Search Results (22,099)

Plant variety/genotype identification has many applications in establishing the identity of plants, including the protection of intellectual property rights and the management of ex situ conservation of genetic resources. The variety may be important for operational reasons based on field performance or post-harvest processing. Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), an economically important crop, is propagated by cuttings and commercially important accessions require an accurate variety traceability regime for the maintenance of purity, protection and policing ownership. Genome sequencing methods have improved and are feasible for use, making examination of the whole genome for all possible information on the genotype the ultimate way to distinguish plant varieties. We identified 5.3–5.5 million high-confidence homozygous SNPs with over 99% accuracy, enabling the distinction of 41 blueberry varieties. We developed a novel data-noise identification and filtering framework, which correctly determined the identity of ten unknown samples to be the Masena variety with 100% accuracy. The approach of using a data-noise filtration step minimized the impact of sequencing errors and coincident sequencing of only one allele of any heterozygous base. This SNP-based protocol with the establishment of sequence databases for all varieties of important plant species can potentially be adopted in providing reliable variety identification in critical industrial or legal applications. Full article

This study explores sustainable urbanism in the three largest Saudi Arabian cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, and NEOM—in the context of Vision 2030. Qualitative methodology was used, which incorporated environmental, social, economic, governance, and mobility aspects. The analysis of ten semi-structured interviews with planners, engineers, and policy officials was based on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Sustainable Urbanism, and Participatory Governance models. The results indicate that Riyadh presents structural congruence and consistency of policies, Jeddah is characterized by disjointed governance and poor coordination, and NEOM is characterized by futuristic aspirations with unpredictable social inclusiveness. The paper highlights that more powerful integration of governance, participatory planning, and realistic implementation is required to create a balance between technological innovations and equity in society. It adds to the current knowledge of how the global sustainability models can be localized in the fast-changing cities of the Gulf. Full article

Swimming is one of the most popular forms of recreational sport worldwide, recommended for people of all ages as a healthy activity. While numerous studies have focused on the impact of indoor air quality on the health of pool users, relatively few have addressed how specific airborne parameters in indoor swimming facilities affect the durability of construction materials. This article analyzes the current state of knowledge on the influence of the pool indoor environment on structural reliability, with trichloramine (NCl₃) emphasized as a degradation factor. Indoor pool environments are classified as chemically aggressive, due to elevated air temperature (~30 °C), high humidity (often exceeding 60%), and the presence of volatile chlorine compounds released from disinfected water. Our case study demonstrates that during swimming competitions, the average concentration of airborne NCl₃ reached a value of 900 µg/m³, with peaks up to 1200 µg/m³, i.e., about ten times higher than on typical usage days. The median trichloramine concertation during the competition was 1071 µg/m³. Such exposure conditions accelerate corrosion processes in stainless steels and other building materials, reducing service life and requiring targeted monitoring and preventive maintenance. Based on the findings, recommendations are provided regarding material selection, highlighting the importance of surface texture, ventilation strategies, and protective measures tailored to periods of intensive facility use. Full article

In the Mediterranean Basin, increasing water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, necessitates the use of alternative water resources in agriculture. This study analyses farmers’ propensity to use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation in Basilicata, a region in southern Italy. Through a survey of 167 farms and the application of a logit model, this work quantifies the role of the main factors influencing farmers’ propensity to use this new resource. The results identify several key drivers and barriers. A higher level of education and participation in Producers’ Organisations make wastewater use approximately ten times (odds ratio equal to 9.84) and five times (odds ratio equal 4.96) more likely, respectively. Furthermore, an adequate knowledge of the relevant legislation nearly quadruples (odds ratio equal to 3.57) the likelihood of adoption. In contrast, concerns related to worker health and groundwater pollution are strong deterrents, reducing the odds of adoption by 90% and 87%, respectively. Concerns about product quality also significantly decrease the propensity to adopt (odds ratio equal to 0.25). The findings underscore the need for integrated interventions that enhance farmers’ awareness and knowledge of the characteristics and impacts of new practices, thereby fostering the innovative and sustainable management of water resources. Full article

The beneficial effects of exposure to nature on health and well-being, including enhanced relaxation and improved mood and attention, are well-established. Less evidence exists on understudied outcomes related to clinical populations (e.g., substance use outcomes, decision-making), mainly from laboratory experiments warranting outdoor studies. The purpose of this scoping review was to review and summarize the rich experimental literature of nature exposure on psychological outcomes, and form updated methodological recommendations for future outdoor basic experiments isolating the effect of nature exposure. Four databases and ten systematic reviews were searched. From 6394 references, 60 articles (reporting experiments or secondary analyses) comparing natural versus control-built environments, utilizing short exposure in the environment, and examining psychological outcomes were included and synthesized. We discuss limitations and innovative approaches and provide methodological recommendations. Future research should recruit large and gender-balanced samples, expand to clinical populations, include baseline measurements, assess individual differences, and investigate behavioral and other outcomes that are sparse in the literature. Researchers might consider expanding the dichotomous green–gray environments, pay attention to the sense of safety and participant masking, and assess and report environmental conditions. These recommendations may facilitate investigating unique outcomes that are missing in the literature, which hold implications for nature-prescription and intervention programs. Full article

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have expanded global access to education but continue to struggle with high attrition rates. This study presents a comparative analysis of self-labeled Semi-Supervised Learning (SSL) algorithms for predicting learner dropout. Unlike traditional supervised models that rely solely on labeled data, self-labeled methods iteratively exploit both labeled and unlabeled instances, alleviating the scarcity of annotations in large-scale educational datasets. Using real-world MOOC data, ten self-labeled algorithms, including self-training, co-training, and tri-training variants, were evaluated across multiple labeled ratios. The experimental results show that ensemble-based methods, such as Co-training Random Forest, Co-Training by Committee, and Relevant Random subspace co-training, achieve predictive accuracy comparable to that fully supervised baselines even with as little as 4% labeled data. Beyond predictive performance, the findings highlight the scalability and cost-effectiveness of self-labeled SSL as a data-driven approach for enhancing learner retention in massive online learning. Full article

Background/Objectives: Conventional solidification methods for liquid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems face significant limitations. This includes complex manufacturing processes, high costs, and environmental concerns. This study aimed to develop and optimize a thermoresponsive self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (T-SNEDDS) for dapagliflozin as a sustainable alternative solidification technique. Methods: Oil and surfactant were selected based on solubility and emulsification studies. The Box–Behnken approach was used to examine the impacts of three independent variables (pluronic F127, propylene glycol, and dapagliflozin concentrations) on liquefying temperature and time. Optimized T-SNEDDS was characterized in terms of particle size, zeta potential, and dissolution performance. Stability assessment included centrifugation testing and a six-month storage evaluation. The green pharmaceutical performance was comparatively evaluated against five conventional solidification methods using ten adapted parameters. Results: Imwitor 308 and Cremophor EL were selected as optimal excipients for SNEDDS formulation. In addition, Pluronic F127 and propylene glycol were used to induce solidification during storage. The optimized formulation (8.60% w/w Pluronic F127, 10% w/w propylene glycol, and 5% w/w dapagliflozin) exhibited a liquefying temperature of 33.5 °C with a liquefying time of 100.3 s and a particle size of 96.64 nm. T-SNEDDS significantly enhanced dissolution efficiency of dapagliflozin (95.7%) compared to raw drug (42.4%) and marketed formulation (91.3%). Green pharmaceutical evaluation revealed that T-SNEDDS achieved the highest score compared to conventional approaches. Conclusions: T-SNEDDS represents a superior sustainable approach for SNEDDS solidification that offers enhancement in drug dissolution while addressing manufacturing, environmental, and economic challenges through its solvent-free and single-step preparation process with excellent scalability potential. Full article

This study employs a mixed-methods approach to examine the relationship between sustainability reporting and brand value in Türkiye’s most valuable brands. In the first phase, panel data regression analysis is utilized to evaluate the association between the presence of sustainability reports and firms’ brand values, with a focus on the impact of sustainability reporting on brand value over time. The findings showed that sustainability reports have a positive impact on brand value in four sectors among ten. These are construction, manufacturing, financial institutions, and wholesale & retail sectors. To better interpret these results, the second phase employs qualitative content analysis, utilizing Leximancer software (LexiDesktop 5) to analyze sustainability reports and identify evolving thematic patterns in reports across various sectors from 2020 to 2023. The results suggest that ESG reporting is evolving to become more comprehensive, multi-faceted, and responsive to sector-specific contexts, driven by heightened stakeholder attention and the continuous development of global standards. The findings provide insights into the role of sustainability reporting in shaping corporate brand value and highlight sector-specific trends in sustainability practices. Full article

Background/Objectives: Functional flat foot (FF) is associated with altered lower limb biomechanics, leading to inefficient load transfer and potential overuse injuries. Customized orthoses, such as 3D-printed insoles and toe spreaders, may mitigate these deficits, but their combined biomechanical and neuromuscular effects remain unclear. The current study investigated the immediate effects of 3D-printed arch support insoles (SI) and toe spreaders (Toe) and their combination (SI+Toe) on gait pattern, center of force (COF), ankle alignment, and lower limb muscle activation in young adults with FF. Methods: Ten FF individuals and ten matched controls performed level walking under four randomized conditions: shoe-only, SI, Toe, and SI+Toe. Gait was analyzed using OptoGait, COF trajectory via F-Scan, ankle angles using Kinovea, and muscle activity (semitendinosus, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, gastrocnemius, and soleus) via surface EMG. Results: Compared to controls, FF individuals exhibited medial COF deviation, increased ankle eversion, and altered muscle activity. In the FF group, SI+Toe reduced medial COF deviation, decreased eversion, and prolonged foot flat while shortening the propulsive phase. Semitendinosus and tibialis anterior activity increased under SI+Toe, while gastrocnemius and soleus remained reduced during propulsion. Conclusions: The combined utilization of 3D-printed insoles and toe spreaders produced immediate measurable improvements in foot alignment and muscle activity patterns in FF individuals. These findings support that integrating customized orthotic designs with toe spreader elements may provide a practical, non-invasive approach for improving lower limb biomechanics. Such strategies may help improve foot mechanics and reduce compensatory muscle activation in a clinical setting. Full article

Background: Dedicated bifurcation stents (DBS) were developed to overcome the limitations of conventional drug-eluting stents (DES) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for bifurcation lesions, but their clinical benefit remains uncertain. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing DBS with contemporary DES in bifurcation PCI. Primary outcomes included all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 1 and 4 years. Subgroup analyses were performed for left main (LM) and non-LM bifurcations. Results: Ten trials involving approximately 2500 patients were analyzed. At 1 year, DBS and DES demonstrated similar rates of all-cause death (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.81–1.55), MI (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.38–1.69), and TLR (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.79–1.90). At 4 years, results remained consistent: all-cause death (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.75–1.60), MI (RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.29–1.49), and TLR (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.86–1.94). No significant differences were observed between LM and non-LM subgroups, and no excess in late stent thrombosis was detected. Conclusions: DBS are safe and provide outcomes comparable to DES in bifurcation PCI. Their use may be reasonable in selected anatomies, but larger trials are needed to define their clinical advantage. Full article

Image clustering analysis faces the curse of dimensionality, distance concentration, multimodal landscapes, and rapid diversity loss that challenge meta-heuristics. Meanwhile, the standard Crayfish Optimization Algorithm (COA) has shown notable potential but often suffers from poor convergence speed and premature convergence. To address these issues, this paper introduces a Chaos-initiated and Adaptive Multi-guide Control-based COA (CMCOA). First, a chaotic initialization strategy is employed by explicitly exploiting the reflection symmetry of logistic-map chaotic sequences together with opposition-based learning, which enhances population diversity and facilitates early exploration of promising regions. Second, a fitness-feedback adaptive parameter control mechanism, motivated by the general idea of the MIT rule, is integrated to dynamically balance exploration and exploitation, thereby accelerating convergence while mitigating premature stagnation. Furthermore, a multi-guide stage-switching strategy is designed to avoid being trapped in local optima by promoting adaptive transitions between exploration phases and exploitation phases. CMCOA is benchmarked against competing algorithms on ten challenging test functions drawn from CEC2017, CEC2019, CEC2020, and CEC2022 suites. We also conducted multispectral clustering, where class differences often lie in reflectance magnitude; we adopt Euclidean distance for its efficiency and suitability in capturing such variations. Compared with other algorithms, CMCOA shows faster convergence, higher accuracy, and improved robustness, revealing its broader potential for image analysis tasks. Full article

We investigate the broad economic impact of accession in the case of 13 countries who joined the European Union starting with 2004, by comparing them with both EU and non-EU countries. Using 25 years of data, we document significant post-accession improvements in productivity and/or GDP per capita. Overall, these countries outperformed in terms of growth and productivity the European countries that never joined the EU. The newly admitted countries also out-borrowed non-EU countries in order to finance their transition and their subsequent economic growth. We also document a significant short-term, inverse relationship between the quality of governance and total factor productivity, on the one hand, and the ratio of debt-to-GDP on the other hand. This suggests that increases in the level of indebtedness could be driven by poor political governance and weak productivity. Borrowing appears to represent a compensatory, stop-gap measure rather than the result of sound economic strategy. Full article

Achieving satisfactory levels of weight gain for developing replacement beef heifers is challenging when utilizing toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) as the primary forage. This is due to the intensifying impact of ergot alkaloids produced by the fungal endophyte on heifer heat stress in the summer. The purpose of this trial was to determine if clipping hair coats would reduce heat stress impacts experienced by fall-born heifers stocked on toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue. Heifers were randomly assigned to a control cohort and a clipped cohort. The heifers in the clipped treatment group were sheared along the body of the heifer. Vaginal temperature loggers were used to record core temperatures every ten minutes during several sampling periods. Hair coats on clipped heifers resembled hair coats of the control heifers by the conclusion of the 16-week trial. Average daily gains of the clipped heifers exceeded the average daily gains of the control heifers only in the first four-week period. There were no differences in seasonal average daily gain or pregnancy rates. Clipped heifers had cooler core temperatures by 0.2–0.3 °C in the morning compared to the control heifers. Clipping hair coats of heifers only provided short-term relief for cattle stocked on toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue. Full article

During cocoa processing, approximately ten times more cacao pod husk (CPH) waste is generated than cacao beans. Due to its high lignocellulosic content, CPH is an alternative feedstock for the production of fermentable sugars and bioproducts. In this study, CPH enzymatic hydrolysates were used as a carbon source to produce Lacticaseibacillus biosurfactants. CPH was subjected to alkaline pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis using the commercial enzyme cocktail Cellic Ctec2. The resulting hydrolysates were used to formulate culture media for growing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Lacticaseibacillus casei. Cell growth and the activity of extracellular and cell-bound biosurfactants were evaluated. The highest glucose concentration in the hydrolysates (11.45 g/L) was achieved using 15% (w/v) solids loading of alkaline-pretreated CPH and an enzymatic load of 20 FPU/g CPH over 3 h. The maximum emulsification index (E24) was 60%, observed with the extracellular biosurfactant from L. rhamnosus cultured in CPH-based medium without supplementation. L. casei extracellular biosurfactants were effective at inhibiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 biofilm formation (39–45%) in CPH-based media supplemented with peptone, yeast extract, and both nutrients. These findings highlight the potential of CPH enzymatic hydrolysates as a sustainable carbon source for biosurfactant production with emulsification and antibiofilm activity, contributing to the valorization of cocoa agro-industrial waste. Full article

Cerebral aneurysm clipping remains a key surgical approach despite advancements in endovascular techniques. However, training for this procedure is complex due to the variable and fragile nature of aneurysmal tissues. This study evaluates the mechanical behaviour of human basilar arteries during clipping and compares them to 3D-printed models used for neurosurgical training. Mechanical tests were performed on ten cadaveric basilar arteries, distinguishing between healthy and plaque-affected segments. Plaque-affected regions required significantly higher clipping force (1.73 ± 0.22 N) compared to healthy segments (0.45 ± 0.19 N), confirming that atherosclerosis markedly increases arterial stiffness. Six 3D-printed phantom materials were evaluated; none accurately replicated the biomechanical response of real arteries. The Flex Anatomical material showed the highest stiffness (44.51 ± 0.98 N), while Silicone 40A was the most compliant (1.05 ± 0.12 N), yet both deviated substantially from biological performance. These findings underscore the current limitations of anatomical models that lack realistic biomechanical properties. Full article