Search Results (35,747)

Background: Childhood obesity is on the rise in South Africa and adolescents spend a substantial amount of time in the school food environment (SFE), which plays a role in shaping their food choices and provides a critical setting to improve diets. Objective: To investigate South African adolescent school-going learners’ knowledge and understanding of healthy and unhealthy foods and the drivers of their food choices in their (SFE). Design: Qualitative participatory research methods including workshops, photovoice and focus group discussions (FGDs). Setting: Two urban public high schools, one non-metropolitan and one metropolitan, in two separate provinces (Eastern Cape and Gauteng) in South Africa. Participants: Adolescents 14–18 years (n = 42). Results: Unhealthy ultra-processed foods (UPFs) were found to be rampant in the SFE, and healthy foods were scarce, limiting learners’ choices. Taste preference was a major driver of adolescent food choices as were satiety, value for money, affordability, convenience, visual appeal and seeming “cool or “rich” by purchasing branded franchise fast foods. Learners had some general nutrition knowledge, but this did not translate into healthy food choices. Banning unhealthy foods in the SFE and providing affordable and satiating healthy foods were proposed as solutions. Conclusions: UPFs such as packaged foods and fast food were considered tasty but unhealthy, yet were preferred. Interventions are needed to promote healthy diets by changing the SFE, and eventually adolescent food choices. This will require government regulation banning the sale of unhealthy food and beverages (F&Bs) in the SFE and subsidising healthy satiating foods to change dietary behaviour. Full article

Debates on sustainability have focused mainly on conventional and organic farming. However, little attention has been given to intermediate production approaches with potential benefits for environmental protection, food affordability, and food safety. This study investigated consumers’ acceptance of an intermediate farming method characterized by minimal use of agrochemicals. Using a preference-based grouping approach, 184 Japanese consumers were divided into organic-prone (OA-prone), conventional-prone (CA-prone,), and balance-prone groups (χ² test, p < 0.001). The results revealed clear differences in how these groups evaluated and responded to the produce from the intermediate farming method. OA-prone consumers tended to evaluate such produce against the standards associated with organic food and therefore showed more cautious acceptance. In contrast, CA- and balance-prone consumers demonstrated relatively higher acceptance when product safety and taste were assured, reflecting a more pragmatic evaluation based on functional attributes and affordability. These findings suggest that the promotion of environmentally friendly intermediate farming depends more on pragmatic CA- and balance-prone consumers rather than those value-driven organic consumers. By highlighting consumer heterogeneity in the evaluation of such farming systems, this study contributes to a broader understanding of sustainable food consumption and underscores the role of intermediate farming in bridging environmental sustainability and food security. Full article

Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. is the primary source plant of natural borneol, an important ethnic medicine in China. But its quality and yield are severely threatened by the polyphagous pest Spodoptera litura Fabricius during cultivation. In order to elucidate the mechanism of the chemical defense response induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in B. balsamifera plants against S. litura. This study investigated the MeJA-mediated chemical defense in B. balsamifera against S. litura by integrating insect bioassays, enzymatic analysis, and metabolomics. Results demonstrated that exogenous MeJA application significantly inhibited larval feeding preference and consumption, suppressed relative growth rates, and reduced pupal weights. Physiologically, MeJA treatment rapidly upregulated the activities of jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthetic and antioxidant enzymes. Crucially, metabolomic profiling revealed that MeJA triggered a metabolic reconfiguration, specifically promoting the accumulation of defensive secondary metabolites. Notably, key bioactive compounds, including secoisolariciresinol diglucoside and isochlorogenic acid C, were significantly enriched alongside elevated endogenous JA levels. These findings suggest that MeJA enhances the resistance of B. balsamifera not merely by activating enzymatic defense but by reprogramming the phenylpropanoid and phenolic metabolic pathways. The above results indicate that exogenous MeJA can induce the activation of the chemical defense system in B. balsamifera plants and enhance their resistance to S. litura. Full article

Many ant species play a relevant role in the successional patterns of insects colonizing human and animal corpses. Although feeding behavior in ants depends on the trophic preferences of each taxon, these insects are often reported in several studies as predators of eggs, larvae, and adults of necrophagous insects. Among ants, some species are known to cause damage on human and animal dermis, known as post-mortem skin artifacts. The extensive activity of worker ants on corpses may hinder forensic pathological investigations aimed at determining the cause and location of death, as well as the assessment of entomologists in estimating the minimum post-mortem interval. We report for the first time a case of skin lesions on a human corpse found in a suburban area of the city of Cosenza (Calabria, Southern Italy), caused by the ant Pheidole pallidula (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). During the autopsy, numerous individuals (major and minor workers) were observed feeding on the corpse, but no other insects were found on it. We discuss the appearance of skin artifacts caused by P. pallidula and provide an overview of the genus Pheidole in forensic entomology. Full article

Energy scarcity has evolved into one of the most pressing challenges confronting the global community today. Fuel-driven loaders suffer from drawbacks such as high fuel consumption, low energy conversion efficiency, and heavy pollution, which not only aggravate atmospheric environmental pollution but also exacerbate the global energy crisis, directly undermining sustainable development goals. In contrast, permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) have become the preferred choice for the electrification of loaders owing to their exceptional torque density, strong overload capacity, and high reliability. However, during the optimal design of high-power interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSMs), traditional methods encounter issues with inadequate optimization efficiency and excessive computational expenses, thus hindering the large-scale deployment of power systems for eco-friendly loaders. Therefore, this paper takes a 125 kW, 3000 rpm IPMSM as the research object and proposes a multi-objective optimization strategy integrating a high-precision surrogate model with modern intelligent algorithms. This approach not only enhances motor performance but also cuts down computational overhead, which holds considerable significance for reducing industrial carbon emissions and driving the sustainable development of the manufacturing industry. Taking the key performance of IPMSM as the optimization objective and the related structural parameters as the optimization variables, the multi-performance characteristic index, interaction effect and comprehensive sensitivity of the variables are calculated and analyzed by fuzzy Taguchi experiment, and the hierarchical dimension reduction in the variables is completed. The Multicriteria Optimal-Latin Hypercube Sampling (MO-LHS) method is adopted to construct the sample data space, and a back-propagation neural network (BPNN) surrogate model is used to predict and fit the motor performance. The second-generation non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is employed for iterative optimization, and the optimized motor dimension parameters are obtained through the Pareto optimal solution. Finally, through finite element analysis (FEA) and experiments, the rated torques obtained are 417.6 N·m and 425.1 N·m, respectively, with an error not exceeding 1.8%. This verifies the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed multi-objective optimization method based on the surrogate model. Full article

Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) is one of the most common pelvic floor disorders after childbirth and depends on hormonal changes, anatomical damage that occurs after childbirth, muscle and connective tissue weakness, fascia and nerves. UI is distinguished into three subtypes, including stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urgent urinary incontinence (UUI) and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Aim: The purpose of this review is to collect and summarize the results of studies related to the risk factors of urinary incontinence, to disseminate this information to scientists so that this major issue can be prevented, identified and managed. Methodology: This review followed the methodology of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and PECO eligibility criteria were used. We included studies published up to 2025 and not before 2019. The review was limited to studies published within the last six years in order to reflect contemporary diagnostic criteria, assessment tools and current postpartum care practices related to urinary incontinence. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus for studies concerning the relationship between risk factors and postpartum UI. Results: A total of 1321 citations were identified. Following our exclusion criteria, 36 papers were selected to identify the risk factors for UI. All the research focused on the associated factors of any type of urinary incontinence. Vaginal and instrumental delivery, obesity, maternal age and the neonate’s birth weight were the main risk factors. The multiparity and incontinence symptoms before and during pregnancy were also strong risk factors. Heterogeneity across studies in assessment tools, in outcome measures and timing of postpartum assessment are some of the limitations of the study. Restriction to English-language publications and the absence of protocol registration were some of the additional limitations of the study. Conclusions: This problem affects the inclusion of women in society, the family, limits social activities and even their ability to work. Detection of the type of urinary incontinence by healthcare professionals, lifestyle modifications, monitoring women’s body weight and encouraging them to follow a program of pelvic floor muscle exercises should be a priority for professionals. The strategy of developing prognostic models in the coming years will be the only way to ensure the early identification and follow-up of women at high risk for urinary disorders. Full article

Digital Mental Health Interventions (DMHIs) offer a scalable solution to the global mental health crisis, yet their real-world impact is often hampered by low user engagement. Gamification has been widely adopted as a strategy to enhance adherence, but its implementation creates a complex and often unacknowledged “Engagement–Efficacy–Ethics Trilemma”. This systematic review synthesises the current literature to deconstruct this trilemma, arguing that an uncritical focus on maximising engagement can fail to improve—or may even undermine—clinical efficacy, while simultaneously introducing significant ethical risks. Our analysis reveals a persistent “Engagement–Efficacy Gap”, where increased usage of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) does not consistently translate to better therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, we map the ethical landscape, identifying potential harms such as manipulation, psychological distress, and privacy violations that arise from persuasive design. The roles of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in personalising these experiences and Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) in mediating user responses are critically examined as key factors that both amplify and potentially mitigate the tensions of the trilemma. The findings indicate a pressing need for a paradigm shift toward an integrated approach that concurrently evaluates engagement, efficacy, and ethical integrity. We conclude by proposing a framework for responsible innovation, emphasising theory-driven design, co-design with users, and prioritising intrinsic motivation to harness the potential of gamified DMHIs safely and effectively. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Full article

While intensive aquaculture has developed rapidly, the consequent buildup of nitrogenous compounds, poses a critical threat to aquatic organisms. Microbial degradation offers an environmentally sustainable solution. We investigated the metabolic regulatory capacity of Priestia megaterium BZ-95 under four nitrogen regimes—ammonium (NH₄⁺-N), nitrite (NO₂⁻-N), nitrate (NO₃⁻-N), and a mixture of them (Mix)—using comparative transcriptomics. We revealed that BZ-95 in NH₄⁺-N activated a direct assimilation program prioritizing branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis. Conversely, under nitrate, BZ-95 enhanced membrane transport and 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism to facilitate the rapid incorporation of nitrate-derived ammonium into biomass. Nitrite stress triggered a coordinated response involving the assimilatory nir module (nirC-nirB-nirD) and enhanced energy metabolism to meet the heightened demand for reducing power during its rapid reduction. Under mixed nitrogen sources, BZ-95 established a highly synergistic carbon-nitrogen network, simultaneously processing multiple nitrogen inputs without a hierarchical preference, highlighting its remarkable metabolic plasticity. Intersection analysis defined a refined core of 692 nitrite-specific DEGs and revealed broad transcriptional activation under nitrite stress. Analysis of the NO₂⁻-specific core identified enhanced transmembrane transport capacity, coupled with auxiliary metabolic tuning, as central adaptive strategies for nitrite processing. Collectively, these findings provide crucial insights into the molecular basis of nitrogen coordination in P. megaterium BZ-95. Full article

Manufacturing industries are increasingly applying sustainable closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) to meet economic, environmental, and societal goals. The increasing complexity and interdependence associated with the sustainability CLSCs make them highly vulnerable to disruption risks that threaten continuity and sustainability. However, prior studies fall short of guiding how disruption risks in sustainable CLSCs can be systematically prioritized under uncertainty in a stable and decision-relevant manner. To fill this literature void, this study develops a hybrid of the Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Fuzzy-TOPSIS) method and the genetic algorithm (GA) technique to prioritize disruption risks under uncertainty. Triangular fuzzy numbers are used to capture the imprecision of 13 experts from industry and academia, whereas the GA technique used aimed to improve stability and reduce the variability commonly observed in conventional fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making methods. The method is validated through a real-world case study, identifying supplier disruption risk, route disruption risk, and industrial accidents as the most critical risks. Moreover, sensitivity analysis is conducted to validate the robustness of GA-based Fuzzy-TOPSIS, demonstrating its superior stability and reliability compared to the classical Fuzzy-TOPSIS method in uncertain environments. The novelty of this study lies in embedding a GA-driven approach within the fuzzy-TOPSIS structure to explicitly address ranking instability under uncertainty in sustainable CLSCs. The study provides significant theoretical contributions by enhancing multi-attribute decision-making regarding disruption risk in sustainable CLSC literature, as well as practical insights for decision-makers to efficiently allocate resources by focusing mitigation investments on consistently high-priority risks instead of low-priority ones. Full article

Background: Eco-anxiety is increasingly viewed as a multidimensional response to the climate crisis, but its links with religiosity and sustainable nutrition behaviors in highly religious settings are unclear. We identified eco-anxiety profiles in Turkish adults; compared religiosity, sustainable nutrition behaviors, and body mass index (BMI) across profiles; and examined the multivariate network connecting these domains. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey in Türkiye included 1105 adults (69.3% women; age 25.8 ± 8.4 years; BMI 23.5 ± 4.5 kg/m²). Participants completed the Eco-anxiety Scale, Duke University Religion Index, and Behaviors Scale Toward Sustainable Nutrition. Latent profile analysis used four eco-anxiety subscales. Between-profile differences were tested using canonical discriminant analysis and Kruskal–Wallis tests. A Gaussian graphical model estimated with EBICglasso assessed network connectivity. Results: Four profiles emerged: High (11.9%), Moderate (54.8%), Affective-dominant (8.3%), and Low (24.9%). Compared with the Low profile, the High profile showed higher sustainable nutrition scores for food preference, seasonal/local nutrition, and food purchasing (all p < 0.05); however, effect sizes were small (η²_H = 0.008–0.014), indicating modest practical differences. BMI did not differ across profiles (p = 0.211). In the network, seasonal/local nutrition had the highest strength centrality, whereas BMI was peripheral and weakly connected to other nodes. Conclusions: Eco-anxiety was heterogeneous and showed modest associations with sustainable nutrition behaviors at the group level, without differences in BMI. These preliminary findings suggest that eco-anxiety may co-occur with more sustainable food-related choices, generating hypotheses for future replication. Full article

Halomethanes (CH₃X, where X = F, Cl, Br) are potent atmospheric pollutants, and their removal via adsorption on activated carbons (ACs) is a critical remediation strategy. However, the molecular-level influence of AC surface chemistry on adsorption, especially under realistic environmental conditions, is not fully understood. This work utilizes Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations to investigate the adsorption of CH₃F, CH₃Cl, and CH₃Br on realistic carbon models, comparing unfunctionalized graphitic surfaces (AC0) with surfaces functionalized with alcohol (AC1), carbonyl (AC2), and carboxyl (AC3) groups. We analyze the process for both pure components and in realistic mixtures (Quarantine and Pre-Shipment concentrations). Our findings reveal a critical inversion in adsorption preference. For pure components, CH₃Br adsorption is highest on the unfunctionalized (AC0) surface, driven by strong adsorbate–adsorbate interactions leading to condensation, characterized by a rising isosteric heat of adsorption ($Q_{st}\approx 35–45$ kJ/mol) that matches the enthalpy of sublimation. Conversely, in realistic humid mixtures, the pristine surface suffers a capacity collapse (>90% loss). The functionalized surfaces (especially AC3) demonstrate superior performance, exhibiting a thermodynamic selectivity of $S_{C{H}_{3}Br/Air}>100$ (compared to $S\approx 15$ for AC0) and retaining approximately 60% of their dry-condition affinity. This study elucidates the distinct roles of surface chemistry and intermolecular forces, providing a molecular basis for designing carbon materials optimized for high selectivity in complex environmental gas streams. Full article

This paper develops a theoretical model analyzing the optimal timing of switching from fossil-fuel-based energy to cleaner technologies in a stochastic environment. The economy consists of two interacting sectors: a backstop-production sector (e.g., solar panels), which uses both fossil fuels and backstop energy, and a consumption sector that initially relies exclusively on fossil fuels but can adopt a hybrid (cleaner) technology by incurring a fixed, irreversible investment cost. Both pollution accumulation and backstop accumulation are assumed to be stochastic. Our results indicate that the optimal timing for switching is significantly influenced by technological parameters, particularly the dependence on fossil fuels in post-switch production and the extent of technological gains in backstop manufacturing. Specifically, reducing fossil-fuel reliance and improving backstop technology both accelerate the adoption of cleaner technologies. We also find that uncertainty can either accelerate or delay adoption, depending on technological progress and intertemporal substitution preferences. These findings underscore the importance of policies that decrease fossil fuel dependence while fostering innovation in renewable energy technologies. Full article

Background: The heterogeneity of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in real-world evidence highlights the need to identify patterns, knowledge gaps, and priorities for future research. Objectives: To assess in labels the expected irAEs associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in lung cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, and colon cancer and evaluate their incidence, clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes in real-world studies. Methods: Medicine Agency data sources (Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency) were assessed for labeled irAEs associated with ICIs, and a comprehensive literature review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for scoping review was performed by retrieving observational and target trial emulation studies conducted using data collected in administrative healthcare databases (AHDs) and in spontaneous reporting systems (SRSs) concerning the drugs and tumors of interest from PubMed. irAEs’ incidence, onset, management, and outcomes were retrieved. Results: ICI combination therapy increases irAE occurrence, and inter-agency differences emerged. From PubMed, 49 observational studies were included, 22 on SRSs and 27 on AHDs. The ICIs most frequently evaluated were pembrolizumab and nivolumab, and the irAEs most reported were “lower respiratory tract disorders (excluding obstruction and infection)” (SRSs) and “epidermal and dermal conditions” (AHDs) for both drugs. Missing information on survival analysis, therapy dechallenge and rechallenge, concomitant therapies, comorbidities, time to onset, and duration of irAEs were highlighted. Conclusions: This scoping review highlights the complex, multi-organ irAEs from ICIs, underlining the need for tailored monitoring and management based on both regulatory and real-world evidence. Full article

Background: Pathological scarring (PS) following surgical procedures, burns, or trauma poses significant clinical, psychological, and socio-economic challenges. Despite the high prevalence of PS, reliable information resources are limited, often leading individuals to depend on unvalidated online sources. To address this gap, we developed MyScarSpecialist.com, an evidence-based website providing comprehensive information on scar types, characteristics, and treatment options. This study aimed to optimize the website through co-creation with patients and clinicians. Methods: Semi-structured focus group meetings were conducted with patients and carers; sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: From the 3 focus group meetings with 15 patients with scars and 3 carers, four key themes emerged: (1) Information Sources: The Role of Professionals, Peers, and Digital Media in information sharing; (2) Desired information: From scar typing to treatment outcomes to psychosocial impact; (3) Website design: Audience preferences on content layering, information load, and image positioning; (4) Readability: Optimizing content for comprehension. Participants highlighted the need for enhanced peer support and resources addressing the psychological impact of scarring. Conclusions: These findings provide comprehensive insights for optimizing medical educational websites, ensuring inclusivity, accessibility, and empowerment for patients through co-designed strategies. Full article

Background: Effective dental isolation is crucial for successful restorative procedures in pediatric patients; however, its potential impact on patient stress remains underexplored. This investigation comprised two independent pilot sub-studies evaluating salivary cortisol responses to dental isolation techniques: one comparing cotton roll isolation (CRI) and the Isolite system (IS), and a second comparing cotton roll isolation (CRI) and the DryShield isolation system (DSI). The sub-studies were reported together due to a shared clinical context and outcome measure. Methods: Pediatric patients underwent sealant placement using CRI, IS, or DSI, depending on sub-study assignment. Salivary cortisol samples were collected for each procedure. In the CRI–IS sub-study, pulse rate was recorded at three time points, and participants completed subjective preference surveys. Cortisol analyses were conducted separately within each sub-study, with pulse rate and preference outcomes evaluated only for the CRI–IS cohort. Results: DSI produced a significant increase in salivary cortisol from pre- to post-procedure compared with CRI (p = 0.0001), indicating a higher acute stress response. In contrast, CRI and IS did not differ significantly in cortisol levels, but heart rate did significantly increase from pre- to post-procedure when CRI was used (p = 0.035). Of the 15 participants in the CRI–IS comparison, 9 provided subjective feedback, with most preferring the IS. Gender was not associated with differences in stress markers in either sub-study. Conclusions: These findings suggest that while CRI and IS produce comparable physiological stress responses, DSI may be associated with heightened cortisol reactivity. Although IS was subjectively preferred, biological stress measures showed no definitive difference from CRI. Clinicians may therefore select CRI or IS based on clinical judgment and patient comfort, while considering the potential for increased stress when using DSI in pediatric populations. Full article