Search Results (36,450)

Soil bacterial communities are vital for ecosystem functioning in the humid tropics, yet their response to land-use change remains poorly understood. This knowledge gap is exacerbated by the lack of long-term studies. We employed a space-for-time substitution approach to assess the effects of land-use intensification on soil bacterial communities across a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance in Trinidad. Three sub-watersheds (Arouca = pristine, Maracas = intermediate, Tacarigua = intensive) were selected, each containing adjacent forest, grassland, and agricultural land uses. We combined geophysical soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa-directed) sampling with 16S rDNA gene amplicon sequencing to characterize bacterial communities and their relationships with soil and landscape properties. Soil properties were the primary determinant of bacterial community structure, explaining 56% of the variation (p < 0.001), with pH, clay content, hygroscopic water, and nutrient availability as key drivers. Bacterial α-diversity differed significantly among sub-watersheds (p < 0.01), with Tacarigua exhibiting lower richness and diversity compared to Arouca and Maracas, but not across land uses. While a core microbiome of ten bacterial families was ubiquitous across land uses, indicating a stable foundational community, land-use intensification significantly altered β-diversity (p < 0.01 among sub-watersheds). Agricultural soils showed the greatest divergence from forest soils (p < 0.05), with a marked decline in key Proteobacterial families (e.g., Xanthomonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae) involved in nutrient cycling and plant growth promotion. Although inherent soil properties shape the core microbiome, land-use intensification acts as a strong secondary filter, shifting soil bacterial communities toward more stress-resistant Firmicutes with potentially less diverse functions. Our findings demonstrate the utility of integrating space-for-time substitution with molecular profiling to predict long-term microbial responses to environmental change in vulnerable tropical ecosystems. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study examines the impact of long-term institutionalization on the linguistic and communicative abilities of people diagnosed with schizophrenia, focusing on the influence of educational background. Schizophrenia is characterized by cognitive and social deficits, including disruptions to language use and communicative engagement. Prolonged institutionalization can exacerbate these impairments by depriving individuals of essential social interactions and cognitive stimulation. Methods: A case series approach was employed with 18 participants, and validated assessment tools such as the Montreal Evaluation of Communication and the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Test were used to measure communicative performance. Results: Participants with higher educational attainment (nine or more years of schooling) who had been institutionalized for ten years or more exhibited significantly better performance than their less-educated counterparts across various communication domains, including comprehension of linguistic prosody, lexical fluency, and auditory comprehension. This implies that completing a higher degree may mitigate the cognitive decline impact of prolonged stays in an institution. However, the study design does not allow us to ascertain whether education functions as a mitigating factor. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of incorporating educational considerations into therapeutic strategies for individuals with schizophrenia, especially those experiencing long-term institutionalization. Providing enhanced educational opportunities within institutional settings could mitigate the adverse effects of prolonged confinement and foster improved communication and social skills. These findings are consistent with research on cognitive reserve, which suggests that education fosters adaptive strategies and the utilization of alternative neural pathways. This enables individuals to maintain communication skills despite the cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. Full article

The deployment of Federated Learning (FL) in edge environments is often impeded by system heterogeneity, non-independent and identically distributed (non-IID) data, and constrained communication resources, which collectively hinder training efficiency and scalability. To address these challenges, this paper presents FLEX-SFL, a flexible and efficient split federated learning framework that jointly optimizes model partitioning, client selection, and communication scheduling. FLEX-SFL incorporates three coordinated mechanisms: a device-aware adaptive segmentation strategy that dynamically adjusts model partition points based on client computational capacity to mitigate straggler effects; an entropy-driven client selection algorithm that promotes data representativeness by leveraging label distribution entropy; and a hierarchical local asynchronous aggregation scheme that enables asynchronous intra-cluster and inter-cluster model updates to improve training throughput and reduce communication latency. We theoretically establish the convergence properties of FLEX-SFL under convex settings and analyze the influence of local update frequency and client participation on convergence bounds. Extensive experiments on benchmark datasets including FMNIST, CIFAR-10, and CIFAR-100 demonstrate that FLEX-SFL consistently outperforms state-of-the-art FL and split FL baselines in terms of model accuracy, convergence speed, and resource efficiency, particularly under high degrees of statistical and system heterogeneity. These results validate the effectiveness and practicality of FLEX-SFL for real-world edge intelligent systems. Full article

Keystone species play a critical role in sustaining ecosystem structure and function. Thus, accurately identifying keystone species is essential for effective biodiversity conservation. This study investigates the benthic ecosystem of Yanpu Bay’s mangroves, utilizing stable isotope analysis in combination with Bayesian mixture models and ecological network analysis to characterize trophic relationships and topological network structures, with the aim of identifying keystone species within the community. The benthic food web in this study comprised 96 connections and 27 nodes. Among them, Scartelaos histophorus preyed on eight benthos species, constituting 18.51% of the total prey sources in food web. Sedimentary organic matter (SOM) was identified as a critical food source, sustaining 17 consumer species, 62.96% of the total species recorded in the community. Quantitative analysis using criticality indices and key player problem indices identified Cerithidea cingulate, Littorinopsis scabra, Periophthalmus magnuspinnatus, S. histophorus, Bostrychus sinensis, and Metaplax longipes as keystone species. The identification of these keystone species provides valuable insights for developing targeted biodiversity conservation strategies and offers a robust scientific foundation for the restoration and sustainable management of the mangrove benthic food web. Full article

Innovation in university education has become a key pillar for improving learning quality and ensuring faculty adaptation to the challenges of the 21st century. This study aims to analyze the innovative competence profile of university faculty, exploring their disposition toward innovation, the use of advanced pedagogical methodologies, and their integration of information and communication technologies (ICT). A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional design was employed, using a validated questionnaire administered to a sample of 136 faculty members at the University of Murcia. Findings indicate that educational innovation in higher education is influenced by both individual and institutional factors. Female faculty members demonstrate greater openness to innovation, particularly in development and training, while those with intermediate teaching experience (11–20 years) report higher implementation of innovative methodologies compared to those with less than 10 years or more than 20 years of experience. Additionally, the Faculty of Education stands out for its integration of innovative strategies, in contrast to other faculties where adoption is more limited. Despite a generally positive attitude toward innovation, shortcomings were identified in the evaluation and dissemination of these methodologies, which hinder their consolidation within the academic community. The results highlight the need for institutional strategies that enhance teacher training, promote effective evaluation, and foster interfaculty collaboration to share experiences and best practices. Full article

In the subtropical regions of southern China, springtime is often characterized by persistently high humidity, leading to frequent condensation on building envelopes and interior surfaces. Top-floor rooms are particularly vulnerable due to their direct exposure to outdoor conditions through walls and the roof, making condensation prevention a critical concern. This study is grounded in the residential habits and spatial preferences of southern Chinese residents and evaluates three roof configurations—standard, thickened, and green roofs—using EnergyPlus (v22.1.0) simulation software to analyze their effects on indoor relative humidity levels in top-floor spaces. The results demonstrate that green roof systems significantly reduce indoor relative humidity, especially in high-rise residential buildings. Taking a 30-story residential building as an example, with a conventional roof, the indoor relative humidity remains at 100% for extended periods during high-risk condensation intervals, resulting in surface condensation. In contrast, when a green roof with a soil depth of 70 cm and daylilies at a height of 100 cm is used, the peak indoor maximum relative humidity is reduced by 10–40%, and the duration of condensation decreases to zero. Among the factors involved in green roofs, including plant height, soil depth, and leaf area index (LAI), soil depth shows a significant negative correlation with the maximum indoor relative humidity (correlation coefficient r = −0.987, p < 0.01), while the LAI exhibits a positive correlation with the maximum indoor relative humidity (r = 0.180, p < 0.05). Selecting plant species with a low LAI and increasing soil depth are effective passive strategies for humidity control and condensation prevention. These findings establish a basis for optimizing building environmental models and propose passive design strategies to enhance overall performance. In addition, the study highlights how roof greening contributes to global sustainability goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), by improving indoor comfort, enhancing resilience, and reducing climate-related risks. Full article

This paper presents a high-gain wide-band planar antenna with a Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) for modern wireless communication applications. The antenna consists of two main parts, a basic antenna part with cross-line slots and two light-dependent resistor switches, and a second part based on the RIS layer for beam steering. The RIS is constructed from 5 × 5-unit cells with two sides, forming a square geometry. The antenna substrate is a dielectric layer of FR4 epoxy glass with a thickness of 1.6 mm. The RIS inclusions are designed and tested numerically to achieve the desired electromagnetic properties at the frequency band of interest. The fabricated prototype shows a wide band covering frequencies from 0.9 GHz to 3.5 GHz with S11 below −10 dB, achieving an antenna gain varying from 10.5 dBi up to 16.8 dBi. Experimental measurements show effective aperture usage in all configurations, and beam steering from +22° to −22° is accomplished without degrading side-lobe levels. The proposed antenna performance is tested against real-world measurements to evaluate channel performance in terms of bit error rate (BER) and channel capacity (CC). The proposed LDR-controlled design achieves compact beam steering with minimal insertion loss, unlike conventional RIS-assisted antennas that rely on PIN or varactor switches. Full article

Eutrophication of water bodies significantly accelerates water quality degradation, leading to the decline of aquatic organisms. To evaluate the synergistic restoration effects of submerged macrophyte Hydrilla verticillata and filter-feeding bivalve Anodonta woodiana on hypereutrophic water, a 40-day mesocosm simulation experiment in hypereutrophic aquatic ecosystems was conducted by setting up four treatments: control group (CK), A. woodiana group (Aw), H. verticillata group (Hv), and combined H. verticillata + A. woodiana group (HA). The results indicated that the combined application of H. verticillata and A. woodiana significantly reduced total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration, and turbidity in the water, with removal rates reaching 58.3%, 60.6%, and 85.4%, respectively. The introduction of A. woodiana substantially altered the algal community composition. At the end of the experiment, the average proportion of cyanobacteria in the CK and Hv groups was 55.6%, whereas in the Aw and HA groups it decreased to 36.0%. Both total phosphorus and water-soluble phosphorus contents in H. verticillata tissues were significantly lower in HA compared to Hv, indicating that the combined treatment could reduce the risk of internal phosphorus release after H. verticillata senescence. These findings collectively demonstrate that the combination of H. verticillata and A. woodiana represents an efficient and environmentally friendly ecological restoration technology of eutrophic waters. Full article

Accidental opioid overdose and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) represent major forms of preventable mortality, often involving sudden-onset catastrophic events that could be survivable with rapid detection and intervention. The current physiological monitoring technologies are potentially applicable, but face challenges, including complex setups, poor patient compliance, high costs, and uncertainty about community-based use. Paradoxically, simple clinical observation in supervised injection facilities has proven highly effective, suggesting observable changes in central body motion may be sufficient to detect life-threatening events. We describe a novel wearable biosensor for continuous central body motion monitoring, offering a potential early warning system for life-threatening events. The biosensor incorporates a low-power, triaxial MEMS accelerometer within a discreet, chest-worn device, enabling long-term monitoring with minimal user burden. Two system architectures are described: stored data for retrospective analysis/research, and an in-development system for real-time overdose detection and response. Early user research highlights the importance of accuracy, discretion, and trust for adoption among people who use opioids. The initial clinical data collection, including the OD-SEEN study, demonstrates feasibility for capturing motion data during real-world opioid use. This technology represents a promising advancement in non-invasive monitoring, with potential to improve the outcomes for at-risk populations with multiple health conditions. Full article

The use of bioinoculants aligns with ecological intensification in agriculture, but their effects on crop performance and soil microbiota under different fertilization regimes remain unclear. This study evaluated the impact of a bioinoculant containing two phosphate-solubilizing bacterial strains (Priestia megaterium and Bacillus subtilis) on maize yield, root architecture, and rhizosphere microbial communities via seed inoculation in a clayey soil. Maize was cultivated for two consecutive seasons under treatments combining inoculation, phosphorus sources (triple superphosphate or reactive rock phosphate), and P doses (0 or 120 kg ha⁻¹ of P₂O₅). Root traits, phosphatase activities, and microbial diversity were assessed at flowering, while agronomic parameters and nutrient content were measured at harvest. In the first season, microbial alpha diversity was higher, accompanied by a 31.5% increase in root surface area and a 46.2% increase in P-resin availability. In contrast, the second season showed greater phosphatase activity and higher grain P and K concentrations, by 42.3% and 38.2%, respectively. Grain yield did not differ significantly between inoculated and non-inoculated treatments; however, root, plant, and microbial traits varied markedly across seasons. Principal component analysis revealed that productivity was primarily driven by seasonal variation rather than by fertilization or inoculation. These findings emphasize that the effectiveness of bioinoculants and P fertilization, as well as their influence on the microbiota, are highly context-dependent, being shaped by environmental conditions, soil nutrient availability, and crop genotype. Full article

Grounded in a sociocultural theory, this study investigates how distinct interaction scenarios influence Chinese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ technology acceptance: perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU), and their willingness to communicate with AI (AI-WTC). A total of 367 university students completed a scenario-based questionnaire measuring PU, PEU, and AI-WTC across four empirically derived scenarios: advisory interaction, language skills support, academic knowledge inquiry, and factual information retrieval. Repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni tests revealed significant scenario effects on all three constructs, though effect sizes were small to moderate. Factual Information Retrieval Scenario consistently received the highest ratings, whereas Academic Knowledge Inquiry and Language Skills Support Scenario scored lowest. A salient divergence emerged in complex scenarios: Advisory Interaction Scenario was rated more useful than Language Skills Support Scenario, yet both elicited equally low willingness to communicate, indicating that perceived usefulness alone may not sustain engagement under high interactional demands. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of AI as a communicative scaffold is not inherent but co-constructed through scenario-specific affordances and constraints. The study contributes a scenario-sensitive framework to TAM and WTC research, providing pedagogical guidance for designing differentiated AI-mediated language tasks. Full article

Coal gangue (CG) dumped in open-air piles significantly impacts the surrounding soil environment. To investigate the effects of prolonged CG dumping on soil archaeal communities and their ecological functions, we used metagenomic sequencing to analyze soil samples, including control soil area not impacted by CG (CSL), undisturbed control sediment (CST), atmospheric dust fall area (ADF), and leachate flow area (LFA) samples. The results showed that the dominant phylum and genus of archaea were Thaumarchaeota (30.53–93.39%) and Candidatus Nitrosocosmicus (34.44–69.85%) in the different samples. Significant differences were observed in both α- and β-diversity (p < 0.05); archaeal community composition was primarily influenced by total nitrogen (TN), electrical conductivity (EC), Cu, As, and Cd. The contribution rate of As was the largest, about 44.8%. The metabolic functions of archaea were predominantly related to amino acid metabolism, and there were significant variations in carbon and nitrogen metabolic pathways in different areas. The ppdk gene showed considerable variation between ADF and CSL, and Euryarchaeota was the major contributing phylum to carbon fixation. However, for nitrogen metabolism, the gltB gene displayed marked differences, and the phylum of Thaumarchaeota was the major contributor. This study provides a theoretical foundation for land management and sustainable utilization in CG dump areas. Full article

The aim of this study was to propose the use of metaverse technology as an effective educational method for fall prevention in older adults. A theoretical review was conducted by analyzing publications from PubMed/MEDLINE, EBSCO, SciELO, and Google Scholar using the search terms “metaverse,” “falls,” “older adults,” “virtual reality,” and “exercise.” From 133 identified articles published between 2000 and July 2025, and one seminal pre-2000 study included due to its foundational relevance, 52 were examined in depth. Traditional face-to-face or one-way online education often fails to meet the diverse needs and physical limitations of older adults. Metaverse-based platforms, which employ virtual avatars and immersive environments, may enhance accessibility, motivation, and social connectedness. Potential applications include personalized fall prevention training, virtual community centers, and gamified group exercise environments. Augmented and mixed reality technologies may further improve realism and usability compared with traditional virtual reality. However, challenges remain, including digital literacy gaps, device costs, and infrastructure requirements. Metaverse technology therefore offers a promising platform to bridge the gap between face-to-face and remote interventions. This review is novel in that it systematically synthesizes fragmented evidence on metaverse-based fall prevention, conceptualizes its educational potential for older adults, and provides a foundation for future clinical and policy applications. Full article

Security is paramount in space–air–ground integrated networks (SAGINs) due to their inherent openness and the broadcast characteristics of wireless transmission. In this paper, we propose a secure downlink transmission scheme with NOMA-based mixed FSO/RF communications for SAGINs. Specifically, the satellite communicates with two ground users through an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) relay, where FSO and RF transmissions are adopted for the satellite–relay and relay–user links, respectively. Furthermore, the NOMA technique is integrated to further enhance secrecy performance. Subsequently, exact closed-form expressions for the secrecy outage probability of the downlink transmission link in SAGINs are derived. Finally, Monte Carlo simulations are performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed secure downlink transmission scheme and the accuracy of the analytical expressions. Full article

This longitudinal study examines the acquisition of target-like patterns of phonological variation by 17 second language (L2) French learners during a semester or year of study abroad (SA) in France. In this study, speech data from sociolinguistic interviews conducted before, during, and after the SA period provide evidence for the emergent acquisition of a phonological variable showing sociostylistic variation in first language (L1) speech: the reduction of word-final obstruent-liquid clusters, as in: notre maison [no tʁ(ə) mɛ ʒɔ̃] ~ [not mɛ ʒɔ̃] ‘our house’; c’est incroyable [se tɛ̃ kʁɔ ja bl(ə)] ~ [se tɛ̃ kʁɔ jab] ‘it’s incredible’. Additionally, speech data are compared and correlated with the results of a social network strength scale designed by the researcher for the SA learning context. Results suggest that sociostylistic variation patterns among learners are constrained by linguistic factors similar to those operating on L1 speech, such as lexical effects, and that time in the target language (TL) environment is a significant predictor of variation. Results also demonstrate that although social network strength is not a significant predictor of variation at a group level, speaker gender is, and learner patterns reflect the gendered speech norms of the TL community. Full article