Search Results (8,381)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults is well characterized and associated with multisystem dysfunction. A subset of patients develop post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC, or long COVID), marked by persistent and fluctuating organ system abnormalities. In children, distinct clinical and pathophysiological features of COVID-19 and long COVID are increasingly recognized, though knowledge remains limited relative to adults. The exponential expansion of the COVID-19 literature has made comprehensive appraisal by individual researchers increasingly unfeasible, highlighting the need for new approaches to evidence synthesis. Large language models (LLMs) such as the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) can process vast amounts of text, offering potential utility in this domain. Earlier versions of GPT, however, have been prone to generating fabricated references or misrepresentations of primary data. To evaluate the potential of more advanced models, we systematically applied GPT-4 to summarize studies on pediatric long COVID published between January 2022 and January 2025. Articles were identified in PubMed, and full-text PDFs were retrieved from publishers. GPT-4-generated summaries were cross-checked against the results sections of the original reports to ensure accuracy before incorporation into a structured review framework. This methodology demonstrates how LLMs may augment traditional literature review by improving efficiency and coverage in rapidly evolving fields, provided that outputs are subjected to rigorous human verification. Full article

Background/Objectives: The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the healthcare industry. However, its integration into clinical practices raises ethical and practical concerns. This study aims to explore ethical and practical considerations perceived by physicians and nurses in Saudi Arabia. Methods: It employed a cross-sectional design with 400 physicians and nurses, using a pre-established online questionnaire. Descriptive data were analyzed through means and standard deviations, while inferential statistics were performed using the independent samples t-test. Results: Most participants were male (57%) and physicians (73.8%), with most employed in governmental organizations (87%). The participants’ use and awareness of AI was low, as 34.0% said they had never used it, but 74.5% of respondents were willing to use AI in clinical practices. Also, 80.5% of participants were aware of the AI benefits, and 71.0% had background knowledge about the ethical concerns related to AI’s implementation in their clinical practices. Moreover, (62.0%) of respondents recognized the applicability of AI in their specialty. Key findings revealed significant concerns: participants perceived a lack of skills to effectively utilize AI in clinical practice (mean = 4.04) and security risks such as AI manipulation or hacking (mean = 3.83). The most pressing ethical challenges included AI’s potential incompatibility with all populations and cultural norms (mean = 3.90) and uncertainty regarding responsibility for AI-related errors (mean = 3.84). Conclusions: These findings highlight substantial barriers that hinder the effective integration of AI in clinical practices in Saudi Arabia. Addressing these challenges requires leadership support, specific training initiatives, and developing practical strategies tailored to the local context. Future research should include other healthcare professionals and qualitatively explore further underlying factors influencing AI adoption. Full article

The global outbreak of the monkeypox virus was declared a health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). During such emergencies, misinformation about health suggestions can spread rapidly, leading to serious consequences. This study investigates the relationships between tweet readability, user engagement, and susceptibility to misinformation. Our conceptual model posits that tweet readability influences user engagement, which in turn affects the spread of misinformation. Specifically, we hypothesize that tweets with higher readability and grammatical correctness garner more user engagement and that misinformation tweets tend to be less readable than accurate information tweets. To test these hypotheses, we collected over 1.4 million tweets related to monkeypox discussions on X (formerly Twitter) and trained a semi-supervised learning classifier to categorize them as misinformation or not-misinformation. We analyzed the readability and grammar levels of these tweets using established metrics. Our findings indicate that readability and grammatical correctness significantly boost user engagement with accurate information, thereby enhancing its dissemination. Conversely, misinformation tweets are generally less readable, which reduces their spread. This study contributes to the advancement of knowledge by elucidating the role of readability in combating misinformation. Practically, it suggests that improving the readability and grammatical correctness of accurate information can enhance user engagement and consequently mitigate the spread of misinformation during health emergencies. These insights offer valuable strategies for public health communication and social media platforms to more effectively address misinformation. Full article

Marine and freshwater environments are under increasing pressure from anthropogenic stressors. The resulting impacts on exposed ecosystems are complex and challenging to characterise. The effects may be subtle and exhibited over long time periods. Effective and robust approaches are required to characterise the physiological and genetic processes that are impacted by pollutants to assess how populations and ecosystems may be adversely affected and at risk. The objective of the review is to provide an overview of “omics” methodologies used to assess the risk of stressors on exposed biota. This review covers the development of key omics approaches and how they have been used to contribute towards improved knowledge about the effects of environmental stressors, from molecular to whole-organism and community levels of biological organisation. We provide insights into how ecotoxicogenomics approaches can be used for various aspects of environmental risk assessment by characterising toxicological mechanisms of action. This information can be used to confirm cause-and-effect relationships required to better manage risks and protect the integrity and functionality of ecosystems. Full article

Current diagnostic methods for bacterial infections in critically ill patients, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), are time-consuming, while empirical antibiotic therapy contributes to rising resistance. Bacteria-derived volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are being explored as specific biomarkers for pathogen identification and treatment monitoring. This study expands knowledge of Escherichia coli metabolism by identifying VOCs produced by both multidrug-resistant and susceptible strains, characterizing their temporal profiles during growth, and assessing VOC profile changes after imipenem exposure. Reference strains and 21 clinical isolates (derived from BAL samples of VAP patients) were cultured under controlled conditions. Headspace VOCs were preconcentrated using multibed sorption tubes and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), with compound identities confirmed using external standards. Sampling at seven time points over 24 h cultures revealed three VOC emission patterns: continuous release, temporary maximum, and compound uptake. In total, 57 VOCs were identified from the susceptible strain and 41 from the resistant one, with dimethyl disulfide, 2-butenal, ethyl acetate, and furan elevated in the resistant strain. Imipenem addition altered VOC production in the susceptible strain, with levels of six compounds elevated and seven reduced, while resistant profiles remained stable. Clinical isolates produced 71 VOCs, showing greater metabolic diversity and highlighting the relevance of isolate-derived VOCs in future studies. Full article

The language used by the public sometimes fails to reflect scientific knowledge, especially biological knowledge. This failure can have negative consequences for decision making. Examples of words that are frequently used in an erroneous or confusing way are presented. Some of the relevant scientific knowledge comes from work in the last twenty years but some comes from much older work. The negative consequences of misuse of biologically relevant words include what is perhaps the greatest current problem for the world: excessive concern about humans and too little concern about all other living organisms. Some of the changes proposed are substantial and affect science and law as well as general usage of words by the public. It is suggested that there should be no further inaccurate use of words referring to living organisms and processes in living organisms. Full article

Scientific conferences are invaluable for knowledge exchange, yet pose growing environmental concerns, especially through long-distance travel. This work quantifies and compares the environmental burdens of a national conference (30 delegates, Pisa, Italy) and an international conference (50 delegates, Athens, Greece) using ISO 14040/44-compliant Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA). A cradle-to-grave inventory combined primary data on participant travel, venue utilities, catering materials and waste handling with secondary datasets from Ecoinvent 3.8. Sixteen midpoint impact categories were calculated with the Environmental Footprint 3.1 method and normalized per delegate. The international meeting incurred 130 kg CO_2eq per delegate, compared with 11 kg CO_2eq per delegate for the domestic event, reflecting a ten-fold rise in fossil energy demand and comparable multiples across acidification, eutrophication and toxicity categories. Participant travel explained >85% of every global indicator in both cases, while venue energy and material flows together accounted for ≤12%. Further developments require harmonized functional units, improved digital-infrastructure inventories and integration of social impact metrics. The findings provide preliminary input for evidence-based guidelines for organizers and contribute to the standardization of LCA in the emerging field of event sustainability. Full article

Given the increasing volume of selectively collected bio-waste and the requirement to increase waste treatment system energy efficiency, dry anaerobic digestion (DAD) represents a more sustainable choice for the treatment of municipal organic fraction instead of conventional technologies. The current paper provides an overview of the existing knowledge on DAD of green waste or kitchen waste collected selectively. Key substrates characteristics (chemical composition, methane potential), novel reactor design and process conditions relevant to effective digestion at elevated dry matter content are considered. Of special interest is the process intensification techniques, impact of contamination and co-fermentation opportunity with other biodegradable wastes. This article also discusses energy and economic performance of DAD plants and puts their environmental burden in perspective versus other bio-waste treatment processes. The current legislation and DAD’s role in the circular economy are also considered. Selectively collected biowaste has significant energy potential and dry anaerobic digestion is an effective technology, especially in areas with limited water availability, offering both waste volume reduction and minimized energy losses. The aim of this work is to introduce the potential of this technology as a sustainable option within the context of renewable energy and modern waste management. Full article

Sepsis is a complex condition characterized by an uncontrolled inflammatory response to infection, which can trigger multi-organ dysfunction and is associated with high mortality rates. In this context, oxidative stress plays a key role in the progression of tissue damage. Reduced glutathione (GSH), the primary non-enzymatic intracellular antioxidant, serves as a fundamental pillar in redox defense, acting as a key modulator of immune response, endothelial barrier integrity, and mitochondrial metabolism. This review explores the multifaceted role of GSH in the pathophysiology of sepsis, with emphasis on its biphasic effect on both innate and adaptive immunity, as well as its involvement in vascular alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction. The molecular mechanisms of GSH depletion during sepsis are analyzed, including excessive consumption by reactive species, disruption of its synthesis, and its intracellular compartmentalization. Additionally, the available clinical evidence in humans regarding the functional consequences of GSH loss is reviewed, particularly concerning organ failure—understood more as a bioenergetic and functional disruption than a structural one—and mortality, highlighting the methodological limitations and heterogeneity of the reported findings. Altogether, this analysis intends to provide a comprehensive view of the role of glutathione in redox dysregulation and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying sepsis. Furthermore, it seeks to consolidate current pathophysiological and clinical knowledge to emphasize the potential role of glutathione as a prognostic marker and possible target for future therapeutic strategies in addressing this complex condition. Full article

Lichens, complex symbiotic associations between fungi and photosynthetic partners, are widespread in terrestrial ecosystems but remain poorly studied in tropical dry forests (TDFs). This review synthesizes current knowledge on the diversity, ecological roles, adaptive traits, and ethnobotanical uses of lichens in TDFs, with a focus on the Neotropics. As most lichens discussed here are crustose species that inhabit tree bark, this paper also provides a thoughtful review of the origin, distribution, and highly heterogeneous floristic composition of TDFs, which directly shape lichen habitats. It discusses how lichens have evolved to cope with seasonal water stress, emphasizing desiccation tolerance as a key feature of the symbiosis. This review also explores lichen community composition, interactions with host trees, microclimatic conditions, herbivory, and soil crust formation. Despite evidence of high species richness, functional diversity, and ecological importance, lichens in TDFs are largely overlooked in conservation strategies. Moreover, several regions remain vastly understudied, and many species likely remain undescribed. Ethnolichenological practices, though scarce, underscore the cultural and medicinal value of these organisms. Given the high rates of habitat loss and endemism in TDFs, there is a pressing need to expand research on lichen diversity and to investigate the evolutionary origins of their survival strategies. The conservation of these lichens is inseparable from the conservation of TDFs themselves. Understanding how lichens adapt to the harsh and variable conditions of TDFs is essential for integrating them into biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration frameworks. Full article

Background: There are very few reviews on how children’s food allergy is managed across various educational settings, and none have considered psychological support in addition to child safety. This scoping review aimed to understand interventions to manage food allergy, addressing children’s safety and psychological support in childcare centres, preschools, and schools. Methods: Following the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and applying the PCC (population, concept, and context) mnemonic, a search was conducted via Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), ERIC (ProQuest), PsychInfo (EBSCOhost), Scopus, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest). Furthermore, two supplementary searches were conducted: first, backward citation tracking of all publications included in this review; and second, a search of seven peak allergy organisation websites, including Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia and the World Allergy Organization. Findings: Eighteen publications were included from 6812 records retrieved from the databases. Most publications were from the United States of America (61%), representing food allergy management mainly in schools (39%), followed by preschools (22%), childcare centres (17%), and mixed settings (11%). All the interventions focused on child physical safety, largely neglecting psychosocial support for children or their families, and only four publications reported the use of control groups to test intervention benefits (22%). Furthermore, safety-focused interventions were centred on building educator or staff knowledge of food allergy and their skills, confidence, and self-efficacy to manage it (72%); these were found to be highly effective. Most interventions were aimed at adults, and none considered children. Interpretation: The findings suggest a need for more research on food allergy management involving child-focused, developmentally appropriate approaches, especially in childcare and preschool settings. There is also a need for research on psychological support, particularly that which involves control groups and encompasses different nations. Full article

The glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), a class of stable glycoproteins produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, constitute an important microbial-derived carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the response of GRSP accumulation to land-use change and quantitative contribution to soil organic carbon (SOC) pools, as well as the environmental and edaphic factors controlling GRSP dynamics in different land-use systems, require further elucidation. To address these knowledge gaps, we systematically collected surface soil samples (0–20 cm depth) from 72 plots across three land-use types—tea plantations (TP; n = 24), artificial forests (AF; n = 24), and natural forests (NF; n = 24) in China’s Huangshan Mountain region between July and August 2024. GRSP was extracted via autoclaving (121 °C, 20 min) in 20 mM citrate buffer (pH 8.0), fractionated into total GRSP (T-GRSP), and quantified using the Bradford assay. Results revealed distinct patterns in soil carbon storage, with NF exhibiting the highest concentrations of both SOC (33.2 ± 8.69 g kg⁻¹) and total GRSP (T-GRSP: 2.64 ± 0.34 g kg⁻¹), followed by AF (SOC: 14.9 ± 2.55 g kg⁻¹; T-GRSP: 1.42 ± 0.25 g kg⁻¹) and TP (SOC: 7.07 ± 1.72 g kg⁻¹; T-GRSP: 0.58 ± 0.11 g kg⁻¹). Although absolute GRSP concentrations were lowest in TP, its proportional contribution to SOC remained consistent across land uses (TP: 8.72 ± 2.84%; AF: 9.69 ± 1.81%; NF: 8.40 ± 2.79%). Statistical analyses identified dissolved organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon as primary drivers of GRSP accumulation. Structural equation modeling further demonstrated that land-use type influenced SOC through its effects on MBC and fine-root biomass, which subsequently enhanced GRSP production. These findings demonstrate that undisturbed forest ecosystems enhance GRSP-mediated soil carbon sequestration, emphasizing the critical role of natural forest conservation in ecological sustainability. Full article

While Internet privacy is a subjective term that is challenging to define, describe, and quantify, assessing the level of privacy provided by data processors offering services over the Internet is essential for detecting privacy flaws and enabling continuous improvement. Moreover, assessing Internet privacy is fundamental for estimating the risk of personal data disclosure, the degree of compliance with privacy regulations, and the effectiveness of implemented protection mechanisms. Remarkably, the absence of a standardized criterion for this assessment has led to the proliferation of diverse heuristic techniques applied with different approaches. In this paper, we conduct an in-depth analysis and introduce a novel taxonomy for categorizing existing heuristic techniques to assess Internet privacy. Moreover, we scrutinize various protection mechanisms designed to enhance users’ privacy. We cover this broad topic across all domains of application and levels of automation, considering all relevant papers regardless of publication year, ultimately providing a comprehensive review of this important field of knowledge. Leveraging our proposed classification framework, we systematically organize and categorize 160 papers carefully selected from 934 candidates, elucidating existing gaps and challenges while foreseeing future research directions. Overall, our findings reveal that most studies predominantly rely on information measurement methods for assessing Internet privacy. Although most heuristic techniques are based on automatic mechanisms, they are applied with a clear focus on the traditional use of Internet services through a web browser, demanding more research efforts for other domains. The development of new technologies that incorporate privacy-by-default and include telemetry modules in their architectures will be essential for assessing and enhancing users’ privacy when delivering services over the future Internet. Full article

(1) Background: Violence against healthcare professionals is becoming a growing concern for healthcare systems and a public health issue, and in Portugal it remains undocumented at a national level, leaving a critical knowledge gap. This scenario compromises the development of effective public policies and evidence-based institutional strategies, which are essential for guiding policymakers in the implementation of preventive measures and appropriate safety protocols to assess the nature, frequency, and key factors contributing to violence against healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses) in clinical settings. (2) Methods: This is a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. The sample size was 440 professionals (n = 440). Between January and May 2024, healthcare professionals (physicians and nurses) working in four local health units located in the south of Portugal were invited to participate in this study via institutional e-mail. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire on the healthcare professional’s sociodemographic and work-related characteristics and aspects related to violence towards healthcare professionals in the workplace. Unconditional logistic regression models were fitted to compute crude odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for the association between sociodemographic and work-related characteristics and violence at work. (3) Results: Nearly 40% of the healthcare professionals sampled reported having been victims of violence in the workplace, and, among these, the majority reported experiencing psychological violence (94.2%), followed by physical violence (46.2%), another type of violence (39.1%), and sexual violence (4.1%). Incidents were mostly occasional (65.5%), occurring during the daytime (51.5%) and on weekdays (84.8%). Healthcare professionals aged between 34 and 55 years old were approximately twice as likely to experience violence compared to those who were 56 years old or older (OR = 2.28; 95%CI 1.33–3.90). Also, those who had been with the organization for more than 4 years (5–7 years: OR = 2.37; 95%CI 1.05–5.37. ≥8 years: OR = 1.87; 95%CI 1.00–3.50), as well as those who worked shifts (OR = 1.84; 95%CI 1.25–2.72), reported incidents of violence more frequently. (4) Conclusions: The low response rate (12.5%) and cross-sectional design limit the generalizability of the results, which should be interpreted considering these methodological limitations. Workplace violence in Portugal is a reality, and it requires solutions. Information related to violent incidents must be comprehensively gathered to understand the full extent of the problem and develop prevention strategies based on potentially changeable risk factors to minimize the negative effects of workplace violence. Full article

Lack of food security is a major threat at the local and global levels. This research focused on the design and implementation of a school garden at Carlos Albán Holguín school as a strategy to ensure food for vulnerable communities and promote environmental education. This project was structured in six stages including diagnosis, characterization, formulation, and pilot validation. Data were collected through surveys and checklists, which evaluated the garden’s conditions and students’ understanding of environmental practices. Key findings revealed significant improvements in students’ knowledge of sustainable agriculture upon implementing the garden, with 75% demonstrating outstanding comprehension and 80% effectively applying organic farming principles. Promoting and implementing urban agriculture benefits surrounding communities, reduces environmental impact, promotes social awareness of current food security challenges, and promotes economic growth in cities. The main conclusion of this research is that integrating environmental education within the school curriculum can significantly enhance food security and foster environmental stewardship. This research underscores the importance of sustainable urban gardens in addressing nutritional deficiencies and promoting sustainable agriculture practices in urban settings. Full article