Search Results (50,184)

Background: Open defecation (OD) has remained a threat to the attainment of SDG 6 (sanitation and hygiene). This study measured the level of exposure to the “Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet” campaign against open defecation, determined the level of public knowledge about open defecation-related harms and diseases, ascertained the public attitude towards open defecation, and established the prevailing defecation practices and the perceived barriers to toilet usage in Ebonyi state, the most prevalent OD state in Nigeria. Methods: The study employed a survey design, using a structured questionnaire for data collection. The multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting the respondents from two randomly selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state. Analysis was conducted using 384 valid responses. Results: The results were presented in simple percentage frequency tables and interpreted through the descriptive method, while the Chi-Square test was used to analyse the formulated hypotheses, using the decision rule of p < 0.05. The findings show a high level of awareness of the campaign against open defecation, through the radio and community engagements by environmental activists/NGOs, even though regular access to such information was limited. The results also showed inadequate knowledge of the public health implications of open defecation, whereas good knowledge of environmental consequences was reported. The study found favourable attitudes toward OD practice and persistent open defecation, and major barriers to toilet usage include the high cost of toilet construction, lack of access to toilet facilities, poor sanitation and management of available toilets, and perceived risks of contracting infection from public toilets. However, the Chi-Square values showed that the SBCC campaign was significantly associated with knowledge, attitude, and practice (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The study concluded that localised, culturally relevant and socio-demographically targeted communication interventions, grassroot advocacy, community watch, and neighbourhood taskforce on open defecation, in addition to the provision of aids for the construction of modern toilets with water facilities, are required to combat open defecation in Ebonyi and related contexts in Nigeria. Full article

Osseointegration is defined as the structural and functional integration between alveolar bone and a dental implant. Photo-functionalization (PF) refers to ultraviolet (UV)-induced surface modifications of titanium implants, including changes in physicochemical properties and biological responsiveness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PF on early osteoblast responses related to osseointegration on titanium dental implants in vitro. We hypothesized that PF applied to titanium implants enhances early osteoblast responses related to osseointegration. Sixteen titanium dental implants were divided into two equal groups of eight: untreated (PF−) and PF-treated (PF+). PF+ implants were exposed to UV light at 172 nm for 10 s. An additional cell-only control group was incubated without an implant. All groups were cultured in vitro with SAOS-2 human osteoblast-like cells. Cell proliferation and viability were assessed using standard in vitro assays, and DNA damage was evaluated using the Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase [TdT] dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) assay. Early cellular responses related to osseointegration were assessed by evaluating adhesion-related vinculin levels and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. After 24 h of incubation, cell proliferation was comparable between the groups, whereas after 48 h, cell number was significantly lower in the PF− group compared with the PF+ group and the control group (p = 0.039). Osteoblast viability was significantly lower in the PF− group than in the control group (53% vs. 94%, p = 0.002), while the PF+ group showed a numerically higher viability value than the PF− group (70% vs. 53%). TUNEL assay showed no statistically significant difference in DNA damage among the groups, although the PF− group showed a slightly higher TUNEL-positive cell ratio (p = 0.563). Vinculin levels were significantly higher in the PF+ group at both 24 and 48 h compared with the PF− group and control group (p < 0.0001). ALP activity increased significantly over time in cells incubated with PF-treated implants (p < 0.0001). Within the limitations of this exploratory pilot in vitro study, UV photo-functionalization was associated with more favorable early osteoblast-like cell responses on titanium dental implants, particularly in terms of proliferation, adhesion-related vinculin levels, and ALP response. PF did not increase TUNEL-positive cell ratios compared with untreated implants under the present experimental conditions. These findings should be interpreted as preliminary biological evidence and require confirmation through larger experimental designs, detailed physicochemical surface characterization, and in vivo validation. Full article

Listeria monocytogenes is a persistent foodborne pathogen capable of forming biofilms and surviving in food-processing environments. This study investigated the impact of high-pressure processing (HPP) at 200 and 400 MPa/5 min on biofilm viability, biomass, and expression of nine virulence-associated genes in L. monocytogenes strains (n = 6) belonging to the serogroups IIa (LM8, LM40, LM41) and IVb (LM14, LM47, LM48). The pressure levels applied were selected to represent sublethal HPP conditions (below 600 MPa) that allowed the survival of the strains and thus enabled the investigation of adaptive responses in cells that escape complete inactivation. Biofilms were cultivated on stainless-steel 304, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene coupons under static conditions at 25 °C for 72 h and 168 h. Biofilm viability [log₁₀(CFU/cm²)] was assessed by plate count method and biomass quantified via the biofilm production index (BPI). The cultures were subjected to HPP treatment and their ability to form biofilms was re-evaluated. HPP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced biofilm viability and biomass on all types of surfaces tested. Gene expression analysis revealed a pressure-dependent (p < 0.05) modulation of flaA and sigB, while other virulence genes (agrA, agrC, actA, prfA, hly, inlB, and degU) were generally downregulated (gene expression ratio values below 1). Serogroup IVb strains exhibited enhanced stress responses and lower biofilm survival on polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene surfaces. These findings demonstrate that HPP modulates both phenotypic and genotypic traits linked to L. monocytogenes persistence, emphasizing the need to optimize pressure parameters and surface materials to prevent biofilm formation in HPP-treated food systems. Full article

The housing sector in major cities is facing escalating challenges due to rapid population growth and land scarcity. Consequently, vertical growth has been adopted as a strategic solution to optimize land use while balancing economic, social, and environmental needs. This study examines the phenomenon of vertical growth of the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA) in Saudi Arabia, from an urban sustainability perspective, focusing on evaluating the current state of multi-story buildings, their determinants, and their impact on quality of life and infrastructure efficiency. This study utilizes a systematic review methodology and a conceptual approach to develop an integrated framework for sustainable vertical growth. Furthermore, an empirical validation was conducted by projecting this framework onto vertical housing projects in Dammam, focusing on challenges related to design, construction quality, shared service management, and the suitability of apartments for family needs. The results indicate that the shift toward vertical growth achieves land-use efficiency, limits random horizontal expansion, and provides economic opportunities. However, it faces social and cultural constraints, most notably the resistance of some families to changing traditional ownership patterns, limited privacy and green spaces, and challenges in building maintenance and operations. The study highlights the importance of integrating urban planning, governance, architectural design, and infrastructure to ensure the sustainability of vertical growth and provide suitable housing alternatives. The study recommends further field research to assess social acceptance, improve quality-of-life indicators, and develop policies encouraging sustainable vertical expansion in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring cities are more resilient, efficient, sustainable, and liveable. Full article

In this case study, we examined a school in Northern Norway that has integrated outdoor learning as a core element of its pedagogical practices. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the role of outdoor learning and the factors contributing to the school’s success, we conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders of outdoor learning: six students, three teachers, one teaching assistant, and the principal. Our interviews were thematically analyzed using a whole-school approach framework, and our findings indicate that outdoor learning is embedded in the school’s identity. The regularity of outdoor learning for all students, with support from the school’s leadership and committed teachers, ensures predictability and continuity. Students and staff are broadly positive about outdoor learning and report that it strengthens student–teacher relationships. Outdoor learning is understood as interdisciplinary, and the practice enhances both academic learning and environmental awareness. Nevertheless, we identified limited opportunities and a weak culture for sharing outdoor learning practices among teachers. The school therefore aims to develop a progression plan for outdoor learning and to facilitate greater sharing to strengthen the professional community and improve coherence. This case study contributes to the literature by specifying organizational and contextual conditions for successful implementation and by highlighting the need to align outdoor and indoor teaching. Sustained outdoor learning requires holistic support from everyone involved in the school community. Full article

Introduction: As global cancer incidence and survival rates continue to rise, understanding the experiences and needs of individuals in the survivorship phase is critical to inform policies that promote equitable care and adequate support for cancer survivors. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the lived social and workplace experiences of cancer survivors in Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada) using a qualitative research design. Methods: The study was open to cancer survivors of majority age who resided in Newfoundland and Labrador after their diagnosis. Between June 2023 and August 2024, twenty-five individuals participated in the study. Data were collected virtually through focus groups, individual interviews, or written responses. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of participants were collected via a survey. Thematic analysis was performed on all qualitative data. Two patient partner investigators informed the research throughout the entire project. Results: Data were rich and diverse, revealing a range of positive and negative experiences in social and workplace settings. Major themes included stigma in social and workplace environments, financial toxicity, workplace accommodations, social support and information needs. Young participants had unique challenges. Participants offered recommendations aimed at enhancing available supports and improving the quality of life of cancer survivors. Overall, findings highlight shared experiences across different regions and cultures while also painting the local context. Discussion: The results of this study reveal diverse experiences among cancer survivors within social and workplace settings. The findings and resulting recommendations can inform meaningful improvement to policies and programs, thus promoting equity and enhancing the lived experiences of cancer survivors. Full article

The Maule Region in Chile possesses a rich cultural heritage associated with petroglyphs created by ancient hunter-gatherer inhabitants. This rock art has suffered damage over time due to natural and anthropic causes. Fostering positive attitudes toward petroglyphs may influence behavioral intentions related to their preservation. This study evaluates an augmented reality card game developed to promote positive attitudes toward the rock art heritage of the Maule Region, examining its usability and the effects of incorporating augmented reality elements. The game achieved a System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 79.7 (SD = 14.2), corresponding to an A-grade on the Sauro-Lewis curved grading scale, indicating good usability.Participants in the game condition showed higher heritage attitudes than controls (M = 6.13, SD = 0.80, $t_{\left(24\right)}$ = −2.33, p = 0.028). Augmented reality enhanced attitudes at moderate levels of usability (B = −1.02, p = 0.043), but produced no detectable main effect in mean comparisons alone. The results indicate that the game constitutes a system with adequate usability, effective in fostering positive attitudes toward cultural heritage, and that augmented reality enhances attitudinal outcomes under conditions of moderate perceived usability. Full article

Analysis of freely moving Drosophila captures complex movement behaviors. However, previous experiments have been limited by the inability to distinguish between falls and downward jumps (downjumps). Here, individual flies moving freely in a culture vial were recorded using a single 58 fps video camera. Upward jumps were readily identified by positive movement in the vertical direction. Several statistical and machine learning methods were used to distinguish between falls and downjumps, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), K-Means Clustering, Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP), Hierarchical Density-Based Spatial Clustering with Applications to Noise (HDBSCAN) and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP). Falls were abundant and characterized by an initial velocity consistent with simple acceleration due to gravity. Downjumps were more rare, and were characterized by a greater initial velocity, indicating active propulsion by the fly. Aged flies took longer to resume movement after a fall, suggesting possible negative effects of falls. Falls in young w[1118]-strain flies exhibited mid-event velocities that were lower than expected, indicating some compensatory behavior that was reduced in aged flies. These methods should facilitate future studies of the effects of aging and neurodegenerative disease models on locomotor behaviors and falls, including the testing of potential interventions. Full article

Oyster health is important for aquaculture productivity and sustainability. In Thailand, the white scar oyster, Crassostrea belcheri, is being promoted for cultivation, yet its health status has not been compared between research breeding and community farming sites. This study evaluated histopathological features, ultrastructure, apoptosis, and defender against apoptotic death 1 (dad1) gene expression in sexually mature C. belcheri collected from these two sites. Gill tissues were examined by histology, transmission electron microscopy, TUNEL assay, and gene expression analysis, while organ condition was assessed using a Health Assessment Index (HAI). The proportion of TUNEL-positive cells in the gills and mantle differed significantly between sites (p < 0.05), with higher levels in oysters from the farming site. In contrast, TUNEL-positive cells in the digestive gland did not differ significantly between sites, although brown cells were observed only in the digestive gland of oysters from the breeding site, suggesting possible physiological stress. To assess the expression level of dad1 in oysters cultured under different conditions, RT-qPCR revealed no significant difference between the two sites. The breeding site also had lower temperature and salinity than the farming site. Overall, these findings suggest that site-specific environmental conditions may influence gill health and stress-related responses in C. belcheri, providing baseline information for oyster health assessment and aquaculture management. Full article

Botrytis cinerea is a major phytopathogenic fungus responsible for substantial economic losses in horticultural crops, underscoring the need for sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides. This study investigated the influence of physical, chemical and biological culture parameters on the antifungal activity of culture filtrates produced by Trichoderma harzianum BOL-12QD. Culture conditions were sequentially optimised by evaluating light-filter exposure, carbon and nitrogen source composition, potato ecotype selection, co-cultivation with Botrytis cinerea, and volatile-mediated interactions. Antifungal activity was assessed using mycelial growth inhibition assays against Botrytis cinerea. Among the individual factors, violet-filter illumination, a medium containing 5 g L⁻¹ glucose and 250 g L⁻¹ potato extract, the Leke Pek’e potato ecotype, ammonium nitrate as nitrogen source, and co-cultivation with Botrytis cinerea at 10⁴ conidia mL⁻¹ produced the highest inhibitory effects. Sequential integration of these optimised conditions resulted in enhanced antifungal activity, reaching up to 62% inhibition. Volatile organic compounds produced by Trichoderma harzianum BOL-12QD exhibited only minimal antifungal activity under the conditions tested, suggesting that volatile-mediated antagonism plays a limited role in this system. In contrast, culture-dependent modulation of extracellular metabolite profiles was evidenced by comparative ¹H NMR fingerprinting, which revealed condition-specific spectral differences, with the optimised treatment displaying a distinct metabolic signature relative to all other conditions. Cytotoxicity assays in murine peritoneal macrophages showed no significant reduction in cell viability at concentrations up to 200 μg mL⁻¹. In vivo exposure to the optimised culture filtrate (250 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ for 10 days) induced transient treatment-related clinical observations without mortality, indicating a need for further detailed toxicological characterisation. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the antifungal activity of Trichoderma harzianum BOL-12QD is strongly modulated by interacting environmental, nutritional and biological culture parameters. The results support the potential of optimised culture filtrates as a source of bioactive metabolites for biocontrol applications, while highlighting the importance of integrated biochemical and toxicological evaluation. Full article

Background/Objectives: The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, together with accelerating environmental degradation, highlights the urgent need for sustainable dietary patterns that promote both human and planetary health. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), traditionally followed in countries bordering the Mediterranean basin, has gained recognition as a model of sustainable nutrition due to its well-documented health benefits and relatively low environmental impact. However, its broader role within sustainable food systems requires comprehensive and interdisciplinary evaluation. The aim of this review is to provide a state-of-the-art synthesis of the evidence on the MedDiet as a sustainable dietary pattern, integrating its health, environmental, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions. Methods: This state-of-the-art narrative review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed literature on the MedDiet and sustainability. Relevant studies were identified through major scientific databases, focusing on publications addressing nutritional, environmental, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions. Both observational and interventional studies, as well as modeling and life cycle assessment analyses, were included. Additional sources from international organizations and policy reports were incorporated to contextualize global trends and challenges. Results: High adherence to the MedDiet is consistently associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and all-cause mortality. From an environmental perspective, the MedDiet is associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced land and water use, and enhanced biodiversity conservation compared with Western dietary patterns. Economically, it may represent a cost-effective dietary model and support local food systems when grounded in traditional practices, although affordability varies across contexts. Socio-culturally, the MedDiet promotes food heritage, culinary skills, and social cohesion. Nevertheless, globalization, urbanization, and the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods have contributed to declining adherence, posing significant challenges to its sustainability and scalability. Moreover, the sustainability benefits of the MedDiet seem to be context-dependent rather than intrinsic, raising several challenges and limitations for its adoption. Conclusions: The MedDiet should be viewed not as a definitive solution to global food-system challenges but as a valuable reference model that illustrates how dietary practices can contribute simultaneously to human health, environmental sustainability, and cultural continuity. Modern sustainable dietary strategies should build upon the strengths of the MedDiet while recognizing its limitations, embracing contextual adaptation, and addressing the structural determinants that shape food choices. Full article

This study proposes a combination of optical and thermal methods to investigate the structural integrity of two 16th–17th centuries wooden panel paintings at the early stages of restoration. Well-established techniques, such as 3D scanning, technical photography, and active thermography, are combined with the less conventional shearography, which has recently gained increasing relevance in the diagnostics of cultural heritage materials. The proposed methodology enables the identification and spatial localization of different forms of degradation within the multilayered structure of the artworks, including physical-structural alterations, insect damage, localized hygroscopic degradation, nails, interlayer deterioration, and craquelure. This approach provides a comprehensive insight into the state of the panel painting structure and highlights potentially critical areas which were undetectable by visual inspection alone, demonstrating the ability to guide restoration interventions. Full article

The digital preservation of built cultural heritage requires precise documentation techniques capable of capturing complex architectural geometries often affected by occlusions and data voids. This study presents a robust multi-sensor fusion workflow integrating Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry for the 3D reconstruction of the Hasaköy (Sasima) Church in Niğde, Türkiye. To address the limitations of traditional registration methods, specifically the susceptibility of the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm to local minima in datasets with partial overlaps, this study proposes a fine-tuning approach based on the Multi-population Based Differential Evolution (MDE) algorithm. The methodology employs a coarse-to-fine strategy, initiating with Fast Point Feature Histogram (FPFH) extraction and RANSAC (Random Sample Consensus) for global alignment, followed by TR-ICP, MDE, PSO, and Aquila Optimizer (AO) evaluation, computational-time analysis, FPFH-radius sensitivity testing, and 6-DoF transformation decomposition to characterize both accuracy and operational cost. In the 30-run fine-tuning evaluation, MDE reduced the mean bidirectional trimmed RMSE from 0.4152 m for TR-ICP to 0.3726 m. With a population parameter of 10, MDE retained a low median RMSE of 0.3718 m, while PSO exhibited a wider stochastic tail under the same bounded 6-DoF search budget. AO produced a higher mean bidirectional trimmed RMSE of 0.5233 m. The decimeter-scale bidirectional RMSE should be interpreted as a cross-source, partial-overlap distance metric rather than sensor precision; the overlapping facade objective was approximately 2.4–2.8 cm, and the UAV block was independently controlled with a 1.34 cm GCP RMSE. This study establishes a transparent and reproducible framework for heritage documentation, supporting the faithful digital preservation of endangered monuments with complex typologies. Full article

Sustainable land-use regulation in historical and cultural cities requires balancing heritage conservation, development demand, cropland retention, and urban–rural spatial restructuring. However, the stage-wise reorganization of urban–rural construction land under these coupled pressures remains insufficiently understood. Taking Jingzhou District, China, as a case study, this study uses land-use data from 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 and integrates stage-wise random-forest analysis, consistency-based interaction-network mining, and multi-scenario simulation within the intPLUS framework. Population, GDP, and areal-water distance layers were matched to the corresponding stage-terminal snapshots where applicable, whereas 2020 POI data were used as contemporary spatial-context proxies. From 2000 to 2020, urban industrial land (UIL) expanded from 16.63 to 46.42 km², increasing by approximately 179.1%, whereas rural settlements (RS) increased more moderately from 56.59 to 60.27 km², increasing by approximately 6.5%. The stage-wise RF and interaction-network results show that UIL and RS followed different spatial association structures, with stronger UIL self-reinforcement and stronger RS self-continuity in the later stage. Historical validation showed overall accuracy values of approximately 91% and Kappa values around 0.80, but FoM values remained relatively low, ranging from 0.098 to 0.176. Class-specific mapping accuracy was higher for RS (81.90–82.37%) than for UIL (55.20–66.93%), indicating a weaker performance in locating UIL change. Therefore, the 2035 simulations should be interpreted as parameter-conditioned regulatory comparisons rather than deterministic pixel-level forecasts. The scenario results indicate that the conservation-oriented limited growth was associated with the restricted UIL expansion and better cropland retention under the prescribed demand and constraint settings, while the RS reduction occurred only under explicit village-consolidation and construction-land quota reallocation assumptions. By distinguishing UIL and RS, this study provides differentiated regulation-oriented evidence for sustainable land-use governance in historical and cultural cities. Full article

The Liuwan burial complex is the largest known prehistoric clan-based cemetery in the upper Yellow River region, making its preservation vital for Chinese cultural heritage and sustainable local development. To address threats from unregulated agricultural activities and illegal looting, this study proposes a non-invasive preventive protection approach. Surface-visible tombs were identified using low-altitude UAV imagery and deep learning models (YOLOv8n, YOLOv5n, RT-DETR-l, and Hyper-YOLO). By incorporating environmental factors such as elevation, slope, aspect, distance to water, Topographic Wetness Index, and Topographic Position Index, potential tomb distributions were modeled on the Biomod2 platform and key environmental drivers were analyzed. Hyper-YOLO achieved the highest identification accuracy (94.4%). The optimal model, EMwmean (TSS = 0.492, AUC = 0.798), showed that high-potential tomb areas are mainly concentrated in the central region, with tombs preferring elevations of 1964–1978 m, south-facing slopes, and slopes of 13.14–19.19°. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using deep learning to identify surface-visible tombs and predict their potential distributions based on environmental characteristics, thereby providing priority references for heritage protection in Liuwan rather than a definitive inventory of all subsurface remains or cultural phases. Full article