Search Results (21,304)

Electrocatalytic nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR) for ammonia synthesis has emerged as a research focus in artificial nitrogen fixation. Unlike previous reviews that primarily focus on experimental catalyst development, this work offers a comprehensive and systematic summary of recent theoretical progress in NORR, with special emphasis on low-dimensional materials. We connect four important areas: atomic-level design principles for active sites, emerging mechanistic ideas that go beyond conventional scaling relations, realistic simulations of the electrochemical microenvironment, and data-driven machine learning approaches for catalyst discovery. We begin by discussing the reaction mechanism, analyzing the orbital interactions that control NO activation and the thermodynamic and kinetic features of different reaction pathways. For active-site construction, we examine electronic synergy in single-atom and dual-atom catalysts, coordination microenvironment tuning, electronic structure modulation through doping and strain, and heterojunction interfaces that allow multi-degree-of-freedom regulation. To explore new mechanistic concepts, we introduce p-block element synergy, reverse activation, magnetic and spin control, and surface electronic singularities as strategies to overcome traditional scaling relations. Regarding the reaction microenvironment, we analyze how coverage, solvation, local pH, and applied potential jointly affect selectivity and activity. Finally, we summarize the role of machine learning in building descriptors and accelerating catalyst screening. This review aims to provide theoretical guidance for the rational design of efficient NORR electrocatalysts with high activity, selectivity, and long-term stability. Full article

Developing effective adaptation and mitigation strategies depends on climate predictions capable of representing future conditions across multiple temporal scales. Decadal climate predictions bridge seasonal forecasting and long-term climate projections, providing near-term climate information for decision-making and adaptation planning at multi-year timescales. This study assesses the predictive skill of CMIP6 decadal precipitation forecasts from the Decadal Climate Prediction Project for three strategic catchments in state of Ceará, in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Forecast skill was assessed using deterministic and probabilistic metrics for three averaging horizons corresponding to years 1, 1–5, and 1–10 after initialization. Systematic biases were assessed and corrected. The results indicate that predictive skill varies across forecast systems, averaging horizons, and catchments. While skill was generally lower for the 1–5-year averaging horizon, several forecast systems showed positive skill relative to climatology for the 1-year and the 1–10-year averaging horizons, especially for below-normal and above-normal precipitation categories. Although bias correction reduced effectively systematic errors, it did not consistently improve forecast skill. These findings suggest potentially useful predictive skill at decadal timescales and highlight the potential of decadal climate information to provide complementary information for near-term water resources planning and drought preparedness in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Full article

Drought is becoming more frequent and severe in many regions, particularly in Mediterranean climates, where water demand is increased by warming and changes in precipitation regimes. A long-term assessment of meteorological drought at the Lisbon climatological station is provided in this study using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) over the period 1864–2021. Monthly precipitation and temperature data are used to compute SPI and RDI at 3-, 6-, and 12-month time scales, so that short-, mid-, and long-term droughts and their temporal evolution can be characterized. RDI is evaluated with three widely used empirical potential evapotranspiration (PET) formulations—Hargreaves, Thornthwaite, and Blaney–Criddle—in order to examine how PET estimations influence drought classification. Given the absence of a physically based reference PET—such as FAO-56 Penman–Monteith—for this station, the focus is on the internal consistency of the PET methods. Furthermore, the Hargreaves formulation is retained as a representative empirical PET for subsequent SPI–RDI comparison. The results show broadly consistent standardized RDI behavior across PET methods; it is indicated that drought conditions are captured more comprehensively by RDI than by SPI because both precipitation deficits and enhanced evaporative demand are included. At the Lisbon station, the estimated average return periods for short-, mid-, and long-term droughts are 3.79, 7.31, and 7.92 years according to RDI, compared with 3.86, 5.69 and 10.88 years from SPI. Several severe drought episodes are identified, including the years 1907, 1922–1923, 1944–1945, 1976, 1981, 1992–1993, 2005, and 2018. While no formal attribution analysis is performed, the drought characteristics are interpreted in the context of observed long-term warming and documented rainfall variability in Lisbon. The findings provide a single-station benchmark of historical drought behavior, by which local water-resources management can be supported and which can serve as a basis for future multi-station and climate-projection-based studies in Portugal. Full article

The global expansion of K-pop has increased demand for AI-driven choreography learning. However, existing motion recognition models often struggle to capture fine-grained rhythm patterns and dynamic motion transitions across consecutive frames, limiting their ability to provide accurate and objective feedback. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a Large Language Model-based Dance Generative Control (L-DGC), an integrated framework for controllable dance generation and evaluation. The framework comprises four stages: a Visual Analysis Phase (VAP) for skeletal extraction; an Audio Analysis Phase (AAP) for rhythmic synchronization; a Multimodal Data Phase (MDP), which employs Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Transformer architectures to evaluate movement accuracy; and a three-dimensional (3D) Transformation Phase (3TP), which converts two-dimensional (2D) skeletal data into 3D character animations within the Unity engine. Guided by an LLM, the framework performs real-time inference and iterative refinement to optimize choreographic data without requiring subjective expert assessment. By quantifying choreographic components and transforming 2D motion data into 3D representations, L-DGC provides an objective evaluation framework for dance learning. The proposed system has significant potential for artificial intelligence (AI)-based dance education, real-time feedback applications, and automated audition platforms in the entertainment industry. Full article

Sustainable agricultural development in natural heritage sites poses a challenge, requiring food security without compromising the conservation of ecosystems and their outstanding universal values (OUV). The Galapagos Islands, recognized as a Natural World Heritage, have problems of scarce water and arable land, compounded by anthropogenic pressures such as high population and tourism growth and dependence on food imports. The objective of this research is to evaluate the environmental impacts of implementing agricultural greenhouses in the Galapagos by applying a traditional environmental matrix alongside a UNESCO World Heritage approach, integrated with a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, to formulate strategies for strengthening local agriculture without compromising ecosystems. This study employed a semi-quantitative methodological approach, integrating three key aspects: (i) a baseline of agricultural information and water availability on the islands; (ii) an integrated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approach to greenhouse implementation; and (iii) sustainable agricultural development and environmental impact mitigation strategies. The results of the traditional EIA and the UNESCO approach through the OUV showed negative impacts classified as insignificant to moderately significant. For the evaluated design, these impacts can be managed through the active participation of academia, the community, and government entities. However, their scalability depends on a more in-depth analysis of the potential long-term risks associated with the availability of natural resources, microplastic pollution, and the use of agrochemicals. Among the proposed strategies, the importance of monitoring water and soil quality and of agricultural and environmental education campaigns in the community was highlighted. This study presents agricultural greenhouses as well-known alternatives for food self-sufficiency, adapted to the realities of the island territory and the objectives of ecosystem conservation. The proposed methodological approach can be applied in protected areas to promote conservation and sustainable agricultural production. Full article

Healthcare-associated infections are prevalent in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. The use of wound dressings on active skin wounds, like burns, can cause damage to the skin barrier when removed for cleaning. Electrospun biodegradable and biocompatible membranes have emerged as promising alternatives for wound dressing applications. In the present study, an electrospun membrane composed of polyvinyl alcohol/kefiran/schizophyllan loaded with gentamicin and ascorbic acid was developed. Kefiran was obtained from kefir with a 0.61% extraction yield. Beadless electrospun membranes with a diameter of 400 nm were obtained. Antimicrobial activity of the membrane against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined. Growth inhibition halos of 16.4 ± 2.2 mm were found for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore, the membrane cytocompatibility assay of the membrane showed no cell toxicity in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFn cells). The produced membranes showed potential to be used as a wound dressing material in the future. Full article

PM₁₀ filters provide short-term quantitative information on particle-bound potentially toxic elements (PTEs), whereas mosses integrate deposition and accumulation over longer periods but do not provide air-volume-normalised concentrations. Their combined use may therefore provide a more complete assessment of atmospheric PTE deposition. The study aimed to assess whether active moss biomonitoring and filter-based PM₁₀ monitoring provide complementary information on atmospheric deposition of PTEs under comparable exposure conditions. During the six-month campaign in Opole, PM₁₀ was collected during repeated 24 h sampling events, while three moss species: Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum fallax, and Dicranum polysetum were exposed cumulatively. PTE concentrations were determined by ICP-MS; particle-size descriptors, including Q₁₀, Q₅₀, and Q₉₀, were analysed for a subset of filters, whereas net concentration change and RAF were calculated relative to identically processed unexposed moss controls. Spearman correlation, PCA, and Bray–Curtis dissimilarity were used for data analysis. The material retained on the PM₁₀ filters was dominated by Fe, Zn, and Pb, whilst elevated peak values for Cd, Zn, and Pb indicated episodic enrichment in some samples. In mosses, Pb and Co showed the most consistent relative enrichment, while mean RAF exceeded 1.0 for five elements in P. schreberi and two elements each in D. polysetum and S. fallax. PCA separated PM₁₀ from moss profiles, with the first two components explaining 80.4% of the variance, while PM₁₀-moss Bray–Curtis distances ranged from 0.75 to 0.81. The results indicate that PM₁₀ filters and mosses record different but complementary aspects of the atmospheric PTE signal. The simultaneous use of both methods allows the atmospheric PTE signal to be interpreted at two levels: the short-term composition of PM₁₀ material retained on the filters, and the long-term retention and accumulation of elements within the moss matrix. Full article

This paper examines whether the persistent difficulty in addressing the eco-social crisis may partly stem from an inadequate representation of human decision-making within mainstream economic models. Although pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) and sustainable consumption are increasingly recognized as essential for sustainability transitions, neoclassical economics still largely relies on the homo oeconomicus paradigm, which assumes fully rational and utility-maximizing decision-making. Building on contributions from psychology, behavioral economics, neuroscience, and sustainability studies, this integrative narrative review examines how cognitive biases challenge the foundational assumptions of homo oeconomicus and explores the potential role of emotional intelligence in sustainability-related decision-making. Adopting the integrative narrative review approach, this paper integrates literature on (1) cognitive biases and bounded rationality; (2) emotional intelligence and judgment bias; and (3) emotional intelligence, pro-environmental behaviors, and sustainable consumption. The evidence reviewed suggests that sustainability-related decisions are strongly shaped by cognitive and emotional processes operating under uncertainty and socially embedded consumption patterns. Within this framework, EI may represent a psychological resource capable of influence of cognitive biases by supporting emotional regulation, impulse control, self-awareness, and long-term orientation. Overall, the paper proposes a conceptual framework linking cognitive biases, emotional intelligence, and sustainable behavior beyond the traditional homo oeconomicus paradigm. Full article

Background: Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have demonstrated significant renoprotective effects in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, kidney transplant recipients have been excluded from major randomized trials, and evidence in non-diabetic transplant patients remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in non-diabetic kidney transplant recipients. Methods: Kidney transplant recipients were screened retrospectively and divided into two groups based on SGLT2 inhibitor use. A total of 18 non-diabetic patients receiving SGLT2 inhibitors (Group 1) were compared with 30 matched controls (Group 2). Patients were followed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Proteinuria, serum creatinine, eGFR, uric acid, and tacrolimus levels were analyzed. Results: Baseline demographic and biochemical characteristics were similar between groups. In Group 1, proteinuria decreased by 20% at 6 months and 26% at 12 months compared with baseline. The reduction in proteinuria from baseline to 6 months was significantly greater in Group 1 than in controls (p = 0.037). No significant changes were observed in serum creatinine, eGFR, tacrolimus levels, or infection-related adverse events between groups. Conclusions: SGLT2 inhibitors may confer an early antiproteinuric benefit in non-diabetic kidney transplant recipients without apparent adverse effects on renal function or safety. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm long-term effects. Full article

Bacterial biofilms represent a major clinical challenge, being responsible for the majority of chronic infections and significantly reducing the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy. Their formation on implant surfaces, particularly those made of titanium and its alloys, is strongly associated not only with antimicrobial tolerance but also with persistent, hard-to-eradicate infections, implant loosening or failure, repeated surgical interventions, prolonged hospitalization, and increased morbidity. These complications contribute substantially to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance and impose significant economic burdens on healthcare systems. This review discusses the mechanisms of biofilm formation, factors influencing bacterial adhesion, and the clinical implications associated with implant-related infections. Special attention is given to titanium-based biomaterials, including conventional Ti–6Al–4V and next-generation alloys such as Ti–13Nb–13Zr, highlighting their advantages and limitations in the context of biocompatibility and susceptibility to biofilm formation. Various strategies for combating biofilms are presented, including physical, chemical, and biological approaches, with emphasis on surface modification techniques. Advanced methods, particularly atomic layer deposition (ALD), are identified as promising solutions for creating uniform, antibacterial coatings, including those based on tin dioxide (SnO₂). Such modifications offer potential for reducing bacterial adhesion, improving osseointegration, and enhancing long-term implant performance. Full article

In this Perspective, we present a non-systematic narrative synthesis and propose a hypothesis-generating framework that links regional anesthesia, local anesthetic strategies, surgery-induced NETosis, and perioperative metastatic biology. Surgical tumor resection coincides with a biologically vulnerable perioperative period characterized by inflammatory activation, innate immune remodeling, and potential metastatic susceptibility. Preclinical evidence suggests that this interval may represent a transient metastatic window in which circulating tumor cells and host inflammatory responses overlap, potentially favoring metastatic implantation. Among the mechanisms implicated in this process, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been implicated in tumor-cell capture, endothelial interaction, immune evasion, and metastatic outgrowth. Experimental studies further suggest that surgery-induced NETosis may contribute to prometastatic signaling and tumor-cell metabolic adaptation during the postoperative period. Human evidence remains more limited and heterogeneous. Observational studies indicate that NET-related biology is active during oncologic surgery, with the presence of tissue NETs and circulating NET-associated biomarkers correlating with tumor stage, inflammatory context, or tumor burden in selected malignancies. Perioperative clinical studies also suggest that regional anesthesia and local anesthetic-based strategies, including intravenous lidocaine, may influence neutrophil activation and postoperative NET-associated biomarkers. However, robust evidence of clinical oncologic outcomes remains limited, and a clear distinction between surrogate perioperative endpoints and long-term clinical outcomes is still lacking. Within this context, we propose that regional anesthesia may influence pathways associated with perioperative tumor–host interactions not primarily through opioid sparing but through modulation of mechanisms related to surgery-induced NETosis during a short-lived biological window. The neutral results of large survival-based trials do not necessarily invalidate this hypothesis; rather, they underscore the limitations of conventional oncologic endpoints in capturing transient perioperative biological effects. This Perspective outlines a translational research agenda centered on biomarker-driven perioperative studies integrating NET-specific markers, circulating tumor cell dynamics, and temporally precise postoperative sampling. Full article

Endodontic irrigant solutions act as crucial pretreatment conditioning agents in dentin biomimetic remineralization, preparing the collagen scaffold for calcium phosphate infiltration and subsequent tooth structure reconstruction. In this study, root dentin discs were exposed for 10 min to five irrigant solutions: sodium hypochlorite (NaClO, 3%), EDTA (17%), citric acid (CA, 10%), chlorhexidine (CHX, 2%), and an innovative experimental formulation containing citric acid (7%) and surfactants. Samples were then aged in Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) at 37 °C for three months to simulate long-term clinical conditions. Physicochemical modifications of the collagen and apatite phases were assessed at each experimental stage using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, with the A_CaP/A_{Amide I} and A₈₇₀/A_CaP absorbance ratios as markers of the degree of mineralization and apatite carbonate content, respectively. Results indicated that CHX- and EDTA-treated dentin exhibited the highest remineralization after ageing, while NaClO impeded remineralization due to collagen degradation. The experimental irrigant produced the most pronounced demineralization, followed by CA; however, it also facilitated significant remineralization, attributed to citrate–collagen binding and surfactant-enhanced apatite nucleation. NaClO selectively degraded collagen and increased apatite crystallinity; CA inhibited apatite nucleation through adsorbed citrate ions, and CHX and EDTA induced minimal alterations. These findings provide molecular-level evidence linking short-term irrigant effects to the long-term potential for dentin biomineralization, with direct implications for irrigant selection in regenerative endodontic protocols. It should be noted that this study was conducted on dentin discs obtained from a single tooth; all findings should therefore be regarded as preliminary and require confirmation in studies with larger, biologically independent sample sizes. Full article

Objective: Obesity is a systemic disease characterized by low-grade chronic inflammation and increased metabolic risk. Although bariatric surgery is known to improve metabolic and inflammatory status, the longitudinal behavior of emerging inflammatory biomarkers such as procalcitonin (PCT) remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate postoperative changes in serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels in patients undergoing bariatric surgery and to investigate their associations with anthropometric measurements, liver enzymes, and novel inflammatory indices. Methods: In this retrospective longitudinal cohort study, 38 patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy and had complete preoperative and postoperative follow-up data at months 1, 3, and 6 were included. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were analyzed, and systemic inflammation was assessed using PCT, Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) and the Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI). Repeated-measures analyses were performed according to data distribution, and correlations were evaluated using Spearman analysis. Results: PCT levels showed a significant reduction at postoperative month 1 compared with the preoperative period. However, despite continued reductions in body weight, BMI, and fat mass at postoperative months 3 and 6, PCT levels plateaued without further significant change. In the preoperative period, PCT demonstrated strong positive correlations with liver enzymes (p < 0.01). At postoperative month 1, PCT was significantly associated with glucose and HbA1c levels. Although SII and SIRI decreased after surgery, no significant correlation with PCT was observed. Conclusions: PCT decreased in the early postoperative period after sleeve gastrectomy and may reflect early metabolic and inflammatory changes associated with rapid weight loss. However, its sensitivity for monitoring long-term inflammatory changes appears limited. The observed preoperative associations with liver enzymes may suggest a potential relationship between PCT levels, liver enzyme alterations, and metabolic alterations in obesity. Full article

Sarcocystis spp. are apicomplexan parasites that form sarcocysts mainly in the muscles or central nervous system of intermediate hosts and sporocysts in the intestines of definitive hosts. Three species, Sarcocystis falcatula, Sarcocystis calchasi and Sarcocystis halieti, are potentially pathogenic to their intermediate hosts. Over the past two decades, we have examined 72 thrushes across four species (redwing (Turdus iliacus), common blackbird (Turdus merula), song thrush (Turdus philomelos), and fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)) for sarcocysts to better understand their role as intermediate hosts. Sarcocysts were detected in 28 individuals (38.9%). Most sarcocysts observed by light microscopy were of a single morphological type consistent with Sarcocystis turdusi. A molecular analysis of ITS1 sequences confirmed the presence of S. turdusi in the common blackbird, song thrush, and fieldfare, establishing the latter two bird species as new intermediate hosts. In contrast, cox1 was not a sufficiently variable locus for species differentiation. Additionally, a single sarcocyst with a smooth cyst wall, distinct from S. turdusi, was detected in a common blackbird and identified as S. halieti based on ITS1 sequence analysis. This atypical host record represents an isolated finding in a long-term dataset. Further sampling is required to confirm its epidemiological significance. Full article

The paper examines the morphodynamic development of reed-dominated phytogenic shores of the Dniprovsko–Buzky Liman, the largest river-mouth system in the northwestern Black Sea region. Based on field observations and analysis of Landsat and Sentinel satellite imagery acquired during 1985–2025, the spatial distribution of phytogenic shores, long-term dynamics of the external vegetation boundary, and moisture characteristics of the depositional substrate were investigated. The results revealed the predominance of progradational trends accompanied by pronounced spatial heterogeneity of morphodynamic processes. Variations in surface moisture were analyzed as an indirect indicator of substrate conditions potentially associated with long-term phytogenic shore development. The obtained results suggest that phytogenic shores should be considered complex biogeomorphological systems whose evolution is controlled by the interaction of hydrodynamic, lithodynamic and biotic factors. Full article