Search Results (13,729)

Background: Burnout is a prevalent issue among mental health nurses. While various interventions have been implemented to address burnout, their effectiveness and sustainability remain unclear in specialised mental health settings. This systematic review aims to clearly evaluate the effectiveness of interventions specifically designed to reduce burnout among mental health nurses, focusing on intervention types, their impact, and the sustainability of results. Methods: A comprehensive search of databases (Embase, CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) identified studies on burnout reduction interventions for mental health nurses. Inclusion criteria focused on mental health nursing populations with pre- and post-intervention burnout measures. Methodological quality was assessed using JBI Critical Appraisal Tools. A narrative synthesis guideline was used to analyse data. Results: Among 2502 studies retrieved, only 4 met the inclusion criteria after a rigorous screening process. These studies explored specific intervention types, including a two-day burnout prevention workshop, an eight-week group-based psychoeducational programme, a twelve-week mindfulness-based psychoeducational intervention, and an eight-week guided self-help mindfulness programme delivered via a digital platform. Significant reductions in burnout were observed across these studies; however, the sustainability of these effects varied. Interventions of greater duration, such as the 12-week mindfulness-based programme and the 8-week group psychoeducational intervention, yielded more enduring improvements. In contrast, shorter interventions, like a two-day workshop, showed transient benefits that diminished over time. Conclusions: This review highlights a critical gap in research on burnout interventions for mental health nurses. While the reviewed interventions showed promise in reducing burnout, the findings underscore the need for sustainable, adaptable interventions and more robust research. Full article

With the increasing demand for urban rail transit capacity, shield tunneling has become the predominant method for constructing underground metro systems in densely populated cities. However, the spatial interaction between shield tunnels and adjacent retaining structures poses significant engineering challenges, potentially leading to excessive ground settlement, structural deformation, and even stability failure. This study systematically investigates the deformation behavior and associated risks of retaining systems during adjacent shield tunnel construction. An orthogonal multi-factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of grouting pressure, grout stiffness, and overlying soil properties on maximum surface settlement. Results show that soil cohesion and grouting pressure are the most influential parameters, jointly accounting for over 72% of the variance in settlement response. Based on the numerical findings, a Bayesian network model was developed to assess construction risk, integrating expert judgment and field monitoring data to quantify the conditional probability of deformation-induced failure. The model identifies key risk sources such as geological variability, groundwater instability, shield steering correction, segmental lining quality, and site construction management. Furthermore, the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of various grouting reinforcement strategies were evaluated. The results show that top grouting increases the reinforcement efficiency to 34.7%, offering the best performance in terms of both settlement control and economic benefit. Sidewall grouting yields an efficiency of approximately 30.2%, while invert grouting shows limited effectiveness, with an efficiency of only 11.6%, making it the least favorable option in terms of both technical and economic considerations. This research provides both practical guidance and theoretical insight for risk-informed shield tunneling design and management in complex urban environments. Full article

Taking the leap to the secondary and tertiary generations of the missions to Mars, a comprehensive outline was presented for a cluster of Martian Habitat Units (MHUs) designed for long-term settlements of research crew in Melas Chasma, Valles Marineris, Mars. Unlike initial exploration missions, where primary survival is ensured through basic engineering solutions, this concept targets later-stage missions focused on long-term human presence. Accordingly, the MHUs are designed not only for functionality but also to support the social and cultural well-being of scientific personnel, resulting in larger and more complex structures than those typically proposed for early-stage landings. To address the construction and structural integrity of the MHUs, the current work presents a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of semi-3D-printed structural systems using in situ material to minimize the cost and engineering effort of logistics and construction of the units. Regolith-based additive manufacturing was utilized as the primary material, and the response of the structure, not only to the gravitational loads but also to those applied from the exterior flow field and wind pressure distributions, was simulated, as well as the considerations regarding the contribution of the extreme interior/exterior pressure differences. The full analyses and structural results are presented and discussed in this manuscript, as well as insights on manufacturing and its feasibility on Mars. The analyses demonstrate the feasibility of constructing the complex architectural requirements of the MHUs and their cost-effectiveness through the use of in situ resources. The manuscript presents an iterative structural optimization process, with results detailed at each step. Structural elements were modeled using FEM-based analysis in Karamba-3D to minimize near-yielding effects such as buckling and excessive displacements. The final structural system was integrated with the architectural design to preserve the intended spatial and functional qualities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Swallowing disorder(s), or oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD), are very common in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and pose a significant risk to their health. Behavioural interventions are frequently recommended when targeting OPD in children with CP; however, their efficacy has yet to be determined. This systematic review aimed to synthesise the current evidence for behavioural interventions in the treatment of OPD in children with CP. Methods: A comprehensive search in six databases in October 2024 sought studies that (1) included participants aged 0–18 years with a diagnosis of CP and OPD; (2) utilised and described a behavioural intervention for OPD; and (3) used a randomised controlled trial (RCT) experimental design. Three reviewers independently extracted the data, and results were tabulated. The Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias (ROB-2) tool was used to determine the methodological quality of eligible articles. Results: From an initial yield of 2083 papers, 99 full-text studies were screened for eligibility. Seven RCTs involving 329 participants aged 9.5 months (SD = 2.03) to 10.6 yrs were included. CP description varied. Most studies used a combination of behavioural interventions to treat OPD (n = 6), and oral sensorimotor treatment was the most frequently utilised treatment (n = 4). Positive outcomes were reported in all (n = 7); however, there was high risk of bias in five studies. Conclusions: The use of behavioural interventions to treat OPD in children with CP continues to be supported by low-level evidence. Rigorously designed RCTs with larger samples of children with CP and OPD are needed to evaluate the true effects of behavioural interventions across the developmental phase of childhood. Importantly, consistency in describing and reporting baseline analysis of swallowing and OPD; together with treatment-component data, is a priority in future research. Full article

The performance of lettuce, pepper, and chili pepper, and the biological soil quality, in a ground-mounted PV system under cultivation conditions typical of the Mediterranean environment of the Puglia region were evaluated. Microclimatic parameters, plant growth and yield response, soil quality assessed using the QBS-ar index, and land equivalent ratio (LER) were determined in three different cultivation areas: a cultivation area outside the photovoltaic plant but immediately adjacent to it (‘Control’); the inter-row area closest to the row of panels exposed to sunlight (‘Area close PV structure’); the inter-row area distant from the row of panels (‘Area distant PV structure’). Cumulated solar radiation, in particular during the summer growing cycles, was only slightly affected in the Area distant PV structure (1616 and 2130 MJ m⁻² for pepper and chili pepper, respectively, in the control area, in comparison to 1630 and 2044 MJ m⁻², in the Area distant PV structure), while it was strongly reduced in the Area close PV structure (883 and 1091 MJ m⁻² for pepper and chili pepper, respectively). In general, a reduction in air temperature and wind speed, as well as an increase in relative air humidity, was observed under PV conditions. On average, the evapotranspirative demand was reduced in the PV growing conditions compared to open field, with a more relevant effect in the sub-zone close to the photovoltaic structures, where cumulative ET0 was 28% and 34% lower than the Control in the pepper and chili pepper growing cycle, respectively. Lettuce growth was impaired by PV cultivation conditions, with an average reduction of 15% in plant height and 37% in marketable yield per plant, with no significant differences between the two sub-zones in the PV system. For pepper, the best growing conditions were observed in open field control compared to PV, but with differences related to the PV sub-zone. The plants grown in the Area distant PV structure were more negatively affected by the modified growing conditions, showing the lowest shoot and fruit fresh weight, the latter reduced by 51% compared to the Control; intermediate values were observed for these parameters in the Area close PV structure, with a less severe tendency to yield reduction. For chili pepper, both shoot and fruit fresh weight were lower in PV conditions, regardless of the sub-zone, with a reduction of 82% in yield per plant compared to the Control. However, despite the yield reductions, the LER was improved (1.60 and 1.40 in case of a lettuce + pepper or lettuce + chili pepper annual cropping program, respectively), highlighting a more efficient use of land, without negative or even ameliorative impacts on biological soil quality and biodiversity in terms of QBS-ar and microarthropods taxa abundance. Knowledge of the response of different crops under cultivation conditions typical of specific environments is necessary to define optimal cropping programs aimed at maximizing resource-use efficiency and land use. Full article

The high-yield industrial gas from Sichuan Basin’s Wujiaping (P₃w) shale reveals a new unconventional exploration play. Due to the strong heterogeneity of shale gas, its enrichment and exploration potential remain unclear. Geochemical and other experiments conducted on this layer have shown that: (1) The third member of the P₃w (P₃w³) shale has optimal quality, with large thickness and wide distribution. The average TOC value is 6.09%, and the organic matter type is II₁~II₂. (2) Shale gas in the P₃w is supplied by organic-rich shale; enrichment is promoted by siliceous/clay shale interbedding, with storage in organic matter pores and fractures. (3) Comparative analyses with the Wufeng–Longmaxi shales (O₃w-S₁l) show that P₃w³ is the layer with the greatest potential for shale gas exploration. Full article

This study evaluates biogas production through the anaerobic digestion of food waste (FW), cow dung (CD), and green waste (GW), with the primary objective of determining the efficacy of co-digesting these organic wastes commonly generated by households and small farms in Central Queensland, Australia. The investigation focuses on both experimental and technoeconomic aspects to support the development of accessible and sustainable energy solutions. A batch anaerobic digestion process was employed using a 1 L jacketed glass digester, simulating small-scale conditions, while technoeconomic feasibility was projected onto a 500 L digester operated without temperature control, reflecting realistic constraints for decentralized rural or residential systems. Three feedstock mixtures (100% FW, 50:50 FW:CD, and 50:25:25 FW:CD:GW) were tested to determine their impact on biogas yield and methane concentration. Experiments were conducted over 14 days, during which biogas production and methane content were monitored. The results showed that FW alone produced the highest biogas volume, but with a low methane concentration of 25%. Co-digestion with CD and GW enhanced methane quality, achieving a methane yield of 48% while stabilizing the digestion process. A technoeconomic analysis was conducted based on the experimental results to estimate the viability of a 500 L biodigester for small-scale use. The evaluation considered costs, benefits, and financial metrics, including Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Dynamic Payback Period (DPP). The biodigester demonstrated strong economic potential, with an NPV of AUD 2834, an IRR of 13.5%, and a payback period of 3.2 years. This study highlights the significance of optimizing feedstock composition and integrating economic assessments with experimental findings to support the adoption of biogas systems as a sustainable energy solution for small-scale, off-grid, or rural applications. Full article

Choosing the most sustainable and ecologically stable soil tillage techniques requires dependence on long-term field trials, which are essential for successful interventions and evidence-based decision-making. This research evaluated several factors, including soil biological activity (CO₂ emission), soil chemical properties (pH (KCl), soil organic matter (SOM)), plant growth physiological indicators (Leaf Area Index (LAI), Soil and Plant Analysis Development (SPAD)), crop yield, and grain quality (Zeleny index, protein %, oil %, and gluten % content), under six soil cultivation methods that represent varying degrees of soil disturbance in a long-term (23 years) tillage experiment. Conventional tillage (ploughing (P)) and conservational tillage techniques (loosening (L), deep cultivation (DC), shallow cultivation (SC), disking (D), and no-till (NT)) were examined for three years (2022, 2023, and 2024) in a winter barley–soybean–winter wheat cropping system. Results indicate that tillage intensity has a differential influence on soil biological parameters, with minor variations in SPAD values across treatments. The findings show significant variations in CO₂ emissions, LAI values, and grain quality in certain years, likely due to the influence of P and L tillage treatments. The novelty of this study lies in determining that, although the short-term effects of soil tillage on crop physiological parameters and grain yield may be minimal under fluctuating climatic conditions, long-term tillage practices significantly influence existing disparities, underscoring the necessity for site-specific and climate-resilient tillage strategies in sustainable crop production. Full article

Timely and accurate winter crop distribution maps are crucial for agricultural monitoring, food security, and sustainable land use planning. However, conventional methods relying on field surveys are labor-intensive, costly, and difficult to scale across large regions. To address these limitations, this study presents an automated winter crop mapping framework that integrates phenology-based sample generation and machine learning classification using time-series Sentinel-2 imagery. The Winter Crop Index (WCI) is developed to capture seasonal vegetation dynamics, and the Otsu algorithm is employed to automatically extract reliable training samples. These samples are then used to train three widely used machine learning classifiers—Random Forest (RF), a Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)—with hyperparameters optimized via Bayesian optimization. The framework was validated in three diverse agricultural regions in China: the Erhai Basin in Yunnan Province, Shenzhou City in Hebei Province, and Jiangling County in Hunan Province. The experimental results demonstrate that the combination of the WCI and Otsu enables a reliable initial classification, facilitating the generation of high-quality training samples. XGBoost achieved the best performance in the Erhai Basin and Shenzhou City, with overall accuracies of 0.9238 and 0.9825 and F1-scores of 0.9233 and 0.9823, respectively. In contrast, the SVM performed best in Jiangling County, yielding an overall accuracy of 0.9574 and an F1-score of 0.9525. The proposed approach enables high-precision winter crop mapping without reliance on manually collected samples, demonstrating strong generalizability and providing a promising solution for large-scale, automated agricultural monitoring. Full article

A comprehensive overview is provided on factors and processes influencing the final quality of a cup of coffee, with an emphasis on the brewing method’s central role. Coffee quality assessment, both at the bean and cup level, combines objective parameters (color, moisture, bean defects, density) with a notable degree of subjectivity, as consumer sensory perception is ultimately decisive. The brewing technique is described as a critical determinant of the final chemical, physical, and sensory attributes. Key parameters such as aroma profile, pH, titratable acidity, total and filtered solids, lipid and fatty acid content, viscosity, foam (crema), and colorimetric indices are detailed as essential metrics in coffee quality evaluation. Roasting creates most of coffee’s key aroma compounds. The brewing method further shapes the extraction of both volatile and other bioactive compounds like caffeine, chlorogenic acids, and lipids. Brewing methods significantly affect acidity, “body,” and crema stability, while water quality, temperature, and pressure are shown to impact extraction results and sensory properties. Attention is paid to how methods such as Espresso, filter, French press, and cold brew yield distinct physicochemical and sensory profiles in the cup. Overall, the review highlights the multifaceted nature of coffee cup quality and the interplay between raw material, processing, and preparation, ultimately shaping the coffee sensory experience and market value. Full article

The demand for clean energy to improve waste valorization and enhance resource utilization efficiency has been increasingly recognized in the last few years. In this context, the co-carbonization of different waste streams, aiming at solid fuel production, appears as a potential strategy to address the challenges of the energy transition and divert waste from landfills. In this work, refuse-derived fuel (RDF) samples were subjected to the co-carbonization process with low-quality animal fat waste in different proportions to assess the synergistic effect of the mixture on producing chars with enhanced fuel properties. Dry (DC) and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) tests were conducted at 425 °C and 300 °C, respectively, with a residence time of 30 min. The RDF sample and produced chars with different animal fat incorporation were analyzed for their physical, chemical, and fuel properties. The results demonstrated that increasing the fat proportion in the samples leads to an increase in mass yield and apparent density of the produced chars. Furthermore, char samples with higher fat addition presented a proportional increase in high heating value (HHV). The highest values for the HHV corresponded to the char samples produced with 30% fat incorporation for both carbonization techniques (27.9 MJ/kg and 32.9 MJ/kg for dry and hydrothermal carbonization, respectively). Fat addition also reduced ash content, improved hydrophobicity in hydrochars, and lowered ignition temperature, although additional washing was necessary to reduce chlorine to acceptable levels. Furthermore, fat incorporation reduced concentrations of elements linked to slagging and fouling. Overall, the results demonstrate that incorporating 30% fat into RDF during DC or HTC is the most effective condition for producing chars with improved physical, chemical, and fuel properties, enhancing their potential as alternative solid fuels. Full article

Background/Objectives: The impact of nutritional interventions on Sjögren disease (SD) remains uncertain, and no standardized guidelines currently exist for managing its sicca symptoms. This systematic review evaluated the effects of dietary interventions on the symptoms of dry mouth and dry eyes in individuals with SD. Methods: Electronic searches were performed in four databases, supplemented by manual searches and searches of the gray literature. Both human and animal studies were included. The methodological quality of the selected studies was appraised, and the data were analyzed descriptively. Results: A total of nineteen studies (ten in humans and nine in animal models) were included. The treatments evaluated were dietary supplements, vitamins, medicinal herbs, and specially modified diets. The primary outcomes assessed included unstimulated and stimulated whole salivary flow rates, salivary-gland inflammation, and ocular dryness (Schirmer test). In animal models of SD, interventions such as caloric restriction, gluten-free diets, low-fat diets, and supplements (e.g., resveratrol, triptolide, and Lycium barbarum polysaccharide) were associated with increased salivary flow and reduced glandular inflammation. Conversely, diets rich in saturated fats were associated with reduced salivary flow and increased lymphocytic infiltration in salivary glands. Human studies yielded mixed results, with some reporting improvements in salivation following interventions with vitamins, herbal supplements, gluten-free diets, liquid diets, and whole-food, plant-based diets. Conclusions: Although dietary management may alleviate sicca symptoms and improve nutritional status in SD, the current evidence is insufficient to support specific recommendations for the management of oral symptoms. Full article

This study compares the chemical profiles of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) from two cultivars, Granato (G) and Roce (R), extracted by Soxhlet and supercritical CO₂/isopropanol. GC-MS and NMR analyses confirmed punicic acid as the dominant fatty acid, with α-eleostearic, oleic, and linoleic acids in lower amounts. Supercritical extraction increased yield (about 18%) and selectively raised α-eleostearic and linoleic acids. Volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling by HS-SPME-GC-MS showed higher aldehydes, esters, and terpenes in supercritical extracts, including (E)-cinnamaldehyde (absent in Soxhlet). Soxhlet oils contained more hydrocarbons, suggesting thermal degradation. Overall, supercritical CO₂/IPA proved more sustainable and selective, preserving nutritional and aromatic quality and supporting PSO’s potential in food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic uses. Full article

Ensuring food security is a challenge for humans. Rice grain yield and quality must urgently be increased to overcome this challenge. MicroRNA (miRNA) is an important regulatory module in plant development and stress responses. Grain yield and quality are pleiotropic traits that employ cooperative genetic factors, including miRNA and its regulatory mechanisms. This review provides an overview of plant miRNAs and the composition and development process of rice grains. It also summarizes the research progress in miRNA regulation for agronomically important rice grain traits, providing a basis for further identifying miRNAs related to rice grain development and elucidating their regulatory mechanisms. Full article

This paper presents an exhaustive search approach to determine the optimal placement of a Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC) in a distribution system that integrates a distributed generation (DG) unit based on photovoltaic (PV) panels. The main objective is to enhance voltage profiles and reduce total harmonic distortion (THD) in the presence of nonlinear loads. A multi-objective optimization model is formulated, combining THD minimization and voltage deviation reduction through a weighted cost function. Two case studies are conducted using the IEEE 33-bus test system modeled in MATLAB Simulink, considering different scenarios: one with nonlinear loads and another with additional DG integration. The UPQC is tested at critical nodes to assess its impact on power quality indicators. Results show that placing the UPQC at node 14 yields the lowest cost function value in both cases, with THD reductions exceeding 90% at the installation node and notable improvements across the system. These findings confirm that brute-force optimization is a reliable and effective strategy for UPQC siting, especially in distribution networks subjected to nonlinear disturbances and renewable-based DG. The proposed methodology provides a practical framework for power quality enhancement and supports decision-making in modern smart grid environments. Full article