Search Results (8,622)

This study examines the relationship between attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) and AI dependency among Ecuadorian university students. A cross-sectional design was used, applying two validated instruments: the Artificial Intelligence Dependence Scale (DAI) and the General Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence Scale (GAAIS), with a sample of 540 students. Structural equation modeling (SEM) assessed how both positive and negative attitudes predict dependency levels. Results indicate a moderate level of AI dependency and an ambivalent attitudinal profile. Both attitudinal dimensions significantly predicted dependency, suggesting dual-use behaviors shaped by perceived utility and ethical concerns. Urban students reported higher dependency and greater sensitivity to AI-related risks, highlighting digital inequalities. Although the SEM model showed adequate comparative fit (CFI = 0.976; TLI = 0.973), residual indicators (RMSEA = 0.075) suggest further refinement is needed. This study contributes to underexplored Latin American contexts and emphasizes the need for equity-driven digital literacy strategies in higher education. Findings support pedagogical frameworks promoting critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and responsible AI use. The study aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities), reinforcing the importance of inclusive, learner-centered approaches to AI integration. Full article

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive condition leading to declining lung function, dyspnea, and reduced quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) remains a cornerstone in COPD management; however, access remains limited, with less than 3% of eligible patients participating. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT), especially through novel methods like the Test of Incremental Respiratory Endurance (TIRE), offers a potential home-based alternative to traditional rehabilitation services. Despite growing interest, a key knowledge gap persists: few randomized trials have directly compared TIRE with threshold loading IMT over extended, largely unsupervised home-based periods while concurrently evaluating inspiratory muscle endurance and adherence. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of TIRE IMT compared to traditional threshold IMT and sham training in COPD patients. The study also assessed adherence to these home-based interventions, focusing on unsupervised periods without additional motivational support. Methods: A total of 52 COPD patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: TIRE IMT, Threshold IMT, or Sham IMT. The study consisted of an 8-week supervised Phase I followed by a 24-week unsupervised Phase II. Training details: TIRE—session template set to 50% of the day’s maximal sustained effort; 6 levels × 6 inspirations (total 36) with preset inter-breath recoveries decreasing from 60 s to 10 s. Threshold IMT—spring-loaded valve set to 50% MIP (re-set at week 4); 36 inspirations completed within ≤30 min. Sham—valve set to minimal resistance (9 cmH₂O); 36 inspirations within ≤30 min. Primary outcomes included changes in maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and sustained maximal inspiratory pressure. Secondary outcomes focused on adherence rates and correlations with functional capacity. Results: Of the 52 participants, 36 completed the study. Participant details: TIRE n = 12 (mean age 60.9 ± 12.9 years), Threshold n = 12 (67.4 ± 6.9 years), Sham n = 12 (67.3 ± 8.7 years); overall 21/36 (58%) men; mean BMI 30.0 ± 7.5 kg/m². The TIRE IMT group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in MIP (31.7%) and SMIP compared to both the Threshold and Sham groups at 24 weeks (p < 0.05). Despite a decline in adherence during the unsupervised phase, the TIRE group maintained superior outcomes. No adverse events were reported during the intervention period. Conclusions: In this randomized trial, TIRE IMT was associated with greater improvements in inspiratory muscle performance than threshold and sham IMT. While adherence was higher in the TIRE group, it declined during the unsupervised phase. The clinical interpretation of these findings should consider the relatively wide confidence intervals and modest sample size. Nevertheless, the mean change in MIP in the TIRE arm exceeded a recently proposed minimal important difference for COPD, suggesting potential clinical relevance; however, no universally accepted minimal important difference exists yet for SMIP. Further adequately powered trials are warranted. Full article

Natural polymers, such as gelatin, offer a sustainable, green, and versatile alternative for developing proton exchange membranes in low-temperature fuel cell applications. They provide a balance of biocompatibility, flexibility, and ionic conductivity. In this work, gelatin-based composite membranes are reported. The membranes were fabricated and modified with various additives, including ionic liquids (ILs), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and glycerol, to enhance their electrochemical and mechanical properties. The proton conductivity of the pure gelatin membrane was relatively low at 1.0368 × 10⁻⁴ Scm⁻¹; however, the incorporation of IL ([DEMA][OMs]) significantly improved it, with the gelatin/0.2 g IL membrane achieving the highest conductivity of 4.181 × 10⁻⁴ Scm⁻¹. The introduction of PEG and glycerol also contributed to enhanced conductivity and flexibility. The water uptake analysis revealed that IL-containing membranes exhibited superior hydration properties, with the highest water uptake recorded for the gelatin/0.2 g glycerol/0.2 g IL membrane, which was found to be very high (906.55%). The results showed that the combination of IL and PEG provided enhanced proton transport and mechanical stability (as examined visually), making these membranes promising candidates for fuel cell applications. Therefore, this study underscores the importance of bio-based materials by utilizing gelatin as a sustainable, biodegradable polymer, supporting the transition toward greener energy materials. The findings demonstrate that modifying gelatin with conductivity-enhancing and plasticizing agents can significantly improve its performance, paving the way for bio-based proton exchange membranes with improved efficiency and durability. Full article

Background/Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the European–Mediterranean Postgraduate Program on Organ Donation and Transplantation (EMPODaT) on organ donation and transplantation (ODT) at 6 years. Methods: EMPODaT is a Trans-European Mobility Programme for University Studies (TEMPUS) project founded by the European Commission to address ODT professionals’ shortage in Middle East/North Africa (MENA) countries through structured postgraduate education. Leading universities from Spain, Germany, Sweden, and France, and key institutions in Egypt, Lebanon, and Morocco, developed a one-year blended training program incorporating e-learning, in-person courses, and hospital traineeships. The effect of the program at 6 years was analyzed by surveying the 90 healthcare participants. Results: A total of 73.9% of respondents remained actively engaged in the field, and some assumed leadership roles (local directors 14.4%, donor coordinators 13%). Also, 65.2% of participants reported improvements in policies and practices, with notable progress in donor screening (39.1%), brain death diagnosis (30.4%), and hospital policy reforms (69.7%). The study identified barriers, such as legal (34.4%), financial (34.8%), and public/social resistance (39.1%). Training alone, without strong hospital policies, support, and government involvement, was insufficient for introducing meaningful changes in ODT. Conclusions: Key aspects for successful implementation of training programs on ODT in MENA countries should consider hospital leadership engagement, strengthen institutional collaborations, and incorporate national health authorities to enhance sustainability and drive systemic changes. Prioritizing individuals in key decision-making positions could further enhance program effectiveness. Full article

Climate change poses an existential threat, spurring businesses and financial markets to integrate environmental accounting and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) disclosures into decision-making. This study aims to examine how environmental accounting practices and ESG reporting contribute to climate change mitigation in organizations. It seeks to highlight the significance of these tools in enhancing transparency and accountability, thereby driving more sustainable corporate behavior. By synthesizing the recent literature, the study contributes a comprehensive overview of best practices and challenges at the intersection of accounting and climate action, addressing a noted gap in consolidated knowledge. We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) following PRISMA guidelines. A broad search (2010–2024) across Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar identified 73 records, which were rigorously screened and distilled to 47 relevant peer-reviewed studies. These studies span global contexts and include both conceptual and empirical work, providing a robust dataset for analysis. Environmental accounting was found to play a pivotal role in measuring and managing corporate carbon footprints, effectively translating climate impacts into quantifiable metrics. Firms that implement rigorous carbon accounting and internalize environmental costs tend to set more precise emission reduction targets and justify mitigation investments through a cost–benefit analysis. ESG disclosure frameworks emerged as critical external tools: a high-quality climate disclosure is linked with greater stakeholder trust and even financial benefits such as lower capital costs. Leading companies aligning reports with standards like TCFD or GRI often enjoy enhanced credibility and investor confidence. However, the review also uncovered challenges, like the lack of standardized reporting, risks of greenwashing, and disparities in adoption across regions, that impede the full effectiveness of these practices. The findings underscore that while environmental accounting and ESG reporting are powerful means to drive corporate climate action, their impact depends on improving consistency, rigor, and integration. Harmonizing global reporting standards and mandating disclosures are identified as key steps to improve data comparability. Strengthening the credibility of ESG disclosures and embedding environmental metrics into core decision-making are essential to leverage accounting as a tool for climate change mitigation. The study recommends that policymakers accelerate moves toward mandatory, standardized ESG reporting and urges organizations to proactively enhance their environmental accounting systems that will support global climate objectives and further research on actual emission outcomes. Full article

The recycling of glass presently poses several challenges, predominantly to the heterogeneous chemical compositions of various glass types, along with the waste glass particle size distribution, both of which critically influence the efficiency and feasibility of recycling operations. Numerous studies have elucidated the potential of converting non-recyclable glass waste into valuable materials thanks to the up-cycling strategies, including stoneware, glass wool fibres, glass foams, glass-ceramics, and geopolymers. Among the promising alternatives for improving waste valorisation of glass, alkali-activated materials (AAMs) emerge as a solution. Waste glasses can be employed both as aggregates and as precursors, with a focus on its application as the sole raw material for synthesis. This overview systematically explores the optimisation of precursor selection from a sustainability standpoint, specifically addressing the mild alkali activation process (<3 mol/L) of waste glasses. The molecular mechanisms governing the hardening process associated with this emerging class of materials are elucidated. Formulating sustainable approaches for the valorisation of glass waste is becoming increasingly critical in response to the rising quantities of non-recyclable glass and growing priority on circular economy principles. In addition, the paper highlights the innovative prospects of alkali-activated materials derived from waste glass, emphasising their emerging roles beyond conventional structural applications. Environmentally relevant applications for alkali-activated materials are reported, including the adsorption of dyes and heavy metals, immobilisation of nuclear waste, and an innovative technique for hardening as microwave-assisted processing. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite its growing application, life-cycle assessment (LCA) in the nutraceutical sector has not been systematically studied, leaving a gap in our understanding of the unique challenges of assessing its environmental footprint. The main objective of this study was to provide an overview of scientific publications related to nutraceuticals from the LCA perspective. Methods: This review combined bibliometric analysis, using VOSViewer as an analytic tool, with the search of the Web of Science database, aiming to identify the most relevant papers associated with nutraceuticals and life-cycle assessment. Results: The final selection of the most relevant publications was set at 65, analyzing 78 different nutraceuticals. Results reveal that the main sources of raw materials for extraction of nutraceuticals are marine-based, plant-based, and from agri-food waste. Polyphenols were analyzed 34 times and were predominantly sourced from plants, while carotenoids, analyzed 17 times, were mainly linked with marine-based and food waste-derived sources. The main environmental footprints were focused on climate change, covering most of the nutraceuticals analyzed (97.4%), followed by acidification (78.2%) and eutrophication (74.4%). SimaPro was the prevailing software used for 43.6% nutraceuticals, while the prevailing database was Ecoinvent, used in two thirds of the cases (66.7%). ReCiPe, as a life-cycle inventory assessment method, was used for calculating 34.6% of analyzed cases, followed by CML (33.3%). Conclusions: This systematic review highlights the main challenge in LCA studies, outlining great variability in study boundaries, functional units, and reported environmental footprints, and making it difficult to compare the environmental impacts of similar nutraceutical groups from a life-cycle perspective. This underscores the urgent need to improve input-data quality and develop standardized methodologies to validate sustainability claims using LCA. Full article

Prefabricated construction represents an advanced approach to sustainable development, and safety issues in prefabricated construction projects have drawn widespread attention. Safety accident case reports contain a wealth of safety knowledge, and extracting and learning from such historical reports can significantly enhance safety management capabilities. However, these texts are often semantically complex and lengthy, posing challenges for traditional Information Extraction (IE) methods. This study focuses on the challenge of Named Entity Recognition (NER) in long texts under complex engineering contexts and proposes a novel model that integrates Modern Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (ModernBERT),Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM), andConditional Random Field (CRF). A comparative analysis with current mainstream methods is conducted. The results show that the proposed model achieves an F1 score of 0.6234, outperforming mainstream baseline methods. Notably, it attains F1 scores of 0.95 and 0.92 for the critical entity categories “Consequence” and “Type,” respectively. The model maintains stable performance even under semantic noise interference, demonstrating strong robustness in processing unstructured and highly heterogeneous engineering texts. Compared with existing long-text NER models, the proposed method exhibits superior semantic parsing ability in engineering contexts. This study enhances information extraction methods and provides solid technical support for constructing safety knowledge graphs in prefabricated construction, thereby advancing the level of intelligence in the construction industry. Full article

Background: Ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major contributor to acute kidney injury (AKI). While the precise mechanisms of AKI are still incompletely defined, extensive evidence highlights tubular cell injury and death as key factors in its development. Necroptosis has recently emerged as a critical pathway in the pathogenesis of ischemia–reperfusion-induced AKI (IR-AKI). Although sex differences in susceptibility to IR-AKI have been reported, it remains unclear whether there are sex differences in necroptosis dynamics and whether these differences underlie the observed sexual dimorphism in kidney IRI. This study aimed to address these questions. Methods: male and female C57BL/6 J mice were subjected to AKI via ischemia induced by bilateral renal pedicle clamping for 18 min at 37 °C. Plasma, urine, and kidney samples were collected at 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h post-reperfusion. Kidney injury and function were assessed by measuring plasma creatinine (PCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, and histological damage (PAS and cleaved caspase3 staining). Necroptosis activation was assessed by quantifying phosphorylated forms of key markers: p-RIPK1 and p-MLKL. To explore the role of sex hormones in regulating necroptosis dynamics, ovariectomized female mice were subjected to the same IR-AKI protocol, and their kidney injury and functional outcomes were compared with those of intact counterparts. Results: The PCr was 0.35 ± 0.04 and 0.32 ± 0.06 mg/dL for males and females, respectively, at 3 h of IR. The levels exponentially increased to 2.05 ± 0.18 at 48 h post-reperfusion in the males but only gradually to 0.94 ± 0.13 mg/dL in females. Necroptosis activation began as early as 3 h post-IR in males but was delayed until ~6 h in females. Males exhibited stronger and more sustained necroptosis activation than females, showing elevated phosphorylation levels of pRIPK1 and pMLKL in Western blot. Female sex hormone deficiency exacerbated the female response to IR-induced injury, which reduced the sex difference in the dynamic of the necroptotic activation and subsequent kidney injury. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize sex differences in the initiation and progression of necroptosis and subsequent injury in a mouse model of IR-AKI. Conclusions: Our findings reveal distinct temporal patterns of programmed cell death between sexes. Necroptosis-targeted therapies require early intervention in males, which can be delayed in females after IR-AKI, highlighting the need for sex-specific therapeutic windows. Full article

Background: Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection may induce cardiac arrhythmias associated with viral myocarditis, which typically disappear in the convalescent phase after healing of the myocardial inflammation. Methods: We report the case of a 37-year-old woman with a childhood history of atrial septal defect repair and stable normofrequent atrial rhythm, who presented two months post-COVID-19 with palpitations and dizziness. Diagnostic evaluation included cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), 24 h Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, and laboratory assessments over a 3-year period. Results: CMR suggested subacute myocarditis, and Holter ECG revealed multiple discernible complex cardiac arrhythmias including atrial bradycardia, intermittent junctional rhythm (JR), atrial fibrillation (AF), and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Laboratory results showed a moderate but transient increase in lactate dehydrogenase, persistently mildly elevated N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and immunoglobulin A (IgA), with all other cardiac, inflammatory, immunologic, and organ function parameters remaining normal. In spite of chaotic cardiac rhythm with alternating JR, AF, and atrial normofrequent rhythm with frequent blocked supraventricular beats and increasing atrioventricular conduction time, no therapeutic intervention was necessary during follow-up, and a conservative treatment approach was agreed with the patient. Two years post-COVID-19 infection, the patient returned to a normofrequent atrial rhythm with a markedly prolonged PQ time (500 ms) and a different P wave morphology compared to pre-COVID, without other rhythm disturbances. Conclusions: This case demonstrates a rare pattern of post-viral arrhythmias first emerging in the convalescent phase and resolving spontaneously after two years. It underscores the need for long-term rhythm surveillance following COVID-19, even in patients with prior structural heart disease and a stable baseline rhythm. Full article

This study examines the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within Romania’s residential real estate sector, concentrating on Constanța, a rapidly evolving urban centre in a transitional economy. Drawing on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with local real estate professionals and secondary analysis of policy and market documents, the research uncovers inconsistencies in ESG implementation. Environmental compliance is advancing, largely driven by EU regulations such as the European Grean Deal, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Voluntary certification schemes like BREEAM and LEED are emerging as benchmarks for environmental performance; however, their uptake remains limited and insufficiently tailored to local conditions. Meanwhile, the social and governance dimensions lag behind, characterised by inconsistent application and weak institutional backing. Key barriers to effective ESG integration in Romania’s residential real estate sector include weak regulatory enforcement, fragmented policies, limited green finance, low awareness, and a lack of standardised social value metrics. The study concludes that without moving beyond mere regulatory compliance to a framework embedding social inclusivity and adaptive governance, ESG efforts risk perpetuating existing inequalities. It calls for a reconceptualisation of ESG frameworks, developed for mature markets, to better suit transitional urban contexts and support long-term resilience in residential real estate. Full article

Background: The World Health Organization defined specific recommendations about digital tobacco cessation modalities as a self-management tool or as an adjunct to other support for adults. Objectives: The present umbrella review primarily aimed to assess the long-term (≥6 months) effectiveness and adherence of the different standalone digital tobacco cessation modalities (mobile text messaging, smartphone apps, Internet-based websites and programs, AI-based), administered individually or in combination; secondarily, the study aimed to assess the effect on smokers’ health. Methods: The present study (PROSPERO number: CRD42024601824) followed the PRISMA guidelines. The included studies were qualitatively synthesized and evaluated through the AMSTAR-2 tool. Results: Forty-five systematic reviews were included, encompassing 164,010 adult daily smokers of combustible tobacco. At 6 months, highly interactive or human-centered digital tools showed higher effectiveness (biochemically verified continuous abstinence rates (CARs) were 11.48% for smartphone apps and 11.76% for video/telephone counseling). In contrast, at 12 months, simpler, less interactive tools demonstrated higher effectiveness (self-reported CARs was 24.38% for mobile text messaging and 18.98% for Internet-based). Adherence rates were generally high, particularly with human-centered digital tools, amounting to 94.12% at 6 months and 64.08% at 12 months. Compared with individually administered digital tobacco cessation modalities, at 12 months, combined ones registered slightly higher effectiveness (self-reported CARs were 13.12% vs. 13.94%) and adherence (62.36% vs. 63.70%), potentially attributed to the multi-component nature and longer durations. Conclusions: Clinicians should prioritize combined digital tobacco cessation interventions that incorporate human-centered engagement initially, alongside simpler, sustained digital support to enhance long-term effectiveness and adherence. Future research should explore long-term medical and oral health benefits to assess the impact on overall health and well-being. Full article

Drones have rapidly emerged as transformative tools in landscape research, enabling high-resolution spatial data acquisition, real-time environmental monitoring, and advanced modelling that surpass the limitations of traditional methodologies. This scoping review systematically explores and synthesises the technological applications of drones within the context of landscape studies, addressing a significant gap in the integration of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UASs) into environmental and spatial planning disciplines. The study investigates the typologies of drone platforms—including fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and hybrid systems—alongside a detailed examination of sensor technologies such as RGB, LiDAR, multispectral, and hyperspectral imaging. Following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, utilising predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings reveal that drone technologies are predominantly applied in mapping and modelling, vegetation and biodiversity analysis, water resource management, urban planning, cultural heritage documentation, and sustainable tourism development. Notably, vegetation analysis and water management have shown a remarkable surge in application over the past five years, highlighting global shifts towards sustainability-focused landscape interventions. These applications are critically evaluated in terms of spatial efficiency, operational flexibility, and interdisciplinary relevance. This review concludes that integrating drones with Geographic Information Systems (GISs), artificial intelligence (AI), and remote sensing frameworks substantially enhances analytical capacity, supports climate-resilient landscape planning, and offers novel pathways for multi-scalar environmental research and practice. Full article

Green innovation is essential for the sustainable transformation of enterprises. This study investigates how equity and debt financing dependence influence green innovation using panel data from manufacturing firms listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen between 2012 and 2022. We construct dynamic indicators of equity and debt financing dependence based on firms’ external financing relative to internal capital and assess their effects using panel regressions. Both financing types significantly enhance green innovation. Equity financing dependence increases green patent applications and green invention patent applications by approximately 1.4%, while debt financing dependence leads to gains of 0.9% and 1.1%, respectively. Financial reporting quality positively moderates these effects, with a stronger influence on debt financing dependence. High-quality reporting amplifies the impact of debt financing dependence by about 27% for green patent applications and 22% for green invention patent applications, while its effect on equity financing dependence is limited. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that equity financing dependence is most effective in small and young firms, while debt financing dependence has the strongest impact in medium-sized firms, particularly on green patent applications. The findings highlight the long-term influence of financing behavior on green innovation and inform green finance policy. Full article

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Angola, particularly in Cuando Cubango province. This study aimed to characterize the local Anopheles mosquito population, evaluate the impact of indoor residual spraying (IRS) on key entomological indicators, and assess the community knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to malaria and vector control. Mosquito collections were conducted indoors at three sites over five months using CDC light traps and Prokopack aspirators. Ten Anopheles species were identified, with An. funestus s.s. being the predominant vector, accounting for 91.7% of the Funestus group. The overall Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) infection rate was 9.2%, with Makua exhibiting the highest rate (10.2%). Following IRS, the indoor resting density of the Funestus group decreased significantly in Makua and Agostinho Neto. In Makua, An. funestus s.s. CSP infection rates decreased by 55% following IRS implementation; however, this reduction was not statistically significant. Knockdown resistance mutations were detected in An. arabiensis and An. gambiae s.s. The 2020/2021 IRS campaign achieved 95% spray coverage and reached 421,856 individuals. Complementary KAP surveys with 647 households showed that 87% of respondents correctly identified mosquitoes as malaria vectors, 78% recognized key symptoms, and 89% supported continued IRS. Reported adherence to post-IRS precautions exceeded 70% and preference for IRS over ITN was expressed by most households. These findings highlight both biological and social dimensions of malaria control, demonstrating that vector control, community acceptance, and entomological surveillance are essential for effective and sustainable malaria interventions in Cuando Cubango. Full article