Search Results (14,499)

Background: Tobacco smoking cessation is a complex process influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Despite the availability of effective cessation interventions, relapse remains common among smokers attempting to quit. This study aimed to identify factors associated with previous smoking relapse and nicotine dependence among smokers attending anti-smoking clinics in Abha City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: An analytical comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 330 adult Saudi smokers attending the Abha Anti-smoking Clinic and the Erada Anti-smoking Clinic. Previous smoking relapse was defined as having one or more unsuccessful smoking cessation attempts after a period of abstinence. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, smoking history, nicotine dependence, withdrawal symptoms, motives for smoking cessation, and relapse-related factors. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Most participants were male (84.2%) and aged 20–39 years (59.4%). Smoking initiation most commonly occurred between 15 and 20 years of age (68.8%), while 66.4% reported previous quit attempts. Nervousness (84.2%) and stress or tension (74.2%) were the most frequently reported withdrawal symptoms. High and very high nicotine dependence were reported by 26.1% and 14.2% of participants, respectively. High nicotine dependence (AOR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.15–1.69, p = 0.001) and very high nicotine dependence (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.21–2.17, p < 0.001) were independently associated with greater odds of previous smoking relapse. Attendance at the Erada Anti-smoking Clinic was associated with lower odds of relapse (AOR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.29–0.91, p = 0.021). Conclusions: Higher nicotine dependence was independently associated with previous smoking relapse among smokers attending anti-smoking clinics. Comprehensive cessation programs integrating behavioral counseling, pharmacological treatment, and sustained follow-up may improve long-term abstinence and reduce relapse. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to experimentally validate the hepatoprotective efficacy of Sheshang Jiedu Decoction (SSJDD) against Deinagkistrodon acutus (D. acutus) venom-induced acute liver injury (ALI) and systematically elucidate its multicomponent, multitarget mechanisms using an integrated multi−omics strategy. Methods: SSJDD constituents and serum-absorbed metabolites were profiled using UPLC-Q-Exactive HFX MS, and potential targets were predicted via network pharmacology. An in vivo model was established by intraperitoneally injecting Kunming mice with D. acutus venom, followed by a 7-day oral SSJDD intervention. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed by histopathological examination, serological analysis, and detection of oxidative stress markers in liver tissues. Label-free quantitative proteomics was performed on murine livers to map dynamic protein alterations and signaling cascades. Results: Integrated metabolomic and network analyses identified 15 primary active serum metabolites converging on core regulatory targets, including TP53, AKT1, and CASP3. In vivo, SSJDD dose-dependently ameliorated venom-induced lobular necrosis, suppressed elevated transaminases, and restored redox homeostasis without intrinsic hepatotoxicity. Quantitative proteomics revealed that venom triggered profound acute oxidative stress and coagulopathies, progressing to chronic metabolic disruption. SSJDD intervention substantially attenuated these proteomic alterations—reducing differentially expressed proteins by 84%—steering the hepatic microenvironment toward baseline homeostasis. Enrichment analyses demonstrated that these effects were primarily driven by modulating the coagulation-inflammation axis and the PI3K−Akt signaling pathway. Conclusions: SSJDD provides robust protection against D. acutus venom-induced ALI. Its active metabolites synergistically orchestrate hepatic repair and restore microenvironmental stability, primarily by targeting the PI3K−Akt pathway and regulating the coagulation-inflammation axis. Full article

Urban experiments are increasingly embraced for their potential to transform incumbent socio-technical systems by offering multifaceted, ‘high-quality’ learning. The early literature on sustainability transitions painted an optimistic picture of the impact of experiments, prescribing their role in managing transitions. More recently, scholars have elaborated on the different purposes and functions of experiments; however, they generally stress that, as of yet, there is scarce evidence for their effectiveness concerning transformation in practice. This paper develops a tool for more effective follow-ups after an experiment in practice, by anticipating contextual constraints on upscaling innovations. The tool has been developed through a design science research method by first doing action research on sustainable mobility innovations in four European cities and subsequently testing the prototype of the tool in five other places. Our findings suggest that this new tool improves conditions for wider implementation of the innovation being experimented with, and associated transformation. This is one key starting point for increasing the impact of experiments and accelerating urban sustainability transformation. Full article

Background: Whether financial deepening and trade integration support or hinder environmental sustainability in hydrocarbon-dependent economies remains contested. Methods: This study examines the relationships among financial inclusion, energy intensity, trade openness, and CO₂ emissions per capita in Saudi Arabia for 1980–2020. The empirical strategy combines ARDL bounds testing, FMOLS, DOLS, CCR robustness, Toda–Yamamoto causality, and a battery of structural-break tests comprising Zivot–Andrews unit-root tests, Bai–Perron sup-F tests, and Chow tests. To address the mechanical correlation between carbon productivity and GDP, the per capita emissions specification (LNCP) is used as the primary outcome; carbon productivity (LNES) is reported for robustness. The small-sample sub-period results are stress-tested using ridge regression, residual-bootstrap confidence intervals, a GDP-augmented (scale-control) specification, and a break-date sensitivity analysis. Results: Cointegration is established. The Chow test identifies a significant break in the cointegrating relationship at 2001 (F = 7.36, p < 0.001 for LNCP), supported by the Zivot–Andrews endogenous-break dates for the financial-inclusion series (2000) and trade-openness series (2005), and by the Bai–Perron sup-F test (sup-F = 26.37 at 1990, exceeding the 1% Andrews critical value). Sub-sample re-estimation around 2001 shows that energy intensity, urbanisation, and trade openness are robust drivers of per capita emissions only after the break, while financial inclusion is statistically insignificant in both regimes once the GDP–carbon-productivity mechanical relationship is removed. Conclusions: The Saudi finance–environment relationship is structurally unstable, and policy assessments based on full-sample averages can be misleading. The evidence is best read as describing regime-dependent, conditional long-run associations rather than as identifying structural causal effects. By exposing the interactions, synergies, and trade-offs among financial deepening (SDG 8), energy efficiency (SDG 7), sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13), the study shows how this descriptive quantitative evidence can inform—rather than directly identify—an instrument-level policy discussion. The findings are consistent with a Vision 2030 mix that prioritises energy efficiency and green-finance reform, with implications for SDG Targets 7.3, 8.10, 12.2, and 13.2 across oil-exporting economies. Full article

Objectives: Aspidopterys obcordata has been traditionally used by the Dai people in Xishuangbanna, China, for the prevention and treatment of renal calculi. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of A. tomentosa extracts on calcium oxalate stone formation. Methods: The extracts of A. tomentosa (EA) were obtained via 95% ethanol reflux extraction, followed by multi-polar solvent extraction and elution. The HK-2 cell injury model induced by calcium oxalate and the renal calculus mouse model established by intraperitoneal injection of glyoxylic acid were established to assess drug efficacy. EA intervention was performed to evaluate its effects on calcium oxalate crystal deposition, renal tubular injury, cell apoptosis, and serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Furthermore, the potential mechanism underlying, particularly the regulation of PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis, was investigated. Results: EA treatment significantly reduced renal calcium oxalate crystal deposition, alleviated renal tubular injury, inhibited cell apoptosis, and decreased Scr and BUN levels. Mechanistically, the protective effects of EA were mediated by the downregulation of the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway and the suppression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis. Conclusions: These findings provide experimental evidence supporting that A. tomentosa can be developed as a promising agent for the prevention of nephrolithiasis. Full article

This study presents an analytical model for the long-term bending behavior of simply supported laminated glass (LG) plates with temperature-dependent viscoelastic interlayers. The glass layers are described based on three-dimensional elasticity theory, and the governing stress and displacement equations are formulated using the state-space method. The polymer interlayer is characterized by the generalized Maxwell model and the Williams–Landel–Ferry equation, while its time-dependent response is described through the Boltzmann convolution principle. By combining double Fourier series expansions with the Laplace-transform technique, analytical solutions for the stresses and displacements of multilayer LG plates are derived. The comparison shows that Kirchhoff–Love plate theory gives results close to the present solution for relatively thin LG plates, whereas the discrepancy becomes increasingly pronounced as the plate thickness increases. The finite element results agree well with those obtained from the proposed model; however, for the representative benchmark case, the present solution is approximately 1.13 × 10³ times faster than the FE simulation, and its memory usage is only about 10.88% of that required by the FE model. Parametric studies further reveal the effects of temperature, interlayer thickness, interlayer material, number of glass layers, and aspect ratio on the stress redistribution and deflection development of LG plates. Full article

Background/Objectives: Shift work is associated with circadian disruption, sleep disturbances, and psychological distress, all of which may influence both reflux-related symptoms and temporomandibular disorder (TMD)-related complaints. However, the relationships among reflux-related symptom burden, TMD severity, oral parafunctional behaviors, and psychological distress in healthcare professionals remain insufficiently understood. To evaluate the association between reflux-related symptom burden, assessed using the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire, and TMD severity among healthcare professionals, and to investigate the potential roles of shift work, oral parafunctional behaviors, and psychological distress in this relationship. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included healthcare professionals working at a tertiary hospital. Data were collected using validated questionnaires, including the GERD-HRQL, Fonseca Anamnestic Index, Oral Behavior Checklist (OBC), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Participants were categorized as shift workers (≥4 night shifts/month) and non-shift workers. Correlation and multivariable regression analyses were performed. Results: A total of 240 participants were included. Higher GERD-HRQL scores were positively correlated with TMD severity (r = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.42, p < 0.001), oral parafunctional behavior scores (r = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.39, p < 0.001), and DASS-21 stress scores (r = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.46, p < 0.001). Shift workers demonstrated significantly higher GERD-HRQL scores and TMD severity scores than non-shift workers, with small-to-moderate effect sizes. In multivariable analysis, higher TMD severity, OBC score, stress score, and shift-work exposure showed adjusted associations with higher GERD-HRQL scores. The model explained 32% of the variance in reflux-related symptom burden (R² = 0.32; adjusted R² = 0.29). Conclusions: Higher GERD-HRQL scores, reflecting reflux-related symptom burden rather than objectively confirmed GERD, showed weak to small-to-moderate associations with TMD severity, oral parafunctional behaviors, psychological distress, and shift-work exposure among healthcare professionals. These findings indicate co-occurrence of gastrointestinal, temporomandibular, behavioral, and psychosocial symptom domains within this occupational population. Longitudinal studies using objective diagnostic methods are required to clarify the directionality and clinical significance of these associations. Full article

Background: Bougainvillea species have been used in traditional Mexican medicine, but their bioactive compounds and mechanisms of action are insufficiently studied. This is the first comprehensive evaluation of fractions from the acetone extract of Bougainvillea × buttiana Holtum & Standl (var. Rose), combining phytochemical profiling with in vitro multitarget bioactivity assessment. Methods: Eleven fractions were analyzed for total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant capacity using the DPPH assay. The most active fractions were further tested for nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, protection of erythrocytes and bovine serum albumin (BSA) from oxidative damage, inhibition of enzymes involved in inflammation (PLA₂, COX, LOX) and carbohydrate metabolism (α-glucosidase, α-amylase, tyrosinase), cytoprotective effects in L929 fibroblasts exposed to hydrogen peroxide, and their main metabolites were qualitatively identified by HPLC-UV-Vis. Results: All fractions showed significant TPC and TFC and concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. The fractions with the highest antioxidant indices were F5, F7, and F9. These effectively scavenged NO, protected erythrocytes and L929 cells (maintaining viability at 82.0%, 75.6%, and 72.0%, respectively), and inhibited key enzymes. Seven major compounds, mainly flavonoids, were identified. Conclusions: These findings showed that flavonoid-enriched fractions from B. × buttiana exhibit coordinated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and cytoprotective effects, suggesting potential to treat oxidative stress-related disorders. Full article

Background/Objectives: Oxidative stress is a major cause of impaired oocyte quality and early embryo development, a challenge that still needs to be addressed in assisted reproduction. Mesenchymal stem cell secretomes have been investigated as cell-free therapeutics with antioxidant activity and relevant anti-apoptotic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of human amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned saline (AMSC-CS) as an injectable formulation on oxidative stress–related markers in ovarian tissue and preimplantation developmental outcomes. Methods: AMSC-CS was administered intravenously to female mice in a dose-dependent manner. Safety assessments were conducted to evaluate systemic and target organ toxicity within the dosage range. In vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes and oxidative status in ovaries, oocytes, and embryos were evaluated following treatment with low, medium, and high doses of AMSC-CS (1, 3, and 5 μL/g). Results: As an injectable formulation, the safety assessments did not reveal systemic or target organ toxicity of AMSC-CS within the dosage range. Medium-to-high doses of AMSC-CS improved the expression of folliculogenesis-related genes and decreased oxidative stress and apoptosis signaling in ovarian tissue. At the high dose, AMSC-CS promoted preimplantation embryo development to the blastocyst and hatched blastocyst stages, along with improved blastocyst quality and reduced oxidative stress in oocytes and blastocysts. Conclusions: These findings suggest that AMSC-CS at medium-to-high doses, as an injectable formulation with antioxidant activity, may be a promising adjunct for assisted reproductive technologies. Full article

Predicting present-day pore pressure and 3D in situ stress in ultra-deep fold-thrust belts is severely hindered by the inadequacies of traditional 1D vertical compaction models, which fail to account for massive lateral tectonic compression and continuous elastoplastic yielding. To overcome this, a 3D poro-elastoplastic analytical framework is developed based on the Modified Cam-Clay model to decode the irreversible “geomechanical memory” of deeply buried argillaceous rocks. Applied to the highly compressed Kelasu Thrust Belt, this method links volumetric strain with mean and deviatoric stresses in stress-invariant space to reconstruct the maximum paleo-pore pressure and 3D paleo-stress tensor during the Coulomb Failure Period (CFP). The quantitative decoupling reveals an extreme state of geopressure prior to macroscopic faulting (pore pressure ratio α = 0.85–0.89). Crucially, the mean stress surge is identified as the dominant driver, generating ~91% of the excess overpressure. Consequently, horizontal tectonic compression accounts for 80–90% of the total overpressure anomaly, fundamentally overturning the classical assumption that vertical undercompaction (10–20%) is the primary mechanism. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that during subsequent tectonic uplift, the heavily compacted, salt-capped mudstones follow an undrained unloading path; the reduction in lithostatic burden is almost entirely offset by fluid depressurization, maintaining a constant effective stress state. This physically decoupled framework provides a rigorous basis for optimizing pre-drill safe mud-weight windows, designing hydraulic fracturing in highly deviatoric stress regimes, and assessing caprock integrity for deep geo-energy storage. Full article

This paper investigates the dynamic characteristics of rotating functionally graded material (FGM) micro-beams based on Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, Euler–Bernoulli beam theory incorporating shear deformation, and Timoshenko theory. The deformation field of the micro-beam is described within a floating coordinate system using the meshless point interpolation method (PIM/RPIM). The couple stress tensor and curvature tensor, which capture the size effect, are incorporated into the potential energy formulation. Employing Lagrange’s equations of the second kind, a higher-order rigid-flexible coupled dynamic model for rotating FGM micro-beams is established under various beam theories. Simulation results obtained from the Euler–Bernoulli theory with shear correction and the Timoshenko model are compared with those from the classical beam model and previous literature. The influences of material gradient index, material characteristic length parameter, and rotational speed profiles on the transient dynamic response and steady-state free vibration of rotating micro-beams are systematically examined. The results show that increasing the material gradient index reduces the structural stiffness, resulting in lower natural frequencies and larger vibration amplitudes, whereas increasing the characteristic length parameter enhances the size effect and improves system stiffness. Full article

Based on experimental studies, a model of the control effect on the plastic deformation process under boundary asymmetric loading conditions has been developed. The regulating factor of plastic deformation unevenness δ, which determines the stress–strain state of the entire deformation zone and the boundary conditions, is presented. The boundary conditions, determined by additional compressive and tensile stresses along the height, generate shear stresses and specific loading regimes at the edges and within the deformation zone itself. The confirmed reduction in interaction, which coincides with the effect of plastic deformation occurring under conditions of force unevenness, is one of the criteria for the controlling effect. A distinctive feature of this approach is the recognition and proof of the existence of a controlling additional effect under conditions of complex force and deformation loading. Theoretical and experimental studies have revealed such effects under various loading conditions. Based on a closed-form problem in plasticity theory and the method of argument functions of a complex variable, a mathematical model of the control process exerted by the metal’s plastic flow zone has been developed. A key feature of the solution to this theoretical problem was the consideration of the interaction between zones under different force loads, represented by a finite-difference scheme in the mathematical model. The decisive influence of deformation unevenness from the working rolls on the force and deformation parameters of the process was demonstrated, with the deformation unevenness factor δ serving as a quantitative measure of this influence. The result obtained through theoretical justification was confirmed by numerical simulation and a comparison of calculated data with experimental data, ensuring the reliability of the result. Full article

Background/Objectives: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with hormonal homeostasis and have been implicated in gynecological malignancy pathogenesis. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence regarding EDC exposure and breast, endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers, examining molecular mechanisms, epidemiology, and diagnostic and clinical implications. Methods: We conducted a literature review using PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases through April 2026, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, prospective cohorts, case-control studies, and mechanistic investigations examining EDC-cancer associations. Methodological quality was appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and AMSTAR-2, with overall certainty of evidence rated using the GRADE framework. Results: Major EDC classes—bisphenol compounds, phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—demonstrate carcinogenic potential through estrogen receptor modulation, epigenetic alterations, oxidative stress, and oncogenic signaling disruption. Breast cancer shows the strongest evidence, with prenatal and early-life DDT/DDE exposure associated with up to a 3.7-fold increased risk. Endometrial cancer demonstrates associations with xenoestrogen mixtures exhibiting non-monotonic dose-responses, whereas ovarian and cervical cancers show emerging but limited associations. Common mechanisms include receptor crosstalk, epigenetic dysregulation with transgenerational effects, oxidative genomic instability, metabolic reprogramming, and cancer stem cell enrichment. Conclusions: Evidence supports EDC contributions to gynecological malignancy through convergent pathways, though causal inference remains constrained by observational epidemiology, long latency periods, and challenges in characterizing real-world mixture exposures. Diagnostic and prevention strategies should integrate EDC exposure into risk-prediction models, leverage multi-omics biomarkers for early detection, and emphasize exposure reduction during critical developmental windows alongside regulatory reform. Full article

Studies of third-order shear-deformation theory (TSDT) and an advanced shear coefficient for thick-walled functionally graded material (FGM) spherical shells subjected to thermal vibrations triggered by sinusoidal temperature are presented. The nonlinear TSDT and linear and nonlinear shear coefficient can be converted into fully homogeneous equation algorithms under the sinusoidal form of free vibrations to obtain the fundamental natural frequency by using Newton’s numerical method. Then, the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method can be used to prepare dynamic discrete equations of motion triggered by sinusoidal temperature field in thick FGM spherical shells for materials SUS304 and Si₃N₄. The Young’s modulus expressed as a power-law function of thick FGM spherical shells is considered and subjected to applied thermal load. The response results of thermal stress and center displacement are compared for the cases of linear and nonlinear advanced shear coefficient, and simply and fully homogeneous equation algorithms, respectively. The practical insights for temperature effect considered in the calculation of stress and displacement are very clear and practical for FGM structures with geometries of spherical shells. The power-law function property of FGMs can be used under high temperature for four-sided simply supported constraints. Full article

This article discusses the relevant problem of ensuring transport connectivity under the conditions of temporal restrictions of the road network, which arise during repair, communal and emergency operations. It is established that the existing organizational and intellectual methods of traffic management do not eliminate physical decrease in road capacity, while construction of stationary structures with different levels is limited by high costs and long terms of implementation. The above substantiates the need for the development of mobile overpasses as adaptive engineering solutions ensuring continuity of the traffic flows. The purpose of the research is to develop a scientifically substantiated theoretical and experimental methodology for designing a mobile overpass as an integrated system “structure-moving load”, taking into account its dynamic behavior. The paper proposes an integrated approach based on the use of physical similarity theory and dimensionless analysis. A differential equation of dynamic bending of a beam on an elastic foundation is formulated taking into account inertia, damping, base reaction and the effect of a moving mass, and then its nondimensionalization is performed to obtain a similarity criteria system. The scientific novelty of the research consists in developing a system of dimensionless criteria to describe the relationship between the structural, dynamic and operational parameters of a mobile overpass, as well as in the formation of a criterion base for large-scale modeling and transfer of the results to full-scale structures. The proposed methodology describes the mobile overpass as an integrated transport-engineering system accounting for the coupled interaction between the deformable structure, moving traffic load, elastic foundation, and damping effects. Experimental verification was performed on a specially designed stand in the scale 1:4. The results obtained showed the quasi-static nature of the structure performance with moderate damping and rigid base. It is established that the distribution of engineering stresses along the span length has a regular character and retains its shape when the load level changes, which confirms fulfillment of similarity conditions. Regression analysis revealed a close to linear dependence of stresses on the load mass with a high degree of confidence $(R^2\approx 0.995)$. The practical significance of the research consists in creating an engineering method for express design of mobile overpasses, which allows for assessing their stress–strain state, stability and serviceability without expensive full-scale tests. The proposed approach can be used in designing temporary transportation structures under the conditions of urban area, and in operation in areas of road operations and emergency situations. Full article