Search Results (40)

The relationship between ecosystem services (ESs) and human well-being (HWB) is a central issue of sustainable development. However, current research often relies on qualitative frameworks or indicator-based assessments, limiting a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between natural environment and human acquisition, which still needs to be strengthened. As an element transferred in the natural–society coupling system, carbon can assist in characterizing the dynamic interactions within coupled human–natural systems. Carbon, as a fundamental element transferred across ecological and social spheres, offers a powerful lens to characterize these linkages. This study develops and applies a novel analytical framework that integrates carbon flow as a unifying metric to quantitatively assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of the land use and land cover change (LUCC)–ESs–HWB nexus in Guizhou Province, China, from 2000 to 2020. The results show that: (1) Ecosystem services in Guizhou showed distinct trends from 2000 to 2020: supporting and regulating services declined and then recovered, and provisioning services steadily increased, while cultural services remained stable but varied across cities. (2) Human well-being generally improved over time, with health remaining stable and the HSI rising across most cities, although security levels fluctuated and remained low in some areas. (3) The contribution of ecosystem services to human well-being peaked in 2010–2015, followed by declines in central and northern regions, while southern and western areas maintained or improved their levels. (4) Supporting and regulating services were positively correlated with HWB security, while cultural services showed mixed effects, with strong synergies between culture and health in cities like Liupanshui and Qiandongnan. Overall, this study quantified the coupled dynamics between ecosystem services and human well-being through a carbon flow framework, which not only offers a unified metric for cross-dimensional analysis but also reduces subjective bias in evaluation. This integrated approach provides critical insights for crafting spatially explicit land management policies in Guizhou and offers a replicable methodology for exploring sustainable development pathways in other ecologically fragile karst regions worldwide. Compared with conventional ecosystem service frameworks, the carbon flow approach provides a process-based, dynamic mediator that quantifies biogeochemical linkages in LUCC–ESs–HWB systems, which is particularly important in fragile karst regions. However, we acknowledge that further empirical comparison with traditional ESs metrics could strengthen the framework’s generalizability. Full article

Microelement deficiencies, often termed “hidden hunger”, represent a significant global health challenge. Optimal human health relies on adequate dietary intake of essential microelements, including selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), boron (B), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and chlorine (Cl). In recent years, there has been a growing focus on vitality and longevity, which are closely associated with the sufficient intake of essential microelements. This review focuses on these nine elements, whose bioavailability in the food chain is critically determined by their geochemical behavior in soils. There is a necessity for an understanding of the sources, soil–plant transfer, and plant uptake mechanisms of these microelements, with particular emphasis on the influence of key soil properties, including pH, redox potential, organic matter content, and mineral composition. There is a dual challenge of microelement deficiencies in agricultural soils, leading to inadequate crop accumulation, and the potential for localized toxicities arising from anthropogenic inputs or geogenic enrichment. A promising solution to microelement deficiencies in crops is biofortification, which enhances nutrient content in food by improving soil and plant uptake. This strategy includes agronomic methods (e.g., fertilization, soil amendments) and genetic approaches (e.g., marker-assisted selection, genetic engineering) to boost microelement density in edible tissues. Moreover, emphasizing the need for advanced predictive modeling techniques, such as ensemble learning-based digital soil mapping, enhances regional soil microelement management. Integrating machine learning with digital covariates improves spatial prediction accuracy, optimizes soil fertility management, and supports sustainable agriculture. Given the rising global population and the consequent pressures on agricultural production, a comprehensive understanding of microelement dynamics in the soil–plant system is essential for developing sustainable strategies to mitigate deficiencies and ensure food and nutritional security. This review specifically focuses on the bioavailability of these nine essential microelements (Se, Zn, Cu, B, Mn, Mo, Fe, Ni, and Cl), examining the soil–plant transfer mechanisms and their ultimate implications for human health within the soil–plant–human system. The selection of these nine microelements for this review is based on their recognized dual importance: they are not only essential for various plant metabolic functions, but also play a critical role in human nutrition, with widespread deficiencies reported globally in diverse populations and agricultural systems. While other elements, such as cobalt (Co) and iodine (I), are vital for health, Co is primarily required by nitrogen-fixing microorganisms rather than directly by all plants, and the main pathway for iodine intake is often marine-based rather than soil-to-crop. Full article

Electroless nickel deposition (ELD) on polymer substrates enables the fabrication of flexible, conductive fibres for wearable and functional textiles. However, achieving uniform, low-defect coatings on synthetic fibres such as nylon-6,6 remains challenging due to their chemical inertness, hydrophobicity, and poor interfacial compatibility with metal coatings. This study presents a solvent-assisted approach using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in a conventional aqueous ELD bath to control both polymer–metal interfacial chemistry and nickel coating microstructure. The modified surface supports dense catalytic sites, triggering spatially uniform Ni nucleation. The combination of scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirms the difference in coarse grains with fully aqueous baths to a nanocrystalline shell with DMSO-modified baths. This refined microstructure relieves residual stress and anchors firmly to the swollen polymer, delivering +7 °C higher onset decomposition temperature and 45% lower creep strain at 50 °C compared with aqueous controls. The fabric strain sensor fabricated by 1 wt.% DMSO-modified ELD shows a remarkable sensitivity against strain, demonstrating a 1400% resistance change under 200% stain. Electrochemical impedance and polarisation tests confirm a two-fold rise in charge transfer resistance and negligible corrosion current drift after accelerated ageing. By clarifying how a polar aprotic co-solvent couples polymer swelling with metal growth kinetics, the study introduces a scalable strategy for tuning polymer–metal interfaces and advances solvent-assisted ELD as a route to mechanically robust, thermally stable, and corrosion-resistant conductive textiles. Full article

The use of solar energy to convert CO₂ into value-added chemicals is a promising sustainable development strategy. In this study, a black graphitic carbon nitride (CN-B) photocatalyst was fabricated through a single-step calcination process, employing phloxine B and urea as the precursor materials. The catalysts were characterized using TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS and so on. The amount of prepolymer phloxine B was 25 mg, 35 mg and 45 mg, respectively, and the obtained samples were CN-B-0.025, CN-B-0.035 and CN-B-0.045. All samples were used for visible-catalyzed CO₂ reduction. The experimental findings indicate that the CO evolution rate of the optimal photocatalyst CN-B-0.035 reaches 27.56 μmol g_cat.⁻¹ h⁻¹. This value is nine-fold higher than that of pure CN, which has a CO evolution rate of 3.22 μmol g_cat.⁻¹ h⁻¹. The excellent photocatalytic reduction performance is due to the following factors: Firstly, the exceedingly thin nanosheet structure of the catalyst enhances the velocity of the charge transfer, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis shows that the nanosheet thickness of the catalyst CN-B is significantly thinner. Secondly, the light absorption capacity of the catalyst is enhanced. The absorbance of CN-B increases significantly in the ultraviolet region and extends to the near-infrared region, as shown with UV diffuse reflection spectroscopy. Finally, the photothermal effect of CN-B causes the catalyst temperature to rise rapidly from 20 °C to 131 °C within 120 s, which further promotes photogenerated carrier separation. This research offers a novel approach to the development of photocatalysts aimed at the photothermal-assisted photocatalytic conversion of CO₂. Full article

Advancements in assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have led to the development of various add-on techniques aimed at improving oocyte quality and enhancing embryo implantation potential. These techniques target critical stages of both oocyte and embryo physiology, including oocyte growth and maturation, fertilization, chromosomal status, and embryo development. Key approaches involve the optimization of in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols, recruiting capable follicles giving rise to dynamic oocytes to evolve, culture media supplementation, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), and mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT), all of which are designed to enhance oocyte competence through its function and metabolism. The use of PGT has been promising in selecting embryos suitable for transfer, thus optimizing implantation success. Emerging technologies, such as platelet-rich plasma treatment (PRP), time-lapse imaging (TLI), and hyaluronan-rich (HA) culture media, claim to improve ovarian rejuvenation and uterine receptivity, embryo selection, as well as embryo implantation potential, respectively. Evidence for certain add-on approaches remains limited, but ongoing research suggests that the use of such treatments may lead to increased clinical pregnancies and live birth rates, especially in poor-prognosis patients. The present review describes the current state of the add-on innovations, their mechanisms of action, as well as their possibilities to increase ART success rates. Full article

Society’s aging is a worldwide crisis that affects many countries, as the Older Adult (OA) population is growing faster than younger populations. With this, there are fewer caregivers (CGs), and more care receivers (CRs) exist. It is vital to understand how we can ease the burden of caregiving on both the care receivers’ and caregivers’ sides. Our research focuses on robotic mobility and stability assistance for independent living OAs. We draw upon best practices from Occupational Therapy for sit-to-stand (STS) transfer techniques and question what sit-to-stand could look like if performed by a robot. Drawing inspiration from assistive devices, we designed 3 robot embodiments: a humanoid robot, a pair of robots, and a simple pole robot. We conducted a cross-cultural study with 24 CR and CG focus groups in both the United States and Japan to understand OAs’ preferences and expected functionality for continued independence in their homes. Our findings show that, from the perspectives of both CRs and CGs in both countries, TRIbot, the humanoid robot was the most preferred (Japan 34 of 48 participants; 70.8% and US 24 of 43 participants; 55.8%) for caregiving tasks as it was perceived to be the most capable of providing increased assistance as OAs age. Additionally and unsurprisingly, OAs expected the robot to perform general household tasks and that they would speak to the robot. We contextualize our results within the rising popularity of humanoid robots and the desire for general purpose Artificial Intelligence. Full article

Volatile and semi-volatile compounds, such as petroleum hydrocarbons and equipment lubricating oils, often contaminate soil due to accidents, posing significant ecological and health risks. Traditional soil remediation methods, such as thermal desorption and bioremediation, are time-consuming and resource-intensive, prompting researchers to explore more efficient alternatives. This study investigates the effectiveness of an in situ reactor for microwave-assisted soil remediation, specifically focusing on the impact of soil type and moisture content on pollutant removal efficiency. The reactor, designed to operate within a modified household microwave oven, provides direct microwave irradiation to the soil surface, enabling precise control of heating conditions. Experiments were conducted using soil samples of varying particle sizes and moisture levels under standardized conditions (1000 W microwave power, 2.45 GHz frequency). The results show that moisture content plays a critical role in pollutant removal efficiency, with an optimal moisture content of 10 wt % enhancing microwave absorption and energy transfer, thus improving pollutant recovery. In comparison with traditional resistive heating, microwave heating achieved a faster temperature rise and higher final temperatures, significantly improving pollutant removal efficiency in a shorter time frame. This study highlights the advantages of microwave heating, including its superior energy efficiency, faster pollutant volatilization, and the potential for optimized soil remediation in real-world applications. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of more sustainable and efficient soil remediation technologies. Full article

As rice yield rises, the issue of broken axis windings in mature rice threshing drums is becoming increasingly severe. To disclose the winding characteristics and signal traits of the drums during the threshing process of mature rice, this paper undertakes an analysis of the winding characteristics and signals of the drums in rice with the assistance of a vibration test and analysis system. Since rice can lead to drum winding and shaft breakage, this paper alters the driving mode of the drums to exhibit the influence of rice on them. Firstly, the transfer characteristics of the frame need to be studied and analyzed, followed by subsequent research. The test results indicate that the horizontal displacement of the cylinder axial trajectory rises with the growth of the transmission chain, while the vertical displacement drops with the growth of the transmission chain. Additionally, to investigate the effect of mature rice on the threshing performance of horizontal axis II and horizontal axis III, a control variable method was employed. This approach allowed for the observation of how mature rice influences the threshing roller by systematically adjusting both the threshing gap and the rotational speed of the roller. It can be discerned from the test results that with the reduction of the threshing gap of affected mature rice, the unstripped rate gradually declines, while the entrainment loss rate gradually increases. As the rotational speed of horizontal shaft roller III increases, the rate of uncleared material gradually decreases, while the rate of entrainment loss progressively rises. The research findings can furnish a reference for the winding characteristics of rice on rollers and the enhancement of vehicle driving comfort. Full article

For automobile and aerospace engineers, implementing Hall currents and thermal radiation in cooling systems helps increase the performance and durability of an engine. In the case of solar energy systems, the effectiveness of heat exchangers and solar collectors can be enhanced by the best use of hybrid nanofluids and the implementation of a Hall current, thermophoresis, Brownian motion, a heat source/sink, and thermal radiation in a time-dependent hybrid nanofluid flow over a disk for a Bayesian regularization ANN backpropagation algorithm. In the current physical model of Cobalt ferrite $CoF{e}_2{O}_4$ and aluminum oxide $A{l}_2{O}_3$ mixed with water, a new category of the nanofluid is called the hybrid nanofluid. The study uses MATLAB bvp4c to unravel such intricate relations, transforming PDEs into ODEs. This analysis enables the numerical solution of several BVPs that govern the system of the given problem. Hall currents resulting from the interaction between magnetic fields and the electrically conducting nanofluid, and thermal radiation as an energy transfer mechanism operating through absorption and emission, are central factors for controlling these fluids for use in various fields. The graphical interpretation assists in demonstrating the character of new parameters. The heat source/sink parameter is advantageous to thermal layering, but using a high Schmidt number limits the mass transfer. Additionally, a backpropagation technique with Bayesian regularization is intended for solving ordinary differential equations. Training state, performance, error histograms, and regression demonstration are used to analyze the output of the neural network. In addition to this, there is a decrease in the fluid velocity as magnetic parameter values decrease and a rise in the fluid temperature while the disk is spinning. Thermal radiation adds another level to the thermal behavior by altering how the hybrid nanofluid receives, emits, and allows heat to pass through it. Full article

Background/Objectives: As the incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) continue to rise in tandem, their relationship to one another, as well as the general risks of ART, are increasingly being explored. The purpose of this review is to summarize the literature on ASD risk, as well as the risks for other neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, in children born following the implementation of ART. Methods: Here we review studies published between 2000−2023 that elucidate relationships between ASD and some of the most common forms of ART, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), using fresh vs. frozen embryo transfer. Articles were identified by searching Google Scholar and PubMed databases. Results: Though some studies report adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in ART-conceived children, such as ASD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and cerebral palsy, a majority of studies do not show a significant association between ART and neurodevelopmental disorders. Additionally, many confounding factors like multiple and preterm births, underlying infertility, and advanced parental age have been discussed, highlighting the need for studies that effectively control for these confounders. Potential mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of ASD, including epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression, that may be related to ART procedures, are also discussed. Conclusion: ART may pose a low additional risk to development of ASD, but confounding factors likely account for most of this risk. Several steps in the process of ART may cause epigenetic changes that are implicated in the development of ASD. Full article

As devices become more miniaturized and integrated, the heat flux density has increased, highlighting the issue of heat concentration, especially for low thermal conductivity gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃). This study utilizes diamond composite substrates with an AlN transition layer to assist Ga₂O₃ in rapid thermal dissipation. All samples were prepared using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and annealed at 600–1000 °C. The microstructure, surface morphology, vacancy defects, and thermal characteristics of post-annealed Ga₂O₃ were then thoroughly investigated to determine the mechanism by which annealing temperature influences the heat transfer of heterostructures. The results demonstrate that increasing the annealing temperature can improve the crystallinity of Ga₂O₃ while also reducing oxygen vacancy defects from 20.6% to 9.9%. As the temperature rises to 1000 °C, the thermal conductivity of Ga₂O₃ reaches a maximum of 12.25 W/(m·K). However, the interface microstructure has no direct correlation with annealing temperature. At 700 °C, Ga₂O₃/diamond exhibits a maximum thermal boundary conductance of 127.06 MW/(m²·K). Higher temperatures (>800 °C) cause irregular mixtures to form near the heterointerface, intensifying phonon interface scattering and sharply deteriorating interfacial heat transfer. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the heterointerface thermal transfer influence mechanism and provide theoretical guidance for the thermal management design and physical analysis of Ga₂O₃-based power devices. Full article

The skin is the outer layer of the human body, and it is crucial in defending against injuries and damage. The regenerative capacity of aging and damaged skin caused by exposure to external stimuli is significantly impaired. Currently, the rise in average life expectancy and the modern population’s aesthetic standards have sparked a desire for stem-cell-based therapies that can address skin health conditions. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as therapeutic agents have provided a promising and effective alternative for managing skin regeneration and rejuvenation, attributing to their healing capacities that can be applied to damaged and aged skin. However, it has been established that the therapeutic effects of MSC may be primarily mediated by paracrine mechanisms, particularly the release of exosomes (Exos). Exosomes are nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs) that have lipid bilayer and membrane structures and can be naturally released by different types of cells. They influence the physiological and pathological processes of recipient cells by transferring a variety of bioactive molecules, including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids such as messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) between cells, thus playing an important role in intercellular communication and activating signaling pathways in target cells. Among them, miRNAs, a type of endogenous regulatory non-coding RNA, are often incorporated into exosomes as important signaling molecules regulating protein biosynthesis. Emerging evidence suggests that exosomal miRNAs from MSC play a key role in skin regeneration and rejuvenation by targeting multiple genes and regulating various biological processes, such as participating in inflammatory responses, cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. In this review, we summarize the recent studies and observations on how MSC-derived exosomal miRNAs contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of skin tissue, with particular attention to the applications of bioengineering methods for manipulating the miRNA content of exosome cargo to improve their therapeutic potential. This review can provide new clues for the diagnosis and treatment of skin damage and aging, as well as assist investigators in exploring innovative therapeutic strategies for treating a multitude of skin problems with the aim of delaying skin aging, promoting skin regeneration, and maintaining healthy skin. Full article

Non-thermal plasma driven ammonia synthesis has great potential for future industrial applications due to its low theoretical energy requirements. To achieve technological advancement and environmental sustainability, it is crucial to boost the energy yield in plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis. Therefore, optimizing energy transfer and utilization are key strategies for enhancing energy efficiency. In this study, dielectric barrier discharge driven by a nanosecond pulsed power supply is used to enhance plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis by controlling the energy transfer through the addition of noble gases. It was found that the addition of noble gases changed the plasma characteristics, significantly improved the uniformity of the discharge, and achieved a high energy yield for ammonia synthesis. The effects of additive amounts of argon (Ar) and helium (He), as well as the pulse parameters including the pulse voltage, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, and pulse rise time on the energy yield of ammonia synthesis are discussed. The inclusion of noble gases expanded the pathway for gas-phase reactions, with the active components of critical reactions examined through optical emission spectra. This analysis revealed an increased presence of both N₂⁺ and N₂* particles in the reaction’s rate-limiting step, attributed to the addition of noble gases. Finally, a zero-dimensional (0D) plasma chemical kinetic model was established to investigate the influence of Ar addition on the reaction mechanism of ammonia synthesis. Full article

The convective micropolar fluid flow over a permeable shrinking sheet in the presence of a heat source and thermal radiation with the magnetic field directed towards the sheet has been studied in this paper. The mathematical formulation considers the partial slip condition at the sheet, allowing a realistic representation of the fluid flow near the boundary. The governing equations for the flow, heat, and mass transfer are formulated using the conservation laws of mass, momentum, angular momentum, energy, and concentration. The resulting nonlinear partial differential equations are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations using suitable similarity transformations. The numerical solutions are obtained using robust computational techniques to examine the influence of various parameters on the velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles. The impact of slip effects, micropolar fluid characteristics, and permeability parameters on the flow features and heat transfer rates are thoroughly analyzed. The findings of this investigation offer valuable insights into the behavior of micropolar fluids in free convection flows over permeable shrinking sheets with slip, providing a foundation for potential applications in various industrial and engineering processes. Key findings include the observation that the velocity profile overshoots for assisting flow with decreasing viscous force and rising magnetic effects as opposed to opposing flow. The thermal boundary layer thickness decreases due to buoyant force but shows increasing behavior with heat source parameters. The present result agrees with the earlier findings for specific parameter values in particular cases. Full article

With the expanding rental sector and rising housing expenses, this research aims to compare the socio-demographic, economic, and housing statuses of renters burdened by housing costs in four regions, and also to explore predictors affecting their residential assessment. Using data from the 2020 Korean Housing Survey, this cross-sectional study identified 245 cost-burdened households whose housing expenses accounted for more than 25% of their total gross income and living expenses. The results revealed that the majority of renters were single-person households residing in single-room occupancy units of multifamily housing, primarily comprising unemployed older adults aged 50 and over. While earning less than half of the minimum wage, the renters’ living expenses fell well below the minimum cost of living, and more than 40% of the expenditure was spent on housing costs, resulting in cost-overburdened households. With the correlation between income, deposit, and rent, the burden of housing costs and the quality of the residential environment varied among regions. Indeed, the residential assessment of the renters was significantly influenced by urban amenities, and both income deficits and excessive housing cost burdens required inclusive and prompt housing interventions including housing assistance, provision of affordable public housing, income transfer, and transitions from renting to Chonsei arrangements. Full article