Search Results (13,720)

Plasticity is a fundamental property of the brain that enables the nervous system to respond appropriately to internal and external stimuli. It primarily involves changes at the synaptic level, mediated by a wide array of molecules, ultimately leading to cognitive and behavioral changes. This review critically contrasts the developmental timing and mechanisms of plasticity in Autism spectrum disorder (early hyperplasticity and excitation–inhibition imbalance) versus Schizophrenia (adolescent overpruning and NMDAR hypofunction) and evaluates evidence for interventions that harness plasticity to improve cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Preclinical and small clinical studies suggest that interventions targeting plasticity-related pathways may improve specific cognitive and behavioral domains. However, effects appear to be symptom-domain-specific and protocol-dependent and larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm efficacy. Cognitive remediation for Schizophrenia has been associated with improved executive function and increased hippocampal volume, while virtual reality-based training for Autism spectrum disorder has shown gains in attention and planning skills. By highlighting both molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies, this review aims to provide an integrated perspective on how plasticity-targeted interventions could be optimized across neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Full article

Agricultural systems are complex social–ecological systems shaped by interactions among diverse stakeholders including governments, enterprises, farmers, consumers, and financial institutions. To examine policy-driven sustainability transitions, this study focuses on three principal actors—government regulatory agencies, agricultural enterprises, and farmers—whose strategic interactions critically determine transition outcomes. The aim is to drive agricultural systems toward sustainability in China. This study develops a three-party evolutionary game model involving the government, enterprises, and farmers to explore how policy-driven incentives influence sustainable development practices. The model incorporates both static and dynamic reward–punishment mechanisms, calibrated with empirical data, to examine behavioral dynamics across stakeholders. The results indicate that fluctuations in enterprise and government engagement contribute to instability in agricultural sustainability transitions. While static reward mechanisms mitigate peak fluctuations, they are insufficient to fully stabilize enterprise commitment, with actors oscillating between sustainable and conventional agricultural practices. Linear dynamic reward mechanisms offer partial stabilization but lack the capacity to maintain long-run Nash equilibrium. In contrast, nonlinear dynamic mechanisms effectively align stakeholder incentives, fostering a stable and enduring shift toward sustainable agricultural systems. This study underscores the importance of tailored dynamic strategies to build resilient agricultural systems with integrated sustainability objectives. Full article

The structural safety of multi-span ultra-high-voltage (UHV) substation gantries is a cornerstone for the reliability and resilience of sustainable energy grids. The wind-resistant design of the structures is complicated by their complex modal behaviors and highly non-uniform wind load distributions. This study proposes a novel hybrid framework that integrates segmented high frequency force balance (HFFB) testing with a multi-modal stochastic vibration analysis, enabling the precise assessment of wind load distribution and dynamic response. Five representative segment models are tested to quantify both mean and dynamic wind loads, a strategy rigorously validated against whole-model HFFB tests. Key findings reveal significant aerodynamic disparities among structural segments. The long-span beam, Segment 5, exhibits markedly higher and direction-dependent responses. Its mean base shear coefficient reaches 4.34 at β = 75°, which is more than twice the values of 1.74 to 2.27 for typical tower segments. Furthermore, its RMS wind force coefficient peaks at 0.65 at β = 60°, a value 2.5 to 4 times higher than those of the tower segments, all of which remained below 0.26. Furthermore, a computational model incorporating structural modes, spatial coherence, and cross-modal contributions is developed to predict wind-induced responses, validated through aeroelastic model tests. The proposed framework accurately resolves spatial wind load distribution and dynamic wind-induced response, providing a reliable and efficient tool for the wind-resistant design of multi-span UHV lattice gantries. Full article

In a global context marked by an increase in acts of aggression in schools, it is essential to focus on discovering new theoretical benchmarks and practical strategies for prevention and intervention in such situations. This article, evidence of this concern, aims to identify (1) how common school anti-bullying programs are that integrate creativity and metacognition processes, (2) what the theoretical background is that justifies the application of these tools in anti-bullying programs, and (3) what the elements of methodology and the evaluation criteria and methods are that have been applied in these programs. We conducted a rigorous analysis, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), of articles identified in the Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, PsychoNet, and Eric Gov. Out of the total 203 articles identified that met the inclusion criteria, only 11 were finally selected. Analyzing the training/teaching, learning, and evaluation methods proposed in the programs in the 11 articles, we synthesized and developed a theoretical model that highlights how creative and metacognitive processes contribute to cognitive and behavioral dynamics when addressing bullying. This holistic approach could provide policymakers, researchers, administrators, principals, and teachers with a theoretical framework for developing and implementing practical and effective interventions against bullying in schools. Full article

The rapid digitalization of banking services has transformed consumer interactions, necessitating a deeper understanding of the factors influencing online banking adoption. This research investigates the factors influencing consumer adoption in a country undergoing rapid digital transformation but still facing gaps in digital skills and infrastructure—Romania. The objective of the study is to analyze how key variables such as ease of use, security, speed, usefulness, and social pressure influence online banking behavior of Romanian consumers, especially the most digitally engaged ones. The study utilizes a multi-method empirical approach, hypothesis testing, binary logistic regression for prediction modeling, and segmentation analysis to offer a comprehensive view of customer behavior. The findings identify essential adoption drivers and separate customer profiles, providing useful information for financial organizations aiming to enhance their digital strategy. Perceived ease of use and perceived security are primary factors influencing adoption; nevertheless, decision tree analysis indicates that speed and usefulness have a more significant impact than logistic regression implies, but social pressure unexpectedly serves as an impediment. These results highlight the necessity for banks to customize their digital services, harmonizing security and user-friendliness with improved efficiency and usefulness to promote broader adoption in emerging digital economies like Romania. Full article

Extreme weather events, such as storms, pose significant challenges to the reliability and efficiency of urban road networks, making intersection design and management critical to maintaining mobility. This paper addresses the dual objectives of traffic efficiency and resilience by evaluating the performance of roundabouts, signalized, and two-way stop-controlled (TWSC) intersections under normal and storm-disrupted conditions. A mixed-method approach was adopted, combining a heuristic framework from the Highway Capacity Manual with microsimulations in AIMSUN Next. Three Polish case studies were examined; each was modeled under alternative control strategies. The findings demonstrate the superior robustness of roundabouts, which retain functionality during power outages, while signalized intersections reveal vulnerabilities when control systems fail, reverting to less efficient TWSC behavior. TWSC intersections consistently exhibited the weakest performance, particularly under high or uneven traffic demand. Despite methodological differences in delay estimation, the convergence of results through Level of Service categories strengthens the reliability of findings. Beyond technical evaluation, the study underscores the importance of resilient intersection design in climate-vulnerable regions and the value of integrating analytical and simulation-based methods. By situating intersection performance within urban resilience, this research provides actionable insights for policymakers, planners, and engineers seeking to balance efficiency with adaptability in infrastructure planning. Full article

Mathematical modeling is a key tool for describing and predicting the dynamic behavior of anaerobic digestion. Studies combining the co-digestion of aquaponics effluent (AE) and cattle manure (CM) with kinetic modeling remain scarce, particularly regarding the estimation of the apparent kinetic constant of hydrolysis constants and energy conversion indicators. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the bioenergy potential of co-digesting aquaponics effluent (AE) and cattle manure (CM), with an emphasis on kinetic modeling and energy conversion. The experiments were carried out in a bench-scale Indian-type anaerobic biodigester. Different AE, CM, and water (W) (0:1, 1:0, 1:1, 1:3, 3:1 W:CM, and 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 AE:CM) ratios were tested to identify the most efficient substrate combination for biogas production. The 1:3 AE:CM ratio achieved the best performance, with the Gompertz model providing the best fit for cumulative production and the first-order model accurately estimating k. This ratio yielded the highest cumulative biogas production (72.2 L kg⁻¹ substrate), shorter lag phase, higher production rate, and greater energy conversion efficiency. Comparative analysis revealed that 1:3 AE:CM outperformed both 1:3 A:CM and CM alone, highlighting the positive influence of aquaponics effluent on microbial activity and process stability. These results demonstrate that anaerobic co-digestion of AE and CM, particularly at the 1:3 ratio, is a viable and efficient strategy for renewable energy generation in rural areas, while promoting waste valorization and enhancing environmental and energy sustainability. Full article

Oral mucosal wound healing is a rapid, precisely regulated process distinct from cutaneous repair due to the specialized anatomical, microbial, and physiological features of the oral cavity. This review outlines the sequential healing phases—hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling—and examines the coordinated roles of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cell subsets in tissue restoration. Central molecular pathways, including PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, Ras/MAPK, TGF-β/SMAD, and Wnt/β-catenin, along with growth factors such as TGF-β, FGF, EGF, and VEGF, are discussed in relation to their regulatory influence on cell behavior and extracellular matrix dynamics. Unique intraoral factors—namely saliva-derived histatins and a distinct resident microbiota—promote accelerated re-epithelialization and attenuated fibrosis. Systemic conditions such as diabetes, aging, and tobacco exposure are identified as key modulators that compromise repair efficiency. Emerging therapeutic strategies, including stem-cell-based interventions, microbiota modulation, bioengineered scaffolds, and photobiomodulation, offer translational potential to enhance clinical outcomes in oral tissue regeneration. Full article

Incorporating cyclodextrins (CDs) into ionically crosslinked polysaccharide matrices offers a promising strategy for developing well-defined, safe-by-design and biocompatible carrier systems with tunable rheological properties. In this study, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was functionalized with citric acid (CDC) and maleic anhydride (CDM) using solvent-free synthesis to improve compatibility with alginate hydrogels. The modified CDs were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, DLS, zeta potential, and MS, confirming successful esterification (4.0 and 3.4 –OH substitution for CDC and CDM, respectively) and stable aqueous dispersion. Rheological measurements showed that native CD accelerated gelation (within approximately 30 s), while CDC and CDM delayed crosslinking (by 2 to 13 min) and reduced gel strength, narrowing the linear viscoelastic range to 0.015–0.089% strain due to competition between polycarboxylated CDs and alginate chains for Ca²⁺ ions. Vibrational prilling produced alginate microbeads with diameters of 800–1000 µm and a simultaneous increase in size and CD concentration. Hydrogels demonstrated high CD retention (>80% after 28 h) and slightly greater release of CDC and CDM than native CD. Overall, solvent-free modification of CDs with citric and maleic acids provides a sustainable approach to tailoring the gelation kinetics, viscoelasticity, and release behavior of alginate-based hydrogels, offering a versatile, food- and health-compliant platform for controlled delivery of bioactive compounds. Full article

Driver fatigue is a primary factor in traffic accidents and poses a serious threat to road safety. To address this issue, this paper proposes a multi-feature fusion fatigue detection method based on an improved YOLOv8 model. First, the method uses an enhanced YOLOv8 model to achieve high-precision face detection. Then, it crops the detected face regions. Next, the lightweight PFLD (Practical Facial Landmark Detector) model performs keypoint detection on the cropped images, extracting 68 facial feature points and calculating key indicators related to fatigue status. These indicators include the eye aspect ratio (EAR), eyelid closure percentage (PERCLOS), mouth aspect ratio (MAR), and head posture ratio (HPR). To mitigate the impact of individual differences on detection accuracy, the paper introduces a novel sliding window model that combines a dynamic threshold adjustment strategy with an exponential weighted moving average (EWMA) algorithm. Based on this framework, blink frequency (BF), yawn frequency (YF), and nod frequency (NF) are calculated to extract time-series behavioral features related to fatigue. Finally, the driver’s fatigue state is determined using a comprehensive fatigue assessment algorithm. Experimental results on the WIDER FACE and YAWDD datasets demonstrate this method’s significant advantages in improving detection accuracy and computational efficiency. By striking a better balance between real-time performance and accuracy, the proposed method shows promise for real-world driving applications. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between materialism and pro-environmental behavior, focusing on the moderating role of narcissism in the attitude–behavior gap. A mixed-method research design was employed, combining a preference-based conjoint experiment with psychometric scales including the Material Values Scale (MVS), Recurring Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale (PEB), and Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire short scale (NARQ-S). A convenience sample of 71 participants evaluated pro-environmental behavior-related choices while also self-reporting their materialistic and pro-environmental values. Results revealed that profiles emphasizing low materialism and high pro-environmental attitudes were most preferred, supporting the hypothesized negative relationship between materialism and pro-environmental choices. The materialism–success dimension showed the strongest behavioral influence. However, narcissism did not significantly moderate the relationship between attitudes and behavior. These findings contribute to dual-attitude theory and impression-management literature by showing that materialists may endorse pro-environmental behavior when it supports social identity signaling. The results have implications for both marketers and policymakers in designing strategies that appeal to reputation-sensitive consumers. Full article

This study systematically investigates the velocity characteristics and coupling mechanisms of tunnel flow fields under the interactions of natural wind, traffic wind, mechanical ventilation, and structural factors (such as transverse passages and relative positions between vehicles and fans). Using CFD simulations combined with turbulence model analyses, the flow behaviors under different coupling scenarios are explored. The results show that: (1) Under natural wind conditions, transverse passages act as key pressure boundaries, reshaping the longitudinal wind speed distribution into a segmented structure of “disturbance zones (near passages) and stable zones (mid-regions)”, with disturbances near passages showing “amplitude enhancement and range contraction” as natural wind speed increases. (2) The coupling of natural wind and traffic wind (induced by moving vehicles) generates complex turbulent structures; vehicle motion forms typical flow patterns including stagnation zones, high-speed bypass flows, and wake vortices, while natural wind modulates the wake structure through momentum exchange, affecting pollutant dispersion. (3) When natural wind, traffic wind, and mechanical ventilation are coupled, the flow field is dominated by momentum superposition and competition; adjusting fan output can regulate coupling ranges and turbulence intensity, balancing energy efficiency and safety. (4) The relative positions of vehicles and fans significantly affect flow stability: forward positioning leads to synergistic momentum superposition with high stability, while reverse positioning induces strong turbulence, compressing jet effectiveness and increasing energy dissipation. This study reveals the intrinsic laws of tunnel flow field evolution under multi-factor coupling, providing theoretical support for optimizing tunnel ventilation system design and dynamic operation strategies. Full article

Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) represent a promising class of clean energy devices, with their performance being critically dependent on the efficiency of the cathode oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst. Manganese-cobalt spinel (Mn_1.5Co_1.5O₄, MCS) has been demonstrated to be a highly active ORR catalyst. Herein, we report a strategy of incorporating Cu (MCCS) and Fe (MCFS) into MCS to form ternary spinel oxides for tuning ORR activity. Among them, MCS exhibits the best ORR performance, with a half-wave potential (E_1/2) of 0.736 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M KOH and a peak power density (PPD) of 248.3 mW·cm⁻² for the fuel cell test. In contrast, MCCS and MCFS show divergent behaviors in a rotating disk-ring electrode (RRDE) and fuel cell tests. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses reveal that the introduction of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ induces a phase transformation in the spinel structure, leading to a reduction in oxygen vacancies and an increase in the valence state of Mn, thereby degrading catalytic activity. However, the incorporation of these elements also modulates the hydration capability of the catalysts, which is critical for the ion and charge transfer in the fuel cell environment and has been validated in the distribution of relaxation time (DRT) analysis of the fuel cell test. This study provides a valuable strategy for designing and synthesizing low-cost, highly efficient, and stable ternary spinel electrocatalysts for AEMFC applications, and bridges the gap between RRDE evaluation and fuel cell testing through DRT analysis. Full article

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printed scaffolds have emerged as promising tools for bone regeneration, but the optimal structural design and pore size remain unclear. Polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) offers enhanced mechanical and biological performance, yet systematic evaluation of architecture and pore size is limited. Methods: Two scaffold architectures (lattice-type and dode-type) with multiple pore sizes were fabricated using UV-curable PLA/GO resin. Physical accuracy, porosity, and mechanical properties were assessed through compression and fatigue testing. Based on in vitro screening, four pore sizes (930 μm, 690 μm, 558 μm, 562 μm) within the dode-type structure were analyzed. The 558 μm and 562 μm scaffolds, showing distinct fracture thresholds, were further evaluated in rat and rabbit calvarial defect models for inflammation and bone regeneration. Results: In vitro testing revealed that while 930 μm and 690 μm scaffolds exhibited superior compressive strength, the 562 μm scaffold showed a unique critical fracture behavior, and the 558 μm scaffold offered comparable stability with higher resistance to premature failure. In vivo studies confirmed excellent biocompatibility in both groups, with early bone formation favored in the 558 μm scaffold and more continuous and mature bone observed in the 562 μm scaffold at later stages. Conclusions: This stepwise strategy—from structural design to pore size screening and preclinical validation—demonstrates that threshold-level mechanical properties can influence osteogenesis. PLA/GO scaffolds optimized at 558 μm and 562 μm provide a translationally relevant balance between mechanical stability and biological performance for bone tissue engineering. Full article

Background: Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) include a clinically and genetically diverse array of conditions resulting in progressive visual impairment. The PROM1 gene is crucial for the development and maintenance of photoreceptors. Variants in PROM1 are linked to a wide phenotypic spectra of IRDs; however, the correlation between genotype and phenotype is not fully elucidated. Comprehending these relationships is essential for enhanced diagnostic precision, patient guidance, and formulation of focused treatments. Objective: This study aims to examine the genotype–phenotype associations in patients with PROM1-associated IRDs. Clinical variability and inheritance patterns linked to different pathogenic variants are examined, aiming to clarify their different behaviors. Methods: We performed a retrospective investigation of patients identified as affected by PROM1-related IRDs. Thorough ophthalmologic assessments, including retinography, fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and electrodiagnostic testing (EDT), were conducted. Genetic testing was performed via targeted gene panels or whole-exome sequencing. Variants were categorized based on ACMG criteria, and inheritance patterns were determined by familial segregation analysis. Clinical characteristics were analyzed among genotypic groups to ascertain potential phenotype–genotype relationships. Results: All patients had pathogenic or likely pathogenic PROM1 mutations. Both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive inheritance patterns were identified. Dominant pathogenic variants were predominantly linked to late-onset cone-rod dystrophy or macular dystrophy, whereas biallelic variants frequently resulted in early-onset severe rod–cone dystrophy characterized by fast vision deterioration. A group of patients with the same genotypes displayed significant phenotypic variability, indicating the potential impact of modifier genes or environmental influences. Truncating mutations in the N-terminal region were significantly associated with earlier illness onset and greater functional impairment. Conclusions: PROM1-related IRDs demonstrated significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity, with the route of inheritance and type of variant affecting disease severity and progression. Our findings underscore the significance of thorough genotypic and phenotypic characterization in afflicted individuals. A deeper comprehension of PROM1-related IRD disease pathways can enhance prognosis, direct clinical care, and facilitate the advancement of genotype-based therapy strategies. Full article