Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (Switzerland)
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Metal–Support Interactions in Single-Atom Catalysts for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
No full textElectrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR) is a promising route to transform a major greenhouse gas into value-added fuels and chemicals. However, its deployment is still hindered by the sluggish activation of CO2, poor selectivity toward multielectron products, and competition with the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have emerged as powerful materials to address these challenges because they combine maximal metal utilization with well-defined coordination environments whose electronic structure can be precisely tuned through metal–support interactions. This minireview summarizes current understanding of how structural, electronic, and chemical features of SAC supports (e.g., porosity, heteroatom doping, vacancies, and surface functionalization) govern the adsorption and conversion of key CO2RR intermediates and thus control product distributions from CO to CH4, CH3OH and C2+ species. Particular emphasis is placed on selectivity descriptors (e.g., coordination number, d-band position, binding energies of *COOH and *OCHO) and on rational design strategies that exploit curvature, microenvironment engineering, and electronic metal–support interactions to direct the reaction along desired pathways. Representative SAC systems based primarily on N-doped carbons, complemented by selected examples on oxides and MXenes are discussed in terms of Faradaic efficiency (FE), current density and operational stability under practically relevant conditions. Finally, the review highlights remaining bottlenecks and outlines future directions, including operando spectroscopy and data-driven analysis of dynamic single-site ensembles, machine-learning-assisted DFT screening, scalable mechanochemical synthesis, and integration of SACs into industrially viable electrolyzers for carbon-neutral chemical production
Assessment of the Treatment of Natural Hazards in the Spanish School Curriculum (Secondary Education and Baccalaureate)
No full textThe cut-off low that struck Valencia (Spain) on 29 October 2024, causing 229 deaths, underscored the pressing need to promote awareness and strengthen education on natural hazards, particularly among school-aged students. In this scenario, revising the school curriculum becomes essential to ensure that future generations are prepared to confront the challenges posed by climate change. This study examines how knowledge related to natural hazards is incorporated into the official curricula of Secondary (ages 12 to 16) and Baccalaureate education (ages 16 to 19), based on the Royal Decrees enacted since 2022. The study aims to determine which contents are included, the Specific Competencies addressed, and the pedagogical approaches employed (descriptive, preventive, or critical), while also evaluating the coherence of these elements across subjects and educational levels. Findings reveal a scarce and often fragmented presence of such contents, with a predominance of descriptive approaches and limited emphasis on prevention or critical reflection. The study concludes that risk education should be transversal, contextually grounded, and transformative. Current curricular gaps and that current gaps and overlaps represent an opportunity to reinforce territorial literacy and enhance students’ resilience
Toward Objective Assessment of Positive Affect: EEG and HRV Indices Distinguishing High and Low Arousal Positive Affect
No full textPositive affect comprises distinct affective states that differ in arousal level, such as high-arousal positive affect (HAPA) and low-arousal positive affect (LAPA), which have been shown to be associated with different effects and effective contexts. In studies of positive affect, it is therefore important not only to assess overall positivity but also to distinguish between different types of positive affect. Existing assessments rely mainly on self-reports, which may be unreliable for individuals with limited self-report abilities. The aim of this study was to examine whether physiological indices can discriminate between HAPA and LAPA. Participants were presented with eight video stimuli designed to elicit either HAPA or LAPA, and self-report measures were used as manipulation checks to define the affective conditions, while heart rate variability (HRV) and electroencephalography (EEG) were recorded. HRV indices did not show significant differences between the two affective conditions. In contrast, analyses of EEG relative power revealed significant differences between the HAPA and LAPA conditions. These findings demonstrate that, under the present experimental conditions, physiological differences between low- and high-arousal positive affect can be captured in EEG signals using relative power, a simple and reproducible analytical index, whereas no such differences were observed in HRV indices
AI-Enhanced ESG Framework for Sustainability: A Multi-Sectoral Analysis Through an Explainable AI Approach
No full textThe study introduces an AI-enhanced Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework that integrates explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) and bias-mitigation techniques to improve transparency and comparability of sustainability assessments across sectors. Addressing the persistent gap in standardized ESG evaluation methods, the framework combines gradient-boosting models (XGBoost) with SHAP-based explainability and a human-in-the-loop (HITL) validation layer. The approach is demonstrated using ESG indicators for 18 firms across three industries from the banking, aviation, and chemical sectors between 2021 and 2023. Results indicate an average 12.4% improvement in ESG-score consistency and a 9% reduction in inter-sector variance relative to baseline traditional ESG evaluations. Fairness metrics (Disparate-Impact Ratio = 0.81–0.86) provide preliminary evidence of improved alignment across sectors. The findings provide preliminary evidence that XAI-driven frameworks can enhance the trustworthiness and regulatory compliance of ESG analytics, particularly under the EU AI Act and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The framework contributes to both research and practice by operationalizing explainability, fairness, and human oversight within ESG analytics, thereby supporting more reliable and comparable sustainability reporting
Geospatial Assessment of Agricultural Sustainability Using Multi-Criteria Analysis: A Case Study of the Grocka Municipality, Serbia
No full textAgricultural land represents a fundamental production resource and one of the key factors of ecological and economic stability in rural and peri-urban areas. In the municipality of Grocka, the impacts of urbanization, demographic decline, and changes in the agrarian production structure have led to spatial degradation and reduced economic sustainability. To assess the current state and potential of agriculture at the settlement level, a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was applied. The analysis encompassed demographic, production, environmental, and spatial indicators, normalized using the min–max scaling method and aggregated through a weighted sum. Criteria weights were defined based on a combination of literature review and expert judgment. The results reveal spatial variations in the level of sustainability and enable the identification of priority zones for agro-economic improvement, areas of moderate stability, and spaces suitable for developing sustainable agricultural models. Sensitivity testing (±20% variation in weights) confirmed the robustness of the results. The identified zones and proposed measures aim to revitalize degraded areas, preserve permanent crops, and strengthen production and institutional capacities. The applied methodological framework can serve as a tool for planning and policymaking in sustainable agricultural development, particularly in peri-urban contexts
Cognitive Profile of Autism and Intellectual Disorder in Wechsler’s Scales: Meta-Analysis
No full textAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) frequently coexist and share heterogeneous cognitive manifestations, yet their specific performance patterns on Wechsler scales remain poorly systematized. This meta-analysis synthesized data from 31 studies using the WISC-IV, WISC-V, WAIS-III, and WAIS-IV to compare cognitive index profiles in individuals with ASD, ID and ASD+ID. Standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) were calculated using random-effects models, adopting a normative reference of mean 100 and SD 15. Results showed a distinct profile for ASD, with greater impairments in the Processing Speed Index (PSI) and Working Memory Index (WMI), while the Vocabulary Comprehension Index (VCI), Perceptual/Fluid Reasoning Index (PRI/FRI), and Visual Processing Index (VPI) remained close to normative scores. In contrast, ID and ASD+ID exhibited generalized deficits across all indices, with the lowest scores in Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) and broad effects above g = −2.5. No significant differences emerged between Wechsler versions or age-based test types. Heterogeneity was high in ASD and ID across outcomes, but negligible in ASD+ID due to reduced k. These findings reinforce that ASD presents a specific cognitive pattern, whereas ID and ASD+ID display diffuse impairment, and that Wechsler scales are consistent across versions for identifying these profiles
Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Systemic Outcomes in Patients with Glaucoma: A Real-World Cohort Study
No full textBackground: Glaucoma is an age-related optic neuropathy frequently accompanied by systemic comorbidities. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been associated with cardiovascular and renal diseases in the general population, yet its relationship with long-term systemic outcomes in glaucoma remains unclear. This study evaluated the association between baseline vitamin D status and subsequent mortality and cardiorenal events in patients with primary glaucoma. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using deidentified electronic health records from the TriNetX U.S. Collaborative Network, a federated network of participating healthcare organizations. Adults (≥18 years) with incident primary glaucoma (2005–2020) and a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) test within 12 months prior to diagnosis were categorized as VDD (<30 ng/mL) or vitamin D adequacy (VDA; ≥30 ng/mL). After 1:1 propensity score matching across 47 demographic, clinical, medication, and laboratory variables, 11,855 patients per group were followed for up to 5 years. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), acute kidney injury (AKI), and renal function decline (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Analyses incorporated Kaplan–Meier curves, Cox models, landmark tests, sensitivity analyses, and competing risk methods. Results: Among the 35,100 eligible patients, the matched cohorts demonstrated higher 5-year risks associated with VDD for all-cause mortality (HR 1.104; 95% CI 1.001–1.217), MACE (HR 1.151; 95% CI 1.078–1.229), and AKI (HR 1.154; 95% CI 1.056–1.261), whereas the risks of renal function decline did not differ (HR 0.972; 95% CI 0.907–1.042). Risk divergence emerged within the first year of follow-up and persisted through the 5-year observation period. Conclusions: In patients with primary glaucoma, vitamin D deficiency was associated with higher long-term risks of mortality and cardiorenal complications, but not renal function decline. Taken together, the results are consistent with vitamin D status serving as a marker of broader systemic vulnerability in glaucoma and highlight the need for prospective studies to further clarify its prognostic significance
Application of Stochastic Elements in the Universality of the Periodic Zeta-Function: The Case of Short Intervals
No full textLet a={am:m∈N} be a multiplicative periodic sequence of complex numbers. In this paper, we consider the approximation of analytic functions defined in the strip {s=σ+it:1/2<σ<1} by shifts ζ(s+iτ;a) of the zeta-function defined, for σ>1, by ζ(s;a)=∑m=1∞amm−s and by analytic continuation elsewhere. Using stochastic techniques, we obtain that the set of the above shifts approximating a given analytic function has a positive lower density (or density with at most countably many exceptions) in the interval [T,T+V] with T23/70⩽V⩽T1/2 as T→∞. The proofs are based on a limit theorem with an explicitly given limit probability measure in the space of analytic functions
Nutritional Modulation of the Gut–Kidney Axis
No full textBackground: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a state of persistent, sterile low-grade inflammation in which sustained innate immune activation accelerates renal decline and cardiovascular complications. Diet-induced gut dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction lower mucosal immune tolerance, promote metabolic endotoxemia, and position the gut as an upstream modulator of systemic inflammatory signaling along the gut–kidney axis. Scope: Most studies address microbiota-derived metabolites, food-derived bioactive peptides, or omega-3 fatty acids separately. This review integrates evidence across these domains and examines their convergent actions on epithelial barrier integrity, immune polarization, oxidative-inflammatory stress, and inflammasome-dependent pathways relevant to CKD progression. Key mechanisms: CKD-associated dysbiosis is characterized by reduced short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and increased generation and accumulation of uremic toxins and co-metabolites, including indoxyl sulfate, p-cresyl sulfate, trimethylamine N-oxide, and altered bile acids. Reduced SCFA availability weakens tight junction-dependent barrier function and regulatory immune programs, favoring Th17-skewed inflammation and endotoxin translocation. Bioactive peptides modulate inflammatory mediator networks and barrier-related pathways through effects on NF-κB/MAPK signaling and redox balance, while omega-3 fatty acids and specialized pro-resolving mediators support resolution-phase immune responses. Across these modalities, shared control points include barrier integrity, metabolic endotoxemia, oxidative stress, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Conclusions: Although evidence remains heterogeneous and largely preclinical, combined nutritional modulation targeting these convergent pathways may offer greater immunomodulatory benefit than isolated interventions. Future multi-omics-guided, factorial trials are required to define responder phenotypes and translate precision immunonutrition strategies into clinical CKD care
Vegetation Indices for Predicting Ripening-Associated Changes in Chlorophyll and Polyphenol Content: A Multi-Cultivar Assessment in Olive Germplasm
No full textVegetation indices (VIs) enable rapid, non-destructive biochemical monitoring in olive fruits, yet their performance across diverse germplasm and ripening stages remains systematically uncharacterized. This exploratory screening systematically evaluated 87 VIs for predicting chlorophyll and polyphenol content across 31 cultivars at four ripening stages, prioritizing genetic diversity to establish species-level biochemical–spectral relationships through integration of hyperspectral data (380–1080 nm) with biochemical analyses. Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index 3 (MCARI 3) and Transformed Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index (TCARI) achieved 91 strong correlations (|r| ≥ 0.9) across 124 cultivar-stage combinations. High-performing indices incorporated 550 nm with red/red-edge bands (670–710 nm) and non-linear formulations. Moderate inter-cultivar variability indicated that cultivar-specific calibrations may be necessary. Principal component analysis captured the totality of variance, revealing three biochemical clusters, high-chlorophyll cultivars (n = 5; 91.8 and 7385.6 mg kg−1 chlorophyll/polyphenols, respectively), typical-range cultivars (n = 22; 126.6 and 4016.8 mg kg−1), and elite cultivars (n = 5; 790.4 and 5799.8 mg kg−1), demonstrating VIs’ capacity for cultivar discrimination. Chlorophyll degradation exhibited conserved patterns, supporting universal tracking models. Conversely, polyphenol dynamics displayed marked genotype-dependency, with cultivars showing positive, negative, or minimal variation, yielding non-significant population-level effects, despite robust cultivar-specific trends