Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
The quality and safety of Rhodiola rosea supplements on the U.S. market: An analysis of biomarkers, heavy metals, and pesticide residues
Rhodiola rosea supplements have become popular in the U.S., with a $3.4 billion market and an annual growth of about 10% in sales in the past few years. While the health benefits of this plant have been evaluated in many scientific studies, the potential differences in quality of these botanical products on the U.S. market have not been studied in detail. Using reversed-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography, we determined the concentrations of the biomarker molecules, rosavins and salidroside, in a small but representative sample of R. rosea dietary supplement products commercially available in the U.S. Concentrations of rosavins and salidroside ranged from 0.01% to 3.08% and 0.07% to 2.91%, respectively, including substantial aberrations from advertised biomarker amounts. One product showed an undisclosed likely addition of synthetic salidroside. We also assessed heavy metal contaminations via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and pesticide contents by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in these botanical products. While pesticide levels were below detection limits, all seven tested capsular products had trace amounts of arsenic, cobalt, and lead. Two of these contained notably elevated levels of cobalt and arsenic, where follow-up arsenic speciation would be required to verify whether they remain within minimal risk levels established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Overall, these results underscore the need for more stringent quality control in herbal supplements containing R. rosea available in the U.S.
A secure group-based authentication protocol for IoVT in 5G-enabled smart transportation and road safety systems
Mesoionic N‐Heterocyclic Olefins, Imines, Thiones, Phosphinidenes and Their Application in Catalysis
Abstract Transition metal compounds are widely known for their ability to activate small molecules and are excellent catalysts for a wide range of reactions. However, environmentally friendly and cost‐effective alternatives are highly desirable due to their toxicity and low abundance. In recent years, there has been a significant surge in the study of main‐group‐based species, mainly p‐block element‐derived compounds, which revealed reactivity resembling that of transition metal complexes. Recently, the mesoionic N‐heterocyclic carbenes (mNHCs) adducts of p‐block elements, containing exocyclic fragments such as ═CH 2 (mNHOs), ═NR (mNHIs), ═PR (mNHPs), and ═S (mNHTs), have evolved as ligands for coordination chemistry, reactive species for the activation of small molecules, as well as efficient metal‐free catalysts for various challenging organic transformations, driven by their strong nucleophilicity. This minireview documents recent breakthroughs in the synthesis, reactivity, and catalytic applications of mNHOs, mNHIs, mNHTs, and mNHPs.
Determinants and strategies for environmental compliance in municipalities: Perspectives from KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
Background A commitment to local environmental compliance is essential for ensuring a sustainable environment for future generations. Despite South Africa’s extensive environmental laws, municipalities persistently exhibit non-compliance due to inadequate institutional capacity, political interference, and fragmented coordination. Methods This study examines the determinants and strategies influencing environmental compliance in South African municipalities. Utilizing a qualitative research approach and the case study design, 10 municipalities within the KwaZulu-Natal province were sampled, 27 comprehensive interviews were conducted with 16 municipal officials, four environmental consultants (ECs), and seven environmental management inspectors (EMIs). Results The findings suggest that institutional capacity, regulatory enforcement, and political support are crucial determinants of compliance. Furthermore, the study identifies awareness, capacity building, and organisational restructuring as pivotal strategies for enhancing environmental compliance. Conclusions Improving municipal environmental compliance requires stronger leadership commitment, institutional capacity, consistent enforcement, and collaboration. The study contributes to environmental governance and sustainability by elucidating the role of institutional dynamics and political influence in shaping compliance. It provides a foundation for stakeholders, future research, and policy development aimed at effective environmental compliance.
Exogenous regulators enhance strawberry yield under heat stress conditions
Abstract Climate change poses a growing threat to strawberry cultivation, a crop highly sensitive to elevated temperatures. Developing sustainable strategies to mitigate heat induced stress is crucial for maintaining yield and fruit quality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of different exogenous chemical treatments in enhancing heat stress tolerance across three strawberry genotypes RABI-3, BARI Strawberry-2, and BARI Strawberry-3 under prolonged summer conditions in Bangladesh. A two-factorial completely randomized design (CRD) was conducted from February 2024 to April 2025 with six treatments: control (water), abscisic acid (5 ppm), calcium chloride (10 mM), kaolin (5%), melatonin (10 ppm), and molasses (5%). Vegetative, physiological, biochemical, and yield parameters were analyzed, and treatment effects were statistically tested at 5% significance level. Kaolin application significantly improved vegetative growth (plant height and leaf number increased by 15–25% compared to the control) and enhanced photosynthetic activity and antioxidant capacity. The kaolin treated plants also showed a 20–30% yield increase with better fruit size, total soluble solids, and vitamin C content. Among genotypes, BARI Strawberry-3 demonstrated the highest tolerance and yield stability under high-temperature stress. These findings suggest that kaolin spray may offer a cost effective and environmentally sustainable approach to mitigating heat stress in strawberries, with BARI Strawberry-3 representing a promising genotype for future commercial cultivation in warming agro-climatic zones.
Radiomics profiling combined with clinical risk factors for preoperative Lymphatic Metastasis prediction in Colorectal cancer: A multicenter study
Purpose Accurate preoperative assessment of regional lymphatic metastases (LNM) is essential for effective surgical selection of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model that integrates radiomics and clinical risk factors to predict preoperative LNM in CRC patients. Methods This multicenter cohort study retrospectively collected data from 349 CRC patients between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2023. A total of 292 patients from our hospital comprised the training dataset, while 57 patients from external hospitals formed the validation dataset. Radiomic features of the tumor region (3D(R)) and colorectal region (3D(C)) were extracted from venous-phase CT images. LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression was applied to screen clinical and radiomic features. 4 prediction models, clinical, 3D(R), 3D(R + C),and combined, were constructed using support vector machine (SVM). The optimal model was identified through comparative analysis of the area under the curve (AUC) metric across multiple models. Results The Model_3D(R + C) demonstrated superior discriminative performance compared to Model_3D(R) alone (AUC: training, 0.733(95% CI: [0.693, 0.773]) vs. 0.696 (95% CI: [0.655, 0.737]); validation, 0.641(95% CI: [0.590, 0.692]) vs. 0.563(95% CI: [0.507, 0.619])). The model combining clinical and 3D(R + C) (ModelC_3D(R + C))outperformed the clinical model(ModelC) and Model_3D(R + C) (AUC: training: 0.858(95% CI: [0.826, 0.890]) vs. 0.635(95% CI: [0.585, 0.685]) vs. 0.733(95% CI: [0.693, 0.773]); validation 0.833(95% CI: [0.787, 0.879]) vs. 0.589(95% CI: [0.537, 0.641]) vs. 0.641(95% CI: [0.590, 0.692]); P < 0.050). Therefore, the combined model provided the most accurate identification of LNM. Conclusion The SVM model incorporating 3D(R) features, 3D(C) features, and clinical risk factors effectively predicts preoperative LNM in CRC patients.
Effect of ceramic reinforcements in TIG-welded Al/SiCp and Al/TiB2 composites for enhanced mechanical properties
Abstract This research determines the effect of various ceramic particles (SiCp and TiB₂) on the Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding of Al/TiB₂ and Al/SiCp composites. The reinforcement concentrations of 2%, 4% and 6% were chosen for the investigation for both SiCp and TiB₂ particles, and their effect on tensile strength (TS), hardness, and microstructure was studied using appropriate instruments. The SEM microstructure confirmed the ceramic particles distribution of different composite materials. The microstructure of the welds varies depending on the composition of the Al/TiB₂ and Al/SiCp composites. XRD analysis displayed that the phase compound formed in weld metal is similar to the metal matrix composites (MMCs), indicating strong bonding between the reinforcements and the matrix. XRD analysis confirmed the retention of reinforcement phases without the formation of undesirable reaction products, indicating good metallurgical compatibility and stable interfacial bonding between the matrix and reinforcements. Addition of TiB₂ and SiCp ceramic reinforcements into the aluminum matrix significantly improved the hardness of the welded joints. The highest hardness value of 172.8 HV was obtained for the Al/SiCp composite containing 4 wt% SiCp, representing an improvement of 25.94% and 8.88% compared to the composites containing 2 wt% and 6 wt% SiCp, respectively. Which is greater than 25.94% and 8.88% compare to 2% and 6% respectively. Similarly, the Al/TiB₂ MMC containing 4% TiB₂ showed the maximum hardness value of 98.3 Hv, followed by the composites containing 2% (85.9 HV) and 6% (74.6 HV) TiB₂, respectively. Which is greater than 14.44% and 24.11% compare to 2% and 6% respectively. This result shown that the inclusion of reinforcement particles increases the hardness of the weld zone, with the optimum reinforcement being 4% of SiCp and 6% of TiB₂. The welded specimens were tested using tensile tester to determine their TS and ductility. The results revealed that the inclusion of ceramic particles increases the TS of the welds but ductility found to be deceased. The Al/SiCp MMCs with 4% displayed the highest TS of 226.7 MPa followed by those with 2% and 6% respectively. Which is increase 8.16% and 3.37% compare to 2% and 6% respectively. Similarly, the aluminium based MMCs containing 4% TiB₂ recorded the highest TS of 228.5 MPa followed by the Al/TiB₂ MMCs containing 2% and 6% TiB₂ respectively. Which is increase 11.35% and 4.77% compare to 2% and 6% respectively. However, the Al/SiCp MMCs with 4% SiCp showed relatively lower ductility of 2.9% when compared to the Al/TiB₂ MMCs with 4% TiB₂. Overall, the inclusion of ceramic reinforcements into the aluminium based MMCs improves the mechanical performance of the weldments, although the optimal composition depends on specific application requirements.
Human Proteoglycan Linkage Region Glycosyltransferases are Dimeric and Show Unexpected Specificities
Abstract We selected the N , O ‐glycosylated proteoglycan bikunin as a model to establish a chemoenzymatic approach to defined proteoglycans using native chemical ligation. Overexpression of the human linkage region glycosyltransferases B4GalT7, B3GalT6 and B3GlcAT‐1 as N ‐terminal SUMO‐fusions gave high yields of soluble and active enzymes in E. col i . When starting with xylosylated bikunin peptides the transferases performed well in enzymatic cascade reactions and provided the desired linkage region tetrasaccharide glycopeptides. B3GalT6 and B3GlcAT‐1 led to side products with N , O ‐glycosylated bikunin peptides revealing unexpected promiscuity of both enzymes towards complex type N ‐glycans. Additionally, B3GalT6 was found to synthesize short poly‐β3 Gal structures. B3GlcAT‐1 can slowly convert the biosynthetic intermediate Gal‐Xyl to the non‐canonical trisaccharide GlcA‐Gal‐Xyl. This reaction independently confirmed the recently detected biosynthetic bypass to GAGs in the case of dysfunctional B3GalT6 (spondylodysplastic Ehlers‐Danlos‐syndrome). The three linkage region glycosyltransferases B4GalT7, B3GalT6 and B3GlcAT‐1 were dimeric in solution and the crystal structure of B3GalT6 was solved showing a covalent dimer linked by a disulfide in the center of the large dimerization domain. This motif appears to be conserved in higher organisms and reinforces the concept of dimeric glycosyltransferases lining the Golgi.
Towards practical AI for agriculture: A self-supervised attention framework for Spinach leaf disease detection
Malabar spinach is a nutrient-dense leafy vegetable widely cultivated and consumed in Bangladesh. Its productivity is often compromised by Alternaria leaf spot and straw mite infestations. This work proposes an efficient and interpretable deep learning framework for automatic Malabar spinach leaf disease classification. A curated dataset of Malabar spinach images collected from Habiganj Agricultural University and supplemented with public samples was categorized into three classes: Alternaria, straw mite, and healthy leaves. A lightweight SpinachCNN established a strong baseline, while Spinach-ResSENet, enhanced with squeeze-and-excitation modules, improved channel-wise attention and feature discrimination. A customized Vision Transformer (SpinachViT) and SwinV2-Base were further investigated to assess the benefits of transformer-based architectures under limited data. To mitigate annotation scarcity, we employed SimSiam-based self-supervised pretraining on unlabeled images, followed by supervised fine-tuning with cross-entropy or a hybrid objective combining cross-entropy and supervised contrastive loss. The best-performing domain-optimized model, SimSiam-CBAM-ResNet-50, incorporated Convolutional Block Attention Modules and achieved 97.31% test accuracy, 0.9983 macro ROC-AUC, and low calibration error, while maintaining robustness to Gaussian and salt-and-pepper noise. Although a SwinV2-Base benchmark pretrained on ImageNet-22k reached slightly higher accuracy (97.98%, 98.99% with test-time augmentation), its 86.9M parameters and reliance on large-scale pretraining reduce feasibility for edge deployment. In contrast, the SimSiam-CBAM model offers a more parameter-efficient and deployment-friendly solution for real-world agricultural applications. Model decisions are interpretable via Grad-CAM, Grad-CAM++, and LayerCAM, which consistently highlight biologically relevant lesion regions. The spinach dataset used in this study is publicly available on: https://huggingface.co/datasets/saifullah03/malabar_spinach_leaf_disease_dataset .
Ag-decorated Cu-doped ZnO nanomaterial for enhanced antibacterial application
The global burden of age-related hearing loss among individuals aged 60 years and older: An analysis for the global burden of disease study 2021 and predictions to 2050
Objectives Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) impacts communication, cognitive function, and mental health, with regional prevalence variation. We analyzed global spatial and temporal trends in ARHL burden from 1990 to 2021. Methods Data on ARHL prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) among individuals aged 60 and older were analyzed. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) in the age-standardized prevalence (ASPR) and YLD rates (ASYR) were analyzed by country, gender and socio-demographic index (SDI). Age-period-cohort, decomposition analyses, and frontier analysis identified influencing factors and quantify inequalities. Future trends were predicted using Bayesian model. Results From 1990 to 2021, global ARHL prevalence cases increased by 137.43% (302.79 million to 718.93 million), with a 4.34% rise in ASPR. YLDs grew by 144.3% (10.76 million to 26.30 million), and ASYR rose by 4.45%. Males exhibited higher ASPR and ASYR despite more cases among females. High-middle and middle SDI regions showing higher and steadily increasing ASPR and ASYR, while high SDI regions exhibited the lowest and most stable rates. Population growth was the primary driver of the increasing burden. Projections indicate continued growth in ARHL cases by 2050. Conclusions The ARHL burden among older adults has increased significantly, with marked regional and socio-demographic disparities. Lower SDI regions bear disproportionately higher burdens. Effective strategies, including public education, hearing protection, early screening, and research into treatments, are urgently needed to address this public health challenge.
Blood demand and utilization among pregnant and postpartum women with and without HIV infections at the university teaching Hospital, Zambia
Abstract Background Complications from pregnancy, primarily post-partum hemorrhage, including infections like HIV, are the leading causes of maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Blood products are not always available for obstetric emergencies because of chronic shortages in SSA countries. Understanding the quantity of blood products used by pregnant and post-partum women with and without HIV infections could inform strategies for the appropriate use of blood in resource-limited settings. Methods A prospective study was conducted of medical charts of all pregnant or postpartum (42 days following delivery) women who presented to the obstetrics ward at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Zambia and had blood ordered during their hospital stay from November 2016 to March 2017. Abstracted data from the requisition forms included age, hospital ward, clinical indication for blood transfusion, transfusion history, pregnancy history, blood components requested, number of units requested, and date and time of the request. Data extracted from blood bank records included blood issue date, number of units issued, and pre-transfusion hemoglobin. Variables extracted from the patient’s chart included age, HIV status, pregnancy history, blood component transfused, delivery method, labor complications, and transfusion outcome/adverse events. Results A total of 1086 blood requests and charts of women were reviewed in the study at UTH. Blood requests for women living with HIV (WLHIV) and women without HIV infection were 265 (24.4%) and 821 (75.6%), respectively. Of the 1034 blood requests received, WLHIV represented 40.2% (103) of antepartum ( n = 256) requests and 38.9% ( n = 303) of postpartum ( n = 778) blood requests. Of the 43% (465) women who received a transfusion, 47.1% (125) were WLHIV and 41.4% (340) were women without HIV infection. Pregnancy-related indications for transfusion in WLHIV were other 92 (34.7%), postpartum hemorrhage 26 (9.8%), complications of ectopic pregnancy 23 (8.6%), acute anemia 11 (4.1%), placenta abruption 8 (3.0%), uterine rupture 3 (1.1%), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and HELLP syndrome 1 (0.3%). Conclusion HIV infection’s contributory role in blood demand and use among pregnant women in Zambia may be smaller than previously thought. However, findings suggest that continued investments in hemovigilance and appropriate blood use within the clinical setting could improve rational blood use in low-resource settings and maternal outcomes.
The mediating effect of alexithymia between Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and suicidal ideation among a sample of Lebanese adults
Background Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an underdiagnosed eating disorder consisting of food avoidance that is not related to body image concerns. New evidence suggests that individuals identified as having ARFID experience elevated suicidal ideations. This association could be mediated by alexithymia, described as having difficulty in recognizing or verbalizing emotions. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether alexithymia mediates the link between ARFID symptoms and suicidal ideation among Lebanese adults. Methods Between September and December 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted using snowball sampling technique. 396 Lebanese adults (mean age = 26.26) took an online Arabic survey. Results 40.7% of the participants had thoughts of suicide. Younger age, being unmarried, less physical activity, higher ARFID scores, and increased alexithymia were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Alexithymia fully mediated the link between ARFID symptoms and suicidal ideation (indirect effect: Beta = 0.02; Boot SE = 0.01; Boot 95% CI 0.01, 0.04). There was a strong correlation between higher avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and higher alexithymia. There was also a significant association between higher alexithymia and the presence of suicidal ideation. Finally, there was no association between avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and suicidal ideation. Conclusion Our findings support alexithymia as a fundamental psychological process linking ARFID symptoms and suicidal ideation. Given the sociocultural stigma and limited mental health resources in Lebanon, clinicians should consider screening for alexithymia among individuals with eating disorders and suicidal thinking. Interventions that focus on emotions could therefore be used to reduce suicide risk in this vulnerable population.
Performance comparison of large language models in boron neutron capture therapy knowledge assessment
Offshore wind and hybrids - A counterfactual case study for impacts in the coupled day-ahead market of Europe
Europe’s ambitious offshore wind targets hinge on the development of a single interconnected electricity market, with offshore hybrid interconnectors playing a pivotal role. These interconnectors facilitate both wind energy transmission to shore and cross-border trade, while enhancing market and grid efficiency. This study attempts to quantify these effects through a study of an additional hybrid interconnector in Europe’s present day-ahead electricity market at the example of the Baltic Sea. Using the Euphemia algorithm for single day-ahead market coupling with historical order books from 2023 and 2024, the analysis evaluates power prices, cross-border flows, and economic surplus. It applies a counterfactual “what-if” analysis to real-world market conditions which differs from commonly employed fundamental market modeling. Results reveal that a hybrid interconnector between the Baltic States and Germany would have delivered greater European welfare benefits compared to a radial wind farm connection with an independent parallel interconnector. Notably, price effects and power exchanges extend beyond the hosting countries, underscoring the need for a sea basin-wide planning and cost-sharing approach. Additionally, the distribution of surpluses between offshore producers, transmission system operators and consumers differs between radial and hybrid setups. It highlights the economic complexity and involved risk profiles introduced by offshore (hybrid) assets. This case study confirms theoretical insights from fundamental models with real-life data and identifies key considerations for decision-makers to address distributional challenges and maximize the benefits of offshore hybrid interconnectors in future planning.
Negr1 deficiency alters glutamate signalling and kynurenine pathway in a mouse model of psychiatric disorders
Abstract The NEGR1 gene has been implicated in several psychiatric disorders, and increased NMDA receptor binding density has been demonstrated in vitro in hippocampal slices from Negr1 -deficient mice. In this study, we expanded on these findings by investigating the behavioural response to NMDA receptor antagonism, expression of NMDA receptor subunits, and kynurenine pathway metabolites in a Negr1 -deficient mouse model. Male and female wild-type and Negr1 -deficient mice received daily injections of MK-801, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, until behavioural tolerance developed in the open field test (after 9 days in males and 5 days in females). In drug-naive animals, acute MK-801 administration (0.2 mg/kg) elicited a stronger motor response in Negr1 -deficient males compared to wild-type controls. However, with repeated dosing, Negr1 -deficient males exhibited a blunted behavioural response and attenuated progression of rapid behavioural tolerance during every-second-day MK-801 administration, suggesting altered receptor sensitivity. Gene expression analysis revealed sex- and brain region-specific changes in NMDA receptor subunit expression. Additionally, kynurenine pathway metabolites showed genotype- and sex-dependent alterations. These findings suggest that NEGR1 protein modulates NMDA receptor function and tryptophan metabolism in a sex-dependent manner, highlighting the importance of considering both genetic background and sex in models of glutamatergic dysfunction relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Innovative practice of sustainable digital signal processing education
The Digital Signal Processing (DSP) course serves as a core curriculum for electronic information engineering majors. Traditional DSP instruction predominantly employs a teacher-centered lecture format supplemented by simulation experiments, which fails to engage student interest or foster proactive learning, ultimately resulting in suboptimal educational outcomes. This study integrates the BOPPPS instructional framework with Collaborative Inquiry-Based Learning (CIBL) models while designing simulation-hardware experiments that seamlessly bridge virtual and hardware-based environments. By incorporating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-oriented engineering case studies into Project-Based Learning (PBL) content, this approach effectively stimulates student motivation, cultivates practical skills, and enhances problem-solving capabilities. The effectiveness of these pedagogical innovations is evaluated through academic performance analysis, student surveys, and focused interviews, enabling continuous optimization of teaching plans and content. Research findings demonstrate that integrating SDG-related engineering projects significantly boosts student motivation and professional confidence. Furthermore, the BOPPPS model combined with CIBL effectively improves learning efficiency and specialized competencies among students.
Enhancing drought stress tolerance of NIL-SUB1DRO1 rice strain through different seed priming treatments
A hybrid CNN-ViT based framework for automatic traffic actions detection in smart cities
It is crucial to automatically detect traffic accidents and hazardous situations in a timely and accurate manner. In this way, both individual security will be ensured and significant contributions will be made to economic efficiency and sustainable urban life. Millions of people die in traffic accidents every year. This situation also places an additional burden on health systems and will lead to many undesirable consequences. Early detection of events such as traffic density, accidents, and road closures accelerates emergency response processes, regulates traffic flow, and prevents secondary accidents. Therefore, artificial intelligence-supported automatic systems stand out as a key component of smart cities. This study aims to detect traffic accidents and traffic situations automatically. For this purpose, feature extraction was performed with five Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and five Vision Transformer (ViT) based models. Then, the features obtained from these models were evaluated in different classifiers. The ViT model and the CNN model, which yielded the most successful results, served as the base for the proposed model. The features obtained from the best ViT model and CNN model were combined to bring together different features of the same image. Then, these features were classified into eight different categories using various classifiers. It was observed that the proposed model produced more successful results than the ten models whose preliminary results were obtained in the study. The accuracy value of the proposed model was 96.88%. This value is promising for future studies and plays a strategic role in terms of sustainability and enhancing the quality of life in smart cities.