Search Results (8,085)

This paper is aimed at landscape managers and designers. It looks at 123 real-world coastal landscape projects and organizes them into clear design categories, i.e., wetland restoration, hybrid infrastructure, or urban green spaces. We looked at how these projects were framed (whether they focused on climate adaptation, flood protection, or other goals) and how they tracked performance. We are hoping to bring some clarity to a very scattered field, helping us to see patterns in what is actually being carried out in terms of landscape interventions and increasing sea levels. We are hoping to provide a practical reference for making better, more climate-responsive design decisions. Coastal cities face escalating climate-driven threats from increasing sea levels and storm surges to urban heat islands. These threats are driving increased interest in nature-based solutions (NbSs) as green adaptive alternatives to traditional gray infrastructure. Despite an abundance of individual case studies, there have been few systematic syntheses aimed at landscape designers and managers linking design typologies, project framing, and performance outcomes. This study addresses this gap through a meta-synthesis of 123 implemented coastal landscape interventions aimed directly at landscape-oriented research and professions. Flood risk reduction was the dominant framing strategy (30.9%), followed by climate resilience (24.4%). Critical evidence gaps emerged—only 1.6% employed integrated monitoring approaches, 30.1% provided ambiguous performance documentation, and mean monitoring quality scored 0.89 out of 5.0. While 95.9% of the projects acknowledged SLR as a driver, only 4.1% explicitly integrated climate projections into design parameters. Community monitoring approaches demonstrated significantly higher ecosystem service integration, particularly cultural services (36.4% vs. 6.9%, $p<0.001$), and enhanced monitoring quality (mean score 1.64 vs. 0.76, $p<0.001$). Implementation barriers spanned technical constraints, institutional fragmentation, and data limitations, each affecting 20.3% of projects. Geographic analysis revealed evidence generation inequities, with systematic underrepresentation of high-risk regions (Africa: 4.1%; Latin America: 2.4%) versus concentration in well-resourced areas (North America: 27.6%; Europe: 17.1%). Full article

Manual tissue documentation is a critical step in the field of pathology that sets the stage for microscopic analysis and significantly influences diagnostic outcomes. In routine practice, technicians verbally dictate descriptions of specimens during gross examination; these are later transcribed into macroscopic reports. Fragment sizes are measured manually with rulers; however, these measurements are often inconsistent for small, irregular biopsies. No photographic record is captured for traceability. To address these limitations, we propose a proof-of-concept framework that automates the image capture and documentation of biopsy and resection cassettes. It integrates a custom imaging platform and a segmentation pipeline leveraging the YOLOv8 and YOLOv9 architectures to improve accuracy and efficiency. The framework was tested in a real clinical context and was evaluated on two datasets of 100 annotated images each, achieving a mask mean Average Precision (mAP) of 0.9517 ± 0107 and a tissue fragment spatial accuracy of 96.20 ± 1.37%. These results demonstrate the potential of our framework to enhance the standardization, reliability, and speed of macroscopic documentation, contributing to improved traceability and diagnostic precision. Full article

The Changning-Menglian suture zone, as the remnant of the main Paleo-Tethyan oceanic basin in its southern segment, lacks direct magmatic evidence constraining the timing of subduction initiation in its northern segment. The petrogenesis and tectonic setting of the newly discovered Early Permian (~280 Ma) Wayao granodiorite in the northern segment remain unclear, hindering our understanding of the timing of subduction initiation and processes of the Paleo-Tethyan Ocean in the Changning-Menglian suture zone. This study presents systematic petrographic, zircon U-Pb geochronological, whole-rock major and trace element geochemical, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic analyses on the newly discovered Early Permian granodiorite in the Wayao area, northern segment of the Changning-Menglian suture zone, western Yunnan. Zircon U-Pb dating yields a crystallization age of ca. 280 Ma, confirming its emplacement during the Early Permian. The petrogeochemical characteristics indicate that it belongs to the metaluminous, calc-alkaline series of I-type granite. It is enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs; e.g., Rb, Th, U, La, Pb) and depleted in high-field-strength elements (HFSEs; e.g., Ba, Nb, Sr, Ti), exhibiting a pronounced negative Eu anomaly. Whole-rock Sr-Nd isotopes (εNd(t) = −5.6–−6.1) and zircon Hf isotopes (εHf(t) = −1.34–−10.01) suggest that the magma was predominantly derived from the partial melting of ancient crustal material (primarily metamorphosed basic rocks, such as amphibolite), with a minor addition of mantle-derived components (magma mixing). Combined with petrogeochemical discriminant diagrams (e.g., Sr/Y vs. Y, Rb vs. Yb + Ta) and the regional geological context, this granodiorite is interpreted to have formed in an active continental margin tectonic setting associated with the eastward subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean (represented by the Changning-Menglian Ocean). This discovery fills the gap in the record of Early Permian subduction-related magmatic rocks in the northern segment of the Changning-Menglian suture zone. It provides crucial petrological evidence constraining that the eastward subduction and consumption of the northern Paleo-Tethys Ocean had already commenced by the Early Permian. Full article

To enhance surface hardness, laser surface remelting (LSR) was performed to treat the surface of a novel nuclear-grade Zr-1.0Sn-1.0Nb-0.3Fe zirconium alloy. A combination of advanced characterization techniques was used to systematically analyze the microstructural features of the samples before and after the LSR treatment, and their correlation with hardness variations was studied. Results show that the LSR-treated surface consists of two distinct microstructural regions: (i) the remelted zone (RZ), characterized by fine lath structures and precipitates distributed along the lath boundaries; and (ii) the heat-affected zone, comprising blocky α phase, α laths, and precipitates. The surface of the LSR-treated samples exhibits a random texture, which is attributed to the selection suppression of α variants during the laser-induced rapid transformation. The average hardness of the RZ reaches 285.7 ± 8.3 HV, ~40% higher than the substrate. This hardness enhancement is ascribed to LSR-induced grain refinement. Full article

Early diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) through newborn screening (NBS) improves clinical outcomes, but in countries like India, delayed diagnosis increases morbidity, mortality, and likely underestimates infant deaths from CF. We performed a retrospective study at a single center in south India from 2017 to 2025 reviewing children diagnosed with CF before one year of age. Patient demographic, clinical, and genetic data were analyzed to characterize early clinical features and identify factors linked to mortality. Of 56 infants diagnosed with CF, 59% survived (median current age 55 months) while 41% died (median age of death 5 months). Key clinical indicators included sibling death with CF-like symptoms, rapid weight loss, and persistent respiratory or nutritional complications. Mortality risk under one year was significantly linked to hypoalbuminemia (OR 9.7), severe malnutrition (OR 4.4), severe anemia (hemoglobin < 7 g/dL) requiring blood transfusions (OR 3.0), and peripheral edema (OR 4.2). A triad of anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and edema was found to strongly predict death (OR 4.2). Integrating clinical checklists of these manifestations into primary healthcare may improve prompt referrals for earlier diagnosis and treatment. Continued education and advocacy for NBS are essential to reduce potentially preventable CF-related deaths in young children. Full article

In recent years, recovering critical elements from coal has attracted considerable interest due to their significant potential and resulting advantages. A prime example is the coal-hosted Al-Ga-Li-REE deposit within the Jungar Coalfield of Inner Mongolia, northern China, where lithium (Li), gallium (Ga), and aluminum (Al) are successfully extracted from coal ash. However, the specific forms in which these elements exist, crucial for developing effective extraction methods, remain unquantified. This research investigated the distribution of Li, Ga, Nb, Zr, and rare earth elements (REEs) within the coal. The study employed a combination of analytical techniques, including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), sequential chemical extraction (SCE), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS), and X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD). The analyzed coals exhibited enriched levels of Li, Ga, Zr, Nb, and REEs. Kaolinite and boehmite were the primary mineral constituents, along with minor amounts of calcite, pyrite, rutile, goyazite, and chlorite. Sequential chemical extraction revealed that Li and Ga are primarily associated with aluminosilicate phases (71.84%–84.39%) and, to a lesser degree, organic matter (12.15%–25.09%). Zirconium and Nb were also predominantly found within aluminosilicates (68.53%–95.96%). REEs occur mainly in carbonate (28.28%–60.78%), aluminosilicate (11.6%–33.08%), and organic (22.04%–29.42%) fractions. Full article

Lithium Niobate (LiNbO₃, LN) crystals are multifunctional optical materials with excellent electro-optical, acousto-optical, and nonlinear optical properties, and their broad spectral transparency makes them widely used in electro-optical modulators, tunable filters, and beam deflectors. Near Stoichiometric Lithium Niobate (NSLN) crystals have a lithium to niobium ratio ([Li]/[Nb]) close to 1:1,demonstrate superior performance characteristics compared to composition lithium niobate (Congruent Lithium Niobate (CLN), [Li]/[Nb] = 48.5:51.5) crystals. NSLN crystals have a lower coercive field (~4 kV/mm), higher electro-optic coefficient ( 𝛾₃₃= 38.3 pm/V), and better nonlinear optical properties. This paper systematically reviews the research progress on preparation methods, the physical properties of LN and NSLN crystals, and their applications in devices such as electro-optical modulators, optical micro-ring resonators, and holographic storage. Finally, the future development direction of NSLN crystals in the preparation process (large-size single-crystal growth and defect control) and new electro-optical devices (low voltage deflectors based on domain engineering) is envisioned. Full article

Parasitic infections, such as those caused by the myxozoans Myxobolus cerebralis and Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, pose major threats to wild and farmed salmonids due to severe tissue damage and impairment of the host immune system. While individual infections have been studied, limited information is available on the host response during co-infection. This study investigated the transcriptomic immune response of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during single and sequential co-infections with M. cerebralis and T. bryosalmonae using RNA-seq. Trout were exposed to single infections (Mc or Tb) followed by co-infections (Mc⁺ or Tb⁺). Fish were sampled at 31 days post-single infection (1 day post-co-infection). RNA from gill and caudal fin (portal of parasite entry) was sequenced, followed by differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identification and GO and KEGG enrichment. In the caudal fin, Mc⁺ (1 day after co-infection with T. bryosalomne) fish showed mild immune activation with C4B upregulation, while Tb⁺ fish exhibited a stronger response involving IFI44, ISG15, RSAD2, and TLR7 signaling. In gills, Mc⁺ fish showed moderate cytokine-related gene upregulation, while Tb⁺ (1 day after co-infection with M. cerebralis) fish displayed increased expression of humoral response genes (C3, immunoglobulin pathways) but suppression of genes involved in B cell development. These results indicate that the order of infection shapes the outcome of the host immune response, offering candidate targets at the host–pathogen interface. Full article

We investigate TiAlZrTaNb nitride coatings deposited on Haynes 282 nickel superalloy substrates via high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) under varying substrate bias voltages (0 V to −75 V). The influence of substrate bias on the microstructure, morphology, hardness, and wear resistance was systematically analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), nanoindentation, and ball-on-disk tribometry. The coatings exhibited a near equiatomic chemical composition with a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure preferentially oriented along the (200) and (111) planes. Increasing the bias voltage reduced the grain size (3.65 nm to 2.84 nm) and lattice parameter (0.442 nm to 0.440 nm); meanwhile, the hardness (>45 GPa) and wear resistance were improved. The interplay between the deposition parameters and coating-substrate interactions are discussed in order to optimize HiPIMS-derived coatings for industrial applications. Full article

Widespread Triassic granitic magmatism is archived in the East Kunlun Orogen Belt (EKOB) of Northern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Mafic magmatic enclaves (MMEs), commonly hosted in these plutons, are generally interpreted as products of magma mixing; however, the specific magmatic processes remain poorly understood. In this study, we present new data on the complex zoning patterns, in situ U–Pb ages, trace element compositions, and Nd isotopic characteristics of titanite grains from the MMEs and host granodiorite of Laningzaohuo Zhongyou pluton. Whole-rock geochemical data indicate that the pluton is composed of volcanic arc-related, calc-alkaline, metaluminous I-type granodiorite. Titanite in the MMEs and the granodiorite yield similar U–Pb ages of ~244 Ma but display distinct textural and compositional features. Titanite from the granodiorite is typically euhedral, characterized by magmatic core and mantle with deuteric rim, and exhibits sector and fir-tree zoning in the core. In contrast, titanite from the MMEs is generally anhedral, also showing magmatic core and mantle as well as deuteric rims, but exhibits oscillatory zoning and incomplete sector and fir-tree zoning in the core. Titanite cores in the MMEs have ε_Nd(t) ranging from −2.5 to −3.4, comparable to those of the coeval gabbro and MMEs elsewhere in the EKOB. These cores also show higher LREE/HREE ratios compared to titanite cores in the granodiorite, suggesting crystallization from mixed magmas with greater contributions from enriched lithospheric mantle sources. Titanite mantles in the MMEs yield ε_Nd(t) of −4.0 to −4.8, slightly lower than the cores in the MMEs but higher than those of titanite cores and mantles in the granodiorite (−4.6 to −5.5). The mantle can be interpreted as crystallized from mixed magmas with less mafic components. Titanite rims in the MMEs have ε_Nd(t) of −5.0 to −5.7, identical to those in the granodiorite, and have REE concentrations and Th/U and Nb/Ta ratios consistent with the titanite rims in the granodiorite, clearly indicative of crystallization from evolved, hydrated, granodioritic magmas. Plagioclase in the MMEs exhibits disequilibrium textures such as sieve texture and reverse zoning, with An_36–66, contrasting with the more uniform An contents (An_35–37) in the granodiorite. This suggests that plagioclase in the MMEs crystallized in an environment influenced by both mafic and felsic magmas. Amphibole thermobarometry indicates that amphibole in the MMEs crystallized at ~788 °C and ~295 MPa, slightly higher than the crystallization conditions in the granodiorite (~778 °C and ~259 MPa). We thus propose that the chemical and textural differences between titanite in the MMEs and granodiorite suggest that the MMEs formed within a mushy hybrid layer generated by injection of upwelling basaltic magma into a pre-existing granitic magma chamber. Titanite cores and mantles in the MMEs likely crystallized from variably mixed magmas. They subsequently underwent resorption and disequilibrium growth within the hybrid layer, and were eventually overgrown by rims formed from evolved interstitial granitic melts within the mushy enclaves. These findings demonstrate that the complex zoning and geochemical titanite in the MMEs provide valuable insights into magma mixing processes. Full article

In this work, (NaBi)_0.5−x(LiSm)_xBi₂Nb₂O₉ (NBN-xLS, x = 0.00–0.06) ceramics were fabricated by co-doping of LiSm into Na_0.5Bi_2.5Nb₂O₉. The traditional solid-phase technique was employed for the entire synthesis process. The impact of LiSm doping on the crystal structure, dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties, as well as the underlying conduction mechanisms in the NBN-xLS ceramics, was analyzed systematically. The XRD patterns and the Rietveld refinement revealed that lattice distortion reduced with an increase in the LiSm doping amount. The decrease in lattice distortion significantly contributed to its improved ferroelectric and piezoelectric characteristics. The results showed that the NBN-xLS ceramics were primarily p-type materials due to their bulk-limited conduction, with oxygen holes and vacancies acting as the conducting species, and the appearance of weak ion conduction at high temperatures. The NBN-0.04LS ceramic, in particular, displayed the highest performance, with P_r, T_c, and d₃₃ values of 9.05 μC/cm², 777 °C, and 25.2 pC/N, respectively. Additionally, the ceramic displayed remarkable thermal stability, with its d₃₃ retaining 95.0% of its original value after annealing at 760 °C. These results demonstrate that LiSm co-doped Na_0.5Bi_2.5Nb₂O₉ ceramics have potential for use in high-temperature sensors. Full article

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and validate a new machine learning (ML)-based screening tool for a two-step prediction of the need for and type of nutritional therapy (enteral, parenteral, or combined) using Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) and other demographic parameters from the Optimal Nutrition Care for All (ONCA) national cohort data. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 191,028 patients, with data on age, gender, body mass index (BMI), NRS-2002 score, presence of cancer, and hospital unit type. In the first step, classification models estimated whether patients required nutritional therapy, while the second step predicted the type of therapy. The dataset was divided into 60% training, 20% validation, and 20% test sets. Random Forest (RF), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), deep learning (DL), Elastic Net (EN), and Naive Bayes (NB) algorithms were used for classification. Performance was evaluated using AUC, accuracy, balanced accuracy, MCC, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and F₁-score. Results: Of the patients, 54.6% were male, 9.2% had cancer, and 49.9% were hospitalized in internal medicine units. According to NRS-2002, 11.6% were at risk of malnutrition (≥3 points). The DL algorithm performed best in both classification steps. The top three variables for determining the need for nutritional therapy were severe illness, reduced dietary intake in the last week, and mild impaired nutritional status (AUC = 0.933). For determining the type of nutritional therapy, the most important variables were severe illness, severely impaired nutritional status, and ICU admission (AUC = 0.741). Adding gender, cancer status, and ward type to NRS-2002 improved AUC by 0.6% and 3.27% for steps 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusions: Incorporating gender, cancer status, and ward type into the widely used and validated NRS-2002 led to the development of a new scale that accurately classifies nutritional therapy type. This ML-enhanced model has the potential to be integrated into clinical workflows as a decision support system to guide nutritional therapy, although further external validation with larger multinational cohorts is needed. Full article

Water scarcity in Jordan is intensifying, creating an urgent need for innovative approaches to maximize the use of nonconventional water resources, such as greywater treatment and reuse. This study presents a detailed analysis of the suitability of nature-based solutions (NbSs) for greywater treatment, with a focus on the application of horizontal flow constructed wetlands (HFCWs). Two systems were implemented to treat greywater generated from mosques located in Az-Zarqa Governorate, a dry region in Jordan. Following several months of operation, monitoring, and evaluation, the systems demonstrated high removal efficiencies: turbidity (>87%), total suspended solids (TSS) (>96%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (>91%), and five-day biological oxygen demand (BOD₅) (>85%). The eight-square-meter HFCW units successfully produced one cubic meter of treated greywater per day, meeting Jordanian standards for reclaimed greywater (JS 1776:2013) for use in irrigating food crops, including those consumed raw. The system achieved a 70% reduction in water consumption compared to the same period in the year prior to its implementation. These results demonstrate the potential of constructed wetlands (CWs) as effective, low-cost, and sustainable NbSs for decentralized greywater treatment and reuse in water-scarce regions. Full article

Metal nitride coatings have been considered as a promising approach to improve the performance of metal bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this study, NbN_x coatings with three different ratios of N₂/Ar (1:2, 1:1 and 3:1) were prepared on TC4 alloy substrates using the double glow plasma alloying technology. The NbN_x coatings are homogeneous and dense, and the phase of the coating transforms from hexagonal β-Nb₂N to δ′-NbN phase as the nitrogen content increases. All coatings demonstrate high protective efficiency, with the coating (N₂/Ar ratio of 3:1) displaying the lowest current density of 8.92 × 10⁻⁶ A/cm² at a working voltage of 0.6 V. The EIS results also show that this coating has the best corrosion resistance. Notably, it also presents the lowest interfacial contact resistance of 7.29 mΩ·cm² at 1.5 MPa and good hydrophobicity. More importantly, this study provides a new idea and method for corrosion-resistant coatings of metal bipolar plates for PEMFC applications. Full article

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a heterogeneous condition present at birth, resulting in severe-to-mild thyroid hormone deficiency. This condition is difficult to recognize shortly after birth. Therefore, many countries worldwide have implemented newborn screening (NBS) programs for CH since the 1970s. The most recent European guidelines strongly recommend screening for primary CH, as well as for central CH when financial resources are available. However, no consensus has been reached yet to screen more rare forms of CH, such as Allan–Herndon–Dudley syndrome (AHDS), an X-linked condition linked to mutations in the gene encoding a transmembrane monocarboxylate transporter (MCT8), resistance to thyroid hormone beta (RTHβ), and resistance to thyroid hormone alfa (RTHα). The combined measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and total thyroxine (TT4) on DBS currently allows the recognition of central CH (TSH low/normal and low TT4 without defects in transport proteins). With the introduction of liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for measurement of free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4), it would be possible to screen for RTHβ (TSH normal/high and high FT4). More complicated would be the method to screen RTHα. It would require the combined measurement of FT4 and FT3 and the determination of FT3/FT4 ratio, while the combined measurement of FT3 and reverse T3 (rT3) to calculate FT3/rT3 ratio would be useful to screen AHDS. In this article, we provide some reflections on expanding NBS for primary CH also to other rare forms of CH. Full article