Search Results (41,255)

Plant-based diets are increasingly attracting attention as they play a significant role in human health and environmental sustainability and are believed to be key components of sustainable food systems. In the present study, both pros and cons of the adoption of plant-based diets are analyzed using a bibliometric method integrated with a qualitative examination of the scientific literature. For the bibliometric study, Bibliometrix software was utilized, examining 3245 scientific articles, downloaded from the Scopus database, and printed between the years 1957 and 2025. The analyses were conducted using R software, version 4.4.1, with access to the Bibliometrix package, version 4.1. The results indicate a remarkable rise, in the last two decades, in the scholarly focus on the influence of plant-based diets on the individual’s health condition as well as the environment. Keyword co-occurrence studies and international collaborations demonstrate a dominance of research focus in both the United States and Europe, with significant contributions from the Asia–Pacific region. Furthermore, the current work offers qualitative identification of the benefits of plant diets from various perspectives like nutritional, economic, ecological, and cultural. It also explores the main dissuaders from adhering to these diets, including perceived nutritional hazards, cost perceptions, low availability, and social prohibitions. Findings emphasize that, in spite of all the barriers, plant food-based diets have a wide-ranging ability to provide tangible benefits at both the individual and population levels, and documented in the scientific literature are recommendations of expert-led education programs, economic incentives, and judiciously framed public policies to overcome these barriers and to make this transition possible towards sustainable food choices. Findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the current lines of inquiry and stage the subsequent work on how to motivate sustainability among the general population. Full article

This paper proposes a structured design framework and system architecture for a non-intrusive spatial system aimed at supporting child behavior in everyday domestic environments. Rooted in ethical considerations, our approach defines four core behavior-guided design strategies: routine recovery, emotion-responsive adjustment, behavioral transition induction, and external linkage. Each strategy is meticulously translated into a detailed system logic that outlines input conditions, trigger thresholds, and feedback outputs, designed for implementability with ambient sensing technologies. Through a comparative conceptual analysis of three sensing configurations—low-resolution LiDARs, mmWave radars, and environmental sensors—we evaluate their suitability based on technical feasibility, spatial integration, operationalized privacy metrics, and ethical alignment. Supported by preliminary technical observations from lab-based sensor tests, low-resolution LiDAR emerges as the most balanced option for its ability to offer sufficient behavioral insight while enabling edge-based local processing, robustly protecting privacy, and maintaining compatibility with compact residential settings. Based on this, we present a working three-layered system architecture emphasizing edge processing and minimal-intrusion feedback mechanisms. While this paper primarily focuses on the framework and design aspects, we also outline a concrete pilot implementation plan tailored for small-scale home environments, detailing future empirical validation steps for system effectiveness and user acceptance. This structured design logic and pilot framework lays a crucial foundation for future applications in diverse residential and care contexts, facilitating longitudinal observation of behavioral patterns and iterative refinement through lived feedback. Ultimately, this work contributes to the broader discourse on how technology can ethically and developmentally support children’s autonomy and well-being, moving beyond surveillance to enable subtle, ambient, and socially responsible spatial interactions attuned to children’s everyday lives. Full article

Due to the shortage of construction aggregates, carbonate rock aggregates—including mainly limestone aggregates—have long been used in structural concrete in many countries worldwide. On the other hand, earlier tests on the shear fracture toughness of concretes with limestone aggregates were very limited and were even abandoned for many years. For the above reasons, in this paper, completely new fracture toughness tests were performed according to the mode II fracture for limestone concretes with different grain size distributions. Two types of aggregate grain were used, i.e., two with maximum grain sizes of 8 mm (M1 series concrete) and 16 mm (M2 series concrete). During the experiments, the critical stress-intensity factor (K_IIc) and critical unit work of failure (J_IIc) were determined. Based on the conducted studies, it was found that higher values of fracture mechanics parameters were noted as the grain sizes of the aggregate used increased. The increases in the analyzed fracture mechanics parameters were noticeably greater in the M2 series concrete compared to the results for the M1 series concrete, specifically by 27% for K_IIc and 35% for J_IIc. In addition to macroscopic tests, detailed microstructural analyses of the ITZ area between the coarse aggregate grains and the cement matrix were conducted. Based on the captured images, it was determined that, in the M1 series concrete, the contacts between the aggregate grains and the cement paste exhibit a loose structure with visible microcracks. In contrast, the M2 series concrete showed no visible damages within the ITZ area itself nor at their displacement at a distance of approximately a few μm away from this area. This microstructure of both materials resulted in the M1 series concrete being more prone to rapid and sudden fracture propagation, leading to its brittle behavior during the fracture process. In contrast, the large, well-developed limestone aggregate grains in the M2 series concrete facilitated improved stress transfer beyond the ITZ area into the cement matrix, preserving the continuity of the material structure and consequently leading to quasi-plastic behavior of the concrete during the fracture process. The novelty and utilitarianism of the research undertaken result from the fact that exploring the properties of concretes with limestone aggregates using mode II fracture is an important aspect of evaluating the durability and safety of concrete structures subjected mainly to shear forces. Full article

This study reviews heat transfer fluids (HTFs) and their velocity effects on the thermal behavior of ground heat exchangers (GHEs) within geothermal heat pump (GHP) applications. It examines the classification, thermophysical properties, and operational behavior of standard working fluids, including water–glycol mixtures, as well as emerging nanofluids. Fundamental heat exchange mechanisms are discussed, with emphasis on how conductivity, viscosity, and heat capacity interact with fluid velocity to influence energy transfer performance, hydraulic resistance, and system reliability. Special attention is given to nanofluids, whose enhanced thermal behavior depends on nanoparticle type, concentration, dispersion stability, and flow conditions. The review analyzes stabilization strategies, including surfactants, functionalization, and pH control, for maintaining long-term performance. It also highlights the role of velocity optimization in balancing convective benefits with pumping energy demands, providing velocity ranges suited to different GHE configurations. Drawing from recent experimental and numerical studies, the review offers practical guidelines for integrating nanofluid formulation with engineered operating conditions to maximize energy efficiency and extend system lifespan. Full article

There has been considerable scientific interest in third-order nonlinear optical materials for photonic applications. In particular, materials exhibiting a strong electronic optical Kerr effect serve as essential components in the ultrafast nonlinear photonic devices and are instrumental in the development of all-optical signal processing technologies. Therefore, the accurate prediction of material-relevant properties, such as second hyperpolarizabilities, remains a key topic in the search for efficient photonic materials. However, the field standards in quantum chemical computation are still inconsistent, as studies often lack a firm statistical foundation. This work presents a comprehensive in silico investigation based on multiple full-factorial experiments, aiming to clarify the strengths and limitations of various computational approaches. Our results indicate that the coupled-cluster approach at the CCSD level in its current response-equation implementations is not yet able to outperform the range-separated hybrid density functionals, such as LC-BLYP(0.33). The exceptional performance of the specifically tailored basis set Sadlej-pVTZ is also described. Not only was the presence of diffuse functions found to be mandatory, but also adding ample polarization functions is shown to be inefficient resource-wise. HF/Sadlej-pVTZ is proven to be reliable enough to use in molecular screening. Meta functionals are confirmed to produce poorly consistent results, and specific guidelines for constructing range-separated functionals for polarizability calculations are drawn out. Additionally, it was shown that many of the contemporary solvation models exhibit significant limitations in accurately capturing nonlinear optical properties. Therefore, further refinement in the current methods is pending. This extends to the statistical description as well: the mean absolute deviation descriptor is found to be deficient in rating various computational methods and should rather be replaced with the parameters of the linear correlation (the slope, the intercept, and the R²). Full article

The genus Sargassum is taxonomically complex and poorly studied in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. We analyzed specimens collected along the Pacific coast of Central America and compared them with historical records and herbarium material to clarify species identities. Using detailed morphological analyses with molecular phylogenetic reconstruction based on concatenated ITS2 (Internal Transcribed Spacer 2) and COX3 (Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit 3) sequences, we identify two distinct morphotypes corresponding to two well-supported clades. One clade matches the morphology and molecular profile of Sargassum liebmannii. We provide the most comprehensive description of this species to date, including the first published ITS2 and COX3 sequences. Since Taylor’s 1945 work on the tropical Pacific of the Americas, S. liebmannii has been widely reported and considered the predominant species. It forms a genetic clade with other species from the Gulf of California; therefore, we propose a new section, Herporhizum/Sinicola. The second clade represents a previously unrecognized taxon from Central America, which we describe as a new species: Sargassum lacrucense, within the subgenus Sargassum, section Sargassum. Contrary to previous reports, Sargassum brandegeei—now recognized as Sargassum herporhizum—was not found in the region. This study underscores the importance of integrating morphological and molecular data to resolve Sargassum taxonomy in Central America. Full article

Background: Parenting styles are associated with various health outcomes among children, such as fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and emotional well-being. Previous literature suggests that responsive parenting styles are associated with improved mental health outcomes. This study examines the association between an adult’s responsive parenting style and the psychosocial outcomes of emotion regulation and loneliness among children. Methods: Using data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) cross-sectional survey, this secondary data analysis study seeks to understand how perceived parental responsiveness is associated with adolescents’ emotional health outcomes from the perspective of the adolescent. The sample consisted of 12- to 17-year-olds (n = ~1560), mostly female (50.2%) and non-Hispanic White (63.7%), with a mean age of 14.48 years (SD = 1.61). Results: Through multivariable regression, we found that perceived parental responsiveness negatively predicted adolescent emotion suppression (β = −0.29, p < 0.001), even after controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity, parental marital status, parental education level, parent’s time spent at work, and the number of kids in the household (β = −0.29, p < 0.001). We also found that perceived parental responsiveness was the strongest predictor for adolescent loneliness (β = −0.27, p < 0.001), even when controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity, parental marital status, parental education level, parent’s time spent at work, and the number of kids in the household (β = −0.28, p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results suggest that implementing interventions targeting parental responsiveness may be beneficial to improving adolescents’ emotional well-being. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study explores the adaptation and implementation of a positive psychological intervention based on the Emotional Styles model to improve well-being and reduce stress in employees with and without intellectual disabilities (IDs). Methods: A longitudinal intervention was conducted in a social foundation with 45 participants (12 with ID). The program, based on Davidson’s six emotional dimensions, included six weekly sessions adapted through Easy Read strategies and COVID-19 adjustments. Data were collected at pre-test, post-test, and six-month follow-up using the Emotional Styles Questionnaire, PERMA Profiler, and UWES-3. Results: Significant improvements were found in outlook, resilience, engagement, relationships, and reduction in negative emotions, with stronger effects for non-ID participants, although context sensibility improved in the ID group. High satisfaction (93% very satisfied) confirmed the program’s acceptability. Conclusions: The adapted intervention effectively enhances emotional well-being in heterogeneous workplaces, supporting inclusive positive psychology practices. Full article

Prior economic research emphasized land, labor and physical capital as the primary drivers of growth, but contemporary work highlights the pivotal role of human capital. Investments in education, health and governance are now regarded as central to sustainable development; yet important questions remain regarding their effectiveness and context-specific impact. This study investigates how human capital investment influences labor force participation and income growth within the ASEAN nine economies for the period from 2000 to 2022 which provides a rich example of contrast in economic and governance outcomes within a single geographic region. Impacted units of measurement of labor force participation and income growth are evaluated using the Bayesian Additive Regression Trees model to select the most important variables, the Bayesian Dynamic Nonlinear Multivariate panel model to estimate regional effects, and the Time-varying Seemingly Unrelated Regression Equations model to evaluate country-specific dynamics, which considers not just the influence of investments in health and education but also the context of rule, law, and governance. The findings indicate that human capital investments exhibit heterogenous effects across economic tiers and the need for strategies and future study of preconditions to improve returns particularly in low-tier economies. Accordingly, mid-tier, emerging economies exhibit the greatest benefit from human capital investments while top-tier exhibit the probable impact of the law of diminishing returns as their human capital development is already well underway. Despite the limited scope, this study still has the potential to draw constructive theoretical and practical implications. Full article

The language used by the public sometimes fails to reflect scientific knowledge, especially biological knowledge. This failure can have negative consequences for decision making. Examples of words that are frequently used in an erroneous or confusing way are presented. Some of the relevant scientific knowledge comes from work in the last twenty years but some comes from much older work. The negative consequences of misuse of biologically relevant words include what is perhaps the greatest current problem for the world: excessive concern about humans and too little concern about all other living organisms. Some of the changes proposed are substantial and affect science and law as well as general usage of words by the public. It is suggested that there should be no further inaccurate use of words referring to living organisms and processes in living organisms. Full article

Here, we study boundary value problems for the Laplace–Beltrami operator on a three-dimensional sphere with a circular cut, obtained by removing a smooth closed geodesic from $S^3$ embedded in ${\mathbb{R}}^4$. The presence of the cut introduces singular perturbations of the domain, and we develop an analytical framework to characterize well-posed problems in this setting. Our approach combines Green’s functions, spectral analysis, and Sobolev space methods to establish solvability criteria and uniqueness results. In particular, we identify explicit conditions for the existence of solutions with data supported near the cut, and extend the formulation to include delta-type perturbations supported on the removed circle. These results generalize earlier work on punctured two-dimensional spheres and provide a foundation for the study of PDEs on manifolds with localized singularities. Full article

The aim of this work is to determine the production function using the method of complex-valued economics as a criterion for the management of the centralized heat supply of a city. This paper used the methodology of using stepped production functions of complex variables with real coefficients as a tool to perform dynamic analysis and forecasting of production results, allowing the performance of Manufacturing Execution System tasks of the heat supply system to be tracked. Based on this, a justified selection of a management criterion was made, objectively reflecting both the passive and active components of the administrative and economic activities of the heat supply enterprise. A comparative analysis of production functions was conducted to identify a predictive model for resource provision in the process of heat energy generation. A predictive model of resource provision was developed based on the capital/labor ratio of the enterprise, using a production function with complex variables. In other words, determining the production function allows the analysis of both the quantity and quality of resources used to produce 1 Gcal of energy, as well as the forecast of resource procurement to ensure a reliable and cost-effective heat supply. Full article

Motivated by the rapid development of SERS technology, trace detection of various viruses in the sewage and body fluid environments and accurate positive and negative diagnosis of detection samples can be achieved. However, evaluating the environmental survival ability of viruses based on SERS technology remains an unexplored issue, but holds significant guiding significance for effective epidemic prevention and control as well as inactivation treatment. In this work, Au nanoarrays were fabricated on silicon substrates through a simple Ar ion sputtering route as ultra-sensitive SERS chips. With the synergistic contribution of the “lightning rod” effect and the enhanced coupling surface plasmon caused by the nanoarrays, the ultra-sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 S protein with a concentration of 1 pg/mL and SERS enhancement factor of 4.89 × 10⁹ can be achieved. Exploration of the environmental survival ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus indicates that the Raman activity of SARS-CoV-2 S protein exhibited higher temperature tolerance from 0 °C to 60 °C than SARS-CoV S protein, suggesting that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has less temperature influence from increasing air temperature than the SARS-CoV virus to a certain extent, which explains the seasonal recurrence pattern and regional transmission pattern of the novel coronavirus that are different from the SARS virus. Full article

Whether forensic disciplines have established foundational validity—sufficient empirical evidence that a method reliably produces a predictable level of performance—has become a question of growing interest among scientists and legal professionals. This paper evaluates the foundational validity of two sources of forensic evidence relied upon in criminal cases: eyewitness identification decisions and latent fingerprint examiners’ conclusions. Importantly, establishing foundational validity and estimating accuracy are conceptually and functionally different. Though eyewitnesses can often be mistaken, identification procedures recommended by researchers are grounded in decades of programmatic research that justifies the use of methods that improve the reliability of eyewitness decisions. In contrast, latent print research suggests that expert examiners can be very accurate, but foundational validity in this field is limited by an overreliance on a handful of black-box studies, the dismissal of smaller-scale, yet high-quality, research, and a tendency to treat foundational validity as a fixed destination rather than a continuum. Critically, the lack of a standardized method means that any estimates of examiner performance are not tied to any specific approach to latent print examination. Despite promising early work, until the field adopts and tests well-defined procedures, foundational validity in latent print examination will remain a goal still to be achieved. Full article

The study employed a green, template-free ball milling method to construct a series of Ni-Al mixed oxide catalysts modulated by different nickel precursors (nitrate, acetate, carbonate, sulfate, and chlorate). Through multiscale characterization techniques (XRD, TEM, XPS, H₂-TPR, etc.) and catalytic performance evaluations, we systematically elucidated the regulatory mechanism of precursor types on the structure-performance relationship. The NiAlO_x-CO₃²⁻ catalyst derived from nickel carbonate exhibited a unique structure, an optimal Ni/Al ratio, and well-tuned active oxygen species, thereby demonstrating exceptional catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODHE) at 475 °C with 53.2% ethane conversion, 72.6% ethylene selectivity, and maintained stability over 40 h of continuous operation. Beyond developing high-performance ODHE catalysts, this work establishes a “precursor chemistry–material structure–catalytic performance” relationship model, offering new insights for the rational design of efficient catalysts for light alkane conversion. Full article