Search Results (15,032)

Freezing and thawing affect the structural integrity and quality of meat, yet these processes remain difficult to monitor due to spatial temperature gradients and non-uniform phase transitions. This study investigates the ability of ultrasound to detect dynamic freezing and thawing events in pork tissues with different fat contents. Specimens of water, lean meat, marbled meat, layered lean–fat structures, and lard were subjected to controlled freeze–thaw cycles while ultrasonic signals and internal temperatures were continuously monitored. Consistent amplitude drops in the megahertz range at entering the freezing phase formed characteristic signal patterns that differed sharply between lean and fatty tissues. Lean meat, dominated by water content, exhibited rapid signal loss at the onset of ice crystallization and a clear recovery of amplitude once fully frozen. Fat-rich tissues demonstrated prolonged attenuation and near disappearance of high-frequency signals, with incomplete recovery even at deep-frozen states. A jump of ultrasound velocity from 1.4–1.6 km/s in a warm state to 2.6–3.7 km/s in a frozen state indicated complete freezing. Hysteresis between temperature readings and actual phase transition moments was found. Distinct ultrasonic freeze–thaw signatures reflecting tissue composition suggest a novel approach for monitoring the true onset and completion of freezing and thawing in meat. Full article

Human Capital Agility is increasingly recognized as a critical capability for achieving sustainable project success in the highly dynamic construction sector, yet an original and empirically testable Human Capital Agility model rooted in Human Capital theory is still lacking. This study aims to develop and validate a Human Capital Agility framework that integrates Leadership Agility and Knowledge Management and to construct a hierarchical roadmap for the gradual development of Human Capital Agility. Using a multi-method design, survey data from 141 construction professionals were analyzed with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling to test the structural relationships among Knowledge Management, Leadership Agility, Human Capital Agility, Sustainable Project Success, and the moderating role of Firm Size, while expert judgments from nine practitioners were modeled using Modified Total Interpretive Structural Modeling to derive the internal hierarchy of Human Capital Agility components. The results show that Leadership Agility is a dominant driver of Human Capital Agility and that Human Capital Agility significantly enhances Sustainable Project Success, whereas the direct effect of tacit knowledge on Leadership Agility is not supported. The hierarchical model maps nine key components of Human Capital Agility into six levels, separating foundational drivers such as attitudes and predisposition from higher-level outcome capabilities such as generative behavior, responsiveness, adaptability, and resilience. These findings provide an integrated and empirically grounded Human Capital Agility model that offers both a causal explanation and a practical roadmap for strengthening human capital capabilities in construction projects. Full article

This study investigates the impact of Governance, Risk management, and Compliance (GRC) practices on operational efficiency and corporate reputation. Drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV), Stakeholder Theory, and the signaling perspective, it conceptualizes GRC as a set of organizational capabilities that enhance operational efficiency and company reputation. It also examines the mediating role of operational efficiency in the GRC–reputation relationship, particularly within technologically advanced and regulated sectors. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to 126 professionals across various Saudi technology-driven organizations, and the analyses combined descriptive statistics, hierarchical regression, and bootstrapped mediation testing using PROCESS to assess direct and indirect effects. The results indicate that operational efficiency partially mediates the effects of governance and compliance on reputation, supporting the argument that strengthened internal processes enhance external stakeholder evaluations; meanwhile, no mediation was found for risk management. Although the study offers meaningful insights, its sample size and sectoral focus limit the generalizability of conclusions, suggesting the need for broader or longitudinal research. This study contributes by advancing the conceptualization of GRC as organizational capabilities and empirically demonstrating their roles in strengthening both efficiency and reputation within technology-driven firms where digital governance and compliance capabilities are increasingly central. Full article

In aquaculture, feed production influences nutrition, performance, water quality, and overall profitability. This study evaluated the effects of three levels of internal fat (IF), resulting from the inclusion of 0%, 2%, or 4% fat in the preconditioner during extrusion, and their interaction with two extruder screw configurations: medium-shear (MS) and high-shear (HS), on kibble physical quality and extrusion parameters. Increasing IF resulted in a quadratic increase in amylose–lipid complexation under the HS configuration (p = 0.030; r2 = 0.9) and a linear reduction (p < 0.001) in specific mechanical energy (SME) with a strong negative Pearson correlation (r −0.9; p = 0.009) in both configurations. Fat inclusion also reduced mass temperature and die pressure (p < 0.05), leading to lower starch gelatinization degree (p < 0.05) from 87.9 ± 0.6% to 83.4 ± 0.3% in MS configuration and 95.6 ± 0.7 to 86.3 ± 0.8% in HS configuration, increased bulk and piece density (p < 0.001), and reduced radial expansion (p < 0.001). These changes decreased floatability (p < 0.05) and water stability, increasing mushiness (p < 0.01). Increased shear partially improved SME transfer, starch cooking, expansion, floatability, and mushiness; however, the negative effects of 4% IF could not be fully mitigated. Overall, higher IF compromised kibble structure, starch gelatinization, and floatability, while screw configuration resulted in only a limited compensatory effect. Full article

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDSs) are essential for stormwater management in urban areas, with varying hydrological, social, ecological, and economic benefits. Nevertheless, choosing the SUDS most appropriate for public spaces poses a challenge when balancing details/specifications against community decisions, primarily social implications and perceptions. Building on the SUDS design pillar of the amenity, this study outlines a three-phase methodological framework for selecting SUDS based on social facilitation. The first phase introduces the application of the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Classificatory Expectation–Maximization (CEM) techniques by modeling complex social interdependencies to find critical components related to urban planning. A Likert scale survey was also conducted with 440 urban dwellers in Tunja (Colombia), which identified three dimensions: Residential Satisfaction (RS), Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change (RACC), and Community Participation (CP). In the second phase, the factors identified above were transformed into eight operational criteria, which were weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the collaboration of 35 international experts in SUDS planning and implementation. In the third phase, these weighted criteria were used to evaluate and classify 13 types of SUDSs based on the experts’ assessments of their sub-criteria. The results deliver a clear message: cities must concentrate on solutions that will guarantee that water is managed to the best of their ability, not just safely, and that also enhance climate resilience, energy efficiency, and the ways in which public space is used. Among those options considered, infiltration ponds, green roofs, rain gardens, wetlands, and the like were the best-performing options, providing real and concrete uses in promoting a more resilient and sustainable urban water system. The methodology was also used in a real case in Tunja, Colombia. In its results, this approach proved not only pragmatic but also useful for all concerned, showing that the socio-cultural dimensions can be truly integrated into planning SUDSs and ensuring success. Full article

Background: Teamwork and effective communication are widely recognized as essential pillars for the safety and quality of healthcare. However, in Portugal, no validated instrument had previously been available to assess healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward teamwork. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the TeamSTEPPS^® Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire (T-TAQ) for the Portuguese context, resulting in the Portuguese version of the instrument. Methods: A methodological study with a quantitative approach was developed. The translation and cultural adaptation process followed internationally recognized guidelines. The sample consisted of 162 healthcare professionals (136 nurses and 26 physicians) from a hospital in Lisbon. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis techniques were used to assess construct validity. The internal consistency of the scale was analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: The Portuguese version comprises 30 items distributed across five dimensions: Effective Leadership Support, Team Functional Performance, Teamwork Coordination, Willingness to Engage in Teamwork, and Team Functioning Supervision. The scale demonstrated a total explained variance of 53.9% and an overall internal consistency coefficient (α) of 0.86, indicating good reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the five-factor structure of the scale (χ²/df = 1.461; CFI = 0.900; GFI = 0.821; RMSEA = 0.054; MECVI = 4.731). Conclusions: The T-TAQ-PT proved to be a valid, reliable, and robust instrument for assessing healthcare professionals’ individual attitudes toward teamwork, contributing to the development of research and clinical practice in the Portuguese context. Full article

Background: Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used in clinical medicine, yet their ability to interpret advanced intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring—particularly in the context of liver transplantation—remains largely unexplored. In this proof-of-concept study, we evaluated ChatGPT’s capacity to interpret multimodal hemodynamic data derived from both standard anesthesia monitoring and the PiCCO system. The study also employed a structured assessment instrument (ARQuAT), adapted through a Delphi-based process to evaluate LLM-generated clinical interpretations. Methods: Ten key surgical–hemodynamic phases of liver transplantation were identified using a modified Delphi approach to capture the major physiological transitions of the procedure. Sequential screenshots representing these phases were obtained from five liver transplant recipients, yielding a total of 50 images. Each screenshot, along with standardized clinical background information, was submitted to ChatGPT. Five expert anesthesiologists independently assessed the model’s responses using the modified ARQuAT tool, which includes six content-quality domains (Accuracy, Up-to-dateness, Contextual Consistency, Clinical Usability, Trustworthiness, Clarity) and a separate catastrophic Risk item. Descriptive statistics were calculated for domain-level performance. Inter-rater reliability (Kendall’s W) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega) were also analyzed. All statistical analyses and visualizations were performed using NumIQO. Results: ChatGPT demonstrated consistently high performance across all content-quality domains, with median scores ranging from 4.6 to 4.8 and more than 90% of all ratings classified as satisfactory. Lower scores appeared only in a small subset of frames associated with abrupt hemodynamic changes and did not indicate a recurring weakness in any specific domain. Catastrophic Risk exhibited a pronounced floor effect, with 86% of ratings scored as 0 and only three isolated high-risk assessments across the dataset. Internal consistency of the six ARQuAT content domains was excellent, while inter-rater agreement was modest, reflecting ceiling effects and tied ratings among evaluators. Conclusions: ChatGPT generated clinically acceptable, contextually aligned interpretations of complex intraoperative hemodynamic data in liver transplant recipients, with minimal evidence of unsafe recommendations. These findings suggest preliminary promise for LLM-assisted interpretation of advanced monitoring, while underscoring the need for future studies involving larger datasets, dynamic physiological inputs, and expanded evaluator groups. The reliability characteristics observed also provide initial support for further refinement and broader validation of the Delphi-derived ARQuAT framework. Full article

As sustainable tourism gains global momentum, extended reality (XR) technologies have emerged as important tools for enhancing visitor experiences at overburdened World Heritage Sites while mitigating physical deterioration through non-consumptive engagement. However, existing research on immersive technologies in heritage tourism has largely relied on single-cultural samples and has paid limited attention to theoretically grounded boundary conditions in post-adoption behaviour. To address these gaps, this study extends the Expectation–Confirmation Model (ECM) by incorporating cultural distance (CD) and prior visitation experience (PVE) as moderating variables, and empirically tests the proposed framework using a mixed domestic–international sample exposed to an on-site XR application at the Badaling Great Wall World Heritage Site. Data were collected immediately after the XR experience and analysed using structural equation modelling. The results validate the core relationships of ECM while identifying significant moderating effects. Cultural distance attenuates the positive effects of confirmation on perceived usefulness as well as the effect of perceived usefulness on continuance intention, while prior visitation experience weakens the influences of enjoyment and visual appeal on satisfaction. These findings establish important boundary conditions for ECM in immersive heritage contexts. From a practical perspective, the study demonstrates that high-quality, culturally responsive XR can complement physical visitation and support sustainable conservation strategies at large-scale linear heritage sites. Full article

Objectives: The study aims to assess the strategies used to estimate antimicrobial consumption (AMC) and the barriers encountered in data collection. It also addresses the perception about AMC based on the World Health Organization (WHO) definition. Methodology: The qualitative study adhered to the standard consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ) guidelines. It involved stakeholders from diverse sectors, i.e., regulatory bodies, the pharmaceutical industry, international health organizations, policy experts, medical professionals, veterinary doctors, and academia (nursing, medicine, and pharmacy). A total of 37 in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview schema. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Codes were generated afterward and organized into themes. Results: Data analysis yielded five themes consisting of (i) Perception about Antimicrobial Consumption, AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification and related terms, (ii) Antimicrobial Consumption: Policy Design, (iii) Data management and record keeping for the Estimation of Antimicrobial Consumption, (iv) Levels of Estimation for Antimicrobial consumption and Organizations, and (v) Challenges and suggested solutions in estimation of AMC: One health approach is the way forward. Conclusions: The study concluded that AMC and AMR are two sides of the same coin. The solution to AMR and excessive AMC is to re-evaluate the policy and implement legislation strictly. Efforts focused on irrational prescribing and unsupervised OTC sales of antimicrobials. This will help in reducing the consumption of broad-spectrum antimicrobials. Full article

Payments for Ecosystem Services (PESs) have become a central instrument in global biodiversity finance, yet endangered species-specific PESs remain rare and poorly understood in implementation terms. Taiwan provides a revealing case: a three-year program paying farmers to conserve four threatened species—Prionailurus bengalensis, Lutra lutra, Tyto longimembris, and Hydrophasianus chirurgus—in working farmland across Taiwan and Kinmen island. Through semi-structured interviews with farmers, residents, and local conservation actors, we examine how payments are interpreted, rationalized, enacted, and emotionally experienced at the ground level. This study adopts Colaizzi’s data analysis method, the primary advantage of which lies in its ability to systematically transform fragmented and emotive interview narratives into a logically structured essential description. This is achieved through the rigorous extraction of significant statements and the subsequent synthesis of thematic clusters. Participants reported willingness to continue not only because subsidies offset losses, but because rarity, community pride, and the visible arc of “we helped this creature survive” became internalized rewards. NGOs amplified this shift by translating science into farm practice and “normalizing” coexistence. In practice, conservation work became a social project—identifying threats, altering routines, and defending habitat as a shared civic act. This study does not estimate treatment-effect size; instead, it delivers mechanistic insight at a live policy moment, as Taiwan expands PESs and the OECD pushes incentive reform. The finding is simple and strategically important: endangered-species PESs work best where payments trigger meaning—not where payments replace it. Full article

Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most epidemiologically significant soil-transmitted helminths, and the environmental persistence of its eggs is largely attributed to their robust structural architecture. The search for ovicidal alternatives capable of overcoming this barrier has increasingly focused on metallic nanoparticles obtained through biological synthesis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to evaluate the ultrastructural effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesised by the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans on A. lumbricoides eggs. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the synthesis of AgNPs, revealing predominantly spherical, well-dispersed particles with an average diameter of 9.22 ± 4.9 nm. Cytotoxicity assays indicated an IC₅₀ of 7.7 µg/mL. SEM analyses showed that eggs in the control group maintained intact morphology, with no apparent deformities. In contrast, exposure to AgNPs induced pronounced structural alterations, including marked wrinkling, surface erosion and shell collapse, suggesting disruption of multiple layers. Albendazole alone produced deep linear fissures consistent with internal metabolic failure, though with minimal external erosion. The combined treatment with AgNPs and albendazole resulted in severe degradation. These findings demonstrate that AgNPs exhibit significant ovicidal activity and may serve as effective adjuvants to enhance the action of conventional anthelmintics against highly resistant helminth eggs. Full article

This study investigates the mechanical characteristics of a multi-stage centrifugal pump rotor through fluid–structure interaction (FSI) analysis. A two-stage centrifugal pump equipped with back vanes on the trailing impeller is selected as the research object. Numerical simulations are performed based on the continuity equation and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations, with experimental data utilized to validate the numerical model’s accuracy. The internal flow field mechanisms are analyzed, and the effectiveness of two axial force calculation methods—formula-based and numerical simulation-based—for the rotor system is comprehensively evaluated. Employing an FSI-based modal analysis approach, the governing differential equations of motion are established and decoupled via Laplace transformation to introduce modal coordinates. Modal analysis of the pump rotor system is conducted, revealing the first six natural frequencies and corresponding vibration modes, along with critical speed calculations. The findings demonstrate that when the flow field near the back vanes exhibits complex characteristics, the formula-based axial force calculation shows reduced accuracy. In contrast, without back vanes, the hydraulic motion in the impeller rear chamber remains relatively stable, resulting in higher accuracy for formula-based axial force predictions. The calculation error between the two conditions (with/without back vanes) reaches 27.6%. Based on vibration mode characteristics and critical speed analysis, the pump is confirmed to operate within a safe region. The rotor system exhibits two similar adjacent natural frequencies differing by less than 1 Hz, with perpendicular vibration mode directions. Additionally, rotational speed fluctuations in the rotor system induce alternating critical speed phenomena when operating in this region. This study establishes a coupled analysis framework of “flow field stability–axial force calculation accuracy–rotor dynamic response”, quantifies the axial force calculation error patterns under different flow field conditions of a special pump type, supplements the basic data on axial force calculation accuracy for complex structure centrifugal pumps, and provides new theoretical insights and reference benchmarks for the study of hydraulic–mechanical coupling characteristics of similar fluid machinery. In engineering applications, it avoids over-design or under-design of thrust bearings to reduce manufacturing costs and operational risks. The revealed rotor modal characteristics, critical speed distribution, and frequency alternation phenomena can provide direct technical support for the optimization of operating parameters, vibration control, and structural improvement of pump units in industrial scenarios, thereby reducing rotor imbalance, bearing wear, and other failures. Full article

The development of energy systems toward a decarbonized economy is increasingly constrained not only by technological challenges, but also by deficiencies in the organization, coordination, and governability of sustainable financing. This study aims to substantiate an integrated conceptual model and a multi-level governance framework for the sustainable financing mechanism of energy system development under decarbonization, ensuring the alignment of financial instruments with transition strategies, performance indicators, and feedback mechanisms. The methodology combines a bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed journal publications with an examination of international statistical and analytical data produced by leading global organizations, complemented by systemic, institutional, and comparative analytical approaches. The bibliometric analysis was conducted in 2025 and covered peer-reviewed articles published during 2017–2025, while empirical financial indicators were synthesized for the most recent available period of 2022–2024 using comparable time-series data reported by international institutions. The results indicate that despite global energy investments reaching approximately $3 trillion in 2024—nearly $2 trillion of which was allocated to clean energy technologies—a persistent annual financing gap for climate change mitigation in the energy sector remains. Moreover, to remain consistent with the Net Zero trajectory, investments in clean energy must increase by approximately 1.7 times by 2030. The synthesis of contemporary research and empirical evidence reveals a predominance of studies focused on individual green and transition finance instruments, accompanied by persistent fragmentation between financial flows, governance structures, and measurable decarbonization outcomes. To address this gap, the paper proposes a conceptual model that interprets sustainable finance as a governed system rather than a collection of isolated instruments, together with a multi-level governance framework integrating strategic (policy), sectoral, and project-level decision-making with systems of key performance indicators, monitoring, and feedback. The findings demonstrate that the effectiveness of sustainable financing critically depends on the coherence between financial instruments, governance architectures, and decarbonization objectives, which ultimately determines the capacity to translate mobilized capital into tangible energy infrastructure modernization and measurable emissions reductions. The proposed approach provides a practical foundation for improving energy transition policies and investment strategies at both national and supranational levels. Full article

As sustainability becomes a strategic priority, the Information Technology (IT) sector faces pressure on both reducing its environmental impact and leading in innovation. This study examines how Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices influence employees’ Green IT Attitudes (GITA) and beliefs within the IT industry. Guided by the Belief–Action–Outcome (BAO) framework, it explores how HR strategies can foster eco-conscious mindsets that support sustainable behaviour. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used, collecting data through a validated questionnaire. The study was conducted in Australia, focusing on IT professionals employed. Responses from 112 IT professionals, determined through G*Power sample estimation, were analysed using SPSS 28.0.1 with regression techniques to assess the relationship between GHRM practices and environmental attitudes and beliefs. Results indicate that GHRM practices have a modest but significant positive effect on employees’ green IT attitudes and beliefs, supporting the view that structured HR initiatives can shape sustainability-driven mindsets. The findings emphasize the strategic role of HR in embedding sustainability within organizational culture, particularly in technology-driven environments. The study offers practical guidance for IT organizations aiming to integrate sustainability into internal systems by leveraging HRM. Future research should examine moderating variables and long-term behavioural effects, enhancing our understanding of sustainability-focused HRM in the digital era. Full article

In recent years, despite the continuous improvement of China’s construction safety management systems and the adoption of advanced technologies, safety accidents remain frequent. This shift highlights the growing importance of human factors in construction safety. As the main labor force, the new generation of construction workers differs significantly from previous generations in values and motivation, reducing the effectiveness of traditional safety management models. This study investigates the direct effect of transformational leadership on the safety behavior of new-generation construction workers. Using survey data collected from construction enterprises in Guangdong Province, China, and applying structural equation modeling (SEM), the results reveal that transformational leadership has a significant positive impact on safety behavior. All four dimensions—idealized influence, inspirational motivation, idealized influence (charisma) and individualized consideration—positively influence both safety compliance and participation, with inspirational motivation exerting the strongest effect (β = 0.509 for compliance; β = 0.446 for participation). These findings indicate that leaders who articulate a compelling shared vision can effectively internalize safety norms and motivate proactive safety participation. This study enriches theoretical understanding of safety leadership mechanisms and provides practical guidance for construction enterprises to enhance safety performance through cultivating transformational leadership among managers. Full article