Search Results (6,976)

The safe utilization of underground spaces constitutes a critical challenge for densely populated cities, making geosafety risk prevention in underground development a focal point for both academic research and governmental governance. As the pivotal link and ultimate objective in geological safety management, risk prevention facilitates the transition from theoretical research to administrative practice. This study establishes a management-oriented technical framework for geological risk preventive zoning in underground space utilization, addressing the current research gap where zoning methodologies inadequately integrate with governmental decision-making processes due to insufficient consideration of multidimensional attributes from both researcher and administrator perspectives. Taking Xiong’an New Area in China as a case study, the framework employs a tri-level analytical structure, restrictive tier, limiting tier, and influencing tier, with phased weighting methodologies, CRITIC-EWM for objective weighting vs. AHP-FAHP for subjective weighting. The scientifically validated results demonstrate the framework’s feasibility and scalability. Limitations and future research directions are identified to guide subsequent studies in this field. Full article

Groundwater, a critical resource for regional water security and public health, faces escalating threats from heavy metal contamination—a pressing environmental challenge worldwide. This study focuses on the central-south Hunan region of China, a mineral-rich, densely populated area characterized predominantly by non-point-source pollution, aiming to systematically unravel the spatial patterns, source contributions, and associated health risks of heavy metals in local groundwater. Based on 717 spring and well water samples collected in 2024, we determined pH and seven heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Tl). By integrating hydrogeological zoning, lithology, topography, and river networks, the study area was divided into 11 assessment units, clearly revealing the spatial heterogeneity of heavy metals. The results demonstrate that exceedances of Cd, Pb, and Zn were sporadic and point-source-influenced, whereas As, Fe, Mn, and Tl showed regional exceedance patterns (e.g., Mn exceeded the standard in 9.76% of samples), identifying them as priority control elements. The spatial distribution of heavy metals was governed the synergistic effects of lithology, water–rock interactions, and hydrological structure, showing a distinct “acidic in the northeast, alkaline in the southwest” pH gradient. Combined application of the APCS-MLR and PMF models resolved five principal pollution sources: an acid-reducing-environment-driven release source (contributing 76.1% of Fe and 58.3% of Pb); a geogenic–anthropogenic composite source (contributing 81.0% of Tl and 62.4% of Cd); a human-perturbation-triggered natural Mn release source (contributing 94.8% of Mn); an agricultural-activity-related input source (contributing 60.1% of Zn); and a primary geological source (contributing 89.9% of As). Monte Carlo simulation-based health risk assessment indicated that the average hazard index (HI) and total carcinogenic risk (TCR) for all heavy metals were below acceptable thresholds, suggesting generally manageable risk. However, As was the dominant contributor to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, with its carcinogenic risk exceeding the threshold in up to 3.84% of the simulated adult exposures under extreme scenarios. Sensitivity analysis identified exposure duration (ED) as the most influential parameter governing risk outcomes. In conclusion, we recommend implementing spatially differentiated management strategies: prioritizing As control in red-bed and granite–metamorphic zones; enhancing Tl monitoring in the northern and northeastern granite-rich areas, particularly downstream of the Mishui River; and regulating land use in brick-factory-dense riparian zones to mitigate disturbance-induced Mn release—for instance, through the enforcement of setback requirements and targeted groundwater monitoring programs. This study provides a scientific foundation for the sustainable management and safety assurance of groundwater resources in regions with similar geological and anthropogenic settings. Full article

Objectives: Personalized medicine is gaining rapid attention over the current drug prescription approach of ‘one-size-fits-all’. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is one such product development technique that has the potential to transform the pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors. Methods: To establish the future of 3D printing in mainstream pharmacy practice, initially, pharmaceutical preclinical and clinical scientific databases (peer-reviewed articles, patents, and marketed products) over the past 10 years were critically scrutinized. Additionally, to provide context, we developed a hypothetical case study illustrating the capabilities of the 3D printing super-compounding pharmacy in personalized patient care, emphasizing the critical role of pharmacists in this process. Results: Acknowledging the potential of 3D printing in pharmacy practice, this review effectively summarizes the advances and opportunities of pharmaceutically feasible 3D printing methods, as well as the challenges in translating this technology into a future super-compounding pharmacy facility. Furthermore, the review highlights the promising capabilities of such pharmaceutical 3D printers in enabling on-site printing of 3D medicines tailored to individual needs, which may range from dose adjustments to multidrug single tablets (polypills). Conclusions: We believe that 3D printing technology has the potential to revolutionize precision and personalized medication approaches in pharmacy practice, which will significantly benefit patient healthcare outcomes. Additionally, the adoption of such technology in pharmacies will lead to a reinvention of the role of pharmacists, thereby creating more job opportunities. Ultimately, 3D printing will create a new paradigm of super-compounding pharmacy practice, providing a new sense of excitement for those looking to enter the pharmacy profession. Full article

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity represent a growing global public health challenge, strongly associated with excess body weight, unhealthy dietary habits, and a sedentary lifestyle. The ketogenic diet (KD), characterized by very low carbohydrate intake, moderate protein intake, and high fat consumption, induces a metabolic state known as ketosis, in which the body switches from glucose to fat as its primary energy source. KD has gained increasing interest as a strategy to improve glycemic control, reduce body weight, and improve lipid profiles in individuals with obesity and T2DM. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize the current scientific evidence on the effects of KD on key metabolic parameters, including blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight, and body composition. The analysis is based on peer-reviewed articles retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and Scopus with particular emphasis on clinical studies that provide robust evidence on the efficacy and safety of KD in the treatment of metabolic disorders. Full article

By addressing the challenges of management difficulties, insufficient integration of driver analysis, and single-dimensional analysis in the governance of illegal land use and illegal construction (collectively referred to as the “Two Illegalities”) under rapid urbanization, this study designs and implements a GIS-based governance system using Xiamen City as the study area. First, we propose a standardized data-processing workflow and construct a comprehensive management platform integrating multi-source data fusion, spatiotemporal visualization, intelligent analysis, and customized report generation, effectively lowering the barrier for non-professional users. Second, utilizing methods integrated into the platform, such as Moran’s I and centroid trajectory analysis, we deeply analyze the spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanisms of “Two Illegalities” activities in Xiamen from 2018 to 2023. The results indicate that the distribution of “Two Illegalities” exhibits significant spatial clustering, with hotspots concentrated in urban–rural transition zones. The spatial morphology evolved from multi-core diffusion to the contraction of agglomeration belts. This evolution is essentially the result of the dynamic adaptation between regional economic development gradients, urbanization processes, and policy-enforcement synergy mechanisms. Through a modular, open technical architecture and a “Data-Technology-Enforcement” collaborative mechanism, the system significantly improves information management efficiency and the scientific basis of decision-making. It provides a replicable and scalable technical framework and practical paradigm for similar cities to transform “Two Illegalities” governance from passive disposal to active prevention and control. Full article

Diffuse aurora is a widespread and long-lasting auroral emission that plays an important role in diagnosing magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling and magnetospheric plasma transport. Despite its scientific significance, diffuse aurora remains challenging to identify automatically in all-sky imager (ASI) observations due to its weak optical intensity, indistinct boundaries, and gradual temporal evolution. These characteristics, together with frequent cloud contamination, limit the effectiveness of conventional keogram-based or morphology-driven detection approaches and hinder large-scale statistical analyses based on long-term optical datasets. In this study, we propose an automated framework for the identification and temporal segmentation of diffuse aurora from untrimmed all-sky auroral videos. The framework consists of a frame-level coarse identification module that combines weak morphological information with inter-frame temporal dynamics to detect candidate diffuse-auroral intervals, and a snippet-level segmentation module that dynamically aggregates temporal information to capture the characteristic gradual onset-plateau-decay evolution of diffuse aurora. Bidirectional temporal modeling is employed to improve boundary localization, while an adaptive mixture-of-experts mechanism reduces redundant temporal variations and enhances discriminative features relevant to diffuse emission. The proposed method is evaluated using multi-year 557.7 nm ASI observations acquired at the Arctic Yellow River Station. Quantitative experiments demonstrate state-of-the-art performance, achieving 96.3% frame-wise accuracy and an Edit score of 87.7%. Case studies show that the method effectively distinguishes diffuse aurora from cloud-induced pseudo-diffuse structures and accurately resolves gradual transition boundaries that are ambiguous in keograms. Based on the automated identification results, statistical distributions of diffuse aurora occurrence, duration, and diurnal variation are derived from continuous observations spanning 2003–2009. The proposed framework enables robust and fully automated processing of large-scale all-sky auroral images, providing a practical tool for remote sensing-based auroral monitoring and supporting objective statistical studies of diffuse aurora and related magnetospheric processes. Full article

Polychrome sculptures are complex, multilayered artifacts that embody the intersection of artistic craftsmanship, material science, and cultural heritage. Over the past two decades, the study of material identification in polychrome sculptures has shown marked interdisciplinary development, driven by advances in analytical technologies that have transformed how these objects are studied, enabling high-resolution identification of pigments, binders, and structural substrates. This review synthesizes key developments in the identification of polychrome sculpture materials, focusing on the integration of non-destructive and molecular-level techniques such as XRF, FTIR, Raman, LIBS, GC-MS, and proteomics. It highlights regional and historical variations in materials and craft processes, with case studies from Brazil, China, and Central Africa demonstrating how multi-modal methods reveal both technical and ritual knowledge embedded in these artworks. The review also examines evolving research paradigms—from pigment identification to stratigraphic and cross-cultural interpretation—and discusses current challenges such as organic material degradation and the need for standardized protocols. Finally, it outlines future directions including AI-assisted diagnostics, multimodal data fusion, and collaborative conservation frameworks. By bridging scientific analysis with cultural context, this study offers a comprehensive methodological reference for the conservation and interpretation of polychrome sculptures worldwide. Full article

Background: Knee osteoarthritis causes considerable pain and disability. Telerehabilitation has emerged as a promising treatment option, especially after the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, but it still faces challenges regarding solid scientific evidence about its multiple benefits. This systematic review aimed to analyze the reported beneficial effects of telerehabilitation based on therapeutic exercise for the management of knee osteoarthritis. Methodsː PubMed, PEDro, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were used to identify eligible studies. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered at PROSPERO (n° CRD42024579836). The selected studies underwent a qualitative assessment using the Modified Jadad Score. Results: Ten studies, including a total of 1354 participants, were included. From the selected studies, a wide variety of outcome measures emerged to evaluate the efficacy of telerehabilitation in the relief of pain and its clinical consequences. Seven studies specifically assessed pain, with four showing significant improvements in pain reduction in the intervention group compared with the control group. Telerehabilitation was found to be more effective or non-inferior to traditional rehabilitation in relieving pain, as reported across various pain scales. Limitations include the heterogeneity of interventions, the exclusion of non-recent studies, and the exclusive focus on therapeutic exercise. Conclusionsː The results of this systematic review suggest that telerehabilitation provides pain relief, improves physical function, and enhances quality of life, while preliminary evidence indicates potential cost-related advantages. However, some studies did not find TR to be superior to control interventions, highlighting mixed evidence. Additional high-quality studies are required to better support this promising rehabilitation approach. Full article

Inflammation is strongly related to the development of multiple chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, and is considered a crucial target for new therapeutic approaches, since it significantly impacts public health, contributes to high mortality rates, and decreases the quality of life. Conventional anti-inflammatory approaches are commonly used, but they present multiple limitations, such as undesirable side effects and low target-specificity. Medicinal plants and their bioactive phytochemical compounds have been studied in recent years and are considered promising alternatives to classical therapies. They are widely recognized for their capacity to modulate inflammatory pathways, regulate inflammatory responses, and consequently reduce inflammation and related symptoms. Although they are considered a good therapeutic alternative, their application in the human body is limited by certain characteristics, such as low solubility, which leads to rapid metabolism and excretion by the organism, significantly reducing bioavailability; for these reasons, the use of medicinal plants remains a biopharmaceutical challenge. Nanotechnology represents a promising tool in this context, since it can improve several characteristics of these compounds. By incorporating plant-derived compounds in nanosystems, considerable advantages, including sustained release, protection from degradation, an increase in the specificity to target tissues, and consequent reduction in toxicity, can be achieved. Thus, nanosystems promote more favorable therapeutic outcomes. This work aims to compile scientific evidence supporting the use of medicinal plants and their bioactive phytochemical compounds, incorporated in nanosystems, in inflammatory disorders. This review enlarges knowledge by integrating both in vitro and in vivo studies involving multiple medicinal plants and bioactive phytochemical compounds, describing their mechanisms of action and the nanosystems employed for drug delivery. In the future, the need for deeper mechanistic studies, the development of targeted and stimuli-responsive systems, and advancement toward clinically translatable, sustainable, and cost-effective plant-based nanotherapies is required. Full article

Accurate gas analysis plays a critical role in aerospace missions, including spacecraft safety assurance, crew health monitoring, and deep-space scientific exploration. Although conventional gas chromatography (GC) techniques are well established, their large size, high power consumption, and long analysis time limit their applicability in modern aerospace missions that require miniaturized, low-power, and highly integrated analytical systems. The development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology provides an effective pathway for the miniaturization of gas chromatography. MEMS-based micro gas chromatography columns enable the integration of meter-scale separation channels onto centimeter-scale chips through micro- and nanofabrication techniques, significantly reducing system volume and power consumption while improving analysis speed and integration capability. Compared with conventional GC systems, MEMS µGC exhibits clear advantages in size, weight, energy efficiency, and response time. This review systematically summarizes the fundamentals, structural designs, fabrication processes, and stationary phase preparation of MEMS micro gas chromatography columns. Representative aerospace application cases along with related experimental and engineering validation studies are highlighted; we re-evaluate these systems using Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) to distinguish flight heritage from concept demonstrations and propose a standardized validation roadmap for environmental reliability. In addition, key technical challenges for aerospace deployment are discussed. This work aims to provide a useful reference for the development of aerospace gas analysis systems and the engineering application of MEMS-based technologies. Full article

To address the challenges of wear resistance for shield cutterheads and cutters in high-abrasion sandy cobble strata, this study uses the Beijing Metro Line 19 tunnel Niujie–Jinrongjie section as an engineering case study. It employs the DEM to develop a crushable sandy cobble model, evaluate the stress characteristics of fishtail cutters, rippers, and scrapers, and analyze load distribution in the cutterhead and cutters—including underlying causes. Based on simulations, the study proposes and implements targeted wear-resistant designs for field application. The results indicate that the stress variation patterns of fishtail cutters, rippers, and scrapers with respect to time and installation radius are similar. The cutterhead’s opening distribution significantly influences the intensity of normal and lateral stresses. Caused by cutting resistance, high-stress loads in cutters accumulate at the cutting edge, while those in the cutterhead localize to the soil-facing side of its spokes. Meanwhile, hindered muck flow and cutting failure of gauge cutters also cause stress concentration in the cutterhead’s transition zones and outer side of the large ring. Adopting a DEM-based method that characterizes the stress of the cutterhead and cutters to develop targeted wear-resistant designs can effectively control the wear of cutters and cutterheads in in situ engineering. The rate of abnormal cutter damage was limited to merely 5.84%, while the observed wear of the ripper cutters remained consistently below the values predicted by the IHI empirical model. This study provides a scientific basis for wear-resistant design of cutterheads in similar high-abrasion strata. Full article

Teacher education represents a global strategic priority for improving educational systems and fostering inclusive, high-quality processes. Recent studies highlight the need for systematic and replicable education models capable of addressing the challenges of contemporary complexity and bridging the gap between theory and practice. Teaching professionalism is increasingly recognized as a key driver of change, requiring a balance of pedagogical, relational, and technological competences, along with strong reflective capacity. Within this framework, practicum programs play a crucial role for the development of professional identity and authentic teaching skills. Methods: This contribution adopts a theoretical–argumentative approach grounded in a critical analysis of the international scientific literature on teacher education, with specific focus on the role of practicums. The aim is to present the model implemented by Pegaso University in the context of practicum activities within initial teacher education programs to outline an interpretative framework and provide pedagogical reflections in light of the results arising from critical reflection and systematic monitoring (not covered in this specific contribution) of the effectiveness of the model implemented in the first two training cycles (academic years 23–24 and 24–25), with the involvement of 5 regions and a total of 2834 teachers in the first cycle and 10 regions and a total of 5551 teachers in the second cycle. Convenience sampling based on a non-probabilistic method was adopted, using the entire sample of teachers admitted to the training program who met the requirements of Article 7 of the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers (DPCM). Results: This paper outlines the theoretical and methodological trajectories of the model, offering interpretative frameworks and pedagogical reflections in light of the outcomes achieved during the initial implementation phase. Conclusions: In accordance with recent national and European regulatory frameworks, the Pegaso teaching model is presented as an example of good practice for initial teacher education. It aims to foster a reflective, situated, and responsible teaching professionalism, moving beyond traditional approaches toward a continuous and transformative learning process. Full article

This article introduces a framework for scientific and professional language training tailored for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) specialists, emphasising the integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in language education. The framework aims to develop students’ research communication skills and digital competencies, which are essential for effective participation in both national and international scientific discourse. The article discusses contemporary trends in STEM education, emphasising the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, project-based learning, and the utilisation of digital tools to boost language skills and scientific literacy. The article outlines the development and deployment of a digital platform aimed at supporting personalised and adaptive learning experiences, integrating various educational technologies and approaches. Empirical research conducted through a pedagogical experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of the framework, showing significant improvements in students’ academic and linguistic competencies across multiple modules. The findings highlight the importance of combining language training with STEM education to equip future engineers for the challenges of a globalised and digitalised professional world. This work reports on the “Enhancing Scientific and Professional Language Learning for Engineering Students in Kazakhstan through Digital Technologies” project conducted at Saginov Technical University (STU) in Kazakhstan and funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP19678460). The research contributes to the ongoing discussion on improving language teaching in STEM fields, offering a framework that aligns with current educational demands and technological progress. Full article

This systematic review article provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the use of bioinputs in sustainable agriculture, focusing on biosurfactants and absorbent polymers, particularly bacterial cellulose. The article contextualises the growing challenges in agricultural production due to population growth, climate change, and environmental limitations, highlighting the need for alternatives to traditional synthetic inputs that exert negative environmental impacts. The article details functions, types, and benefits, emphasising the ability of bioinputs to improve soil fertility, increase the efficiency of nutrient use, enhance plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, and reduce the ecological footprint of agriculture. Emerging biotechnologies are discussed, such as the combined use of biosurfactants with natural polymers to ensure sustainability and efficiency. This article offers an updated description of recent scientific and technological evidence and addresses the potential and limitations of these biological inputs in the global context of modern agriculture. Full article