Search Results (8,300)

Effective evaluation of building fabric is essential to understanding building performance. Traditional methods, such as ISO 9869-1, provide point U-values but do not always capture the complete picture, and new measurement-led approaches are needed to support building retrofit. Heat3D is a novel iOS application that performs rapid U-value measurements of building elements by mapping thermographic images from a mobile infrared camera onto an augmented reality (AR) model of a room, from which heat flux across the element is calculated. A field trial of 22 UK properties during the 2019–2020 winter heating season assessed Heat3D’s heat flux measurements against traditional heat flux plates, with 90% of 295 Heat3D surveys falling within the combined uncertainty of the reference method. A second field trial, conducted over the 2020–2021 winter heating period, evaluated a new timelapse iteration of the method capable of measuring wall U-value within approximately 60 min; 90% of 42 Heat3D surveys fell within the combined confidence interval of the ISO 9869-1-measured U-value. These results indicate that Heat3D offers a viable, rapid alternative to traditional methods for both heat flux and U-value measurement. Full article

This study investigates the interrelationships between soil organic matter (SOM) quality characteristics and key mercury species in two sites in Czech Republic under historical Hg contamination. SOM properties derived from DRIFT spectral analysis including the aromaticity index (iAR), potential wettability index (PWI), decomposability index (DI), and organic matter quality index (OMQ) along with additional SOM quantity and quality indicators were evaluated against several key Hg fractions (Total Hg (HgT), potentially mobilizable Hg (HgPM), potentially mobilizable Hg ions (Hg²⁺), methylmercury (MeHg), and water-soluble Hg (HgWS)). Neural network analysis revealed that type of horizon (organic or mineral) as well as SOM quality characteristics play an important role in Hg mobility and methylation processes. The results show the difference in relevant SOM quality properties that affect Hg mobility and methylation that can also be opposite based on the soil horizon type for the same soil, potentially forcing different pathways for the mobilization and methylation, and indicating that the state of transformation of organic matter and its quality characteristics along with the environmental conditions are some of the key attributes influencing mobility and methylation processes of Hg in the soil. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia involves a gradual decline in skeletal muscle mass that may occur during aging or in association with chronic pathological conditions. It markedly reduces muscle strength and mobility, thereby impairing quality of life. Because sarcopenia’s severity directly correlates with frailty, it represents an important predictor of prognosis and disease risk. Current preventive and therapeutic strategies rely mainly on physical activity, which is not feasible for all patients. This study investigated the biological effects of two independently prepared Tuber borchii (T. borchii) extracts in an in vitro model of sarcopenic stress. Methods: The activity of T. borchii extracts was investigated in a cell-based model of sarcopenia, following previous observations that these preparations influence proliferation-related pathways, including ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Specifically, differentiated myotubes were exposed to D-galactose to reproduce atrophy-associated cellular changes, and the impact of T. borchii extracts on protein synthesis, turnover, and cell morphology was assessed. Results: T. borchii extracts enhanced protein synthesis and turnover in myotubes. Furthermore, the treatment significantly reduced the expression of key galactose-induced sarcopenia and atrophy markers, such as MuRF1. Morphological analysis confirmed this protective effect, showing that treated myotubes maintained greater thickness and exhibited a larger cross-sectional area despite exposure to the sarcopenic stimulus. Conclusions: These results indicate that T. borchii extracts can attenuate selected cellular alterations associated with muscle aging. Future identification of the most active components may support their development as nutraceutical supplements. Full article

Mobile platforms such as high-speed trains and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) experience quasi-periodic variation in link quality as they move through a cellular base-station lattice, so the service rate of their on-board uplink buffer is itself time-periodic. We model this buffer as a periodic $M/M\left(t\right)/1$ queue whose service rate follows from a signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR)-to-rate map and construct an edge-resident controller that exploits this periodic structure for real-time quality-of-service (QoS) control. From a harmonic-balance (Fourier–Galerkin) solution of the periodic regime, the controller derives backlog and tail-probability indicators and uses them to drive admission, redundancy and handover decisions on the device. The method rests on a stability criterion and a quantitative error bound for the spectral truncation, under stated regularity and stability conditions, and is validated against Monte Carlo simulation along a ∼650 km geo-anchored corridor: on the periodic backbone, the solver matches simulation to within about $1.6\%$, and a coefficient-driven admission rule lowers the 99th-percentile delay by about $28\%$ relative to a reactive baseline at high load. On the full map-derived profile with aperiodic coverage gaps, the proposed proactive controller—spectral backbone admission combined with a radio-map look-ahead—attains the lowest mean and tail delay, about $27\%$ and $21\%$ below the reactive baseline and $54\%$ and $42\%$ below uncontrolled DropTail, with buffer overflow cut from $2.2\%$ to $0.1\%$, at a deliberate admitted-load cost (goodput ≈0.84 vs. $0.94$). An operation-count analysis indicates compatibility with sub-$100$ms control deadlines on a Cortex-A55-class system-on-chip. The controller runs on the device itself, without cloud or GPU, and the architecture is realised in a granted patent; end-to-end hardware benchmarking and an extension to non-Poisson traffic are left for future work. Full article

Flacherie is a major bacterial disease compromising silkworm health and cocoon productivity; however, the diversity and genomic features of larva-associated pathogens remain poorly characterized. In the present study, we isolated and characterized a Gram-negative bacterium, designated as Pseudomonas boreofloridensis strain RAC1, from the hemolymph of silkworm larvae with flacherie symptoms. The isolate exhibited clear swimming motility, indicating an active flagellar system. Biochemical profiling using the VITEK-2 platform revealed broad metabolic capabilities, including utilization of multiple organic acids and amino-acids, related enzymatic activities, highlighting its adaptability under nutrient-variable host conditions. Chemotaxonomic analysis using fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiling further supported its identity within the genus Pseudomonas. Whole-genome sequencing showed a 4.49 Mb GC-rich genome encoding diverse functional pathways related to central metabolism, aromatic compound degradation, and carbohydrate-active enzymes, suggesting strong ecological flexibility. Importantly, genomic screening identified virulence-associated gene and multiple antimicrobial resistance determinants, dominated by efflux pumps and outer membrane permeability factors. In addition, strain RAC1 contained several mobile genetic elements and three prophage regions, reflecting a highly plastic genome. Pangenome analysis across related Pseudomonas strains indicated an open pangenome, driven largely by accessory and cloud genes. Overall, P. boreofloridensis RAC1 represents a multidrug-resistant and genomically dynamic strain encoding virulence-associated genes and resistance genes. These genomic features suggest adaptive potential in host-associated environments and require further experimental investigation to evaluate its role in silkworm larval disease. Full article

In Spain, inbound European tourism exhibits marked territorial imbalances whose evolution is difficult to characterize using aggregate indicators. This study analyzes its spatiotemporal patterns at the municipal level between July 2019 and December 2025 based on experimental statistics from the National Institute of Statistics compiled using mobile phone data. The objective is to identify processes of growth, persistence, and spatial intensification using a geospatial methodology based on the Space–Time Cube (STC) and Emerging Hot Spot Analysis (EHSA). The analysis covers the 1000 municipalities with the highest cumulative volume of European tourists, which account for most of the flows recorded during the period. The results show positive and statistically significant temporal trends in 911 municipalities, although the formation of persistent spatial clusters is considerably less widespread. EHSA identified 48 municipalities classified as hot spots when applying a one-month temporal neighborhood and 77 when using a three-month configuration. The two classifications showed an observed agreement of 96.0% and, for the four shared categories, a Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.660. The post-pandemic recovery in tourism did not, therefore, result in a homogeneous territorial consolidation of stable spatial patterns. We identify persistent hubs, areas undergoing intensification, and destinations with episodic behavior, located primarily in metropolitan, coastal, and island areas. The main contribution of the study lies in the development of a reproducible workflow based on the STC–EHSA integration, capable of distinguishing between temporal growth, persistence, intensification, and spatial intermittency, and of evaluating the stability of the results under different temporal neighborhood configurations. Full article

Heritage tourism is central to Spain’s cultural and territorial development, but its spatial distribution and intensity are still unevenly understood. This study analyzes heritage tourism in Spain as a territorially differentiated phenomenon by comparing provincial differences in tourism intensity, heritage tourism density, and cultural heritage concentration. Drawing on official experimental statistics from the National Institute of Statistics of Spain, the analysis integrates mobile phone geolocation data from 181,670,728 devices across 3214 destinations, tourism expenditure information, and a Heritage Concentration Index constructed for architectural cultural heritage. Four one-way ANOVA models were applied to assess differences among Spain’s 52 provinces in the Internal Tourism Intensity Index, External Tourism Intensity Index, Heritage Tourism Density, and Heritage Concentration Index. Hochberg-adjusted post hoc comparisons and Tukey HSD robustness checks were used to examine interprovincial differences, while Welch ANOVA and Moran’s I were added to assess robustness and spatial structure. The results show statistically significant territorial differences across all four indicators, indicating that heritage tourism in Spain is not spatially homogeneous. The study contributes an integrated, data-driven approach for measuring heritage tourism at the provincial scale and provides diagnostic evidence that may inform differentiated tourism planning, destination management, and more balanced heritage-based territorial strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Aquatic therapy is widely used in pediatric rehabilitation because buoyancy and water resistance facilitate movement practice under reduced gravitational load. The Halliwick Method is a prominent approach; however, its effects on balance, motor function, and neuromuscular performance in children and young adults with disabilities have not been comprehensively synthesized. This systematic review summarized the effects of Halliwick aquatic therapy and aquatic exercise on balance, strength, and functional mobility in this population. Methods: This review followed Cochrane and PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42025635215). PubMed, MEDLINE Complete, PEDro, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to November 2025. Randomized controlled trials (≥2 weeks; ≥10 participants per trial) involving individuals aged 3–29 years with disabilities were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB2 tool. Results: Eight randomized controlled trials (involving 222 participants) met inclusion criteria. Despite heterogeneity in diagnoses and protocols (Halliwick-based hydrotherapy, swimming, strengthening, task-oriented balance training), most studies reported improvements in balance and postural control (BBS/PBS, WOTA2), gross motor function (GMFM), and functional mobility (6MWT, TUG, gait indices). Several trials demonstrated gains in strength, and one reported favorable changes in lower-limb electromyographic activation. Methodological limitations included small samples, limited blinding, variable dosing, and scarce follow-up. Due to heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes, findings were synthesized narratively. Conclusions: Halliwick aquatic therapy and aquatic exercise appear to improve balance, motor function, and neuromuscular performance in children and young adults with disabilities. However, evidence is limited by heterogeneity and methodological constraints. More robust, standardized RCTs with direct muscle and neuromuscular assessments are needed. Full article

Eutrophication in tropical endorheic lakes often persists despite reductions in external nutrient inputs, indicating an important role of internal nutrient loading. However, integrated evidence linking thermal stratification, sediment characteristics, and sediment-derived nutrient release in tropical endorheic lakes remains limited. This study investigated the mechanisms contributing to eutrophication in Lake Batur, a tropical endorheic volcanic lake in Indonesia, through seasonal water-column observations, sediment porewater profiling, diffusive nutrient flux analysis, and sediment characterization. Seasonal observations showed thermal stratification accompanied by hypoxic to anoxic bottom waters, while sediment-derived nutrient flux was dominated by ammonium and phosphate under reducing conditions. Sediment characterization at the representative sampling site revealed mineral assemblages dominated by biogenic silica, aluminosilicate clays, carbonates, and iron-bearing phases that may influence nutrient mobility under low-oxygen conditions. The results indicate strong coupling between thermal stratification, hypolimnetic oxygen depletion, and sediment–water interactions, suggesting that internal loading contributes to maintaining eutrophic conditions in Lake Batur. The endorheic nature of the lake likely enhances nutrient retention because of limited hydrological flushing and prolonged nutrient residence times. These findings improve understanding of eutrophication processes in tropical endorheic volcanic lakes and highlight the importance of considering sediment-derived internal loading together with external nutrient reduction in lake restoration strategies. Full article

Urban traffic congestion remains a major barrier to sustainable mobility, necessitating a transition from static signaling to Intelligent Traffic Light Systems (ITLS). This study presents a systematic review in computer vision, artificial intelligence, and adaptive control algorithms for urban intersection optimization. Following a methodological framework informed by PRISMA guidelines, the study examines state-of-the-art architectures, including deep learning-based perception models and reinforcement learning agents. The findings indicate that, although two-stage detectors provide benchmark accuracy for vehicle perception, single-stage models and Vision Transformers offer the high-speed processing required for real-time traffic management. In addition, deep reinforcement learning enables autonomous, lane-specific optimization that outperforms traditional actuated and fixed-time systems. The review also identifies a persistent research gap in the deployment of these computational frameworks in the resource-constrained and heterogeneous infrastructures of developing countries. For the urban context of Riobamba, Ecuador, a phased implementation strategy is proposed that balances computational demands with the city’s morphological and social characteristics. By bridging the gap between high-fidelity simulation and practical field deployment, this review provides a scalable framework for improving throughput, reducing emissions, and enhancing safety. Overall, these advances offer a promising pathway toward more resilient transportation systems in rapidly evolving Andean urban centers. Full article

We examine the bias- and temperature-dependent direct current, radio frequency, and equivalent-circuit characteristics of a 150 nm AlGaN/GaN/SiC high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) for high-frequency applications. DC and S-parameter measurements on the wafer were conducted under various gate-bias settings within a varying thermal condition (−40 °C to 150 °C). The findings suggest a distinct decrease in drain current and transconductance with rising temperature, mostly attributed to heightened carrier dispersion and self-heating effects. At V_ds = 15 V, the I_ds decreases from 247.63 mA at −40 °C to 142.94 mA at 150 °C. The maximum transconductance decreases from approximately 56.5 mS to 31.5 mS. The assessed thermal resistance varies from 6.3 °C·mm/W to 11 °C·mm/W, signifying an increasing thermal limitation at elevated temperatures. The device has a point at which the temperature coefficient is zero at V_gs = −7.0 V, where the threshold-voltage shift and mobility degradation counterbalance one another. Small signal investigation indicates that f_t decreases from approximately 53 GHz to 39 GHz, whereas f_max declines from 107 GHz to 74 GHz within this temperature range. The derived equivalent-circuit characteristics demonstrate the temperature sensitivity of intrinsic capacitances, resistances, transconductance, and delay components, but extrinsic capacitances and inductances exhibit comparatively lower temperature sensitivity. The measured and modeled S-parameters are in strong agreement, hence validating the extraction methodology. The findings may serve as valuable guidance for bias optimization and thermally conscious RF circuit design with GaN HEMT technology. Full article

The continued implementation of the coordinated development strategy for the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region has placed higher demands on regional transportation integration and smart transportation development. However, regional disparities in smart transportation development and their spatiotemporal evolution within the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration have not yet been comprehensively investigated. This study focused on 13 cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration during 2016–2023. A comprehensive evaluation index system was constructed to systematically examine regional disparities, spatiotemporal evolution, and the driving factors of smart transportation development. The results showed the following: (1) The overall level of smart transportation development increased steadily during the study period, exhibiting a hierarchical pattern featuring a leading core, differentiated levels of development, and persistent lagging areas. (2) Overall regional disparity declined from 0.147 to 0.137, indicating a gradual convergence trend. Inter-regional disparities remained the primary contributor to overall imbalance, accounting for up to 81.1%. (3) Smart transportation development demonstrated significant negative spatial autocorrelation. Although spatial dependence weakened over time, the interspersed distribution of high- and low-development cities remained largely unchanged. Moreover, smart transportation development exhibited strong path dependence and neighborhood effects, with limited upward mobility and stronger constraining effects from low-level neighboring areas than promoting effects from high-level neighbors. (4) Digital human capital, economic development, and R&D investment significantly promoted smart transportation development, whereas government support for science and technology and urbanization had not yet effectively generated development momentum. This study advances understanding of the disparities and evolutionary patterns in smart transportation development within the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration and provides empirical evidence to inform the design of differentiated policies under the coordinated regional development strategy. Full article

Ports are critical nodes in global supply chains and increasingly depend on intelligent, energy-efficient, and autonomous technologies to improve operational performance and sustainability. Within this context, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are evolving from isolated aerial platforms into network-enabled systems capable of supporting sensing, communication, computation, and decision-support functions. This study examines the evolution of energy-efficient UAV-enabled systems for sustainable port logistics, with particular emphasis on autonomous system architectures, mobile edge computing, artificial intelligence, optimisation, and Internet of Things integration. Following PRISMA 2020 reporting guidelines, a bibliometric and systematic review was conducted based on a curated dataset of 49 peer-reviewed publications indexed in Scopus between 2001 and 2026. The analysis combines performance indicators with science mapping techniques, including bibliographic coupling and keyword co-occurrence, to identify research trends, influential contributions, and thematic structures. The results reveal a transition from fragmented exploratory studies to a rapidly expanding research field shaped by UAV-assisted edge computing, resource allocation, intelligent optimisation, and energy-aware system design. Four main thematic clusters are identified: UAV-assisted mobile edge computing and network optimisation; advanced optimisation and intelligent UAV systems; energy efficiency and resource allocation; and application-oriented developments and hardware innovations. The findings indicate that energy efficiency is the central design principle connecting UAV autonomy, system integration, and sustainability-oriented port logistics. Full article

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been widely recognized as emerging environmental contaminants due to their potential threats to public health and ecosystems. Owing to the extensive use of antibiotics in clinical, agricultural, and aquaculture settings, large quantities of ARGs are continuously introduced into the natural environment. As a result, aquatic environments—particularly surface waters—act as important reservoirs and transmission pathways for ARGs. However, despite the Yellow River being a major surface river in northern China, the occurrence and sources of ARGs in this river remain poorly understood. In this study, shotgun metagenomic sequencing was applied to investigate the composition of ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and virulence factors (VFs) in three water sources in the Baotou section of the Yellow River. A total of 35 types of ARGs, 3 types of MGEs, and 14 categories of VFs were identified across all samples. Among them, multidrug resistance genes, peptide resistance genes and glycopeptide resistance genes exhibited relatively high abundances, indicating their widespread distribution in the study area. In terms of MGEs, recombinases and transposases were dominant, suggesting their important roles in gene mobilization. Meanwhile, VFs were mainly associated with metabolic functions, immune modulation, and adherence, reflecting the potential pathogenic risks in the aquatic environment. Co-occurrence networks revealed extensive associations between ARGs and MGEs, as well as ARGs and VFs. Many positive correlations were observed, suggesting possible ecological associations between ARGs and MGEs and potential co-selection between ARGs and VFs. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the distribution patterns and co-occurrence patterns of ARGs, MGEs, and VFs in the Yellow River and offers a scientific basis for the management and control of antibiotic resistance pollution in large river systems. Full article

Iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) deficiencies are global health concerns associated with adverse health outcomes. Plants constitute a dietary source of these elements, particularly for individuals following plant-based diets. However, plant Fe availability is limited by soil processes that reduce Fe mobility and uptake, whereas Se accumulation is constrained by the low abundance of Se in soils. Increasing Fe and Se concentrations in edible plant parts through biofortification represents a sustainable strategy to alleviate micronutrient deficiency. This review examines the mechanisms governing Fe and Se uptake, translocation, metabolism, and genetic regulation, and discusses current biofortification strategies, including agronomic practices, natural and microbial-based approaches, conventional breeding and marker-assisted selection, transgenic technologies, and nanoparticles. While cereals remain the principal targets of large-scale biofortification programs, recent advances in horticultural crops are also highlighted because of their growing nutritional and commercial importance. Current evidence indicates that integrated agronomic and genetic approaches are more effective than single interventions, although simultaneous Fe and Se biofortification remains largely underexplored. Successful biofortification is also strongly influenced by soil properties, nutrient interactions, and crop genotype. Emerging tools, including plant–microbe interactions and synthetic biology, offer promising opportunities to enhance micronutrient accumulation and bioavailability. Further research should optimize integrated Fe–Se biofortification strategies while addressing agronomic and socioeconomic constraints to support their large-scale adoption and contribute to sustainable food systems. Full article