Search Results (6,358)

The growth of human activity in cities is a key factor in the degradation of air quality. Numerous studies have demonstrated the link between air quality and the existence of dangerous and chronic diseases that are extremely costly for individuals and society. This study presents an analytical framework that compares fixed and mobile air-quality monitoring approaches in cities with limited resources, using Mohammedia city, Morocco, as an example. The framework centers on mobile monitoring units mounted on vehicles and equipped with affordable sensors, GPS technology, and wireless communication systems to track important pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) and harmful gaseous compounds (NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃). The evaluation relies on scenario-based modeling, performance data from existing literature, and calculations of costs throughout the system’s lifetime. To enhance measurement reliability, the researchers developed a correction system that addresses measurement errors caused by temperature, humidity, vehicle speed, vibrations, traffic-related interference, operational interruptions, and communication limitations. The findings indicate that fixed monitoring stations deliver superior measurement precision, with estimated uncertainty ranging from ±1.2–2.5%, though their coverage area is restricted to 0.534 km² (representing 1.6% of Mohammedia). In comparison, the suggested mobile setup could potentially monitor 9.8 km², covering approximately 30% of the city, while decreasing infrastructure needs and setup time (2–4 h compared to 2–4 weeks). Over 10 years, the total cost is EUR 252,000 for mobile monitoring, compared with EUR 3.6 million for a network of 20 fixed stations. These results demonstrate that corrected mobile monitoring systems offer significant promise as an economical and sustainable approach for managing urban environmental conditions. Full article

The newly identified greisen-hosted Nb-Ta mineralization in the Qidashan iron deposit, Liaoning Province, China, offers a unique opportunity to explore how hydrothermal processes contribute to the enrichment of critical metals. In this study, an integrated analytical approach of petrographic observation and scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb dating of columbite-group minerals (CGMs) were employed to systematically decipher the paragenetic sequence, micro-structure, elemental composition and mineralization age of CGMs, aiming at the genesis of greisen-hosted Nb-Ta mineralization. The mineralization is characterized by the abundant occurrence of CGMs. Three generations of CGMs and two mineralization stages are distinguished: stage I contains CGM Is and CGM IIs, with Nb₂O₅ ranging from 25.7 to 69.56 wt.% and Ta₂O₅ from 5.8 to 52.5 wt.%; stage II contains CGM IIIs, with Nb₂O₅ between 59.5 and 71.5 wt.% and Ta₂O₅ between 3.5 and 16.2 wt.%. CGM Is consist of euhedral, homogeneous crystals of more than 100 μm, exhibit low Ta/(Nb + Ta) ratios (0.05–0.06) and high Mn/(Fe + Mn) ratios (0.19–0.26), and belong to columbite-Fe. CGM IIs generally overgrow on CGM Is with hydrothermal overprinting textures, and show significant compositional gaps compared to CGM Is, exhibiting higher Ta/(Nb + Ta) ratios (0.13–0.55) and restricted Mn/(Fe + Mn) ratios (0.15–0.18), with some belonging to columbite-Fe and others to tantalite-Fe, which reveals a transition from magma to “hydrosilicate fluid”. CGM IIIs are mainly anhedral and homogeneous, with a grain size of less than 50 μm. However, some CGM IIIs overgrow on CGM IIs and/or CGM Is with patchy textures indicative of subsequent hydrothermal overprinting of hydrosilicate fluid, forming a coarse-grain size over 100 μm. CGM IIIs are characterized by lower Ta/(Nb + Ta) ratios (0.03–0.14) and variable Mn/(Fe + Mn) ratios (0.08–0.26), and they belong to columbite-Fe. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating yields weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 2646 ± 15 Ma for stage I and 2500 ± 28 Ma for stage II, indicating two-stage Nb-Ta mineralization. The early mineralization may correlate with the partial melting of volcanic–sedimentary rocks due to the geothermal anomalies associated with ~2.7 Ga submarine volcanism, and the late mineralization formed by the magmatic hydrothermal activities related to emplacement of the Qidashan granite in 2.5 Ga. We therefore propose that the two-stage greisen-hosted Nb-Ta mineralization probably widely occurred in these sedimentary–metamorphic iron deposits in the Anshan–Benxi area and even in the northern edge of the North China Craton, and it may provide new insights for evaluating the Nb-Ta resource potential in similar Algoma-type iron deposits globally. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) spheroid cancer models provide enhanced physiological relevance relative to traditional monolayer cultures but often demonstrate restricted drug responsiveness due to their dense architecture, hypoxic gradients, and diminished therapeutic penetrance. This study overcomes these limitations by establishing a sensitized 3D spheroid cancer cell model that employs the adenovirus-mediated gene expressions of tumor-suppressor and pro-apoptotic genes consisting of MOAP-1, BAX, and RASSF1A. The optimization of adenoviral infectivity led to the discovery of an intermediate multiplicity of infection (MOI) that facilitated effective and uniform transduction while reducing cytotoxicity. Adenovirus-infected 3D spheroid cells demonstrated enhanced apoptotic activities, evidenced by increased cell death relative to untreated spheroids. When exposed to the anti-cancer compound such as piperonal and pyrazole, the sensitized spheroids exhibited significantly enhanced drug responsiveness and synergistic effects over a five-day treatment period, surpassing the effects of adenovirus or anti-cancer drug treatment alone. Notably, similar responses were noted between low- and high drug doses, suggesting an enhancement of therapeutic efficacy at lower concentrations. This sensitized 3D spheroid model constitutes a more predictive in vitro system for anti-cancer drug discovery, facilitating enhanced mechanistic evaluation and the identification of potent drug candidates with greater translational significance. Full article

Osmanthus fragrans, a fragrant plant native to China, is extensively utilized in the food and cosmetics industries. However, its optimal harvest period spans only 2–3 days, restricting industrial utilization. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of plant growth, yet their roles in O. fragrans petal opening and senescence remain unexplored. Here, we performed high-throughput sequencing of O. fragrans petals across six developmental stages, generating a valuable transcriptomic resource. We identified 57,860 mRNAs and 2414 lncRNAs, including 6499 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs) and 494 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs). Co-expression and WGCNA analyses revealed key modules associated with petal opening (Turquoise module) and senescence (Blue module). The Blue module, significantly correlated with the S6 senescence stage, contained hub lncRNAs novel_00098659 and novel_00077227 co-expressed with multiple transcription factors and hormone signaling components, including 10 ERFs, OfEIN3, OfJAZ, and OfMYC2. Transient overexpression of novel_00077227 in tobacco accelerated leaf senescence in a hormone-dependent manner, with significant increases in electrolyte leakage and MDA content, and reductions in chlorophyll content and antioxidant enzyme activities. qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that novel_00077227 alters the expression of tobacco homologs of predicted target genes involved in ethylene, auxin, jasmonate, and ABA signaling pathways. This study provides a valuable transcriptomic resource of senescence-associated lncRNAs in O. fragrans and offers evidence for the potential involvement of a key candidate, novel_00077227, in hormone-associated senescence regulation. These findings provide a foundation for future functional studies and potential applications in extending flower longevity. Full article

A revised two-stage model of preeclampsia is proposed, centering on an autophagy-dependent requirement for extravillous trophoblast entry into the proximal one-third of the myometrium. The One-Third Myometrium Enigma, introduced here, denotes the unresolved physiological rule that early placentation requires trophoblasts to traverse decidua and reach the proximal one-third of myometrium under hypoxia and nutrient scarcity. The hypothesis posits a timed rise in basal autophagy to sustain trophoblast energy homeostasis and invasion, accompanied by TFEB-driven lysosomal programs that enable villous cytotrophoblast syncytialization. Autophagic dysfunction could contribute to shallow invasion, chronic placental hypoxia, fetal growth restriction, and release of placental injury signals preceding maternal syndrome. Potential failure modes include reduced autophagic flux due to inhibition of autophagosome to lysosome fusion or mistimed persistence of hypoxia signaling, such as prolonged HIF-1α activity. Collectively, this evidence suggests that impaired autophagy is a testable contributor to preeclampsia pathogenesis. Predictions include early risk stratification with circulating autophagy markers and extracellular vesicle microRNAs, and therapeutic benefit from autophagy modulation that targets AMPK or mTOR or activates TFEB with safety constraints. This framework reframes preeclampsia as a disorder of placental quality control and specifies where and when autophagy may be required. Full article

Prostate cancer (PCa) progression is critically driven by androgen receptor (AR) signaling, which integrates hormonal cues with metabolic programs supporting tumor growth, survival, and therapy resistance. Emerging evidence suggests that intermittent fasting (IF) and related dietary interventions—such as time-restricted eating (TRE), alternate-day fasting (ADF), and fasting-mimicking diet (FMD)—modulate systemic metabolism, including reductions in insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and induce intracellular nutrient stress that can influence AR activity, splice variant expression (e.g., AR-V7), and downstream metabolic pathways. This systematic literature review (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science; publications up to December 2025; search terms: “prostate cancer,” “androgen receptor,” “AR splice variants,” “intermittent fasting,” “fasting mimicking diet”, “metabolism,” “therapy resistance”) summarizes preclinical and clinical studies addressing the impact of IF on AR signaling, lipogenesis, mitochondrial function, redox homeostasis, and therapy response. Preclinical studies indicate that IF can reduce AR expression, impair nuclear translocation, modulate AR splice variants such as AR-V7 via nutrient-sensitive splicing mechanisms, and enhance sensitivity to androgen deprivation therapy and AR-targeted agents. Mechanistically, IF-induced metabolic stress engages AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and sirtuin pathways, alters lipid and mitochondrial metabolism, and transiently increases reactive oxygen species (ROS), creating vulnerabilities in prostate tumor cells. Translational evidence suggests potential benefits of integrating IF with standard therapy, but effects may depend on fasting regimen, caloric intake, macronutrient composition, and patient metabolic context, including risk of lean mass loss. This review highlights the metabolic crosstalk between IF and AR signaling and emphasizes the need for future clinical studies incorporating biomarker-guided approaches and body composition monitoring to fully exploit this intersection for improved therapeutic outcomes in prostate cancer. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hand loss or severe impairment significantly reduces quality of life by restricting essential daily activities and professional tasks. Despite advances in prosthetics, challenges remain in affordability, accessibility, and usability. This study aimed to design and develop a low-cost, ergonomic bionic hand prototype that integrates sustainable fabrication, intuitive control, and modular electronics. Methods: A user-centred design process guided by iterative prototyping, anatomical modelling, and functional validation. The prototype was manufactured using 3D printing techniques and assembled with modular electronic components. The design included segmented fingers, independent thumb articulation, and a tendon-like actuation system driven by micro-motors. Control was implemented through an ESP32-based board and a Bluetooth-enabled mobile application. Durability was preliminarily assessed through 500 grasp–release cycles. Results: Experimental validation confirmed the feasibility of both precision and power grips. The pinch grip successfully lifted objects to 120 g, and the power grip up to 85 g, corresponding to effective output forces of approximately 1.2 N and 0.83 N, respectively. The final prototype weighed ~350 g and maintained reliable performance during 500 grasp–release cycles. Conclusions: The developed bionic hand demonstrates that an affordable, ergonomic, and functional prosthetic can be achieved through sustainable 3D printing and accessible electronics. Future work will focus on enhancing actuation strength, long-term durability, and integration of sensory feedback, with the long-term objective of clinical testing and scalable production. Full article

Background/Objectives: The large size of commonly used regulatory elements such as the cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early promoter imposes a significant burden on the already restricted payload capacity of first-generation adenoviral vectors, potentially hindering the development of multi-antigen vaccine candidates. To address this limitation, we have engineered a panel of novel, small, semi-synthetic promoters designed to leverage the changes in transcriptomic milieu following adenoviral vector entry. Methods: Eight synthetic enhancer modules (SE1–SE8) were designed in silico, each composed of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) previously found in host genes that are upregulated during early adenoviral infection. These synthetic enhancers were coupled with a minimal CMV core promoter to generate a panel of compact semi-synthetic promoters (cSE1–cSE8), and their activity was evaluated in the context of ChAdOx1 viral vectors expressing GFP or a modified Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite (CSN) antigen. Promoter performance was characterised in vitro via flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting, and in vivo by quantifying antigen-specific T-cell (IFN-γ ELISpot) and IgG antibody (ELISA) responses in BALB/c mice. Results: In vitro characterisation revealed a wide range of promoter activity across the panel, with cSE3 and cSE5 driving transgene expression levels comparable to the benchmark CMV promoters despite their markedly reduced genomic footprint. In vivo, ChAdOx1 vectors incorporating cSE3 and cSE5 elicited potent antigen-specific T-cell and IgG responses that were comparable to those induced by the larger CMV control promoters. Conclusions: We have successfully developed semi-synthetic promoters that match the potency of the much larger, frequently used CMV promoters whilst simultaneously reducing genomic footprint. These novel regulatory elements will facilitate the design of next-generation vaccines, particularly those requiring large antigens or multi-antigen cassettes. Full article

Gadolinium nanoparticles (GdNPs) have gained increasing attention as multifunctional metal-based nanoplatforms that extend far beyond their traditional use as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Their specific magnetic properties, tunable physicochemical features, and tunable biocompatibilities with biocompatible coatings give them great potential as drug delivery and theranostic applications. They offer greater stability, lower systemic toxicity, and more surface modification options compared to molecular gadolinium chelates. The functionalized GdNPs not only show excellent properties as drug carriers for their specific indications but also serve as agents in various imaging modalities with superior therapeutic efficacy by means of radio sensitization and magnetically assisted delivery. Note too that GdNP-based formulations have demonstrated synergistic activity when administered with chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin. GdNPs have demonstrated promising preclinical outcomes, and their clinical translation remains restricted due to a number of scale-up constraints, long-term safety challenges, pharmacokinetics, and regulatory problems. This review provides information on the use of GdNPs, their key physicochemical and magnetic properties, ligand engineering for targeted delivery, and biological mechanisms of their theranostic performance. Full article

Active matter actively searches for models that allow them to connect the behavior of multiple agents to particle system with a physical law. However, the arsenal of models used to model active matter systems is very restricted. Modern differential equation discovery approaches allow one to extract governing equations from data for a single particle in the form of the ODE. However, there is still the question of how to model at the meso- and macroscales. This paper presents a data-driven framework for extracting the governing physical laws of a hardware-made swarm across multiple scales of organization. Using the EPDE framework, we transition from a discrete, chaotic trajectory of individual agents to a continuous, effective field theory of the collective. We show that augmenting the symbolic search space with interaction-aware tokens allowed for the derivation of stochastic partial differential equations (SDEs) that significantly outperformed baseline deterministic models (reducing CRPS by up to 10%). Additionally, we derive a system of SPDEs that governs the macroscale displacement field. Full article

This study evaluates the costs and benefits of participatory forest management (PFM) versus non-participatory forest management based on the perceptions and involvement of local communities in the Kilombero Valley Ramsar site, Tanzania. The area hosts ecologically significant wetlands managed through different regimes: forests managed by local communities under PFM and protected areas controlled by national authorities. Using data collected through focus groups, key interviews, household surveys, and direct observations in two villages—Siginali (PFM) and Kilama (non-participatory)—this research explores perceptions of two different forest management approaches. The results revealed: (i) a generally low awareness and participation in forest management activities in both villages; (ii) restrictions on forest resource access, essential for local livelihoods, were common and often poorly accepted in the two villages; (iii) neither approach alleviates poverty, instead, strict regulations have worsened livelihoods by eliminating traditional income sources; (iv) forced participation in patrols and fire control was also noted as an unfair burden without direct compensation; and (v) the “fortress” model is perceived as more effective at improving forest health and stopping illegal activity due to stricter patrols. The study concludes that while PFM supports forest sustainability, it needs enhanced local engagement, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and complementary income-generating initiatives such as ecotourism to sustainably balance conservation and community welfare. Full article

Objective: This study examined whether changes in electroencephalography (EEG)-derived indices, photoplethysmography (PPG)-derived autonomic nervous system indices, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) post-high-intensity exercise differ depending on sleep duration. Methods: Forty physically healthy female university students in their twenties were randomly assigned to the sleep restriction (SR) or normal sleep (NS) group. EEG-derived indices—the theta-to-beta ratio (TBR) and spectral edge frequency at 90% (SEF-90)—and PPG-derived autonomic nervous system indices (HRV index, sympathetic activity, and parasympathetic activity) were measured for one minute at rest before exercise and for one minute immediately after exercise. Heart rate was assessed at rest, immediately after exercise, and at 5, 10, and 15 min post-exercise. The group × time interaction effects were assessed using two-way mixed-design analysis of variance, followed by post hoc analyses. Results: TBR increased significantly post-exercise in the SR group (p = 0.002) with no significant change in the NS group. SEF-90 decreased significantly in the SR group (p < 0.001) with no significant change in the NS group. The HRV index decreased significantly in the SR group (p = 0.004) with no significant change in the NS group. Sympathetic activity increased and parasympathetic activity decreased significantly in the SR group (both p < 0.001). Heart rate was significantly higher in the SR group at rest (p < 0.001), immediately after exercise (p = 0.020), and 5 min post-exercise (p = 0.009). RPE was significantly higher in the SR group (p = 0.003). Conclusions: In healthy young adult women, the central and autonomic nervous systems respond differently to high-intensity exercise depending on sleep duration. Full article

Soils in industrially influenced areas are often exposed to elevated nickel (Ni) levels due to metallurgical and alumina production activities. In this context, this study evaluated bauxite residue (BR) as an amendment to mitigate Ni availability and mobility in five agricultural soils from the Attica region, Greece, selected according to their pH values. Apart from the pH, soil properties were greatly varied. A very small amount of 1% BR (w/w) was incorporated into soils and batch adsorption experiments with eight Ni concentrations ranging between 1 and 90 mg Ni L⁻¹ were performed, followed by the direct application of the Tessier sequential fractionation scheme. BR addition increased the Ni adsorption capacity of soils, particularly those of low and neutral pH. BR increased the pH of acid soils, thus increasing the negatively charged sites on soil colloids. The Langmuir b_L constant provided indications of advanced Ni surface precipitation in the presence of BR. However, the desorption results suggested that, in addition to pH, Fe-Mn free oxides, noticeably those of amorphous form, controlled Ni fractionation in the studied soils. The mobility factor (MF) showed that the availability of Ni was restricted in all soil–BR mixtures. Yet, the distribution of Ni among the chemically active phases was different depending mainly on Fe-Mn free oxide content. Due to its high content in iron oxides, BR assisted the retention of Ni in soils with low Fe-Mn oxide concentration and increased significantly the Ni proportion extracted from the reducible phase. However, in soils richer in Fe-Mn oxides, BR incorporation resulted in enhanced oxidizable and residual fractions, suggesting stronger Ni binding. The results demonstrate that even a low BR application effectively enhances Ni immobilization by increasing adsorption capacity, shifting Ni toward more stable geochemical fractions, and significantly reducing its mobility, highlighting its potential as a sustainable soil amendment for Ni-contaminated soils. Full article

Background/Objectives: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a widespread nutritional disorder characterized by impaired iron absorption, inflammation-associated iron restriction, and disrupted iron homeostasis. Increasing evidence suggests that gut microbiota play an important role in iron metabolism; however, the mechanisms underlying probiotic-assisted iron supplementation remain unclear. Our research group previously conducted in vitro fermentation screening experiments and obtained a bacterial strain, B. lactis Ca360, which possesses iron absorption-enhancing activity. Methods: In this study, an IDA mouse model induced by a low-iron diet was used to investigate whether B. lactis Ca360 could synergistically improve iron metabolism when combined with iron supplementation. Mice were treated with FeSO₄ alone or FeSO₄ combined with B. lactis Ca360, and hematological parameters, organ indices, serum iron-related markers, histopathological changes, duodenal iron metabolism-related gene expression, hepatic inflammatory responses, gut microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels, and correlation networks were analyzed. Results: Iron deficiency induced typical anemia phenotypes, multi-organ dysfunction, intestinal iron absorption dysregulation, hepatic inflammation, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Compared with FeSO₄ alone, the combined intervention more effectively improved hematological parameters, reduced organ indices, restored liver and spleen histological integrity, normalized intestinal iron metabolism-related gene expression, and alleviated hepatic inflammation. In addition, B. lactis Ca360 markedly reshaped gut microbiota composition, enriching SCFA-producing anaerobic genera, including Ruminococcus, Roseburia, Acetatifactor, Intestinimonas, Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group_unclassified, and Oscillibacter, accompanied by increased acetate, propionate, and butyrate levels. Spearman correlation analysis further revealed close associations between gut microbiota remodeling, improved iron metabolism, reduced inflammatory status, and recovery of anemia-related phenotypes. Conclusions: Overall, these findings demonstrate that B. lactis Ca360 enhances the efficacy of iron supplementation by modulating SCFA-producing and anti-inflammatory gut microbiota, thereby coordinately regulating intestinal iron absorption, inflammation, and systemic iron homeostasis, supporting probiotic-assisted iron supplementation as a promising nutritional strategy for IDA management. Full article

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent and underdiagnosed condition associated with significant neurocognitive, behavioral, and systemic consequences. Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) in children range from primary snoring to OSA, with even mild forms increasingly linked to adverse outcomes. Given their frequent contact with pediatric patients, pediatric dentists and orthodontists are uniquely positioned to contribute to early identification and management within a multidisciplinary framework. Objectives: This narrative review aimed to summarize and critically appraise current evidence to clarify the clinical role, scope of practice, and responsibilities of pediatric dentists and orthodontists within the multidisciplinary management of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE up to 1 November 2025. Review articles addressing the involvement of pediatric dentists and orthodontists in pediatric OSA were included. No restriction was applied to language or publication year. Two authors independently performed study selection and data extraction. The methodological quality and data extraction of the studies were structured according to the SANRA scale. Ten studies were deemed suitable for inclusion in the current review. After examination of the full texts, the available evidence was filtered into specific clinical domains aimed at clarifying the role of the pediatric dentist and orthodontist in the management of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Qualitative thematic analysis of the included studies identified three main areas in which pediatric dentists and orthodontists contribute to the management of pediatric OSA. The first area involves screening through recognition of clinical signs and symptoms, use of validated questionnaires, and identification of craniofacial and occlusal features associated with increased airway risk. The second area concerns participation in the diagnostic–therapeutic pathway and multidisciplinary care, including timely referral, clinical documentation, and collaboration with pediatricians, otolaryngologists, and sleep specialists. The third area relates to orthodontic treatments such as rapid maxillary expansion and mandibular advancement appliances, which may provide adjunctive benefits in selected patients, although current evidence is limited by heterogeneity and growth-related confounding factors. Pediatric dentists and orthodontists play a pivotal yet complementary role in the management of pediatric OSA. In particular, all the involved specialists are encouraged to actively participate in the screening process, interdisciplinary communication, and diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making processes. Full article