Search Results (148,089)

We report the study of Cur@HKUST-1 composites, obtained through one-pot infiltration of HKUST-1 with curcumin (Cur) as a guest-sensitizing molecule. Cur features a HOMO energy above the valence band (VB) of HKUST-1, enabling modulation of the electronic structure of the host framework by introducing additional energy states within the bandgap. Structural characterization, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), confirmed successful guest incorporation and preservation of HKUST-1 crystallinity. An initial Cur amount of 50% (relative to the BTC linker) was added to the synthetic mixture, and differential UV-vis analysis has shown an infiltration efficiency of 28.0%, corresponding to an infiltration degree of 14% in the Cur@HKUST-1 composite, highlighting a challenging loading process, primarily due to the size and conformations of the Cur structure. Textural analysis revealed a reduction in surface area and pore volume, consistent with a high degree of guest infiltration. Optical properties evaluated by diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy revealed new absorption bands and a notable decrease of 1.83 eV in the bandgap energy from 3.68 eV (HKUST-1) to 1.85 eV (Cur@HKUST-1) due to guest molecule infiltration. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations supported the experimental findings, showing that guest HOMOs promoted the formation of a new valence band (VB), while the original VB remains lower in energy. Density-of-states analysis confirmed that the new VB originates from 2p orbitals belonging to the guest, while the conduction band remains predominantly Cu-based from the HKUST-1 framework. Photoelectrochemical characterization revealed that the guest-modified material exhibits an enhanced photocurrent response compared to HKUST-1. Cur@HKUST-1 displayed higher stability and stronger photocurrent density, attributed to its narrower bandgap and increased charge carrier density. These results demonstrate the potential of rational guest selection to engineer band structure and improve the light-harvesting performance of MOFs in solar-driven applications. Full article

Background: Micromanagement is an extensively prevalent yet relatively under-theorized management process in healthcare organizations. This narrative review synthesizes the literature on micromanagement and related leadership practices in healthcare, focusing on its antecedents, manifestations, consequences, and mitigation strategies. Methods: A structured literature search was conducted on 10 May 2024 across eight electronic databases. Eligible studies included qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and applied studies published between 2003 and 2024. The main outcomes were the underlying causes and behavioral measures of micromanagement, examined directly, or closely related constructs such as excessive supervision, reduced autonomy, authoritarian leadership, toxic leadership, and controlling managerial behavior. The secondary outcomes involved organizational and patient-related effects and their respective interventions. Results: A total of twelve studies were selected. The identified antecedents of micromanagement were authoritarian leadership styles, autocratic and toxic leadership personality traits, overly intrusive supervisory practices, poor employee empowerment, complicated regulation, unclear definition of professional roles, and inherent structural challenges. Micromanagement behavior was seen in authoritative decision-making, transactional supervision, systematic reduction in employee autonomy, and institutionalized distrust. The consequences recorded include high levels of occupational stress, poor organizational productivity, poor quality of healthcare services, high employee turnover rates, and psychological problems. Conclusions: This review represents a preliminary conceptual synthesis of the literature that addresses micromanagement in healthcare. The evidence base is inconsistent, with many studies focusing on constructs that relate to micromanagement while not studying it directly. In future research, validated tools to assess micromanagement should be designed, as well as leadership interventions that benefit both workplace and patient outcomes. Full article

The study investigated and quantified the feasibility of using waste derived from shea tree fruit shells (Vitellaria paradoxa) as an organic multifunctional additive for building ceramic bodies, focusing on its influence on thermal behavior, pore formation, and mechanical performance. The scope of the research included sieve analysis, chemical analysis (WDXRF), phase composition analysis (XRD), thermal analysis coupled with evolved gas analysis (DTA–TG–EGA), and the evaluation of the physical and mechanical properties of the obtained ceramic materials. The analyses demonstrated that the shea waste was characterized by a high content of organic matter, a loss in ignition of 93.84%, and a calorific value of 19.421 kJ/g. The incorporation of biomass resulted in increased porosity and reduced apparent density of the ceramic materials. The relative porosity increased from 27.00% for the reference sample to 34.98% for the sample containing 30% shea waste. Simultaneously, the compressive strength decreased from 23.67 MPa to 10.10 MPa, while the flexural strength decreased from 8.96 MPa to 4.76 MPa. Partial replacement of conventional mineral additives and, in particular, partial substitution of fossil-derived kiln fuel demand with high-calorific biomass enabled a reduction in overall CO₂ emissions associated with ceramic production. This includes both process-related emissions from raw material decomposition and fuel-related emissions generated in the tunnel kiln. In addition, a reduced contribution of carbon originating from inorganic mineral sources (including carbonates) to total emissions covered by emission trading systems (ETSs) was observed. Despite the reduction in mechanical parameters, samples containing up to 20% shea waste retained properties suitable for application in the production of ceramic building materials. Full article

This article systematically reviews the structural characteristics of layered double hydroxides and biochar (LDHs/biochar) composites, summarizes the features and optimization strategies of preparation methods such as coprecipitation, hydrothermal synthesis, ball milling, and calcination–reconstruction, analyzes their adsorption performance and mechanisms in controlling various water pollutants including organic contaminants, heavy metals, and nutrients, and provides insights into future research trends and practical applications, aiming to offer references for improving material performance and promoting practical use. The existing research results show that LDHs/biochar composites exhibit good application potential for various pollutants, such as dyes, antibiotics, heavy metal ions, and phosphates. The coprecipitation method is simple and easy to operate, and the LDHs/biochar composites prepared by this method exhibit favorable adsorption performance, with potential for industrial-scale production. The mechanisms of pollutant removal by LDHs/biochar composites primarily include electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, hydrogen bonding, complexation, and π–π electron interactions. Both the biomass type and the LDH type influence the adsorption performance of the composites. Therefore, designing LDHs/biochar composites based on pollutant characteristics and adsorption mechanisms is key to achieving effective pollution control. Currently, research on target pollutant-oriented material design and material regeneration remains underdeveloped and requires further breakthroughs. Full article

The rules of Bergmann and Rensch are among the macroecological patterns most frequently used to explain body size and sexual dimorphism variations throughout geographic gradients. While Bergmann’s rule predicts an increase in size in higher latitudes and cold regions, Rensch’s rule describes allometric patterns in the expression of sexual dimorphism between males and females. Widely distributed organisms whose growth relies on external resources, such as the hermit crabs that utilize gastropod shells, constitute particularly adequate systems to investigate these patterns. In this study, we evaluate the occurrences of these rules in populations of the hermit crab Clibanarius sclopetarius distributed along the Brazilian shore. The morphologic variation was analyzed through traditional and geometric morphometry, integrating information regarding shape and size as well as comparing males and females from different populations. Regression models and multivariate analyses were employed in order to test associations between morphologic variables, latitude, and microhabitat. Although morphologic variations between populations and sexes have been detected, the patterns observed did not consistently follow the macroecological rules when considering latitude alone. By contrast, differences between analyzed microhabitats, mangrove forests, and rocky shores have been associated with distinct ecological contexts, which influence the expression of body size and sexual dimorphism. Full article

Posterior pituitary and hypothalamic neuronal tumors are uncommon sellar and suprasellar neoplasms that can mimic pituitary neuroendocrine tumors clinically and radiologically. The 5th edition World Health Organization classifications (Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors) reinforce a lineage-based framework that separates anterior pituitary tumors from posterior pituitary and hypothalamic neuronal lineages, which is particularly important in hormone-negative lesions and limited tissue samples. This narrative review provides a practical, pathology-centered approach to classification by integrating key anatomic and radiologic clues with histomorphology and targeted immunohistochemistry. We highlight the value and limitations of thyroid transcription factor 1, outline a stepwise workflow incorporating anterior pituitary transcription factors and neuronal differentiation markers, and discuss when vasopressin immunostaining is informative. We also summarize selected molecular insights and clinical management considerations relevant to surgical planning and follow-up. Full article

The concentration of electric fields at the end region of stator bars in large generators can readily induce corona discharge. Under long-term operation, corona discharge may cause drift in the surface conductivity and nonlinear coefficient of anti-corona materials, thereby weakening their capability to homogenize the tangential electric field. In severe cases, this can lead to charring failure of the anti-corona material. To improve the electrical-parameter stability and surface morphological resistance to corona aging of silicon carbide (SiC)-based anti-corona materials under long-term corona exposure, epoxy-resin-based anti-corona materials were investigated in this study. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were first employed to analyze the effects of corona aging on the microstructure and chemical structure of the anti-corona layer, thereby revealing its failure mechanism. Subsequently, the evolution of surface conductivity, nonlinear coefficient, and surface morphology of bisphenol A epoxy resin (EP)- and hydrogenated bisphenol A epoxy resin (H-EP)-based anti-corona materials during 120 h of corona aging was comparatively investigated. On this basis, different mass fractions of organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) were introduced into the H-EP-based anti-corona material for synergistic modification. The OMMT used in this study had a particle size of approximately 5 μm and an interlayer spacing of 2.6 nm, and its lamellar morphology and dispersion state in the epoxy matrix were characterized by cross-sectional SEM. Meanwhile, the trap-regulation mechanism of the OMMT-modified anti-corona materials was analyzed using isothermal surface potential decay (ISPD). The results show that erosion of the epoxy resin matrix by corona discharge is the primary cause of internal conductive-pathway disruption and anti-corona layer failure. Compared with the EP-based material, the H-EP-based material exhibited better conductivity and nonlinear stability during aging, although a certain degree of drift still occurred. The incorporation of an appropriate amount of OMMT further improved the corona resistance of the material. Among the investigated samples, the material containing 1 wt% OMMT showed the best performance, with its conductivity stabilized within the range of 10^−13–10⁻¹¹ S, the lowest variation rate of 104.76%, a relatively stable nonlinear coefficient, and slight surface damage. The ISPD results indicate that the interfaces introduced by OMMT increase the deep-trap density and suppress carrier migration, thereby stabilizing the conductive network. Overall, the synergistic effect of the H-EP matrix and 1 wt% OMMT can effectively enhance the corona resistance of SiC-based anti-corona materials. Full article

The application of microalgae to soil has gained attention due to their ability to improve soil fertility and sequester C, but the effects of their application on rainfall-induced runoff, sediment, and associated nutrient losses remain unclear. This study investigated the impacts of Chlorella ZJ application on soil properties, C and N accumulation, and the loss characteristics of C and N via runoff and sediment under simulated rainfall at intensities of 50 and 100 mm h⁻¹. The results showed that applying microalgae significantly increased soil pH and the geometric mean diameter (GMD) of aggregates. It also promoted C and N accumulation, which increased by 11.28–23.79% and 13.42–24.62%, respectively, compared to the control. The contents of dissolved organic carbon, dissolved nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) in the crusted soil decreased significantly due to soil disturbance. Under simulated rainfall, intact microalgae crusts reduced sediment loss but did not increase runoff yield. However, they substantially elevated N loss via runoff, with total nitrogen (TN) concentrations (5.85 to 20.31 mg L⁻¹) exceeding surface water quality standards, indicating a high eutrophication risk. Overall, microalgae fertilizers have the potential to sequester C, enhance soil nutrients, and control soil erosion. However, reasonable management measures need to be implemented to prevent N pollution caused by runoff loss during their application. Full article

Background/Objectives: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE. Beyond its role in disease activity, IL-6 has also been associated with increased cardiovascular risk, potentially promoting endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and thromboinflammation. Our study aimed to investigate the associations between IL-6 levels, disease manifestations, organ damage, cardiovascular comorbidities, and treatment regimens in a cohort of SLE patients. Methods: A total of 88 SLE patients were recruited from the Rheumatology Clinic of the Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital, Iași. Disease activity was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and irreversible organ damage with the SLICC/ACR Damage Index. Serum IL-6 levels were measured by ELISA. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney U tests and Spearman correlation coefficients. Results: Among 88 SLE patients (89.8% female, mean age 51.9 ± 14.8 years), 68.2% presented irreversible organ damage, most frequently cardiovascular (26.1%). Regarding disease manifestations, IL-6 was non-significantly elevated in patients with arthritis, rash, and low complement levels. Serum concentrations also tended to increase with disease severity, being higher in severe compared to moderate activity, and in moderate versus mild activity. Significant associations were found between IL-6 and hypertension (p = 0.027), aortic atherosclerosis (p = 0.034), menopausal status (p = 0.015), and hypercholesterolemia (p = 0.034). No significant differences were observed across treatment subgroups. Conclusions: IL-6 showed limited correlation with SLE clinical activity but was significantly elevated in patients with selected cardiovascular comorbidities. These findings suggest a potential contribution of IL-6 to cardiovascular risk in SLE, warranting further investigation in larger cohorts. Full article

This paper presents a metrology-oriented review of vision-based displacement and deformation measurement for civil structural health monitoring (SHM), with an emphasis on field robustness and uncertainty quantification (UQ). The review focuses on image- and video-based methods that convert visual information into quantitative physical measurements, such as displacement, strain, or derived dynamic indicators. The literature is organized according to the main stages of the measurement chain: image formation, image-plane motion estimation, and geometric conversion to metric motion. Within this framework, measurement pipelines are interpreted through three levels of geometric mapping, namely, a scalar scale-factor model, a planar homography-based model, and a full Jacobian-based model. The review synthesizes major method families, including marker-based and markerless tracking, feature-based tracking, optical flow, digital image correlation (DIC), phase-based motion magnification, edge-based estimators, fixed- and moving-camera configurations, UAV-based acquisition with ego-motion compensation, hybrid vision–sensor fusion, and deep-learning-enhanced pipelines. A structured taxonomy of uncertainty sources is then presented along the processing chain, covering camera geometry and calibration, imaging noise and blur, quantization, timing and synchronization, environmental disturbances, optical turbulence and heat haze, platform motion, algorithmic failure modes, and reference-sensor uncertainty. The paper also compares UQ practices, including GUM-aligned analytical propagation, Monte Carlo methods, DIC-specific error budgets, bootstrap and resampling strategies, and probabilistic deep learning. The main contribution of this review is to connect computer-vision-based displacement pipelines with metrological requirements by explicitly linking measurement models, uncertainty sources, UQ methods, and field-validation evidence within a unified framework. A practical uncertainty-budget template is compiled to support traceable reporting across different pipelines and deployment scenarios. The paper concludes with prioritized research gaps and future directions, including standardized benchmarks and datasets, traceable UQ for moving-camera systems, multi-sensor fusion with end-to-end uncertainty propagation, long-term drift characterization, optical-turbulence and adverse-weather modeling, validated subpixel limits at extreme range, probabilistic deep learning–metrology integration, and standardized reporting practices. Full article

Radiotherapy for glioblastoma remains anchored to postoperative structural MRI and anatomy-based target definitions, despite marked spatial heterogeneity and dynamic biological change during chemoradiotherapy. Advanced MRI, amino-acid PET, radiomics, and habitat imaging can characterize tumor biology beyond conventional anatomy, yet their relevance to radiotherapy planning and their evidentiary maturity differ substantially. This narrative review examines the current evidence for biologically informed radiotherapy in glioblastoma and proposes an imaging-based actionability framework that organizes imaging-derived findings into five levels of evidentiary maturity, from descriptive or associative signals to intervention-ready biomarkers, to guide literature interpretation, multidisciplinary discussion, and prospective protocol design. Standard MRI-based planning remains the clinical backbone, supported by contemporary guidelines and the absence of randomized evidence demonstrating benefit from routine biologically guided target modification. Advanced MRI is discussed as the most practical serial platform for treatment-course reassessment, amino-acid PET as a selective complementary tool for metabolic clarification and recurrence assessment, and radiomics and habitat imaging as promising but not yet intervention-ready research layers. Across modalities, prospective evidence supports feasibility more consistently than clinical benefit. The proposed framework is intended to separate biologically informative findings from those sufficiently validated to justify a defined radiotherapy consequence, and to structure the translational path toward intervention-grade evidence in glioblastoma radiotherapy. Full article

Background: Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with adverse outcomes in sepsis, but risk stratification within MASLD remains insufficiently defined. We investigated whether an admission liver–metabolic phenotype framework combining cardiometabolic burden with liver injury/fibroinflammatory risk markers identifies clinically relevant organ-support vulnerability in community-acquired sepsis. Methods: This secondary analysis of the prospective SepsisFAT cohort (378 adults with community-acquired sepsis) classified patients into four phenotypes by cardiometabolic burden (≥2 of: diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) and liver-risk positivity (FIB-4 ≥ 2.67, APRI ≥ 1.0, liver stiffness ≥ 10 kPa, or FAST ≥ 0.55). The primary outcome was acute kidney injury (AKI), while continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), other organ-support outcomes and in-hospital mortality were secondary endpoints. Results: Phenotype distribution was Low-risk 137 (36.2%), Cardiometabolic-only 84 (22.2%), Liver-dominant 88 (23.3%), and Mixed liver–cardiometabolic 69 (18.3%). AKI and CRRT increased across phenotypes (13.9% to 40.6% and 5.1% to 26.1%, respectively), and in-hospital mortality was highest in the Mixed phenotype (26.1%). After Firth-penalized adjustment for age, sex, and admission SOFA, the Mixed phenotype remained independently associated with AKI (aOR 2.82, 95% CI 1.37–5.90) and CRRT (aOR 3.87, 1.50–10.80), confirmed in non-renal SOFA and admission eGFR-adjusted sensitivity analyses. Cardiometabolic burden alone did not confer excess organ-support risk. The same gradient persisted within the MASLD subgroup. Conclusions: Admission liver–metabolic phenotyping identified a renal-vulnerable sepsis subgroup not captured by binary MASLD classification alone. These findings support prospective, multicenter external validation of liver–metabolic phenotyping as a pragmatic approach to renal risk stratification in community-acquired sepsis. Full article

Cannabis sativa L. is an economically significant multi-use crop valued for fiber, seed, and phytochemical production. Compared with other crops, advancement in Cannabis sativa has been slow due to regulatory constraints and genetic resource limitations. Recent advances in technology have transformed the research landscape, supporting a deeper understanding of the genetic architecture underlying key agronomic traits. This review summarizes current progress in Cannabis sativa genetics and genomics, mainly focusing on structural genome organization, including chromosome-level assemblies and emerging pangenomic resources that capture species-wide diversity. We explore the molecular basis of key agronomic traits, including sex determination, cannabinoid biosynthesis, fiber quality, seed composition, disease resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance, highlighting their complex regulatory networks. Functional genomics tools including virus-induced gene silencing, transient expression systems, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing are reviewed as approaches enabling direct gene functional validation. We further review integration of these resources with molecular breeding strategies, including marker-assisted and genomic selection, to accelerate elite genotype development. Finally, we address persistent challenges such as genomic complexity, reference bias, and phenotyping limitations while outlining future research directions. Together, these advances position C. sativa as a compelling system for both fundamental plant biology and applied crop improvement. Full article

The use of gamification is growing within the field of architectural heritage, with applications in conservation, exhibitions, educational programming, and other dissemination mechanisms for interpretation. However, existing applications remain terminologically scattered and formally heterogeneous, lacking clear conceptual definitions or consistent evaluative criteria, making relevant practices difficult to identify, delimit, and compare, while risking misclassification or inconsistent conceptual judgment. Architectural Heritage Gamification (AHG) is proposed here as a distinct research object. Through conceptual alignment, historical contextual analysis, and review-based examination of the literature, this paper clarifies the need for AHG and develops a working definition accompanied by inclusion and exclusion criteria. AHG cannot be identified solely by media form, product form, or interaction intensity, but should instead be judged in relation to architectural centrality, the presence of identifiable gamification mechanisms, the extent to which architectural logic shapes mechanism formation, and normative conditions such as heritage interpretation and public responsibility. AHG is defined here as a design practice in which gamification elements are selected, organized, and judged within architectural heritage contexts on the basis of architectural logic and under the constraints of heritage interpretation, in order to support protection-oriented public understanding, participation, and meaning-making. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diagnostic metabolites measured in newborn screening, inherited metabolic disease, lysosomal storage disease, oncometabolite testing and routine clinical biochemistry are direct read-outs of human metabolic state. Their mechanistic interpretation requires linking measured metabolites to enzymes, pathways, regulatory context, disease knowledge and, increasingly, AI-assisted quantitative systems pharmacology (AI-QSP) workflows. We developed EHMN2026^®T as a license-aware AI-QSP integration framework that connects the EHMN2026^® metabolic backbone with licensed geneXplain knowledge resources while keeping ownership, licensing and redistribution constraints explicit. Methods: EHMN2026^®T integrates the SBML-encoded EHMN2026^® metabolic backbone with licensed TRANSFAC^® 2025.2, TRANSPATH^® 2025.2 and HumanPSD™ 2025.2 resources. TRANSFAC^® position weight matrices were used for promoter-level analysis of EHMN metabolic genes. The resulting transcription factor (TF)–gene connections were mapped to EHMN genes, TRANSPATH^® signalling/molecular-state entries and HumanPSD™ disease/drug context. The framework is positioned as a controlled component of the IQANOVA AI-QSP environment, but only aggregate statistics, non-proprietary EHMN-derived summaries and manuscript-level examples are reported publicly unless separate permission is obtained from the relevant rightsholders. Results: Promoter analysis of 1681 EHMN2026^® metabolic genes using 1147 mapped TRANSFAC^® matrices identified 291,387 ENSG-level TF–gene regulatory-potential connections involving 398 TFs and 1,107,264 predicted binding sites. The diagnostic panel contained 80 covered genes (63.5%), including complete coverage of oncometabolite enzymes and high coverage of organic acidaemia, steroidogenesis and fatty-acid oxidation categories. Mapping to TRANSPATH^® expanded the EHMN genes into 144,529 molecular-state representations and 14,879 gene–pathway or gene–chain pairs. HumanPSD™ was used as a licensed translational context layer; EHMN-specific HumanPSD™ outputs are treated as license-controlled derived outputs and are therefore not redistributed as open detailed tables in this manuscript. Conclusions: EHMN2026^®T provides a license-aware AI-QSP integration framework for tracing a diagnostic metabolite from a measured clinical value to candidate enzyme nodes, regulatory potential, signalling/molecular-state context and disease or therapeutic interpretation. PWM-derived TF–gene links are presented as regulatory hypotheses, not proof of active regulation. Public release should be limited to aggregate statistics and non-proprietary EHMN-derived components; detailed TRANSFAC^®, TRANSPATH^® and HumanPSD™-derived edges, mappings, annotations and SBML outputs remain subject to geneXplain ownership and licensing terms. Full article