Search Results (10,945)

This research focuses on designing polymer membranes as biocompatible materials using home-built electrospinning equipment, offering alternative solutions for tissue regeneration applications. This technological development supports cell growth on biomaterial substrates, including hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep-G2) cells. This work researches the compatibility of polymer membranes (fiber mats) made of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) for possible use in cellular engineering. A standard culture medium was employed to support the proliferation of Hep-G2 cells under controlled conditions (37 °C, 4.8% CO₂, and 100% relative humidity). Subsequently, after the incubation period, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) assays were conducted in a physiological environment to characterize the electrical cellular response, providing insights into the biocompatibility of the material. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to evaluate cell adhesion, morphology, and growth on the PVDF polymer membranes. The results suggest that PVDF polymer membranes can be successfully produced through electrospinning technology, resulting in the formation of a dipole structure, including the possible presence of a polar β-phase, contributing to piezoelectric activity. EIS measurements, based on R_ct and C_dl values, are indicators of ion charge transfer and strong electrical interactions at the membrane interface. These findings suggest a favorable environment for cell proliferation, thereby enhancing cellular interactions at the fiber interface within the electrolyte. SEM observations displayed a consistent distribution of fibers with a distinctive spherical agglomeration on the entire PVDF surface. Finally, integrating piezoelectric properties into cell culture systems provides new opportunities for investigating the influence of electrical interactions on cellular behavior through electrochemical techniques. Based on the experimental results, this electrospun polymer demonstrates great potential as a promising candidate for next-generation biomaterials, with a probable application in tissue regeneration. Full article

Wild edible fruit plants are integral to the cultural, nutritional, medicinal, and economic practices of Indigenous Isan communities in Roi Et Province, northeastern Thailand, a region characterized by plateau and lowland topography and a tropical monsoon climate. This study aimed to document the diversity, traditional uses, phenology, and conservation status of these species to inform sustainable management and conservation efforts. Field surveys and ethnobotanical interviews with 200 informants (100 men, 100 women; random ages) were conducted across 20 local communities to identify species diversity and usage patterns, while phenological observations and conservation assessments were performed to understand reproductive cycles and species vulnerability between January and December 2023. A total of 68 species from 32 families were recorded, with peak flowering in March–April and fruiting in May–June. Analyses of Species Use Value (0.19–0.48) and Relative Frequency of Citation (0.15–0.44) identified key species with significant roles in food security and traditional medicine. Uvaria rufa had the highest SUV (0.48) and RFC (0.44). Informant consensus on medicinal applications was strong for ailments such as gastrointestinal and lymphatic disorders. Economically important species were also identified, with some contributing notable income through local trade. Conservation proposed one species as Critically Endangered and several others as Vulnerable. The results highlight the need for integrated conservation strategies, including community-based initiatives and recognition of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), to ensure the preservation of biodiversity, traditional knowledge, and local livelihoods. Full article

The average body size (fork length) of juvenile salmonids in small streams varies across landscapes and can be influenced by stream temperature, density dependence, catchment size, and physical habitat. In this study, we compared sets of 16 mixed-effects linear models representing these four potentially influencing indicators for three species/age classes to assess the relative importance of their influences on body size. The global model containing all indicators was the most parsimonious model for juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch; R²m = 0.4581, R²c = 0.5859), age-0 trout (R²m = 0.4117, R²c = 0.5968), and age-1 or older coastal cutthroat trout (O. clarkii; R²m = 0.2407, R²c = 0.5188). Contrary to expectations, salmonid density, catchment size, and physical habitat metrics contributed more to the top models for both coho salmon and age-1 or older cutthroat trout than stream temperature metrics. However, a stream temperature metric, accumulated degree days, had the only significant relationship (positive) of the indicators with body size in age-0 trout (95% CI 1.58 to 23.04). Our analysis identifies complex relationships between salmonid body size and environmental influences, such as the importance of physical habitat such as pool size and boulders. However, management or restoration actions aimed at improving or preventing anticipated declines in physical habitat such as adding instream wood or actions that may lead to increasing pool area have potential to ensure a natural range of salmonid body sizes across watersheds. Full article

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of mortality globally, contributing significantly to the burden on healthcare systems. Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of NCD mortality is crucial for identifying vulnerable populations and regions at high risk. Objectives: Here, we evaluated the spatiotemporal patterns of NCD mortality in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico (MAVM) from 2000 to 2019 for five International Classification of Diseases chapters (4, 5, 6, 9, and 10) at two spatial scales: the municipal level and metropolitan region. Methods: Mortality rates were calculated for the total population and stratified by sex and age groups at both spatial scales. In addition, the relative risk (RR) of mortality was estimated to identify vulnerable population groups and regions with a high risk of mortality, using women and the 25–34 age group as reference categories for population-level analysis, and the overall MAVM mortality rate as the reference for municipal-level analysis. Results: Mortality trends showed that circulatory-system diseases (Chapter 9) are emerging as a concerning health issue, with 45 municipalities showing increasing mortality trends, especially among older adults. Respiratory-system diseases (Chapter 10), mental and behavioral disorders (Chapter 5) and nervous-system diseases (Chapter 6) predominantly did not exhibit a consistent general mortality trend. However, upon disaggregating by sex and age groups, specific negative or positive trends emerged at the municipal level for some of these chapters or subgroups. Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (Chapter 4) showed a complex pattern, with some age groups presenting increasing mortality trends, and 52 municipalities showing increasing trends overall. The RR showed men and older age groups (≥35 years) exhibiting higher mortality risks. The temporal trend of RR allowed us to identify spatial mortality hotspots mainly in chapters related to circulatory, endocrine, and respiratory diseases, forming four geographical clusters in Mexico City that show persistent high risk of mortality. Conclusions: The spatiotemporal analysis highlights municipalities and vulnerable populations with a consistently elevated mortality risk. These findings emphasize the need for monitoring NCD mortality patterns at both the municipal and metropolitan levels to address disparities and guide the implementation of health policies aimed at reducing mortality risk in vulnerable populations. Full article

Research on raw materials for Al₂O₃-SiC-C refractory castables used in blast furnace troughs is relatively well established. However, gaps remain in both laboratory and industrial trials concerning the performance of castables incorporating SiC-modified flake graphite and alternative carbon sources. This study investigated the sintering behavior, mechanical properties, and service performance of Al₂O₃-SiC-C castables utilizing varying contents of modified flake graphite, pitch, and carbon black as carbon sources. Samples were characterized using SEM, XRD, and EDS for phase composition and microstructural morphology analysis. Key findings revealed that the thermal expansion mismatch between the SiC coating and flake graphite in SiC-modified graphite generated a microcrack-toughening effect. This effect, combined with the synergistic reinforcement from both components, enhanced the mechanical properties. The SiC modification layer improved the wettability and oxidation resistance of the flake graphite. This modified graphite further contributed to enhanced erosion resistance through mechanisms of matrix pinning and crack deflection within the microstructure. However, the microcracks induced by thermal mismatch concurrently reduced erosion resistance, resulting in an overall limited net improvement in erosion resistance attributable to the modified graphite. Specimens containing 1 wt.% modified flake graphite exhibited the optimal overall performance. During industrial trials, this formulation unexpectedly demonstrated a water reduction mechanism requiring further investigation. Full article

Carbon emissions from freshwater aquaculture can exacerbate the greenhouse effect, thereby impacting human life and health. Consequently, it is of great significance to explore the carbon peak process and the role of emission reduction data in China’s freshwater aquaculture industry. This study innovatively employs the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index model (LMDI) and the Tapio decoupling model to conduct an in-depth analysis of the relationship between carbon emissions and output values in the freshwater aquaculture industry, accurately identifying the main driving factors. Meanwhile, the global and local Moran’s I indices are introduced to analyze its spatial correlation from a new perspective. The results indicate that from 2013 to 2023, carbon emissions from China’s freshwater aquaculture industry exhibited a quasi-“N”-shaped trend, reaching a peak of 38 million tons in 2015. East China was the primary contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for 46%, while South China, Central China, and Northeast China each had an average annual share of around 14%, with Southwest, North China, and Northwest China contributing relatively small proportions. The global Moran’s I index showed a decreasing trend, with a p-value ≤ 0.0010 and a z-score > 3.3, indicating a 99% significant spatial correlation. High-high clusters were concentrated in some provinces of East China, while low-low clusters were found in Northwest, North, and Southwest China. The level of fishery economic development positively drove carbon emissions, whereas freshwater aquaculture production efficiency, industrial structure, and the scale of the aquaculture population had negative effects on carbon emissions. During the study period, carbon emissions exhibited three states: weak decoupling, strong decoupling, and expansive negative decoupling, with alternating strong and weak decoupling occurring after 2015. Full article

Emerging markets face growing pressures to integrate sustainable English business practices while maintaining economic growth, particularly in addressing environmental challenges and achieving carbon neutrality goals. English Financial information extraction becomes crucial for supporting green finance initiatives, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance, and sustainable investment decisions in these markets. This paper presents FinATG, an AI-driven autoregressive framework for extracting sustainability-related English financial information from English texts, specifically designed to support emerging markets in their transition toward sustainable development. The framework addresses the complex challenges of processing ESG reports, green bond disclosures, carbon footprint assessments, and sustainable investment documentation prevalent in emerging economies. FinATG introduces a domain-adaptive span representation method fine-tuned on sustainability-focused English financial corpora, implements constrained decoding mechanisms based on green finance regulations, and integrates FinBERT with autoregressive generation for end-to-end extraction of environmental and governance information. While achieving competitive performance on standard benchmarks, FinATG’s primary contribution lies in its architecture, which prioritizes correctness and compliance for the high-stakes financial domain. Experimental validation demonstrates FinATG’s effectiveness with entity F1 scores of 88.5 and REL F1 scores of 80.2 on standard English datasets, while achieving superior performance (85.7–86.0 entity F1, 73.1–74.0 REL+ F1) on sustainability-focused financial datasets. The framework particularly excels in extracting carbon emission data, green investment relationships, and ESG compliance indicators, achieving average AUC and RGR scores of 0.93 and 0.89 respectively. By automating the extraction of sustainability metrics from complex English financial documents, FinATG supports emerging markets in meeting international ESG standards, facilitating green finance flows, and enhancing transparency in sustainable business practices, ultimately contributing to their sustainable development goals and climate action commitments. Full article

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) evaluation has become increasingly critical for company sustainability assessments, especially for enterprises in the construction industry with a high environmental burden. However, existing methods face limitations in subjective evaluation, inconsistent ratings across agencies, and a lack of industry-specificity. To address these limitations, this study proposes a large language model (LLM)-based intelligent ESG evaluation model specifically designed for the construction enterprises in China. The model integrates three modules: (1) an ESG report information extraction module utilizing natural language processing and Chinese pre-trained language models to identify and classify ESG-relevant statements; (2) an ESG rating prediction module employing XGBoost regression with SHAP analysis to predict company ratings and quantify individual statement contributions; and (3) an ESG intelligent evaluation module combining knowledge graph construction with fine-tuned Qwen2.5 language models using Chain-of-Thought (CoT). Empirical validation demonstrates that the model achieves 93.33% accuracy in the ESG rating classification and an R² score of 0.5312. SHAP analysis reveals that environmental factors contribute most significantly to rating predictions (38.7%), followed by governance (32.0%) and social dimensions (29.3%). The fine-tuned LLM integrated with knowledge graph shows improved evaluation consistency, achieving 65% accuracy compared to 53.33% for standalone LLM approaches, constituting a relative improvement of 21.88%. This study contributes to the ESG evaluation methodology by providing an objective, industry-specific, and interpretable framework that enhances rating consistency and provides actionable insights for enterprise sustainability improvement. This research provides guidance for automated and intelligent ESG evaluations for construction enterprises while addressing critical gaps in current ESG practices. Full article

The extended operation of high-speed railways has led to an increased incidence of tunnel lining defects, with falling debris posing a significant safety threat. Within tunnels, single-train passage and trains-crossing events constitute the most frequent operational scenarios, both generating extreme aerodynamic environments that alter debris trajectories from free fall. To systematically investigate the aerodynamic differences and underlying mechanisms governing falling debris behavior under these two distinct conditions, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model (debris–air–tunnel–train) was developed using an improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES) turbulence model. Comparative analyses focused on the translational and rotational motions as well as the aerodynamic load coefficients of the debris in both single-train and trains-crossing scenarios. The mechanisms driving the changes in debris aerodynamic behavior are elucidated. Findings reveal that under single-train operation, falling debris travels a greater distance compared with trains-crossing conditions. Specifically, at train speeds ranging from 250–350 km/h, the average flight distances of falling debris in the X and Z directions under single-train conditions surpass those under trains crossing conditions by 10.3 and 5.5 times, respectively. At a train speed of 300 km/h, the impulse of C_Fx and C_Fz under single-train conditions is 8.6 and 4.5 times greater than under trains-crossing conditions, consequently leading to the observed reduction in flight distance. Under the conditions of trains crossing, the falling debris is situated between the two trains, and although the wind speed is low, the flow field exhibits instability. This is the primary factor contributing to the reduced flight distance of the falling debris. However, it also leads to more pronounced trajectory deviations and increased speed fluctuations under intersection conditions. The relative velocity (CRV) on the falling debris surface is diminished, resulting in smaller-scale vortex structures that are more numerous. Consequently, the aerodynamic load coefficient is reduced, while the fluctuation range experiences an increase. Full article

(1) Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder driven by the BCR::ABL oncoprotein. During the chronic phase, Philadelphia chromosome-positive hematopoietic stem cells generate proliferative myeloid cells with various stages of maturation. Despite this expansion, leukemic stem cells (LSCs) retain self-renewal capacity via asymmetric cell divisions, sustaining the stem cell pool. Quiescent LSCs are known to be resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), potentially through BCR::ABL-independent signaling pathways. We hypothesize that dysregulation of genes governing asymmetric division in LSCs contributes to disease progression, and that their expression pattern may serve as a prognostic marker during the chronic phase of CML. (2) Methods: Genes related to asymmetric cell division in the context of hematopoietic stem cells were extracted from the PubMed database with the keyword “asymmetric hematopoietic stem cell”. The collected relative gene set was tested on two independent bulk transcriptome cohorts and the results were confirmed by single-cell RNA sequencing. (3) Results: The expression of genes involved in asymmetric hematopoietic stem cell division was found to discriminate disease phases during CML progression in the two independent transcriptome cohorts. Concordance between cohorts was observed on asymmetric molecules downregulated during blast crisis (BC) as compared to the chronic phase (CP). This downregulation during the BC phase was confirmed at single-cell level for SELL, CD63, NUMB, HK2, and LAMP2 genes. Single-cell analysis during the CP found that CD63 is associated with a poor prognosis phenotype, with the opposite prediction revealed by HK2 and NUMB expression. The single-cell trajectory reconstitution analysis in CP samples showed CD63 regulation highlighting a trajectory cluster implicating HSPB1, PIM2, ANXA5, LAMTOR1, CFL1, CD52, RAD52, MEIS1, and PDIA3, known to be implicated in hematopoietic malignancies. (4) Conclusion: Regulation of CD63, a tetraspanin involved in the asymmetric division of hematopoietic stem cells, was found to be associated with poor prognosis during CML progression and could be a potential new therapeutic target. Full article

This study focuses on Richard Wilhelm (1873–1930), a German Protestant missionary, employing archival research methods to examine his experiences in China and his contributions to the dissemination of Christianity. After arriving in Qingdao (青島) in 1899, Wilhelm adopted a missionary approach that was relatively new to the German missionary community. Under the influence of the theory of “direct Christianity”, he focused on “cultural evangelism” in an effort to establish a non-dogmatic Chinese Christianity. By establishing modern schools and hospitals, he played a pivotal role in fostering reconciliation between Christian and non-Christian communities in China, thereby enhancing the legitimacy of Christian educational institutions within the indigenous educational framework. Furthermore, through extensive dialogues with both intellectual elites and ordinary citizens, Wilhelm demonstrated that traditional Confucian values are not inherently in conflict with Christian teachings. His missionary endeavors thus promoted the indigenization of Christianity in China and significantly facilitated Sino-German cultural exchange. Full article

The eastern North Pacific Ocean coastline (from the Salish Sea to the western Aleutian Islands) is highly glaciated with relic sediment deposits scattered throughout a highly contoured and variable bathymetry. Oceanographic conditions feature strong currents and tidal exchange. Sand wave fields are prominent features within these glaciated shorelines and provide critical habitat to sand lance (Ammodytes spp.). Despite an awareness of the importance of these benthic habitats, attributes related to their structure and characteristics remain undocumented. We explored the micro-bathymetric morphology of a subtidal sand wave field known to be a consistent habitat for sand lance. We calculated geomorphic attributes of the bedform habitat, analyzed sediment composition, and measured oceanographic properties of the associated water column. This feature has a streamlined teardrop form, tapered in the direction of the predominant tidal current. Consistent flow paths along the long axis contribute to well-defined and maintained bedform morphology and margin. Distinct patterns in amplitude and period of sand waves were documented. Strong tidal exchange has resulted in well-sorted medium-to-coarse-grained sediments with coarser sediments, including gravel and cobble, within wave troughs. Extensive mixing related to tidal currents results in a highly oxygenated water column, even to depths of 80 m. Our analysis provides unique insights into the physical characteristics that define high-quality habitat for these fish. Further work is needed to identify, enumerate, and map the presence and relative quality of these benthic habitats and to characterize the oceanographic properties that maintain these benthic habitats over time. Full article

This work investigated the mechanistic role of chloride ions (Cl⁻) in the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (B-Z) oscillating reaction. We conducted a multivariate statistical analysis of the B-Z response, established a quadratic polynomial regression model, and determined the contributions of the experimental parameters to the induction time. The results indicate that the relationship between the experimental parameters and the induction time is often nonmonotonic, exhibiting secondary dependence. Then, we studied the influence mechanism by which Cl⁻ affects the B-Z reaction system. Both experimental and theoretical studies indicate that as the concentration of Cl⁻ increases, the system becomes more active as the activation energy increases. When the Cl⁻ concentration is less than 1 mmol/L, the induced apparent activation energy remains relatively constant. However, as the Cl⁻ concentration increases from 1.00 mmol/L to 2.00 mmol/L, the induced apparent activation energy increases rapidly from 50 kJ/mol to 120 kJ/mol, which severely hinders the induction period and then increases the induction time. Full article

Background: Peptides are a class of molecules that can be presented as good antimicrobials and with mechanisms that avoid resistance, and the design of peptides with good activity can be complex and laborious. The study of their quantitative structure–activity relationships through machine learning algorithms can shed light on a rational and effective design. Methods: Information on the antimicrobial activity of peptides was collected, and their structures were characterized by molecular descriptors generation to design regression and classification models based on machine learning algorithms. The contribution of each descriptor in the generated models was evaluated by determining its relative importance and, finally, the antimicrobial activity of new peptides was estimated. Results: A structured database of antimicrobial peptides and their descriptors was obtained, with which 56 machine learning models were generated. Random Forest-based models showed better performance, and of these, regression models showed variable performance (R² = 0.339–0.574), while classification models showed good performance (MCC = 0.662–0.755 and ACC = 0.831–0.877). Those models based on bacterial groups showed better performance than those based on the entire dataset. The properties of the new peptides generated are related to important descriptors that encode physicochemical properties such as lower molecular weight, higher charge, propensity to form alpha-helical structures, lower hydrophobicity, and higher frequency of amino acids such as lysine and serine. Conclusions: Machine learning models allowed to establish the structure–activity relationships of antimicrobial peptides. Classification models performed better than regression models. These models allowed us to make predictions and new peptides with high antimicrobial potential were proposed. Full article

The article addresses the question of the relative importance of human population size and growth in relation to the environmental problems of planetary heating and biodiversity loss in the current, Anthropocene era. To what extent could policies to encourage lower fertility be justified, while observing that this subject is an inherently contested one. It is proposed that a helpful distinction can be made between specific threats to habitats and biodiversity, as opposed to those related to global energy use and warming. Pressures of over-population can be important in relation to the former. But with regard to the latter—rising per capita energy usage—reduced fertility has historically been positively, not negatively correlated. A case can be made that the high-fertility nations of sub-Saharan Africa could benefit from culturally respectful fertility reduction policies. However, where planetary heating is concerned, it is the hydrocarbon-based, per capita energy-consumption patterns of already low-fertility populations on the other five inhabited continents that is rather more critical. While it will be helpful to stabilise global human population, this cannot be viewed as a solution to the climate crisis problem of this century. That requires relentless focus on reducing hydrocarbon use and confronting the rising inequality since c.1980 that has been exacerbating competitive materialist consumerism. This involves the ideological negotiation of values to promote a culture change that understands and politically embraces a new economics of both human and planetary balance, equity, and distribution. Students of populations can contribute by re-assessing what can be the appropriate demographic units and measures for policies engaging with the challenges of the Anthropocene. Full article