Search Results (146)

Background: While human cranial sutures are well-established indicators for age-at-death estimation in forensic anthropology, facial sutures remain an underutilized resource despite their critical role in facial growth and development. Macroscopic examination of craniofacial suture closure patterns reflects physiological aging processes and can provide valuable information at crime scenes. This study aimed to address the gap of knowledge by quantitatively evaluating the efficacy of facial suture closure patterns for age estimation. Methods: A sample consisting of 296 Thai skulls was analyzed to assess facial suture closure based on anatomical morphology. The sutures were evaluated using various established classification systems to determine the most effective method for predicting age ranges. To ensure consistency and reliability, the evaluations were conducted by three independent raters. Results: The assessment demonstrated good Intraclass Correlation (ICC = 0.755, df = 14, p < 0.05). Among the classification methods tested, the Modified Meindl and Lovejoy Scoring System yielded the highest sensitivity, ranging from 90.9% to 100% in males and 75.4% to 96.1% in females. Specifically, the zygomaticomaxillary suture showed the highest sensitivity in males, whereas the frontonasal and sphenozygomatic sutures were the most sensitive indicators in females. Utilizing the total sum score (TSS), the following sex-specific linear regression formulas for age-at-death were generated: (Males: Age-at-death = 1.7625(TSS) − 17.094. Females: Age-at-death = 1.7325(TSS) − 12.865). Conclusions: Facial sutures exhibit distinct, sex-specific closure patterns that serve as robust and reliable indicators for estimating age, with higher sensitivity generally observed in males. The utility of this novel method is heavily dependent on the scoring system employed, highlighting the critical importance of utilizing modified, sex-specific analyses. While these population-specific models tailored to the Thai demographic effectively refine age estimation outcomes, integrating this methodology with broader biological profiling remains essential for high-confidence forensic identification. Full article

Background: Incorporating sex as a biological variable (SBV) is recognized as essential for improving the reliability, reproducibility, and generalizability of pharmacological research. This principle is codified in international policies and guidelines, yet implementation remains uneven, especially in phytomedicine. Phytomedicines are a major component of healthcare worldwide, with 65% of the global population relying on them in both regulated and traditional contexts. Globally, phytomedicines are used by males, females, intersex and non-cis gender persons, all of whom may present specific safety and efficacy considerations and warrant full inclusion in pre-clinical to clinical research pipelines. However, in contemporary settings, phytomedicine lags in SBV best practices relative to Western allopathic standards for research design. Methods: We conducted a non-systematic review and in silico data mining to quantify sex/gender representation in recent preclinical and clinical phytomedicine studies, complemented by targeted case studies of sexually dimorphic safety/efficacy. We also summarize the historical role of women and gender-diverse people as users and providers within Traditional and Integrative Medical Systems (TIMSs). Results: Across rodent and human studies, females are under-represented relative to males, and sex is rarely reported for cell lines. Intentional inclusion of intersex and other gender-diverse populations is largely absent. Case studies illustrate plausible sex-associated differences in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and adverse event profiles. TIMSs historically address women’s health needs and include substantial participation by female practitioners; however, contemporary SBV practices remain less standardized than in Western allopathic pipelines. Conclusions: SBV integration in phytomedicine is needed to strengthen safety, efficacy, and regulatory-grade evidence. Practical barriers include legacy datasets without sex metadata, limited intersex animal models, and uneven resources across settings. We outline feasible, stepwise practices to improve SBV adoption in a manner compatible with TIMS contexts and recommend expanding current guidelines to better support diverse research environments while maintaining scientific rigor. Full article

Background: Sustainability-oriented higher education research has increasingly foregrounded staff wellbeing, motivational practice, and instructional continuity as central to long-term educational effectiveness. However, empirical evidence remains limited for university English language teaching (ELT) instructors operating within fragile, post-conflict, and regionally uneven systems such as Libya. In particular, little is known about whether job satisfaction is translated into motivational teaching behaviour through teacher self-efficacy, or how such relationships vary across demographic and institutional contexts. Addressing this gap is critical for understanding human-capital sustainability in higher education systems facing structural instability. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional online survey was conducted using Google Forms and regionally stratified convenience sampling across Libya’s Western, Eastern, Central, and Southern regions. The final sample comprised 385 eligible university ELT instructors, including both full-time and part-time staff. Data were collected using three validated instruments: an adapted Teacher Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (21 items), a teacher self-efficacy scale (12 items), and a motivational teaching strategies scale (18 items). All measures demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics v29, applying descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, regression-based mediation analysis with bootstrapping, and group comparisons using independent-samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA. Results: The sample included 57.14% male and 42.86% female instructors, with 62.86% employed full-time and the majority reporting 6–10 years of teaching experience (51.95%). Mean scores indicated moderate levels of job satisfaction (M = 3.32, SD = 0.94) and teacher self-efficacy (M = 3.03, SD = 0.68), alongside high levels of motivational teaching strategies (M = 4.15, SD = 0.87). Job satisfaction was positively associated with motivational teaching strategies (r = 0.61, p < 0.001) and teacher self-efficacy (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), while teacher self-efficacy was also positively related to motivational strategies (r = 0.53, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed a significant partial mediating effect of teacher self-efficacy (indirect effect = 0.19, 95% CI [0.12, 0.28]). Significant differences were observed across demographic variables (age, gender, teaching experience) and institutional characteristics (employment status and university region). Conclusions: The findings indicate that sustainable teaching practice in Libyan higher education has been jointly shaped by organisational satisfaction and teachers’ capability beliefs. These results underscore the importance of context-sensitive institutional policies that support both structural working conditions and psychological resources. Future research could extend this evidence through longitudinal and mixed-methods designs to deepen understanding of sustainability-oriented teaching dynamics in fragile higher education systems. Full article

Urbanization is a major and rapidly expanding form of land-use change worldwide and is one of the main drivers of the decline in arthropod diversity. Within urban matrices, remnants of natural or semi-natural habitats serve as important refuges for native organisms. However, these urban fragments are typically small, isolated, and strongly affected by various forms of disturbance. Therefore, connectivity among urban remnant patches may enhance population persistence and resilience. Increased tendencies to explore novel environments, tolerate human disturbance, and exploit unpredictable resources can be advantageous in urban environments. Accordingly, in this study of a flightless ground beetle species, we hypothesized that individuals from urban habitats—especially from isolated ones—would be bolder and more exploratory than their rural conspecifics, that sexes would differ in behavior, and that these behaviors would be temporally consistent, indicating animal personality. Activity-, exploration-, and boldness-related behavioral traits were significantly repeatable, providing evidence for animal personality, particularly in females and rural beetles. Contrary to our hypothesis, no behavioral differences were detected between rural and urban individuals. Furthermore, no significant sex-dependent differences in behavior were observed. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of species-specific traits and ecological context in shaping behavioral variation. Full article

Background and objectives: Accurate anatomical knowledge of the transverse dural venous sinuses (TS) is essential for safe neurosurgical procedures, particularly in resource-limited settings where advanced imaging modalities may be unavailable. Despite the TS’s clinical importance, detailed cadaveric studies focusing solely on its morphology are scarce. This study investigated the length, width, and shape of the TS in adult human cadavers, assessing anatomical dominance and morphological variations relevant to surgical planning. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 32 formalin-fixed adult cadavers (20 male, 12 female) at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. The TS was examined bilaterally within the dura mater and the corresponding transverse sulcus. Lengths were measured using a string and a ruler to accommodate curvature, while widths at the origin, midpoint, and termination were measured using digital calipers. Statistical analyses included Shapiro–Wilk tests, paired t-tests, and intra-class correlation to determine significance and reliability. Results: The average TS length was 72.54 mm (left) and 70.23 mm (right), with no statistically significant differences between sides. Right-sided dominance in TS width was observed in 71.88% of cases. A significant narrowing at the midpoint, followed by widening at the termination, was consistently noted, especially in males. Differences between dural and bony groove widths suggested that sulcal impressions may not accurately reflect TS dimensions. Conclusions: The TS demonstrates significant morphological variability, including asymmetry and abrupt dimensional changes. These findings underscore the importance of direct anatomical reference for surgical navigation, particularly in low-resource settings lacking advanced imaging. Full article

Leishmaniases are infections caused by Leishmania parasites and transmitted through the bite of infected female Phlebotomus (Old World) and Lutzomyia (New World) sandflies. The disease disproportionately affects marginalized communities with limited healthcare access. With no approved human vaccines available, leishmaniasis treatment and prevention depend heavily on chemotherapeutics that face growing drug resistance challenges alongside toxicity concerns. The development of safe, effective and affordable vaccines against human leishmaniasis remains a global health priority for disease control and elimination, mostly in resource-limited settings. This review synthesizes progress in leishmaniasis vaccine platforms including live-attenuated parasites, whole-killed parasites, DNA, protein subunit, peptide-based and chimeric/multiepitope vaccines and their homogenous and heterogenous efficacy. Live-attenuated and whole-parasite vaccines have been accounted to elicit robust cellular immunity but pose safety risks, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. While both second- and third-generation vaccines exemplified by LEISH-F1/F3 polyproteins, elicit strong Th1-biased T cell responses in preclinical models, their efficacy in humans remains limited. However, the highlighted collective efforts are pivotal in steering the rational development of future research using various formulations for multiple management of leishmaniasis through cross-protection. Furthermore, emerging strategies including mRNA platforms, nanoparticle delivery, reverse vaccinology, and immunoinformatics offer promising avenues for accelerating vaccine discovery and advancing the development of novel and effective human vaccines. Full article

Ecological resettlement (ER), or conservation-led displacement, is widely implemented to safeguard biodiversity but often produces complex socio-ecological outcomes. This study assessed the environmental justice (both social and ecological) impacts of ER in Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) using an enhanced (including social, ecological, and environmental aspects) environmental justice (EJ) framework. Data were collected from 240 households across all resettled villages within the Chitwan and Parsa National Parks (NPs) of Nepal through household interviews, key informant interviews, focus groups, and field observations, supplemented by policy reviews, reports, and unpublished documents. Household demographics indicated an average family size of 5.5, gender parity (664 females, 658 males), and diverse caste/ethnic composition (ethnic: 146 households; higher caste: 64; lower caste: 6). Wealth distribution and literacy were uneven, with disparities in land ownership, assets, and social positions. Social and ecological justice outcomes were analysed using chi-square and McNemar tests. We observed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in substantive justice (food, shelter, clothing, and security) attributes before and after the resettlements. Similarly, significant improvements post-resettlement were observed in procedural and recognition justice: participation in decision-making increased from 43% to 62% (χ² = 12.34, p < 0.05). However, recognition of Indigenous knowledge and FPIC rights remained low, with 93% of households reporting inadequate acknowledgment (χ² = 198.5, p < 0.05). Distributive justice indicators, including access to compensation and forest resources, showed mixed outcomes, with 52% reporting fair compensation and 48% citing inequities (p < 0.05). Ecological outcomes also shifted significantly: forest cover decreased in 65% of surveyed areas post-resettlement, while grassland extent increased in 28% (χ² = 27.4, p < 0.05). Water source accessibility declined for 48% of households (χ² = 21.6, p < 0.05), and bushfire incidence decreased by 15% (χ² = 9.8, p < 0.05). Composite scoring revealed strong linkages between social justice deficits and ecological downturn in the resettled areas, suggesting that inadequate participation, recognition, inequitable compensation, and ecological degradation shift the issues from parks to the outside and exacerbate environmental vulnerability. These findings demonstrate that ER can achieve partial ecological objectives inside the parks but often perpetuates social inequities and ecological downturn in the resettled areas, undermining the long-term sustainability of the socio-ecological landscape. The study highlights the critical need to integrate social justice, participatory governance, and ecological monitoring into resettlement planning. Future policies should be grounded in the understanding that conservation effectiveness and social equity are mutually reinforcing, and that ignoring justice dimensions risks undermining both biodiversity outcomes and human wellbeing. Full article

Entrepreneurship aims to contribute significantly to economic development, a trend that has been progressively growing over time. Nonetheless, female entrepreneurs continue to face substantial challenges, including limited access to financial resources and sociocultural barriers. The influence of Entrepreneurial Coaching (EC) offers a valuable perspective for analysing entrepreneurial self-efficacy and business growth. Grounded in Systems Theory, the research examines how EC interventions can bolster the confidence of women entrepreneurs and facilitate adaptive responses to business challenges. Utilising a quantitative, explanatory research design, the study employed convenience and snowball sampling to recruit 257 women entrepreneurs who received coaching. The relationships among EC, the six dimensions of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE), and business growth outcomes were analysed utilising Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Although seven hypotheses were proposed, only four were supported, whereas three were refuted. The findings show a positive correlation between EC and business growth. The supported hypothesis concerning coping with unexpected challenges, investor relations, and core purpose (value proposition) was accepted. Conversely, hypotheses regarding new product and market development, innovative environments, and the development of critical human resources were not supported. This research extends the existing literature on Entrepreneurial Coaching by demonstrating that the capacity to navigate unforeseen challenges, manage investor relations, and adhere to core purposes is correlated with business growth among women entrepreneurs. Thus, the significance of the study lies in the integration of Entrepreneurial Coaching, Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy, and Business Growth. Full article

Background: Fire emergency management in healthcare facilities represents a complex challenge, particularly in historic buildings subject to architectural preservation constraints, where progressive horizontal evacuation is objectively difficult. This study analyzes the effectiveness of an evacuation sheet employed by Hospital Policlinico San Martino to improve the speed of evacuating non-self-sufficient patients in these buildings. Methods: This study involved evacuation simulations in wards previously selected based on structural characteristics. Healthcare personnel (male and female, aged between 30 and 55 years) conducted both horizontal and vertical patient evacuation drills, comparing the performance of the S-CAPEPOD^® Evacuation Sheet (Standard Model) with the conventional method (hospital bed plus and rescue sheet). This study focused on the night shift to evaluate the most critical scenario in terms of human resources. Results: The use of the evacuation sheet proved more efficient than the conventional method throughout the entire evacuation route, especially during the first 15 min of the emergency (the most critical period). Indeed, with an equal number of available personnel, the evacuation sheet enabled an average improvement of 50% in the number of patients evacuated. Conclusions: The data support the effectiveness of the device, confirming the theoretical premise that the introduction of the evacuation sheet—also due to its ease of use—can be an improvement measure for the evacuation performance of non-self-sufficient patients, despite limitations related to structural variability and the simulated nature of the trials. Full article

Mining activities have led to contamination of natural resources by heavy metals (HMs). Biomagnification studies of HMs within food webs are necessary for understanding the progressive increase in metal burdens across trophic levels and their potential ecotoxicological consequences. This study examined the trophic transfer of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in a tri-trophic model involving maize plants (Zea mays), their herbivore, the grasshopper Sphenarium purpurascens, and their predator, the spider Neoscona oaxacensis, under controlled conditions. Samples from all individuals were collected in Huautla, Morelos, Mexico, where three tailing deposits are present, containing approximately 780,000 tons of waste rich in HMs. We evaluated the body biomass of the grasshopper and the percentage of maize leaf material consumed with and without HMs. HM bioaccumulation in maize, grasshopper, and spider tissues was analyzed, and the enrichment process, along with gender related effects on HM bioaccumulation in females and males of S. purpurascens, was studied. The results revealed enrichment of Pb, Cd, and Cu in maize leaf tissue, except for Zn. Grasshoppers exhibited biomagnification of the same metals, except for Cd. Metal bioaccumulation resulted in a reduced biomass of female and male grasshoppers, accompanied by an increased leaf consumption compared to grasshoppers fed maize leaves without HMs. The HMs’ bioaccumulation levels differed between genders, with males recording significantly higher concentrations of Zn and Pb. The excretion of HMs in feces and their bioaccumulation in exoskeletons are two efficient metal detoxification strategies in grasshoppers. This study revealed biomagnification in the spider N. oaxacensis, confirming metal biomagnification to higher trophic levels and providing critical insight into exposure pathways, risks to wildlife and humans, and how metal pollutants may disrupt ecosystem integrity. Full article

Bibliometric indicators play a key role in assessing research performance at individual, departmental, and institutional levels, influencing both funding allocation, and university rankings. However, despite their widespread use, bibliometrics are often applied indiscriminately and without discrimination, overlooking contextual factors that affect research productivity. This research investigates how gender, academic discipline, institutional location, and academic rank influence bibliometric outcomes within the Greek Higher Education system. A dataset of 2015 faculty profiles from 18 universities and 92 departments was collected and analyzed using data from Google Scholar and Scopus. The findings reveal significant disparities in publication and citation metrics: female researchers, faculty in peripheral institutions, and those in specific disciplines (such as humanities) tend to score lower values across several indicators. These inequalities underscore the risks of applying one-size-fits-all evaluation models in performance-based research funding systems. The paper moves beyond a one-size-fits-all perspective and proposes that bibliometric evaluations should be context-sensitive and grounded in discipline and rank-specific benchmarks. By establishing more refined and realistic expectations for researcher productivity, institutions and policymakers can use bibliometrics as a constructive tool for strategic research planning and fair resource allocation, rather than as a mechanism that reinforces the existing biases. The study also contributes to ongoing international discussions on the responsible use of research metrics in higher education policy. Full article

Health professionals’ safety is directly linked to organizational culture, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, weaknesses at organizational, emotional, professional, and structural levels became evident. This study aimed to assess health professionals’ perceptions of their safety in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted with professionals from the public health network of a Brazilian municipality who had taken medical leave due to COVID-19. Data were collected between October and December 2022 using the validated Questionnaire on Health Professional Safety in the COVID-19 Pandemic (QSP COVID-19), which consists of 30 items distributed across four domains: organizational, emotional, professional, and structural. A cut-off score ≥75 was considered a positive perception. Associations were tested using the chi-square test followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test, and multivariate logistic regression was applied to identify associated factors. Significance level: 5%. A total of 235 professionals participated, mostly women (81.7%), working in primary health care (68.1%), and employed under statutory contracts (74.5%). Only 50.6% reported an overall positive perception of safety. The emotional domain showed the highest score (85.5%), followed by the professional domain (74.0%). Organizational (50.6%) and structural (33.6%) domains had the lowest scores, reflecting shortcomings in infrastructure, human resources, and material supplies. In the multivariate analysis, temporary contracts, a 20 h workweek, and specific training were protective factors, whereas belonging to a risk group and being female increased the likelihood of negative perception in the structural dimension. Health professionals’ safety is supported by continuous education, emotional support, adequate infrastructure, professional recognition, participatory leadership, and strengthening of the safety culture. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted multiple aspects of human life, including the psychological and physical health of college students. This study explores how students in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, a region within the larger Appalachian area, experienced anxiety, depression, and fear of COVID-19. An online survey was conducted at a large public university in the US, yielding responses from 680 undergraduate and graduate students. Linear regression was applied to continuous outcomes, specifically the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and depression scores. For dichotomous outcomes such as anxiety and depression (when categorized), separate logistic regression models were employed. The majority of respondents were female (78.0%), White (81.9%), and undergraduates (80.4%), with approximately 41.4% majoring in health-related disciplines. Results indicated that female students reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, and fear of infection compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, undergraduate students exhibited greater depressive symptoms than graduate students. Students who perceived less institutional support from their university during the pandemic also reported significantly higher psychological distress. These findings underscore the pressing need for universities and policymakers to collaborate in enhancing mental health resources and communication strategies for students during times of crisis. Full article

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for a substantial fraction of anogenital and head and neck cancers (HNC). HPV-related cancers cause a heavy burden globally, with disparities across different cancers. We aimed to present an up-to-date global view of the patterns and incidence trends among HPV-related cancers. Methods: We collected data on HPV-related cancers from the GLOBOCAN 2022 database and the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents plus Compendium. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rate (ASIR and ASMR) were calculated to estimate the cancer burden. Spearman’s correlation tests were used to evaluate the associations with the Human Development Index (HDI). Joinpoint regression was conducted to evaluate the incidence trends in ASIR. Results: In 2022, 1,505,394 HPV-related cancer cases and 755,303 deaths were newly estimated worldwide, corresponding to an overall ASIR and ASMR of 20.9 and 10.2 per 100,000 people, respectively. Africa had the highest ASIR and ASMR compared with Asia, accounting for the most new cases and deaths. The primary cause was cervical cancer (ASIR 14.1 per 100,000 people); however, HNC exhibited the largest number of cases (685,204 cases). The total rates of HPV-related cancers were 1.3 times higher for ASIR and nearly three times higher for ASMR in low-HDI countries than in very high-HDI countries. A decreasing trend was observed for the ASIR of cervical cancer in most studied countries, compared to the increasing trends in HNC in females and anal cancer in both sexes. Conclusions: The global burden and trends of HPV-related cancers vary significantly among different cancer types according to region and sex. Particularly, cervical, HNC, and anal cancers should attract global attention. However, specific cancer types contributing to the heaviest burden should be identified at the country level to adjust resource allocation and improve access to quality health services. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cervical cancer (CC), a highly prevalent female neoplasia, has been prevented through repeated cervicovaginal cytology, the so-called Pap test, across women’s lifespans. The now undebatable role of Human Papillomaviruses in the etiology of CC and the development of high-throughput automated molecular amplification diagnostic platforms is allowing for the replacement of the Pap test with HPV testing. The objective of this review is to contextualize the current strategies for cervical cancer screening using molecular assays. Methods: The many existing screening tools relying on molecular markers and their advantages and drawbacks are discussed. Results: Testing for oncogenic Human Papillomavirus DNA is presently the mainstay strategy for molecular screening, replacing cervicovaginal cytology. Conclusions: The presence of HPV-DNA is the most sensitive marker for cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. However, its adoption has led to an increase in the number of screening-positive subjects, generating extra demand for triage resources. New algorithms and technologies are fast being developed to address this need, moving toward risk-based management. Full article