Search Results (20,738)

Hypersaline environments are unique ecosystems harboring specialized microbial communities with significant biotechnological potential. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the taxonomic diversity and functional potential of two Tunisian salterns, Abbassia (Kerkennah) and Thyna (Sfax), using an integrated approach that combines 16S/18S rRNA gene amplicons (Illumina and full-length Nanopore) with shotgun metagenomics. Taxonomic profiling revealed a high species richness (S ≈ 1250 taxa); however, the Abbassia site was characterized by extreme taxonomic polarization, with over 95% of the community dominated by specialized halophilic Bacillota (Salinicoccus and Jeotgalicoccus). In contrast, Thyna exhibited a more even distribution dominated by Pseudomonadota and methanogenic Archaea. Beyond taxonomy, functional annotation via the HUMAnN 3.0 pipeline identified site-specific metabolic specializations. Abbassia was enriched in biosynthetic pathways and robust stress-response mechanisms, including ectoine biosynthesis and ppGpp-mediated stringent response, reflecting adaptation to stable hypersaline conditions. Conversely, Thyna’s microbiome prioritized energy extraction and nutrient recycling, with a high abundance of fermentation and glyoxylate cycle pathways. These findings demonstrate that environmental filtering shapes not only the microbial structure but also the metabolic landscape, highlighting the ecological plasticity of microbial life in extreme Tunisian salterns. Full article

Hypoxia is a prevalent pathophysiological condition. Prolonged exposure to hypobaric hypoxia can lead to maladaptation, increasing the risk of chronic hypoxic diseases such as high-altitude polycythemia (HAPC). Dauricine, an alkaloid derived from the root of Menispermum dauricum DC, has been demonstrated to possess anti-hypoxic properties; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, a potential multi-target anti-hypoxic mechanism of dauricine was proposed and computationally evaluated using an integrated approach combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Common targets between dauricine and hypoxia-related genes were identified through network pharmacology screening. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify core targets, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. Molecular docking was subsequently employed to evaluate the binding affinities between dauricine and the candidate core targets, while molecular dynamics simulations were performed to assess the dynamic stability of the resulting complexes. Additionally, the drug-likeness and safety profiles of dauricine were assessed. The results suggest that dauricine may exert its anti-hypoxic effects by modulating candidate core targets, including ESR1, PIK3CA, and MTOR, and by acting on key signaling pathways such as PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and mTOR. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the further investigation of dauricine as a multi-target candidate for intervention in hypoxia and establishes a bioinformatics basis for subsequent experimental validation. Full article

Developing a Pueraria lobata compound beverage is of great significance for enhancing the utilization value of Pueraria lobata resources. However, its flavor balance, physical stability, and quality changes during storage require further investigation. This study aimed to develop a high-quality Pueraria lobata compound beverage and establish a reliable shelf-life prediction model. The optimal formulation was determined using orthogonal design and multi-index evaluation, including extract stock solution, mogroside, citric acid, and a composite stabilizer consisting of xanthan gum (XG) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na). GC-MS analysis identified multiple volatile compounds collectively forming the characteristic flavor profile. During storage, physicochemical properties, sensory quality, and active component contents changed to varying extents, with deterioration significantly accelerated at higher temperatures. Among the quality indicators, Zeta potential was selected as the most suitable predictor because it showed a strong correlation with sensory scores and fitted the first-order kinetic model well. Based on the established Arrhenius-based prediction model, the predicted shelf-lives of the Pueraria lobata compound beverage at 4 °C, 27 °C, and 37 °C were 193, 104, and 82 days, respectively. These findings provide a solid theoretical basis for formulation design, stability improvement, and shelf-life evaluation of functional Pueraria lobata beverages. Full article

Material selection in architectural design necessitates a multifaceted evaluation of economic, technical, esthetic, and cultural variables. Beyond fundamental requirements such as cost, structural integrity, and transparency, architects must synthesize subjective attributes, including warmth and formality, with objective constraints like multifunctionality and cultural heritage. Despite the strategic impact of material choice on project performance, empirical research systematically categorizing these governing criteria remains sparse. Furthermore, existing methodologies often overlook the psychophysical principles of human perception essential for construction material evaluation. Thus, this study identifies the fundamental factors influencing material selection and establishes a hierarchical framework to prioritize their relative significance within the design process. The research employs a weighted Analytic Hierarchy Process integrated with the Weber–Fechner law (W-AHP) to structure and quantify selection criteria. By incorporating perceptual scaling principles into the AHP framework, the methodology accounts for variations in judgment sensitivity across different evaluation scales. A hierarchical decision model was developed to categorize criteria and sub-criteria, followed by pairwise comparisons to derive priority weights. Results reveal a distinct priority hierarchy among the identified criteria and confirm that judgment sensitivity varies significantly across evaluation scales. The W-AHP method produced differentiated weightings that accurately reflect the psychological intensity of professional decision-making, offering a structured mechanism to balance functional performance with complex design intentions. This study contributes to the field of construction management by introducing the W-AHP method as a novel decision-support tool. The integration of Weber–Fechner perceptual principles enhances weight differentiation and addresses the inherent subjectivity of architectural evaluation, providing a transparent methodology to justify material procurement within a rigorous engineering management context. Full article

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI), often referred to as “chemobrain,” is a common and sometimes persistent consequence of cancer treatment, characterized by deficits in memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed; it disproportionately affects older adults and women, suggesting a role for aging- and sex-related biological factors, including estrogen depletion. This work examines the potential of dietary phenolic compounds as multi-target modulators of mechanisms underlying CICI. A narrative synthesis of preclinical and clinical evidence was conducted, focusing on major phenolic subclasses (flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes, lignans, and secoiridoids) and their effects on pathways implicated in chemotherapy-related neurotoxicity. The reviewed data indicate that phenolic compounds can influence redox balance, neuroinflammatory responses, mitochondrial function, synaptic plasticity, and estrogen-related signaling, with effects that appear to be structure-dependent; however, evidence remains heterogeneous and largely derived from experimental models rather than studies in humans. Overall, the current findings suggest that selected phenolic compounds could mitigate vulnerability to CICI, particularly in higher risk groups such as older individuals and women with low estrogen levels. These compounds represent promising and safe adjunctive strategies, although further well-designed clinical studies are needed to confirm their efficacy and clarify the underlying mechanisms. Full article

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, playing a critical role in the pathogenesis of various cardiomyopathies, including hypertrophic, dilated, diabetic, ischemic, doxorubicin-induced, and septic cardiomyopathy, as well as myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury. This article provides a comprehensive narrative review of the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis—centered on dysregulation of the GPX4/System Xc⁻ axis, iron metabolism, and lipid metabolism—and its role in cardiovascular diseases, with a specific focus on the cardioprotective effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Through a systematic analysis of recent literature, we highlight active components (e.g., baicalin, ginsenoside Rg3, resveratrol, tanshinone IIA), compound formulations (e.g., Qishen Granule, Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu Capsule), and electroacupuncture therapy, which exert effects via multi-target regulation of ferroptosis-related pathways such as Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4, p53/SLC7A11, and PI3K/AKT. Evidence indicates that TCM interventions effectively alleviate cardiomyocyte ferroptosis by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway to upregulate GPX4/SLC7A11, modulating iron metabolism to reduce labile iron pools, and inhibiting ACSL4/ALOX15-mediated lipid peroxidation, with these effects validated in diverse cardiovascular disease models showing improved cardiac function. Targeting ferroptosis offers a novel therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular diseases, and TCM—with its synergistic multi-component, multi-target, multi-pathway advantages—holds significant potential in this context. Future research should prioritize elucidating complex network mechanisms and advancing clinical translation via high-quality studies to provide new theoretical foundations and drug candidates for cardiovascular disease management. Full article

Effective project selection is a critical determinant of success for Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), particularly in automotive environments defined by high technical complexity and constrained resources. Because these selection tasks involve competing priorities, they are fundamentally multi-criteria decision-making (MCDA) problems that directly impact a company’s economic performance. This paper proposes a hybrid decision-support framework that integrates the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with a normalized scoring model. In this approach, classical AHP pairwise comparisons are used to derive consistent criteria weights, while project alternatives are evaluated on a 1–10 normalized scale to ensure the model remains scalable and practical for an industrial setting. The framework was empirically validated through a case study in an automotive company evaluating twelve DFSS project concepts. The results reveal that experts prioritize Product Quality (33%) and Cost/Functionality (33%) above all other factors, with these two criteria accounting for 66% of the total decision weight. Furthermore, the study established classification rules where projects scoring above 7.2 showed high implementation potential, while those below 5.2 were frequently discontinued. This structured approach enables a transparent and justifiable prioritization process that supports economic and operational sustainability by significantly reducing wasted engineering hours and prototype costs. Full article

Ecological carrying capacity (ECC) is a vital indicator for regional sustainable development, reflecting an ecosystem’s support for human activities while maintaining core functions. Research on ECC has largely focused on static assessment, while exploration of dynamic prediction has been relatively limited. This study constructed a comprehensive evaluation system using the AHP-EW model with multidimensional indicators and developed a CAXO hybrid model for multi-scenario ECC projection of China. ECC patterns were classified into five levels, with SHAP and LIME adopted to interpret ECC changes. The results show that China’s ECC exhibits a “high in the southeast and low in the northwest” spatial pattern and has improved continuously from 2000 to 2020, with the proportion of Level V areas increasing from 10.86% to 14.61%. Significant regional disparities exist, with more favorable ECC conditions east of the Hu Huanyong Line and poorer conditions in the west. The CAXO model achieves reliable performance (OA = 90.01%, Kappa = 87.11%) and outperforms traditional models. SHAP analysis identifies NDVI (2.17) as the most critical driving factor, followed by soil moisture (0.53) and precipitation (0.52), while LIME reveals heterogeneous factor contributions across ECC levels. Northwestern China faces severe ecological constraints (Level I: 53.96%), whereas eastern China exhibits the optimal ECC status (Level V: 70.07%). Multi-scenario projections to 2050 show that Level V areas will reach 28.22% under SSP1-2.6, Level III will account for 27.70% under SSP2-4.5, and Level I will rise to 22.44% under SSP5-8.5. The proposed ECC framework and CAXO model provide scientific support for ecological security early warning and sustainable development policy-making. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) path planning for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) in typical marine operating conditions presents high-dimensional, non-convex optimization challenges due to undulating seabed topography, underwater threat sources, and coupled multi-physical constraints. Existing studies lack multi-strategy collaborative optimization mechanisms specifically designed for UUV 3D marine navigation constraints, thereby hindering the simultaneous achievement of real-time performance, safety, and energy efficiency in path planning. This paper first develops a comprehensive multi-dimensional cost function based on the dynamic characteristics of UUV underwater 3D navigation, operational rules for typical marine operating conditions, and safe navigation requirements through mathematical modeling, thereby formally transforming the UUV 3D path planning problem in typical marine operating conditions into a multi-constrained nonlinear global optimization problem. To address this challenge, an Adaptive Cooperative WMA (ACWMA) is proposed. The key improvements include: (i) an adaptive parameter switching and Lévy flight disturbance mechanism to balance exploration and exploitation capabilities; (ii) an optimal value leadership strategy to accelerate convergence; and (iii) a team collaborative learning mechanism to enhance population optimization efficiency. Algorithm benchmark performance is validated using the CEC 2017 standard test suite, while comparative and ablation experiments are conducted in multi-gradient complex marine 3D scenarios. The statistical significance of the algorithm performance improvement is verified using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The proposed ACWMA achieves a significant performance improvement of 8.71% over the suboptimal WMA in terms of core performance metrics and generates low-energy-consumption 3D paths that satisfy multiple constraints. These findings provide valuable engineering insights for 3D path planning in UUV autonomous operations within typical marine operating conditions. Full article

Changsha’s historic district, a key part of China’s Historic and Cultural Cities, faces the challenge of balancing spatial constraints and historical preservation while optimizing its existing infrastructure. The public service facilities in Changsha’s historic district are the subject of this study. The study goes beyond traditional facility classification techniques and divides these facilities into four categories: medical and welfare, cultural and historical, education and sports, and environmental sanitation. It is based on field research and multi-source geospatial data and considers a variety of factors, including the distribution of cultural resources, traditional living zones, historic street networks, and cultural and tourism functions of the historic district. Based on this foundation, we propose a configuration evaluation framework that encompasses three dimensions—“spatiality, accessibility, and relatedness”—to systematically analyze the spatial distribution of facilities, walkability, and the community network structure by integrating kernel density, accessibility, and modularity algorithms. The results offer methodological guidance and practical support for facility planning research in the context of historic and cultural city preservation, as well as a scientific foundation for the focused optimization and renovation of public service facilities in historic districts. Full article

Cracks are among the most common pavement distresses, and their timely detection is crucial for road maintenance. Existing methods struggle to completely capture elongated and irregular cracks, often resulting in fragmented detection outputs, which leads to the inaccurate assessment of crack length and affects the reliability of pavement condition evaluation. To address this issue, this paper proposes a dual-path crack segmentation network that integrates CNN and Transformers. The CNN branch incorporates a dynamic multi-branch convolution module to enhance the directional perception and structural modeling of elongated cracks. The Transformer branch employs a lightweight DCNv4 module to replace traditional self-attention mechanisms, effectively capturing long-range dependencies while reducing computational complexity. A multi-path fusion module is designed to achieve the collaborative enhancement of dual-path features, improving the semantic representation of continuous crack regions. Additionally, a combined loss function of BCE and Dice is adopted to alleviate the severe class imbalance between crack and background pixels, further improving the completeness of crack segmentation. Experiments on four datasets, including CFD, DeepCrack537, Gaps384, and Crack500, demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms all compared methods in terms of F-score and mIoU. Ablation studies further validate the effectiveness of the dual-path architecture and its key modules in improving performance. Furthermore, in field validation on real road scenarios, the pavement condition index (PCI) calculated based on the proposed method shows an average deviation of only 0.81 compared to manually interpreted ground truth, demonstrating the practical value of continuous crack detection for pavement maintenance assessment. Full article

Bird feathers possess functions such as water resistance, thermal insulation, and air permeability, providing inspiration for the design of functional fabrics. Based on the functional differentiation of different feather regions and the structural constraints associated with these functions, this study selected down feathers, feather vanes, hooklets, and fluffy feather filament node structures as biomimetic prototypes. Four biomimetic knitted structures were designed for outdoor environments with significant temperature fluctuations and for the thermo-moisture comfort needs of older adults. Through macro- and micro-structural feature extraction, three-dimensional modeling, and experimental testing, a multi-parameter evaluation system covering water resistance, thermal resistance, thermal insulation rate, air permeability, moisture vapor transmission, and moisture management was established to systematically evaluate the thermo-moisture regulation performance of the fabrics. The results showed that each structure exhibited distinct performance advantages: Structure 1 demonstrated the best thermal insulation performance; Structure 2 showed relatively superior water resistance and outstanding air permeability; Structure 4 exhibited relatively superior moisture vapor transmission and moisture management performance; and Structure 3 achieved the highest gray relational optimality value, indicating a relatively balanced thermo-moisture regulation capability. Among all performance indicators, air permeability showed the highest correlation with the knitted structures. Based on these results, and considering regional differences in heat generation and sweating across different body parts of older adults, this study further explored zonal application strategies for elderly outdoor clothing to improve wearing comfort and functionality under environments with fluctuating thermal conditions. Full article

Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) with Cyclic Queuing and Forwarding (CQF) is a critical mechanism for ensuring deterministic forwarding. However, existing incremental schedulers typically rely on single-dimensional heuristics, which fail to address the coupled impact of traffic characteristics and spatiotemporal resource distribution. This limitation leads to suboptimal scheduling success, especially under complex topologies and high network loads. To address this, we propose TMCOA–MFS, a joint incremental scheduling framework that integrates the Triple-Mode Cooperative Optimization Algorithm (TMCOA) with a Multi-Feature Scheduling (MFS) strategy. The logic of our approach is twofold: First, to balance spatial resource distribution, we introduce the TMCOA—inspired by table-tennis offensive–defensive behaviors—to optimize path selection by minimizing port-load variance and escaping local optima through a three-mode population partition. Second, building upon the optimized spatial paths, the MFS strategy is employed to resolve temporal scheduling conflicts. By computing a composite priority score that accounts for path hops, offset configuration difficulty, and flow size, MFS enables a robust incremental offset search with integrated feasibility checking. Extensive simulations on benchmark functions and diverse TSN scenarios demonstrate that the TMCOA offers superior convergence and stability. More importantly, the integrated TMCOA–MFS framework significantly enhances scheduling success rates and load balancing, effectively overcoming the bottlenecks of high-load and topologically complex environments. Full article

Somali refugee mothers navigating parenting in the United States face compounding challenges that extend well beyond the initial resettlement period. This study employed a multi-method qualitative design, including utilizing a focus group and follow-up key informant interviews with Somali refugee mothers. Thematic framework analysis identified three overarching domains of challenges and resilience. First, a pervasive deficit of functional literacy, defined as the practical capacity to navigate American institutional systems, emerged as the primary stressor, superseding material poverty as a barrier to daily functioning. Second, significant intergenerational tensions were documented, including role reversal between mothers and children, erosion of parental authority, and breakdown of the traditional expectations that adult children provide financial and social support to aging parents. Third, single motherhood amplified all other stressors, producing progressive role strain and mental health decline in the absence of extended family support. Despite these challenges, participants demonstrated substantial resilience through informal mutual aid networks, religious practice, and deliberate cultural and linguistic preservation. Findings have direct implications for the design of culturally responsive resettlement programming, family counseling services, and mental health interventions for Somali refugee populations. Full article

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID-19 syndrome (LC) show substantial clinical overlap, but direct comparative microbiome studies remain limited. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we compared the fecal gut microbiome of patients with ME/CFS, LC, and healthy controls (HC) within a unified analytical framework using 16S rRNA profiling, differential abundance testing, and multivariate modeling. We also examined associations between microbiome variation and questionnaire-derived symptom-domain scores. Results: Alpha-diversity did not differ significantly among groups, whereas beta-diversity analyses showed small but significant disease-associated community differences with broad overlap between cohorts. Differential abundance analysis identified stronger signals in disease-versus-control contrasts than in the direct ME/CFS vs. LC contrast. Both ME/CFS and LC shared enrichment of Sutterella and depletion of Terrisporobacter and Lachnospiraceae relative to HC. Predicted functional profiling showed shared disease-versus-control changes in pathways related to anaerobic acetate/H₂ carbon flow, inositol/polyol degradation, phosphonate/C1-related metabolism, and lysine-derived fermentation. Regression analyses showed the strongest microbiome associations with fatigue-related and physiosomatic domains, while affective, cognitive, and gastrointestinal outcomes showed weaker signals. Conclusions: Overall, these findings support the presence of overlapping but non-identical gut microbiome alterations in ME/CFS and LC. The results provide a basis for future longitudinal and multi-omics studies aimed at clarifying the stability, functional relevance, and clinical utility of these microbial patterns. Full article