Search Results (42,875)

Soil degradation remains a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly within smallholder farming systems characterized by low-input agriculture and unsustainable land use practices. Sustainable agriculture production requires a good understanding of soil characteristics across diverse farming contexts. This study assessed soil health and microbial diversity across three contrasting systems: long-term fallow (aggregated farm A), high-input (aggregated farm B), and conventional smallholder (non-aggregated farm C) farms experiencing declining productivity. Soil samples collected from the three contrasting systems were analyzed for physicochemical properties and microbial communities using high-throughput DNA sequencing. Microbial communities were characterized by using amplicon sequencing targeting bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS gene regions, allowing taxonomic profiling and inference of microbial diversity patterns. The two aggregated farms predominantly had clay soils, with pH values ranging from 6.78 to 7.39 and organic carbon content from 1.17% to 1.64%. In contrast, conventional farms had loamy to clayey soils with a pH value of 5.88 and an organic carbon content of 1.25%. Both types of aggregated farms showed moderate to high concentrations of total nitrogen (0.12–0.13%), phosphorus (38.79–151.36 mg/kg), and potassium (548.84–943.52 mg/kg), along with elevated levels of calcium and magnesium, though fertilizer application was inconsistent across the sites. Microbial diversity analysis revealed significant differences among the systems. The dominant bacterial phyla were Pseudomonadota (48.5%), Acidobacteriota (34.2%) and Actinomycetota (19.6%), while the primary fungi included Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota. Functional profiling using COG and KEGG databases showed distinct variations in microbial potentials, with a high diversity of Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria. Functional profiles inferred from amplicon-based predictions represent potential metabolic capabilities and should be interpreted cautiously as indicative rather than direct functional gene quantification. Correlation analyses between soil and microbial communities provided essential baseline data to support the development of sustainable farming practices and land restoration strategies aimed at improving soil fertility and agricultural productivity in these degraded landscapes. Full article

Background: The adaptability of leguminous plant–rhizobia symbionts enables enhanced plant stress tolerance in environmentally stressed areas. However, how rock desertification (RD) severity affects the endophytic and nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities in Pisum sativum root nodules remains unclear. Methods: We systematically surveyed the microbial communities of P. sativum nodules across a gradient of four RD areas. We sequenced 16S rRNA and nifH amplicons, determined soil physicochemical properties, and performed bioinformatic analyses to relate nodule microbiome diversity to soil variables. Results: The dominant endophytic genera across all sites were Allorhizobium–Neorhizobium–Pararhizobium–Rhizobium and Pseudomonas, with Rhizobium identified as the primary nitrogen-fixing taxon. Soil pH and total phosphorus (TP) showed significant correlations with the overall endophytic bacterial community, whereas total nitrogen (TN), TP, and soil water content (SWC) were associated with nitrogen-fixing taxa. Notably, P. sativum nodules from areas of slight rocky desertification (SRD) harbored higher endophytic bacterial diversity and enhanced carbohydrate metabolism compared to those from moderately rocky desertified (MRD) sites. Conclusions: This study sheds light on how bacterial communities within legume root nodules respond to RD stress, deepening our understanding of plant–microbe co-adaptation and informing microbial-assisted restoration strategies in karst desertification areas. Full article

The large-scale accumulation of titanium-extraction tailing slag (TS) poses environmental concerns, while its application is constrained by high impurity contents and low hydraulic reactivity, which is further exacerbated by the necessary dechlorination process. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of synthetic calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) nanocrystals in improving the performance of cement pastes incorporating deeply dechlorinated TS (DD-TS). To ensure uniform dispersion and activity, C-S-H seeds with varying crystallinities (55–94%) were prepared via a dynamic hydrothermal method (180 °C for 1–3 h) and incorporated into the composite binder in a wet-powder form at dosages of 0.5–2.0%. Results indicate that C-S-H-1, with the lowest crystallinity, offered the highest efficiency. At 1.5% dosage, the 1 d compressive strength increased by 64.6% to 18.6 MPa, while the initial setting time decreased by approximately 40%. Microstructural analyses reveal that poorly crystalline C-S-H provides abundant nucleation sites, accelerating early hydration and densifying the matrix to levels comparable to 7 d control pastes. These findings demonstrate the potential of C-S-H seeding for enhancing the utilization of DD-TS in cement-based materials. Full article

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam concrete is attractive for lightweight building applications, yet its practical use is often limited by weak EPS–cement interfacial bonding, which promotes interfacial debonding and crack propagation and thereby compromises mechanical performance. Although nano-SiO₂ (NS) has been reported to improve EPS–cement compatibility, the interfacial strengthening mechanism is still not fully clarified across scales, especially the molecular-level interactions that govern the formation of a robust interfacial transition zone (ITZ). Herein, EPS particles were modified with NS and a multi-scale framework (macro tests, micro-characterization, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations) was employed to establish a mechanistic linkage between interfacial chemistry/structure and macroscopic performance. The results show that an optimal NS dosage of 9% (by cement mass) increases the 28-day compressive strength and flexural strength of EPS concrete by up to 18.3% and 11.2%, respectively, compared with the unmodified system. SEM, XRD, and FTIR collectively indicate a denser interfacial microstructure, increased hydration-product accumulation near the EPS surface, refined interfacial porosity, and the occurrence of condensation-related reactions involving NS. MD simulations further reveal that NS facilitates the formation of molecular bridges between EPS and C–S–H through hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions, which enhances interfacial adhesion and contributes to improved ITZ thermal stability. This study provides a cross-scale mechanistic understanding for designing high-performance EPS foam concrete via targeted interfacial engineering. MD simulations further suggest that NS enhances interfacial bonding by increasing the occurrence of hydrogen-bond networks and ionic associations at the EPS/C–S–H interface, as evidenced by the intensified interaction-related distributions and peaks in the simulation outputs. Full article

Reconfigurable logic is crucial for future adaptive computing, but is challenging to realize with conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology due to the limited field-effect characteristics of the fundamental silicon devices. Two-dimensional materials offer a promising platform, yet enhancing their functional versatility requires novel operational mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate a single WSe₂/h-BN/graphene heterojunction capable of dynamically switching between distinct logic functions—XNOR and IMP (implication gate or “IF-THEN” gate)—simply by modulating the drain-source voltage. At a low bias of 0.3 V, the carrier distribution is governed by capacitive coupling, realizing an XNOR gate. Increasing the bias to 3 V activates Fowler–Nordheim tunneling between the graphene floating gate and the drain, enabling IMP logic operation. The interplay and voltage-induced transition between these two physical mechanisms underpin the device’s multifunctional capability. This work introduces a novel operational strategy for two-dimensional material-based reconfigurable logic, providing a pathway toward compact, adaptive hardware for post-CMOS computing. Full article

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections and represent a significant health concern worldwide. The most common cause of these infections is the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), an opportunistic commensal of the human gut that can shift to pathogenicity, leading to a wide variety of diseases. The increasing ability of E. coli to develop resistance to various classes of antibiotics underscores the urgent need for alternative approaches to clear up infections caused by this species. In this study, we analyzed the possible beneficial role of Heyndrickxia coagulans (H. coagulans) strain LMG S-24828 in an in vitro model of T24 urothelial cells infection by ESBL-producing E. coli. Our results showed that H. coagulans LMG S-24828 was able to: (i) reduce E. coli growth; (ii) impair E. coli adhesion to T24 urothelial cells; and (iii) modulate cytokine production by T24 urothelial cells per se and after E. coli infection. Collectively, these findings indicate a beneficial effect of H. coagulans strain LMG S-24828 against an ESBL–E. coli isolate in an in vitro model of T24 urothelial cell infection. Full article

The effect of sunflower extract on the germination and development of weeds is investigated. However, knowledge about the effects of extracts on target plants is equally important. Investigations into the allelopathic relationship between sunflowers and cereals, which often make up 50–70% of crop rotations, still have many unanswered questions. This experiment aimed to investigate the allelopathic impact of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) as a donor plant for spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through their germination and morphological parameters. The following three factors were studied: factor A—two growth stages of the donor plant; factor B—three parts of the donor plant; factor C—five concentrations (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) of aqueous extracts of the plant donor. The extract concentration was the strongest factor influencing the germination of spring barley and spring wheat compared to the other two factors. The flowering sunflower extract inhibited the germination of the spring barley and spring wheat by 33–44% and 33–41%, respectively, more strongly than the ripe sunflower extract. According to the SE values, the allelopathic impact of extracts of sunflower parts on spring barley and spring wheat was as follows: L + S < R ˂ H and L + S < H ˂ R, respectively. The inhibitory effect of increasing concentration was determined on the SG, root/shoot length ratio, and SPAD values of both receptor plants. Full article

Natural disasters disrupt maritime operations, yet their environmental consequences remain underexplored. This study quantifies CO₂ emission changes following the February 2023 İskenderun Bay earthquakes (7.6 Mwg and 7.5 Mwg) using AIS-derived port visit data and graph neural network modeling. Analyzing 25,837 port visits across a 36-month period (January 2022–December 2024), we compared emissions during baseline (pre-earthquake), acute disruption (February–June 2023), and recovery phases. Results revealed a statistically significant 35.9% increase in per-visit CO₂ emissions during the acute phase (t = 11.79, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.27), driven by extended port visit durations (from 77.87 to 105.82 h). Counterfactual analysis estimated 27,574 tonnes of excess CO₂ emissions directly attributable to earthquake disruption. Network analysis showed 23.8% reduction in edge density during the acute phase. The graph neural network (GNN) emission prediction model achieved R² = 0.985 (baseline) and R² = 0.997 (recovery) in predicting emission patterns, while acute phase showed predictability collapse (R² = −1.591). These findings demonstrate that seismic events generate sustainability-relevant externalities beyond immediate physical damage, and that quantifying disruption-driven excess emissions supports sustainability-oriented port resilience planning and more robust maritime emission accounting (e.g., under the EU MRV framework). Full article

Background: Sexual dysfunction (SD) and sleep disturbances are frequent but underrecognized non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and significantly affect quality of life. However, the relationships among sexual dysfunction, sleep quality, and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and the possible sex-related differences remain insufficiently investigated. Methods: In this cross-sectional case–control study, we evaluated these non-motor symptoms in 147 Turkish patients with PD and 160 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and we assessed their associations and impact on quality of life, with particular attention to sex-specific patterns. Sexual function was assessed using the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), quality of life using the 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), and disease severity using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) staging scale. Group comparisons, correlation analyses, and sex-stratified subgroup analyses were performed. Results: Patients with PD had significantly higher ASEX, PSQI, and ESS scores compared with controls (p < 0.01), and women with PD had significantly higher total ASEX scores than men, indicating greater sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction was significantly associated with poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness but showed no significant association with the motor severity measures (UPDRS, H&Y stage). Sleep quality, as measured via PSQI scores, was worse in patients with PD, and poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness were both associated with significantly worse quality of life. Conclusions: According to our findings, sexual dysfunction and sleep disturbances are interrelated non-motor symptoms that significantly impair quality of life, largely independently of motor severity, and these associations were particularly pronounced among women. A combined evaluation of sleep and sexual function may therefore improve the recognition and management of the non-motor burden in PD. Full article

Background: Delirium is a frequent and serious complication in elderly patients with hip fractures and is associated with adverse outcomes. Early identification requires a brief and reliable screening tool suitable for routine clinical practice. The 4 ‘A’s Test (4AT) is a rapid instrument for delirium detection that requires minimal training. Objective: To translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Greek version of the 4AT in elderly patients with hip fractures. Methods: A total of 103 patients aged ≥65 years who were admitted with hip fracture were enrolled. The 4AT was translated using a forward–backward translation process and culturally adapted according to established guidelines. Delirium diagnosis was established using DSM-5 criteria by trained clinicians, serving as the reference standard. The 4AT was administered independently within 3 h. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The optimal cut-off was determined using Youden’s index. Results: At a cut-off score ≥4, the Greek 4AT demonstrated a sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 91.1%, with PPV 75% and NPV 96%. The AUC was 0.94, indicating excellent diagnostic performance. Conclusions: The Greek version of the 4AT is a valid and reliable screening tool for detecting delirium in elderly patients with hip fractures. Full article

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is associated with high early mortality and long-term disability. Prognostic assessment relies mainly on neurological grading scales, which may incompletely capture the systemic metabolic response to acute brain injury. Non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS), particularly low triiodothyronine syndrome (LT3S), is common in critical illness, but its prognostic relevance in aSAH remains unclear. Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic impact of early thyroid hormone alterations on 30-day mortality and early clinical outcomes including delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) in patients with aSAH, with particular emphasis on the magnitude of triiodothyronine (T3) deficiency. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center observational cohort study of 157 consecutive adult patients admitted with confirmed aSAH between 2014 and 2025. Serum free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured within 72 h of admission. Hormone values were normalized to contemporaneous reference intervals to generate continuous reference-adjusted metrics (FT3_level, TSH_level). Associations with 30-day in-hospital mortality were analyzed using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for admission variables including age, sex, APACHE II score, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade, Fisher grade, and treatment modality. Results: Binary LT3S classification was frequent but not independently associated with 30-day mortality. In contrast, lower FT3_level values were significantly associated with increased mortality and shorter survival time. In logistic regression analyses, each 0.1 increase in FT3_level was associated with an 18% lower odds of death (adjusted OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69–0.97). This association persisted after adjustment for established clinical severity measures and was concordant with time-to-event analyses. FT3_level was not correlated with TSH_level, consistent with NTIS. Endovascular coiling was associated with more pronounced peripheral fT3 deficiency (p < 0.05) but was not independently associated with mortality. FT3_level was not independently associated with early neurological status or functional outcome at hospital discharge. Conclusions: Lower FT3_level values were independently associated with higher 30-day mortality, indicating that early peripheral T3 reduction reflects clinically relevant metabolic vulnerability in aSAH. Full article

This study develops a bottom-up carbon emission accounting framework at the urban community scale and applies it to 642 communities in Guangzhou, China, using the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification. Carbon emissions from buildings, transportation, water use, waste, and urban road lighting, together with green space carbon sinks, are quantified to establish a high-resolution spatiotemporal emission dataset. The results show that total community-scale carbon emissions range from 0 to 5852.88 tCO₂, with building-related emissions dominating the carbon footprint and accounting for approximately 75% of the total emissions, followed by water use (15%) and waste (8%), while transportation and road lighting together contribute less than 3%. Building and transportation emissions exhibit pronounced temporal variability, with citywide building emissions peaking at 21:00 (994.6 tCO₂ h⁻¹). Strong spatial heterogeneity is observed across LCZ types and administrative districts. LCZ1 records the highest total emissions (60,401.71 tCO₂), whereas LCZ6 exhibits substantially lower emissions due to greater green space coverage. Spatial autocorrelation analysis reveals significant clustering of high-emission communities (Global Moran’s I = 0.2486, p < 0.0001), indicating an outward diffusion of carbon emissions from central urban areas. These findings demonstrate the role of building energy use in carbon emissions and validate LCZ-based bottom-up accounting for mitigation. Full article

Background: The risk of morbidity and mortality increases in newborns requiring postpartum transport. Various scoring systems have been developed to determine mortality risk, such as the Transport Risk Index of Physiologic Stability (TRIPS) and Mortality Index for Neonatal Transportation (MINT) scores. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of MINT and TRIPS scores by comparing them with the Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology-Perinatal Extension (SNAPPE-II) scoring system in preterm and term infants transported within the first 24 h after birth. Methods: This retrospective study included neonates transported within the first 24 h of life to the NICU of Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital between 2016 and 2021, following ethics approval. Perinatal data, admission clinical and laboratory parameters, and TRIPS, MINT, and SNAPPE-II scores calculated within the were recorded. Mortality and short-term morbidities were analysed. Group comparisons were conducted using Mann–Whitney U and chi-square tests. Predictive performance and optimal cut-off values were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis using the Youden index. p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 137 newborns were included in the study. Seventy-two cases (52.6%) were preterm, and 65 cases (47.4%) were term newborns. The median gestational age and birthweight were 35.6 weeks and 2485 g, respectively. A total of 10 patients died. For mortality prediction, the areas under the curve for TRIPS, MINT, and SNAPPE-II were 0.919, 0.907, and 0.973, respectively (p < 0.001). The determined cut-off values for TRIPS, MINT, and SNAPPE-II were >19, >4, and >35, respectively. The TRIPS score showed the best accuracy for prediction of mortality in preterm infants. Conclusions: Our data show that MINT and TRIPS scores are efficient beyond SNAPPE-II. They demonstrated high diagnostic effectiveness in predicting mortality in preterm and term infants. The TRIPS score exhibits superior mortality prediction in preterm infants. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of increasing proportions of sudangrass sorghum forage in ruminant diets, with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG), on rumen fermentation, gas and methane production, nutrient digestibility, and protein fermentation metabolites. Three experimental diets containing 20%, 40%, or 60% sorghum forage (S20, S40, and S60) were incubated in vitro with cattle rumen fluid. Incubations were performed with or without PEG used as a tannin-binding agent. After 24 h of incubation, gas and methane production, in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), ammonia nitrogen concentration (N-NH₃), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and profiles were measured. Increasing sorghum inclusion resulted in a significant reduction in DMD (p = 0.0012). In contrast, NDFD increased (p = 0.0005), likely due to differences in lignin content among diets. Methane production was unaffected by the proportion of sorghum, despite the increasing tannin content. PEG supplementation significantly increased N-NH₃ concentration (p = 0.042) and isobutyric molar proportion (p < 0.0001), indicating enhanced rumen protein degradation following tannin neutralization. The total VFA concentration was not influenced by either sorghum level or PEG treatment. However, higher sorghum inclusion was associated with shifts in the VFA profiles toward higher acetate (p = 0.0023) and lower butyrate proportions (p = 0.0114). Overall, the results suggest that moderate levels of condensed tannins (CTs) in sorghum forage may alter rumen fermentation patterns without markedly reducing methane production. PEG supplementation further confirmed the biological activity of tannins, especially regarding protein metabolism. Therefore, sudangrass sorghum may be considered a viable forage option for ruminant diets, provided its inclusion level and tannin effects are carefully managed. Full article

Loading dissolved organic matter (DOM) onto iron–manganese oxides (FeMnOx) was a promising strategy for enhancing the hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal from wastewater. To optimize this process and gain deeper mechanistic insight, this study systematically investigated the DOM loading characteristics onto FeMnOx and its subsequent effect on Cr(VI) adsorption. DOM loading onto FeMnOx was significantly affected by the initial concentration of DOM and pH, with optimal loading conditions identified as a DOM concentration of 75 mg/L, pH of 4, ionic strength of 0.005 mol/L, temperature of 50 °C, and contact time of 4 h. During loading, FeMnOx preferentially adsorbed low-molecular-weight/low-aromaticity components such as tryptophan-like (C1) and fulvic acid-like (C2) substances. The adsorption process followed a non-uniform monolayer surface adsorption and involved multiple stages dominated by chemical interactions. DOM coating on FeMnOx significantly enhanced the Cr(VI) removal, and the maximum adsorption capacity under optimal loading conditions increased from 18.46 mg/g to 23.26 mg/g. Characterization by SEM-EDS, BET, ICP-MS, XPS, FTIR, and CV revealed that a moderate DOM loading (55–75 mg/L) enhanced the material’s surface reducibility and mesoporous structure. This improvement was attributed to the reduction of surface Mn(IV) to more-reactive Mn(III) by reductive functional groups in DOM, thereby promoting Cr(VI) adsorption and reduction. In contrast, excessive DOM loading (105 mg/L) formed a dense organic layer that masked active sites and hindered electron transfer, ultimately compromising the long-term reductive capability. These findings elucidate the concentration-dependent regulatory role of DOM in modifying FeMnOx properties, providing a theoretical foundation for the rational design of efficient DOM–metal oxide composites for heavy metal remediation in aquatic environments. Full article