Found 518 results
Open Access
Perspective
27 May 2025Intergenerational Differences in the Effect of Life Satisfaction on Happiness
As perceptions of happiness and well-being shift throughout life, expectations for the future may influence subjective well-being (SWB) differently depending on age. Younger individuals, particularly in uncertain social and economic contexts, may place greater emphasis on anticipated life satisfaction than on their present circumstances. Generational differences are important in exploring how people form and are affected by future expectations, as well as the psychological and contextual factors involved. Such research may deepen our understanding of age-specific pathways to well-being and inform more effective strategies for supporting mental health across different life stages. This paper emphasizes that expectations of future life satisfaction represent a valid and distinct construct that plays an important role in shaping SWB, particularly among younger individuals. Unlike present satisfaction, which reflects current circumstances, anticipated satisfaction functions as a forward-looking cognitive resource, offering accountability in developmental contexts where the current quality of life may not align with optimism or happiness.
Open Access
Article
26 May 2025Towards Circular Sustainable Cities: Thoughts and Recommendations for Qatar
Despite the ambitious national visions, Qatar is facing many challenges regarding the notion of sustainability. In this context, a considerable emphasis has been placed on the notion of Circular Economy (CE) to address suitability issues. Despite such an emphasis, the actual implementation of CE notions is still facing several obstacles present in, but not limited to, the Qatari context, such as heavy reliance on landfilling, water scarcity, and a heavy reliance on the oil and gas sectors. Our contention is that CE is an important factor in the sustainability equation and works towards meeting Qatar’s vision of becoming an environmentally sustainable country. by using a qualitative approach, predominantly adopting case study, document and content analysis, this paper explores the notion of CE and its implementation in light of the Qatar National Vision 2030. the challenges facing CE implementation, such as resources, qualified personnel, access to technology, and coordination between different areas of the economy, should be of prime importance for policymakers in Qatar. in order to ensure a sustainable circular city model in Qatar, the challenges related to CE implementation must be addressed accordingly. To this end, the paper suggests several policy recommendations, including the provision of adequate resources and personnel, the use of clean technology to improve the environmental quality of economic activities, in addition to the provision of adequate support and funding for the development of sustainable economic practices. These solutions will help to ensure sustainable economic development based on the concept of CE.
Open Access
Article
26 May 2025Electric Vehicles, Artificial Intelligence, and Climate Policy
This article explores the environmental implications of electrification and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of aligning technological development with climate goals. There is a lack of academic literature that explains and analyses such issues. Section 1 assesses the climate efficacy of promoting electric vehicles (EVs) and electric heating in regions where electricity is primarily coal-based. While electrification offers substantial climate benefits when powered by clean energy, lifecycle analyses reveal that EVs in coal-reliant grids may emit more greenhouse gases than internal combustion engine vehicles. Similarly, the climate performance of electric heat pumps depends on the carbon intensity of electricity sources. The section advocates for integrated policies that simultaneously promote electrification and grid decarbonization, enhancing emissions reductions and public health while mitigating the negative impacts of increased demand on polluting power plants. Section 2 uses Saudi Arabia as a case study and examines the environmental impact of AI data centers in the context of Saudi Arabia’s energy and climate policies. It highlights AI infrastructure’s energy and water intensity and its potential to strain environmental resources. To align AI development with national sustainability goals, the article recommends policies such as siting data centers near renewable energy sources, enforcing environmental efficiency standards, fostering R&D partnerships, mandating sustainability reporting, and expanding power purchase agreements and demand response participation. These measures aim to ensure responsible AI growth within climate-aligned frameworks. The implications of this study are that electrification and AI infrastructure can significantly reduce emissions and improve efficiency if powered by clean energy, but they also risk increasing environmental strain unless technological growth is carefully aligned with climate and sustainability goals.
Open Access
Review
23 May 2025Genetic History of Ancient Xinjiang Revealed by Ancient DNA Study: A Hub of Eurasian Population Migration and Cultural Exchange
Xinjiang, a “genetic crossroads” of Eurasia, offers critical insights into transcontinental population migrations, cultural exchanges, and genetic fusion. This review synthesizes ancient genomic data from about 200 individuals (from the Bronze Age to the Historical Era), alongside archaeological, paleo microbial, and environmental evidence. Key findings include: (1) Bronze Age genetic heterogeneity: Tarim Basin populations (e.g., Xiaohe culture) retained high Ancient North Eurasian (ANE) ancestry, while northern Xinjiang groups exhibited tripartite admixture among ANE, Afanasievo pastoralists, and Baikal hunter-gatherers; (2) Stratified admixture patterns emerged during the Iron Age to Historical Era, shaped by Xinjiang’s “barrier-and-connection” geography traits; (3) Trans-Eurasian interactions were propelled by technological diffusion (e.g., metallurgy), socio-political transformations (e.g., Silk Road governance), and adaptive strategies (e.g., lactose fermentation), positioning Xinjiang as a nexus of Eurasian mutil-connectivity. Our synthesis bridges genetics, archaeology, and environmental clues, highlighting Xinjiang’s critical role in Eurasian population dynamics. Future research should employ high-resolution spatiotemporal sampling and interdisciplinary approaches to unravel genetic-societal coupling during vital historical phases (e.g., Xiongnu expansion) and molecular mechanisms of environmental adaptation.
Open Access
Review
22 May 2025NLRP3 Inflammasome and IL-11 in Systemic Sclerosis Pulmonary Fibroblasts
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by widespread fibrosis affecting multiple organ systems. There is clinical heterogeneity among patients with SSc in terms of the organs affected. However, the pathophysiology of the disease remains elusive. The NLRP3 inflammasome is upregulated in SSc and exerts its fibrotic effects through activation of caspase-1, which in turn activates a fibrotic signaling cascade, resulting in increased collagen deposition and myofibroblast transition. Recently, IL-11 has been shown to be elevated in disease and has been shown to participate in downstream signaling via the NLRP3 inflammasome. A significant number of patients with SSc will develop pulmonary involvement, termed interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). Though this type of pulmonary involvement is distinct from other types of pulmonary fibrosis (such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), it may be a valuable model to study mechanisms of fibrosis that could apply to other fibrotic diseases. Here, we discuss recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of the NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-11 in SSc pulmonary fibroblasts. We tie together some of the recent findings, such as senescence, the unfolded protein response, and reactive oxygen species, that contribute to fibrotic pathology via modulating NLRP3 activation, possibly leading to IL-11 expression.
Open Access
Article
19 May 2025Research on Thermal Fault Detection and Location of Photovoltaic Connectors Based on Multiple Model Estimator
Offshore photovoltaic (PV) systems encounter challenges due to high humidity and salt spray environments. The PV connectors on the DC input side of inverters are particularly susceptible to increased contact resistance and local overheating caused by environmental corrosion. This paper introduces a novel thermal fault location method utilizing a multiple model estimator (MME). The approach develops a lumped thermal model and an abnormal overheating disturbance model for the PV connectors. By combining a Kalman filter with a probability fusion algorithm, the method effectively detects thermal faults. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that this approach can accurately locate faults while requiring only a minimal number of thermal sensors, thereby enhancing the reliability of offshore PV systems.
Open Access
Communication
19 May 2025Preparation of High-Temperature Resistant Hydrophilic Membrane for Oil-Water Separation
Through the molecular structure design, first starting from the molecular structure of the monomer, the monomer of the synthetic structure continues to polymerize with propanesulfonolactone, and finally reacts with quaternary ammonium salts to obtain polyimide containing biswitterionic groups. In this study, a hydrophilic polyimide membrane with a quaternary ammonium salt structure was synthesized. Then, the sulfonate hydrophilic structure was introduced into the polyimide film by electrospinning and the stencil method. Hydrophilic groups were introduced by introducing propane sulfonate, and the PI membrane was prepared by electrospinning and the template method. The results show that introduced sulfonic acid groups reduce the contact angle of polyimide membrane from 85° to 30°. The water permeability, porosity and mechanical strength of the membrane were tested and analyzed, and the membrane showed excellent oil-water separation performance.
Open Access
Article
19 May 2025Database of Ecological Indicators of Freshwater Algae and Cyanobacteria
Accumulation of ecological data on species of algae and cyanobacteria represents 9531 taxa-indicators from 18 taxonomic phyla. The most represented among the indicators is the taxonomic group of diatoms. The indicators are grouped into twelve ecological groups, which can be indicators of nine environmental parameters. The environmental characteristics for each of the indicator systems and the relationship between some of them are given. Individual abbreviations of ecological indicator groups that have been established as a result of long-term use are given. References are given to examples of the application of analysis of specific water bodies using bioindication methods, and prospects for use in monitoring and assessing water quality are shown. A specific example of using the database is given. The table of indicator taxa contains cumulative ecological data and is easy to use. This table is a living tool that can be supplemented and transformed when new information about indicator species comes.
Open Access
Article
19 May 2025Quorum Sensing Systems Engineering for Enhanced iso-Butylamine Production in Escherichia coli
Quorum sensing (QS), characterized by pathway-independence and autonomous control, has been applied in bio-manufacturing, while the lack of versatile and functional regulatory components limits its broader applications. To address this issue, a series of efficient QS systems with diverse properties were established in Escherichia coli. Firstly, combinatorial optimization, including element selection and promoter replacement, led to an improvement of 8.82- and 3.03-fold in output range and response threshold, respectively. Then, a library of LuxR mutants was constructed for screening novel variants with decreased sensitivity to acyl-homoserine lactone through the high-throughput screening technique. Notably, the optimal variant V36E/H89L/P97L exhibited a decrease of 266-fold in the sensitivity. As a proof-of-concept, iso-butylamine biosynthesis was tested by re-directing pyruvate catabolism using QS circuits, and in particular, a total of 15.4 g/L iso-butylamine was generated in strain IB21 during the fed-batch culture, marking a 2.96-fold increase over the static control. Finally, the generated bioproduct reached 44.23 g/L in a bioreactor, representing the highest reported titer so far. In summary, this study not only enriches the genetic toolbox of QS systems, but also facilitates industrial applications in value-added chemical production.
Open Access
Review
19 May 2025Ecological Degradation and Restoration Process in the Source Region of Yangtze River: A Review Using the DPSIR Framework
By the end of the 20th century, the Source Region of the Yangtze River (SRYR) suffered severe ecological degradation driven by the combined effects of climate change and human disturbances. To counteract ecological degradation, the Chinese government implemented multiple ecological protection and restoration measures. Based on a literature review, this study analyzed the entire process of ecological degradation and restoration in the SRYR using the DPSIR (Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses) framework. It revealed that climate warming and grazing expansion were the main drivers. Under the dual pressures of natural and anthropogenic disturbances, grasslands experienced severe degradation, accompanied by significant losses of soil nutrients. The decline in grassland quality weakened ecosystem service functions and reduced the livelihood levels of herders. After implementing the ecological protection and restoration projects in China, the ecosystem had been effectively restored. Herders’ income levels had been improved. However, a mismatch persisted between ecological compensation standards and livestock reduction costs for herders. Future efforts should focus on the innovation of the institution and ecological restoration techniques. This study offers critical insights into ecological protection and restoration strategies, providing practical references for decision-makers to accelerate the realization of China’s ecological civilization objectives.
