Search Results (559)

Habitat production in informal settlements and vulnerable urban areas faces critical challenges regarding habitability and lack of infrastructure. This article evaluates a prototype for progressive temporary housing based on a modular metal scaffolding structure, conceived as an autonomous housing response unit in the district of Chilca-Huancayo, Peru. Unlike conventional solutions, the proposal integrates metabolic independence systems through photovoltaic generation and rainwater harvesting to guarantee functional autonomy from public utility networks. Adopting a mixed-method, experimental-applied approach, the research articulates technical simulations, full-scale structural load tests, and a social perception assessment. The results demonstrate the technical feasibility of the model: the energy system covers the entirety of basic demand, and the structural component exhibits ductile behavior under seismic demands, guaranteeing stability without brittle failures. Furthermore, the social dimension reveals high acceptability among residents in emergency scenarios. The study concludes that the use of reusable industrial systems enables a resilient and rapidly deployable architecture. It is argued that this model constitutes a viable alternative for risk management and the mitigation of the housing deficit in the context of urban exclusion, highlighting its potential for territorial replicability as a response to the social production of habitat on the periphery. Full article

Obesity is currently recognized as a global epidemic and contributes to numerous health complications. It is strongly associated with poor dietary habits, including the widespread availability and consumption of high-calorie foods. We conducted a narrative review of publications from major biomedical databases addressing obesity treatment and public-health interventions. One of the strategies for managing obesity is lifestyle modification—balanced diet and regular physical activity—supported by pharmacological and psychological treatment, and, in selected patients, metabolic and bariatric surgery. Beyond patient-level care, public-health-oriented measures should be considered, including taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages, restriction on advertising of unhealthy foods, regulation of the school food environment, front-of-pack nutrition labelling, mandatory food reformulation, subsidies and incentives for healthy foods, urban-planning policies that promote physical activity, and policies that expand access to bariatric surgery. A comprehensive approach integrating clinical care with public-health policy is likely to yield more effective outcomes than either alone. Full article

Regression-based aboveground biomass (AGB) prediction from Earth-observation data often compresses the upper tail of the biomass distribution, yet the relative effectiveness of geospatial residual correction and ensemble learning in fragmented mountain landscapes remains unclear. Thus, we compared the two paths for reducing high-value underestimation: geospatial residual reconstruction using empirical Bayesian kriging regression prediction, and feature-space optimization using Stacking ensemble learning. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpreted feature contributions, and quantile regression forests (QRF) converted high-AGB point estimates into prediction intervals. Results show that geospatial optimization brought limited gain because residual spatial autocorrelation was weak (Moran’s I = 0.10), whereas Stacking improved overall R² from 0.75 to 0.79 and reduced high-AGB bias (AGB > 80 t/ha) from −13.56 to −5.49 t/ha. This improvement was mainly attributed to complementary heterogeneous learners, with XGBoost capturing the primary non-linear trends, SVR extrapolating to correct high-AGB errors, and RF providing minor marginal calibration. SHAP analysis suggests that LiDAR-derived cubic mean height (Elev_curt_mean_cube) was the dominant feature explaining high-AGB variability, with a threshold response consistent with biomass-height allometry. QRF achieved coverage of 92.8% with a mean interval width of 74.51 t/ha, while coverage in the high-AGB subset was 84.2% with a mean width of 90.50 t/ha. The proposed comparison-and-diagnosis framework provides an interpretable approach for selecting an appropriate correction pathway and supports forest carbon monitoring, carbon accounting, and management decisions in complex mountain ecosystems. Full article

In population health the highly cited Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study indicated a U-shaped association between carbohydrate intake and mortality, whilst the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study linked higher fat intake to lower mortality risks. The Malaysia Lipid Study reported high-fat and high-carbohydrate dietary patterns were associated with increased cardiometabolic risks, including insulin resistance and small dense LDL particles generation. This animal model study therefore was purposely designed to evaluate metabolic outcomes of carbohydrate–fat permutations in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) and Zucker lean (Z_lean) rats by using ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) metabolomics. Twenty-four ZDF rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6 per group): control (standard diet), Diet A (54%-energy carbohydrate, 32%-energy fat, 14%-energy protein) mimicking a recommended adult Malaysian diet, Diet B (49%-energy carbohydrate, 37%-energy fat, 14%-energy protein) mimicking a low-carbohydrate, moderate high-fat diet, and metformin treatment (100 mg/kg), which effectively represents a 5%-energy exchange in isocaloric meals. An additional six Z_lean were given Diet A (n = 3) and Diet B (n = 3). The intervention lasted eight weeks. Using log-transformed data, analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences between the groups for eleven metabolites (1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucose, 2-hydroxyvalerate, acetate, 3-aminoisobutyrate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, carnitine, choline, citrate, creatine, lactate, and N-methylhydantoin) (all p < 0.05) which remained significant even after false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Majorly elevated metabolites in both ZDF and Z_lean rats were 3-hydroxybutyrate, N-methylhydantoin, 3-aminoisobutyrate, and carnitine, indicating dietary influences independent of diabetes status. Conversely, citrate and 1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucose levels showed distinct patterns across the groups, with Z_lean rats exhibiting lower levels and ZDF rats showing higher levels compared to healthy controls, suggesting potential genetic or physiological influences. Other metabolites such as creatine, acetate, choline and 2-hydroxyvalerate showed varied trends, highlighting metabolic complexities. Compared to the control group, metformin treatment generally resulted in lower levels of metabolites, except for acetate, which was higher, indicating improved insulin sensitivity. The findings indicated moderate high-fat diets may exacerbate metabolic disturbances as seen in both ZDF and Z_lean rats, while metformin treatment generally improved metabolic profiles. Full article

Background/Objectives: Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, fundamental in metabolic processes throughout life. Salt iodization is recognized as the most cost-effective and recommended strategy for the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders. In Portugal, the use of iodized salt remains voluntary for the general population, dependent on consumers’ choice, where iodized salt accounts for approximately 11% of retail salt sales. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate prevalence, knowledge, and motives of iodized salt purchase among consumers in all stores of a major supermarket chain in Braga, Portugal. Methods: A questionnaire assessing purchasing behavior, knowledge, motivations, and barriers related to choosing iodized salt was administered to individuals in supermarkets after they had selected a package of salt from the shelf, during January and February of 2023. Results: While 21% of the 396 in-store respondents reported consuming iodized salt at home, only 10% were observed purchasing it in the store. Approximately half were unaware of the availability of iodized salt, and only 20% associated health benefits with it. Perceived health benefits were the most frequently reported motives for purchase, whereas lack of knowledge emerged as the main barrier. Conclusions: These findings indicate a low prevalence of iodized salt use and limited awareness of its availability and its role in preventing iodine deficiency disorders among this large urban population, consistent with reports of low iodized salt sales nationwide. Stronger public health measures, including literacy campaigns, improved product labeling and visibility, and broader policy actions such as universal salt iodization should be considered. Full article

Salt stress significantly constrains plant growth and development, with the root system serving as the primary organ for sensing and responding to salinity. Poplar (Populus spp.), a widely cultivated tree species, plays important roles in urban greening, windbreaks and sand fixation, and various economic sectors. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the salt tolerance of root systems of six different poplar cultivars. Key physiological indicators—including root activity, ion homeostasis, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capacity, and nitric oxide (NO) content—were evaluated under saline conditions. Our findings indicate that the salt resistance of the six cultivars follows the order: P. simonii > P. cathayana > P. tremula × P. alba ‘717’ > P. deltoides × P. euramericana ‘Nanlin 895’ > P. deltoides × P. euramericana ‘Bofeng 3’ > P. alba × P. glandulosa ‘84K’. Furthermore, a transcriptomic analysis was performed on the most resilient species, P. simonii. These results reveal that P. simonii primarily orchestrates its salt stress response through the modulation of MAPK cascades and nitrogen metabolism pathways. This research provides theoretical support for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the salt stress response in poplars and offers a foundation for the molecular breeding of salt tolerant poplar varieties. Full article

Background/Objectives: Glucagon-like Peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) have increased in popularity for obesity management and treatment of various metabolic conditions. The medications, however, have significant side effects and carry a risk for adverse events. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of patients taking these medications presenting to the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: We conducted a multi-center retrospective study at two EDs: an urban level 1 trauma center and an academic quaternary medical center (combined annual census approximately 90,000) over a 9-year period (2017–2025). We collected data on all ED encounters involving patients taking GLP-1s, including dual GLP-1/GIP (Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide) agonists, at the time of admission, including demographic information, presenting complaints, comorbidities, and disposition. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to characterize GLP-1 patient encounters vs. non-GLP-1 patient encounters overall and by diabetes status. The change in encounters over the study period was also assessed. p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Over the 9-year study period, the proportion of ED encounters involving patients on GLP-1s increased from 0.4% in 2017 to 5.8% in 2025 (p < 0.001). Patients taking GLP-1s were more often female (53.9%), obese (59.4%), and middle-aged, ranging from 35 to 64 years of age (57.3%), and commonly presented with complaints of abdominal or other pain, weakness, or dizziness. Nearly three-quarters of all patients had a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score of 3 or higher (74.0%). These patients had a higher rate of inpatient admission from the ED (33.5% vs. 23.7%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The number of patients presenting to the ED who were taking GLP-1s significantly increased over time as these medications became more widely utilized. Patients taking GLP-1s were more often obese with multiple comorbidities and were more likely to be admitted for inpatient care. Further studies are needed to determine whether GLP-1 use independently influences emergency care utilization and the need for hospitalization. Full article

This paper develops a literature-grounded review on connecting circular economy (CE) principles and urban mobility to examine how smart city transportation can be reshaped through durable design, reuse, service-based models, and materials stewardship. A structured review of indexed documents (2010–April 2026) from Scopus and Web of Science identified a set of papers that were screened, thematically grouped into six clusters (design, digital infrastructures, shared mobility, materials management, social inclusion, decision support), and synthesized via textual analysis to generate an integrative, evidence-based conceptual framework, identify empirical and methodological gaps, and propose policy-relevant research priorities informed by the identified topics. The literature documents CE interventions and analytical methods that can lower embodied impacts, raise asset utilization, and recover secondary materials when backed by clear public policies, coordinated governance, and digital platforms. Key limitations include fragmented governance, optimistic recovery rate assumptions, limited integration of life cycle analyses, and weak empirical evidence linking participatory processes to measurable outcomes. The findings are relevant to researchers, planners, policymakers, and practitioners, and indicate that operationalizing circular approaches in urban mobility requires cross-sectoral policy alignment, data governance, financing reform, inclusive stakeholder engagement, interoperable platforms, and longitudinal place-based pilots with multi-metric monitoring aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Full article

The proliferation of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in urban and agricultural settings has intensified artificial light at night (ALAN), yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its spectrally specific perturbation of insect physiology remain elusive. We used high-throughput RNA sequencing to dissect the transcriptomic responses of Diaphorina citri—a principal vector of citrus Huanglongbing—to nocturnal exposure to monochromatic LED emissions at 460 nm (blue), 520 nm (green), 570 nm (yellow), and 620 nm (red). Blue light triggered metabolic reprogramming coupled with stress responses. Red light predominantly engaged lysosomal–autophagic pathways and lipid metabolism. Yellow and green light produced only modest transcriptional alterations with no significant pathway enrichment. These results demonstrate that D. citri exhibits a markedly wavelength-dependent transcriptomic response to nocturnal monochromatic illumination, with short-wavelength blue and long-wavelength red light eliciting pronounced physiological effects through distinct molecular routes, thereby providing mechanistic insight into wavelength-specific ALAN impacts and a rationale for targeted optical pest management strategies. Full article

The transition from cotyledons to true leaves involves substantial metabolic changes. However, the stage-specific bioactive properties of native ornamental plants have not been thoroughly investigated. This study compared total phenolic and flavonoid contents together with preliminary biological activities of the cotyledon and true leaf stages in Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, Amorpha fruticosa, Flueggea suffruticosa, Ulmus parvifolia, Tripora divaricata, and Paulownia coreana seedlings to optimize their potential for horticultural applications. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) of ethanol extracts were evaluated, and radical scavenging capacities were assessed using ABTS and DPPH assays. Preliminary antibacterial activities were also investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, while potential quorum sensing (QS) inhibition was tested against Chromobacterium violaceum. The transition to the true leaf stage was consistently associated with increased TPC and TFC levels, suggesting increased antioxidant potential in L. cyrtobotrya, A. fruticosa, F. suffruticosa, and U. parvifolia. In contrast, cotyledons of T. divaricata and P. coreana exhibited preliminary antibacterial and antioxidant potential that surpassed those of the true leaves. As the true leaves matured, pigment-suppression activity was observed in selected extracts, suggesting that the true leaf stage may possess potential QS inhibitory activity. These stage-dependent bioactivities provide essential baseline data for optimizing harvest timing and highlight the potential of specific seedling stages for applications in urban horticulture. Full article

Water-scarce megacities undergoing rapid urbanization and climate change often face imbalances in urban water metabolism, characterized by the coexistence of socioeconomic growth and increasing pressure on water environmental carrying capacity. To address the limitations of existing studies in capturing the dynamic evolution of urban water systems, this study develops an urban water metabolism simulation model based on an agent-based modeling and system dynamics (ABM–SD)-coupled framework. The model represents the system evolution mechanism of “micro-level decision making–macro-level feedback” by incorporating the behavioral interactions of multiple agents, including the government, residents, and enterprises. On the basis of model simulation, the coupling coordination degree (D) and the Nemerow index (PI) are introduced to construct a two-dimensional D–PI state space, thereby enabling the dynamic assessment of the coordination and sustainable development status of the urban water metabolism system. Taking Beijing as a case study, the simulation results show that the coordination degree between socioeconomic development and the water environment continues to improve, while pressure on the water environmental carrying capacity continues to accumulate. Overall, the system exhibits a non-synchronous evolutionary pattern characterized by improved coordination alongside increasing carrying-capacity risks. Full article

Floral yeasts are generally recognized to exhibit high metabolic activities. We isolated 437 yeast strains from 45 flower samples collected from different plants in the Beijing Olympic Forest Park, a unique urban ecosystem harboring diverse plants, which facilitated a thorough survey of floral yeast diversity. Based on a sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rRNA) and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), these strains were assigned to 69 species, with Filobasidium magnum, Starmerella bombicola, Teunia globosa, Aureobasidium pini, and Kwoniella ovata being the dominant taxa. Ten representative strains were characterized comprehensively and identified as two novel genera and four novel species. Integrating the molecular data, genome information, and phenotypic/physiological traits, the ten novel yeast strains were described as six novel yeast taxa, including two novel species of two novel genera, Fanglaniella lipolytica gen. nov. sp. nov., Polychromogenomyces tardus gen. nov. sp. nov., and four novel species as Pseudotremella jasmini sp. nov., Teunia pruni sp. nov., Kurtzmanomyces yulaniae sp. nov., and Trigonosporomyces otomorphus sp. nov. Furthermore, qualitative profiling of the lipolytic activity across all six novel taxa was conducted using Tween 20 and Tween 80 plate culture assays, and the lipolytic functional genes were subsequently predicted. Our findings highlighted the high diversity of flower-inhabitant yeast strains and the potential lipolytic activity of floral yeasts. Full article

High-frequency monitoring provides a practical approach for detecting short-term oxygen instability and pre-transition stress accumulation in eutrophic shallow lakes. In this study, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, water temperature, and electrical conductivity (EC) were monitored at 5 min intervals in a restored shallow urban lake in Wuhan, China. A total of 112,896 synchronized observations from 392 complete daily profiles were analyzed to characterize diel physicochemical dynamics, identify a site-specific DO threshold, and evaluate process-based early-warning indicators. DO and pH showed pronounced synchronized diel oscillations; whereas, temperature mainly reflected seasonal background variation and EC showed weaker diel regularity. Correlation analysis and PCA indicated that DO and pH represented the dominant metabolic gradient, with DO serving as the most responsive indicator of oxygen instability. Piecewise logistic regression identified a site-specific DO threshold of 3.62 mg L⁻¹ associated with persistent hypoxia-related oxygen-stress states. During the August 2021 transition period, low-oxygen duration increased rapidly, oxygen-stress exposure intensified, and daytime recovery rate declined, indicating progressive oxygen-stress accumulation and weakened recovery capacity. These results show that high-frequency DO dynamics can provide early-warning information on persistent hypoxia-related oxygen stress, although the identified threshold should be interpreted as site-specific rather than universal. Full article

Background/Objectives: Several risk factors have been identified as being involved in the progression of COVID-19 over time. Among these, age, comorbidities, and various laboratory parameters have been reported. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common comorbidities found among patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Glucose metabolism dysfunction can exacerbate pre-existing diabetes or even induce diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study is to assess the accuracy of the CURB-65, PSI, MuLBSTA severity scores and laboratory parameters in patients with diabetes mellitus diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving patients with diabetes mellitus diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, performed between June 2023 and December 2024. Results: We analyzed 73 patients with pre-existing diabetes who were diagnosed with COVID-19. There were 56.16% men, living mostly in urban areas, with a median hospital stay of 9.38 days. Elevated levels of LDH (367.50, p = 0.002), CRP (133.90, p = 0.012), ferritin (724.25, p = 0.012), ESR (55.00, p = 0.014), D-dimers (2455.04, p = 0.004), white blood cells (12.76, p = 0.007) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (15.86, p = 0.021) were recorded in the group of deceased patients. Significantly elevated values were recorded for all three severity scores, the AUC for CURB-65 was 0.69, PSI 0.81 and MuLBSTA 0.86. Conclusions: Severity scores showed robust prognostic value in predicting mortality among patients with diabetes mellitus and COVID-19, emphasizing their relevance as clinically applicable tools for risk stratification and outcome assessment. Full article

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a key role in shaping lake microbiomes and water quality, yet its spatial variability and regional links to microbial activity remain unclear. Using three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix and self-organizing map analysis on 38 samples from a human-impacted lake network in Hubei (affected by tourism, agriculture, and urban areas), this study clarifies DOM heterogeneity and its environmental connections. Microbial metabolic activity represented by total bacterial content (BC) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) activity was rapidly and automatically measured with a ColiMinder device. Random forest (RF) modeling and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to identify key drivers of microbial activity and to clarify correlations between DOM characteristics and microbial activitiy. Results indicated that although DOM in all three sectors primarily originated from microbial activities during the flat-water period, Tuanhu (TH) exhibited a higher degree of DOM humification and a larger average relative molecular mass, reflecting stronger terrestrial source characteristics. RF analysis identified NH₄⁺ as the main predictor of both BC and E. coli levels, while total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) were also important predictors. PCA further revealed clear differences in DOM composition across the lakes. DOM in TH was predominantly autochthonous, whereas DOM in Miaohu (MH) and Guozheng (GZ) was mainly of humic origin. This study adopts an integrated method combining rapid microbial detection, EEM and DOM–microbe correlation analysis to analyze human disturbances across segmented connected lakes in Hubei. It provides scientific support for targeted water quality management of human-influenced freshwater. Full article