Artiles
Open Access
Article
25 March 2026Attitudes to Aging and Emotional Well-Being Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic in China: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation
Attitudes to aging exert impacts on emotional well-being, yet the underlying psychological mechanisms and their stability across middle and older adulthood remain insufficiently understood. Based on the dual-factor model of mental health and the constructivist theory of emotional aging, this study aimed to: (1) examine the mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between aging attitudes and emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) test the cross-age consistency of this mediating mechanism between middle-aged and older adults. Middle-aged and older residents (N = 653) participated in this study from 22 April to 24 April 2020. Participants completed questionnaires to assess their attitudes to aging, the use of emotion regulation strategies, and their levels of emotional well-being. Mediation roles and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a bootstrap resampling method. Results showed that (1) Older adults exhibited slightly higher negative attitudes to aging, calmness, and boredom than the middle-aged group. They also used rumination, distraction, and social sharing strategies a little more frequently than middle-aged adults. (2) Full-sample mediation analyses indicated that positive aging attitudes were positively associated with positive affect through adaptive emotion regulation, and negative aging attitudes were positively associated with negative affect through maladaptive emotion regulation. (3) Moderated mediation analyses revealed that age group or age did not significantly moderate either mediating pathway. The mediating effect of emotion regulation on the relationship between aging attitudes and emotional well-being appeared stable across the two age groups. These findings support the constructionist approach to emotional aging. Interventions for successful aging should consider cultivating positive aging attitudes and adaptive emotion regulation, as these approaches are potentially both valuable for middle-aged and older adults.
Open Access
Article
25 March 2026In Vitro Bulb‑Scale Propagation of Lilium leichtlinii var. maximowiczii for Urban Landscaping
This study was conducted to establish an efficient in vitro mass-propagation system for the Korean native bulbous plant Lilium leichtlinii var. maximowiczii and to lay the foundation for supplying the produced bulbs for use in flowerbeds. Although this species is a promising native bulbous lily for urban flowerbeds, its use has been limited by the lack of an efficient system for large-scale propagation. L. leichtlinii var. maximowiczii is distributed in the northern part of Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, and the eastern region of Gyeongsangbuk-do in South Korea, and is a native lily species with very high ornamental value. Among the tested disinfection protocols, a 0.1% (w/v) benomyl solution pretreatment for 1 h, followed by 70% (v/v) ethanol (EtOH) for 30 s and sequential surface sterilization in 1% (v/v) sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 20 min and 2% (v/v) NaOCl for 10 min, was the most effective for in vitro introduction of bulb scales. As a result of bulblet induction using combinations of plant growth regulators, the medium containing 2.2 µM BAP + 5.7 µM IAA produced the highest number of bulblets (2.5 ± 0.12 per survived explant; total 38), followed by 4.4 µM BAP + 2.7 µM NAA (2.0 ± 0.00 per survived explant; total 24). Following a total culture period consisting of introduction (3 weeks), formation (3 weeks), and expansion (7 weeks), the regenerated plantlets were acclimatized for 1 week without mortality. These results revealed distinct roles for different plant growth regulators (PGRs) combinations in the regeneration process. The medium supplemented with BAP + IAA was optimal for initial bulblet induction, yielding the highest proliferation efficiency. The in vitro propagation technique established in this study is expected to provide a practical technical basis for the nursery production of uniform L. leichtlinii var. maximowiczii plantlets and to promote their wider use as native flowerbed plants.
Open Access
Review
25 March 2026Towards an Integrated Future: Examining Water, Climate, and Gender Dynamics for Sustainable Development in Kenya
Kenya’s sustainable development is increasingly shaped by climate variability and climate change, which affect both the availability and quality of water resources. Existing research shows that these impacts are often gendered, particularly where women and girls hold primary household responsibilities for water collection and water-related care work. Literature also indicates that impacts differ substantially by location (arid versus highland versus informal urban settlements), livelihood system (pastoral versus agro-pastoral versus peri-urban), socio-economic status, and age. This study presents a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature examining how water stress, climate pressures, and gender dynamics intersect in Kenya. Three recurring themes emerge: first, climate change makes water supplies less safe, more expensive, and harder to predict. Second, social and political structures dictate who suffers most from these changes. Third, while women drive local climate adaptation and advocacy, they still lack a consistent voice in formal decision-making. The study concludes by identifying points of agreement and disagreement in current literature, while highlighting remaining evidence gaps regarding the shifting dynamics of climate, water, and gender relations in Kenya.
Open Access
Article
25 March 2026Quartz-Based Castables with Calcium Silicate Cement as Binder-Mineralizer: Replacing Shaped Product for Large-Scale Fabrication
To meet the demand for intelligent masonry of large-sized silica bricks, calcium silicate cement synthesized from high-purity nano CaCO3 and microsilica was used as both binder and mineralizer in quartz-based castables. The effects of cement content (3−5 wt%) on performance were systematically investigated. With optimal retarder (0.015% citric acid monohydrate), the samples achieved early flexural and compressive strengths of 1.30 MPa and 7.0 MPa, respectively, after 24 h curing. During firing at 1430 °C for 20 h, CaO from cement effectively promoted quartz transformation to tridymite. Compared to conventional silica bricks, castables with 5% cement showed residual quartz below 1%, lower apparent porosity, over 2.5−fold higher cold crushing strength, comparable high-temperature creep, and superior refractoriness under load. This study demonstrates the dual gelling and mineralizing role of calcium silicate cement, offering a feasible route for producing large-sized quartz-based precast components.
Open Access
Article
24 March 2026Integrated GIS–MCDA (AHP) Framework for Groundwater Potential Mapping in Humid, Structurally Complex Watersheds
Mapping the potential of groundwater is important for managing water resources in a way that will last, especially when the climate changes, land use changes, and water demand rise. This study examines the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodologies, focusing on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and illustrates their implementation in the Fork Fish Creek watershed, a humid Appalachian headwater basin in West Virginia, USA. Although GIS–AHP methodologies are extensively utilized in semi-arid areas, their efficacy in humid, structurally intricate mountainous environments is still inadequately investigated. Using expert-based AHP weighting and GIS-based weighted overlay analysis, six thematic parameters were combined: rainfall, geology and soil characteristics, slope, drainage density, land use and land cover (LULC), and lineament density. The appropriate AHP consistency ratio (<0.1) showed that the weights were reliable. The resulting groundwater potential map divided the watershed into three zones: Good (6.7%), Moderate (76.5%), and Low (16.8%). The prevalence of Moderate potential indicates the impact of fragmented topography and drainage configuration, which limit groundwater storage despite sufficient precipitation. Validation encompassed an evaluation of hydrogeomorphic consistency and an additional comparison with USGS monitoring-well depth data, so offering empirical corroboration for the Moderate-dominated distribution. The results show that groundwater potential patterns vary greatly from one place to the next. They also show how useful GIS–MCDA frameworks may be for assessing groundwater in humid, data-poor mountainous areas.
Open Access
Article
24 March 2026From Adolescence to Older Adulthood: Lifespan Pathways Linking AI Companion Chatbots to Mental Health
AI-based conversational agents are increasingly used for emotional support, companionship, and day-to-day coping. These systems can provide immediate reassurance, reduce distress in the moment, and offer a low-barrier channel for reflection. At the same time, concerns are growing that frequent reliance on AI companions may displace human relationships and narrow users’ exposure to the interpersonal friction that supports psychological growth. This narrative review synthesizes conceptual and empirical themes to explain how AI companion chatbot use may relate to loneliness and depressive symptoms across the lifespan. We propose a developmental framework distinguishing supportive pathways (e.g., perceived availability, emotion regulation scaffolding, and social activation) from risk pathways (e.g., social displacement, dependency, avoidance coping, and affirmation-biased feedback loops). A central contribution is a lifespan account of how positive-only or preference-aligned feedback may undermine constructive stress appraisal, frustration tolerance, resilience, and grit—capacities that are built through repeated experiences of manageable challenge, honest feedback, and relationship repair. We conclude with implications for practice, education, and design, emphasizing developmental tailoring, safeguards against over-reliance, and research priorities needed to clarify causal mechanisms and long-term outcomes.
Open Access
Article
24 March 2026Comparing Drone and Satellite DEMs for Hydrodynamic Flood Modeling in a Rural Brazilian Catchment
The rural region of the municipality of Bananal (SP, Brazil) experiences recurrent flooding events associated with rising water levels in tributaries of the Bananal River, especially during periods of intense rainfall. This study aimed to compare the performance of different Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), one derived from NASA orbital data and another generated from drone-based aerophotogrammetric surveys, in identifying and mapping flood-prone areas. The objective was to assess whether drone field campaigns are essential for this type of analysis or whether orbital DEMs are sufficient for the hydrodynamic characterization of the area. Hydrodynamic models were developed using the software QGIS, HidroFlu—for watershed parametrization and inflow estimation, and MODCEL—for hydrodynamic simulation, with spatial resolutions of 10 m, 30 m, and 50 m, in order to analyze the impact of topographic detail on simulation results. Two approaches were tested for defining boundary conditions: one based on precipitation data with a 25-year return period, and another based on the Bananal River discharge estimated from the watershed. The results indicated that the model based on the drone-derived DEM, with 10 m resolution and boundary conditions defined by river discharge, showed the best performance in representing floodable areas. However, the findings also highlight that high-resolution DEMs entail higher operational costs, due to the need for field activities and greater computational capacity to run the simulations.
Open Access
Review
23 March 2026Review on Preparation Strategies and Performance Control of High Solid Loading Ceramic Slurries for Photocurable 3D Printing
Stereolithography 3D printing technology is widely used in aerospace, automotive, medical, weapons, and other fields because of its high processing accuracy, low cost, simple operation, and flexible manufacturing. The photocuring 3D printing ceramic slurry is a key part of the photocuring 3D printing ceramic technology. The preparation techniques of photocurable 3D printing ceramic slurry mainly include the mechanical mixing method, sol-gel method, ultrasonic dispersion method, and in-situ polymerization method. This paper summarizes the preparation methods and research progress of photocuring 3D printing ceramic slurry, expounds the essence of photocuring and the composition and function of ceramic slurry, and analyzes the influence of various properties of photocuring 3D printing ceramic slurry on the properties of final products, such as rheological properties, solid content, curing thickness, and stability. Finally, the existing problems and future development potential of photocuring 3D printing ceramic slurry preparation technology are summarized.
Open Access
Article
23 March 2026Preparation of MgAl2O4 Porous Ceramics for High-Temperature Flue Gas Filtration Application by In-Situ Decomposition Method
Porous ceramic filters exhibit excellent prospects for application in the field of high-temperature flue gas filtration. In this study, the MgAl2O4 porous ceramics were prepared using α-Al2O3, MgO, and EDTA-MgNa2 as raw materials by the in-situ decomposition method. The effect of the introduction of EDTA-MgNa2 on phase composition and microstructure, as well as the correlation between the content of EDTA-MgNa2 and ceramic properties, was investigated using XRD, SEM, and EDS. The results revealed that the introduction of EDTA-MgNa2 formed pores, thereby improving gas permeability. Additionally, the addition of EDTA-MgNa2 was beneficial for the formation of a transitional liquid and promoted sintering, thereby slowing the decrease in compressive strength. The optimal specimen is the ceramic with 10 wt% EDTA-MgNa2, which exhibits a high porosity of 56.28%, a compressive strength of 10.93 MPa, and a high gas permeability coefficient (8.84 × 10−9 m2).
Open Access
Review
23 March 2026Roles of Astrocytes in Radiation-Induced Brain Injury: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies
Radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI), a common adverse effect of cranial radiotherapy for head malignancies, causes severe complications, including blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, neuroinflammation, cognitive decline, and radiation necrosis (RN) that impair patients’ quality of life. The pathophysiology of RIBI involves intricate crosstalk between various central nervous system (CNS) cell types, with astrocytes, the principal CNS glial cells, serving as key mediators. Under physiological conditions, they sustain brain homeostasis, but their transition to reactive phenotypes and subsequent dysfunction propel RIBI development. This review summarizes recent advances in astrocytes’ pathophysiological roles in RIBI, focusing on mechanisms like reactive astrocyte polarization, neuroinflammation, BBB impairment, radiation-induced senescence, astrocyte-mediated RN progression, and pathological crosstalk with other CNS cells. It also outlines astrocyte-targeted therapeutic strategies with preclinical efficacy, including anti-inflammatory therapies, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) interventions, TSPO ligands, RAS blockers, apolipoprotein E (ApoE) regulation, Δ133p53, and microRNAs (miRNAs), which alleviate RIBI by targeting these pathological processes. A comprehensive understanding of astrocyte-mediated mechanisms and preclinical evidence will lay the foundation for developing targeted, low-toxicity therapies to mitigate RIBI in cranial radiotherapy patients.
