F1000Research最新文献

Background: The heavy metal contamination of water leads to major environmental and health problems throughout the Mantaro River basin area. The study assesses the adsorption capacity of surface-modified chak'o nano-clay for extracting lead (Pb ²⁺) and arsenic (As ⁵⁺).

Methods: Surface modifications of unmodified nano-clay were achieved using through Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), iron oxide (Fe ₃O ₄), and combined APTES + Fe ₃O ₄ modifications of unmodified nano-clay particles. Adsorption performance was assessed through batch experiments over 8 hours. BET and XPS analyses were conducted to determine surface area, pore volume, and functional group availability. Adsorption kinetics were modeled using a pseudo-second-order model, and equilibrium data were analyzed using the Langmuir isotherm.

Results: The dual surface modification produced maximum removal capacities which led to a 95-100% removal performance of Pb ²⁺ and As ⁵⁺ over 8 hours. The BET and XPS analysis demonstrated that surface area (300 m ²/g to 375 m ²/g) and pore volume (0.420 cm ³/g to 0.600 cm ³/g) as well as functional group availability increased substantially thus resulting in improved adsorption. The pseudo-second-order model fit well for adsorption kinetic data while equilibrium data fit Langmuir isotherm behavior to describe monolayer adsorption. The dual treatment of APTES in combination with iron oxide generated an adsorbent with better magnetic properties and electrical conductivity thus improving its recovery potential and structural stability. The dual-modified nano-clay showed high stability during three cycles through desorption tests because it maintained more than 90% of its original adsorption capacity throughout the process.

Conclusion: The research shows that specialized surface treatments deliver advanced heavy metal absorption abilities to chak'o nano-clay which positions it as a leading choice for sustainable water system heavy metal remediation.

Background: The representation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is disproportionate to graduates from STEM fields. There is limited research addressing challenges facing women's retention in STEM in the UAE.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a validated questionnaire was conducted. A total of 165 participants were enrolled; 62% males and 35% females.

Results: More women believed there is gender inequality in STEM (47% versus 28%). 44% of female participants experienced gender inequality in their careers. Men were significantly less likely to experience gender inequality (OR=0.06, 95% CI=0.02-0.16). Women reported lack of organizational emphasis on diversity and inclusion for promotion to leadership (44% versus 60%). Thematic analysis of open-ended responses showed a number of dominant barriers, such as gender bias in hiring and promotion, career impact of motherhood and family responsibilities, and lack of institutional support and flexibility.

Conclusion: Data confirms gender-based preconceptions and biases in STEM fields. Institutional initiatives and policies to challenge stereotypes and promote gender equality are required. The governmental role is crucial in creating an inclusive environment for women scientists.

Background: This study analyzes Saudi Arabia's 2022-2023 reforms to the Commercial Agency Law through legal, economic, and comparative lenses. The pre-reform regime-marked by rigid nationality limits, procedural burdens, and litigation-prone termination rules-constrained market entry and investor confidence.

Methods: Using a doctrinal approach to statutes and implementing regulations, triangulated with Saudi judicial practice and policy instruments, we benchmark Saudi reforms against the UAE and UK. A Shariah lens clarifies how gharar (uncertainty), fasakh (rescission), and unjust enrichment ( akl al-māl bil-bāṭil) shape agency disputes.

Results: Key changes include more flexible nationality rules, end-to-end digital registration and renewal, clearer termination/compensation standards, and formal recognition of arbitration (including SCCA). Together these measures enhance contractual predictability and lower compliance frictions, with early indications of improved market transparency and investor sentiment.

Conclusions: The reforms signal a hybrid model-liberalization aligned with global practice while preserving a Shariah-grounded identity. Remaining priorities include consistent judicial application, practitioner training, clearer guidance, and GCC coordination. We propose thematically grouped policy steps to consolidate gains and support Vision 2030's diversification agenda.

Background: The integration of mathematical competencies and critical thinking in secondary education has become increasingly relevant to equip students with the ability to reason, argue, and solve complex real-world problems. Despite its recognized importance, this integration remains fragmented across curricula and inconsistently applied in classroom practice.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines to analyze empirical evidence published between 2019 and 2025. Searches were performed in Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and Dialnet databases. Inclusion criteria focused on open-access, peer-reviewed studies in English or Spanish addressing the integration of mathematical competencies and critical thinking in secondary education. From 1,457 records initially retrieved, 24 empirical studies were selected for full analysis.

Results: The studies reviewed indicate that mathematical competencies, defined as the ability to model, interpret, and solve problems through logical reasoning, are reinforced when integrated with critical thinking skills such as evaluation, argumentation, and evidence-based decision-making. Active methodologies, including Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Project-Based Learning (PjBL), STEM, and gamification, were identified as the most effective strategies to foster this integration. However, their implementation is often constrained by structural barriers such as limited teacher training, rigid curricula, and insufficient technological infrastructure.

Conclusion: Integrative, student-centered approaches supported by active learning methodologies enhance higher-order cognitive development and prepare learners to meet the demands of 21st-century education. Future research should address methodological standardization, teacher preparation, and institutional conditions to ensure the sustainable and equitable implementation of these strategies.

Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) remain the foundation of tissue diagnosis, yet many clinical questions, tumour-immune architecture, spatial heterogeneity, and predictors of therapy response, require molecular context that routine slides cannot provide. Spatial omics closes this gap by mapping RNA and proteins in situ while preserving morphology, and recent platforms are increasingly compatible with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, paving the way for its future potential use in routine pathology and retrospective cohorts. However, significant challenges related to cost, complexity, reproducibility, and regulation currently remain before widespread routine deployment, underscoring that it is not yet ready for In Vitro Diagnostic or routine clinical application. This mini-review offers a pragmatic, step-by-step workflow for integrating spatial assays with H&E: define the clinical decision; select a fit-for-purpose modality (whole-transcriptome spot/grid vs targeted in situ RNA; multiplex proteomics); lock pre-analytics aligned to histology (sectioning, staining, de-crosslinking, storage); pre-specify regions of interest (ROIs), registration, and segmentation rules; analyse with quality-assurance gates (normalisation, deconvolution, batch handling, spatial statistics); and validate and report using orthogonal assays and multi-site replication. FFPE-ready platforms and typical use-cases are summarised, with emphasis on pre-analytical factors that materially affect signal and analysis "recipes" distilled from recent benchmarks. Brief clinical exemplars illustrate how H&E-anchored spatial maps change decisions by pinpointing actionable niches (e.g., immune neighbourhoods, vascular niches, layer-specific programmes). Common limitations are also outlined, including technology trade-offs, pre-analytics, sampling bias, segmentation and deconvolution error, batch effects, cost, turnaround, and regulatory considerations. Future directions include standards and metadata, cross-platform integration, prospective evidence, automation and quality assurance, and multi-omic detection. Overall, the goal is to support pathology and translational teams in adopting spatial omics in FFPE with both discipline and rigor, guiding the necessary steps to ensure reproducibility and credibility for eventual clinical impact.

Background: Investment decision making is a critical aspect of financial planning. It involves allocating the financial resources to various investment avenues with an objective of generating future returns. Behavioral finance provides a theoretical framework for understanding psychological biases investment decision making which changes the assumptions of traditional finance. This study examines five important behavioral biases such as heuristics, prospect theory, emotions, market impact, and herding behavior on investment decision-making and portfolio management by considering investor experience and financial literacy as moderating factors.

Methods: Primary data was collected from individual investors in the BSE and NSE using a structured questionnaire administered through a purposive random sampling. Resulting in 151 complete responses were obtained and were considered valid for the purpose of our study. PLS-SEM was used to test the proposed hypotheses as well as the moderating effect.

Results: Study finding indicates that heuristics have a positive and statistically significant effect on investment decisions, while prospect theory, emotions, market impact, and herding behavior showed no significant direct influence. The moderation analysis reveals that both investor experience and financial literacy significantly moderate the effects of emotions and market impact on investment decisions. However, their influence on heuristics, prospect theory, and herding behavior was statistically insignificant.

Conclusions: The results of this study lead to several conclusions. In this present study only one behavioral bias heuristics (HU) demonstrated a significant direct influence on investment decisions. In contrast, other behavioral biases such as prospect theory (P), emotions (E), market impact (M), and herding behavior (HB) do not significantly affect investment decisions (p > 0.05). The moderating effect of investors' experience and financial literacy investor behavior are minimal. The result underscores that improving financial education, skills, knowledge and gaining experience may help investors regulate emotional and trend-based decisions but may not be sufficient to address more instinctive cognitive biases. The significance of the study provides important implications for financial educators, advisors, policymakers and stock market authorities regarding the need for behaviorally informed investor training, decision-support systems, and informed advisory services to promote rational investment behavior.

Background: This study investigates the mediating role of comfort (CMT), convenience (CNV), and aesthetics (AST) in the relationship between the enablers of an age-friendly built environment for walkability and outcomes such as increased physical activity level (IPL), increased socialization (ISL), and improved quality of life (IQL) in older adults. The research emphasizes the importance of creating age-friendly environments to support the well-being and quality of life of older adults, with implications for urban planners and policymakers to promote sustainable and inclusive design.

Methods: The research follows a positivist paradigm using a quantitative approach and survey strategy with a cross-sectional design. A sample of 333 older adults was selected using the convenience sampling technique, and data were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: Findings from hypothesis testing indicate that, among the enablers, age-friendly urban design policies are the most significant construct, positively impacting all three mediating variables. Aesthetics was found to have a significant positive effect on increased physical activity level and increased socialization, while comfort and convenience significantly influenced increased physical activity level and improved quality of life, respectively.

Conclusion: These results suggest implications for urban planners and policymakers to enhance the contribution of built environment for walkability toward increased physical activity level, increased socialization, and improved quality of life for older adults. The research offers valuable insights for academics and practitioners, emphasizing the importance of sustainable design while ensuring inclusivity to promote the well-being and quality of life of older adults.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students and technical personnel at healthcare institutions, with a focus on levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Methods: A total of 250 participants were included, comprising 130 students from health sciences and 120 individuals from technical fields. In total, 164 participants were females, and 192 participants were aged ≤20 years. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered electronic questionnaire. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), followed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), was used to retrospectively assess psychological distress linked to the pandemic. The data were analysed via the chi-square test.

Results: DASS severity ratings revealed that 41.3% of participants aged ≤20 years experienced severe or extremely severe anxiety, which was statistically significant (p = 0.013). The stress scores were also significantly higher in this age group (p = 0.004). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that younger age and female sex were significantly associated with increased odds of depression and stress. Males had comparatively lower odds of experiencing psychological distress. Participants from technical fields demonstrated higher odds of anxiety and stress, although not of depression.

Conclusion: The long-term psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be more pronounced among younger individuals, females, and technical staff in healthcare institutions. Although students may have greater awareness about the disease, this awareness may contribute to heightened psychological distress.

Plastic waste accumulation is a global environmental issue. Current methods (recycling, incineration, landfilling, etc.) are not a sustainable long-term solution and so far they cannot prevent continuous accumulation of plastic waste worldwide. This article introduces the concept of deep geological disposal (DGD) of plastic waste as an alternative strategy. The concept principally differs from the traditional landfilling. In the latter, plastic waste is affected by chemical, physical, and microbial factors that cause plastic fragmentation and environmental leakage. On the contrary, DGD isolates plastic waste in abandoned mines, quarries and caves, ensuring safe long-term containment of the waste and the possibility of its reuse as a raw material in the future. Another advantage of DGD is that these geological structures usually have transport infrastructure and storage facilities, and, as a result, they offer a more controlled environment with reduced risk of leachate, microplastic dispersion, and surface pollution. The paper discusses the practical, economic, and environmental aspects of the concept of DGD of plastic waste. The proposal does not offer to replace other available mechanisms of plastic waste management, it presents DGD as a complementary and potentially effective method for addressing non-recyclable and mismanaged plastic waste worldwide.

Background: Bankruptcy prediction is crucial for financial stability, and sector-specific Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) models have proven superior in performance. However, a significant gap exists, as most models are designed for advanced economies, leaving their efficacy in emerging markets like India unexplored. This study addresses this gap by focusing on the applicability of these advanced models to predict bankruptcy within India's dynamic trade services sector.

Methods: The research utilized a substantial sample of 5,527 Indian companies. To counter the challenge of having far fewer bankrupt firms than solvent ones, the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) was employed. The study then leveraged a comprehensive suite of eight popular AI-ML models, including Random Forests, Gradient Boosting, Neural Networks, and Support Vector Machines, with performance rigorously evaluated using repeated k-fold cross-validation to ensure robustness and guard against overfitting. To add practical context, business rules based on key financial metrics-liquidity, profitability, and asset size-were integrated.

Results: The findings robustly demonstrate that AI-ML models can accurately predict bankruptcy in Indian trade services firms. A critical discovery was the variation in early warning signals between an analysis of the entire dataset (aggregate) and segmented groups of companies. This indicates that a one-size-fits-all approach obscures important, segment-specific risk factors. The segmented analysis successfully uncovered hidden risks that were not apparent at the aggregate level.

Conclusions: The study concludes that AI-ML models are highly effective for bankruptcy prediction in India's trade services sector. For stakeholders like investors and creditors, the key takeaway is the superior value of a segmented analytical approach. This strategy maintains high predictive accuracy while revealing nuanced, specific risks. Ultimately, it provides a powerful, tailored tool for safeguarding financial interests in an emerging market context.