Search Results (8,722)

Food delivery riders face a structural shortage of informal street rest spaces in urban public environments, yet existing facilities often fail to match their highly mobile labor processes. Taking the Hexi University Town commercial district in Changsha as a case study, this research examines how rest-space conditions are associated with riders’ occupational dignity and work environment satisfaction. Based on 365 valid questionnaires, field observations, and informal interviews, structural equation modeling, bootstrap mediation analysis, and grouped regression analysis were conducted within a spatial justice framework. The results show that spatial justice perceptions are associated with satisfaction through differentiated pathways. Spatial embeddedness is associated with work environment satisfaction, while facility suitability operates partly through occupational dignity and has the highest mediation proportion. Procedural justice is insignificant in formal spaces but has a strong effect in informal spaces, revealing a mismatch between institutional provision and practical accessibility. The findings indicate that riders’ rest-space dilemma stems not only from insufficient facilities but also from the disembedding of spatial rights from mobile labor processes. This study extends spatial justice research from resource distribution to labor-process embeddedness and proposes micro-renewal strategies that shift from facility provision to process embeddedness, offering implications for inclusive public-space planning, sustainable urban design, and urban governance. Full article

Fungal communities associated with the phyllosphere can influence plant health, stress responses, and disease dynamics in managed crop systems. However, limited information is available on fungal microbiome structure across phyllosphere compartments of Eucalyptus cinerea cultivated for cut foliage production. In this study, fungal communities (including epiphytic and endophytic fungi) associated with leaf, stem, and bark tissues of intensively managed E. cinerea grown in Ireland were characterised using ITS amplicon sequencing. Samples were collected from five trees, with tissues pooled by compartment to generate 15 biological samples. Following quality control and denoising, 405 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were retained for analysis. Observed richness, Shannon and Simpson indices, and Faith’s phylogenetic diversity differed among compartments, with bark exhibiting higher values than leaf and stem tissues (p < 0.05). PERMANOVA analysis indicated that both compartment (R² = 0.239, p = 0.002) and tree identity (R² = 0.451, p = 0.002) significantly influenced fungal community composition. Bark communities were dominated by Diaporthe (52.9%), Peniophora (12.8%), and Talaromyces (10.4%), whereas leaf and stem communities were characterised primarily by Vishniacozyma and Sporobolomyces. Differential abundance analysis identified 26 and 23 differentially abundant ASVs between bark and leaf, and bark and stem tissues, respectively, whereas no significant differences were detected between leaf and stem communities. Weighted UniFrac analyses further revealed separation of bark-associated communities from photosynthetic tissues. These findings demonstrate compartment-associated variation in fungal community structure within the phyllosphere of managed E. cinerea and highlight the importance of considering both host-level and tissue-level effects in plant microbiome studies. This study provides a baseline assessment of fungal assemblages associated with commercially managed Eucalyptus under Irish growing conditions and supports future investigations into the functional significance of these microbial communities for plant health and resilience. Full article

The field study was conducted between 2016 and 2018 by the Department of Agronomy at Poznań University of Life Sciences. The experiment took place at the fields of the Research and Education Centre in Gorzyń, Złotniki branch. It was a single-factor trial involving six different sowing dates of an ultra-early maize cultivar: A1—12 April, A2—26 April, A3—10 May, A4—24 May, A5—7 June, and A6—21 June. The cultivar ‘Pyroxenia’ was used in the study. It is characterized by very early maturity (FAO 130), rapid early growth, and intensive stem elongation. In the present study, the optimal sowing time for the maize variety ‘Pyroxenia’ was late April (A2) and early May (A3). Later sowing of this variety resulted in a reduction in fresh and dry matter yields, as well as a reduction in the quality of the feed. The difference between the first (A1) and the last sowing date (A6) resulted in a 47% reduction in fresh weight and a 49% reduction in dry weight yield. No effect of sowing date was observed on starch content or structural carbohydrates, including crude fiber and its fractions (NDF, ADF, and ADL), in maize forage intended for ensiling. Data analysis for the years 2016–2018 showed that air temperature and precipitation had a significant effect on fresh and dry straw weight yields. Partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPF_N) decreased with delayed sowing of maize. On average, this parameter for maize sown in June compared with April, was lower by 38.8% for straw dry yield, 54.5% for ear dry yield, and 46.3% for whole-plant dry yield. Full article

Natural bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties and associated biological activities are increasingly valued for food and nutraceutical applications. This study investigated the organ-specific phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme inhibitory activities of Helichrysum noeanum to evaluate its potential as a multifunctional source of such compounds. Methanolic extracts from flowers, leaves, stems, and roots were analyzed for total phenolics, flavonoids, and individual compounds using LC–ESI–MS/MS, alongside antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. Leaves showed the highest phenolic content (87.23 mg GAEs/g extract) and strongest antioxidant capacity (RACI = 1.19), dominated by chlorogenic acid. Roots showed the highest concentrations of caffeic and ferulic acids, while stems contained benzoic acid derivatives and quercetin. Leaf extracts exhibited the most potent reducing and radical-scavenging activities, whereas roots and stems were superior in cholinesterase and α-amylase inhibition. Correlation analysis suggested that antioxidant responses were more closely associated with total phenolic content than with total flavonoid content, whereas enzyme inhibitory activities exhibited organ-dependent variation. Overall, H. noeanum represents an organ-specific source of bioactive compounds with potential relevance for nutraceutical and food-related applications. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil poses a serious threat to crop quality. Biochar is widely regarded as an effective amendment that can reduce Cd bioavailability and limit Cd uptake by crops. However, studies on the rapid and nondestructive evaluation of crop physiological responses under biochar-mediated alleviation of Cd stress remain insufficient. Spectral modeling methods can enable rapid and nondestructive monitoring of crop physiological status. In this preliminary experiment, Zhengdan 958 maize seedlings grown in Cd-contaminated soil were subjected to five biochar application rates: 0, 10, 30, 50, and 70 g/pot, designated as CK, A1, A3, A5, and A7, respectively. The study established a non-destructive spectral detection model for relative chlorophyll content expressed as SPAD values of maize leaves to achieve spectral inversion of leaf physiological information. The alleviating effect of biochar on Cd stress was evaluated by analyzing SPAD values and Cd accumulation in roots, stems, and leaves. The original spectral data underwent preprocessing steps including multivariate scattering correction, standard normal variable transformation, normalization, trend removal, first-order derivative transformation, and second-order derivative transformation. The effectiveness of different preprocessing methods was compared using partial least squares regression. Feature bands were identified via Pearson correlation analysis, and support vector regression models were established based on genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and grid search optimization. The results demonstrated that biochar application significantly increased the SPAD values of corn leaves (r = 0.879) and reduced the proportion of bioavailable Cd in soil, with the A7 treatment showing the most substantial decrease (30%). This indicates that biochar effectively mitigates Cd’s inhibitory effect on chlorophyll synthesis, with the alleviation effect enhancing as biochar application rates increased. Validation of the partial least squares regression model revealed that detrended spectra achieved optimal predictive performance (R²c = 0.94, RMSEC = 0.82, R²p = 0.88, RMSEP = 1.15), leading to the development of three optimized support vector regression models: GA-SVR, PSO-SVR, and GS-SVR. The GA-SVR model with a sigmoid kernel demonstrated the best internal validation performance for predicting SPAD values in maize leaves (R²c = 0.95, RMSEC = 0.24; R²p = 0.75, RMSEP = 1.63). This study provides preliminary theoretical support and technical reference for rapid spectral detection of the physiological status of maize under biochar-mediated mitigation of cadmium stress. Full article

Viticulture, winemaking, and distillation industries produce substantial quantities of organic by-products (grape prunings, stems, marc-pomace, spent yeast, wine lees, distillation heads and tails, stillage), presenting both environmental challenges and promising opportunities for sustainable valorization. This narrative review offers a comprehensive analysis of the viticulture, winemaking, and distillation processes, along with the characterization of their solid and liquid by-products. Furthermore, it examines the chemical composition and mentions main valorization strategies for these residues, emphasizing their potential both as feedstocks for biochar production and as sources of valuable solvents. Additionally, various applications of biochars are explored, with particular focus on biochar derived from grape pruning and grape pomace-marc biomass, highlighting its effectiveness as a sorbent for environmental contaminants. Moreover, a broad range of biochar activation and modification methods that enhance physicochemical properties and expand functional applications is reviewed. Solvent-based biochar modification is also examined in order to introduce a novel concept: employing grape distillation liquid by-products (heads and tails fractions) to activate biochars made from grape prunings and pomace, creating a high-value sorbent while simultaneously valorizing two major waste streams. This dual-use strategy offers a new pathway for circular resource management within the viticulture and winemaking sectors. Full article

Background: Peri-implant infections remain a major cause of dental implant failure, largely due to bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on implant surfaces. This study aimed to investigate how surface topography influences bacterial colonisation and osteoblastic response. Methods: Titanium discs with machined (Ma), sandblasted, large-grit, and acid-etched (SLA), and nanostructured (Nano) surfaces were prepared, sterilised, and seeded with pre-differentiated dental follicle mesenchymal stem cells. Co-cultures with Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Streptococcus oralis (S. oralis) were established under CO₂-free conditions, and cell–bacteria interactions were evaluated using fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis. Results: Nano surfaces showed the highest osteoblastic adhesion and viability, while significantly reducing bacterial proliferation and biofilm formation compared with Ma and SLA surfaces. The sequence of colonisation influenced cell–bacteria dynamics, with early cell attachment limiting subsequent bacterial adhesion. Conclusions: Nano titanium surfaces may offer a dual benefit by promoting osseointegration while limiting bacterial adhesion. These findings support their potential use as surface modifications to reduce peri-implant infection risk and improve long-term implant success. Full article

The present study provides an integrative, targeted phenolic–bioactivity mapping of Hedysarum pestalozzae Boiss., an endemic Fabaceae species from gypsum habitats of Türkiye. Methanolic extracts of flowers, leaves, stems, and roots were comparatively evaluated for their phenolic profiles, antioxidant potentials, and enzyme inhibitory effects. Targeted LC–ESI–MS/MS analysis of selected phenolics revealed organ-dependent chemical profiles, with flowers exhibiting the highest accumulation of flavonols—hyperoside, kaempferol, quercetin—and phenolic acids such as protocatechuic acid, together with the flavanone glycoside hesperidin, while stems and roots were enriched in catechin, verbascoside, vanillin, and eriodictyol. The antioxidant capacities, assessed through multiple assays (CUPRAC, FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, metal chelation), were integrated using the Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI), ranking flowers as the most active organ, followed by roots, leaves, and stems. Correlation analysis demonstrated strong positive associations between phenolic abundance and electron-transfer assays, whereas metal chelation showed inverse trends, suggesting distinct antioxidant mechanisms. All extracts exhibited moderate inhibition against cholinesterases, tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase, implying multifunctional enzyme-modulating potential. The root extract showed the highest cholinesterase inhibition, and leaf extract was most effective against α-amylase. These findings indicate that H. pestalozzae exhibits organ-dependent chemical diversity and a broad range of biological activities. The present study provides preliminary evidence that H. pestalozzae may represent a promising source of bioactive compounds for future phytochemical and biological investigations, warranting further bioassay-guided fractionation, compound isolation, cellular studies, and in vivo validation. Full article

Unc-51-like kinase 3 (ULK3) is a key member of the ULK serine/threonine kinase family. Aberrant ULK3 expression has been increasingly linked to tumorigenesis and malignant progression in multiple cancer types. However, the precise role of ULK3 in tumor initiation and progression remains incompletely understood. Leveraging integrated multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project, and the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), we systematically characterized the expression of ULK3 at both the transcript and protein levels across 33 cancer types. We also evaluated genomic alterations, prognostic significance, alternative splicing, pathway enrichment, tumor stemness, immune infiltration, and immunotherapy-related biomarkers. In parallel, we investigated the function of ULK3 in prostate cancer PC-3 cells using cellular localization analysis, wound-healing assays, and MTT assays. We further applied Connectivity Map (CMap) screening and molecular docking to identify candidate ULK3 activators. ULK3 was significantly upregulated in 13 cancer types, including Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma, Breast Invasive Carcinoma, and Lung Adenocarcinoma. In contrast, ULK3 was downregulated in Cholangiocarcinoma and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. High ULK3 expression was associated with poor overall survival in Adrenocortical Carcinoma, Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma, and Skin Cutaneous Melanoma. Copy number amplification contributed to ULK3 overexpression. A recurrent A206V missense mutation was detected in the protein kinase (Pkinase) domain. Genes co-expressed with ULK3 were enriched in RNA splicing, methylation, oxidative phosphorylation, and energy metabolism. ULK3 expression showed positive correlations with tumor stemness indices and m1A/m5C/m6A RNA modification regulators. From an immunological perspective, high ULK3 expression was associated with lower Immune Score, increased M2 macrophage infiltration, and co-expression of PD-L1, CTLA4, and LAG3 in most cancers. ULK3 expression was also correlated with Tumor Mutational Burden in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma and Rectum Adenocarcinoma. In addition, ULK3 expression was associated with Microsatellite Instability in Brain Lower Grade Glioma, Lung Adenocarcinoma, and Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma. ULK3 overexpression promoted proliferation and migration in PC-3 cells. Cephaeline was screened as a putative ULK3 activator. Overall, ULK3 expression and amplification were associated with poor clinical outcomes, tumor stemness, immunosuppression, and RNA dysregulation. These findings highlight the potential value of ULK3 as a pan-cancer diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and as a predictor of immunotherapy response, particularly in prostate cancer. Full article

Auxin response factors (ARFs) are a pivotal class of transcription factors that mediate auxin signaling, playing critical roles in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an economically important cucurbit crop, yet a comprehensive analysis of its ARF gene family under abiotic stresses is limited. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification of the ARF gene family in watermelon. A total of 16 ClARF genes were identified and unevenly distributed across nine chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified these ClARF proteins into four distinct classes (I–IV), a categorization supported by conserved motif composition and exon-intron structures. Cis-element analysis revealed that ClARF gene promoters are enriched with motifs related to hormone response, light signaling, and various stresses, suggesting their involvement in diverse regulatory pathways. Syntenic analysis indicated that segmental duplication events have contributed to the expansion and evolution of the ClARF family. Tissue-specific expression profiling showed varied expression patterns across roots, stems, leaves, tendrils, and flowers, implying functional diversification. Furthermore, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed stress-specific expression patterns of ClARF genes. Notably, ClARF6 was consistently upregulated across all three treatments and showed the highest induction under drought (~7-fold) and cold (~11-fold), while ClARF13 was most strongly induced under salt stress at 48 h (~10-fold), and ClARF1 was consistently downregulated across all treatments. This study provides a stress-oriented expression profiling of the ARF gene family in watermelon, establishing a foundation for future functional studies and offering candidate genes for further functional characterization of abiotic-stress responses in watermelon and related cucurbit crops. Full article

Background/Objectives: Curcumin shows broad anticancer activity but limited clinical success as a standalone agent because of poor bioavailability and inconsistent tumor exposure. This review introduces the concept of curcumin as a molecular synergy amplifier and proposes that successful combinations depend on three interdependent determinants: mechanistic complementarity, suppression of adaptive resistance networks, and pharmacokinetic synchronization. Methods: Evidence on combinations with chemotherapeutics, natural bioactives, and nanotechnology-enabled delivery systems was critically evaluated, with emphasis on mechanism, resistance reversal, drug ratio, administration sequence, and tumor exposure. Results: Curcumin enhances therapeutic efficacy by sensitizing cancer cells, suppressing adaptive resistance pathways, targeting cancer stemness, and promoting multiple forms of programmed cell death. Importantly, analysis of current evidence indicates that therapeutic success depends not only on molecular synergy but also on pharmacokinetic synchronization between curcumin and partner agents. Many combinations demonstrating strong in vitro synergy fail to translate in vivo because optimal drug ratios, timing, and tumor exposure cannot be maintained. Nanotechnology-based co-delivery systems partially overcome these limitations through synchronized delivery and controlled release. Conclusions: Curcumin should be viewed as a molecular synergy amplifier whose clinical utility depends on mechanistic complementarity and pharmacokinetic synchronization with co-administered therapies. This framework provides a rationale for the design of next-generation curcumin-based combination therapies and identifies key priorities for clinical translation. Full article

Biomass allocation patterns affect plant functions across all levels, ranging from plant growth and reproduction to the quality and energy flow of entire communities. Revealing the biomass allocation and allometric growth relationships among the dominant plant formations in alpine peat swamp wetlands not only can help elucidate the life history strategies of swamp plants, but also plays a crucial role in understanding the uncertainty of plant carbon sinks in peat swamp wetlands. Based on community surveys, this study employed analysis of variance (ANOVA) and standardized major axis estimation (SMA) to analyze the species composition, biomass allocation of different organs, and allometric growth relationships of the dominant plant formation in the alpine peat swamp wetlands of the Yellow River on the Gannon Plateau, Gansu Province, China. The results showed the following: (1) Peat swamp plants can be classified into six formations dominated by Carex muliensis, Blysmus sinocompressus, Carex atrofusca, Kobresia tibetica, Kobresia kansuensis, and Carex kansuensis. Environmental filtering was identified as the primary factor influencing the distribution of formations in this region. (2) The biomass allocation ratios of the dominant plant formations were ordered as follows: root mass ratio > leaf mass ratio > stem mass ratio. There were also significant differences in the biomass allocation of roots, stems, and leaves among different plant formations. (3) Isometric growth was observed between the leaf and stem biomass of the dominant plant formations (p > 0.05), while allometric growth relationships existed between root/leaf biomass and root/stem biomass (p < 0.05), with the growth rate of root biomass (RB) being higher than that of leaf biomass (LB) and stem biomass (SB). The biomass allocation patterns and allometric growth relationships among the roots, stems, and leaves of the dominant plant formations in peat swamp wetlands reflect the environmental plasticity mechanism of functional plant traits in heterogeneous habitats. Moreover, combining optimal allocation theory and allometric growth theory can better explain the biomass variation and adaptation mechanisms of dominant plant formations in peat swamp wetlands, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the habitat adaptation patterns of plants in alpine peat swamp wetlands. Full article

To address the inherent conflict between fluidity and stability in high-concentration unclassified tailings slurries for blasthole stemming slurry (BSS), this study establishes an evaluation system based on “equal fluidity” to screen and optimize chemical admixtures suitable for high-concentration BSS. Three typical superplasticizers—polycarboxylate (PCE), naphthalene-based (NF), and melamine-based (MF)—were selected to systematically compare their effects on rheological parameters and bleeding performance under a controlled, consistent fluidity condition (16.0 ± 0.5 cm). The results indicate that the effectiveness of superplasticizers exhibits noticeably concentration dependence. While NF demonstrates the highest dispersion efficiency at low concentrations, PCE emerges as the sole effective admixture capable of maintaining the fluidity of high-concentration BSS (71% solid mass fraction), attributed to its robust steric hindrance effect. Rheological analysis reveals that the PCE-modified BSS exhibits a unique state characterized by “low yield stress and high differential viscosity,” which effectively decouples the contradiction between macroscopic flow and microscopic stability. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of high concentration and PCE constructs a kinetically stable suspension system, achieving “zero bleeding.” This study confirms that PCE is the optimal choice for preparing high-concentration pumpable BSS, providing a theoretical foundation for the design of deep-hole stemming materials in mining engineering. Full article

This study examines university students’ perceptions of how artificial intelligence (AI) tools influence creativity in Digital Media coursework at an Egyptian university, addressing the underrepresentation of non-Western and non-STEM contexts in AI-in-education research. A convergent mixed-methods design was used with 103 undergraduate students enrolled in a Visual Communication course. Data were collected through an online questionnaire comprising a 24-item Likert-scale battery (Cronbach’s α = 0.94) and four open-ended prompts. Because creativity was measured through perception rather than objective performance, the findings are interpreted as students’ subjective appraisals rather than as evidence about the originality or quality of their creative products. A four-item Perceived Creative Support subscale (α = 0.82) was positively associated with overall learning satisfaction (r = 0.33, p < 0.001), while remaining independent of prior AI familiarity. However, it was significantly related to comfort with new technology (r = 0.35, p < 0.001) and moderate AI use intensity. Reflexive thematic analysis identified five themes: task efficiency, academic support, creative stimulation, information access, and concerns about overreliance and authenticity. Students mainly framed creativity in functional terms, including ideation structure, speed, and organization. The study positions AI as a perceived cognitive scaffold and discusses implications for pedagogy, assessment design, and academic integrity in creative disciplines. Full article

Haze Pollution in China arises from the rapid enlargement of ultrafine particles into light-absorbing fine particulate matter through adsorption processes under atmospheric stagnation conditions. This study focuses on the sources of ultrafine particles (UFPs), the most critical component of haze pollutants during severe pollution periods in China. Utilizing methods including the spatial Durbin model and statistical data for the 28 cities (the “2 + 26” cities) within the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei air pollution transmission channel—suffering the most severe haze pollution—it investigates the impact of pollution-intensive industries on haze pollution. This study reveals several key findings regarding China’s haze pollution. First, the principal source of ultrafine particles within China’s haze stems from the desulfurization, denitrification, and dust removal processes of pollution-intensive industries (the direct effect of these industries on haze is 0.028 * according to the SDM regression results). Crucially, the specific operational factors driving the abrupt increase in atmospheric UFPs during severe haze periods in China are identified as extensive management practices in desulfurization, the progressive tightening and annual escalation of denitrification emission standards, and the reliance on electrostatic precipitation which is ineffective against ultrafine particles. Second, haze pollution predominantly occurs in regions characterized by concentrations of pollution-intensive industries coupled with weak atmospheric environmental self-purification capacity (this carrying capacity for pollution-intensive industries exerts a significant negative impact on haze, demonstrated by a direct effect of −0.020 **; further analysis reveals that this is caused by regional differences in atmospheric self-purification capacity). Third, regional air transport acts as a contributing source, introducing UFPs from neighboring areas into local haze pollution, reflected by an indirect effect of pollution-intensive industries of 0.151 ** stemming from such spatial spillovers. Based on these conclusions, the study proposes a set of policy recommendations: relocate pollution-intensive industries using a gradient approach based on atmospheric self-purification capacity differences; systematically upgrade wet flue gas desulfurization technologies for industrial emissions; effectively promote technological innovation in denitrification processes; implement scientific controls on ammonia emissions; strengthen R&D in core technologies for UFP removal; innovate dust removal technologies to enhance overall system efficiency; reinforce regional coordinated governance; implement targeted training programs and select qualified management personnel; systematically enhance the environmental management capabilities of staff; and effectively mitigate the spillover effects of haze pollution. Full article