The increasing discharge of synthetic dyes such as methylene blue (MB) into aquatic systems poses serious environmental and public health risks due to persistence, toxicity, and resistance to conventional treatment methods. Peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation processes have gained attention for dye degradation, yet practical use depends on catalysts that are active, sustainable, and cost-effective. This study reports the synthesis and application of exfoliated banana peel hydrochar (E-BPHC) as a metal-free catalyst for PMS-driven MB degradation. Banana peel waste was converted into hydrochar via hydrothermal carbonization, followed by microwave-assisted chemical exfoliation to generate a porous carbon framework. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed a transition from a dense morphology to an open, sponge-like network enriched with aromatic surface functionalities. A response surface model showed strong agreement with experimental results (R 2 = 0.9905). Under optimized conditions, 99.45% MB removal was achieved. PMS activation on the E-BPHC surface likely generates sulfate and hydroxyl radicals that degrade MB through N-demethylation and chromophore cleavage. Kinetic analysis followed second-order behavior (k 2 = 0.1477 L mol- 1 min- 1). Relative to metal-based catalysts, E-BPHC offers high activity without metal leaching, demonstrating the promise of waste-derived porous carbons for sustainable wastewater treatment.
Purpose This study aims to investigate how Communication and Information Resources (CIR) drive product innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by uncovering the sequential mechanisms through which co-creation and technological capabilities jointly operate. Addressing persistent gaps in SME innovation research – particularly in emerging economies – the authors clarify how digital resources translate into innovation outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the resource-based view, service-dominant logic and absorptive capacity theory, the authors test a sequential double mediation model using structural equation modeling (SEM) adapted for categorical indicators, estimating the main model with WLSMV and complementing indirect-effect inference with Bayesian SEM to obtain credible intervals. Model fit was assessed through WLSMV-scaled indices and posterior predictive checks. The analysis draws on survey data from 124 Costa Rican SMEs. Findings Contrary to traditional assumptions, CI Resources do not directly increase product innovation. Instead, their value materializes through a chained pathway: CIR → co-creation → process innovation → product innovation. Both mediating links and the full sequential mechanism are statistically supported. The results also reveal a suppression effect in which the direct relationship becomes nonsignificant once mediators are included, confirming that innovation outcomes arise primarily from capability-building processes rather than from digital resources alone. Research limitations/implications This study relies on categorical indicators, a modest sample and data from a single emerging economy, limiting generalizability and causal inference. Future research should replicate the model with larger data sets, use longitudinal designs and test cross-country invariance to strengthen external validity. Practical implications Managers should complement digital tool adoption with deliberate investments in co-creation practices and capability development, as these mechanisms are essential to convert digital engagement into meaningful innovation outcomes. Originality/value This study offers a novel theoretical contribution by empirically validating a sequential capability-building trajectory that integrates service-dominant logic and absorptive capacity theory. It is among the first to demonstrate, within an emerging-economy SME context, that the innovation payoff of CI Resources occurs only when collaborative routines and process innovation capabilities are jointly activated. This advances current understandings of digital transformation and innovation in resource-constrained settings.
The growing demand for organic food has increased the need to understand how green communication strategies shape sustainable food consumption. Based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model, this study examines whether Green Advertising, Social Media Content, and Ecolabels function as external stimuli that influence Environmental Attitudes and how these attitudes affect Green Purchasing Behavior, while also assessing the moderating role of age. A cross-sectional quantitative design was implemented, using a structured questionnaire administered to organic consumers in Ecuador. Data were collected from a sample of 739 consumers between December 2025 and January 2026 using a structured online survey administered via Google Forms. This study employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings reveal that Green Advertising, Social Media Content, and Ecolabels positively influence Environmental Attitudes, which in turn significantly predicts Green Purchasing Behavior. However, age does not have a significant moderating effect on the proposed relationships. The findings suggest that green marketing strategies may be more effective when aligned with the development of pro-environmental attitudes. Thus, this study highlights the importance of incorporating attitudinal components into the design of marketing initiatives.
The high cost and limited durability of platinum-based electrocatalysts constrain the widespread utilization of fuel cells as renewable energy systems. We demonstrate here an ambient atmosphere, semi-closed pyrolysis strategy for the preparation of an iron oxide-graphitic carbon nitride hybrid anchored on reduced graphene oxide (FexOy-g-C3N4@rGO). Unlike conventional synthesis routes that require inert-gas infrastructure, our approach streamlines the process and lowers operational costs without compromising electrocatalytic performance. The composite, prepared by heating graphene oxide, urea, and FeCl3 & centerdot;6H(2)O at 400 degrees C, demonstrates enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity compared to g-C3N4@rGO, achieving onset and half-wave potentials of -0.145 and -0.318 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively, with an apparent electron transfer number of n = 3.43, indicating a mixed pathway with a strong 4 e(-) contribution. Although its activity is slightly lower than that of commercial Pt/C (loading: 386 vs. 849 & micro;g cm(-2) for FexOy-g-C3N4@rGO), the catalyst exhibits superior operational stability. This work not only validates the efficacy of semi-closed pyrolysis for scalable and sustainable electrocatalyst production but also advances the design of nonprecious metal-based catalysts for energy conversion, furthering the findings of our earlier investigations.
Cryptosporidium spp. is a globally significant protozoan parasite with profound implications for animals, humans, and environmental health. Despite extensive research, its distribution, prevalence, and diversity across Asia remain fragmented. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on studies published between 2015 and 2025, incorporating 329 investigations from 29 Asian countries and analyzing 142,484 animal specimens. Pooled prevalence was calculated, and molecular epidemiological data were synthesized to characterize species distribution and subtype diversity. The overall pooled prevalence of Cryptosporidium among animals across Asia was 12
