Search Results (9,385)

Climate change and land-use intensification are speeding up the loss of ecosystem services that support human health, food security, and environmental stability. Vegetative interventions—such as urban forests in cities and cover crops in farming systems—are increasingly seen as nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. However, their benefits are often viewed separately. This review combines 20 years of research to explore how these strategies, together, improve provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services across various landscapes. Urban forests help reduce urban heat islands, improve air quality, manage stormwater, and offer cultural and health benefits. Cover crops increase soil fertility, regulate water, support nutrient cycling, and enhance crop yields, with potential for carbon sequestration and biofuel production. We identify opportunities and challenges, highlight barriers to adopting these strategies, and suggest integrated frameworks—including spatial decision-support tools, incentive programs, and education—to encourage broader use. By connecting urban and rural systems, this review underscores vegetation as a versatile tool for resilience, essential for reaching global sustainability goals. Full article

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) is a pervasive occupational hazard in healthcare that undermines staff safety and quality of care. In Bulgaria, WPV remains widespread and underreported, despite recent legislative initiatives. This study assessed healthcare professionals’ perceptions of the effectiveness of WPV prevention strategies and examined how prior exposure shapes these perceptions. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted in December 2024 with 944 healthcare professionals from multiple sectors. Participants rated the perceived effectiveness of 11 prevention strategies, including environmental/security measures, organizational, and national-level interventions, on a three-point scale. Friedman ANOVA with Kendall’s W assessed overall strategy rankings, while Mann–Whitney U tests with rank-biserial correlations compared specific effectiveness ratings between subgroups defined by WPV exposure (experienced or witnessed vs. not exposed in the previous 12 months). Results: In the previous 12 months, 34.7% of respondents reported direct WPV, and 43.4% had either experienced or witnessed incidents. Friedman ANOVA indicated significant differences in perceived effectiveness across strategies (Kendall’s W = 0.13), with stronger differentiation among violence-exposed respondents (W = 0.37) than among non-exposed respondents (W = 0.09). National-level interventions and security/response measures were consistently ranked the highest. Mann–Whitney tests showed significantly higher endorsement of most strategies among violence-exposed professionals, with large effect sizes for security measures and enforcement of sanctions. Conclusions: Bulgarian healthcare professionals view WPV prevention as requiring a multicomponent approach that integrates robust national policy with organizational and environmental measures. Direct exposure to violence is associated with stronger support for security-focused and national interventions. These findings inform context-specific, evidence-based WPV prevention programs for Bulgarian healthcare facilities. Full article

A well construction plan includes a drilling program, drilling fluids, casing-setting-depth selection, casing-grade-combination design, bit selection, cementing, and a wellhead design. Casing-setting-depth selection techniques are an integral part of the construction of oil and gas wells, where setting-depth selection methods rely on both safety and economics. In this study, a new casing-setting-depth selection method is developed. This new method is based on the estimation of the fracturing pressure using the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion. To validate this new casing-setting-depth selection method, ten core samples, representing ten underground formations in the Saudi lithological column, were tested for uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths. The results were utilized to establish rock failure criteria and estimate casing setting depth using a newly proposed casing-setting-depth selection method based on the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion and compared to other traditional casing-setting-depth estimation methods. The results demonstrated that the Hubbert & Willis method provided a very narrow safe mud window compared to the other methods, while the leak-off, Eaton, Mathews & Kelly, and other methods provided more economical results. On the other hand, the Mohr–Coulomb method provided the widest and most economical safe mud window compared to all other traditional methods. One of the main requirements of the Mohr–Coulomb casing-setting-depth selection method is that it either requires appreciable core samples from various depths to be tested in the laboratory for their mechanical properties and failure criteria, or that core-calibrated well logs be used. Additionally, relying on Mohr–Coulomb casing-setting-depth selection methods requires the use of filtration loss control materials to seal any microcracks that may form. Economical comparisons in terms of casing string number and length yielded that Eaton, leak-off, and Mathews and Kelly methods reduced casing cost by 31% compared to Hubbert and Willis methods. On the other hand, the new casing-setting-depth selection method based on the Mohr–Coulomb method reduced casing costs by 41% compared with the Hubbert and Willis methods and by 10% compared with the leak-off and Mathews and Kelly methods. Therefore, this study provides a new proof of concept for developing an efficient method for selecting the casing setting depth for oil and gas wells. Full article

Textual revision is a recursive process integral to writing. However, less experienced writers often struggle to select effective strategies, underuse self-regulation, and evaluate their work without metacognitive control. This study examined the effectiveness of instructional programs focused on textual revision, incorporating dynamic assessment as a means to promote self-regulation. A total of 88 secondary school students (aged 13–15) participated, randomly assigned by class group to one of four conditions: mechanical revision, substantive revision, combined revision, or rewriting. A quasi-experimental design with repeated measures was used to assess the revisions carried out by the students Each intervention focused on distinct revision strategies: surface-level corrections, content and structure, or a combination of both. The rewriting group received no specific instruction beyond the weekly practice of rewriting the text that the other groups worked on. Findings revealed that students in the substantive revision group achieved the greatest gains in their revisions. The study concludes that instructional approaches focused on deep, content-oriented revision are particularly effective in improving students’ writing performance and fostering self-regulatory skills. These findings highlight the value of embedding metacognitive support in revision-focused instruction. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between apparent electrical resistivity (ER) and key material parameters governing moisture and pore-structure characteristics of concrete. An experimental program was conducted using six concrete mix designs, where ER was continuously measured under controlled wetting and drying cycles to characterize its dependence on the degree of saturation (DS). Results confirmed that ER decreases exponentially with increasing DS across all mixtures, with R² values between 0.896 and 0.997, establishing DS as the dominant factor affecting electrical conduction. To incorporate additional pore-structure parameters, eight input combinations consisting of DS, porosity (P), water–cement ratio (WCR), and compressive strength (f′c) were evaluated using five machine learning models. Gaussian Process Regression and Neural Networks achieved the highest accuracy, particularly when all parameters were included. SHAP analysis revealed that DS accounts for the majority of predictive influence, while porosity and WCR provide secondary but meaningful contributions to ER behavior. Guided by these insights, nonlinear multivariate regression models were formulated, with the exponential model yielding the strongest predictive capability (R² = 0.96). The integrated experimental–computational approach demonstrates that ER is governed by moisture dynamics and pore-structure refinement, offering a physically interpretable and statistically robust framework for nondestructive durability assessment of concrete. Full article

The global aging population has led to a rising prevalence of cognitive impairment, posing a significant public health challenge. Resistance training (RT) is a non-pharmacological intervention that has been increasingly investigated for its potential to support cognitive function in older adults. Clinical evidence suggests that RT may be associated with benefits in certain cognitive domains, including memory, executive function, processing speed, and visuospatial ability. However, findings across studies remain heterogeneous, with several trials reporting neutral outcomes. Most intervention studies involve structured RT programs conducted at moderate to high intensity and performed multiple times per week. However, optimal training parameters have not yet been clearly established due to variability in study design and the absence of formal dose–response analyses. Emerging evidence suggests that the cognitive effects of RT may be mediated, at least in part, through muscle–brain axis signaling involving exercise-induced myokines. Factors such as irisin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, interleukin-6, interleukin-15, and insulin-like growth factor-1 have been implicated in processes related to neuroplasticity, neuroinflammatory regulation, and neurovascular function, primarily based on preclinical and translational research. This review synthesizes current evidence on RT-related molecular mechanisms and clinical findings to provide an integrative perspective on the potential role of resistance training in mitigating age-related cognitive decline. Full article

The present exploratory study investigates how pre-primary and primary student teachers (STs) at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) perceive the impact of bilingual education programs (BEPs) on children’s learning experience. Specifically, it examines student teachers’ views on the benefits and challenges of implementing Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in pre-primary and primary education and explores whether there are differences between the opinions of the two groups. The analysis is based on data from six items of a structured questionnaire, validated in previous studies and completed by 170 prospective pre-primary and primary teachers at the UAM. The results suggest a shared perception among STs that BEPs enrich the learning experience of students in both pre-primary and primary education. Most STs recognize that CLIL enhances language proficiency and supports cognitive development, although they also point to insufficient teacher training and the low motivation of children with learning difficulties as major challenges. While no major differences emerged between the views of pre-primary and primary STs, subtle variations point to the existence of two distinct trainee profiles that determine their views on BEPs and that would require further mid-term investigation. The findings highlight areas for targeted support in teacher training programs. Full article

Global climate change has emerged as a critical challenge for human society in the 21st century. As hubs of population and economic activity, urban and rural areas are increasingly exposed to complex and compounded disaster risks. To systematically evaluate the role of educational intervention in climate adaptability capacity building, this study employs a case study approach, focusing on the “Climate Change Adaptation Education and Teaching Alliance Program” launched in Taiwan in 2014. Through a comprehensive analysis of its institutional structure, curriculum, alliance network, and practical activities, the study explores the effectiveness of educational innovation in cultivating climate resilience talent. The study found that the program, through interdisciplinary collaboration and a practice-oriented teaching model, successfully integrated climate adaptability content into 57 courses, training a total of 2487 students. Project-based learning (PBL) and workshops significantly improved students’ systems thinking and practical abilities, and many of its findings were adopted by local governments. Based on these empirical results, the study proposes that urban and rural planning education should be promoted in the following ways: first, updating teaching materials to reflect regional climate characteristics and local needs; second, enhancing curriculum design by introducing core courses such as climate-resilient planning and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration; third, enriching hands-on learning through real project cases and participatory workshops; and fourth, deepening integration between education and practice by establishing multi-stakeholder partnerships supported by dedicated funding and digital platforms. Through such an innovative educational framework, we can prepare a new generation of professionals capable of supporting global sustainable development in the face of climate change. This study provides a replicable model of practice for education policymakers worldwide, particularly in promoting the integration of climate resilience education in developing countries, which can help accelerate the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG11) and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to address the global climate crisis. Full article

A Security Operation Center (SOC) is a security control center for monitoring, detecting, analyzing, and responding to cybersecurity threats. PT (Perseroan Terbatas) Non-Bank Financial Company (NBFC) has implemented an SOC to secure its information systems, but challenges remain to be solved. These include the absence of impact analysis on financial and regulatory requirements, cost, and effort estimation for recovery; established Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) for monitoring security controls; and an official program for insider threats. This study evaluates SOC effectiveness at PT NBFC using the ISO 27005:2018 and NIST SP 800-30 frameworks. The research results in a proposed SOC assessment framework, integrating risk assessment, risk treatment, risk acceptance, and monitoring. Additionally, a maturity level assessment was conducted for ISO 27005:2018, NIST SP 800-30, and the proposed framework. The proposed framework achieves good maturity, with two domains meeting the target maturity value and one domain reaching level 4 (Managed and Measurable). By incorporating domains from both ISO 27005:2018 and NIST SP 800-30, the new framework offers a more comprehensive risk management approach, covering strategic, managerial, and technical aspects. Full article

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) plays a pivotal role in the propagation and genetic improvement of coniferous trees; however, its efficiency is frequently limited by the reduced embryogenic potential of callus cultures. Here, we investigated the metabolic determinants underlying this phenomenon in Picea mongolica by conducting a comparative metabolomic analysis of embryogenic calli (EC) and non-embryogenic calli (NEC). We observed significant metabolic differences between EC and NEC using an integrated approach combining morphological observations and untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based metabolomics. EC exhibited increased central carbon metabolism, characterized by enhanced citrate cycle (TCA) flux, with significantly increased levels of the key TCA intermediates, citric acid and L-malic acid—18.8- and 3.6-fold higher, respectively, than those in NEC. Conversely, NEC displayed a divergent metabolic state, characterized by the accumulation of various amino acids and the activation of secondary metabolic pathways, especially alkaloid biosynthesis. These results indicate that embryogenic competence in P. mongolica is supported by a distinct metabolic program that prioritizes energy generation and efficient carbon-nitrogen allocation for biosynthetic processes. Conversely, the non-embryogenic state arises from a shift in metabolic resources toward secondary metabolism. These findings provide key metabolic insights and a theoretical basis for enhancing conifer SE systems. Full article

Amid escalating ecological degradation, social fragmentation, and rising mental health challenges—especially in rural and agricultural communities—there is an urgent need to reimagine systems that support both planetary and human flourishing. This viewpoint examines an emerging paradigm in agriculture that emphasizes the role of farmers’ inner development in fostering practices that enhance ecological health, community well-being, and a resilient food system. A key goal is to draw more academic attention to growing community calls for more holistic, relational, and spiritually grounded approaches to food systems as an important focus for ongoing research. Drawing on diverse case studies from Japan, India, and Europe, we examine how small-scale and natural farming initiatives are integrating inner development, universal human values, and ecological consciousness. These case studies were developed and/or refined through a program led by the Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA), an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that seeks to integrate inner transformation with sustainable food systems change. The initiatives are intended as illustrative examples of how agriculture can transcend its conventional, anthropocentric role as a food production system to become a site for cultivating deeper self-awareness, spiritual connection, and regenerative relationships with nature. Participants in these cases reported significant shifts in mindset—from materialistic and extractive worldviews to more relational and value-driven orientations rooted in care, cooperation, and sustainability. Core practices such as mindfulness, experiential learning, and spiritual ecology helped reframe farming as a holistic process that nurtures both land and life. These exploratory case studies suggest that when farmers are supported in aligning with inner values and natural systems, they become empowered as agents of systemic change. By linking personal growth with planetary stewardship, these models offer pathways toward more integrated, life-affirming approaches to agriculture and future academic research. Full article

Background/Objectives: Parental mental health challenges are associated with parenting difficulties and child mental health issues. Parenting interventions can support families; however, parents with mental health challenges face barriers to accessing parenting support, which is not consistently offered within adult mental health settings. Embedding technology-assisted parenting programs into these settings could provide accessible, holistic support. Partners in Parenting Kids (PiP Kids) is a digital parenting program designed to prevent child anxiety and depression, yet its suitability for parents with mental health challenges and fit within mental health services remains unclear. This study aimed to co-design and adapt PiP Kids for future implementation in an Australian adult mental health service. Methods: Parents who recently sought mental health support (n = 8) and service providers (n = 7) participated in co-design workshops to explore needs and preferences for a technology-assisted parenting program and iteratively develop a prototype. Parents (n = 3) trialled the online component of the prototype and participated in qualitative interviews to assess acceptability. Results: The adapted clinician-supported program was designed to facilitate (1) parent and clinician readiness for parenting support; (2) emotional and social support for parents and clinicians; (3) practical, personalised parenting knowledge; (4) parent-led empowerment; and (5) accessible, integrated support. Prototype clinician training was developed to strengthen the clinician-support component. Parents indicated initial acceptability of the online prototype while reiterating the value of including face-to-face support. Conclusions: This study co-designed an online, clinician-supported parenting program for future embedding within adult mental health settings. The findings highlight key considerations for developing and implementing technology-assisted interventions that promote family-focused care for parents seeking mental health support. Full article

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a state of persistent, sterile low-grade inflammation in which sustained innate immune activation accelerates renal decline and cardiovascular complications. Diet-induced gut dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction lower mucosal immune tolerance, promote metabolic endotoxemia, and position the gut as an upstream modulator of systemic inflammatory signaling along the gut–kidney axis. Scope: Most studies address microbiota-derived metabolites, food-derived bioactive peptides, or omega-3 fatty acids separately. This review integrates evidence across these domains and examines their convergent actions on epithelial barrier integrity, immune polarization, oxidative-inflammatory stress, and inflammasome-dependent pathways relevant to CKD progression. Key mechanisms: CKD-associated dysbiosis is characterized by reduced short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and increased generation and accumulation of uremic toxins and co-metabolites, including indoxyl sulfate, p-cresyl sulfate, trimethylamine N-oxide, and altered bile acids. Reduced SCFA availability weakens tight junction-dependent barrier function and regulatory immune programs, favoring Th17-skewed inflammation and endotoxin translocation. Bioactive peptides modulate inflammatory mediator networks and barrier-related pathways through effects on NF-κB/MAPK signaling and redox balance, while omega-3 fatty acids and specialized pro-resolving mediators support resolution-phase immune responses. Across these modalities, shared control points include barrier integrity, metabolic endotoxemia, oxidative stress, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Conclusions: Although evidence remains heterogeneous and largely preclinical, combined nutritional modulation targeting these convergent pathways may offer greater immunomodulatory benefit than isolated interventions. Future multi-omics-guided, factorial trials are required to define responder phenotypes and translate precision immunonutrition strategies into clinical CKD care. Full article

The Urmia Lake Basin (ULB) in northwest Iran faces critical water management challenges significantly impacting agricultural sustainability and regional water–food security. This study presents a novel framework employing multi-objective linear programming to optimize crop selection and resource allocation strategies, addressing critical trade-offs inherent within the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus. Central to this framework is the Water–Energy–Food Nexus Index (WEFNI), which integrates seven pivotal productivity indicators: water consumption indicator (WCI), energy consumption (EC), water mass productivity (WMP), energy mass productivity (EMP), economic water productivity (EWP), and economic energy productivity (EPE). The analysis leverages 22 years of agricultural data (1995–2016) for the primary crops (wheat, barley, sugar beet, alfalfa, corn, and fruits) cultivated within the basin. Three distinct optimization scenarios are assessed: maximizing combined WEF productivity and economic returns (Sc₁); maximizing WEF productivity with minimized water consumption (Sc₂); maximizing economic returns under stringent water use limitations (Sc₃). Results consistently identify corn as the superior crop in terms of water–energy efficiency, whereas sugar beet demonstrated the lowest overall performance. This robust optimization approach elucidates critical trade-offs, providing actionable insights for policymakers managing similar water-stressed regions, although specific regional calibrations are necessary. Full article

Background: Health education is a vital component of preventative care; however, rural Filipino adults often face structural, linguistic, and access barriers to obtaining reliable health information. Designing equitable and culturally relevant health education programs requires understanding which sources are most significant and how context affects them. Objective: To identify preferred sources of health education among adults in rural Philippine communities and investigate the contextual factors that influence these preferences. Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods study included 1203 adults from disadvantaged Luzon and Visayas barangays. Participants completed a self-administered survey on the importance of neighborhood health fairs, native-language instructional tools, and social media. Descriptive statistics (mean ± standard deviation) were used to aggregate importance ratings, and exploratory comparisons were made using paired and independent-samples t-tests. A subsample of 60 semi-structured interviews was analyzed using thematic analysis to interpret qualitative data. Results: Community health fairs were identified as the primary source of health education, with a mean rating of 8.5 ± 1.6, followed by native-language educational materials, which received a mean rating of 5.5 ± 2.4. In contrast, social media was rated the lowest, with a mean of 3.5 ± 2.3. Preference patterns were consistent across regions and sociodemographic groups, with only slight variation in rating magnitudes. Qualitative analysis revealed four themes influencing source preferences: accessibility and proximity, cultural and linguistic relevance, confidence in local health providers, and structural obstacles to digital access. Conclusions: In rural Philippine communities, intimacy, confidence, and cultural congruence influence health education preferences more than online platforms do. Strengthening community-based, locally integrated health education strategies may enhance the reach and contextual relevance of preventive health communication in underserved settings. Full article