Search Results (441)

Siniperca chuatsi is an important high-quality freshwater aquaculture species in China. In nature, it feeds exclusively on live food. In this study, domesticated juvenile S. chuatsi were divided into three groups and fed live food (group L), compound feed (group C), or a mixed diet (group M) for three months to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to compound feed. Histopathological examination revealed that compound feed consumption induced looser liver cell arrangement, hepatocyte morphological irregularities, and vacuolization. A total of 1033 and 1428 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 187 and 184 differential metabolites (DMs), were identified in the C vs. L and C vs. M groups, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the significantly and commonly enriched metabolic pathways shared by both comparison groups were predominantly involved in amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolisms. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that the significantly and commonly enriched metabolic pathways shared by both comparison groups were the arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and PPAR signalling pathways. Integrated omics analysis showed that the PPAR signalling pathway was the only significantly co-enriched pathway across both omics datasets. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of compound feed adaptation and provides theoretical support for selecting feed traits in S. chuatsi. Full article

Background: Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. While most diagnoses occur in outpatient settings, a subset of cases are incidentally identified during emergency department (ED) visits. The clinical characteristics and treatment decisions of these patients, particularly in relation to social background factors such as living situation and access to primary care, remain poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with malignancies in the ED of a single institution between April 2018 and December 2021. Patients diagnosed with lung cancer within 60 days of an ED visit were included. Data on demographics, disease status, treatment decisions, and background factors—including whether patients lived alone or had a primary care physician (PCP)—were extracted and analyzed. Results: Among 32,108 patients who visited the ED, 148 were diagnosed with malignancy within 60 days; 23 had lung cancer. Of these, 69.6% had metastatic disease at diagnosis, and 60.9% received active treatment (surgery or chemotherapy). No significant associations were observed between the extent of disease and either living arrangement or PCP status. However, the presence of a PCP was significantly associated with the selection of best supportive care (p = 0.023). No significant difference in treatment decisions was observed based on age (cutoff: 75 years). Conclusions: Although social background factors such as living alone were not significantly associated with cancer stage or treatment choice, the presence of a primary care physician was associated with a higher likelihood of best supportive care being selected. This may indicate that patients with an established PCP have more clearly defined care goals at the end of life. These findings suggest that primary care access may play a role in shaping end-of-life care preferences, highlighting the importance of personalized approaches in acute oncology care. Full article

Objectives: Scarce data are available regarding preventive medicine in forcibly displaced populations especially regarding non-communicable diseases like neoplasia, while even more limited data are available on Ukrainian refugees in Romania. To address this research gap, the present analysis was performed to investigate Ukrainian refugee women’s beliefs, attitudes, and opinions towards the Romanian and Ukrainian healthcare system in a comparison model while focusing on the HPV immunization rates and factors influencing the uptake for themselves and their children. Methods: Participants were recruited using the snowball sampling method through their General Practitioner (GP) and a health mediator. Results: In total, 105 women completed the online or physical survey. The mean age was 50 years. In total, 40% of women had not been to a gynecological check-up in 3 or more years, and more than 56% had never been screened. Only four were vaccinated against HPV, and none remembered which type of vaccine was dispensed or how many doses were utilized. The primary hindrances to accessing health services or immunization programs were language barriers, financial burdens, and a lack of information. Respondents’ general distrust of health systems and healthcare workforces were recurrent themes. Relationship status, living arrangements, and previous engagement in screening practices influenced immunization rates. Perceiving the healthcare officials as proactive concerning optional vaccination programs such as HPV immunization and actively receiving recommendations drove respondents to pursue vaccination. Conclusions: This analysis offers a foundational insight into the specific needs of refugee women. It can guide the development of effective public health interventions to improve health outcomes and vaccination rates among Ukrainian refugees in Romania. Tailored preventive campaigns with adequate native language information and prompts from medical experts in designated centers should be deployed to ensure inclusive tactics for vulnerable populations. Full article

Background: This study examined treatment outcomes for cannabis use disorder (CUD) among adolescents (12–17 years old) in the United States. Methods: Data from the 2018–2021 Treatment Episode Data Set-Discharges (TEDS-D) included 40,054 adolescents diagnosed with CUD. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression assessed treatment outcomes and factors associated with treatment completion. Results: Only 36.8% of adolescents completed treatment. The most common reasons for not completing treatment were dropping out (28.4%) and transferring to another facility/program (17.0%). Males and Black non-Hispanic adolescents had lower odds of completing treatment (OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.75–0.84), while Hispanic (OR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.08–1.18), Asian (OR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.3–1.86) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adolescents (OR = 2.31, 95%CI: 2.04–2.61) had higher odds of completion compared to their White counterparts. Independent living arrangements, homelessness, arrests in the past 30 days and younger age (<15 years old) decreased the likelihood of treatment completion. Adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders also had lower completion rates (OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.77–0.86). Referral from schools/employers and treatment settings were associated with a higher success, particularly with stays of 4–6 months and 7–12 months. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for targeted CUD treatment programs that support at-risk adolescents, especially those experiencing homelessness or facing legal issues. High dropout and transition rates suggest a need for continuity of care and program integration between facilities. Strengthening coordination among public health officials, community organizations, and stakeholders is essential to developing culturally responsive treatment interventions that address social determinants of health, substance use, and mental health in this vulnerable population. Full article

The anatomical arrangement of the atrioventricular node has been likened to a riddle wrapped up in an enigma. There are several reasons for this alleged mystery, not least the marked variability in structure between different species. Lack of detailed knowledge of the location of the node relative to the atrial and ventricular septal structures has also contributed to previous misunderstandings. Recent studies comparing the findings of gross dissection with virtual dissection of living datasets, combined with access to a large number of serially sectioned human and animal hearts, have served to provide the evidence to solve the riddle. We summarise these findings in this review. We explain how the node is located within the atrial walls of the inferior pyramidal space. It becomes the non-branching component of the atrioventricular conduction axis as the axis extends through the plane of atrioventricular insulation to enter the infero-septal recess of the left ventricular outflow tract. The node itself is formed by contributions from the tricuspid and mitral vestibules, with extensive additional inputs from the base of the atrial septum. We show how knowledge of development enhances the appreciation of the arrangements and offers an explanation as to why, on occasion, there can be persisting nodoventricular connections. We discuss the findings relative to the circuits producing atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia. We conclude by emphasising the significance of the variation of the anatomical arrangements within different mammalian species. Full article

In the recent K-12 educational literature, arts-based data visualization has been positioned as a compelling means of rendering data science and statistical learning accessible, motivating, and empowering for youth, as data users and producers. However, the only research to attend carefully to youth’s data-based, artistic storytelling practices has been limited in scope to specific storytelling mechanisms, like youth’s metaphor usage. Engaging in design-based research, we sought to understand the art and design decisions that youth make and the data-based arguments and stories that youth tell through their arts-based data visualizations. We drew upon embodied theory to acknowledge the holistic, synergistic, and situated nature of student learning and making. Corresponding with emerging accounts of youth arts-based data visualization practices, we saw regular evidence of art, storytelling, and personal subjectivities intertwining. Contributing to this literature, we found that these intersections surfaced in a number of domains, including youth’s pictorial symbolism, visual encoding strategies, and data decisions like manifold pictorial symbols arranged to support complex, multilayered, ambiguous narratives; qualitative data melding community and personal lived experience; and singular statements making persuasive appeals. This integration of art, story, agency, and embodiment often manifested in ways that seemed to jostle against traditional notions of and norms surrounding data science. Full article

Background/Objectives: Malnutrition can lead to poor health outcomes and mortality. Older adults are at a high risk of malnutrition due to age-related changes in their body and their dietary intake. The dietary intake of community-dwelling older adults can be affected by material and biopsychosocial factors. Conventional interventions often omit the influence of social factors on dietary intake—a particularly significant omission in the Chinese culture which sees eating as a social affair. This scoping review aimed to identify and understand the social factors associated with the dietary intake or nutritional status of community-dwelling Chinese older adults. Methods: This scoping review followed stages of research question identification, studies identification and selection, data charting, and results reporting. A systematic search was conducted in December 2024 for primary studies from databases, and reference lists of review articles were screened. Data extracted included characteristics of the study, measures of nutritional status, measures of social factors, and key findings. Results: A total of 964 articles were identified. Twelve studies were included in the review. Five social factors were identified as associated with dietary intake or nutritional status: (1) marital status; (2) living arrangement; (3) eating arrangement; (4) loneliness, social support and social isolation; and (5) social frailty. Being single, eating alone, experiencing loneliness or isolation, and being socially frail were found to be associated with poorer dietary intake or nutritional status, though the impact of living alone remains inconclusive. Conclusions: The relationship between social factors and dietary intake or nutritional status has not been extensively studied. Among the factors identified, it was found that eating arrangement and social frailty are potentially modifiable. Interventions targeting these social aspects could be developed. Full article

This study investigated the potential of Tillandsia plants, which can be arranged as a soil-free living green panel, and Banksia flower spikes, which could be arranged as a non-living natural panel, to filter particulate matter (PM) and airborne microorganisms. The Tillandsia panels demonstrated superior PM filtration, achieving up to 74% efficiency for large particles (>10 μm) at air velocities of 1.0 and 1.5 m/s without increasing pressure drop substantially. Conversely, Banksia performed better at 0.5 m/s, filtering up to 53% of PM compared to Tillandsia’s 13%. Notably, both panel types demonstrated significant fungal filtration, removing over 50% of airborne spores at 1.5 m/s. These findings suggest that incorporating plant-based panels into urban environments can enhance air quality and public health especially for allergenic particles and microorganisms. Full article

Although the relationship between grandparent and grandchild is often unique due to the supportive and foundational roles grandparents can have in the lives of young or youthful grandchildren, the extent of grandparent–grandchild coresidence globally is under-researched. We harmonized household roster survey data on grandchild coresidence using population-based data on adults 55+ years across 24 countries. Grandchild coresidence rates ranged from 41.1% in Mexico to 0.1% in Sweden. Across contexts, grandchild coresidence was more common among women (compared to men), non-partnered individuals (compared to partnered individuals), those who reported difficulty with activities of daily living (compared to those without such difficulties), and those with education levels below the median (compared to those above the median). Logit regressions indicated gaps in rates of grandchild coresidence by partner status, ADL status, and education were generally not driven by income or other socio-demographic variables. Coresidence with adult grandchildren was not uncommon in most countries with non-negligible rates of grandchild coresidence. In about 25% of households of middle-aged and older adults coresiding with grandchildren, grandchildren ages 0–5 years were present. Future research should consider the meaning of grandparent–grandchild coresidence for the health outcomes of middle-aged and older adults globally, particularly when grandparents are not caregivers of grandchildren. Full article

Physical inactivity is a pervasive global public health concern, yet there is limited qualitative research exploring the psychosocial dimensions of physical activity (PA) among undergraduate students at a South African university. Therefore, this study aimed to explore students’ PA participation, by providing insights into the psychosocial factors that shape their experiences. Interviews were conducted with 18 undergraduate university students between July and August 2023. I-poems, a creative qualitative method, were created from interview transcripts by isolating sentences featuring the pronoun “I” and arranging them into poetic stanzas without altering their sequence. This approach amplifies the participants’ voices, offering an authentic window into their lived experiences. Data was coded using the Atlas Ti v.8 software and thematically analysed to generate common themes. The I-poems revealed rich, layered insights from students regarding the psychosocial aspects of PA, highlighting themes such as mental health, motivation and social support. By centring the participants’ “I” narratives, the method foregrounded their voices, enabling a deeper exploration of their embodied PA experiences. This study highlights the potential of I-poems as a creative qualitative method to explore the intricacies of students’ PA journeys. The findings highlight the importance of considering psychosocial factors in understanding PA engagement, offering valuable subjective perspectives for designing contextually relevant and university student-tailored interventions that are suitable. Full article

The micro-phase segregation of two incompatible components on a nanometer scale results in a unique solvent-induced extended anisotropic arrangement. With the addition of a chiral dopant, lyotropic liquid crystals can be induced to adopt a helical structure, forming lyotropic cholesteric liquid crystals capable of reflecting incident light. In this study, to prevent fluid leakage in lyotropic materials, we encapsulated a series of hydrogel-stabilized lyotropic liquid crystals, presenting tunable structural colors visible in all directions, mimicking the color-changing characteristics of living organisms. Hydrogel scaffolds with controllable swelling behaviors were engineered by incorporating crosslinking monomers. To ensure stable integration of lyotropic liquid crystals, high-boiling-point ethylene glycol was employed as a fluid during the fabrication process. This study extensively explores the relationship between tensile force, temperature, and pressure and the color changes in lyotropic liquid crystals (LC). The results indicate that lyotropic LC membranes, stabilized by ethylene glycol and PDMS encapsulation, exhibit long-term stability, rendering them suitable for applications in temperature and pressure sensing. This approach ensures the continuous presence and stability of lyotropic liquid crystals within the hydrogel matrix. Full article

The site selection and spatial arrangement of rural settlements embody the ethnic characteristics and cultural heritage of ethnic minority groups. Investigating their spatial layout features and underlying determinants can provide both theoretical foundations and practical methodologies for the conservation and development planning of these settlements. This paper takes the representative ethnic minority villages in the first batch of key traditional villages in Liuzhou, Guangxi, as the example, and employs a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to study the spatial layout characteristics of ethnic minority villages in southern China. This study utilizes GIS-based analytical methods to calculate quantitative indicators based on planar graphs and digital elevation model (DEM) of ethnic minority settlements. The research results show that the spatial distribution of ethnic minority villages in southern China is closely correlated with natural geographical conditions. To be specific, ethnic minority villages in southern China generally distribute in accordance with the terrain and form specific spatial relationships with roads, topography, mountains, and water. Regardless of whether minority residents live on mountain tops or in valleys, they generally prefer gently sloping terrain. In addition, factors such as natural environment (sunshine and water sources, etc.) and traffic conditions are considered comprehensively in the settlement location. On this basis, the spatial layout features of rural settlement are extracted, and corresponding characteristic maps are constructed. The construction framework of the spatial characteristics map established based on “overall layout, architecture, roads and architecture-natural pattern” in this paper can be applied to general rural settlements. The findings can provide both theoretical foundations and practical references for the planning and development of rural settlements across different regions and ethnic groups. Full article

Portuguese society has evolved and transformed, and with it, social models: family structures have changed, with smaller households replacing the traditional nuclear family; labor models have shifted, with a significant increase in telecommuting and a surge of digital nomadism; and consumption patterns have altered, with some domestic activities being transferred from the home to the city. In light of these transformations, this article proposes a critical examination of housing models developed in Lisbon over recent decades, comparing them with dwellings built since the mid-20th century. Through selected case studies, it questions the adequacy of contemporary housing programs in addressing present-day social structures and living patterns. Methodologically, the paper firstly proposes an analysis of Portuguese social models and their transformation through census data and social sciences studies, followed by a critical review of contemporary urban housing models through spatial analysis of selected urban dwellings of the last 70 years, through the redrawing and visual comparison of the plans. The study adopts a spatial analysis of representative collective dwellings built in Lisbon since the 1950s, chosen for their prevalence, sectoral diversity, data availability, and the city’s central role in Portuguese housing development and research. The research concludes that there has been a perpetuation of anachronistic dwelling models in Lisbon, limiting adaptability to diverse living modes, and suggests a new approach to dwelling design, promoting undetermined and ambiguous spatial configurations that allow for greater adaptability to an evolving society, changing practices, and living arrangements. Full article

Optimizing the wind environment within university dormitory areas is essential for ensuring student safety, enhancing living comfort, and improving building energy efficiency. In this study, the wind environment of multi-story university dormitories in cold regions is comprehensively investigated through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations conducted with the PHONECIS software (version 2019), combined with orthogonal experimental design methods for systematic analysis and optimization. Through orthogonal experimental design, the effects of key morphological parameters—including building layout, length, width, and height—on the near-ground wind environment were evaluated. Among these, building width exerted the greatest influence, followed by building length, layout form, and finally building height. Based on the analysis, the optimal design scheme features a staggered building layout, with individual dormitory buildings measuring 60 m in length, 16 m in width, and 11.4 m in height. This optimized design was implemented in the multi-story dormitory area of the eastern section of Chang’an University’s New Campus. A comparative analysis of wind speed distribution before and after optimization, conducted specifically for the outdoor spaces during the winter season, revealed that the average near-ground wind speed was reduced from 3.3 m/s to 2.7 m/s, achieving an 18% reduction. The staggered arrangement and adjusted building proportions effectively dispersed airflow, mitigated high-velocity zones, and significantly enhanced outdoor wind comfort and pedestrian safety. This study introduces a morphology–wind environment coupling strategy from an architectural perspective to guide the design of dormitory buildings in cold regions. Rather than focusing on mathematical modeling, the research emphasizes design-oriented outcomes aimed at informing and optimizing practical architectural solutions for safer, more comfortable, and energy-efficient campus living environments. Full article

This study examines the relationship between living arrangements and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults in Japan, with a particular focus on gender differences. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ayase City, Kanagawa Prefecture, using mailed questionnaires, and the analysis was conducted on data from 1409 participants aged 65 and older. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associations between living arrangements, social networks, social participation, and depressive symptoms, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. The findings indicate that older adults living alone and those co-residing with their children are particularly vulnerable. Those living alone were more likely to be women aged 75 and older, with economic difficulties, and exhibited higher rates of depressive symptoms and care needs. Similarly, older adults living with their children had a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms and care requirements despite experiencing fewer economic hardships. This group was also characterized by lower educational attainment. Additionally, gender-specific factors were identified in the relationship between social relationships, including living arrangements, and depressive symptoms. These results underscore the necessity of interventions that consider both living arrangements and gender-specific social factors to mitigate mental health risks among older adults. Full article