Search Results (420)

This research evaluated the influence of lactic acid bacteria and cellulase, individually or in combination, on the quality of mixed amaranth and sweet potato vine silages. The experiment included four groups: control group with no additives addition (CG), added cellulase group (AS1), added lactic acid bacteria group (AS2) and combined supplementation group (AS3), with five replicates per group. The ensiling period lasted for 60 days. Parameters of silage, including chemical components, fermentation profile, aerobic stability, and in vitro nutrient digestibility, were determined. The results revealed that the quality of amaranth and sweet potato vine mixed silage was improved to a certain degree after addition of two additives individually. Combining these additives observably increased (p < 0.05) the lactic acid and crude protein contents and decreased the pH, ratio of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen and neutral detergent fiber content of mixed silage. Compared with the CG and AS1 groups, the number of lactic acid bacteria in the AS3 group increased significantly (p < 0.05), while aerobic bacteria and mold counts showed the opposite tendency. Also, the in vitro dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibility of the AS3 group were higher (p < 0.05) than those of the CG group. Combined inoculation observably reduced (p < 0.05) the ammonia nitrogen concentration and increased (p < 0.05) the propionic and butyric acid concentrations of mixed silage under in vitro incubation. In summary, the inoculation of lactic acid bacteria and cellulase can enhance the fermentation profile and nutritional values of mixed silage made from amaranth and sweet potato vine, and the best improvement effects are obtained by the combined utilization of the two additives. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the interactions between soluble soybean polysaccharides (SSPS) and milk proteins, namely, casein and whey protein, and to evaluate their effects on the stability of acidified milk beverages under different degrees of thermal denaturation. Casein, whey protein, and SSPS were used as raw materials to prepare mixed solutions under varying pH conditions. A combination of analytical techniques, including centrifugal sedimentation rate, particle size distribution, ζ-potential measurement, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and LUMisizer stability analysis, was employed to systematically examine the interactions between SSPS and the two proteins, as well as the influence of thermal treatment at 120–140 °C (casein) and 65–78 °C (whey protein). The results demonstrated that under acidic conditions (pH 3.5–4.5), SSPS formed compact complexes with casein, effectively stabilizing casein dispersions through steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsion. In contrast, SSPS exhibited a limited stabilizing ability toward whey protein due to its strong tendency to aggregate, which hindered the formation of uniform complexes. Regarding thermal denaturation, casein heated at 140 °C for more than 40 min showed pronounced κ-casein dissociation and aggregation, resulting in reduced stability of the SSPS–casein system. For whey protein, increasing thermal denaturation (complete denaturation at 78 °C for 30 min) led to the formation of larger aggregates, with particle size increasing from 198.23 nm to 213.33 nm and ζ-potential decreasing from −3.77 mV to −2.01 mV, thereby diminishing the stability of the SSPS–whey protein system. Overall, this study elucidates the interaction mechanisms of SSPS with casein and whey protein, and highlights the role of thermal denaturation, thereby providing theoretical guidance for the effective application of SSPS in acidified milk beverages. Full article

The development and use of teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) can enhance students’ understanding of specific content. PCK occurs at three grain sizes: discipline-, topic-, and concept-specific levels. In 2013, Mavhunga and Rollnick proposed the topic-specific PCK (TSPCK) framework to describe how teachers transform topic-specific content in chemistry lessons. This systematic review brings together worldwide research on TSPCK, offering a thorough summary of the use of topic-specific knowledge in science instruction and identifying areas that most require teacher development. This review, conducted on 29 June 2025 in the Scopus database, identified 34 studies that used the TSPCK framework to investigate teachers’ TSPCK in science in the period from 2013 to 2025. An in-depth analysis of each study’s context, methodological approach, and focus was conducted. Findings revealed that studies mostly measure or improve secondary pre-service and in-service teachers’ PCK, use qualitative or mixed-methods approaches, utilise chemistry and biology topics, and are conducted in the (South) African context. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the use of the TSPCK is highly contextualised. The results also indicate a tendency for research to integrate the TSPCK framework into the Consensus Models of PCK. The review has also highlighted several gaps in PCK research, such as the limited research on pre-school, primary school, and university levels. Furthermore, there is limited research on interventions to improve in-service teachers’ PCK. Implications and opportunities of these findings for research on science teachers’ knowledge (TSPCK) are discussed. We recommend the application of the TSPCK framework to develop and evaluate teachers’ TSPCK through interventions such as workshops, lesson studies, micro-teaching and training modules. Furthermore, research may involve comparative studies with teachers having different degrees of teaching experience, including pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and teacher educators. Full article

Dietary fiber plays an important role in animal nutrition by influencing gut health, feed intake, and metabolism. In swine production, studies suggest that fibers may also affect reproductive traits, but findings remain inconsistent, especially in adult boars. This study evaluated the effects of partially fermentable insoluble fiber (PFIF) on semen quality, behavior, and general health of adult boars. Thirty animals were assigned to a completely randomized design with two treatments: (1) CON: no fiber supplementation, and (2) PFIF: fiber supplementation (35 g/animal/day). Fiber was provided once daily for 120 consecutive days. During the period, semen was collected weekly and analyzed macroscopically and microscopically using the Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) system. Behavior was recorded weekly, one and three hours after feeding, based on a pre-established ethogram. Feed intake, perineal, and fecal scores were also evaluated. Fiber supplementation did not affect total motility, progressive motility, sperm concentration, fecal or perineal scores, or behavior. However, improvements were observed in sperm kinematics, with higher straight-line distance (DSL), linearity (LIN), and straightness (STR), as well as a tendency for increased straight-line velocity (VSL) and wobble (WOB). Conversely, a higher incidence of proximal cytoplasmic droplets was recorded in the fiber group, indicating more sperm maturation defects. Supplemented animals also showed reduced feed intake compared with controls, suggesting a satiety effect of the fiber. In conclusion, PFIF supplementation (35 g/animal/day offered once daily) in adult boars produced mixed outcomes, with improved sperm kinematics but increased maturation defects and only minor changes in feeding behavior, indicating a limited and inconsistent physiological response. Full article

Controversial events are social incidents that trigger wide discussion and strong emotions, often touching on public interests, moral judgment, or social values. Their diffusion typically involves moral evaluations and affect-laden language. Prior work has mostly examined how the quantity of moral and emotional words shapes diffusion, while largely overlooking blame attribution—that is, whether audiences locate the cause of a controversial event in individual actions or in social structures, across different contexts. Using 189,872 original Weibo posts covering 105 events in three domains— street-level bureaucracy (SLB; individual attribution), education governance (EG; structural attribution), and gender-based violence (GBV; mixed attribution)—we estimate negative binomial models with an interaction between word type and account verification and report incidence rate ratios (IRR). Moral contagion is strongest for SLB (IRR = 1.337) and attenuated for EG (IRR = 1.037). For GBV, moral-emotional language decreases reposts (IRR = 0.844). Unverified accounts amplify the diffusion advantage of moral-emotional wording for both individually and structurally attributed issues, with the largest gains in SLB. When disaggregating by valence and discrete emotions, fear-type moral-emotional words are positively associated with reposts in GBV (IRR = 1.314). Theoretically, we shift the question from whether moral contagion occurs to when it operates, highlighting attribution tendencies and verification status as key moderators. Empirically, we provide cross-issue evidence from large-scale Chinese social media. Methodologically, we offer a replicable workflow that combines length-normalized lexical measures with negative binomial models, including interaction terms. Full article

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region has experienced rapid development in its tourism industry, establishing itself as a leading force within China’s tourism sector. However, significant regional disparities continue to hinder its sustainable development. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of domestic tourist flows and tourism industry agglomeration patterns in the region. Using city-level data from 2016 to 2022, the analysis employs a comprehensive methodology including standard deviation, coefficient of variation, standard deviation ellipse, and locational entropy. The main findings are as follows: (1) In the pre-pandemic period (2016–2019), absolute disparities in tourist flows widened, whereas relative disparities narrowed. During the pandemic (2020–2022), absolute disparities decreased, while relative disparities initially increased before contracting. (2) Tourist flows displayed a southeast–northwest gradient, with high-value areas clustered along the southeastern coast. Standard deviation ellipse analysis reveals that tourist flows were primarily distributed along the eastern coastal corridor, parallel to the coastline. Prior to the pandemic, tourism growth showed a tendency toward spatial equilibrium; however, this trend was disrupted during the pandemic, resulting in a more decentralized spatial pattern. (3) Throughout the pandemic, tourism industry concentration increased significantly in most cities. Cities with renowned scenic attractions and diversified economic structures demonstrated stronger resilience, while those heavily reliant on tourism were more vulnerable to the pandemic’s effects. Full article

Stakeholder participation is increasingly promoted in ecological monitoring programmes, yet it raises critical questions about the spatial representativity and scientific robustness of resulting datasets. This study evaluates the representativeness of BeeNet, Italy’s national honeybee monitoring network (2019–2025), in depicting the agricultural landscape despite the non-randomised placement of selected apiaries. Apiaries were selected from voluntary beekeepers, balancing stakeholder participation with the objectives of the project. The distribution of over 300 workstations was assessed across Italian regions in relation to surface area and agricultural land-use composition, using Corine Land Cover (CLC) data aggregated into macro-categories. The analysis revealed that, although regional imbalances persist, particularly in mountainous areas or regions with challenging climatic conditions, the network broadly reflects the agricultural landscape in accordance with project objectives. Agricultural categories such as “orchards,” “meadows,” and “complex agricultural surfaces” are often well represented, though limitations in CLC classification likely lead to underestimation in mosaic agroecosystems, such as mixed olive groves and vineyards. An overrepresentation of “anthropic” areas indicated a tendency to situate apiaries in rural yet accessible locations. By combining spatial analyses with field observations and apiary-level data, a refined categorisation of land types and explicit consideration of beekeeping practices, such as nomadism, could strengthen the interpretative capacity of such network. The results underline the importance of spatial validation of stakeholder-driven monitoring to ensure ecological datasets are reliable, policy-relevant, and scientifically robust. Full article

Building psychological safety is vital for preventing workplace bullying and for sustaining employee well-being, organizational performance, and work engagement. This study developed and evaluated a short-term intervention promoting psychological safety and communication skills. The program provided strategies for addressing during high-stress situations and fostered a shared understanding of honest communication. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in a pharmaceutical company, with departments assigned to intervention or control groups. The effects were examined using a generalized linear mixed-effect model. In the intervention group, psychological safety with supervisors and teams significantly increased, preceding a significant rise in consultation tendencies, whereas bullying and supervisor-related intimidation significantly decreased. Work engagement declined in the control group but remained stable in the intervention group. These findings demonstrate that the program enhanced psychological safety, enabling employees to express opinions without irrational fear, which in turn increased consultation, improved communication, reduced bullying, and sustained work engagement. The group-based format further emphasized mutual understanding and skill-sharing, providing broad organizational benefits. This study positions psychological safety as a proximal mechanism that facilitates consultation behaviors and demonstrates the feasibility of integrating brief, evidence-based training into routine organizational development. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the efficacy of working memory training (WMT) using the dual N-back (DNB) task on cognitive performance in young adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Methods: Over the course of at least 18 daily sessions conducted within one month, 106 participants (33 non-medicated ADHD, 42 medicated ADHD, and 45 controls) were randomly assigned to either a fixed dual 1-back (FD1B) training condition or an adaptive DNB condition, wherein the N-back level increased following successful completion of each trial block. Cognitive performance was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Working Memory Index (WMI) and the Corsi Block-Tapping Task. Results: A mixed-design ANOVA revealed significant improvements in DNB performance across all groups, with the adaptive training condition producing larger gains (e.g., a 204.6% improvement in controls, Cohen’s $d=1.85$). WAIS-IV WMI scores—particularly the Digit Span Backward subtest—also improved significantly post-training, with greater effect sizes in the adaptive condition ($d=0.46$) than in FD1B ($d=0.27$). Corsi performance showed very modest gains, showing a surprising tendency to be more associated with the FD1B condition than the adaptive condition. Control participants outperformed the medicated ADHD group on WAIS-IV subtests, although no significant differences emerged between medicated and non-medicated ADHD participants. Correlational analyses indicated task-specific training effects, with adaptive training enhancing associations between DNB and Corsi performance in both controls ($r=0.60$) and medicated ADHD participants ($r=0.51$). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that dual N-back training improves verbal working memory in young adults with ADHD, specifically in a sample without psychiatric comorbidities. Transfer benefit to visuospatial domains appears limited and may not generalize to adolescents, older adults, or individuals with complex clinical profiles. The results underscore the importance of tailoring training protocols to maximize cognitive outcomes across different domains. Full article

Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) are among the most frequently diagnosed neoplasms in female dogs, with complex etiologies involving age, breed, body size, and reproductive status. This retrospective study analyzed 250 cases comprising 361 mammary tumors to evaluate demographic patterns, histopathological subtypes, and their topographical distribution. The majority of tumors (88.64%) were malignant, with complex carcinoma being the most common subtype (24%), followed by intraductal papillary carcinoma (14.95%). The mean age at diagnosis was 9.36 years, with 60.8% of cases occurring in dogs older than 8 years. Mixed-breed dogs were most frequently affected, followed by Bichon-type breeds and German Shepherds. Small-sized dogs (<10 kg) accounted for 43.5% of cases. Regarding the reproductive status, 35.6% of dogs were unspayed, while the remainder were either intact or had an undetermined status, reflecting regional spaying practices. A statistically significant association was identified between histological subtype and mammary gland location, revealing non-random, region-specific tumor distribution. Complex carcinomas were frequently located in the left canial abdominal mammary segment (L.A2), right canial abdominal mammary segment (R.A2), and left inguinal mammary segment (L.ING); mixed and tubular carcinomas were more prevalent in R.A2 and R.ING; and tubulopapillary carcinomas appeared predominantly in L.ING. While no significant overall association was found between tumor grade and gland location, grade III carcinomas showed a possible predilection for the left inguinal gland (L.INGH), indicating a regional tendency that warrants further investigation. These findings underscore the importance of anatomical factors in the development of CMTs and support the integration of gland-specific tumor patterns into diagnostic assessment and surgical decision-making. Full article

Most existing ultra-deep gas wells are characterized by high temperature, high pressure, and high sulfur content. During development, they face serious challenges such as unclear mechanisms of acid gas-induced blowouts and difficulties in wellbore pressure inversion, posing significant challenges to well control operations. To reveal the reasons behind the tendency of acidic gases to trigger blowouts and to clarify the impact of different concentrations of acidic gases on the flow behavior of annular fluids, this study considers the effects of solubility and phase changes on the physical properties of acidic gases. A method replacing critical parameters with pseudo-critical parameters is used to analyze the variation trends of gas density, solubility, and other properties along the well depth. A mathematical model for the annular flow of acidic gas overflow incorporating solubility phase change effects is established. The model is numerically solved using a four-point difference scheme, exploring the essential characteristics of gas flow in the annulus after overflow, and discussing the distribution patterns of physical properties of acidic gases, as well as dynamic parameters such as wellbore pressure and temperature along the well depth. Numerical simulations show that the physical properties of acidic gases change significantly with well depth: the more acidic gas present in the wellbore, the smaller the deviation factor, and the greater the density and viscosity, with parameter changes exceeding 40% near the pseudo-critical point for binary mixtures with 40% H₂S. Compared to pure methane, mixed fluids containing acidic gas experience more than 20% volume expansion near the wellhead for ternary mixtures with 20% CO₂ and 20% H₂S, and the flow velocity increases by more than 10% for mixtures with ≥30% acidic gas content, leading to a higher risk of a sudden pressure drop during well control. This study clarifies the migration patterns of acidic gas overflow in HPHT (high pressure, high temperature) gas wells, providing valuable guidance for optimizing well control design, improving well control emergency plans, and developing well-killing measures. Full article

This work studies yellow pea flour (YPF) fermentation with kefir (1:1.5 mass ratio, incubated 30 h at 25 °C) for gluten-free breadmaking. Three samples were evaluated: untreated YPF, YPF mixed with kefir (UF), and fermented YPF (FF). Structural changes were minimal, but fermentation improved the flour functionality. Bulk density (g/mL) decreased from 0.54 ± 0.02 in YPF and 0.47 ± 0.01 in UF to 0.43 ± 0.01 in FF, while the water absorption capacity (g/g) increased from 1.20 ± 0.01 in YPF and 1.50 ± 0.05 in UF to 1.92 ± 0.02 in FF. YPF showed the lowest oil absorption capacity (0.90 ± 0.02 g/g), while higher values were obtained for FF and UF (averaging 1.54 g/g). The yellowness index showed a clear tendency: higher in UF (34.9 ± 0.2), intermediate in FF (32.869 ± 0.008), and lower in YPF (22.4 ± 0.1). In gluten-free bread, baking loss did not show significant differences between FF-B and UF-B (averaging 15.65%) but they were significantly lower than that of YPF-B (18.5 ± 0.5%). The highest specific volume (mL/g) was observed in FF-B (1.96 ± 0.02), followed by UF-B (1.33 ± 0.02) and YPF-B (1.08 ± 0.02). Significantly reduced “pea” sensory attributes were perceived in FF-B, while acidity perception increased. Hardness was similar among breads, although chewiness was higher in FF-B. These results suggest that kefir fermentation enhances YPF functionality in gluten-free breadmaking. Full article

Research on food-related behaviors has increasingly focused on orthorexia nervosa, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, especially with the rise of new types of healthy foods. This study examines the associations between orthorexic tendencies, as measured by the Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory and ORTO-R, and scores on the Food Neophobias Scale, attitudes toward novel foods, body shape concerns, as assessed by the Body Shape Questionnaire, and drive for muscularity, training adherence, and anabolic steroid use, as measured by the Drive for Muscularity Scale. A total of 306 participants (68.3% female; Mage = 35.4 years, SD = 13.7), who were at least 18 old and fluent in Italian, took part in an online, anonymous data collection. The results revealed mixed associations between ON and the perceived attractiveness or intention to consume novel foods. In contrast, no relationship was found between orthorexia and food neophobia. Additionally, orthorexic dimensions were correlated with greater body shape dissatisfaction (r-scores ranging from 0.44 to 0.52, p < 0.001) and a drive for muscularity (r-scores ranging from 0.43 to 0.57, p < 0.001). Notably, orthorexic scores showed significant positive correlations with thoughts about anabolic steroid use (r-scores ranging from 0.26 to 0.60, p < 0.001) and training adherence (r-scores ranging from 0.39 to 0.53, p < 0.001) in a subsample of people who regularly exercise. Of examined the predictors, body shape concerns and thoughts about anabolic steroid use (ß ranging from 0.21 to 0.55, and R² ranging from 0.43 to 0.57, p < 0.001) were the most robust predictors of orthorexic tendencies. Overall, the findings highlight the complex relationships between orthorexic tendencies, perceptions, and attitudes, as well as body-related concerns, while also providing new insights into their connection to novel foods. Full article

Cultural and religious norms significantly influence reproductive decisions, including prenatal testing and pregnancy termination. We conducted a cross-sectional study among Muslim women living in mixed Jewish-Arab cities compared to those in predominantly Arab cities in Israel. Data for all co-variates were obtained through participants’ self-reports by an online questionnaire of 36 items for adequate content validity between July 2022 and June 2023. In total, 1081 Israeli Muslim women aged 18–49 years were enrolled. Religious affiliation has been shown to influence individuals’ attitudes toward abortion, with members of religious communities often holding more restrictive or negative views on the subject. Muslim women residing in mixed Jewish-Arab cities demonstrate significantly higher uptake of both non-invasive and invasive prenatal testing, as well as pregnancy terminations following abnormal diagnoses, compared to those in predominantly Arab cities (p < 0.001), which indicates that proximity to Jewish communities, greater availability of health services, and exposure to more permissive social norms in mixed cities may reduce religious and cultural barriers, thereby facilitating more informed reproductive decisions. Older women (≥35) in mixed cities had a higher tendency to birth a child with abnormalities in the past than Arab cities (80.9% vs. 70.0%, respectively), However, women who lived in mixed cities underwent more non-invasive (87.2% vs. 64.8%, respectively), invasive prenatal tests (85.1% vs. 69.7%, respectively), and pregnancy termination (88.3% vs. 64.1%, respectively) than those in Arab cities, p < 0.001. Our findings indicate the importance of gaining a deeper understanding of the relations between religious convictions, cultural standards, and medical practices that should contribute to reducing the prevalence of genetic disorders with their associated adverse impact on families, communities, and healthcare systems. Full article

Background: China is confronted with the dual challenges of deeply interwoven population aging and the digitalization process. The digital integration and mental health issues of the elderly group are becoming increasingly prominent. Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the pathways through which individual, family, and social factors influence Internet use in the elderly through a multi-level analysis framework, to examine the association between Internet use and mental health with a view to providing empirical evidence for digital technology-based mental health intervention programs for the elderly, and to promote the scientific practice of the goal of healthy aging. Methods: Based on the data of the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS) and provincial Internet development indicators, a mixed cross-sectional dataset was constructed. Logistic hierarchical regression and OLS regression methods were adopted to systematically investigate the multi-level factors associated with Internet use among the elderly group and its association with mental health. Results: The results indicate that individual resources (younger age, higher education level, and good health status) and family technical support (family members’ Internet access) are strongly associated with Internet usage among the elderly, while regional Internet penetration rate appears to operate indirectly through micro-mechanisms. Analysis of the association with mental health showed that Internet use was related to a lower score of depressive tendency (p < 0.05), and this association remained robust after controlling for variables at the individual, family, and social levels. Conclusions: The research results provide empirical evidence for the health promotion policies for the elderly, advocating the construction of a collaborative intervention framework of “individual ability improvement–intergenerational family support–social adaptation for the elderly” to bridge the digital divide and promote the digital integration of the elderly population in China. Full article