Search Results (1,884)

Effective species identification is crucial for the conservation and management of marine mammals, particularly in regions such as the Mediterranean Sea, where several cetacean populations are endangered or vulnerable. In this study, we developed and validated a High-Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis protocol for the rapid, cost-effective, and reliable identification of the four representative marine cetacean species that occur in the Mediterranean Sea: the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), and the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus). Species-specific primers targeting mitochondrial DNA regions (cytochrome b and D-loop) were designed to generate distinct melting profiles. The protocol was tested on both tissue and fecal samples, demonstrating high sensitivity, reproducibility, and discrimination power. The results confirmed the robustness of the method, with melting curve profiles clearly distinguishing the target species and achieving a success rate > 95% in identifying unknown samples. The use of HRM offers several advantages over traditional sequencing methods, including reduced cost, speed, portability, and suitability for degraded samples, such as those from the stranded individuals. This approach provides a valuable tool for non-invasive genetic surveys and real-time species monitoring, contributing to more effective conservation strategies for cetaceans and enforcement of regulations against illegal trade. Full article

This paper explores the intervening role in SEP performance of corporate environmental, cultural, and ethnic activities (ECEAs) and diversity, equity, inclusion, and social initiatives (DEISIs) on blockchain adoption (BCA) strategy, particularly useful in the Western Balkans (WB), which demands transparency due to extended fraud and ethnic complexities. In this domain, a question has been raised: In BCA strategies, is there any correlation between SEP performance and ECEAs and DEISIs in a mediating role? A serial mediation model was tested on a dataset of 630 WB and EU companies, and the research conceptual model was validated by CFA (Confirmation Factor Analysis), and the SEM (Structural Equation Model) fit was assessed. We found a statistically sound (significant, positive) correlation between BCA and ESG success performance, especially in the innovation and integrity ESG performance success indicators, when DEISIs mediate. The findings confirmed the influence of technology, and environmental, cultural, ethnic, and social factors on BCA strategy. The findings revealed some important issues of BCA that are of worth to WB companies’ managers to address BCA for better performance. This study adds to the literature on corporate blockchain transformation, especially for organizations seeking investment opportunities in new international markets to diversify their assets and skill pool. Furthermore, it contributes to a deeper understanding of how DEI initiatives impact the correlation between business transformation and socioeconomic performance, which is referred to as the “social impact”. Full article

Internal fins are commonly utilized as a passive technique to enhance natural convection, but their efficiency depends on complex interplay between fin design, material properties, and convective strength. This study presents an extensive numerical analysis of buoyancy-driven flow in square cavities containing a single horizontal fin on the hot wall. Over 9000 simulations were conducted, methodically varying the Rayleigh number (Ra = 10 to 10⁵), Prandtl number (Pr = 0.1 to 10), and fin characteristics, such as length, vertical position, thickness, and the thermal conductivity ratio (up to 1000), to assess their overall impact on thermal efficiency. Thermal enhancements compared to scenarios without fins are quantified using local and average Nusselt numbers, as well as a Nusselt number ratio (NNR). The results reveal that, contrary to conventional beliefs, long fins positioned centrally can actually decrease heat transfer by up to 11.8% at high Ra and Pr due to the disruption of thermal plumes and diminished circulation. Conversely, shorter fins located near the cavity’s top and bottom wall edges can enhance the Nusselt numbers for the hot wall by up to 8.4%, thereby positively affecting the development of thermal boundary layers. A U-shaped Nusselt number distribution related to fin placement appears at Ra ≥ 10³, where edge-aligned fins consistently outperform those positioned mid-height. The benefits of high-conductivity fins become increasingly nonlinear at larger Ra, with advantages limited to designs that minimally disrupt core convective patterns. These findings challenge established notions regarding passive thermal enhancement and provide a predictive thermogeometric framework for designing enclosures. The results can be directly applied to passive cooling systems in electronics, battery packs, solar thermal collectors, and energy-efficient buildings, where optimizing heat transfer is vital without employing active control methods. Full article

The introduction of mobile banking is essential in today’s financial sector, where technological innovation plays a critical role. To remain competitive in the current market, businesses must analyze client attitudes and perspectives, as these influence long-term demand and overall profitability. While previous studies have explored general adoption behaviors, limited research has examined how individual factors such as social influence, lifestyle compatibility, financial technology self-efficacy, and perceived usage cost affect mobile banking adoption among specific generational cohorts. This study addresses that gap by offering insights into these variables, contributing to the growing literature on mobile banking adoption, and presenting actionable recommendations for financial institutions targeting younger market segments. Using a structured questionnaire survey, data were collected from both users and non-users of mobile banking among the Gen Z population in the United States. The regression model significantly predicts mobile banking adoption, with an intercept of $-0.548$ ($p < 0.001$). Among the independent variables, perceived cost of usage has the strongest positive effect on adoption ($B=0.857$, $\beta =0.722$, $p < 0.001$), suggesting that adoption increases when mobile banking is perceived as more affordable. Social influence also has a significant positive impact ($B=0.642$, $\beta =0.643$, $p < 0.001$), indicating that peer influence is a central driver of adoption decisions. However, self-efficacy shows a significant negative relationship ($B=-0.343$, $\beta =-0.339$, $p < 0.001$), and lifestyle compatibility was found to be statistically insignificant ($p=0.615$). These findings suggest that reducing perceived costs, through lower fees, data bundling, or clearer communication about affordability, can directly enhance adoption among Gen Z consumers. Furthermore, leveraging peer influence via referral rewards, Partnerships with influencers, and in-app social features can increase user adoption. Since digital self-efficacy presents a barrier for some, banks should prioritize simplifying user interfaces and offering guided assistance, such as tutorials or chat-based support. Future research may employ longitudinal designs or analyze real-life transaction data for a more objective understanding of behavior. Additional variables like trust, perceived risk, and regulatory policies, not included in this study, should be integrated into future models to offer a more comprehensive analysis. Full article

Background: The candidate therapeutic peptide TnP demonstrates broad, system-level regulatory capacity, revealed through integrated network analysis from transcriptomic data in zebrafish. Our study primarily identifies TnP as a multifaceted modulator of drug metabolism, wound healing, proteolytic activity, and pigmentation pathways. Results: Transcriptomic profiling of TnP-treated larvae following tail fin amputation revealed 558 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), categorized into four functional networks: (1) drug-metabolizing enzymes (cyp3a65, cyp1a) and transporters (SLC/ABC families), where TnP alters xenobiotic processing through Phase I/II modulation; (2) cellular trafficking and immune regulation, with upregulated myosin genes (myhb/mylz3) enhancing wound repair and tlr5-cdc42 signaling fine-tuning inflammation; (3) proteolytic cascades (c6ast4, prss1) coupled to autophagy (ulk1a, atg2a) and metabolic rewiring (g6pca.1-tg axis); and (4) melanogenesis-circadian networks (pmela/dct-fbxl3l) linked to ubiquitin-mediated protein turnover. Key findings highlight TnP’s unique coordination of rapid (protease activation) and sustained (metabolic adaptation) responses, enabled by short network path lengths (1.6–2.1 edges). Hub genes, such as nr1i2 (pxr), ppara, and bcl6aa/b, mediate crosstalk between these systems, while potential risks—including muscle hypercontractility (myhb overexpression) or cardiovascular effects (ace2-ppp3ccb)—underscore the need for targeted delivery. The zebrafish model validated TnP-conserved mechanisms with human relevance, particularly in drug metabolism and tissue repair. TnP’s ability to synchronize extracellular matrix remodeling, immune resolution, and metabolic homeostasis supports its development for the treatment of fibrosis, metabolic disorders, and inflammatory conditions. Conclusions: Future work should focus on optimizing tissue-specific delivery and assessing genetic variability to advance clinical translation. This system-level analysis positions TnP as a model example for next-generation multi-pathway therapeutics. Full article

This research develops a dual physics-based machine learning system to forecast fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions for a 100 m oil tanker across six operational scenarios: Original, Paint, Advanced Propeller, Fin, Bulbous Bow, and Combined. The combination of hydrodynamic calculations with Monte Carlo simulations provides a solid foundation for training machine learning models, particularly in cases where dataset restrictions are present. The XGBoost model demonstrated superior performance compared to Support Vector Regression, Gaussian Process Regression, Random Forest, and Shallow Neural Network models, achieving near-zero prediction errors that closely matched physics-based calculations. The physics-based analysis demonstrated that the Combined scenario, which combines hull coatings with bulbous bow modifications, produced the largest fuel consumption reduction (5.37% at 15 knots), followed by the Advanced Propeller scenario. The results demonstrate that user inputs (e.g., engine power: 870 kW, speed: 12.7 knots) match the Advanced Propeller scenario, followed by Paint, which indicates that advanced propellers or hull coatings would optimize efficiency. The obtained insights help ship operators modify their operational parameters and designers select essential modifications for sustainable operations. The model maintains its strength at low speeds, where fuel consumption is minimal, making it applicable to other oil tankers. The hybrid approach provides a new tool for maritime efficiency analysis, yielding interpretable results that support International Maritime Organization objectives, despite starting with a limited dataset. The model requires additional research to enhance its predictive accuracy using larger datasets and real-time data collection, which will aid in achieving global environmental stewardship. Full article

Triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) is a widely used organophosphate flame retardant and plasticizer, raising concerns over its health impacts. This study examined the effects of embryonic TPhP exposure on axial skeletal development and metabolism in medaka (Oryzias latipes), a vertebrate fish model relevant to human bone biology. Medaka embryos were exposed to 1 µM TPhP and assessed through early larval stages. TPhP impaired vertebral ossification, causing shortened centra and reduced cartilage in the caudal complex, alongside disrupted distribution of osteoblast-lineage cells. Key osteogenic genes were significantly downregulated at 14 days post fertilization, and transcriptomic analysis revealed altered mitochondrial pathways linked to skeletal disorders. Functionally, TPhP-exposed larvae showed reduced caudal fin regeneration and decreased metabolic rate and oxygen consumption, consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings indicate that TPhP disrupts bone development and metabolism by affecting osteoblast differentiation and mitochondrial regulation, highlighting the value of small fish models for studying environmental toxicants and bone metabolic disease risk. Full article

Emerging markets face growing pressures to integrate sustainable English business practices while maintaining economic growth, particularly in addressing environmental challenges and achieving carbon neutrality goals. English Financial information extraction becomes crucial for supporting green finance initiatives, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance, and sustainable investment decisions in these markets. This paper presents FinATG, an AI-driven autoregressive framework for extracting sustainability-related English financial information from English texts, specifically designed to support emerging markets in their transition toward sustainable development. The framework addresses the complex challenges of processing ESG reports, green bond disclosures, carbon footprint assessments, and sustainable investment documentation prevalent in emerging economies. FinATG introduces a domain-adaptive span representation method fine-tuned on sustainability-focused English financial corpora, implements constrained decoding mechanisms based on green finance regulations, and integrates FinBERT with autoregressive generation for end-to-end extraction of environmental and governance information. While achieving competitive performance on standard benchmarks, FinATG’s primary contribution lies in its architecture, which prioritizes correctness and compliance for the high-stakes financial domain. Experimental validation demonstrates FinATG’s effectiveness with entity F1 scores of 88.5 and REL F1 scores of 80.2 on standard English datasets, while achieving superior performance (85.7–86.0 entity F1, 73.1–74.0 REL+ F1) on sustainability-focused financial datasets. The framework particularly excels in extracting carbon emission data, green investment relationships, and ESG compliance indicators, achieving average AUC and RGR scores of 0.93 and 0.89 respectively. By automating the extraction of sustainability metrics from complex English financial documents, FinATG supports emerging markets in meeting international ESG standards, facilitating green finance flows, and enhancing transparency in sustainable business practices, ultimately contributing to their sustainable development goals and climate action commitments. Full article

This study presents a topology optimization approach to enhance the discharging performance of a latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) system using paraffin wax as the phase-change material (PCM) and a high-conductivity aluminium structure. Solidification is primarily governed by conduction, and the average heat transfer rate during this process is significantly lower than during melting; therefore, the optimization focused on the discharge phase. In a previous study, a novel LHTES device based on a Cartesian lattice was investigated experimentally and numerically. The validated numerical model from that study was adopted as the reference and used in a 2D topology optimization study based on the Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) method. The objective was to promote more uniform temperature distribution and reduce discharging time while maintaining the same aluminium volume fraction as in the reference device. Topology optimization produced a branched fin design, which was then extruded into a 3D model for comparison with the reference geometry. The optimized design resulted in improved temperature uniformity and a faster solidification process. Specifically, the time required to solidify 90% of the PCM was reduced by 12.3%, while the time to release 90% of the latent heat during the solidification process improved by 7.6%. Full article

Surface Air-Cooled Oil Coolers (SACOCs) can become a critical component in managing the increasing thermal loads of modern turbofan engines. Installed within the bypass duct, SACOCs utilize high-mass flow bypass air for convective heat rejection, reducing reliance on traditional Fuel-Oil Heat Exchangers. This review explores SACOC design principles, integration challenges, aerodynamic impacts, and performance trade-offs. Emphasis is placed on the balance between thermal efficiency and aerodynamic penalties such as pressure drop and flow distortion. Experimental techniques, including wind tunnel testing, are discussed alongside numerical methods, and Conjugate Heat Transfer modeling. Presented studies mostly demonstrate the impact of fin geometry and placement on both heat transfer and drag. Optimization strategies and Additive Manufacturing techniques are also covered. SACOCs are positioned to play a central role in future propulsion systems, especially in ultra-high bypass ratio and hybrid-electric architectures, where traditional cooling strategies are insufficient. This review highlights current advancements, identifies limitations, and outlines research directions to enhance SACOC efficiency in aerospace applications. Full article

Pyrolysis technology currently serves as a significant method for recycling and reducing waste tires. In this paper, in order to improve the heat transfer efficiency during the pyrolysis of waste tires in a horizontal rotary furnace and the yield of pyrolysis oil, the effect laws of tire particle size, rotary furnace rotation speed, enhanced heat transfer materials, and adding spiral fins on heat transfer performance and pyrolysis product distribution were studied, respectively. The innovation lies in two aspects: first, aiming at the problems of slow heat transfer and low pyrolysis efficiency in horizontal rotary furnaces, we identified technical measures through experiments to enhance heat transfer, thereby accelerating pyrolysis and reducing energy consumption; second, with the goal of increasing high-value pyrolysis oil yield, we determined optimal operating parameters to improve economic and sustainability outcomes. The results showed that powdered particles of waste tires were heated more evenly during the pyrolysis process, which increased the overall heat transfer coefficient and the proportion of liquid products. When the rotational speed of the rotary pyrolysis furnace exceeded 2 rpm, there was sufficient contact between the material and the furnace wall, which was beneficial to the improvement of heat transfer performance. Adding heat transfer enhancement materials such as carborundum and white alundum could improve the heat transfer performance between the pyrolysis furnace and the material. Notably, a rotational speed of 3 rpm and carborundum were used as a heat transfer enhancement material with powdered waste tire particles during the pyrolysis process; the overall heat transfer coefficient was the highest, which was 16.89 W/(m²·K), and the proportion of pyrolysis oil products was 46.1%. When spiral fins were installed, the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient was increased from 12.78 W/(m²·K) to 16.32 W/(m²·K). The experimental results show that by increasing the speed of the pyrolysis furnace, adding heat transfer enhancing materials with high thermal conductivity to waste tires, and appropriate particle size, the heat transfer performance and pyrolysis rate can be improved, and energy consumption can be reduced. Full article

Fin-stabilized guided rockets exhibit ballistic characteristics such as low initial velocity, high flight altitude, and long flight duration, which render their impact point accuracy and flight stability highly susceptible to the influence of wind. In this paper, the four-dimensional nonlinear angular motion equations describing the changes in attack angle and the law of axis swing of a dual-spin rocket are established, and the phase trajectory and equilibrium point stability characteristics of the nonlinear angular motion system under windy conditions are analyzed. Aiming at the problem that the equilibrium point of the angular motion system cannot be solved analytically with the change in wind speed, a phase trajectory projection sequence method based on the Poincaré cross-section and stroboscopic mapping is proposed to analyze the effect of wind on the angular motion bifurcation characteristics of a dual-spin rocket. The possible instability of angular motion caused by nonlinear aerodynamics under strong wind conditions is explored. This study is of reference significance for the launch control and aerodynamic design of guided rockets in complex environments. Full article

Background: Polygenic risk scores (PRS) have emerged as promising tools for disease risk stratification. However, their validity across different populations remains unclear, particularly for autoimmune diseases, where environmental factors may play crucial roles. Methods: We calculated the population-level PRS for Sjögren’s syndrome using seven validated genetic variants (PGS001308) and allele frequency data from the 1000 Genomes Project Phase 3 for five European populations (CEU, TSI, FIN, GBR, and IBS). PRS values were correlated with published prevalence estimates from a systematic literature review. Statistical analyses included Pearson’s correlation and sensitivity analyses. Results: PRS values varied across European populations, ranging from 0.317 in the Spanish population to 0.370 in the Northern European population. A non-significant negative trend was observed between population PRS and Sjögren’s syndrome prevalence (r = −0.407, R² = 0.166). Italy showed the lowest genetic risk score (TSI: 0.349) but the highest disease prevalence (58.2 per 100,000), while Northern European populations demonstrated a higher PRS but lower prevalence. Conclusions: No significant correlation was found between genetic risk scores and disease prevalence in this limited sample of five European populations. Larger studies are needed to clarify the relationship between polygenic risk and disease prevalence. Full article

This research proposes an integrated lighting and solar shading strategy to improve energy efficiency and user comfort in a retrofit project in a temperate-humid climate. The study examines a future library addition to an existing faculty building in Bursa, featuring highly glazed façades (77% southwest, 81% northeast window-to-wall ratio), an open-plan layout, and situated within an unobstructed low-rise campus environment. Trade-offs between daylight availability, heating, cooling, lighting energy use, and visual and thermal comfort are evaluated through integrated lighting (DIALux Evo), climate-based daylight (CBDM), and energy simulations (DesignBuilder, EnergyPlus, Radiance). Fifteen solar shading configurations—including brise soleil, overhangs, side fins, egg crates, and louvres—are evaluated alongside a daylight-responsive LED lighting system that meets BS EN 12464-1:2021. Compared to the reference case’s unshaded glazing, optimal design significantly improves building performance: a brise soleil with 0.4 m slats at 30° reduces annual primary energy use by 28.3% and operational carbon emissions by 29.1% and maintains thermal comfort per ASHRAE 55:2023 Category II (±0.7 PMV; PPD < 15%). Daylight performance achieves 91.5% UDI and 2.1% aSE, with integrated photovoltaics offsetting 129.7 kWh/m² of grid energy. This integrated strategy elevates the building’s energy class under national benchmarks while addressing glare and overheating in the original design. Full article

China’s southwestern karst landscapes support remarkable cavefish diversity, especially within Sinocyclocheilus, the world’s largest cavefish genus. Using integrative taxonomic methods, we describe Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis sp. nov., found in a subterranean river in Guizhou Province. This species lacks horn-like cranial structures; its eyes are either reduced to a dark spot or absent. It possesses a pronounced nuchal hump and a forward-protruding, duckbill-shaped head. Morphometric analysis of 28 individuals from six species shows clear separation from related taxa. Nano-CT imaging reveals distinct vertebral and cranial features. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial cytb and ND4 genes place S. wanlanensis within S. angularis group as sister to S. bicornutus, with p-distances of 1.7% (cytb) and 0.7% (ND4), consistent with sister-species patterns within the genus. Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis is differentiated from S. bicornutus by its eyeless or degenerate-eye condition and lack of bifurcated horns. It differs from S. zhenfengensis, its morphologically closest species, in having degenerate or absent eyes, shorter maxillary barbels, and pelvic fins that reach the anus. The combination of morphological and molecular evidence supports its recognition as a distinct species. Accurate documentation of such endemic and narrowly distributed taxa is important for conservation and for understanding speciation in cave habitats. Full article