Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of water quality as determined by its physical, chemical, and biological composition collected from five distinct points in Maragheh, Iran, on the performance and carcass traits of Ross-308 commercial broilers (mix of male and female) during the grower (11–24 days) and finisher (25–42 days) periods. Materials and methods: A total of 240 broilers were involved in the study, divided into five treatments with four replicates and 12 birds per replicate. In this study, a randomized design was used. Water samples were collected from five different points, and broilers were provided with these water sources during the grower and finisher periods. Water samples for testing were prepared from the water wells of the meat poultry farms located in the northern, eastern, western, and southern lands, and the experimental farm, using hygienic and scientific methods. Performance parameters, including body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and water intake, were measured. Results: During the grower period, no significant effects on performance and water intake were observed across the different water sources (p > 0.05). However, in the finisher period, significant differences were noted (p ≥ 0.05). The use of water from point A (control group) led to reduced water consumption, body weight, and increased FCR (p < 0.05). The northern water source exhibited the optimum FCR during the finisher period (p < 0.05). Throughout the entire experimental period, the water source significantly influenced broiler performance, with the northern water source (point B) corresponding with the highest weight gain and production index with the least feed intake (p < 0.05). Despite these variations, no significant changes were observed in the broilers’ carcass traits across different water sources (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, the study revealed that various drinking water sources, while not significantly impacting carcass quality traits, exerted notable effects on broilers’ performance. The northern water source emerged as particularly favorable, demonstrating superior weight gain and a production index with efficient feed utilization. These findings underscore the importance of water quality in poultry management, particularly during the finisher period, and highlight its potential influence on broiler performance.

In order to achieve the best performance of a thermal system, two major analyses must be carried out on the system: energy and entropy generation. The best scenario is a mechanism in which the system has minimum entropy generation and the highest Nu number. In this regard, we investigated entropy generation and Nu number of fluid flow through tubes of various cross-sections, namely circular tubes, square channels, and rectangular ducts. Additionally, the addition of nanoparticles was tested, and both analyses were carried out. The results reveal that using nanoparticles could significantly increase Nu number and, at the same time, decrease entropy generation. The results showed that the circular cross-section performs better in Nu number and entropy generation. In most cases, the rectangular cross-section performed better than the square one in terms of energy and entropy. In the best case, the average Nu for the circular cross-section was 26% greater than that of the square. The average Nu of the rectangular cross-section showed that this value is 5% greater than that of the square cross-section. Additionally, the total entropy generation of circular cross-sections, which is the minimum, was 44% and 38% lower than rectangular and square cross-sections, respectively.

This study investigates the impacts of natural resources, financial development, and non-renewable energy consumption on the quality of the environment by including renewable energy consumption, globalization, and industrialization into the model for full sample countries over the 1985–2019 time spans. This study employs dynamic fixed effects (DFE), dynamic seemingly unrelated regressions (DSUR), and dynamic system generalized method of moments (DSGMM) approaches. The results of the study revealed that globalization and financial development `deteriorate the environmental quality by increasing CO₂ emissions. Similarly, non-renewable energy consumption and natural resource depletion also worsen the environmental quality while increasing the usage of renewable energy improves environmental quality due to emitting less CO₂ emissions. It is recommended that these countries' governments should focus on globalization. The government should create regulations that force business sectors to adopt more productive and effective technology. Furthermore, to reduce CO₂ emissions in full sample countries, energy efficiency could be achieved through adopting energy-saving initiatives, outsourcing energy infrastructure, foreign direct investment in the renewable energy sector, financial development to encourage green infrastructure, and energy production using renewable energy sources and energy conservation measures. Graphical Abstract

This study examines Pakistani citizens’ behavioral intentions toward the adoption of cryptocurrency as a digital currency. Cryptocurrency refers to a form of currency that exists in digital or virtual form and relies on cryptography to ensure the security of transactions and regulate the generation of additional units. Cryptocurrencies have the potential to disrupt the global financial system. Cryptocurrency is a viable option for decentralized and secure transactions, offering enhanced transparency and lowering dependence on conventional financial institutions. The authors collected data from potential cryptocurrency customers or investors. Data were collected from Karachi (Pakistan). The study was conducted with the help of the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI), employing all its components (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability). The DOI model statements were modified and adapted to satisfy the requirements of this study. This empirical research report concludes that relative advantage (financial incentives, technology advancement, global accessibility, privacy and security, and P2P nature), compatibility (User-friendliness, Integration with existing systems, compatibility with digital lifestyles), and complexity (ease of use and mass adoption) contribute to the adoption. Trailability (lack of familiarity and risk aversion) and observability (limited exposure, lack of social proof, and negative stigma) are unrelated to customer behavior toward cryptocurrencies. In all these contexts, cryptocurrency adoption can enhance value co-creation. Finally, this study provides valuable insights for stakeholders.

The rapid expansion of the global economy poses a serious threat to the environment due to the ever-increasing demand for fossil fuels. While trade can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants in the absence of appropriate environmental regulations, it can also be a crucial tool in addressing the climate crisis and other environmental challenges. This study empirically investigates the relationship between several factors and environmental performance in OECD countries to support the theoretical argument. These factors include the Service Trade Restrictiveness Index, renewable energy consumption, technological innovation, GDP, and international trade. The aim is to understand how these variables impact CO2 emissions, providing policymakers with insights to develop more effective climate change mitigation strategies. The analysis utilizes panel data from 35 OECD countries covering the period from 2014 to 2022. The Benchmark Ordinary Least Squares and Two-Stage Least Squares methods are employed to estimate the nature of the relationships between the variables of interest. The findings reveal that trade and service restrictions, renewable energy, and technological innovation contribute to reducing carbon emissions. However, GDP growth and trade are positively correlated with CO2 emissions, indicating that economic growth and increased trade are associated with higher carbon emissions. These results underscore the importance of promoting environmentally friendly technological innovation and sustainable development while cautioning policymakers to carefully consider the potential benefits of service trade restrictions. The research also highlights the challenges of achieving a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, urging the adoption of sustainable practices to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts of GDP growth. Policymakers, environmental organizations, and researchers can use this study's findings to inform effective climate change mitigation efforts.