Search Results (78,581)

Integrating positive welfare indicators into dairy science is gaining attention, yet the biological correlates of affective states in commercial herds remain poorly understood. This study explored associations between dairy cows’ emotional states quantified through the Positive Affect Index (PAI) derived from the Qualitative Behaviour (QBA) Assessment and milk biomarkers, yield, and udder health indicators across 37 commercial farms. Descriptive statistics, housing-adjusted linear regressions, and partial Spearman correlations were used to explore these relationships. Higher PAI values, indicating more positive herd-level emotional states, were significantly associated with lower SCC (22% reduction, p = 0.016) and lower odds of elevated DSCC (OR = 0.69, p = 0.002), reflecting improved udder health. Positive affect was also linked to a higher lactose concentration (p < 0.001) and an increased fat-to-protein ratio (FPR). A tendency for higher milk yield (+1.07 L per milking, p = 0.077) and slightly lower protein content was observed, consistent with a dilution effect. These associations remained robust after sensitivity analyses and were independent of housing type. The results demonstrate that milk composition and udder health biologically reflect positive emotional states, supporting the integration of behavioural assessments and milk biomarkers as a non-invasive framework for advancing welfare-oriented and precision dairy farming. Full article

Among wireless communication technologies underlying Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart buildings, IQRF (Intelligent Connectivity Using Radio Frequency) technology is a promising candidate due to its low power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and wide coverage. However, effectively modeling the propagation characteristics of IQRF in complex indoor environments for simple and accurate network deployment remains challenging, as architectural elements like walls and corners cause substantial signal attenuation and unpredictable propagation behavior. This study investigates the applicability of a site-specific modeling approach, originally developed for urban street canyons, to characterize peer-to-peer (P2P) IQRF links operating at 868 MHz in typical indoor scenarios, including line-of-sight (LoS), one-turn, and two-turn non-line-of-sight (NLoS) configurations. The received signal powers are compared with well-known empirical models, including international telecommunication union radio communication sector (ITU-R) P.1238-9 and WINNER II, and ray-tracing simulations. The results show that while ITU-R P.1238-9 achieves lower prediction error under LoS conditions with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.694 dB, the site-specific approach achieves substantially higher accuracy in NLoS scenarios, maintaining RMSE values below 3.9 dB for one- and two-turn links. Furthermore, ray-tracing simulations exhibited notably larger deviations, with RMSE values ranging from 7.522 dB to 16.267 dB and lower correlation with measurements. These results demonstrate the potential of site-specific modeling to provide practical, computationally efficient, and accurate insights for IQRF network deployment planning in smart building environments. Full article

This study explores the transformation of Beijing’s metropolitan commuting network resulting from the relief of the non-essential capital functions policy. The aim is to understand how this policy has contributed to the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. Using China Unicom’s mobile signaling data from 2017 to 2021, we apply complex network analysis to quantify changes in commuting patterns from the perspectives of node importance, link strength, and community structure. The results indicate a shift from a monocentric to a polycentric network (e.g., in-degree centrality in areas outside Beijing increased by 49.5%; global network efficiency rose from 0.66 to 0.69), with peripheral employment centers gaining prominence while central districts lose their dominant position. However, administrative boundaries hinder full regional integration, as only select areas form interconnected clusters. These findings suggest that the policy supports optimized job-housing spatial structures, reduced urban congestion, and improved resource efficiency, contributing to sustainable urban development. The findings highlight the role of enhanced rail transit and governance in further strengthening connectivity and minimizing environmental impacts, while also providing empirical evidence for urban planning strategies aimed at fostering resource-efficient, low-waste metropolitan areas. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and is often prefaced by mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Detection of AD-related changes via blood-based biomarkers would enable critical therapeutic interventions early in disease progression. Neuronal enriched extracellular vesicle (NEEV) miRNAs regulate peripheral genes as a response to early AD brain changes and hence may have biomarker potential. Plasma NEEVs were captured from plasma samples of Mexican Americans (MAs) and Non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) using an antibody against the neuronal surface marker CD171. miRNAs isolated from NEEVs were sequenced and analyzed using miRDeep2/DEseq2 and QIAGEN RNA-seq portal for differential expression between cognitively impaired (CI) and cognitively unimpaired controls. hsa-miR-122-5p was significantly underrepresented in the CI group in both MAs and NHWs compared to the healthy control. Other population-specific miRNAs (MAs: hsa-miR-26a-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, and hsa-miR-139-5p, NHWs: hsa-miR-133a-3p, hsa-miR-125b-5p, and hsa-miR-100-5p) identified may have biomarker potential in AD precision medicine. Some of these differentially expressed miRNAs were associated with key AD-related comorbidities such as APOE genotype, age, and metabolic burden and were predicted to target genes within NF-κB -regulated inflammatory pathways. Together, these findings suggest that dysregulated miRNA networks may serve as a mechanistic link between comorbidity burden and AD-related neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Full article

In this research, an innovative, integrative method is applied, which not only links media discourse and statutory planning documents but also involves both quantitative and qualitative analysis. By going beyond the traditional extreme of either policy review or text-based SETS frameworks, this study becomes the pioneer of a dual-coded, matrix-driven approach, which is capable of measuring policy–implementation gaps and empirically revealing the impact of media framing on disaster management outcomes. The 29 October 2024 Valencia flood, which claimed over 229 lives, highlights critical shortcomings in the region’s flood management policies. This study evaluates media and institutional sources to examine how public discourse aligns with post-flood management strategies. It focuses on Valencia’s statutory flood management plan, the “Pla d’acció territorial de caràcter sectorial sobre prevenció del risc d’inundació a la Comunitat Valenciana” (“Regional Action Plan for Flood Risk Prevention,” PATRICOVA) and its limited integration with the Socio–Ecological–Technological Systems (SETS) framework, which we identify as a central weakness. By analyzing Spanish media coverage, particularly from sources such as El País, ABC, and La Vanguardia, alongside government policy documents, the study reveals a gap between theoretical flood risk planning and practical disaster response. Our keyword-based text mining of leading newspapers highlights the neglect of social, ecological, and technological interactions. While PATRICOVA emphasizes nature protection and technological infrastructure, it overlooks critical societal dimensions and climate adaptation scenarios. Media analysis reveals significant failures at the SETS interfaces, especially in early warning systems, intergovernmental coordination, and community preparedness. Full article

This research examines how perceived social support shapes the legal motivation of Chinese university students by unraveling the underlying psychological pathways. Integrating the relational legal socialization framework with self-determination theory, we test a moderated mediation model in which subjective social support, comprising emotional and informational resources from families, peers, and institutions, exerts both a direct effect on legal motivation and an indirect effect through core self-evaluation, which is characterized by stable, positive self-beliefs. Additionally, we investigate the role of objective social support, defined as concrete resources and formal assistance, in moderating the link between subjective support and core self-evaluation. Utilizing survey responses from 365 undergraduates across mainland China, mediation and moderated mediation analyses with bootstrapped confidence intervals demonstrate that subjective support significantly enhances legal motivation, partially via improvements in core self-evaluation. Crucially, the mediating influence of core self-evaluation is stronger when objective support is high, confirming the moderation hypothesis. These findings enrich legal socialization theory by bridging individual psychological processes with behavioral outcomes in a Chinese context and underscore the importance of simultaneously cultivating perceived support experiences and strengthening formal support structures to foster legal motivation and compliance among college students. Full article

Background: Population ageing is a global challenge, prompting ageing-in-place policies in Hong Kong to support community-dwelling older adults while reducing healthcare costs. Yet, their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains underexplored amid Hong Kong’s long life expectancy and growing older population. Traditional surveys are costly and time-consuming, while routinely collected registration data offers a large, efficient source for health insights. This study uses enhanced administrative data to track HRQoL trajectories and inform policy. Methods: This is a prospective, open-ended longitudinal study, enrolling adults aged 50 or older from a collaborating non-governmental organization in Hong Kong’s Southern District. Data collection, started in February 2021, occurs annually via phone and face-to-face interviews by trained social workers and volunteers using a standardized questionnaire to assess individual (e.g., socio-demographics), environmental (e.g., social support via Lubben Social Network Scale-6), biological (e.g., chronic illnesses), functional (e.g., cognition via Montreal Cognitive Assessment), and HRQoL (e.g., EQ-5D-5L) factors. A secure online system links health and service use data (e.g., service utilization like community care visits). Analysis employs descriptive statistics, group comparisons, correlations, growth modelling to identify health trajectories, and structural equation modelling to test a revised quality-of-life framework. Sample size (projected 470–580 after two follow-ups from a 2321 baseline) is based on power calculations: 300–500 for latent class growth analysis (LCGA) class detection and 200–400 for structural equation modelling (SEM) fit (e.g., RMSEA < 0.06) at 80% power/α = 0.05, simulated via Monte Carlo with a 50–55% attrition. Discussion: This is the first longitudinal HRQoL study in Hong Kong using enhanced non-governmental organization (NGO) administrative data, integrating social–ecological and HRQoL models to predict trajectories (e.g., stable vs. declining mobility) and project care demands (e.g., increase in in-home care for frailty). Unlike prior cross-sectional or inpatient studies, it offers a scalable model for NGOs, informing ageing-in-place policy effectiveness and equitable geriatric care. Full article

This study investigated the chemical and autogenous shrinkage behaviour of limestone calcined clay cement (LC³) pastes incorporating calcined clays sourced from Australia, France, and India. Hydration development and microstructural evolution were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and pore-size distribution analysis. Results showed that LC³ mixes hydration accelerates during early phases, with the main silicate hydration peak appearing more prominently than that in the GP and FA reference pastes, indicating increased nucleation and growth of hydration products due to the limestone filler effect. LC³ pastes exhibited higher autogenous shrinkage overtime, strongly influenced by calcined clay reactivity and particle fineness. A clear correlation was observed between pore refinement and autogenous deformation during the early phases (7 days): pastes with a greater volume of fine pores showed higher early-age autogenous shrinkage during the first 7 days of hydration. In contrast, the chemical shrinkage of LC³ mixes was comparable to that of the GP and FA systems at early ages (≤7 days) but became lower after 28 days, attributed to both the matrix densification and additional nucleation sites provided by the limestone. Overall, LC³ reduces long-term chemical shrinkage and densifies the microstructure; however, the refined pore structure and increased internal water demand lead to higher autogenous shrinkage. These findings demonstrate a direct link between hydration-driven microstructural evolution (phase formation and pore refinement) and the resulting shrinkage behaviour. Full article

Long-term effects of concussions, particularly in contact sport athletes, have been linked to changes in neuronal health. Lipid dysregulation has emerged as a potential contributor to neuronal injury and may serve as a measurable biomarker of brain pathology. This study investigated cognitive scores and serum lipid biomarkers in retired rugby players with a history of concussion to assess their association with concussion exposure. Serum levels of 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-HC), 25-HC, 27-HC, total triglycerides, and ceramide were compared between retired rugby players with a history of repeated concussions (n = 26) and non-contact sport controls (n = 19). ELISA-based quantification and statistical analyses identified significant group differences. Concussed athletes exhibited significantly lower serum 24-HC and significantly higher levels of 27-HC, triglycerides, and ceramide compared to controls, while no significant difference was observed for 25-HC. These findings indicate that repeated concussion is associated with reductions in cognitive performance and persistent alterations in serum lipid profiles. The observed lipid changes, particularly in 24-HC, 27-HC, ceramide, and triglycerides, may serve as measurable biomarkers of concussion-related biochemical alterations, providing a foundation for future studies aimed at monitoring neurological health in at-risk populations. Full article

Urological cancers are associated with reduced quality of life and high psychological burden, yet affected patients receive less psychosocial support than other cancer groups. Electronic health literacy (eHL) may facilitate independent access to resources, but its role for psychological outcomes and quality of life in this group is unclear. This study examined associations between eHL, psychological symptoms, and quality of life during transition from inpatient to outpatient care. A prospective, single-centre observational study was conducted. Eligible inpatients (urological cancer, Distress Thermometer ≥5 and/or request for psycho-oncological support) received an initial psycho-oncology consultation and completed surveys during inpatient treatment (T1) and three months later (T2). Measures included socio-demographics, PO-BADO, eHL (eHEALS), distress, depression (PHQ-2), anxiety (GAD-2), and quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30). Of 108 patients completing T1, 71 completed T2. After controlling for age, eHL was not significantly associated with distress, depression, anxiety, or quality of life. Age did not moderate these relationships. In this sample, eHL showed no significant associations with psychological outcomes or quality of life. However, higher age was linked to lower eHL, suggesting that older patients may face barriers to digital health engagement. Age-related differences in eHL should be considered when designing digital support services for urological cancer patients. Full article

Cyber-sexual crimes have become a growing concern in the digital age, as rapid technological progress continues to create new forms of violence and victimization. These offenses affect society unevenly, striking more intensely among minors, women, and other vulnerable groups. Their prevalence is shaped by structural inequalities, educational, economic, and technological, that condition both exposure to digital risks and the capacity for protection. Although international research has connected these disparities with digital victimization, evidence from Spain remains limited. The aim was to analyze the regional distribution of cyber-sexual crimes in Spain between 2011 and 2022 and to explore how education, income, and digital access relate to their incidence. To this end, official data from the Spanish Statistical Crime Portal (PEC) were combined with structural indicators provided by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics. The analysis encompassed reported cases of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, corruption of minors, online grooming, exhibitionism, pornography, and sexual provocation, using standardized incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants. Statistical methods included ANOVA with post hoc comparisons, correlation analyses, and K-means clustering to identify territorial patterns. Results revealed a sustained national increase in cyber-sexual crimes, with grooming and sexual harassment showing the most pronounced growth. The Balearic Islands (mean 4.9), Canary Islands (4.0), and Andalusia (3.9) registered the highest incidence rates, well above the national average (3.0). Educational disadvantages and low income were linked to sexual abuse and corruption of minors, whereas greater digital connectivity, expressed through higher mobile phone use, broadband access, and computer ownership, was strongly associated with grooming and other technology-facilitated offenses. Cluster analysis identified three distinct territorial profiles: high-incidence regions (Balearic and Canary Islands, Andalusia), intermediate (Murcia, Madrid, Navarre, Valencian Community), and low-incidence (Galicia, Catalonia, Castile and León, among others). In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that cyber-sexual crimes in Spain are unevenly distributed and closely linked to persistent structural vulnerabilities that shape digital exposure. These results underscore the need for territorially sensitive prevention strategies that reduce educational and economic inequalities, foster sexual and digital literacy, and promote safer online environments. Without addressing these underlying structural dimensions, public policies risk overlooking the conditions that sustain regional disparities and limit adequate protection against technology-driven sexual crimes. Full article

Public perception of traditional villages’ streetscape is a crucial link for unlocking their benefits in promoting physical and mental health and realizing environmental value transformation. Current studies on the influence mechanisms of rural streetscape characteristics on perception largely rely on subjective ratings and mostly depend on linear models. To address this, this study takes a traditional village in eastern China, which is rich in natural and cultural conditions, as an example and constructs an evaluation framework comprising 29 streetscape feature indicators. Based on multimodal data including electroencephalography (EEG), image segmentation, color, and spatial depth computation, XGBoost-SHAP was employed to reveal the nonlinear influence mechanisms of streetscape features on neurophysiological indicators (alpha-band power spectral density, α PSD) in the traditional rural context, which differs from the blue–green spaces and residential, campus, and urban environments in previous studies. The results indicate that (1) the dominant factors affecting α PSD in traditional villages are tree, color consistency, architectural aesthetics, spatial enclosure index, P_EBG, and road, in descending order. (2) Threshold effects and interaction effects that differ from previous studies on campuses, window views, and other contexts were identified. The positive effect of tree view index on α activity peaks at the threshold of 0.09, beyond which diminishing returns occur. Color complexity, including high color difference from the primary village scheme (i.e., low color consistency, color diversity, and visual entropy), inhibits α activity. The effect of spatial enclosure index (SEI) on α activity exhibits an inverted U-shape, peaking at 0.35. Tree–VE_nats, road–SEI, and building–SEI show antagonistic effects. Road–sky and SEI–P_FG display conditional interaction effects. (3) Based on k-means clustering analysis, the “key factor identification—threshold effect management—multi-factor synergy optimization” design can directionally regulate α PSD, promoting relaxed and calm streetscape schemes. This approach can be applied to urban and rural environment assessment and design, providing theoretical and technical support for scientific decision-making. Full article

Do China’s provincial digital-economy policies causally improve firm productivity and manufacturing sustainability? This paper addresses this question using a panel of Chinese manufacturers from 2008 to 2023. We first construct a novel, manually coded index of provincial policy intensity. We then use an instrumental-variable strategy, based on historical post-office density and governors’ STEM backgrounds, to identify causal effects. We find that digital-economy policy has a positive and significant impact on firm-level total factor productivity (TFP). Doubling the cumulative policy stock raises TFP by approximately 3%. This effect is transmitted through four key mechanisms: enhanced innovation quality, tax incentives, targeted digital subsidies, and knowledge spillovers. These channels support sustainable, innovation-led upgrading rather than mere input expansion. We also find the TFP gains are much larger in provinces with strong fiscal capacity and in firms with high digital absorptive capabilities. This paper contributes by providing clear causal evidence of the policy–TFP link and, crucially, by quantifying the four specific mechanisms that translate digital policy into durable, productivity-based sustainability in manufacturing. Full article

The Influenza A Virus (IAV) is known to hijack cellular proteins during its replication. IAV infection increases the expression of Heat-shock-protein family A (Hsp70) member 5 (HSPA5) in human cells, but its specific function in the viral life cycle remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the function of HSPA5 in IAV replication, by implementing HSPA5 knockdown (KD) in A549 cells and assessing its impact on IAV’s viral protein translation, genomic RNA transcription, and the host cellular proteome. HSPA5 KD significantly reduced progeny virus release, although viral RNA levels were unaffected. Interestingly, levels of viral structural proteins increased in HSPA5 KD cells after infection. Treatment with HSPA5 inhibitor also suppressed IAV replication, confirming its role as a host dependency factor. Proteomic profiling revealed 116 proteins altered in wild-type cells and 223 in HSPA5 KD cells, with 32 uniquely dysregulated in wild-type and 139 unique to HSPA5 KD cells. In HSPA5 knockdown cells, the altered proteins were linked to pathways such as EIF2, EGF, PEDF, CNTF, IL-13, and G-protein receptor signaling, as well as to cellular processes like lymphocyte activation and regulation of immune and blood cell death, which were not affected in wild-type cells after IAV infection. Overall, this study suggests that HSPA5 contributes to late stages of IAV replication, likely assembly or maturation, and represents a promising target for antiviral drug development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Approximately 20% of familial ALS (fALS) cases are linked to mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Through a gain function, SOD1 misfolding exerts a toxic effect on motor neurons, leading to their degradation and ALS symptomology in both fALS cases and sporadic ALS (sALS) cases with no known genetic cause. To further our understanding of SOD1-ALS etiology, identifying motor neuron-specific SOD1 post-translational modifications (PTMs) and studying their structural influence is necessary. To this end, we have conducted a study on the influence of the deamidation of Asn53, a PTM proximal to key stabilizing motifs in SOD1, which has scarcely been addressed in the literature to date. Methods: Deamidation to N53 was identified by tandem mass spectrometry of SOD1 immunoprecipitated from motor neuron (MN) cultures derived from wild-type (WT) human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). WT SOD1 and N53D SOD1, a mutant mimicking the deamidation, were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified for in vitro analyses. Differences between species were measured by experiments probing metal cofactors, relative monomer populations, and aggregation propensity. Furthermore, molecular dynamics experiments were conducted to model and determine the influence of the PTM on SOD1 structure. Results: In contrast to WT, N53D SOD1 showed non-native incorporation of metal cofactors, coordinating more Zn²⁺ cofactors than total Zn-binding sites, and more readily adopted monomeric forms, unfolded, and aggregated with heating, possibly while releasing coordinated metals. Conclusions: Deamidation to N53 in SOD1 encourages the adoption of non-native conformers, and its detection in WT MN cultures suggests relevance to sALS pathophysiology. Full article