Sci

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is biologically heterogeneous and associated with poor outcomes. Although oxidative stress contributes to AML pathogenesis, the prognostic value of related biomarkers remains uncertain. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate associations between oxidative stress-related biomarkers and prognosis in adults with AML, focusing on overall survival (OS), complete remission (CR), relapse, relapse-free survival (RFS), event-free survival (EFS), and early mortality. Methods: This PRISMA-compliant systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261364956). MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Science Citation Index, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP were searched from January 2015 through 31 July 2026. Eligible studies included adults with AML, oxidative stress-related biomarkers measured in biological samples, and extractable prognostic data. Risk of bias was assessed using QUIPS and certainty of evidence using GRADE. Results: Thirteen of 537 records met the inclusion criteria; 203 supplementary reports yielded no additional studies. Investigated biomarkers included ROS-related phenotypes, antioxidant and redox-regulatory genes, glutathione metabolism, iron/inflammation-related markers, and oxidative DNA damage indicators. Adverse outcomes were associated with ROS-related phenotypes, combined ROS/aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, GPX3, GSTP1, ferritin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-albumin ratio, SOD1, and glutathione-related metabolic profiles. Conclusions: These biomarkers may have prognostic value, particularly for OS, but heterogeneity limits clinical application. Standardized validation and integration into applicable risk models are required. Full article

Human adaptation to diverse climates has played a major role in shaping human evolution. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is central to energy production and thermogenesis; however, the respective contributions of the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes to climate adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, we analyzed 1901 genomes from 19 global populations to investigate positive selection across 13 mitochondrial and 78 nuclear OXPHOS genes. We identified 19 candidate amino acid positions under positive selection in seven mitochondrial genes and 103 candidate SNPs under positive selection in 20 nuclear genes. Climate association analyses revealed significant associations between climatic variables and candidate mitochondrial and nuclear variants. Notably, candidate nuclear SNPs occurred almost exclusively in non-coding regions, and 96 of the 103 variants have been previously reported as cis-eQTLs, suggesting that recent adaptive variation may have involved changes in gene regulation in addition to protein sequence variation. We also tested for statistical associations between mitochondrial amino acid variants and candidate nuclear SNPs; although 78 nominal associations were observed, none remained significant after correction for multiple testing. Several mitochondrial and nuclear variants have been previously reported in association with metabolic, neurological, and cardiovascular phenotypes. Overall, our findings highlight associations between climatic variation and mitochondrial and nuclear OXPHOS variation, as well as possible genetic interactions between mitochondrial and nuclear variants, providing new insights into the evolution of the OXPHOS system during recent human evolution. Full article

This study evaluates four granular sub-bases for pavement applications under Colombian conditions. A natural granular sub-base with a nominal maximum aggregate size of approximately 38 mm (i.e., GSB38) served as the control. Three modified mixtures comprised (i) 90% GSB38 with 5% Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) and 5% Crumb Rubber (CR), (ii) 80% GSB38 with 10% RCA and 10% CR, and (iii) 70% GSB38 with 15% RCA and 15% CR. Thus, these formulations represented total recycled contents of 10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively, calculated on a dry-mass basis. Particle size distribution, standard Proctor compaction, Los Angeles abrasion, and four-day soaked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests were performed, and results were evaluated against Colombian specifications. An attributional cradle-to-gate Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) with a one-tonne functional unit used SimaPro 9.4, Ecoinvent 3.9, and TRACI 2.1. All formulations complied with gradation, compaction, and abrasion requirements. As recycled content increased, optimum moisture content rose from 7.695% to 9.001%, maximum dry density fell from 2.388 to 2.072 g/cm³, and abrasion loss rose from 42.0% to 45.5%. Design CBR responded nonmonotonically, with design CBR values of 44.4%, 24.9%, 59.3%, and 90.1% for formulations with 0, 10, 20, and 30% total recycled material content, respectively. The 10% formulation failed the minimum CBR criterion, whereas the other mixtures met the high-traffic requirement. All recycled formulations reduced all considered environmental indicators; for example, the 30% recycled-content mixture decreased ozone depletion by 20.199% and global warming potential by 3.501%. Overall, the sub-base formulations with 20% and 30% of total recycled content showed strong technical and environmental potential, although replicated testing and field validation remain necessary. Full article

This work presents the experimental validation of proportional–integral (PI) controller gains for a DC–DC boost converter obtained using two metaheuristic optimization algorithms: Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Lungs Performance Optimization (LPO). The controller gains were previously determined through a simulation-based optimization procedure in which the proportional and integral gains were selected by minimizing a performance-based objective function incorporating settling time and overshoot. In the present study, the optimized gains are implemented in a physical boost converter prototype and experimentally evaluated under varying operating conditions. Their performance is compared with that of a conventional PI controller tuned using the Root Locus method. The experimental results demonstrate stable output-voltage regulation for all evaluated controllers. Under the investigated conditions, the controllers tuned using the metaheuristic approaches exhibit dynamic responses comparable to those obtained with the conventional tuning method. These results provide experimental evidence supporting the applicability of metaheuristic optimization for PI controller tuning in power electronic converters. Full article

The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) has emerged as a major One Health concern due to their increasing detection in human tissues and biological fluids. Within an integrated One Health research program, analytical workflows were developed to detect MPs across biological matrices. Kidney stones represent an unexplored pathological biomineral that may preserve evidence of long-term exposure. This pilot study evaluated the application of a Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (µ-FTIR) workflow for detecting MPs in human kidney stones. Sixty kidney stone samples were examined for MPs. Suspected particles identified by stereomicroscopy were chemically characterized by µ-FTIR. Particles were detected in 8 of 60 kidney stone samples. µ-FTIR analysis identified confirmed polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyurethane (PU) particles. Additional particles showed absorption bands compatible with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This study demonstrates the applicability of a µ-FTIR workflow for detecting MPs in pathological biominerals and provides preliminary evidence of their presence in kidney stones. These findings support the use of kidney stones as a novel matrix for One Health biomonitoring and provide a methodological basis for future studies integrating urine, organoids, and multi-omics approaches to investigate the biological significance of microplastic exposure. Full article

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is characterized by exceptional compressive strength; however, its structural performance is primarily governed by tensile behavior, fracture resistance, and energy dissipation. This study presents a comprehensive mechanical characterization of a steel fiber-reinforced UHPC incorporating a slag–limestone powder-based binder system with a low water-to-binder ratio of 0.15 and steam curing at 90 °C for 48 h. The experimental program comprised compressive strength, flexural behavior, split and direct tensile response, impact energy absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and an assessment of specimen size and geometry effects. The UHPC achieved mean compressive strengths of approximately 209 and 218 MPa at 7 and 28 days, respectively, in 75 × 150 mm cylindrical specimens, indicating only modest strength development after the initial steam-curing period. Smaller cube specimens exhibited higher nominal compressive strengths, reaching approximately 221 and 227 MPa at 7 and 28 days, respectively, demonstrating a measurable but limited specimen-size effect. Flexural testing produced an average strength of 33.1 MPa and a stable post-peak response, although no strain hardening in bending was observed. Split tensile strength reached approximately 16.1 MPa, exceeding that of conventional normal-strength concrete by more than four times. Direct tensile tests demonstrated an intrinsically ductile response, with tensile strengths above 10.9 MPa and strain capacities of 0.25–0.30%, including a pronounced strain-hardening regime. Under drop-weight impact loading, specimens absorbed more than 40 J of energy without catastrophic fragmentation. Ultrasonic pulse velocity averaged 5344 m/s, indicating a dense and well-integrated microstructure. Overall, the results confirm that the investigated UHPC functions as a fracture-resistant structural composite in which tensile capacity, fiber-controlled crack bridging, and energy dissipation govern performance across multiple loading modes. Full article

Livestock production occupies a paradoxical position with respect to climate change: farm animals are highly vulnerable to heat stress, feed and water scarcity, and climate-sensitive disease, while the sector contributes an estimated 14.5% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, most of which is biogenic methane from enteric fermentation. This review evaluates the evidence for precision livestock farming (PLF)—continuous, automated, real-time monitoring of individual animals’ health, welfare, production and environmental impact—across dairy and beef cattle, small ruminants, pigs, and poultry. For mitigation, precision feeding and additive-dosing strategies have been associated with enteric methane reductions of approximately 10–25%; for adaptation, wearable and non-invasive sensors have been reported to detect heat-stress-related behavioural changes before productivity losses become apparent, and smart climate-control systems have been associated with housing energy-use reductions of roughly 5–10%. Much of this evidence derives from single-farm, small-sample or short-duration studies and should be read as indicative rather than generalisable. Adoption remains constrained by high investment costs, limited interoperability, insufficient technical support, and uneven applicability to extensive and smallholder systems. We conclude that PLF is a valuable enabling technology that, combined with genetic, nutritional, and management strategies, can strengthen the resilience and environmental sustainability of livestock systems under a changing climate. Full article

Background: The optical losses in the form of reflections, parasitic absorption, and scattering limit photovoltaic efficiency. This review examines plasma-assisted surface engineering as an effective tool for improving light management in solar cells. Plasma-based methods, including etching, oxidation, deposition, and texturing, enable precise control of surface morphology and chemistry, lowering reflectance, enhancing light trapping, and passivating defects. Methods: In contrast to wet-chemical or high-temperature processes, plasma processes are dry, low-temperature, scalable, and can be used with silicon, perovskite, thin-film, and organic solar cells, as well as tandem structures. The fundamentals of optical losses are described, along with the principles of radio-frequency (RF), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), microwave, and atmospheric plasma systems and their distinctive advantages for controlling ion and reactive-species generation. Key applications reviewed include black-silicon texturing by ICP reactive-ion etching (ICP-RIE), anti-reflective/passivation coatings by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and interface activation by atmospheric plasma. Results: Among performance improvements are a reflectance of less than 2%, a photocurrent increase of 10–20%, and longer carrier lifetime. Conclusions: The advantages of plasma compared to lithography and sol–gel processes are in the precision and affordability of the method. The difficulties include damage caused by the processing, uniformity over extensive areas, and environmental stress resistance. Future directions rely on low-temperature plasmas for flexible PV, machine-learning-guided process optimization, and hybrid plasma–laser systems. This synthesis of otherwise fragmented studies is intended to support the implementation of plasma-based methods in next-generation, high-efficiency, and sustainable solar production. Full article

Background: Cluster headache is a severe primary headache disorder in which neuroimaging studies have suggested involvement of hypothalamic, limbic, and pain-related networks. Although hippocampal abnormalities have been reported in some studies, volumetric findings remain inconsistent and may depend on disease state, treatment exposure, chronicity, and imaging methodology. We explored whole hippocampus and hippocampal subfield volumes in medication-free patients with episodic cluster headache scanned interictally during an active bout. Methods: In this cross-sectional case–control study, 26 patients with episodic cluster headache (eCH) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent 3 T brain MRI. Patients were scanned during an active bout but outside acute headache attacks and had not received preventive treatment for at least three months before MRI acquisition. Automated hippocampus segmentation and subfield volumetry were performed using FreeSurfer 7.4.1, followed by visual quality control by two neuroradiologists. Group comparisons were adjusted for age, sex, and total intracranial volume. Multiple comparisons were addressed using Bonferroni correction for whole hippocampal volumes and false discovery rate (FDR) correction for subfield and clinical analyses. Results: No significant differences were detected between eCH patients and healthy controls in whole hippocampus or hippocampal subfield volumes after correction for multiple comparisons. Descriptive analyses showed numerically higher volumes in patients across several regions, but these effects were small to moderate and did not reach statistical significance. Exploratory analyses showed a nominal association between right fimbria volume and pain intensity; however, this association did not survive FDR correction. Conclusions: This study found no evidence of detectable hippocampal macrostructural differences in medication-free eCH patients scanned interictally during active bouts using 3 T MRI-based subfield volumetry. These null findings should not be interpreted as proof of preserved hippocampal structure, but rather as absence of measurable volumetric alterations within the limits of the present sample size, acquisition protocol, and analytical framework. Longitudinal and multimodal studies, including in-bout and out-of-bout assessments, higher-resolution imaging, and neuropsychological covariates, are needed to clarify whether hippocampal involvement in eCH is structural, microstructural, functional, or state-dependent. Full article

The accelerated deployment of electric vehicles requires planning tools able to quantify how much charging infrastructure can be integrated into distribution systems without violating operational constraints. This paper proposes a multi-scenario optimization framework for the siting and sizing of electric vehicle charging stations in radial distribution networks. The problem is formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model in which candidate-station slots, binary siting decisions, integer EV assignments, hourly power-flow constraints, voltage limits, thermal limits, charger power factor, and charging strategy are coordinated. The objective function combines hosting capacity maximization with active energy losses and voltage deviation terms through a scalarized formulation. Unmanaged and managed charging strategies are evaluated under weekday and weekend operating scenarios. Four adaptive population-based optimizers are analyzed under identical computational conditions: particle swarm optimization, a population-based genetic algorithm, JAYA, and the multi-verse optimizer. Monte Carlo random sampling is included separately as a non-adaptive baseline without memory or learning. The methodology is tested on a modified 33-bus distribution system using Colombian demand profiles and line-current limits. The campaign includes 720 cases and 7200 independent runs. In the 720-case stochastic campaign, the largest feasible solution serves 765 EVs, equivalent to 5.508 MW, with a minimum voltage of 0.9084 p.u. and a maximum loading of 99.83%. Statistical validation shows no significant Holm-adjusted pairwise differences among the adaptive algorithms in hosting capacity, while PSO provides the most robust feasibility behavior. Supplementary robustness analyses quantify the influence of candidate-site definition, objective scaling, voltage limits, base charging-power scale, and native-load growth. A complementary deterministic 69-bus assessment under a normalized branch-current envelope preserves the qualitative managed-versus-unmanaged trend, with feasible sequential allocations of 779 and 225 equivalent EV charging units, respectively. The proposed framework provides a reproducible basis for identifying robust EVCS locations, estimating hosting capacity, and quantifying tradeoffs among charging capacity, network losses, voltage performance, and computational effort. Full article

Antimony (Sb) nanopowder was synthesized using fine Sn powder as a reducing agent. The Sn powder was first produced by the chemical reduction of SnCl₂·2H₂O using commercial Al foil in acidic medium, yielding approximately 89% of the theoretical Sn yield. The resulting Sn powder exhibited a mean particle size of approximately 93 nm and a mean crystallite size of 57 nm, which promoted rapid reduction during Sb synthesis. Prior to synthesis, the composition of the Al foil was examined using SEM/EDS, confirming an Al-rich matrix containing minor Fe and Si impurities. High-purity Sb nanopowder was synthesized by reducing SbCl₃ in acetone at 50 °C under magnetic stirring and ultrasonic agitation, using the produced fine Sn powder as a reducing agent, achieving approximately 97% of the theoretical yield. SEM analysis revealed nearly spherical particles of black Sb nanoscale powder with the most frequent size falling within the 20–40 nm range and a mean particle size of approximately 32 nm. XRD analysis confirmed a trigonal Sb structure with a mean crystallite size of around 23 nm. For comparison, pellets prepared from synthesized Sb nanopowder and commercial Sb powder were compacted and sintered under identical conditions. Vickers microhardness measurements showed that the hardness of the sintered Sb nanopowder pellet was approximately 62% higher than that of the commercial Sb pellet. In addition, UV-Vis-NIR reflectance measurements (240–840 nm) demonstrated that the reflectance of the Sb nanopowder pellet was approximately three times higher than that of the commercial Sb pellet. These results demonstrate that fine Sn powder can serve as an efficient reducing agent for the synthesis of high-purity Sb nanopowder with enhanced mechanical and optical properties. Full article

The recovery of residual and previously unmined ore reserves near caving and active-displacement zones is complicated by increased ore loss, dilution, development requirements, support demand, and economic uncertainty. This study presents an exploratory economic–mathematical framework for scenario-based assessment and local ranking of mining alternatives at the Annenskaya Mine of the East Zhezkazgan deposit. The analysis uses 54 modelled scenarios representing distinct combinations of mine-specific geological, technological, and cost parameters rather than independently observed production blocks. The framework integrates material-and-value balance, a quadratic penalty-based scenario model, and a standardised second-order polynomial fitted using Lasso regularisation. The variables include orebody dip, thickness as a stratification factor, ore loss, dilution, displacement-zone conditions, and principal development, extraction, and support costs. Five-fold cross-validation selected λ = 10. The model achieved R² = 0.41 on the training set, whereas cross-validation yielded R²cv = −0.17, RMSE = USD 553,800, and MAE = USD 461,200. These results restrict the model to exploratory sensitivity analysis and local comparison. The positive-profit domain was widest at dip angles of 30–45° and narrowed at 50–51°. Hessian eigenvalues confirmed a saddle-shaped response surface without an unconstrained global maximum. Broader application requires recalibration, stronger baselines, continuous geomechanical indicators, and independent operational verification. Full article

This research examines the structural evolution of environmental assessment in Spain over a 35-year period (1991–2025), serving as a longitudinal case study for the transition of mid-sized developed economies from industrial-age infrastructure to a decarbonized energy model. The study introduces a novel approach by utilizing Environmental Assessment records to evaluate national strategic directions and quantify developmental intent via administrative proxies. The analysis utilizes a comparative quantitative study of Strategic Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments of national and supranational projects. Administrative trends were contextualized within major socio-economic and geopolitical events, including global financial crises, public health emergencies, and energy security developments, to identify potential external influences. The data reveals a paradigm shift. While the period 1991–2010 was dominated by grey infrastructure (transport and civil engineering), the post-2018 era shows an unprecedented increase in renewable energy dossiers. Between 2021 and 2025, energy projects dominated the regulatory workload, accounting for 73.86% of total processed dossiers, and reaching a single-year peak of 84.56% in 2022. National and international legal, economic, and social events, such as European Green Deal mandates and the NextGenerationEU recovery funds, have an apparent alignment with a country’s development strategy. We highlight the challenges and risks of such an exponential change in the energy model. For mid-sized developed economies, these findings suggest that Environmental Assessment data is an essential tool for navigating the complexities of rapid decarbonization and identifying systemic gaps in strategic planning. Full article

Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) have emerged as modifiable factors in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The aim was to evaluate the association between PA, SB, quality of life, and mortality in patients with CKD undergoing HD. This prospective study included 167 patients who were assessed in 2023 and followed until September 2024. The long version of the IPAQ was used to assess PA and SB, and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF 1.3) was used to evaluate health-related QoL. Survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meier curves, and a parsimonious Cox proportional hazards model. During the follow-up period, 15 patients (9.0%) died. Longer daily sitting time was independently associated with a higher mortality hazard (HR: 1.197; 95% CI: 1.026–1.396; p = 0.022), as was older age (HR: 1.055; 95% CI: 1.009–1.103; p = 0.019). MVPA was not significantly associated with mortality (HR: 1.217; 95% CI: 0.997–1.486; p = 0.054). The Active/Low SB profile showed the highest baseline QoL [median: 74.0 (IQR: 64.5–84.0)], whereas the Inactive/High SB profile showed the lowest QoL [median: 66.0 (IQR: 54.0–76.0)] and the highest mortality proportion (14.6%). However, mortality differences across the combined PA and SB profiles were not statistically significant and should be interpreted as exploratory. Baseline QoL differed significantly across profiles (p = 0.021). These findings identify prolonged sitting time as the main modifiable behavioral factor independently associated with all-cause mortality in patients undergoing HD, whereas MVPA was not independently associated with mortality. In contrast, physical activity and combined PA/SB profiles were more clearly related to health-related QoL, with the Active/Low SB profile showing the most favorable KDQOL-SF™ 1.3 scores. Therefore, reducing prolonged sedentary time may be particularly relevant to survival risk, while promoting appropriately tailored physical activity may contribute to better health-related QoL in this population. Full article

Glycogen storage disease Ib (GSD Ib) is an ultra-rare metabolic disease caused by variants in the SLC37A4 gene affecting activity of the glucose-6-phosphate transporter (G6PT). G6PT mediates transport of glucose-6 phosphate from the cytoplasm into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, thereby playing a key role in glucose homeostasis. To date, no approved therapies directly restore G6PT function, highlighting a major unmet need. Pharmacological chaperone (PC) therapies, including those targeting membrane transporters, are a known and clinically employed therapeutic strategy. The efficacy of PC therapy is highly dependent on the underlying pathogenic variant. While certain missense variants may respond favorably, particularly those associated with protein misfolding and residual function, null variants are generally considered unsuitable targets due to the absence of a protein that could be rescued. To the best of our knowledge, no previous review has systematically examined the global landscape of SLC37A4 variants. The aim of this review was to collect the spectrum and frequency of SLC37A4 variants reported worldwide and connect them with all available structural and functional data. In 425 GSD Ib patients, we found that approximately 10% of all variants are strong PC candidates and 14–30% are reasonable but lower-confidence candidates (other missense non-deactivating variants), while the rest are poor PC candidates (substrate-pocket variants) and null variants (nonsense, frameshift and splicing). Although functional studies are required to definitely validate PC-responsive missense variants in the SLC37A4 gene, our review suggests, for the first time, the existence of a minimal threshold at which a PC approach may become clinically relevant for GSD Ib patients. Full article

Spinal surgery involves highly complex procedures where the risk of severe complications, including postoperative infections, may compromise both surgical success and patient survival. In this study, functional coatings for spinal screws were developed to promote bone integration and simultaneously prevent infection. The coating design employed a multilayer architecture based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) as the main structural layer, covered with chitosan (CS), a biocompatible polymer that enhances surface interaction with both the metallic substrate and the active agents. To stimulate bone regeneration, calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) was incorporated, while antimicrobial efficacy was achieved by embedding PLGA-based polymeric microspheres encapsulating gentamicin sulfate, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. The obtained results confirmed the successful integration of all components, as evidenced by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, along with homogeneous surface morphologies observed via SEM analysis. Biological assays demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The developed coatings therefore exhibit strong potential as bioactive, dual-functional protective layers for spinal screws, providing both osteoconductive and antimicrobial properties. Full article

Botanical dietary supplements are widely used, and many are marketed for liver support. Yet product-specific prevalence data are limited, and composition, standardisation, authenticity, and safety vary substantially. This focused narrative review integrates clinical, regulatory, product quality, and analytical evidence, using milk thistle, artichoke leaf, turmeric, and green tea as case studies. Unlike ingredient-centred reviews, it links clinical interpretation to product identity, formulation, batch characterisation, and analytical decision-making. Searches updated to 3 August 2026 prioritised controlled human studies, primary regulatory sources, and fit-for-purpose analytical literature. The selected evidence was dominated by small or short trials, heterogeneous formulations, surrogate outcomes, and incomplete lot characterisation. It did not establish disease-modifying efficacy for any reviewed preparation. Bioavailability-enhanced turmeric products and concentrated green tea extracts show that plausible benefits can coexist with liver-injury risk. Product substitution, inaccurate labelling, contamination, undeclared co-ingredients, and microbiological non-conformity can further alter exposure. Because no single method is sufficient, complementary chemical, microbiological, molecular, and palynological analyses are integrated into a staged, qualitative, risk-based workflow, from product definition through confirmatory testing and action. Product- and lot-specific characterisation, transparent trial reporting, adverse-event investigation, and surveillance are required before broad liver-support claims can be sustained. Full article

Wastewater pathogen and chemical records differ in measurement meaning, sampling frequency, analytical context, and data support, which complicates record-level screening and interpretation. This study developed and internally examined Hotspot Finder, a transparent Python-based framework that represents each eligible record using Level, Trend, Jump, and Reliability scores. Pathogen Level and Trend were mapped from official Government of Canada categories, whereas chemical scores were calculated within compatible analyte, wastewater treatment plant, sample type or stream, and analytical-unit series. Jump represented categorical change from the most recent earlier valid observation, and Reliability represented rule-based evidence support. The final Hotspot score was the arithmetic mean of the four components. The most-recent outputs contained 104 pathogen records and 24,142 eligible chemical records, with mean scores of 61.57 and 53.73, respectively. A Montreal Influenza B record dated 1 March 2026 scored 90.00, while a PFBS influent record dated 10 April 2024 scored 76.25. Sensitivity analysis showed smaller effects from changing chemical Trend-history length than from altering percentage-change categories, Reliability rules, or alert boundaries. The framework provided reproducible calculations, separate pathogen and chemical rankings, and record-level traceability. It supports transparent screening but does not establish clinical, epidemiological, toxicological, regulatory, predictive, or end-user validity. Full article

This study examines how multiple dimensions of climate variability are associated with irrigation-related water productivity in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries over 2000–2023. Water productivity is measured as economic output generated per unit of freshwater withdrawal and is interpreted as an economy-wide proxy for water-use efficiency rather than a crop-specific biophysical measure. Using a balanced panel of 144 country-year observations, the study combines seven annual climate indicators from NASA POWER—temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration, relative humidity, soil moisture, wind speed, and solar radiation—with socioeconomic and agricultural indicators from the World Bank. A two-way fixed effects model is estimated with controls for agricultural land, rural population, renewable energy consumption, carbon emissions, GDP per capita, and agricultural employment. The results show that temperature, evapotranspiration, wind speed, and solar radiation are negatively associated with water productivity, whereas precipitation, relative humidity, and soil moisture are positively associated with it. Soil moisture and temperature display the largest estimated effects among the climate variables in the baseline specification. The analysis further finds that the estimated climate–water-productivity relationship differs in magnitude between the pre-COVID (2000–2019) and post-COVID (2020–2023) periods. Interaction models indicate that soil moisture, precipitation, and relative humidity partially moderate the adverse effects of temperature and evapotranspiration. These findings remain broadly stable across alternative dependent variables, lagged climate specifications, alternative estimators, and leave-one-country-out analyses. The study contributes GCC-wide evidence on the joint and conditional effects of climate variability and highlights the importance of climate-informed irrigation scheduling, soil-moisture monitoring, and precision water-management technologies for strengthening agricultural resilience in arid environments. Full article