Search Results (11,890)

This study explored the associations among business intelligence (BI) capabilities and innovative performance (IP) in four- and five-star luxury hotels, while also examining the moderating key role of absorptive capacity (ACAP). Based on the Resource-Based View (RBV), the study conceptualised BI as a multidimensional construct comprising six key capabilities. Data were collected from a sample of 470 hotel managers, and the model was analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that four BI dimensions (analytical decision-making culture, use of information in business processes, information access quality, and information content quality) have a significant positive association with IP. On the contrary, analytical capability and data integration did not exhibit a direct significant association with IP. The moderation analysis offered further insights, illustrating that ACAP can selectively strengthen the association between information content quality and IP, as well as between data integration and IP. These findings highlighted that, in the luxury hotel context, the value of BI depends not only on technological infrastructure but also on the firm’s ability to transform high-quality, integrated data into actionable knowledge. The study contributed to the literature by indicating the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the BI–IP relationship and by providing nuanced insights into how distinctive BI capabilities can drive innovation in a service-intensive setting. From a practical perspective, the results suggested that hotel managers should prioritise promoting a data-driven culture, improving data quality, and designing organisational learning capabilities to leverage BI for IP fully. Full article

Spatially explicit socioeconomic data are critical for regional analysis, yet they remain scarce at subnational scales in many African contexts. This study presents a transparent and reproducible open-data framework to generate high-resolution gridded Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and derived socioeconomic and energy indicators. The approach combines gridded population and Night-Time Light (NTL) through the LitPop method to downscale provincial GDP to 1 km resolution for the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area (IUWMA) in South Africa. The resulting GDP dataset is subsequently used as a spatial proxy to disaggregate compensation of employees, gross capital formation, fixed capital stock, net exports, gross operational surplus and sectoral Total Final Energy Consumption (TFEC). Results show strong consistency with official provincial GDP totals, with deviations ±0.4% after 2017. In 2024, LitPop allocated 4.26 billion constant 2015 USD to the IUWMA, equivalent to 16% of Mpumalanga’s GDP, compared with 47.3% under area-based allocation and 51.3% under population-based allocation. These differences reveal the strong influence of spatially concentrated industrial and energy-intensive activity. The workflow provides a scalable and replicable solution to generate coherent gridded socioeconomic datasets for WEF Nexus modelling, although estimates remain proxy-based and sensitive to NTL-related biases, particularly the overrepresentation of highly illuminated industrial assets and the underrepresentation of less luminous activities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive skin cancer with a 40% recurrence rate. However, reliable biomarkers for early recurrence detection or treatment guidance are lacking, especially for virus-negative tumors. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), a fragment of tumor-derived cell-free DNA in blood, has emerged across multiple cancers as a minimally invasive precision biomarker to detect minimal residual disease (MRD); predict recurrence; and monitor treatment response. This review’s objective was to summarize recent advances in ctDNA as a tool for therapeutic decision-making in MCC, contextualized by findings in other malignancies. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed, focusing on studies published between 2016 and 2026 that evaluate ctDNA in MCC and other cancers. Key prospective trials, observational studies, and case reports were identified through PubMed and relevant conference proceedings. Data on ctDNA assay methods (tumor-informed vs. tumor-agnostic), clinical sensitivity, lead time for recurrence detection, and predictive value for therapy response were extracted and synthesized. Results: Across cancers such as colorectal, lung, and melanoma, ctDNA positivity after curative treatment predicts relapse months in advance of imaging and can guide adjuvant therapy decisions. In MCC, recent studies demonstrate that ctDNA levels correlate with MCC tumor burden and exhibit high sensitivity and specificity for clinically evident disease. Stage I-III MCC patients who were ctDNA-positive within four months of treatment had a 7.4-fold higher recurrence risk within the subsequent 12–18 months of follow-up. Serial ctDNA monitoring may enable earlier intervention in otherwise asymptomatic ctDNA-positive MCC cases, helping distinguish responders from non-responders. Conclusions: ctDNA is an emerging precision biomarker that offers significant prognostic and surveillance utility in MCC. It enables earlier detection of recurrence, potentially allowing treatment to begin before clinical disease manifests. It also helps stratify patients by risk and treatment response, informing personalized surveillance intensity and therapeutic choices. Integrating ctDNA monitoring into MCC management could improve outcomes by guiding timely interventions, although prospective trials are needed to confirm that ctDNA-guided decisions translate to improved patient survival. Formal cost-effectiveness analyses have not yet been conducted and represent an important area for future investigation. Full article

Digital infrastructure may improve firm productivity, yet its economic value depends on whether firms can absorb external connectivity and embed it in production, management, and investment decisions. Using the staggered implementation of the “Broadband China” pilot policy as a quasi-natural experiment, this study examines the effect of city-level broadband infrastructure on the revenue-based labor productivity of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2009 to 2023. A multi-period difference-in-differences model shows that the pilot policy is associated with an increase in revenue per employee. The baseline estimate implies an economically meaningful increase of approximately 4.1%, and the result remains robust to alternative productivity measures, sample restrictions, stricter fixed effects, placebo tests, PSM-DID, and IPW-DID. CSDID estimates are positive but not statistically significant at conventional levels and are therefore interpreted as directionally consistent rather than independently confirmatory. Evidence based on total factor productivity, management expense intensity, and investment adjustment is consistent with production efficiency, management coordination, and organizational adjustment channels. Heterogeneity tests show stronger effects among non-state-owned, eastern region, and non-manufacturing firms. The findings suggest that broadband infrastructure generates productivity benefits when firms have the organizational absorptive capacity to convert external digital connectivity into internal operational efficiency. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adult patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) frequently require invasive diagnostic, therapeutic, surgical, or bedside procedures during ongoing extracorporeal support. These procedures are clinically challenging because ECMO-related anticoagulation, platelet dysfunction, acquired coagulopathy, and circuit-related coagulation activation may increase both bleeding and thrombotic risks. This systematic review evaluated the safety of invasive procedures performed during adult ECMO support, excluding tracheostomy/tracheotomy because this procedure has recently been addressed in a dedicated systematic review. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus was performed. The final bibliographic data collection was completed in April 2026. Studies were eligible if they included adult ECMO or extracorporeal life support patients undergoing invasive procedures during ongoing ECMO support, or with ECMO used as procedural support, and reported at least one procedure-specific safety outcome. Primary outcomes were procedure-related complications, bleeding, major bleeding, and transfusion requirements. Secondary outcomes included thrombotic and circuit-related complications, oxygenator exchange, reintervention, reoperation, procedural failure, ECMO duration, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, and mortality. Results: The final qualitative synthesis included 46 studies, comprising 26 studies from PubMed/MEDLINE and 20 additional unique studies from Scopus. Included procedures were grouped into six domains: airway, bronchoscopic, and tracheobronchial procedures; thoracic surgery and lung resections; abdominal surgery, gastrointestinal endoscopy, and decompressive laparotomy; lung transplantation and perioperative extracorporeal life support; cardiovascular, vascular, pulmonary embolism-related, and mechanical circulatory support-related procedures; and mixed non-cardiac surgery. Airway and bronchoscopic procedures generally showed high procedural success in selected cohorts, although registry-level tracheal procedure data reported hemorrhagic complications in 26.0% and surgical-site bleeding in 13.0%. Emergency thoracic and abdominal procedures carried the highest bleeding, transfusion, reintervention, and mortality burden. Lung transplantation studies showed that ECMO can be integrated into perioperative pathways, but hemothorax, transfusion, thromboembolism, and anticoagulation strategy remained central safety issues. Conclusions: Invasive procedures during adult ECMO are feasible in selected patients and experienced centers, but procedural safety varies markedly by procedure type, urgency, baseline disease severity, and anticoagulation strategy. A procedure-centered, multidisciplinary approach with individualized anticoagulation management and careful planning is essential. Full article

Accurate assessment of carbon storage dynamics and their driving factors is important for ecological sustainability and land management on the Loess Plateau under China’s dual carbon goals. In this study, the InVEST and PLUS models were integrated to evaluate carbon storage changes from 2000 to 2020 and simulate future carbon storage patterns for 2030 under four development scenarios, including natural development (ND), rapid development (RD), cropland protection (CP), and ecological protection (EP). In addition, the XGBoost-SHAP framework was employed to identify the dominant drivers and nonlinear response relationships controlling spatial variation in carbon storage. During 2000–2020, ecosystem carbon storage across the Loess Plateau generally increased, rising from 5.780 Pg to 5.893 Pg. Spatially, carbon storage displayed a pronounced pattern characterized by higher levels in the southeast and lower levels in the northwest, aligning with forest–grassland restoration belts. Scenario simulations showed that EP produced the largest carbon storage gain, with total carbon storage projected to reach 5.962 Pg in 2030. In contrast, RD reduced carbon storage to 5.858 Pg because of intensive construction land expansion. XGBoost-SHAP results identified net primary productivity (NPP) as the most influential factor controlling spatial variation in carbon storage, accounting for 57.3% of the total explanatory importance, whereas soil erosion (SE) exhibited a strong negative effect on carbon storage. Population density (POPD) also exerted a negative effect, whereas gross domestic product (GDP) showed positive contributions in economically developed counties. These findings enhance understanding of the spatial response characteristics of carbon storage under environmental gradients and human disturbance across the Loess Plateau. They further provide scientific support for differentiated ecological management and regionally adapted carbon mitigation planning. Full article

Background: Football is an intermittent sport characterized by high physical and physiological demands, which may be influenced by the competitive level. Understanding differences in match load is fundamental for optimizing training planning, fatigue management, and athlete performance and injury prevention. This study aimed to evaluate and compare external and internal load in senior football players in Portugal across five distinct competitive levels. Methods: Wimu Pro^TM (Hudl, Lincoln, NE, USA) and Garmin Heart Rate bands (Garmin International Inc., Olathe, KS, USA) were used to quantify and evaluate the external and internal load of the players. A total of 96 athletes were assessed, with ages ranging from 19 to 36 years (mean: 24.28 ± 4.72), who were divided into five competition levels (1st Division (n = 19), 2nd Division (n = 21), 3rd Division (n = 14), 4th Division (n = 20), and Regional Division (n = 22). Results: Significant differences were observed between competitive levels across several external load variables (p > 0.001). The 3rd Division and 4th Division showed higher values in variables associated with reactive and high-intensity actions (p < 0.001; effect size: 0.287), whereas the 2nd Division exhibited a more controlled load profile. Regarding internal load, significant differences were only observed in average heart rate during the second half (p = 0.043; effect size: 0.085), indicating distinct capacities to maintain physiological intensity under fatigue. Conclusions: It can be concluded that competitive level influences load profiles in football, although the differences do not follow a linear pattern. External and internal loads demonstrate greater discriminatory capacity between competitive levels than internal load. Full article

Waste-to-energy (WtE) systems are frequently proposed as complementary waste-management strategies; however, their climate performance depends on the interaction between thermodynamic efficiency, material circularity, and electricity-system characteristics. Existing life-cycle assessments generally provide static comparisons between landfill and WtE but rarely identify the operating conditions under which WtE remains environmentally competitive. To address this gap, a parametric life cycle–energy framework was developed by integrating attributional LCA with an analytical energy model capable of evaluating critical efficiency thresholds under varying recovery rates and electricity-grid conditions. Four representative thermoplastics (PET, HDPE, PP, and LDPE) were evaluated using ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) in SimaPro under Mexican electricity conditions ($E{F}_{\mathrm{grid}}=0.444$ kg CO₂eq/kWh). Results indicate that total life-cycle climate impacts are dominated by upstream polymer production, whereas end-of-life management contributes only marginally to overall GWP. Critical-efficiency analysis revealed strong sensitivity to both recovery rate and electricity-grid carbon intensity. For PET, the minimum efficiency required for WtE to outperform landfill increased from 13.1% to 73.5% across the evaluated scenarios, whereas HDPE remained competitive at efficiencies below 1.3%. Monte Carlo simulations (10,000 realizations) further demonstrated that avoided emissions decline systematically with increasing recovery rates, with LDPE exhibiting the highest mean avoided emissions (1735 kg CO₂eq) and PET the lowest (811 kg CO₂eq). These results demonstrate that WtE climate performance is governed primarily by residual waste availability and electricity-system evolution rather than thermodynamic efficiency alone. Consequently, WtE should be interpreted as a transitional residual-waste management strategy whose long-term climate relevance decreases as material circularity and electricity-grid decarbonization advance. Full article

Small ruminant production in Kosovo is predominantly extensive, and biosecurity practices remain poorly characterized. The emergence of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in Europe (beginning in 2024) and the first confirmed case in Kosovo (July 2025) highlight the urgent need for baseline biosecurity data to inform disease control. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted on 63 small ruminant farms (53 meat-producing, 10 dairy-producing) across seven municipalities in Kosovo between September 2025 and February 2026. Biosecurity practices were assessed using the Biocheck.UGent™ questionnaire during direct on-farm visits. External (Ext) biosecurity scores (preventing pathogen introduction) were higher (p < 0.0001) than internal (Int) scores (limiting spread within farms). For external biosecurity, the highest scores were observed for purchase and reproduction (Ext A), intermediate scores existed for feed and water (Ext C) and visitors and farm workers (Ext D), and the lowest scores were found for transport and carcass removal (Ext B) and infrastructure (Ext E). For internal biosecurity, the highest scores were observed for lamb/kid management (Int H) and dairy management (Int I), followed by the management of adult animals (Int J); work organization (Int K) and reproduction management (Int G) formed an intermediate-low cluster, whereas disease management (Int F) scored the lowest. Benchmarking against the Biocheck.UGent™ worldwide database (predominantly intensive systems, thus not directly comparable) indicated that internal biosecurity and overall biosecurity levels were lower than the benchmark, while external biosecurity was comparable for some components. Given the convenience sample (36.4% response rate), findings are exploratory and are not directly generalizable. Larger herd size was positively correlated with external (ρ = 0.54, p < 0.0001), internal (ρ = 0.35, p = 0.005), and overall (ρ = 0.57, p < 0.0001) biosecurity scores. This first empirical biosecurity assessment of small ruminant farms in Kosovo reveals critical gaps in transport hygiene, disease management, and reproductive management pathways that enable PPR spread and perpetuate endemic zoonoses. The positive association between herd size and biosecurity may indicate structural barriers and/or knowledge gaps for small farms. Current biosecurity tools, designed for intensive systems, require adaptation for extensive production systems. These findings provide a baseline for targeted interventions, policy development, and validation of context-appropriate biosecurity instruments in Kosovo and similar extensive systems globally. Full article

This study presents a combined numerical–statistical framework based on the Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) and the Taguchi optimization method to assess the fracture behavior of pressurized pipelines containing external longitudinal cracks. XFEM is employed to evaluate the local fracture response without remeshing, while the Taguchi method is used to quantify the influence of key parameters and identify an optimal configuration with a limited number of simulations. The control parameters considered are internal pressure, initial crack length, and wall thickness, and the evaluated mechanical responses include circumferential stress, the J-integral, and the stress intensity factor. The optimization follows the “smaller-the-better” criterion to minimize stress concentration, fracture-driving forces, and the risk of structural failure. Results indicate that internal pressure predominantly affects circumferential stress and the stress intensity factor, whereas wall thickness has the greatest influence on the J-integral. The optimal parameter combination is determined through signal-to-noise ratio analysis and validated using the delta method, confirming the robustness of the selected configuration. A confirmation simulation performed with XFEM demonstrates a consistent reduction in all fracture-related mechanical responses, highlighting the effectiveness of the proposed approach. It should be noted that the present study is limited to the static fracture assessment of external cracks and does not address fatigue crack growth or fatigue life prediction. Overall, the proposed methodology provides a decision-support tool for pipeline integrity management by integrating numerical fracture mechanics analysis with robust design optimization, thereby contributing to safer operation and improved structural reliability. Full article

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome characterized by a dysregulated host response and organ dysfunction and remains a major cause of mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). Early risk stratification is essential for clinical management. C-C motif chemokine ligand 4 (CCL4), a pro-inflammatory chemokine involved in immune cell recruitment, may reflect the severity of systemic inflammation; however, its prognostic value in adult patients with sepsis has not been fully elucidated. Methods: In this prospective, single-center observational study, 75 adult patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU were enrolled. Plasma CCL4 levels were measured at admission using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, DeLong testing, and reclassification analyses using net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were performed. Results: CCL4 levels were significantly higher in non-survivors than survivors (1784 ± 752 vs. 1397 ± 528 pg/mL, p = 0.011). In multivariable analysis, the CCL4 (odds ratio [OR] 1.001, p = 0.023) and Pitt bacteremia score (OR 1.523, p = 0.003) were independently associated with ICU mortality. CCL4 alone showed modest discriminative performance (AUC 0.645, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.508–0.782). However, the addition of CCL4 to clinical severity scores significantly improved discrimination, with the highest observed in the combined model (AUC 0.885). Reclassification analyses further supported the incremental prognostic value of CCL4. Conclusions: CCL4 is independently associated with ICU mortality in sepsis, and its integration with clinical severity scores may improve prognostic accuracy for risk stratification. Full article

Phosphorus (P) accumulation in intensively agricultural soils represents a growing environmental concern due to its potential mobilization and contribution to eutrophication. This study investigated the mechanisms controlling P availability and redistribution in agricultural soils from the Elota–Piaxtla Irrigation District (northwestern Mexico) during cropping and non-cropping periods. Soil P fractions were determined using the Hedley sequential extraction method and related to soil physicochemical properties through a correlation analysis. During the cropping period, P in Fe/Al hydroxides dominated (45–67% of total P), indicating strong adsorption and fixation in fine-textured soils. In contrast, the non-cropping period showed a significant increase in organic P in humic substances (up to 55%), suggesting enhanced biological transformation and residue recycling. Labile P fractions decreased from 60% to 44% of total P between sampling periods, while moderately labile fractions increased, indicating seasonal redistribution of P pools. Statistical analysis revealed that P dynamics were primarily governed by mineralogical characteristics and organic matter transformations rather than by individual soil properties. The accumulation of moderately labile and organic P fractions during fallow periods highlights a latent environmental risk, particularly in irrigated systems prone to runoff and erosion. These findings emphasize the need for fraction-based nutrient management strategies that integrate both agronomic efficiency and environmental protection in intensive agricultural soil. Full article

Buildings account for nearly 30% of global energy-related carbon emissions. In rapidly developing economies, the operational phase of buildings represents a major and growing source of emissions. However, emission pathways in hot-summer-cold-winter (HSCW) regions remain understudied. This study analyzes carbon emission peaks and influencing factors in the operational phase of existing civilian buildings in Anhui Province. It integrates energy balance tables, the LEAP model, carbon emission factors, and the STIRPAT model. The energy balance table method disaggregates building energy consumption into urban, rural residential and public sectors. It adjusts for transportation energy by deducting specific proportions of gasoline and diesel from industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. Heating energy calculations are simplified because the region has a HSCW climate with limited centralized heating. The LEAP model projects emissions under four scenarios from 2020 to 2060. The STIRPAT model with ridge regression reveals that the permanent population and energy structure negatively influence residential emissions with elasticities of −2.646 and −1.465, respectively. This finding is consistent with the province’s energy transition, where coal use dropped from 28.48% in 2005 to 0.45% in 2020 and electricity use rose from 39.86% to 59.01%. In contrast, per capita GDP, building area, and energy intensity show positive effects. For public buildings, tertiary industry added value and energy structure are key determinants. Scenario analysis identifies the blueprint scenario as optimal, with residential emissions peaking at 34.29 million tons in 2025 and declining to 9.19 million tons by 2060 through measures such as 10% building retrofits by 2025, 75% energy-saving standards for new constructions, 50% retrofits by 2060, and renewable energy integration with building electrification, outperforming the baseline scenario that peaks in 2036 at 49.46 million tons and other intermediate scenarios. The study underscores that energy structure optimization significantly decouples energy consumption from emissions, offering actionable pathways for dual carbon goals through policy synergies in building efficiency, population management, and clean energy adoption to foster sustainable development and the construction industry’s low-carbon transition. Full article

Aquatic ecosystems are under severe stress from a diverse combination of contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics, driven by rapid industrialization, intensive agriculture, and urbanization. Globally, 80% of wastewater remains untreated, and conventional systems often fail to address emerging contaminants. Consequently, toxic heavy metals like lead and mercury can persist in water sources for decades. In response, phytoremediation has emerged as a scalable, eco-friendly, nature-based alternative. Among phytoremediation agents, duckweeds are increasingly recognized for their rapid growth, simple morphology, and continuous water-column contact. This review outlines the landscape of duckweed-based remediation, detailing molecular detoxification pathways and the synergistic role of associated microbiomes in enhancing environmental cleanup. Evidence indicates that contaminant removal is often supported by plant-microbe interactions. Despite extensive laboratory validation, field-scale implementation remains constrained by environmental complexity, pollutant mixtures, and variable climatic conditions. Furthermore, while duckweed systems hold promise within circular bioeconomy frameworks, converting wastewater into nutrient-rich biomass, contaminant accumulation in plant tissues raises concerns about biomass utilization and contaminant carryover. Addressing these challenges requires an integrative approach that links molecular detoxification, ecological interactions, and engineered system design to realize the full potential of duckweeds for sustainable aquatic pollution management. Full article

Sustainability has become a key strategic priority in resource-intensive industries such as food processing, yet limited research has examined how specific internal sustainability governance and management components influence firm financial performance. Drawing on the institutional theory and Resource-Based View, this study investigates the direct effects of sustainability-oriented vision and business policy, sustainability-oriented organizational culture, and sustainability strategies on financial performance in the food processing industry. The empirical analysis is based on survey data from 247 firms in Slovenia and employs multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the proposed relationships. The results indicate that sustainability strategies exhibit the strongest positive and statistically significant effect on firm financial performance, followed by sustainability-oriented organizational culture. In contrast, sustainability-oriented vision and business policy show a statistically significant negative direct association, suggesting that formal sustainability commitments alone do not translate into financial benefits without effective strategic integration and organizational support. These findings demonstrate that sustainability does not influence financial performance uniformly, but through distinct organizational mechanisms. The study contributes to the literature by distinguishing between normative, cultural, and strategic dimensions of sustainability and demonstrating their different direct implications for financial performance. It also provides practical insights for managers by highlighting the importance of embedding sustainability into organizational culture and core strategic processes in order to support long-term financial value creation. Full article