Parental 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.

Advancements 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.

Efficient 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.

Virtual Spaces of Islamic Preaching: Digital Majelis Taklim and the Changing Role of Women in Indonesia

This study investigates the changing role of women in digital da’wah and the digital transformation of Majelis Taklim (Islamic study groups) in Indonesia. As digital platforms like YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and TikTok become more widely used, this study explores how women negotiate power, shape religious discourse, and interact with audiences online. The study employs a qualitative approach using digital ethnography and critical discourse analysis (CDA) to examine the interactions and narratives shaping women’s roles in digital da’wah. Data were collected through digital observations, in-depth interviews with female preachers (ustazah), moderators, and active participants, and content analysis of Majelis Taklim sessions on social media. The study applies Fairclough’s CDA to analyze power relations within religious discourse and Van Dijk’s Critical Discourse Studies (CDS) to examine how digital da’wah reconstructs female religious authority. The results reveal a shift in women’s roles from passive participants to active producers of religious discourse. While digitalization provides broader access and participation opportunities, female preachers still face challenges in establishing religious authority, particularly in male-dominated Islamic discourses. The study finds that key themes in women-led da’wah include Islamic parenting, hijrah (religious transformation), Islamic economy, and women’s roles in Islam. Digital platforms do provide female scholars more prominence, but they also perpetuate patriarchal interpretations of religious norms. By combining digital ethnography, critical discourse analysis, and religious studies, this work adds to the conversation on Islam, gender, and digital religious practices. It shows how digital media influences women’s involvement in da’wah by presenting opportunities and limitations. Unlike other studies concentrating on male religious authority in digital da’wah, this research offers a thorough, empirical, and theoretical examination of how women manage religious influence and legitimacy online. The findings have implications for developing inclusive, digital-based Islamic education and policymaking on religious discourse in the digital era.

Research on the Logic of Mobile Governance from the Perspective of Path Dependency: A Case Study of the Implementation of the “Coal-to-Gas” Policy in Rural Areas of Handan

Mobile governance, a commonly used governance approach in China, has always been controversial. Behind the persistence of mobile governance lies the underlying governance logic. This paper takes the implementation of the “coal-to-gas” policy in rural areas of Handan as a case study to analyze the path-dependent logic inherent in mobile governance. The paper argues that mobile governance’s selection path embodies path dependency characteristics, including three paths: conformist path dependency, policy-based path dependency, and demand-based path dependency. Mobile governance can be regulated through three paths: formulating a comprehensive list of rights and responsibilities for grassroots governance, the provincial government enacting relevant regulations to standardize the grassroots governance process, and vigorously developing e-government and digital government technologies to enhance the rule of law and standardization in grassroots governance.

Design, Building and Performance of a New Photocatalytic Reactor Using TiO₂-Coated Rings Synthesized by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation

An annular UV photocatalytic reactor with recirculation in batch was designed and built. The design considered low construction, simple operation and maintenance costs, availability and durability of the materials used, easy cleaning, and high standards of hygiene and safety. The TiO₂ photocatalysts were synthesized by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on commercial Ti rings were compared with coatings obtained on Ti plates as a reference, and no influence of the substrate geometry on the morphology, crystallinity, or bandgap of the coatings was observed. The efficiency of the photocatalytic reactor using 10 TiO₂-coated rings was tested by Cr(VI) transformation in the presence of EDTA. The Cr(VI) transformation after 5 h irradiation attained 95%; a rather high photocatalytic activity (62%) was maintained after the third use of the rings without reactivation of the photocatalyst. These coatings synthesized by PEO have not been applied in modular photocatalytic reactors until now.

Sustainable Machining for Difficult-to-Cutting Materials

Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors: A Critical Analysis of GaN, SiC, AlGaN, Diamond, and Ga₂O₃ Synthesis Methods, Challenges, and Prospective Technological Innovations

The increasing demand for high-performance Wide-Bandgap (WBG) semiconductors, including GaN, SiC, and emerging Ultrawide-Bandgap (UWBG) materials such as Ga₂O₃ and diamond, has driven significant advancements in epitaxial growth techniques. However, achieving scalability, defect-free growth, and sustainability remains a major challenge. This review systematically evaluates Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD), Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy (HVPE), and other novel growth and hybrid growth techniques, emphasizing energy efficiency, defect control, and environmental impact. Industry 4.0-driven AI-based process optimization and closed-loop recycling have emerged as transformative strategies, reducing waste and improving manufacturing efficiency. Key findings reveal that HVPE enables rapid defect-free GaN fabrication, Hot-Filament CVD enhances SiC growth with superior thermal properties, and Atomic Layer Epitaxy (ALE) achieves sub-nanometer precision crucial for next-generation quantum and RF applications. Despite these advancements, p-type doping in UWBG materials, substrate compatibility, and thermal management remain unresolved challenges. Future research must focus on scalable eco-friendly epitaxy, novel doping mechanisms, and policy-driven sustainability efforts. This review provides a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable WBG semiconductor manufacturing, bridging materials innovation, energy efficiency, and industrial adoption to support the next generation of power electronics and optoelectronics.

B, Gd Co-Doped TiO₂ Nanotube Arrays for Efficient Degradation of Gaseous Toluene under Visible Light Irradiation

Although photocatalytic degradation of VOCs has attracted widespread attention, the efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation performance remains a challenge. This work presents the visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of gaseous toluene over B, Gd co-doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays prepared via a controllable electrochemistry method. It was found that B and Gd co-doping strategy not only enhances the visible light responsiveness of TiO₂ nanotube arrays but also introduces moderate oxygen vacancies on the surface of TiO_2, which is beneficial to the formation of free hydroxyl radicals and their attack on toluene molecules. The doping order also affects the photocatalytic performance. The optimized sample achieves an enhanced degradation efficiency for toluene under visible light irradiation and exhibits considerable stability. This work may provide an efficient TiO₂-based photocatalyst for the removal of volatile organic compounds for air purification and give an understanding of the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of toluene over co-doping TiO₂.

Sustainable Manufacturing and Applications of Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors—A Review

Wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) are revolutionizing high-power electronics due to their superior thermal conductivity, breakdown voltage, and energy efficiency. These materials are critical in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and high-frequency applications like 5G infrastructure. However, their production processes are resource-intensive and present significant environmental challenges. This review evaluates recent advancements in sustainable WBG semiconductor manufacturing, focusing on low-energy epitaxial growth, closed-loop recycling, and the mitigation of toxic by-products. Additionally, it highlights the role of Industry 4.0 innovations, such as AI-driven process optimization and IoT-based resource management, in enhancing sustainability. The review identifies research gaps in cost reduction, alternative WBG materials like Gallium Oxide (Ga₂O₃) and Diamond, and scalable green manufacturing solutions. It underscores the necessity for industry-wide collaboration and regulatory frameworks to drive the adoption of eco-friendly semiconductor fabrication. The findings of this study provide a roadmap for advancing sustainability in WBG semiconductor production, ensuring their long-term viability in the transition toward energy-efficient technologies.