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The Digital Currency Revolution: A Survey of Its Evolution, Current Practices, and Implications
(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2026-01-22) Zeng L; Young MR; Hao W
As an emerging research field, digital currency studies have expanded rapidly over the past two decades, yet literature remains fragmented across currency types, theoretical foundations, and isolated research themes. This study systematically maps the research through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 187 articles published in the Web of Science database between 2006 and 2025. Utilizing VOSviewer software, the analysis identifies three thematic clusters that reflect the evolving revolution of digital currency research: overall evolution of digital currency, private sector digital currencies and central bank digital currencies. Our review of the literature suggests that while private sector digital currencies lead early innovation, their long-term viability is undermined by regulatory ambiguity and inherent limitations. Conversely, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are emerging as a predominant trend in the digital currency ecosystem, offering broader applications and the capacity to redefine monetary systems. By synthesizing mainstream arguments, this review identifies avenues for future research and offers important policy implications.
Using Parkrun Age Grading as an Indicator of Adolescent Health: A Pilot Cross-sectional Comparator Study
(Bentham Open, 2024-11-22) Dearing CG; Williams TR; Dearing GC
Background: Prescribing physical activity in parks and other nature settings improves health and well-being. Objective markers of health or health improvement in such a setting are required. Objective: To examine if Parkrun age grading is a marker for health in adolescents living in a high-deprivation area. Methods: Twenty-five adolescents, 17 female, and 8 male, were recruited from a high deprivation area. Subjects participated in testing for cardiorespiratory fitness, glycosylated haemoglobin (Hb1Ac), body composition, strength, perceived stress, and perceptions of family functioning. Within 8 days of testing, participants also completed a single 5000m Parkrun, which generated age and gender-specific Parkrun age grading scores. Participants were assigned to a high Parkrun age grading or a low Parkrun age grading group using the participant's Parkrun age grading median value, and then groups were compared. Results: Parkrun age grading had relationships with body fat (r=-0.65, p <.001), muscle mass (r=0.47, p=0.027), and Hb1Ac (r=-0.45, p=0.037). Hb1Ac was significantly (p=0.006) different between high Parkrun age grading (34.4 ± 2.9 mmol/mol) and low Parkrun age grading (38.1 ± 2.8 mmol/mol). Conclusion: Parkrun age grading is a marker for physical health in vulnerable adolescents, though not all aspects of health are captured.
Eucommia ulmoides leaf as an alternative substrate for kombucha fermentation: the role of microbial communities in dynamics and metabolic profile
(Elsevier B.V., 2026-04-01) Wang L; Wang E; Wang W; Zhang W; Ge Y; Cao X; Tian HS; Li X; Zhu X
Eucommia ulmoides leaf (EUL) was introduced as a novel fermentation substrate to replace traditional tea in kombucha. High-performance liquid chromatography, untargeted metabolomics, and high-throughput sequencing were applied to understand the potential relationships during fermentation. EUL kombucha exhibited slower sugar consumption rate and superior in vitro antioxidant activity compared with traditional kombucha. Total polyphenols, geniposidic acid, pinoresinol diglucoside, and rutin demonstrated an increasing trend, whereas total flavonoids and chlorogenic acid contents considerably decreased. Metabolite profiling revealed 211 positive and 165 negative ion components in samples fermented for 0, 4, and 8 days. Komagataeibacter and Gluconobacter were the dominant bacterial genera while Hanseniaspora , Dekkera , and Kregervanrija dominated the yeast community. The dominant microbial genera could have regulated nucleotide metabolism, pentose and glucuronic acid–related conversions, ascorbic acid and aldehyde metabolism, and flavonoid biosynthesis, leading to changes in the expression of differential metabolites of EUL kombucha. The findings support innovation in kombucha development.
Preparation of nanoparticles from atmospheric pressure plasma jet-activated gas modified pectin for oral insulin delivery
(Elsevier B.V., 2026-05-01) Chen N; Zhang X; Cao W; Tian H; Hua X
This study investigates the effects of atmospheric pressure plasma jet-activated gas (APPJ) treatment on pectin and its nanoparticles (APPJ-pectin NPs), and explores their applications in oral insulin delivery systems. The results showed that as APPJ treatment progressed, the molecular weight of pectin significantly decreased, while the degree of esterification increased and its hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties altered. The insulin encapsulation efficiency of APPJ-pectin NPs exhibited minimal variation during the initial stage of treatment. In vitro release studies showed that APPJ-pectin NPs protected insulin in simulated gastric fluid and gradually released it at neutral pH, with the release rate initially decreasing and then increasing with extended APPJ treatment. The hemolysis rates of all samples ranged from 2% to 5%, suggesting that APPJ-pectin NPs exhibited favorable hemocompatibility. APPJ-pectin NPs primarily underwent transepithelial transport via the transcellular pathway, being internalized by endocytosis and subsequently transported intracellularly into the bloodstream. The transepithelial transport efficiency of APPJ-pectin NPs was evaluated using the Transwell system. APPJ treatment significantly increased the transport efficiency, with A60-NPs showing a 57.14% increase compared to the control. Confocal laser scanning microscope observations and flow cytometry experiments further confirmed this result, demonstrating that the uptake of APPJ-pectin NPs by Caco-2 cells was time-dependent, with A60-NPs exhibiting the highest uptake efficiency.
From Competency Mapping to Digital Twin Integration: Developing a Next-Gen Digital Project Manager Model for Smart Construction
(International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB), 2025-09) Owais OA; Poshdar M; Hoseini AG; Ying F; Jaafar K; Sarhan S; Sheikhkhoshkar M; Amor R
The digital transformation of the construction industry has outpaced the evolution of traditional project management competency frameworks, leaving many Project Managers (PMs) underprepared to meet the demands of emerging technologies such as Digital Twins (DTs). This study develops and validates a Next-Gen Digital PM Competency List tailored to the Smart Built Environment (SBE) through a structured two-stage methodology. Stage 1 applied a three-phase process comprising (1) a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), (2) NVivo-based thematic analysis, and (3) Large Language Model (LLM)-driven synthesis. These phases identified, categorised, and defined 55 digital PM competencies, systematically organised into Skills, Knowledge, and Core Personality Traits. Stage 2 evaluates the practical relevance of these competencies by mapping them against six thematic functional requirements of DTs, including interoperability and integration, real-time data management, simulation and predictive modelling, cybersecurity and data governance, stakeholder collaboration, and scalability and lifecycle continuity. DTs were selected as an exemplar because they integrate multiple digital technologies, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cloud computing, making them a representative test case for evaluating competency alignment in digital transformation. The mapping confirmed strong alignment in digital integration and collaboration while exposing gaps in cybersecurity readiness and lifecycle resilience. The resulting framework provides a validated reference for competency benchmarking, targeted training, and digital leadership development. By equipping PMs with the competencies to lead, manage, and support digitally enabled projects, this research contributes directly to advancing smart and sustainable construction practices in the digital built environment.