Search Results (25,909)

This study establishes a numerical wave simulation framework based on Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) to investigate the characteristics of typhoon-generated waves in the coastal waters of the northern South China Sea. To better represent typhoon-wind features in the study area, a blended typhoon wind field was constructed by combining the ERA5 background wind field with a Holland parametric typhoon wind field. The numerical simulations were performed with a spatial resolution of 0.25° × 0.25°. Model performance was evaluated against in situ observations and Jason-3 satellite altimetry data, showing satisfactory agreement regarding significant wave height (H_s). Hindcast simulations were conducted for 50 typhoon events that affected the coastal waters of Guangdong Province, China, during 2013–2025. Eighteen representative points were selected within marine-ranching areas distributed across the western, central, and eastern coastal sectors of Guangdong. Typhoon-wave events occurred most frequently in the central coastal sector, which also exhibited the greatest significant wave heights. In this sector, the maximum significant wave height reached 12.13 m, while the mean significant wave height was 3.37 m. The peak wave energy spectral density decreased from the central sector toward both the western and eastern sectors. In the central sector, the peak wave energy spectral density exceeded 90 m²/Hz, with a domain-wide maximum value of 297.60 m²/Hz. Across all representative points, the peak frequencies ranged from 0.07 to 0.12 Hz. Analyses of typhoon event characteristics, significant wave height features, and wave spectral properties in this study offer background references for marine-ranching planning and regional hazard assessment. Full article

Maritime decarbonisation requires transparent use of verified emissions data without overstating what regulatory datasets can explain. This study examines how EU Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) data can support descriptive benchmarking of container ship distance-normalised fuel consumption. Of 14,147 2024 MRV records, 2097 container ships were retained. Fuel consumption per nautical mile (FC/nm) is treated as an absolute distance-normalised fuel-use indicator, not a cargo-adjusted efficiency metric. Four algorithms were assessed under target-related diagnostic and reduced specifications. Diagnostic results represent target-related reconstruction, not genuine prediction. Training-only hyperparameter tuning yielded reduced-specification test R² values of 0.8958 for Gradient Boosting and 0.8888 for XGBoost. Random-Forest attribution in the reduced specification was dominated by emissions-derived predictors. A strict non-emissions Random Forest using only sea time and certification performed worse than the mean-value baseline (R² = −0.2890). Comparison with MRV-reported fuel consumption per transport work (mass), available for 95.1% of vessels, showed a strong inverse association (ρ = −0.822), confirming that FC/nm quartiles are not cargo-adjusted efficiency rankings. The study shows that explainable machine learning can transparently diagnose information structure in MRV data, while demonstrating that these variables alone cannot support causal, voyage-level, cross-vessel efficiency, or policy interpretations. Full article

Ferroptosis is a critical driver of tubular necrosis, and its effective inhibition holds significant potential for mitigating renal injury. In this study, chemical investigation of the strain Penicillium rubens MABC05 yielded nine drimane-pyrone-type meroterpenoids (1–9), including six previously undescribed analogues, a previously undescribed tetrahydroxanthone-ergosterol hybrid (10), four steroids (11–14), and three xanthone derivatives (15–17). Their structures were elucidated via comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, supported by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (Mo Kα for 1 and 3, and Cu Kα for 6) and ¹³C NMR calculations (2 and 10). The absolute configurations of 1–5 and 10 were assigned by ECD calculation. Compounds 1–6 represent a rare group of meroterpenoids containing a fused drimane-type sesquiterpene and pyrone skeleton. Additionally, two storage-induced oxidative artifacts of 10 were also characterized. These compounds were evaluated for anti-ferroptotic and cytotoxic activities. Compound 15 exhibited inhibition against RSL3-induced ferroptosis in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells with an EC₅₀ value of 12.8 μM; it effectively reduced MDA levels, elevated GSH content, and suppressed lipid radical generation. Compounds 11 and 16 exhibited cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 4.3 and 8.4 μM, respectively. Compound 15 represents a promising chemotype for ferroptosis inhibitors with potential for mitigating renal tubular injury. Full article

Shoreline erosion is a stress to coastal communities, and this is particularly true under climate change and sea level rise conditions. Understanding the mechanisms controlling shoreline erosion and the ability for future projections are critical for mitigation and planning. A parameterization has been developed to model shoreline erosion based on wave power and shoreline characteristics. The present study couples the shoreline erosion model with the Semi-implicit Cross-scale Hydroscience Integrated System Model (SCHISM) and the third-generation Wind Wave Model (WWMIII) and conducts a long-term (1991–2014) simulation constrained by observed long-term shoreline erosion rates. The model revealed that wind waves inside the Bay are mostly locally formed and influence from offshore wave propagation is limited. Shoreline erosion quantity is comparable to sediment loads from the watershed but composed of more coarse material like sand. Interannual variability of shoreline erosion from weather variation was up to 58 percent from 1991 through 2014. Shoreline erosion has a significant influence on sediment distribution away from riverine inputs, but estuarine turbidity maxima dominate the transitional zones between fresh and salt waters in the tributaries as well as in the main stem Bay. A sensitivity analysis run with 53 cm sea level rise resulted in a 28 percent increase in shoreline erosion due to increases in water depth and wave power. Full article

Background/Objectives: Oxaliplatin (OHP) is a key component of colorectal cancer chemotherapy, but OHP-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OIPN) is a major dose-limiting adverse effect. OHP-related sodium-channel dysfunction could increase intracellular Na⁺ and sustain depolarization, conditions that may theoretically favor reverse-mode NCX activity, in which the exchanger promotes Ca²⁺ entry rather than Ca²⁺ extrusion. This study evaluated whether NCX2 targeting could reduce OHP-induced sensory neuron injury. Methods: Primary mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons were exposed to OHP, with or without SEA0400 (NCX modulator) pretreatment or siRNA-mediated NCX2 knockdown. Neuronal viability, neurite elongation, live-cell morphology, NCX2 fluorescence, and lipid droplet accumulation were quantified. Results: OHP reduced neuronal survival and neurite elongation and induced stress-related morphological changes and lipid droplet accumulation. NCX2-associated fluorescence varied by neuronal subtype, dose, and time. SEA0400 and partial NCX2 knockdown attenuated selected injury endpoints, mainly under low-dose conditions. Conclusions: These findings suggest that NCX2 may be involved in selected OHP-induced sensory neuron injury endpoints and support further investigation of NCX2 as a potential preventive target. However, reverse-mode NCX activity, Na⁺/Ca²⁺ fluxes, NCX2 directionality, and translational relevance require direct validation. Full article

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a type of bone marrow cancer characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of myeloid cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. This study aims to examine the association between miR-33a-5p and Ankyrin 3 (ANK3) in CML and to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of miR-33a-5p in the progression of this disease. mRNA expression profiles were obtained from the GSE100026 dataset within the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was conducted to assess the expression levels of miR-33a-5p and ANK3. To investigate the regulatory mechanism of miR-33a-5p/ANK3, various databases such as miRNet, miRDIP, TargetScan, BioGRID, and CancerSEA were utilized. The expression of miR-33a-5p was markedly elevated, while ANK3 expression was significantly reduced. Furthermore, pathway clustering and functional assessments of ANK3 demonstrated its involvement in regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis. The findings identify an inverse expression pattern between miR-33a-5p and ANK3 across the two cell models and support a candidate regulatory relationship that warrants direct functional validation. This relationship may merit further investigation as a potential molecular target in CML. Full article

Extreme rainfall events are a major driver of flooding and associated socio-economic impacts in eastern South Africa, where interactions between tropical and mid-latitude circulation systems strongly influence rainfall variability. This study investigated atmospheric drivers of extreme rainfall over KwaZulu-Natal during the 1990–2020 period. Daily and monthly rainfall data from the South African Weather Service were analyzed using spatiotemporal statistical techniques, while atmospheric circulation patterns were examined using NCEP/NCAR and ERA5 reanalysis datasets. The spatiotemporal statistical analysis in this study was implemented using a combination of station-based rainfall analysis, anomaly analysis, composite analysis, and correlation techniques to explicitly quantify spatial patterns and temporal variability. In the context of this study, short duration refers to extreme rainfall events occurring over synoptic timescales, typically lasting from approximately 1 to 3 days (24–72 h). Composite analysis, anomaly diagnostics, and case studies were applied using outgoing longwave radiation, sea-level pressure, geopotential height, wind vectors, and relative humidity fields. Tropical-temperate troughs (TTTs) are also shown to play a significant role, contributing to widespread high-intensity rainfall events. These systems enhance moisture transport and convergence, creating favourable conditions for persistent and spatially extensive precipitation. The results reveal a pronounced west–east rainfall gradient, with enhanced extremes along the eastern escarpment, and show that extreme rainfall is primarily associated with short-duration, high-intensity events. Cut-off lows were identified independently from rainfall using their characteristic circulation and thermal structure. A total of 24 COL events were identified, of which 20 (83.3%) were associated with maximum 24 h rainfall ≥ 50 mm and four (16.7%) produced lower rainfall. COLs occurred throughout the year, with the highest frequency during JJA (45.8%), followed by SON (33.3%). The ENSO-rainfall relationship was strongest during DJF, when the regional rainfall index was significantly negatively correlated with Niño 3.4 anomalies (r = −0.447, p = 0.013), indicating reduced summer rainfall during warmer Niño 3.4 conditions. Full article

Background: Physicians work under demanding conditions that may affect their psychological functioning and evaluations of life. Positive psychological resources, particularly dispositional hope, may be relevant to the association between psychological well-being and contentment with life. This study examined these constructs and their indirect association through dispositional hope among physicians working in public hospitals in Türkiye’s Black Sea region. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between July and December 2024 with a convenience sample of 918 physicians. Validated Turkish versions of the Psychological Well-Being Scale, Dispositional Hope Scale, and Contentment with Life Assessment Scale were administered. An unadjusted indirect-association analysis was performed using PROCESS Model 4 with reliability-adjusted errors-in-variables estimation and 5000 bootstrap samples. Results: The mean scores were 37.30 ± 7.46 for psychological well-being, 45.00 ± 7.65 for dispositional hope, and 19.90 ± 5.14 for contentment with life. Psychological well-being was positively correlated with dispositional hope (r = 0.582) and contentment with life (r = 0.645), while dispositional hope was positively correlated with contentment with life (r = 0.465; all p < 0.001). Psychological well-being was positively associated with dispositional hope (β = 0.60, B = 0.62, SE = 0.08, 95% CI [0.45, 0.78], p < 0.001; R² = 0.360). In the outcome model, psychological well-being (β = 0.46, B = 0.38, SE = 0.05, 95% CI [0.28, 0.47], p < 0.001) and dispositional hope (β = 0.34, B = 0.28, SE = 0.08, 95% CI [0.12, 0.44], p < 0.001) were positively associated with contentment with life. Together, psychological well-being and dispositional hope explained 45.5% of the variance in contentment with life (R² = 0.455). The total association was statistically significant (B = 0.56, SE = 0.04, 95% CI [0.48, 0.63], p < 0.001), as was the indirect association through dispositional hope (β = 0.21, B = 0.18, BootSE = 0.02, 95% bootstrap CI [0.14, 0.23]). Conclusions: Psychological well-being, dispositional hope, and contentment with life were positively associated. Hope showed a significant indirect association, but the cross-sectional, unadjusted model does not support causal inference. Longitudinal multicenter studies are needed. Full article

The striped eel catfish Plotosus lineatus is a venomous Indo-Pacific species that has rapidly expanded within the Mediterranean Sea following its Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal. Understanding its current distribution and future invasion potential is essential for evaluating ecological risks under ongoing climate change. In this study, ensemble species distribution models were applied to predict the present and future habitat suitability of P. lineatus across the Mediterranean Sea under the CMIP6 SSP2-4.5 climate scenario. Georeferenced occurrence records were compiled from published literature and validated databases. A total of 21 environmental variables were initially evaluated, and after multicollinearity filtering using Pearson correlation (|r| < 0.7) and Variance Inflation Factor (VIF < 10) analyses, 11 environmental predictors obtained from the Bio-ORACLE v3 database were retained for modelling. Nine modelling algorithms were initially evaluated, and six high-performing models were integrated into the final unweighted ensemble model based on predefined AUC and TSS performance criteria. Minimum seawater temperature was identified as the dominant factor controlling habitat suitability, indicating that winter thermal conditions currently represent the principal ecological barrier limiting the Mediterranean distribution of the species. Current projections identified the Levantine Basin as the principal invasion hotspot. Future projections, based on mean environmental conditions for the 2020–2100 period under the CMIP6 SSP2-4.5 scenario, indicated a substantial increase in suitable habitats toward the central Mediterranean, including southern Italy and the Aegean region. These findings suggest that future climatic conditions may facilitate the expansion of P. lineatus into additional areas of the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and regional management. Full article

The Baltic Sea is one of the best-studied marine areas in the world, while at the same time being among the most sensitive to human pressure and related environmental change. This review manuscript synthesizes current knowledge on the impacts of climate change on the Baltic Sea using the observed state and functioning of the ecosystem as a starting point to identify the physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms driving these changes. At the same time, climate change is treated as a dominant modifying factor of these mechanisms rather than as the single primary cause of the observed processes. The manuscript discusses changes in the structure and functioning of the Baltic Sea ecosystem, including shifts in plankton communities, the expansion of hypoxic zones, changes in benthic functioning, responses of fish populations, and the increasing role of pollution and anthropogenic pressures originating from both marine activities and processes within the Baltic Sea catchment. By treating the Baltic Sea as a model system, this review manuscript shows that the processes and ecosystem responses currently observed may serve as early signals of changes that in other seas may only become evident in the future. The insights gained from this natural experiment highlight the need to integrate climatic, physical, chemical, and biological knowledge into marine management strategies. Full article

Marine-derived Streptomyces are among the most prolific producers of structurally diverse and biologically active natural products. Adaptation to unique marine environments, including deep-sea sediments, hydrothermal vents, mangrove ecosystems, marine invertebrates, and hypersaline habitats, has promoted the evolution of specialized biosynthetic systems capable of generating a broad spectrum of secondary metabolites. These metabolites include polyketides, non-ribosomal peptides (NRPs), ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), terpenoids, alkaloids, and hybrid compounds with significant antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Recent advances in genome sequencing, bioinformatics, genome mining, metabolomics, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted discovery have substantially expanded marine natural product research by enabling the identification and prioritization of previously inaccessible biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). However, major challenges remain, including silent biosynthetic pathways, low cultivation efficiency, rediscovery of known compounds, metabolite yield instability, dereplication bottlenecks, and limited ecological interpretation. These constraints continue to impede the translation of biosynthetic potential into pharmaceutical applications. This review summarizes current strategies for marine natural product discovery and highlights emerging translational approaches integrating multi-omics technologies, pathway engineering, and AI-guided prioritization. Collectively, these advances provide a roadmap for advancing marine Streptomyces research from descriptive omics-based exploration toward experimentally validated and clinically relevant drug discovery. Full article

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) provides high-resolution observations of radial sea surface currents. By combining radial currents observed from different viewing directions, the trajectory-crossing method can reconstruct the sea surface current vector field. In practice, observations from ascending and descending passes are acquired at different times, so the spatial structure of the surface current field may evolve between acquisitions. Directly combining multitemporal observations can therefore introduce spatial mismatch and reduce reconstruction accuracy. This study proposes a trajectory-crossing method for reconstructing sea surface current vectors from multitemporal Sentinel-1 Doppler observations. Maximum cross-correlation (MCC) is applied to gradient images of the radial current fields to estimate displacement and spatially register observations acquired at different times before vector reconstruction. The method is evaluated using Sentinel-1 data acquired over the Gulf Stream region and compared with geostrophic currents from the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS), Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) observations, and Global Drifter Program (GDP) drifter measurements. Results show that the proposed method reduces mismatch effects and improves the accuracy and stability of sea surface current vector reconstruction. It provides a practical approach for deriving surface current vector fields from multitemporal SAR Doppler observations. Full article

Coastal oceanographic buoys provide high-frequency observations, but their scientific use requires channel-specific quality assessment and explicit treatment of representativeness. This study evaluates a coastal buoy deployed off Cabo de Gata, southeastern Spain, during two non-contiguous observation windows in 2025 and 2026. Buoy records were standardized, screened with quality-control tests, aggregated daily without gap filling, and compared with Copernicus Marine and ERA5 products as an external-consistency assessment. Gridded products were interpolated to the mean buoy position using inverse-distance weighting, and Copernicus Marine temperature was vertically interpolated to the 5 m and 10 m buoy-sensor depths. Completeness was 88.1–88.3% in 2025 and 99.9–100.0% in 2026, with no gross-range failures. Significant wave height and atmospheric pressure showed strong external consistency, with root mean square errors of 0.15/0.14 m and 0.63/0.59 hPa, respectively. Temperature at 5 m showed moderate-to-strong agreement, with errors of 0.98/0.64 °C. Wave-spectrum-derived wind speed showed larger, sea-state-dependent differences, although disagreement decreased under higher wave steepness. The workflow distinguishes channels suitable for daily environmental interpretation from those requiring additional metadata or independent field verification. Full article

Ship detection in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery remains challenging because near-shore clutter, coherent speckle noise, dense scattering responses, and large target-scale variations often obscure vessel boundaries and weaken small-ship signatures. Although single-stage detectors provide efficient inference, their predominantly local convolutional modeling and fixed multiscale fusion strategies are insufficient for capturing long-range sea-surface context and adaptively emphasizing discriminative ship responses. To address these limitations, this paper proposes SeaMamba, a frequency-stabilized selective state-space multiscale detector for SAR ship detection in complex maritime scenes. Specifically, a frequency-domain speckle prior is introduced to stabilize SAR inputs while preserving target localization cues. A bidirectional selective state-space modeling module is then used to propagate long-range contextual information with input-adaptive scanning. Furthermore, a gated pyramid reassembly module is designed to refine multiscale features before dense prediction. The proposed method is evaluated on the SAR Ship Detection Dataset (SSDD) and High-Resolution SAR Images Dataset (HRSID) under a unified five-fold cross-validation protocol. SeaMamba achieved mean average precision at an intersection-over-union threshold of 0.5 (mAP@0.5) values of 99.16 ± 0.11% on SSDD and 93.74 ± 0.15% on HRSID. Per-category evaluation, ablation studies, efficiency analysis, and Grad-CAM-based interpretability visualization further demonstrate that SeaMamba improves small-vessel detection, suppresses near-shore false responses, and maintains a practical accuracy-efficiency trade-off. Full article