Search Results (48,005)

Transport is a fundamental component of equestrian training and competition. However, even horses with extensive transport experience may exhibit physiological stress responses during routine travel. This case report describes physiological stress responses in a transport-experienced 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding subjected to repeated, standardized short-distance transport. The horse was transported on 17 occasions along a fixed route to a riding school for dressage training using the same vehicle, handler, and protocol to minimize environmental variability. Physiological stress markers were assessed using continuous heart rate monitoring and salivary cortisol sampling at standardized time points before, during, and after each transport and training session. Salivary cortisol concentrations increased during transport and remained slightly elevated relative to preloading reference values throughout the transport–training–return sequence. Heart rate was elevated relative to typical resting values prior tooading, peaked during training, and remained moderately elevated during subsequent transport phases. Longitudinal visualization across repeated transport events revealed a gradual decline in cortisol concentrations after approximately ten transport events, suggestive of partial physiological habituation. However, the occurrence of a physiological outlier during the fifth transport event underscores that even in experienced horses, acute stress responses can occur independently of the general habituation trend. These findings indicate that repeated short-distance transport can elicit measurable physiological stress responses in transport-experienced horses and that habituation may be incomplete despite standardized conditions and familiarity with the procedure. Taken together, these results challenge the assumption that routine transport is minimally stressful, highlighting the importance of individualized transport management, adequate recovery periods, and ongoing welfare monitoring. Full article

Measurable residual disease (MRD) is the most powerful predictor of relapse and long-term survival in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), consistently outperforming traditional clinical and cytogenetic risk factors. The advent of high-sensitivity next-generation sequencing (NGS) capable of detecting MRD at 10⁻⁶ has transformed monitoring, reclassifying a substantial proportion of patients previously deemed negative by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) or quantitative PCR (qPCR), and revealing clinically relevant disease persistence at ultra-low levels. This review synthesizes current MRD detection platforms and their clinical applications across frontline therapy, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, and relapsed/refractory disease with specific focus on B-ALL. We integrate the 2024 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) and the 2025 US expert panel recommendations, highlighting important differences in preferred methodologies and decision thresholds. Particular attention is given to the emerging role of early deep NGS negativity in guiding transplant deferral among selected standard-risk patients, including some with Ph+ ALL treated with chemotherapy-free regimens, and to the challenges of interpreting persistent low-level positivity (10⁻⁴–10⁻⁶). Despite technological advances, key questions remain: when should deeper detection trigger therapeutic escalation, and how should discordance between modalities, peripheral blood monitoring, and subtype-specific variability be interpreted? Addressing these issues through prospective validation, platform harmonization, and broader global access will be essential to ensure that increasing sensitivity translates into evidence-based, equitable clinical benefit. Full article

In this paper, we investigate the exploration and exploitation capabilities of the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm using novel attraction basin-based measures. Previous claims about the ABC’s weak exploitation and exploration capabilities have been scrutinized. These claims are not based on exploration and exploitation measurements and, as such, are questionable. Direct measurements are needed to get real insights into the exploration and exploitation capabilities of any search algorithm. The results show that indirect measurements based on diversity are not appropriate. Our newly developed attraction basin-based measurements allow us to differentiate between exploration types (successful, failed, deceptive, successful rejection) and exploitation types (successful, unsuccessful). Namely, it is not only important that an algorithm is in the exploration phase, but also that promising regions with better solutions are not abandoned and that regions with worse solutions are visited less frequently. Similarly, during the exploitation phase, it is important to discover better solutions in the neighborhood and not exploit in an unsuccessful direction. It has been shown that ABC’s exploration and exploitation capabilities are versatile, and can adapt to different fitness landscapes successfully. Full article

River corridor rehabilitation is increasingly expected to deliver coupled outcomes by combining ecological recovery with measurable improvements in human well-being. Cultural ecosystem services (CESs), the non-material benefits people derive from landscapes, are central to this objective but remain difficult to operationalize in securitized transboundary settings, where border governance, uneven mobility, and community histories shape access to rivers and the formation of cultural meanings. This study examines whether perceived conservation effectiveness is associated with higher CES value in the Lower Jordan River Basin (LJRB) and whether this association persists after accounting for the community-group structure. Using survey data from 445 respondents across seven community groups, the perceived CES valuation was assessed through a five-point Cultural Significance rating, analyzed alongside conservation-related and contextual variables. Conservation was measured through perceived conservation impact and self-reported conservation involvement (yes/no). A staged inference design combined group comparisons and multivariable regression with adjustments for the community-group structure and contextual controls. Conservation involvement was not associated with meaningful differences in Cultural Significance. The perceived conservation impact showed a positive association in pooled and simple models but lost independent significance after adjusting for community-group structure, which accounted for much of the explanatory power. These findings indicate that CES valuation in the LJRB is structured more by community-group differences and borderland conditions than by individual conservation participation, underscoring the importance of locally encounterable outcomes and group-tailored engagement strategies in transboundary river planning. Full article

Emotions play an important role in shaping aggressive behavior, and understanding their underlying psychological mechanisms is particularly relevant among college students. However, existing research has predominantly focused on reactive aggression, while comparatively less attention has been paid to proactive aggression, which is more instrumental in nature and associated with more severe social consequences. In addition, empirical evidence regarding the valence-specific effects of awe remains limited. The present study aimed to examine the differential effects of positive and negative awe on proactive aggression and to explore the role of empathy as a potential mediating mechanism. A total of 110 college students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: positive awe, negative awe, or neutral emotion. Awe was induced through video clips depicting natural landscapes. Proactive aggression was assessed using a modified bug-killing paradigm, including two behavioral indicators: force intensity and proportion of bugs killed. Empathy was measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. The results revealed a clear differentiation based on the valence of awe. Participants in the positive awe condition exhibited significantly lower levels of proactive aggression than those in the neutral condition across both force intensity (M = 2.86, SD = 0.81 vs. M = 4.17, SD = 0.81) and proportion of bugs killed (M = 0.68, SD = 0.25 vs. M = 0.93, SD = 0.11). In contrast, the inhibitory effects of negative awe were weaker and less consistent. Compared with the neutral condition, negative awe was associated with a lower proportion of bugs killed, although this effect only reached marginal significance (p = 0.06, η² = 0.04), and no significant difference was observed for force intensity. Mediation analyses indicated that empathy partially mediated the association between positive awe and proactive aggression. Empathy accounted for 31% of the total effect in the force intensity pathway (B = −0.02, t = −4.25, p < 0.001, 95% CI [−0.04, −0.01]) and 18% in the proportion-of-bugs-killed pathway (B = −0.003, t = −2.37, p = 0.02, 95% CI [−0.006, −0.001]). Notably, no significant mediating effect of empathy was observed in the negative awe condition, suggesting that the psychological processes linking awe to proactive aggression may differ as a function of emotional valence. Taken together, the present findings suggest that positive awe is reliably associated with lower levels of proactive aggression among college students, and that this association is partially explained by increased empathy. By contrast, the effects of negative awe appear to be fragile and context-dependent, as reflected in their failure to reach statistical significance, indicator-specific manifestation, and the absence of a consistent mediating pathway. These results highlight the importance of distinguishing between positive and negative awe when examining the behavioral consequences of self-transcendent emotions and underscore the need for further research to clarify the conditions under which negative awe may influence aggressive behavior. Full article

Qinghai Province shoulders the heavy responsibility of serving as China’s ecological security barrier. In the process of implementing the “ecological priority” strategy, the green development of grassland animal husbandry in Qinghai Province plays an especially important driving role. To systematically reveal the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics and core driving mechanism of Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP) and provide a decision-making basis for the green transformation and high-quality development of regional animal husbandry, this paper, based on relevant data from 2010 to 2024 in Qinghai Province, constructs a measurement and influencing factor index system for the GTFP of grassland animal husbandry. Then, it conducts a systematic analysis of the temporal evolution and spatial differentiation characteristics of the GTFP of grassland animal husbandry in Qinghai Province using methods such as trend surface analysis and standard deviation ellipse. Subsequently, the influencing factors are discussed through the geographic detector model. The research findings are as follows: (1) During the study period, the GTFP of grassland animal husbandry in Qinghai Province shows an overall upward trend. Spatially, it presents a regional pattern of “strong in the north and stable in the south,” with the migration center moving towards the northeast and the distribution becoming more concentrated. (2) The level of fiscal support for agriculture, accessibility of transportation, the degree of environmental governance and the degree of digitalization play core driving roles in the process of GTFP climbing in grassland animal husbandry. (3) Interaction analysis shows that the explanatory power of any two influencing factors in the study area is higher than that of a single factor, and the interaction between the level of fiscal support for agriculture and the degree of environmental governance is the most significant. Therefore, the key to improving the GTFP of grassland animal husbandry in Qinghai Province lies in the coordinated allocation and linkage of financial support for agriculture and environmental governance. At the same time, this study can provide reference value for the green transformation and high-quality development of plateau grassland animal husbandry. Full article

Sustainable sourcing of bioactive ingredients is an important direction in the development of topical formulations. Fruit by-products generated during food processing such as apple pomace, represent a promising resource for skincare applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and consumer perception of a three-step facial skincare regimen consisting of a cleansing gel, serum, and face cream containing upcycled apple pomace extract. Unlike most cosmetic studies focusing on single products, this research assessed a complete skincare routine to better reflect real-life usage conditions. All formulations underwent dermatological safety evaluation prior to the in vivo study. The clinical assessment was conducted on 30 healthy female volunteers aged 25–55 years. Skin hydration, pH, transepidermal water loss, sebum level, and skin gloss were measured on untreated skin, after the first use, and after four weeks. User perception was assessed using a questionnaire completed by 58 participants. Short-term changes in skin parameters were observed after application, while four weeks of use maintained them within physiological ranges. Skin gloss increased significantly by 4.2%, and no adverse reactions were reported. These results indicate that the tested skincare regimen containing apple pomace extract was well-tolerated and cosmetically acceptable under the study conditions. Full article

Four sweet cherry cultivars (FuChen, Redlight, Huangmi, and Samituo) grown in northern China were used to produce sweet cherry wines with two alcohol levels. Physicochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, and volatile aroma compounds of the wines were systematically investigated. The results showed that wine from the Redlight cultivar with an alcohol content of 11.22 ± 0.17% contained the highest phenolic content and also exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity as measured by DPPH and ABTS•⁺ assays. Meanwhile, wine from the FuChen cultivar with an alcohol content of 11.45 ± 0.03% had the highest anthocyanin content and showed the strongest FRAP antioxidant activity. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) based on electronic nose data clearly distinguished the eight sweet cherry wine samples from different cultivars. A total of 58 volatile compounds were identified by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Both principal component analysis (PCA) and OPLS-DA revealed clear differences among the sweet cherry wines based on their volatile composition. Using variable importance in projection (VIP) scores > 1 and relative odor activity values (ROAVs), the key aroma compounds contributing to the characteristic aroma profiles of the eight sweet cherry wines were identified as ethyl butanoate, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl hexanoate, methyl decanoate, ethyl decanoate, ethyl benzoate, methyl salicylate, citronellol, and eugenol. These findings provide important guidance for the selection of raw materials to improve the production of sweet cherry wines with targeted alcohol levels. Full article

Glucosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb1) serves as a biomarker for evaluating disease activity in Gaucher disease (GD). While treatment-related changes are documented, the dynamics of lyso-Gb1 during untreated states remain poorly understood. This retrospective, longitudinal cohort study utilized a large GD database comprising 701 patients and over 6200 visits with lyso-Gb1 measurements. Patients with at least two untreated visits were included in the analysis (n = 272). A significant change was defined as ≥50 ng/mL for lyso-Gb1, ≥1 g/dL for hemoglobin, and ≥50 × 10⁹/L for platelet count. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified clinical factors associated with lyso-Gb1 decline or an increase. During untreated states, 35 patients (12.9%; 95% CI 9.4–17.5%) exhibited a decline in lyso-Gb1, with a median decrease of 96.3 ng/mL. This decline was more common in females (OR 3.50, p = 0.032) and associated with higher initial lyso-Gb1 levels (p < 0.001) and baseline hemoglobin (p = 0.032). An increase in lyso-Gb1 was observed in 98 patients (36.0%; 95% CI 30.5–41.9%), with a median rise of 135.1 ng/mL. This increase correlated with lower baseline platelet counts (p = 0.003), lower baseline hemoglobin (p = 0.002), and longer follow-up duration (p = 0.001). In many cases, lyso-Gb1 increases were observed without a preceding change in hemoglobin or platelet count. In summary, declines in lyso-Gb1 in untreated states are rare but possible. The association with female sex may reflect inflammatory effects. Although increases in lyso-Gb1 were expected without treatment, they occurred mainly in patients with higher disease severity markers. Nevertheless, most patients in the untreated states remained stable within ±50 ng/mL. These findings demonstrate a heterogeneous trajectory of lyso-Gb1 across untreated states and highlight the importance of interpreting lyso-Gb1 changes within the clinical context when making treatment decisions. Full article

This study aims to characterize diurnal changes in corneal geometry of the anterior and posterior cornea in healthy eyes using global and sector-based metrics, and to explore their associations with lifestyle-related factors. A prospective observational study of 109 eyes was conducted, measuring intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal thickness, volume, and global/sector-based keratometry at five time points over a 10 h period, alongside a lifestyle questionnaire. Results revealed significant diurnal decreases in IOP, central and minimum corneal thickness, and corneal volume (p ≤ 0.031). While posterior keratometry remained stable, anterior keratometry showed statistically significant but clinically negligible changes (amplitude of change ≤ 0.29 D), primarily within the central 4 mm and inferotemporal regions. Weak to moderate positive correlations were found between water and coffee intake, smoking, and changes in corneal thickness and volume, with no relevant effects on keratometric parameters. Overall, corneal thickness and volume exhibit significant diurnal reductions, whereas anterior keratometric changes are minimal and clinically irrelevant globally. These findings underscore the importance of considering the time of day when interpreting corneal measurements, as lifestyle factors appear to modulate corneal thickness but not curvature in healthy eyes. Full article

Air pollution and socioeconomic deprivation have been independently associated with multiple negative health outcomes, such as depression and increased pain frequency and duration. This study examined the joint influences of air pollution and individual- and neighborhood-level deprivation on depression and pain. A total of 1113 adults (aged 18–88 years) completed a series of surveys about their mental and physical health and living environment. Participants’ geocoded addresses were used to obtain their long-term average exposure to PM_2.5 and their neighborhood’s socioeconomic status and resource access via the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). We found significant age interactions with PM_2.5 and several socioeconomic deprivation indicators. Individual-level and neighborhood-level deprivation on their own significantly predicted levels of depression and pain. We also found that relative deprivation, the measure of an individual’s socioeconomic deprivation compared to their neighborhood, was significantly associated with experiences of both depression and pain. These findings are important to understanding the impacts of environmental stressors, particularly on the aging population, which may contribute to improved interventions and public policy targeting the detrimental associations of environmental stressors with human health. Full article

Background: Sex estimation represents a pivotal element of forensic anthropological investigation, conventionally dependent on highly dimorphic skeletal components such as the pelvis and skull. The purpose of the current study was to systematically evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of sternal measurements for sex estimation and to identify methodological- or population-based moderators that influence classification performance. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. R programming software was used to perform statistical meta-analysis. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), likelihood ratios (LR±), and overall accuracy were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed based on population origin, study design, statistical approach, and measurement protocol. Results: Forty-one studies comprising 293 predictive models were included. The overall pooled sensitivity and specificity were 80.9% (95% CI: 79.7–82.1) and 74.0% (95% CI: 72.4–75.5), respectively, with a mean accuracy of 77.3%. Subgroup analysis revealed that studies involving African populations and imaging-based methods achieved the highest accuracy. Machine learning- and ROC-based methods outperformed traditional discriminant analysis. Combined sternal measurements (manubrium and body) yielded the most robust diagnostic performance (accuracy: 87.3%). Significant heterogeneity (I² > 85%) was observed. Conclusions: Sternal morphometry exhibits a moderate to high degree of diagnostic accuracy in sex estimation and possesses significant forensic importance, especially in situations where more sexually dimorphic features are inaccessible. Nonetheless, variations across populations, the absence of standardized protocols, and methodological heterogeneity constrain its universal applicability. Full article

Throughout this study, the short-term stability of methanol extracts was evaluated in cases of 15 distinctive, antioxidant-rich plant materials over 3, 7, and 14 days under refrigeration (4 °C), dark room-temperature, and light-exposed room-temperature conditions. A great variability in the matrix-dependent stability of the antioxidants, as well as the pronounced impact of the implied storage conditions on their plausible degradation, was revealed and featured. Initial total polyphenol content (TPC) ranged from 50.50 ± 0.44 mg gallic acid (GAE)/g DW (rosemary) to only 0.02 ± 0.006 mg GAE/g DW (amaranth). After 14 days, pigment-rich vegetable extracts (basil, beetroot powder, spinach powder, dried onion, tomato powder, and yarrow tail) lost 86.2–89.2% of TPC and 80–99% of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) activity across all conditions, even under refrigeration. In contrast, for Lamiaceae species, markedly higher levels of the referred parameters were to be observed after 14-day-long storage. Decrease in TPC values was found to be 43.7% (rosemary), 50.6% (thyme), and 42.9% (oregano), respectively, while DPPH values were reduced by only 17–29%. Turmeric and walnut flour showed intermediate stability. Refrigeration consistently minimized the degradation of antioxidants (e.g., rosemary’s decrease in DPPH was only 20.3% at 4 °C vs. >70% under ambient conditions), while light exposure significantly accelerated losses of antioxidants in nearly all samples. Methanol extracts of many dietary plants, particularly pigment-rich ones, exhibit rapid and pronounced changes during short-term storage. Comparison with values obtained immediately after extraction shows that even brief storage can lead to substantial deviations. Although the current sampling intervals do not capture changes within the first hours, the results clearly indicate the need to minimize delays and standardize analytical timing to avoid underestimating phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Moreover, these findings demonstrate that measured antioxidant properties are not solely inherent to the plant material but are strongly influenced by the extract matrix and methodological conditions. Consequently, antioxidant data should be regarded as matrix- and protocol-dependent, with important implications for their interpretation, comparability, and reproducibility across studies. Full article

A first study analyzed the effect of the presence of a highly frequented tourist trail on the size and reproductive capacity of Globularia alypum, a Mediterranean shrub of conservation interest. In Sardinia, this species is a typical example of a plant with Extremely Small Populations (PSESPs), restricted to a natural area embedded within an urban matrix, which makes it particularly vulnerable to ecological pressures. In this second contribution, the investigation expands to the entire population of the species distributed across different habitats. The possible correlations between vegetative and reproductive traits of the plant are examined, along with the influence exerted by both habitat type and varying levels of human disturbance. To evaluate potential drivers of its persistence, morphological (H, diameter and plant volume) and reproductive traits (number of flowers, number of fruits and number of seed per plant) were recorded at the individual level. Additionally, to assess human disturbance (consisting mainly of trampling), the presence of trails was used as a proxy and, accordingly, each plant was categorized following its relative position to the nearest path according to three categories: Near Trail (NT), Mid-Trail Distance (MTD), or Far from Trail (FT). A total of 114 individuals distributed across four habitat types were measured. Statistical analyses revealed only marginal associations between habitat type and vegetative or reproductive traits. While trail proximity did not influence flower and fruit production, plant volume tended to be greater in individuals located farther from trails, suggesting a potential, albeit limited, effect of reduced human pressure on plant growth. These findings highlight the importance of understanding subtle ecological interactions that shape the persistence of PSESPs in urban close to nature area and provide valuable insights for developing targeted conservation and management strategies. Full article

The Zhuanghe coast in the northern part of the Yellow Sea is one of China’s important fishing and ocean engineering areas. Frequent storm surge events pose a significant threat to residents’ safety and properties. This study used the coupled Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM) and the Surface Wave Model (FVCOM-SWAVE) to investigate storm surges and wave heights during Typhoons Muifa (1109) and Lekima (1909) in the northern parts of the Yellow Sea and analyze the impact of the typhoon parameters on flood inundation on the Zhuanghe coast. The wind stress comparison in the coupled wave–current model uses synthetic wind field data formed by superimposing ERA5 wind fields with a parameterized typhoon model. The results showed that the simulated and measured tide levels, wave heights, and storm surges were in good agreement, indicating that the coupled model accurately reproduced the dynamics of the storm surges and wave heights during the two typhoons. The maximum significant wave height (H_s) exhibited a right-skewed distribution in the two typhoons’ paths, with extreme values consistently located to the right of the typhoon’s center. The decrease in atmospheric pressure at the center of Typhoon Muifa was significantly, nonlinearly, and positively correlated with the severity of storm surge disasters. A significant correlation was observed between the path of Typhoon Muifa and the disaster intensity. Full article