Search Results (9,142)

In the context of the increasing digitalization of urban cultural heritage communication, public acceptance, identification, and dissemination of symbolic cultural heritage content exhibit pronounced structural differences across sustainability levels. Taking Xuzhou—a national historical and cultural city in China—as the empirical context, this study conceptualizes cultural heritage as symbolic carriers of cultural meaning and constructs a sustainability-stratified analytical framework. By integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Cultural Identity (CI) theory, and incorporating Perceived Sustainability of Cultural Heritage (PSC) and Digital Interactive Media Participation (DMP), the study develops a comprehensive model of public communication acceptance mechanisms. Based on 931 valid questionnaires collected from local residents and visitors, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, structural equation modeling (SEM), and permutation-based multi-group analysis (MGA) are employed to examine both overall behavioral pathways and cross-group structural heterogeneity across symbolic heritage contexts with different sustainability tiers. The results indicate that: (1) PSC significantly influences communication intention through attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, with cultural identity playing a central mediating role; (2) digital interactive media participation primarily functions as a contextual enabler, significantly moderating the relationship between perceived behavioral control and communication intention; and (3) substantial structural differences exist across sustainability tiers, with medium-sustainability symbolic contexts demonstrating the strongest psychological activation effects in attitude formation, identity internalization, and intention conversion. Theoretically, this study extends the integrative application of TPB and cultural identity theory by embedding sustainability perception as an upstream cognitive trigger and repositioning cultural identity as a mediating mechanism within symbolic heritage communication processes. Methodologically, it establishes a systematic “sustainability evaluation–stratified modeling–multi-group comparison” analytical framework. Practically, the findings provide empirical guidance for differentiated communication strategies and digital media interventions tailored to symbolic cultural heritage systems. Full article

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) skin infections pose significant diagnostic challenges in clinical practice, due to nonspecific clinical/histopathological features and limitations of conventional pathogenic detection methods. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) offers a promising approach but requires further evaluation. Methods: A prospective pilot study at Peking Union Medical College Hospital enrolled 20 patients with cutaneous NTM infection, confirmed by positive skin culture or mNGS. All patients underwent thorough clinical assessment, skin biopsy for histopathology and culture, and mNGS testing of skin tissue. Treatment was based on identified species and disease extent. Treatment outcomes were tracked. Results: Among 20 patients (median age 45.5 years), fingers were the most common site affected (n = 10), followed by forearms (n = 7), hands (n = 4), and face (n = 4). Mycobacterium marinum was the predominant pathogen (n = 12), associated with fish bone puncture, followed by M. abscessus (n = 4). mNGS demonstrated a substantially higher positivity rate than culture (95% [19/20] vs. 30% [6/20]) and delivered results faster. Histopathology revealed granulomatous inflammation in all cases. Nineteen patients presented with non-disseminated disease; one immunocompromised patient (GATA2 deficiency) had disseminated M. abscessus infection. Treatment success was achieved in 17 patients (85%) with tailored antibiotic regimens. Adverse drug effects occurred in seven patients. Conclusions: In this pilot study of cutaneous NTM infections, mNGS enabled more rapid diagnosis relative to conventional culture. Clinical presentation and exposure history correlate with specific NTM species. Integrating mNGS with clinical assessment significantly improves diagnosis and management. Full article

Obesity is a global epidemic, posing intricate health dilemmas with wide-reaching ramifications. Despite its rising prevalence, obesity often receives inadequate attention in medical training, which is hypothesized to influence obesity management. The study aimed to evaluate medical students’ readiness in addressing obesity, which is especially relevant in a country with significant high obesity rates. A cross-sectional pilot study was carried out by disseminating a mixed-methods anonymous questionnaire among pre-clinical and clinical students studying at the University of Malta. Quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, while qualitative responses were subject to thematic assessment. One hundred and eighty-nine students were recruited, and the majority expressed dissatisfaction with curricular education on obesity, especially clinical students who reported a perceived lack of essential theoretical and practical skills (82.65%, 95% CI [73.69–89.56]). Less pre-clinical students perceived receiving sufficient education on obesity and obesity management students (33.3% and 43.33%, respectively) compared to their clinical counterparts (67.68% and 53.54% respectively), which highlights a potential curriculum gap. Qualitative analysis revealed discontent with teaching methods and demonstrated the need for a more holistic approach to obesity education. This study highlights an urgent need to integrate holistic and comprehensive obesity education within the medical education curriculum that addresses both theoretical understanding and practical skills. Full article

Type II toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems are significantly expanded in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex; however, the functional role of the VapBC40 system in Mycobacterium bovis(M. bovis) pathogenesis remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate the role of VapBC40 in mycobacterial virulence and evaluate its potential as a target for rational vaccine attenuation. We performed evolutionary analysis and yeast two-hybrid assays to characterize VapBC40 system specificity, conducted in vitro macrophage infection models and in vivo murine studies to assess virulence contribution, and evaluated the immunoprotective efficacy of a VapC40 knockout strain. Evolutionary analysis revealed progressive sequence conservation and stringent homologous pairing specificity within the VapBC40 system. The VapC40 toxin correlates with enhanced intracellular bacterial survival, increased host cell death, and more severe pulmonary pathology with systemic dissemination. Based on these findings, we evaluated the vaccine potential of a vapC40 knockout strain. Immunization with this attenuated strain elicited a Th1 cellular immune response, characterized by enhanced IFN-γ production and increased frequency of CD4⁺IFN-γ⁺ T cells. Upon challenge with virulent M. bovis, the knockout strain conferred superior protection compared to the conventional BCG vaccine, significantly reducing lung pathology and restricting extrapulmonary bacterial dissemination. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying VapC40-mediated effects remain to be fully elucidated, our findings suggest an important role of the VapBC40 system in mycobacterial-host interactions and support its potential as a target for next-generation tuberculosis vaccine development. Full article

The induced polarisation (IP) technique is a geophysical method used to measure chargeability and resistivity, providing crucial insights into subsurface geological structures. Traditionally, IP measurements have been instrumental in exploring disseminated sulphide deposits, leveraging the strong polarisation response of metallic particles. It provides valuable insights about rock mineralisation, matrix composition, and formation polarizability by analysing electrical parameters. However, their potential to predict metallurgical performance remains largely unexplored. This study evaluates whether IP parameters—chargeability and resistivity—can serve as geometallurgical indicators for copper sulphide ores. The evaluation integrates IP measurements with mineralogical and flotation data. Artificial pyrite–sand mixtures and five real ore samples from Mount Isa were analysed using the sample core IP tester and mineral liberation analysis, followed by collectorless flotation tests. Statistical analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between resistivity and chalcopyrite recovery (R² = 0.90, p = 0.99), as well as a moderate correlation between chargeability and chalcopyrite selectivity (R² = 0.72, p = 0.93). These findings demonstrate that IP captures key textural and electrochemical features governing flotation behaviour, including pyrite abundance, mineral liberation, and galvanic interactions. The results highlight IP as a promising rapid-assessment tool for identifying ore variability and forecasting flotation response, with potential integration into geometallurgical models and mine-to-mill optimisation. Further validation across broader ore domains is recommended to refine the predictive capability of IP-based indicators. Full article

Objectives: This study evaluates the epidemiological characteristics and survival, functional, and esthetic outcomes of pediatric patients diagnosed with head and neck sarcoma (PHNS) who underwent individualized surgical treatment for local disease control and/or for defect reconstruction. Methods: A cohort of 45 patients aged 0–18 years with histologically confirmed PHNS who underwent surgical resection and/or reconstructive procedures was analyzed. Extracted variables included demographic data, tumor histology and stage, surgical margin status, and systemic therapy modalities. Reconstructive strategies were assessed, considering technique, sequencing, and total duration of treatment. Survival analysis was performed, focusing on both overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS). Results: Rhabdomyosarcoma constituted the predominant diagnosis (19/45), followed by Ewing sarcoma (7/45) and chondrosarcoma (5/45). The maxilla represented the most common primary site (18/45), whereas orbital origin was the least frequent (3/45). Complete surgical excision (R0) was achieved in 80.5% of resected cases. Margin status showed no statistically significant association with final outcome (p = 0.7786). In contrast, nodal metastasis, local recurrence, and distant dissemination were independently and collectively correlated with mortality. Survival analysis demonstrated a 3-year OS of 100% and an EFS of 79.8%, and a 5-year OS of 94.7% with an EFS of 70.7%. Conclusions: Implementation of an individualized surgical and reconstructive protocol was associated with effective local tumor control and favourable reconstructive outcomes. Oncologic prognosis was driven primarily by nodal involvement and recurrent or metastatic disease rather than margin status alone. Full article

In recent years, the development of generative artificial intelligence, particularly diffusion models such as Stable Diffusion (SD), has provided new opportunities for the digital representation and creative dissemination of cultural heritage. This study takes Shanghai revolutionary cultural heritage as a case study and develops an application-oriented integrated workflow for generating revolutionary cultural images. By introducing Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) into the SD framework and combining structural control with local refinement strategies, this study enhances the style expression and structural quality of the generated images. Furthermore, an interactive creation platform is constructed to support the generation and creation of revolutionary cultural images. The evaluation results, including subjective assessment and SSIM/LPIPS metrics, indicate that the proposed workflow achieves higher style consistency and structural reliability while improving the structural integrity and detail reliability of facial regions. The proposed workflow and platform are intended to support revolutionary cultural venues in practical digital production and dissemination of heritage content while also promoting public engagement with revolutionary culture, especially among younger audiences. This study highlights the application potential of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing the accessibility, digitalization, and sustainable dissemination of revolutionary cultural heritage. It also provides a practical reference for interdisciplinary research in the field of cultural heritage and AI-assisted digital communication. Full article

Functional antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) represents a fundamental and context-dependent characteristic of antiviral antibody responses, reflecting the dual capacity of antibodies to mediate both the neutralization and Fc receptor-dependent enhancement of infection. In flavivirus research, this duality complicates the interpretation of conventional serological metrics and limits the reliability of single-parameter correlates of immunity, particularly in populations with complex exposure histories. Over the past decade, functional ADE assays have evolved from specialized mechanistic tools into integrated immune assessment platforms supporting translational immunology, vaccine evaluation, and population-level immune surveillance. These platforms incorporate Fcγ receptor-relevant target cell systems, standardized viral inputs, dilution series-based profiling, quantitative enhancement metrics, and structured quality control frameworks to enable reproducible, comparable, and context-aware functional measurements across cohorts and laboratories. A central concept emerging from these developments is that ADE reflects a dynamic functional immune state rather than an intrinsic property of antibodies or a direct indicator of pathological risk. Accordingly, functional ADE platforms support the contextual interpretation of antibody activity across physiologically relevant conditions, facilitating discrimination between transient functional enhancement and clinically meaningful immunological risk. By integrating functional ADE metrics with serological, cellular, and epidemiological data, these platforms provide a structured framework for interpreting immune profiles in vaccine evaluation, booster strategy design, and population-level risk stratification. This review synthesizes the development, standardization, and global dissemination of functional ADE platforms and discusses key principles governing biological relevance, analytical robustness, and inter-site transferability. Emerging directions integrating functional ADE profiling with systems immunology, immunogenomics, and computational modeling are highlighted as pathways toward predictive, decision-support-oriented frameworks. By positioning ADE platforms as immune assessment infrastructures rather than isolated assays, this review underscores their value for mechanistic inquiry, translational interpretation, and preparedness-oriented responses to emerging viral threats in the absence of definitive correlates of protection. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains one of the most lethal malignancies, largely due to aggressive biological behavior and limited available insight into biomarker-based prognostic stratification. The aim of our research was to investigate the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factors (MIFs), interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL8), and stem cell factors (SCFs) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: In this single-center study, sixty hospitalized patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were prospectively enrolled, and a cross-sectional analysis of baseline cytokine levels was performed. Serum MIF, IL-8/CXCL8, and SCF were assessed in a single analytical run using Luminex xMAP technology. Results: Elevated MIF and IL-8/CXCL8 levels characterized an inflammatory phenotype, associated with leukocytosis, neutrophilia, increased fibrinogen levels, and unequal prevalence of new-onset diabetes. Higher MIF levels were further associated with larger tumor dimension, while IL-8/CXCL8 was associated with increased bilirubin level and recent weight loss (p < 0.05). In contrast, increased SCF predicted a dissemination phenotype as defined by metastasis occurrence (65.4% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.012). SCF demonstrated significant discriminatory ability for metastasis (AUC 0.712, p = 0.013) and remained significantly associated in multivariable analysis. Conclusions: MIF and IL-8/CXCL8 primarily reflect inflammation-driven processes, whereas SCF identifies a dissemination-dominant phenotype, suggesting distinct biological pathways underlying disease progression in pancreatic cancer. Full article

Background: High infectious disease burden and uncontrolled antibiotic usage across human, animal, and environmental contaminants make antimicrobial resistance (AMR) a growing public health problem in Africa. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such plasmids, transposons, integrons, conjugative elements, and phages help spread AMR via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) across human, animal, food, and environmental sources. Despite growing evidence for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), Africa lacks a one-health-focused synthesis of mobile genetic element-mediated AMR. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to consolidate information on MGEs and ARGs in AMR dissemination throughout Africa’s one health interface. Methods: The literature was searched using PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. Observational. molecular epidemiology, whole genome sequencing (WGS), and metagenomic investigations of MGE-associated AMR in Africa were eligible. The study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewer and quality was graded using ROBVIS 2 utilizing Rayyan software. Narrative synthesis, random-effect meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression were utilized. Results: A total of 109 studies were included, with 91 studies contributing to the meta-analysis. MGEs reported were plasmids (71.7%) and integrons (54.8%). ARGs carried by MGEs were blaCTMX-M-15 (78.6%), Sul2 (69.6%), blaTEM (59.1%), and tetA (49.9%). Horizontal gene transfer was seen in 259 instances; however, transmission was unclear. In 442 observations, transmission pathways across human, animal, and environmental interfaces showed AMR prevalence of 75.1% in human, 98.0% in human–animal, and 61.3% in one health interface. Whole-genome sequencing was the most frequently used method for detecting MGEsThe pooled pathogen and AMR prevalence rates were 73.3% (95% CI: 60.5–83.7%) and 94% (95% CI: 85–98%), with significant heterogeneity (I² = 97.8% and 97.4%, respectively). The prevalence of Escherichia coli was 93% and Salmonella enterica 85% in subgroup analysis. Fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and beta-lactams were prevalent in humans (89.7%) and human–animal interactions (98.0%) according to AMR Class. Conclusions: Horizontal gene transfer has propagated MGE-mediated antimicrobial resistance across human, animal, and environmental interfaces in Africa. To combat AMR in Africa, coordinated, genomics-informed One Health surveillance and antibiotic stewardship are needed. Due to variability and publication bias, these data should be considered cautiously. Pooled data may only show descriptive patterns, and not necessarily precise continent-wide prevalence estimates. Full article

The contemporary media landscape has sustained a substantial transformation with the rise of AI-driven algorithmic platforms that enable activist organizations to produce and disseminate their own forms of political communication and campaigns. This study examines the YouTube channel of Code Pink, a prominent U.S.-based anti-war and social justice organization, to explore how activist media practices intersect with contemporary forms of journalism. Over a one-month period, video transcripts from the organization’s YouTube channel were analyzed using NVivo 15, employing a hybrid qualitative approach that combined inductive and deductive coding. Deductive codes were informed by sustained observation of the channel over one year (short and long videos on YouTube, TikTok, and X), supplemented by engagement with relevant news coverage, while inductive coding followed grounded theory principles, allowing themes to emerge directly from the transcripts. Large Language Models (LLMs) were employed as exploratory analytic tools to support AI-assisted qualitative analysis, complementing manual coding processes. The analysis focuses on how Code Pink frames political events and U.S. foreign policy through confrontational interviews, protest documentation, and the dissemination of commentary to online audiences. Findings suggest that the organization’s video content operates simultaneously as political activism, protest performance, and quasi-journalistic reporting. Activists frequently adopt journalistic techniques—including interviewing political figures, providing on-the-ground commentary, and framing narratives around public accountability—while also advancing explicit ideological positions that challenge dominant media narratives. The study highlights how platform-based activist media blurs the boundaries between journalism, advocacy, and political performance, contributing to the construction of alternative public narratives in the digital age. Full article

Archaeological sites present critical issues related to fragmented documentation systems, the difficulty of integrating stratigraphic analyses with three-dimensional survey data, and the lack of digital tools capable of connecting scientific documentation, conservation needs, and public dissemination. This study proposes an integrated digital workflow for the archaeological park of Aeclanum, in which reality-based multi-scale survey data are transformed into an HBIM model structured through stratigraphic interpretation, material analysis, and semantically organised information. The resulting three-dimensional dataset supports the subsequent Scan-to-BIM process, ensuring consistency between the digital representation and the existing remains. Within this framework, the HBIM model is conceived not only as a geometric representation of the current state, but also as an information environment incorporating data on construction techniques, materials, and decay conditions, thus providing a basis for conservation-oriented assessment and future intervention priorities. At the same time, the model supports digital reconstruction hypotheses consistent with archaeological evidence, later developed within an immersive environment that allows visitors to compare the present condition of the site with its reconstructed historical configuration. The workflow highlights the potential of HBIM as an interface between survey, knowledge organisation, conservation support, and digital enhancement. Full article

Bioplastics are increasingly expected to function not only as alternatives to fossil-derived plastics but also as components of circular plastic systems. However, currently bioplastics remain limited by cost, feedstock availability, achievable biomass content, and end-of-life compatibility. This review examines these limitations by organizing recent technological and policy trends in bioplastics, with particular attention to Japan’s social and industrial infrastructure. On this basis, we discuss a systems-level framework for circular plastics that integrates regionally underutilized non-edible biomass, decentralized production concepts, and the emerging possibility of cell-plastics based on unicellular green algae. We argue that the practical dissemination of biomass plastics requires not only material development but also compatibility with molding processes, recycling and biodegradation pathways, and regional collection and treatment systems. In this context, cell-plastics derived from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are positioned as an emerging technological platform for direct biomass utilization and interfacial material design, although their large-scale implementation remains limited by current cultivation and manufacturing constraints. We propose that circular biomass-plastics systems in Japan should be developed as regionally adapted production frameworks with clearly defined end-of-life pathways, rather than as simple substitutes for petroleum-derived plastics. Full article

As China’s first World Heritage Mixed Property site, Mount Tai enjoys international renown, with its historic buildings serving both as the central carriers of its cultural heritage and as significant tourism resources. Existing studies have predominantly emphasized the form, scale, and construction techniques of individual buildings or architectural complexes, while less attention has been given to the overall spatial pattern shaped by the interplay of natural and social environments and to the mechanisms underlying its formation. Taking the administrative area of Tai’an City as the study extent, this research selects 451 officially protected historic buildings, classified by period and type, and employs GIS-based spatial analysis and statistical methods to examine their spatiotemporal distribution patterns and influencing factors. The results indicate the following. (1) The temporal distribution exhibits an И-shaped fluctuation pattern, with ancient architecture and ancient sites together accounting for nearly 60% of the total and constituting the core resource categories. This distribution curve is shaped jointly by preservation conditions, social stability, and heritage designation preferences. (2) The spatial distribution displays a pronounced clustering pattern, with the kernel density core shifting over forty kilometers from southwest to northeast, generating an evolutionary trajectory from Dawen River basin agglomeration to Mount Tai mountain belt agglomeration. (3) The overall pattern is associated with both natural and anthropogenic factors. During the early stages, natural conditions such as hydrology and topography provided foundational constraints, whereas in later periods, human factors, including fengshan ritual culture, religious activities, economic development, and institutional governance, exhibit increasingly apparent associations with the distribution pattern. Based on these findings, this study proposes a strategic spatial framework comprising one cultural pilgrimage ring and four thematic corridors, which translates the spatial analytical results into planning implications for the regional integration of historic building resources, and discusses differentiated conservation strategies, thereby providing an analytical foundation and a reference pathway for the dissemination of Mount Tai culture and the sustainable development of heritage tourism. Full article

The evolution and spatial dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants have been characterized by rapid lineage replacement and complex transmission dynamics influenced by regional connectivity. This study presents a comprehensive discrete phylogeographic analysis of 90,136 SARS-CoV-2 sequences collected in Poland from 2022 to 2024 to reconstruct the dispersal dynamics of major Omicron lineages, including BA.1, BA.2, BA.5, CH.1, XBB.1, and JN.1. Utilizing Bayesian statistical frameworks, we identified significant viral transitions between the 16 Polish voivodeships and established variant-specific dominance windows ranging from 2 to 4 months. Our findings reveal a highly dynamic epidemic landscape with shifting regional epicenters. The initial BA.1 wave was primarily driven by the Mazovian voivodeship, accounting for 36.1% of outward migration events. This pattern shifted dramatically with the rise in BA.2, which was centered in the industrial Silesian region in the south-west, a densely populated area with strong economic ties to neighboring countries, potentially reflecting a different introduction or transmission dynamic. Furthermore, the epidemic landscape continued to reconfigure during the BA.5 wave, marked by the emergence of new transmission hubs in eastern border regions such as Lublin. Subsequent lineages exhibited distinct geographic signatures: BA.5 spread broadly along the Baltic-central corridor, CH.1 was centered in the north-east, XBB.1 re-emerged in the west-central region of Greater Poland, and JN.1 was driven overwhelmingly by Lesser Poland. These transitions highlight that regional transmission hubs are transient and influenced by local factors such as population density, cross-border mobility, and socio-economic connectivity. This study underscores the critical value of dense genomic surveillance in identifying evolving dispersal routes to inform adaptive, region-specific public health interventions. Full article