Search Results (3,184)

Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a critical life stage characterized by rapid growth, increased nutrient requirements, and the establishment of long-term healthy behaviors. Growing evidence suggests that nutritional inadequacies may persist even when conventional indicators such as body mass index (BMI) appear normal, reflecting hidden malnutrition, a condition characterized by micronutrient inadequacy despite adequate energy intake. This issue may be particularly relevant in structurally constrained environments. This study aimed to compare dietary intake and nutrient adequacy between adolescents residing in residential care institutions (RCIs) and those in the general population in Taiwan. Methods: A total of 248 adolescents were included in the analysis. Institutional data were collected in 2018 and compared with nationally representative data from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT 2010–2012). To improve comparability, 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was applied based on age, sex, and geographic region. Nutrient intakes were evaluated according to the Taiwan Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Results: Adolescents in RCIs demonstrated significantly lower energy and protein adequacy than their counterparts in the general population. Among boys aged 13–15 years, the proportion meeting protein adequacy was substantially lower in RCIs than in the general population (34.0% vs. 84.0%). Similarly, among girls aged 13–15 years, energy adequacy was markedly lower in RCIs (25.0% vs. 63.9%). In addition, inadequate intake of multiple micronutrients, particularly B vitamins and essential minerals, was observed. Despite these differences, BMI remained largely comparable between groups, indicating a mismatch between anthropometric status and underlying nutritional quality. Conclusions: These findings suggest that hidden nutritional vulnerability may persist even within structured institutional environments designed to ensure stable food provision. The results highlight the limitations of relying solely on anthropometric indicators to assess nutritional status and underscore the need for targeted nutritional strategies to improve dietary quality and reduce health inequalities in residential care settings. Full article

The trace water content in industrial oil critically affects the operational stability and service life of industrial equipment and serves as a key indicator for evaluating oil quality. Therefore, the rapid, sensitive, and visual detection of trace water in oil is of great engineering significance for equipment condition monitoring and early fault warning. Existing detection methods predominantly rely on precision instruments; although they enable quantitative analysis, their operational procedures are complicated and time-consuming, which are unsuitable for on-site real-time monitoring. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a novel trace water detection sensor that offers high sensitivity, visualization, and adaptability to oil-phase environments. Herein, a coplanar electrode alternating current electroluminescent (ACEL) sensor is developed for the visual detection of trace water in oil. The ACEL sensor features a multilayer structure comprising a substrate layer, a coplanar electrode layer, and a humidity-sensitive luminescent layer. The humidity-sensitive luminescent layer consists of humidity-sensitive hydrogel and ZnS: Cu electroluminescent powder, forming a loose and porous film that enables high-sensitivity humidity sensing and simultaneously electroluminescent visual signal output. The sensing mechanism study reveals that variations in trace water content modulate the dielectric properties of the humidity-sensitive layer, which further affect the electroluminescent intensity of the ACEL sensor. In addition, the ACEL sensor enables the rapid, naked-eye recognition of humidity changes under trace water conditions without the need for precision instruments, achieving a rapid response time of 3 s and a detection limit as low as 60 ppm, all making it applicable for different types of industrial oils. Thus, this ACEL sensor features a novel detection mechanism, excellent universality, fast response, and ease of operation, offering a new visual sensing strategy for trace water detection in industrial oil and holding broad prospects for practical applications. Full article

Rising global temperatures, increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events, with associated growth of agricultural land use and urban expansion, represent critical drivers of biodiversity loss. Within this framework, urban areas are particularly vulnerable due to environmental stressors such as the heat-island phenomenon, soil sealing and depletion, and the accumulation of heavy metals and other pollutants. Recent sustainability-oriented urban policies recognize the strategic role of green infrastructures in mitigating these impacts by delivering essential ecosystem services, including phytoremediation. Here, the focus on herbaceous plants allows the selection of species with short life cycles and high colonization rates in marginal or disturbed urban habitats (e.g., roadside verges, compacted soils, and limited-volume planting areas). Therefore, the present review systematically examines herbaceous plant species with documented phytoremediation capabilities, focusing on Mediterranean native taxa evaluated under urban or peri-urban conditions. A total of 29 species met the selection criteria: taxonomically, Asteraceae represented the most frequent family (35%), followed by Fabaceae (21%), Brassicaceae, and Poaceae (each accounting for 10%). From a functional-trait perspective, hemicryptophytes dominated the dataset (66%), followed by therophytes (31%). Of the selected taxa, 55% primarily exhibited phytoextraction, 14% showed phytostabilization, and 31% demonstrated dual functionality, through combined extraction and stabilization pathways. These traits, combined with ecological adaptability to Mediterranean climatic regimes, support their application in Mediterranean urban environments. Full article

Improving the comprehensiveness of old community renewal is a key approach to enhancing residents’ quality of life and the community environment. Currently, research on improving comprehensiveness from both supply and demand perspectives remains limited. This study constructs an evaluation system comprising 27 indicators that cover three dimensions: physical infrastructure, community services, and community governance. Adopting the approach of “single indicator, two-way assessment, and comprehensive evaluation,” this study conducts evaluations from both supply and demand perspectives. On the supply side, facility coverage is calculated through field surveys, POI data, and ArcGIS spatial analysis; on the demand side, resident satisfaction is measured via questionnaires, and an evaluation framework for supply–demand matching is constructed using the IPA model. An empirical analysis using Community X in Beijing as a case study reveals that the completeness of community renewal exhibits significant hierarchical differentiation: supply–demand matching and conditions are favorable for basic services, elderly care and services for special groups, and cultural services; supply and demand for buildings, infrastructure, and public safety are balanced and moderately complete; environmental facilities exhibit oversupply and excessive completeness; and long-term management and resident participation suffer from insufficient supply and lack of completeness, emerging as core constraints. Based on these findings, targeted optimization strategies are proposed, which can provide scientific guidance for the development of comprehensive communities and the renewal of existing urban stock. Full article

Background/Objectives: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) represent a significant clinical challenge, largely due to the high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Treatment is further complicated by biofilm formation, which reduces antibiotic efficacy. The limitations of conventional therapies highlight the need for alternative approaches. Phage therapy has emerged as a promising biological strategy; however, its effectiveness may be constrained by factors such as phage instability and biofilm regrowth. This study aimed to enhance phage-based treatment by combining a newly isolated phage, vB_Sau-E, with lactoferrin (Lf), a multifunctional protein of the innate immune system. Methods: Phage vB_Sau-E was characterized in terms of its infection dynamics and lytic activity. Biocompatibility was further examined using human skin cell lines. The potential effect of Lf was assessed by evaluating its impact on phage infectivity and stability under a range of environmental conditions and by checkerboard assay. Results: Phage vB_Sau-E belongs to the Silviavirus genus in the Herelleviridae family. It was shown to infect 12 out of 22 tested clinical MRSA isolates, with 10 strains identified as good hosts. The phage has a ~30 min life cycle, and ~50 progeny virions are released after bacterial cell lysis. We have also observed that Lf increased plating efficiency and enhanced phage stability at a pH of 5.5 and at −20° C. It also proved to have an additive antibacterial effect, though this was observed to be strain-dependent. Conclusions: Lactoferrin functions as a stabilizing adjuvant for phage vB_Sau-E. Its additive effect supports the development of more effective, biofilm-targeting therapies for staphylococcal SSTIs. Full article

Underground concrete structures are exposed to a multi-ion groundwater and seepage–leakage coupling environment for a long time, and it is difficult to observe visually, which makes it difficult to accurately characterize important boundary conditions and defect states, resulting in significant time-varying and spatially differing characteristics of the concrete deterioration process. Therefore, its durability assessment and life prediction are significantly different from those of above-ground structures. Aiming at the complex prediction problem of limited service information of underground concrete, this paper summarizes and combs the evolution process of underground concrete life prediction methods, and puts forward the evolution process of five generation prediction frameworks: from a deterministic mechanism model (Gen-1) to a multi-physical field coupling model (Gen-2), a probabilistic reliability framework (Gen-3), a data-driven and physical information fusion method (Gen-4) and then to a digital twin framework for online update and system integration (Gen-5). Differently from the traditional review by model category, this paper reveals the internal logic of life prediction from single life point values to time-varying risk assessment from the perspective of the transformation of prediction targets and problem structures. Based on the comparison of typical underground service environments, it is further shown that the key constraints of prediction ability are usually derived from insufficient observability and limited parameter identifiability, as well as model structure errors introduced by deterioration mechanism switching and local defects, rather than physical model complexity. On this basis, this paper proposes the selection idea of life prediction methods for different underground scenes, emphasizing measurable characterization, hierarchical verification and hierarchical calculation as the core, and effectively connecting the mechanism model, uncertainty analysis, data update and operation and maintenance decisions. In this paper, the life prediction of underground concrete is redefined as a dynamic evaluation process embedded in the whole life management of infrastructure, which provides a theoretical framework and research direction for the construction of a reliable and deployable life prediction system of underground concrete. Full article

This review analyzes the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) production and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines was conducted using the Web of Science (2020–2026), resulting in 225 included studies. Buffalo production is a multipurpose system that generates value through milk, meat, hides, manure, draft power, and animal-assisted services, with greater longevity than most livestock species. Economically, it supports income diversification, resource efficiency, and functions as a financial asset that can be sold to cover unexpected expenses. Socially, it enhances food security by providing nutrient-dense products, particularly milk with bioactive compounds associated with potential health benefits, and promotes women’s participation in livestock management and household economies. Environmentally, buffalo systems efficiently utilize low-quality forages, are adapted to marginal conditions, contribute to wetland conservation, and provide ecosystem services. These contributions align with several SDGs (1, 2, 5, 8, 12, 13, and 15). However, sector expansion is constrained by limitations in nutrition, management, veterinary services, and reproductive efficiency, as well as environmental challenges related to methane emissions and life cycle impacts. While global methane emissions from buffalo are lower due to their smaller population, emission intensity remains system-dependent and represents a critical challenge. In conclusion, water buffalo production represents a multifunctional and context-dependent system with significant potential to support sustainable development, although targeted innovations are required to improve productivity and address environmental challenges. Future research should integrate One Health and One Welfare approaches, develop long-term studies, and expand research under diverse experimental and field conditions to better characterize the potential health implications of buffalo-derived products. In addition, strengthening circular economy strategies, including region-specific diets to reduce emissions, remains a priority. Full article

To address the poor quality of early-stage wind measurement data and the limited representativeness of short-term observations for long-term climatic conditions in mountainous wind farms, this study takes a 150 MW wind power project in Guangxi, China, as a case study and proposes an integrated framework of “stepwise data fusion-key parameter refinement-life-cycle techno-economic optimization”. For wind resource assessment, a two-stage fusion strategy combining same-mast correlation-based infilling and mesoscale data extrapolation was developed, effectively resolving the heterogeneous data quality among six meteorological masts and revealing significant spatial variations in the wind shear exponent (0.058–0.348). Based on a conservative criterion, the 50-year return-period maximum wind speed was determined to be 31.4 m/s. For turbine selection, the levelized cost of energy was adopted as the core evaluation metric to compare six turbine models rated at 6.0–6.25 MW. The results show that WTG5-200-6.25 is the optimal option, with a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.321 CNY/kWh, an annual grid-connected electricity generation of 269.915 GWh, and 1799 equivalent full-load hours. In addition, the project can save 82.9 thousand tons of standard coal annually and yield approximately CNY 311 million in carbon-trading revenue over 25 years. The proposed framework provides a useful reference for wind power projects in complex terrain. Full article

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a monogenic disorder responsible for recurrent vaso-occlusive crises, progressive organ damage, and shortened life expectancy. For decades, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a matched sibling donor has been the only established cure, but its reach remains limited by donor availability and transplant-related toxicity. The approval of two autologous gene therapy products in 2023, exagamglogene autotemcel (exa-cel) and lovotibeglogene autotemcel (lovo-cel), marked a turning point for the SCD population and the gene therapy field in general. This review proposes a molecular rationale for fetal hemoglobin reactivation and β-globin gene addition, describes the engineering of lentiviral and CRISPR-based platforms, and highlights the clinical evidence accumulated to date that demonstrated durable disease modification with acceptable short-term toxicity. We then assess the clinical positioning of gene therapy within the broader spectrum of curative options compared to current available treatments and address the financial, ethical and psychosocial barriers that limit access to gene therapy both within high-income countries and globally. Critical research priorities include long-term safety surveillance, comparative effectiveness studies, pediatric trials below 12 years, and validated patient-reported outcome instruments. Base editing, non-genotoxic conditioning, and in vivo delivery represent the most promising avenues to broaden access and reduce treatment burden. Full article

Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is frequently associated with a range of neurological, cognitive and psychological issues, presenting significant challenges to patients’ Quality of Life (QoL). Among non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, transcutaneous spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS) is emerging as a potential approach for symptom management in neurological conditions. However, the effects of tsDCS on MS remain poorly explored. Thus, this preliminary study aimed to evaluate the effects of tsDCS on MS symptomatology, focusing on cognitive and psychological variables. Methods: Six patients with MS were recruited for a randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind crossover study, and received anodal tsDCS or sham stimulation in two separate sessions at least one month apart. Assessment outcomes included cognitive and attentional-executive functions, depressive symptoms, and several QoL components. The tests were administered at baseline (T0), immediately after treatment (T1), one week (T2) and one month (T3) post-treatment. Results: Although protocol-by-time interactions did not reach statistical significance across all measures, protocol-independent improvements over time were observed in various QoL subscales, including Physical Functioning, Role Limitations due to Physical Health, Vitality, Health Distress, and Overall QoL. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that tsDCS is a feasible and well-tolerated intervention in patients with MS, with possible implications for QoL. Given the small sample size and the exploratory nature of this study, further research is needed to clarify whether tsDCS may represent a potentially beneficial non-invasive neuromodulation approach for improving well-being in patients with MS across both physical and mental dimensions. Full article

With the growing severity of water pollution, conventional treatment technologies are increasingly unable to satisfy the demand for deep purification. Catalytic wastewater treatment has emerged as an effective strategy for degrading refractory pollutants because of its high efficiency, mild operating conditions, and environmentally friendly nature. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in catalytic materials for wastewater treatment, covering four major categories: metal-based materials, carbon-based materials, multicomponent composites, and photo/electrocatalytic systems. Particular attention is given to their design strategies, structural characteristics, and performance advantages. On this basis, the full mechanistic chain is discussed, from interfacial adsorption and activation to reactive-species generation, including both radical and non-radical pathways, intermediate transformation, and macroscopic reaction kinetics. The review also highlights representative applications in practical wastewater streams, including textile dyeing and pharmaceutical, chemical, landfill leachate, and municipal tailwater treatment, thereby demonstrating the engineering potential of catalytic technologies. At the same time, several critical challenges remain, including insufficient long-term material stability, incomplete mechanistic understanding in complex water matrices, limited adaptability to real wastewater, and the high cost of large-scale preparation. Future research should therefore focus on the development of highly stable, low-cost, and interference-resistant catalytic materials, deeper mechanistic elucidation through in situ characterization and theoretical calculations, stronger integration with membrane separation, biological treatment, photovoltaic or electrochemical processes, and the establishment of standardized evaluation protocols and life-cycle assessment frameworks. These efforts will accelerate the transition of catalytic wastewater treatment toward greener, smarter, and more practical engineering applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Skin and soft-tissue infections represent a critical diagnostic challenge in the emergency department, requiring rapid differentiation between superficial processes and life-threatening necrotizing conditions. Methods: This clinical update analyzes the central role of CT in the assessment of these pathologies, proposing a management-oriented algorithm to support risk stratification and therapeutic planning. Results: By reviewing the fundamental semiological features of contrast-enhanced CT, this work highlights how the identification of critical markers directly guides the choice between medical management and urgent surgical intervention. In addition to consolidating protocols based on conventional CT, the article examines current perspectives and clinical limitations of emerging technologies, including Spectral CT (DECT and PCD-CT) and artificial intelligence, evaluating their potential to improve image quality and tissue characterization. Conclusions: In conclusion, while technological evolution offers new diagnostic frontiers, a rigorous and systematic interpretation of CT findings remains the fundamental pillar for optimizing patient outcomes and reducing unnecessary interventions. Full article

This paper examines the transhumanist prospect of abolishing death and argues that technological immortality would undermine the conditions that make meaning and philosophy possible. Mortality is a biological limit but also the existential horizon against which identity, value, and narrative coherence are constituted. If death were eliminated, the structures that orient personhood, ethics, and motivation would be destabilized, along with the urgency and depth that characterize human life. The argument directly relates to current debates in AI ethics, bioethics, and technoethics, as the pursuit of digital or biotechnological immortality raises questions about personhood, embodiment, responsibility, and the moral limits of technological intervention. The central claim is that the very practice of philosophy presupposes mortality as its constitutive horizon, such that removing it would deprive philosophy of its central subject matter. The argument unfolds in three steps. First, it shows that life’s narrative coherence depends on finitude, for without an end, a life cannot take shape. Second, it claims that moral and communal values such as legacy, sacrifice, and generational concern rest on mortality. Third, it considers how the scarcity of time gives urgency to reasoning and commitment. Without temporal limits, projects can always be deferred, eroding their significance. Philosophy has long drawn its seriousness from the confrontation with death, from Platonic Socrates’ practice to modern existentialism. I conclude that transhumanist immortality would not extend philosophy but radically transform or undermine it, since the existential tension supplied by mortality has been indispensable to philosophy. Full article

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular disease characterized by vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction and disrupted calcium homeostasis. While transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) and transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRPC1) are known to mediate receptor-operated calcium entry (ROCE) and store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), respectively, the specific contributions of SOCE and ROCE to AAA pathogenesis, and the regulatory interaction between transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) and TRPC1 remain unexplored. In this study, we analyzed human AAA tissues, a papain-induced mouse model, and angiotensin II (Ang II)-treated human aortic smooth muscle cells using histology, wire myography, calcium imaging, and patch-clamp electrophysiology. We observed significant upregulation of TRPM8, TRPC1, and TRPC6 in both human and experimental AAA, with TRPC1 identified as a key mediator of SOCE under pathological conditions. Pharmacological activation of TRPM8 by menthol attenuated TRPC1-mediated SOCE and associated vasoconstriction, effects that were partially reversed by the TRPM8 antagonist A-2. In Ang II-treated cells, TRPM8 activation reduced SOCE and store-operated calcium currents (I_SOCC), effects that were largely abolished by TRPC1 knockdown. These findings suggest that TRPM8 may limit excessive calcium ion (Ca²⁺) influx and vascular remodeling in AAA, pointing to a potential endogenous mechanism to counteract maladaptive calcium signaling in AAA progression. Full article