Search Results (3,090)

Of interest were the acute effects of lightweight lower-limb wearable resistance (WR) on the kinematics and kinetics of the countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ). Twenty male athletes (age: 18.05 ± 0.6 years; body mass: 76.4 ± 7.6 kg; height: 182.4 ± 5 cm) performed the CMJ and DJ under four loading conditions: 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% body mass (BM). Variables of interest included jump height (JH), countermovement depth (CMD), total SSC duration (TCT/GCT), eccentric and concentric phase durations, relative concentric impulse (rCI), relative concentric mean force (rCMF), relative concentric mean power (rCMP), and concentric force index (CFI). Two-way repeated-measures ANOVAs were used to assess jump × load interactions, with Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons and planned contrasts used to examine within-jump and between-jump load responses, respectively. Significant jump × load interactions were observed for all variables analysed. In the CMJ, JH significantly decreased across all loaded conditions, including an 8.3% reduction with 2% BM. In contrast, DJ JH was preserved at 2% BM but significantly decreased at 4% and 6% BM. However, 2% BM was sufficient to increase DJ GCT and ConT, and reduce rCMF, CFI, and rCMP (p < 0.05). The change in JH differed between jumps at 2% BM only, whereas changes in CMD, rCMF, CFI, and rCMP differed between jumps across all WR loads. It appears that lightweight WR produces distinct jump-specific responses. Greater initial changes in CMJ JH and CMD suggest that WR altered countermovement strategy before substantially impairing concentric force production, whereas in the DJ, WR altered fast SSC force–time variables before reducing JH. When utilising WR to improve JH performance, practitioners should therefore avoid interpreting JH in isolation and monitor temporal variables (GCT/TCT/ConT/EccT), CMD, rCMF, rCMP and CFI. Full article

The Ordovician strata in Northern Tarim host extensively developed carbonate karst reservoirs that contain abundant hydrocarbon resources. However, owing to extreme burial depths, pronounced heterogeneity, and limited seismic resolution within the Tarim Basin, the diagenetic fluid types and their specific influences on reservoir development remain poorly understood. Consequently, this study integrates core observation, thin-section identification (TSI), cathodoluminescence (CL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), stable isotopes (C, O, Sr), trace and rare earth elements (REE), fluid inclusion analysis (FIA), and in situ laser U-Pb dating (U-Pb). This multifaceted petrographic and geochemical approach characterizes the macro- and microscopic geological features of these karst reservoirs. By elucidating the types, timing, and phases of diagenetic fluids, this research evaluates fluid-driven impacts on reservoir quality and establishes a comprehensive genetic model for reservoir evolution. Results identify five distinct tectonic fracturing phases. Phases 1, 2, and 4 involved calcite infilling precipitated from seawater and meteoric freshwater, with fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures of 62–87 °C, 57–91 °C, and 94–126 °C, formed during the Caledonian–Hercynian, Early Hercynian, and Indosinian–Yanshanian periods, respectively. Phase 3 featured hydrothermal dolomite infilling during the Hercynian, with fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures ranging from 128 to 163 °C, whereas Phase 5 remained unfilled during the Himalayan. Constrained by the U–Pb age interval of 445.2–436.5 Ma acquired from vug-filling calcite together with cross-cutting petrographic relationships, multi-stage meteoric freshwater dissolution mainly occurred from Middle Caledonian Episode III (447–443.7 Ma) to the Early Hercynian (460–359 Ma). Reservoirs within the Penglaiba–Lower Yingshan Formations underwent a complex evolution comprising syngenetic-to-early diagenetic pore development, Middle Caledonian–Early Hercynian weathering crust karstification and dedolomitization, and Late Hercynian hydrothermal dissolution-infilling, ultimately resulting in the formation of tectonic-karst composite reservoirs. Full article

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution and non-contact optical imaging and sensing modality that provides depth-resolved cross-sectional visualization of retinal microstructures. It plays an important role in the assessment of retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). However, automated OCT image classification commonly relies on fully supervised models that require large-scale expert annotations, which are costly and time-consuming because of the complex layered anatomy and subtle pathological patterns present in retinal OCT images. To reduce annotation dependence, this study proposes a self-supervised representation learning framework with local dimensionality regularization for retinal OCT image classification. The proposed method estimates the local intrinsic dimensionality of learned representations and incorporates it into an asymptotic Fisher-Rao regularization objective to mitigate local dimensional degeneration and preserve fine-grained structural information. Logarithmic scaling and geometric averaging are further introduced to reduce sensitivity to outliers and improve optimization stability. Experiments on three independent OCT datasets achieved classification accuracies of 94.35%, 92.48%, and 92.56%, respectively, demonstrating competitive performance compared with mainstream self-supervised methods. These results demonstrate that explicitly modeling local feature geometry can improve the discrimination of sensor-acquired OCT images while reducing reliance on manual annotations, providing an effective approach for intelligent analysis of biomedical optical imaging data. Full article

This qualitative study explored the conditions that shape effective volunteer activity organisation by emerging adult university students (aged 18–25) in a religiously and ethnically diverse Thai setting. The study was conducted at Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Hat Yai Campus, where Buddhist and Muslim students form the two largest religious communities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 30 purposively selected student volunteer leaders and analysed using a hybrid deductive-inductive content analysis approach. Four conditions emerged as foundational: (1) motivational readiness to engage across cultural boundaries; (2) substantive knowledge of cross-cultural communication, both verbal and non-verbal; (3) the capacity to examine and adjust one’s own cultural assumptions; and (4) active, structurally expressed respect for religious and cultural diversity. The findings reveal that family-transmitted stereotypes, knowledge gaps regarding Islamic practice, and the absence of institutional accommodation jointly constrain inclusive participation. Drawing on Cultural Intelligence (CQ) theory and Putnam’s social capital framework, the study advances two arguments: first, that intercultural competence among emerging adult volunteers cannot be reduced to individual skill and disposition; and second, that institutional programme design—schedules, catering arrangements, and physical infrastructure—constitutes an independent determinant of inclusion that CQ frameworks have not yet adequately theorised. The four-condition model offers a structured, trainable framework for volunteer leadership development and extends the literature on civic formation and intercultural learning during the formative years of emerging adulthood. Full article

Background/Objectives: Periodontitis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease influenced by behavioral, metabolic, and lifestyle-related factors. This study aimed to examine the associations of selected dietary habits, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, smoking, and oral hygiene behaviors with clinical periodontal parameters in a clinical sample of adults with periodontitis from northwestern Romania. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 204 adults with clinically diagnosed periodontitis. Sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, physical activity, toothbrushing frequency, tooth mobility, and selected dietary habits were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Periodontal status was clinically evaluated using periodontal probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP), while BMI was calculated from anthropometric measurements. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed to evaluate associations between the investigated factors and periodontal parameters. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed separately for PPD, CAL, and BOP, simultaneously including age, sex, BMI, smoking status, physical activity frequency, toothbrushing frequency, tooth mobility, education level, and the assessed dietary habits. Results: In the fully adjusted multivariable analyses, fish consumption 1–3 times/week was independently associated with lower PPD, whereas sweets consumption 1–3 times/week was independently associated with higher PPD. Carbonated beverage and sweets consumption 1–3 times/week were independently associated with higher BOP. Although the multivariable model for CAL was statistically significant overall, none of the individual predictors included in the model reached statistical significance. BMI and physical activity frequency were not independently associated with PPD, CAL, or BOP after simultaneous adjustment for the other variables. Age group was significantly associated with CAL category (χ²(2) = 13.28, p = 0.001, Cramér’s V = 0.255), while educational level was significantly associated with toothbrushing frequency (χ² = 62.26, p < 0.001, Cramér’s V = 0.39). Conclusions: Selected dietary habits were independently associated with PPD and BOP after adjustment for demographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, and oral hygiene factors, whereas no individual predictor was independently associated with CAL in the fully adjusted model. BMI and physical activity were not independently associated with the periodontal parameters examined. These findings emphasize the multifactorial nature of periodontal status and suggest that specific dietary habits may be associated with different clinical dimensions of periodontal disease. However, causal relationships cannot be established due to the cross-sectional design of the study. Prospective studies using validated dietary assessment methods are needed to confirm these associations. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of partial loss of function (LOF) of MSTN on carcass composition and pork quality and determine whether the phenotype was influenced by the IGF2 genotype (IGF2-G3072A). Pigs (N = 44) segregating for the paternally expressed IGF2 G or A alleles were either wild-type (WT) or heterozygous (HET) for a targeted MSTN LOF allele and were harvested at 175 ± 5 days of age. Carcass composition and loin and belly quality traits were analyzed using linear models. Few significant MSTN × IGF2 genotype interactions were detected, indicating that the heterozygous MSTN phenotype was largely independent of IGF2 status. Relative to WT contemporaries, MSTN HET pigs exhibited greater dressing percentage and loin muscle area (p < 0.01) without differences in hot carcass weight or backfat depth, resulting in increased fat-free lean percentage. However, loins from HET pigs were approximately 5 L* units lighter in color (p < 0.01) and exhibited greater drip loss. Marbling scores and extractable lipid content were reduced in both loin and belly, and belly firmness decreased. The IGF2 genotype had similar muscle-deposition effects. These results indicate that partial MSTN LOF improves lean yield but introduces tradeoffs in pork quality, largely independent of IGF2 genotype. Full article

Body measurements provide a non-invasive basis for estimating live weight, yet their predictive value and age-related variation remain poorly characterized in female Jiangyue donkeys. Body weight (BW) and 11 morphometric traits were recorded in 484 females: withers height (WH), body length (BL), chest circumference (CC), cannon circumference (CAC), head length (HL), neck length (NL), chest width (CW), chest depth (CD), rump height (RH), rump length (RL), and rump width (RW). Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and regression analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0; stepwise regression was then applied to derive and validate BW prediction equations. Additionally, four nonlinear functions—Logistic, Gompertz, Brody, and von Bertalanffy—were fitted to cross-sectional BW data from 241 females sampled at different ages to characterize the population-level relationship between age and weight. BW was positively correlated with all morphometric traits (p < 0.01), with CC showing the strongest association. The optimal equations explained 91.8% and 84.4% of the variation in BW among growing and adult donkeys, respectively (both p < 0.01). Of the four nonlinear functions evaluated, the Brody model provided the closest fit (R² = 0.99960) and yielded an estimated asymptotic mature weight of 191.049 kg. Because the age–weight analysis was based on cross-sectional observations, the resulting curve represents population-level variation rather than within-animal growth trajectories. Collectively, these models offer quantitative tools for live-weight estimation, growth assessment, and herd management in female Jiangyue donkeys. Full article

Understanding the dynamics of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry and C stocks along a stand development chronosequence has been extensively studied in forest ecosystems. However, despite the global economic and ecological importance of apple orchards, such knowledge remains limited for these intensively managed perennial agroecosystems. We examined C, N, and P concentrations and stoichiometric ratios in tree tissues (root, stem, branch, foliage) and soils (0–100 cm depth), as well as ecosystem C stocks, across a chronosequence of 4, 8, 12, and 16 yr old Malus pumila orchards in the eastern Yan Mountains, Hebei Province, North China. The results showed that C concentrations exhibited no consistent age-dependent trend in tree tissues. In contrast, N and P concentrations in all tree tissues decreased significantly with stand age, while their C:N and C:P ratios increased. The leaf N:P ratios suggested progressive P limitation as orchards aged. In soil, C, N, and P concentrations first decreased and then increased along the chronosequence, with the highest values observed in the 16 yr stands. This U-shaped trajectory reflected the dynamic interplay between stand development and anthropogenic management. Intercropping and intensive fertilization in the 4 yr orchards initially elevated soil nutrient levels, while the cessation of intercropping and nutrient removal via fruit harvesting in the 8 yr stands led to a decline. Thereafter, accumulation of litter decomposition and root turnover, combined with continued organic matter inputs, progressively replenished soil nutrient pools in the 12 and 16 yr stands. The total ecosystem C stocks ranged from 70.80 to 136.13 Mg ha⁻¹, initially declining from 4 to 8 years and then increasing at 12 and 16 years, with soil contributing 84.7–99.7% of the total. Plant and soil nutrient concentrations showed predominantly negative correlations, indicating weak coupling between tree and soil nutrient pools. Our findings demonstrated that stand age profoundly influenced C:N:P stoichiometry and C stocks in apple orchard ecosystems and that prolonged orchard development enhanced both tree biomass C and soil C stocks. These results provide a scientific basis for nutrient optimization and sustainable management of apple orchards in temperate regions. Full article

Background: Small-scale illegal gold mining, or “Galamsey”, is an important livelihood in Ghana but exposes workers to serious occupational health risks. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences, perceptions of health hazards, and coping strategies of workers from illegal small-scale gold mines in the Atwima Mponua District to inform context-specific interventions and policies. Methods: This qualitative study employed a phenomenological design to explore the occupational health experiences of workers from illegal small-scale gold mines in the Atwima Mponua District. A total of 16 purposively selected workers, ten men and six women, aged 27 to 44 years, with mining experience ranging from 3 to 12 years, working across roles including excavators, washers/panners, chemical processors, ore grinders, and support workers, were interviewed in depth, using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data according to Braun and Clarke’s model. Findings: There were four dominant themes: (1) normalization of risk and fatalistic attitudes about mining risks; (2) Respiratory Manifestations and Dust-Related Ailments; (3) chemical exposures and dermatological conditions; and (4) traumatic injuries from pit collapses, mining equipment accidents, and heavy physical labour. Participants demonstrated low levels of knowledge about long-term health outcomes and reported substantial obstacles to accessing healthcare, including fear of legal action, financial constraints, and geographic isolation. Conclusions: Workers from illegal small-scale gold mines in the Atwima Mponua District bear a serious, hidden occupational health burden normalized by poverty and criminalization. Urgent, comprehensive interventions are needed that address legal protection, economic alternatives, accessible healthcare, and harm reduction. Full article

Background: High-quality chest compressions are considered a fundamental component of effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Although body mass index (BMI) has been suggested to be associated with chest compression performance, the available evidence remains unclear, particularly among healthcare professionals evaluated under standardized training conditions. This study aimed to investigate the association between BMI and chest compression quality following standardized Basic Life Support (BLS) training in nurses. Methods: This prospective simulation study included 284 nurses who completed a standardized 45 min BLS training program. Chest compression performance was assessed individually using an AmbuMan^® Basic CPR manikin during two minutes of uninterrupted chest compressions. Adequate compression rate, adequate compression depth, and complete chest recoil were evaluated according to the manufacturer’s performance criteria based on current ERC and AHA guidelines. Participants were classified into three BMI groups: <18.5, 18.5–24.9, and ≥25 kg/m². Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the independent association between BMI and each chest compression quality parameter, adjusting for age, sex, nursing experience, previous BLS training, and working in an intensive care unit. Results: Participants with a BMI < 18.5 kg/m² had significantly lower rates of adequate compression rate (15.0%) and adequate compression depth (45.0%) than those in the other two BMI groups (both p < 0.001). Complete chest recoil also differed significantly among BMI groups (p = 0.004). After adjustment for age, sex, nursing experience, previous BLS training, and working in an intensive care unit, BMI remained independently associated with adequate compression rate (adjusted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.18–1.49; p < 0.001) and adequate compression depth (adjusted OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.14–1.47; p < 0.001), but not with complete chest recoil (adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.99–1.26; p = 0.072). Conclusions: Following standardized BLS training, nurses with a BMI < 18.5 kg/m² showed lower rates of adequate compression rate and depth than those with higher BMI values, while BMI was not independently associated with complete chest recoil. These findings suggest an association between lower BMI and poorer performance in selected chest compression parameters within this simulation setting. Full article

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into human resources management is driving a profound transformation in the evolution of management, and even more so in the management of human talent, which is the primary resource of any organization. This research provides an in-depth analysis of the impact of AI on core human resource management processes, covering the automation of operations that enables the exploration of dimensions such as talent acquisition, training, potential development, mental well-being, strategic workforce planning, job design, diversity, compensation, equity and inclusion, change management, culture and sustainability. The purpose of this study is to systematically synthesize the existing evidence on the impact of artificial intelligence on human management processes, identifying the scientific consensus, emerging contradictions, research gaps, and implications for sustainable organizational development. A systematic review was conducted of various sources published between 2020 and 2025 from databases such as ScienceDirect and Scopus, among others, using predefined Boolean search strategies, explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria and a structured thematic synthesis narrowing down the main studies based on search criteria. It was determined how algorithms are changing the employer-employee relationship within organizations. The findings indicate that the effectiveness of AI depends on the development of a hybrid intelligence that preserves the human factor consideration. It is concluded that AI enables the optimization of cultural change management, analytical precision, and ethical oversight—which are irreplaceable and critical human competencies in today’s digital age. This review contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive synthesis of recent evidence, identifying unresolved research gaps, and proposing a future research agenda that will lead to the development of sustainable, responsible, and people-centered AI in human resource management. Full article

The telomere is one of the biological hallmarks of skin aging. Sodium acetylated hyaluronate (SAH) is an acetylated derivative of sodium hyaluronate, produced by a grafting technology that confers higher resistance to hyaluronidase. This study aimed to explore whether SAH is associated with telomere-related endpoints and with clinical signs of skin aging. Two vitro studies were performed, assessing telomerase activity in human adult keratinocytes and telomere length in human normal fibroblasts by quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay kits, with or without SAH. A randomized, split-face, double-centered, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was then conducted on 44 Caucasian and Asian female volunteers, comparing a facial cream containing 0.1% SAH with a placebo cream over 28 days; crow’s feet wrinkle depth, area, and volume, under-eye roughness (Rz), elasticity (R2), and firmness (F4) were measured by PRIMOS 3D and Cutometer^® MPA 580 at baseline, day 7, and day 28. In vitro, only the highest SAH concentration (0.15%) was associated with a significant increase in telomerase activity and in telomere length versus control, whereas lower concentrations had no significant effect. Clinically, the SAH cream significantly reduced crow’s feet wrinkle volume and area, improved skin elasticity, and reduced under-eye roughness versus placebo, with non-significant trends for wrinkle depth and firmness. These exploratory findings make SAH an interesting active ingredient for anti-aging skincare cosmetics, combining a curative dimension (clinical improvement of skin-aging parameters) with a preventive dimension (telomere preservation observed in vitro for the first time), and warrant further mechanistic investigation. Full article

Architecture has often represented itself through permanence, stability, and formal autonomy while materially existing through irreversible exchanges, dissipation, aging, maintenance, and transformation. Situated within a cumulative research program on architectural conception, thermodynamics, constructal law, environmental transfer, digital design, and spatial morphogenesis, this article isolates a more specific question: how can irreversibility and constructal law become generative principles within architectural design rather than corrective considerations applied after form has been established? The study develops a situated theoretical-methodological framework in which the building is approached as a finite open configuration traversed by thermal, material, environmental, and occupational flows. Drawing on the second law of thermodynamics, exergy degradation, finite-time processes, boundary-layer reasoning, and constructal access, the framework organizes design through the definition of the finite domain, the identification of gradients, the localization of resistance and irreversible loss, the spatial and temporal staging of differences, the organization of access, and the evaluation of geometry through dynamic persistence. The framework is applied to an unbuilt amphibious dwelling as a research-by-design case study, examining its implications for site interpretation, flood accommodation, sectional organization, envelope depth, material differentiation, circulation, and maintenance. The application is not presented as a complete numerical performance validation, but as an architectural translation of the method that establishes the basis for subsequent computational, structural, material, and life-cycle testing. The article contributes a focused account of architecture as the organization of irreversible processes under finite constraints and proposes a design methodology through which gradients, resistances, transfers, and temporal transformations may participate directly in the generation of form. Full article

Introduction: Tuberculosis [TB] and diabetes mellitus (DM) remain major public health concerns worldwide. TB negatively affects an individual’s glucose tolerance, increasing the risk of developing DM. Similarly, DM reduces the host’s ability to fight TB infection and increases the likelihood of developing TB and poor response to TB medication. This study analysed stigma and health-seeking behaviour in a sub-district of Accra Metropolis. Methods: We used a mixed-methods research approach involving a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interviews to explore community knowledge, stigma, and health-seeking behaviour related to TB and DM. A total of 437 individuals were selected for a survey using a simple random sampling technique, while 22 participants, including three TB patients, four nurses, one medical doctor, four students from a nursing and midwifery school, five students from a school of hygiene, and five community members, were involved in the study. Healthcare providers and patients were purposively selected, while students and community members were recruited through convenience sampling. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed on the quantitative data using STATA, while the qualitative data were thematically analysed using the MAXQDA software. Results: Participants’ age, sex, and educational levels were significantly associated with their knowledge of TB and DM. Males were 0.600 times as likely as females to be knowledgeable about DM (95% CI: 0.386–0.934, p = 0.024). Social determinants of health, such as poverty, local beliefs, stigma, and negative attitudes from healthcare workers, may influence TB patients’ preference for traditional remedies over biomedical treatment. Conclusion: Therefore, we observed that addressing cultural barriers, stigma, and financial costs related to TB and diabetes care will help increase patients’ willingness for biomedical treatment. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the extent to which early breast cancer detection behaviors in Türkiye are associated with age, education, income, and chronic disease status, and to evaluate the relationship of healthcare service utilization (contact with family physicians/general practitioners and specialists) with these behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional secondary data analysis was conducted using nationally representative microdata from the Turkish Statistical Institute’s (TUIK) 2022 Turkiye Health Survey. The analysis included 5554 women aged 40–69. Descriptive statistics were calculated using the FERTFACTOR sample weight. Fully adjusted modified Poisson regression models were constructed for recent mammography (within the last 2 years) and monthly breast self-examination (BSE) (adjusted prevalence ratio, aPR), while Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis with five-fold cross-validation was applied to identify targetable risk profiles. (The maximum tree depth was set at 3, and the minimum terminal node size at 250 individuals.) Results: The rates of undergoing a recent mammogram and performing monthly BSE were 23.5% and 25.0%, respectively. Both early detection behaviors were more frequent among women who had contact with both a family physician/general practitioner and a specialist physician within the past 12 months. While contact with a specialist physician was independently associated with both behaviors, education level was positively associated with them, whereas the presence of a chronic disease was associated only with having a recent mammogram. In the CART analysis, the initial split occurred based on BSE behavior, and the prevalence of recent mammography varied approximately eightfold across the terminal nodes (cross-validated AUC = 0.681). Conclusions: In Türkiye, behaviors related to the early detection of breast cancer are associated with age, education, and contact with healthcare services. Fewer than one in four women were up to date with mammography, underscoring a substantial early detection gap. Contact with a specialist physician showed the strongest association; however, given the cross-sectional design, causality cannot be inferred and reverse causation cannot be excluded. Systematizing early detection recommendations within primary care and implementing targeted strategies for low-socioeconomic groups may help increase participation in screening. Full article