Search Results (287)

This study investigates the buckling behaviour of extruded aluminum square and rectangular hollow section (SHS/RHS) members under compression and combined loading. An experimental programme was conducted to examine the response of aluminum members subjected to eccentric compression. The experimental results were used to validate detailed finite element models developed in Abaqus, which were subsequently employed in an extensive parametric study. The outcomes of this study are intended to support the development of new design rules based on the Overall Interaction Concept (O.I.C.). Full article

Digital financial inclusion (DFI) has become a central topic in financial inclusion research because digital payments, mobile money, internet banking, and platform-based finance can reduce access barriers and expand formal financial participation. Prior studies have documented the development relevance of financial inclusion and have constructed multidimensional financial inclusion and DFI indices, often using PCA and related composite-indicator methods. A remaining measurement gap concerns the equal observability of different digital-finance architectures within a common cross-country indicator set. This study addresses that gap by analyzing an existing PCA-based DFI score for 40 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries over 2015–2024 through a channel-observability framework. The objective is to examine whether the observed DFI ranking is captured more directly through mobile-money indicators than through the available infrastructure-based representation of bank-led digital finance. The analysis decomposes the six available indicators into a bank-led visibility proxy, based on internet penetration and ATM density, and a mobile-money visibility proxy, based on mobile agents, mobile accounts, mobile transaction volume, and transaction value relative to GDP. The OIC-wide mean DFI score increased from 11.31 in 2015 to 31.24 in 2024, while dispersion widened and the 2015 and 2024 top-ten country groups had zero overlap. The channel diagnostics show that the highest observed DFI scores are concentrated among countries whose digital-finance activity is directly recorded through mobile-money indicators, whereas several financially advanced economies are visible mainly through the bank-led infrastructure proxy. Zero-coded mobile-money observations are interpreted as indicator-visibility signals for the standalone mobile-money channel and considered separately from broader digital-finance activity. The Random Forest analysis functions as a bounded internal sensitivity audit of the existing six-indicator score and shows that mobile-money transaction variables carry the largest within-score explanatory weight. The theoretical contribution is to frame DFI measurement as an architecture-dependent observability problem rather than only as a weighting problem. The practical implication is that cross-country DFI rankings should be interpreted together with channel diagnostics, especially when bank-led digital services such as mobile banking, card payments, POS transactions, QR payments, and instant-payment systems are outside the balanced indicator set. Full article

Multi-storey pig houses (MSPHs) have been built as a land-efficient solution for intensive swine production in China, but can cause odour nuisances for and complaints from nearby residents. In this study, air quality measurements and dispersion modelling using AERMOD were conducted to quantify the odour impact around a swine barn with two MSPHs equipped with air scrubbers in complex terrain. The field measurements showed strong seasonal fluctuations. The two MSPHs were modelled as eight elevated point sources, incorporating building downwash effects, to determine the setback distances between the barn and residential areas located 1 km away to the north. The results showed a pronounced north–south plume elongation, which was consistent with the prevailing wind direction and the valley topography. Using the odour impact criteria (OIC) with an odour occurrence-free frequency of 99.5%, the maximum setback distance in the north decreased from >4000 m to 951 m with the odour concentration threshold increasing from 1 to 10 OU/m³. The summer-only worst-case scenario yielded larger impact zones (>4000 m for 1–2 OU/m³; 2554 m for 10 OU/m³ at 99.5%), indicating that warm-season exposure should be considered when assessing residential risk. Under the current national OIC of 10 OU/m³ for residential areas, the modelled setback distance (951 m at 99.5%) indicated that the communities were situated outside the odour impact zone, which did not align with the documented complaints, demonstrating that the 10 OU/m³ threshold is lenient for high-density MSPH operations. Full article

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) represents a prevalent adverse effect of opioid analgesics, affecting 60–90% of patients and significantly compromising quality of life. This review delineates the multifactorial pathogenesis of OIC. Peripheral μ-opioid receptor (MOR) activation suppresses enteric neuronal excitability, inhibits intestinal motility and secretion, and impairs rectoanal function. Notably, the colon appears to exhibit a distinctive lack of tolerance to opioids. Enteric glial cell activation has been implicated in neuroinflammation, while interstitial cells of Cajal show impaired pacemaker function. Central mechanisms are increasingly recognized to involve the brain–gut axis. Furthermore, opioid-induced barrier disruption, microbiota dysbiosis, and LPS/TLR4-mediated inflammation are proposed to interact and may contribute to a self-reinforcing cycle. Animal models have been instrumental in dissecting these mechanisms. However, they present limitations in reproducibility, clinical phenotype fidelity, and translational validity, particularly regarding microbiome composition and neuroimmune responses. Future research should prioritize the development of standardized, physiologically relevant animal models incorporating multi-omics approaches, and validate mechanism-based therapeutic strategies, including peripherally acting MOR antagonists and microbiota-targeted interventions, for precision management of OIC. Full article

Life expectancy (LE) varies widely across Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries, reflecting differences in economic, social, environmental, and health-system conditions. This review aimed to synthesize quantitative evidence on determinants of LE at birth in OIC member countries. The study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, and a systematic search of electronic databases was performed up to September 2025. After screening 5312 records and assessing full texts, studies were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklists, with an inclusion threshold of ≥80%. A total of 54 studies, mainly ecological, time-series, and panel analyses using national-level data, were included. Higher gross domestic product per capita, education, employment, and health expenditure were consistently associated with longer LE. In contrast, poverty, income inequality, air pollution, and carbon dioxide emissions were associated with shorter LE. Clear differences were observed across World Bank income groups, with LE being lowest in low-income OIC countries and highest in high-income Gulf Cooperation Council states, where gains were driven more by health-system resources than by income growth. Improving LE in OIC countries requires integrated economic, social, environmental, and health-system policies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a frequent adverse effect of opioid therapy. In contrast to other opioid-related side effects, OIC usually does not improve over time and significantly impairs the quality of life of affected patients. Despite its high prevalence, OIC remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in clinical practice, which has been demonstrated in several European countries. Healthcare data indicates that approximately 2.3 million people in Germany received potentially OIC-inducing opioids in 2023, the majority being patients with chronic non-cancer pain. Methods: An interdisciplinary board of experts in gastroenterology, pain medicine, neurology, oncology, and palliative care developed consensus-based recommendations to improve the diagnosis and management of OIC. Fifteen statements were drafted according to current national German and international guidelines and literature and subsequently discussed. Out of the fifteen statements, twelve statements remained, which achieved consensus with at least 90% agreement. Results: The consensus statements address key aspects of OIC management, including pathophysiology, patient education, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and structured follow-up. Following the statements, a practical treatment algorithm was developed to facilitate clinical implementation. Use of validated tools such as the Bowel Function Index (BFI) for diagnosis and monitoring, early initiation of laxative therapy and timely escalation to mechanism-oriented therapy with peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) in cases of inadequate response have been recommended by the panel. Accordingly, treatment should follow an approach with the following steps: (1) Laxative, (2) switch to PAMORA, (3) rotation of PAMORA, and (4) combination of PAMORA with laxative. In Europe, the PAMORAs methylnaltrexone, naloxegol and naldemedine are approved for the treatment of OIC. Conclusions: This consensus paper provides both evidence-based and practice-oriented recommendations for the systematic management of OIC. By promoting patient education, early recognition, structured evaluation and stepwise treatment escalation, the presented statements and algorithm aim to improve patient outcomes and quality of life under opioid therapy including better adherence to opioid therapy. Full article

Exposure to fluoride is strongly associated with impaired intestinal function. Probiotics are widely regarded as an effective strategy to maintain microbial homeostasis and to mitigate the progression of fluoride-induced intestinal injury. This study aimed to evaluate the measurable protective effects of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis (B. animalis subsp. animalis) GY007 in reversing high fluoride-induced ileal injury. The results showed that GY007 (1 × 10⁹ CFU/mL, once/daily) attenuated intestinal barrier disruption and alleviated ileal mucosal abnormalities in mice receiving fluoride (24 mg/kg) by gavage for eight consecutive weeks. GY007 attenuated elevated oxidative stress and modulated the inflammatory response associated with the TLR9/NF-κb/IRF7 signaling pathway. Microbiome and metabolomic analyses showed that GY007 reversed the dysregulation of the ileal microbial community structure and metabolite profiles. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis further supported a regulatory role for Bifidobacterium in this protective process and identified three key functional metabolites meriting further investigation: isocytosine (ISO), 7α,24S-dihydroxy-3-oxocholest-4-en-26-oic acid (OIC-7α), and sinapinic acid (SIA). Our findings demonstrate that GY007 protects against fluoride-induced ileal injury and elucidate the associated changes in the intestinal microbial community and metabolite profiles. This study provides new evidence clarifying the restorative effect of the probiotic GY007 on the ileum under environmental fluoride exposure, offering an integrative perspective on the interaction between microorganisms and their host. Full article

Termites of the genus Coptotermes are among the most destructive structural pests worldwide, owing to their efficient lignocellulose degradation and metabolic adaptability mediated in part by cytochrome P450 enzymes. Although numerous botanical compounds have been reported to exhibit termiticidal activity, mechanistic in silico studies targeting detoxification-related enzymes in Coptotermes, particularly cytochrome P450, remain limited. In this study, twenty-eight plant-derived bioactive compounds were evaluated using an integrated in silico framework comprising insecticide likeness screening, molecular docking, toxicity prediction, environmental fate assessment, and molecular dynamics simulation. Homology modeling enabled structural characterization of cytochrome P450 from C. formosanus, and subsequent screening identified 27 compounds with favorable physicochemical and ADMET properties. Molecular docking analysis highlighted Glyceollin, Cnicin, Biochanin A, Ferruginol, and ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid as strong binders, exhibiting stable interactions with conserved active-site residues. Toxicological and ecological assessments indicated generally low predicted risk to mammals, birds, and pollinators, while identifying potential sensitivity in aquatic organisms, emphasizing the need for controlled application. Molecular dynamics simulations further supported the stabilizing effect of Glyceollin on cytochrome P450 under simulated conditions. Overall, the study provides mechanistic insight into botanical inhibition of cytochrome P450 in Coptotermes and identifies promising candidate compounds for further experimental validation in sustainable termite management strategies. Full article

The present study involves the isolation, structural elucidation, and biological evaluation of eight compounds from Pouzolzia zeylanica. From the n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of the plant, eight compounds were successfully isolated and identified: oleanolic acid (1), ursolic acid (2), 2α-hydroxyursolic acid (3), 3β-O-acetyl-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (4), 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavanone (5), 4′-methoxytectochrysin (6), 3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone-3-O-L-rhamnopyranoside (7), and 3,3′,5,5′,7-pentahydroxyflavanone-3-O-L-rhamnopyranoside (8). These compounds were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and lipid peroxidation inhibition (TBARS) assays, as well as anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. It was observed that compound 3 exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ values of 18.52 ± 1.50 µM (DPPH) and 10.34 ± 0.93 µM (TBARS), whereas compounds 2, 5, and 6 showed moderate to weak effects. Meanwhile, compound 8 demonstrated the most potent anti-inflammatory effect with IC₅₀ values of 16.25 ± 0.95 µM (NO inhibition), 12.97 ± 0.88 µM (TNF-α inhibition), and 22.52 ± 1.98 µM (IL-6 inhibition). Furthermore, in silico approaches were employed, including density functional theory (DFT) calculations to predict the antioxidant mechanisms of compounds 1 and 3 and molecular docking to assess the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and phosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B) inhibitory potentials of compounds 4, 7, and 8. Computational results aligned well with experimental data, supporting the potential of these compounds as natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) has played a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency of financial technology (Fintech), ultimately contributing to the stability of the banking sector. The advancements in Fintech driven by AI tools are significantly improving risk management within the banking industry. This paper investigates the mediating role of AI in the relationship between Fintech and financial stability in the context of Islamic and conventional banks across selected countries in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the causal linkages across time domains. The results of this research identify that AI is a significant mediator, playing a critical role between Fintech and stability. It either mitigates or amplifies risks, depending on the regulatory framework and implementation practices in place. The analysis indicates that AI has a weak mediating effect in the short run, but a strong mediating effect in the long run between Fintech and stability. This research paper emphasizes the importance of developing robust, forward-thinking policies to leverage the benefits of AI. It also addresses the risks to financial stability in both Islamic and conventional banking systems. Full article

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global public health challenge, and the currently approved medications can not achieve a cure. Synthetic triterpenoids have shown promising therapeutic potential for liver pathologies. In our search for novel antiviral agents against HBV, we found that two triterpenoids, 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO) and CDDO-ethyl amide (CDDO-EA), significantly inhibited HBV DNA replication. Further mechanistic investigation indicated that these two compounds did not significantly alter the levels of total HBV pgRNA, but dramatically reduced extracellular pgRNA and intracellular encapsidated pgRNA in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis indicated minimal effects on core protein expression. Interestingly, using a particle gel assay, we observed that CDDO and CDDO-EA promoted the formation of empty capsids with no alteration in electrophoretic mobility. Moreover, we demonstrated that both compounds modulated the phosphorylation status of the core protein. Further cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, and molecular docking analyses collectively suggested that CDDO and CDDO-EA could bind directly to the dimer–dimer interfaces of HBV core protein. Finally, a synergistic effect was observed between CDDO-EA and lamivudine in reducing intracellular and extracellular HBV DNA levels. Our findings indicate that triterpenoids CDDO and CDDO-EA are new mechanistically type of HBV capsid assembly modulators and warranted for further development as lead compounds against HBV. Full article

The role of international financial resource inflows, foreign direct investment (FDI), development foreign assistance (DFA), and personal remittance earnings (PRE) in decisive advancement toward environmental sustainability (SDG13) and economic development is increasingly recognized. However, depending on the situation, their effects on environmental outcomes vary in degree and direction, and are still subject to debate. This research examines how the three main international financial resources impact environmental sustainability, which is measured by the bio-capacity index, with a specific focus on the moderating role of corruption. The system panel generalized method of moments with balanced panel data (2001–2023) was used to attain the objectives of this study. This study focused on 28 developing Organization of Islamic Cooperation member countries because of their significant reliance on these financial inflows, regional/economic variety, and diverse levels of governance, which offer a crucial setting for evaluating the corruption moderation hypothesis. The findings reveal a comprehensive scenario of SDG synergies and trade-offs. In the base model, FDI directly improves the situation, whereas DFA and PRE are initially negligible. When considering internal economic factors, FDI and PRE greatly advance sustainability, whereas domestic financial measures such as domestic credit and fixed capital formation show adverse effects, underscoring a tension between environmental objectives and national financial systems. Importantly, the moderation analysis shows that while the advantages of FDI and PRE continue to be robust, corruption severely reduces the efficacy of DFA. To assure environmental effectiveness, these findings call for distinct policies that encourage green FDI, leverage remittances for green investments at the family level, and above all, fasten development assistance to strict governance changes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent and life-threatening malignancies worldwide. This study describes the design and biological evaluation of a series of secosteroid–2-pyrazoline hybrids as novel antitumor agents against ERα-positive breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and T47D. Methods: A simple and efficient method for synthesizing secosteroid–2-pyrazoline hybrids was developed starting from 13α-hydroxy-3-methoxy-13,17-secoestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-17-oic acid hydrazide and 1,3-diketones. The resulting secosteroid derivatives were evaluated against hormone-dependent MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the selectivity and effects of three lead compounds on signaling pathways in MCF-7 cells were examined. Flow cytometry was used to assess the cell-cycle distribution of MCF-7 cells treated with the lead compound. Results: Among the synthesized hybrids, compounds 3f, 3j, and 3k exhibited potent antiproliferative activity with IC₅₀ values of 0.2–0.5 μM against breast cancer cells, while demonstrating very low cytotoxicity towards normal cells (IC₅₀ > 25 μM), indicating a favorable safety profile. The antitumor activity of lead compound 3j was additionally investigated in combination with standard chemotherapeutics, docetaxel and doxorubicin, yielding synergistic effects. The lead compounds showed a dual mechanism of action by inhibiting S6 kinase and promoting Bcl-2 phosphorylation at 0.9 μM, without significantly affecting hormonal breast cancer targets such as ERα, GREB1, and AR. Compound 3j induced apoptosis accompanied by a reduction of the G1/G0 phase in MCF-7 cells. Conclusions: These findings highlight secosteroid–2-pyrazoline hybrids as promising candidates for the development of next-generation breast cancer therapeutics targeting apoptosis and S6K signaling pathways. Full article

Strawberry fruit quality is linked to its phytochemical composition, yet the diversity of non-volatile terpenoids remains largely unexplored. Therefore, a comparative LC-MS/MS-based metabolomic analysis of terpenoid profiles was conducted using three commercial cultivars (Fragaria × ananassa) and a wild accession of Fragaria nilgerrensis (HM). Results from this study showed that the HM cultivar had a total terpenoid abundance 5–6 times higher than the commercial cultivars. The HM cultivar was uniquely enriched in specific triterpenoids, such as 3β,6β,19α,24-Tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid and 13,27-Cyclo-2,3-Dihydroxy-11,19(29)-Ursadien-28-Oic Acid, which was over 450 times higher than the ‘Danxue’ and ‘Fenyu’ commercial strawberry cultivars. Conversely, sesquiterpenoids like Alismol and Pterocarpol were 100 times lower in HM than in the commercial cultivars. This enhanced triterpenoid accumulation strongly correlated with a superior capacity to scavenge free radicals in vitro, with HM showing maximum capacity, as measured by the DPPH assay. These findings highlight the value of wild strawberry germplasm as a reservoir of biochemical diversity for breeding strawberries with enhanced functional quality. Full article

Natural products have played an important role in the discovery and development of antibacterial agents. This paper described the isolation of a new ursane-type pentacyclic triterpenoid, (18β,19αH)-3-oxo-urs-12-en-27α-oic acid (2), from the tree bark of Sandoricum koetjape Merr. Along with this, five known compounds—β-caryophyllene oxide (1), bryononic acid (3), 7-deacetylgedunin (4), 7-deacetyl-7-oxogedunin (5), and 12,20-dihydroxydammar-24-en-3-one (6)—were successfully isolated, and one compound, 12β-hydroxydammarenolic acid (7), was reported in our previous report. All compounds (1–7) were tested with their antibacterial properties against two Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus) and two Gram-negative (Citrobacter freundii and Salmonella enterica) bacteria. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry data. A preliminary antibacterial assay showed that only compound 7 inhibited the growth of the tested bacteria, with an inhibition zone diameter of 7.5–9 mm at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. DFT analyses explained electronic profiles with HOMO-LUMO gaps (4.54–6.34 eV) and electrophilicity from 1.73 to 4.39 eV. To elucidate the antibacterial mechanism of compound 7, a molecular docking study was conducted. The findings from both in vitro and in silico analyses suggest that compound 7 is a promising antibacterial candidate for further investigation. Full article