Found 381 results
Open Access
Article
25 April 2025The Crystal Structure of Apatite and Copper-Doped Apatite
The recent claim of superconductivity above room temperature in Pb10−xCux(PO4)6O, where 0.9 < x < 1 (referred to as LK-99), has generated significant interest. In this study, we first investigated the detailed crystal structures of four natural apatite by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD) combined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) measurement. Secondly, pilot experiments of doping copper (Cu) atoms into the apatite lattice were carried out by high-temperature mixed pure copper and natural apatite powders. Finally, copper-doped lead apatite has been synthesized via a three-step solid-state reaction method, and its crystal structure has been determined using SXRD, SEM/EDX, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Open Access
Article
23 April 2025Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Jamrani Irrigation Dam Project, Kumaon Himalaya, India
This paper examines the economic and environmental impacts of the proposed Jamrani Irrigation Dam Project on the upstream and downstream areas. This study is primarily empirical, and a case study of six villages was conducted. A total of 415 households are being affected—fully and partially, due to the construction of the dam, out of which 122 heads of households were interviewed. A structured questionnaire was constructed, and the heads of households were asked about the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the proposed dam project. Furthermore, a detailed perception study of these households was conducted. Secondary data related to the size of the dam project, various land uses being affected by the dam, its socio-economic and environmental impact, and the most beneficial sectors were collected from the irrigation department, Government of Uttarakhand’s report 2020. In addition, socio-economic data from 415 households were collected from the same source. This study reveals that the dam project will have many favourable economic impacts in terms of supplying ample water for drinking and irrigation, electricity generation, development of infrastructural facilities and tourism, and the Gaula River flood control. On the other hand, the dam project will lead to land degradation, depletion of faunal and floral resources, soil erosion, and finally, the rehabilitation of the affected people. This study suggests that the proper use of technology and a suitable rehabilitation policy will make the project successful.
Open Access
Review
22 April 2025Counterfeit Drug Investigations: Techniques, Challenges, and the Role of Abductive Reasoning
Variable types of investigations exist regarding counterfeit drug detection, disruption, and regulation. Counterfeit drugs are spurious drugs, falsely labelled, falsified, substandard, unregistered/unlicensed, and infringe trademarks. Counterfeit drugs can mimic both legitimate and illegitimate drugs and are often distributed in virtual environments, such as illicit online pharmacies, the surface web, and the dark web. Counterfeit drug operators and operations are the typically corrupt and/or criminal individuals, groups, and techniques by which counterfeit drugs are produced and distributed. The manufacture and distribution of counterfeit drugs are ever-changing, which results in the need for investigative techniques that are equally adaptable and collaborative. Counterfeit drug investigations can be defined according to four categories: medical investigations in hospitals and through autopsies, chemical and non-chemical drug investigations in forensic toxicology laboratories, various track-and-trace technologies used in pharmaceutical industry investigations, and national and global coordinated investigations. Due to the diverse counterfeit drug investigations present, the logic and practice of abduction are highlighted as a primary part of the investigative element to counter ongoing efforts by offenders to evade detection. Abductive rationalities are prioritized in that they are contrary to an increasing reliance on technoscientific modes of data production alone. Rather, abductive reasoning plays a central role in counterfeit drug investigations at the levels of instigating and directing investigations, as well as interpreting and responding to evidential findings.
Open Access
Article
18 April 2025Factors Influencing the Incomes of Chinese Herdsmen in the Context of Grassland Ecological Compensation: A Meta-Analysis
This original paper, within the context of grassland ecological protection subsidies and reward policies, draws on 27 empirical studies conducted between 2011 and 2024 to conduct a meta-analysis of the factors influencing Chinese herdsmen’s incomes concerning heterogeneity and its sources. The results reveal 16 variables that have a significant positive impact on herdsmen’s incomes. These include herdsmen’s gender, age, ethnicity, level of education, household size, labor force, membership in cooperatives, subsidy amount, livestock quantity, living and production expenses, fixed assets, grassland area, per capita grassland area, grassland quality, and location. Among them, the quantity of livestock shows the greatest effect. Significant heterogeneity is evident across six variables: Subsidy amount, livestock quantity, grassland area, labor force, production expenses, and per capita grassland area. The heterogeneity in subsidy amount and grassland area originates from the use of different statistical methods, while the heterogeneity in livestock quantity is attributable to differences in the type of literature; per capita, grassland area heterogeneity is caused by differences in the geographical regions under analysis.
Open Access
Article
18 April 2025Strata Use in a Canopy Beetle Community of a Lowland Neotropical Rainforest in Southern Venezuela
Stratification of tropical rainforests and their arthropods is highly pronounced. I hypothesize that the occurrence of rainforest canopy beetles in the understory is not random but related to the ecology of the taxa, such as feeding guilds and larval development. Therefore, the ecological characteristics of stratum generalists recorded in both the canopy and the lower understory were analyzed. Adult beetles were collected manually and with traps in the northern part of the Amazonian rainforest for a cumulative year. Seventy out of a total of 862 canopy beetle species from 45 families associated with 23 tree species were shared between both strata. The beetle families represented by most species in the canopy and ground samples were Curculionidae, Chrysomelidae, and Carabidae. For Elateridae and Scarabaeidae, the proportion of shared species between the strata was ≥20%. In contrast, the species-rich families (≥20 canopy species) Cerambycidae, Mordellidae, and Buprestidae did not comprise species sampled in both strata. Thus, beetle families comprising many stratum generalists are either largely predatory, or their larvae often develop in the soil.
Open Access
Review
17 April 2025Advances in Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy
Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) has emerged as a transformative treatment in heart failure management, particularly for patients with significant left ventricular systolic dysfunction in the context of electrical dyssynchrony. Over time, CRT has evolved to address broader patient populations and more complex clinical scenarios. Despite its well-documented benefits in improving survival, reducing hospitalisation and enhancing quality of life, approximately 30% of patients fail to respond, making ongoing research critical for optimising outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive update on the evolving landscape of CRT therapy. Focus is placed on expanding indications, novel assessment techniques for dyssynchrony, application in special populations and innovations in device programming.
Open Access
Article
15 April 2025Technical and Eco-Efficiency Implications of the Use of Basalt Fibre in Hybrid Composites
The use of hybrid composites can be environmentally friendlier than the traditional materials since renewable resources, both natural and synthetic fibres can be incorporated into the composites, resulting in lighter weight, enhanced resource efficiency, durability, and biodegradability, which could potentially make them sustainable materials for structural applications. Basalt fibre being treated with hydrochloric acid exhibits superior adhesion with the epoxy matrix, improving overall strength and stiffness. Thus, the aim of this paper is to determine the eco-efficiency of two types of hybrid composites: glass/basalt and carbon/basalt fibre-reinforced under flexural loading. The flexural strengths of these composites were obtained through a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model using Ansys workbench. These simulation-based flexural strengths form the basis for the quadratic regression model to establish a relationship between the different flexural strengths and fibre volume fractions combinations. Given the required flexural strength between 900 and 1300 MPa, the optimal candidates/layups were identified with the aid of the model. An environmental study following a life cycle assessment (LCA) and eco-efficiency framework of unidirectional glass/basalt and carbon/basalt fibre-reinforced hybrid composites with varying fibre volume fractions is presented in this paper to select the eco-efficient composites. In the case of glass/basalt fibre-reinforced hybrid composites, the designs with the highest eco-efficiency for 900 and 1200 MPa are [BG3]S with more glass fibre and [G7B] with more glass fibre, respectively, due to having lower costs and environmental impacts. For carbon/basalt fibre-reinforced composites, the stacking sequence [B8] was deemed to be the most eco-efficient. Finally, epoxy has the highest economic and environmental cost. Therefore, composite designs with high glass fibre content are considered eco-efficient since they have a lower epoxy content.
Open Access
Article
15 April 2025Parental Warmth and Adolescents’ Meaning in Life: Mediator of Perceived Control and Moderator of Relative Deprivation
This study establishes a moderated mediation model that incorporates the roles of perceived control and relative deprivation. Specifically, we hypothesized that parental warmth positively predicts adolescents’ meaning in life, with perceived control mediating this relationship. Furthermore, relative deprivation moderates both the direct effect of parental warmth on meaning in life and the indirect effect through perceived control. A total of 406 adolescents participated in this study. The results revealed that: (1) parental warmth positively related to adolescents’ meaning in life; (2) perceived control significantly mediated the relationship between parental warmth and meaning in life; and (3) relative deprivation moderated the association between parental warmth and perceived control, such that higher levels of relative deprivation attenuated the positive effect of parental warmth on perceived control. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychological mechanisms linking parental warmth to adolescents’ meaning in life and provide valuable insights for interventions aimed at fostering meaning development in youth.
Open Access
Review
14 April 2025Advancements in Flexible Ceramic Fibers for High-Temperature Applications: A Comprehensive Review
Flexible ceramic fibers (FCFs) have emerged as a highly promising material for high-temperature applications, effectively combining the excellent thermal stability of ceramic materials with the robust mechanical properties of flexible fibers. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in multifunctional FCF devices, focusing on innovative methods across material selection, structural design, and fabrication techniques to enhance their functional properties. These improvements, i.e., mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, and oxidation resistance, make FCFs particularly suitable for a wide range of applications, including energy storage, sensing, and high-temperature filtration. Notably, advancements in fabrication techniques have enabled the creation of novel FCF devices for thermal insulation and high-temperature sensing, such as stretchable ceramic membranes and printable ceramic fiber papers. The review concludes by discussing the future potential of FCFs, especially in multifunctional applications in high-temperature environments, where they can serve as essential components of advanced technologies. This work highlights the versatility and potential of FCFs as a transformative material for next-generation high-temperature applications.
Open Access
Article
14 April 2025Efficient Extracellular Production of Phospholipase D in Escherichia coli via Genetic and Process Engineering Modification
Phospholipase D (PLD) is the key enzyme in the catalytic production of rare phospholipids including phosphatidylserine. It was considered a promising method via genetic manipulation for the heterologous production of PLD in the model chassis. Few works focused on the extracellular production of PLD in engineered microbes. Herein, genetic and process engineering modification strategies were developed to achieve secretory production of PLD in Escherichia coli. The N-terminal fusion secretion signal peptide OmpA and the plasmid pBAD-gⅢC with pBAD promoter were proven to be the most effective in promoting the secretory production of PLD. Given the limitation of the cell membrane, the regulation of the key protein expression in the cell membrane as well as the addition of surfactants, were explored to accelerate the secretory production of PLD further. It was indicated that adding 0.5% (w/v) Triton X-100 was more conducive to producing PLD. Finally, fed-batch fermentation was conducted, and the maximum extracellular PLD activity achieved was 33.25 U/mL, which was the highest level reported so far. Our work demonstrated the effectiveness of genetic and process engineering strategies for the secretory production of PLD in E. coli, which provided an alternative platform for the industrial production of PLD.
