Search Results (2,614)

Archaeological sites are fragile, non-renewable heritage environments where visitors’ inappropriate behavior may cause irreversible damage. This study designed and evaluated a VR serious game, Guarding the Terracotta Warriors, to promote visitors’ responsible visiting behavior intention at archaeological sites. Examining the Terracotta Warriors Museum as a case study, this study identified conservation needs through literature and case analysis, expert interviews, and preliminary visitor interviews, and translated them into four design requirements: path guidance for visiting boundaries, reflection on visiting order, contextualized risk decisions, and concrete feedback on behavioral consequences. Based on the MDA framework, these requirements were further transformed into interactive game mechanisms. A within-subject experiment with 46 participants compared the VR serious game with conservation-content-matched video instruction, followed by semi-structured interviews with 20 participants. Quantitative results showed that the VR serious game produced significantly higher scores than video instruction in presence, experience satisfaction, conservation-related attitude, awareness of consequences, personal norms, and responsible visiting behavior intention. Task load was slightly higher in the VR condition, but its mean score remained below the midpoint of the seven-point scale, indicating a relatively modest level of perceived task load. Qualitative findings further indicated that embodied exploration, safe-to-fail risk decisions, visitor-order feedback, and irreversible restoration feedback helped participants understand conservation boundaries and behavioral consequences. This study provides a design framework and empirical evidence for using VR serious games to support responsible visitor education at archaeological sites. Full article

Holes in the flanges of steel beams and girders are commonly required for bolted connections and can influence both flexural strength and rotational ductility. Although flange-hole effects have been investigated previously, the experimental basis of several traditional provisions was developed using older steels with relatively low yield-to-ultimate strength ratios. Current design specifications differ considerably in their treatment of open and fastener-filled flange holes. In particular, the relationship between flange-area reduction, flexural resistance, rotational ductility, and net-section fracture in modern structural steels remains insufficiently quantified. This study addresses these issues through tests of twenty-five full-scale W200 × 42 beams fabricated from ASTM A992 steel with a measured (F_y/F_u) ratio of approximately 0.77. The test program included solid beams, beams with open holes in the tension flange, beams with open holes in both flanges, and beams with fastener-filled holes in both flanges. The results demonstrate that flange-area reduction affected rotational ductility more severely than flexural strength. For the most severe tension-flange reduction investigated (A_fn/A_fg = 0.52), the maximum moment decreased by 16.8% relative to the solid beams’average maximum moment, whereas the total rotation capacity (R_y) decreased by 77.2%. The experimental capacities were also compared with predictions from AISC-LRFD, AASHTO-LRFD, CAN/CSA-S16, and AS 4100. Based on the observed strength and failure behavior, a design framework considering gross-section flexural resistance and modified net-section fracture resistance as competing limit states is proposed. Across the investigated specimens, the ratio of measured maximum moment to the proposed design moment (M_m/M_dp) ranged from 1.21 to 1.47, indicating conservative predictions within the experimental range considered. Full article

Although asymbiotic orchid seed germination was first achieved in vitro in 1922, the prediction of germination requirements under in vitro conditions still remains complicated. To address this, we developed a machine learning framework to classify the ex situ asymbiotic germination potential of wild orchids into four discrete groups: Low (0–30%), Mid (31–50%), High (51–80%), and Max (81–100%). Models were trained on a dataset of 203 species, utilizing seed morphometrics—specifically, the embryo-to-testa (E:S) length ratio—alongside core ecological traits (subfamily, growth habit, habitat, and climate zone), as well as chemical scarification duration as a proxy of seed permeability. Validation leveraged novel germination and trait data from 26 taxa from Greece (17) and Armenia (9), published here for the first time. To mitigate class imbalance and prevent algorithmic bias toward highly germinating species, we applied inverse frequency weighting during training. Iterative testing of six algorithms revealed that the “Step 4” feature matrix (excluding climate zone and pretreatment duration) yielded the optimal predictive balance. K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) emerged as the superior models, achieving overall accuracies of 44.4% and 61.1%, respectively, with both achieving 100% accuracy for low-germinating species. Finally, we synthesized a novel database compiling new seed morphometrics from Armenia (17 taxa), Greece (52 taxa), and the data from the literature (479 taxa). After filtering previously utilized species, we generated a prediction pool of 361 orchid taxa. Applying our Step 5 KNN and SVM models to forecast their germination behavior revealed distinct variations linked to ecological profiles. This high-accuracy framework, particularly for low-germinability groups, offers a powerful screening tool for ex situ conservation planning. The final trained models are compiled in the publicly available R (v. 4.6.0) package OrchidGermClass. Full article

This study investigates the atmospheric corrosion behavior of high-lead bronze alloys within a simulated aggressive environment characterized by high humidity, acidity, chlorides, oxygen, and CO₂. The evolution of surface morphology and corrosion products was systematically monitored using colorimetric analysis and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Results indicate that the initial patina primarily comprised cuprite (Cu₂O) and cassiterite (SnO₂), which are predominantly benign phases. During the early corrosion stage, lead oxidation and carbonation prevailed, generating abundant bright-white cerussite. Subsequently, as copper-driven corrosion became dominant, these white deposits diminished and were progressively replaced by characteristic green “bronze disease”, identified as atacamite (Cu₂(OH)₃Cl). The findings reveal that preferential lead corrosion is likely to induce localized pitting, thereby accelerating degradation of the copper substrate. Consequently, higher lead content may reduce the overall corrosion resistance of bronze artifacts under these specific conditions. These results offer experimental insights into atmospheric corrosion mechanisms and inform the development of evidence-based conservation strategies for bronze cultural heritage. Full article

Convective drying of Zingiberaceous roots, particularly ginger (Zingiber officinale), requires a uniform distribution of airflow and temperature to ensure energy efficiency and product quality. However, many drying systems exhibit aerothermal limitations that produce temperature gradients and non-uniform drying conditions. To address this issue, this study proposes a dual-swirl dryer featuring two air inlets: an upper helical inlet and a lower tangential inlet. Both inlet configurations generate swirling airflow patterns that enhance thermal uniformity and increase the residence time of hot air within the drying chamber. The internal flow behavior was investigated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations in ANSYS Fluent2025 R1 version. A three-dimensional polyhedral mesh was generated to improve computational efficiency and numerical accuracy. Turbulence and recirculation phenomena were modeled using the Realizable k–$ϵ$ turbulence model, while temperature distribution was analyzed through the energy conservation equation. Numerical predictions were experimentally validated using temperature sensors integrated into an automatic control system. The comparison between numerical and experimental results demonstrated that the dual-swirl configuration improves airflow redistribution, reduces thermal stagnation zones, and promotes a more homogeneous temperature field throughout the drying chamber. These findings confirm that the proposed system is an efficient alternative for agro-industrial drying applications. Full article

Hybrid solar–thermal energy harvesting systems are an important advancement in renewable energy technology, enabling simultaneous production of electrical power and useful thermal energy within a single compact platform. However, their performance is often limited by poor heat transfer and inefficient mass transport of working fluids, leading to photovoltaic thermal degradation and significant exergy losses. This study aims to optimize heat and mass transport processes in a hybrid solar–thermal mechanical system to enhance energy recovery and ensure long-term operational reliability. A three-dimensional numerical model based on the finite volume method (FVM) was developed using the governing equations of continuity, momentum, and energy conservation. A Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) was employed to determine optimal microchannel geometries by analyzing variable cross-section effects on flow behavior and thermal boundary layer disruption. At the Reynolds number of 2000, the optimized configuration increases the average Nusselt number by 43.5% compared to a smooth channel. Consequently, the photovoltaic operating temperature decreases by 12.6 °C, improving electrical efficiency by 9.3%. The system achieves a maximum thermal efficiency and net energy gain of 76.8%, while maintaining an acceptable 16.3% increase in pumping power. The results confirm that optimizing mass transport is essential for effective thermal regulation and improved energy conversion performance, providing a strong foundation for high-efficiency solar collector design. Full article

This study examines whether earnings become less informative as firms near a first-time going concern audit opinion. The question is important because the going concern assumption underlies the measurement of earnings, and growing doubt about that assumption may substantially alter the market’s use of earnings information before the auditor formally issues the opinion. Using firms that receive first-time going concern audit opinions, the analysis traces the intertemporal behavior of earnings informativeness for up to six years before the opinion through the opinion year, measuring informativeness through the relation between abnormal stock returns and unexpected earnings. The results show a substantial decline in earnings informativeness as the going concern opinion approaches, with the earnings response coefficient becoming indistinguishable from zero at least two years before, and in the year of, the opinion. The decline occurs earlier and is more pronounced for firms receiving consecutive going concern opinions. Additional tests indicate that known determinants of earnings informativeness explain part, but not all, of the decline, while evidence on abnormal earnings and accruals is more consistent with severe distress or conservative reporting than with systematic income-increasing earnings management. Overall, the findings suggest that the market revises downward the usefulness of earnings well before the issuance of a first-time going concern audit opinion. Full article

Background: The growing awareness of breast cancer’s molecular diversity has not changed the technical foundations of surgery itself, but it has profoundly reshaped how surgeons think about surgery. Rather than molecular biology prescribing specific surgery, it is the surgeon’s interpretation of biological behavior—tumor subtype, genomic risk, treatment responsiveness—that influences surgical timing, extent, and feasibility. This is particularly important in the developing world, where mastectomy continues to be the default surgery, not always because it is required, but because biological nuance is underutilized in surgical planning. This review integrates existing evidence, guidelines, and real-world clinical experience to show how a surgeon who understands tumor biology can meaningfully expand safe breast conservation, de-escalate axillary surgery, and align operative choices with systemic therapy. In essence, molecular biology becomes a lens through which surgeons can practice more personalized, precise, and less invasive surgery, without compromising oncologic safety. Recent findings: We present evidence-based algorithms focusing on Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-positive, and triple-negative subtypes, while discussing the nuances of multifocal and multicentric disease, metaplastic histologies, and discordant lesion management. The review addresses axillary management in the molecular era, specifying the appropriateness of sentinel lymph node biopsy, targeted axillary dissection, or completion axillary dissection, and how subtype-specific nodal responses to neoadjuvant therapy can guide de-escalation strategies. Through clinical vignettes, we exemplify how molecular integration into surgical planning can modify clinical courses, enabling oncoplastic conservation in downstaged tumors and justifying definitive resection in chemo-resistant cases. We examine the implications of germline and somatic genetic testing on surgical decision-making, particularly in relation to BRCA1/2 and PALB2 mutation carriers, alongside ethical and practical counseling considerations. Additionally, we review emerging biomarkers—such as circulating tumor DNA and immune and radiomic signatures—and propose research priorities for their incorporation into surgical trials. Conclusions: Effective implementation necessitates enhanced surgeon education, standardized assays, and multidisciplinary coordination to promote equitable access, consistent utilization of biology-driven algorithms, and rigorous quality oversight. This review furnishes breast surgeons with a pragmatic framework for translating molecular knowledge into multidisciplinary, patient-centered care pathways that optimize oncological safety, aesthetic outcomes, and overall quality of life. Full article

Foodborne illnesses caused by Salmonella Typhimurium remain a major public health concern worldwide. Although ST19 has historically been a dominant lineage within this serotype, ST213 has become increasingly prevalent in Mexico. The biological factors underlying this epidemiological shift remain incompletely understood. In this study, we compared virulence-associated gene repertoires and stress-related phenotypes in representative S. Typhimurium ST19 and ST213 strains with distinct virulotypes (VTs). Comparative genomic analysis identified 119 virulence-associated genes distributed across 26 VTs, with most genes broadly conserved between genotypes. Representative strains were evaluated under simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) stress conditions, in post-stress recovery assays, and in a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model. Under the experimental conditions evaluated, the representative ST213 strains SAL109 (VT1), SAL115 (VT1), and SAL016 (VT12) tended to show higher persistence under host-associated stress conditions and greater intestinal colonization capacity in C. elegans than the ST19 strain SAL004 (VT23). However, strains sharing the same VT did not necessarily exhibit similar phenotypes, indicating that virulence-associated gene repertoires alone do not fully explain stress tolerance or host colonization behavior. Overall, these findings highlight phenotypic variability among strains with similar virulence gene content and support the importance of integrating genomic and phenotypic approaches to better understand the biology of emerging S. Typhimurium lineages. Full article

The umami taste, one of the five basic taste modalities, is primarily mediated by the heterodimeric receptor TAS1R1/TAS1R3, which governs ligand recognition at the molecular level. However, despite this well-established biological framework, the identification of umami-active compounds from natural food sources remains a challenging task due to the chemical complexity of food metabolomes and the limited availability of predictive models targeting this receptor. In the present study, a multi-stage computational pipeline combining machine learning and structure-based analysis was developed and applied for the systematic screening of the Pleurotus ostreatus chemical profile. A curated dataset of 259 compounds with experimentally determined TAS1R1/TAS1R3 activity was used to develop a machine learning (ML) predictive model, with a Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) classifier demonstrating the best predictive performance. The applicability of the model was further evaluated using the chemical profile of Pleurotus ostreatus, a mushroom widely associated with pronounced umami characteristics. Selected high-probability compounds were subsequently investigated using molecular docking, enabling the assessment of their binding behavior within a human TAS1R1/TAS1R3 homology model. Amino acid-like compounds exhibited conserved interaction patterns within the predicted orthosteric region, whereas structurally distinct metabolites adopted alternative binding orientations characterized by hydrogen-bonding interactions. The integration of ligand-based prediction with structure-based analysis provides a comprehensive framework for the identification and mechanistic interpretation of umami-related compounds, highlighting the potential of Pleurotus ostreatus as a source of structurally diverse candidate umami-related metabolites. Full article

The Tawny-throated Dotterel is a migratory species listed as “near threatened” in Chile and distributed across diverse ecosystems in South America. However, little is known about its nesting behavior in arid desert ecosystems, where it may utilize certain sporadic vegetation strata for nesting. The Atacama Desert, located between southern Peru and northern Chile, is described as the driest and oldest desert on the planet. Nevertheless, during extraordinary periods of rainfall, this arid zone experiences flowering—primarily in the spring—which can provide an optimal breeding niche for some birds. In this article, we report, for the first time, the discovery of an Tawny-throated Dotterel nest during a “flowering desert” period. The nest was monitored using a camera trap. The egg-incubation frequency observed in our study was mainly distributed during the night, while the adult spent a significant fraction of the day on nesting activities and self-maintenance. Future studies are needed to determine whether this area is indeed a periodic nesting area for the Tawny-throated Dotterel, which would strengthen the designation of this part of the Atacama Desert as a potential conservation area. Full article

Background/Objective: Asthma-related quality of life is related to multiple clinical, physiological, and behavioral factors. Nonetheless, the domain-specific associations of asthma control, inhaler adherence, lung function, and demographic characteristics remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the adjusted associations of asthma control, inhaler adherence, lung function, and age with individual domains of asthma-related quality of life. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 92 adults with asthma who demonstrated correct inhaler technique and adequate knowledge of their prescribed inhaler regimen. Asthma control was measured using the Asthma Control Test (ACT), inhaler adherence using the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI), and quality of life using the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). Pulmonary function was determined through spirometry. Spearman correlation analyses were initially conducted to identify associations between variables. Subsequently, separate multivariable linear regression models were created for each AQLQ domain, including ACT score, TAI score, age, and FEV₁ % predicted as predictors. Results: A total of 92 adult patients with asthma were studied. Asthma control was significantly positively correlated with all AQLQ domains (all p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, ACT had the largest absolute standardized coefficient within each of the four domain-specific models (standardized β range: 0.339–0.791). After adjustment, age was associated with the activity limitation and symptom domains, whereas FEV₁ % predicted was associated only with the environmental stimuli domain. Inhaler adherence showed an inverse association with emotional functioning in the fully adjusted model (B = −0.094, 95% CI −0.158–−0.031; p = 0.0038). However, this association was absent in the bivariate analysis and in a sensitivity model excluding ACT (B = −0.015, 95% CI −0.067–0.037; p = 0.562), suggesting a possible suppression effect. Conclusions: ACT showed the largest standardized association within each domain-specific model, although the magnitude of its associations with the symptom and activity-limitation domains may partly reflect conceptual overlap between the instruments. The inverse TAI–emotional-functioning coefficient was model-dependent, did not meet the conservative multiplicity benchmark, and should be considered exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Additionally, lung function and age showed domain-specific associations, highlighting the need for a comprehensive, multidimensional approach in asthma management. Full article

Tourism is a major driver of economic growth in tropical island destinations but also places increasing pressure on fragile marine ecosystems. This study examined tourists’ environmental awareness, perceptions, and conservation-related behaviors on Cozumel Island, part of the Mesoamerican Reef System and home to multiple protected areas, including the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park. Between June and September 2022, surveys were conducted with 144 tourists at major tourism hubs across the island. Although 86% of respondents identified themselves as environmentally conscious, awareness of local environmental impacts associated with tourism remained limited, and only 6% reported engaging in environmentally conscious actions during their visit. Awareness of the protected status and regulations of the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park was also low (39%), and only 19% reported purchasing the required conservation bracelet or park pass. Short-stay cruise visitors represented 65% of respondents, potentially limiting opportunities for deeper environmental engagement and conservation education. These findings highlight the need for stronger pre-trip environmental communication, visible on-site interpretation, and targeted outreach strategies to support sustainable tourism and coral reef conservation in the Mexican Caribbean. Full article

Aegilops geniculata Roth is a tetraploid wild relative of wheat distributed throughout the Mediterranean Basin, where it grows in a wide range of habitats. Due to its genetic diversity, ecological plasticity and adaptation to Mediterranean ruderal environments, the species has attracted increasing interest as a genetic resource for wheat improvement and as a potential component of sustainable agroecosystems. Beyond use in agriculture, its ecological characteristics also suggest applications in Nature-based Solutions, including revegetation of degraded, low-input, semi-arid ecosystems. This review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on the taxonomy, genetics, morphology, distribution, ecology, reproductive biology and conservation of Ae. geniculata. This work is complemented by original experimental data on agronomic traits and an assessment of ex situ conservation efforts. Evidence highlights the species’ value as a source of drought- and stress-adaptive traits for wheat improvement, plus promising cover crop traits (rapid establishment, stable biomass production and flexible germination behavior). Remaining knowledge gaps include population genomics, conservation of undercollected populations and field-scale agronomic performance to better clarify the potential of this species as a cover crop. This work supports further investigation of Ae. geniculata as both a valuable crop wild relative and a promising cover crop for Mediterranean agroecosystems. Full article

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, AI-driven algorithmic goal setting has become an important mechanism of digital platform management. In the livestream e-commerce industry, platforms increasingly use algorithmic systems to assign tasks, monitor performance, and regulate streamers’ work. Although this intensive and dynamic form of algorithmic management can improve operational efficiency, it may also be associated with potential ethical risks. Drawing on Conservation of Resources Theory, Emotional Labor Theory, and Sociotechnical Systems Theory, this study examines whether AI-driven algorithmic goal setting is associated with streamers’ unethical selling behavior through emotional dissonance and whether AI transparency moderates this relationship. Using a three-wave time-lagged survey design, data were collected from 427 livestream e-commerce streamers in China. SPSS-based hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrapping were employed to test the proposed moderated mediation model. The results showed that AI-driven algorithmic goal setting was significantly and positively associated with streamers’ unethical selling behavior and that emotional dissonance partially mediated this relationship. Furthermore, the positive relationship between AI-driven algorithmic goal setting and emotional dissonance, as well as the corresponding indirect relationship with unethical selling behavior, was weaker at higher levels of AI transparency. These findings identify emotional dissonance as an important psychological mechanism linking algorithmic performance demands with unethical selling behavior and indicate the conditional buffering role of AI transparency. This study extends algorithmic management research to the livestream e-commerce context and provides practical implications for enhancing algorithmic transparency and reducing ethical risks in platform governance. Full article