Search Results (109,614)

Identifying landslide boundaries and morphological features using traditional methods is labor-intensive, costly, and often limited—especially in areas altered by human activity or covered with dense vegetation. In such cases, modern remote sensing methods are considered a good alternative; however, their accuracy and reliability also depend on several factors. This study aims to identify landslide boundaries and morphological features using modern remote sensing techniques and to compare and validate the derived parameters with those obtained through traditional field methods. In this study, the remote sensing technology employed is a high-resolution digital elevation model (HRDEM) generated by a LiDAR sensor mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Based on this dataset, various terrain parameters were analyzed, including slope, aspect, contour, curvature, hillshade, the topographic ruggedness index (TRI), the topographic position index (TPI), and the topographic wetness index (TWI). Individual analysis, composite analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) of these parameters enabled the identification of the landslide boundaries and key morphological elements. This study was conducted on a landslide-prone slope in the Surami area of Georgia, which is characterized by extensive anthropogenic impact. The accuracy of the LiDAR-derived results was confirmed through field validation. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of UAV-LiDAR technology in areas affected by anthropogenic activity. Full article

High-speed rail (HSR) makes a significant contribution to green innovation (GI), thereby supporting high-quality economic development. However, prior studies have mainly focused on the impact of HSR on regional innovation, ignored the influence on GI from the micro perspective, as well as the mechanism through which HSR affect GI. Using the data from manufacturing companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges during the period of 2004 to 2023, we treat HSR as a quasi-natural experiment and employ a multi-period difference-in-difference (DID) approach to explore the effect of HSR on GI. The regression results are presented as follows. (1) HSR significantly enhances GI in enterprises, and the results still hold after several robust checks. (2) HSR has a greater impact on the improvement of GI in lightly polluting SOEs of developed cities. (3) The mechanism by which HSR can improve GI is to promote the mobility of talent and alleviate financing constraints faced by enterprises. The policy recommendation is to focus on the heterogenous effect on GI in enterprises to promote the ability of sustainable development. Full article

This study empirically examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) service competency on digital economic activities, digital social participation, and daily life satisfaction. It also investigates the mediating role of e-commerce utilization in these relationships. The ultimate aim is to provide practical implications for enhancing citizens’ quality of life and promote their active participation in the digital society. This study employed data from 7001 respondents drawn from the 2023 Digital Information Gap Survey. The analysis was conducted using SPSS 29.0 and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the structural relationships between variables. The results revealed that perceived usefulness of AI technology had a significant positive effect on digital economic activities, while digital information competency positively influenced both digital economic activities and daily life satisfaction. In contrast, attitude toward AI technology did not have a significant effect on digital economic activities and even showed a negative association with digital social participation. Furthermore, digital information competency demonstrated a significant indirect effect on the overall digital outcomes through the mediating role of the level of e-commerce utilization. This study applies an integrated theoretical framework combining the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). It goes beyond theoretical interpretation by delivering practical implications that offer academic and policy value, particularly for developing policy strategies such as reducing the digital divide. Full article

The urban forest canopy provides critical ecosystem services, including carbon storage and sequestration. Healthy, well-managed trees in an urban setting can provide these services in a way comparable to forests managed for production or as nature preserves. Disturbance events threaten these benefits by reducing canopy cover and biomass. A tornado struck Ruston, Louisiana, on 25 April 2019, resulting in severe canopy damage through a swatch of the city. We used iTree Canopy to obtain estimates of ecosystem services (carbon sequestration, etc.) and converted this to a per-pixel value before interpolating for the study area. Fractional vegetation estimates obtained from spectral unmixing were obtained from pre- and post-tornado images using Sentinel-2 data and applied to weight damage. Pre- and post-tornado assessments revealed that Ruston’s urban forest canopy sequestered 85% of its pre-storm capability, with an estimated decline in social value of approximately $36,000. Assessing disturbance-based landscape changes, and subsequently calculating fractional changes in biomass and corresponding monetary impacts, will increasingly be looked to as ecosystem services and severe weather events are expected to become more commonplace in the future. The methodology employed demonstrates a cost-effective way to assess disturbance impacts in small urban areas, offering a framework to small municipalities to monitor canopy dynamics. Full article

Background: The use of baobab seed beverages as coffee alternatives represents a novel approach to upcycling by-products. Baobab seed aqueous extract is caffeine-free and contains numerous compounds of nutritional interest. The composition and sensory characteristics of baobab seed beverage can be modulated by roasting and brewing conditions. Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of using different fluidised bed roasting temperatures and microwave infusion on the nutritional and functional properties of the beverage. Results: Higher roasting temperatures increased solubility, melanoidin content, pH, titratable acidity, colour, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity, while the concentration of chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid decreased. Upon microwave infusion, antioxidant activity, phenolic content (gallic acid, coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and vanillic acid), protein content, and soluble fibre content increased. Chlorogenic acid was not present in microwave-infused samples, and the amount of caffeic acid decreased. The fat content remained similar across all samples. The major volatile components identified in the roasted seeds were furans and pyrazines. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of baobab seed beverages as coffee alternatives and the impact of roasting and brewing conditions on their nutritional and functional properties. Full article

Real-time control of web traffic is a critical issue for network operators and service providers. It helps ensure robust service and avoid service interruptions, which has an important financial impact. However, due to the high speed and volume of actual internet traffic, standard multivariate time series models are inadequate for ensuring efficient real-time traffic management. In this paper we introduce a new model for functional time series analysis, developed by combining a local linear smoothing approach with an $L^1$-robust estimator of the quantile’s derivative. It constitutes an alternative, robust estimator for functional modal regression that is adequate to handle the stochastic volatility of high-frequency of web traffic data. The mathematical support of the new model is established under functional dependent case. The asymptotic analysis emphasizes the functional structure of the data, the functional feature of the model, and the stochastic characteristics of the underlying time-varying process. We evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed model using comprehensive simulations and real-data application. The computational results illustrate the superiority of the nonparametric functional model over the existing conventional methods in web traffic modeling. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fonte Essenziale^®, a mineral water rich in bicarbonate, sulfate, calcium, and magnesium, has shown potential in modulating the gut–liver axis and microbiota in hepatic steatosis. However, its long-term effects on intestinal permeability (IP), systemic inflammation (SI), and oxidative stress—key factors in Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)—remain unexplored. Methods: Eighty-seven MASLD patients were randomized into two groups: group A received Fonte Essenziale^® (400 mL/day, fasting) plus a controlled nutritional regimen for 12 months, followed by a 6-month water washout; group B followed only the controlled nutritional regimen. IP markers, SI (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), oxidative stress (dROMs/BAP), and clinical data (including Controlled Attenuation Parameter—CAP) were assessed at baseline (T0), 12 months (T12), and post-washout (T18). Baseline increased IP (in-IP) was defined by fecal zonulin > 110 ng/mL and serum LBPp > 10 µg/mL; improvement (im-IP) required normalization of both. A ≥30% CAP reduction indicated steatosis improvement. Results: Thirty-eight patients in group A and thirty-nine in group B completed the study. At T12, group A showed significant reductions in fecal zonulin (p: 0.0163) and serum LBPp (p < 0.0001), with increased occludin and claudin 1 (all p < 0.0001). Im-IP prevalence was higher in group A (p: 0.0037). Group A also showed significant reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, LPS, and dROM/BAP (all p < 0.05), especially among those with im-IP. CAP, insulin, and HDL levels improved significantly (all p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis confirmed water intake (aOR: 2.185, p: 0.001) and im-IP achievement (aHR: 1.267, p: 0.021) as predictors of steatosis improvement. Benefits persisted at T18. Conclusions: Prolonged Fonte Essenziale^® intake improved hepatic steatosis and MASLD outcomes by modulating IP, SI, and oxidative stress. This trial has been registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT07211113). Full article

The Inner Mongolia Cashmere goat (IMCG) industry is a major contributor to global cashmere production, with fleece traits serving as key economic indicators that directly impact both income and the long-term sustainability of the industry. When genome-wide SNPs are used to estimate kinship matrices, the traditional animal model implicitly assumes that all SNPs have the same effect-size distribution. However, in practice, there are differences in the genetic mechanisms and complexity of different traits. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 2299 IMCGs genotyped with 67,021 SNPs, which were obtained after imputation. The traits measured included cashmere yield (CY), wool length (WL), cashmere length (CL), and cashmere diameter (CD), with a total of 33,564 records collected. The top 5% to 20% of the significant SNPs from the GWAS were used as biological prior information. We then assigned proportional weights based on their contribution to the overall genetic variance and further integrated them with the remaining loci to construct a kinship relationship matrix for estimating genetic parameters and genomic breeding value. By incorporating prior marker information from the GWAS, it was found that the heritability estimates for CY, WL, CL, and CD were 0.26, 0.37, 0.09, and 0.35, respectively. For CY and CL, integrating the top 5% of prior SNP markers yielded the highest genomic prediction accuracies of 0.742 and 0.673, representing improvements of 16.67% and 19.75% over models that did not utilize prior information. In contrast, for WL and CD, the highest accuracies of 0.851 and 0.780 were achieved by integrating the top 10% of prior SNP markers, reflecting improvements of 9.81% and 10.14%, respectively. Compared with the conventional GBLUP method, this method of integrating GWAS-derived prior markers for genomic genetic evaluation can significantly improve the accuracy of genomic prediction for fleece traits in IMCGs. This approach facilitates accurate selection for fleece traits in IMCGs, enabling accelerated genetic progress through long-term breeding programs. Full article

This study investigated the impact of two different temperature regimes (high and low) on the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and antidiabetic properties of mango jellies. Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity were assessed using the conventional 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the recently developed direct current (DC) polarographic method. Jellies prepared under low-temperature conditions contained higher TPC levels (82.0 ± 2.0 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/kg jelly) and exhibited stronger antioxidant activity (65.0 ± 2.2 ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE)/100 g jelly by DPPH; 12.40 × 10⁻⁶ mol reduced Hg(II)/g jelly by DC polarography). Antidiabetic evaluation revealed that the low-temperature jelly significantly inhibited both α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity. Thermal analysis further confirmed distinct structural behavior between low- and high-temperature products. This novel processing approach—combining mild heating (55 °C), vacuum treatment, and reduced sugar content (40%) without pectin addition—proved effective in preserving bioactive compounds and functionality. Notably, this is the first report applying DC polarography to assess antioxidant capacity in fruit jellies, highlighting its potential as a robust tool in functional food research. Full article

Small pelagic fish, such as sardines and sprats, are an affordable and nutritionally rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and bioactive peptides. While their nutritional value is well established, the impact of standard household cooking methods on their immunomodulatory potential and effects on intestinal integrity remains poorly understood. Fish were prepared using five culinary techniques (raw, boiled, steamed, baked, and fried), digested via the INFOGEST protocol, and applied at 1% concentration in a Caco-2 co-culture model combined with lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. NO and TNF-α production, and epithelial permeability were assessed. Steamed sardines induced the highest NO levels (122%) in activated macrophages, while raw sardines inhibited NO production (73%). Baked sardines and raw sprats triggered higher TNF-α production (>400 pg/mL). Boiled sardines and baked sprats caused the strongest disruption of epithelial permeability (>13%), whereas steamed sardines and raw sprats preserved barrier integrity (<11%). Notably, digested baked and fried fish preserved suppressive effects on NO and TNF-α even after translocation across the epithelial layer. Culinary processing significantly modulates the bioactivity of fish. In general comparison, steaming is gentler than dry heat cooking methods, as it better preserves anti-inflammatory effects and barrier-promoting properties. These findings highlight the relevance of cooking practices in modulating the functional benefits of fish consumption. Full article

Background/Objectives: Open Notes—defined as patients’ electronic, portal-based access to clinicians’ narrative documentation within electronic health records (EHRs)—has become routine through policy and portal initiatives. In mental health (MH), transparency intersects with sensitive formulation and risk language, making outcomes contingent on documentation practices, release timing, and reader support. This scoping review mapped empirical evidence on experiences, perceived impacts, and implementation of Open Notes in MH across stakeholders and settings, deriving implications for practice, training, and policy. Methods: A PRISMA-ScR-guided review was conducted with a preregistered protocol on OSF. Eligible studies examined Open Notes in MH settings and reported stakeholder perspectives. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data, analyzed through inductive narrative thematic synthesis. Results: Twenty-two studies (2012–2025) from the USA, Sweden, Germany, Canada, and international settings included surveys, qualitative interviews, mixed-methods designs, pilot and quasi-experimental implementations, and a Delphi consensus. Patients consistently reported improved comprehension, recall, empowerment, and—in some cases—greater trust. Large surveys identified error detection and patient-initiated corrections as safety mechanisms, while a minority reported worry or feeling judged by wording. Clinicians adapted documentation—modifying tone, wording, or candor—to minimize misinterpretation. Workload effects were generally modest, limited to occasional clarifications. Implementation and expert studies emphasize organizational readiness, training, patient preparation, and privacy-aware portal design as key enablers of safe transparency. Conclusions: In MH, Open Notes function as a communication and engagement tool that strengthens partnership, comprehension, and safety when implemented with attention to risk-sensitive documentation and privacy safeguards. Full article

In Europe’s changing transport landscape, railways are experiencing a renaissance, driven by environmental advantages, cost efficiency, growing demand, and political support. Yet this growth also exposes major challenges, especially regarding network capacity, infrastructure availability, maintainability, and the cost-effectiveness of maintenance. This study focuses on these aspects, analyzing their interdependence and their impact on building a more resilient and efficient rail system. A prediction model, based on historical measurement data, is developed to forecast track behavior and assess an alternative maintenance strategy. This maintenance strategy uses novel approaches to define maintenance-triggering intervention values. The overarching goal of this work is to contribute to the improvement of predictive maintenance approaches. Findings show no technical or economic justification for the continual reduction of section lengths, a practice common in heavily used networks. Instead, results demonstrate that with improved planning and long-section tamping, both track quality and service life can at least be kept at the same level or even be enhanced. Longer section lengths positively influence performance by lowering running meter costs and potentially reducing operational downtime in the long run. To validate these interrelationship, future research will integrate a model that explicitly considers the costs of operational hindrances. Full article

Heavy metal (HM) contamination in agricultural soils poses a significant threat to soil health and plant productivity. This study investigates the impact of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) stress on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) and explores the mitigation potential of microbial biostimulants (MBs), including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Pseudomonas fluorescens So_08 (PGPR), over a 52-day period using multi-omics approaches. Root exudate profiling revealed distinct metabolic changes under HM stress, which compromised soil–plant interactions. Cd stress reduced the secretion of phenylpropanoids (sum LogFC: −45.18), lipids (sum LogFC: −27.67), and isoprenoids (sum LogFC: −11−67), key metabolites in antioxidative defense, while also suppressing rhizosphere fungal populations. Conversely, Zn stress enhanced lipid exudation (such as sphingolipids and sterols, as sum LogFC of 8.72 and 9.99, respectively) to maintain membrane integrity and reshaped rhizobacterial communities. The MBs application mitigated HM-induced stress by enhancing specialized metabolite syntheses, including cinnamic acids, terpenoids, and flavonoids, which promoted crop resilience. MBs also reshaped microbial diversity, fostering beneficial species like Portibacter spp., Alkalitalea saponilacus under Cd stress, and stimulating rhizobacteria like Aggregatilinea spp. under Zn stress. Specifically, under Cd stress, bacterial diversity remained relatively stable, suggesting their resilience to Cd. However, fungal communities exhibited greater sensitivity, with a decline in diversity in Cd-treated soils and partial recovery when MBs were applied. Conversely, Zn stress caused decline in bacterial α-diversity, while fungal diversity was maintained, indicating that Zn acts as an ecological filter that suppresses sensitive bacterial taxa and favors Zn-tolerant fungal species. Multi-omics data integration combined with network analysis highlighted key features associated with improved nutrient availability and reduced HM toxicity under MB treatments, including metabolites and microbial taxa linked to sulfur cycling, nitrogen metabolism, and iron reduction pathways. These findings demonstrate that MBs can modulate plant metabolic responses and restore rhizosphere microbial communities under Cd and Zn stress, with PGPR showing broader metabolomic recovery effects and AMF influencing specific metabolite pathways. This study provides new insights into plant–microbe interactions in HM-contaminated environments, supporting the potential application of biostimulants for sustainable soil remediation and plant health improvement. Full article

Formaldehyde (FA) is commonly used for hatchery disinfection, where it reduces microbial growth, ensures successful egg hatch and enhances healthy production, but its specific effects on embryonic development remain unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally and may mediate FA-induced transcriptional responses. Here, we investigated the impact of FA treatment on miRNA profiles in chicken embryo liver. Small RNA-seq libraries were constructed and sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq platform. Reads were trimmed and quantified using miRDeep2 version 2.0.0.3. Differential expression analysis was performed with DESeq2 (p-adjusted < 0.05 and |log2FC| > 1). Target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were predicted with miRDB, and GO/KEGG/Reactome enrichment was conducted. Out of 662 total mature miRNAs detected, differential expression analysis identified 30 DEMs (11 up-regulated, 19 down-regulated). The highest fold increase was determined for gga-miR-3533 (log2FC = 4.45), and the most significant decrease was determined for gga-miR-133b (log2FC = −3.38). Pathway analysis revealed miRNAs affecting signaling pathways along with modules related to post-translational protein modification, immune system, and oxidative stress pathways. Our study demonstrates that FA treatment can affect critical biological processes by altering miRNA-mediated regulation in the developing embryonic liver and point to the need for functional validation of miRNA-target interactions to help determine mechanisms for FA benefits. Long term, these data may help serve as reference to identify new treatments with optimized response profiles. Full article

Background: Psoriasis has a huge impact on a patient’s life. Treatment dissatisfaction and non-adherence are common among patients with psoriasis, partly due to discordance between individual preferences and recommended treatments. The modern strategy for psoriasis should be focused on human-centric treatment that recognizes the needs and preferences of patients with a goal for safe, effective, quality and acceptable health services for a lifetime. The aim of this analysis was to capture patients’ preferences with moderate-to-severe psoriasis regarding various treatment attributes. Methods: A specialized questionnaire containing four attributes with three levels, each, was used, followed by an orthogonal plan based on conjoint analysis. Nine combinations of therapeutic scenarios were produced as a result, to investigate participants’ preferences. Respondents were asked to rank alternatives from best to worst. Results: The risk of developing pneumonia or other serious infections within a decade seems to be higher in patients with an implied assigned value of 37. The second attribute was the type and frequency of the administration with a value of 27, followed by the treatment effectiveness with great improvement of body surface with a value of 25. The lowest utility (11) was the sustainability of early remission of psoriasis. Conclusions: Psoriasis patients want safe, effective and easy to administer treatments. Full article