A study of 52 college students found that VR mindfulness meditation improved emotion regulation, relaxation, and mindful attention more than audio-only practice. The strongest results came from a self-developed EEG-interactive VR forest that changed in response to users' brain signals, while lavender scent improved relaxation but appeared to reduce concentration.

PS‑NPs/TPhP alter gut microbiota, impair gut structure and disturb oxidative, inflammatory, detoxifying metabolism via distinct pathways; their antagonistic co‑exposure disrupts lipid metabolism, clarifying gut‑liver-axis risks for salamanders.

Diagnostic laboratories are central to disease surveillance and epidemic preparedness, yet poor adherence to biosafety and biosecurity protocols can put laboratory staff, communities and the environment at risk. This study assessed biosecurity and biosafety practices in 96 public and private biomedical and veterinary laboratories in Benin. Using a cross-sectional design, biomedical laboratories were evaluated with the Biosafety and Biosecurity in Laboratory Tool, while veterinary laboratories were assessed using the Laboratory Mapping Tool. Data were collected through KoBoCollect and analysed using R. Most laboratories showed poor compliance with established guidelines: 42% were classified as very high risk, 38% as high risk, 15% as moderate risk and only 5% as low risk. Strengthened policies and targeted capacity-building for laboratory staff and managers are urgently needed.

This study reviews ecological operation practices in China's Tarim and Irtysh River Basins, focusing on innovations such as multiscale reservoir ecological operations, ecological infiltration irrigation, and ecological water conveyance strategies. These approaches have effectively restored riparian vegetation, enhanced groundwater recharge, and improved biodiversity while balancing socioeconomic demands. The paper also discusses persisting challenges like climate variability and competing water demands. Lastly, the paper proposes an integrated framework combining reservoir regulation, ecological flow reconstruction, and targeted water delivery technologies to enhance sustainable water management in arid regions.

Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University have successfully utilized a novel screw extrusion-plasticizing friction stir deposition (SEFSD) process to 3D print 5183 aluminum alloy components in the solid state. This innovative approach bypasses the melting phase, significantly reducing common defects like pores and element evaporation. The resulting components showcase a refined microstructure and excellent mechanical properties, paving the way for efficient manufacturing of aerospace and marine structures.

The authors identify appropriate key performance indicators of resilience for AI-integrated cyber-physical infrastructures, and develop a comprehensive framework that can be used by researchers and practitioners as a guideline to model the resilience of such infrastructures at macro and micro levels. They illustrate how the framework can be applied by means of a case study.

Fear learning is a key adaptive mechanism, but its links to the immune system remain unclear, especially in people with childhood maltreatment. This study examined whether the type and timing of childhood abuse and neglect influence the relationship between brain function during fear learning and inflammation. Data were collected from 128 adults, including inflammatory markers (IL-8, IL-17) and fMRI brain scans during a fear conditioning task. Results revealed that the type and timing of childhood maltreatment differentially moderate associations between fear-related brain activity, functional connectivity, and inflammatory levels. These findings help explain how early adversity increases long-term health risks by altering neural-immune interactions.