Search Results (2,016)

In response to the urgent global call for “dual carbon” targets, the sustainable transformation of public museums has become a focal issue in both academic research and engineering practice. This study proposes and empirically validates an integrated management framework that unites digital twin modeling, artificial intelligence, and green energy systems for next-generation green smart museums. A unified, closed-loop platform for data-driven, adaptive management is implemented and statistically validated across distinct deployment scenarios. Empirical evaluation is conducted through the comparative analysis of three representative museum cases in China, each characterized by a distinct integration pathway: (A) advanced digital twin and AI management with moderate green energy adoption; (B) large-scale renewable energy integration with basic AI and digitalization; and (C) the comprehensive integration of all three dimensions. Multi-dimensional data on energy consumption, carbon emissions, equipment reliability, and visitor satisfaction are collected and analyzed using quantitative statistical techniques and performance indicator benchmarking. The results reveal that the holistic “triple synergy” approach in Case C delivers the most balanced and significant gains, achieving up to 36.7% reductions in energy use and 41.5% in carbon emissions, alongside the highest improvements in operational reliability and visitor satisfaction. In contrast, single-focus strategies show domain-specific advantages but also trade-offs—for example, Case B achieved high energy and carbon savings but relatively limited visitor satisfaction gains. These findings highlight that only coordinated, multi-technology integration can optimize performance across both environmental and experiential dimensions. The proposed framework provides both a theoretical foundation and practical roadmap for advancing the digital and green transformation of public cultural buildings, supporting broader carbon neutrality and sustainable development objectives. Full article

Rosa canina is one of the precious native rose rootstocks with a high reputation among plant producers, which has potential horticultural and pharmacological properties related to the cosmetic values and the production of secondary metabolites. Due to high horticultural consumption, applying the plant tissue culture technique as a major tool for healthy and massive-scale production of R. canina plants is not unexpected. However, the response of R. canina in vitro plantlets to various plant tissue culture ingredients is not well understood to tender an efficient applied protocol for qualitative and quantitative in vitro propagation. In this regard, the main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of several abiotic in vitro variants including six plant tissue culture media formulations (McCown’s Woody Plant Medium (WPM), Murashige and Skoog (MS), Van der Salm (VS), Schenk and Hildebrant (SH), Driver Kuniyuki Walnut (DKW), and Gamburg B5 (B5)) in combination with four concentrations (0, 1.5, 3, 4 mgL⁻¹) of two types of cytokinins (6-Benzyaminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin (Kin)) simultaneously. Notably, it is perceived that DKW culture medium containing 1.5 mgL⁻¹ BAP and 0.1 mgL⁻¹ NAA is the best treatment for both in vitro morphological and flowering properties. Full article

Background: Balancing nutrition security with environmental sustainability is a key priority in global food policy, with Sustainable Healthy Diets (SHDs) serving as a critical framework aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Traditional Japanese cuisine reflects SHD principles through its emphasis on plant-based, seasonal, and minimally processed dishes. However, modern, globalized dietary patterns increasingly feature ultra-processed foods, raising concerns about health risks such as high sodium intake. Methods: This study adopts a novel dish-level content analysis of 120 contemporary recipes from NHK Today’s Cooking between 2023 and 2025, a TV program by Japan’s national public broadcaster that is widely regarded as reflecting the practices of Japanese home cooking, to examine how SHDs pillars—nutritional diversity (e.g., varied protein sources), environmental sustainability (e.g., low-carbon ingredients), and cultural continuity (e.g., traditional techniques)—are embedded in Japanese home cooking. Unlike macro-level consumption or nutrition data, this dish-level approach reveals how individual dishes embody sustainability through ingredient selection, preparation methods, and cultural logic. Results: Quantitatively, pork (33.3%) and seafood (19.2%) together dominated main protein sources, with minimal beef (2.5%) and a notable presence of soy-based foods (12.5%), supporting lower reliance on environmentally intensive red meat; mean salt content per person in main dishes was 2.16 ± 1.09 g (28.9% for men, 33.3% for women of Japan’s daily salt targets), while recipe patterns emphasizing fermentation and seasonal alignment highlight possible pathways through which Japanese dietary practices can be considered ecologically efficient. Simultaneously, the analysis identifies emerging challenges, encompassing environmental issues such as overfishing and public health concerns like excessive sodium consumption. Conclusions: By centering dishes as culturally meaningful units, and using media recipes as reproducible, representative datasets for monitoring dietary change, this approach offers a reproducible framework for assessing dietary sustainability in evolving global food systems. Full article

Pseudomonas fluorescens is the main spoilage bacterium in milk, and its proliferation is one of the factors leading to the deterioration of the quality of raw milk. In this study, a rapid detection system for P. fluorescens was developed based on recombinase-aided amplification combined with a test strip (RAA-TS), which contained a double test line (DTL) targeting the virulence gene aprX of P. fluorescens and the housekeeping gene gyrB of Pseudomonas. Visual observation could detect gyrB (50 CFU/mL) and aprX (250 CFU/mL) within 90 min, including sample pretreatment and RAA reaction and detection steps. No cross-reactions were observed with Pseudomonas or other bacteria (n = 19). The quantitative detection limits (LOD) of gyrB and aprX for P. fluorescens in milk were 37 CFU/mL and 233 CFU/mL, respectively. Compared with polymerase chain reaction-agarose gel electrophoresis (PCR-AGE), the sensitivity of the developed RAA-TS-DTL system was increased by approximately four times. Furthermore, it could detect live P. fluorescens in milk when combined with optimized sample pretreatment by propidium monoazide (PMAxx). Its consistency with the traditional culture method in the detection of P. fluorescens spiked in milk samples (n = 25) was 100%. The developed RAA-TS-DTL had the advantages of high accuracy and short time consumption. Thus, it provides a new way or tool for the rapid screening or detection of P. fluorescens in milk. Full article

Hyperglycemia in early-stage embryogenesis is linked to diabetic embryopathy. High-glucose-concentration-induced accumulation of hexokinase-2 (HK2) may initiate metabolic dysfunction that contributes to diabetic embryopathy, including increased formation of methylglyoxal (MG). In this study, we evaluated changes in HK2 protein levels and embryo dysmorphogenesis in an experimental model of diabetic embryopathy. Rat embryos were cultured with high glucose concentrations, and the effects of glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) inducer, trans-resveratrol and hesperetin (tRES + HESP) were evaluated. Rat embryos, on gestational day 9, were cultured for 48 h in low and high glucose concentrations with or without tRES + HESP. Embryo crown–rump length, somite number, malformation score, concentrations of HK2 and Glo1 protein, rates of glucose consumption, and MG formation were assessed. Under low-glucose conditions, embryos exhibited normal morphogenesis. In contrast, high-glucose conditions led to reduced crown–rump length and somite number, and an increased malformation score. The addition of 10 μM tRES + HESP reversed these high glucose-induced changes by 60%, 49%, and 47%, respectively. Embryos cultured in high glucose showed increases in HK2 concentration (42%), glucose consumption (75%), and MG formation (27%), normalized to embryo volume. These elevated HK2 levels were normalized by treatment with 10 μM tRES + HESP. Thus, high-glucose-induced metabolic dysfunction and embryopathy may both be initiated by HK2 accumulation and may be preventable with tRES + HESP treatment. Full article

Rapid and accurate bacterial detection is essential in medicine, the food industry, and environmental monitoring. This work presents the development of an optical sensor based on color changes in the culture medium that leverages the optical interaction of bacterial metabolic products. The proposed prototype operates on the principle of optical transmittance through mannitol salt agar (ASM), a selective medium for Staphylococcus aureus. As bacterial growth progresses, the medium undergoes changes in thickness and, primarily, color, which is optically measurable at specific wavelengths depending on the type of illumination provided by the simplified light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The sensor demonstrated the ability to detect bacterial growth in approximately 90–120 min, offering a significant reduction in detection time compared to traditional incubation methods. The system is characterized by its simplicity, sensitivity, low reagent consumption (up to 140 fewer reagents per test), and potential for real-time monitoring. These findings support the viability of the proposed sensor as an efficient alternative for early pathogen detection in both clinical and industrial applications. Finally, a proposal for simplifying the sensor in a system composed of a light-emitting diode and a light-dependent resistor is presented. Full article

Spontaneous human combustion, today scientifically discredited, was considered a legitimate medical entity in Europe beginning in the 17th century. The aim of this study is to analyze Spanish medical conceptions about this phenomenon between the 18th and 19th centuries, starting from the world context. Primary sources were used with a deductive–inductive approach. Beyond providing an account of a discarded medical theory, this work explores how certain categories of knowledge persist, disappear, and resurface under different belief systems. We analyze how the Spanish medical discourse on SHC evolved in three stages: exposure, debate, and rejection. This allows us to observe changes in medical mentality regarding factors such as searching for sources of ignition and moderating alcohol consumption as a preventive health measure. This study and its historiographical approach enable us to explore broader issues relating to ignorance, alternative ideas, the stability of scientific knowledge over time, and shifts in the field of legal and forensic medicine. This research provides a model for analyzing the complex dynamics of knowledge and its evolution at the intersection of science, culture, and power. Full article

This article examines the historical evolution, contemporary dynamics, and future trajectory of China’s legal and judicial framework for pangolin protection. By reviewing over seventy years of regulatory changes, case law, and policy implementation, it outlines three distinct phases: the early emphasis on pangolins as medicinal and export resources (1949–1989); the phase of conflicted protection and utilization under regulatory expansion (1989–2020); and the post-2020 shift toward judicial activism and ecological civil litigation. We then highlight the long-standing contradiction between legislative protection and continued medicinal use, particularly the centuries-old use of pangolins and their derivatives in traditional Chinese medicine, a practice still acknowledged within certain state policies and regulatory frameworks, showing how these inconsistencies enabled persistent illegal exploitation despite regulatory controls. Through systematic analysis of public court records and case databases, the policy historical records reveal a marked increase in environmental public interest litigation since 2020. These lawsuits, often attached to criminal prosecutions, signal a transition from merely punitive approaches to restorative ones—anchored in ecological valuation of species and their services. Case studies illustrate how courts now impose not only wildlife resource loss fees, but also punitive damages and compensation for ecological service function loss. The article will elaborate in detail on the distinctions and interrelations among these types of compensation. The landmark Case No.17 also demonstrates this paradigm shift, wherein courts recognized pangolins’ role in balancing forest ecosystems. However, significant challenges persist. Valuation methodologies lack uniform standards; while the ecological value of pangolins has been recognized, their inherent value as individuals has not been emphasized within the legal system; judicial discretion varies across jurisdictions; and public interest organizations remain underutilized in litigation. Moreover, while the crackdown on organized crime succeeded in curbing mass trafficking, smaller-scale violations tied to cultural consumption for medicine use persist. The article concludes that judicial innovations, such as ecological judicial restoration bases and integration into China’s draft Ecological Environment Code, offer promising pathways forward. To enhance efficacy, it calls for standardization in ecological valuation, strengthened civil society participation, and nuanced differentiation in penal strategies between minor and serious offenses. This study ultimately positions judicial reform as the cornerstone of China’s evolving pangolin conservation strategy. Full article

Green food serves as a bridge connecting healthy lifestyles with environmental values, particularly in the context of sustainable consumption transitions. However, existing research lacks a systematic understanding of how consumers negotiate cognitive evaluations and emotional responses when forming green food purchase intentions. This study addresses that gap by exploring the cognitive–affective negotiation process underlying consumers’ green food choices. Based on 26 semi-structured interviews with Chinese consumers across diverse socio-economic backgrounds, the grounded theory methodology was employed to inductively construct a conceptual model. The coding process achieved theoretical saturation, while sentiment analysis was integrated to trace the emotional valence of key behavioral drivers. Findings reveal that external factors—including price sensitivity, label ambiguity, access limitations, social influence, and health beliefs—shape behavioral intentions indirectly through three core affective mediators: green trust, perceived value, and lifestyle congruence. These internal constructs translate contextual stimuli into evaluative and motivational responses, highlighting the dynamic interplay between rational judgments and symbolic–emotional interpretations. Sentiment analysis confirmed that emotional trust and psychological reassurance are pivotal in facilitating consumption intention, while price concerns and skepticism act as affective inhibitors. The proposed model extends the Theory of Planned Behavior by embedding affective mediation pathways and structural constraint dynamics, offering a more context-sensitive framework for understanding sustainable consumption behaviors. Given China’s certification-centered trust environment, these findings underscore the cultural specificity of institutional trust mechanisms, with implications for adapting the model in different market contexts. Practically, this study offers actionable insights for policymakers and marketers to enhance eco-label transparency, reduce structural barriers, and design emotionally resonant brand narratives that align with consumers’ identity aspirations. Full article

This study aims to analyze the effects of responsible consumption behavior on impulsive buying, and the mediating role of brand literacy in this relationship. Data collected from 524 Turkish participants using an online survey were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Responsible consumerism exhibited a negative direct effect on impulsive buying and a positive effect on brand literacy. Brand literacy, in turn, was negatively associated with impulsive buying and partially mediated the responsible consumerism–impulsive buying link. Over-consumption and impulsive buying have received considerable scholarly attention. Yet, only a small number of studies have tested whether value-driven orientations, such as responsible consumerism, can curb these impulses. Even fewer still probe the mediating cognitive role of consumer knowledge (e.g., brand literacy). Furthermore, most existing evidence comes from Western high-income settings. This study addresses that gap by empirically testing the responsible consumerism, brand literacy, and impulsive buying pathway in Türkiye, an emerging and rapidly digitalizing economy. Considering its cross-sectional nature and cultural limitations, this study recommends conducting future longitudinal studies and research in various cultural contexts. Full article

As hybrid organizations that combine market-related logic with social logic, social enterprises (SEs) play a crucial role in addressing the challenges faced by people in employment while creating economic benefits through innovative solutions to drive economic and social rural revitalization. Focusing on social enterprises, this study employs environmental analysis and theoretical reasoning to examine the logic and approaches through which social enterprises participate in rural revitalization in China’s northwest regions from the perspective of “new-quality productive forces.” Research findings indicate that in the face of an external environment characterized by weakened investment and consumption and the decline of the demographic dividend, and an internal environment marked by lagging socio-economic development and ecological fragility, SEs should integrate devotion and profit logic based on a mixed action logic of multi-value co-creation. Through approaches such as cultivating new quality talent, constructing a new quality industrial system, shaping a new quality rural environment, promoting synergistic innovation between science and technology and culture, and actively participating in the revitalization of rural areas in China’s northwest region, SEs can play an active role in China’s rural revitalization efforts. Full article

Background: The Mediterranean diet is widely recognised for its health benefits and remains a key reference point in shaping dietary guidelines across populations. Despite its growing international relevance, there is a lack of validated tools assessing Mediterranean diet adherence among children and adolescents in Central and Eastern Europe. Methods: The present study aimed to adapt and validate the KIDMED 2.0 questionnaire for use in Polish children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years (KIDMED 2.0 PL). The adaptation process involved forward–backward translation, expert consultations, and pilot testing to ensure linguistic and cultural relevance. A total of 102 participants completed the questionnaire twice over a two-week interval, and anthropometric data were collected. Results: The KIDMED 2.0 PL demonstrated high test–retest reliability (Spearman’s ρ = 0.876; p < 0.001) and strong criterion validity, with a significant negative correlation between KIDMED scores and BMI centile (ρ = −0.854; p < 0.001). Children with normal weight showed the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet, while scores were significantly lower in overweight and obese participants. Item-level analysis indicated that fruit and vegetable consumption was relatively frequent, whereas intake of legumes, whole grains, and extra virgin olive oil remained low. Conclusions: The KIDMED 2.0 PL is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating diet quality and Mediterranean dietary adherence in the Polish pediatric population. Full article

Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and is particularly prevalent among socially disadvantaged female populations. This quantitative, cross-sectional study aimed to explore the prevalence of preterm birth in three segregated Roma communities in Hungary and to identify health behavior and care factors associated with its occurrence. In our study, preterm birth was defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks of gestation (i.e., <259 days). Data were collected from 231 Roma women living in three municipalities of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, one of Hungary’s most disadvantaged regions, using a structured interview questionnaire. The participants were women aged 18–65 years. Of these, 209 had been pregnant at least once in their lifetime. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic characteristics (age, level of education, employment status, housing conditions, marital status), health behaviors (smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, vitamin supplementation, other substance use), antenatal care attendance, and birth outcomes (preterm birth, gestational age, low birth weight, newborn status). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression with significance set at p < 0.05. Preterm birth was significantly more common among women who smoked, consumed alcohol or drugs during pregnancy, or had vaginal infections. Drug use showed the strongest association with a 22-fold increase in risk, followed by alcohol (nearly fivefold), smoking (over threefold), and infections (threefold). Although non-attendance at antenatal care was associated with increased risk, this relationship was not statistically significant. In the multivariate logistic regression model, alcohol consumption (OR = 1.744, p < 0.01), smoking (OR = 2.495, p < 0.01), drug use (OR = 25.500, p < 0.001), and vaginal infections (OR = 4.014, p < 0.01) during pregnancy were independently associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, whereas folic acid supplementation (OR = 0.448, p < 0.05) showed a significant protective effect. These findings highlight that preterm birth is intricately linked to socioeconomic disadvantage and adverse health behaviors. Culture-specific, community-based prevention strategies are essential to reduce perinatal risks in marginalized populations. Full article

Soy has a long history of consumption in Asia and was traditionally prepared by rinsing, cooking, and simmering, methods which remove estrogenic isoflavones (Isofls). Population studies have indicated that soy and/or Isofls may be associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer (BC), while in vitro and experimental data indicate dose-related proliferative effects of Isofls on breast cells. This review attempts to decipher the role of soy and Isofls in the risk of BC in women, since previous studies have suggested a lack of association with BC. Several dozen population studies conducted in Asian and Western countries were analyzed, as were data collected during in vitro animal and clinical trials of relevant doses of soy and Isofls. Although soy intake has been estimated well in Asian countries and could be related to preventive effects on BC risk, this has not been the case in the West, where the consumption of hidden soy is often omitted. However, in both cultures, the Isofl intake is misestimated, and the groups are misclassified. Indeed, in Asia, the origin of soy foods, i.e., homemade or industrial, has never been reported, and in the West, the amount of Isofls consumed in hidden soy has not been determined. Moreover, in most cohort studies, only a few subjects were exposed to active doses of Isofls on breast cells. Similarly, clinical interventions showed estrogenic effects of Isofls at relevant doses. Finally, population studies have not shown any convincing link between soy or Isofl intake and BC risk, likely because they have opposite effects on this pathology. Thus, based on in vitro, experimental, and clinical data, a deleterious effect of Isofls cannot be excluded when active doses are ingested, even if the soy food matrix can be protective. Full article

The shift toward experience-oriented travel has positioned food as a central driver for attracting visitors to sustainable destinations, directly supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)11 (resilient cities) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption). While prior research has predominantly emphasised marketing outcomes, the role of bodily experiences in shaping gastronomic tourism has received less attention. This study explores how sensory elements (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) and non-sensory elements (including cultural meaning and service quality) jointly influence food-related travel experiences. Twenty-five self-identified food travellers were interviewed in a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) City of Gastronomy, and their narratives were analysed using a three-stage grounded theory approach in NVivo 12. The resulting model identifies four interrelated dimensions: (1) embodied experience, grounded in culinary memories and shared cultural narratives; (2) sensory stimulation arising from food and its surroundings; (3) situated embodiment, shaped by location, timing, and social interaction; and (4) environmental perception, encompassing food presentation, facility quality, cleanliness, and pricing fairness. These dimensions interact to enhance overall experience quality. By integrating an embodied perspective with a sustainability focus, this study advances tourism experience research and offers practical guidance for designing multisensory dining environments, fostering environmentally responsible visitor behaviour, and ensuring a balanced relationship between price and perceived value. Full article