Search Results (3,166)

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) offer sustainable solutions for urban last-mile logistics, yet existing navigation algorithms struggle with the complexity of dynamic metropolitan environments. This study optimises a reinforcement learning (RL)-based guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) algorithm using a Proximal Policy Optimisation (PPO) model within a high-fidelity simulation of Bristol City Centre. The primary contribution is training the RL model to autonomously detect and avoid dynamic obstacles, specifically manned aircraft, to ensure safe and legal drone operations. Additionally, flight operations are continuously monitored via a Structured Query Language (SQL) database to verify compliance with low airspace regulations. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed framework achieves high obstacle detection accuracy under nominal conditions, while the implementation of curriculum learning significantly enhances the system’s adaptability and recovery capabilities during high-speed, dynamic encounters. Full article

As an important part of green manufacturing, remanufacturing has important practical significance for alleviating resource shortage and waste, developing circular economy and promoting sustainable development. In recent years, remanufacturing scheduling (RS), which can achieve high efficiency and green remanufacturing through the reasonable allocation of resources, has become a research hotspot in the field of remanufacturing. To offer a comprehensive evaluation of the research dynamics and development trends of RS, this paper systematically reviews the publications from 2010 to 2025 via Scopus, Web of Science, and the IEEE Xplore database. Firstly, the research background of RS, related remanufacturing policies and the generalized connotation of remanufacturing are introduced. Then, selected and valid publications are analyzed from time aspect, country aspect, and keyword aspect through Citespace software. In addition, based on remanufacturing level, modeling idea, optimization objectives, solution method, production scenarios and practical application, publications are further grouped and reviewed. In addition, according to the research gap existing in recent studies, some future development trends are accordingly pointed out, aiming to provide valuable insights for research related to RS. Finally, meaningful conclusions are drawn and the importance of RS is emphasized once again. Full article

Background: The aim of the present narrative review is to synthesize the available scientific evidence comparing periodontal endoscopy-assisted therapy with established surgical regenerative procedures for the treatment of intrabony periodontal defects. While regenerative surgery—including papilla-preserving techniques—remains the standard approach for achieving predictable clinical attachment gain, these procedures may potentially compromise papillary integrity and healing dynamics. Periodontal endoscopy enables enhanced visualization and debridement without surgical access. This review evaluates available studies and discusses whether endoscopy-assisted therapy can achieve outcomes comparable to surgical regeneration while reducing tissue trauma and preserving interdental anatomy. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, and Scopus, supplemented by manual searching. The search was performed up to 1 November 2025. Results: Two studies were included. Overall, there is a substantial lack of RCTs directly comparing periodontal endoscopy-assisted therapy with surgical regenerative procedures. However, EASD (Endoscopic- assisted subgingival debridement) was found not to be inferior to papilla-preservation surgery (PPFS) for treating residual pockets in intrabony defects. Both PPFS and EASD were effective, although PPFS showed more consistent microbial modulation. Conclusions: Periodontal endoscopy-assisted therapy may be considered a promising minimally invasive approach for selected intrabony defects, potentially reducing surgical morbidity and preserving interdental tissues. Although early data suggest that endoscopy-guided approaches may offer comparable clinical improvements with less invasiveness, the evidence base is too small to support definitive recommendations. Robust, well-designed randomized trials are needed to define its clinical indications and compare it directly with established regenerative procedures. Full article

The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources, distributed generation, and advanced control technologies has transformed microgrids into complex, dynamic systems that pose significant challenges for protection coordination. This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on protection strategies in modern microgrids. Using a curated dataset from the Scopus database, four types of analyses were conducted: trend topic analysis, dendrogram clustering, co-occurrence network mapping, and thematic map analysis. The trend topic analysis highlights the temporal evolution of specific topics. The dendrogram analysis reveals thematic groupings and highlights concepts that have received limited attention. The co-occurrence network analysis reveals interactions between terms, and the thematic map analysis identifies basic, niche, and motor themes, as well as emerging or declining themes. These insights provide a structured overview of current knowledge and potential future research directions in microgrid protection. This study serves as a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners aiming to understand and address the evolving challenges associated with protection coordination in modern microgrids. Full article

Spam consists of unsolicited messages, and the posting of such irrelevant messages often presents significant challenges in technical forums. Two particular challenges are the dynamic nature of spamming tactics and the inadequacy of adaptable spam databases for automated classifiers. Our work addresses the need for a robust spam classification solution that can be seamlessly integrated with database, SQL, and APEX applications. We developed a labeled spam database by asking experts to categorize 1916 posts as spam or regular posts to ensure accurate classification and then created an SVM-based spam classification model that achieves an average validation accuracy of 90%. Our research enhances the current understanding of spam in technical forums and represents a solution for embedding spam classifiers into widely used platforms with an accuracy of 98.1%. Furthermore, we explore the incorporation of generative topics into our approach by integrating generative topic modeling techniques, such as latent Dirichlet allocation. In our work, the spam classifier is dynamically updated to account for emerging spam patterns and topics based on a generative approach that improves the robustness of the classifier against new spamming tactics and enables nuanced, context-aware filtering of messages. In addition, our experiments highlight the potential of text SVM classifiers for real-time applications through the fine-tuning of text features. Full article

Coral reefs are biodiversity hotspots increasingly threatened by climate-induced bleaching, yet profiling the coral holobiont—the host and its associated microbiota—remains technically challenging due to high host-DNA contamination (often >95%) and the lack of comprehensive reference databases. Here, we present holo-2bRAD, a type IIB restriction site-associated DNA sequencing approach. This method, strategically integrated with a meticulously curated hologenome database (comprising 404,946 microbial genomes and 56 coral-derived metagenome-assembled genomes), effectively overcomes overwhelming host contamination (~99%). We demonstrate its exceptional species specificity (99.92%) in profiling Galaxea fascicularis (Linnaeus, 1767; Order Scleractinia, Family Euphylliidae) holobionts across bleaching severities, thereby validating its technical feasibility. Leveraging this high-resolution tool, our hologenome analysis revealed significant restructuring of coral-associated microbiota during bleaching, where microbial shifts (e.g., depletion of beneficial Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum and enrichment of stress-responsive bacteria) correlated more strongly with bleaching phenotypes than host genetic variation. By providing cost-effective, multi-domain hologenome profiling at unprecedented resolution, holo-2bRAD offers a practical tool for investigating holobiont dynamics and developing microbiome-informed coral conservation strategies. Full article

Background: The optimal timing of cranioplasty (CP) after decompressive craniectomy (DC) remains debated. Early reconstruction may enhance neurological recovery through restoration of cerebral perfusion and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, yet concerns persist regarding postoperative complications. Objective: To evaluate the impact of early versus delayed cranioplasty on neurological outcomes and postoperative complications in adults following decompressive craniectomy. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO ID: CRD420251123808). PubMed, OVID, and Web of Science were searched for studies published between January 2017 and December 2025. Eligible studies compared early and delayed CP in adults and reported neurological outcomes and/or complications. Results: Twenty-one retrospective cohort studies including 8462 patients were analyzed. Neurological improvement was observed in both groups across multiple validated scales (GOSE, GOS, GCS, mRS, BI, FIM, NIHSS, MMSE). Early CP was consistently associated with superior recovery, including higher one-year Barthel Index improvement (74.1% vs. 54.8%), greater FIM gains (7.31% vs. 4.66%), and higher composite recovery rates (95.6% vs. 80.0%). No study demonstrated superior recovery with delayed CP. Infection, hydrocephalus, and seizure rates were comparable between groups. However, hematoma (21% vs. 10.4%) and hygroma (7.49% vs. 4.73%) were more frequent after early CP, although hematoma rates were influenced by a large database study. Bone flap resorption was less frequent with early CP (1.44% vs. 6.26%). Conclusions: Early cranioplasty is associated with improved neurological recovery but carries an increased risk of select complications, particularly hematoma and hygroma, representing a clinically relevant trade-off. Delayed CP does not demonstrate overall superior safety due to higher bone flap resorption. Timing should be individualized, and prospective multicenter studies with standardized definitions are needed. Full article

Background: The ability of synthetic plastics to persist in the environment and the accumulation of microplastics has intensified the need to explore biological mechanisms capable of interacting with, and possibly degrading, polymeric materials. Microbial enzymes that have extensive catalytic flexibility represent promising candidates in this context. Aim: This study set out to examine the molecular interaction patterns and dynamical stability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase (LasB) with representative structural fragments of typical synthetic plastics to assess the suitability of the enzyme to polymer-derived substrates. Methods: The crystallographic structure of LasB (PDB ID: 1EZM) was retrieved from the Protein Data Bank and pre-prepared with the help of AutoDock4.2.6 Tools. Those polymer-derived ligands that were associated with the major industrial plastics such as polyamide (PA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), poly-ethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and polyurethane (PUR) were retrieved in the PubChem database and geometrically optimized with the help of the MMFF94 force field. AutoDock Vina, with a specific grid box around the catalytic pocket, including Zn²⁺ ion, was used to perform molecular docking simulations. PyMOL and BIOVIA Discovery Studio software were used to analyze binding conformations, interaction residues and types of intermolecular contacts. Phosphoramidon, a known metalloprotease inhibitor, served as a positive control to confirm the docking protocol. Additional assessment of the structural stability and conformational behavior of the enzyme–ligand complexes was conducted by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the Desmond engine and explicit solvent model in a 50 ns trajectory using the OPLS4 force field. RMSD, RMSF, radius of gyration, hydrogen bonding analysis and solvent accessibility parameters were used to measure structural stability. Results: The docking experiment showed varying binding affinities with the test polymers. Polycarbonate (−5.774 kcal/mol) and polyurethane (−5.707 kcal/mol) had the highest in-teractions with the LasB catalytic pocket, polyamide (−5.277 kcal/mol) and PET (−4.483 kcal/mol) followed PMMA and PVC, which had weaker affinities. The following were the important residues involved in interaction networks: Glu141, His140, Val137, Arg198, Tyr114, and Trp115 that were implicated in interaction networks with hydrophobic interactions, π-cation interactions and van der Waals forces that were the major stabilization forces. MD simulations had stabilized complexes, and RMSD values were found to be within acceptable ranges of stability, and ligand-specific changes (around 1.0-3.2 A), which is also in line with stable protein-ligand systems. Phosphoramidon used as a positive control had an RMSD of 1.205 A which is within this stability range. PCA determined various ligand-bound conformational states of LasB with PA in com-pact state, PC and PVC in intermediate states and PUR, PMMA and PET in ex-panded conformations, indicating structur-al stability and adaptability of the binding pocket. Conclusion: These findings show that LasB has a structurally flexible catalytic pocket that can accommodate a wide range of polymer-derived ligands. These results offer an insight into the recognition of enzymes with polymers at the molecular level and also indicate that LasB might help in the interaction of microorganisms with synthetic plastics in environmental systems. Full article

Suspended sediment plays a critical role in river ecosystem health, nutrient transport, and water quality, while also affecting navigation infrastructure and reservoir sedimentation in regulated rivers. A sound understanding of sediment dynamics in complex river systems consisting of natural lakes and engineered navigation structures remains a critical challenge for river management and water quality assessment. This study investigates the longitudinal patterns of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) along a ~500-km reach of the Upper Mississippi River containing Lake Pepin and multiple lock-and-dam structures. In this study, we analyze remotely sensed SSC estimates from the RivSED database (2001–2019). The SSC datasets were then integrated with in situ streamflow measurements and potential soil erosion to characterize sediment supply and transport dynamics and relate with upstream contributing watershed’s attributes. Results reveal distinct sediment behavior patterns: (1) Lake Pepin functions as a significant sediment trap, creating a clear discontinuity in SSC with mean concentrations decreasing from ~25 mg/L upstream to ~13 mg/L within the lake; (2) longitudinal SSC profiles show re-establishment patterns downstream of the lake, reaching ~23 mg/L approximately 100 km below the outlet; (3) strong positive correlation (r = 0.80, R² = 0.64, p < 0.001) exists between watershed sediment export and river-reach-scale sediment fluxes. Temporal analysis across these upstream monitoring stations shows sediment export rates ranging from 10,000 to 200,000 tons/year, with notable inter-annual variability driven by discharge patterns. This research demonstrates the utility of combining a spectrum of datasets for exploring sediment dynamics in complex riverine systems. Though the current study is a case study, the study results provide crucial insights for navigation management, ecosystem health assessment, and watershed management strategies in similar settings. Full article

Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a vital role in Africa’s economic development; however, the rapidly expanding body of literature on this topic remains highly fragmented. This dispersion creates a significant research problem, obscuring structural evolution, persistent thematic gaps, and collaborative networks within the field. To address this, a bibliometric analysis is necessary, as it provides an objective, macro-level methodology capable of synthesising vast amounts of publication data and uncovering hidden intellectual structures that traditional systematic reviews cannot easily capture. Consequently, this study maps the development of FDI research in Africa by analysing and visualising scientific publications to reveal the structure, evolution, and interdisciplinary nature of the field, identifying leading scholars, collaboration networks, and core thematic areas. Using data from the Scopus database, the study examines 2003 documents through Biblioshiny and VOSviewer. The findings are presented in three sections. The descriptive analysis shows a steady rise in FDI publications from 1986 to 2024, with strong growth in the past two decades. The most productive institutions are in South Africa and Nigeria, while major contributing countries include South Africa, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. Keyword and collaboration analyses highlight themes such as Sub-Saharan Africa, economic growth, capital flow, renewable energy, and natural resources. Ultimately, this mapping goes beyond descriptive trends to provide critical analytical insights, revealing a significant thematic shift from traditional economic paradigms toward sustainable development and environmental economics. Practically, these findings offer strategic guidance for policymakers and investors by identifying key institutional hubs and regional knowledge gaps. Scientifically, the study establishes a foundation for future research by directing attention toward underexplored, emerging issues such as climate resilience, digital transformation, and subnational FDI dynamics. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are synthetic polymer particles that are generally less than 5 mm in size and have attracted heightened scrutiny due to their pervasive presence in the environment, along with their toxicological significance. Several research investigations documented its presence in humans as a profound finding in biological tissues and fluids crossing barriers, leading to oxidative and inflammatory pathways alterations associated with blood, placenta, cardiovascular, pulmonary, nephrotic, other systems, and their disorders. Given the ubiquitous utilization of microplastics across diverse sectors, it is imperative to systematically investigate and elucidate their potential toxicological effects on biological systems through rigorous and mechanistically informed research. This review will also provide the synthesis of recent mechanistic data on the toxicity that can be caused by MPs and will determine key gaps that impede efficient human health risk evaluation. A structured literature search was conducted via PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, mostly from the studies published between 2010 and 2026. The studies of exposure characteristics and biological effects were analyzed in vitro, in vivo, and in human biomonitoring, and the primary focus of the interventions includes oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, hepatotoxicity, and metabolic malfunction. MPs possess various physicochemical properties, such as a low particle size, various shapes, surface area, polymer composition, and the presence of sorbed or intrinsic additives. When MPs are taken up by cells, they can induce oxidative stress via increasing ROS, eventually leading to high lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial malfunction, DNA fragmentation, and eventually cell death. MPs also cause pro-inflammatory cytokine responses, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, altering the immune system and cell profile, leading to systemic inflammation. In aquatic and terrestrial organisms, these microplastics have a harmful impact on growth, reproduction, and behavior in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Under conditions of controlled exposure, the organ-specific toxicities that have been reported include hepatic, renal, neurological, reproductive, and cardiovascular systems. Although the fields of mechanistic knowledge are growing, there is still a substantial amount of uncertainty; there is a lack of characterization of the long-term effects of low-dose chronic exposure, the kinetics of bioaccumulation, biodegradation potential, and transgenerational effects. In addition, there are no standardized procedures for the characterization of MPs, nor the reporting of the distribution of size or exposure measurements, which limits the comparability of cross-studies and makes it difficult to assess risks quantitatively. The dynamics of interactions of MPs between co-adsorbed contaminants like heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals are also yet to be explored. Although all evidence available to date does indicate biologically plausible mechanisms of MP-induced toxicity, integrated research employing standardized analytical protocols, an environmentally relevant exposure model, and human epidemiological data is required to ensure that laboratory results are translated into evidence-based public health and regulatory actions. This review offers an in-depth analysis of the existing molecular understanding of MP-induced toxicity, demonstrates organism-level impacts throughout species, and establishes vital fields for future studies. In order to develop competent guidelines to minimize MP exposure and its adverse health effects, it is crucial to cover these gaps via research that incorporates toxicology and environmental science. Full article

Background and purpose: Balance and gait problems pose a significant burden in Parkinson’s disease (PD), and they are often poorly treated with levodopa. We intended to summarize evidence of mid- and long-term impact of various physiotherapeutic interventions (≥3 months post-intervention) on dynamic balance, gait, and general motor function in patients with PD. Method: A systematic search was conducted across the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases to identify controlled clinical trials on sustained effects of various exercise interventions in PD on the outcomes of interest (lasting ≥ 3 months after completion of the exercise program). We conducted meta-analyses on commonly used clinical measures of dynamic balance and gait ability, as well as on UPDRS-III scores using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software (CMA). Results: A total of 26 studies were included in meta-analyses, with a total of 1261 participants in the experimental and 989 participants in the control groups. Positive cumulative effects at the post-exercise follow-up (3 to 23 months) were shown in favor of the intervention group regarding balance (SMD = 0.512, 95% CI [0.240, 0.785], p < 0.001, I² = 87%), gait (SMD = 0.614, 95% CI [0.301, 0.926], p < 0.001, I² = 75%), and general motor function (SMD = 0.922, 95% CI [0.559, 1.285], p < 0.001, I² = 87%). Heterogeneity among studies was high for all three outcomes, apparently reflecting diversity with regard to patient characteristics, type, and duration of intervention, as well as the method of outcome assessment. The certainty of evidence was consequently judged as ‘’low’’ to ‘’moderate,’’ according to the GRADE system. Subgroup analyses revealed that balance can sustainably improve mostly through multimodal rather than targeted balance-oriented exercise but also through dual-task exercise, tai chi, and Pilates. Gait showed improvement at follow-up mainly through multimodal exercise, aerobic exercise, dual-task exercise, and Pilates, with benefits confined to early- and mid-stage disease. Sustained UPDRS-III improvement could be achieved through multimodal exercise, which showed a large overall effect but also through aerobic, resistance, and dual-task training, tai chi and qigong. Conclusions: Exercise interventions can improve balance and gait, as well as preserve the overall motor function in patients with PD, also in the mid- and long-term post-intervention periods. Full article

Marine fungi are pivotal components of coastal ecosystems, facilitating essential biogeochemical cycling and trophic dynamics. However, the complex mechanisms governing their spatiotemporal community patterns in tropical–subtropical coasts remain largely unexplored. In this study, we characterized marine fungal diversity across a comprehensive seasonal cycle (spring (March), summer (June), autumn (August), and winter (December)) at 21 representative sites along the Leizhou Peninsula, China. These sites were strategically selected to encompass a broad range of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) gradients. Fungal community composition was characterized via high-throughput sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region, followed by functional guild profiling using the FUNGuild database. A total of 8777 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified, encompassing a broad taxonomic breadth of 10 phyla and 358 genera. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Chytridiomycota emerged as the predominant phyla across all samples. Our results revealed significant spatiotemporal heterogeneities: seasonal succession fundamentally reshaped community composition, with DIN exerting its most pronounced influence during the winter. Furthermore, fungal functional structures exhibited distinctive clustering across regions defined by DIN enrichment levels. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed a highly modular and robust architecture, characterized by predominantly positive interactions and dense inter-taxon connectivity. These findings underscore the synergistic influence of temporal dynamics and DIN enrichment in shaping marine fungal community assembly and functional compositions. Our study provides critical baseline insights into the ecological resilience of coastal mycobiota in the South China Sea. Full article

Polygonatum odoratum, a medicinal and edible plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and daily diets, has potential in managing various disorders, but its anti-pruritic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore its multi-target anti-pruritic effects by integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, GeneMANIA functional association analysis (GMFA), and GEO dataset validation. Bioactive components and pruritus-related targets were identified from public databases, and interaction networks between Polygonatum odoratum and pruritus targets, as well as the antihistamine levocetirizine, were constructed. Core targets were screened, and functional enrichment analyses were performed using DAVID and KEGG. Molecular docking (AutoDock Vina) and MD simulations (AMBER20) assessed the binding energy and stability of core components with key targets. The analysis identified 5 active components, 208 related targets, and 113 pruritus-associated targets, including 10 core targets. Enrichment analysis highlighted the PI3K/Akt and IL-17 signaling pathways, while MCODE clustering suggested involvement in arachidonic acid metabolism and serotonergic synapse. GMFA supported these findings. Molecular docking showed strong binding energy (<−5 kcal/mol), and MD simulations confirmed stable ligand–target complexes. GEO dataset validation reinforced key results. This study suggests that Polygonatum odoratum may exert anti-pruritic effects through the combined actions of inflammation suppression, skin barrier repair, and neural modulation, revealing a novel multi-target mechanism for pruritus therapy and potential synergy with levocetirizine. Full article

This study examines the dynamic relationship between economic growth, environmental sustainability, and other important factors related to energy usage and macroeconomic variables in Saudi Arabia from 1960 to 2024. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between energy consumption, renewable energy, trade openness, and oil rents, and their impact on economic performance and environmental results. This study is based on the annual data obtained by the World Bank in the World Development Indicators (WDI) database. The model considers that renewable energy consumption has a positive and significant effect on economic growth (ECGR) and environmental sustainability (ES). ADF unit root tests, ARDL bounds testing, ECM, and T-values were used to determine the significance of the statistics to determine the direction and strength of the relationships. The findings reveal that PEC has a significant positive impact on economic growth and environmental sustainability. Conversely, the effects of RE, TO, and OR are weak or negative, indicating that the dependence on traditional energy sources and oscillating oil revenues constrains their contribution to sustainable development. This study offers empirical data concerning the effect of the energy–environment–growth nexus in Saudi Arabia through a long historical context, which is valuable to policymakers, researchers, and practitioners interested in sustainable development and energy transition aspects. Full article