Search Results (4,813)

With the rapid intensification of industrial and agricultural activities, water contamination by heavy metal ions has emerged as a critical global challenge, gravely imperiling ecosystem stability and public health. Among the various remediation technologies, adsorption has been widely adopted due to its high efficiency, low-cost water treatment, and simplicity of operation. However, conventional inorganic or synthetic adsorbents often exhibit poor degradability and pose a risk of secondary contamination, substantially limiting their sustainable application. Consequently, the development of environmentally benign and renewable adsorbent materials has become a central research focus in this field. Recently, cellulose-based composite hydrogels, derived from renewable resources and characterized by excellent eco-friendliness and highly tunable three-dimensional porous structures, have attracted considerable attention as promising green adsorption materials. These hydrogels demonstrate outstanding performance in the efficient sequestration of heavy metal contaminants from aqueous environments. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in cellulose-based composite hydrogels for heavy metal removal, to elucidate the structure–performance relationships linking material fabrication strategies, structural modulation, and adsorption efficiency. First, we outline the principal construction approaches, including physical crosslinking, chemical modification, and supramolecular self-assembly, and comprehensively analyze how different synthesis routes regulate pore architecture, mechanical properties, and the distribution of surface functional groups. Second, the underlying adsorption mechanisms, primarily coordination complexation, electrostatic interactions, and ion exchange, are discussed in detail. Finally, recent studies on the adsorption of cationic heavy metals (e.g., Pb(II), Cu(II), and Cd(II)) and anionic oxyanions (e.g., As(III) and Cr(VI)) are critically reviewed, with particular emphasis on the relationships between selective adsorption performance, material design principles, and specific recognition mechanisms. Overall, this review provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the design and development of next-generation water treatment materials with high adsorption capacity, excellent selectivity, non-toxicity, and strong environmental compatibility, followed by future research recommendations. Full article

This study demonstrates a molecular size-dependent strategy to regulate the network structure of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels using a series of saccharides with increasing molecular size—glucose, maltose, raffinose, soluble starch, and amylose. FTIR, XPS, XRD, and TG analyses reveal that increasing saccharide size shifts the network from plasticization to reinforcement, which is further confirmed by mechanical testing and rheological analysis. Small-molecule saccharides disrupt hydrogen bonds and enhance chain mobility, while macromolecular starches promote network regularity through strong hydrogen bonding and crystallization induction. This structural tunability ndows the resulting hydrogels with integrated functionalities: tensile strain increases from 640% to 1500%, self-healing efficiency reaches up to 90.6%, and high-fidelity electrocardiogram (ECG) signal acquisition is achieved with a signal-to-noise ratio of 39.84 dB, comparing favorably with commercial electrodes. This work establishes a structure–property relationship linking saccharide molecular size to network architecture and provides a versatile material platform for next-generation flexible wearable sensors and bioelectrodes. Full article

Rapid urbanization has profoundly reshaped land use patterns and intensified pressures on ecosystem structures, thereby exacerbating trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services (ESs). Understanding ecosystem service trade-offs, synergies, and their attribution mechanisms is critical for balancing ecological conservation and regional sustainable development in rapidly developing regions. This study quantified provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services in Shandong Province from 2000 to 2020 using the InVEST model and spatial analysis. An integrated framework combining Pearson correlation and bagplot analysis was developed to identify linear and nonlinear ES trade-offs and synergies, while the XGBoost–SHAP model was applied to quantify the relative contributions of natural and socioeconomic drivers. Ecosystem service bundles were further identified using a self-organizing map to delineate spatially functional zones. The results showed that: (1) Provisioning and cultural services increased markedly, whereas regulating and supporting services generally declined. Spatially, provisioning services were concentrated in the western plains, regulating and supporting services in the central mountains and eastern hills, and cultural services in urban areas. (2) Strong trade-offs emerged between provisioning services and most regulating/supporting services, while regulating and supporting services exhibited pronounced synergies. Cultural services reflected a generally compatible relationship with other ESs. (3) Regulating and supporting services were primarily shaped by natural conditions and land use patterns, whereas provisioning and cultural services were more strongly driven by socioeconomic factors. (4) SOM clustering identified four major functional zones, the ecological core zone, the ecological degraded zone, the food production zone, and the urban composite zone, each corresponding to differentiated ecosystem functions and development trajectories. The integrated framework provides a scientific basis for ecosystem-service-oriented spatial zoning and targeted management strategies to reconcile ecological protection and urbanization in rapidly developing regions. Full article

The mammalian intestinal epithelium is a rapid self-renewal tissue in the body, serving as a critical interface between the host and the external environment. Maintaining the intestinal epithelium homeostasis requires precise coordination of cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, differentiation, autophagy, and cell-to-cell interaction. An increasing body of evidence has unveiled circular RNAs (circRNAs) as abundant and stable regulatory molecules that play pivotal roles in the intestinal epithelial biology and are intimately involved in many aspects of gut mucosal pathologies. Unlike linear RNAs, circRNAs form covalently closed loop structures through back-splicing events, conferring remarkable stability and resistance to exonucleolytic degradation. circRNAs regulate the growth of the intestinal mucosa, injury-induced epithelial regeneration, and gut barrier function via diverse mechanisms, including interactions with microRNAs and RNA-binding proteins. Deregulated circRNAs are implicated in the pathogenesis of various gut mucosal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and malignancies. In this review, we highlight pathobiological functions and mechanisms of intestinal epithelium-enriched circRNAs, particularly circHIPK3, Cdrlas, and circPABPN1, in the epithelium homeostasis and pathologies and also discuss potential clinical application of circRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in patients with critical diseases. Full article

Neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by progressive neuronal loss and functional decline, impose a substantial global health burden. Autophagy, the principal intracellular degradative pathway for clearing misfolded proteins and damaged organelles, is vital for neuronal homeostasis, whereas maladaptive neuroinflammation is increasingly being recognized as a central driver of disease progression. A growing body of evidence indicates a bidirectional, tightly coupled relationship between autophagy and neuroinflammation: impaired autophagic flux promotes accumulation of damage-associated molecules that activate innate immune responses, while sustained inflammatory signaling further disrupts autophagy, together forming a self-reinforcing cycle that accelerates neurodegeneration. This interplay is regulated by diverse genetic, molecular, cellular, and environmental factors and manifests in cell-type-specific ways across microglia, astrocytes. Therapeutic strategies emerging from these insights include modulation of autophagic pathways (e.g., mTOR, AMPK, TFEB), targeted inhibition of inflammasome and pro-inflammatory mediators (notably NLRP3-related signaling), and delivery platforms for small molecules or nucleic acids, with increasing interest in multi-target and stage-specific interventions. This review integrates mechanistic evidence and translational advances, highlights gaps in cell-type and stage-specific understanding, and outlines priorities for developing safe, effective therapies that target the autophagy–neuroinflammation axis in neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

Name.Narrate.Navigate (NNN) is a trauma-informed program for justice-involved young people aged 12–18 years, recognising that experience and use of violence are often interconnected and may involve serious criminal behaviour, including vulnerability to criminal exploitation. NNN addresses a gap in evidence-based, culturally responsive tertiary interventions for this cohort in regional New South Wales (NSW), Australia, integrating dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) principles with Aboriginal ways of knowing and doing, co-designed through community-based participatory research (CBPR) with Aboriginal community members, young people, and frontline practitioners. The program aims to strengthen skills for self-awareness, self-regulation and healthy connection through relational, creative, and participatory approaches. Using a realist evaluation framework, this paper examines what works in NNN, for whom, and under what circumstances. Drawing on participant session ratings, practitioner observations, program documentation, and interviews, findings are organised across four domains: effects, mechanisms, moderators, and implementation. Indicative findings show that engagement, emerging changes in the narratives of self, and developing skills for self-regulation were most evident when trauma-informed and culturally safe practice was enacted within genuinely relational, strengths-based encounters. These conditions are identified and discussed as transferable principles for the field, key amongst them that intervention readiness must be treated as a capacity to be actively built rather than a precondition to be screened for; and that creative, participant-led methods represent an epistemological commitment to whose knowledge counts in practice. This case study contributes to a critically underserved evidence base by documenting not only what a tertiary youth violence intervention looks like, but the conditions under which it begins to work and for whom. Full article

Everyday public parenting encounters may influence immediate stress-relevant appraisal processes. Guided by interactionist and narcissistic self-regulation frameworks, the present study examined how recognition-based versus status-challenging norm framing in a standardized playground interaction influences young parents’ immediate responses, and whether narcissistic admiration and rivalry shape these processes. A community sample of 776 Israeli parents aged 25 to 41 was randomly assigned to view one of two ultra-realistic video vignettes depicting an identical turn-taking situation framed either in recognition-based terms that emphasized fairness, shared legitimacy, and respectful coordination, or in status-challenging terms that emphasized priority claims, non-negotiability, and implied hierarchy. Participants responded from the perspective of the focal parent (i.e., a parent from the family being spoken to in the interaction). Narcissistic admiration and rivalry were assessed using the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire. Parallel moderated mediation analyses revealed that condition was strongly associated with both perceived recognition and perceived freedom threat. These appraisals, in turn, predicted state reactance, negative affect, evaluations of the initiating parent, and behavioral preferences. Recognition-based framing indirectly reduced reactance and negative affect and increased favorable evaluations through higher perceived recognition and lower perceived freedom threat. Contrary to moderated mediation predictions, narcissistic admiration and rivalry did not moderate the indirect effects. However, narcissistic rivalry, and to a lesser extent narcissistic admiration, showed consistent direct associations with reactance-related and entitlement-oriented responding. These findings identify proximal appraisal mechanisms linking subtle norm framing in public parenting contexts to immediate affective, evaluative, and behavioral reactions. More broadly, the results highlight an immediate appraisal-based process that may inform future longitudinal and intervention-focused research on parenting stress in shared community settings. Full article

Background: Corneal organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells have emerged as powerful tools for studying corneal development, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine applications. While previous protocols have successfully generated corneal tissue structures, there remains a need for three-dimensional models that recapitulate the complex cellular architecture and diversity of native human cornea. Methods: We developed a modified spontaneous three-dimensional corneal organoid model using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) through an adapted Self-formed Ectoderm Autonomous Multi-zone (SEAM) protocol. hESCs were cultured as spheroids in ultra-low-binding plates under normoxic conditions and differentiated over 7–8 weeks. Organoids were characterized using immunofluorescence staining for corneal-specific markers and single-cell RNA sequencing to assess cellular composition and gene expression patterns. Results: Approximately 20% of organoids developed transparent regions characteristic of corneal tissue by day 30 of differentiation. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed spatially organized expression of corneal markers, including ZO-1 and E-cadherin in the outermost epithelial layers, P63α-positive putative limbal stem cells at the epithelial–stromal interface, vimentin-positive stromal cells in the interior, and laminin-1 deposition that suggests Bowman’s membrane formation. The organoids expressed cornea-specific keratins (K3, K12, and K15) and the master regulator PAX6 in appropriate cellular compartments. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified 18 distinct cell clusters, including three corneal epithelium subclusters with differential expression of MUC16, KRT12, and ΔNp63α, two stromal populations with distinct inflammatory profiles, and a corneal endothelium cluster. Transcriptomic analysis confirmed expression of key corneal genes, including AQP3, CDH1, multiple keratins, mucins, and extracellular matrix components (HAS2, CD34, CD44, COL8A1, and KERA). Conclusions: This three-dimensional spheroid-based putative corneal organoid model successfully recapitulates the multilayered architecture and cellular diversity of human cornea, including stratified epithelium, putative limbal stem cells, stroma, and endothelium in spatially appropriate arrangements. The model demonstrates molecular signatures consistent with native corneal tissue and provides a valuable platform for studying corneal development, disease mechanisms, and potential therapeutic applications. Future optimization to improve organoid formation efficiency and functional maturation will enhance the utility of this system for both basic research and translational medicine. Full article

This study developed and validated a specialised emotional intelligence (EI) scale for youth in the conflict-affected southern border provinces of Thailand. The primary objective was to establish a psychometric instrument tailored to this unique multicultural and sensitive context. Utilizing a sample of 500 local youth leaders, the instrument’s quality was rigorously evaluated through Second-order Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using Maximum Likelihood estimation. The final validated model comprises 25 indicators categorized into five dimensions: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Self-Motivation, Social Awareness/Empathy, and Relationship Management. Results indicated an excellent model fit with empirical data (χ² = 284.15, df = 265, p = 0.198, CFI = 0.99, GFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.02). Factor loadings ranged from 0.72 to 0.92, while composite reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE) values exceeded 0.88 and 0.61, respectively, confirming high internal consistency and construct validity. Social Awareness/Empathy emerged as the most significant dimension (B = 0.91). This study suggests that the scale is a robust tool for assessing EI in conflict zones, providing a critical foundation for targeted psychosocial interventions and sustainable peace-building initiatives among youth in the region. Full article

Background: To evaluate the association between glaucomatous visual field loss and self-reported driving limitation, and to explore potential threshold ranges of visual field loss associated with an increased likelihood of driving restriction. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma underwent standard automated perimetry. Visual function was assessed using Mean Deviation (MD) and Visual Field Index (VFI) from the better eye. Driving status, driving limitation, and self-reported driving difficulties were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine independent associations between visual field parameters and driving limitation, adjusting for age, sex, cataract status, and systemic comorbidities. Because MD and VFI are closely related indices of visual field loss, separate multivariable models were constructed for each parameter. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to explore threshold values associated with driving limitation. Results: Driving limitation increased progressively with worsening functional severity, affecting 17% of participants with preserved function, 48% of those with borderline impairment, and 72% of those with definite impairment (p < 0.001). Reduced VFI was independently associated with driving limitation (OR = 0.972, 95% CI: 0.948–0.996; p = 0.021). In a separate model, more negative MD was also independently associated with driving limitation (OR = 0.924, 95% CI: 0.875–0.976; p = 0.004). Male sex was associated with a lower likelihood of driving limitation. ROC analysis identified threshold values of VFI ≤ 71% (AUC = 0.663) and MD ≤ −13.36 dB (AUC = 0.650), both characterized by high specificity but limited sensitivity. Participants who had ceased driving demonstrated worse visual field indices than active drivers, whereas never-drivers showed no consistent association with visual field loss. Conclusions: Glaucomatous visual field loss was significantly associated with self-reported driving limitation and behavioural self-regulation. Objective perimetric parameters, particularly VFI and MD in the better eye, may help identify patients more likely to report driving difficulties. The reported threshold values should be interpreted as exploratory reference points rather than clinically actionable criteria and require further validation before clinical application. Full article

In this quantitative study, we investigated the conditional mediating role of students’ mathematical language self-efficacy in the relationship between self-regulation and mathematics anxiety. The study employed a relational research design and included survey data from 706 middle school students attending public schools in Turkey. Findings indicated that both self-regulation and perceived self-efficacy in mathematical language use were significantly associated with mathematics anxiety. Moreover, the effect of self-regulation on mathematics anxiety was significantly mediated by students’ perceptions of their ability to understand and use mathematical language self-efficacy. The indirect effect was negative while the direct effect was positive, indicating a suppression (competitive mediation) effect, whereby self-regulation exerts both anxiety-reducing and potentially anxiety-inducing influences through different pathways. Conditional mediation analysis further revealed that this mediating effect varied as a function of students’ perceived academic support, with the indirect effect being non-significant for students who did not receive support. Measurement invariance across gender and grade level was examined to ensure that the constructs were measured equivalently across groups. These findings highlight the importance of fostering both self-regulation skills and mathematical language proficiency, particularly in contexts where students may lack sufficient support. These findings provide a theoretically grounded and practically relevant framework for understanding mathematics anxiety within inclusive mathematics education contexts. Full article

Structural materials in nuclear energy, aerospace, and electronics face long-term irradiation by high-energy particles, triggering microscopic defect evolution and macroscopic performance degradation that limits service safety. This review provides a systematic overview of irradiation damage mechanisms, with particular emphasis on the role of surfaces. The discussion traces the evolution from initial defect generation through energy deposition and displacement cascades to the migration and aggregation of defects toward surfaces, culminating in their interactions with near-surface microstructures. A comparative analysis of damage behaviors in metals, ceramics, silicon-based materials, and polymers is presented, elucidating how distinct mechanisms arise from fundamental differences in crystal structure and chemical bonding. The integration of multiscale simulation techniques with advanced in situ characterization is highlighted as a critical approach for deciphering the cross-scale processes. Current strategies for enhancing radiation resistance including composition optimization, microstructure regulation, and interface design are summarized. Finally, the review outlines key challenges such as multi-field coupling damage characterization and long-term predictive modeling. Future research directions are foreseen to emphasize closer simulation–experiment integration and the design of smart, self-adapting materials, thereby providing comprehensive theoretical and technical support for the development of next-generation radiation-tolerant materials. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome is characterised by constant and pervasive musculoskeletal pain and may be comorbid with obesity. Glucagon Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) are relatively new pharmacotherapies developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and have been repurposed for the treatment of obesity. In addition to their well-established impact on glucose balance, new evidence indicates that GLP-1RAs may have anti-inflammatory properties beyond glycaemic regulation. The use of GLP-1RAs has been proposed to modulate the central pain pathways in patients with FM; however, few studies have directly evaluated their effects on central pain. Hence, the purpose of this study is to review the relationship between FM and obesity and to explore the potential role of GLP-1RAs in the management of FM. Methods: A literature search was conducted across four databases—PubMed/Medline, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and PEDro—up to May 2025. The literature was sparse, and no formal evaluation process was performed; however, papers were excluded if they failed to address either FM or GLP-1RAs. The key characteristics of each study were extracted and summarised in table form to enable efficient narrative synthesis. Results: Of the 56 included studies, 24 were preclinical reviews, 16 were clinical reviews, 8 examined preclinical animal models, and only 8 focused on human data, limited to retrospective analyses of data and self-reporting. There is some evidence that GLP-1RAs may reduce neuronal excitability, inhibit pain signalling, and decrease inflammation. Conclusions: However, no clinical trials directly evaluating GLP-1RAs in FM were identified, and therefore no conclusions can be drawn regarding clinical efficacy in FM, including in patients with comorbid obesity. Full article

This study examined the cross-lagged associations between self-reported exposure to and engagement with tobacco/nicotine information on social media and depressive symptoms among young adults. Participants were 4267 20–32-year-olds (M_age 23.28, SD = 2.30 at baseline, 64.8% females) recruited in the Marketing and Promotions across Colleges in Texas study. Data for this study were collected in spring 2017 (baseline) and spring 2018 (follow-up). Results indicate that although self-reported exposure to and engagement with tobacco information, which were dichotomized, did not significantly predict subsequent depressive symptoms, young adults with clinically significant symptoms of depression were more likely than their peers to be exposed to ($\beta$ = 0.10, p < 0.001) and engage with (${\beta }_{pro}$ = 0.08, p < 0.01; ${\beta }_{anti}$ = 0.08, p < 0.05) tobacco information on social media one year later. The findings indicate that young adults with depressive symptoms may be susceptible to persuasive tobacco marketing on social media and in turn to potentially using tobacco and nicotine products. Findings call for regulation around tobacco marketing information on social media, especially for young adults with elevated depressive symptoms, a group at heightened risk for tobacco and ENDS use. Full article

Postprandial variability in glucose and protein levels is one of the elements of insulin resistance (IR) and prediabetes, which is an area precursor to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The objective of the study was a comprehensive proteomic analysis according to glucose tolerance in the general population who did not self-report DM or other diseases. We used Olink^® Reveal, a novel, high-throughput platform by Olink Proteomics based on their Proximity Extension Assay (PEA), to identify levels of 1034 circulating proteins in small volumes (4 µL) of plasma samples. The study enrolled 508 participants (mean age 52 ± 10.5 years, 47.2% men) from the population-based study, Bialystok PLUS Polish Longitudinal University Study. The study population was categorized according to glucose metabolism in comparison to impaired fasting blood glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and newly diagnosed DM. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) adjusted for age, weight, fat mass, lean mass, and body mass index (BMI), identified 19 proteins significantly associated with categories of glucose tolerance. Of the five markers with the greatest ability to distinguish newly diagnosed diabetes from non-diabetic participants, paralemmin 2 performed best (AUC = 0.81; 77% sensitivity, 75% specificity), whereas furin was the most accurate for detecting any abnormal glucose regulation (AUC = 0.69). A linear regression model adjusted for the same confounding factors showed statistically significant associations between Hb_A1c levels and 37 proteins. Our findings highlight multiple proteins with significantly different levels across categories of glucose tolerance, especially between the healthy controls and the group with newly diagnosed DM. The consistent patterns of protein level differences, independent of body composition, suggest potential involvement in the progression of glucose metabolism disturbances and provide unique insights into pathomechanisms. These findings identify PALM2, FURIN, PDZK1, ACAA1, and IL18R1 as potential biomarkers of early dysglycemia. Full article