Search Results (598)

In recent years, electric cargo (e-cargo) bikes have been increasingly adopted as a sustainable alternative for urban logistics and last-mile delivery, particularly in densely populated areas where traditional vehicles face traffic congestion and access limitations. This study aims to develop a representative driving cycle for e-cargo bikes based on real-world cycling data. An instrumented Long John-type e-cargo bike was used to collect naturalistic data from four different riders covering a total of 50 km along a predefined route in the city center of Florence, selected in collaboration with the Italian postal service provider (i.e., Poste Italiane) to reflect typical delivery operations. The driving cycle was generated using a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, modeling the stochastic transitions of vehicle speed and acceleration values. The resulting driving cycle, defined as the Florence cargo bike driving cycle (FCBDC), achieved an error of 2.1% on the Speed Acceleration Probability Distribution (SAPD) root sum square difference; although minor losses in peak acceleration values were observed due to data smoothing and discretization, the synthesized driving cycle effectively reproduces the dynamic characteristics of e-cargo bike riding. While the study is limited to a single route and is equivalent to simulated postman behavior, it provides valuable insights to guide the future development and optimization of e-cargo bikes for sustainable mobility operations. Full article

Objectives: To quantitatively evaluate the inhibitory effects of commercially available probiotic formulations (Probien, Enterogermina, Reflor) applied as intracanal medicaments against mature dual-species biofilms of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) using a qPCR-based in vitro root canal model, with calcium hydroxide included as the reference intracanal medicament for comparison. Materials and Methods: Root canal specimens containing mature dual-species biofilms were medicated with probiotic–poloxamer gel formulations (Probien, Enterogermina, or Reflor) or calcium hydroxide (reference inhibitory control); infected but untreated canals served as the non-inhibitory control, and sterile non-inoculated specimens were included to confirm procedural sterility. After a 7-day intracanal application period, microbial loads were quantified at baseline and post-treatment by qPCR, and results were expressed as delta cycle threshold (ΔCt), colony-forming equivalents (CFE/mL), and percentage reduction values. Results: A total of 78 specimens (n = 13 per group) were analyzed. No significant intergroup differences were found in E. faecalis ΔCt or reduction percentages (p > 0.05), indicating its persistence despite intracanal medication. For C. albicans, differences among groups were significant (p < 0.001). Calcium hydroxide showed the strongest antifungal effect, producing marked ΔCt and CFE reductions versus probiotic and positive control groups, whereas probiotic formulations displayed only limited antifungal activity and no measurable inhibition against E. faecalis. Conclusions: Under the conditions of this in vitro model, the tested commercially available probiotic formulations—originally developed for gastrointestinal use—did not demonstrate significant antimicrobial effects against mature E. faecalis–C. albicans biofilms. These findings should be interpreted in the context of the absence of probiotic formulations specifically designed for intracanal use and the distinct ecological characteristics of the root canal system, which represents a closed, low-oxygen environment dominated by hard-tissue surfaces. Rather than excluding the potential of probiotics in endodontics, the present results highlight the need for root canal–adapted probiotic strains and delivery strategies tailored to intracanal conditions. Clinical Relevance: This in vitro study provides experimental insight into the limitations of directly applying commercially available gastrointestinal probiotic formulations within the root canal system. The findings highlight the importance of developing root canal–specific probiotic strains and delivery strategies tailored to the unique ecological conditions of the intracanal environment, thereby informing future translational and experimental research in biological endodontics. Full article

Serious games and negotiation simulations such as the Phosphorus Negotiation Game (P-Game) are increasingly used to support sustainability-oriented education. To broaden accessibility, a smartphone-based version of the face-to-face P-Game was developed and is presented here. A comparative design integrating quantitative pre–post survey measures with analysis of open-ended responses was employed to examine self-reported knowledge gains and learning experiences among participants who completed the P-Game in face-to-face workshops and those who played the virtual version. Both formats were associated with significant increases in participants’ perceived understanding of phosphorus science and negotiation science/practice. Self-reported knowledge of phosphorus science increased by 92.3% (global face-to-face), 70.7% (Hungarian face-to-face), and 88.4% (online), with comparable gains observed in negotiation science and practice across groups. Qualitative findings complemented these results, indicating that while learning gains were broadly similar, the modes differed in experiential emphasis: face-to-face delivery elicited performance-oriented and socially embedded reflections, whereas the online format was more frequently described in terms of structured participation and reflective processing. User satisfaction with the virtual P-Game was high, reflected by a System Usability Scale (SUS) score above 80. Overall, the findings suggest that the virtual P-Game represents a viable and accessible complement to traditional face-to-face implementation, maintaining educational impact while extending reach. Further research with larger and more diverse participant samples is recommended to strengthen generalizability and explore long-term learning outcomes in sustainability contexts. Full article

The optimization of membrane permeability is a pivotal approach for mitigating late-stage failures in peptide drug development. By leveraging linker chemical diversity, stapled peptides utilize linker engineering to precisely modulate key physicochemical parameters—such as lipophilicity and conformational constraints—to overcome the desolvation energy penalty. This review systematically evaluates linker-based strategies for enhancing the permeability of stapled peptides, categorized into two primary dimensions: (1) high-throughput screening (HTS) compatibility, focusing on the integration of functionalized linkers into mRNA display, phage display, and DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) to identify lead scaffolds with inherent permeability potential during early discovery; and (2) post-screening structural refinement, covering rational design strategies including intramolecular hydrogen-bond (IMHB) shielding, “chameleonic” adaptations, and stimuli-responsive reversible stapling. Furthermore, we analyze the paradigm shift in assessment methodologies from qualitative imaging to quantitative cytosolic delivery assays, which have deepened our understanding of mechanisms such as the charge/lipophilicity threshold balance and metabolism-driven trapping. Overall, linker engineering provides a robust technical roadmap for developing the next generation of cell-permeable stapled peptide therapeutics. Full article

Introduction: Acute gallstone pancreatitis is a potentially severe disease associated with morbidity and mortality. Cholecystectomy is recommended to prevent recurrence. During pregnancy, surgical management is challenging, and in the post-partum period small gallstones may spontaneously disappear. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is safe during the last 6 months of pregnancy and effective in dissolving small gallstones, although recurrence after discontinuation is common in the general population. The optimal strategy to prevent recurrent acute pancreatitis during and after pregnancy remains unclear. Methods: Between 2002 and 2017 we prospectively treated women with acute pancreatitis related to small gallstones (≤1 cm in diameter) during the last six months of pregnancy or within the first post-partum year who declined surgery. Patients received UDCA until stone dissolution. A patent cystic duct was confirmed by ultrasonography; after delivery, a non-contrast CT scan was performed to exclude calcified stones. Patients were followed for at least 6 years or until recurrence, with serial clinical and ultrasonographic examinations. Results: UDCA was associated with complete dissolution in 13/14 women within a mean ± SD of 7.77 + 3.1 months. One patient experienced gallstone recurrence 75 months after treatment discontinuation. Two patients developed recurrent pancreatitis (at 1 and 88 months respectively). Twelve women remained free of recurrence over a mean ± SD follow-up of 79.5 + 9.4 months. Discussion: This is an observational study in which we document that UDCA may facilitate the spontaneous dissolution of small gallstones after delivery and can be considered a bridge strategy during pregnancy when surgery is not feasible. However, this study cannot determine the additional benefit of UDCA over the spontaneous disappearance of stones observed after delivery because we had no control group. Cholecystectomy remains the standard of care post-partum. Medical therapy should be reserved for women who refuse surgery and it requires close ultrasonographic surveillance. The main strength of this study is the prospective long-term follow-up of a consecutive cohort with a rare condition. Limitations include the small sample size, missing control group and single-center design. Full article

Background: Persistent endodontic infections involving Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans are a major cause of root canal treatment failure. Although conventional irrigants, such as sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine (CHX), exhibit strong immediate antimicrobial activity, microbes may survive and recover from the initial antimicrobial effect, hence limiting their effectiveness, especially in complex root canal anatomies and in the apical terminus of the tooth. Antibacterial dressing techniques were not proven satisfactory due to depletion of the antibacterial component or difficulty in spreading it evenly along the entire root canal. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy and release characteristics of a novel sustained-release device (SRD), delivering CHX via gutta-percha points coated with a sustained-release formulation used as a temporary intracanal medicament. Methods: Gutta-percha points were coated with two sustained-release CHX varnishes (CHX1 and CHX2) or a placebo and assessed in vitro. Antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis and C. albicans was evaluated using agar diffusion assays over time. Release kinetics were analyzed using Rhodamine-labeled SRD in a 3D-printed acrylic molar tooth model via fluorescence microscopy. Additionally, biofilm-infected acrylic molar teeth were treated with a placebo, a single 2% CHX irrigation, or SRD-coated gutta-percha points placed as an intracanal dressing prior to obturation. Microbial viability was quantified by colony-forming unit (CFU/mL) analysis from root canals and gutta-percha points. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc multiple comparison test (p < 0.05). Results: SRD-coated gutta-percha points demonstrated sustained antimicrobial activity for up to 21 days against E. faecalis and 19 days against C. albicans. Fluorescence analysis, in an acrylic tooth model, confirmed continuous release for up to 15 days, with pronounced diffusion in the isthmus and palatal canals. In biofilm-infected acrylic teeth models, SRD treatment resulted in a significant reduction of 2–3 log₁₀ CFU/mL compared to placebo groups (p < 0.001) and prevented microbial rebound over the 14-day observation period. In contrast, a single application of 2% CHX solution showed only transient reduction followed by regrowth. Conclusions: Sustained-release CHX delivery via polymer-coated gutta-percha points provided prolonged antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal biofilms compared to conventional single-dose CHX application in this in vitro model. These findings support the potential use of coated gutta-percha points as a removable intracanal drug delivery platform prior to final obturation, although further studies incorporating direct-release quantification and in vivo validation are required before clinical translation. Full article

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) can support and strengthen responses to the environmental challenges faced today. However, the sustainability knowledge–action gap remains mostly unbridged. This article examines communication as a lever for learning and behavior change in sustainability education and compares the use of communication in conventional delivery and a narrative, dialogic and affective communication mode in secondary, university and community-based learning settings in a mixed-methods experimental study. Quantitative measures (pre-, post-, follow-up) included knowledge, systems thinking, emotional engagement, motivation and self-reported sustainable behaviors. Qualitative data, including interviews, observations and action research projects, were also collected to gain deeper insights into learner engagement with knowledge, systems thinking, emotional engagement and motivation. Results suggest that participants in the catalytic communication condition felt more cognitively and emotionally engaged than the control condition, and displayed more long-term pro-environmental behavior. Mediation analysis suggests that the increase in pro-environmental behavior may be driven by an increase in feelings of empathy and hope associated with the learning experience. This supports the understanding that tailored communication can help to reduce the knowledge–action gap in ESD and provides additional insights into the usefulness of cognitive, affective and behavioral dimensions of sustainability-oriented pedagogical approaches. Full article

Urban short-haul cold-chain distribution operates under strict service constraints while facing increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions under the dual-carbon goals. Existing emission-aware routing studies often treat carbon emissions as external constraints or ex post evaluation indicators, limiting their influence on operational decision making. This study addresses this gap by developing a cold-chain distribution network optimization model that integrates internal carbon pricing (ICP), enabling carbon emissions to be internalized as economic costs within routing and scheduling decisions. Using the student milk cold-chain distribution system serving 54 primary and secondary schools in Fuzhou as an empirical case, the model incorporates multiple cost components, including energy consumption, warehouse operation, carbon emissions, and low-load penalties, while embedding operational constraints such as vehicle capacity, delivery time windows, and minimum economic loading requirements. An improved genetic algorithm is applied to solve the model. Scenario analyses are conducted across carbon price variation and demand fluctuation. Results show that when the internal carbon price increases from 97.49 RMB/t to 2000 RMB/t, the total distribution cost rises from 3531.2 RMB to 4082.842 RMB, indicating that carbon costs become an increasingly important factor in operational decision making. The distribution network exhibits a core-route-dominated structure, with key routes remaining stable across carbon price scenarios, suggesting that the influence of ICP is primarily reflected through cost internalization rather than route substitution. Demand analysis further shows that a 10% demand reduction reduces costs through route consolidation, while a 20% reduction weakens load efficiency and reduces vehicle utilization without triggering low-load penalty costs. These findings demonstrate that integrating ICP into routing optimization provides an effective pathway for aligning operational decisions with low-carbon transition objectives in rigid-demand cold-chain distribution systems. Full article

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) students face persistent barriers in geometry education due to instructional approaches that inadequately support visual communication and embodied learning. This study examined DHH students’ experiences with GeoMETriA, a metaverse-based geometry learning platform integrating sign language instruction, three-dimensional visualization, and avatar-mediated interaction. Guided by the Cognitive Affective Model of Immersive Learning (CAMIL), a multi-phase qualitative design was employed, including pre-workshop interviews with four special education teachers and post-workshop focus group discussions with seven DHH secondary students following a four-session learning workshop. The findings indicate that gamified activities and peer collaboration enhanced interest and sustained engagement, while avatar customization supported embodiment and a sense of presence. Students described progression from initial uncertainty to greater confidence through practice and scaffolded support. However, cognitive and usability challenges emerged, particularly concerning sign language video pacing, navigation complexity, and limited instructional scaffolding. The study contributes theoretically by extending CAMIL-informed interpretations to sign-supported metaverse learning, empirically by documenting how engagement, embodiment, and self-efficacy develop during immersive geometry learning, and practically by offering design implications including adjustable sign language delivery, structured scaffolding, and culturally responsive avatar options. These findings suggest that metaverse-based platforms hold promise for supporting DHH learners when accessibility and learner-centered principles are embedded as foundational design considerations. Full article

Background: Immersive technologies are increasingly used to support interprofessional education and team training in healthcare. Holographic display technology (HDT) offers a novel approach for delivering distributed, simulation-based TeamSTEPPS training; however, evidence regarding its short-term feasibility remains limited. Methods: This mixed-methods pilot feasibility study examined the acceptability and limited efficacy (defined as learning satisfaction and self-reported gains) of HDT for interprofessional TeamSTEPPS-based team training across two geographically distributed campuses. Quantitative measures assessed changes in UTAUT-informed constructs, including attitude toward technology use (ATU) and behavioral intention (BI), while qualitative focus groups explored learner experiences and perceptions. Results: Of 64 participants, 47 consented to analysis. Quantitative analyses demonstrated post-training improvements in key technology-acceptance constructs, including significant gains in ATU and strengthened alignment between BI and UTAUT predictors. Qualitative findings reflected high learner engagement and perceived educational value, alongside practical considerations related to technical and instructional coordination. Conclusions: HDT was feasible for assessment of short-term foci of acceptability and perceived limited efficacy through the delivery of interprofessional TeamSTEPPS training, with observed gains in ATU and BI. These findings inform future assessment of long-term feasibility foci, including implementation studies examining the role of holographic simulation in advancing interprofessional education, healthcare workforce development, and the quality of healthcare delivery. Full article

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) remain a common cause of morbidity and mortality in children, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where countries such as Ghana are severely affected. This review presents recent data on ARI etiology, clinical burden, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from Ghana, spanning the pre-COVID-19 era (2010–2019) to the post-pandemic period (2020–2025). Before the COVID-19 pandemic, viral infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinoviruses, and influenza viruses, were the major contributors, along with established bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Social determinants, including undernutrition and indoor air pollution, also influenced these infections. In the COVID era, we have seen dramatic shifts in pathogen seasonality, the scaling of oxygen delivery systems, and the implementation of genomic surveillance for SARS-CoV-2, as well as new features such as maternal RSV vaccination and monoclonal antibody therapy. Despite its successes in vaccination coverage and health system strengthening, some challenges remain, including fluctuations in implementation and surveillance issues. The simultaneous challenges of pneumonia and hygiene will require integrated, coordinated, multisectoral responses that incorporate surveillance with antibiotic stewardship, sustainable oxygen systems, and interventions for nutrition and environmental health. The review also highlights research priorities and makes policy recommendations well aligned to support national ARI control efforts aimed at reducing child mortality due to ARI and achieving Sustainable Development Goals targets on child health. Full article

Cultural heritage can strengthen urban resilience when mobilized as educational infrastructure that builds stewardship, place attachment, and civic agency. This study examines whether the Art Nouveau Path, an outdoor mobile augmented reality heritage game in Aveiro, Portugal, can function as a curriculum-aligned pathway for sustainability competences and resilience-relevant meaning-making in formal education. A curriculum translation matrix mapped eight points of interest and 36 tasks to Portuguese curriculum anchors, Education for Sustainability themes, GreenComp sustainability competences, and the Sustainable Development Goals, framing the matrix as an adoption-oriented design artefact. Empirical evidence comprised accompanying teachers’ in-field observations (T2-OBS; N = 24 across 18 sessions) and students’ post-activity survey data (S2-POST; N = 439), with open-ended reflections coded through a directed resilience-mechanism codebook (Krippendorff’s alpha = 0.91). Teachers reported high perceived value and feasibility and frequently noted enacted stewardship and placed responsibility during sessions. Students’ reflections most often linked resilience to sustainable conservation under pressure and to nature-city interconnections, whereas hazard-memory mechanisms appeared less often. Adoption-related evidence is limited to teacher feasibility reports and institutional legibility from curriculum translation, rather than confirmed institutional uptake indicators. Scaling is likely to require explicit supports for differentiation, assessment scaffolds, and routine delivery in public spaces. Full article

Asphaltene–resin–paraffin deposits (ARPDs) represent one of the most complex flow assurance challenges in oil production, particularly under late-stage reservoir development conditions characterized by pressure depletion, temperature gradients, multiphase flow, and compositional changes. Despite extensive industrial experience, ARPD control strategies are often applied empirically, without explicit linkage to the underlying physicochemical mechanisms governing deposit formation. This review presents a comprehensive and mechanism-oriented analysis of ARPD formation and mitigation in a reservoir–wellbore system. The multicomponent composition, structural heterogeneity, and interfacial activity of paraffins, resins, and asphaltenes are examined alongside thermodynamic, hydrodynamic, and operational factors controlling precipitation, transport, adhesion, and deposit growth. Particular attention is paid to the correspondence between ARPD formation stages and applicable prevention or removal technologies. The analysis demonstrates that preventive strategies targeting early-stage physicochemical processes are fundamentally more effective than post-formation removal methods. The mechanisms of inhibitor action—adsorption, desorption, and dissolution—are shown to operate in a complementary manner, while delivery efficiency is strongly influenced by spatial distribution and retention in the formation. Advanced delivery technologies, including microencapsulation and nanocarrier-based systems, provide enhanced control over inhibitor release and persistence under complex reservoir conditions. Overall, this review establishes an integrated framework linking crude oil properties, formation mechanisms, inhibition chemistry, and delivery technologies, providing a rational basis for designing adaptive and efficient ARPD mitigation strategies in modern oil production systems. Full article

Background: A sedentary behavior and being overweight represent major public health issues associated with both physical and psychological risks. Based on self-determination theory (SDT), the psychoeducational intervention PsicoFIT—a component of the TIGREFIT program—aims to foster motivation toward physical activity, to promote healthy habits, and to reduce psychological ill-being in sedentary adults who are overweight and are fans of a football club. Methods: This protocol corresponds to a longitudinal comparative pragmatic clinical trial, designed in accordance with the recommendations of the SPIRIT Statement. The intervention, preceded by a training program for the coaches involved, will comprise 12 weekly modules delivered in two modalities: (1) face-to-face, through group sessions, and (2) semi face-to-face, through short video capsules hosted on a digital platform. Changes associated with the intervention will be evaluated using hierarchical multiple regression and pre-post comparisons, assessing baseline and post-intervention data within and between the intervention modalities. Primary outcomes will include changes in healthy lifestyle and burnout as indicators of well-being and ill-being, respectively. Secondary outcomes will assess basic psychological needs satisfaction and autonomous motivation as potential mediators of these effects, as well as the coach’s controlling interpersonal style as a possible contextual predictor. The modality of participation will be analyzed as a potential moderator of the observed changes. Finally, the acceptability and perceived contribution of the intervention will be explored through a focus group. Discussion: PsicoFIT will provide a methodological framework for designing interventions within multicomponent programs aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and psychological well-being in sedentary adults who are overweight, considering the social context of football fandom and allowing for an exploration of the impact of the face-to-face and semi-face-to-face modalities. Future empirical application of the protocol will help verify its effectiveness, guide adaptations across contexts, and contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions. Conclusions: The implementation of PsicoFit will allow for the evaluation of its effectiveness, psychological mechanisms, and delivery modalities, thus guiding future evidence-based interventions in sport. Full article

The incorporation of spore-forming probiotics into thermally processed foods represents a promising strategy to expand functional food availability. In this study, probiotic snacks were formulated from oat and rice-bean matrices as delivery vehicles for Heyndrickxia coagulans (formerly Bacillus coagulans) BC4 spores. The effects of baking and microwave processing, packaging, and storage conditions on spore viability and functionality were evaluated. While oven baking (180 °C) preserved viability in both matrices under mild conditions (survival > 90%), dielectric heating induced significant viability loss depending on the matrix. The starch-based rice-bean matrix, characterized by higher post-processing water activity (Aw), suffered a thermal runaway effect, resulting in significant spore inactivation (viability decreased to 6.08 log colony forming units/g (CFU/g); 1.5 min). Conversely, the oat matrix acted as a thermo-physical stabilizer, maintaining high viability (9.41 log CFU/g; 1.5 min) by limiting dielectric energy absorption via its fiber-lipid composition. Oxidative stress and premature germination likely contributed to the viability loss observed in atmospheric packaging during the 30-day storage. The oat matrix mitigated this effect through a dual-protective mode: active radical scavenging (validated by superior ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) values) and passive water binding. Simulated digestion data align with the functional preservation observed, resulting in increased survival for oat-based formulations. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility of developing oat and rice-bean snacks enriched with H. coagulans spores and highlight the critical role of matrix and processing conditions in preserving probiotic viability. Full article