Search Results (22,182)

Climate change (CC) is a growing threat to water security in agricultural regions, particularly in semi-arid areas. This study evaluates the impact of CC on reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) in Irrigation District 001 Pabellón de Arteaga, Aguascalientes (DR 001), with the aim of strengthening its sustainable management. We used historical data (2002–2023) and future projections (2026–2100) from 22 CMIP6 global climate models, previously corrected for bias under the scenarios SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. The evaluation of the correction methods showed that PTF-scale performed best in correcting precipitation, solar radiation, relative humidity, and wind speed, although the latter showed a low correlation. The maximum, mean, and minimum temperatures showed a better fit with the RQUANT and QUANT methods. The ACCESS-ESM1-5 model displayed the best performance in six of the nine corrected variables; therefore, it was the most suitable model to estimate ET₀. The uncertainty analysis showed that the FAO-56 method, although characterized by a higher current error, is more robust for future projections. A progressive increase in ET₀ is projected under both CC scenarios, ranging from 13.0 to 15.8% (SSP2-4.5), and between 12.5 and 20.4% (SSP5-8.5). The results highlight the urgent need to implement water adaptation strategies in DR 001 and make informed decisions to achieve resilient water management in the face of CC. Full article

The rising demand for sustainability disclosure, the risks it entails, and the strategies firms employ to manage these risks represent a critical area of contemporary research. This research aims to investigate the impact of sustainability risk management (SRM) on a firm’s financial distress (FFD). In addition, it examines the influence of the firm’s financial performance as a moderator variable on this relationship. This research adapts a quantitative analysis to explore these relations based on a sample of 77 Saudi firms listed on the Tadawul stock exchange in 2023. It relies on the SRM score presented by Morningstar Sustainalytics, as it is considered one of the largest environmental, social, & governance (ESG) rating firms. While the direct relationship between SRM and FFD is statistically insignificant, the findings show a significant moderating effect of firm performance, especially for firms with medium SRM levels. This demonstrates the importance of organizational and contextual factors in the interplay between SRM and FFD. The research results have valuable insights for decision-makers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by providing more understanding about the importance of adopting a comprehensive risk management framework that includes sustainability risks. Adapting sustainability practices and risk management becomes essential for Saudi firms. Therefore, managers in Saudi firms should consider the firms’ profitability when implementing SRM strategies, as these may not consistently contribute to stability across all financial conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effects of weight gain and fatigue on nursing students performing high-fidelity cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) simulation. Methods: A simulation-based research study (with or without a vest) was performed at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Castilla la Mancha (Spain), with volunteer nursing students. Vital signs, pain scale, pupillary sizes, analytical parameters, and lifestyle habits were evaluated before, during, and after CPR. The differences between groups were assessed by ANOVA for time and group factors. Results: A total of 31 participants met the inclusion criteria, 15 subjects without a vest and 16 subjects with a vest. The ANOVA results revealed that all the variables presented statistically significant time effects, except for glucose. For the group effect, heart rate, lactate, and cortisol presented statistically significant differences between subjects with and without vests. Conclusions: Vital signs and physiological variables increased during CPR with vests. This could negatively impact the CPR procedure. The implementation of physical training programs aimed at improving the performance of future health professionals during CPR should be studied. Full article

The dynamic changes in vegetation significantly impact the sustainability, safety, and stability of ecosystems in the source region of the Yellow River. However, the spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors of these changes remain unclear. The MODIS NDVI dataset (1998–2018), together with climatic records from meteorological stations and socio-economic statistics, was collected to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of vegetation coverage in the study area. For the analysis, we employed linear trend analysis to assess long-term changes, Pearson correlation analysis to examine the relationships between vegetation dynamics and climatic as well as anthropogenic factors, and t-tests to evaluate the statistical significance of the results. The results indicated the following: (1) From 1998 to 2018, vegetation in the source region of the Yellow River generally exhibited an increasing trend, with 92.7% of the area showed improvement, while only 7.3% experienced degradation. The greatest vegetation increase occurred in areas with elevations of 3250–3750 m, whereas vegetation decline was mainly concentrated in regions with elevations of 5250–6250 m. (2) Seasonal differences in vegetation trends were observed, with significant increases in spring, summer, and winter, and a non-significant decrease in autumn. Vegetation degradation in summer and autumn remains a concern, primarily in southeastern and lower-elevation areas, affecting 25% and 27% of the total area, respectively. The maximum annual average NDVI was 0.70, occurring in 2018, while the minimum value was 0.59, observed in 2003. (3) Strong correlations were observed between vegetation dynamics and climatic variables, with temperature and precipitation showing significant positive correlations with vegetation (r = 0.66 and 0.60, respectively; p < 0.01, t-test), suggesting that increases in temperature and precipitation serve as primary drivers for vegetation improvement. (4) Anthropogenic factors, particularly overgrazing and rapid population growth (both human and livestock), were identified as major contributors to the degradation of low-altitude alpine grasslands during summer and autumn periods, with notable impacts observed in counties with higher livestock density and population growth, indicating that for each unit increase in population trend, the NDVI trend decreases by an average of 0.0001. The findings of this research are expected to inform the design and implementation of targeted ecological conservation and restoration strategies in the source region of the Yellow River, such as optimizing land-use planning, guiding reforestation and grassland management efforts, and establishing region-specific policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and human activities on vegetation ecosystems. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable substrates in agriculture and urban greening calls for alternatives to peat, whose extraction poses significant environmental risks. This study assesses the potential of olive pomace biochar (OB), wood biochar (WB), and green compost (GC), alone or in combination, to partially replace peat in growing media and improve substrate properties and plant development. Ten different substrates were formulated by substituting 10–20% of a commercial peat-based substrate with these organic amendments, using the commercial substrate alone as a control. The effects of such replacements were evaluated in the following experiments: a germination test conducted in Petri dishes using four forage species (Medicago polymorpha, Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, and Lolium rigidum); and two parallel pot experiments lasting 100 days each (one with M. polymorpha and L. perenne, and another with young Olea Europaea var. Arbequina saplings). This study evaluated the impact on plant development, as well as the physical properties and composition of the substrates during the incubation process. Germination and survival of forage species were comparable or improved in most treatments, except those including 20% OB, which consistently reduced germination—likely due to high electrical conductivity (>10dS/m). In the pot experiments, substrate pH and total carbon content increased significantly with biochar addition, particularly with 20% WB, which doubled total C relative to control. Both forage species (Medicago polymorpha and Lolium perenne) and the olive saplings (Olea Europaea) exhibited normal growth, with no significant differences in biomass, water content, or physiological stress indicators when compared to the control group. Nutrient uptake was found to be stable across treatments, although magnesium levels were below sufficiency thresholds without triggering visible deficiency symptoms. Overall, combining compost and biochar—particularly WB and GC—proved to be a viable strategy to reduce peat use while maintaining substrate quality and supporting robust plant growth. This approach proved effective across the different plant varieties tested, including Medicago polymorpha, Lolium perenne, and young olive plants, which together encompass a wide spectrum of agronomic and horticultural applications as well as contrasting growth and nutrient requirements. Adverse effects on early plant development can be avoided by carefully selecting and characterizing biochars, with specific attention to salinity and C/N ratio. This finding is crucial for the successful large-scale implementation of sustainable alternatives to peat. Full article

Background: Healthcare-associated infections represent a significant public health problem, with a major impact on patient safety and quality of care. Nursing students play a central role in implementing infection prevention and control measures, yet the existing literature highlights gaps in their preparedness. Objective: To investigate nursing students’ knowledge of healthcare-associated infections, providing a comprehensive understanding of their level of awareness and identifying potential gaps that could guide improvements in nursing education. Methods: A systematic review was conducted by PRISMA guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, CINAHL Complete, APA PsycArticles, and APA PsycInfo, using predefined keywords and inclusion criteria. Twenty-two studies met the eligibility requirements. The articles were assessed for methodological quality using validated appraisal tools. Results: Across the included studies, nursing students demonstrated good knowledge of certain infection prevention measures, particularly standard precautions and hand hygiene. However, significant theoretical gaps were identified, especially regarding epidemiology, transmission mechanisms, and risk factors for healthcare-associated infections. Knowledge tended to improve with academic progression, clinical experience, and the use of active, contextualized teaching strategies. A consistent gap between theoretical understanding and practical application was observed. Conclusions: Nursing curricula should systematically integrate theory and practice, ensure alignment with validated international guidelines, and adopt active, practice-oriented teaching approaches. Strengthening these areas could improve nursing students’ infection prevention competencies, thereby enhancing patient safety and quality of care. Full article

Exploration of new niches for microorganisms capable of degrading recalcitrant molecules is still required. We hypothesized that the gut microbiota associated with the field S. frugiperda population carries pesticide-degrading bacteria that would enhance the host’s ability to metabolize pesticides. Three strategies were implemented to address this principle: (i) isolation and identification of chlorpyrifos-degrading gut bacteria from field-collected S. frugiperda larvae; (ii) evaluation of chlorpyrifos biodegradation capacity through in vitro assays; and (iii) assessment of the impact of specific bacterial taxa capable of degrading chlorpyrifos directly within the gut. In this study, we successfully isolated four chlorpyrifos-degrading gut bacterial isolates from a field-collected population of S. frugiperda. These isolates were identified using 16S rDNA sequencing as Klebsiella quasipneumoniae strain 60D (PP504878), Klebsiella pneumoniae strain 64D (PP504879), Klebsiella pneumoniae strain 66D (PP504880), and Klebsiella pneumoniae strain 71D (PP504881). In vitro chlorpyrifos degradation assays revealed that all isolates exhibited strong degradative capacities, with Klebsiella pneumoniae strain 64D achieving the highest degradation rate, 80.38%, after one day of inoculation. In contrast, in vivo chlorpyrifos biodegradation assessment demonstrated a clear protective effect of gut bacteria on host survival. Among the mono-associated groups, larvae colonized with Klebsiella pneumoniae strain 66D exhibited the most pronounced reduction in mortality by 19.16-fold compared to antibiotic-treated larvae following exposure to chlorpyrifos suspension. Full article

Background: Surgically treated proximal femoral fractures in geriatric patients are a major debilitating condition, with continuously rising numbers, impacting patients and the healthcare system. Models of care based on orthogeriatric co-management (OGCM) have suggested promising clinical outcomes compared with the standard of care (SOC) model in the treatment of frail elderly patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study investigating clinical outcomes in two comparable cohorts of patients aged 75 and older, who underwent surgical treatment for proximal femoral fractures in 2023 was conducted. Included individuals all originated from the same geographic area, therefore presenting a unique cohort. The cohorts were differentiated by the perioperative care protocols implemented: an OGCM protocol (n = 147) versus a SOC protocol (n = 143). The main outcome measures were readmission, revision, and mortality rates at 30 days and one-year post-surgery, as well as the length of hospital stay. Results: Findings revealed a positive impact for patients treated under the OGCM protocol, with a significant reduction in the length of hospital stay (6 vs. 7 days, p = 0.001), while no consistent differences were observed in readmission (36.2% vs. 39.7%, p = 0.676), surgical revision (8.4% vs. 12.4%, p = 0.485), and mortality (24.1% vs. 31.7%, p = 0.781) rates one-year after surgery. Conclusions: Despite the absence of significant differences in major outcomes such as mortality, readmission, and surgical revision between the two protocols, the implementation of a more resource-intensive multidisciplinary care pathway resulted in a significant reduction in hospital length of stay. Beyond its clinical value, this improvement may contribute to reducing the burden on healthcare staff and support the sustainability of hospital systems facing increasing pressure. Full article

Anthropogenic activities are profoundly altering the terrestrial water cycle, yet a comprehensive understanding of their impact on surface soil moisture (SSM) at regional scales remains limited. This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of SSM and its relationship with anthropogenic modification (OAM) across Southwest China from 2000 to 2017. We employed multi-year geospatial and statistical analyses, including kernel density estimation and boxplots, to examine the impacts of human activities on regional soil moisture patterns. The results revealed that SSM exhibited a slight long-term declining trend (Sen’s slope = −0.0009 m³/m³/year) but showed a notable recovery after 2011, while overall anthropogenic modification (OAM) intensified until 2010 before declining sharply by 2015. A statistically significant and systematic relationship was observed, with increasing OAM intensity corresponding to higher median SSM and reduced spatial variability, indicating a homogenizing effect of human activities. Critically, the impacts of detailed anthropogenic stressors were highly divergent: agricultural modification correlated with elevated SSM, whereas transportation infrastructure and energy-related activities exhibited a suppressive effect. These findings highlight the necessity of integrating high-resolution SSM and anthropogenic data into land-use planning and implementing stressor-specific management strategies, such as improving irrigation efficiency and developing infrastructure designs that minimize SSM suppression, to achieve sustainable water resource management in rapidly developing regions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Older adults should be capable of reasoned judgments regarding their health, lifestyle, and disease management. Therefore, interventions to improve Health Literacy (HL) are essential for empowering older adults to make choices that improve their quality of life. Correct medication use is vital to maintaining and enhancing health outcomes in older adults. This study aimed to identify the most effective HL interventions with impact on medication use among older adults. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed) and EMBASE to identify interventional studies evaluating HL interventions that have an impact on medication use in older adults. Results: Three studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The evidence indicates that HL interventions have positive effects and can be effectively implemented by several healthcare professionals through tailored communication strategies. However, the review underscores a substantial lack of high-quality research on HL strategies aimed at improving medication use in older adults, particularly given the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and polypharmacy in this population. Conclusions: This systematic review identifies substantial research gaps regarding HL interventions and their impact on medication use among older adults. While the included studies demonstrate encouraging outcomes, further rigorous research is necessary to develop specific HL interventions addressing medication-related challenges in older adults. Full article

Reverse Logistics (RL) plays a fundamental role in supply by addressing returns, undelivered or damaged products, exchanges, and environmental concerns, directly contributing to more sustainable supply chain practices. Although firms recognize the importance and benefits of this concept, their supply chain remains focused on direct logistics, often overlooking RL’s potential to enhance sustainability performance. The aim of this article is to analyse the interaction between the barriers that challenge or prevent the implementation of RL in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). First, a literature review identified 22 barriers to developing RL in SMEs. Then, through experts’ opinions gathered in a Focus Group (FG), an Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) model was used to understand the hierarchy relations between barriers, and a Matrix Cross Impact Matrix Multiplication (MICMAC) analysis was carried out to aggregate the barriers in four categories according to their influencing power and dependence. Applying the methodology to the Portuguese case resulted in an ISM model with seven hierarchical levels and a MICMAC diagram without dependent barriers. Moreover, six key barriers emerged, namely, Lack of adequate organizational structure and support for RL practices, Lack of corporate social responsibility, Complexity of the operation, Lack of shared understanding of best practices, Difficulty with members of the supply chain, and Lack of support from supply chain players, which proved to be the most critical as they are positioned at the highest hierarchical levels of the ISM model and fall within the independent variable quadrant of the MICMAC analysis, thus revealing a strong driving power over the other barriers. The findings highlight that overcoming these barriers is crucial for SMEs to unlock the full sustainability potential of RL and transition towards supply chain models that are greener through a reduced carbon footprint, improved resource efficiency, and the adoption of circular economy practices. Academically, this research advances the literature by applying the ISM–MICMAC approach to SMEs, offering novel insights into the structural role of barriers in reverse logistics implementation. Full article

This scientific research examines the intricate dynamics of Maxwell nanofluid flow across a stretching surface with Stefan blowing impacts, with a particular focus on maritime thermal management applications. The analysis integrates multiple physical phenomena including magnetohydrodynamic forces, the energy dissipation phenomenon, and thermal density variations within Darcy porous media. Special attention is given to Stefan blowing’s role in modifying thermal and mass transfer boundary layers. We derive an enhanced mathematical formulation that couples Maxwell fluid properties with nanoparticle transport under combined magnetic and density-gradient conditions. Computational results demonstrate the crucial influence of viscous heating and blowing intensity on thermal performance, with direct implications for naval cooling applications. The reduced governing equations form a nonlinear system that requires robust numerical treatment. We implemented the shooting technique to solve this system, verifying its precision through systematic comparison with established benchmark solutions. The close correspondence between results confirms both the method’s reliability and our implementation’s accuracy. The primary results of this study indicate that raising the Stefan blowing and density parameters causes notable changes in the temperature and concentration fields. The Stefan blowing parameter enhances both temperature and concentration near the wall by affecting thermal diffusion and nanoparticle distribution. In contrast, the density parameter reduces these values because of increased fluid resistance. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted various aspects of daily life, including hygiene routines, dietary habits, and access to dental care. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the oral health-related and dietary behaviors and dietary pattern of patients from the West Pomeranian region of Poland. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 healthy adult participants from the West Pomeranian region, including patients from the Pomeranian Medical University and private dental practices. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 43 items was used to assess changes in hygiene, dietary behaviors, and the frequency of dental visits during the pandemic. Results: The majority of respondents were under 30 years of age, with women representing 56% of the sample. Most participants resided in large urban areas with populations exceeding 300,000. During the pandemic, 41% of participants maintained regular dental visits, while 37% reported experiencing dental problems; all those who sought care received appropriate treatment. Nearly half of the respondents had undergone quarantine due to SARS-CoV-2 exposure, and 38% expressed fear of infection. The results revealed a notable decline in preventive dental care during the pandemic: only 41% of participants reported maintaining regular dental check-ups. Additionally, 34% reported increased consumption of snacks, while 25% indicated more frequent alcohol intake. 22% of respondents experienced involuntary teeth clenching during the day, and 13% reported teeth grinding, These findings reflect a negative shift in health behaviors during the COVID-19 period. Conclusions: The pandemic had a substantial adverse effect on oral health behaviors, dietary choices, and the use of dental services. Nevertheless, participants demonstrated awareness of these changes and, following the pandemic, expressed an increased understanding of the importance of regular dental visits. It is necessary to implement preventive measures that increase awareness of the health consequences (such as dental caries and periodontal diseases) in order to reduce the neglect of routine dental check-ups. Full article

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in automotive applications, particularly in Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and smart battery management on electric vehicles, increases the demand for efficient near-sensor processing. While the problem of linear algebra in machine learning is well-addressed by existing accelerators, the computation of nonlinear activation functions is usually delegated to the host CPU, resulting in energy inefficiency and high computational costs. This paper introduces TOXOS, a RISC-V-compliant coprocessor designed to address this challenge. TOXOS implements the COordinateRotation DIgital Computer (CORDIC) algorithm to efficiently compute nonlinear functions. Taking advantage of RISC-V modularity and extendability, TOXOS seamlessly integrates with existing computing architectures. The coprocessor’s configurability enables fine-tuning of the area-performance tradeoff by adjusting the internal parallelism, the CORDIC iteration count, and the overall latency. Our implementation on a 65nm technology demonstrates a significant improvement over CPU-based solutions, showcasing a considerable speedup compared to the glibc implementation of nonlinear functions. To validate TOXOS’s real-world impact, we integrated TOXOS in an actual RISC-V microcontroller targeting the on-vehicle execution of machine learning models. This work addresses a critical gap in transcendental function computation for AI, enabling real-time decision-making for autonomous driving systems, maintaining the power efficiency crucial for electric vehicles. Full article

While reducing industrial environmental impacts, it is essential to verify that the perceived improvements do not cause unexpected side effects. In the construction materials sector, certain circular economy practices may potentially increase the exposure from natural radioactivity due to the elevated radionuclide content in processed naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). This study presents the development of a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methodology accounting for NORM impacts in construction material life cycles from cradle to use. The methodology builds upon the LCA-NORM life cycle assessment framework previously established by the research group. The novel contributions include enhancements in (1) the dose units, (2) the use-stage exposure scenario, (3) the inclusion of radionuclide inhalation as an occupational exposure pathway and (4) the revisions of key parameters, including the dose conversion coefficients (DCCs). The updated characterisation factors yielded more conservative values at the use stage (e.g., 7 times higher exposure under pessimistic conditions due to radon inhalation) compared to the previous LCA-NORM outputs. An important advancement is the implementation of the new methodology in a novel custom-developed Python package (i.e., NORMIA) to integrate the custom elementary flows into LCA calculations of the Python library Brightway v.2.5. NORMIA generates characterisation factors that quantify the equivalent stochastic risk for human health and non-human biota per unit radionuclide emission and activity, based on user-defined inputs such as construction material type and density. With this study, a more holistic and accurate assessment of the environmental sustainability of construction materials is targeted. Full article