Search Results (4,335)

A symmetric integrity seal is worth exactly what its key is worth. Any party holding the keyed-hash (HMAC) key of an Internet of Things (IoT) audit trail can forge a record, re-seal a modified one, and leave no cryptographic trace, so an HMAC-sealed log establishes nothing to an external auditor or regulator beyond the honesty of the operator itself. This paper separates integrity from evidential strength and decomposes the latter into six properties—integrity, authenticity, non-repudiation of the anchored history, third-party verifiability, temporal upper-bounding, and bounded completeness—stating for each what a cryptographic mechanism can and cannot establish. It then presents the Ledger-Anchored Compliance Transformation Layer (LA-CTL), a two-tier architecture for Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) in which edge gateways seal each record with HMAC-SHA256 for operator-side verification and anchor RFC 6962 Merkle roots over sealed batches on a Byzantine fault-tolerant permissioned ledger shared with the auditor and the regulator. Records remain off-chain, preserving erasability under the General Data Protection Regulation. All cryptography is real; the consortium is evaluated both in a seeded network simulation and as four validator processes over sockets under LAN and emulated WAN conditions, at steady load and under the failure of a backup and of the primary. Anchoring is batch-priced rather than record-priced: on-chain state falls to 0.57 bytes per record at batch size 1024, while inclusion proofs grow logarithmically to at most 330 bytes. Holding the Merkle batching constant and varying only the publication substrate shows that most detection capability comes from the batching rather than from the ledger—a single-notary log matches the consortium on tampering, insider re-sealing, deletion and reordering—and that the quorum is distinguished on one attack: compromise of the publisher, which is the attack an operator-selected notary cannot withstand. The insider re-seal that the symmetric baseline accepts by construction is detected in all 10,000 trials. What the anchor does not give is stated with equal care: a commit bounds when the committed bytes existed, not when the event they describe occurred. Full article

Background: This study aims to investigate the impact of chronic endometritis (CE) diagnosis and treatment on pregnancy outcomes during hysteroscopic fallopian tube catheterization combined with laparoscopy in infertility patients with pelvic endometriosis (EMS) and proximal tubal obstruction (PTO). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted between July 2020 and March 2022, including patients with PTO who underwent hysteroscopy–laparoscopy. CE was diagnosed via CD138 immunohistochemical staining and treated with oral doxycycline. The study further assessed the prevalence of CE and evaluated the effect of its diagnosis and treatment on pregnancy outcomes. Results: A total of 454 participants with PTO were enrolled, of whom 158 had concomitant pelvic EMS. Among EMS patients, 78 underwent CD138 staining for CE diagnosis (Group A), while the rest were classified as Group B. The incidence of CE in Group A was 62.8%. These affected individuals were treated with doxycycline. The natural pregnancy rate was significantly higher in Group A than Group B (46.2% vs. 26.3%, p = 0.009). The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate were higher in Group A, although the differences were not statistically significant. Additionally, Group A demonstrated a significantly higher cumulative natural pregnancy rate (p < 0.05). Notably, the diagnosis and treatment of CE emerged as a protective factor for cumulative natural pregnancy (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.06–2.97; p = 0.028). Conclusions: In infertility patients with pelvic EMS complicated by PTO undergoing hysteroscopic tube catheterization combined with laparoscopy, prioritizing the diagnosis and treatment of CE is crucial for enhancing natural pregnancy outcomes. Full article

Remote and northern communities in Canada experience disproportionately high food insecurity rates. Reliance on shipped-in produce with short shelf lives and processed food means prices are high and nutrition rates are low. Greenhouses allow for local food production, protecting plants from the external environment and maintaining optimal growing conditions. This paper presents a community-scale solar-powered off-grid greenhouse energy system which incorporates heating and lighting loads. A modelling methodology, integrating OSeMOSYS and other open-sourced methods, is described for creating the demand profiles and developing the energy systems for such greenhouses. Location-specific and time-dependent geographical data are used, and increasing lengths of growing seasons are investigated for various locations across Canada. Yearly results and overall costs for different length growing seasons allow for detailed analyses of the working of the system, capturing meaningful aspects of the design and operation that may otherwise be lost in an averaged modelling approach. Results show the system is able to lengthen the growing season for all locations at reasonable cost. More northerly locations, understandably, are unable to function year-round, and the most southerly locations suffer from inconsistent solar irradiance levels related to weather patterns, requiring an oversized battery. Many locations, including those in Yukon and Alberta, were found to benefit from long periods of solar availability, requiring a more modest system and excess solar generation in the summer, giving microgrid expansion potential. Full article

Background: The oral application of adenovirus is hindered by its poor in vitro storage stability and rapid degradation by gastric acid. To address this, a biomimetic oral adenovirus delivery system (CSP-AdV@LYO) was constructed based on three key properties of natural chrysanthemum sporopollenin (CSP): chemical inertness, intelligent “acid-shrinking/alkali-swelling” responsiveness, and mucosal adhesion via its spike structures, aiming to enhance oral stability and delivery efficiency. Methods: First, low-allergenic chrysanthemum pollen was screened using proteomics and a zebrafish allergy model. High-purity sporopollenin (SPO) was then extracted via an acidolysis method, followed by systematic characterization of its morphology, particle size, zeta potential, contact angle, and reversible acid-shrinking/alkali-swelling behavior. Subsequently, a CSP-AdV@LYO formulation was prepared by optimizing a cryoprotectant formulation (sucrose:gelatin = 1:1) and a vacuum loading process. Its protective and release properties were evaluated in vitro using simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, and its long-term stability was assessed. Further in vivo studies in mice assessed its intestinal colonization efficiency. The adhesion mechanism of the sporopollenin spike structures was investigated through mucosal retention experiments. Results: Mucosal retention experiments confirmed that the spike structures on the sporopollenin surface enhanced retention by approximately 3-fold through mechanical interlocking compared to smooth particles. In long-term stability tests, the viral genome copy number retention rate was improved more than 10-fold compared to the virus stock solution. The system enabled a steady and controlled release of the virus in simulated intestinal fluid, with the released virus maintaining its infectivity. In vivo studies demonstrated that CSP-AdV@LYO promoted efficient intestinal colonization and reduced acute mortality from 75% (AdV@LYO group) to 25%. Conclusion: By leveraging the unique physicochemical properties of chrysanthemum sporopollenin, this study successfully developed a biomimetic oral delivery system for live adenovirus that provides gastric acid protection, intelligent pH-responsive release, and mucosal adhesion. This system significantly enhances the oral stability and intestinal delivery efficiency of adenovirus while reducing systemic exposure risks. It offers a novel biomimetic strategy for the oral delivery of adenovirus and other biological macromolecules. Full article

Microbiological bioproducts constitute a rapidly growing group of preparations used in modern agriculture and play a significant role in achieving the goals of sustainable crop production. Because they contain live microorganisms or their metabolites, they promote plant growth and development, increase nutrient availability, improve soil properties, and suppress pathogen development, thereby representing a promising alternative to conventional fertilizers and chemical plant protection products. The aim of this study was to analyze the current state of knowledge on the application of microorganisms in agriculture, with a particular focus on their mechanisms of action, bioproduct formulation principles, and the legal requirements for their registration and marketing in Poland and the European Union. The paper presents a classification of microbiological bioproducts and compares their properties with those of chemical products. The stages of product formulation, including strain selection and identification, mass production, the choice of appropriate carriers, and stabilization methods, are discussed. Furthermore, the primary mechanisms of microbial action on plants are characterized, including biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, the production of phytohormones and siderophores, and pathogen biocontrol mechanisms. In addition, the current legal regulations governing the classification, registration, and quality and safety requirements of agricultural microbiological products are outlined. The analysis indicates that microbiological bioproducts have significant potential to support sustainable crop production and mitigate the negative environmental impacts of agriculture. However, their widespread adoption requires further advancements in formulation technologies, quality standardization, and the improvement and harmonization of existing legal frameworks. Full article

Population aging in Asia is arriving before the institutions to support it. Assessments of social protection usually treat sustainability, adequacy and fairness separately, obscuring how they trade off within one system. This study introduces NTA-SAFE, five indicators derived from the National Transfer Accounts lifecycle identity, applied to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. Base-year per capita profiles are combined with UN World Population Prospects 2024 populations through 2050, so all movement reflects age structure alone; results are reported across all five WPP series as a demographic sensitivity range. An explicit two-part rule classifies each economy by who provides net transfers to its elderly and by demographic stage. Japan and South Korea are state-led; the Philippines and Indonesia are family-asset-led, retaining the fiscal headroom of young populations. Thailand is transitional and the substantive case, carrying the demographic and fiscal exposure of a state-led system while families supply 78% of net transfer support to its elderly. Thai elderly consumption sits near working-age parity: the exposure lies not in current living standards but in the institutional basis on which they rest. Direction of change is robust in 24 of 25 country-indicator combinations. Higher benefit generosity is consistently associated with a narrower fiscal base, as a budget constraint implies, though five cases cannot establish universality. Whether family-mediated support reproduces life-course inequality into old age is a hypothesis the framework can pose but not test, the accounts carrying no distributional data. Indonesia’s classification is provisional, its profile predating the 2014 health insurance reform. NTA-SAFE is replicable wherever National Transfer Accounts exist. Full article

Episodic air pollution events (EAPEs) remain significantly less investigated than pollution generated by continuous emission sources, despite their potential to produce intense short-term concentration peaks and acute exposure conditions. Among these events, fireworks displays represent one of the most intense and short-lived anthropogenic sources of atmospheric pollution in urban environments. The research presents and discusses the use of reference air quality monitoring approaches to characterize transient pollution episodes, highlighting the limitations of conventional monitoring systems and regulatory frameworks, which rely on hourly or daily averaged concentrations and may therefore underestimate the real temporal evolution, peak intensity, and short-term exposure associated with EAPEs. Experimental field investigations were conducted over two consecutive years during New Year’s Eve celebrations, using an integrated monitoring approach combining certified reference instrumentation and calibrated low-cost sensors. PM10, NO₂, CO, and O₃ concentrations were monitored before, during, and after the events, enabling comparisons between daily, hourly, and minute-resolution measurements. Results demonstrated that conventional monitoring successfully identifies the occurrence of the pollution episode but fails to adequately characterize its peak dynamics. Minute-resolution PM10 measurements revealed concentrations up to 215 µg m⁻³, approximately three times higher than the corresponding hourly values (Peak Amplification Factor, PAF = 2.90–2.93), while transient variations in gaseous pollutants were consistently identified. The findings provide experimental evidence supporting the integration of high-temporal-resolution measurements with conventional monitoring networks to improve the characterization of episodic air pollution events, thereby supporting environmental authorities in enhancing monitoring strategies, exposure assessment, air quality management, and the protection of public health. Full article

While there has been an increase in publications on environmental sustainability in agriculture, the labor aspect of sustainable agriculture remains insufficiently addressed in scientific literature. Migrant seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) are fundamental to food production, yet often labor under hazardous conditions. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, synthesizes findings from fourteen peer-reviewed studies across multiple countries that utilized validated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments. This review focuses exclusively on studies employing validated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments, which, while essential for methodological rigor, limited the number of eligible studies. The search was expanded to five major databases to maximize coverage. The review aims to describe the working and living conditions of MSFWs, examine the effects of these hazards on their HRQoL, and explore broader implications for the sustainability of agriculture. The most prevalent detrimental conditions identified include chemical pesticide exposure, underpayment of wages, poor living and working environments, and inadequate labor legislation. Across diverse agricultural contexts, the review confirms the universality of poor working conditions and their consistent negative impacts on farmworker health, wellbeing, and the sustainability of the sector. Addressing the exploitation of migrant farmworkers is essential not only for realizing their rights but also for achieving social, environmental, and economic sustainability in agriculture worldwide. The findings underscore the urgent need for policy reforms to improve labor protections, working conditions, and access to health services for this vulnerable workforce. Full article

Environmental interpretation (EI) in protective forests remains an underexplored field, despite its demonstrated potential for fostering emotional place attachment and conservation attitudes. This study aims to design and evaluate in situ the “Magical Portal of Biodiversity and Culture” self-guided interpretive trail at the “Los Arrayanes” Protective Forest (16 ha, Montúfar Canton, Carchi Province, Ecuador), a native arrayan forest (Myrcianthes hallii) deeply rooted in the ancestral territory of the Pasto-Tuza people, and to formulate educommunicational strategies. The trail design is grounded in Tilden’s interpretive principles, Morales’s topic–theme structure, and Ham’s TORE model, and it formulates Environmental Education and Communication Strategies. A qualitative, multimethod design was employed, with in situ field observation, participatory action research (PAR) workshops with the de Monteverde community, and in-depth interviews with seven key informants (March–April 2026); data were analyzed through the hermeneutic interpretive method and validated through categories, method, and theory triangulation, member checking, and researcher reflexivity. The analysis yielded five emergent categories: (1) vital and heritage place attachment; (2) psychological restoration and sensory reconnection; (3) environmental curiosity and empathy; (4) situated conservation learning; and (5) community governance and intergenerational education. Additionally, it identified six educommunicational strategies: (1) sensory learning; (2) storytelling; (3) participatory interaction; (4) guided self-learning; (5) situated learning; and (6) the biocultural approach. These findings provide empirical evidence that biocultural interpretation promotes conservation attitudes and community participation. In practical terms, this research offers protected-area managers, community organizations, and interpretation planners a model replicable for designing self-guided interpretive trails in biodiverse territories where living biocultural heritage is at risk. Full article

Oral supplementation of the Hafnia alvei (H. alvei) HA4597 probiotic strain has been shown to reduce appetite, body weight and fat content in overweight humans and obese mice. However, it remains unknown if H. alvei may also influence the gut digestive function. Thus, in the present study, the structural parameters of the intestine and the activity of digestive enzymes of the brush border enterocytes were analyzed in mice after they received a suspension of live H. alvei bacteria or their total protein extract for 16 days. Using electron microscopy, bacteria resembling H. alvei were found on the surface of microvilli of colonic enterocytes of mice treated with H. alvei suspension. In the group receiving H. alvei protein, there was a trend toward an increase in the number of mucus-producing goblet cells on the villi of the jejunum, and in both groups receiving H. alvei preparations, the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes on the villi of the ileum increased (in the group receiving H. alvei protein, there was a tendency towards an increase; in the group receiving H. alvei suspension, there was a significant increase). Treatment with both H. alvei preparations led to an increased activity of alkaline phosphatase in the chyme of the duodenum and jejunum and also in the jejunal mucosa, correlating negatively with visceral body fat content. The use of both H. alvei preparations had no significant effect on the activity of glucoamylase, maltase and aminopeptidase N in the intestinal mucosa. Thus, the 16-day administration of H. alvei bacteria or their protein extract increases the protective properties of the intestine, including the mucous barrier. Moreover, increased activity of alkaline phosphatase, a fat absorption-limiting enzyme, may contribute to the known anti-obesity effects of H. alvei. Taken together, H. alvei preparations display beneficial effects on gut health. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and related public-health measures, including physical distancing and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), disrupted routine healthcare communication and care delivery for older adults with combined hearing and vision loss, or dual sensory loss (DSL). Around 1.1 million older Canadians are living with DSL and rely on multimodal communication to support assessment and continuity of care. Objectives: This study explored healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) perspectives on older adults with DSL accessing health services and information, and providers’ challenges delivering care during and after COVID-19. Methods: Following a nationwide online survey with 228 HCPs in Canada, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 24 survey respondents to obtain their insights. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: HCPs reported that the pandemic introduced novel challenges due to the lack of training and technical resources to facilitate healthcare communication with their patients with DSL. HCPs faced difficulty in clinical assessments and diagnosis due to restrictions while using PPE, such as masks. Participants reported strategies such as alternative formats, use of gestures or pictures, assistive devices, and caregiver support and accompaniment that helped provide services to older adults with DSL. Conclusions: Study findings suggest that older adults with DSL were underserved during the pandemic and underscore the need for continuing education/training on DSL for HCPs in order to provide better care to this group. Full article

Scarcity of cultivated land resources and socioeconomic expansion have diversified cultivated land utilization modes. This research takes 183 county administrative units across Sichuan Province as research samples to build a three-dimensional (production, living, ecological) evaluation framework for cultivated land multifunctionality. Entropy weight method, multifunctionality index and sensitivity model are applied to quantify the spatiotemporal evolution of cultivated land functions across 2013–2023, and to detect the response intensity of multifunctionality to cultivated land quantity variation. Results indicate the following: (1) During 2013–2023, Sichuan’s cultivated land production function (PF) maintained stability, showing a contiguous east-high–west-low spatial pattern. The living function (LF) experienced moderate growth with scattered high–low values but shared identical spatial differentiation rules; the ecological function (EF) declined slightly with a decelerated decreasing rate in the late research phase, and its high- and sub-high-value areas agglomerated in the Eastern Sichuan Basin and mountainous area of Southwest Sichuan. (2) Provincial cultivated land area slightly increased initially then declined, yielding a slight total reduction while the overall spatial layout remained consistent. (3) Comparison between 2013–2018 and 2018–2023 reveals that production function sensitivity decreased sharply, LF sensitivity fell moderately, and ecological function sensitivity climbed upward. Investigations into spatiotemporal evolution and sensitive responses of cultivated land multifunctionality deliver vital theoretical and practical implications for mitigating conflicts between regional cultivated land protection and exploitation, as well as advancing efficient land resource allocation and coordinated promotion of multifunctions. Full article

The concept of faith-based sanctuary—congregations providing hospitality and protection to those who have broken unjust laws—has its roots in the biblical passages mandating the creation of Cities of Refuge in ancient Israel. Since the early 1980s, sanctuary movements in the United States have provided refuge to asylum seekers and other immigrants facing potential deportation. The majority of those who have received sanctuary have fled the human rights crisis in Latin America. These movements have been pivotal in achieving regulatory changes in federal policy that saved thousands of lives in the 1980’s as well as saving immigrant families from separation through deportation on an ongoing basis. The popular narrative of the sanctuary movements has tended to focus on white citizens with privilege rescuing Latino/a victims. However, an in-depth examination shows that both Latino/a residents and Latino/a immigrants have played an essential and central role. Current faith responses to mass deportation efforts also involve increasingly important leadership by Latino/a residents and immigrants, largely without broader public awareness or understanding of their role. This paper focuses primarily on the contribution of migrants in the sanctuary movement, but with a particular emphasis on the majority of migrants who receive sanctuary—Latin Americans. It also notes the contribution of Latino/a U.S. residents. The reasons for including the role of Latino/a residents are twofold. First, the broader Latino/a church and community in the United States is roughly 30% immigrant; Latino/a residents are often intimately involved with the Latin American migrant community, and their contributions are intertwined. Secondly, Latino/a engagement in the sanctuary and similar movements, whether by residents or migrants, is also often unarticulated or marginalized. The reality that Latino/a resident and immigrant contributions to sanctuary movements are often invisible in the broader public narrative supports a theological distortion with negative consequences for mission and ministry. In many popular Christian education resources focused on immigration and immigrant ministry, the call to the church to witness to the love of God for the stranger is often framed as an act of hospitality While hospitality is a biblical value, a well-meaning emphasis on hospitality as the key biblical response to immigration obscures the actual and potential contributions of migrants to God’s broader mission in and through migration. This message lowers the likelihood of full collaboration between immigrant and non-immigrant leaders and churches. When the narrative is that the privileged are the savior, the leadership of the marginalized is discouraged and opportunities are missed. Conversely, 1 Corinthians 12:26–30 lays out a pattern in which God utilizes the contributions of the marginalized to inspire the church and world. When we see migrants’ engagement in risky advocacy in sanctuary movements, we see a faith that is radically dependent on God and marvelously courageous. The conversion of victims of injustice into God’s agents for transformation becomes a testimony to the power of the living God. When the world can see Christian migrants and citizens working together in power-sharing mutuality, Paul’s vision of the Body of Christ becomes visible. Applying these theological lenses to a fuller portrayal of shared leadership in the sanctuary movements can undo the damage caused by a distorted image of the sanctuary movements and can increase their positive impact. This paper utilizes a non-traditional and decolonial methodology in its inclusion of personal testimony by the author, a leader in North American sanctuary movements over the past forty-five years, in the broader context of an historical and theological analysis. Full article

Essential oils from rosemary, cinnamon, and clove have attracted interest as alternatives to routine antibiotic use in poultry production. Their potential effects include improving gut health, microbial control, oxidative balance, growth performance, carcass traits, and meat preservation. However, comparing the literature is difficult because terms like “rosemary oil,” “cinnamon oil,” and “clove oil” often refer to preparations that are not chemically or functionally equivalent. These preparations vary by botanical source, chemotype, extraction method, storage, formulation, concentration, and route of exposure. This review argues that poultry outcomes should be interpreted through a chemistry- and route-based framework. Rosemary essential oil is typically rich in monoterpenes. Cinnamon oils may be cinnamaldehyde- or eugenol-dominant, depending on the species and plant organ. Clove oil is generally rich in eugenol but remains compositionally variable. These differences influence antimicrobial potency, anti-virulence activity, redox behavior, sensory impact, and stability. The review further distinguishes between direct antimicrobial injury and growth-independent virulence attenuation. It also separates dietary effects in live birds from postharvest effects on meat. Evidence suggests that dietary supplementation can influence intestinal morphology, inflammatory status, nutrient utilization, and carcass composition. These effects are especially notable when formulations are protected or encapsulated. This review aims to critically evaluate rosemary, cinnamon, and clove essential oils as non-interchangeable interventions in poultry systems. It relates their chemical identity, formulation, and route of exposure to outcomes such as gut health, microbial modulation, performance, and carcass traits. Full article

Tailings dam safety is a cornerstone of green and sustainable mine development. The instability of such facilities directly threatens the safety of surrounding ecosystems, human lives, and property, contravening the Sustainable Development Goals regarding clean water and terrestrial ecosystem protection. Rainfall is the primary external factor triggering tailings dam instability, yet the failure mechanisms may differ fundamentally depending on the temporal distribution of rainfall. Against the background of the Poyang Lake Basin, this study integrates observed rainfall data from 2020 to 2025 with a survey of 101 active tailings dams (of which Class IV dams account for 43.6% and upstream-method construction accounts for 88.1%), on the basis of which a representative Class IV upstream-method tailings dam is selected as the prototype. A coupled unsaturated seepage and stability numerical model is constructed, and two sets of rainfall scenarios are designed: one varying the rainfall peak position coefficient t and the other varying the rainfall duration. The results indicate that infiltration induced by short-duration intense rainfall is confined to shallow strata. The earlier the rainfall peak, the more fully the deep infiltration develops and the greater the factor of safety reduction, with the critical variable governing stability degradation being the length of time available for deep redistribution after the rainfall peak. Long-duration sustained rainfall drives an overall rise of the phreatic line, and the seepage response is dominated by the average rainfall intensity. Extending the duration cannot compensate for the attenuation of the infiltration driving force caused by the reduced rainfall intensity, and the core factor determining disaster risk is whether the average rainfall intensity can exceed the drainage threshold of the deep low-permeability layers. Within the Poyang Lake Basin, concentrated heavy continuous rainfall during the Meiyu period lasting 20 to 40 days represents the decisive working condition governing tailings dam stability and should be prioritized in flood-season safety supervision. The rainfall-driven instability mechanisms revealed in this study provide a theoretical basis for establishing differentiated monitoring and early-warning thresholds and for the sustainable operation of tailings dams. Full article