Search Results (3,733)

Long-term grape cultivation alters soil acid–base properties and nitrogen transformation processes, yet the mechanisms underlying the changes in soil physical and chemical properties as well as nitrogen components remain unclear. In this study, four grape vineyards with cultivation ages of 0.5 (newly established, Y0.5), 4 (Y4), 16 (Y16), and 22 years (Y22) in Penglai, Yantai, China, were selected as research subjects. Soil nitrogen pools, key nitrogen hydrolase activities, and chiA gene community assembly, as well as their internal regulatory relationships were investigated. The results revealed that cultivation age significantly reshaped soil nitrogen speciation: Y16 vineyards exhibited the highest concentrations of total nitrogen, mineral nitrogen, microbial biomass nitrogen, and labile hydrolyzable ammonium nitrogen (HAN), representing a critical inflection point of soil nitrogen supply capacity. With prolonged cultivation to 22 years, soil nitrogen pools shifted toward recalcitrant stable organic nitrogen (stable-SON), accompanied by significant accumulation of amino sugar nitrogen (ASN). Activities of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), urease, amidase and leucine aminopeptidase were markedly suppressed in Y16 soils. Both Chao1 richness and Shannon diversity indices of chiA gene communities reached the minimum values at 16 years, and PCoA confirmed distinct community separation of Y16 from other age groups. Soil pH, ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen were the dominant environmental filters governing chiA community composition. Actinomycetota and Pseudomonadota dominated the chiA-harboring microbiota, with acid-tolerant Streptomyces significantly enriched in Y16, while keystone genera Nonomuraea and Pseudoxanthomonas mediated the conversion between labile and stable organic nitrogen pools. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that chiA community composition (25.5% explanation), chiA α-diversity (19.3% explanation), and NAG activity (14.6% explanation) were the primary drivers of soil organic nitrogen fraction variation. Results support a four-level cascading framework wherein stand-age-induced soil acidification and altered N inputs drive shifts in chiA-harboring microbial diversity and community structure, which in turn modulate nitrogen hydrolase activities and ultimately govern the reciprocal transformation between labile and stable organic nitrogen pools, resulting in stage-specific nitrogen supply capacity. This study clarifies the microbial gene–enzyme–nitrogen pool coupling mechanism in chronosequence vineyards and provides theoretical guidance for targeted nitrogen management of aged vineyards. Full article

Background: Premenstrual disorders (PMDs), including premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, are common conditions that may substantially affect adolescents’ physical and psychological well-being. However, their presentation and management during adolescence are complicated by reproductive-axis maturation, overlap with other medical conditions, and limited adolescent-specific evidence. This review aimed to provide an interdisciplinary perspective on PMDs in adolescents, integrating biological, psychological, developmental, clinical, and sociocultural aspects. Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted. Publications addressing the neuroendocrine and developmental mechanisms, clinical manifestations, psychosocial consequences, diagnosis, and treatment of PMDs were considered, with adolescent-specific evidence prioritized where available. Results: Current evidence suggests that PMDs are associated with altered sensitivity to physiological ovarian steroid fluctuations and their neuroactive effects rather than abnormal circulating hormone concentrations alone. In adolescents, PMDs may present with diverse somatic, affective, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms and are associated with impaired quality of life, school functioning, interpersonal relationships, and psychological well-being. Diagnostic assessment remains challenging because symptoms may overlap with normal pubertal changes and psychiatric disorders. Prospective monitoring of symptom cyclicity and functional impairment is therefore essential. Pharmacological treatments, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selected combined oral contraceptives, represent important therapeutic options, while psychological, lifestyle, physical activity, and physiotherapeutic interventions may provide additional benefits. However, most treatment evidence is derived from adult populations. Conclusions: PMDs in adolescents should be conceptualized as multidimensional conditions requiring an interdisciplinary approach integrating gynecological, psychiatric, psychological, endocrinological, primary care, and lifestyle perspectives. Greater recognition and developmentally appropriate assessment may facilitate earlier diagnosis and individualized management. Further prospective, adolescent-specific research is needed to clarify the biological and psychosocial determinants of PMDs and establish evidence-based strategies for their multidisciplinary management. Full article

Physical processing can modify the structural, textural, and dispersion characteristics of nanostructured oxide materials, thereby altering their functional state under suspension conditions. Here, poorly crystalline, sol–gel-derived porous MnO_x materials were used to establish how post-synthetic physical processing affects the relationship between nanoscale structure, accessible mesoporosity, powder-to-suspension transfer, and chromogenic response in 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) oxidation. Two compositionally distinct processing series were examined: an ultrasonic processing/recovery route for Sr- and Fe-containing MnO_x and vibratory milling followed by identical ultrasonic dispersion for Sr-free Fe-containing MnO_x. The recovered SrFeMn-US-S solid showed higher N₂-accessible surface area and pore volume, stronger hydration signatures, and a larger low-temperature H₂ temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR) contribution than SrFeMn-S. In contrast, vibratory milling of FeMn-S preserved the bulk Fe/Mn ratio but decreased S_BET from 305.9 to 127.1 m² g⁻¹, V_tot from 0.533 to 0.215 cm³ g⁻¹, total H₂ uptake from 0.38 to 0.34 mmol g⁻¹, and the Mn concentration in the operationally defined stable suspension fraction from 50.5 to 17.3 mg L⁻¹. At an identical assay concentration of 500 ng Mn mL⁻¹, milled FeMn-S5 also exhibited a lower time-summed ΣA₆₅₂ response than FeMn-S. Thus, milling affected both the efficiency of powder-to-suspension transfer and the Mn-normalized functional response of the dispersed material. The contrasting outcomes show that the functional state of nanostructured, powder-derived MnO_x is route-dependent and cannot be predicted from a single solid-state descriptor. Full article

Metal-cutting operations can generate resource losses not only through the kerf itself but also through subsequent reworking, removal of altered edge material, and processing of workpieces that later prove unsuitable. This study develops and experimentally evaluates an automated eddy-current inspection system intended to characterize metal edges immediately after cutting. The system combines a miniature high-frequency eddy-current transducer, three-axis positioning, digital signal acquisition, and software-based processing. A clad D16AT aluminum alloy specimen with edges produced by laser cutting, cold sawing, and hot shearing was scanned. The air-to-metal transition profiles were described by a logistic function, yielding an electromagnetic transition coordinate xc, a transition parameter s, and the coefficient of determination R². The fitted xc values were 7.30, 8.76, and 8.93 mm for cold-sawn, laser-cut, and hot-sheared edges, respectively; s was 0.64, 0.59, and 0.67 mm, while R² was 0.961, 0.959, and 0.941. These quantities are interpreted as comparative electromagnetic descriptors and not as direct measurements of heat-affected-zone depth or defect probability. A scenario calculation based on the displacement of the electromagnetic transition relative to the geometric edge gave apparent material-removal indices of 0.192, 1.127, and 1.236 g per 40-mm edge. Under this explicitly model-based scenario, the laser-cut edge was 8.8% lower than the hot-sheared edge. Complementary measurements showed concordant ordering of the electromagnetic descriptors with roughness, burr height, HV0.1, altered-zone depth, conductivity, and removed-layer mass; the apparent and measured masses differed by 0.3–1.1% for this specimen. The results demonstrate that automated eddy-current mapping can differentiate edge states and provide structured data for routing decisions in resource-efficient and zero-defect manufacturing. Independent-specimen replication, fully traceable physical characterization, and production-scale validation are required before the descriptors can be used as acceptance thresholds or as direct estimates of actual waste. Full article

Photoaging alters polymer surface chemistry and can thereby regulate the interfacial binding of metal ions by microplastics. In this study, polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics were exposed for three weeks to five regimes comprising UV-air, UV-ultrapure water, UV-simulated seawater, UV/H₂O₂, and UV/Cl. Changes in surface morphology, functional groups, crystallinity, hydrophobicity, and specific surface area were characterized before Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ adsorption. UV/Cl and UV/H₂O₂ induced the strongest transformations in both polymers, although the rate of aging decreased with exposure time. Photoaging generated surface cracks and defects, increased the accessible surface area, reduced hydrophobicity, and introduced hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups. These changes significantly enhanced Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ adsorption. Adsorption involved physical and chemical contributions, with chemical interactions predominating. FTIR, elemental mapping, and surface analyses were consistent with coordination and surface complexation at oxygen-containing sites, electrostatic attraction, and nonspecific physical retention on roughened surfaces and within defects. Variations in crystallinity and surface area further modulated adsorption. The results show that aging medium and polymer structure jointly determine the extent of surface oxidation and defect formation, establishing a structure–property relationship between photoaging-induced surface evolution and the enhanced metal-binding capacity of PE and PVC microplastics. Full article

Background: Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) involves ethanol-related metabolic injury, inflammation, gut–liver dysfunction, and progressive loss of skeletal muscle and functional reserve. Exercise could influence several of these pathways, but ALD-specific evidence remains limited. We therefore evaluated exercise as an adjunct, not a substitute for established care, across the ALD spectrum. Methods: We conducted a structured narrative review of PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and publisher records updated through 20 August 2026. Evidence was classified as direct human ALD/MetALD evidence, direct preclinical alcohol-injury evidence, indirect clinical evidence from MASLD or mixed-etiology cirrhosis, or mechanistic evidence from broader exercise biology. Results: Direct human evidence is predominantly observational. Leisure-time physical activity is associated with lower liver mortality across drinking patterns and with lower odds of at-risk advanced fibrosis in MetALD/ALD. These associations do not establish the efficacy of structured exercise training. Preclinical alcohol-injury models support redox- and Nrf2-mediated hepatoprotection, whereas proposed effects on AMPK-SIRT1-PGC-1α signaling, mitochondrial quality, gut microbial metabolites, myokines, and ammonia handling remain largely extrapolated. Metabolomic studies identify disturbances in redox balance, lipid intermediates, acylcarnitines, bile acids, and amino acid and tryptophan metabolism. These alterations provide candidate endpoints for future trials. Myostatin and decorin are associated with ALD severity, but their responsiveness to exercise is unknown. We therefore propose a stage-specific research and practice framework with explicit safety considerations. Conclusions: Exercise is a promising but unproven multisystem adjunct for ALD. It should complement abstinence support, alcohol use disorder care, nutrition, and standard medical management. ALD-specific trials should integrate metabolomics, liver outcomes, functional measures, sex, alcohol exposure, disease stage, and adverse events. Full article

Antarctic expeditions expose individuals to multiple and interacting stressors that may affect physiological regulation, sleep, and physical activity. This study investigated physiological responses in 28 male participants during the 34th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, who spent 30 days at the Antarctic research base. Physical activity and sleep duration were continuously monitored using three-dimensional inertial sensors. Salivary biomarkers of physiological responses associated with stress, cortisol, K⁺, Na⁺, the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, total protein, and α-amylase activity, were measured before the expedition, weekly during deployment, and after return. Sleep duration increased significantly during Weeks 2 and 3 compared to Week 1. Light -intensity activity predominated over moderate-intensity activity and declined significantly over the monitoring period, whereas moderate-intensity activity decreased significantly during Week 3 compared with Week 1. Cortisol concentrations were significantly lower after return than during the pre-expedition period. Salivary K⁺ concentrations increased significantly during the Week 2 and subsequently decreased significantly after return, whereas Na⁺ concentrations remained stable throughout the mission but decreased after return. The K⁺/Na⁺ ratio declined significantly during the Weeks 2 and 3 and after expedition. Total salivary protein concentration and α-amylase activity increased at the Weeks 4 and 3, respectively, and both approached baseline following the participants’ return. The longitudinal changes in salivary biomarkers, together with alterations in physical activity and sleep duration, indicate dynamic physiological responses during and after Antarctic expedition. This minimally invasive, integrated approach may support further research on individual patterns of physiological adjustment and early deviations from adaptation, and may contribute to the development of personalized health monitoring strategies and timely preventive interventions during future Antarctic and other missions in extreme environments. Full article

Objective: To develop a lactoferrin-modified sodium alginate nanogel loaded with saikosaponin A (SA-Lf-NG@SAA) and evaluate its potential antidepressant-like effects following intranasal administration. Methods: SA-Lf-NG@SAA nanogels were prepared and optimized using single-factor experiments combined with response surface methodology. The optimized formulation was characterized in terms of particle size, zeta potential, stability, morphology, drug-loading performance, and in vitro release behavior. Male C57BL/6J mice were used to establish a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of SA-Lf-NG@SAA after intranasal administration. Histopathological changes in the hippocampus and striatum were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of OLFM-1, OLFM-3, and OLFM-4 in olfactory bulb tissues, and immunofluorescence staining was performed to further examine their expression in the hippocampus and striatum. Results: The optimized SA-Lf-NG@SAA nanogels had an average particle size of approximately 85 nm and a zeta potential ranging from 0 mV to −10 mV, and they maintained their basic particle characteristics during a 14-day short-term physical stability study after dispersion in PBS. In vitro release analysis showed that SA-Lf-NG@SAA exhibited a distinct initial lag phase, followed by sustained drug release, with a cumulative release rate of approximately 75% at 72 h. Kinetic fitting using zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer–Peppas models showed that the post-lag release profile was best described by the Higuchi model, suggesting a prolonged release pattern under the present in vitro conditions. In CUMS mice, intranasal administration of SA-Lf-NG@SAA effectively improved depression-like behaviors, alleviated pathological damage in the hippocampus and striatum, and enhanced neuronal morphology. Western blotting showed that SA-Lf-NG@SAA increased the expression of OLFM-1, OLFM-3, and OLFM-4 in olfactory bulb tissues. Immunofluorescence staining further confirmed that the expression of these proteins was significantly enhanced in the hippocampus and striatum, especially in the high-dose SA-Lf-NG@SAA group. Conclusions: SA-Lf-NG@SAA nanogels were successfully developed as a potential nanogel-based formulation intranasal administration of saikosaponin A, showing favorable physicochemical properties, short-term stability, and prolonged release behavior. Intranasal administration of SA-Lf-NG@SAA alleviated depression-like behaviors in CUMS mice and improved histopathological alterations in the hippocampus and striatum. The antidepressant-like effects of SA-Lf-NG@SAA may be associated with the regulation of OLFM-family protein expression in depression-related brain regions. These findings suggest that SA-Lf-NG@SAA has potential as a nanogel-based intranasal formulation for the delivery of active components from traditional Chinese medicine in depression therapy. However, the specific contribution of lactoferrin modification requires further validation using unmodified SA-NG@SAA as a control. Full article

Supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs), including atrial fibrillation (AF), atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT), atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia (AVRT), and focal atrial tachycardias, can possibly arise from the interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. While genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified 525 loci for atrial fibrillation and a small number of loci for AVNRT and accessory pathway-mediated tachycardia, the contribution of air pollution, lifestyle factors and psychosocial stress to epigenetic remodeling of atrial tissue remains insufficiently integrated into current mechanistic models of arrhythmogenesis. This review aims to synthesize evidence on how environmental exposures, including PM_2.5, NO₂, ozone, tobacco smoke, obesity, alcohol use, and physical inactivity, modulate epigenetic pathways relevant to SVT susceptibility, and to evaluate whether AF-derived epigenetic insights can be extrapolated to other SVTs. Thus, a narrative synthesis was conducted across studies examining environmental determinants, epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs), and genetic susceptibility in SVTs. Literature from cardiac tissue studies, circulating epigenetic biomarker analyses, and mechanistic AF models was integrated to construct a unified gene–environment–epigenome framework. In atrial fibrillation, environmental exposures are consistently associated with epigenetic alterations affecting atrial electrophysiology, inflammation, oxidative stress and structural remodeling, and air pollutants and lifestyle factors modulate methylation signatures, histone-modifying enzymes and microRNA networks implicated in atrial conduction and re-entry. For AVNRT, AVRT and focal atrial tachycardia the evidential position is different. Large prospective cohort and case-crossover analyses now link air pollution to incident and acute supraventricular tachycardia, and genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility loci for AVNRT and for accessory-pathway-mediated tachycardia, including one gene encoding a cardiac chromatin-remodeling protein; but no epigenomic profiling of nodal or accessory-pathway tissue has been reported, and no study has measured an environmental exposure, an atrial epigenetic mark and a non-AF SVT endpoint in the same participants. Twin data indicate that approximately 35% of SVT risk is attributable to genetic and 65% to unique environmental factors, which motivates a gene–environment–epigenome framework without validating its mechanistic detail outside AF. Mapping GWAS-identified loci onto environmentally responsive regulatory pathways identifies candidate convergence points between inherited risk and exposure-driven remodeling; for non-AF SVT, these are designated working hypotheses rather than established mechanisms. Air pollution and lifestyle factors are associated with supraventricular arrhythmia across the spectrum, and in atrial fibrillation there is direct evidence that they act, in part, through epigenetic reprogramming of atrial tissue. No epigenetic panel has been prospectively validated for the prediction of any supraventricular arrhythmia, and precision risk stratification therefore remains a research objective rather than a near-term clinical horizon. Integrating environmental exposure data with genetic and epigenomic profiling is nonetheless the most plausible route toward it. Future priorities include exposure-stratified, cell-resolved epigenomic profiling of atrial and nodal tissue, prospective validation of candidate circulating markers against incident arrhythmia, and replication in non-European populations and in both sexes. Full article

The tympanic membrane (TM) is a thin, semi-transparent structure whose morphology and optical appearance provide important diagnostic cues. In the early stages of middle-ear pathology, subtle shape and compliance alterations may precede overt clinical signs, making them valuable early indicators of disease. Such structural changes are difficult to assess reliably using conventional (micro-)otoscopy, which lacks quantitative depth information and is operator-dependent. Data-driven monocular image analysis could enable quantitative assessment of TM geometry and compliance, but the limited availability of annotated three-dimensional datasets constrains the development of these methods. At the same time, realistic simulations of TM appearance remain challenging due to its complex reflectance and transmission behavior. The present study focuses on physiologically healthy tympanic membranes, which provide the baseline anatomical and optical model required before subtle pathological changes can be investigated. This work introduces a parametric physically grounded rendering model of the structures visible during otoscopy: the tympanic membrane, ear canal, and malleus–incus complex. Implemented in the open-source software Blender™ using procedural geometry nodes and physically motivated shaders, the framework generates anatomically plausible three-dimensional geometries via statistical parameter sampling and controlled mesh deformation. Optical appearance is simulated using a computationally efficient layered shading model based on literature-derived tissue reflectance, transmission, and scattering properties. A camera–projector setup models both conventional white-light otoscopy and structured-light imaging, enabling the generation of paired intensity images and corresponding depth maps. The proposed framework establishes a physically grounded representation of the human ear and enables a controllable, extensible modeling pipeline for virtual training, biomechanical finite element analysis, and synthetic data generation for supervised learning. Full article

Background: Intense physical exercise induces oxidative stress and inflammation in adult professional athletes, but data on adolescent elite athletes remain limited. Methods: Twenty-four elite adolescent soccer players were recruited and evaluated three times: pre-season baseline (T0), after one month of pre-season training (T1), and at the end of the first half of the competitive season (T2, approximately 4 months after T0). Saliva samples were collected as non-invasive surrogate indicators reflecting oxidative stress- and endothelial-related signaling. In vitro studies were performed on endothelial cells exposed to H₂O₂ concentrations observed in athletes. Results: Athletes showed a significant increase in salivary oxidative stress markers (NOX2 levels and H₂O₂) at T1 and T2 versus T0. Endothelial impairment was evidenced by reduced salivary NOx concentration and elevated endothelin (ET-1) levels. In vitro, endothelial cells exposed to H₂O₂ (8 μM) showed increased sNOX2-dp and ET-1 levels, reduced eNOS phosphorylation, and impaired tube formation (mesh number and area) compared with untreated cells. NOX2ds-tat treatment reduced cell damage and restored angiogenic capacity. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that adolescent elite athletes experience significant salivary oxidative stress- and endothelial-related alterations, potentially reflecting cardiovascular stress. These results underscore the importance of cardiovascular monitoring and the potential benefits of antioxidant strategies, even in young athletes participating in high-intensity sports. Full article

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence is rising at 3–5% per year. Autoantibody (AAB) screening identifies at-risk children pre-symptomatically, yet the clinical significance of single AAB positivity and its short-term trajectory remain incompletely characterized. Methods: Five T1D-associated AABs (anti-GAD65, anti-IA2, anti-ZnT8, ICA, IAA) were measured in 210 Bulgarian children (160 with first-degree T1D relatives, 50 controls). Seven single-AAB-positive children received lifestyle counseling (low-glycemic-index diet, physical activity ≥ 60 min/day) and were reassessed at 3 or 6 months with repeat AAB panels, HbA_1c, blood glucose and C-peptide. Results: Anti-GAD65 was the most frequent single AAB (n = 3), followed by anti-ZnT8 (n = 2), anti-IA2 (n = 1) and IAA (n = 1). None developed a second AAB or metabolic abnormalities. Titer dynamics were heterogeneous: two children showed apparent seroreversion (in one, substantially confounded by concurrent immunosuppressive therapy for an unrelated condition), one showed a ~15-fold titer reduction while remaining seropositive, one showed a minimal titer decrease, and three displayed mildly increasing titers. None progressed to multiple autoantibody positivity, and all maintained normal metabolic profiles. Conclusions: Favorable short-term outcomes were observed during follow-up of children with single autoantibody positivity. These findings suggest that single AAB positivity may follow a non-progressive course in some children. However, this study design cannot distinguish the contribution of lifestyle counseling from natural variability. Prospective controlled studies with larger cohorts, HLA stratification and longer follow-up are needed to determine whether lifestyle interventions can independently alter autoantibody dynamics and delay T1D progression. Full article

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease in childhood, paralleling the global increase in pediatric obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Once considered a benign condition, pediatric MASLD is now recognized as a heterogeneous and potentially progressive disease that may advance from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and, rarely, cirrhosis, with lifelong hepatic and cardiometabolic consequences. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial, involving insulin resistance, adipose tissue dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, genetic and epigenetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and alterations in the gut microbiome. Most affected children are asymptomatic, and diagnosis is often prompted by elevated liver enzymes or incidental imaging findings. Noninvasive tools, including ultrasonography, elastography, serum biomarkers, and emerging multi-omics approaches, are improving disease detection and risk stratification, although liver biopsy remains the reference standard in selected cases. Lifestyle modification, including dietary optimization, increased physical activity, and gradual weight reduction, remains the cornerstone of management, while pharmacological therapies are still under investigation in pediatric populations. The marked variability in disease susceptibility; progression; and treatment response underscores the need for a personalized medicine approach. Integrating clinical characteristics with genomic, epigenomic, metabolomic, and microbiome data may enable early identification of high-risk children, more accurate prognostic assessment, and individualized preventive and therapeutic strategies. Early detection and multidisciplinary care involving pediatricians, hepatologists, endocrinologists, dietitians, and families may help reduce disease progression and the risk of long-term hepatic and cardiometabolic complications. This review summarizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of pediatric MASLD, with a particular emphasis on precision diagnostics, biomarker discovery, and personalized therapeutic approaches. It also discusses current challenges and future directions for implementing personalized medicine to improve outcomes and reduce the lifelong burden of pediatric MASLD. Full article

Introduction: International shipping faces the dual imperative of decarbonization and the maintenance of safety and service reliability. However, evidence concerning the conditions under which artificial intelligence (AI) generates verifiable carbon benefits remains fragmented. Methods: This review examines 479 English-language articles and reviews retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus and published from 2016 to 23 August 2026 through bibliometric analysis, science mapping, auxiliary document-level thematic coding, and full-text synthesis of six representative reviews and one perspective. A post hoc domain-validation sensitivity analysis used two independently specified deterministic rule sets to test whether broad search terms altered the main conclusions. Results: Publication output accelerated markedly after 2022, with 277 papers (57.83%) published during 2022–2025 and a further 137 records already indexed in the partial year 2026. The two screening rules agreed on 96.87% of records (Cohen’s kappa = 0.753). A conservative sensitivity subset of 437 records, obtained through a strict rule-based title-abstract screen and removal of one retracted and one withdrawn record, reproduced the principal temporal, source-journal, and leading-keyword patterns. Machine learning remained the most frequent keyword, while recent studies increasingly addressed deep learning, ship energy efficiency, port operations, federated learning, and energy management. Discussion: Based on these findings, the review advances an evidence-informed AI-to-Carbon Value Chain (AICV) conceptual synthesis comprising data observability, model credibility, decision executability, system coordination, and carbon verification. This synthesis is interpretive rather than a validated causal framework. Future research should prioritize carbon-ready benchmarks, calibrated physics-informed and causal models, human-in-the-loop field evaluation, network-level coordination, and auditable well-to-wake assessment. Review registration and appraisal: This review was not registered, and no formal protocol was prepared. Because no effect-size synthesis was undertaken, formal study-level risk-of-bias, reporting-bias, and certainty assessments were not applied. Funding: The review received no external funding. Full article

Small gases pose an unusual problem for studies of molecular transport in proteins. O₂, CO, H₂, and NO can cross short-lived internal spaces opened by protein fluctuations, often faster than experiments can follow continuous migration. Time-resolved crystallography can localize sufficiently populated intermediates, whereas spectroscopy, isotope exchange, and kinetic measurements report molecular exchange over their respective timescales without resolving the complete route. Pressurized noble-gas structures expose internal accommodation sites but rely on surrogate molecules whose size and interactions differ from those of physiological gases. Geometry-based tunnel searches identify available space, while molecular dynamics follows explicit movement through a fluctuating protein. Free-energy and enhanced-sampling approaches can access states or transitions that remain undersampled in direct trajectories. These techniques resolve different quantities rather than progressively more accurate estimates of gas transport. In this Perspective, we argue that gas-migration pathways should be evaluated by the physical consistency of independent observables, with each method interpreted according to the quantity it resolves. This distinction explains why a cavity visible crystallographically may not carry substantial flux, why a rapidly crossed route can remain structurally inconspicuous, and why static narrowing can alter diffusion without predicting its magnitude. Agreement among methods can support a transport assignment when the quantities they resolve are physically consistent with the same mechanism; apparent disagreement may instead reflect differences among occupancy, accessibility, residence, energetic preference, and molecular traffic. Full article