Search Results (3,295)

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are increasingly tasked with fostering pro-environmental agency to address the global climate crisis. Within physical activity and sport sciences, future nautical sports managers occupy a unique role as stewards of marine ecosystems. This study investigates the sustainability consciousness of 170 undergraduate university students from a single institution. It focuses on analyzing the knowledge–action gap within the framework of the 2030 Agenda. Utilizing the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ-S), this work assessed knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors to quantify this dissonance through a robust non-parametric statistical pipeline. Results indicate a significant knowledge–action gap (r_B = 0.903), representing a large matched-pairs rank-biserial correlation effect size for the Wilcoxon test. Furthermore, Kruskal–Wallis analyses reveal that this discrepancy is transversal across student profiles, suggesting a state of informed paralysis within this specific cohort, where high theoretical mastery fails to translate into sustainable professional routines. Crucially, the frequency of engagement in nature-based sports, encompassing both nautical and terrestrial outdoor activities, does not significantly reduce this dissonance. These contextual findings indicate that physical exposure to nature does not automatically mitigate the knowledge–action gap, highlighting the need for explicit reflective pedagogies in higher education. Full article

Iberian reservoirs are highly vulnerable to droughts, warming temperatures, and agricultural runoff, which accelerate eutrophication. Monitoring these dynamics is crucial for sustainable management. This study investigated long-term trends in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and water transparency Secchi depth and developed empirical models for the Alto Rabagão (Rb) and Aguieira (Ag) reservoirs in Portugal. We used Sentinel-2 Level-2A reflectance data coupled with 153 in situ observations (2014–2024) for model calibration (n = 95) and validation (n = 58). Temporal trends were assessed using linear regression and Mann–Kendall analyses. Empirical models based on spectral indices (TBDO1, TBDO, MCI, NDWI) were evaluated using walk-forward time-series cross-validation. Results revealed a significant Chl-a increase (0.38 µg L⁻¹ year⁻¹; p = 0.016) and a simultaneous decline in transparency (p < 0.001) in Rb, indicating progressive eutrophication. In contrast, no significant trends were detected in Ag. Reservoir-specific models achieved moderate-to-high predictive performance, particularly for Chl-a (R² up to 0.75; cross-validated R² = 0.67–0.68, RMSE = 1.1 µg L⁻¹, MAE = 0.82 µg L⁻¹). Models using combined datasets showed lower accuracy, highlighting the importance of site-specific calibration. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests confirmed the absence of systematic bias between observed and predicted values. Ultimately, Sentinel-2 imagery combined with time-series cross-validation provides a reliable and cost-effective framework for the long-term monitoring of inland water quality. Full article

Rusty root rot of ginseng (Panax ginseng) caused by Ilyonectria spp. infection is a devastating soil-borne disease restricting the sustainable production of garden-cultivated ginseng (GCG) in Northeast China and causes severe yield and economic losses; GCG is far more susceptible to this pathogen than forest-cultivated ginseng (Lin-Xia-Shan-Shen, LXSS). Ginsenosides, the signature triterpenoid saponin defensive metabolites of ginseng, are characteristic dammarane-type triterpenoid defensive saponins represented by Re, Rg₂, Rb₁, Rd, and Rg₁. These compounds are continuously secreted into the rhizosphere and widely participate in plant–microbe interactions, yet their functional roles in mediating Ilyonectria infection remain poorly clarified. This study aimed to clarify how rhizospheric ginsenosides regulate the infection process of pathogenic Ilyonectria strains. Two pathogenic strains, Ilyonectria sp. SYM-1 and Ilyonectria sp. SYM-2, were found isolated from diseased GCG roots and verified as causal agents via morphological observation, molecular ITS identification and artificial inoculation infection experiments. Interestingly, the concentrations of five ginsenosides, Re, Rg₂, Rb₁, Rd, and Rg₁, in the rhizospheric soil of GCG with rusty root rot were significantly higher than those in the rhizospheric soil of healthy LXSS plants. In addition, the concentrations of ginsenosides in the LXSS rhizospheric soils decreased with increasing age of plants. Non-nutritive suspension co-culture assays showed that high concentrations of the ginsenosides Rg₁ and Rd significantly promoted spore germination of the strains SYM-1 and SYM-2. However, Rb₁ had a certain inhibitory effect on the growth of Ilyonectria sp. SYM-2. Host inoculation experiments further indicated that infection with either fungus significantly reduced the concentrations of ginsenosides produced in ginseng roots. These results demonstrate that the pathogenic fungi SYM-1 and SYM-2 of Ilyonectria can adapt to and utilize ginsenosides. Collectively, these findings prove that the two pathogenic Ilyonectria strains have evolved the capacity to adapt to and exploit rhizospheric ginsenosides to facilitate their infectivity. From an application perspective, reducing rhizospheric ginsenoside release may represent a promising theoretical strategy for ginseng cultivation and germplasm improvement, which warrants further verification by field or greenhouse experiments for validation. Full article

Synthetic dyes from textile effluents represent a major environmental concern due to their persistence and toxicity. Reactive Black 5 (RB5) is widely used in the textile industry and is commonly applied as a model azo compound in sorption studies. This study comparatively evaluates the sorption performance of raw and carbonized sorbents derived from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) biowaste using an integrated experimental and theoretical approach. The sorbents were prepared through washing, drying, and phosphoric acid-assisted carbonization followed by pyrolysis. Structural and physicochemical properties were characterized using elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM microscopy. Sorption performance toward RB5 was investigated through batch kinetic and equilibrium experiments, supported by kinetic (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion models) and isotherm (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin) modeling. Molecular docking simulations were performed to provide mechanistic insight into dye–sorbent interactions. Both materials exhibited rapid sorption kinetics, reaching equilibrium within approximately 45 min, with the pseudo-second-order model suggesting that surface-controlled interactions dominate the sorption rate. Molecular modeling, based on extensive conformational sampling, indicated a strong binding affinity between RB5 and cellulose-based structures, primarily associated with hydrogen bonding and other favorable noncovalent interactions. In contrast, graphene-based models revealed sorption governed by π–π interactions and confinement effects, supporting the experimentally observed differences between raw and carbonized sorbents. Full article

Histological subtypes of bladder cancer are generally associated with more aggressive disease, higher stage at presentation, and worse prognosis compared to conventional urothelial carcinoma. Recent updates in classification systems have further refined the distinction between true histologic subtypes and divergent differentiation, underscoring the complexity of these tumors. Emerging molecular profiling studies have identified subtype-specific genomic alterations, including ERBB2 amplification in micropapillary subtype carcinoma, CDH1 loss in plasmacytoid subtype carcinoma, and TP53 and RB1 co-alterations in neuroendocrine bladder cancer, which may contribute to differences in tumor biology and therapeutic response. Despite these advances, the histological subtypes of bladder cancer remain underrepresented in prospective clinical trials, leading to significant gaps in evidence-based management. Treatment responses vary widely across subtypes, with some demonstrating sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy or immunotherapy, while others appear less responsive to conventional approaches. This review summarizes the current understanding of the epidemiology, molecular landscape, and clinical behavior of major bladder cancer subtypes and highlights emerging opportunities for personalized treatment strategies, biomarker-driven therapies, and more inclusive clinical trial design to improve outcomes in this high-risk population. Full article

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has historically been treated as a single, uniformly aggressive disease defined by neuroendocrine differentiation, near-universal loss of TP53 and RB1, and the absence of classical druggable oncogene addictions. Two converging lines of evidence are now reshaping that view. First, transcriptomic profiling has resolved SCLC into molecular subtypes—SCLC-A (ASCL1-driven), SCLC-N (NEUROD1-driven), SCLC-P (POU2F3-driven), and SCLC-I (inflamed)—with distinct immune microenvironments, surface-antigen expression patterns, and emerging therapeutic vulnerabilities, although intratumoral heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity complicate clean subtype assignment. Second, the development of delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3)-directed therapies provides a natural experiment: the same validated surface antigen failed as an antibody–drug conjugate (rovalpituzumab tesirine, three negative randomized trials) yet succeeded as a bispecific T-cell engager (tarlatamab, which received FDA accelerated approval in 2024 and subsequent traditional FDA approval in 2025 following positive confirmatory phase 3 data). In this review, we integrate the current first-line standard of care—chemoimmunotherapy with atezolizumab- or durvalumab-based regimens followed by maintenance intensification with lurbinectedin–atezolizumab (IMforte)—with the molecular framework of subtypes and biomarkers, and we use DLL3 as a case study to propose that delivery modality is an important determinant of therapeutic success in SCLC and should be considered alongside target biology and tumor heterogeneity. Rapid proliferation, antigen heterogeneity, subtype plasticity, and a relatively less immunogenic microenvironment systematically penalize modalities dependent on payload accumulation and cell-cycle progression and reward modalities that recruit catalytic, cell-cycle-independent cytotoxic effectors. The emerging B7-H3 and SEZ6 programs—including ifinatamab deruxtecan and ABBV-706—are the next test of this framework. We discuss implications for biomarker development, trial design, and the operational challenges of subtype-guided precision oncology in a disease where tissue is scarce and biology shifts under therapy. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of the partial baking (par-baking) method on bread quality, staling properties, volatile compound profile, and estimated glycemic index (eGI) of some traditional Turkish bread types, and compared the results with those of regular bread (RB). Bread samples resembling Afyonkarahisar potato bread and Vakfıkebir bread were produced under laboratory conditions and named Afyonkarahisar potato style bread (APSB) and Vakfıkebir style bread (VKSB). APSB and VKSB were subjected to par-baking (7 min at 220 °C for APSB and 9 min at 220 °C for VKSB), followed by frozen storage at −18 °C for up to 60 days and final baking. Also, quality changes in the breads after final baking were assessed over 5 days (days 0, 1, 3, and 5) and compared with conventionally baked control samples. The reduction in specific volume due to par-baking was more pronounced in regular bread than in the traditional bread samples. Hardness values of par-baked breads increased significantly after 60 days of frozen storage for all bread types (p < 0.05). Storage of breads after final baking caused substantial changes in textural properties, but no significant differences were observed in terms of staling rate among the non-par-baked samples during 5 days of storage at room temperature (p = 0.078). VKSB consistently exhibited the lowest eGI values for both the non-par-baked group and the par-baked group. Principal component analysis (PCA) clearly separated the volatile compound profiles of non-par-baked breads (VKSB-Day 0 and APSB-Day 0) from those of regular bread and par-baked breads. The findings of this study suggest that par-baking technology is a promising approach for breads similar to traditional breads, enabling wider consumption without marked quality deterioration up to 30 days and resulting in a lower estimated glycemic index (eGI) than regular bread. Full article

Biomass allocation patterns affect plant functions across all levels, ranging from plant growth and reproduction to the quality and energy flow of entire communities. Revealing the biomass allocation and allometric growth relationships among the dominant plant formations in alpine peat swamp wetlands not only can help elucidate the life history strategies of swamp plants, but also plays a crucial role in understanding the uncertainty of plant carbon sinks in peat swamp wetlands. Based on community surveys, this study employed analysis of variance (ANOVA) and standardized major axis estimation (SMA) to analyze the species composition, biomass allocation of different organs, and allometric growth relationships of the dominant plant formation in the alpine peat swamp wetlands of the Yellow River on the Gannon Plateau, Gansu Province, China. The results showed the following: (1) Peat swamp plants can be classified into six formations dominated by Carex muliensis, Blysmus sinocompressus, Carex atrofusca, Kobresia tibetica, Kobresia kansuensis, and Carex kansuensis. Environmental filtering was identified as the primary factor influencing the distribution of formations in this region. (2) The biomass allocation ratios of the dominant plant formations were ordered as follows: root mass ratio > leaf mass ratio > stem mass ratio. There were also significant differences in the biomass allocation of roots, stems, and leaves among different plant formations. (3) Isometric growth was observed between the leaf and stem biomass of the dominant plant formations (p > 0.05), while allometric growth relationships existed between root/leaf biomass and root/stem biomass (p < 0.05), with the growth rate of root biomass (RB) being higher than that of leaf biomass (LB) and stem biomass (SB). The biomass allocation patterns and allometric growth relationships among the roots, stems, and leaves of the dominant plant formations in peat swamp wetlands reflect the environmental plasticity mechanism of functional plant traits in heterogeneous habitats. Moreover, combining optimal allocation theory and allometric growth theory can better explain the biomass variation and adaptation mechanisms of dominant plant formations in peat swamp wetlands, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the habitat adaptation patterns of plants in alpine peat swamp wetlands. Full article

Positron range (PR) degrades spatial resolution in positron emission tomography (PET), with its effect being radionuclide- and medium-dependent. Current accurate PR simulators are computationally intensive and cannot be used in clinical time frames. This work presents the Hybrid Monte Carlo (HMC) PR simulator, a GPU-accelerated condensed-history code in CUDA Fortran for 3D annihilation imaging in heterogeneous voxelised geometries derived from CT images and $\mu$-maps. Pre-computed look-up interaction tables (LUTs) covering 24 reference-tissue materials and support for arbitrary ${\beta }^{+}$ emitters up to 3.55 MeV end-point energies (⁶⁸Ga, ⁸²Rb, ¹²⁴I, etc.) allow both GPU and CPU implementations. Maximum speeds reach $4.77·{10}^5$ (Intel i9-14900KF) and $3.32·{10}^8$ (NVIDIA RTX 5080) histories/s, surpassing prior CPU-only PenEasy 2024 by up to 4 orders of magnitude. A fixed step of 0.5 mm was chosen for LUT generation with a uniform $\pm 10\%$ variation each HMC step that allowed reducing aliasing effects. These values are consistent with our previous cross-code benchmark for the isotopes studied. Close agreement with PenEasy 2024 is demonstrated: point-source FWHM and FWTM residuals using ¹⁸F, ⁶⁸Ga, ¹²⁴I and ⁸²Rb are below 0.3 mm at ${10}^7$ histories, and voxelwise $R^2=0.995$, $\mathrm{SSIM}=0.995$ and PSNR $\approx 36.4$ dB are achieved simulating ⁸²Rb uptake from a human-scale [¹⁸F]FDG myocardium acquisition, while decreasing the simulation time from almost 9 h to roughly 1 s using HMC GPU. The resulting annihilation maps enable PET resolution modelling and patient-specific PR correction within clinically practical time frames. Full article

Many Greek islands host geothermal springs whose waters can be desalinated to produce drinking water. Some of these waters contain meaningful concentrations of the valuable Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ ions, which, when extracted from the desalination brine as RbCl and CsCl salts, can yield revenues exceeding the freshwater production costs. We demonstrate the use of reverse osmosis (RO) to produce freshwater and apply theoretical simulations to assess a proven extraction method applied to the RO retentate of geothermal water from Samothrace, characterized by [Rb⁺] = 2.72, [Cs⁺] = 0.55, [K⁺] = 514, [Na⁺] = 3759 (all in mg/L) and pH 6. The extraction method, developed by the authors, relies on ion exchange using a PES-coated Zn-hexacyanoferrate sorbent with high affinity for monovalent cations (no affinity for multi-valent cations), followed by a unique ion-chromatography separation. We show that the production cost remains <25% of the salts’ market price, with ROI of ~4.5 years. Full article

The growing demand for sustainable construction materials has spurred the use of recycled aggregates in cementitious composites to reduce the consumption of natural resources and the generation of construction waste. This study investigates the combined effects of recycled glass (RG), recycled brick (RB), and recycled concrete (RC) aggregates used as partial replacements for natural aggregate (NA) on the fresh properties of mortar. A multi-factor experimental design was employed, with RG, RB, and RC replacing NA at levels of 5–25%, 15–45%, and 10–30% of the total aggregate content, respectively. The fresh properties evaluated included the final water-to-cement ratio (w/c), fresh density, and air content. The results indicated that increasing the proportion of recycled aggregates, especially RB and RC, increased water demand and air content, which is likely attributed to their higher porosity and water absorption. Consequently, the final w/c ratio increased, while the fresh density decreased by up to 12%. In contrast, mixtures with higher NA and RG contents exhibited improved compactness and higher fresh density. Furthermore, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and sensitivity analysis framework established in this study provide a robust quantitative tool (R² up to 0.95) for optimizing the proportioning of multi-source recycled aggregate mortar. The findings confirm the feasibility of using multi-source recycled aggregates to develop optimized and sustainable mortar mixtures with predictable fresh-state performance. Full article

Traditional SLAM methods face significant challenges in complex environments, including high computational complexity, ambiguous data association, and limited real-time performance. Existing approaches often rely on explicit data association or computationally intensive filtering frameworks, which restrict their scalability and robustness. In this paper, we propose a pose-graph-optimization-based Poisson multi-Bernoulli (PMB) SLAM framework. The proposed method models the map as a unified structure consisting of undetected features represented by a Poisson point process (PPP) and detected features represented by multi-Bernoulli (MB) components, enabling consistent feature estimation while reducing the reliance on explicit data association. Furthermore, an information-controlled pose graph constraint selection strategy (IC-PGCS) is developed to effectively couple PMB filtering with pose graph optimization, allowing adaptive activation of graph optimization based on accumulated information. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves comparable map feature estimation accuracy while improving computational efficiency and real-time performance compared with RB-PHD-SLAM and multi-Bernoulli-based SLAM methods. These results validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework for SLAM applications in cluttered indoor environments. Full article

This paper presents a low-power 30/60 GHz dual-band CMOS voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) for 5G applications. The design employs an LC-VCO core that simultaneously generates differential fundamental-frequency outputs and a single-ended second-harmonic output. To improve second-harmonic spectral purity, a second-harmonic quarter-wavelength (λ/4) transmission line is inserted in the V_DD bias path of the VCO core. A body-to-ground-with-resistor (B-to-GND-with-R_B) NMOS varactor configuration is adopted to provide a wide, monotonic tuning range while suppressing substrate leakage and noise coupling. In addition, a fundamental-frequency λ/4 transmission line is introduced in the control-voltage bias path to improve AC grounding of the differential varactor center node. The VCO consumes 2.19 mW and achieves a tuning range of 24.59–30.5 GHz (21.5%). At 27.48 GHz, it exhibits a phase noise of −117.69 dBc/Hz at a 10 MHz offset, corresponding to a figure of merit (FoM) of 189.72 dBc/Hz. The second-harmonic output covers 49.18–61 GHz, with the same fractional tuning range. The VCO core occupies a compact chip area of only 0.021 mm². Full article

The chemical composition and perceived quality of wild ginseng (WG) are influenced by its geographical origin, yet clear chemical criteria for origin authentication remain lacking, and this problem is further complicated by the confounding effect of growth year. In this study, volatile and non-volatile fingerprints of 15- and 20-year-old WG from Huanren, Tonghua, and Ji’an (China) were characterized using HS-GC-IMS and HPLC. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models constructed separately for each growth-year group achieved complete origin separation of volatile fingerprints, with ten shared VIP markers identified. However, none maintained a consistent origin ranking across years, suggesting that the geographical signal may reside in the multivariate patterns. Ginsenoside profiling revealed a hierarchical candidate marker system: Rf, Rg1, Rc, Rb2 as robust candidate markers for Huanren, and Re as a 20-year-specific discriminator for Tonghua. The pervasive origin × growth year interaction observed across both volatile and non-volatile fractions indicates that growth-year-specific chemometric models are a necessity for reliable WG origin authentication. A practical two-step workflow—growth year determination followed by age-matched origin assignment—is proposed. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the geographical traceability and quality evaluation of WG. Full article

Brucellosis remains a major zoonotic disease that affects both public health and animal production worldwide. Conventional live vaccines, including S19, RB51, and A19, are commonly used for disease control; however, concerns regarding their safety and performance under field conditions limit their application. Targeted gene deletion in Brucella abortus S2308 has generated multiple candidate vaccine strains, but their protection relative to conventional vaccines has not yet been clearly established. We synthesized evidence from 15 mouse studies to compare the protective performance of S2308-derived gene-deletion mutants with that of conventional vaccines. The pooled estimate did not show a statistically significant difference in splenic bacterial burden after challenge between mutant and conventional vaccine groups (mean difference [MD] = 0.38, 95% CI: −0.07 to 0.84; p = 0.10), although substantial heterogeneity was observed (I² = 95.38%). Heterogeneity was partially explained by mouse strain, mouse age, the functional categories of deleted genes, number of deletions, and challenge dose. Mutants targeting signal-regulatory genes tended to be associated with lower splenic bacterial loads than those targeting genes involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. Overall, based on post-challenge splenic bacterial burden, current mouse evidence suggests that S2308-derived gene-deletion mutants may reduce bacterial burden to an extent broadly comparable to that achieved by conventional Brucella vaccines in mice. The observed association between signal regulation-related gene deletions and lower splenic bacterial burden should be regarded as exploratory and requires further validation using broader protective endpoints and studies in natural target hosts. Full article