Objective This study systematically reviews the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with investment funds in the asset management industry and emphasizes its transformative impact. Aiming to bridge knowledge gaps, this study explores AI's position within the industry, analyzes its variety, and assesses the transformational implications of existing practices. Methodology Adhering to systematic review methodology, a comprehensive search was conducted across the Web of Science and Scopus databases, identifying 27 high-quality studies published from 2020 to 2024. The study was then analyzed thematically. Findings The first theme of the review classifies AI applications into front-end and back-end roles, illustrating the transition from traditional processes. On the front-end, AI assists simple activities by analyzing an investor's profile to determine a suitable fund, similar to a human financial consultant. The back-end sees AI performing autonomous trading and managing pooled fund investments, resembling a human fund manager. As a secondary theme, this review analyse AI deployment include using robo-advisors and chatbots for front-end tasks, screening analysis, predictive analytics, automated algorithmic trading, and automated trading technical analysis for back-end tasks. This study also includes a deductive discussion on the implications and transofrmation of AI deployment. Contribution/implications This review serves as an analytical framework to highlight AI in investment funds in asset management and serves as a springboard for future research and industrial applications.

Discover Oncology

Background and aims The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted high-performance athletes (HPAs) by affecting their training and participation in competitions due to cancellations. The aim of this study is to analyze HPAs’ physical activity, sedentary behavior, and mental health during and after the COVID-19 lockdown while considering sex and type of sport. Materials and methods A repeated-measures observational study with a census sampling approach (N = 556) HPAs from a public university in Mexico. Informed consent was obtained, and a survey was administered in person and online. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and mental health was assessed using the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Percentages, means, standard deviations, Student’s t-test, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were analyzed. Results Participants were an average age of 19.5 years; 50.2% were male, 55.9% practiced ball sports, 28.5% engaged in athletic sports, and 15.6% participated in combat sports. During confinement, 63.1% reported a high level of physical activity, which increased to 89.4% after confinement (X2 = 20.37, p < 0.0001). Moreover, 86% exhibited sedentary behavior during confinement, which decreased to 57.9% afterward (p < 0.00001). No significant differences were found considering sex or type of sport. Regarding mental health, significant improvements were observed in all dimensions by sex and type of sport (p < 0.05), except for the vigor dimension. Conclusions The lockdown impacted HPAs’ physical activity levels and mental health. After confinement, athletes increased their levels of vigorous physical activity and reduced sedentary behavior, reflecting adaptation to the new circumstances. Mental health indicators improved post-lockdown, although differences by sex and type of sport persisted in certain aspects.

Spoonbills are waterbirds known for their distinctive spoon-shaped beaks and unique foraging behaviors. Like other wetland-associated birds, they exhibit a wide range of movement and migration patterns. In the literature, species of the Platalea genus are often described as migratory, but they can also be characterized as nomadic, irruptive, dispersive, partially migratory, or even sedentary. Due to this variation in terminology and classification, many aspects of their movement ecology remain unclear to the scientific community. In this synthesis, I searched scientific databases using a set of pre-selected keywords with the aim of reviewing the literature on the classification, phenology, and movement patterns of the six species within the Platalea genus. The results revealed disparities in the knowledge available on these species, with than 80% of studies focusing on only two species: the Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) and the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor). Phenology data showed considerable intraspecific variation in some species, primarily related to the size of their distribution areas and the locations of their breeding colonies, but also influenced by environmental variables. The review also confirmed that spoonbill species and populations breeding in temperate latitudes seem to exhibit more classic migratory behaviors, while tropical species and populations are often more nomadic, moving in response to water and food availability. These findings highlight the urgent need to improve our understanding of spoonbill movement patterns, particularly among tropical and lesser-known species, to support effective conservation and management strategies.

Background Policies fostering green production and consumption help promote sustainability. Countries can be encouraged to adopt such policies through various international treaties. One such tool is international trade agreements that incorporate specific provisions covering goals under sustainable/green policies. As per their nature, one may call them green provisions (GPs). The impact of GPs on sustainability can be understood through the promotion of green production and consumption. However, the economic effects of these provisions remain dubious. Existing literature has tried to quantify the aggregate impact of GPs on economic growth via trade flows but failed to identify the specific set of GPs impacting trade flows. The present study tries to fill the gap and highlight a few GPs that are more impactful. Method Recent advancements in estimation methods allow for identifying the specific set of GPs and their impact on trade flows. The study uses gravity modeling in a machine learning framework to identify the GPs with a non-zero impact on trade flows. The study used a Plug-in lasso to identify the relevant GPs and further iceberg lasso regression analysis to examine highly correlated GPs. Result The study confirms the positive impact of GPs on overall trade and highlights the importance of strategically including specific GPs in trade agreements to enhance trade flows. The study found that GPs related to harmonizing environmental policies, promoting international energy programs, protecting wild fauna and flora & preventing illegal trade, among others, have trade-enhancing effects. Conclusion The study results can help countries engaging in a trade negotiation consider including an environmental chapter(s) with these targeted GPs. From the policy perspective, identifying trade and sustainability-enhancing GPs would have a more significant trade-promoting impact. These GPs could be considered for future negotiations while signing trade agreements.

This research explores the determinants and implications of sustainable consumption behaviour in the e-commerce sector in Germany using a mixed-methods app

African cities, at the nexus of rapid urbanisation and escalating climate change, urgently require innovative approaches for climate-adaptive Green Infrastructure (GI) planning. While Spatio-temporal Big Data (STBD) offers powerful analytical capabilities, its integration with the rich, context-specific insights of Local and Indigenous Knowledge (LK/IK) remains a critical, underexplored frontier. This study critically examines the imperatives, pathways, and pitfalls of synergising STBD and LK/IK for enhanced GI planning in urban Africa. It argues that transcending the limitations of relying solely on either technology-driven data or localised knowledge requires fostering a dynamic interplay between them. This study maps out tangible methodological, technological, institutional, and ethical pathways for effective knowledge co-production. Simultaneously, it critically assesses significant pitfalls, including deep-seated epistemological divides, pervasive power asymmetries, resource constraints, and the dangers of tokenism that can undermine genuine integration. Ultimately, this study contends that fostering this synergy is not merely beneficial but essential for developing technically sound, socially equitable, culturally appropriate, and ultimately, more sustainable GI solutions in African urban contexts, thereby contributing to resilient and just urban futures.

Discover Nano

Despite plastics constituting a vital part of our live, such as food items, or home utensils, they have also earned notoriety among researchers due to their high greenhouse gas emissions, increased accumulation in landfills, and their sedimentation on the marine environment causing hazardous health concerns for mankind by entering into our food web as micro plastics. Hence while looking for a substitute for plastics, researchers came across bio-plastics, plastics made from biomass (renewable resources) that are even biodegradable and are now getting incorporated into the global world in the form of rigid packaging, consumers goods, textiles, in the agricultural and horticulture, and in automotive and transport, with an expected growth rate of 200% in the near future. The ability of bio-plastic to biodegrade makes it eco-friendly, and new innovations in its compositions increase its versatility as packaging or consumer products. This review article discusses the misconceptions about the biodegradability of bio-plastics and gaps regarding the basic concept of ‘the rate of biodegradability in bioplastics’; all bioplastics are not biodegradable and some require different conditions such as aeration time, composting environment, etc., along with an overview of the biodegradability of various bio-plastics under different standards and conditions such as aeration time, days, a comparison between conventional plastics and bio-plastics, types of bio-plastics based on raw materials, and future perspectives that despite being a sustainable solution for greener environment, bio-plastics still lack in certain areas as production cost, recycling infrastructure, mechanical properties, and quick bio-degradation standards that are more suitable for industry and natural environment. This review article also provides suggestions to improve bio-plastics towards a more sustainable solution using various techniques as polymer mixing, use of additives such as plasticizers or surfactants etc. Graphical Abstract

This study developed Klebsiella oxytoca W6-nasR2, a bioluminescent bioreporter containing the nasR2 promoter fused to the luxCDABE operon for detecting bioavailable nitrogen. The 267-bp nasR2 open reading frame (ORF) encodes an 88-amino acid protein with regulatory elements for nitrogen metabolism and stress responses, including NtrC/σ54, FNR-type motifs, GlnR, and SOS motifs. COBALT analysis identified conserved nitrate-regulation motifs (DLRQQLVDRIDGQQPC, FDSFQALAEAPQT). The nasR2 promoter, with -10 (TTTTCA) and -35 (CATATT) boxes, coordinates nitrogen metabolism and stress adaptation. Predicted phosphorylation sites at serine residues 49 and 75 likely enhance nasR2 stability and sensitivity, making it a robust nitrate reductase. Wild-type K. oxytoca W6 reduced 92.39% of 1.2 g NO₃-N/L in 27 h, with peak nitrate reductase activity (600 U/mL) observed at 168 h during extended enzymatic monitoring. The W6-nasR2 bioreporter exhibited a 186-fold increase in bioluminescence in response to peptone, with optimal activity at pH 6–7, retaining ~ 56% activity across pH 4–10. Strongest responses were observed with organic nitrogen sources (yeast extract > peptone > casein > skim milk), moderate responses with inorganic nitrogen (NaNO₃ > NH₄Cl > NaNO₂), and amino acids (lysine > asparagine). Urea and NaCN showed minimal or inhibitory effects. Field applications detected bioavailable nitrogen in municipal wastewater (45,000–62,000 CPS), industrial wastewater (41,000–42,000 CPS), desert soil (4,000 CPS), and agricultural soil (25,000 CPS), correlating with total nitrogen levels of 0.045–0.058 mg/L. These findings highlight the utility of the W6-nasR2 bioreporter for monitoring bioavailable nitrogen in real-world environments and position NasR2 as a potential novel nitrate reductase.

Urban roadside farming plays a vital role in enhancing food security in densely populated areas, but also poses a significant potential risk of heavy metal contamination due to vehicular emissions. This study assesses the awareness and practices of vegetable farmers along the Accra-Tema Motorway regarding heavy metal contamination and its potential health implications. Despite the prevalence of farming along this corridor, little is known about farmers’ perceptions of heavy metal contamination and the associated risks. This research seeks to fill that gap by exploring farmer knowledge in this high-risk, under-researched area. A quantitative approach was employed. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and one-on-one interviews with 50 purposively selected farmers. Results showed that 96% of the farmers were unaware of heavy metal contamination, though 80% expressed a willingness to discontinue farming near the motorway if they were informed of the risks. Although farmers benefit economically from a ready market for their produce, they face challenges such as limited access to clean irrigation water and dependence on informal agricultural knowledge. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted educational interventions to raise awareness about the risks of heavy metal exposure and to encourage safer farming practices. These findings provide essential insights for guiding policy aimed at safeguarding public health and promoting sustainable urban agriculture.

The digital economy development(DED) brings new opportunities for urban land green utilization. This paper empirically analyzes the impact and mechanisms of DED on urban land green utilization efficiency (LGUE). The results show that DED has a significant positive effect on LGUE and works by reducing land space mismatches(LSM). Government land-finance dependence and economic growth targets negatively moderate this effect. The impact of DED on urban LGUE exhibits a single threshold effect with DED as the threshold variable, and a dual threshold effect with economic development level as the threshold variable. Furthermore, the DED's impact varies across regions and city sizes, being more pronounced in eastern, western regions and large cities, and differs by digital-economy form. This study provides a novel perspective on leveraging digital transformation to resolve land resource misallocation and achieve sustainable urban development through improving LGUE.

Allicin, a bioactive compound found in garlic (Allium sativum), has shown significant potential in treating gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric, colorectal, liver, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers. This review focuses on the recent progress in the therapeutic application of this compound for the induction of apoptosis, inhibition of proliferation, and disruption of cancer cell signaling pathways, including the MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and NF-κB pathways. Taking these mechanisms into consideration, although challenging because of rapid metabolism and inherent instability, allicin could be a very potent candidate for cancer treatment. Allicin and its other derivatives, such as diallyl disulfide (DADS) and ajoene, have been found to have strong anticancer potential both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the effectiveness of allicin in augmenting conventional chemotherapy and retarding tumor growth proves that allicin is one of the most efficient complementary therapies. Epidemiological studies have also demonstrated the role of garlic consumption in reducing the risk of developing cancer. This review examines the potential role of allicin in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers and emphasizes the importance of this compound for future cancer biology research.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems has revolutionized the way non-verbal individuals interact with their environment. AI-powered symbolic text prediction offers innovative solutions to enhance expressive and receptive communication, promoting autonomy and social inclusion. This article examines the role of AI-driven predictive text within the frameworks of metaliteracy and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), emphasizing its potential to create adaptive and ethical digital communication environments. Recent advancements in machine learning models and natural language processing (NLP) have contributed to more sophisticated AAC tools; however, challenges such as bias in predictive algorithms, accessibility limitations, and ethical considerations persist. This study critically evaluates the benefits, challenges, and future directions of AI-powered symbolic text prediction, particularly in educational, therapeutic, and social settings. The findings highlight the need for equitable AI design that accounts for diverse linguistic and cognitive needs, reinforcing AI’s role in fostering digital inclusivity and empowering non-verbal individuals to become autonomous communicators. Clinical Trial Number: Not applicable.

Hydrogen (H2) fuel is one of eco-friendly resources for delivering de-carbonized and sustainable electricity supply in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13 for affordable and clean energy, and climate change action, respectively. This paper presents a state-of-the art review of the H2 energy resource in terms of its history and evolution, production techniques, global economy, market perspective and application to microgrid systems. It also introduces a systematic classification of the fuel. The production techniques examined include: the thermal approach such as the reforming, gasification and thermochemical processes; the photocatalytic approach otherwise called artificial photosynthesis; the biological and photonic approach that involves the photolysis, photo-fermentation, dark fermentation, CO gas fermentation and biomass valorization processes to produce H2 while the electrical approach is based on the chemical dissociation of electrolytes into their constituent ions by the passage of electric current. A particular attention is paid to the potential of the H2 resource in running some energy generators in microgrid systems such as the internal combustion engines, microturbines, and the fuel cells that are useful for combined heat and power application. The paper introduces different technical configurations, topologies and processes that involve the use of green H2 fuel in generating systems, and the connection of bus bars, power converters, battery bank and the electrical and thermal loads. The paper also presents hybrid fuel cell (FC) and PV system simulation using System Advisor Model (SAM) to showcase the use of H2 fuel in a micogrid. The paper provides insightful directions into the H2 economy, smart electrical grid and the future prospects.

This review examines the role of regenerative farming practices in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and contributing to climate change mitigation through agroecological approaches. The study analyzes the effectiveness of key practices such as no-till, reduced tillage, crop rotations, and organic fertilizers in lowering emissions of CO2, N2O, and CH4 across various agricultural systems worldwide. Review findings reveal that no-tillage significantly reduced CO2 emissions by up to 47%, while crop rotations decreased N2O emissions by 23–57% in irrigated crops. The global warming potential (GWP) reductions vary with crops and were 10.8% in barley, 13.7% in maize, 22.5% in rice, and 30.1% in soybean. Organic and regenerative practices also enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) by carbon sequestration, leading to overall reductions in GWP. Effective GHG mitigation was observed by combining various organic inputs with reduced tillage adoption in clover and wheat. The impact of these practices varies based on regional conditions and management strategies which have been revealed by the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis, encompassing 566 data points, showed that organic fertilizers reduced N2O and CH4 emissions by 0.81% and 2.34%, respectively, but increased CO2 emissions by 3.83%. Cover crops lowered CO2 emissions by 0.26% while increasing N2O and CH4 by 0.83% and 0.54%. Conservation tillage reduced all three gases. The high heterogeneity observed was attributed to variations in field conditions, soil properties, climate, and experimental duration. Overall, while individual GHG responses varied, the combined effect of regenerative practices showed a favorable reduction in total emissions compared to conventional practices. Optimizing organic amendments and nutrient management is essential to maximize their mitigation potential. Overall, organic and regenerative farming present viable strategies for reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint and promoting sustainable, climate-resilient food production systems.

This article investigates a specific and underexamined question in international law: to what extent are states legally accountable for their conduct during maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) operations involving smuggled migrants? While international frameworks such as UNCLOS, the SAR Convention, and the 1951 Refugee Convention impose clear obligations to rescue, prevent refoulement, and ensure humane treatment, these duties are frequently undermined by jurisdictional loopholes, ambiguous legal terms, and the strategic externalization of enforcement. Through doctrinal legal analysis and case studies from the Central Mediterranean, Bay of Bengal, and Caribbean Sea, the article demonstrates how states systematically reinterpret or evade these obligations to prioritize migration control over legal compliance. Unlike prior literature that treats SAR primarily as a humanitarian or logistical challenge, this study reframes it as a site of legal fragmentation and accountability failure. The article fills a critical gap by offering a structured legal critique of how state responsibility is diluted in practice. It proposes concrete legal and institutional reforms, such as binding definitions of “place of safety,” integrated SAR–asylum protocols, and regional disembarkation agreements. It argues that without legal clarity, enforcement mechanisms, and political will, SAR operations risk becoming a façade that masks violations of international protection norms.

The use of metaverse in mathematics education has revolutionized the way the subject is taught. Metaverse provides immersive and engaging experiences that enhance understanding and enable access to previously inaccessible places. This research discusses papers in the field of metaverse and mathematics, including annual scientific outputs, publication sources, influential authors, most commonly used keywords, trend topics, keyword co-occurrence networks, inter-organizational co-authorship, and co-authorship between countries. The study aims to provide valuable insights for decision-making and transdisciplinary research initiatives. To conduct this study, Bibliometrics, the VOSviewer program, and the Scopus database were utilized to analyze articles on metaverse and mathematics published between 1990 and 2024. The findings highlight the United States, China, and Australia as the leading countries with the most references in this field. Also, a literature review based on the content analysis of the articles was done to categorize the articles in this field. The articles were divided into two categories: teaching mathematics in the metaverse and non-educational purposes. The main focus of this paper is on mathematics education, and researchers have provided useful categories in this regard that can be useful for students, professors, and researchers who are trying to work on these topics. The use of immersive technologies in teaching mathematics and building immersive classrooms and the future of mathematics education in Metaverse were also investigated.

Background Young adult women in India often face significant stress from navigating education, careers, and societal expectations, which can impact their psychological well-being. This study investigates how stressful life events (SLEs) affect psychological well-being and examines the mediating roles of personality dysfunction and perceived stress. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 190 Indian women aged 18–24. Participants completed measures of SLEs, psychological well-being, personality dysfunction, and perceived stress. Structural equation modeling was used to explore direct and indirect relationships. Results SLEs were linked to increased perceived stress and lower psychological well-being. Personality dysfunction was also associated with higher stress levels and reduced psychological well-being. Mediation analysis showed that both personality dysfunction and perceived stress significantly explained the pathway between SLEs and psychological well-being. Conclusions The findings highlight the intertwined roles of stress and personality in shaping young women’s mental health. These insights support targeted interventions to reduce the negative impact of stressful life events. Addressing personality functioning and incorporating stress management strategies at the university level may help enhance psychological well-being. Future research should consider the limitations of the current study design and sample characteristics, which may affect generalizability, and examine these relationships across more diverse populations using longitudinal designs to clarify causality.