Search Results (1,221)

To reduce the direct-current (DC)-side inductances of single-phase current-source pulse-width-modulation (PWM) rectifiers while improving their power densities. This paper introduces a symmetric half-bridge power decoupling circuit topology. First, the circuit structure and its operating principles are analyzed in detail, following which system performance is further enhanced, leveraging the magnetic integration technology. Furthermore, a simplified control strategy based on the indirect closed-loop control of the DC-side output current is introduced. This method requires fewer sensors and simpler calculations, thereby improving system stability, and achieves approximately a 15% increase in efficiency compared to conventional methods. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed topology significantly suppresses second harmonic ripples commonly observed in the DC-side currents of single-phase current-source PWM rectifiers. Furthermore, it reduces the values of DC-side inductances while lowering the system volume and cost. Finally, experimental validations confirm the significant potential of the symmetric half-bridge power decoupling circuit topology in enhancing the performance of single-phase current-source PWM rectifiers. Full article

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is an important source of natural sweeteners. Since its commercial value depends on steviol glycosides, quality assessment primarily involves quantifying these compounds in leaves and shoots. While chromatography is the standard analytical method, it is labor-intensive and time-consuming; it involves multiple processing steps that may cumulatively introduce errors and remains relatively expensive. Although chromatography remains the most accurate method, this exploratory study evaluates the potential of using spectroscopy as an auxiliary method for the approximate assessment of steviol glycoside content. Leaf reflectance spectroscopy could be a simpler and more cost-effective approach. However, relationships between leaf reflectance and steviol glycoside content are indirect and mediated by physiological processes. To account for these indirect dependencies, cumulative UVB exposure was included as an additional feature because it influences both leaf optical properties and plant metabolic processes. A low-cost spectrometer was utilized as the measuring instrument. The study was conducted over a period of three months on 77 S. rebaudiana clones, divided into four groups based on their level of UVB irradiance (control without irradiation, 400, 600, and 800 μW m⁻²). Based on the collected data, linear and polynomial regression, Random Forest, XGBoost, PLSR, and ElasticNetCV models were trained. Cumulative UVB exposure was found to be the most important feature. Of the spectral features, the most informative for assessing the content of steviol glycosides were spectral indicators in the far-red and near-infrared (NIR) ranges. Our results indicate a detectable relationship, with Random Forest being the best-performing model and achieving a moderate predictive performance (R² = 0.66). Despite their limited predictive performance, the models demonstrate that leaf reflectance spectra combined with cumulative UVB exposure contain information related to steviol glycoside content. These findings support further investigation of remote sensing approaches for crop quality assessment. Full article

Against the backdrop of the deep advancement of the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals and the superposition of the transportation power strategy, leveraging the spatial restructuring of highway networks to optimize the low-carbon layout of county-level industries has become a crucial lever for balancing economic quality improvement with carbon intensity control. This study selects panel data from 129 counties in Yunnan Province spanning 2015–2024, constructing a comprehensive highway network development index from four dimensions: highway density, road network connectivity, weighted hierarchical structure, and county accessibility. Using a two-way fixed effects benchmark model, a stepwise mediation effect testing framework, and a regional heterogeneity identification strategy, the paper systematically examines the marginal effects, transmission pathways, and spatially differentiated characteristics of highway network development on county-level industrial carbon emission intensity. Key findings are as follows: Enhanced highway network development significantly suppresses the increase in county-level industrial carbon emission intensity, and a well-developed road network can provide long-term empowerment for the low-carbon transformation of county-level industries. Mechanism analysis confirms that highway network development reduces emissions through two core pathways: first, a direct emission reduction effect achieved by optimizing the county-wide freight organization system, reducing inefficient transport energy consumption, and improving overall transport efficiency; second, an indirect low-carbon enabling effect realized by breaking down administrative barriers in county markets, lowering cross-regional business transaction costs, deepening industrial division of labor and collaboration, and forcing resource allocation improvements. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the low-carbon dividends of highway network development exhibit significant gradient differentiation: the emission reduction enabling effect is strongest in counties within the Central Yunnan urban agglomeration, followed by cultural tourism counties in western Yunnan and border counties in southern Yunnan, with the weakest marginal enabling effect observed in traditional agricultural counties in northeastern Yunnan. Full article

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer robust, cost-effective, and highly selective alternatives to fragile biological receptors. Specifically, electropolymerization has emerged as a versatile strategy that enables the precise, in situ formation of uniform MIP films directly on electrode surfaces. This review provides a comprehensive overview of electropolymerized MIPs (eMIPs) supported on advanced carbon-based materials for electrochemical (bio)sensing. We emphasize how the synergistic integration of eMIPs with carbonaceous architectures significantly enhances electron transfer, active surface area, and overall analytical sensitivity. Key fabrication aspects are systematically discussed, including monomer selection, electropolymerization parameters, and efficient template removal. A central aspect of this work is the critical categorization of sensing mechanisms into direct and indirect detection strategies. This distinction elucidates how eMIPs can quantify a broad spectrum of electroactive and non-electroactive targets in complex matrices, while strategically avoiding excessively high applied potentials. Finally, alongside outlining the transition of these systems into portable technologies, we address a critical shortcoming in the current literature: the urgent need for analytical standardization through the rigorous reporting of Imprinting and Selectivity Factors using Non-Imprinted Polymer (NIP) controls. Full article

This study examines farmers’ perceptions of how policy support is associated with ecological agriculture adoption and perceived green development outcomes in Xinjiang under China’s Rural Revitalization Strategy. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used, in which the qualitative phase was deliberately connected to the quantitative phase through a shared sampling frame and a construct-aligned interview guide, and the two strands were integrated using a joint display and meta-inferences. In the quantitative phase, survey data from 300 farmers were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the relationships among perceived policy support, ecological agriculture adoption, and green development. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews with 30 participants drawn from the same respondent pool were thematically analyzed to explain, qualify, and contextualize the statistical relationships. The quantitative findings show a strong positive association between perceived policy support and ecological agriculture adoption (β = 0.659, p < 0.001), a strong positive association between ecological agriculture adoption and green development (β = 0.689, p < 0.001), and a smaller but significant direct association between perceived policy support and green development (β = 0.324, p < 0.001). The indirect effect of perceived policy support on green development through ecological agriculture adoption (β = 0.454) indicates partial mediation. The model explains 43.4% of the variance in ecological agriculture adoption and 47.4% of the variance in green development. The integrated joint display shows that technical training, policy clarity, and extension support helped farmers translate policy support into ecological practices, whereas high initial costs, financing constraints, and market uncertainty limited adoption and created uneven outcomes. The integrated findings suggest that policy effectiveness depends not only on the availability of support instruments but also on farmers’ practical capacity, economic security, and confidence in market returns. The study contributes perception-based mixed-method evidence on the policy–adoption–green development nexus in an ecologically vulnerable agricultural region. Full article

Approximately 16 per cent of the global population lives with a disability. Although there are no definitive figures, it is certain that a higher proportion of people with disabilities are poor compared with people who are living without disabilities. In the case of monetary poverty, evidence for their levels of poverty is not conclusive; however, it is well known that people with disabilities face direct and indirect costs associated with their condition, and therefore their levels of income and consumption are lower in comparison with those of persons without disabilities; but in some cases, monetary poverty lines do not capture those differences. This study aims to analyse the levels of poverty of people with disabilities after computing an equivalence scale to capture the needs of people with disabilities and their families. To achieve this objective, we used the Income and Expenditures Survey 2022 (ENAHO-2022) from Peru. We first tested whether the current poverty line in Peru captures the needs of people with disabilities. Then we analysed the consumption patterns of households with and without members with disabilities. Finally, we proposed to adapt the national poverty line for Peru using an equivalence scale that captures the extra costs of living with a disability in Peru. Using this equivalence scale, we recalculated the poverty rate for households with disabilities. The results revealed that the presence of a member with a disability in the household reduces household income and consumption. The estimation of the equivalence scale showed that a household of one member was equivalent to a household with two members without disabilities. When recalculating the incidence of poverty, the percentage of households with disabilities living in poverty increased from 35% to 50% or 760,000 people with disabilities and their families became poor. Full article

Against the backdrop of global decarbonization in energy-intensive industries, the primary aluminum sector has become a critical field for deep industrial decarbonization due to its high electricity consumption, large share of indirect carbon emissions, and complex mitigation pathways. This challenge is particularly salient in regions endowed with abundant renewable resources while hosting concentrated industrial electricity demand, where coordinated mitigation across technological upgrading and energy system transformation has broad practical relevance. Using Xining in Qinghai Province, China, a renewable-rich region, as an illustrative case, this study systematically examines the major carbon mitigation pathways in the primary aluminum industry, including mining, alumina production, electrolytic cell retrofitting, power system coordination, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). A multi-objective optimization model is developed to minimize marginal abatement costs (MAC) while maximizing technological application performance, and the sequential unconstrained minimization technique (SUMT) is employed to optimize mitigation pathways under short-, medium-, and long-term scenarios. The results show that, in the short term (before 2030), emission reduction mainly relies on improvements in electrolysis efficiency, leading to a mitigation pattern dominated by reductions in electricity consumption per unit of output. In the medium term (before 2035), the pathway shifts from isolated process optimization to a coordinated strategy combining process upgrading with power decarbonization, exhibiting a structural mitigation pattern driven by synergy between the production side and the energy side. In the long term (before 2060), the pathway evolves toward a stage dominated by energy system reconfiguration and carbon utilization. With high shares of renewable electricity integration, DC power supply configurations, and energy storage support, primary aluminum production is expected to achieve deep decarbonization on the power side. This study provides a transferable analytical framework and policy-relevant insights for the low-carbon transition of energy-intensive industries in renewable-rich regions. Full article

Subclinical bovine mastitis (SBM) is an inflammatory condition of the udder that remains a major concern for the dairy industry due to its high incidence and the direct and indirect associated costs. Antibiotics are widely used for prophylaxis and therapy in livestock, especially for SBM. However, overuse and misuse have contributed to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), enabling resistant bacteria to enter the food chain and potentially spread to humans. This study aimed to detect antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus and Streptococcus associated with SBM in dairy cows from Pioter, north-central Ecuador. For this, a commercial screening test, morphological and biochemical assays, standard culture techniques, mass spectrometry, and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) were applied. Among 99 isolates, 77 were Staphylococcus and 22 were Streptococcus. Among the identified Staphylococcus isolates, S. aureus was the predominant species (36.4%). Resistance in Staphylococcus exceeded 70% for fosfomycin and was under 30% for the other antibiotics tested. In Streptococcus, S. uberis predominated (54.5%), with resistance primarily to penicillin and tetracycline (>50%). PCR identified mecA, nuc, and lukSF-PV genes in 7.8%, 29.9%, and 6.5% of Staphylococcus isolates, respectively. In Streptococcus, the ermB and blaZ genes were found in 18.2% and 50% of isolates, respectively. These data provide a baseline on SBM-associated AMR in the study area and highlight the need for ongoing surveillance and improved milking practices to mitigate risks to the dairy sector and public health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Halitosis in geriatric patients is multifactorial, but the joint contribution of prosthetic rehabilitation type and polypharmacy after routine dental procedures has rarely been quantified. We investigated how prosthesis type, polypharmacy, and salivary function were associated with volatile sulfur compound (VSC) burden and self-perceived halitosis in elderly dental patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 88 patients aged ≥65 years, four weeks after completing routine dental procedures. Participants were stratified into three groups: complete denture wearers (n = 30), partial removable denture wearers (n = 28), and fixed prostheses/implants (n = 30). We measured unstimulated salivary flow rate (uSFR), tongue coating index (TCI), denture biofilm index, total VSCs (Halimeter^®), organoleptic score (0–5), and self-perceived halitosis. Polypharmacy, comorbidities, and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) were recorded. Analyses included one- and two-way ANOVA, Spearman correlations, theory-informed multivariable linear and logistic regression, exploratory mediation analysis, and ROC curves. Results: Forty-two participants (47.7%) reported halitosis. Mean VSC differed across groups (complete dentures 278.2 ± 38.6 ppb; partial 211.2 ± 46.3 ppb; fixed 164.4 ± 43.9 ppb; ANOVA p < 0.001). uSFR correlated inversely with VSC (ρ = −0.61, p < 0.001) and TCI correlated positively (ρ = 0.56, p < 0.001). A significant prosthesis × polypharmacy interaction was observed (F = 3.74, p = 0.029, η²_p = 0.082): polypharmacy was associated with higher VSC most clearly among partial and fixed prostheses wearers, whereas complete denture wearers showed high VSC levels regardless of polypharmacy status. Exploratory mediation findings were consistent with partial indirect association, with 45.9% of the polypharmacy–VSC association statistically explained by reduced uSFR; however, the cross-sectional design precludes causal or temporal interpretation. The full multivariable model showed apparent discrimination for self-perceived halitosis (AUC = 0.92), while the simplified four-item chairside composite model showed AUC = 0.89; neither estimate was optimism-corrected or externally validated. Conclusions: In elderly post-procedure patients, complete denture wearing, polypharmacy, and salivary hypofunction were independently and jointly associated with higher halitosis burden. Reduced salivary flow was consistent with a partial indirect statistical pathway in the polypharmacy–VSC association, supporting hydration counseling and meticulous prosthesis hygiene as low-cost geriatric interventions. Sensitivity analyses excluding implant-supported restorations, participants with MMSE scores of 24–26, and expanded mediation models including TCI and biofilm/plaque did not materially change the main inference. Full article

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer affects working-age women not only through treatment and survival but also through health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work capacity and informal caregiving needs. Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe remains limited. This study estimated the indirect societal burden of breast cancer among working-age women in Croatia and reported economic indirect costs separately from monetised HRQoL/welfare loss. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study conducted in 2024 included women aged 18–65 years receiving outpatient oncology care at two tertiary centres in Croatia. HRQoL was assessed with the EuroQol five-dimension five-level instrument (EQ-5D-5L) and compared with Croatian general-population norms. Utility decrements were annualised and monetised using a national willingness-to-pay threshold of €17,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Work productivity impairment was measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: General Health (WPAI:GH) questionnaire and valued, together with informal care, using the human-capital approach. Deterministic sensitivity analyses and approximate 95% confidence intervals were used to show how the estimates changed under key assumptions. Results: A total of 271 women participated (mean age 51.3 years among age-eligible records). Mean EQ-5D-5L utility was 0.76 versus 0.91 in the general population, corresponding to an annual QALY loss of 0.15 and a monetised HRQoL/welfare loss of €2550 per patient-year (95% CI €2083–€3017). Among employed participants, mean overall work productivity loss was 43.9% (842.9 h/year), equivalent to €7333 annually (95% CI €6311–€8355). Informal caregiving was reported by 54.7% of participants, with mean annual costs of €1566 (95% CI €1269–€1863). Economic indirect costs were €8899 per patient-year (95% CI €7835–€9963). In an extended welfare-inclusive scenario, the estimated burden was €11,449 per patient-year (95% CI €10,287–€12,611), corresponding to an illustrative national estimate of €86 million (95% CI €77–€95 million; 0.11% of gross domestic product). Conclusions: Breast cancer in working-age women imposes a substantial societal burden in Croatia, driven by reduced HRQoL, productivity losses and informal caregiving needs. These findings support taking societal burden into account in public health planning, survivorship care and health policy decision-making. Full article

Leisure space configuration has been recognized as a spatial approach to reducing carbon emissions from recreational travel, but the role of perceptual factors in linking inter-facility distance to travel behavior is not fully clear. This paper adopts a “relative distance–perceived time cost (PTC)–carbon emissions” framework to explore their associations. Based on 20 recreational hotspots in Tianjin and 2372 valid questionnaires, we apply correlation analysis, mediation tests and regression tree segmentation for empirical exploration. Results indicate that the maximum distance between commercial and other leisure facilities (ShopMax) correlates significantly with PTC and shows a potential indirect association with carbon emissions. The indirect effect is significant for single-point trips (p = 0.006), while only directional trends exist for chained trips due to sample constraints. Optimal distance intervals present nonlinear differences across facility types: scenic facilities (ScenicMax) have overlapping perception- and emission-friendly intervals, whereas ShopMax shows divergent intervals for chained trips. The 200–300 m range is consistently found to be a high-carbon zone. This exploratory analysis suggests perceived time cost may connect spatial configuration to low-carbon travel. Differentiated layout strategies warrant further exploration for various facilities and travel contexts. Full article

Food spoilage from microbial contamination and oxidation drives the search for natural preservatives. Phenolic acids (PAs) and phenolamides are plant-sourced metabolites with broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. This review comprehensively examines their sources, classification, structure–activity relationships, and multi-target mechanisms. PA antimicrobial action involves membrane disruption, intracellular acidification, and oxygen species generation, while antioxidant effects rely on hydrogen donation and metal chelation. For phenolamides, antimicrobial evidence is largely indirect, based on computational docking and one non-food nucleotide biosynthesis study, and direct validation of these mechanisms in food matrices against common foodborne pathogens is lacking. Delivery strategies (direct incorporation, encapsulation, edible coatings, active packaging) are critically evaluated, with emphasis on PA-grafted chitosan systems. Applications of PAs in fruits, vegetables, meat, aquatic products, and lipid-rich emulsions are summarized. Phenolamide applications are limited by low natural abundance, high purification costs, poor aqueous solubility, and a historical bias toward pharmacology. Safety assessments confirm favorable profiles for many PAs and select phenolamides, though chronic toxicity data for phenolamides remain limited. This review provides a theoretical framework for leveraging PAs and emerging phenolamides as natural preservatives and identifies critical knowledge gaps requiring future investigation. Full article

Background/Objectives: The incidence of melanoma in situ (MIS) has increased markedly in several high-income countries, often outpacing invasive melanoma without a proportional rise in mortality. This divergence has raised concerns regarding overdiagnosis, defined as the detection of biologically indolent disease that would not have caused harm if left untreated. This review aims to synthesize contemporary evidence on the overdiagnosis of MIS, focusing on epidemiological patterns, screening-related detection, pathological interpretation, quantitative estimates, and clinical consequences. Methods: A narrative review with systematic search elements was conducted using a structured approach informed by PRISMA principles. PubMed was searched for studies published between January 2017 and March 2026, and eligible studies were selected based on relevance to melanoma overdiagnosis, MIS incidence, screening, and diagnostic variability. Results: The literature consistently demonstrates that increases in melanoma incidence are largely driven by MIS and thin invasive lesions rather than advanced disease. Screening and surveillance preferentially increase detection of low-risk lesions, while variability in dermatopathological interpretation contributes to diagnostic drift. Quantitative studies suggest that a substantial proportion of MIS diagnoses may represent overdiagnosis, exceeding 60–80% in some settings. All of this entails significant direct and indirect social costs in several countries. Conclusions: Overdiagnosis of MIS is a significant and multifactorial phenomenon. MIS represents a heterogeneous entity, and future strategies should focus on improving diagnostic precision, risk stratification, and minimizing harm associated with unnecessary diagnosis. Full article

The integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into architectural education has received increasing scholarly attention; however, this discussion has largely focused on design studios, environmental design, sustainable design pedagogies, or program-level curriculum mapping. By contrast, project/construction management, construction economics, design economics, time management, and construction project management courses have received comparatively less attention as specific curricular sites for SDG-oriented integration. This study analyzes course information packages related to project/construction management in selected undergraduate architecture programs in Türkiye through an SDG-oriented curriculum mapping approach. Methodologically, the study combines document-based comparative curriculum mapping, directed qualitative content analysis, six thematic coding areas, 0–3 thematic intensity coding, and SDG alignment. The comparative analysis group consists of eight courses related to project/construction management, construction economics, design economics, time management, and construction project management. The findings show that the project/construction management core is strongly represented across all analyzed courses. Sustainability and SDG orientation are most visible in the Design Economics and Special Topics of Construction Project Management courses, while the Time Management in Building Production course stands out in relation to digital/software-supported management. The SDG alignment profile indicates strong visibility for SDG 11, SDG 4, SDG 16, and SDG 12; moderate-to-strong visibility for SDG 9; and a more indirect visibility for SDG 13 through life-cycle thinking, resource efficiency, and sustainable construction management. The original contribution of the study lies in positioning project/construction management courses as a specialized curricular field within SDG-oriented architectural education and in proposing the SDG-Oriented Project/Construction Management Education Matrix. The results suggest that project/construction management courses are not merely technical professional courses; rather, through time, cost, quality, risk, contracts, life-cycle costing, resource management, BIM, supply chains, facility operation, ethics, and applied learning, they provide a strategic curricular foundation for sustainable built environment education. Full article

Indoor monitoring of biological contamination is essential for protecting cultural heritage and public health. However, conventional culture-based methods limit timely intervention. This study presents an affordable modular multisensor system for indirectly detecting airborne fungal contamination using Penicillium chrysogenum as a representative model organism and its environmental signatures. The proposed prototype integrates PMSA003I, BME688 and AMG8833 sensors and was evaluated under controlled environmental conditions. Biological ground truth was established using a volumetric inertial-impaction sampling protocol (SAS sampler), validating four contamination levels (~6 to 165, CFU/m³). A total of 1989 observations were analyzed. Non-parametric statistical tests (Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U) confirmed significant differences between all the exposure conditions ($p<0.001$). Supervised machine learning (ML) models showed strong performance across all the classification tasks, with accuracy and AUC values near 100%. In most cases, pressure alone was sufficient. The statistical and ML analyses consistently identified pressure, particulate-related variables, gas resistance and humidity as the most informative features. Overall, the results indicate that the proposed approach can reliably capture indirect environmental signatures associated with airborne fungal presence under controlled conditions. The study supports the feasibility of low-cost multisensor systems for continuous indoor bioaerosol monitoring while highlighting the need for further optimization and validation in real-world environments. Full article