Search Results (197)

This paper investigates machine learning (ML)-supplemented workflows integrated within a modular parametric modelling framework derived from a typological analysis of stadiums. The objective of the research is to address a gap between numerous isolated computational studies and the realities of early stadium design within the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work (PoW) Stages 0–3. From a practical perspective, the proposed design framework aims to embed supervised learning, semi-supervised learning, and evolutionary optimisation into stadium design development to support site appraisal, brief preparation, concept development, spatial coordination, and stadium bay or stand optimisation based on quantifiable design characteristics. The framework addresses the inefficiencies and limitations of the traditional stadium design process by allowing rapid design space exploration defined by typological drivers, evaluation of a large set of solutions based on performance metrics such as circulation distances, sightline quality, and layout distribution, and the validation of concepts against benchmarks. Within the applicable design pipelines, and where labels are derived from deterministic performance criteria, the supervised approaches achieved prediction accuracies above 85%, while evolutionary optimisation reduced the number of seats with restricted views by approximately 95%. The value of the study is that it demonstrates that the integration of parametric modelling based on shared typological characteristics and the mapping of ML methods to the RIBA PoW has the potential to support stadium design in a novel way. Full article

Mulberrofuran A (MFA), a natural product originally isolated from the root bark of Morus alba L. (Sang-Bai-Pi), is a structurally distinctive mulberry-derived 2-arylbenzofuran bearing a prenyl-related side chain. Although MFA has attracted attention because of its phytochemical uniqueness and reported biological relevance, the available evidence specific to MFA remains limited and fragmented. In addition, pharmacological interpretations are often complicated by the frequent use of indirect evidence derived from structurally related mulberrofuran analogues, other arylbenzofurans, or complex Morus extracts. This review critically summarizes current knowledge on the chemistry, occurrence, and biological relevance of MFA, while explicitly distinguishing direct MFA-specific evidence from indirect and contextual evidence. Available studies suggest that MFA may be associated with antimicrobial activity and modulation of arachidonic acid-related inflammatory pathways, whereas its putative roles in metabolic regulation, cardiovascular protection, antiviral activity, antioxidant effects, and anticancer relevance are currently supported mainly by structurally related compounds or broader mulberry literature rather than robust MFA-specific validation. We further discuss the limitations of the current evidence base, including methodological heterogeneity, incomplete statistical reporting, the lack of pharmacokinetic and toxicity data, and the absence of clinical validation. Rather than establishing MFA as a confirmed therapeutic agent, the available literature supports its consideration as an emerging natural product candidate that warrants rigorous chemical, pharmacological, and translational investigation. Full article

Trans-border data circulation across multi-jurisdictional boundaries faces an operational conflict between ownership provenance prerequisites and data minimisation mandates, compounded by the tight coupling of large data payloads with synchronous state consensus ledgers, which forces replication of feature matrices across all consensus nodes and leads to network saturation. Existing frameworks remain unequipped to resolve this, as coupling in-band payload routing with synchronous state ledgers generates communication overheads scaling with data volume. The proposed Trusted Data Space with Registration (TDSR) implements a four-layer protocol stack. A dual-plane topology establishes a decoupled storage–ledger mechanism, partitioning asynchronous payload datastores and synchronous consensus ledgers to sustain throughput independent of data dimensionality. Navigating this infrastructure, the Unified Data Resource Identifier (UDRI) executes out-of-band cross-domain routing without exposing verifier intents. Driven by the Oblivious Data Asset Registration (ODAR) mechanism, a two-phase, four-algorithm lifecycle dictates end-to-end ownership provenance. This execution shifts hypothesis testing to isolated sandboxes via an algorithm-agnostic mathematical contract, capping external data transit at a constant leakage bound. A deployed testbed across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area validates the proposed architecture, supporting data circulation across divergent legal jurisdictions. Full article

Background/Objectives: The increasing resistance of Candida species to conventional antifungals, particularly azoles, poses a critical public health challenge due to high mortality rates associated with candidemia. This study aimed to describe the chemical composition of the essential oil from Haplopappus foliosus (EO-BAI) and evaluate its antifungal properties, along with its nanoemulsion (NE-BAI) and major constituents, against a panel of clinical Candida isolates. Methods: EO-BAI was extracted via steam distillation and analyzed using GC-MS. A nanoemulsion was synthesized through ultrasonic emulsification and characterized by DLS and microscopy (SEM/STEM). Antifungal activity (MIC/MFC) was determined following CLSI M27-A3 guidelines. Time–kill kinetic studies were conducted on C. albicans, and an in silico approach was used to describe interactions with Als9-2 and CYP51 targets. Results: The EO-BAI profile was dominated by terpinen-4-ol (27.27%) and α-bisabolol (10.40%). The NE-BAI exhibited a droplet size of approximately 22 nm with an encapsulation efficiency of 88.72%. Among the tested samples, α-bisabolol emerged as the core bioactive driver (MIC = 16 µg/mL against C. albicans). While NE-BAI showed reduced initial activity at 24 h, it demonstrated enhanced efficacy by 48 h, matching fluconazole’s potency and maintaining a definitive fungicidal effect. Docking analysis confirmed that α-bisabolol establishes stabilizing interactions with key virulence and membrane homeostasis targets. Conclusions: The NE-BAI provides a sustained delivery of its bioactive terpenes, preserving their fungicidal nature and positioning them as robust therapeutic alternatives to conventional treatments. Full article

Differential enrichment of shale oil hydrocarbon fractions exerts a fundamental control on the spatial distribution of “sweet spots” and the efficiency of unconventional resource recovery. This study investigates the continental shales of the Upper Es4 Member in the Dongying Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, through an integrated analytical framework combining Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and high-pressure mercury intrusion. By moving beyond qualitative observations, we characterize the micro-scale partitioning of light and heavy fractions and establish a deterministic hierarchy of controlling factors. Our results indicate the following. (1) Mineral composition functions as a “primary geochemical filter,” where carbonate minerals exhibit a preferential adsorption affinity for light fractions (≤C₁₈), while clay minerals facilitate the selective retention of heavy components (>C₁₈). (2) Pore–throat architecture acts as a “secondary mobility modulator.” A statistically significant linear correlation (R² = 0.72, p < 0.05) was identified between mean pore diameter and the light-to-heavy fluorescence ratio, suggesting that interconnected macropores in carbonate laminae provide low-resistance conduits for light oil accumulation, whereas isolated mesopores in argillaceous matrices promote heavy-component sequestration. (3) Thermal maturity (Ro) drives a progressive shift in the light-to-heavy ratio, enhancing oil fluidity and regulating the transition from adsorption-dominated to migration-dominated enrichment. This study clarifies the lithofacies-dependent coupling mechanisms between mineral diagenesis and pore-scale fractionation, providing a semi-quantitative conceptual model for shale oil sweet-spot prediction in complex lacustrine basins. Full article

As global shipping expands, Automated Container Terminals (ACTs) are vital for port competitiveness. However, modern three-stage yard layouts often suffer from spatio-temporal conflicts between dual yard cranes during relay operations, while uncoordinated container placement causes localized overloads and safety hazards. To address these issues, this study proposes a multi-objective mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model integrating three-stage operations with spatio-temporal mutual exclusion constraints. The model minimizes makespan, external truck waiting time, and inventory disparities across landside bays. To solve this NP-hard problem, an Improved Octopus Optimization Algorithm (IOOA) is developed, featuring discrete space mapping, Euclidean-based state determination, integer flight steps, and local fine-tuning. Numerical experiments demonstrate that this approach significantly reduces the total makespan and truck waiting times while ensuring a highly uniform container distribution across bays. Ultimately, this study mitigates safety risks associated with space overloads and isolated stack collapses, providing a robust decision-making framework to enhance the efficiency and safety of next-generation ACTs. Full article

Seasonal variation is recognized as a key factor affecting the essential oil (EO) yield, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of Laurus nobilis L. from the Montenegro coast, which constituted the focus of this research. The bay essential oil (BEO) yield was higher in summer (2.12%) and autumn (2.03%) than in winter (1.26%) and spring (1.28%). The total number of BEO components, depending on seasonal variability, ranges from 31 (summer) to 34 (winter and spring). 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) was the major aromatic compound in all seasons, with the highest content recorded in summer (52.4%). Linalool, as the second most abundant component, is present in the autumn harvest (14.1%), while α-terpinyl acetate, as the third most abundant component, is most prevalent in the winter–spring period (9.6–9.7%). Two groups of monoterpenes, namely the oxygen-containing monoterpene derivatives (80.1%), constitute the most abundant components in BEO leaves, as well as monoterpene hydrocarbons (14.3–15.5%). The phenylpropanoids were the least abundant (4.9–6.3%). Stronger antioxidant activity (DPPH) during an incubation time of 20 min was shown by the BEOs isolated from autumn (EC50 value of 1.15 mg/mL). Early autumn (September) represents the optimal harvest time for L. nobilis in Montenegro, as they ensure a high essential oil yield and better quality, reflected in a high 1,8-cineole content and stronger antioxidant activity of the oil. These results demonstrate that seasonal variations are key factors regulating the quantity and quality of BEO, providing important information for optimizing harvest strategies for medicinal and industrial purposes. Full article

The species Halamphora kolbei is a rarely reported diatom, and information on its distribution and characteristics is limited. The original taxonomic description of this species is inaccurate and insufficient for identification, as the available literature contains scarce and scattered data. In the present study, we summarised the available data on this species and provided a detailed description of the strain isolated from Sevastopol Bay of the Black Sea. Findings from a phylogenetic analysis of two genes, 18S rRNA and rbcL, are presented. The process of isolation, identification and establishment of a monoculture of the H. kolbei is described in detail. In addition, the productivity and biochemical characteristics were evaluated to assess the biotechnological potential of the strain. The growth rate, biomass productivity and protein, carbohydrate, lipid and fatty acid composition of this species were determined in this study, under controlled conditions. The high content of C14–C16 acids in H. kolbei has been revealed to make it a promising source of eicosapentaenoic acid. The detailed description of the species, its photographs and phylogeny, as well as additional morphological keys presented in the paper, will enable scientists around the world to study this species as a promising biological resource. Full article

Blooms of the marine dinoflagellate Vulcanodinium rugosum have been associated with skin lesion outbreaks in Cuba and elsewhere. In this study, cell growth and toxin production were investigated under laboratory-controlled conditions in two strains isolated from Cienfuegos Bay, Cuba. Strains were cultured with and without a mechanical agitation and toxins were analyzed at two stages of the culture growth (exponential and stationary). Although blooms in Cienfuegos Bay occur in a semi-enclosed system characterized by calm waters with no agitation, the results of this study suggest that V. rugosum cells may also exhibit growth capacity under agitated conditions, or in open waters, comparable to that observed in systems with low hydrodynamic energy. Higher toxin levels, as determined by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), were detected after exponential growth. Portimine-A and pinnatoxin-F (PnTX-F) were the dominant toxins (up to 1.75 and 1.0 pg·cell⁻¹, respectively). PnTX-E, -D and Portimine-B were also detected at minor concentrations. This study contributes the first data necessary for a proper interpretation of monitoring programs aiming to assess the impact of V. rugosum blooms, particularly when used alongside forecasting models. Full article

Temperate seagrass meadows are foundation habitats, but their communities are hard to census. Here, I provide a first COI environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding snapshot from seawater at a Zostera marina meadow in the Vostok Bay marine reserve (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan). In September 2021, eDNA from two 900 mL replicates of water were filtered, isolated, amplified for the 313 bp COI fragment with dual-index PCR (multiple replicates), and sequenced on Illumina NovaSeq. I obtained 53,666 reads for 176 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Eukaryota dominated (154 OTUs; 93.7% of reads), while 22 bacterial OTUs comprised 6.3%. The assemblage was largely photosynthetic microeukaryotes, especially diatoms (61 OTUs; 49% of reads), consistent with late-summer productivity. Metazoan detections included a strong signal of the phoronid Phoronopsis harmeri (7511 reads; 14%), diverse invertebrates, and few vertebrate reads (0.5%), indicating limited fish sensitivity of universal COI assays. One abundant OTU was initially assigned to the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera but was rejected after additional BLAST and phylogenetic checks, illustrating database-driven misassignments. COI eDNA offers rapid, low-impact screening for marine protected area monitoring, but robust use requires seasonal replication, multi-marker assays, and a curated regional reference library. Full article

Objective: The main aim of the study was to evaluate the role of wild fishes inhabiting in three anthropogenic-impacted Bays in Chile as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Methods: A total of 245 antimicrobial-resistant isolates were isolated from fish captured in the Coquimbo (142 isolates), Concepción (44 isolates), and Puerto Montt (59 isolates) Bays, and were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, Antimicrobial-resistant isolates were tested for susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials by an agar disk diffusion method, and the carriage of genes encoding for resistance to main antimicrobial classes, such as β-lactams, amphenicols, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Results: A predominance of the Pseudomonas (37.04%), Vibrio (14.40%), and Shewanella (13.99%) genera. Antimicrobial-resistant isolates were tested for susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials by an agar disk diffusion method, showing highest resistance to streptomycin (82.4%), amoxicillin (67.4%), and furazolidone (63.3%), and lowest resistance to ciprofloxacin (3.7%), meropenem (22.5%), and oxytetracycline (29.8%) and exhibiting a high occurrence of the multi-drug resistance phenotype (76.9%). Furthermore, an important number of isolates recovered from sampled fish species carried plasmids (53.5%), floR gene (36.7%), and tet genes (19.2%), whereas the detection of sul genes and class 1-integron was rare. As an overall result, 10.6% of isolates carried at least one bla gene, encoding an extended-spectrum-β-lactamase, with a high predominance of the bla_CTX-M1 gene (23 isolates), whereas 14 out of 245 isolates (5.7%) were positive for the carriage of carbapenemases encoding genes, which both groups exhibited the β-lactam resistance phenotype. Conclusions: The wide distribution of ARG-carrying bacteria in wild fishes from all sampled Bays provides evidence that wild fish are important reservoirs and drivers of spread of ARGs in the marine environment, prompting the need of a continuous surveillance of these genes in wild fishes inhabiting anthropic impacted coastal marine environments in Chile. Full article

Bilberry (Vacciniummyrtillus L., Ericaceae) is chiefly valued as an edible plant for its berries, widely consumed as a functional food, whereas the leaves, as agro-waste, remain an underutilized natural source of bioactives. The traditional use of V. myrtillus leaves is well documented, particularly for managing diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders. However, their potential spasmolytic activity, which could support such uses, remains unexplored. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the spasmolytic potential of V. myrtillus leaf extract on the gastrointestinal tract and to elucidate its underlying mechanism of action. The spray-dried 50% hydroethanolic extract of V. myrtillus leaves, obtained by double percolation, was analyzed using HPLC-DAD. The analysis revealed phenolic acids, with chlorogenic acid as the major compound, and flavonoids, predominantly isoquercitrin. Spasmolytic activity was tested on isolated rat ileum, and the mechanism of action was monitored using models of spontaneous contractions and acetylcholine-, histamine-, CaCl₂⁻, Bay K8644-, L-NAME-, ODQ-, apamin-, BaCl₂⁻, charybdotoxin-, glibenclamide-, TRAM-34-, and quinine-modified contractions. The extract’s activity on isolated ileum strips is primarily mediated via Ca²⁺ channels, cGMP, histamine, and NO pathways. Overall, this study affirms V. myrtillus leaves as a valuable source of phenolic compounds with potential for treating spasmodic gastrointestinal disorders. Full article

Base isolation is known as a useful and popular technique for seismic upgrading of reinforced concrete buildings. Predicting damage levels based on relative inter-story drift plays an important role for designing optimal base isolation systems. However, the existing codes usually rely on the acceleration spectrum for calculating the relative inter-story drift, and they do not provide an accurate estimation of the relative inter-story drift. Consequently, to cover the research gap, machine learning algorithms are being trained and used for identification of damage levels in retrofitted reinforced concrete buildings. More than 7000 datasets were derived by using nonlinear time-history and incremental dynamic analysis. A total of 48 reinforced concrete buildings with different stories and bay numbers were designed based on an older version of existing building codes, and then, base isolation systems were designed for the seismic retrofit. The machine learning algorithms used here were Decision Tree, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, Extreme Gradient Boosting, and an Artificial Neural Network. Based on the results, four of the mentioned algorithms have the capability of predicting the damage level with an accuracy of more than 85%, with the best performance being reached by extreme gradient boosting with an accuracy of 89%. Finally, the most important parameters affecting the damage levels of retrofitted reinforced concrete buildings were derived. Full article

The European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is one of the most emblematic coastal fish species in the Northeast Atlantic, with high commercial value for fisheries and aquaculture, and importance for sport and recreational fishing. Despite its socio-economic importance, the Iberian divisions, Cantabrian Sea (8c) and the Atlantic Iberian waters (9a), defined by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), lack stock delimitation data. Moreover, this species is missing basic biological information, a seasonal reproductive fishing ban, and the annual landings in this region are more than double the levels recommended by ICES. To investigate the population structure of D. labrax in these areas, 140 adult individuals (36–51 cm of total length) were collected between January and March 2025 in three locations along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula: Avilés (n = 47), Peniche (n = 48), and Lagos (n = 45). Fish from each location were analyzed for body geometric morphometrics (truss network) and otolith shape contour (Elliptical Fourier Descriptors). Data were evaluated using univariate and multivariate tests to assess spatial differences and reclassification success among locations. Results revealed regional differences using body morphometry and otolith shape analyses. The overall reclassification success was 68% for truss networking, 51% for otolith shape, and 65% when both methods were combined. Despite the observed differences, the absence of clear, isolated populations supports the ICES definition of a single, though not homogeneous, European seabass stock in the Atlantic Iberian coastal waters. Nevertheless, individuals from Avilés exhibited distinctive morphometric patterns and otolith shapes, suggesting possible adaptations to local selective pressures in slightly different environments. Further studies integrating genetic tools, otolith chemistry, parasitic fauna and telemetry analyses, as well as other fish samples from adjacent areas such as the Bay of Biscay, are recommended to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the population structure and migration patterns of this key species in the Atlantic Iberian coastal waters. Full article

This study examines the occurrence of bacteria resistant to antibiotics and heavy metals in Terra Nova Bay, a coastal area of the Ross Sea in Antarctica that is increasingly recognised as vulnerable to human influence. During the 37th Italian Antarctic Expedition (2021–2022), researchers collected seawater, sediment, and fish samples from the notothenioid species Trematomus bernacchii to evaluate microbial resistance in an environment once considered largely pristine. Fifty heterotrophic bacterial isolates were obtained and tested against twenty-eight antibiotics, revealing a notable presence of multidrug resistance. These multidrug-resistant isolates were then assessed for their tolerance to eight heavy metal salts to understand whether resistance traits extended beyond antimicrobials. Twelve isolates showing resistance to both antibiotics and metals were selected for further genetic screening, targeting key resistance genes linked to tetracycline, vancomycin, sulphonamides, and other antimicrobial classes. The detection of multiple resistance genes in genera such as Pseudomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, and Psychrobacter indicates that both natural selective pressures and local, human-related contamination may be shaping resistance patterns in this region. Overall, the study demonstrates that even remote Antarctic marine ecosystems can host bacteria with complex resistance profiles. While these ecosystems are largely isolated, human activities such as scientific research, tourism, and the introduction of pollutants may contribute to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes, raising important ecological and potential public health considerations regarding the spread of resistance in polar environments. Full article