Search Results (5,014)

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plays a pivotal role in the Brazilian economy, serving as a staple food for more than half of the world’s population and thereby contributing to global food security. Projections of future climate change scenarios indicate an increase in extreme weather events. Among climate variables that impact the development and productivity of irrigated rice, solar radiation is one of the most important in defining productive potential. Understanding the risks imposed on agricultural production by the occurrence of days with reduced luminosity availability is crucial for guiding adequate responses that mitigate the negative impacts of climate variability. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of shade on the metabolism and productivity of irrigated rice plants, with a specific focus on the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrate accumulation, invertase activity, and the nutritional status and grain yield of rice. For this, the study was conducted on the field rice cultivars IRGA 424 RI, BRS PAMPA, and BRS PAMPEIRA, which were subjected to 35% shading using black nylon netting installed when the plants reached the reproductive stage (R0). The restriction was maintained until the R4 stage, and later, from the R4 stage until the R9 stage. After the imposition of treatments, evaluations took place at the phenological stages R2, R4, R6, and R8. In shaded plants, a higher content of photosynthetic pigments and a lower accumulation of carbohydrates were observed, which was reflected in an increase in the activity of invertase enzymes. These conditions were able to potentiate effects on the nutritional status of the plants, in addition to reducing productivity and 1000-grain weight and increasing spikelet sterility, due to changes in the source–sink relationship, with effects more pronounced in cultivars BRS PAMPA and BRS PAMPEIRA during the R4–R9 period. Full article

Background/Objectives: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sets nutritional standards for infant formulas. Yet, the carbohydrate components of these formulas can vary markedly in type as well as sweetness intensity. Despite evidence suggesting sweetness can influence intake, limited research exists on the sweetness properties of infant formulas. This study evaluated the sweetness of six commonly used infant formulas in the United States. Methods: A sensory panel (n = 15) was formed by selecting individuals who achieved a 100% accuracy on three distinct sensory acuity screening tests to assess their ability to detect, differentiate, and quantify various sucrose concentrations. Following training, the panel evaluated each formula during three separate sessions using a sweetness scale from zero to fifteen, where zero represented no sweetness (distilled water) and fifteen represented extreme sweetness (16 g sucrose/100 mL of water). Differences in sweetness were determined using 3-way ANOVA (infant formula, repetition, and panelists) followed by post hoc pairwise comparisons. Results: Individual sample sweetness ratings ranged from 0 to 4.5 with a mean rating for all samples of 1.9 (±1.3). Significant differences were detected among the formulas F(5, 264) = 96.1, p < 0.0001. One formula, a standard milk-based formula, which contains no added non-lactose sugars, was rated significantly sweeter than any of the other formulas while the sweetness ratings for three formulas which all include non-lactose added sugars were significantly lower than that of the other formulas. Conclusions: The potential implications of these noted sweetness differences make this an important topic for future sensory, behavior, and health research Full article

Background: Findings from the NutriNet-Santé studies have been used to drive public health policy in France, the European Union, and globally. The fact that NutriNet-Santé studies are not generalizable is a matter of concern. Objectives: We aimed to compare the characteristics and diet quality of consumers and non-consumers of low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) within the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) sample to published within-cohort findings from NutriNet Santé. Methods: Dietary intake data for the US from two 24 h dietary recalls in 4 cycles of the NHANES 2011-18 study (n = 17,252) were used to identify LCS consumers and non-consumers. Results: LCS consumers in NHANES were more likely to be overweight, were of higher education and incomes, and had lower intakes of added sugar and higher HEI 2020 diet quality scores compared to LCS non-consumers. Based on published reports, higher LCS consumers in NutriNet Santé were normal weight, did not differ in education, did not consume less added sugar, and had lower quality diets overall. Whereas LCS consumers in NHANES were less likely to be current smokers, higher LCS consumers in NutriNet Santé were more likely to be current smokers. Based on published estimates, mean aspartame intake in NutriNet Santé was only 3 mg/day (0.045 mg/kg/day) for lower consumers and 47 mg/day (0.71 mg/kg/day) for higher consumers. Conclusions: Minimal LCS exposure and likely floor effects can be sources of statistical biases in studies of diet and health. NutriNet Santé is a large volunteer cohort of thin, educated, weight conscious French women who diet and smoke. Extreme caution is warranted when findings from atypical and non-representative samples are used to support policies in global public health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Virtual non-contrast (VNC) images derived from dual-energy CTA (DE-CTA) could potentially replace true non-contrast (TNC) scans while reducing radiation exposure. This study evaluated the image quality of VNC compared to TNC for assessing native arteries and bypass grafts in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 175 patients (111 men, 64 women, mean age: 69.3 ± 9.5 years) with PAD who underwent lower extremity DE-CTA. Mean attenuation and image noise values of TNC and VNC images were measured in native arteries and bypass grafts at six arterial levels, from the aorta to the popliteal arteries, using circular regions of interest (ROI). Signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were calculated. Three independent radiologists evaluated the subjective image quality of VNC images compared to baseline TNC scans for overall quality (4-point Likert scale), and for residual contrast medium (CM), calcium subtractions, and bypass graft visualization (3-point Likert scales). Radiation dose parameters (DLP, CTDIvol) were recorded to estimate effective dose values (ED) and the potential radiation dose reduction. Differences between TNC and VNC measurements and radiation dose parameters were compared using a paired t-test. Interobserver agreement was assessed with Gwet’s AC2. Results: VNC attenuation and noise values were significantly lower across all native arterial levels (p < 0.05, mean difference: 4.7 HU–10.8 HU) and generally lower at all bypass regions (mean difference: 2.2 HU–13.8 HU). Mean image quality scores were 3.03 (overall quality), 2.99 (residual contrast), 2.04 (subtracted calcifications), and 3.0 (graft visualization). Inter-reader agreement was excellent for each assessment (AC2 ≥ 0.81). The estimated radiation dose reduction was 36.8% (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: VNC reconstructions demonstrated comparable image quality to TNC in a PAD assessment and offer substantial radiation dose reduction, supporting their potential as a promising alternative in clinical practice. Further prospective studies and optimization of reconstruction algorithms remain essential to confirm diagnostic accuracy and address remaining technical limitations. Full article

In the summer of 2022, central and eastern China experienced prolonged extreme high temperatures and severe drought, leading to significant economic losses. To gain a more profound understanding of this drought event and furnish a reference for forecasting similar events in the future, this study examines the circulation anomalies associated with the drought. Employing a diagnostic method focused on temperature and moisture anomalies, this study introduces a novel approach to quantify and compare the relative significance of moisture transport and warm air dynamics in contributing to the drought. This study examines the atmospheric circulation anomalies linked to the drought event and compares the relative contributions of water vapor transport and warm air activity in causing the drought, using two parameters defined in the paper. The results show the following: (1) The West Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) was more intense than usual and extended westward, consistently controlling the Yangtze River Basin. Simultaneously, the polar vortex area was smaller and weaker, the South Asian High area was larger and stronger, and it shifted eastward. These factors collectively led to weakened water vapor transport conditions and prevailing subsiding air motions in the Yangtze River Basin, causing frequent high temperatures. (2) By defining I_q and I_t to represent the contributions of moisture and temperature to precipitation, we found that the drought event in the Yangtze River Basin was driven by both reduced moisture supplies in the lower troposphere and higher-than-normal temperatures, with temperature playing a dominant role. Full article

This study investigates the viability of a native Scenedesmus sp. strain for use in a 50 L bubble column photobioreactor designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under simulated spring, extreme summer, and winter conditions. The experiments were conducted by placing the reactor in a controlled climatic chamber, which allowed us to regulate the temperature, light intensity, and day–night cycles throughout the entire experiment. The results showed that under simulated spring conditions (a maximum temperature of 22 °C), the algal culture grew continuously for 61 days. Under extreme summer conditions (a maximum temperature of 39 °C), an initial drop in cell density was followed by recovery and continued growth over 75 days, although biomass production was 35% lower. Under winter conditions (a maximum temperature of 10 °C), the culture failed, indicating the need to prevent temperatures below 10 °C. In terms of biomass production, the culture densities achieved were 1.04 g L⁻¹ and 0.68 g L⁻¹ in the spring and summer trials, respectively. The Scenedesmus sp. strain demonstrated high carbon capture efficiency, tolerance to extreme heat, and sustained growth without the need for fresh medium or pH adjustments for over 60 days during spring and extreme summer conditions, confirming its potential for outdoor applications. Full article

The groundwater inverse problem has several challenges such as instability, non-uniqueness, and complexity, especially for heterogeneous aquifers. Solving the inverse problem is the traditional way to calibrate models, but it is both time-consuming and sensitive to errors in the measurements. This study explores the use of machine learning (ML) surrogate models, namely Random Forest (RF) and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), to solve the inverse problem for the groundwater model calibration. Datasets for 20 hydraulic conductivity fields were created randomly based on statistics of hydraulic conductivity from the available data of the Northern Aquifer of Qatar, which was used as a case study. The corresponding hydraulic head values were obtained using MODFLOW simulations, and the data were used to train and validate the ML models. The trained surrogate models were used to estimate the hydraulic conductivity based on field observations. The results show that both RF and XGBoost have considerable predictive skill, with RF having better R² and RMSE values (R² = 0.99 for training, 0.93 for testing) than XGBoost (R² = 0.86 for training, 0.85 for testing). The ML-based method lowered the computational effort greatly compared to the classical solution of the inverse problem (i.e., using PEST) and still produced strong and reliable spatial patterns of hydraulic conductivity. This demonstrates the potential of machine learning models for calibrating complex groundwater systems. Full article

The Mapleton Falls National Park transmission line corridor in Queensland, Australia, has received a number of vegetation management treatments over the last decade to maintain and protect the infrastructure and to ensure continuous electricity supply. Recent treatments have included ‘mega-mulching’ (mechanical mastication of vegetation to a mulch layer) in 2020 and targeted herbicide treatment of woody vegetation, with the aim of reducing vegetation height by encouraging a native herbaceous groundcover beneath the transmission lines. We measured vegetation structure (cover and height) and composition (species presence in 15 × 2 m plots), at 12 transects, 90 m in length on the transmission line corridor, to determine if management goals were being achieved and to determine how the vegetation and fire hazard (based on the overall fuel hazard assessment method) varied among the treated corridor, the forest edge environment, and the natural forest. The results showed that vegetation structure and composition in the treated zones had been modified to a state where herbaceous plant species were dominant; there was a significantly (p < 0.05) higher native grass cover and cover of herbs, sedges, and ferns in the treated zones, and a lower cover of trees and tall woody plants (>1 m in height) in these areas. For example, mean native grass cover and the cover of herbs and sedges in the treated areas was 10.2 and 2.8 times higher, respectively, than in the natural forest. The changes in the vegetation structure (particularly removal of tall woody vegetation) resulted in a lower overall fuel hazard in the treated zones, relative to the edge zones and natural forest. The overall fuel hazard was classified as ‘high’ in 83% of the transects in the treated areas, but it was classified as ‘extreme’ in 75% of the transects in the adjacent forest zone. Importantly, there were few introduced species recorded. The results suggest that fuel management has been successful in reducing wildfire risk in the transmission corridor. Temporal monitoring is recommended to determine the frequency of ongoing fuel management. Full article

The association between COVID-19 vaccination and thromboembolic events has garnered significant research attention, particularly with the advent of vaccines based on adenoviral vectors, including AstraZeneca’s and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines. This review underscores the uncommon occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), arterial thromboembolism (ATE), and vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) following COVID-19 vaccination. Although these complications are extremely rare compared to the heightened risk of thrombosis from COVID-19 infection, elements like age, biological sex, type of vaccine and underlying health conditions may contribute to their development. In addition, rare renal complications such as acute kidney injury and thrombotic microangiopathy have been documented, broadening the spectrum of potential vaccine-associated thrombotic manifestations. Current guidelines emphasize early detection, individualized risk assessment, and use of anticoagulation therapy to mitigate risks. Despite these events, the overwhelming majority of evidence supports the continued use of COVID-19 vaccines, given their proven efficacy in reducing severe illness and mortality. In addition, recent comparative data confirm that mRNA-based vaccines are associated with a significantly lower risk of serious thrombotic events compared to adenoviral vector platforms. Ongoing research is essential to further refine preventive and therapeutic strategies, particularly for at-risk populations. Full article

The strong nonlinearity of shallow-water waves significantly affects the dynamic response of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs), introducing additional complexity in motion behavior. This study presents a series of 1:80-scale experiments conducted on a 5 MW FOWT at a 50 m water depth, under regular, irregular, and focused wave conditions. The tests were conducted under regular, irregular, and focused wave conditions. The results show that, under both regular and irregular wave conditions, the platform’s motion and mooring tension increased as the wave period became longer, indicating a greater energy transfer and stronger coupling effects at lower wave frequencies. Specifically, in irregular seas, mooring tension increased by 16% between moderate and high sea states, with pronounced surge–pitch coupling near the natural frequency. Under focused wave conditions, the platform experienced significant surge displacement due to the impact of large wave crests, followed by free-decay behavior. Meanwhile, the pitch amplitude increased by up to 27%, and mooring line tension rose by 16% as the wave steepness intensified. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and optimization of FOWTs in complex marine environments, particularly under extreme wave conditions. Additionally, they contribute to the refinement of relevant numerical simulation methods. Full article

With the accelerating global transition toward sustainable energy systems, power grids with a high share of renewable energy face increasing challenges due to volatility and uncertainty, necessitating advanced flexibility resource planning and stability optimization strategies. This paper presents a comprehensive distribution network planning framework that coordinates and integrates multiple types of flexibility resources through joint optimization and network reconfiguration to enhance system adaptability and operational resilience. A novel virtual network coupling modeling approach is proposed to address topological constraints during network reconfiguration, ensuring radial operation while allowing rapid topology adjustments to isolate faults and restore power supply. Furthermore, to mitigate the uncertainty and fault risks associated with extreme weather events, a CVaR-based risk quantification framework is incorporated into a bi-level optimization model, effectively balancing investment costs and operational risks under uncertainty. In this model, the upper-level planning stage optimizes the siting and sizing of flexibility resources, while the lower-level operational stage coordinates real-time dispatch strategies through demand response, energy storage operation, and dynamic network reconfiguration. Finally, a hybrid SA-PSO algorithm combined with conic programming is employed to enhance computational efficiency while ensuring high solution quality for practical system scales. Case study analyses demonstrate that, compared to single-resource configurations, the proposed coordinated planning of multiple flexibility resources can significantly reduce the total system cost and markedly improve system resilience under fault conditions. Full article

The city of Acapulco was impacted by two near-consecutive hurricanes. On 25 October 2023, Hurricane Otis made landfall, reaching the highest Category 5 storm on the Saffir–Simpson scale, causing extensive coastal destruction due to extreme winds and waves. Nearly one year later (23 September 2024), Hurricane John—a Category 2 storm—caused severe flooding despite its lower intensity, primarily due to its unusual trajectory and prolonged rainfall. Digital shoreline analysis of PlanetScope images (captured one month before and after Hurricane Otis) revealed that the southern coast of Acapulco, specifically Zona Diamante—where the major seafront hotels are located—experienced substantial shoreline erosion (94 ha) and damage. In the northwestern section of the study area, the Coyuca Bar experienced the most dramatic geomorphological change in surface area. This was primarily due to the complete disappearance of the bar on October 26, which resulted in a shoreline retreat of 85 m immediately after the passage of Hurricane Otis. Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) showed that Hurricane John inundated 2385 ha, four times greater than Hurricane Otis’s flooding (567 ha). The retrofitted QGIS methodology demonstrated high reliability when compared to limited in situ local reports. Given the increased frequency of intense hurricanes, these methods and findings will be relevant in other coastal areas for monitoring and managing local communities affected by severe climate events. Full article

Chainsaws are widely used in various occupational settings, including forestry, landscaping, farming, and by homeowners for tasks like tree felling, brush clearing, and firewood cutting. However, the use of chainsaws poses significant risks to operators and bystanders. This research quantified and compared occupational and nonoccupational injuries caused by contact with chainsaws and related objects during the period from 2018 to 2022. The emergency department and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) data were used to characterize the cause and nature of the injuries. Results suggest that for this five-year period an estimated 127,944 people were treated in U.S. emergency departments for chainsaw-related injuries. More than 200 non-fatal and 57 fatal occupational chainsaw-involved injuries were found during the same period. Landscaping and forestry were the two industries where most of the occupational victims were employed. Upper and lower extremities were the most likely injured body parts, with open wounds from cuts being the most common injury type. The majority of fatal injuries were caused by falling objects such as trees and tree limbs while using a chainsaw. Our suggestions to reduce injuries include proper training and wearing personal protective equipment, as well as making sure any bystanders are kept in a safety zone away from trees being cut. Full article

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes and are often difficult to treat. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been proposed as an adjunctive treatment to promote healing, but its long-term clinical and biological effects remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of HBOT on systemic biomarkers, local microvasculature, and clinical outcomes in patients with DFUs. Methods: In this non-randomized prospective study, 20 patients with ischemic DFUs were followed over a 36-month period. Fourteen received HBOT in addition to standard care, while six received standard care alone. Clinical outcomes—including DFU resolution, recurrence, lower extremity amputation (LEA), and mortality—were assessed alongside systemic inflammatory and angiogenic biomarkers and wound characteristics at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, and 36 months. CD31 immunostaining was performed on available tissue samples. Results: The two groups were comparable at baseline (mean age 62 ± 12 years; diabetes duration 18 ± 9 years). At 3 months, the HBOT group showed significant reductions in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and DFU size (p < 0.05), with downward trends observed in C-reactive protein (CRP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and placental growth factor (PlGF), and an increase in stromal-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF1-α). No significant changes were observed in the control group. CD31+ microvessel density appeared to increase in HBOT-treated DFU tissue after one month, although the sample size was limited. Patients receiving HBOT had lower rates of LEA and mortality, improved wound healing, and sustained outcomes over three years. DFU recurrence rates were similar between groups. Conclusions: HBOT was associated with improved wound healing and favorable biomarker profiles in patients with treatment-resistant ischemic DFUs. While these findings are encouraging, the small sample size and non-randomized design limit their generalizability, highlighting the need for larger, controlled studies. Full article

Produce supply chains play a critical role in ensuring fruits and vegetables reach consumers efficiently, affordably, and at optimal freshness. In recent decades, hub-and-spoke network models have emerged as valuable tools for optimizing sustainable cold food supply chains. Traditional optimization efforts typically focus on removing inefficiencies, minimizing lead times, refining inventory management, strengthening supplier relationships, and leveraging technological advancements for better visibility and control. However, the majority of models rely on deterministic approaches that overlook the inherent uncertainties of crop yields, which are further intensified by climate variability. Rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, along with shifting temperature patterns and extreme weather events, have a substantial effect on crop productivity and availability. Such uncertainties can prompt distributors to seek alternative sources, increasing costs due to supply chain reconfiguration. This research introduces a stochastic hub-and-spoke network optimization model specifically designed to minimize transportation expenses by determining optimal distribution routes that explicitly account for climate variability effects on crop yields. A use case involving a cold food supply chain (CFSC) was carried out using several weather scenarios based on climate models and real soil data for California. Strawberries were selected as a representative crop, given California’s leading role in strawberry production. Simulation results show that scenarios characterized by increased rainfall during growing seasons result in increased yields, allowing distributors to reduce transportation costs by sourcing from nearby farms. Conversely, scenarios with reduced rainfall and lower yields require sourcing from more distant locations, thereby increasing transportation costs. Nonetheless, supply chain configurations may vary depending on the choice of climate models or weather prediction sources, highlighting the importance of regularly updating scenario inputs to ensure robust planning. This tool aids decision-making by planning climate-resilient supply chains, enhancing preparedness and responsiveness to future climate-related disruptions. Full article