Search Results (4,033)

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial clinical condition characterized by the co-occurrence of abdominal obesity, impaired glucose metabolism, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia. Non-pharmacological strategies, such as hypocaloric diets (HD) and structured physical training (PT), have shown promise in improving metabolic and functional outcomes in this population. The aim of this prospective interventional study was to evaluate the effects of a 16-week program combining HD with PT on ventilatory efficiency and cardiometabolic risk markers in women with MetS. Forty-one sedentary women (aged 45–55 years) with clinically diagnosed MetS underwent anthropometric, metabolic, nutritional, and cardiopulmonary assessments before and after the intervention. Participants engaged in 60 min exercise sessions three times per week and followed a personalized hypocaloric diet targeting 5–10% weight loss. Post-intervention analyses revealed significant reductions (p ≤ 0.05) in body weight (from 86.6 kg ± 3.3 kg to 78.2 kg ± 3.3 kg), body fat percentage (40.1% ± 0.6% to 33.4% ± 1.6%), and waist circumference (105.1 cm ± 1.2 cm to 95.7 cm ± 1.9 cm). Improvements were also observed in fasting glucose (from 117.1 mg/dL to 95.1 mg/dL) and triglycerides (158.8 mg/dL ± 9.1 mg/dL to 111.8 mg/dL ± 9.1 mg/dL), and in lean mass percentage (59.9% ± 6.5% to 66.6% ± 1.7%). Cardiopulmonary variables showed enhanced ventilatory function, with increased VO₂peak (1.59 L/min ± 0.1 L/min to 1.74 ± 0.1 L/min), improved oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES), and a steeper VO₂/workload relationship. Resting heart rate and blood pressure declined significantly (69.9 bpm ± 2.0 bpm to 64.9 ± 1.8 bpm; 145.4 mmHg ± 3.9/80.2 ± 3.0 mmHg to 140.1 mmHg ± 2.7/75.2 ± 1.6 mmHg). In conclusion, the 16-week intervention combining HD with PT proved effective for reducing cardiometabolic risk factors and enhancing ventilatory efficiency, suggesting improved integration of oxygen uptake, transport, and utilization in the women with MetS assessed. Full article

Malnutrition during adolescence can cause metabolic diseases later in life. This study examined the short- and long-term effects of undernutrition during adolescence on body composition, glucose homeostasis and redox balance. Male (n = 32) and female (n = 32) Wistar rats were fed a rodent chow reduced by 50% (FR50) of the amount consumed by control rats (CONT) from 30 to 60 days and then fed ad libitum until 120 days of age. Half of the rats were euthanized at 60 and the other half at 120 days old. At 60 and 120 days old, glucose and insulin tolerance test; skeletal muscle, visceral fat, liver and interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) weights; and oxidative stress marker levels in the liver and iBAT were evaluated. The FR50 male (FR50-M) and female (FR50-F) rats exhibited a lean phenotype and high insulin sensitivity at 60 days of age (p < 0.05), but at 120 days of age, they exhibited an obese phenotype with high insulin sensitivity (p < 0.05). An increase in liver GSH was observed as only a short-term effect (p < 0.05). At 120 days of age, only male rats displayed increased iBAT GSH levels (p < 0.05) and reduced CAT activity (p < 0.01). In summary, undernutrition during adolescence affects body composition, glucose homeostasis and redox status equally in males and females but causes long-term impairment of the redox status of iBAT only in male rats. Full article

High-intensity functional training (HIFT) has grown in popularity in the past several decades, yet previous research has largely focused on the dietary habits and body composition of elite HIFT athletes and utilized only quantitative study designs, potentially limiting our understanding of typical HIFT athletes. This study aimed to comprehensively describe the common dietary habits and body composition of HIFT athletes. Data were only analyzed descriptively. Among 62 HIFT athletes (age: 36 ± 11.7 years), we estimated body fat percentage (BF%) using a Siri 3-compartment model, and we assessed dietary habits, dietary supplement (DS) use, and open-response rationales for DS use/disuse via an online questionnaire. Qualitative data from open-response questions were coded and grouped via inductive thematic analysis. Body composition varied among both male (n = 36, BF% = 6.5–27.6%) and female participants (n = 26, BF% = 10.6–37.6%). Most participants reported regular consumption of lean meats and home-cooked meals, yet few participants (~20%) regularly consumed the recommended twice daily servings of dairy, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Most (77.4%) HIFT athletes reported DS use, with the average HIFT athlete using approximately six DS; dairy protein, creatine, caffeine, and electrolyte drinks were the most reported DS. Improving health, recovery, and nutrient intake were common reasons for using DS, whereas a lack of noticeable results was the most common reason for discontinuation. Some HIFT athletes may rely on DS to address nutrient gaps rather than whole foods. Full article

Lean construction is considered a new methodology for minimizing the causes of waste that hinder the achievement of green building (GB) goals. The main aim of this study is to develop a lean model using fuzzy logic technique to mitigate causes of waste effect in GB projects and to determine the most appropriate lean tools affecting these causes. The inputs of this model include GB waste and four lean tools, comprising Quality Function Deployment (QFD), Last Planner System (LPS), Value Stream Mapping (VSM), and 5S, while the outputs include four improvement level indices based on the lean tools. The model uses various logical rules to achieve several relations among the inputs and outputs, and it is applied and verified using data related to several causes of waste categorized under five groups. The strongest correlation is found between VSM and 5S indices, while an adverse relationship is observed between QFD and 5S indices. The results indicate that a cause of waste that refers to poor assessment of site conditions is considered the most substantial one due to its high improvement level indices across all lean tools. The most significant waste group is related to GB stakeholders, which contains 38% of key causes of waste. The improvement using QFD increases by 10% compared to VSM and 28.20% compared to 5S. QFD and LPS are measured as the most suitable lean tools to mitigate the causes of waste effects due to their high impact and high improvement level indices. Full article

Background/Objectives: While oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) are known to support general growth in undernourished children, their specific effects on body composition and bone health remain underexplored. This manuscript evaluates the impact of ONS combined with dietary counselling (DC) on these outcomes in Indian children aged 3 to 6.9 years at nutritional risk, within the framework of a larger randomized controlled trial assessing multiple growth parameters. Methods: This prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted among Indian children, both male and female participants with picky eating habits and at risk of undernutrition, aged 3 to 6.9 years (height-for-age and weight-for-height below the 25th percentile per WHO Growth Standards and Growth Reference). Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ONS + DC or DC alone for 6 months. Body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and after 6 months. Group differences were analyzed to evaluate intervention effects. Results: A total of 223 children were enrolled and randomized. At 6 months, the test group showed significantly greater improvements in BMD (0.023 g/cm²) compared to the control (0.017 g/cm²; p = 0.004), and a greater gain in BMC (36.60 g vs. 28.48 g; p =0.0007). Lean mass increased significantly more in the test group (926.33 g) versus the control (801.48 g; p = 0.0401). Fat mass showed a numerical reduction in the test group (−171.42 g) compared with the control group (−114.60 g), although this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of targeted nutritional interventions to favorably improve body composition and bone health during critical growth periods in undernourished children, offering a promising approach to address early-life nutritional deficits with lasting health benefits. Full article

The Weimei Formation, the most complete Upper Jurassic sedimentary sequence in the Tethyan Himalaya, is crucial for understanding the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the northern Indian margin. However, its depositional environment remains debated, with conflicting shallow- and deep-water interpretations. This study integrates sedimentary facies, petrography, zircon geochronology, and geochemical analyses to constrain the provenance, depositional environment, and tectonic setting of the Weimei Formation. The results reveal that the sedimentary system primarily consists of shoreface, delta, and shelf facies, with locally developed slope-incised valleys. Detrital zircon ages are concentrated at ~468 Ma and ~964 Ma, indicating a provenance mainly derived from the Indian continent. Geochemical characteristics, such as high SiO₂, low Na₂O–CaO–TiO₂ contents, right-leaning REE patterns, and significant negative Eu anomalies, suggest the derivation of sediments from felsic upper crustal recycling within a passive continental margin. Stratigraphic comparison between southern and northern Tethyan Himalayan sub-zones reveals a paleogeographic “uplift–depression” pattern, characterized by the coexistence of shoreface–shelf deposits and slope-incised valleys. This study provides key evidence for reconstructing the Late Jurassic paleogeography of the northern Indian margin and the tectonic evolution of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. Full article

Objective: This study sought to examine the relationships between right ventricular (RV) parameters and function, and body composition in adolescents and young adult individuals with overweight and obesity. We hypothesized that abnormal body composition is linked to RV dysfunction and subclinical changes in the ventricle. Methods: The study prospectively included 80 young adult individuals, with 55 being overweight or obese and 25 having a normal body weight. We examined differences in RV echocardiographic parameters between these groups and their relationship with body composition parameters. Results: Adolescents and young adults with overweight or obesity had greater RV pressure load, and larger RV diameter. Significant differences in RV size and strain were noted between groups. Across the cohort, lean body mass positively correlated with RV strain, while fat mass and total serum protein negatively correlated with RV strain (both p < 0.01 or lower). Conclusions: This study found that RV function and body composition are often linked and improving body composition could prevent RV dysfunction, while addressing wasting might enhance RV function. Overweight or obese young adults show decreased RV strain in the absolute value compared to those with normal body weight. Full article

Obesity is a risk factor associated with cardiovascular diseases that may lead to heart failure (HF). However, in HF, overweight and obese patients have longer survival than underweight patients, a phenomenon known as the obesity paradox. MiRNAs play a fundamental role in gene regulation involved in obesity and HF. The main objective of this study was to identify and validate differentially expressed circulating miRNAs in HF–obese and HF–lean patients. This case–control study was carried out in two phases: discovery and validation. In the discovery phase, plasma samples from 20 HF patients and from 10 healthy controls were analyzed using the miRNA 4.0 Affymetrix GeneChip array. Differentially expressed miRNAs were ranked and selected for validation. In this phase, plasma miRNAs -451a, -22-3p, and -548ac from 80 patients and controls were analyzed by qPCR. Target analysis and functional enrichment analysis were performed. When comparing HF–lean and HF–obese groups compared to controls, miRNAs -451a and -22-3p were up-regulated in both discovery and validation phases, while -548ac was down-regulated in the discovery phase and up-regulated in the validation phase, indicating that miRNA changes are independent of obesity. These miRNAs regulate genes and different biological processes associated with metabolic, morphological, and functional outcomes. Full article

This study aims to investigate the systemic interplay between political ideology and political trust in shaping support for tax-funded universal basic income (UBI). Using the 2021 Korean General Social Survey (KGSS), we analyze whether individuals’ left–right ideological leanings predict their support for a tax-funded UBI, which is an important redistributive welfare system, and whether political trust moderates this relationship. The results indicate that citizens with left-leaning ideologies are more supportive of a tax-funded UBI, while those with conservative ideologies are less supportive. Additionally, conservatives become more supportive of a tax-funded UBI when they have greater political trust. These findings suggest that political trust plays a systemic role in moderating ideological divides over welfare systems like a tax-funded UBI. Finally, the article discusses the implications of the findings and their limitations. Full article

The search for higher efficiency in agribusiness supports the adoption of digital tools and Lean Production principles in agricultural spraying, a crucial operation for crops. Spraying is essential to ensure yield, quality, cost efficiency, and environmental protection. This study analyzed operational data from self-propelled sprayers in soybean and corn fields, classifying hours, calculating efficiencies, and applying statistical process control. Efficiencies were investigated by combining Lean Production principles with CAN-based digital monitoring, which enabled the identification of non-value-adding activities and supported the real-time management of spraying operations. The results showed that productive time accounted for 41.2% of total recorded hours, corresponding to effective operation and auxiliary tasks directly associated with the execution of spraying activities. A high proportion of unrecorded hours (21.2%) was also observed, reflecting discrepancies between administrative work schedules and machine-logged data. Additionally, coefficients of variation for operational speed and fuel consumption were 12.1% and 24.0%, respectively. Correcting special causes increased work capacity (4.9%) and reduced fuel consumption (0.9%). Economic simulations, based on efficiencies, operating parameters of the sprayer, and cost indicators, indicated that increasing scale reduces costs when installed capacity is carefully managed. Integrating telemetry with Lean Production principles enables real-time resource optimization and waste reduction. Full article

Against the global biodiversity crisis, arid and semi-arid regions are sensitive indicators of terrestrial ecosystems. However, research on their habitat quality (HQ) evolution mechanism faces dual challenges: insufficient multi-scale dynamic simulation and fragmented driving mechanism analysis. To address these gaps, this study takes northern China’s arid and semi-arid regions as the object, innovatively constructing a “pat-tern-process-mechanism” multi-dimensional integration framework. Breaking through single-model/discrete-method limitations in existing studies, it realizes full-process integrated research on regional HQ spatiotemporal dynamics. Based on 1990–2020 Land Use and Land Cover Change (LUCC) data, the framework integrates the InVEST and PLUS models, solving poor continuity between historical assessment and future projection in traditional research. It also pioneers combining the XGBoost-SHAP model and Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR): XGBoost-SHAP quantifies nonlinear interactive effects of natural, socioeconomic, and landscape drivers, while GTWR explores spatiotemporal heterogeneous mechanisms of landscape pattern evolution on HQ, effectively addressing the dual challenges. Results show the following: (1) In 1990–2020, cultivated and construction land expanded, with grassland declining most notably; (2) Overall HQ decreased by 0.82%, with high-value areas stable in the west and northeast, low-value areas concentrated in the central region, and 2030 HQ optimal under the Ecological Protection (EP) scenario; (3) Natural factors contribute most to HQ change, followed by socioeconomic factors, with landscape indices being least impactful; (4) Under future scenarios, landscape Patch Density (PD) has the most prominent negative effect—its increase intensifies fragmentation and reduces connectivity. This study’s method integration breakthrough provides a quantitative basis for landscape pattern optimization and ecosystem management in arid and semi-arid regions, with important scientific value for promoting integration of landscape ecology theory and sustainable development practice. Full article

Background: Malnutrition is common in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients and often remains underdiagnosed. While body composition, functional status, and anthropometric measures can support nutritional assessment, their associations with nutritional status are not fully established in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of various measures for assessing malnutrition in chronic HD patients, using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) as the reference standard. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved chronic HD patients, stratified by nutritional status using the SGA. Data collection consisted of clinical interviews, anthropometric and functional measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and biochemical analyses. Statistical analysis included Spearman’s correlation, logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with area under the curve (AUC) to assess predictive accuracy, standardized effect sizes to show the magnitude of differences, and kappa statistics to evaluate concordance between variables. Results: This study included 103 chronic HD patients. Malnutrition was diagnosed in 50.5% of patients based on the SGA. Phase angle (PA) was the strongest single predictor of malnutrition (AUC = 0.79; specificity 0.88; sensitivity 0.58). PA ≤ 5.1° was significantly associated with higher malnutrition risk (OR: 10.23; 95% CI: 3.93–30.61; p < 0.001). Handgrip strength (HGS) also demonstrated good diagnostic value (AUC = 0.71; specificity 0.84; sensitivity 0.59). A multivariable model incorporating eight parameters—gender, post-dialysis ECW/ICW ratio, post-dialysis lean and fat mass, serum albumin, normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), arm circumference (AC), and HGS—achieved an AUC of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81–0.95) and pseudo-R² of 0.46, demonstrating improved predictive performance. Conclusions: An integrated panel of anthropometric, bioimpedance, functional, and biochemical markers provides superior diagnostic accuracy compared to individual predictors, supporting a holistic diagnostic approach in HD patients. Full article

This study examines the media coverage of illegal immigration in Spain during the first year of the war in Ukraine, focusing on the four most-read online newspapers: El Español, Okdiario, La Razón, and eldiario.es. The research aims to understand how ideological differences influence source selection and framing of immigration issues. Using Source Credibility Theory as a framework, the study analyzes the frequency of coverage and types of sources used by each outlet. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative analysis of source frequencies with qualitative examination of content. The results reveal significant disparities in coverage and source usage among the newspapers. Conservative outlets like Okdiario relied heavily on official sources (51.5%), while the progressive eldiario.es gave more weight to civil society sources (38.2%). El Español and Okdiario published more articles on illegal immigration compared to La Razón and eldiario.es. Notably, La Razón, also conservative, used hidden sources more frequently (17%) than other outlets. The findings highlight how ideological leanings shape journalistic practices in covering sensitive topics like immigration. Conservative media’s focus on institutional narratives contrasts with progressive outlets’ emphasis on human stories, potentially influencing public perception and discourse on immigration issues. This study contributes to understanding the role of media in shaping societal attitudes towards immigration and underscores the importance of diverse perspectives in news coverage. Full article

This paper explores how Lean Accounting (LA) is implemented in manufacturing firms by identifying tool packages and the typologies of companies applying them. Despite growing interest in LA, prior research has focused primarily on individual tools or case studies, leaving the configuration of management accounting practices across organizations underexplored. The study aims to identify coherent packages of Lean Accounting tools used in practice and to determine how these packages correspond to different levels of implementation among manufacturing firms. An online questionnaire was used to collect data from 128 enterprises. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to identify tool groupings, followed by clustering to classify firms by their LA adoption profiles. The analysis resulted in three tool packages and three types of firms that differ in the advancement of LA implementation. The results show that firms at higher stages of implementation report greater awareness of cultural and technical barriers to LA transformation. This paper contributes to the literature by empirically identifying Lean Accounting tool packages and by proposing a typology of firms based on their implementation profiles. The novelty of this study lies in combining factor- and cluster-based approaches to explore management accounting practice configurations within the Lean paradigm—an area previously dominated by case studies. The findings enrich current knowledge on how different firms adopt Lean Accounting and how they perceive the challenges of its implementation. Full article

Using Demeterio’s modified ideological spectrum, this article examines the dominant political ideologies reflected in the pastoral statements of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) under the administrations of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Through a hermeneutic lens grounded in a two-dimensional spectrum, progressive–retrogressive and libertarian–authoritarian, the analysis reveals that under Marcos Sr., the UCCP adopted a conservative and authoritarian position. From 1973 to 1975, its pastoral statements issued general appeals for peace and human dignity, while avoiding direct criticism of the regime. However, by the mid to late 1970s, the UCCP began to exhibit signs of quiet resistance. In contrast, during the administration of Marcos Jr., the UCCP’s stance became more assertive and prophetic. These statements directly addressed issues such as human rights violations, environmental justice, and the defense of historical truth. In Demeterio’s spectrum, this contemporary position aligns with moderate progressivism, occasionally leaning toward radical progressivism, particularly in its advocacy for grassroots movements and democratic participation. This study is therefore significant as it illustrates the ideological transformation of the UCCP, from conservative restraint to active resistance, and underscores the capacity of religious institutions to evolve from passive complicity into agents of prophetic resistance. Full article