Search Results (14,847)

Historic earthen architecture—particularly rammed earth—is underrepresented in digital heritage initiatives despite its widespread historical use and vulnerability to degradation. This paper presents a novel methodology for integrating semantic, geometric, and geospatial information from earthen heritage into a unified digital environment, bridging Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) through an object-relational database. The proposed workflow enables automated and bidirectional data exchange between Revit (via Dynamo scripts) and open-source GIS tools (QGIS and PostgreSQL/PostGIS), supporting semantic alignment and spatial coherence. The method was tested on seven fortified rammed-earth sites in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, chosen for their typological and territorial diversity. Results demonstrate the feasibility of multiscale documentation and analysis, supported by a structured database populated with geometric, semantic, diagnostic, and environmental information, enabling enriched interpretations of construction techniques, material variability, and conservation status. The approach also facilitates the integration of HBIM datasets into broader territorial management frameworks. This work contributes to the development of scalable, open-source digital tools tailored to vernacular heritage, offering a replicable strategy for bridging the gap between building-scale and landscape-scale documentation in cultural heritage management. Full article

A theoretical study was performed using Density Functional Theory (DFT) to investigate the impact of π-conjugated aliphatic chain growth on the chemical and electronic properties of hybrid antimony pentachloride salts with pyridine- and imidazolium-based cations. Ten molecular systems were optimized to determine their ground-state geometry. Using conceptual DFT, parameters such as chemical hardness, electrophilicity index, electroaccepting power, and electrodonating power were studied. The energy gap was obtained for all ten molecular systems, ranging from −4.038 to −3.706 eV as the chain length increased, favoring intramolecular charge transfer in long-chain systems. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis showed charge redistribution between anion and cation as the π-conjugated aliphatic chain grows. At the same time, non-covalent interaction (NCI) studies revealed key attractions and repulsive interactions, such as H···Cl and Cl···π, which are modulated by chain length. These results demonstrate that the structural modification of the cation allows for the fine-tuning of the electronic properties of ionic liquids (ILs). Increasing the conjugated aliphatic chain length was observed to reduce the chemical hardness and electrophilicity index, as well as affecting the Egap of the molecular systems. This work demonstrates that there is an optimal size for the inorganic ion, allowing it to form an optimal IL compound. Full article

Clarifying the spatiotemporal relationship between urban ecosystem services and changes in landscape patterns is essential, as it has significant implications for balancing ecological protection with socio-economic development. However, existing studies have largely focused on the one-sided impact of landscape patterns on either the supply or demand of ESs, with limited investigation into how changes in these patterns affect the growth rates of both supply and demand. The central urban area, characterized by complex urban functions, intricate land use structures, and diverse environmental challenges, further complicates this relationship; yet, the spatiotemporal differentiation patterns of ecosystem services’ supply–demand dynamics in such regions, along with the underlying influencing mechanisms, remain insufficiently explored. To address this gap, the present study uses Shenyang’s central urban area, China as a case study, integrating multiple data sources to quantify the spatiotemporal variations in landscape pattern indices and five ecosystem services: water retention, flood regulation, air purification, carbon sequestration, and habitat quality. The XGBoost model is employed to construct non-linear relationships between landscape pattern indices and the supply–demand ratios of these services. Using SHAP values and LOWESS analysis, this study evaluates both the magnitude and direction of each landscape pattern index’s influence on the ecological supply–demand ratio. The findings outlined above indicate that: there are distinct disparities in the spatiotemporal distribution of landscape pattern indices at the patch type level. Additionally, the changing trends in the supply, demand, and supply–demand ratios of ecosystem services show spatiotemporal differentiation. Overall, the ecosystem services in the study area are developing negatively. Further, the impact of landscape pattern characteristics on ecosystem services is non-linear. Each index has a unique effect, and there are notable threshold intervals. This study provides a novel analytical approach for understanding the intricate relationship between landscape patterns and ESs, offering a scientific foundation and practical guidance for urban ecological protection, restoration initiatives, and territorial spatial planning. Full article

The expanding literature on nutraceuticals for male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) has inadvertently created knowledge gaps on the relative efficacy of conventional and non-conventional over-the-counter (OTC) treatments. We conducted a Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA); the outcome measure was the 24-week change in total hair density (INPLASY202570087). We determined the relative efficacy of nine active comparators—including topical minoxidil 5% and 2%. Among the topical OTC agents used to manage male AGA, minoxidil 5% applied twice daily was the most effective. Full article

Over the past 70 years, Central Asia has emerged as a globally recognized water security hotspot due to its unique geographic location and uneven distribution of water resources. In arid and semi-arid regions, understanding runoff dynamics under climate change is essential for ensuring regional water security. This study addresses the data-sparse Central Asian region by applying the ISIMIP3b multi-scenario analysis framework, selecting three representative global hydrological models. Using model intercomparison, trend analysis, and geographically weighted regression, we assess the spatiotemporal evolution of runoff from 1950 to 2080 and investigate the spatial heterogeneity of runoff responses to precipitation and temperature. The results show that under the historical scenario, all models consistently identify similar spatial pattern of runoff, with higher values in southeastern mountainous regions and lower values in western and central regions. However, substantial differences exist in runoff magnitude, with regional annual means of 10, 26, and 68 mm across the three models, respectively. The spatial disparity of runoff distribution is projected to increase under higher SSP scenarios. During the historical period, most of Central Asia experienced a slight decreasing trend in runoff, but the overall trends were −0.022, 0.1, and 0.065 mm/year, respectively. In contrast, future projections indicate a transition to increasing trends, particularly in eastern regions, where trend magnitudes and statistical significance are notably greater than in the west. Meanwhile, the spatial extent of significant trends expands under high-emission scenarios. Precipitation exerts a positive influence on runoff in over 80% of the region, while temperature impacts exhibit strong spatial variability. In the WaterGAP2-2e and MIROC-INTEG-LAND models, temperature has a positive effect on runoff in glaciated plateau regions, likely due to enhanced snow and glacier melt under warming conditions. This study presents a multi-model framework for characterizing climate–runoff interactions in data-scarce and environmentally sensitive regions, offering insights for water resource management in Central Asia. Full article

Background: Perinatal research faces significant challenges in understanding placental biology and maternal–fetal interactions due to limited access to human tissues and the lack of reliable models. Emerging technologies, such as liquid biopsy and single-cell analysis, offer novel, non-invasive approaches to investigate these processes. This scoping review explores the current applications of these technologies in placental development and the diagnosis of pregnancy complications, identifying research gaps and providing recommendations for future studies. Methods: This review adhered to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies were selected based on their focus on liquid biopsy or single-cell analysis in perinatal research, particularly related to placental development and pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published in the last ten years. Data extraction and thematic synthesis were performed to identify diagnostic applications, monitoring strategies, and biomarker identification. Results: Twelve studies were included, highlighting the transformative potential of liquid biopsy and single-cell analysis in perinatal research. Liquid biopsy technologies, such as cfDNA and cfRNA analysis, provided non-invasive methods for real-time monitoring of placental function and early identification of complications. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) emerged as biomarkers for conditions like preeclampsia. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed cellular diversity and pathways critical to placental health, offering insights into processes such as vascular remodeling and trophoblast invasion. While promising, challenges such as high costs, technical complexity, and the need for standardization limit their clinical integration. Conclusion: Liquid biopsy and single-cell analysis are revolutionizing perinatal research, offering non-invasive tools to understand and manage complications like preeclampsia. Overcoming challenges in accessibility and standardization will be key to unlocking their potential for personalized care, enabling better outcomes for mothers and children worldwide. Full article

Today’s increasingly brittle, anxious, nonlinear, incomprehensible world of work calls for a socially and emotionally competent workforce. However, there is a clear gap in higher education settings regarding the assessment and promotion of students’ social and emotional competence (SEC). Our study aims to address the pressing need to evaluate and develop higher education students’ SEC by providing a tool to assess these skills, enabling researchers and practitioners to intervene and actively promote them. A sample of 767 higher education students (62.8% female, M = 22.88 years, SD = 7.30) enrolled in the study. Structural, discriminant and concurrent criterion validity, and reliability of the measure were assessed. A multiple hierarchical regression analysis tested the relation of SEC and well-being. Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the hypothesized factorial structures. Coefficient omegas indicated adequate internal consistency. The results also supported the measure’s discriminant and criterion validities in relation to external measures. Multi-group invariance across gender and academic fields was attained. We found evidence of the predictive role of intrapersonal skills on students’ personal and academic well-being. This study bridges a gap in research and practice by introducing a psychometrically sound yet parsimonious instrument for assessing higher education students’ SEC. It also highlights the supportive role of SEC in promoting students’ well-being. Full article

High-performance musical instrument training is a demanding discipline that engages cognitive, neurological, and physical skills. Professional musicians invest substantial time and effort into mastering their repertoire and developing the muscle memory and reflexes required to perform complex works in high-stakes settings. While existing surveys have explored the use of music in therapeutic and general training contexts, there is a notable lack of work focused specifically on the needs of professional musicians and advanced instrumental practice. This topical review explores the potential of EEG-based brain–computer interface (BCI) technologies to integrate real-time feedback of biomechanic and cognitive features in advanced musical practice. Building on a conceptual framework of technology-enhanced musical practice (TEMP), we review empirical studies of broad contexts, addressing the EEG signal decoding of biomechanic and cognitive tasks that closely relates to the specified TEMP features (movement and muscle activity, posture and balance, fine motor movements and dexterity, breathing control, head and facial movement, movement intention, tempo processing, ptich recognition, and cognitive engagement), assessing their feasibility and limitations. Our analysis highlights current gaps and provides a foundation for future development of BCI-supported musical training systems to support high-performance instrumental practice. Full article

Cryogenic upgrading represents a promising route for the production of high-purity biomethane, aligning with current decarbonization goals and the increasing demand for renewable gases. This review provides a critical assessment of cryogenic technologies applied to biogas purification, focusing on process fundamentals, technological configurations, energy and separation performance, and their industrial integration potential. The analysis covers standalone cryogenic systems as well as hybrid configurations combining cryogenic separation with membrane or chemical pretreatment to enhance efficiency and reduce operating costs. A comparative evaluation of key performance indicators—including methane recovery, specific energy demand, product purity, and technology readiness level—is presented, along with a discussion of representative industrial applications. In addition, recent techno-economic studies are examined to contextualize cryogenic upgrading within the broader landscape of CO₂ separation technologies. Environmental trade-offs, investment thresholds, and sensitivity to gas prices and CO₂ taxation are also discussed. The review identifies existing technical and economic barriers, outlines research and innovation priorities, and highlights the relevance of process integration with natural gas networks. Overall, cryogenic upgrading is confirmed as a technically viable and environmentally competitive solution for biomethane production, particularly in contexts requiring liquefied biomethane or CO₂ recovery. Strategic deployment and regulatory support will be key to accelerating its industrial adoption. The objectives of this review have been met by consolidating the current state of knowledge and identifying specific gaps that warrant further investigation. Future work is expected to address these gaps through targeted experimental studies and technology demonstrations. Full article

Against the backdrop of global sustainable development and environmental governance, research on contractors’ green behavior has received increasing attention. However, the research progress and knowledge structure within this field remain unclear. This study, therefore, reviews the literature published between 1985 and 2005 in the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases. It aims to reveal the current state of research, identify gaps, and propose future research directions. First, through bibliometric analysis, this study explores research trends, journal distribution, country distribution, author distribution, institutional distribution, and collaboration patterns. Second, social network analysis of keyword co-occurrence is conducted to identify emerging research hotspots and frontier topics. Third, content analysis complements the quantitative findings by synthesizing theoretical foundations, methodological approaches, and influencing factors. Finally, potential future research directions are outlined regarding collaboration models, thematic integration, theoretical frameworks, research methods, factors, research boundaries, contextual applications, and behavioral outcome variables. By systematically reviewing the literature on contractors’ green behavior, this study offers valuable insights for future research as well as management practices. Full article

Sustainability performance varies significantly across countries, yet global assessments overlook the underlying structural trends. This study bridges this gap using machine learning to uncover meaningful clustering in global sustainability outcomes based on the 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index. We applied K-Means clustering to group 166 countries into five standardized indicators: SDG score, spillover effects, regional score, population size, and recent progress. The five-cluster solution was confirmed by the Elbow and Silhouette procedures, with ANOVA and MANOVA tests subsequently indicating statistically significant cluster differences. For the validation and interpretation of the results, six supervised learning algorithms were employed. Random Forest, SVM, and ANN performed best in classification accuracy (97.7%) with perfect ROC-AUC scores (AUC = 1.0). Feature importance analysis showed that SDG and regional scores were most predictive of cluster membership, while population size was the least. This supervised–unsupervised hybrid approach offers a reproducible blueprint for cross-country benchmarking of sustainability. It also offers actionable insights for tailoring policy to groups of countries, whether high-income OECD nations, emerging markets, or resource-scarce countries. Our findings demonstrate that machine learning is a useful tool for revealing structural disparities in sustainability and informing cluster-specific policy interventions toward the 2030 Agenda. Full article

Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. sinensis Rousi a species of significant ecological and economic value that is native to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and arid/semi-arid regions. Investigating the mitochondrial genome can elucidate stress adaptation mechanisms, population genetic structure, and hybrid evolutionary history, offering molecular insights for ecological restoration and species conservation. However, the genetic information and evolutionary mechanisms of its mitochondrial genome remain poorly understood. This study aimed to assemble the complete mitochondrial genome of H. rhamnoides L. ssp. sinensis using Illumina sequencing, uncovering its structural features, evolutionary pressures, and environmental adaptability and addressing the research gap regarding mitochondrial genomes within the Hippophae genus. The study assembled a 454,444 bp circular mitochondrial genome of H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis, with a GC content of 44.86%. A total of 73 genes and 3 pseudogenes were annotated, with the notable absence of the rps2 gene, which is present in related species. The genome exhibits significant codon usage bias, particularly with high-frequency use of the alanine codon GCU and the isoleucine codon AUU. Additionally, 449 repetitive sequences, potentially driving genome recombination, were identified. Our evolutionary pressure analysis revealed that most genes are under purifying selection, while genes such as atp4 and nad4 exhibit positive selection. A nucleotide diversity analysis revealed that the sdh4 gene exhibits the highest variation, whereas rrn5 is the most conserved. Meanwhile, phylogenetic analysis showed that H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis from China is most closely related to Hippophae tibetana, with extensive homologous sequences (49.72% of the chloroplast genome) being identified between the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes, indicating active inter-organellar gene transfer. Furthermore, 539 RNA editing sites, primarily involving hydrophilic-to-hydrophobic amino acid conversions, were predicted, potentially regulating mitochondrial protein function. Our findings establish a foundation for genetic improvement and research on adaptive evolutionary mechanisms in the Hippophae genus, offering a novel case study for plant mitochondrial genome evolution theory. Full article

Tea is a prominent cash crop in global agriculture, and it is Sri Lanka’s top agricultural export known as ‘Ceylon Tea,’ employing nearly one million people, with land covering an area of 267,000 ha. However, over the past decade, many tea lands in Sri Lanka have been abandoned, leading to a gradual decline in production. This research aims to identify, map, and verify tea land abandonment over time and space by identifying and analyzing a series of land use trajectories with Landsat, Google Earth, and PlanetScope imageries to provide a substantial knowledge base. The study area covers five Divisional Secretariats Divisions in Kandy District, Central Highlands of Sri Lanka: Delthota, Doluwa, Udapalatha, Ganga Ihala Korale, and Pasbage Korale, where around 70% of the tea lands in Kandy District are covered. Six land use/cover (LULC) classes were considered: tea, Home Garden and Other Crop, forest, grass and bare land, built-up area, and Water Body. Abandoned tea lands were identified if the tea land was converted to another land use between 2015 and 2023. The results revealed the following: (1) 85% accuracy in LULC classification, revealing tea as the second-largest land use. Home Garden and Other Crop dominated, with an expanding built-up area. (2) The top 22 trajectories dominating the tea trajectories were identified, indicating that tea abandonment peaked between 2017 and 2023. (3) In total, 12% (5457 ha) of pixels were identified as abandoned tea lands during the observation period (2015–2023) at an accuracy rate of 94.7% in the validation. Significant changes were observed between the two urban centers of Gampola and Nawalapitiya towns. (3) Tea land abandonment over 7 years was the highest at 35% (1892.3 ha), while 5-year and 3-year periods accounted for 535.4 ha and 353.6 ha, respectively, highlighting a significant long-term trend. (4) The predominant conversion observed is the shift in tea towards Home Garden and Other Crop (2986.2 ha) during the timeframe. The findings underscore the extent and dynamics of tea land abandonment, providing critical insights into the patterns and characteristics of abandoned lands. This study fills a key research gap by offering a comprehensive spatial analysis of tea land abandonment in Sri Lanka. The results are valuable for stakeholders in the tea industry, providing essential information for sustainable management, policy-making, and future research on the spatial factors driving tea land abandonment. Full article

This study examines how air transport infrastructure and trade flows influence economic growth across ASEAN countries, with a focus on identifying the threshold levels at which these factors begin to enhance growth. Despite increasing investment in regional logistics and connectivity, policymakers often lack evidence-based thresholds to guide infrastructure and trade policy for long-term development. Addressing this gap, this study applies a Dynamic Panel Threshold Model to uncover the tipping points at which improvements in air cargo volume (lnCargo) and air transport infrastructure quality (lnQAir) translate into stronger economic growth. By employing System-GMM and First-Difference GMM estimations, the analysis captures the threshold effects of air cargo volume (lnCargo) and air transport infrastructure quality (lnQAir) on economic growth over varying regimes. The results reveal significant single-threshold effects for both lnCargo and lnQAir, indicating that their contributions to economic growth become substantial after surpassing specific critical levels. When air cargo volume exceeds approximately 267,067 tons per year (lnCargo > 5.5875), its positive effect on economic growth strengthens, particularly when accompanied by high-quality infrastructure. Similarly, air transport infrastructure quality exhibits a significantly stronger impact on economic growth once it exceeds the critical threshold of lnQAir = 1.5476 (≈4.7001 index points). These findings emphasize the complementarity between trade flows and infrastructure, aligning with endogenous growth theory, which suggests that infrastructure investments yield increasing returns when integrated with trade expansion. Policy implications suggest that ASEAN economies should adopt demand-driven infrastructure development aligned with trade dynamics, prioritizing regional connectivity, logistics efficiency, and investment attraction to sustain long-term economic growth. Full article

This study investigates how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles can be effectively integrated into the Balanced Scorecard (BSc) framework within local government organizations (LGOs) to enhance strategic planning and sustainability performance. Addressing a gap in the literature on ESG–BSc integration in the public sector, particularly in the Greek context, the study employs a dual-method approach. First, a bibliometric analysis of 3053 academic publications (1993–2025) was conducted using Scopus data to assess the evolution and thematic focus of ESG and BSc research. Second, a structured questionnaire—comprising both closed- and open-ended questions—was administered to 17 administrative staff members of a Greek LGO in 2024. This expert sample provided insights into strategic planning practices, ESG awareness, and performance management barriers. The findings reveal low levels of ESG–BSc application, a limited strategic capacity, and institutional resistance. In response, the study proposes a novel, context-sensitive ESG-integrated BSc model tailored for small municipalities, emphasizing stakeholder participation, operational simplicity, and the alignment with national sustainability policies. The model serves as a practical tool to support public sector performance measurement, bridging the gap between sustainability goals and local governance strategy. Full article