Search Results (1,430)

Rice monoculture systems, often involving double- or triple-cropping cycles annually, require intensive agricultural practices that can lead to land degradation. This study evaluates land degradation within the long-term rice monoculture systems of Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, using the Sustainable Development Goal 15.3.1 framework. By focusing exclusively on persistent rice-growing areas, the study minimized the confounding signals of land-use conversion, allowing for an evaluation of the trajectories driven by combined agricultural management and climatic factors. The assessment integrated land use and land cover (LULC), soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, and land productivity. Findings indicate that 83% of the original paddy area remained long-term monoculture, with LULC-related degradation limited to 4% of the original paddy cultivation area. While SOC depletion was observed in a few districts, a broader potential carbon accretion trend was identified across the province, likely driven by sustainable post-harvest practices such as stubble retention and organic amendments. Land productivity analysis revealed partial stress only in a few districts. The study demonstrated that long-term rice cultivation did not result in widespread deterioration of soil health on an aggregate provincial scale; however, district-localized degradation hotspots suffering from soil organic carbon depletion and climate-induced productivity stress were identified, demanding targeted regional management. Full article

Cervical cancer continues to require more precise and clinically adaptable local treatment strategies, particularly in the face of insufficient drug accumulation at the lesion site, systemic toxicity of conventional chemotherapy, limited development of postoperative tissue-interfacing platforms, and the anatomical constraints of standard radiotherapy devices. In this mini-review, we summarize the current landscape of polymer-based biomaterials for local therapy in cervical cancer from both materials and clinical perspectives. Specifically, we discuss three interconnected application domains: local drug delivery systems, polymeric scaffolds and tissue-interfacing platforms, and 3D-printed radiotherapy devices. Recent studies indicate that polymer-based local delivery systems, including nanofiber- and hydrogel-based formulations, can improve cervicovaginal retention, controlled release, and local therapeutic exposure. Scaffold-based systems further extend the role of biomaterials by combining sustained local delivery with defect-specific support and tissue interaction, whereas 3D-printed radiotherapy devices contribute primarily through precision enablement, individualized implantation guidance, and improved conformity in anatomically challenging cases. Despite these advances, most available studies remain preclinical or early translational, and important barriers persist in long-term safety, standardization, clinically relevant validation, and workflow integration. Future progress will depend on application-specific design, stronger translational rigor, and closer integration of biomaterials, imaging, and personalized clinical practice. Full article

Canned fish products enable long-term preservation of fish, a vital source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Despite research on lipid composition, gaps remain in understanding the bidirectional fatty acid (FA) exchange between fish muscle and coating media during processing and storage. After a systematic literature search across five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane Library), 20 studies were included examining FA profiles across fish species, filling media (vegetable oils, brine, tomato sauce), and storage durations (up to 5 years). Five studies showed that n-3 FAs migrate from fish to the filling medium, enhancing its nutritional value, while fish muscle absorbs FAs from the oil, increasingly resembling the filling medium. The use of n-6 FA-rich oils (sunflower, soybean) lowered the n-3/n-6 ratio in flesh. Conversely, aqueous media (brine) and tomato sauce maintained better ratios. EPA and DHA content generally decreased due to canning and storage, with retention varying by fish species, filling medium, and sterilization method. This review underscores significant FA exchange between fish and filling media, confirming bidirectional lipid interchange during processing. To optimize health benefits, aqueous packing media are recommended to preserve lipid profiles or to consume the covering oil to recover nutrients. Further research is needed on other factors altering FA content in canned fish such as environmental and geographical variables (including catching season), pre-canning preparation and sterilization steps (such as freezing, steaming, and frying), sterilization conditions (time, temperature, F₀ value) and lipid oxidation induced by thermal processing. Full article

Physical unclonable function (PUF) based on intrinsic device randomness has emerged as promising hardware security primitives, yet combining secure encryption with neuromorphic recognition within a single device platform remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate a photosensing PUF based on an intrinsically random SnTe memristor capable of both image encryption and memristive neural network recognition. The SnTe memristor, fabricated with an In₂O₃:SnO₂/SnTe/Nb:SrTiO₃ structure, exhibits stable resistive switching and stable retention exceeding 4000 s. Synaptic biomimetic behaviors including learning-experience emulation, short-term plasticity and long-term plasticity are also realized. Notably, the device displays pronounced optical sensitivity that produces stochastic photocurrent fluctuations originating from unavoidable device-to-device variations under illumination. By quantizing these random photocurrents, an encryption key stream is generated and utilized for image scrambling and diffusion. A memristive neural network is constructed to classify the encrypted images, achieving a recognition accuracy of 95.1% with a loss of 0.15 after 300 training epochs. This work establishes a viable pathway from intrinsic optical randomness to secure neuromorphic computing, highlighting the multifunctional potential of SnTe memristors in integrated hardware security and brain-inspired computation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Long-term clinical data on direct posterior composite restorations are scarce, particularly beyond simple survival outcomes. This study aimed to characterize the long-term functional, esthetic, and biological behavior of posterior composite restorations after nearly three decades of service using selected FDI criteria and to assess changes across available follow-up examinations, including within a predefined sub-cohort. Methods: This observational follow-up involved 21 patients with 57 posterior composite restorations placed in 1995–1996 at the Department of Operative Dentistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, by undergraduate dental students under supervision. The 2025 follow-up used FDI criteria to assess functional, aesthetic, and biological properties, classifying outcomes as clinically acceptable, intervention needed, or failure. Descriptive analyses were applied to the entire cohort. Longitudinal analyses were conducted on a sub-cohort of 14 patients with 27 restorations at three time points. Exploratory analyses assessed associations with restoration factors, caries experience, and gingival health. Results: In 2025, 54.4% of restorations were clinically acceptable, 28.1% required intervention, and 17.5% were failures. Functional criteria remained mostly acceptable, though form and contour showed the highest mean values. In the longitudinal sub-cohort, significant changes over time were observed in anatomical form and occlusal wear. Retention, marginal adaptation, proximal contact, and surface luster did not change significantly. Biologically, restorations available for direct assessment had low incidences of secondary caries, hard-tissue defects, and postoperative sensitivity or pulpal issues. Conclusions: Posterior composite restorations can function for nearly three decades but gradually deteriorate in certain aspects. Long-term changes mainly involve cumulative functional aging of the anatomical form and occlusal wear, rather than widespread biological failure. These findings underline the importance of differentiated long-term assessment and support conservative management approaches where clinically feasible before replacement is undertaken. Full article

Water-soluble viscosity-modifying admixtures (VMAs) were initially introduced into cementitious materials to enhance cohesion, stability and resistance to bleeding and segregation. With the development of self-compacting concrete, underwater concrete, grouting materials and 3D-printed cementitious materials, VMAs have become increasingly important for regulating rheological behavior, workability retention, shape retention and construction processability. Recent studies further indicate that VMAs can affect not only fresh-state properties, but also hydration kinetics, early-age microstructure evolution, mechanical performance, transport behavior and long-term durability. This review systematically summarizes the types, action mechanisms, and performance effects of water-soluble VMAs in cementitious materials. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationships among the molecular structure, liquid phase viscosity enhancement, particle adsorption and bridging, polymer-chain entanglement, ion-responsiveness, admixture compatibility, and microstructure evolution. The review shows that the effects of VMAs are not governed solely by admixture type or dosage, but depend strongly on molecular mass, functional groups, substituent composition, charge characteristics, binder chemistry, and the pore solution environment. Finally, current research gaps and future directions are discussed, including quantitative structure–mechanism–performance relationships, applicability in low-carbon binders, service-life prediction, and application-oriented VMA design. Full article

Background: High-level badminton performance requires rapid perceptual processing, visuomotor coordination, and precise movement responses under continuously changing spatial conditions. Although wearable sports vision interventions have shown potential for enhancing perceptual–motor performance, evidence regarding their longitudinal effects and transfer to sport-specific outcomes remains limited. Trial design: A single-center, exploratory randomized controlled trial using a parallel-group structure. Simple randomization without blocking or stratification resulted in a final allocation ratio of 16:10 (approximately 1.6:1) between the training and control groups. Methods: Twenty-six collegiate badminton athletes aged 18–25 were randomized into a wearable sports vision training group (n = 16) or a control group (n = 10). The intervention group completed wearable sports vision training using Automatic Dual Rotational Risley Prisms (ADRRPs) for 15 min twice weekly over 4 weeks. Results: Baseline-adjusted ANCOVA demonstrated significant between-group effects for reaction time (p = 0.003) and target-zone accurate hits (p = 0.004), whereas binocular visual function outcomes did not show statistically significant between-group differences. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Four weeks of wearable sports vision training may be associated with improvements in selected visuomotor outcomes, particularly reaction performance and target-zone hitting accuracy, in collegiate badminton players. Larger trials are needed to evaluate long-term retention and broader sport-specific applicability. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT07105462, registered 29 July 2025. Full article

The increasing volume of digital health data generated through Electronic Health Records (EHRs), emergency care systems, and real-time monitoring technologies has intensified the need for secure cross-institutional healthcare analytics. However, privacy concerns, regulatory restrictions, institutional mistrust, and risks associated with centralized data aggregation continue to limit large-scale healthcare data sharing. This paper presents OPAL4Health, a governance-oriented and privacy-preserving distributed healthcare analytics framework grounded in the MIT Open Algorithms (OPAL) paradigm. The framework integrates federated analytics, blockchain-based auditability, explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), and institutional governance mechanisms within a unified computation-to-data healthcare ecosystem. Unlike conventional federated healthcare systems that primarily focus on decentralized computation alone, OPAL4Health emphasizes governance, transparency, auditability, and policy-aligned distributed analytics while preserving institutional data sovereignty. The privacy protections supported by OPAL4Health are primarily architecture-based and governance-oriented, relying on local institutional data retention, controlled query execution, and blockchain-auditable analytical workflows rather than formally provable cryptographic privacy guarantees. The framework was evaluated through a real-world urgent care pilot across seven hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using 184 anonymized patient cases collected between May 2015 and September 2016. Analytical findings identified a median onset-to-arrival delay of 285 min (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 270–302), low ambulance utilization (18.5%), and hospital bypass behavior in 42% of cases. Peak Emergency Department (ED) congestion periods were also identified. Scenario-based modeling projected potential long-term healthcare savings of approximately $602 million over 15 years through improved Emergency Medical Services (EMS) allocation and reduced disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The findings demonstrate the feasibility of governance-oriented, privacy-preserving distributed healthcare analytics within OPAL4Health while generating actionable operational and policy-relevant insights without centralizing sensitive patient-level records. The proposed framework provides a transferable model for secure, transparent, and accountable digital health collaboration across healthcare ecosystems. Full article

Corneal endothelial dysfunction is a major cause of corneal blindness worldwide. This is primarily due to the limited regenerative capacity of human corneal endothelial cells (CECs) and the global shortage of donor tissues. Corneal endothelial cell therapy (CECT), which involves injecting cultured CECs into the anterior chamber, has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional transplantation. However, its clinical efficacy remains limited by several factors, including rapid cell loss, non-uniform distribution, and insufficient long-term adhesion following injection. Recent advances in biomaterials and regenerative engineering have led to the development of emerging biomaterial-assisted strategies aimed at addressing these challenges. In this review, we provide a mechanistic and translational overview of next-generation CECT, highlighting a range of biomaterial-assisted strategies aimed at improving cell retention, spatial localization, and long-term adhesion following injection. These emerging approaches aim to mitigate key limitations of conventional cell injection therapy, including variability in cell distribution and retention. However, their effectiveness and translational feasibility remain under active investigation. In addition, we analyze recent global patent trends, regulatory frameworks, and market dynamics to highlight emerging opportunities for innovation and development in this field. Although many of these technologies remain at the preclinical or early translational stage, these approaches may provide a promising direction to improve engraftment efficiency, reduce surgical variability, and enable more scalable, minimally invasive treatment options. This review highlights the potential of biomaterial-assisted CECT as a next-generation regenerative strategy and outlines key challenges that must be overcome for successful clinical translation. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between toxic workplace culture and voluntary employee turnover, undermining workforce sustainability in Ghana’s construction industry. While some previous research has found a relationship between a toxic working environment and employee withdrawal habits, few studies have investigated the psychological processes between the toxic work culture and employee turnover in Global South construction companies. Based on the theories of Conservation of Resources and Social Exchange, this research examines the possible mediating factors between the toxic work culture and employee turnover: employee burnout, psychological safety, and job dissatisfaction. Structured questionnaires were used to design a quantitative cross-sectional survey, which was administered to 174 construction workers in Ghana. The data were analysed using mediation regression models based on Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). The findings show that a hostile work environment and a lack of organisational support were the two highest dimensions of work culture assessed as negatively impacting employee burnout, psychological safety, and attrition intentions. Employee burnout was the only significant predictor for voluntary employee attrition (β = 0.3628, p < 0.001), and psychological safety had a significant protective effect (β = −0.1785, p = 0.016). Mediation accounted for 67.4% of the variance in attrition outcomes. This paper shows how a negative organisational climate can undermine the stability of human resources, psychological well-being, and the social dimension of sustainability in construction companies. The results indicate that organisational support, leadership accountability and psychologically safe working environments are important for increasing employee retention and long-term organisational resilience. Full article

Background: Shooting velocity is a critical determinant of competitive success in ice hockey, yet evidence for the use of weighted-implement training in high-level junior players is limited and the long-term retention of such adaptations has not been documented. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of off-ice shooting training performed with a heavy (260 g) versus a regular (170 g) puck on on-ice shooting velocity, accuracy and handgrip strength in junior players, and to examine the retention of these changes. Methods: Twenty male junior ice hockey players (18–19 years) were randomly allocated to a Heavy-puck group (n = 10) or a Regular-puck group (n = 10) and completed an identical six-week off-ice shooting programme (18 sessions, 100 shots per session) with their respective pucks. On-ice wrist-shot and snap-shot speed (radar; standard 170 g puck for both groups), on-ice shooting accuracy and bilateral handgrip strength were assessed before the intervention (pre-test), immediately after six weeks (post 6 weeks) and after a six-week retention period of normal on-ice training (post 12 weeks). Data were analysed with 2 × 3 mixed-model ANOVA with Bonferroni-corrected post hoc comparisons. Results: A significant Group × Time interaction was found for wrist-shot speed (ηp² = 0.61), snap-shot speed (ηp² = 0.78), left-hand handgrip strength (ηp² = 0.30) and shooting accuracy (ηp² = 0.24). The Heavy-puck group displayed substantially larger velocity gains at both post 6 weeks (wrist shot d = 2.97; snap shot d = 4.73) and post 12 weeks (d = 2.56 and d = 3.21, respectively). Left-hand handgrip strength gain was also greater in the Heavy-puck group at post 12 weeks (d = 1.40). A short-term cost on accuracy was observed in the Heavy-puck group at post 6 weeks (d = −1.21), which was fully recovered at post 12 weeks. Conclusions: Heavy-puck off-ice training produced large and durable improvements in on-ice puck velocity, with a transient and recoverable cost on accuracy, supporting its inclusion in the off-ice preparation of junior ice hockey players. Full article

Mulch films play a vital role in modern agriculture by enhancing soil hydrothermal conditions, suppressing weed growth, and improving crop performance. Across 13 major crops, mulching increased yields by an average of 26%, with particularly strong responses in soybean (44%), millet (42%), wheat (29%), and maize (25%), and improved water-use efficiency by up to 33%. However, conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch films accumulate persistently in soils, reaching 7183–10,586 microplastic particles/kg in topsoil after long-term use and contributing up to 56% of total microplastics across the 0–100 cm soil profile. These residues impair enzymatic activity, disrupt nutrient cycling, and alter microbial community structure, making biodegradable alternatives essential for mitigating these issues. Lignin-based biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) have gained increasing attention owing to lignin’s intrinsic UV-shielding capacity, mechanical reinforcement, hydrophobicity, and biodegradability. Lignin-containing films may block UV radiation below 300 nm, reduce visible-light transmittance by ~80%, exhibit thermal stability up to 150 °C, and demonstrate low water vapour permeability (3.41 × 10⁻⁸ g/m·h·Pa) depending on formulation and lignin loading. Incorporation of lignin may enhance biodegradability, increasing soil-burial degradation by 25.47% relative to pure PVA, with composite systems achieving ~55% degradation within 50 days. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of lignin structure, sources, chemistry, extraction methods. It examines lignin as a renewable and value-added feedstock for mulch applications, and critically evaluates the optical, mechanical, thermal, hydrophobic, and biodegradation properties of lignin-based BDMs. The review also discusses their agronomic applications, including weed suppression, soil moisture retention, nutrient management, and soil microclimate regulation, while analysing the economic considerations affecting large-scale implementation and commercial feasibility. Finally, it outlines key research priorities to enable scalable, field-reliable, and environmentally sustainable mulch film technologies. Full article

Teacher turnover and talent retention are dire issues for many education systems across the globe. Utilizing the Four-Capital Framework, this study explores how teachers’ four capitals (i.e., human, social, structural, and psychological) influence their turnover intentions. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design, involving 1010 in-service teachers from public and private schools in Qatar. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using SPSS software. The findings indicate that teachers in Qatar perceived high levels of human, social, and psychological capital, though structural capital is lowest, and turnover intentions are moderate. Higher turnover intentions were identified among female and Qatari national teachers, compared to their counterparts. The structural capital showed the strongest negative relationship to turnover intentions. However, a “competency paradox” was discovered, where teachers with stronger human capital reported higher turnover intentions. From a policymaking perspective, these findings suggest that institutional support structures may play a stronger role in retention than individual professional capacity alone. Future initiatives should focus on enhancing institutional frameworks to ensure that high human capital translates into long-term professional commitment rather than attrition. Full article

Greenhouse environments with restricted air exchange favor the accumulation of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), posing potential exposure risks. However, the exact contribution of soil–air mercury fluxes to ambient greenhouse GEM, and the mechanisms by which organic manure application regulates this process, represent a critical knowledge gap. To address this, a 90-day simulated greenhouse incubation experiment (incorporating 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% sheep manure fertilizer (SMF) amendments) and continuous 24 h micro-meteorological monitoring were conducted to evaluate GEM dynamics, soil Hg(0) fluxes, and mercury valence-state partitioning. Furthermore, macroscopic Hg(II) adsorption–desorption experiments were performed to elucidate the retention mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that while mechanical fertilization disturbances caused a transient short-term release of pre-existing Hg(0) on Day 0, both ambient GEM concentrations and soil Hg(0) emission fluxes generally declined over the long-term incubation period. Soil Hg(0) emission was identified as the predominant source process driving greenhouse GEM dynamics. Crucially, SMF addition consistently decreased operationally defined soil Hg(0) while relatively increasing the oxidized Hg(I) and Hg(II) fractions. Macroscopic batch experiments corroborated that SMF significantly enhanced Hg(II) retention and reduced its reactivation potential. Overall, under controlled experimental conditions, SMF exhibited a strong time-dependent suppressive effect on soil Hg(0) release and ambient GEM accumulation. These findings highlight the potential of organic manure in mitigating mercury risks in protected agriculture, though future molecular-level spectroscopic validations remain necessary to deduce the precise binding mechanisms. Full article

Acne vulgaris is a prevalent inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit involving follicular hyperkeratinization, altered sebum production, Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, microbiome imbalance, and immune activation. Although antibiotics, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, and keratolytic agents remain central to clinical management, their long-term use may be limited by irritation, recurrence, adherence issues, and increasing antimicrobial resistance. This narrative review critically evaluates the dermatological relevance of Melaleuca alternifolia tea tree essential oil (TTEO), Mentha piperita peppermint essential oil (PPEO), and polyhydroxy acids (PHAs), as well as their incorporation into biopolymeric delivery systems for acne-oriented topical applications. Following SANRA principles, evidence from clinical, preclinical, ex vivo, and in vitro studies was synthesized, with emphasis on antimicrobial activity, inflammatory modulation, keratolytic and barrier-supportive effects, formulation stability, and release behavior. TTEO shows the strongest clinical support among the reviewed natural bioactives, including reductions in lesion counts and acne severity when applied as conventional or nanoemulsion-based formulations. PPEO is mainly supported by experimental evidence, particularly antimicrobial activity against acne-associated microorganisms, anti-inflammatory potential, and menthol-related neurocutaneous effects, whereas acne-specific clinical validation remains limited. PHAs, particularly gluconolactone, are better supported for barrier improvement, hydration, tolerability, and seboregulation than for direct acne lesion reduction. Hydrogels, electrospun nanofibers, polymeric films, nanoencapsulation systems, and controlled-release platforms may improve local retention, protect volatile or irritation-prone compounds, and modulate active release at the skin surface. However, most biopolymeric platforms still rely on early-stage or indirect dermatological evidence. Overall, biopolymeric delivery systems offer a rational formulation strategy to improve the stability, tolerability, and localized action of selected acne-relevant bioactives, but their clinical translation requires standardized composition, reproducible fabrication, skin-relevant release assays, safety assessment, and controlled human studies. Full article