –13.36 to −5.23; low certainty) and at the longest available follow-up, with very low certainty. Small reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms were observed with very low certainty. Conclusions Evidence regarding the effects of ICU-based interventions on prolonged grief symptoms is uncertain. Some interventions may reduce post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression symptoms. Future research should prioritise powered trials evaluating sustained, theory-driven, multicomponent, and culturally adapted interventions spanning the dying process and bereavement, with explicit attention to grief adaptation mechanisms and longer follow-up periods. Implications for clinical practice Current evidence is uncertain to support recommendations for preventing or treating prolonged grief symptoms. Structured information provision, psychoeducational and supportive approaches, and opportunities for emotional expression delivered before death, during the dying process, and throughout bereavement may be considered as components of family-centred ICU care.
A thermodynamic equilibrium study was performed using the Gibbs free energy minimisation method in Aspen Plus to optimise operating conditions for producing alternative fuels and value-added chemicals from biogas. The system consisted of at least two reactors: a reformer that converts biogas into syngas, followed by synthesis reactor(s) for methanol and/or dimethyl ether (DME). The study evaluated methane and CO2 conversions, H2 and CO yields, and carbon formation in the reformer under varying temperature, pressure, and steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratios; the resulting H2/CO ratio-key for methanol and DME synthesis-was also analysed. Thermodynamic analysis of the synthesis reactors for methanol and DME production identified optimal conditions adjusting the outlet H2/CO ratio. For a typical biogas composition of 60 % CH4 and 40 % CO2, the optimal conditions identified were: for methanol production, the reformer should operate at 900 degrees C and 1 bar with a S/C ratio of 0.65 and a H2/CO molar ratio of 1.56, while the methanol reactor should operate at 200 degrees C and 100 bar, achieving a 77.5 % yield. For single-stage DME synthesis, the reformer should maintain the same temperature and pressure, but with a lower S/C ratio of 0.35 and a H2/CO molar ratio of 1.4. The synthesis reactor should operate at 200 degrees C and 30 bar, resulting in a 64.5 % yield. For two-stage DME production, which includes an intermediate methanol synthesis stage following the biogas reformer, the methanol synthesis conditions remain unchanged, and the subsequent DME reactor should operate at 220 degrees C and 30 bar, with a DME yield of 56.7 %. Additional analyses showed that biogas with higher CH4 content increases methanol and DME yields.
Cognitive health is a major concern for older adults. Cognitive decline poses risks to individual wellbeing and the public health system; therefore, identifying modifiable social risk factors is crucial. Social exclusion among older adults can occur across multiple domains simultaneously; however, few studies assess the association between multidimensional exclusion and cognitive function. This study investigates the relationship between three domains of social exclusion - economic, social relations and civic participation - and cognitive performance, examining both individual and combined effects among middle-aged and older adults in Europe. The study uses data from 60,726 participants in the ninth wave of the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. It assesses the independent and cumulative associations between social exclusion and cognitive function, while adjusting for socio-demographic and health-related variables. Cognitive function was most strongly associated with civic participation (beta = -0.40), followed by social relationships (beta = -0.36) and economic exclusion (beta = -0.32), all of which were statistically significant (p < 0.001). A cumulative effect was found; individuals excluded from all three domains had the lowest cognitive scores (beta = -1.12; p < 0.001), with cognitive performance declining progressively as the number of exclusion domains increased. These results highlight that multidimensional social exclusion is associated with worse cognitive outcomes, even after controlling for other relevant variables. Civic exclusion emerged as the domain with the most significant association, suggesting that encouraging civic participation - such as volunteering or participating in politics - may be a valuable strategy for supporting cognitive health in later life.
