Search Results (24,435)

Triethylamine (TEA), a widely used volatile organic compound (VOC), poses severe threats to environmental safety and human health upon accidental leakage, making the development of high-performance TEA detection techniques urgently needed. Herein, we report a Sn-based metal–organic framework (Sn-MOF) constructed from 4,5-dichloroimidazole ligands synthesized via a solvothermal approach. The resulting MOF-derived SnO₂ materials were obtained by calcination at 400–600 °C, yielding SnO₂ with tunable specific surface area and surface defect-site density. Structural and surface characterizations revealed that the materials consist of primary nanoparticles in the range of 10–50 nm, forming aggregated particles of 1–2 µm. The gas sensing performance toward TEA was systematically evaluated. The SnO₂-400 °C sensor exhibited the highest response (S = 85.0) to 100 ppm TEA at 190 °C, with a low detection limit of 1 ppm, superior selectivity, good repeatability, and excellent long-term stability. The observed performance variation was attributed to the combined effects of specific surface area, abundant defect-associated surface sites, and suitable mesoporous structure. This work not only provides a high-performance TEA sensor for industrial and food safety monitoring but also offers a rational strategy for designing MOF-derived metal oxide gas sensors with tailored microstructures and surface defect chemistry. Full article

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a critical public health threat because infections caused by this pathogen are associated with high morbidity, mortality, and limited effective therapeutic options. Whilst the majority of studies have concentrated on inter-patient bacterial transmission, within-host genomic analysis offers unprecedented resolution for tracking dynamic clone predominance, plasmid rearrangements, and microevolution under clinical selection pressures. Methods and Results: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of nine isolates recovered from oral and rectal swabs revealed an exceptional case of CRKP clonal turnover in an intensive care unit (ICU) patient. Three distinct high-risk clones were identified during the 18 days of surveillance: an initial ST101 (Clonal Group (CG) 101) strain (days 1–7) followed by concurrent colonization with ST395 (carrying bla_NDM-5) and ST512 lineages (both CG258, days 11–18). Conclusions: This study describes a rare instance of within-host heterogeneity of CRKP, involving three distinct STs spanning two CGs. Whole-genome analysis revealed potential structural rearrangements of resistance- and virulence-associated plasmids between coexisting lineages. These genomic shifts likely reflect rapid adaptation under the intense selective pressure of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, culminating in the persistence of a less virulent yet multidrug-resistant ST512 clone and a favorable clinical outcome with patient recovery. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fig (Ficus carica L.) is considered a valuable fruit owing to its rich health-promoting ingredients, including anthocyanins. However, little information is available on the regulatory networks that reveal anthocyanin biosynthesis in figs, especially the new fig cultivar “Silu Hongyu” (HY). Methods: In this study, multi-omics analysis was performed to dissect the regulatory networks responsible for anthocyanin accumulation in the female flower tissues of HY. Results: we found that the anthocyanin content in the female flower tissues of HY is higher than that of “Chinese Ziguo” (ZG). Metabolomic profiling identified 350 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), among which 108 were flavonoids. The contents of multiple metabolites responsible for anthocyanin accumulation, such as naringenin chalcones, cyanidin 3-glucoside, and pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside, were significantly increased in the HY female flower tissues. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 3696 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened from the female flower tissues of ZG and HY, with 1730 upregulated DEGs and 1966 downregulated DEGs in HY compared to ZG. The key structural genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, including FcPAL, Fc4CL, FcCHS, FcF3′H, and FcBZ1, were significantly upregulated in the female flower tissues of HY compared with ZG. KEGG analysis also demonstrated that five flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were co-enriched by DAMs and DEGs. Conclusion: These findings provide a multi-omics framework that governs anthocyanin biosynthesis in the female flower tissues of HY, which will facilitate the genetic breeding and improvement of high-anthocyanin fig cultivars. Full article

Health, social, and ethical considerations highlight the need for new male contraceptives. Pimozide is an FDA approved drug known to block T-type calcium channels and which shares structural similarities with mibefradil, a proven antagonist of the CatSper channel. In this study, we examined the effect of pimozide on CatSper, a key target for non-hormonal male contraception. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to assess how pimozide binds within the channel pore, and binding energies were estimated using MM-GBSA. To determine its impact on sperm function, we evaluated hyperactivation, the acrosome reaction, and CatSper activity. Our computational analyses indicate that pimozide functions as a pore blocker of the CatSper channel. Experimental findings further support this, showing that pimozide inhibits CatSper activity, and impairs hyperactivation and the acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa. Overall, these results identify pimozide as a novel CatSper antagonist and propose a binding mode, offering a basis for the rational design of reversible, non-hormonal male contraceptives that target the CatSper channel. Full article

Deaf people experience significant barriers to education, healthcare, employment, and information access, resulting in inequities across a myriad of contexts. To better understand these disparities, our all-deaf research team conducted semi-structured interviews with deaf and hearing (parents, caregivers, and educators) adults across Ecuador, exploring how structural, institutional, and social factors influence daily life and well-being. Participants (n = 36) described systemic exclusion from education and employment, limited access to interpreters and assistive technologies, and constrained autonomy due to insufficient family support and institutional resources. These barriers compound health risks by restricting access to care, information, and social participation. Participants’ narratives highlighted how political and economic instability, institutional neglect, and discrimination create structural vulnerabilities that extend beyond individual-level factors. Findings underscore the importance of public health interventions that address structural and communicative inequities, including inclusive education, accessible health services, and community-based support, to improve health equity and quality of life for deaf populations in Ecuador. Full article

Microplastics are widespread environmental contaminants with adverse health impacts. The gastrointestinal tract represents a primary site for host–microplastic contact and interactions, but microplastic-driven perturbations of the gut microbiome and how they mediate toxicity to the gut and host’s health remain poorly elucidated. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to environmentally ubiquitous polyester microplastics and investigated for acute dysbiosis and host–microbiome molecular responses using an integrated histological and multi-omics approach. Gut transcriptomic results first revealed initial dysregulations under microplastic stress, increasing energy–metabolic activity and suppressing detoxification-associated pathways on day 3, followed by downregulated gut epithelial maintenance and anti-inflammatory responses by day 7. During this process, opportunistic bacterial taxa such as Edwardsiella and the microbial antioxidant biosynthesis pathway can be enriched transiently. The limited structural damage and modest microbiome alterations observed after acute exposure, however, may suggest partial resilience of the host gut and microbiome. This study demonstrates microplastic-induced gut impairment and host–microbiome responses to acute polyester microplastic stress, providing evidence to enable better characterization of the gut health risks associated with microplastic contamination. Full article

Rapid urbanization in tropical Asia has led to a critical loss of green cover, exacerbating urban environmental challenges. While green roofs offer a promising Nature-based solution, their implementation in Asian countries is hindered by the prevalence of sloped roofs and high structural conversion costs. This research addresses this gap by developing a novel, lightweight vegetative roof tile designed as a direct structural replacement for conventional roofing materials in Sri Lanka. Existing roofing systems were studied, followed by a laboriousness study to determine the optimum tile dimensions. To meet these requirements, a modular tile measuring 900 mm × 1200 mm with a wave-shaped corrugated profile (a 10 mm rise and a 200 mm pitch) was engineered using SolidWorks 2024 and ABAQUS 2024 to meet Eurocode standards. Field investigations into plant health helped to finalize the depth of the roof tile as 2.5 cm. Following root penetration testing, fiber-reinforced plastic was selected for the tile structure to ensure durability while maintaining a total saturated weight of 52.5 kg/m². Biological testing demonstrated robust greening performance, with Axonopus compressus and Zoysia matrella achieving 100% survival rates and over 80% canopy coverage. This design methodology can be adapted across tropical Asia, contributing significantly to regional green infrastructure development and sustainable building practices. Full article

Diagnostic imaging is central to clinical decision-making across many care pathways, yet the expertise needed to use these images well is unevenly distributed across health systems, with workforce limitations identified as a major barrier to equitable access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Digital education has emerged as one response to this gap, offering scalability, asynchronous and just-in-time access, and the cost-efficiency required for global deployment. This paper examines the digital education portfolio of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section, hosted mainly on the open-access Human Health Campus, which in 2025 recorded approximately 45,800 active users and 150,000 views across 159 countries. The portfolio combines structured e-learning courses, interactive webinars, virtual conference access through the Livestream programme, and a broader repository of publications, teaching cases, and reference resources, supported by an internal e-learning framework and learning management system infrastructure. Partnerships with international scientific societies further extend the reach of expert knowledge and professional exchange. The paper argues that these initiatives are best understood not as content delivery alone but as a coordinated strategy to support diagnostic quality at the level of the practising physician, extending access to expertise and strengthening the conditions for better practice, while remaining a complement to, rather than a substitute for, supervised clinical training. Full article

Background/Objectives: The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, together with accelerating environmental degradation, highlights the urgent need for sustainable dietary patterns that promote both human and planetary health. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), traditionally followed in countries bordering the Mediterranean basin, has gained recognition as a model of sustainable nutrition due to its well-documented health benefits and relatively low environmental impact. However, its broader role within sustainable food systems requires comprehensive and interdisciplinary evaluation. The aim of this review is to provide a state-of-the-art synthesis of the evidence on the MedDiet as a sustainable dietary pattern, integrating its health, environmental, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions. Methods: This state-of-the-art narrative review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed literature on the MedDiet and sustainability. Relevant studies were identified through major scientific databases, focusing on publications addressing nutritional, environmental, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions. Both observational and interventional studies, as well as modeling and life cycle assessment analyses, were included. Additional sources from international organizations and policy reports were incorporated to contextualize global trends and challenges. Results: High adherence to the MedDiet is consistently associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and all-cause mortality. From an environmental perspective, the MedDiet is associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced land and water use, and enhanced biodiversity conservation compared with Western dietary patterns. Economically, it may represent a cost-effective dietary model and support local food systems when grounded in traditional practices, although affordability varies across contexts. Socio-culturally, the MedDiet promotes food heritage, culinary skills, and social cohesion. Nevertheless, globalization, urbanization, and the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods have contributed to declining adherence, posing significant challenges to its sustainability and scalability. Moreover, the sustainability benefits of the MedDiet seem to be context-dependent rather than intrinsic, raising several challenges and limitations for its adoption. Conclusions: The MedDiet should be viewed not as a definitive solution to global food-system challenges but as a valuable reference model that illustrates how dietary practices can contribute simultaneously to human health, environmental sustainability, and cultural continuity. Modern sustainable dietary strategies should build upon the strengths of the MedDiet while recognizing its limitations, embracing contextual adaptation, and addressing the structural determinants that shape food choices. Full article

Lubricating oil monitoring provides continuous health information for early fault warning and maintenance decision-making in industrial gas turbines. However, real-world multi-sensor monitoring streams exhibit pronounced nonstationary thermodynamic drifts that often obscure subtle high-frequency residuals containing critical incipient degradation signatures. Prevailing data-driven monitoring models typically struggle to separate these macroscopic trends from stochastic wear-related fluctuations, and their restrictive distributional assumptions are often inadequate for the heteroscedastic and heavy-tailed nature of industrial residuals. To address these challenges, this study proposes ResAD-Net, a framework for early fault warning in nonstationary multi-sensor oil monitoring that combines trend–residual decoupling, trend-conditioned residual modeling, and residual-domain dependency learning. Specifically, a signal trend–residual decoupling strategy is adopted to separate slowly varying operational trends from stochastic residual fluctuations captured by the sensors, thereby exposing residual information that is more sensitive to incipient degradation. On this basis, a trend-conditioned diffusion model is introduced to characterize state-dependent, skewed residual distributions and generate residual sample ensembles for nonstationary monitoring. Meanwhile, a graph-based variational autoencoder is employed to learn latent intersensor dependency structures from the residual domain, providing diagnostic cues for temporal risk evolution analysis and sensor-level inspection. Experiments on a real-world industrial oil-monitoring record show that the proposed framework achieves an average F1-score of 0.985 with no observed false positives in the predefined pre-alarm reference interval of the finite test set. In addition to accurate anomaly detection, ResAD-Net captures early residual distributional shifts before clear macroscopic deviations emerge and provides diagnostic association cues for interpreting oil-monitoring changes around the system-level alarm. Full article

Elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter ($P{M}_{2.5}$) are a critical threat to respiratory health worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need for precise urban forecasting systems for public health management. Technological advancements in the domains of continuous environmental monitoring and deep learning have enabled large-scale data acquisition, processing, and modeling. Existing predictive models typically depend on auxiliary meteorological inputs, which are frequently inaccessible within standard ground-level monitoring networks. Furthermore, conventional approaches often fail to adequately capture the complex spatio-temporal interactions of pollutants. To address these limitations, this study presents the Spatio-Temporal Endogenous Attention Network (STEA-Net), a forecasting framework designed to operate exclusively without weather variables. Validated on a comprehensive multi-year historical dataset (Jan 2015–Feb 2020) from diverse monitoring stations in India, STEA-Net employs a hybrid adjacency matrix that integrates physical geographical distances with functional clustering to accurately map pollutant transport pathways. Utilizing this structural map, a Graph Attention Network dynamically evaluates the spatial influence of neighboring nodes, while a Bidirectional LSTM processes the underlying temporal sequences. Experimental results demonstrate that STEA-Net substantially surpasses traditional machine learning algorithms and provides competitive performance against advanced deep learning baselines. The proposed model achieves a peak Coefficient of Determination ($R^2$) of 0.9294 (5-seed average: $0.9273\pm 0.0023$) and a peak RMSE of 14.38 µg/m³ (5-seed average: $14.59\pm 0.23$ µg/m³), effectively adapting to the dynamic volatility of urban pollution levels. The model exhibits architectural stability with a Monte Carlo dropout verified deviation of $\pm 2.22$ µg/m³. This research provides a forecasting architecture that retains competitive predictive performance under the strict operational constraint of meteorology-free deployment in resource-constrained urban monitoring environments. Full article

Objectives: To examine disordered eating behaviors, orthorexic tendencies, binge-eating episodes, attitudes toward exercise, perceived hormone-related symptoms and body image perception among competitive bodybuilders across different levels of competitive experience. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 competitive bodybuilders (29 men, 31 women) completed an anonymous online questionnaire. The survey evaluated demographic characteristics, coaching and training management, phase-specific symptoms (such as libido, sleep, eating behaviors, and menstrual alterations), orthorexic tendencies, exercise addiction, and body-image perception. Results: Both sexes reported reduced libido, increased hunger, and sleep disturbances, along with frequent weight monitoring and common binge-eating episodes. Moreover, females frequently reported menstrual irregularities. ORTO-15 scores indicated a potential risk of orthorexia nervosa, while EAI-3 scores suggested a risk of exercise addiction in novice females and advanced males, with differences in mood regulation and guilt across sex and experience. Males showed higher perceived and ideal muscle mass, whereas females reported higher perceived body fat and a preference for leaner physiques. Conclusions: Competitive bodybuilders of both sexes exhibit post-competition binge eating, mood- and appearance-driven exercise behaviors, and pronounced body-image concerns. Screening, education on energy availability, structured post-competition support, and health-focused coaching are recommended to prevent the progression from sport-specific practices to clinical pathology. Full article

Background: Community-based mental health and social interventions focusing on housing stability, integrated care and psychosocial support are being increasingly recognised as essential for improving the mental health and wellbeing of people experiencing homelessness. However, evidence regarding the effectiveness of these interventions remains fragmented across different models of care and study designs. This review synthesises how these interventions address mental health and social determinants of health. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search of six electronic databases (2019–2025) was conducted (PROSPERO: CRD420250653260). The review included 29 quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies examining community-based interventions for people experiencing homelessness and mental health conditions according to predefined eligibility criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: Community-based interventions, particularly Housing First models, were frequently associated with improved housing stability, mental health outcomes, and programme retention. Integrated multidisciplinary services and outreach promote psychosocial wellbeing, continuity of care and reducing emergency service use. Peer-led programmes support social integration, although evidence regarding technology-based interventions was inconsistent, with some studies reporting improved engagement and access to support, while others found limited effects on mental health outcomes. Conclusions: Addressing social determinants of health through structured community-based interventions is essential to tackle mental health inequalities. The findings support the implementation of integrated community-based services combining housing, mental health, and social support. These results may inform policymakers, healthcare providers, and community organisations seeking to reduce mental health inequalities among people experiencing homelessness. Full article

Background: Rare diseases are associated with chronic progression, functional impairment, and complex care needs, requiring long-term and coordinated rehabilitation. Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) plays a key role in maintaining functional capacity and improving quality of life; however, access to rehabilitation services remains uneven across regions. Aim: This study aims to assess the regional structural availability of PRM services across Bulgaria and to identify territorial differences in the organizational profile of rehabilitation services that may influence the potential availability of rehabilitation care for patients with rare diseases. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using publicly available aggregated data from the NHIF and the National Statistical Institute as of 31 December 2024. Structural indicators included the number of outpatient and inpatient PRM healthcare facilities and PRM specialists, standardized per 100,000 population, as well as the outpatient-to-inpatient facility ratio (OFs/IFs). Hierarchical cluster analysis (Ward’s method, Euclidean distance) was applied as an exploratory tool to identify similarities in regional service availability profiles. Results: Substantial regional differences in the structural availability of PRM services were identified. Outpatient facilities ranged from 4.46 to 6.74 per 100,000 population, while inpatient facilities ranged from 2.30 to 3.42 per 100,000 population. The OFs/IFs ratio varied between 1.30 and 2.26, indicating different organizational profiles of PRM service provision. Exploratory hierarchical clustering suggested two broad regional service profiles: one characterized by a relatively balanced distribution of outpatient and inpatient structures and another characterized by a predominance of outpatient-oriented rehabilitation services. Conclusion: The findings reveal substantial regional differences in the organization of PRM services in Bulgaria. Regions with a predominance of outpatient structures may demonstrate different capacities for delivering comprehensive rehabilitation services, particularly for patients with complex long-term needs, including rare diseases. The results highlight the need for targeted regional planning, improved integration of rehabilitation services, and policy measures aimed at ensuring equitable access to care. Full article

Digital twin technology is becoming a core enabler for the intelligent transformation of civil engineering. This review adopts an integrated mixed-method design that combines a reproducible bibliometric protocol with structured content analysis to connect macro-level knowledge evolution with domain-specific engineering implementation. Based on the Web of Science Core Collection, the study analyzes publication trends, collaboration patterns, highly cited studies, keyword co-occurrence, network centrality, and citation bursts, and then reviews application status and technical pathways across five thematic areas: intelligent construction, bridge engineering, tunnel engineering, smart water conservancy, and other infrastructure. Key findings include: rapid growth in publication volume after 2021, three dominant keyword clusters (model/system construction, structural health monitoring and sensing, and AI-enabled optimization/decision-making), and an evolution of research frontiers from concept introduction to engineering scenario deepening and further to three-dimensional reconstruction, knowledge fusion, and intelligent decision-making. The content analysis shows differentiated technical pathways across sub-domains and identifies data heterogeneity/interoperability as the most urgent bottleneck because it constrains model updating, cross-platform integration, and engineering-scale deployment. Future directions should focus on data standardization, hybrid modeling, platform interoperability, artificial intelligence empowerment, and full-lifecycle cross-system coordination. This review provides a quantitatively supported panoramic reference for digital twin research in civil engineering. Full article