Search Results (68,550)

Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) has emerged as a material for electrochemical energy conversion, serving dual primary roles in fuel cell technologies: (i) as an electrocatalyst precursor for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) through pyrolysis-derived N-doped porous carbons and metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) structures, and (ii) as a membrane component that enhances proton conductivity via imidazole-mediated Grotthuss hopping while suppressing fuel crossover through molecular sieving. This comprehensive review systematically evaluates ZIF-8 performance across multiple fuel cell types, including primarily proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), as well as direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs), and microbial fuel cells (MFCs), while also covering related electrochemical applications such as zinc–air batteries, supercapacitors, and water splitting devices, where ZIF-8-derived materials demonstrate improved catalytic activity. The review examines structure–performance relationships, highlighting strategies such as heteroatom doping, bimetallic synergy, hierarchical porosity engineering, and polymer composite fabrication that have enabled ZIF-8-based catalysts to achieve ORR half-wave potentials and PEMFC power densities, rivaling commercial Pt/C systems. ZIF-8 composite membranes demonstrate proton conductivities in polybenzimidazole systems and effective methanol blocking. Despite improved progress, challenges persist regarding long-term stability, scalable synthesis, and degradation mechanism understanding. This review critically analyzes recent advances, identifies performance-limiting factors across applications, and outlines future research directions for developing commercially viable ZIF-8-based electrochemical technologies. Full article

Texas wines remain underrepresented in the scientific literature, and combined chemical and sensory datasets for key varieties are limited. This study characterized the physicochemical, phenolic, volatile, metabolomic, and sensory profiles of 26 Texas Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat wines from the Texas High Plains and Texas Hill Country AVAs and compared them with benchmark wines from California, France, and Uruguay. Analyses included pH, titratable acidity, alcohol, color, antioxidant activity, targeted LC-MS/MS phenolic profiling, HS-SPME-GC-MS volatile analysis, untargeted metabolomics, and sensory profiling using Hierarchical Rate-All-That-Apply (HRATA). Multivariate analyses revealed distinct chemical and sensory patterns between Texas wines and benchmark regions, as well as notable differences between Texas subregions, as observed through PCA and PLS-DA score and loading plots. It is acknowledged that the wines in this study originated from different producers, vintages, and winemaking protocols; therefore, observed regional differences may reflect a combination of environmental conditions and winemaking practices rather than terroir alone. Texas High Plains wines were generally associated with more favorable aromatic and sensory attributes, while Texas Hill Country wines showed distinct chemical and sensory patterns. Interpretations of relationships between chemical compounds and sensory attributes are based on multivariate biplot associations and should be understood as observed co-occurrences rather than direct causal relationships. These results provide the first combined reference dataset for Texas Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat wines and support future research on regional identity, varietal performance, and wine quality in Texas. Full article

The development of sustainable and efficient methods for carbon–carbon (C–C) bond formation remains the main objective in modern organic synthesis. In recent years, photocatalysis has developed as a suitable alternative to conventional transition-metal-catalyzed approaches, offering mild reaction conditions, high functional-group tolerance, excellent atom economy, and the ability to utilize visible light as a clean and renewable energy source. Through unique radical-mediated pathways, photocatalytic strategies allow the selective activation of traditionally unreactive substrates, including haloarenes, alkanes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, and amines, thereby providing efficient routes to complex molecular architectures. Beyond organic synthesis, photocatalysis has also demonstrated significant potential in broader areas of applied chemistry. This review summarizes the major advances in photocatalytic C–C bond coupling reported from 2023 to early 2026, with special focus on C(sp³)–C(sp³), C(sp³)–C(sp²), and C(sp²)–C(sp²) bond-forming reactions. Representative catalytic systems, substrate scope, reaction mechanisms, and synthetic applications are critically discussed, including dual photoredox/transition-metal catalysis, metal-free photocatalysis, hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), radical–radical coupling, decarboxylative and deaminative functionalization, and enantioselective transformations. Finally, current challenges, emerging trends, and future opportunities for developing more sustainable, scalable, and selective photocatalytic C–C bond-forming methodologies are highlighted, providing a comprehensive resource for researchers working in synthetic and medicinal chemistry. Full article

The integration of AI into everyday life, across work and leisure, constitutes a significant driver of social innovation, reshaping interaction, communication, learning processes, and knowledge organisation, as well as the management of work and organisational activities. Increasingly oriented towards users’ needs, AI systems are learned and instructed to support not only cognitive but also emotional demands. In higher education, AI represents a transformative force, enhancing institutional efficiency across research, teaching, and third-mission activities. However, its adoption raises critical ethical concerns and highlights the importance of digital literacy in fostering soft competences. These are essential to promote awareness, self-regulation, and a critical, responsible use of AI technologies. Key questions remain regarding the extent of AI integration within universities, its ethical regulation, and its role in supporting academic and administrative practices. This article offers an initial overview through the analysis of 30 global case studies conducted within a European Commission-funded project. Building on Escudero’s theoretical framework of Imperfect AI, the analysis of the research findings highlights the discrepancies between the macro-social perspective on the ethical integration of AI within institutions and the meso- and micro-social perspectives on its effective integration into the everyday practices of institutional actors. Full article

The chemical constituents and neuroprotective potential of Schizophyllum commune remain insufficiently characterized. Therefore, we isolated and identified five secondary metabolites (A–E) from S. commune, and investigated their neuroprotective activities and underlying mechanisms. Compound C showed the most significant protective effect against H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity in C17.2 neural stem cells. Spectroscopy was used to structurally characterize the isolated compounds. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), compound C was found to significantly modulate genes associated with G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-related signaling pathways and neuroactive ligand–receptor interactions. Differentially expressed genes, including Adora2a, S1pr1, Adm, Tbxa2r, and Grin3b, were validated using quantitative real-time PCR. They are associated with GPCR-related signaling and neurotransmission pathways, consistent with the RNA-seq data. As indicated by the functional enrichment analysis, compound C may regulate neuronal stress responses through GPCR-associated signaling networks. In the Western blot, compound C markedly attenuated H₂O₂-induced protein kinase A (PKA) C phosphorylation without altering total PKA C expression, suggesting that modulation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway may contribute to the neuroprotective effects of compound C. Collectively, compound C may exert neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress-induced neuronal injury, potentially through the modulation of GPCR-mediated PKA signaling. S. commune is a promising natural bioactive compound source for further development in neuroprotective research. Full article

Engineering literacy research has been dominated by static, competence-based frameworks that fail to explain how attributes evolve dynamically and systematically underrepresent two critical dimensions: engineering consciousness as a cognitive precursor to decision-making, and engineering culture as a value-laden, inherited dimension sustaining professional identity across generations. These gaps are particularly consequential for STEM teacher preparation, where cultivating comprehensive engineering literacy in future educators is hypothesized to create a multiplier effect on societal STEM engagement. This study develops a theoretical model through a systematized literature retrieval and critical synthesis of engineering literacy literature (2005–2025; N = 113 publications), combined with theoretical deduction grounded in system theory and synergy theory. Two research questions guide the study: (1) How is the connotation of engineering literacy systematically reconstructed under multiple transformations? (2) What is the synergistic evolution logic among its constituent elements, and how can this logic inform curriculum design for STEM teacher preparation? The design utility of the model is illustrated through a curriculum design case. The analysis yields a “multi-driver, five-dimension synergy” dynamic model comprising five interconnected elements (knowledge, competence, consciousness, ethics, and culture) that co-evolve through a “consciousness–action–culture” spiral cycle, in which culture functions as the slow variable governing the long-term evolution of the entire system. The curriculum design case (a 64 h course for pre-service teachers centered on the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge) illustrates how the model guided curricular decisions in four areas: consciousness activation before skill training, distributed cultural integration, multidimensional assessment, and operationalization of the multiplier effect through a teaching transformation module. The study advances engineering literacy theory by upgrading it from a static competence inventory to a culturally embedded, consciousness-driven adaptive ecosystem and provides a potentially transferable curriculum design framework for STEM teacher preparation. As a design case, the curriculum blueprint awaits implementation and empirical validation; claims about learning outcomes, multiplier effects, and cross-cultural applicability are theoretical hypotheses rather than empirically validated findings. Full article

Cardiomyopathy comprises heterogeneous diseases characterized by structural or functional myocardial abnormalities and caused by conditions such as hypertension and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. Current management relies mainly on pharmacotherapy and lifestyle interventions, but these approaches are limited by poor bioavailability and adverse effects. Nanoparticles (NPs) can deliver therapeutic drugs to cardiac muscle tissue through passive or active targeting, protecting the drugs they carry from premature degradation. They also show good biocompatibility and minimize damage to healthy tissues. This review summarizes the applications of NPs in cardiomyopathy and their active and passive targeting strategies, and provides a brief overview based on the mechanisms reported in individual published studies. It aims to provide therapeutic strategies for clinical management of cardiomyopathy and a theoretical foundation for future translational research. Full article

Online commercial sex platforms have become key environments in which potential indicators relevant to technology-facilitated sexual exploitation (TFSE) and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) may be observed. Current language models and computational approaches to identifying potential exploitation often assume that behavioural indicators (e.g., geographical mobility, pricing, and other linguistic markers) are easily accessible and comparable across online spaces and jurisdictions. This study challenges this assumption by showing that platform design largely shapes the variables and indicators that can be observed in these spaces. Drawing on a large-scale dataset of 1.9 million profiles (after cleaning) from two major online commercial-sex platforms, AdultWork (United Kingdom) and CallEscort (United States), the research examines how potential exploitation-related indicators may be identified and interpreted across platform architectures. Through cross-platform mapping, significant misalignments in data visibility and comparability were highlighted for demographic characteristics, mobility data, and services offered. To address comparability challenges, the study introduces a platform-mediated visibility framework to explain how platform design shapes the visibility, interpretation, and comparability of potential indicators relevant to TFSE and TFGBV. The framework provides a methodological basis for interpreting exploitation-related indicators across different platform architectures and underscores the value of platform-aware approaches to safeguarding and prevention. In collaboration with US and UK law enforcement and Non-Governmental Oranization (NGO) partners, the study advocates for proactive and tailored prevention strategies that account for platform architecture while recognising that coordinated activity and potential indicators do not, in isolation, establish exploitation, trafficking or criminal behaviour. Full article

Oxidative stress is strongly associated with neuronal damage in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). Fungal melanins are remarkable free radical scavengers; however, their capacity to protect neurons from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage remains understudied. This research evaluated the neuroprotective effects of fungal melanins and their arginine-modified counterparts on SH-SY5Y cells against neurotoxins, as well as their impact on ROS levels. Exposure to 0.6 mM H₂O₂ or 1 mM MPP⁺ markedly elevated ROS levels and reduced cell viability to approximately 56% and 60%, respectively. At 10 μg/mL, melanins from Apioperdon pyriforme, Russula nigricans, and Xylaria nigripes significantly protected cells against H₂O₂ cytotoxicity, whereas arginine-modified melanin from the skin of Scleroderma sinnamariense significantly attenuated MPP⁺ cytotoxicity. Further dose-dependent evaluation revealed that melanin from A. pyriforme (10–12 μg/mL) displayed activity comparable to the positive control (164 μg/mL N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)) against H₂O₂ by increasing cell viability up to 90%. Similarly, arginine-modified melanin from S. sinnamariense (6–10 μg/mL) and NAC showed a comparable protective effect against MPP⁺, boosting cell viability up to 80%. Both samples suppressed ROS to levels comparable to, or lower than, the untreated control. Melanin from A. pyriforme is a promising candidate for further research into complementary therapies for PD. Full article

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with complex neurobiological alterations in which oxidative stress may play a central role; however, direct evidence linking redox biomarkers to alterations in brain chemistry remains limited. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the relationships between oxidative stress and neuroimaging alterations in individuals with MDD. A search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (2016–2026) following the PRISMA guidelines, including human studies assessing oxidative biomarkers (central or peripheral) alongside neuroimaging or neurofunctional measures. Four studies met the inclusion criteria (case–control, cross-sectional, and interventional designs). These studies collectively indicate that antioxidant enzymes, glutathione, and malondialdehyde are associated with altered brain activity and connectivity, prefrontal neurochemical changes, and cognitive performance. Overall, the findings support the existence of associations between redox disruption and central nervous system (CNS) alterations in MDD. However, methodological heterogeneity and the limited number of studies highlight the need for further longitudinal and multimodal research to clarify the directionality and clinical relevance of these findings. Full article

Natural product (NP)-based neuroregeneration research has generated extensive preclinical evidence over the past five decades. Pharmacological activity across core processes of central nervous system (CNS) repair including neurogenesis, axonal regeneration, and neuroplasticity have been documented. Despite consistent observations of neurite outgrowth, neuroprotection, and partial functional recovery in cellular and animal models, translation into durable clinical therapies has remained limited. Neurotrophins such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) similarly exhibit strong regenerative effects in experimental systems, but even direct central administration has failed to produce sustained long-distance axonal regeneration or stable circuit reconstruction. This suggests that delivery constraints alone do not explain the failure to achieve clinically-relevant functional repair. It is proposed herein that this limitation reflects intrinsic constraints in how regenerative signalling is organised across multiple biological scales. Integrating evidence from in vitro and in vivo injury models, we can introduce a Target–Mechanism–Network (T-M-N) approach that systematically maps NPs activity onto a hierarchical regulatory architecture. Across diverse NPs classes, ~55 recurrent molecular targets cluster into 10 functional mechanisms, which converge into four higher-order network control regimes governing energetic competence, regenerative signalling capacity, redox-immune balance, and structural plasticity. This analysis reveals that NPs converge on shared regenerative networks but rarely coordinate all required domains within a unified pharmacological programme. They can thus be seen to represent a pre-organised source of evolutionarily selected pharmacophores encoding discrete elements of neuroregenerative network control. On this basis, pseudo-natural product (PNP) design enabled by computational chemistry and phenotypic screening may provide a strategy to recombine these fragments into engineered scaffolds with improved functional selectivity and regenerative coherence. The need to shift drug discovery from optimisation of individual NPs toward architecture-driven design of multi-functional molecules that address the integrated demands of neuroregeneration is discussed. Full article

Approximately 15% of the population in developed countries report a penicillin allergy in their medical history. However, this changes considerably following a comprehensive allergological evaluation. Numerous studies have shown that a true penicillin allergy is confirmed in only about 8% of individuals. Recommended diagnostic protocols are usually complex and time-consuming, as they rely primarily on in vivo diagnostic approaches, such as skin testing and drug provocation tests. To date, there are no clear guidelines regarding the implementation of in vitro tests in diagnostic algorithms for patients with suspected penicillin allergies. Currently available in vitro methods are characterized by limited sensitivity and specificity. On the other hand, they offer the potential to reduce the need for drug provocation testing, which remains the gold standard but carries an inherent risk of inducing clinical reactions. Consequently, researchers continue to explore methodological improvements aimed at enhancing the diagnostic performance and clinical utility of these tests. In this systematic review, we analyze the current possibilities and limitations of the basophil activation test (BAT) and the measurement of specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies, as well as their potential role in the routine diagnostic workup of patients with suspected immediate hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins. Full article

Background/Objectives: The period between 12 and 16 years of age coincides with peak pubertal change, declining habitual physical activity, and the consolidation of lifelong behavioral patterns, making it a critical window for understanding how fitness develops and how stable (or unstable) it is over time. This review aims to synthesize longitudinal evidence addressing how HRPF changes and tracks in adolescents aged approximately 12 to 16 years, the sex- and maturation-related modifiers of these patterns, the methodological approaches used to assess them, and the secular and behavioral context within which they occur. Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted searching four electronic databases—Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus—using terms combining concepts of adolescence, health-related physical fitness, and longitudinal study design published up to April 2026. Reference lists of retrieved systematic reviews and meta-analyses were snowball-searched. Eligible studies employed longitudinal or repeated-measures designs in samples overlapping the 12–16-year age range; no formal risk-of-bias appraisal or quantitative pooling was undertaken, consistent with the narrative-review design. Findings were synthesized narratively by HRPF component and thematic domain. Results: Cardiorespiratory fitness rises through early adolescence before plateauing or declining from approximately age 15 in one longitudinal cohort, more markedly in boys; muscular power and strength diverge increasingly by sex, a pattern consistent with androgen-mediated gains in lean mass in boys, although this mechanism was not directly tested here; flexibility remains the most stable component; and body composition acts as both an outcome and a determinant of other fitness test performance. Within-adolescence tracking is moderate-to-high for most components in the single available 3-year cohort of adolescent girls that reported component-specific tracking coefficients (e.g., lower-limb power β = 0.98, aerobic endurance β = 0.75, trunk muscular endurance β = 0.51), and substantially stronger than tracking from childhood into adolescence. Secular trends indicate population-level fitness has declined in many countries over recent decades, with adolescents showing greater decline than children. Conclusions: Early-to-mid adolescence appears to be a critical and time-limited opportunity to consider for fitness-promoting intervention: fitness rank is still somewhat malleable, but shows progressively stronger tracking with age—a pattern of rank stability that should not itself be read as evidence about responsiveness to intervention. Methodological heterogeneity in test batteries, follow-up duration, and tracking statistics limits direct comparability across studies. Future research should incorporate maturity-status indicators, multi-wave designs, and harmonized assessment protocols. Full article

Liver-targeted drug delivery offers opportunities to increase therapeutic exposure at sites of hepatic disease while limiting systemic toxicity; however, successful targeting requires more than preferential accumulation of a carrier within the liver. This narrative review critically summarizes recent advances in synthetic, biological, and biomimetic delivery platforms, including lipid, polymeric, inorganic, and protein-based nanoparticles, nucleic acid nanocarriers, extracellular vesicles, plant-derived nanovesicles, cell-mediated systems, and cell membrane-coated nanoparticles. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, with emphasis on studies published during the last decade and updated through 24 August 2026. Particular attention is given to the biological determinants of hepatic biodistribution, including sinusoidal architecture, physicochemical carrier properties, protein corona formation, receptor–ligand interactions, and disease-associated alterations in the hepatic microenvironment. The review distinguishes organ-level hepatic accumulation from cell-specific uptake and productive intracellular delivery and discusses strategies directed toward hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, Kupffer cells and other macrophages, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, neutrophils, and additional immune-cell populations. Major delivery platforms are critically compared with respect to the evidence supporting targeting specificity, cargo compatibility, administration route, reported safety and immunogenicity, manufacturability, analytical characterization, and translational maturity. Particular consideration is given to extracellular vesicle- and plant-derived nanovesicle-based approaches, for which biological activity, biodistribution, standardization, and scalability remain important areas of investigation. Overall, current research in liver-targeted delivery is increasingly focused on moving beyond nonspecific organ accumulation toward disease-adapted, cell-specific, and intracellularly productive delivery, although substantial biological, manufacturing, and regulatory challenges remain before many emerging approaches can achieve routine clinical translation. Full article

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to create a sustainable future by considering environmental, social, and economic elements from a holistic perspective. Instilling these goals in individuals through education is critically important for increasing awareness of sustainable development and translating this awareness into behavior. This study aims to examine how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through educational projects conducted in collaboration with schools. While the projects involved various educational stakeholders, including students, teachers, school administrators, and parents as project beneficiaries, the qualitative data for this study were collected through semi-structured interviews with representatives of 17 NGOs responsible for planning and implementing these projects. The interview data were analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis. The findings show that SDG projects significantly contribute to developing environmental awareness, sustainable thinking, and responsible behavior in students. However, the success of the projects varies depending on the level of stakeholder participation in the educational environment, i.e., the active involvement and collaboration of relevant individuals in the process. The research findings indicate that strengthening stakeholder participation and more regular integration of sustainability-themed projects into educational curricula are necessary to promote the dissemination of sustainable development goals through education. Full article