Search Results (10,560)

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition for which non-pharmacological interventions remain the primary therapeutic approach. Although research output in this field has increased substantially, a comprehensive synthesis of its developmental trajectory and emerging directions is still lacking. Methods: We conducted a bibliometric analysis of publications on non-pharmacological interventions for ASD indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection between 2001 and 2025. Knowledge structures, research hotspots, and temporal trends were visualized and analyzed using CiteSpace. Results: The field has transitioned from an early focus on behavioral interventions in children to a diversified and interdisciplinary research ecosystem spanning the lifespan. Recent growth has been driven by the integration of neuroscience-based approaches, particularly neuromodulation techniques, alongside continued refinement of behavioral, sensorimotor, and complementary therapies. Increasing attention has been paid to individual heterogeneity, methodological rigor, and mechanism-oriented research. Current frontiers emphasize multimodal intervention strategies, neural plasticity-based mechanisms, and the development of personalized precision intervention frameworks. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis delineates the intellectual evolution of non-pharmacological intervention research for ASD and identifies key research gaps, particularly the need for longitudinal and pragmatic studies targeting individualized treatment response. The findings provide an evidence-informed overview of current concepts and emerging research directions in non-pharmacological care for ASD, with important implications for future clinical research, intervention design, and strategic research planning. Full article

Damping-off caused by Fusarium spp. limits tomato seedling establishment, while chemical control is constrained by resistance development and environmental risks. As a result, biological alternatives and nanomaterials have attracted increasing interest. This study aimed to quantify the in vitro inhibition and in vivo control of Fusarium spp. associated with tomato damping-off using the marine strains KN1 and KN2 of Stenotrophomonas rhizophila and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs). Nine fungal isolates were recovered from symptomatic plants; the most virulent isolate (3DR23HA) caused 60% disease incidence and was identified as Fusarium oxysporum. In dual-culture assays, both bacterial strains inhibited mycelial growth, with percentage inhibition of radial growth (PIRG) values exceeding 65% in several isolates, whereas KN1 showed greater inhibition of conidial germination. CuO-NPs exhibited a concentration-dependent response, reaching near-complete suppression at 0.75–1.0 mg mL⁻¹. In seedlings, the inoculated control showed 100% incidence and a disease severity index (DSI) of 85%, whereas KN1, KN1 + CuO-NPs at 0.75 mg mL⁻¹, and KN2 + CuO-NPs at 0.75 mg mL⁻¹ achieved a DSI of 0 and 100% control efficiency, while also improving growth and biomass. Overall, S. rhizophila, particularly strain KN1, and CuO-NPs at 0.75 mg mL⁻¹ represent a promising strategy for the integrated management of tomato damping-off in nurseries. Full article

The preventive maintenance (PM) of asphalt pavements reduces life-cycle costs and minimizes resource consumption compared with reactive rehabilitation, yet its cost-effectiveness is highly sensitive to application timing. This study develops a data-driven framework for determining optimal PM timing on Korean expressways by integrating network-level pavement management system (PMS) deterioration modeling with life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA). Using 10-year PMS time-series data from approximately 2200 asphalt pavement sections (2012–2021), a nonlinear regression of the Highway Pavement Condition Index (HPCI) yielded an exponential deterioration model with exponent β = 1.87 (R² = 0.996), confirming accelerating deterioration beyond a critical service age. The HPCI inflection coincides with the Grade-2 boundary (3.5–4.0), where surface distress growth—dominated by linear cracking (91.3% of total SD)—also peaks. A LCCA across 44 scenarios demonstrated that PM applied immediately before this acceleration onset minimizes the 40-year net present value (NPV; discount rate 4.5%). The optimal first PM application time was estimated at 10.8 years (≈56% of the 19.3-year average service life), reducing the 40-year NPV by up to 7 million KRW per section relative to the milling and overlay baseline (up to 16 million KRW in absolute NPV terms for concrete overlay sections). These findings provide a quantitative, reproducible basis for PM timing decisions applicable to the approximately 4000 km of expressway pavement managed by Korea Expressway Corporation. Full article

This study evaluated the morphological development of 23 Coffea canephora clones in Espírito Santo to identify materials with superior vigor and quality for commercial and breeding purposes. Seedlings from cuttings were arranged in a completely randomized design with ten replicates and assessed at the commercial dispatch stage. Shoot and root growth, biomass, leaf area (LA), Dickson Quality Index (DQI), structural ratios (shoot/root ratio, SRR; height/diameter ratio, HDR), and anatomical traits were measured. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance with Scott–Knott clustering, Pearson correlation, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Significant variability was observed among clones. Clones 88, VR3, 8, and LB33 showed the highest stem diameter (SD), total dry mass (TDM), LA, and DQI, with balanced shoot and root development. Leaf area correlated strongly with SD, number of leaves (NL), biomass, and DQI, confirming its role as a seedling quality indicator. PCA identified two groups: a high-performance group with greater vigor and biomass, and a lower-performance group including clones 7, MR04, and VR4. The convergence of methods confirms the robustness of the results. Overall, clones 88, VR3, 8, and LB33 demonstrate superior agronomic potential at the seedling stage, offering promising options for nurseries, growers, and clonal selection programs. Full article

The application of biostimulants is a promising tool for enhancing plant growth and crop quality in the context of sustainable and resilient agricultural production. This study evaluated four microbial biostimulants (IMB1–4) on Sonchus oleraceus L. under field and pot cultivation. Our results indicate that the growing system was a more dominant factor than biostimulants in influencing plant performance. For morphological and growth traits, biostimulants generally had a neutral or negative impact compared with untreated plants, with IMB3 consistently showing the lowest performance. Field-grown plants, especially the untreated ones, excelled in plant weight and leaf count, while pot-grown plants treated with IMB2 and IMB4 achieved higher leaf weight per plant, leaf area, and chlorophyll index (SPAD). Specifically, untreated field plants recorded the highest biomass, whereas IMB2 and IMB4 optimized leaf traits in pots. Biostimulant applications enhanced fat content and energetic value, with IMB1 and IMB2 yielding the highest protein levels. Pot cultivation favored the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sodium, while IMB2-treated pot plants proved most effective for maximizing overall nutrient content. The phytochemical profile also varied by system: pot-grown plants yielded higher total phenols, particularly with IMB3, while field-grown plants recorded higher flavonoids, especially with IMB4. Furthermore, untreated or IMB3-treated pot plants exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, significantly outperforming field-grown counterparts. In conclusion, while biostimulants did not improve morphological and growth traits, they significantly enhanced the nutritional and phytochemical quality of S. oleraceus L., particularly in the pot cultivation system, where specific biostimulants (IMB2 and IMB3) resulted in nutrient-dense crops with high antioxidant value. Full article

Monosex all-male culture of the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) maximizes aquaculture yield due to a male growth advantage, but direct hormonal treatment of grow-out populations poses significant food safety risks. This study evaluated the efficacy of dietary 17β-estradiol (E2) in inducing functional neo-females from a fully all-male postlarval population to support an indirect monosex seed production strategy. All-male postlarvae were fed diets supplemented with E2 at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg for 36 days, followed by a 150-day hormone-free post-treatment period to assess growth performance, feminization rates, and gonadal histology. E2 administration successfully induced feminization across all treatments, reaching a peak rate of 35.5% at 150 mg/kg, whereas the control group remained entirely male. During the 36-day treatment period, E2 supplementation transiently enhanced specific growth and survival rates but concurrently reduced feed conversion ratios. Notably, these physiological differences disappeared completely over the 150-day post-treatment phase. Histological assessments confirmed that E2-induced neo-females exhibited normal oogenesis, with gonadosomatic index (GSI) values and oocyte diameters similar to those of wild-caught females. This establishes a definitive, physiologically safe, and non-surgical protocol for producing the neo-female broodstock necessary to sustain high-yield commercial monosex populations. Full article

In this study, global spatial autocorrelation, local spatial autocorrelation, Spearman correlation analysis, gray correlation analysis, entropy weight method, and the gravity model were used to analyze the spatiotemporal variation and environment-urban-economy-associated factors of air quality of 31 provinces in China during 2015~2022. From 2015 to 2022, the Air Quality Index (AQI) exhibited a downward trend in 30 out of 31 Chinese provinces, with the exception of Shaanxi Province. Concurrently, the annual average concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, and CO declined across the study period. High-high clusters and low-high outliers were observed in northern China, whereas low-low clusters and high-low outliers were distributed in southern China. Twelve provinces (38.7%) showed positive correlation (0.095~0.95), 18 provinces (58.1%) showed negative correlation (−0.76~0.095), and only Anhui showed no correlation between AQI and O₃. The comprehensive AQI quality presented a dual-core model in Sichuan (in the southwest) and Henan (in the central part) of China, while the comprehensive AQI improvement rate presented a single-core model in Jiangsu in the east of China. The gravity models incorporating AQI and GDP revealed that both air quality and economic performance improved over the study period. The spatial pattern of pollution evolved from a multi-core structure to a non-core structure, whereas the pattern of economic growth transitioned from a non-core structure to a dual-core structure, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta emerging as the primary urban agglomerations. Full article

Trust decay in social media is a serious threat to user experience and platform ecology. To solve this problem, this paper focuses on triadic closure in the infrastructure of social networks and explores its mechanism in trust decay prevention. Based on the systematic comparison of the ER random graph, the BA scale-free network, a forest fire model, and complete graph approaches, two core metrics, the trust decay risk index and trust resilience index, are proposed in this paper. Combined with structural indices such as the clustering coefficient, the average path length, and the triangular closure number and its growth rate, the quantitative relationship between network structure evolution and trust decay risk is established. It is found that the forest fire model exhibits optimal trust resilience in structure due to its power-law growth characteristics of high clustering, short path length and triangular closure; the dynamic mechanism of trust decay under different network growth modes is significantly different. The validity of the theoretical framework is further supported by the verification of Sina Weibo attention relationship network data. The analysis framework of network growth evolution based on fusion triangle closure and the risk and resilience indicators defined in this paper provides a computable theoretical tool for understanding and predicting trust evolution in social media from the perspective of network structure. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of different light-emitting diode (LED) spectral qualities on the early growth of kale at the baby-leaf harvest stage in a plant factory with artificial lighting (PFAL) by integrating morphological traits, biomass accumulation, plant quality indices, vegetation indices, and chlorophyll a fluorescence. Two kale (Brassica oleracea L.) cultivars, ‘Jellujon’ and ‘Manchoo Collard’, were grown for four weeks under monochromatic red, green, and blue LEDs, a purple composite LED with far-red wavelengths, and three white LEDs with different correlated color temperatures (3000, 4100, and 6500 K). Blue LED increased shoot height by approximately 14–28%, depending on cultivar and comparison among the white LED treatments, but this elongation did not translate into superior biomass production. In contrast, white LEDs, particularly at 3000–4100 K, increased leaf area to 24.2–24.9 cm² and SPAD units to 47.3–50.2, whereas blue or green LEDs generally resulted in smaller leaves and lower SPAD units. Shoot dry weight under 3000–4100 K white LEDs reached 0.25–0.26 g in ‘Jellujon’ and 0.26–0.29 g in ‘Manchoo Collard’, approximately twofold higher than under blue or green LEDs. Compactness, Dickson quality index, root investment ratio, and leaf efficiency index were also more favorable under white LEDs, indicating improved plant sturdiness and structural stability. Green LED light was associated with lower maximum photochemical efficiency (Φ_Po) and greater energy dissipation (Φ_Do and DI_o/RC), whereas photochemical reflectance index and PI_ABS tended to be more favorable under selected white LED treatments, although these responses were partly cultivar- and treatment-dependent. Taken together, among the LED spectral quality treatments tested, 3000–4100 K white LEDs provided the most consistently favorable conditions for producing structurally robust, high-quality kale at the early growth stage in PFAL systems. The purple LED showed partial advantages in leaf development and selected physiological responses, but these effects were less consistent across cultivars and indices. Full article

Background/Objectives: Twin pregnancies carry substantially elevated perinatal risks, yet tools for first-trimester risk stratification remain limited. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the predictive value of crown–rump length (CRL) and nuchal translucency (NT) discordance for adverse perinatal outcomes in 184 twin pregnancies at Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Turkey (October 2022–January 2024). Methods: CRL discordance ≥ 10% and NT discordance ≥ 20% were assessed for a birth-weight-based proxy of fetal growth restriction (FGR), preeclampsia, and neonatal outcomes using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for chorionicity, body mass index (BMI), and conception mode. Results: CRL discordance ≥ 10% was independently associated with the birth-weight-based FGR proxy (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 7.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.95–20.12, p < 0.001; area under the curve [AUC] 0.736). NT discordance ≥ 20% was also independently associated with the birth-weight-based FGR proxy (OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.91–8.39, p < 0.001; AUC 0.612). Both parameters were associated with lower Apgar scores. IVF conception was independently associated with preeclampsia in an exploratory analysis (OR 5.31, 95% CI 1.41–28.66, p = 0.016). Continuous modelling confirmed a dose–response relationship for CRL discordance (OR per 1% increase = 1.20, 95% CI 1.13–1.32). Conclusions: These findings suggest that first-trimester CRL discordance may provide useful early prognostic information for birth-weight-based adverse growth outcome in twin pregnancies, pending prospective validation in cohorts with Doppler-based FGR ascertainment. Full article

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stressor that constrains plant growth and development, yet the coordinated regulatory mechanisms underlying salt stress impacts on plant cell mechanical properties and the cytoskeleton remain elusive. In this study, tobacco suspension cells were employed as a model system. Combining mechanical measurements, fluorescence microscopy imaging, and bright-field morphological observation, we systematically characterized the dynamic response patterns of cell-generated surface stress (ΔS), cell viscoelastic index (CVI), microfilament cytoskeleton structure, as well as cell morphology and plasmolysis under NaCl stress ranging from 50 to 150 mmol/L. The results revealed three distinct response thresholds: 50 mmol/L NaCl treatment induced only transient ΔS fluctuations and mild plasmolysis, with no significant changes in CVI or microfilament fluorescence intensity, suggesting a safe tolerance threshold. The 75–100 mmol/L NaCl treatments triggered reversible “rise–recovery” mechanical responses in ΔS and CVI. The microfilament cytoskeleton showed minor structural adjustments, and plasmolysis increased gradually but remained reversible, defining this range as a reversible acclimation phase. The 125–150 mmol/L NaCl treatment caused an irreversible decline in ΔS (with a sharp instantaneous drop at 150 mmol/L). CVI variations diminished and stabilized after 6 h. The microfilament cytoskeleton suffered progressive disruption, as fluorescence intensity dropped to 1% of the control group at 150 mmol/L, accompanied by severe plasmolysis and protoplast shrinkage, indicating irreversible cellular damage. These findings demonstrate a concentration-dependent gradient effect of NaCl stress, highlighting tight coordination between mechanical properties, cytoskeletal integrity, and morphological adaptation. This work provides critical cytological insights into the molecular regulation of plant salt stress responses. Full article

The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the world’s first system to impose tariffs on the carbon emissions of imported products, commenced its transition period in October 2023 and is scheduled for full implementation in January 2026. This mechanism exerts a profound impact on the global trade landscape and corporate environmental management practices. Taking the CSI All Share Index constituent companies as a research sample, this paper empirically evaluates the impact of the CBAM transition period on the environmental scores of Chinese export enterprises utilizing the Propensity Score Matching Difference-in-Differences (PSM-DID) method. The results indicate that the CBAM transition period significantly inhibits the short-term environmental performance of regulated enterprises. Mechanism analysis reveals that increased financing constraints serve as a core mediating channel, wherein escalated compliance costs and compressed cash flows crowd out resources for low-carbon investments. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the negative impact is more pronounced among state-owned enterprises, firms with lower audit quality, and firms with a higher proportion of female executives. Accordingly, the study recommends establishing targeted green transition financing mechanisms, accelerating domestic carbon market reforms, and strengthening international technical harmonization to build corporate resilience against global climate governance shocks and promote sustainable growth. Full article

This paper examines economic and institutional convergence between EU Core, EU New, and Western Balkan countries over the period 2004–2023 using a comprehensive panel dataset and multiple convergence frameworks. Evidence of absolute β-convergence is found, although at a slow pace, while conditional specifications show that structural and institutional factors explain growth differences; institutional quality appears to affect growth primarily through direct effects rather than through significant interaction-based β-convergence. A Principal Component Analysis-based Institutional Index (PC1) explains 90% of the variance in institutional quality, highlighting its role in shaping cross-country growth differentials rather than directly influencing convergence speed. Group-specific models reveal heterogeneous convergence paths across European regions. EU Core economies exhibit relatively stable convergence patterns, reflecting their proximity to steady-state income levels. In contrast, EU New and Cohesion Economies do not display statistically significant β-convergence, suggesting that catch-up processes are uneven and not uniformly driven by initial income differences. Western Balkan economies show weak and limited convergence patterns, reflecting persistent structural and institutional constraints. Robustness tests (FE/RE, Hausman, VIF, Breusch–Pagan, residual diagnostics) confirm the validity of the results. Findings suggest an important role of institutional quality in supporting long-term growth and the accession process of the Western Balkans. Policy implications highlight the importance of governance reforms, human capital development, and EU integration mechanisms in accelerating convergence. Full article

Noble metal nanostructures provide versatile platforms for light manipulation through localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs). Among them, triangular silver nanoplates (AgNPTs) exhibit strong field-enhancement and spectral tunability, yet assembling them reproducibly on solids is challenging. We report a two-step functionalization strategy for constructing ordered AgNPT dimers on silica substrates, combining 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) anchoring with 1,4-butanedithiol bridging. AFM reveals face-to-face dimers with well-defined sub-nanometer gaps. Large-area AFM statistics collected over multiple regions (N = 80 nanoplates per condition) confirm reproducible and selective vertical dimerization. Extinction spectroscopy reveals sequential dielectric and coupling effects: thiol adsorption red-shifts the main resonance from 700 to 780 nm because of increased local refractive index and near-field damping, whereas dimerization partially restores it to ≈750 nm, consistent with plasmon hybridization within rigid ∼0.7 nm molecular gaps, where nonclassical moderation may occur but classical hybridization fully explains the observed shifts. Concomitantly, the extinction intensity doubles, following an exponential growth toward saturation during assembly. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements using 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) confirm a fourfold increase in the SERS enhancement factor from monolayer to bilayer, consistent with near-field coupling and hotspot formation at interplate junctions. Quantitative plasmon sensitivity analysis yields comparable results between experiments and finite-difference-time-domain simulations, confirming that the observed spectral shifts arise from near-field coupling and dielectric modulation rather than ensemble effects. This reproducible methodology enables precise tuning of NPT orientation, spacing, and optical response, providing a robust platform for enhanced sensing, SERS, and nanophotonic device engineering. Full article

Monosex culture has been shown to enhance farming productivity in several decapod crustaceans, and it has also been suggested that this approach holds high potential for the sustainable aquaculture of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Pronounced sexual dimorphism in E. sinensis facilitates the implementation of a monosex culture. This study aimed to compare the growth, gonadal development, culture performance, and economic outcomes of two monosex culture modes, i.e., an all-female culture and an all-male culture, as well as a mixed-sex culture (males: females = 1:1) during an 8-month growth period in earthen ponds. The results showed that: (1) Throughout the grow-out period, the average body weight in both monosex culture treatments was consistently higher than in the mixed-sex treatment, with a significantly greater body weight in the all-female and all-male treatments than that of males and females in the mixed-sex treatment being detected during mid-June and October, respectively (p < 0.05). (2) The percentages of both sexes that had finished puberty molting were mostly similar between the monosex and mixed-sex treatments between July 20th to October 10th, although the all-female treatment had a significantly lower puberty molting percentage than the mixed-sex treatment on August 10th (p < 0.05). Gonadosomatic index (GSI) values were similar between the monosex and mixed-sex treatments for both males and females (p > 0.05). (3) At harvest period, the final body weight in the all-male treatment was significantly higher than that of the mixed-sex treatment (p < 0.05). In contrast, the all-female treatment exhibited a significantly higher survival rate and a lower limb injury rate compared with the mixed-sex treatment (p < 0.05). As a result, the yield of the all-male and all-female treatments exceeded that of the males and females in the mixed-sex treatment by 24% and 13%, respectively. Additionally, the mixed-sex treatment also had a significantly higher feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). Finally, the monosex treatments had a higher proportion of large crabs (males ≥ 200 g, females ≥ 175 g) and a lower proportion of small crabs (males ≤ 150 g, females ≤ 100 g) compared to the mixed-sex treatment. (4) In terms of economic benefits, net profit and return on investment (ROI) were highest under the all-female treatment, while the mixed-sex treatment recorded the lowest total return, net profit, and ROI (p < 0.05). In conclusion, an all-female culture is recommended for the grow-out culture period of E. sinensis, as it led to a higher survival rate, produced larger-sized crabs and generated greater overall economic benefit. Full article