Search Results (1,523)

Battlefield preservation is commonly understood as a matter of heritage management, historical education, or cultural tourism. This article argues that its origins and enduring significance lie elsewhere. Modern battlefield preservation emerged as a direct consequence of the transformation of warfare between the late eighteenth and twentieth centuries. Beginning with the French Revolution and the levée en masse, military service became increasingly associated with citizenship, national identity, and mass participation, while industrialization provided the logistical and technological foundations necessary for warfare on an unprecedented scale. As warfare expanded, so too did its human consequences, transforming military death from the experience of a relatively small warrior elite into a shared social reality affecting entire populations. Drawing upon military history, memory studies, sociology, religious studies, and heritage scholarship, this article examines how mass warfare generated new forms of collective bereavement, ritual commemoration, battlefield pilgrimage, and historical preservation. Through case studies ranging from the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars to the Crimean War, Gettysburg, the World Wars, and the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, it demonstrates how expanding mobilization, industrialized conflict, and rising casualty rates produced enduring landscapes of memory. The article argues that battlefield preservation developed through a cumulative historical process linking mass warfare, mass casualties, collective trauma, commemorative practices, and the creation of commemorative landscapes. Preserved battlefields are not merely remnants of past conflicts; they are cultural institutions through which societies negotiate memory, identity, and meaning. As traditional sources of collective authority weakened in modern societies, battlefields increasingly acquired functions associated with ritual, pilgrimage, and civil religion. The expansion of warfare produced an expansion of remembrance, and the preserved battlefield emerged as one of the most enduring cultural responses to the human consequences of modern conflict. Full article

This study examines how learning disability (LD) relates to entrepreneurial pathways by comparing correlates of entrepreneurial propensity and sustained engagement among entrepreneurs with and without LD. Guided by Social Cognitive Career Theory, we surveyed 392 entrepreneurs, including 58 with LD, and used hierarchical regressions and Wald tests to compare patterns across groups. The findings show that creativity and age were associated with outcomes in both groups, but the pattern differed by LD status. Among entrepreneurs with LD, creativity and personal control were more strongly associated with outcomes, while among those without LD, formal education and early exposure were more strongly associated with propensity. Maternal education and adolescent interest in technological entrepreneurship were particularly associated with sustained engagement in the LD group. These findings suggest that entrepreneurship may represent an inclusive vocational pathway for some individuals with LD, while also highlighting the importance of reducing systemic barriers and strengthening neurodiversity-responsive supports. Full article

Testicular torsion is a urological emergency that causes ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury and may result in irreversible germ cell loss and impaired fertility. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic pathways play central roles in its pathogenesis. Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin-7 (TRPM7), a bifunctional ion channel/kinase, has recently been implicated in I/R-related cellular injury. Iloprost, a prostacyclin analogue with vasodilatory and antioxidant properties, may offer protective effects; however, its impact on TRPM7-mediated pathways in testicular I/R injury remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of iloprost on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and TRPM7 expression in an experimental testicular torsion–detorsion model. Thirty-five male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into five groups: control, sham, iloprost, torsion–detorsion (T/D), and T/D + iloprost. After 60 min of torsion and subsequent detorsion, iloprost (2 µg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered in the treatment group. Testicular tissues and serum samples were analyzed after 48 h. Histopathology (H&E), apoptosis (TUNEL assay), TRPM7 immunohistochemistry and mRNA expression (RT-qPCR), and serum total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) were evaluated. Torsion–detorsion significantly increased TOS levels, apoptotic cell ratio (ACR), TRPM7 expression, and Bax mRNA expression, while reducing TAS levels (p < 0.05). Iloprost administration significantly improved oxidative stress parameters, restoring TAS and reducing TOS compared with the untreated T/D group. However, it did not significantly reduce histopathological damage, ACR, TRPM7 expression, or Bax mRNA expression. Bcl-2 expression remained largely unchanged across groups. Iloprost improved systemic oxidative status in testicular I/R injury but did not significantly attenuate TRPM7 expression, apoptotic changes, or structural damage under the experimental conditions used. The concurrent increase in TRPM7 expression and apoptotic indices following torsion–detorsion suggests an association between these alterations; however, the present study does not establish a causal relationship between TRPM7 and apoptosis. As TRPM7 activity was not directly assessed or experimentally manipulated, further studies involving TRPM7 inhibition or genetic silencing are required to determine its mechanistic role in testicular I/R-induced apoptosis. Full article

Background/Objectives: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) has shown inconsistent diagnostic performance for acute cellular rejection (ACR) after heart transplantation. We evaluated whether time-normalized hs-cTnI kinetics provide incremental diagnostic value beyond the concurrent concentration for detecting ACR grade ≥ 2R and whether this association varies with time after transplantation. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 1237 biopsy episodes from 139 heart transplant recipients. Two generalized linear mixed-effects logistic regression models with patient-specific random intercepts were compared. M1 included concurrent log₂-transformed hs-cTnI, whereas M2 additionally included the time-normalized change in log₂-transformed hs-cTnI per 7 days. Discrimination was assessed using leave-one-patient-out cross-validation with patient-level cluster bootstrap confidence intervals. Exploratory analyses examined early (≤90 days), late (>90 days), and continuous post-transplant time. Results: In the overall cohort, M1 showed modest discrimination (AUC 0.641, 95% CI 0.592–0.689), whereas M2 provided no improvement (AUC 0.635; ΔAUC −0.007). Within 90 days, neither model was informative (M1 AUC 0.503; M2 AUC 0.494). Beyond 90 days, M1 showed moderate discrimination (AUC 0.758, 95% CI 0.664–0.838), but M2 again provided no improvement (AUC 0.746; ΔAUC −0.012). Continuous-time modeling showed that the association between concurrent hs-cTnI and ACR strengthened with increasing time after transplantation, whereas the kinetic term remained non-informative. Conclusions: Time-normalized hs-cTnI kinetics did not provide incremental diagnostic value beyond concurrent hs-cTnI. Concurrent hs-cTnI may warrant further evaluation as an adjunctive late-period marker, but the 90-day threshold remains exploratory and requires external validation. Neither hs-cTnI concentration nor its kinetics should replace endomyocardial biopsy. Full article

Sperm cryopreservation is essential for fertility preservation and assisted reproduction; however, post-thaw sperm quality varies markedly between individuals despite standardized protocols. This exploratory study investigated whether good and poor freezers differ in cellular, sub-cellular, and molecular features associated with cryoresistance. One ejaculate from each of 100 normozoospermic donors was assessed before cryopreservation and after thawing. Samples were classified after thawing as good freezers (GFs; n = 50) or poor freezers (PFs; n = 50) according to post-thaw motility performance, using total motility ≥ 42% and progressive motility ≥ 30% as thresholds. Sperm quality was evaluated using computer-assisted sperm analysis, membrane and acrosome integrity assays, mitochondrial membrane potential, capacitation-associated patterns, membrane lipid disorder and DNA/chromatin integrity tests. Post-thaw thermoresistance was assessed at 37 °C for 60 and 120 min. An exploratory Western blot panel was performed only on fresh pre-freeze samples from a selected subset of 4 GF and 4 PF samples. Cryopreservation reduced sperm quality in both groups; however, PF samples showed significantly greater declines in total and progressive motility, sperm viability, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and thermoresistance. Exploratory Western blot data showed GF-favoring patterns for proAKAP4, SPAG6, proACR and the proACR/ACR ratio, whereas PF samples showed relatively higher ACR abundance; these molecular findings require validation in larger cohorts. Our data indicate that human sperm cryoresistance is a coordinated multi-level phenomenon involving membrane, mitochondrial, acrosomal, chromatin and flagellar resilience. This study identifies candidate functional and molecular indicators associated with cryoresistance and supports future development of pre-freeze screening strategies rather than providing a validated predictive model or clinical cut-off values. Full article

Heavy metal pollution is a serious environmental concern worldwide. Cadmium is one of the most common and hazardous heavy metals and is known to impair intestinal barrier integrity. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum against cadmium chloride (CdCl₂)-induced toxicity in chickens. A total of 120 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly divided into four equal groups (n = 30 birds/group). Following a 4-day acclimation period, the chickens were subjected to a 28-day feeding trial. The control group (CON) received a standard basal diet, the probiotic group (LB) received L. plantarum at 1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL via oral gavage, the co-treatment group (LC) received L. plantarum at 1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL together with CdCl₂ at 80 mg/kg, and the toxin group (CD) received CdCl₂ at 80 mg/kg. Cadmium exposure markedly increased mortality, reduced survival rates, elevated serum liver enzyme activities (p < 0.0001), increased cadmium accumulation in tissues (p < 0.05), and decreased body weight gain in chickens (p < 0.0001). Moreover, cadmium exposure was associated with altered tissue Ca²⁺ homeostasis, upregulation of PIEZO1 expression and impairment of the epithelial tight-junction proteins, including ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1. In contrast, L. plantarum supplementation improved intestinal barrier integrity and restored intestinal morphology, including villus height and crypt depth, which were adversely affected by cadmium exposure. Collectively, L. plantarum supplementation attenuated cadmium-induced systemic and intestinal toxicity, as evidenced by multiple protective mechanisms, such as reduced mortality, decreased tissue cadmium accumulation (p < 0.05), improved biochemical parameters, and preservation of intestinal morphology and tight-junction integrity. These findings suggest that L. plantarum may provide a potential dietary strategy for mitigating cadmium toxicity in broiler chickens. Full article

This study evaluated whether chlorogenic acid (CGA) attenuates hepatic injury in broilers under high stocking density (HSD). A total of 216 experimental male Arbor Acres broilers were assigned to normal density without CGA (ND; 14 birds/m²), high density without CGA (HD; 22 birds/m²), normal density with 0.1% CGA (NDCGA), or high density with 0.1% CGA (HDCGA) groups, with six cages per treatment. CGA was supplied from day 7 to 42. At 42 d, live-weight densities were 35.00, 50.25, 34.48, and 49.38 kg/m², respectively. Compared with their corresponding normal-density groups, the high-density groups had lower body weights at 21, 28, 35, and 42 d, and lower average daily gain (ADG) during days 21–42 (p < 0.05), whereas CGA did not significantly alter body weight or ADG within either stocking density (p > 0.05). At 35 and 42 d, the HD group had lower hepatic T-AOC, SOD, and CAT activities and higher MDA content than the ND group (p < 0.05). Compared with the HD group, the HDCGA group had higher T-AOC and CAT activities and lower MDA content at both ages, and higher SOD activity at 42 d (p < 0.05). Qualitative histological and transcript-level alterations were evident at 28 d. Compared with HD, the HDCGA group showed treatment-associated shifts in AMPK, SREBP1, ACACA, PLA2G4A, COX-2, ALOX5, and NOX5 mRNA abundance (p < 0.05). Under the experimental conditions, 0.1% CGA was associated with partial attenuation of HSD-related hepatic oxidative, lipid-metabolic, and inflammatory disturbances without a significant growth response. Full article

Constructed wetland has evolved into an effective treatment method of effluent, an important consideration in mitigating the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance in environmental and human health contexts. This study evaluated the performance of a 21-acre horizontal flow constructed wetland (HFCW) located at the Nicholls State University Farm for reducing nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria, and antibiotics, in water originating from Bayou Folse receiving treated sewage wastewater. Water samples were collected monthly in triplicate from input and output sites from January 2025 to February 2026. Water quality parameters, such as nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, sulfate, COD and antibiotic concentrations and fecal coliform abundance were analyzed to evaluate treatment efficiency. Significant reductions in sulfate (99.2%) and phosphate (40%) concentrations were observed, along with reduction in other nutrients, between input and output sites over the 14-month study period, indicating nutrient attenuation within the wetland. Antibiotic analysis revealed significant decreases in amoxicillin (81.81%), erythromycin (62.96%), sulfamethoxazole (62.02%), trimethoprim (68.72%), bacitracin (69.77%), tetracycline (69.94%), and penicillin (88.14%) concentrations. Fecal coliform bacterial numbers decreased from input to output site with 32.77% reduction. Overall, the results demonstrated that the constructed wetland effectively reduced nutrients, antibiotics concentration, and fecal coliforms. This study highlights the potential of HFCWs as sustainable mitigation tools for improving water quality. Full article

Plant tissue culture enables the controlled evaluation of plant responses under in vitro conditions, whereas biospeckle laser analysis (BSL) provides a non-invasive approach for assessing dynamic responses in living tissues. However, its application in plant tissue culture requires methodological standardization, particularly in the selection of the illuminated region. This study aimed to standardize BSL acquisition in in vitro grown A. obesum seedlings by comparing the basal, middle, and tip root regions under two contrasting culture medium conditions. Biospeckle responses were quantified using the Absolute Value of the Differences (AVD) index and graphical AVD (GAVD). A significant culture medium × root region interaction was detected for AVD. In MS medium, the basal region showed the highest AVD values, followed by the middle and tip regions, whereas no significant differences among root regions were observed in the medium without mineral salts. The mean root AVD was positively correlated with dry mass, leaf number, fresh mass, leaf length, leaf width, and root length, indicating an association with seedling performance. These findings support the basal region as a suitable candidate for standardized BSL acquisition in A. obesum under the evaluated conditions and demonstrate that root-region selection should be considered during the methodological optimization. Full article

The airborne corner reflector (ACR), a novel radar passive jamming device, has attracted increasing attention from researchers worldwide due to its enhanced interference coverage when suspended by a parachute. However, the directional nature of ACRs renders their effectiveness highly sensitive to in-flight attitude dynamics. By analyzing the parachute body and the corner reflector separately, we propose an improved dynamic model to describe the parachute–payload system. Key innovations include the following: (i) by introducing an 11-degree-of-freedom model for motion analysis of the parachute-mounted double-pyramid octahedron structure, the issue of imprecise analysis in previous methods has been overcome; (ii) explicit modeling of tether tension and geometric constraints is undertaken to capture the parachute–payload coupling mechanism. Numerical simulations of the steady-descent phase demonstrate convergence of the payload’s angular rates and Euler angles, and the results show good agreement with full-scale flight test data. The model strikes a favorable balance between computational efficiency and physical fidelity, and is particularly suited for dynamic analysis of non-axisymmetric payloads in parachute descent systems. Full article

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent in older adults, yet distinguishing pathological CKD from age-related decline in kidney function remains challenging. KDIGO guidelines recommend combined assessment of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR), but implementation in primary care is uncertain. We evaluated CKD screening patterns, KDIGO risk categories, and the prognostic value of eGFR and albuminuria for all-cause mortality in adults aged ≥75 years. Methods: We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study of 587,603 community-dwelling adults aged ≥75 years using Primary Care electronic records. Complete CKD screening was defined as at least two eGFR and two uACR measurements ≥ 3 months apart during 2015–2019. CKD prevalence, KDIGO risk categories, and 40-month all-cause mortality were assessed. Multivariable Cox regression models evaluated the independent and joint associations of eGFR and albuminuria with mortality. Results: Only 19.0% of participants underwent complete KDIGO-recommended screening, mainly because of limited albuminuria testing. Among screened individuals, CKD prevalence was 25.7%, with over half classified as high or very high KDIGO risk. Mortality increased progressively with declining eGFR, increasing albuminuria, and worsening KDIGO risk. Macroalbuminuria (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.75–2.00) and eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m² (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.79–2.04) were independently associated with mortality. Conclusions: Complete KDIGO-recommended screening was performed in only one in five adults aged ≥75 years, identifying a major implementation gap in primary care. Albuminuria provided prognostic information beyond eGFR, improving identification of older adults at highest risk of death. These findings support systematic combined eGFR–uACR assessment to improve risk stratification, guide kidney-protective management, and inform healthcare planning for ageing populations. Full article

Potato peel waste (PPW) represents a low-cost and eco-friendly by-product with potential for use as a fermentation substrate for the production of antibacterial metabolites by Bacillus species. This study evaluated PPW as a fermentation matrix for Bacillus velezensis and demonstrated that 2% PPW supported optimal production of antibacterial compounds. The cell-free supernatant obtained after 96 h of fermentation exhibited the strongest activity against E. coli 18/22, with a MIC of 62.5 µg/mL. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited rapid bactericidal activity, killing E. coli 18/22 within 30 min at 2× MIC and within 120 min at MIC. The antibacterial activity remained stable up to 80 °C, across pH 4–12, and after treatment with pepsin and chymotrypsin. LC/HR-ESI-MS analysis identified oxydifficidin and surfactins C14 and C15 as the main active compounds. Molecular docking revealed that oxydifficidin and surfactin C15 exhibited the strongest binding affinity toward Shiga toxin II, while surfactin C14 displayed a weaker interaction, suggesting the role of acyl chain length in toxin binding. Both oxydifficidin and surfactins interacted with key residues within the catalytic pocket of the AcrB subunit of the AcrAB–TolC multidrug efflux pump, indicating potential inhibition of multidrug resistance mechanisms. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the use of PPW as a fermentation substrate for Bacillus velezensis B38 to produce oxydifficidin and surfactin C14 and C15 exhibiting antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant E. coli. These findings provide a promising strategy for transforming agro-industrial waste into value-added antimicrobial metabolites, contributing to the circular bioeconomy strategies within the One Health framework. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary starch characteristics on intestinal energy metabolism and microbial profiles in Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-supplemented broiler chickens. A total of 300 Arbor Acres male broilers were assigned to five dietary treatments consisting of a corn–soybean basal diet (NC), EGCG supplementation (500 mg/kg) (PC), or diets in which 20% corn was substituted with purified corn (CS), cassava (TS), or pea starch (PS) in the presence of EGCG (500 mg/kg). Growth performance, starch digestion, intestinal energy status, cecal microbiota, and metabolomic profiles were evaluated. The results showed that broilers fed the corn starch-containing diet under EGCG supplementation showed improved average daily gain and feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). This treatment also increased intestinal ATP and cAMP concentrations while reducing AMP and the AMP/ATP ratio, accompanied by enhanced activities of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, citrate synthase, and pyruvate dehydrogenase. Cecal microbiota analysis showed that Lactobacillus abundance was increased in the CS group, whereas Barnesiella was enriched in the PS group. Differential metabolites associated with energy metabolism, including lipoic acid, palmitoylcarnitine, and crotonic acid, were significantly changed among treatments. In conclusion, dietary starch characteristics influenced intestinal energy metabolism-related indicators, microbial profiles, and metabolite patterns in broilers receiving EGCG supplementation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Albuminuria is an important marker of kidney and cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Regional data from Mexico remain limited among patients with preserved estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and no previous diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease. This study aimed to describe albuminuria categories observed at a single screening assessment and to explore clinical factors associated with higher urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) categories in adults with T2DM receiving care at a regional hospital in western Mexico. Methods: This exploratory single-center cross-sectional study included 119 adults with T2DM (mean age, 53.3 ± 11.7 years), preserved eGFR (≥60 mL/min/1.73 m²), and no previous diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease. Albuminuria was classified from a single first-morning uACR measurement as A1 (<30 mg/g), A2 (30–300 mg/g), or A3 (>300 mg/g). Exploratory multivariable ordinal logistic regression evaluated factors associated with higher uACR categories. A secondary exploratory binary model evaluated screen-detected uACR ≥ 30 mg/g (A2/A3 versus A1). Results: A1 was observed in 67 patients (56.3%), A2 in 40 (33.6%), and A3 in 12 (10.1%); 52 patients (43.7%) had uACR ≥ 30 mg/g at screening. The median uACR was 25.6 mg/g, the median HbA1c was 11.2%, and the median fasting glucose was 280 mg/dL. In the exploratory ordinal model, longer T2DM duration (OR 1.51 per 5 years; 95% CI 1.09–2.10; p = 0.012), higher HbA1c (OR 1.18 per 1% increase; 95% CI 1.01–1.38; p = 0.036), and lower eGFR (OR 0.69 per 10 mL/min/1.73 m² increase; 95% CI 0.55–0.88; p = 0.003) were associated with higher uACR categories after adjustment for the measured covariates. In the secondary binary model, longer T2DM duration and lower eGFR were associated with screen-detected uACR ≥ 30 mg/g. Conclusions: A single screening assessment identified uACR ≥ 30 mg/g in 43.7% of this selected regional cohort. These findings represent screen-detected albuminuria and do not establish persistent albuminuria, diabetic kidney disease, temporality, or causality. Confirmation with repeated uACR measurements and validation in larger longitudinal multicenter studies with detailed medication data are required. Full article

This study evaluated the physiological and production responses of broilers to a phytogenic nutritional additive (PNA) applied under different dietary nutrient matrix credit strategies. The PNA contained star anise essential oil, thyme essential oil, and Quillaja saponaria Molina stem and leaf powder, with trans-anethole, p-cymene, and thymol as the main characterized marker compounds. A total of 384 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were assigned to four treatments (eight replicates of 12 birds): a basal control diet without PNA (CON) and PNA-supplemented diets using full matrix credit (PNA-FM), protein matrix credit (PNA-PM), or no matrix credit (PNA-NM). Growth performance was unaffected (p > 0.05), whereas all PNA-supplemented groups had higher dressed percentages and eviscerated yields than CON (p < 0.01). PNA-PM and PNA-NM increased the muscle pH (p < 0.01), and PNA-NM increased drip loss and shear force (p < 0.05). Intestinal responses were time-dependent: on day 14, PNA-NM increased serum FITC-d, tended to increase DAO activity, and downregulated ZO-1 expression, while all PNA-containing treatments reduced the villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (p < 0.01), suggesting a transient epithelial adjustment rather than direct barrier improvement. On day 22, qualitative TEM observations suggested closer epithelial junctions in PNA-containing treatments. These results indicate that PNA-containing formulation strategies did not compromise growth performance and modified carcass traits, meat quality traits, intestinal responses, and the excreta nutrient composition. Because PNA-free full matrix and protein matrix control diets were not included, these findings should be interpreted as responses to complete dietary strategies rather than as formal PNA × nutrient matrix interactions. Full article