Search Results (8,451)

This study evaluates how differences in data provenance and inventory construction influence whole-life carbon assessment (WLCA) results for a residential building in Colombia. Two scenarios were assessed: Scenario A, based on contractor records (building Company Z) and the public utility supplier; and Scenario B, based on drawing-derived quantity take-offs and a Colombian regulatory energy baseline (Resolution 0549 of 2015). The assessment follows UNE-EN 15978 and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) WLCA for modules A1–A3, A4–A5, and B6. Scenario B reached 784.4 kg CO₂e/m², which is 37.9% higher than Scenario A. In the product stage, impacts increased from 298.1 to 332.6 kg CO₂e/m², while in the operational energy stage they increased from 246.2 to 426.2 kg CO₂e/m². The results show that WLCA outcomes are highly sensitive to data provenance, reporting gaps, and baseline selection, underscoring the need for stronger data governance and more traceable environmental reporting practices in building assessment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a frequent condition in postmenopausal women and is associated with a substantial negative impact on quality of life. Conservative management can include pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and high-intensity focused electromagnetic stimulation (HIFEM); however, data regarding the potential benefit of combining these modalities remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate whether the addition of a structured Kegel exercise program to EMSELLA-based electromagnetic stimulation is associated with enhanced clinical outcomes in postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence. Methods: This prospective comparative study included 99 postmenopausal women with stress, urgency, or mixed urinary incontinence and an International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) score ≥ 6. Participants received either EMSELLA therapy alone (Group A, n = 49) or EMSELLA combined with a standardized Kegel exercise program (Group B, n = 50) over a three-month period. Symptom severity was assessed at baseline and at three months using the ICIQ-UI SF. Between-group comparisons were performed using analysis of covariance, adjusting for baseline scores. Results: Both therapeutic approaches were associated with clinically meaningful improvement in urinary incontinence symptoms. After adjustment for baseline severity, lower follow-up ICIQ-UI SF scores, greater mean symptom reduction, and higher response rates were observed in the combined-therapy group. Across all menopausal-duration subgroups, outcomes consistently favored the association of EMSELLA therapy with Kegel exercises. No treatment-related adverse events were reported. Conclusions: The association of EMSELLA electromagnetic stimulation with a structured Kegel exercise program was associated with greater symptom improvement than electromagnetic stimulation alone, suggesting an additive therapeutic effect of voluntary pelvic floor muscle training. This combined conservative approach was well tolerated and may represent a useful management strategy for postmenopausal urinary incontinence. Full article

Plant architecture is a critical agronomic trait in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), with vine length directly influencing planting density, light interception, and field management efficiency. Short-vine forms have become important agronomic targets in breeding due to their advantages of high-density planting, efficient light utilization, and simplified field management. In this study, a dwarf mutant, designated PKH207, was identified from an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized population of the watermelon inbred line G42. The mutant exhibited significantly reduced plant height and shortened internodes due to decreased cell expansion in stem tissues. Genetic analysis indicated that the dwarf phenotype in PKH207 is controlled by a single recessive gene, which was named Cldw2 (Citrullus lanatus dwarf mutant 2). Using a population of 558 F₂ plants, bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) and linkage mapping delimited the causal locus to a 540.6 kb region on chromosome 10. Within this interval, a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutation was identified in the gene ClG42_10g0100600, encoding an α-tubulin, and this gene was determined to be the candidate gene for the dwarf phenotype. Transcriptome analysis revealed that this mutation significantly disrupts key biological processes, including cell wall biosynthesis, microtubule cytoskeleton organization, and auxin signaling pathways, contributing to the dwarfism phenotype. This study identifies a novel dwarfing allele in cucurbits and provides a direct molecular target for breeding compact watermelon cultivars suited to high-density production. Full article

Marine controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys have been proven to be an effective tool in hydrocarbon exploration, principally due to the method’s ability (in the right circumstances) to identify electrical resistivity contrasts between hydrocarbon-saturated and brine-saturated sedimentary units. However, the sensitivity of such surveys decreases in shallow water, for deeper targets, and for targets with limited horizontal extent. In principle, the resolution and sensitivity of a survey can be improved by moving either the transmitting or the receiving dipoles into the sub-surface. We have therefore investigated the sensitivity of Seafloor to Borehole CSEM (sbCSEM) survey geometries, specifically for the case of simplified targets with small lateral dimensions in shallow water areas—including targets whose depth of burial substantially exceeds their lateral extent. The results are encouraging. Neither small target size nor shallow water presents obstacles in principle to the use of this approach. Our models reveal distinct lobes in the patterns of electric field and current density amplitudes around a sub-seafloor transmitting dipole. The shape, positions and amplitudes of these lobes are all strongly modified by the presence of one or more small resistive targets, and they are strongly influenced by the positions of target edges. These effects significantly modify the pattern of electric fields at the seafloor and hence result in good sensitivity for realistic survey geometries. Small targets can be detected by seafloor receivers when the sub-seafloor transmitting dipole is located at some distance laterally outside the targets—leading to potential applications in ‘step-out’ prospecting. The asymmetry of responses at the seafloor from targets that are offset with respect to transmitter location has potential applications in field appraisal, while monitoring of reservoirs during production provides another possible application. Varying the depth of the transmitter down the borehole generates a Vertical EM Profiling (VEMP) survey—analogous to Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP)—and we demonstrate that this too can have useful applications. Modelling for deeper (3 km sub-seafloor) targets continues to yield encouraging results and suggests that step-out sbCSEM may be effective at depths beyond the detection limit of conventional seafloor–seafloor CSEM. Full article

Continuous introduction of advanced optimization algorithms promotes the development of electromagnetic (EM) technology in radar and communication systems. Wideband antenna design within a given space and wideband array pattern synthesis, especially in the scenario of strong mutual coupling, are two typical challenging electromagnetic problems. In this paper, a nature-inspired algorithm, i.e., the water cycle algorithm (WCA), is introduced to resolve the above two EM problems. Two typical wideband antennas, i.e., the dual-band E-shaped microstrip antenna and the typical magnetoelectric (ME) dipole antenna, are designed on the basis of the established WCA-based antenna design scheme. Compared with the well-known algorithms that have been introduced in antenna design, including the differential evolution (DE) algorithm and the gray wolf optimizer (GWO), better results can be achieved with WCA. In the sequel, a WCA-based low peak sidelobe level (PSLL) pattern synthesis is implemented based on a uniformly spaced 27-element folded fractal ME dipole array antenna with mutual coupling as high as −10 dB, the results of which further validate the superiority of WCA in array pattern synthesis and demonstrate the value of this application innovation. Full article

The transition toward sustainable facility management requires cleaning systems that reduce environmental burdens while maintaining high hygienic standards. This study presents a comparative evaluation of a green cleaning protocol (EVA SmartClean), compliant with the Italian Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM; D.M. 29 January 2021), compared with a conventional cleaning system implemented in a civil facility (Adriatico Guest House, Trieste, Italy; 8260 m²). The assessment integrates a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), conducted in accordance with ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067 and PCR 2011:03 for professional cleaning services, with an extensive microbiological surface monitoring campaign performed using RODAC plates and swab sampling. The functional unit was defined as 1 m² of representative surface maintained clean for one year. The green protocol achieved a 47.7% reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP100 based on IPCC AR6 characterization factors), corresponding to −110 g CO₂e/m²·year and −908 kg CO₂e/year for the entire facility. Major reductions in climate impact were associated with chemical consumption (−82.6%), energy use (−49.5%), and textile waste generation (−92.4%). Microbiological analyses demonstrated that both protocols complied with reference hygiene thresholds, while the green system achieved reductions in total mesophilic counts that were comparable or superior across representative surfaces. The results confirm that environmental optimization in cleaning services can be achieved without compromising microbiological safety, supporting public procurement policies aligned with CAM requirements and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 12 and 13). Full article

DNA methylation constitutes a primary layer of epigenetic regulation in plants, operating across three sequence contexts (CG, CHG, and CHH) through distinct enzymatic pathways. Over the past fifteen years, accumulating evidence has shown that DNA methylation varies substantially among individuals and populations of wild plants, sometimes independently of underlying genetic polymorphism. This variation can influence gene expression, transposable element activity, and phenotypic traits relevant to ecological adaptation. Population epigenetics, the study of methylation variation at the population scale, has matured from initial surveys using methylation-sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism (MS-AFLP) into a discipline increasingly reliant on reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing (epiGBS, bsRADseq), whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), enzymatic methyl-seq (EM-seq), and direct long-read detection by nanopore sequencing. These methodological advances are opening population epigenetics to non-model organisms across the full breadth of the plant phylogeny, from angiosperms and gymnosperms to ferns and bryophytes. We cover (i) the molecular machinery underlying plant DNA methylation, including the debated status of N6-methyladenine (6mA); (ii) empirical evidence for natural epigenetic variation in plant populations, spanning clonal, invasive, and outcrossing species; (iii) the methodological toolkit available for population-scale methylation profiling, with emphasis on approaches suitable for non-model taxa; and (iv) the ecological and evolutionary significance of population epigenetic variation, including transgenerational inheritance, stress memory, epigenetic clocks, conservation applications, and the emerging integration of epigenetics into the extended evolutionary synthesis. We identify critical knowledge gaps, particularly the near-complete absence of population-level epigenetic data for bryophytes, ferns, and lycophytes, and outline priorities for future research. Full article

Background: Dyspnea is a common reason for emergency medical service (EMS) interventions and is associated with a substantial risk of severe clinical course, complications, and hospital admission. Its differential diagnosis in the prehospital setting remains challenging due to the limited availability of imaging modalities. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), including lung ultrasound (LUS), is a rapid, field-applicable technique recommended in numerous acute respiratory diagnostic scenarios. Objective: To evaluate the use of lung ultrasound in the prehospital setting and its association with the precision of diagnoses related to respiratory failure, the frequency of transport to the emergency department (ED) among patients presenting with dyspnea/respiratory failure, and to characterize the profile of sonographic findings with their correlation to clinical diagnostic categories. Additionally, transport rates in the study population were compared with aggregated regional data for the Masovian Voivodeship (excluding the analyzed county). Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on EMS interventions performed between 01 January 2025 and 30 June 2025 in Legionowo County (N = 353). The analysis included ICD-10 codes assigned in prehospital documentation (one primary code and up to two additional codes) in patients presenting with dyspnea and/or respiratory failure, the performance of ultrasound examination, and resulting LUS findings (absence of pleural sliding and/or lung point; B-lines; consolidations; C-lines; pleural effusion). Descriptive analyses, frequency comparison tests (χ²/Fisher), estimation of relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and agreement analysis using Cohen’s kappa coefficient (κ) between etiological categories derived from ICD-10 codes and those inferred from LUS profiles were performed (κ with 95% CI estimated using bootstrap resampling). The study was reported in accordance with the STROBE guidelines for observational studies. Additionally, the distribution of ICD-10 coding and the proportion of hospital transports across the entire Masovian Voivodeship were compared with those observed in the analyzed area. Results: Ultrasound examination was performed in 72/353 (20.4%) EMS interventions; transport to the emergency department occurred in 239/353 (67.7%) cases. The most frequent clinical categories based on ICD-10 codes were: general/symptom-based 182/353 (51.6%), inflammatory 77/353 (21.8%), obstructive 66/353 (18.7%), and cardiological 20/353 (5.7%). Among abnormal LUS findings, the most common were B-lines (43/72; 61.4%) and consolidations (29/72; 41.4%). Consolidations were strongly associated with the inflammatory category (OR 9.72; p < 0.001), whereas B-lines were associated with the cardiological category (OR 23.41; p = 0.0011) among cases in which LUS was performed. Ultrasound use was associated with a higher frequency of assigning at least one targeted (non-symptom-based) diagnosis within ICD coding: 53/72 (73.6%) vs. 111/278 (39.9%), RR 1.84 (95% CI 1.51–2.25; p < 0.001). Agreement between the ICD-10 etiological category (inflammatory/cardiological/obstructive/other) and the category inferred from the LUS profile was moderate: κ = 0.36 (95% CI 0.21–0.51), with an observed agreement of 54.2%. Compared with aggregated regional data (Masovian Voivodeship excluding the analyzed county), the overall transport rate for comparable ICD-10 codes was lower in the study unit: 279/409 (68.2%) vs. 11,351/13,785 (82.3%), RR 0.83 (95% CI 0.78–0.89; p < 0.001). The largest differences were observed for dyspnea (R06.0: 72.9% vs. 88.2%; RR 0.83) and obstructive codes (J44/J45/J46 combined: 43.1% vs. 67.0%; RR 0.64). Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis, an EMS unit with systematically implemented ultrasound demonstrated a lower frequency of hospital transport for selected dyspnea/respiratory failure codes compared with regional data and greater precision in ICD-10 diagnostic coding in cases where ultrasound was performed. The profile of LUS findings correlated with clinical categories in a manner consistent with existing literature. Full article

Hippophae tibetana Schltdl. is a cold-tolerant deciduous shrub endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, playing a vital ecological role in high-altitude environments. This study utilized the Biomod2 platform to model its current and future potential distribution under climate change, integrating 34 environmental variables across bioclimatic, topographic, edaphic, anthropogenic, and ultraviolet (UV) dimensions. Among ten candidate species distribution models (SDMs), the random forest (RF) algorithm exhibited the highest predictive accuracy and stability. An ensemble model (EM) combining RF, GBM, MARS, and FDA further improved predictive performance (ROC = 0.992, TSS = 0.923, and Kappa = 0.886). Key determinants of habitat suitability included altitude, temperature, UV radiation, and biodiversity, with RF response curves revealing distinct nonlinear thresholds. Optimal suitability occurred at around a 4000 m elevation, decreasing beyond this range, while temperature and UV exhibited similar unimodal responses. Under the SSP2-4.5 climate scenario, the suitable habitat is projected to expand from the 2050s to the 2090s, particularly in eastern Qinghai, southwestern Gansu, northwestern Sichuan, and central–southern Tibet. The species’ distribution centroid is anticipated to shift southwestward toward Qinghai Province, with more rapid migration projected after the 2050s. These findings underscore the complex interplay of environmental factors shaping H. tibetana distribution and offer valuable insights for conservation planning in the ecologically fragile Tibetan Plateau. Full article

Lolium rigidum is among the most prevalent and noxious weeds in cereal and perennial cropping systems worldwide and has developed resistance to several herbicide modes of action. This study employed a sensor-based smart farming method for the early screening of herbicide resistance across three L. rigidum accessions in Greece, followed by dose–response experiments with clodinafop-propargyl, glyphosate, and mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl. In the preliminary screening, herbicides were applied at their highest recommended rates, whereas the dose–response experiments included five application rates (0, 1/4X, X, 2X, and 4X). The EM2 accession exhibited confirmed resistance to mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl, with a resistance index of 5.31 and a five-fold increase in the herbicide rate required compared to the susceptible EM1 accession. For clodinafop-propargyl, the GR50 value of the resistant EM3 accession (147.97 g a.i. ha⁻¹) was approximately 2.5-fold higher than that of the susceptible EM2 accession (60.28 g a.i. ha⁻¹). Glyphosate application provided only partial biomass reduction in resistant accessions, indicating reduced susceptibility. In parallel, TaqMan assays were developed and validated to detect target-site mutations linked to resistance against EPSPS-, ACCase-, and ALS-inhibiting herbicides, supporting the molecular interpretation of the observed resistance patterns. Overall, the results demonstrate that sensor-based smart farming approaches can provide a rapid and reliable tool for the early screening of herbicide resistance, enabling more informed crop protection strategies and supporting sustainable weed management. Further research across diverse soil types and climatic conditions is warranted to validate and extend the applicability of these approaches. Full article

Objectives: To evaluate how often pain is assessed and treated in pediatric trauma patients transported by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to a pediatric emergency department (ED), and to compare current practice with national recommendations of the Polish Ministry of Health for prehospital pediatric pain management. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of EMS and ED documentation for all trauma patients under 18 years of age transported to the Pediatric Teaching Hospital of the University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Warsaw between 1 January and 31 December 2021. A total of 981 patients with injury or suspected injury or burns were included without exclusion criteria. For patients with documented pain scores, we analyzed pain intensity (0–10), the scales used [Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Wong–Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (FACES)], body region injured, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, suspected alcohol or psychoactive substance use, and type and route of analgesic administration. We further evaluated non-pharmacological interventions, pain reassessment, and achievement of at least 50% pain reduction, as defined in national guidelines. Statistical analysis included Student’s t-test or ANOVA for quantitative variables and maximum likelihood chi-square tests for qualitative variables (α = 0.05). Results: Pain was assessed in 839/981 (85.5%) patients; 651/839 (77.6%) reported pain, most frequently of moderate intensity. Despite this, only 208/981 (21.2%) patients received analgesics prehospitally. Morphine and paracetamol were the most frequently used drugs, predominantly administered intravenously, while non-opioid monotherapy was commonly used in patients with lower baseline pain scores. Less than half of all patients received any non-pharmacological intervention whatsoever. Pain was reassessed in 734/839 (87.5%) patients, with a mean reassessment time of approximately 10 min; however, in many cases reassessment occurred earlier than the expected onset of analgesic action. Overall, only 29.4% of patients with pain and documented reassessment achieved the recommended ≥50% reduction in pain intensity, and at least 70.2% of the cohort had no documented evidence of treatment fully complying with national recommendations. Conclusions: In this real-world prehospital and ED cohort, pediatric trauma pain remains under-treated, and adherence to national guidelines on opioid-based analgesia and pain reassessment is suboptimal. Further efforts are needed to improve documentation, expand the recommended pharmacological options for mild pain, and strengthen education on guideline-concordant pediatric pain management in EMS. Full article

This study evaluates deterministic flood fatality models using a harmonised dataset of river and flash flood events in Europe (1980–2024). The objective is to quantify differences across data sources and critically assess the applicability of commonly used prediction models for hydrological floods, with particular emphasis on flash floods, which remain poorly represented in existing methodologies. The analysis integrates large-scale databases on flood fatalities (HANZE, EM-DAT) with detailed event-based studies containing hazard and other indicators, enabling a combined evaluation from different sources. Three model groups are assessed by comparing predicted and observed fatalities: Damage–Fatality, Depth–Fatality, and Depth–Velocity–Fatality approaches. Results confirm discrepancy between exposure and mortality: river floods dominate in terms of affected population (87%) and economic losses (71%), whereas flash floods account for nearly half of all fatalities despite affecting only 13% of people. All evaluated models show significant limitations for prediction of flash floods fatalities; single-parameter approaches perform poorly, while multi-parameter models remain highly sensitive to uncertain hydraulic inputs. The study demonstrates that current methods are not transferable to flash flood conditions and highlights the need for integrated, multi-variable approaches supported by consistent and high-quality datasets. The main contributions of the study are the first systematic validation of widely used models against historical river and flash flood events, revealing their uncertainties, and a comprehensive assessment of their robustness and sensitivity to key input indicators. Full article

Non-destructive characterization of electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation properties in drill cores is gaining prominence as a foundation for reliable geophysical inversion, improved rock-physics modeling, and increasingly data-driven mineral exploration workflows. Lab-based rock characterization requires benchmarks that link the density, elastic, electrical, magnetic, and EM properties of studied cores to lithology and mineralization, enabling more accurate interpretation of geophysical data. This study develops a robust high-frequency EM (HFEM) wave velocity measurement technique and incorporates it within a standardized non-destructive framework validated across multiple mineral systems in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The developed method derives EM velocities from two-way travel time through drill cores positioned above a metallic reflector, supported by finite-difference time-domain simulations to optimize antenna frequency and test geometry. A repeatable signal-processing workflow was implemented to enhance reflection picking. Results reveal systematic EM velocity contrasts among host rocks and oxide or sulfide-bearing systems, with oxide-rich and massive sulfide intervals exhibiting higher density, elevated conductivity and susceptibility with strong EM attenuation. The integrated dataset shows that conductivity and magnetic susceptibility significantly influence EM velocity response and detectability limits. The proposed multi-parameter benchmark enables enhanced discrimination of lithological and mineralization controls in mineral exploration workflows and supports more accurate time–depth conversion in HFEM geophysical and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) methods. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) beans represents a significant threat to international food safety standards. This study evaluated the efficacy of microbial inoculants (efficient microorganism, EMs) combined with tropical fruit extracts (Musa × paradisiaca, Artocarpus heterophyllus, and Passiflora edulis) on mitigating Cd levels during cocoa fermentation. During fermentation, all treatments exhibited a progressive increase in pH and temperature, alongside a decline in total soluble solids, reflecting intensified microbial metabolic activity. Cd reduction was found to be dose-dependent on EM concentration and fruit extract, and synergistic effects were shown by EM and fruit extracts. The most effective treatment, i.e., 80% EMs + P. edulis extract, reduced 33.5% Cd levels, i.e., from 3.67 mg/kg to 2.44 mg/kg. Additionally, these biotechnological approaches improved post-harvest cocoa quality, with fermentation levels exceeding 95% for well-fermented beans and reducing defective beans to near zero. In conclusion, directed fermentation using EMs and tropical fruit extracts provides a robust strategy for Cd mitigation and qualitative enhancement of cacao beans. Full article

Grain number and size are important agronomic traits determining grain yield, and yield improvement depends on exploring functional variations of key regulatory genes. Mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MAPK6) plays a key role in crop development; however, its function and variation in wheat remain largely unclear. In this study, we aimed to characterize the function and haplotype variations of TaMAPK6-7A in wheat and develop functional molecular markers for marker assisted breeding. We identified three TaMAPK6 homoeologs on 7A, 7B, and 7D in wheat through bioinformatics analysis and revealed their evolutionary trajectory by phylogenetic analysis, with clear monocot-dicot lineage divergence and TaMAPK6 homoeolog clustering matching with hexaploid wheat’s allopolyploid origin. Spatiotemporal expression analysis showed that the TaMAPK6 homoeologs constitutively expressed in wheat tissues and were highly abundant in endosperm, spike, grain, and anther, with TaMAPK6-7A showing slightly higher transcript levels. In an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-induced Jing411 mutant library, we identified a loss-of-function mutant of TaMAPK6-7A (J7633452), which exhibited severely reduced grain number per spike, impaired anther fertility, and increased grain size. Natural variation analysis of a large set of wheat accessions identified two major haplotypes of TaMAPK6-7A, with Type I was identical to the reference genome cultivar ‘Chinese Spring’, and Type II was consistent with the elite wheat cultivar ‘AK58’. We developed a PCR marker to accurately distinguish the two haplotypes and genotyped 192 wheat cultivars and elite breeding lines. Phenotypic evaluation indicated that Type II was an elite haplotype significantly associated with higher grain number per spike. This study characterizes TaMAPK6-7A as a key regulator of grain number per spike, providing a gene and molecular marker for marker-assisted breeding to improve grain yield. Full article