Search Results (31,541)

This paper explores the intervening role in SEP performance of corporate environmental, cultural, and ethnic activities (ECEAs) and diversity, equity, inclusion, and social initiatives (DEISIs) on blockchain adoption (BCA) strategy, particularly useful in the Western Balkans (WB), which demands transparency due to extended fraud and ethnic complexities. In this domain, a question has been raised: In BCA strategies, is there any correlation between SEP performance and ECEAs and DEISIs in a mediating role? A serial mediation model was tested on a dataset of 630 WB and EU companies, and the research conceptual model was validated by CFA (Confirmation Factor Analysis), and the SEM (Structural Equation Model) fit was assessed. We found a statistically sound (significant, positive) correlation between BCA and ESG success performance, especially in the innovation and integrity ESG performance success indicators, when DEISIs mediate. The findings confirmed the influence of technology, and environmental, cultural, ethnic, and social factors on BCA strategy. The findings revealed some important issues of BCA that are of worth to WB companies’ managers to address BCA for better performance. This study adds to the literature on corporate blockchain transformation, especially for organizations seeking investment opportunities in new international markets to diversify their assets and skill pool. Furthermore, it contributes to a deeper understanding of how DEI initiatives impact the correlation between business transformation and socioeconomic performance, which is referred to as the “social impact”. Full article

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent condition, affecting women all over the world, and is commonly treated through surgical interventions that present limitations such as recurrence or complications associated with synthetic meshes. In this study, biodegradable poly($ϵ$-caprolactone) (PCL) cog threads are proposed as a minimally invasive alternative for vaginal wall reinforcement. A custom cutting tool was developed to fabricate threads with varying barb angles (90°, 75°, 60°, and 45°), which were produced via Melt Electrowriting. Their mechanical behavior was assessed through uniaxial tensile tests and validated using finite element simulations. The results showed that barb orientation had minimal influence on tensile performance. In simulations of anterior vaginal wall deformation under cough pressure, all cog thread configurations significantly reduced displacement in the damaged tissue model, achieving values comparable to or even lower than those of healthy tissue. A ball burst simulation using an anatomically accurate model further demonstrated a 13% increase in reaction force with cog thread reinforcement. Despite fabrication limitations, this study supports the biomechanical potential of 3D-printed PCL cog threads for POP treatment, and lays the groundwork for future in vivo validation. Full article

Background: Patient blood management (PBM) strategies have been shown to significantly reduce the use of blood products and enabled surgical procedures to be carried out safely without the need for transfusions. This evidence has raised questions about the possibilities of the “extreme” application of PBM strategies for complex surgical interventions, such as organ transplants, even in patients in whom it is not possible to proceed with transfusion. The aim of this scoping review was to identify and describe the current evidence available in the medical literature on the transplant of the four main solid organs: kidney, heart, liver, and lung in patients declining blood transfusions. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed from January 2000 to February 2025. Only articles reporting cases, case series, population samples, or comparative studies describing solid organ transplantation without the use of blood components were included. The results are presented separately for each solid organ. Results: Kidney: Nine studies were included, seven of which reported case reports or case series of kidney or kidney–pancreas transplants, and two articles were comparative studies. Liver: Nine studies reported bloodless liver transplants, eight were case reports or case series, and one was a comparative observational study. Heart: Five studies were included, four of which were case reports of heart transplants; in addition there was a comparative study describing eight heart transplants without the use of blood components to 16 transfusable transplant patients. Lung: Five studies reporting lung transplant without transfusion were reported, four of which were case reports performed in the absence of deaths, and two of which were bilateral. Furthermore, there was an article describing two single lung transplants without the use of blood components compared to ten transfusable transplant patients. Conclusions: The analysis performed demonstrates the possibility, depending on the organ, of performing solid organ transplant procedures without the use of blood components in selected and carefully prepared patients by experienced multidisciplinary teams. Full article

Background: Patient survival after liver transplantation is lower in donor–recipient race mismatched patients for indications other than primary sclerosing cholangitis. Objectives: To determine if survival is lower after liver transplantation in donor–recipient race mismatched recipients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Methods: The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database was analyzed for deceased donor adult liver transplant recipients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Graft and patient survival by donor–recipient race were estimated using Kaplan–Meier survival method and compared using the log-rank test. Multivariable analysis was performed using Cox regression. Results: From 2002 to 2018, 5-year patient survival in White (n = 2223) and Black recipients (n = 491), was 89.8% and 87.1%, respectively. Five-year patient survival for the donor–recipient pairs, White–White (n = 1622), Black–Black (n = 110), Black–White (n = 335), and White–Black (n = 314) was 90.8%, 91.1%, 87.1%, and 86.0%, respectively, p = 0.026. In multivariable analysis, 5-year patient mortality was higher in Black recipients of White donors [HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.16, 2.45], compared to White recipients of White donors. Conclusions: Five-year patient mortality after deceased donor liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis is higher in Black recipients who received livers from White donors compared to matched White donors and recipients. Full article

Background: Pulmonary involvement is the most common prognosis-related organ involvement in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). Owing to the large number of antibodies, the evidence for lung involvement and rare antibodies is limited. In everyday clinical practice, the interpretation of positive myositis antibodies represents a challenge. Methods: This study is a retrospective monocentric analysis. The data collection regarding positive myositis antibodies and possible pulmonary involvement was carried out from July 2019 to May 2022. Data analysis revealed positive results for one of the following antibodies: EJ, PL7, OJ, PL12, Mi-2α, TIF1γ, MDA5, SAE, NXP2, SRP, Ku, PM-Scl100 and PM-Scl75. In our analysis, patients with IIM, patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease other than IIM and patients without inflammatory rheumatic disease are described. The results of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function tests, echocardiographic examinations and their associated clinical findings are examined. Results: In the entire cohort, 209 patients with positive myositis antibodies were detected. In total, 22 (10.5%) patients had interstitial lung disease (ILD) patterns on HRCT. In the subgroup of patients with IIM, a significantly higher proportion of patients with lung involvement (n = 13, 35.1%) was found than in the group with other inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) (n = 6, 6.7%) or in the group without IRDs (n = 3, 3.7%). When the antibody groups were considered, the PL12-positive patients had the largest proportion of ILD (42%), followed by the MDA5-positive patients (40%). Conclusions: In patients with IIM, myositis antibodies are highly relevant for assessing the risk of lung involvement. In groups with other IRD or without IRD, antibody detection does not represent this high relevance for lung involvement. A differentiated assessment of the various MSAs or MAAs detected, as well as clinical parameters, allows for further important risk assessment for prognosis-relevant lung involvement. Full article

Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a globally destructive plant-parasitic nematode that severely impedes the sustainable production of horticultural crops. Metabolic reprogramming in plant roots represents the host response to M. incognita infection that can also be exploited by the nematode to facilitate its parasitism. In this study, untargeted metabolomics was employed to analyze metabolic changes in cucumber roots following nematode inoculation, with the goal of identifying differentially accumulated metabolites that may influence M. incognita behavior. Metabolomic analysis revealed that M. incognita significantly altered the cucumber root metabolome, triggering an accumulation of lipids and organic acids and enriching biotic stress-related pathways such as alkaloid biosynthesis and linoleic acid metabolism. Among differentially accumulated metabolites, myristic acid and hexadecanal were selected for further study due to their potential roles in nematode inhibition. In vitro assays demonstrated that both metabolites suppressed egg hatching and reduced infectivity of M. incognita, while pot experiments indicated a correlation between their application and reduced root gall formation. Chemotaxis assays further revealed that both metabolites exerted repellent effects on the chemotactic migration of M. incognita J2 and suppressed the transcriptional expression of two motility-and feeding-related neuropeptides, Mi-flp-1 and Mi-flp-18. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the significant potential of differentially accumulated metabolites induced by M. incognita infection for nematode disease control, achieved by interfering with nematode chemotaxis and subsequent infection. This work also provides deeper insights into the metabolomic mechanisms underlying the cucumber-M. incognita interaction. Full article

The scarab species Protaetia brevitarsis, an edible insect, has been used in traditional medicine, as animal feed, and for converting agricultural organic wastes into biofertilizer. The intestinal tract, which contains a diverse array of microbiota, including viruses, plays a critical role in animal health and homeostasis. We previously conducted a comparative analysis of the gut microbiota of third-instar larvae of P. brevitarsis obtained from five different farms and found significant differences in the composition of the gut bacterial microbiota between farms. To better understand the gut microbiota, the composition of DNA viruses in the hindgut contents of P. brevitarsis larvae obtained from five farms was investigated using metagenomic sequencing in this study. The β-diversity was significantly different between metagenomic data obtained from the five farms (PERMANOVA, pseudo-F = 46.95, p = 0.002). Family-based taxonomic analysis indicated that the relative abundance of viruses in the gut overall metagenome varied significantly between farms, with viral reads comprising approximately 41.2%, 15.0%, 4.3%, 4.0%, and 1.6% of metagenomic sequences from the farms Tohamsan gumbengi farm (TO), Secomnalagum gumbengi (IS), Gumbengi brothers (BR), Kyungpook farm (KB), and Jhbio (JH), respectively. More than 98% of the DNA viruses in the hindgut were bacteriophages, mainly belonging to the Siphoviridae family. At the species level, Phage Min1, infecting the genus Microbacterium, was detected in all farms, and it was the most abundant bacteriophage in intestinal microbiota, with a prevalence of 0.9% to 29.09%. The detected eukaryotic DNA viruses accounted for 0.01% to 0.06% of the intestinal microbiota and showed little or no relationship with insect viruses. Therefore, they most likely originated from contaminated feed or soil. These results suggest that the condition of substrates used as feed is more important than genetic factors in shaping the intestinal viral microbiota of P. brevitarsis larvae. These results can be used as reference data for understanding the hindgut microbiota of P. brevitarsis larvae and, more generally, the gut virome of insects. Full article

Electricity is a significant factor in the life cycle of many products, so the reliability of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data is crucial. The article presents publicly available sources of emission factors representative of Poland. The aim of the study is to assess their strengths and weaknesses in the context of the calculation requirements of carbon footprint analysis in accordance with the GHG Protocol. The article presents the results of carbon footprint calculations for different ranges of emissions in the life cycle of 1 kWh of electricity delivered to a hypothetical organization. Next, a discussion on the quality of the emissions factors has been provided, taking account of data quality indicators. It was concluded that two of the emissions factors that are compared—those based on the national consumption mix and the residual mix for Poland—have been recognized as suitable for use in carbon footprint calculations. Beyond the calculation results, the research highlights the significance of the impact of the selection of emissions factors on the reliability of environmental analysis. The article identifies methodological challenges, including the risk of double counting, limited transparency, methodological inconsistency, and low correlation of data with specific locations and technologies. The insights presented contribute to improving the robustness of carbon footprint calculations. Full article

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different types of sourdough (I to IV), developed with a specific starter culture (including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Levilactobacillus brevis, and Candida famata), on bread fermentation performance and shelf-life. Real-time tracking of multiple parameters (pH, dough rising, ethanol release, and total titratable acidity) was monitored by a smart fermentation oven. The impact of the different treatments on the lactic acid, acetic acid, and ethanol content of the breads were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography analysis. In addition, the bio-preservation capacity of the breads contaminated with fungi was analyzed. The results show that liquid sourdough (D3: Type 2) and backslopped sourdough (D4: Type 3) increased significantly (p < 0.05) in dough rise, dough acidification (lower pH, higher titratable acidity), production of organic acids (lactic and acetic), and presented the optimal fermentation quotient. These findings were substantiated by chemometric analysis, which successfully clustered the starters based on performance and revealed a strong positive correlation between acetic acid production and dough-rise, highlighting the superior heterofermentative profile of D3 and D4. These types of sourdough also stood out for their antifungal capacity, preventing the visible growth of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium commune for up to 10 days after inoculation. Full article

This study synthesizes and comparatively investigates two squaric acid-based phthalocyanine-like dyes, SNF and its long-chain alkylated derivative LNF, to systematically elucidate the influence of peripheral hydrophobic groups on their third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. The NLO characteristics were comprehensively characterized using femtosecond Z-scan and I-scan techniques at both 800 nm and 900 nm. Both dyes exhibited strong saturable absorption (SA), confirming their potential as saturable absorbers. Critically, the comparative analysis revealed that SNF exhibits a significantly greater nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) compared to LNF under identical conditions. For instance, at 800 nm, the β of SNF was approximately 3–5 times larger than that of LNF. This result conclusively demonstrates that the introduction of long hydrophobic alkyl chains attenuates the NLO response. Furthermore, I-scan measurements revealed excellent SA performance, with high modulation depths (e.g., LNF: 43.0% at 900 nm) and low saturation intensities. This work not only clarifies the structure–property relationship in these D-A-D dyes but also presents a clear strategy for modulating the NLO properties of organic chromophores for applications in near-infrared pulsed lasers. Full article

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global health epidemic with rising prevalence within Asian populations, particularly amongst individuals with high visceral adiposity and ectopic organ fat, the so-called Thin-Outside, Fat-Inside phenotype. Metabolomic and microbiome shifts may herald T2D onset, presenting potential biomarkers and mechanistic insight into metabolic dysregulation. However, multi-omics datasets across ethnicities remain limited. Methods: We performed cross-sectional multi-omics analyses on 171 adults (99 Asian Chinese, 72 European Caucasian) from the New Zealand-based TOFI_Asia cohort at 4-years follow-up. Paired plasma and faecal samples were analysed using untargeted metabolomic profiling (polar/lipid fractions) and shotgun metagenomic sequencing, respectively. Sparse multi-block partial least squares regression and discriminant analysis (DIABLO) unveiled signatures associated with ethnicity, glycaemic status, and sex. Results: Ethnicity-based DIABLO modelling achieved a balanced error rate of 0.22, correctly classifying 76.54% of test samples. Polar metabolites had the highest discriminatory power (AUC = 0.96), with trigonelline enriched in European Caucasians and carnitine in Asian Chinese. Lipid profiles highlighted ethnicity-specific signatures: Asian Chinese showed enrichment of polyunsaturated triglycerides (TG.16:0_18:2_22:6, TG.18:1_18:2_22:6) and ether-linked phospholipids, while European Caucasians exhibited higher levels of saturated species (TG.16:0_16:0_14:1, TG.15:0_15:0_17:1). The bacteria Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum, and Enterocloster bolteae characterised Asian Chinese participants, while Oscillibacter sp. and Clostridium innocuum characterised European Caucasians. Cross-omic correlations highlighted negative correlations of Phocaeicola vulgatus with amino acids (r = −0.84 to −0.76), while E. ramosum and C. innocuum positively correlated with long-chain triglycerides (r = 0.55–0.62). Conclusions: Ethnicity drove robust multi-omic differentiation, revealing distinctive metabolic and microbial profiles potentially underlying the differential T2D risk between Asian Chinese and European Caucasians. Full article

Tunisia faces significant challenges related to climate change, which deeply affect its natural and agricultural resources. This reality threatens not only food security but also the economic stability of rural communities and mainly rural women. This research aims to assess the impact of climate change on rural women in the agricultural development group in Sidi Bouzid, focusing on the strategies adopted and the support provided by various stakeholders to mitigate this impact. To achieve this, we developed a rigorous methodology that includes structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and topological analysis through Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). The results revealed that rural women were categorized into three groups based on their vulnerability to climate change: severely vulnerable, vulnerable, and adaptive. The findings highlighted the significant impact of climate change on water resources, which has increased family tensions and reduced agricultural incomes, making daily life more challenging for rural women. Furthermore, a deeper analysis of interactions with external stakeholders emphasized the important role of civil society, public organizations, and research institutions in strengthening the climate resilience of rural women. Given these findings, strategic recommendations aim to enhance stakeholder coordination, expand partnerships, and improve access to essential technologies and resources for women in agricultural development groups. Full article

In response to the challenges posed by soil degradation in the arid regions of Xinjiang, China, green and organic management practices have emerged as effective alternatives to conventional agricultural management methods, helping to mitigate soil degradation by promoting natural soil recovery and ecological balance. However, most of the existing studies focus on a single management practice or indicator and lack a systematic assessment of the effects of integrated orchard management in arid zones. This study aims to investigate how different agricultural management practices influence soil physicochemical properties and inter-root microbial communities in apple orchards in Xinjiang and to identify the main physicochemical factors affecting the composition of inter-root microbial communities. Inter-root soil samples were collected from apple orchards under green management (GM), organic management (OM), and conventional management (CM) in major apple-producing regions of Xinjiang. Microbial diversity and community composition of the samples were analyzed using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. The results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in soil physicochemical properties across different management practices. Specifically, GM significantly reduced soil pH and C:N compared with OM. Both OM and GM significantly decreased soil available nutrient content compared with CM. Moreover, GM and OM significantly increased bacterial diversity and changed the community composition of bacteria and fungi. Proteobacteria and Ascomycota were identified as the dominant bacteria and fungi, respectively, in all management practices. Linear discriminant analysis (LEfSe) showed that biomarkers were more abundant under OM, suggesting that OM may contribute to ecological functions through specific microbial taxa. Co-occurrence network analysis (building a network of microbial interactions) demonstrated that the topologies of bacteria and fungi varied across different management practices and that OM increased the complexity of microbial co-occurrence networks. Mantel test analysis (analyzing soil factors and microbial community correlations) showed that C:N and available potassium (AK) were significantly and positively correlated with the community composition of bacteria and fungi, and that C:N, soil organic carbon (SOC), and alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN) were significantly and positively correlated with the diversity of fungi. Redundancy analysis (RDA) further indicated that SOC, C:N, and AK were the primary soil physicochemical factors influencing the composition of microbial communities. This study provides theoretical guidance for the sustainable management of orchards in arid zones. Full article

Urochloa brizantha (Brizantha) is cultivated under varying altitudinal and management conditions. Twelve full-sun (monoculture) plots and twelve shaded (silvopastoral) plots were established, proportionally distributed at 170, 503, 661, and 1110 masl. Evaluations were conducted 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 days after establishment. The conservation and integration of trees in silvopastoral systems reflected a clear anthropogenic influence, evidenced by the preference for species of the Fabaceae family, likely due to their multipurpose nature. Although the altitudinal gradient did not show direct effects on soil properties, intermediate altitudes revealed a significant role of CaCO₃ in enhancing soil fertility. These edaphic conditions at mid-altitudes favored the leaf area development of Brizantha, particularly during the early growth stages, as indicated by significantly larger values (p < 0.05). However, at the harvest stage, no significant differences were observed in physiological or productive traits, nor in foliar chemical components, underscoring the species’ high hardiness and broad adaptation to both soil and altitude conditions. In Brizantha, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in stomatal size and density was observed under shade in silvopastoral areas, where solar radiation and air temperature decreased, while relative humidity increased. Nonetheless, these microclimatic variations did not lead to significant changes in foliar chemistry, growth variables, or biomass production, suggesting a high degree of adaptive plasticity to microclimatic fluctuations. Foliar ash content exhibited an increasing trend with altitude, indicating greater efficiency of Brizantha in absorbing calcium, phosphorus, and potassium at higher altitudes, possibly linked to more favorable edaphoclimatic conditions for nutrient uptake. Finally, forage quality declined with plant age, as evidenced by reductions in protein, ash, and In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility (IVDMD), alongside increases in fiber, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF). These findings support the recommendation of cutting intervals between 30 and 45 days, during which Brizantha displays a more favorable nutritional profile, higher digestibility, and consequently, greater value for animal feeding. Full article

Barium chloride (BaCl₂), a known environmental pollutant, induces organ-specific oxidative stress through disruption of redox homeostasis. This study evaluated the protective effects and safety profile of sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) and ascorbic acid (ASC) against BaCl₂-induced oxidative damage in the liver and brain of mice using a two-phase experimental protocol. Animals received either SCC (40 mg/kg), ASC (160 mg/kg), or their combination for 14 days prior to BaCl₂ exposure (150 mg/L in drinking water for 7 days), allowing evaluation of both preventive and therapeutic effects. Toxicological and behavioral assessments confirmed the absence of systemic toxicity or neurobehavioral alterations following supplementation. Body weight, liver and kidney indices, and biochemical markers (Aspartate Aminotransferase (ASAT), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALAT), creatinine) remained within physiological ranges, and no anxiogenic or locomotor effects were observed. In the brain, BaCl₂ exposure significantly increased SOD (+49%), CAT (+66%), GPx (+24%), and GSH (+26%) compared to controls, reflecting a robust compensatory antioxidant response. Although lipid peroxidation (MDA) showed a non-significant increase, SCC, ASC, and their combination reduced MDA levels by 42%, 37%, and 55%, respectively. These treatments normalized antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH, indicating an effective neuroprotective effect. In contrast, the liver exhibited a different oxidative profile. BaCl₂ exposure increased MDA levels by 80% and GSH by 34%, with no activation of SOD, CAT, or GPx. Histological analysis revealed extensive hepatocellular necrosis, vacuolization, and inflammatory infiltration. SCC significantly reduced hepatic MDA by 39% and preserved tissue architecture, while ASC alone or combined with SCC exacerbated inflammation and depleted hepatic GSH by 71% and 78%, respectively, relative to BaCl₂-exposed controls. Collectively, these results highlight a differential, organ-specific response to BaCl₂-induced oxidative stress and the therapeutic potential of SCC and ASC. SCC emerged as a safer and more effective agent, particularly in hepatic protection, while both antioxidants demonstrated neuroprotective effects when used individually or in combination. Full article