Search Results (4,868)

Thymoquinone (TMQ) is the main therapeutic constituent in black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) seeds. Conventional quantification by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is accurate but unsuitable for large-scale screening. This study evaluated the potential of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) as a rapid and non-destructive alternative. A multi-year dataset of 780 seed samples was analyzed, and robust calibration models were developed using modified partial least squares regression. Independent validation of a two-year calibration equation using samples from a third year yielded a high predictive performance (r² = 0.85; SEP = 1.18 mg g ¹). Adding part of the samples from the third year to the calibration contributed to further improvement in the prediction of the remaining samples, demonstrating the benefits of continuous equation updates. The calibration equation proved effective for selecting genotypes with high TMQ content, particularly when expanded with samples from the third year. Spectral analysis identified key wavelengths associated with TMQ content, with wavelengths around 2106 nm and 2254 nm being the most relevant. This work demonstrates the applicability of NIRS for rapid phenotyping of TMQ content in black cumin seeds. Full article

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) has emerged as a comprehensive model for promoting human health and environmental sustainability. This review proposes reconceptualization of the traditional MD pyramid, highlighting its functional food components and their relevance to modern health challenges. Rooted in a rich cultural and gastronomic heritage, the MD extends beyond nutritional adequacy. It offers substantial nutraceutical benefits due to its high content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids, and phytosterols. These compounds contribute to the prevention and management of chronic non-communicable diseases through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Simultaneously, the MD aligns with sustainable food system principles: it is predominantly plant-based; it promotes seasonal and local food sourcing; and it supports minimal food waste. In addition, this dietary pattern has been associated with a significantly lower ecological footprint compared to Western diets, thus supporting broader environmental goals. Ultimately, the MD stands as a scientifically grounded, culturally embedded, and ecologically viable approach to foster both individual and planetary wellbeing (One Health concept). Full article

Insufficient fruit intake is a major contributor to the development of non-communicable diseases, as the global average of daily fruit consumption remains far below the recommended levels. Apples are among the most widely consumed fruits worldwide, making them an ideal target for nutritional enhancement. Enhancing the content of health-promoting compounds within apples offers a practical way to increase bioactive intake without requiring major dietary changes. This review evaluates which of the 41 biologically active compounds considered in this article can reach physiologically relevant intake levels at the current average daily consumption of cultivated and wild apples. Comparative analysis shows that wild apples consistently contain higher concentrations of phenolic compounds and organic acids than cultivated varieties, in some cases by more than tenfold. At the average daily fruit intake of 121.8 g, wild species provide effective doses of epicatechins, anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid, and malic acid. In contrast, cultivated apples reach this level only for chlorogenic acid. Notably, less than 50 g of wild apple is sufficient to supply physiologically relevant amounts of several polyphenols. These findings highlight the potential of wild apple species as donors of bioactive compounds and provide a framework for breeding future apple cultivars that combine consumer appeal with enhanced health benefits. Full article

Father engagement in parenting programs is vital for positive child development and family wellbeing, yet fathers remain underrepresented in parenting programs. This study examines factors influencing fathers’ participation using two discrete choice experiments. Experiment 1 identified key attributes affecting engagement, including program content, cost, and delivery modality. Experiment 2 refined these insights, showing a preference for cost-free, face-to-face programs with practical activities. Findings highlight the importance of addressing financial barriers; offering flexible, relevant content; and designing father-friendly programs to improve accessibility and inclusivity. By prioritising fathers’ needs and preferences, parenting programs can better support child and family outcomes, fostering greater engagement and promoting equality across diverse family systems. Full article

Environmental sustainability reporting is increasingly adopted by firms, yet its actual impact on economic performance remains unclear, raising the question of whether such disclosures represent genuine strategic resources or merely symbolic practices. This study examines the relationship between environmental disclosure and economic performance, in the Italian chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Adopting the Resource-Based View (RBV), we evaluate the effectiveness of certified environmental practices as strategic assets that can enhance firm performance. We utilized an AI-based content analysis of financial reports from non-listed, non-SME Italian chemical and pharmaceutical companies between 2012 and 2020 to determine the level of firms’ generic environmental disclosures (without third-party verification) and on specific environmental certifications. We then examine the relationship between economic performance and the type of environmental disclosure observed. Using financial data at the firm level as moderators, we found that generic environmental disclosures have no significant impact on economic performance. In contrast, disclosures on environmental certifications are positively associated with higher economic performance in the chemical sector. Certifications may provide a competitive advantage in environmentally intensive sectors but appear to be less relevant in innovation-driven sectors such as the pharmaceutical industry. Our findings emphasize the strategic value of reliable, externally validated environmental practices, and highlight the limitations of symbolic disclosure. Full article

Background: Patient satisfaction with diabetes technology is increasingly recognized as a key factor in therapeutic success. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are gaining importance in diabetes care and in the evaluation of advanced insulin delivery systems. Objectives: This study aimed to design and validate a new questionnaire, the Insulin Pump Infusion Sets Satisfaction Scale (IPISS), to assess satisfaction with insulin infusion sets among individuals with type 1 diabetes. Methods: The questionnaire was developed by our Diabetology Unit in two versions: one for patient self-reporting and one for caregivers when the patient is too young to complete it autonomously. Content validity was assessed by six healthcare professionals (three diabetologists and three nurses) based on Polit and Beck’s methodology. The Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) was calculated for both relevance and comprehensibility and was considered satisfactory if expert agreement reached ≥83%. The Scale Content Validity Index (S-CVI) was computed as the average of I-CVIs, with a cut-off value > 90% deemed acceptable. Results: Almost all items achieved 100% positive agreement for both relevance and comprehensibility, except one item in the caregiver version, for which one rater did not provide a rating for comprehensibility (I-CVI = 83.3%). The S-CVI was 100% for relevance in both versions, 99.24% for comprehensibility in the caregiver version, and 100% in the patient version. Conclusions: The IPISS is a content-validated, self-reported tool, suitable for evaluating satisfaction with infusion sets in individuals using insulin pumps, with versions adapted for both patients and caregivers. Full article

Natural latex harvest is pushing the boundaries of unmanned agricultural production in rubber milk collection via integrated robots in hilly and mountainous regions, such as the fixed and mobile tapping robots widely deployed in forests. As there are bad working conditions and complex natural environments surrounding rubber trees, the real-time and precision assessment of rubber milk yield status has emerged as a key requirement for improving the efficiency and autonomous management of these kinds of large-scale automatic tapping robots. However, traditional manual rubber milk yield status detection methods are limited in their ability to operate effectively under conditions involving complex terrain, dense forest backgrounds, irregular surface geometries of rubber milk, and the frequent occlusion of rubber milk bowls (RMBs) by vegetation. To address this issue, this study presents an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery rubber milk yield state detection method, termed YOLOv8n-RMB, in unstructured field environments instead of manual watching. The proposed method improved the original YOLOv8n by integrating structural enhancements across the backbone, neck, and head components of the network. First, a receptive field attention convolution (RFACONV) module is embedded within the backbone to improve the model’s ability to extract target-relevant features in visually complex environments. Second, within the neck structure, a bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN) is applied to strengthen the fusion of features across multiple spatial scales. Third, in the head, a content-aware dynamic upsampling module of DySample is adopted to enhance the reconstruction of spatial details and the preservation of object boundaries. Finally, the detection framework is integrated with the BoT-SORT tracking algorithm to achieve continuous multi-object association and dynamic state monitoring based on the filling status of RMBs. Experimental evaluation shows that the proposed YOLOv8n-RMB model achieves an AP@0.5 of 94.9%, an AP@0.5:0.95 of 89.7%, a precision of 91.3%, and a recall of 91.9%. Moreover, the performance improves by 2.7%, 2.9%, 3.9%, and 9.7%, compared with the original YOLOv8n. Plus, the total number of parameters is kept within 3.0 million, and the computational cost is limited to 8.3 GFLOPs. This model meets the requirements of yield assessment tasks by conducting computations in resource-limited environments for both fixed and mobile tapping robots in rubber plantations. Full article

School textbooks are central to the teaching, studying, and learning processes because they mediate the interaction between the prescribed curriculum and the educational experience in the classroom. Evaluating their didactic structure critically allows us to determine the degree to which they align with current curriculum guidelines and promote meaningful learning. This study aimed to analyze the extent to which Ecuadorian natural science textbooks reflect constructivist learning principles and promote the development of key competencies established in the National Priority Curriculum. This curriculum guides the achievement of essential results and strengthens fundamental competencies for students’ comprehensive development. Content analysis was adopted as the methodological approach given its relevance in examining the didactic and curricular dimensions of educational materials. The analysis covered twelve eighth-grade General Basic Education textbooks and their supplementary materials. The analysis was based on two instruments: specialized summary analysis sheets (RAE) and a purpose-built checklist. The ATLAS.ti 25 and IRaMuTeQ programs supported the systematization and visualization of the data. The results showed limited integration of constructivist strategies, such as teaching for comprehension, inquiry-based learning, and problem solving, in most of the analyzed texts. These findings underscore the need to expand and strengthen the incorporation of contextualized, critical, and meaningful learning experiences to improve the didactic design of school textbooks. Such improvements would promote coherent articulation between objectives, content, methods, resources, and assessment in line with constructivist principles of the Ecuadorian curriculum. Furthermore, given these approaches’ affinity with curricular frameworks in other regional countries, the results could offer relevant guidance and starting points for reflection on developing and using textbooks in Latin American contexts with comparable educational characteristics. Full article

Vinasse a byproduct of ethanol manufacturing, is a challenge for ethanol producers which possesses a high organic content that presents a considerable environmental threat. This complicates its management and treatment utilizing standard technologies like anaerobic digestion. This residue contains a substantial quantity of dead and lysed yeast cells, which can function as a protein source for livestock’s nutritional needs. The application of multi-effect evaporation enhances the characteristics of this residue by increasing protein concentration, reducing volume, and minimizing water content. This study examines the impact of the five-effect evaporation procedure on vinasse waste, focusing on its rheological properties and the concentrations of proteins, amino acids, RNA, and DNA. This study aims to assess the thermal impacts linked to the evaporation process. The findings of the one-way statistical analysis demonstrate that the five evaporation effects are relevant in the utilization of waste as feed for livestock. The substance has a viscosity of 0.933 Pa s, comprising 6.3 g/100 g of crude protein, 4.08 g/100 g of amino acids, 0.1158 g/L of DNA, and 0.1031 g/L of RNA. Full article

This research provides a comprehensive evaluation of the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and biological properties of four plant species with longstanding use in ethnobotanical traditions: Calendula officinalis, Mentha × piperita, Urtica dioica, and Juglans regia. Plant extracts were obtained using a range of solvent systems and subsequently analyzed for their content of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) enabled the accurate identification and quantification of major polyphenolic constituents. The antioxidant capacity was assessed through a series of in vitro assays, and elemental analysis was conducted to determine microelement content. To evaluate potential ecological implications, acute toxicity was tested using Daphnia magna, while phytotoxic effects were also examined. The results demonstrate pronounced antioxidant activity along with notable biocidal and soil-enhancing properties. These findings underscore the potential of such plant-based formulations as sustainable alternatives to conventional agrochemicals and highlight the relevance of integrating traditional botanical knowledge with modern strategies for enhancing soil quality, crop performance, and environmental sustainability. Full article

This research presents a comprehensive analysis of green development policies in the building industry in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, examining their evolution and development over the past two decades. The research adopts a structured methodology comprising a policy review to identify relevant policy documents, content analysis to trace the policy framework, and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis to evaluate the policy development, and then generate evidence-based recommendations. As the first comprehensive assessment of green development policy in the Australian building industry, the study proposes targeted policy recommendations based on analyzing the SWOT factors, including policy for the non-residential sectors and construction phase, education and training, financial support and incentives, and innovation and technology adoption. The insights offer guidance for policymakers to strengthen policy integration and accelerate the transition toward a low-carbon building industry. Full article

Iron detection is of growing importance in the critical minerals sector, where unwanted iron ions are typically removed during the processing of target critical metals. The ideal sensor should utilize inexpensive, scalable materials along with a low-cost, robust, and easy-to-use analysis platform. Here, we demonstrate a simple acid–base synthesis of luminescent iron-responsive carbon dots by reacting ethanolamine, phosphoric acid, and m-phenylenediamine. The carbon dots exhibit selective, iron-specific emission quenching, with the ability to detect part-per-billion levels of iron ions even in 0.1 M HCl. After benchmarking the purified materials using a commercial spectrometer, a “low-cost” process is demonstrated in which carbon dots with minimal purification are coupled with a portable fiber-optic spectrometer for analyzing iron content. Carbon dot-coated paper strips are also evaluated as another convenient platform for iron analysis. Taken together, the sensing material and platforms demonstrated here are well-suited for detecting trace quantities of iron in environmentally relevant conditions, with potential applications in tracking iron removal processes during critical mineral production as one exciting area of interest. Full article

Animal welfare (AW) is increasingly being discussed and mandated in chicken production, both by current Brazilian legislation and by importing markets. Industries continually seek greater financial returns, and within this context, it has been observed that the proper implementation of animal welfare principles effectively reduces losses by minimizing carcass condemnations due to injuries, thereby significantly contributing to in-creased profitability. The economic impact of non-compliance with these welfare standards in broiler production is well documented in the scientific literature. However, the same level of concern is not observed regarding the financial impact on integrated producers, who supply the raw materials. The present study aims to systematically map, contextualize, quantify, and qualitatively analyze articles evaluating the implementation of animal welfare in industrial broiler production and its impact on the financial returns of producers and integrated companies. The primary descriptor used was “animal welfare.” To quantify the relevant articles, the Proknow-C method was applied, followed by a similarity analysis using VoSViewer® software version 1.6.19 for systematic content evaluation. Descriptor combinations were led by animal welfare, followed by broiler pro-duction, poultry production, slaughter, economy, and rural producers. Although a significant number of articles address AW, those focused exclusively on chicken production are far fewer, declining even more when carcass condemnations are considered. Only six studies included the descriptor “economic,” and just three included “producer.” The con-tent of these nine studies was systematically reviewed, with two excluded and seven selected for discussion. Among the seven analyzed studies, none specifically examined the economic impact of AW implementation for the producer, clearly highlighting a significant research gap. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between corporate reporting practices and the value relevance of accounting information by analyzing 100 publicly listed non-financial European firms between 2015 and 2019. Drawing on the Ohlson valuation framework, the analysis combines random effects with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors and System GMM estimations to assess the role of financial and non-financial disclosures. Materiality and stakeholder engagement were scored through content analysis of corporate reports, while ESG performance data were obtained from Refinitiv Eikon. The results show that financial fundamentals remain the most robust determinants of firm value, consistent with Ohlson’s model. Among qualitative disclosures, materiality demonstrates a strong and statistically significant positive association with market value in the random effects specification, while stakeholder engagement and ESG scores do not attain statistical significance. In the dynamic panel model, lagged market value is highly significant, confirming the persistence of valuation, while the effect of materiality and stakeholder engagement diminishes. Interaction models further indicate that materiality strengthens the relevance of earnings but reduces the role of book value, underscoring its selective contribution. Overall, the findings provide partial support for the claim that Integrated Reporting enhances the value relevance of accounting information. It suggests that the usefulness of IR depends less on adoption per se and more on the quality and substance of disclosures, particularly the integration of financial material ESG issues into corporate reporting. This highlights IR’s potential to improve transparency, accountability, and investor decision making, thereby contributing to more effective capital market outcomes. Full article

The traditional Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) has consistently demonstrated robust benefits in reducing cardiovascular, metabolic, and oncologic risks. Its high content of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, particularly (poly)phenols, underscores why this dietary pattern has been extensively researched and widely adopted for managing various metabolic conditions. This article aims to conduct a narrative review of the association between the MedDiet (and its debated alcohol consumption pattern) and a reduced risk of liver disease, with a specific focus on the potential preventive role of the MedDiet on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), which is now the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally. To carry out this review, relevant articles were searched on PubMed and other databases. The evidence found contributed to identifying the gaps in knowledge and allowed for the main findings to be summarized. Available randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies consistently support the hypothesis that high adherence to the MedDiet effectively reduces hepatic fat content, improves liver enzyme levels, and mitigates fibrosis progression. Crucially, this dietary pattern simultaneously addresses the significantly high cardiovascular risk inherent in MASLD. Historically, low-to-moderate alcohol intake, particularly moderate red wine with meals, was assumed to be a beneficial component of the MedDiet. While some observational studies suggest potential cardiovascular benefits, implying a loss of some MedDiet benefits if alcohol is excluded, a growing body of evidence highlights a deleterious synergistic interaction between alcohol, visceral adiposity, hepatic steatosis, and metabolic dysfunction. Based on the available evidence, clinical guidelines recommend the MedDiet with exercise for the prevention and management of MASLD. However, the alcohol consumption in the Mediterranean is currently under strong controversy. Furthermore, recent guidelines now advise total abstinence in patients with advanced liver disease and caution even at earlier MASLD stages. Yet, these assertions are largely based on observational data, underscoring the need for large clinical trials to address this issue with first-level evidence. Full article