Search Results (7,051)

Accelerating eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems worldwide has increased concern regarding cyanotoxin exposure as an emerging environmental and public health issue, with Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) among the most extensively studied congeners due to its widespread occurrence and high toxicity. Evidence from experimental animal and cellular studies indicates that MC-LR elicits pronounced toxic impacts on both the male and female reproductive systems. In males, MC-LR induces overt testicular injury, compromises the structural and functional integrity of the blood–testis barrier, and triggers severe disorders in reproductive hormone synthesis and secretion. In females, it precipitates ovarian dysfunction, impedes normal follicular maturation and development, and induces distinct embryotoxic effects. The underlying pathogenic mechanisms involve the synergistic interplay of multiple signaling pathways, primarily including oxidative stress induction, aberrant apoptosis activation, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic modifications. Of particular significance, emerging evidence suggests that parental exposure to MC-LR may induce intergenerational or potentially transgenerational reproductive effects through epigenetic modifications in germ cells, impairing fertility and developmental outcomes in subsequent offspring and thus posing a sustained, long-term threat to population-level health. This review systematically delineates the reproductive toxicity profiles and underlying molecular mechanisms of MC-LR, evaluates its transgenerational health hazards, and aims to furnish robust scientific evidence for the formulation of targeted environmental health policies and risk management strategies. Full article

The global agricultural sector faces the dual challenge of increasing productivity while mitigating environmental impacts caused by synthetic agrochemicals and massive agro-industrial waste. This review examines the transition to “Biostimulants 4.0,” a circular economy paradigm driven by the valorization of biomass residues into high-value biological inputs through nanotechnology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our analysis highlights that green extraction methods, specifically enzymatic hydrolysis, preserve bioactive integrity and reduce carbon emissions by up to 23.2 times compared to synthetic nitrogen production. Furthermore, waste-derived formulations and nanoscale smart-delivery systems dramatically enhance crop performance; for instance, chitosan nanoparticles can achieve up to a 471% increase in specific growth metrics through sustained-release pathways. To move the industry beyond empirical trial-and-error, the integration of AI-driven predictive models now achieves up to 87% accuracy in forecasting biostimulant efficacy. Finally, we contrast global regulatory frameworks and evaluate the monetization of biostimulant-driven carbon sequestration, capable of generating high-integrity credits priced up to $35 per tonne, as a critical economic pathway to accelerate commercial adoption and incentivize a resilient, decarbonized agricultural system. Full article

The role of externalities generated by enterprise digital transformation in advancing SDGs 8 and 9 has been largely overlooked in existing research. Taking Lighthouse Factory certification (LFC) as a quasi-natural experiment, this paper uses China’s county-level panel data from 2016 to 2023 and adopts the DID model to investigate the impact of leading enterprises’ digital transformation on regional digital entrepreneurship (RDE). The findings show that LFC promotes RDE by facilitating digital technology transfer, deepening digital technology cooperation, accelerating digital knowledge accumulation, and enhancing local digital industrial competitiveness. Moreover, this effect is more pronounced in regions with stricter environmental regulations and a stronger green transformation climate, yet is less constrained by local digital infrastructure. Interestingly, LFC exerts positive spillover effects on surrounding cities within 50–150 km and those beyond 250 km, whereas it exerts a significant siphon effect on cities within 50 km. Furthermore, LFC generates network spillovers among economically connected cities through regional digital technology transfer and cooperation networks. This paper provides empirical evidence for leveraging the demonstration effect of leading enterprises to promote the coordinated implementation of SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 10, SDG 12 and SDG 13. Full article

Background/Objectives: Managing bone diseases demands novel, natural compounds to bypass the heavy side effects of current therapies. Honey is well-known for its therapeutic traits, yet we know very little about how specific floral varieties impact bone tissue. This study confronts this gap by comparing how acacia, chestnut, and coriander honeys drive human osteoblast behavior in vitro. Methods: After mapping the phenolic/flavonoid profiles and antioxidant capacities of these honeys, we tested them on hFOB 1.19 human osteoblasts. We tracked cell migration via scratch assays and validated osteogenic maturation through Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin Red (AR) mineralization over 7 days. Confocal time-lapse imaging with pharmacological inhibitors monitored intracellular calcium dynamics, while gene shifts were analyzed via qRT-PCR. Results: Coriander honey (CH) packed the highest polyphenol levels and antioxidant power. Biologically, while all honeys accelerated scratch closure, CH drove cell motility most potently. Remarkably, a 7-day treatment with these honeys sparked a significant and robust increase in ALP activity and mineralization, surpassing the osteogenic induction observed with standard osteoinductive media. Mechanistically, CH triggered a sharp [Ca²⁺] spike, relying on external calcium entry and IP3-dependent internal release via PLC activation. qRT-PCR confirmed this anabolic shift via OPG and OPN upregulation. Conclusions: Honey exerts pronounced multi-level osteopromotive effects at both the functional and transcriptional levels, tightly linked to its botanical source. Among the variants, coriander honey stands out for its exceptional ability to fast-track osteoblast migration, differentiation, and early mineral deposition. Therefore coriander honey represents a promising in vitro candidate that warrants further preclinical evaluation for bone repair applications. Full article

High-dynamic amusement ride conditions involving impacts, rapid rotations, and abrupt posture changes introduce severe motion artifacts that degrade vital sign quality and destabilize physiological state recognition. This study aims to develop an engineering-ready closed-loop framework for robust passenger monitoring and intelligent diagnosis. A multimodal sensing and modeling pipeline was designed to jointly leverage physiological signals such as heart rate and SpO₂ and kinematic measurements, including acceleration, angular rate, velocity, and attitude. Inertial and PPG signals were preprocessed into supervised samples through wavelet multiresolution denoising and coordinate frame unification, while a strapdown inertial navigation system was used to propagate a 12-channel physical quantity sequence. To ensure interpretability and standards compliance, constraints from GB 8408-2018 were translated into executable threshold rules, enabling standards-driven auto-labeling and rule-based early warning. Building on this foundation, three learning modules were developed: a fusion model for high-dynamic heart rate estimation, a CNN–LSTM dynamic-threshold-enhanced network TAPNet for rapid kinematic anomaly screening, and an attention-augmented hybrid model HS-BANet integrating one-dimensional residual blocks, bidirectional LSTM, and multi-head attention for fine-grained arrhythmia classification. Experimental results demonstrated accurate and consistent heart rate estimation with RMSE of 1.18 bpm on HSSH-I and 1.24 bpm on the independent HSSH-II set, strong agreement with training and testing correlations of 0.9928 and 0.9865, and near-zero bias in Bland–Altman analysis. TAPNet achieved 96.9% validation accuracy and 98.2% test accuracy for kinematic anomaly recognition, maintaining robust generalization under class imbalance. HS-BANet enabled multi-class identification of PVC, PAC, VT, SVT, and AF, achieving an accuracy of 92.37%, an F1-score of 86.87%, a precision of 88.45%, a sensitivity of 88.14%, and a specificity of 89.42%. Overall, the proposed two-stage multimodal closed-loop—fast, interpretable early warning based on physical quantity thresholds followed by fine-grained diagnosis from physiological signals—supports stable feature extraction and reliable decision-making under strong motion artifacts and non-stationary dynamics, balancing responsiveness and diagnostic credibility, while showing potential for practical safety early warning and future deployment-oriented operational support in amusement ride scenarios. Full article

Background: Outcomes in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) remain heterogeneous despite effective BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Somatic mutations in epigenetic regulators, particularly additional sex combs-like 1 (ASXL1), have been implicated in adverse prognosis, but their clinical impact in CML has not been systematically defined. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE Ultimate, and PubMed from inception through August 2025. A total of 1339 records were identified; the eligible studies included adult and pediatric patients with chronic and advanced-phase (accelerated or blast) CML. After duplicate removal and screening, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria; these included adult patients only and were included in a qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. ASXL1 mutation status was assessed using validated molecular methods. The outcomes included the molecular response, cytogenetic response, survival, and treatment resistance. Random-effects models were used to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. Results: Across the included studies, ASXL1 mutations were detected in approximately 15% of patients. At 12 months, patients with ASXL1 mutations had significantly lower odds of achieving a major molecular response (MMR) compared with ASXL1-wildtype patients (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.16–0.51; p < 0.0001; I² = 30%). No statistically significant difference was observed in the complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.02–5.31; p = 0.41; I² = 68%). Compared with patients harboring other non-ASXL1 somatic mutations, an ASXL1 mutation was not associated with a significant difference in MMR (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.23–1.05; p = 0.067; I² = 0%). Conclusions: ASXL1 mutations may be associated with an inferior molecular response to TKI therapy in CML, supporting their role as an adverse prognostic biomarker. These findings highlight the potential value of incorporating myeloid mutation profiling into future CML risk-stratification strategies. Full article

The transition to electric bus (EB) fleets is a critical step towards sustainable urban transportation, offering substantial reductions in greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions relative to diesel buses. However, transit authorities face multifaceted challenges in this transition, including limited driving ranges of EBs, the need for widespread charging infrastructure, and potential strain on the electric grid, alongside opportunities such as governmental subsidies and increased fare revenues. This paper proposes a comprehensive multi-period mixed-integer programming model seeking to optimize long-term EB fleet transition plans in urban contexts while jointly accounting for all inherent financial, technical, and operational factors impacting such a transition. The model is operationalized using real data acquired from Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), encompassing 71 bus routes and a 25-year planning horizon to meet a 100% electrification target by 2050. A scenario-based analysis evaluates the robustness of the transition plans under variations in key operational parameters. The results illustrate that optimized long-term planning yields substantial cost savings and emissions reductions, where the incorporation of environmental and social externalities and revenue shifts causes profit maximization to emerge as a more appropriate objective. In addition, it turns out that adequate dwell time is crucial for cost containment and full fleet electrification feasibility. While RTA targets 100% electrification by 2050, the base case is deliberately relaxed to 90% as certain routes, notably double-decker lines, are incompatible with currently available EB configurations. Nevertheless, full electrification is restored under the minimum dwell scenario. Also, a policy of purchasing only EBs accelerates full fleet electrification by roughly a decade with only a marginal increase in total cost, unlike imposing strict interim electrification targets. The optimized transition plans provide actionable insights for transit authorities balancing economic efficiency with sustainability goals. Full article

The integration of collaborative robots into industrial environments requires rigorous safety validation under the Power and Force Limiting (PFL) regime. This review article systematically maps the technological and normative development of certified Pressure and Force Measurement Devices (PFMDs) and experimental biofidelic instruments for Physical Human–Robot Interaction (pHRI) between the years 2011 and 2026. A quantitative screening of 68 studies revealed a publication peak in impact metrology in 2021. This peak occurred with a five-year latency after the release of the ISO/TS 15066 technical specification. Although global interest in collaborative robotics steadily grows, the publication trend indicates a gradual shift in scientific focus from reactive testing toward proactive prevention. A methodological deconstruction of four Research Questions (RQs) identifies persistent limitations in safety evaluation. The findings demonstrate that the internal structure of conventional sensors induces nonlinear shock filtering and parasitic oscillations (RQ1). Furthermore, the rigid fixation of test stands generates unrealistic pressure spikes. This physical limitation forces a transition to flexible and pendulum-based configurations (RQ2). Commercial flat films physically fail due to sensor saturation and introduced stiffness. Such failures accelerate the development of conformable electronic skins (e-skins) and multimodal test manikins (RQ3). To ensure interlaboratory reproducibility within the current ISO 10218-2:2025 standard, the text defines imperative metrological parameters. These parameters strictly include frequency response, calibration protocols, and volumetric mapping of inertial masses (RQ4). Furthermore, the analysed publications were systematically stratified into distinct technological categories, strictly reflecting their primary engineering domains, ranging from empirical metrological evaluation and sensor hardware design to advanced numerical modeling. Finally, the vision for future research anticipates a definitive shift toward proactive anti-collision technologies, encompassing Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine vision, and Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality/Mixed reality (AR/VR/MR). Future methodologies must also consider demographic anisotropies and the cognitive fatigue of the human operator. Full article

Currently, more than half of Pyrenean high mountain lakes are occupied by fish as a result of historical introductions that date back centuries and which have accelerated during the last 70 years. In the southern slope of these mountains, the main fish that have been introduced are Brown trout (Salmo trutta), Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and European minnow (Phoxinus sp). The specific impacts of the introduction of fish include, among others, the transformation of the ecosystem structure and trophic relationships, and the reduction and extirpation of native species. The project LIFE RESQUE ALPYR (LIFE20 NAT/ES/000369), started in 2022 and ending in 2026, includes among its main objectives the restoration of ten high mountain lakes with fish (trout or minnow) and the recovery of native species of European interest by the eradication of introduced fish. We planned and executed continuous and sustained campaigns to achieve the complete removal of fish. From 2022, we began with operations in seven objective lakes by means of several capture techniques, mainly gill nets for trout and a combination of gill nets, fyke-nets, and electrofishing for minnows. In 2024 and 2025, in three other lakes, chemical treatments with rotenone were carried out to achieve rapid eradication of fish. Currently, we have already achieved the complete removal of fish in four lakes, either with sustained capture or chemical treatments. In the other three lakes, this objective is also expected to be achieved in 2026, and only few individuals persist in actuality. In the other two lakes, the European minnow has been removed, and trout are now the focus of a two-stage strategy. In the remaining lake, we have only achieved a reduction in the European minnow (>50% reduction), with trout still remaining. We present, in detail, the methodologies applied and the results obtained. Full article

Against the dual objectives of food security and sustainable agriculture, this study examines how agricultural machinery services—China’s primary organized mode of agricultural production—affect agricultural carbon emissions. Using panel data covering 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2022, this study applies two-way fixed effects, mediation, and moderation models to investigate the effects of these services on carbon emissions as well as the mechanisms involved. The results show: (1) Both carbon emissions and the level of machinery services in China differ by region and over time. Carbon emissions are stabilizing, while machinery services are steadily improving. Both variables cluster in certain areas. (2) Machinery services exhibit a significant inverted U-shaped impact on carbon emissions. As the level of machinery services grows, emissions first rise, then fall. (3) The emission reduction impact of machinery services varies widely. It differs across topographic relief, farmland types, and grain crop types, but the inverted U-shaped relationship remains in most cases. (4) The efficiency of the division of labor and agricultural chemical input intensity partly explain the effect. They help reduce emissions by enabling labor substitution and lower input levels. (5) Large-scale agricultural operations strongly influence how machinery services affect carbon emissions. To accelerate the low-carbon sustainable transformation of Chinese agriculture, efforts should prioritize establishing a differentiated, regionally tailored agricultural machinery socialized service system, improving service efficiency and green development capacity, and optimizing large-scale land management structures. Full article

Façades play a decisive role in shaping the visual and symbolic character of historic urban environments. Recent European funding schemes promoting energy-efficient retrofitting have accelerated interventions on building envelopes. Although aligned with decarbonization objectives, these processes are generating significant chromatic and material transformations that risk eroding the visual coherence and cultural sustainability of consolidated urban areas. In the historic Ensanches of San Sebastián, the replacement of traditional envelope systems with new cladding solutions is leading to the loss of the architectural style of some facades and altering their materials, textures, and colors. A progressive “contagion effect” has been identified, whereby dissonant chromatic schemes—often associated with the proliferation of so-called “zebra blocks”, residential buildings with façades clad in alternating black and white stripes that have proliferated in recent urban developments—are replicated across adjacent buildings, gradually weakening spatial continuity and the genius loci of the neighborhood. In response to this phenomenon, this research develops a systematic methodology to analyze, quantify, and anticipate chromatic transformation in consolidated urban fabrics. The study combines historical morphological analysis, classification of architectural periods, and chromatic mapping of recent façade interventions. Based on this framework, a CARI, Chromatic Alteration Risk Index is proposed to evaluate the potential impact of façade alterations on urban chromatic coherence. Drawing on an epidemiological framework, the methodology enables the identification of critical transformation clusters, the assessment of contagion dynamics, and the definition of regulatory thresholds for color and material interventions. By integrating perceptual criteria, urban morphology, and spatial distribution patterns, the study moves beyond descriptive diagnosis and offers a transferable tool for municipal planning. The proposed approach supports the proactive regulation of façade rehabilitation processes, balancing energy efficiency objectives with the preservation of collective memory, material identity, and urban sensory quality. This study proposes a quantitative model of “urban chromatic contagion” to assess how façade color interventions propagate within a neighborhood. We define the Chromatic Integration Percentage (CIP) and the Chromatic Alteration Risk Index (CARI) of the analyzed area. Results indicate that poorly regulated façades show higher chromatic dissonance (low CIP) and act as contagion hotspots, while a clear risk gradient emerges: highly protected buildings present lower risk, whereas mixed typologies and recent rehabilitations concentrate higher CARI values. The model supports preventive urban color management by identifying areas at risk before visible alteration. Full article

This study aimed to characterize metabolomic changes in the eye lens of senescence-accelerated OXYS rats in comparison with control Wistar rats, and to identify biochemical shifts associated with genotype, age, and cataract progression. Cataract severity was clinically graded. Rats’ lenses were analyzed using quantitative ¹H NMR spectroscopy at 3.6 and approximately 4.5 months of age. A total of 43 metabolites were quantified. We found that at 3.6 months of age, OXYS lenses exhibited a significant accumulation of 17 metabolites, primarily amino acids, compared to Wistar rats, suggesting an imbalance between amino acid uptake and crystallin biosynthesis. However, by 4.5 months, OXYS lenses exhibited rapid metabolic changes characterized by significant decreases in amino acid, glucose, and key energy/antioxidant markers, including NAD, adenylate energy charge, and hypotaurine. Clinical cataract grade (Grade 2 vs. 3) had a negligible impact on the overall metabolomic profile. Our results indicate that profound metabolic reorganization, including an initial amino acid excess followed by energy and antioxidant depletion, precedes the morphological manifestation of cataracts in OXYS rats. We suggest that a biochemical “point of no return” occurs early in cataractogenesis, while subsequent increase in lens opacification is a secondary consequence of preexisting metabolic disturbances. Full article

Neuroinflammation is a key hallmark of both neurodegenerative and neurospecific autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), where immune dysregulation contributes to cellular stress, autophagy, and disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and MS. Emerging evidence suggests a shared mechanism behind MS, AD, and PD, driven by chronic interaction between the peripheral immune system and the central nervous system (CNS). While MS was traditionally viewed as a primary autoimmune condition, recent research indicated that all three disorders involve a breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). This structural failure enables peripheral immune cells and cytokines to enter the brain, causing sustained neuroinflammation and accelerating disease progression. Here, we propose an end-to-end framework for identification of the diagnostic and therapeutic cell-specific protein markers commonly regulated in mild–moderate AD (MMAD), early-stage PD (ESPD), and MS within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMC markers were first identified based on shared differential protein expression, followed by filtering for BBB permeability. Subsequently, sorted cell markers were mapped to disease-specific neural cell types. Our analysis suggests that PBMC-derived cells, including astrocyte- and monocyte-like populations, share overlapping transcriptional signatures and functional similarity with macrophages and neuroglial cells, indicating potential transcriptional similarity or functional convergence. Furthermore, intra- and inter-cellular pathway analysis suggested both shared and disease-specific signaling mechanisms, with kinase–integrin interactions emerging as key regulatory factors. Selected potential seed markers, primarily kinases and immunoglobulins, were further analyzed through evolutionary sequence–structure space to identify druggable structural features. Next, protein moonlighting possibilities were tested to enhance the temporal functional trajectory of the markers for precise therapeutic impact. Hence, the framework provides a robust strategy to identify immune-based disease-specificcandidate diagnostic andpotential therapeutic targets. Full article

Monitoring genetic gain is critical for evaluating breeding program performance. This study assessed genetic trends in the Zambia national maize breeding program using historical data (2001–2017) from 2225 hybrids tested across years and locations. Best linear unbiased estimates (BLUEs) were calculated, and genetic trends were determined by regressing entry means on first-year testing data. Mean heritability was moderate for grain yield, plant height, and ear height, and high for anthesis and silking dates, indicating strong reliability for flowering traits. Significant positive genetic gains were observed for most traits except days to silking. Grain yield (GY) increased at 0.021 t ha⁻¹ per year (0.85% annually), reflecting progress but remaining below levels required to meet regional future production demands. Plant and ear height increased by more than 1.3 cm annually, suggesting directional selection for taller plant architecture. Grain texture declined by 1.28% per year, indicating a shift toward flint-type kernels. Anthesis date and ears per plant showed minimal genetic variation. Regression models explained more than 15% of the total variation in plant height, ear height, ear number, and grain texture, confirming consistent genetic progress. Although measurable gains were achieved, the study’s baseline indicates that accelerating yield improvement will require rapid-cycle breeding, enhanced trait heritability, modern breeding tools, and a strategic reallocation of resources to sustain long-term impact. Full article

Selenium is an essential micronutrient for humans, underscoring its importance in enhancing the nutritional and physiological attributes of agricultural and horticultural crops through exogenous application. At low doses, selenium improves growth and development, and increases crop yield and quality, particularly under stress conditions. It is believed that abscisic acid and sucrose work together to regulate strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) fruit ripening. This study aimed to provide comprehensive biochemical and molecular insights into the selenium mediated effects on ripening and quality changes in ‘Camarosa’ strawberry fruits. Selenium treatment increased chlorophyll levels in leaves, suggesting a positive impact on overall plant health. Foliar application of 1 mM selenium significantly accelerated ripening. Treated fruits exhibited higher levels of total soluble solids, along with a decrease in titratable acidity. About lipid peroxidation indices, foliar application of 1 mM selenium decreases hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde. Consistently, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant capacity, as well as the activity of the enzymes SOD, CAT, APX and PAL, were increased by selenium treatment. Interestingly, the ABA content in strawberry fruits also increased with selenium treatment. The selenium treatment upregulated genes involved in abscisic acid biosynthesis, phenolic compound biosynthesis, and anthocyanin production, namely, FaNCED1, FaG2BD, FaCHS, FaPAL, and FaSUT1. This study highlights the potential of selenium as a biostimulant and quality-enhancing agent in strawberries, improving fruit biochemical composition and ripening dynamics while contributing to better nutritional value and market appeal. Full article