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Review
Engineering
Other

Aaradhya Patangiya

,

Arokiaraj Jovith A

Abstract: Background: Airport security demands sub-second, high-throughput identity verification while increasingly stringent privacy regulation prohibits the centralized accumulation of passenger data. Existing deployments copy complete passenger profiles to every checkpoint terminal, multiplying the data breach surface at each journey touchpoint and conflicting with GDPR data minimization requirements. Methods: This paper presents BIPV (Blockchain-based Identity and Privacy Verification), a system that resolves this tension through programmable zero-knowledge proofs. BIPV anchors only cryptographic references on a Hyperledger Fabric consortium blockchain; passengers prove eligibility at checkpoints via Circom-compiled Groth16 zk-SNARKs that confirm policy compliance without disclosing any underlying personal attributes. We detail the Circom circuit design for airport policy predicates (AgeVerifier, NationalityChecker, DocumentValidator), a proof pre-computation and caching strategy that eliminates gate-lane latency, and a Hyperledger Fabric consortium governance model that anchors verification keys without recording passenger movement. Results: Our prototype achieves 0.42 s mean verification latency, 2,380 passengers per checkpoint per hour, and a 94.7% reduction in PII exposure relative to centralized baselines, evaluated across 1,000 simulated verification sessions. Security analysis confirms resistance to credential forgery, replay attacks, and consortium collusion under standard cryptographic assumptions. Conclusions: BIPV satisfies GDPR data minimization requirements, ICAO Annex 17, and IATA One ID guidelines. Beyond aviation, the BIPV model generalizes to any domain requiring high-assurance, high-throughput identity verification under privacy obligations.

Article
Medicine and Pharmacology
Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems

Małgorzata Piecuch

,

Piotr Rozentryt

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in developed countries. The most challenging clinical presentation of their natural history is heart failure with lifetime probability of 20% in both genders. It is recognized when typical symptoms such as exercise intolerance, shortness of breath in horizontal position together with signs comprising of lower limb oedema, crackles in the lungs, widening of the jugular veins and liver enlargement. The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between the change in non-oedematous body mass and the clinical and laboratory profile in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Methods: The research material consists of 1029 patients with heart failure who were included in the Prospective Heart Failure Register maintained in the Third Department of Cardiology of the Silesian Center for Heart Diseases in Zabrze since 2003. The collected data was subjected to statistical analysis in Statistica 13. Conclusions: The highest median values of ejection fraction of the left ventricle were observed in patients with weight gain, and the lowest – in patients who lost more than 5% of body weight. Patients with the loss of> 5% of body weight are characterized by the lowest probability of survival. Change in non-oedematous body mass affects adversely the clinical and laboratory profile of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Both weight loss above 5% and weight gain are associated with poorer prognosis and increased mortality in the study participants.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Otolaryngology

Danuta Raj-Koziak

,

Szymon Chmiela

,

Henryk Skarżyński

,

Piotr H. Skarzynski

Abstract: Background: Emerging evidence suggests that metabolic and lifestyle factors may contribute to the onset and progression of tinnitus. Nutritional deficiencies, obesity, and sedentary behavior have been hypothesized to modulate auditory function and neural excitability. This scoping review aimed to map and summarize the available evidence on the associations between dietary factors, nutrient intake, body mass index (BMI), obesity, and physical activity with the risk, severity, and management of tinnitus. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was performed. Eligible designs included randomized controlled trials, cohort, case control, and cross-sectional studies. Data were extracted and synthesized narratively due to methodological heterogeneity. Results: Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Higher protein intake and favorable lipid profiles were associated with reduced tinnitus risk and severity. Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly vitamins B2, B3, D3, B12, zinc, and iron, were consistently associated with greater symptom burden. Evidence on antioxidant supplementation was inconclusive, with some trials reporting symptomatic improvement and others showing no effect. Elevated BMI and obesity were associated with both tinnitus onset and greater symptom severity. Importantly, randomized trials reported that structured weightloss and physical activity programs were associated with reduced tinnitus severity and improved quality of life. Conclusions: The available literature suggests potential associations between dietary patterns, micronutrient status, obesity, and physical activity with tinnitus risk and symptom severity. Although the current evidence is largely observational, some interventional studies indicate that lifestyle based approaches, including weight management and increased physical activity, may contribute to improvements in tinnitus related symptoms and quality of life.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Muye Niu

,

Helin Chan

,

Zhi Huang

,

Xiujuan Liu

,

Jiancheng Zang

Abstract: This study describes a new species of the family Caliscelidae (Hemiptera) from the Xizang region of China—Peltonotellus lasaensis sp. nov. Through integrated morphological examination (including external morphology and genitalia dissection) and mitochondrial gene (COI) sequence analysis, the taxonomic status of this species was determined. Morphological results reveal that the male aedeagus terminates in valvular lobes, with ventral processes comprising a pair of spinous projections. In females, the type IX arcuate process bears approximately 15 ridge teeth on the dorsal margin, a feature that distinctly differentiates it from congeners. Molecular phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a substantial genetic divergence (K2P = 16.5%) between the new species and its closest relative, Peltonotellus sp. (MW928530.1), far exceeding the species-level threshold (< 2%). Additionally, the new species formed a monophyletic clade with high bootstrap support (>97%) in the maximum likelihood tree. This study represents the first record of Caliscelidae in the high-altitude regions of Xizang (3 650–3 800 m), thereby enriching the diversity data of Hemiptera in Asia and providing valuable insights into the biogeography of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Soil Science

Chunli Li

,

Mengran Zhao

,

Hongbin Wang

Abstract: Organo-mineral complexes are intimately involved in protecting the stability of soil organic carbon (SOC), as they are influenced by environmental factors such as pH and redox conditions, as well as by the implementation of appropriate management practices. Nevertheless, the mechanism between environmental factors and the fractions of organo-mineral complexes, as well as their response to tillage practices, remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of rotary tillage (RT), plow tillage (PT), and no-tillage (NT) on organo-mineral complexes (water-dispersible G0 fraction, sodium-dispersible G1 fraction, grinding-dispersible G2 fraction) and their organic carbon (OC) in the black soil region of Northeast China in 2002 and 2022. Compared to 2002, the content of organo-mineral complexes and their OC in 2022 increased by 5.54% and 3.15%, respectively. Relative to PT, RT and NT increased the organo-mineral complex content by 0.39% and 8.40%, and increased the OC content by 9.41% and 20.56%, respectively. Between 2002 and 2022, tillage measures led to greater contributions of organo-mineral complexes to soil carbon sequestration. RT and PT primarily enhanced the contribution rate of the G0 fraction, whereas NT resulted in enhanced contribution rates for both the G0 and G1 fractions. This suggests NT is most conducive to transforming SOC into stable organo-mineral complexes. Redundancy and correlation analyses identified exchangeable Ca²⁺ in G1, pH, clay, TP, along with iron and aluminium oxides, as key environmental factors influencing the transformation pathways among the complexes fractions.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Life Sciences

Sourabh Behra

,

Sambhav Dadsena

,

Kamesh R. Babu

Abstract: Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a non-parasitic roundworm, widely used as an animal model in biological research due to its genetic tractability, short lifecycle, and suitability for high-throughput experimental studies. Synchronization is commonly employed strategy to obtain age-matched C. elegans populations, particularly at the L4 stage for experimental studies. However, the developmental interval required for L1 larvae to reach the L4 stage limits flexibility for spontaneous experiments. Furthermore, conventional synchronization protocols become time-consuming, labor-intensive, and repetitive when multiple experimental replicates are required over consecutive days. Here, we present a staggered L1 plating strategy that enables the daily availability of synchronized L4 worms. In this approach, a large worm population is bleached to obtain growth-arrested L1 larvae, which are then plated in fractions onto NGM plates seeded with paraformaldehyde-killed OP50 at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 days post-hatching. Our results show no significant differences in body length, body volume, brood size, embryonic viability, or locomotion (body length per second [BLPS] and body bends per second [BBPS]) among worms plated at different time points. Together, these findings demonstrate that this method provides a simple, efficient, and reproducible strategy for ensuring daily access to synchronized L4 populations, thereby facilitating both routine and spontaneous experiments.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Cell and Developmental Biology

Lucija Voga

,

Tilen Burnik

,

Maša Kandušer

,

Matjaž Jeras

,

Janja Zupan

,

Andreja Trojner Bregar

Abstract: Background: Primary cells derived from connective tissues contain mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)–like progenitors with chondrogenic potential relevant for cartilage repair. However, donor‑ and tissue‑specific variability and the lack of robust, high‑throughput analytical methods limit their translational use. Objectives: This study aimed to develop and optimize a fast, reproducible high‑content imaging workflow for quantitative evaluation of chondrogenesis in three‑dimensional (3D) spheroids derived from primary cells. Methods: Primary human cells isolated from cartilage were chondrogenically differentiated in vitro. A systematic optimization of immunofluorescence staining parameters was performed, including staining platform, enzymatic matrix digestion, non‑specific site blocking, membrane permeabilization, and nuclear counterstaining. Type II collagen was detected using an Alexa Fluor 488–conjugated antibody, and spheroids were analyzed using high‑content non-confocal imaging. Fluorescence intensities were normalized to spheroid area to account for size‑dependent effects. Results: Staining directly in imaging plates enabled streamlined high‑content analysis. Controlled pepsin‑mediated matrix digestion markedly enhanced antibody penetration, while excessive digestion compromised spheroid integrity. Extended bovine serum albumin blocking improved type II collagen signal intensity and homogeneity. Triton X‑100 permeabilization increased detection sensitivity but occasionally induced structural disruption in weakly organized control spheroids. The optimized protocol enabled clear discrimination between chondrogenic spheroids and controls, with approximately threefold higher type II collagen signal in chondrogenic samples. Conclusions: This study establishes a standardized, high‑content imaging–based workflow for quantitative assessment of 3D chondrogenesis from primary cells. The approach provides a rapid, scalable platform with direct relevance for in vitro screening, potency testing, and quality control in cartilage‑oriented advanced therapy development.

Brief Report
Medicine and Pharmacology
Endocrinology and Metabolism

Anssi H. Manninen

Abstract: The energy balance model (EBM) and its operational form, calories-in-calories-out (CICO), have dominated obesity research and clinical practice for decades. While these frameworks have yielded valuable public health insights, they rely on indirect conversions between mass and energy and rest on misconceptions about thermodynamic principles. This Perspective argues that a mass balance model (MBM) provides a conceptually simpler, mathematically consistent, and biologically more faithful paradigm. By tracking macronutrient mass directly – without intermediate energy-unit conversions or misapplications of thermodynamic laws – the MBM aligns analysis with physiological reality and better predicts body composition dynamics. Clarifying that the first law of thermodynamics concerns only energy (not mass), that calories cannot be eaten or oxidized, and that E=mc² has no relevance to human metabolism paves the way for more precise translational interventions in metabolic medicine.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Immunology and Microbiology

Steven Moreton

,

Sreenu Boddupally

,

Pavana Jyothsna Kasaram

,

Kameswara Rao Badri

Abstract: Adipose tissue is a heterogenous organ with newly identified endocrine function, consisting of immune cells along with main populations of fat storing adipocytes and adipose precursor cells. Dysregulated immune cell function and infiltration cause low grade chronic inflammation in adipose tissue that leads to various metabolic disorders like obesity, insulin resistance, type2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Our research showed the role of P311 protein in adipogenesis, amoeboid migration, vascular wall homeostasis, and blood pressure regulation. Studies from our laboratory and other labs showed the potential involvement of P311 in wound healing and predicted immune function. Here we studied the role of P311 on inflammation mainly focusing on macrophage phenotypes and functions as macrophages are predominant immune cells in adipose tissue that switch the inflammatory micro-environment between pro- and anti-inflammatory conditions. For the first time, we show the expression of P311 in macrophages implicating its role in inflammation directly. Further, P311 expression in macrophages induced anti-inflammatory phenotype (M2 macrophages) through phosphorylation of STAT6 of canonical JAK/STAT signaling pathway. The human gastrointestinal (GI) system harbors high populations of both healthier and pathogenic microbial communities that provide immunity, inflammation, nutrients, and GI tract epithelial homeostasis. Given the roles of P311 in macrophage mediated inflammation and metabolic diseases, we verified whether lack of P311 in P311 knockout mice has any effects on GI microbiome compared to wildtype mice. Our studies demonstrate that lack of P311 led to changes in the intestinal microbial strains. Together, current studies implicate a larger role of P311 connecting inflammation and microbiome with obesity.

Article
Physical Sciences
Applied Physics

A. R Hossain

,

Tanu Arefin

Abstract: Dielectric surface loss from junction wiring represents a critical secondary limit for superconducting transmon coherence. We present a quasi-one-dimensional analytical framework to minimise this loss, enabling rapid optimisation without computationally expensive 3D simulations. We compare uniform strips (V1) against linear (V2–V3) and optimised hybrid tapers (V4–V5). We demonstrate that geometric tapering suppresses wiring participation by up to 99.6%, reducing it from 0.0756 ppm (V1) to 0.0003 ppm (V4). Crucially, however, a simple linear taper (T1 ≈ 127.306 μs) yields coherence virtually indistinguishable from theoretically optimal complex profiles (T1 ≈ 127.323 μs) in the current pad-dominated regime. We thus establish a definitive design rule: standard linear tapering is sufficient to eliminate wiring loss as a bottleneck, rendering fabrication-sensitive complex shapes unnecessary for next-generation, low-loss devices.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Biophysics

Ranim Yahyaoui

,

Ismail Dergaa

,

Jean Noel Nikiema

,

Halil İbrahim Ceylan

,

Nicola Luigi Bragazzi

,

Saoussen Hantous-Zannad

,

Hanene Boussi Rahmouni

Abstract: Background: Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other malignancy worldwide, accounting for 2.2 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths in 2020. Extracting structured clinical knowledge from unstructured French-language oncology records remains methodologically unresolved in Tunisian and Francophone healthcare systems, where validated natural language processing tools do not yet exist. This study examined the effectiveness of transformer-based named entity recognition for automated clinical annotation of Tunisian lung cancer reports. Aim: The study aimed to (i) benchmark four transformer-based models on a publicly available thoracic radiology dataset, (ii) evaluate five models, including a French biomedical specialist, on a newly constructed Tunisian clinical corpus, and (iii) demonstrate prototype deployment feasibility for structured clinical decision support. Methods: A benchmarking study evaluated BERT, RoBERTa, BioClinicalBERT, and CamemBERT on the RadGraph dataset (600 annotated thoracic radiology reports). Five models were subsequently fine-tuned on 200 manually annotated initial diagnostic reports from Mami Pneumo-Phthisiology Hospital, Tunis. All models were trained for a maximum of 10 epochs, with a learning rate of 5x10-5, a batch size of 16, and an 80/10/10 train-validation-test split, and evaluated using precision, recall, and F1-score. Results: On RadGraph, RoBERTa achieved the highest F1-score of 0.873 (precision: 0.869, recall: 0.877), followed by BioClinicalBERT (F1: 0.868) and BERT (F1: 0.857). CamemBERT achieved an F1 score of 0.682 on this English dataset. On the Tunisian corpus, DrBERT outperformed all models with an F1-score of 0.811, compared to RoBERTa at 0.79. A prototype interface generated structured clinical summaries encompassing prior conditions, imaging modalities, and TNM staging. Conclusion: Language- and domain-adapted transformer models effectively extract structured clinical entities from French-language Tunisian lung cancer reports. DrBERT's precision advantage confirms that biomedical pretraining in the target language is the primary driver of performance in specialized French oncology text. This work establishes foundational infrastructure for NLP-driven oncology data management in Tunisia and comparable Francophone settings.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Agricultural Science and Agronomy

Gabriela da Silva Tamwing

,

Guilerme Calado de Ameida

,

Josiane Moura do Nascimento

,

Roger Ventura Oliveira

,

Igor da Silva Dias

,

Giovana Lopes da Silva

,

Mariano Oscar Aníbal Ibañez Rojas

,

Francisco José Teixeira Gonçalves

,

Leonardo Baltazar Cantanhede

,

Douglas Rafael e Silva Barbosa

+5 authors

Abstract: Piper aduncum L. essential oil (PAEO) contains bioactive compounds with acknowledged insecticidal potential against various agricultural pests. Nevertheless, there is limited information about its long-term toxicological stability. In this sense, this study sought to assess the toxicological stability of PAEO after storage for 12 months at different temperatures (5 °C, 20 °C, and 35 °C) and light conditions (exposed to light or not), focusing on four insect pest species of stored grains: Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), and Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Cucujidae). The toxicological stability of PAEO was evaluated every four months using concentration-mortality bioassays. Dillapiole was the predominant constituent, representing 70.34% of the identified compounds. At the conclusion of the 12-month evaluation, the PAEO demonstrated increased toxicity to the species S. zeamais, O. surinamensis, and C. ferrugineus. High temperature (35 °C) and light exposure significantly reduced the toxicity of PAEO to all four species. In conclusion, the efficacy of PAEO against insect pests is best preserved when kept in amber bottles, at temperatures not exceeding 20 °C, and shielded from light.

Review
Physical Sciences
Mathematical Physics

Zhen Li

Abstract: Hodge theory is a powerful framework for modeling and analyzing vector fields, as found in fluid and electro- dynamics. However, its full power and modern formulation, especially on manifolds, remain largely inaccessible to non-specialists due to the substantial prerequisite in modern mathematics. This article aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive, self-contained introduction to Hodge theory, specifically tailored for an audience versed in traditional vector/tensor calculus and seeking to understand the modern formulation of this theory. We choose orientable closed surfaces as our pedagogical setting, due to their conceptual simplicity, mathematical tractability, and physical relevance (as boundaries of three-dimensional regions). Crucially, this setting is perfect for elucidating the complete structure of Hodge theory, particularly its topological and geometric aspects---elements frequently absent or obscured in treatments rooted in classical physics. We accomplish this through a parallel development of the modern exterior calculus and a dedicated 2D vector calculus on surfaces, followed by a series of specifically designed analytical and numerical examples. Furthermore, recognizing the fragmented historical development of the subject---a primary source of the conceptual gap for modern readers---we include a concise historical synopsis to bridge this divide.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Neuroscience and Neurology

Nannan Sheng

,

Qi Jia

,

Gilles Naeije

Abstract: Clinical outcomes after acute ischemic stroke remain highly heterogeneous, even among patients with comparable lesion characteristics and successful reperfusion, challenging traditional lesion-based models. Increasing evidence suggests that stroke should be conceptualized as a disorder of distributed brain networks, yet the mechanisms linking focal ischemia to large-scale dysfunction remain incompletely understood. In this review, we propose that diaschisis constitutes a central physiological mechanism underlying this transition from focal injury to network-level impairment. Building on advances in functional imaging, connectomics, and cerebellar physiology, we argue that diaschisis is best understood as a disruption of cerebello-cortical loop dynamics rather than a nonspecific remote effect. These closed, polysynaptic circuits linking cortex, cerebellum, and thalamus support the integration of motor and cognitive processes and are particularly vulnerable to perturbation. Focal ischemia may therefore induce a cascade of dysfunction that propagates across these loops, leading to widespread impairment despite limited structural damage. Within this framework, outcome variability emerges from the interaction of three key factors: lesion characteristics, brain reserve and network vulnerability, and the extent of diaschisis. We further highlight that functional suppression of cerebellar output, even in the absence of structural degeneration, may play a critical role in mediating network dysfunction. This circuit-based perspective provides a mechanistic explanation for inter-individual variability in stroke outcomes and shifts the focus from lesion localization to network dynamics. Understanding diaschisis as cerebello-cortical loop dysfunction opens new avenues for prognosis and therapeutic intervention, emphasizing the potential of targeting network-level restoration to improve recovery after stroke.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Endocrinology and Metabolism

Marcelo Maia Pinheiro

Abstract: Type 1 diabetes  is a chronic autoimmune disease marked by progressive destruction of pancreatic β cells and lifelong dependence on insulin. The transient honeymoon phase, a period of partial remission with improved metabolic control and reduced insulin needs, offers a critical therapeutic window to preserve residual β-cell function. This review highlights emerging strategies to prolong the honeymoon phase and modify disease progression. The anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody Teplizumab, the first FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy for T1D, delays clinical onset and preserves C-peptide secretion. Complementary immunomodulators such as baricitinib, rituximab, golimumab, verapamil, anti-thymocyte globulin, and DPP-4 inhibitors target distinct immune and metabolic pathways. Lifestyle interventions as optimized diet, vitamin D supplementation, and regular exercise further enhance insulin sensitivity and β-cell survival. Integrating these approaches through combination and personalized therapies may counteract immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, and viral triggers that accelerate β-cell loss. Collectively, these advances signal a paradigm shift from reactive insulin replacement toward proactive disease modification, offering renewed hope for extending remission and improving long-term outcomes in individuals with T1D.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Despoina Koumpagioti

,

Barbara Boutopoulou

,

Vasilis Grammeniatis

,

Konstantinos Douros

,

Dafni Moriki

Abstract: Allergic diseases are increasing globally, particularly among children, who are highly vulnerable due to critical windows of immune development. This review examines climate change as a key environmental determinant driving the rising burden of pediatric allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), atopic dermatitis (AD), and food allergy (FA). Climate change influences disease risk through interconnected pathways, such as increased air pollution, altered aeroallergen patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. Elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels and rising temperatures prolong pollen seasons and enhance allergenicity, while pollutants such as ozone (O₃) and particulate matter (PM) exacerbate airway inflammation and immune dysregulation. Emerging evidence emphasizes the role of early-life exposure, particularly during prenatal and early postnatal periods, when environmental insults can induce long-term effects via epigenetic modifications and immune reprogramming. These mechanisms may increase susceptibility to allergic sensitization and subsequent disease development. Epidemiological studies consistently link exposure to air pollution, including PM₂.₅ (PM with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), with increased risk of allergic diseases in children. Additionally, climate change-related events such as wildfires, sand and dust storms, and thunderstorms further elevate exposure to allergens and pollutants, contributing to acute exacerbations and disease progression. Addressing this growing public health challenge requires integrated mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve air quality, alongside adaptive interventions to enhance resilience and reduce exposure. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing targeted prevention strategies and protecting child health in a changing climate.

Article
Engineering
Architecture, Building and Construction

Diego Jesús Sánchez García

,

Rafael Vicente Lozano Díez

Abstract: The construction (AEC) industry has consolidated Building Information Modelling (BIM) as the standard for producing and managing project information, yet its analytical exploitation in Business Intelligence (BI) environments remains manual, ad hoc and dependent on proprietary platforms. Existing literature addresses partial aspects of the problem —IFC extraction, dashboards, semantic approaches, data quality— without articulating a coherent architecture that integrates dimensional modelling, open-standard-based ETL, granular lineage and pre-ingestion validation. This work proposes BIM2BI, a BIM-BI integration architecture organised into four functional layers (data sources, transformation and orchestration, analytical storage and exploitation) that formalises a separation of responsibilities, explicit data contracts between layers and an extensibility-without-redesign principle. The architecture is grounded in the openBIM standards IFC, IDS and BCF, adopts the IfcGlobalId as a technical key for end-to-end lineage and uses IDS as a pre-ETL quality gate with a staged three-level validation strategy. The proposal is validated empirically through an open-source reference implementation (MIT licence) applied to ten representative use cases grouped in three complexity profiles. The results demonstrate the viability of the architecture in terms of data quality, traceability, reproducibility and scalability, and document empirical findings on the real behaviour of openBIM standards within automated analytical workflows.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Juan Camilo Mantilla Velásquez

,

Mauricio Rosso Pinto

,

Humberto Tavera Quiroz

,

Roberth Paternina-Uribe

,

Juan Camilo Ospino Contreras

,

Frederico Yuri Hanai

,

Jose Luis Marrugo Negrete

Abstract: Caño Barro is a secondary tributary of the Ayapel wetland complex (Ramsar site), Córdoba, Colombia. Despite its role connecting the Cauca River to the wetland, no previous study has assessed its environmental condition. This work presents an integrated geo-environmental evaluation combining morphometric analysis, in-situ water quality measurements, and total mercury (Hg-T) analysis across ten stations. The watershed (632.78 km2, Kc = 2.09) has a very low channel slope (0.017%), limiting sediment transport. Dissolved oxygen fell below 4.0 mg/L at three stations (P1 = 3.55, P3 = 2.58, P6 = 3.27 mg/L), indicating localized oxygen depletion. Hg-T exceeded the US EPA chronic criterion (CCC = 0.77 µg/L) at six of seven quantifiable stations (range: 0.54–2.01 µg/L), with one outlier of 97.46 µg/L requiring confirmation. The Conesa impact assessment classified mercury ecotoxicity as severe (I = −66), ranking it as the highest management priority. Conservation proposals include riparian restoration, erosion control, and mercury monitoring. These results provide the first environmental baseline for this Ramsar tributary and underscore the impacts of illegal gold mining on protected wetland systems.

Article
Engineering
Civil Engineering

Ebru Dural

,

Gulmira Adzhygulova

,

Gulnara Karadeniz

,

Mehmet Karadeniz

Abstract: Cement manufacturing is one of the major sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions globally. Cement replacement materials are increasingly used to minimize the environ-mental impact of concrete production. In the present study, the mechanical and envi-ronmental performance of concrete mixtures containing fly ash and recycled glass powder as partial cement replacements at levels of 10%, 20%, and 30% were investigated. Workability, unit weight, compressive strength, and water permeability tests were con-ducted to evaluate the effect of replacements on the behavior of concrete. Carbon emissions and performance-normalized indicators were applied to evaluate environmental performance. It was observed that as the replacement level increased, the carbon emis-sions decreased. The highest reduction was observed at the 30% replacement level, as 28.9%. Compressive strength varied between 21.9 and 27 MPa. This indicates that all mixtures met the targeted strength range. The mixture with 30% fly ash demonstrated the highest environmental efficiency, with a carbon intensity of 10.84 kg CO₂/MPa. This in-dicates a 19.2% reduction compared to the control mixture. The sensitivity analysis re-vealed that changes in emission factors did not alter the order of the mixture.

Review
Biology and Life Sciences
Biology and Biotechnology

Chloe S. Rodgers

,

Jenive T. Estrada

,

Landon M. Basch

,

Matthew R. Garcia

,

Andrew H. Westra

,

Savannah B. Eshleman

,

Madeline T. Brown

,

Sarah R. Rudd

,

Leticia Silva Miranda

,

Michael A. Alonzo

+2 authors

Abstract:

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) is the most widely used biological larvicide for mosquito control worldwide and a cornerstone of environmentally sustainable vector-management programs. Its long-term global deployment reflects a well-characterized balance between public-health benefit and manageable ecological tradeoffs within integrated vector management (IVM) frameworks. Bti combines high larvicidal efficacy, operational simplicity, and strong target specificity, resulting in an exceptional safety profile for humans and vertebrate wildlife. Decades of laboratory and field studies demonstrate that Bti is biologically selective rather than ecologically inert, with reproducible yet context-dependent effects confined to closely related non-target aquatic dipterans. This review links the molecular and toxicological foundations of Bti to its operational performance, ecological selectivity, resistance-mitigating properties, and sustained utility in mosquito-control programs. Beyond its established larvicidal function, Bti’s prokaryotic insect larvicidal organelle (PILO) represents an underexplored platform for heterologous intracellular protein assembly. Its dense packing, structural stability, and resistance to environmental and biochemical stress indicate an evolutionary specialization for high-capacity protein storage during sporulation. These properties support noncanonical applications in biomolecule storage and stabilization and motivate cautious exploration of environmentally responsive protein release strategies. Although significant mechanistic and translational challenges remain, particularly with respect to cargo trafficking, modularity, and purification, the architectural principles that have enabled effective mosquito control provide a strong foundation for extending PILO-based platforms beyond larvicidal applications.

of 5,821

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