The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and Machine Learning (ML) technologies has transformed precision agriculture by enabling data-driven, adaptive, and efficient farming practices. IoT sensors provide continuous, high-resolution monitoring of critical agricultural parameters, including soil health, crop growth, and environmental conditions. Coupled with advanced ML algorithms, this data facilitates predictive analytics and real-time decision-making, optimizing resource utilization for irrigation, pest control, and yield prediction. Recent innovations, such as edge computing, Reinforcement Learning (RL), and Transfer Learning, have further enhanced the scalability and adaptability of IoT-ML systems, enabling dynamic responses to complex agricultural challenges. This review synthesizes evidence from case studies and emerging applications to illustrate the potential of IoT-ML integration in driving sustainable agricultural development. Highlighted examples include IoT-enabled irrigation systems achieving over 30% water savings and RL-driven automation for efficient pest and disease management. Despite significant progress, barriers such as high initial investment costs, connectivity limitations, and data integration challenges hinder widespread adoption, particularly in resource-constrained regions. The study provides a comprehensive evaluation of IoT-ML applications, explores strategies to address implementation hurdles, and outlines a roadmap for scaling these technologies globally. By advancing precision agriculture through technological innovation, this integration represents a critical pathway toward enhancing food security, reducing environmental footprints, and promoting resilient agricultural systems.

Effective management of health crises requires public health preparedness and response, especially in urban settings where the complexity and scope of catastrophes provide considerable challenges. The integration of project management frameworks with public health policies is highlighted in this review, which investigates the optimization of emergency response systems using a project management methodology. The adoption of cutting-edge technologies that improve real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and resource allocation such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things (Io-T) is one of the main topics covered. The assessment also discusses how crucial it is to take ethics into account when making decisions, how to distribute resources fairly, and how to actively engage communities to build resilience. Technological and tool innovations in project management are emphasized as critical to enhancing response times and accommodating changing circumstances. The review also emphasizes the necessity of ongoing learning and development based on prior experiences to improve preparedness tactics and overall efficacy. Public health systems can respond to urban health emergencies in a more coordinated, equitable, and efficient manner by combining these components, which will eventually improve outcomes and resilience in impacted populations.

Introduction: Thermal energy systems (TES) have been foundational to global industrialization and power generation, with fossil fuel-based technologies providing nearly 81% of the global primary energy supply as of 2024. However, their dependence on finite resources and low conversion efficiencies, often below 40% in conventional steam power plants, has led to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for over 35% of global CO₂ output. The urgent need for sustainable, efficient, and low-carbon alternatives has prompted transformative innovations in TES over the past two decades, particularly in hybridization and digital optimization.Methods: This study employed the PRISMA methodology to systematically review 163 peer-reviewed articles published between 2004 and 2024. The analysis focused on trends and advancements in TES, including enhancements in Rankine cycle efficiency, deployment of advanced storage media such as phase change materials (PCMs), thermochemical options, nano-enhanced composites, and hybrid configurations integrating biomass, concentrated solar power (CSP), and photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems. Special emphasis was given to the role of digitalization, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), and digital twin technologies in optimizing TES performance.Results: The findings reveal substantial progress in TES modernization. Digital tools enabled real-time optimization, predictive maintenance, and adaptive control, improving system efficiency by 20%-35% and reducing downtime by up to 40% in pilot projects. Waste heat recovery technologies, notably organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) and thermoelectric generators (TEGs), achieved energy recovery efficiencies exceeding 80% for low- to medium-grade heat streams. Modular and containerized TES solutions demonstrated effectiveness in decentralized applications, reducing post-harvest losses by up to 30% in agriculture and improving vaccine cold chain reliability in sub-Saharan Africa by over 50%. Furthermore, integration with electrochemical storage and green hydrogen pathways has positioned TES at the core of multi-vector decarbonized energy platforms.Discussion: The review underscores that the future of TES will be defined by interdisciplinary research and development, advanced material innovation, particularly nanostructured composites, and supportive regulatory frameworks. Hybrid renewable integration and digitalization are central to achieving Paris Agreement goals, enhancing energy security, and promoting global energy equity. The transition toward intelligent, low-carbon thermal networks reflects not only technological evolution but also a paradigm shift essential for long-term sustainability.

Epidemic outbreaks of infectious diseases in conflict zones are complex threats to public health and humanitarian activities that require creativity approaches of reducing their damage. This narrative review focuses on the technology intersection with infectious disease response in conflict zones, and complexity of healthcare infrastructure, population displacement, and security risks. This narrative review explores how conflict-related destruction is harmful towards healthcare systems and the impediments to disease surveillance and response activities. In this regards, the review also considered the contributions of technological innovations, such as the improvement of epidemiological surveillance, mobile health (mHealth) technologies, genomic sequencing, and surveillance technologies, in strengthening infectious disease management in conflict settings. Ethical issues related to data privacy, security and fairness are also covered. By advisement on policy that focuses on investment in surveillance systems, diagnostic capacity, capacity building, collaboration, and even ethical governance, stakeholders can leverage technology to enhance the response to infectious disease in conflict settings and, thus, protect the global health security. This review is full of information for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners who are dealing with the issues of infectious disease outbreaks in conflicts worn areas.

Geothermal energy has gained prominence as a sustainable solution for heating and cooling, driven by technological innovations and the growing global demand for energy efficiency. Geothermal systems, particularly ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs), exhibit high energy efficiency, with coefficients of performance (COP) ranging from 3.5 to 6.0, while deep geothermal systems operate at temperatures of 50°C–200°C, supporting both power generation and large-scale heating applications. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) use hydraulic, chemical, and thermal stimulation to extract heat from low-permeability formations, significantly expanding the applicability of geothermal resources beyond traditional hotspots. Geothermal heat pumps are capable of achieving energy efficiency levels of 300%–600%, reducing CO₂ emissions by 50%–70% when compared to fossil fuel-based HVAC systems. However, installation costs for GSHPs range from $2,500 to $5,000 per kW, while deep geothermal systems require higher capital investments. Despite these initial costs, operational expenses remain competitive at $0.01–$0.03 per kWh, and geothermal plants exhibit high-capacity factors of 70%–90%, outperforming solar (20%–30%) and wind (30%–50%) in terms of energy production consistency. The return on investment (ROI) for geothermal systems typically occurs within 5–15 years, depending on location and system scale. The integration of smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT), further enhances the efficiency of geothermal energy systems by enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and load forecasting, optimizing overall performance and longevity. Hybrid systems, combining geothermal energy with solar, wind, and thermal energy storage, improve grid stability and further enhance energy efficiency. Despite challenges such as geological constraints, high initial costs, and regulatory barriers, policy frameworks and government incentives play a vital role in promoting the expansion of geothermal energy. The global geothermal capacity surpassed 16 GW in 2023 and is projected to exceed 24 GW by 2030, with significant deployments in countries like the U.S., Indonesia, Kenya, the Philippines, and Turkey. Notable geothermal projects include the Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant (800 MW, Kenya), The Geysers (1.5 GW, United States), Hellisheidi (303 MW electricity, 400 MW thermal, Iceland), and the Yangbajain Geothermal Power Station in China (25.5 MW and 100 GWh annual generation). As nations aim for carbon neutrality and energy security, geothermal energy is poised to play a crucial role in achieving sustainable energy transitions and mitigating climate change.

Over the last several years, the gut microbiota–brain axis has been the focus of medical study, demonstrating the bidirectional nature of gut and brain communication and the resulting influence on neurological and mental health. Trillions of microorganisms, particularly those found in the gastrointestinal tract, contribute the most to the pathophysiology recovery of organs that are critical to human health, such as digestive processes and metabolism, immune responses, and even cognitive function. Dysbiosis (a disturbance in the microbiome balance) has been identified as one of the risk factors for neuropsychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Therapeutic strategies aimed at the gut microbiota, such as probiotics, dietary modifications, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, will eventually offer ways to alleviate symptoms associated with these disorders by restoring microbial balance, modulating the immune response, and influencing the production of major neurotransmitters. Innovative drug carriers, such as microbially-derived nanoparticles and probiotics that target particular parts of the gut or microbial communities, may improve pharmaceutical treatment efficacy and specificity. The resolution of difficulties such as ethical concerns, unexpected repercussions, and peak performance optimization in a clinical setting is critical for the advancement of this subject.