Search Results (287)

Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive Asian wood borer that has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees across North America. White fringetree is a secondary host of EAB in North America that is generally more resistant and resilient than ash. Past studies have mostly focused on ornamentally planted and managed trees over short time scales; the long-term fate of this species in the wild is uncertain. We revisited an unmanaged wild population of white fringetree in Ohio ten years after it was first studied, measuring tree size and health, evidence of EAB attack, and woodpecker activity. We hypothesized that EAB attack would have greater negative effects on this population than previously observed in managed populations. In 2024, 68% of trees showed signs of previous attack by EAB with declining health and 15% had evidence of current-year attack. Thirty percent of trees in the study had died. White fringetrees in managed populations have generally fared well in the aftermath of EAB, but trees in this wild population showed substantial attack and damage, some continuing to host EAB for several years. Wild white fringetrees may meet the same fate as ash trees in the face of EAB, but over longer time scales. Full article

The quality of fresh blueberries is determined by physicochemical properties and sugar–acid composition, which exhibit significant variations across different cultivars and ripening stages. This study investigated two rabbiteye blueberry cultivars (‘Brightwell’, ‘Homebell’) and three highbush blueberry cultivars (‘Bluegold’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Legacy’), measuring basic physicochemical indices, soluble sugar and organic acid profiles at six ripening stages. HPLC analysis revealed that soluble sugars in blueberries are primarily composed of fructose and glucose. The organic acids in highbush blueberries are dominated by malic and citric acids, while rabbiteye blueberries contain higher levels of quinic acid in addition to malic and citric acids. Correlation analysis demonstrated that glucose and fructose contents were significantly positively correlated (p ≤ 0.01) with average fruit weight, soluble pectin to total pectin ratio (SP/TP), and total soluble solids to titratable acidity ratio (TSS/TA), but showed a highly significant negative correlation with malic acid. In contrast, malic acid exhibited a significant positive correlation (p ≤ 0.05) with firmness and moisture content. Cluster analysis divided the measured parameters into two groups: Class 1 includes average fruit weight, SP/TP, TSS/TA, and soluble sugars. Class 2 comprises fruit shape index, firmness, moisture content, and organic acids. Quality variation patterns among blueberry cultivars clustered according to cultivated type (rabbiteye and highbush), with differences within the same type being smaller than those between the two types. Rabbiteye blueberries exhibited a higher TSS/TA and a sweeter taste, whereas highbush varieties displayed softer texture, higher moisture content, and a balanced sweet–sour juiciness. This study clarified the dynamics of sugar and acid metabolism during blueberry ripening, providing a theoretical basis for quality evaluation, harvest timing, and breeding. Full article

The objective of this paper is to design a Generally Accepted Research Protocol (GARP) for conducting literature reviews, aimed at guiding new researchers and assisting editors, practitioners, experts, and reviewers in understanding the essential steps and processes of writing a Literature Review Paper (LRP). To achieve this, we collected a total of n = 2405 peer-reviewed research and review articles across three disciplinary groups—Education and Engineering, Medical Sciences, and Accounting, Finance, Economics, and Management (AFEM)—from seven databases (Elsevier, Emerald, Nature Portfolio, Springer Nature & Link, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, and Google Scholar) published between 1999 and March 2025. We conducted five (5) cycles of descriptive and semi-qualitative content analysis following the GARP method developed in this study and identified n = 115 relevant articles, which form the foundational core of the GARP Framework presented in this study. Our findings also reveal that several similar initiatives have been undertaken across the analyzed disciplines, with most of these studies focusing on systematic review guidelines based on the PRISMA statement and designed for discipline-specific applications. Our method differs from previous initiatives by proposing a universal alternative method for literature review writing. The goal is to reduce the noise (propositions and steps) by focusing on the steps that really matter when writing a synthesis: data collection, data processing, and data reporting. Full article

Background: Therapeutic resistance following cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) plus endocrine therapy (ET) represents a key unmet need in hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2−) metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Treatment paradigms have advanced from non-targeted options, such as fulvestrant monotherapy or everolimus-based combinations, to precision medicine strategies, including inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT pathway, oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs), and novel ER-modulating agents, often guided by biomarkers and molecular surveillance. Methods: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from randomized clinical trials, real-world studies, and biomarker-driven analyses published from 2010 to 2026, with emphasis on next-generation sequencing (NGS)-guided genomic profiling, targeted pathway therapies, and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based proactive interventions in the post-CDK4/6i setting. This review was conducted and reported in accordance with the SANRA recommendations for narrative reviews. Results: Early second-line standards, including fulvestrant and alpelisib for PIK3CA-mutated tumors, established the basis for biomarker-guided treatment in hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. With the widespread use of CDK4/6 inhibitors in the first-line setting, the optimal post-progression strategy has shifted toward molecularly selected combination approaches rather than single-agent endocrine therapy, as endocrine monotherapy has shown limited efficacy in acquired resistance. Multiple randomized studies have demonstrated that adding targeted agents to endocrine therapy improves progression-free survival compared with hormonal therapy alone, supporting combination regimens as the preferred strategy after CDK4/6 inhibitor progression, except in carefully selected patients with low disease burden, indolent biology, or frailty where tolerability is a major concern. Precision-based trials have further refined this approach. Elacestrant improved progression-free survival in ESR1-mutated disease in the EMERALD trial, capivasertib plus fulvestrant demonstrated significant benefit in tumors harboring AKT/PIK3CA/PTEN pathway alterations in CAPItello-291, and inavolisib plus palbociclib and fulvestrant achieved both progression-free and overall survival improvement in PIK3CA-mutated patients with early relapse in INAVO120. Real-world analyses further support the effectiveness of these biomarker-directed strategies across diverse clinical subgroups. Comprehensive genomic profiling has identified multiple resistance mechanisms, including ESR1 mutations, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation, RB1 loss, and FGFR alterations, which may co-occur and reduce sensitivity to endocrine monotherapy. While ESR1 and PI3K pathway alterations now guide approved therapies, FGFR alterations remain investigational targets, with ongoing trials evaluating selective FGFR inhibitors. Proactive switching approaches evaluated in SERENA-6 and PADA-1 demonstrate that serial circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring can detect emergent ESR1 mutations before radiographic progression, providing a clinically actionable lead time for early therapeutic modification and extending endocrine-based disease control by approximately 5 to 7 months. Conclusions: Post-CDK4/6i management increasingly relies on NGS-guided precision approaches, integrating pathway-specific therapies and ctDNA surveillance to tailor sequencing based on resistance profiles, prior ET response, and tumor heterogeneity. Future investigations into novel ER degraders and multi-targeted combinations hold potential to further optimize algorithms, extend non-chemotherapy options, and enhance survival in HR+/HER2− mBC. Full article

The study aimed to identify the factors influencing the adoption of social media analytics (SMA) for enhanced organizational intellectual capital. It also intended to reveal the challenges linked to the effective incorporation of SMA in organizations for the attainment of enhanced intellectual capital. A systematic literature review (SLR) methodology was applied to address the study’s objectives. The required studies were retrieved from twelve major academic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Emerald, Wiley Online Library, Taylor & Francis, Sage, INFORMS, SSRN, Dimensions, and Business Source Complete) along with Google Scholar to ensure comprehensive coverage. A total of 40 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2025 were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings manifested that factors of human capital, technological infrastructure, social networks, knowledge management, and big data analytics positively influence the adoption of social media analytics (SMA) in organizations for enhanced intellectual capital. It was also identified that data complexity, skills constraints, integration barriers, and ethical concerns negatively affected the incorporation of SMA in organizations. On the basis of the study’s findings, a framework has been developed to efficiently adopt SMA in organizations for enhanced intellectual capital. The framework is universally applicable across all disciplines providing a robust foundation for future empirical validation. The study has provided pertinent theoretical, practical, methodological, and social implications. Full article

Background: Vestibular migraine (VM) is a common but underdiagnosed cause of episodic vertigo lacking evidence-based preventive treatments. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays a central role in migraine pathogenesis and is expressed in vestibular structures, providing a rationale for CGRP-targeting therapies in VM. However, available evidence has not been systematically synthesized. Methods: We conducted a structured synthesis of studies evaluating CGRP-targeting therapies (monoclonal antibodies and gepants) in adults with definite/probable VM. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, prospective/retrospective cohorts, and case series (≥10 patients) reporting quantitative outcomes. A two-tier synthesis was prespecified: quantitative meta-analysis where feasible, otherwise narrative synthesis with direction-of-effect analysis. Results: Of 247 records, four observational studies met inclusion criteria (total N ≈ 103 patients). No RCTs were identified. All four studies evaluated CGRP monoclonal antibodies; no gepant studies met inclusion criteria. Outcome reporting was highly heterogeneous. Quantitative meta-analysis was not feasible. Direction-of-effect synthesis showed consistent improvement across all studies for vertigo frequency (4/4), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (2/2), and monthly migraine days (2/2). No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: CGRP monoclonal antibodies show a consistent direction of benefit for vestibular symptoms, migraine days, and dizziness handicap in observational VM studies, with a favorable safety profile. However, the absence of RCTs, small samples, lack of control groups, and heterogeneity preclude definitive conclusions. This synthesis highlights a critical evidence gap. Adequately powered, double-blind, placebo-controlled RCTs of CGRP-targeting therapies (both monoclonal antibodies and gepants) are urgently needed. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Parry–Romberg syndrome (PRS), also known as progressive hemifacial atrophy, is a rare disorder characterized by progressive unilateral hemifacial atrophy, with potential involvement of the cranial bones and the brain. Although neurological manifestations are frequently described, central nervous system involvement may be subclinical and detectable only through neuroimaging. Owing to its rarity and the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria, most available data derive from case reports and small case series. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 38-year-old female patient diagnosed with PRS (stage 2 according to the Guerrerosantos classification), with onset in childhood characterized by left parietal alopecia, followed by progressive left-sided hemifacial atrophy and a linear “en coup de sabre” lesion. Neurological examination was normal, with no history of seizures or focal deficits. Brain MRI revealed ipsilateral cutaneous, subcutaneous, muscular, and osseous atrophy, as well as atrophy of the left parotid and submandibular glands. Additionally, subcortical white matter lesions were identified in the left frontal lobe in the absence of hemispheric cerebral atrophy. Conclusions: This case highlights a significant radioclinical dissociation, demonstrating that central nervous system involvement may occur even in clinically stable and paucisymptomatic forms of PRS. This disease may be associated with subclinical intracranial abnormalities, underscoring the need for systematic neuroimaging evaluation even in the absence of neurological manifestations. Based on the available literature and the specific features of the present case, we propose a practical clinical framework and imaging algorithm to facilitate early diagnosis and to contribute to the standardization of the diagnostic approach in this rare disorder. Full article

Yam is a tuberous crop with great potential for enhancing food security and rural development thus contributing significantly to the lives of people in production areas. Despite its importance, productivity is low, with poor adoption rates of released commercial varieties. Yam exhibits complex growth patterns, including tuberization and dormancy. The yield, food quality and consumer preferences differ by variety. Understanding the dynamics of yam production system and best practices is critical for its improvement. Our review delved into the flowering dynamics as well as yield determinants. We dissected the phenomena of dormancy, photosynthesis, photoperiodism and food quality with a view to adding values on crop improvement efforts. Yam production systems can be repositioned to play a greater role in sustainable food security and poverty alleviation through the development and deployment of more productive, profitable and resilient yam varieties and sustainable technologies that will improve the current yam cropping system and value chain. Future research perspectives focusing on yield improvement, climate-smart adaptations/cultivation practices, and value chain development to ensure sustainable yam production and utilization are thus highlighted. Full article

The TaiLing Mausoleum in Western Qing Tombs has great aesthetic value and a rich history. In this study, we conducted an analysis of the materials used in the architectural polychrome paintings of the TaiLing Mausoleum. Optical microscopy (OM), portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX), micro-Raman spectroscopy (μ-RS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the paintings of Long’en Gate in TaiLing Mausoleum. The results indicate that the main minerals in the ground layer are quartz, augite, feldspars and illite. The gilding materials employed gold leaf. The red pigment is hematite, and the black pigment is carbon black. The green pigment is emerald green with barium sulfate as an extender. The blue pigments are smalt and synthetic ultramarine. In some areas, emerald green is observed overlaying smalt, suggesting that the paintings at Long’en Gate underwent overlay restoration or repainting from the late Qing Dynasty to modern times. These results can support future conservation of the polychrome paintings at the TaiLing Mausoleum. Full article

Emotional intelligence (EI) and transformational leadership (TL) have been identified as key factors in team effectiveness (TE); however, the empirical evidence remains fragmented and exhibits substantial conceptual and methodological heterogeneity, particularly in studies that simultaneously integrate these three variables. To address this gap, the present study examined the relationships among TL, EI, and TE by applying the PRISMA 2020 protocol and the PICO-S framework. A total of 728 studies published in Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Emerald, ProQuest, and APA PsycNet were identified, of which 22 studies were included in the systematic review and 15 documents in the meta-analysis. The results revealed positive and statistically significant correlations between TL–TE (9 studies, 18 effects, N = 3480; r ≈ 0.45), EI–TE (8 studies, 15 effects, N = 3440; r ≈ 0.41), and EI–TL (4 studies, 6 effects, N = 1955; r ≈ 0.63), with effect sizes and levels of heterogeneity ranging from moderate to high. Additionally, variations in the strength of these relationships were observed according to sample size, year of publication, and methodological quality. In conclusion, EI emerges as a central resource that strengthens TL and, through psychological and relational mechanisms, consistently enhances TE in complex organizational contexts. Full article

Objective: This study assessed the ability of capsule formulations to improve the oral delivery and retain activity of an acid-sensitive enzyme during gastrointestinal transit. Methods: The dissolution characteristics of five capsule formulations—single DRcaps^® [DR], single Vcaps^® Plus [VCP], and three DUOCAP^® capsule-in-capsule combinations, DRcaps^® inside DRcaps^® (DR-in-DR), DRcaps^® inside Vcaps^® Plus (DR-in-VCP), and Vcaps^® Plus inside DRcaps^® (VCP-in-DR)—were evaluated in an in vitro simulation of a healthy human upper gastrointestinal tract under fasting and fed conditions using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME)^® platform. Capsules contained caffeine as a marker of capsule dissolution, and pancreatin as an active ingredient for which activity was determined by the conversion of tributyrin. Readouts included visual capsule scoring, the analysis of caffeine release, and the quantification of tributyrin-to-butyrate conversion at the end of each gastrointestinal tract segment. Results: The single VCP capsules had a high level of caffeine release at the end of the stomach incubation with low butyrate recovery (16–21%), suggesting the rapid release and gastric degradation of the unprotected enzyme. The single DR, DR-in-VCP, and VCP-in-DR formulations showed caffeine release at the end of the duodenum and/or jejunum and had high butyrate recovery, ranging from 53% to 87%. The DR-in-DR formulation had the most delayed release, with incomplete caffeine release and low-to-moderate butyrate recovery (10–36%). Conclusions: Fast capsule dissolution led to the reduced enzymatic activity of the active ingredient, while delayed dissolution resulted in inadequate time for the enzymatic conversion of tributyrin to butyrate. These results highlight that capsule selection should align with the intended use and targeted nutrient delivery, with DUOCAP^® formulations being best suited for small intestinal (VCP-in-DR and DR-in-VCP) and colonic (DR-in-DR) delivery. Full article

This essay examines how contemporary Anglophone Chinese women writers rewrite the imagery of Chinese snake women through speculative retellings that foreground sisterhood, queer desire, and diasporic identity. Drawing on queer diaspora studies and feminist criticism, I argue that Larissa Lai’s Salt Fish Girl (2002) and Amanda Lee Koe’s Sister Snake (2024) revise the figure of the Chinese snake woman to imagine forms of female intimacy and kinship that transcend heteronormative and patriarchal frameworks. In these works, sisterhood operates both as a familial bond and as an intimate, queer relation charged with affective, physical, and occasionally erotic intensity. The original White Snake legend—one of China’s Four Great Folktales—has long invited queer readings, especially through the complex relationship between White Snake and her companion Green Snake. In dialogue with the Chinese snake myth, Lai and Koe relocate the snake woman into speculative worlds shaped by queer desire, racial marginalization, and transnational migration. In Salt Fish Girl, Lai reimagines the reincarnations of the half-snake Chinese mother goddess Nu Wa across colonial South China and near-future bio-capitalist Canada, portraying a cross-temporal lesbian love between the protagonist and the titular Salt Fish Girl. In Sister Snake, Koe’s protagonists—serpent sisters Su and Emerald, separated between Singapore and New York—disrupt normative family scripts while forging a fragmented but enduring affective bond. Through the motif of the Chinese snake woman, these works construct imaginative spaces in which intimate sisterhood subverts patriarchal and national containment, advancing a queer vision of female togetherness. Full article

Background/objectives: Tropoelastin is a highly hydrophobic extracellular matrix protein responsible for the extensibility and elastic recoil of various organs. The Windkessel effect in blood vessels dampens pressure variations during the cardiac cycle to provide continuous perfusion of tissues, such as the fragile gill capillaries in fish. The teleost-specific whole-genome duplication was followed by structural and functional divergence of the duplicated tropoelastins, of which ElnB confers the uniquely low stiffness of the bulbus arteriosus. Methods: We have examined the diversity of tropoelastins in all major fish clades by searching for tropoelastin (eln) genes in the sequenced genomes. Duplication of eln genes in tetraploid salmonids and cyprinids was examined by maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis, and cardiac eln expression in rainbow trout was quantified by qPCR. Results: The tetraploid salmonid genomes harbor two elna genes but a single elnb, except for the tandem duplicated elnb genes in sockeye salmon and lake whitefish, while the tetraploid common carp possesses four elna and elnb genes on separate chromosomes. Rainbow trout showed strong elastin staining in the larval bulbus and ventral aorta, and the bulbar expression of elnb was 15 times higher than the ventricular levels in juvenile fish. The expression of elna1 and elna2 was also significantly higher in the bulbus, and together their transcript levels were almost similar as the elnb levels. The overall hydrophobicity of the fish tropoelastins differed considerably among the species ranging from 28.6% in Emerald rockcod ElnB to 56.3% in lesser devil ray Eln, but showed no significant difference with the tetrapods examined, except for the lower hydrophobicity of teleost ElnB. Conclusions: The inclusion of tetrapods in the analysis revealed a positive relationship between ventral aortic blood pressure and tropoelastin hydrophobicity. Full article

This study aims to identify the variables that influence revisit intention and the theories most frequently employed in related research. This research adopts a systematic literature review (SLR) following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, encompassing the identification, screening, and synthesis of articles from the Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Emerald databases. The results indicate that customer satisfaction, destination image, experience, and service quality emerge as the most dominant variables. At the same time, constructs such as electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM), place identity, and accessibility receive comparatively little scholarly attention. Moreover, the Theory of Planned Behavior constitutes the most commonly applied theoretical framework, followed by the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) model, the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), and Cognitive Appraisal Theory. These findings reveal research gaps that provide a foundation for future conceptual model development. The study offers both theoretical and practical contributions toward strengthening strategies for fostering tourist loyalty. Full article

Background: The precision of intraoral scanners (IOSs) is a key factor in ensuring the reliability of digital impressions, particularly in full-arch workflows. Although proprietary metrology tools are generally employed for scanner validation, open-source platforms could provide a cost-effective alternative for clinical research. Methods: This in vivo study compared the precision of two IOSs—3Shape TRIOS 3 and Planmeca Emerald S—using an open-source analytical workflow based on Autodesk Meshmixer and CloudCompare. A single healthy subject underwent five consecutive full-arch scans per device. Digital models were trimmed, aligned by manual landmarking and iterative closest-point refinement, and analyzed at six deviation thresholds (<0.01 mm to <0.4 mm). The percentage of surface points within clinically acceptable limits (<0.3 mm) was compared using paired t-tests. Results: TRIOS 3 exhibited significantly higher repeatability than Planmeca Emerald S (p < 0.001). At the <0.3 mm threshold, 99.3% ± 0.4% of points were within tolerance for TRIOS 3 versus 92.9% ± 6.8% for Planmeca. At the <0.1 mm threshold, values were 89.6% ± 5.7% and 47.3% ± 13.7%, respectively. Colorimetric deviation maps confirmed greater spatial consistency of TRIOS 3, particularly in posterior regions. Conclusions: Both scanners achieved clinically acceptable precision for full-arch impressions; however, TRIOS 3 demonstrated superior repeatability and lower variability. The proposed open-source workflow proved feasible and reliable, offering an accessible and reproducible method for IOS performance assessment in clinical settings. Full article