Carbon conversion technologies that transform carbon dioxide (CO2) into high-value chemicals are pivotal for achieving sustainability. Among these, enzyme-mediated CO2 fixation has recently gained increasing attention as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical methods, which typically require harsh conditions and impose significant environmental costs. Recent advances in computer-aided techniques have greatly facilitated the mechanistic understanding of CO2-fixing enzymes and accelerated the development of enzyme-catalyzed carboxylation strategies. This review highlights recent progress in enzyme-mediated CO2 fixation by categorizing key enzymes into four classes based on their cofactor or metal ion requirements: cofactor-independent enzymes, metal-dependent enzymes, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD(P)H)-dependent enzymes, and prenylated flavin mononucleotide (prFMN)-dependent enzymes. We outline the basic principles and applications of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and quantum mechanical (QM) calculations, which serve as essential tools for investigating enzyme conformational dynamics and reaction mechanisms. Through representative case studies, we demonstrate how computational analyses uncover catalytic features that enhance CO2 conversion efficiency. These insights underscore the critical role of computer-aided approaches in guiding the rational design and optimization of biocatalysts, thereby advancing the application of enzyme-based systems for CO2 fixation.
Fused deposition modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF), is the most widely used additive manufacturing technique because it offers several key advantages: material flexibility, low cost, high prototyping precision, and ease of use. The mechanical properties of 3D printed products depend on many factors, and one of the most important is the complete control over the temperature within the building chamber. However, research on the influence of chamber temperature is still minimal. This research probes the impact of chamber temperature on the mechanical properties of the printed material, precisely the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) materials, by using the FFF printing method. This research analyzes the tensile strength of TPU and ABS printing materials by testing printed samples at three different building chamber temperatures (30, 45, and 60 °C). From the analysis data, the study shows that the effect of building chamber temperature on tensile strength of printed parts, and also recommends that to have the best tensile strength for printed parts, the building chamber temperature of both TPU and ABS should be between 30 and 45 °C.
Previous studies have consistently demonstrated that positive attitudes toward aging are associated with better psychological well-being and cognitive performance among older adults. Building upon these findings, the present study focused on memory improvement as a direct indicator of cognitive benefit derived from more positive self-perceptions of aging. Specifically, we examined whether an implicit social comparison manipulation could enhance older adults’ memory performance by altering their attitudes toward aging. A total of 161 community-dwelling older adults (M = 66.88 years) were randomly assigned to one of five conditions: Better-self (downward comparison), Worse-self (upward comparison), Equal-good, Equal-bad, and Control. In four experimental conditions, an adopted directed-thinking task was used to activate attitudes toward one’s own and peers’ aging in different combinations, implicitly triggering upward or downward social comparisons. Attitude toward own aging (ATOA), attitude toward peers’ aging (ATPA), self-superiority (ATOA–ATPA), and memory performance were assessed before and after the manipulation. Results showed that significant changes in self-superiority were found only under the two contrast conditions. Specifically, self-superiority increased in the Better-self group and decreased in the Worse-self group. Moreover, the Better-self group demonstrated greater memory gains than the Control and Worse-self groups. These findings suggest that implicit downward comparison can serve as an effective, non-defensive strategy to strengthen older adults’ self-perceptions of aging and to produce short-term improvements in memory. The study extends prior research on social comparison in old age by linking its psychological and cognitive effects within a single experimental framework.
Csikszentmihalyi’s psychological flow and self-directed learning have a well-researched and direct connection. Lacking is an investigation of this relationship across the lifespan—the aim of this review. A search of seven primary databases and one supplementary database (searched eight different ways) with the keywords “self-directed learning, lifespan, psychological flow”—for English-language empirical research studies in peer-reviewed publications—provides this assessment of recent publications with high recall and high precision. The hypothesis is that distinct topics are recognizable, concerning the relationships among self-directed learning, lifespan, and psychological flow, regarding how self-directed learning promotes psychological flow throughout the lifespan. As a quasi-scoping review, the standardized PRISMA-ScR is the methodology. The supplementary database search, without Boolean functions, and yielding the highest returns, produced the five results included. Corroborating the hypothesis, three Csikszentmihalyi-inspired topics synthesize the results: (1) feeling better in the moment, (2) body and mind are in harmony, and (3) improving the quality of life. Based on the synthesis, the level of meaning the learner ascribes to their work determines the relationship among the three keywords. The conclusion is that the relevance of flow to self-directed learning throughout the lifespan depends on learner engagement in supporting their work-related purpose and meaning regarding the learning material.
Under the concept of “Rights of Nature”, the governance of land-based marine pollution in China faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Traditional governance paradigms are predominantly anthropocentric, treating the ocean as a resource to be utilized. From this perspective, governance measures for the prevention and control of land-based marine pollution primarily rely on administrative management and end-of-pipe treatments. Within this context, “Rights of Nature” provide a new pathway for marine ecological protection. However, promoting a shift in land-based marine pollution governance from the traditional anthropocentric view to an eco-centrism under the “Rights of Nature” concept is by no means an instantaneous process, and it must proceed gradually and systematically. Currently, China’s institutional framework for preventing and controlling land-based marine pollution remains dominated by the anthropocentric paradigm. Furthermore, it encounters multiple difficulties across many key areas, including the legal system, law enforcement mechanisms, relief mechanisms, and public participation. Issues such as poor coordination within the legal framework, fragmented law enforcement, lagging legislation related to ecological restoration, and insufficient public participation significantly constrain the effectiveness of land-based marine pollution governance. Given the fundamental differences between anthropocentrism and “Rights of Nature”, directly introducing this concept would likely have a substantial impact on China’s existing legal framework. Therefore, at the current stage, China could first incorporate the proposition from the “Rights of Nature” concept that nature possesses “intrinsic value independent of human use or perception”. This involves weakening the perception of the ocean as a mere appendage to human activities, recognizing and respecting the unique value of the ocean as a living entity and ecosystem at a conceptual level, and gradually forming a set of nature-friendly governance paradigms for land-based marine pollution that respect the intrinsic value of nature. This approach can ultimately drive transformative practices in China’s land-based marine pollution governance.
