Search Results (931)

The green renovation of existing residential buildings is a key way for the construction industry to achieve sustainable development and the dual carbon goals of China, which makes it urgent to make collaborative decisions among multiple stakeholders. However, because of divergent interests and risk perceptions among governments, energy service companies (ESCOs), and owners, the implementation of green renovation is hindered by numerous obstacles. In this study, we integrated prospect theory and evolutionary game theory by incorporating core prospect-theory parameters such as loss aversion and perceived value sensitivity, and developed a psychologically informed tripartite evolutionary game model. The objective was to provide a theoretical foundation and analytical framework for collaborative governance among stakeholders. Numerical simulations were conducted to validate the model’s effectiveness and explore how government regulation intensity, subsidy policies, market competition, and individual psychological factors influence the system’s evolutionary dynamics. The findings indicate that (1) government regulation and subsidy policies play central guiding roles in the early stages of green renovation, but the effectiveness has clear limitations; (2) ESCOs are most sensitive to policy incentives and market competition, and moderately increasing their risk costs can effectively deter opportunistic behavior associated with low-quality renovation; (3) owners’ willingness to participate is primarily influenced by expected returns and perceived renovation risks, while economic incentives alone have limited impact; and (4) the evolutionary outcomes are highly sensitive to parameters from prospect theory, The system’s evolutionary outcomes are highly sensitive to prospect theory parameters. High levels of loss aversion (λ) and loss sensitivity (β) tend to drive the system into a suboptimal equilibrium characterized by insufficient demand, while high gain sensitivity (α) serves as a key driving force for the system’s evolution toward the ideal equilibrium. This study offers theoretical support for optimizing green renovation policies for existing residential buildings in China and provides practical recommendations for improving market competition mechanisms, thereby promoting the healthy development of the green renovation market. Full article

Background: Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a rare and heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumors with limited response to current therapies, particularly in advanced stages. STS tumors were traditionally considered “cold” tumors, characterized by limited immune infiltration and low immunogenicity. However, emerging evidence is challenging this perception, highlighting a potentially critical role for the immune system in STS biology. Objective: Building on our previous findings suggesting impaired natural killer (NK) cell activity in STS patients, we aimed to perform an in-depth characterization of peripheral NK cells in STS. Methods: Peripheral blood samples from STS patients and sex- and age-matched healthy donors were analyzed to assess NK cell degranulation, IFNγ production, and receptor repertoire. Results: Functional assays revealed a notable reduction in both degranulation and IFNγ production in NK cells from STS patients. STS patients also exhibited dysregulated expression of activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified CD27 and NKp44 as critical markers for distinguishing STS patients from healthy donors. Increased CD27 expression represents a shift towards a more regulatory NK cell phenotype, and we found that CD27 expression was negatively correlated with NK cell degranulation and IFNγ production. ROC curve analysis demonstrated strong potential to distinguish between the groups for both CD27 (AUC = 0.85) and NKp44 (AUC = 0.94). Conclusion: In conclusion, STS patients exhibited impaired NK cell function, altered receptor repertoire, and a shift towards a less cytotoxic and more regulatory phenotype. Full article

Dietary protein is an essential macronutrient derived from both plant and animal sources required for muscle building, immune function, and wound healing. However, in the United States, protein consumption worsens as individuals age, with 30% of men and 50% of women over 71 consuming inadequate dietary protein due to a variety of factors, including changes in gut function, loss of appetite, tooth loss, financial concerns, and social isolation. The aim of this review is to underscore the need for increased protein requirements in aging populations, highlight potential barriers, synthesize these protein requirements, and also recommend strategies to meet these increased protein needs. Achieving adequate protein status, especially when facing chronic or acute health concerns, is essential to promote muscle and bone strength (because aging is associated with significant decreases in postprandial muscle protein synthesis), to support immune health (due to immunosenescence), and to maintain a good quality of life. For older adults, the literature suggests that a dietary protein intake of at least 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day is required in healthy, aging populations, and intakes of 1.2–1.5 g/kg/day are necessary for those with chronic or acute conditions. These protein intake recommendations can increase to 2.0 g/kg/day in more severe cases of illness, malnutrition, and chronic conditions. The reviewed literature also suggests that evenly balanced protein distributions of 25–30 g of dietary protein (0.4 g/kg) per meal from animal and plant protein sources alike are sufficient to maximize muscle protein synthesis (MPS) rates in older populations. Additionally, pre-sleep protein feeds of 40 g/night may be another strategy to improve daily MPS and amino acid utilization. Full article

Sustainable farmland management is vital for global food security and for mitigating environmental degradation and climate change. While individual practices such as crop rotation and no-tillage are well-documented, this review synthesizes current evidence to illuminate the critical synergistic effects of integrating four key strategies: crop rotation, conservation tillage, organic amendments, and soil microbiome management. Crop rotation enhances nutrient cycling and disrupts pest cycles, while conservation tillage preserves soil structure, reduces erosion, and promotes carbon sequestration. Organic amendments replenish soil organic matter and stimulate biological activity, and a healthy soil microbiome boosts plant resilience to stress and enhances nutrient acquisition through key functional groups like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs). Critically, the integration of these practices yields amplified benefits that far exceed their individual contributions. Integrated management systems not only significantly increase crop yields (by up to 15–30%) and soil organic carbon but also deliver profound global ecosystem services, with a potential to sequester 2.17 billion tons of CO₂ and reduce soil erosion by 2.41 billion tons annually. Despite challenges such as initial yield variability, leveraging these synergies through precision agriculture represents the future direction for the field. This review concludes that a holistic, systems-level approach is essential for building regenerative and climate-resilient agroecosystems. Full article

Creating a comfortable microclimate in the premises of buildings is currently becoming one of the priorities in the field of architecture, construction and engineering systems. The increased attention from the scientific community to this topic is due not only to the desire to ensure healthy and favorable conditions for human life but also to the need for the rational use of energy resources. This area is becoming particularly relevant in the context of global challenges related to climate change, rising energy costs and increased environmental requirements. Practice shows that any technical solutions to ensure comfortable temperature, humidity and air exchange in rooms should be closely linked to the concept of energy efficiency. This allows one not only to reduce operating costs but also to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to sustainable development and environmental safety. In this connection, this study presents a parametric assessment of the influence of climatic and geometric factors on the aerodynamic characteristics of the air cavity, which affect the heat exchange process in the ventilated layer of curtain wall systems. The assessment was carried out using a combined analytical calculation method that provides averaged thermophysical parameters, such as mean air velocity ($V_s$), average internal surface temperature ($t_{in.s}^{av}$), and convective heat transfer coefficient (${\alpha }_s$) within the air cavity. This study resulted in empirical average values, demonstrating that the air velocity within the cavity significantly depends on atmospheric pressure and façade height difference. For instance, a 10-fold increase in façade height leads to a 4.4-fold increase in air velocity. Furthermore, a three-fold variation in local resistance coefficients results in up to a two-fold change in airflow velocity. The cavity thickness, depending on atmospheric pressure, was also found to affect airflow velocity by up to 25%. Similar patterns were observed under ambient temperatures of +20 °C, +30 °C, and +40 °C. The analysis confirmed that airflow velocity is directly affected by cavity height, while the impact of solar radiation is negligible. However, based on the outcomes of the analytical model, it was concluded that the method does not adequately account for the effects of solar radiation and vertical temperature gradients on airflow within ventilated façades. This highlights the need for further full-scale experimental investigations under hot climate conditions in South Kazakhstan. The findings are expected to be applicable internationally to regions with comparable climatic characteristics. Ultimately, a correct understanding of thermophysical processes in such structures will support the advancement of trends such as Lightweight Design, Functionally Graded Design, and Value Engineering in the development of curtain wall systems, through the optimized selection of façade configurations, accounting for temperature loads under specific climatic and design conditions. Full article

The growing number of daylighting metrics—often overlapping in scope or terminology—combined with the need for prior familiarization to interpret and apply them effectively, has created a barrier to their adoption beyond academic settings. Consequently, this study analyzes a representative set of established and emerging daylighting metrics to evaluate applicability, synergies, and limitations. Particular attention is given to their implications for occupant health, well-being, performance, and energy use, especially within the context of sensorless smart control systems. A virtual room model was simulated using DaySim 3.1 in two contrasting climates—Seville and London—with varying window-to-wall ratios, orientations, and occupancy schedules. The results show that no single metric provides a comprehensive daylighting assessment, highlighting the need for combined approaches. Daylighting Autonomy (DA) proved useful for task illumination, while Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) helped identify areas prone to excessive solar exposure. Spatial metrics such as Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE) offer an overview but lack necessary granularity. Circadian Stimulus Autonomy (CSA) appears promising for evaluating circadian entrainment, though its underlying models remain under refinement. Continuous Overcast Daylight Autonomy (DAo.con) shows the potential for sensorless lighting control when adjusted for orientation. A nuanced, multi-metric approach is therefore recommended. Full article

The metabolic hyperactivity of tumor cells demands a substantial amount of energy and molecules to build new cells and expand the tumor, diverting these resources from healthy cells. Amino acids (AAs) are the only totipotent and essential molecules for protein construction. Previous in vitro studies in human and murine cancer cells, along with in vivo studies in mice, have shown that an excess of essential amino acids (EAAs) exerts an inhibitory effect on tumor proliferation by promoting apoptosis and autophagy. In this study, both in vitro and in vivo, we evaluated whether a mixture based on EAA can influence the development of human colon cancer (HCT116). To this end, in vitro, we assessed the proliferation of HCT116 cells treated with a special mix of EAA. In vivo, immunosuppressed athymic nude mice, injected with HCT116 cells subcutaneously (s.c.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.), were given a modified EAAs-rich diet (EAARD) compared to the standard laboratory diet (StD). In vitro data showed that the EAA mix impairs cancer growth by inducing apoptosis and autophagy. In vivo, the results demonstrated that EAARD-fed mice developed s.c. tumors significantly smaller than those of StD-fed mice (total mass 3.24 vs. 6.09 g, respectively). Mice injected i.p. and fed with EAARD showed a smaller and more limited number of intra-peritoneal tumors than StD-fed mice (total mass 0.79 vs. 4.77 g, respectively). EAAs prevents the growth of HCT116 cells by inducing autophagy and apoptosis, increasing endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inhibiting inflammation and neo-vascularization. In addition, the EAARD-fed mice, maintained muscle mass and white and brown adipose tissues. A diet with an excess of EAAs affects the survival and proliferative capacity of human colon cancer cells, maintaining anabolic stimuli in muscular cells. Full article

This study aimed to develop a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) to visualise how urban environment factors impact dementia and cognitive decline, and potential causal mechanisms. In Group Model Building workshops with 12 researchers, a CLD was created to identify factors contributing to cognitive decline, and the dynamic interrelationships between these factors. The factors were classified in nine main themes: urban design, social environment, travel behaviours, urban design by-products, lifestyle, mental health conditions, disease/physiology, brain physiology, and cognitive decline outcomes. Five selected feedback loops illustrated some dynamics in the system. The workshops helped develop a shared language and understanding of different perspectives from an interdisciplinary team. The CLD creation was part of a comprehensive modelling approach based on experts’ knowledge which informed other research outputs such as an evidence gap map and an umbrella review, helped the identification of environmental variables for future studies and analyses, and helped to identify future possible systems-based interventions to prevent cognitive decline. The study highlights the utility of CLDs and Group Model Building workshops in interdisciplinary research projects investigating complex systems. Full article

Indoor radon constitutes a public health issue in various regions across the United States as the second leading cause of lung cancer following tobacco smoke. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises radon mitigation interventions for residential buildings with indoor radon concentrations exceeding the threshold level of 4 pCi/L. Despite considerable research assessing the technical effectiveness of radon mitigation systems, there remains a gap in understanding their broader influence on occupant behavior and preferences in residential design. This study aims to investigate the impact of residing in radon-mitigated homes within the Commonwealth of Kentucky—an area known for elevated radon concentrations—on occupants’ preferences regarding healthy home design attributes. The objectives of this research are twofold: firstly to determine if living in radon-mitigated homes enhances occupant awareness and consequently influences their preferences toward health-related home attributes and secondly to quantitatively evaluate and compare the relative significance homeowners assign to health-related attributes such as indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and water quality relative to conventional attributes including home size, architectural style, and neighborhood quality. The overarching purpose is to explore the potential role radon mitigation initiatives may play in motivating occupants towards healthier home construction and renovation practices. Using choice-based conjoint (CBC) analysis, this paper compares preferences reported by homeowners from radon-mitigated homes against those from non-mitigated homes. While the findings suggest a relationship between radon mitigation and increased preference for indoor air quality, the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation, and the possibility of reverse causation—where health-conscious individuals are more likely to seek mitigation—must be considered. The results provide novel insights into how radon mitigation efforts might effectively influence occupant priorities towards integrating healthier design elements in residential environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fatty acids, the building blocks of lipids, contribute to numerous crucial life processes and are implicated in numerous disease pathologies. Circulating fatty acids can be extracted/trans-esterified to their respective methyl ester forms and quantified from a variety of biological samples. This study aims to identify quantifiable fatty acids (through alkali trans-esterification) in human circulation, assess the correlation of the detectable fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) compounds between whole blood, serum and plasma matrices and propose the most ideal matrix for quantification of FAMEs. Methods: This anonymised study was carried out in a tertiary hospital after obtaining ethical approval and involved analysis of residual fasting whole blood, serum and plasma samples obtained from 20 apparently healthy subjects attending the routine health check services at the study centre. Fatty acids were converted to its methyl ester form by methanolic KOH trans-esterification and subjected to GCMS analysis. Paired t test, Pearsons’s correlation, linear regression and Bland Altman test were employed to assess the agreeability between matrices. Results: 9 out of 37 FAME compounds were detected in all three matrices. Strong correlations and statistically significant regression equations were obtained for the 9 compounds between plasma and serum matrices. Undecanoate, pentadecanoate, linolenate, and palmitate levels were lowest in plasma, while stearate, heptadecanoate levels were highest in whole blood. Myristate was highest in serum, dodecanoate was highest in plasma while docosahexanoate was found to be comparable in all three matrices. Methyl ester forms of dodeconate, myristate, pentadecanoate, palmitate, heptadecanoate, stearate, and linolenate were observed in higher concentrations in plasma when compared to serum. Conclusions: The current study shows similar & correlating FAME concentrations between serum and plasma matrix; however, whole blood FAME concentrations appear significantly different. Plasma serves as the most ideal matrix for detection and quantification of circulating fatty acids. Full article

Background: Many patients harbor minimal residual disease (MRD)—small clusters of residual tumor cells that survive therapy and evade conventional detection but drive recurrence. Although advances in molecular and computational methods have improved circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based MRD detection, these approaches face challenges: ctDNA shedding fluctuates widely across tumor types, disease stages, and histological features. Additionally, low levels of driver mutations originating from healthy tissues can create background noise, complicating the accurate identification of bona fide tumor-specific signals. These limitations underscore the need for refined technologies to further enhance MRD detection beyond DNA sequences in solid malignancies. Methods: Profiling circulating cell-free mRNA (cfmRNA), which is hyperactive in tumor and non-tumor microenvironments, could address these limitations to inform postoperative surveillance and treatment strategies. This study reported the development of OncoMRD BREAST, a customized, gene signature-informed cfmRNA assay for residual disease monitoring in breast cancer. OncoMRD BREAST introduces several advanced technologies that distinguish it from the existing ctDNA-MRD tests. It builds on the patient-derived gene signature for capturing tumor activities while introducing significant upgrades to its liquid biopsy transcriptomic profiling, digital scoring systems, and tracking capabilities. Results: The OncoMRD BREAST test processes inputs from multiple cutting-edge biomarkers—tumor and non-tumor microenvironment—to provide enhanced awareness of tumor activities in real time. By fusing data from these diverse intra- and inter-cellular networks, OncoMRD BREAST significantly improves the sensitivity and reliability of MRD detection and prognosis analysis, even under challenging and complex conditions. In a proof-of-concept real-world pilot trial, OncoMRD BREAST’s rapid quantification of potential tumor activity helped reduce the risk of incorrect treatment strategies, while advanced predictive analytics contributed to the overall benefits and improved outcomes of patients. Conclusions: By tailoring the assay to individual tumor profiles, we aimed to enhance early identification of residual disease and optimize therapeutic decision-making. OncoMRD BREAST is the world’s first and only gene signature-powered test for monitoring residual disease in solid tumors. Full article

As the aging population grows, ensuring effective and sustainable health management for elderly individuals has become a critical challenge. This study explores the integration of smart healthcare technologies and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles to enhance elderly health management through data-driven strategies. Using the MIMIC-III database, this study evaluates five machine learning models (Adaboost, Bagging, Catboost, GaussianNB, and SVC) through ten-fold cross-validation to predict 3-day and 30-day mortality rates among elderly ICU patients. The Bagging model achieved the best performance with an AUROC of 0.80, demonstrating the potential of smart healthcare in mortality prediction. These technologies enhance predictive accuracy, enabling the timely identification of high-risk patients and effective intervention. Through the application of smart data integration methods, this study demonstrates how combining clinical indicators with socioeconomic factors can improve healthcare equity and efficiency. Furthermore, by aligning smart healthcare development with ESG concepts, we emphasize the importance of sustainability, social responsibility, and governance transparency in future healthcare systems. The findings offer valuable contributions toward building an interoperable and ethical health ecosystem, supporting early risk identification, improved care outcomes, and the promotion of healthy living for the elderly population. Full article

The growing demand for more sustainable food systems has driven the development of solutions based on food microbiology, capable of integrating safety, functionality, and environmental responsibility. This paper presents a critical and up-to-date review of the most relevant advances at the interface between microbiology, sustainability, and food innovation. The analysis is structured around three main axes: (i) microbial fermentation, with a focus on traditional practices and precision technologies aimed at valorizing agro-industrial waste and producing functional foods; (ii) microbial biocontrol, including the use of bacteriocins, protective cultures, bacteriophages, and CRISPR-Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats–CRISPR-associated)-based tools as alternatives to synthetic preservatives; and (iii) the development of functional foods containing probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics, with the potential to modulate the gut microbiota and promote metabolic, immune, and cognitive health. In addition to reviewing the microbiological and technological mechanisms involved, the paper discusses international regulatory milestones, scalability challenges, and market trends related to consumer acceptance and clean labeling. Finally, emerging trends and research gaps are addressed, including the use of omics technologies, artificial intelligence, and unexplored microbial resources. Food microbiology, by incorporating sustainable practices and advanced technologies, is positioned as a strategic pillar for building a healthy, circular, science-based food model. Full article

Background/Objectives: Walking coordination is crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life, but it is significantly affected by aging and cognitive decline. This study investigates how age and cognitive status relate to lower limb coordination during gait, using a network-based analysis of joint kinematics. Methods: Fifty-six healthy participants (31–82 years old) underwent gait analysis with a stereophotogrammetric system and cognitive assessment through standardized neuropsychological tests. Kinematic data were processed to build “kinectomes”, representing the inter-joint coordination across the gait cycle. Results: The results showed that the mean lower limb coordination on the sagittal plane negatively correlated with age and positively with cognitive performance. Detailed analysis revealed that age-related declines in coordination were primarily driven by reduced synchronization at the knees, while cognitive status was associated with overall coordination rather than joint-specific changes. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the knees’ critical role in preserving gait coordination with aging and underline the involvement of cognitive aspects in global coordination mechanisms. In summary, our network-based approach provides a refined perspective on gait dynamics, highlighting the relationship between coordination and both age and cognition. Full article

Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, claiming millions of lives each year. Despite the availability of numerous anticancer drugs, the need for new treatment options remains essential. Many current therapies come with significant toxicity, lead to various side effects, or do not consistently deliver the expected therapeutic results. Purines and pyrimidines are fundamental building blocks of nucleic acids and play crucial roles in cellular metabolism and signaling. Recent advances in medicinal chemistry have led to the development and synthesis of various derivatives that exhibit selective cytotoxic effects against cancer cells while minimizing toxicity to healthy tissues. Purine and pyrimidine scaffolds, due to their well-established biological roles and structural versatility, have emerged as key pharmacophoric fragments in anticancer drug discovery. In recent years, the rational design of hybrid molecules incorporating these heterocycles has shown promise in overcoming drug resistance, improving target selectivity, and enhancing pharmacological profiles. Purine and pyrimidines scaffolds hold significant potential as foundations for novel antitumor drugs, with established representatives in cancer treatment, including 5-fluorouracil, cladribine, capecitabine, and several others. In addition, the article discusses the challenges and future developments of purine and pyrimidine derivatives and hybrid molecules as antitumor drugs and emphasizes the need for continued research to optimize their effectiveness and reduce side effects. Overall, the innovative use of these compounds represents a major advance in targeted cancer therapy and holds promise for improving the therapeutic efficacy of malignant diseases. Full article