Search Results (4,679)

This article explores the structural paradox of the byeong-gut (Korean shamanic healing ritual): why it adheres to the rigid and canonical format of the jaesu-gut (shamanic blessing ritual) instead of adopting a specialized clinical procedure. Critiquing the instrumental trap of previous scholarship that reduces shamanic healing to psychological comfort or social liberation, this study proposes a relational displacement model by integrating Roy Rappaport’s theory of ritual invariance with the relational ontologies of Bruno Latour and Tim Ingold. The article demonstrates that shamanic healing operates through a dual mechanism. First, at the non-discursive (material) level, the ritual functions as an ontological technology that objectifies and displaces individual suffering onto external surrogates. Second, at the discursive (linguistic) level, a meticulous analysis of the manse-baji (invocation chant) illustrates how the patient’s fragmented life is re-assembled into a meshwork of human and non-human agencies. Ultimately, this article argues that the byeong-gut transcends mere functional curing; it serves as a sophisticated knowledge system that re-maps the isolated ego onto a relational cosmology, transforming the Geertzian bafflement of suffering into an intelligible event within a shared and sacred cosmic order. Full article

Background/Objectives: West Nile virus (WNV) remains a significant threat to human health, with no approved antiviral treatments or vaccine available. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing flavivirus–host interactions is needed to identify host regulatory pathways involved in infection. This study aimed to investigate how WNV infection remodels the host miRNA–mRNA regulatory landscape. Methods: WNV-induced changes in host miRNA expression in HEK-293 cells were profiled using miRNA-Seq. Transcriptome-wide host gene expression changes in WNV-infected cells were analysed using RNA-Seq. Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using DAVID. Integrated miRNA–mRNA network reconstruction was performed using Cytoscape based on the experimentally validated miRNA–mRNA interactions in miRNet database. Results: WNV infection induced global changes in host miRNA expression, with pathogenic NY99 and non-pathogenic Kunjin strains of the virus producing overlapping and strain-specific alterations in the miRNA landscape. Transcriptome analysis showed strong induction of interferon-related responses and activation of NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways in the infected cells. In contrast, pathways associated with RNA processing, splicing, and proteasomal degradation were downregulated. Integrated miRNA–mRNA network analysis identified miR-197-3p, miR-301b-3p, miR-129-3p, miR-3662, and miR-128-5p as candidate regulatory hubs involved in WNV-induced transcriptome remodelling. These networks suggested that miRNA-mediated regulation may influence antiviral signalling, apoptosis, and RNA metabolism during infection. Conclusions: These findings suggest that WNV infection broadly remodels host miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks and identifies candidate miRNAs that may contribute to the regulation of antiviral and cellular stress responses. These predicted regulatory interactions provide a foundation for future experimental validation. Full article

Introduction: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), such as liraglutide (LIR), are widely used in humans to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In mammals, GLP-1 RAs have been shown to influence hepatic lipid metabolism, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In fish, GLP-1 also plays an important role in regulating hepatic processes, including glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, and lipolysis. However, the effects of GLP-1 RAs on liver lipid metabolism in fish remain largely unexplored. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of LIR on lipid target genes using primary hepatocytes from brown trout as an in vitro model. Methodology: After 24 h, a hepatocyte monolayer culture was established, and cells were exposed for 24 and 48 h to supplemented L-15 medium (control), 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide in supplemented L-15 medium (solvent control), and five single exposures to LIR at 1, 10, 100, 500, and 1000 nM. After 24 and 48 h, cell viability was assessed using the trypan blue exclusion assay. Gene expression was analysed by real-time qPCR, targeting genes involved in lipogenesis, lipid transport, and cholesterol efflux. Results: No concentration-dependent effects on cell viability were observed. Gene expression analysis showed that LIR exposure modulated the mRNA levels of lipid-related genes, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), acyl-CoA long-chain synthetase 1 (Acsl1), and fatty acid synthase (FAS), with time being the main influencing factor. Overall, expression levels were higher at 48 h compared to 24 h. Additionally, dose-dependent effects were observed for ACC expression, with higher LIR concentrations showing significant differences compared to controls. Conclusions: These findings indicate that LIR modulates lipid-related gene expression in primary hepatocytes of brown trout without affecting cell viability. The results suggest that GLP-1 receptor activation may influence key pathways involved in hepatic lipid metabolism, with time-dependent effects playing a predominant role. Overall, this study supports the use of brown trout primary hepatocytes as a suitable in vitro model for investigating hepatic lipid responses to LIR and other GLP-1 receptor agonists, while providing initial insight into their potential effects in fish. Full article

Background/Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the leading cause of cervical cancer and is associated with several anogenital and oropharyngeal malignancies. Although licensed HPV vaccines are highly effective, access remains limited in many low- and middle-income countries due to cost, supply shortages, and implementation barriers. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of Gardisun, a newly developed quadrivalent prophylactic HPV vaccine, compared with Gardasil^®. Methods: This Phase III randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group non-inferiority trial enrolled 450 healthy participants stratified by sex and randomized (1:1) to receive three 0.5 mL intramuscular doses of Gardisun or Gardasil^® on Days 0, 60, and 180. Participants were followed through to Day 210. The primary endpoint was the geometric mean titer (GMT) of antibodies against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 one month after the administration of the third dose. Non-inferiority was defined as the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the GMT ratio exceeding 0.67. Safety was assessed through adverse event monitoring. Results: Of the 450 randomized participants, 422 completed the Month 7 visit and 429 received all three doses. Both vaccines induced antibody responses and seroconversion rates for all HPV types. The primary analysis met the non-inferiority criterion for HPV-6, while prespecified sensitivity analyses supported the existence of non-inferiority across all evaluated HPV types. Most adverse events were mild and transient, with no vaccine-related serious adverse events reported. Conclusions: Gardisun demonstrated robust immunogenicity and a safety profile comparable to that of Gardasil^®, supporting its potential as an accessible alternative quadrivalent HPV vaccine for broader vaccination programs in resource-limited settings. Full article

Human activities and economic development require large amounts of water and energy. The analysis of the nexus between water and energy flows can improve the understanding of the quantitative relationship between the two resources and guide actions and policies to obtain better results with lower risks. This article aimed to analyse and evaluate the use of rainwater in urban environments and its relationship with the water–energy nexus through a literature review. The PRISMA guidelines were used to structure the research, and the RStudio programme was used for the bibliometric analysis. A total of 118 articles published between 2013 and 2023 were identified in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, of which 30 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The risk of bias in the studies included was assessed by two independent reviewers, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. The results were synthesized in a narrative and descriptive way, and organized in a table containing the authors, year, country, and main findings. The studies were grouped according to the theme addressed and the results related to the use of rainwater and the water–energy nexus were compared. The results indicate that the main use of rainwater is for non-drinkable purposes, to reduce the demand for potable water, lessen the pressure on water resources and contribute to environmental sustainability. Climate change can affect rainfall regimes and, consequently, the feasibility of systems. By decentralizing water supply services, the use of rainwater can save drinking water. When assessing energy savings, the use of rainwater is not always the best option, as system configurations and pump specifications are determining factors. Regarding the environmental impacts, all stages of the urban water cycle consume energy for their operation, and the environmental impact is directly related to the energy source used. Policies and regulations focused on rational use, water conservation, demand reduction, and tax incentives for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, together with awareness campaigns, are necessary for the widespread adoption of rainwater harvesting systems. Finally, there is consensus regarding saving drinking water, but there is still a lack of studies and specifications regarding energy savings. The findings highlight the need for future longitudinal and simulation-based studies to strengthen knowledge of water–energy nexus dynamics in buildings. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in farmland soils pose potential ecological and human health risks, yet their contamination characteristics and source-related risks in farmland soils across different river basins in China remain insufficiently understood. This present study analyzed 84 farmland soil samples from northeast (primarily the middle and lower reaches of the Songhua River and Liao River basin), central (primarily the middle reaches of the Yellow River basin and Dongting Lake system), northwest (primarily the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River and Yarlung Zangbo River basin), and southern (primarily the upper reaches of the Pearl River and Yangtze River basin) China in order to assess the contamination characteristics, sources, ecological risks, and human health risks associated with 16 US EPA priority PAHs in the samples. The findings suggest that the 16 aggregate PAHs’ concentrations in Chinese farmland soils varied from 63.9 to 9637.7 μg/kg, with an average of 1919.3 μg/kg. A gradual decline was observed from north to south, with dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DahA) accounting for the highest proportion at 14.3%. Correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and positive matrix factorization jointly indicated that fossil fuel combustion, high-temperature combustion, and traffic-related emissions were the main PAH inputs to farmland soils. The results of the ecological risk assessment indicated that the northeastern region exhibited the highest PAH ecological risk, with 41.2% of sample plots demonstrating severe PAH contamination. Conversely, the southern region exhibited the lowest PAH ecological risk, with 73.9% of the sample plots demonstrating no ecological risk. The human health risk assessment found that non-carcinogenic risks for both children and adults were within safe limits, while carcinogenic risks for both groups were relatively high. DahA was identified as the primary carcinogen, accounting for 45.9% and 70.3% of the total carcinogenic risk for children and adults, respectively. Oral ingestion was the primary route of exposure. This study provides an integrated basin-scale assessment of PAH contamination and source-related risks in Chinese farmland soils, supporting targeted management of PAH inputs in agricultural environments. Full article

The concept of technological singularity is discussed here in the context of architecture (of buildings, not software). This is the point at which non-human intelligence is conjectured to surpass ordinary human cognitive limits. Empirically constrained AI may already offer a useful corrective to mainstream architectural culture in one crucial aspect—its capacity to evaluate design that adapts to human emotional health. Postwar building architecture as an institutional power system rewards abstraction and stylistic conformity through media prestige while not always accounting for embodied human experience. By narrowing judgment criteria, architectural studio pedagogy trains tacitly for imitation, not seeking evidence that conflicts with dominant formal ideologies. Yet findings from environmental psychology, health-related design research, neuroscience, and recent AI-based studies show that built form measurably affects empathic response and user well-being. This paper examines what effects dominant architectural culture could impose on the public by producing informationally impoverished, stressful environments. We argue that built environment design may suffer from an epistemic closure because (i) architectural education does not foster curiosity in how design affects users—the core mechanism for intelligence development—and (ii) architectural media may legitimate non-adaptive form languages by habituating populations to ignore distress signals from geometries associated with elevated stress markers. However, empirically constrained AI can now be directed to apply that relevant knowledge base to improve the built environment. The most suggestive evidence in the paper is that LLM emotional scores, LLM geometric scores, human eye-tracking, and large public surveys converge on the same designs. In this sense, the AI singularity can be framed as a domain-specific, testable hypothesis in architecture. This paper does not report new generated results derived from Empirically Constrained Scaffolding (ECS), which appear in prior applications, but reproduces the original prompts as an illustration of the method. Full article

This study aims to examine whether and how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance is related to corporate tax avoidance in a non-linear and threshold-dependent manner using explainable machine learning. Based on 6461 firm-year observations of publicly listed European firms over the 2018–2023 period, this study employs a multi-algorithmic machine-learning classification framework. Model interpretability is achieved through SHAP, which identifies feature importance, marginal effects, interaction patterns, and ESG-related threshold dynamics. The results demonstrate that the ESG–tax relationship is highly non-linear. While the Country and Industry factors establish baseline tax risks, ESG sub-dimensions act as critical firm-level determinants. Specifically, high Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Human Rights scores effectively constrain tax avoidance. In contrast, exceptionally high Management scores correlate with increased tax-avoidance risk. These findings support the legitimacy buffer argument and show that strong governance may also reflect managerial sophistication and capacity for less visible tax planning. The study contributes by revealing non-linear ESG threshold effects and by demonstrating how XAI/SHAP can distinguish between symbolic and substantive sustainability practices in corporate tax behavior. Full article

The impact of air pollution on human health has been widely studied in recent decades. Recent findings show that even low levels of air pollution can be harmful to our health, causing disease and early death. However, these studies are very limited in the central region of Türkiye. Therefore, this study focused on the association between the daily variations in air pollutants (PM₁₀, PM_2.5, SO₂, and NO₂) and hospital admissions due to respiratory, cardiovascular, and total (non-accidental) causes in the Sivas province. Daily average concentrations of air pollutants were obtained from two air quality (AQ) monitoring stations, and daily meteorological (air temperature and relative humidity) data were obtained from one meteorological station in Sivas province to determine the effects of air pollution on hospital admissions. It was found to be a significant relationship between air pollution and respiratory hospital admissions in the province. The results of the study showed the relative magnitudes of the risks of cardiovascular diseases and hospital admissions related to air pollutants were as follows: The highest association of each pollutant with cardiovascular diseases was observed for PM₁₀ at lag 4 (ER = 1.74%; 95% CI = 0.95–3.19%), PM_2.5 at lag 2 (ER = 5.12%; 95% CI = 1.39–19.0%), NO₂ at lag 8 (ER = 4.89%; 95% CI = 0.08–288.8%) and SO₂ at lag 5 (ER = 1.21%; 95% CI = 1.10–1.32%). It was seen that short-term exposure to air pollution in Sivas between 2016 and 2019 was positively associated with increasing respiratory hospital admissions. As the first air pollution study to use the generalized linear model (GLM) method in hospital admissions in Sivas, these findings may have implications for local environmental policies and help to combat air pollution. Full article

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has become a leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers, alongside well-known risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use. Currently, HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+ OPSCC) has increased significantly in developed countries, with HPV-16 being the most common high-risk subtype. Clinically, HPV+ OPSCC shows clear differences in prognosis compared to HPV-negative tumors, particularly regarding survival rates and treatment responses. Patients with HPV+ OPSCC tend to have notably better survival outcomes and a more favorable outlook. Strong evidence indicates that HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers represent a distinct epidemiological, clinical, and molecular group, setting them apart from non-HPV-related cancers. As a result, treatment strategies for these subtypes should follow specific clinical protocols to optimize outcomes. Additionally, the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, which systematically disrupt host tumor-suppressor networks, provide strong reasons for targeted phytotherapeutic interventions. Therefore, there is increasing interest in exploring plant bioactive compounds with promising anti-HPV and anticancer effects that target key oncogenic pathways. This review aims to compile the latest data on bioactive phytochemicals with mechanistic evidence in HPV+ OPSCC, highlight their molecular interactions across oncogenic signaling pathways, and discuss evidence-based findings focusing on research published from 2000 to 2025. Full article

Euclidean plane geometry problem solving is a challenging benchmark for artificial intelligence because it requires complex diagram understanding, symbolic deduction, and multi-step reasoning. Constructing effective datasets for this task requires geometric instances that are realizable, non-degenerate, structurally diverse, and paired with human-like proofs. However, existing random or template-based generation pipelines often produce redundant, singular, or infeasible candidates, causing substantial computation to be spent before useful reasoning trajectories can be extracted. To address these limitations, we present FGeo-GCG, a hybrid geometric data synthesis framework built on the FormalGeo-V2 deductive engine. It formulates Geometric Configuration Generation as an incremental linear construction process that decomposes global constraint satisfaction into local construction steps, thereby pruning invalid branches during the generation process. To improve reliability and efficiency, FGeo-GCG combines two validation stages: a safe stochastic Jacobian-rank filter estimates whether local candidate constraints contribute independent algebraic restrictions, and progressive geometric validation checks whether the resulting partial construction remains realizable and non-degenerate. By encoding incidence-, metric-, and symmetry-related dependencies within unified constraint graphs, the framework also connects geometric data synthesis with structural symmetry analysis. Validated constraint graphs are then converted into problem instances through forward deduction, goal decomposition, and multi-dimensional complexity filtering, producing proof targets without manual annotation. Experiments show that the full validation pipeline reduces the failure rate for highly constrained instances. The resulting FGeo-GCG dataset contains more than 50,000 formally validated plane geometric configurations and provides engine-derived reasoning traces and targets for future training and evaluation of neuro-symbolic geometry problem-solving systems. Full article

Background: Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) comprise a heterogeneous spectrum of developmental disorders and represent the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in the pediatric population. Although imaging remains the cornerstone of diagnosis, its limited ability to accurately assess disease severity and predict long-term outcomes has driven growing interest in urinary, serum, and tissue biomarkers as potential indicators of early renal injury. Objectives: To systematically summarize the current evidence on diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in pediatric CAKUT, with particular focus on their potential clinical utility in early detection of renal injury and disease monitoring. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched up to March 2026 using combinations of CAKUT-related terms and “biomarkers.” Studies involving human subjects with CAKUT that evaluated the diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic utility of biomarkers were included. Results: Out of 1130 records identified, 101 studies met the inclusion criteria. Urine was the most commonly analyzed biological sample. The principal biomarkers identified included NGAL, KIM-1, MCP-1, TGF-β1, CA19-9, β2-microglobulin, cystatin C, and microRNAs. Across various CAKUT subtypes—including posterior urethral valves, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux, and multicystic dysplastic kidney—these biomarkers showed significant associations with renal function, inflammatory activity, and fibrotic processes. Several biomarkers, particularly urinary NGAL, MCP-1, and CA19-9, demonstrated good diagnostic performance in differentiating obstructive from non-obstructive hydronephrosis and in predicting renal impairment. However, substantial heterogeneity in study design, along with the lack of standardized cutoff values, limits their translation into routine clinical practice. Conclusions: Current evidence underscores the potential of several biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of CAKUT-related renal injury. Nevertheless, well-designed multicenter prospective studies are needed to validate their clinical utility and to support the integration of biomarker-based approaches with imaging in pediatric practice. Full article

Basonuclin 2 (BNC2) is a highly conserved cysteine–histidine (C2H2)-type zinc-finger nuclear regulatory protein characterized by three pairs of zinc-finger domains, a putative nuclear localization signal, a serine-rich region, broad tissue distribution, and remarkable transcript diversity generated through alternative promoter usage, alternative splicing, and polyadenylation. Increasing evidence from human genetics, animal models, functional genomics, and transcriptomic studies indicates that BNC2 links nuclear regulatory mechanisms to tissue-specific developmental and disease phenotypes. In the nervous system, BNC2-positive neuronal populations and BNC2-derived circular RNAs have been implicated in energy-balance circuits and neuroinflammatory regulation. In the skeletal system, BNC2 contributes to osteochondral development, periosteal stem-cell activation, chromatin remodeling, fracture repair, and genetic susceptibility to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. BNC2 variants have also been associated with congenital lower urinary tract obstruction, whereas its expression and regulatory landscape are closely related to germ-cell development, epithelial ovarian cancer susceptibility, pigmentation traits, fibrosis, and several tumor contexts. Mechanistically, BNC2-associated phenotypes appear to involve cysteine–histidine zinc-finger-mediated transcriptional regulation, non-coding enhancer activity, epigenetic alterations, RNA-processing-associated nuclear functions, and chromatin-remodeling-dependent control of cell proliferation, differentiation, and stromal activation. This review integrates current evidence on the molecular architecture and regulatory functions of BNC2, critically discusses its context-dependent roles across development and disease, and highlights unresolved questions regarding isoform-specific activity, cell-type-specific regulation, downstream target networks, and clinical translation. A clearer understanding of these mechanisms may support the future evaluation of BNC2 as a biomarker, genetic susceptibility locus, molecular stratification factor, and potential therapeutic regulatory node. Full article

Artificial intelligence is reshaping warehouse work through algorithmic task allocation, scanner-based monitoring, KPI feedback, dynamic scheduling, and real-time performance control. Although these systems can improve coordination and operational visibility, they also create governance risks related to fairness, transparency, autonomy, privacy, workload pressure, trust, and employee resistance. This study develops a human-centered decision framework for prioritizing algorithmic management governance packages in third-party logistics (3PL) warehousing. The main contribution is to translate employee-level governance concerns into a scenario-sensitive decision model that helps managers select appropriate governance packages under different operational pressures. The study uses survey data from 380 warehouse employees to examine key psychological and behavioral mechanisms, including procedural fairness, transparency, system/information quality, autonomy, privacy concern, workload, trust, acceptance, and resistance/disengagement. These survey-supported constructs are then converted into six governance criteria: procedural fairness, transparency and contestability clarity, system and information quality, autonomy support, privacy boundary governance, and workload protection. A seven-expert panel evaluates five governance packages under three scenarios: peak season surge, labor shortage/high turnover, and audit pressure/compliance scrutiny. Methodologically, the framework combines Dynamic Multi-Facet Fuzzy Sets to capture membership, non-membership, hesitancy, engagement, and resistance; Bayesian Network weighting to reflect dependencies among governance criteria; and PCA-based ranking optimization to generate scenario-specific and robust rankings. Comparative validation with SAW and TOPSIS is also used to assess ranking consistency. The findings show that effective algorithmic management governance is not a fixed compliance solution. Transparency, workload protection, autonomy support, privacy boundary governance, and procedural fairness become more or less important depending on the operational scenario. A2, which combines transparency, workload protection, and autonomy support, emerges as the strongest robust package. A1 performs best under labor shortage/high turnover, while A3 performs best under audit pressure/compliance scrutiny. These results suggest that 3PL warehouses should adopt adaptive governance routines that combine explainability, contestability, workload safeguards, privacy boundaries, and employee voice mechanisms. The study contributes to the literature on AI in socio-technical systems by showing how human, organizational, and ethical concerns can be embedded into an interpretable decision framework for responsible algorithmic management in logistics work environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is associated with epithelial remodeling, impaired mucociliary clearance, and altered nitric oxide (NO) metabolism. However, cell type-specific mechanisms underlying epithelial NO signaling remain poorly understood. This study investigated NO-related signaling in differentiated human sinonasal epithelial cells. Methods: Human sinonasal tissues were obtained from patients with CRSwNP (n = 20) and control subjects (n = 20). Air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures were established from donor-derived epithelial cells. Ciliated and non-ciliated cells were identified by immunostaining for acetylated α-tubulin and BCAM. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Intracellular NO-related fluorescence signals were evaluated using DAF-FM fluorescence imaging. Results: CRSwNP tissues exhibited significantly increased iNOS expression and elevated iNOS/eNOS ratios, whereas eNOS expression did not differ significantly from that in controls. ALI cultures reproduced differentiated sinonasal epithelium containing both ciliated and non-ciliated cell populations. DAF-FM fluorescence signals were significantly higher in ciliated cells than in non-ciliated cells (80.3 ± 25.3 vs. 49.3 ± 21.1). Non-selective NOS inhibition markedly reduced fluorescence signals in both cell types, whereas selective iNOS inhibition reduced but did not abolish signals in ciliated cells. Conclusions: NO-related signaling appears to differ among epithelial cell subtypes. Persistence of fluorescence signals after selective iNOS inhibition suggests a contribution of constitutive NOS activity in ciliated cells, whereas non-ciliated cells appear to rely more heavily on iNOS-dependent pathways. These findings support the hypothesis that altered epithelial NO signaling contributes to epithelial dysfunction and impaired mucociliary homeostasis in CRSwNP. Full article