Search Results (2,032)

Numerous studies have suggested controversial findings regarding the impact of microalgae on dairy cows’ production parameters. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the overall effects of microalgae on dairy cows’ performance and milk fatty acids and to highlight variation factors inducing opposite findings in the impact of microalgae on dairy cow nutrition. Following the PRISMA guidelines, articles examining the influence of microalgae on dairy cows’ performance and milk fatty acids were searched through Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus. As a result, 10 articles were selected and categorized into 18 experiments for inclusion in our meta-analysis. The results suggested significant increasing effects (p < 0.05) of microalgae on milk yield and rumenic acid, while decreasing effects (p < 0.05) were observed in caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, pentadecanoic acid, and myristic acid. The sub-group analysis suggested that the Aurantiochytrium limacinum microalgae strain showed more consistent effects compared with other evaluated strains. Thus, the present meta-analysis makes a valuable contribution to comprehending the beneficial effect of microalgae in dairy cow nutrition and the factors that may influence the impact of this sustainable feed additive on milk production and quality. Full article

With rising demand for clean energy and uncertainty surrounding large-scale renewable deployment, ammonia has emerged as a viable carrier for hydrogen storage and transportation. This study conducts a global patent-based analysis of ammonia-to-hydrogen production technologies to determine technological maturity, dominant design pathways, and emerging innovation trends. A statistically robust retrieval, screening, and classification process, based on the PRISMA guidelines, was employed to screen, sort, and analyze 708 relevant patent families systematically. Patent families were categorized according to synthesis processes, catalyst types, and technological fields. The findings indicate that electrochemical, plasma-based, photocatalytic, and hybrid systems are being increasingly investigated as alternatives to low-temperature processes. At the same time, thermal catalytic cracking remains the most established and widely used method. Significant advances in reactor engineering, system integration, and catalyst design have been observed, especially in Asia. While national hydrogen initiatives, such as those in Brunei, highlight the policy importance of ammonia-based hydrogen systems, the findings primarily provide a global overview of technological maturity and innovation trajectories, thereby facilitating long-term transitions to cleaner hydrogen pathways. Full article

Background: Health care work contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Primary health care is community-based and focused on wellness and disease prevention. Within primary health care, pharmacists are most frequently the stewards of medicines, supplies, and other tangible products that contribute to carbon footprints. Pharmacists are in a unique position to help adapt to and mitigate climate change-related issues. Objective: To examine pharmacists’ perspectives on climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in primary health care delivery in interprofessional settings. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews with primary care pharmacists were undertaken. Constant-comparative data analysis was used to code and categorize findings. The COREQ system was applied to ensure rigor and quality of research. Results: A total of 21 primary care pharmacists participated in this research. Several core themes emerged as follows: (a) universal agreement that climate change is real and primary health care needs to evolve rapidly to address it; (b) recognition that primary health care is time-pressured and resource constrained so successful solutions need to be pragmatic and work within realities of practice; (c) identification of actionable priorities with high potential for mitigation impact; and (d) mobilization of a coalition to develop system-wide initiatives that could be implemented in primary health care. Conclusions: Collaborative approaches and those that focus on the implementation of regulatory requirements were identified as being most productive in this setting. Full article

The shipbuilding industry relies heavily on welding, which accounts for approximately 70% of the overall production process. However, the recent decline in skilled workers, together with rising labor costs, has accelerated the automation of shipbuilding operations. In particular, the welding activities are concentrated in the double-bottom region of ships, where collaborative robots are increasingly introduced to alleviate workforce shortages. Because these robots must directly recognize U-shaped weld joints, this study proposes an image-based classification system capable of automatically identifying and classifying such joints. In double-bottom structures, U-shaped weld joints can be categorized into 176 types according to combinations of collar plate type, slot, watertight feature, and girder. To distinguish these types, deep learning-based image recognition is employed. To construct a large-scale training dataset, 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models were automatically generated using Open Cascade and subsequently rendered to produce synthetic images. Furthermore, to improve classification performance, the input images were split into left, right, upper, and lower regions for both training and inference. The class definitions for each region were simplified based on the presence or absence of key features. Consequently, the classification accuracy was significantly improved compared with an approach using non-split images. Full article

The BESIII Collaboration has collected large data samples from $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ collisions at center-of-mass energies ranging from 1.84 to 4.95 GeV, which include the world’s largest charmonium sample, consisting of 10 billion $J/\psi$ and 3 billion $\psi \left(3686\right)$ events. These high-statistics datasets enable BESIII to carry out a wide range of studies in hyperon physics. In this article, we review the major achievements of the BESIII Collaboration in this field, which can be broadly categorized into four areas: hyperon polarization and $CP$ violation, rare hyperon decays, hyperon pair production, and hyperon–nucleon interactions. Full article

Roses held profound cultural and economic significance in ancient Greece and Rome, yet comprehensive documentation of their species diversity, cultivation practices, and horticultural innovations remains fragmented across archaeological, iconographic, and textual sources. This multidisciplinary study synthesizes evidence from classical texts, archaeological remains including recently identified rose stem fragments from Oplontis, and iconographic materials—including frescoes, coins, and mosaics—to reconstruct the horticultural systems and cultural landscape of roses in classical antiquity. Analysis of literary sources, particularly Theophrastus’s fourth-century BCE taxonomic descriptions, reveals systematic cultivation of diverse rose varieties with flowers ranging from white to deep crimson, including yellow variants, characterized by morphologies from simple to double forms and valued for fragrance intensity and re-blooming capacity. Archaeological evidence from sites such as Paestum, Pompeii, and Oplontis, including pollen samples, preserved wood fragments with diagnostic prickle patterns, and fresco representations, documents commercial rose production and specialized cultivation techniques that demonstrate significantly greater morphological diversity than textual sources alone indicate. Field research and collection documentation establish the origins of Mediterranean rose cultivation, while iconographic analysis identifies roses in religious ceremonies, festivals, and daily life contexts. Textual sources provide detailed propagation methods, seasonal management practices, and evidence of Mediterranean hybridization events, alongside extensive documentation of medicinal and cosmetic applications. Economic analysis reveals specialized trade networks, commercial production centers, and diverse applications in perfumery, garland making, and pharmaceutical industries. This research establishes that Greek and Roman civilizations developed sophisticated rose cultivation systems integrating botanical selection, horticultural innovation, and cultural symbolism that directly influenced medieval and Renaissance practices and informed modern trait categorization systems. These findings demonstrate the foundational role of classical antiquity in European rose heritage, revealing how ancient horticultural knowledge, species diversification through hybridization, and cultivation techniques created an unbroken transmission that shaped contemporary rose industries and established conservation priorities for this horticultural heritage. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hypertension control remains a global challenge. Evidence on the association between adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and blood pressure (BP) control in older Mediterranean populations is limited. We aimed to assess this association in Spanish older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 371 participants (69 ± 9 years). Dietary intake was assessed using a validated 146-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and DASH diet adherence was categorized as low, medium, or high. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations with BP control. Results: Among participants with hypertension (n = 218), 52.8% achieved adequate BP control and consumed significantly more low-fat dairy products (+56%) and less sodium (−11%) than those with uncontrolled BP. The low adherence group had lower proportion of participants with controlled BP (21%) than the medium and high adherence groups (36% and 39%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Across increasing DASH diet adherence categories, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 4–5 mmHg and 3–4 mmHg lower, respectively. Medium adherence to the DASH diet was independently associated with substantially lower odds of uncontrolled BP (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.16–0.82; p = 0.015). High adherence showed a similar magnitude of association but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: In this cohort of older Spanish adults, moderate adherence to the DASH diet was associated with meaningful improvements in BP control, suggesting that achievable, intermediate levels of DASH diet adherence may be sufficient to improve hypertension management in real-world settings. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm causality and long-term cardiovascular benefits. Full article

Modular construction (MC) offers significant environmental and efficiency advantages yet maintains low market penetration in China despite substantial government support. This study addresses the critical knowledge gap by systematically analyzing complex barrier interrelationships across project phases and stakeholder groups (university, construction authority, supplier/manufacturer company) to develop a comprehensive MC promotion framework. A four-phase mixed method approach was employed. (1) Grounded theory analysis of MC policy frameworks was performed in Singapore, the United States, and Hong Kong to extract best practice insights. (2) A systematic literature review and multi-round Delphi expert consultations were used to identify 21 core barriers across six project stages (decision-making, procurement, design, production, transportation, and construction acceptance). (3) The DEMATEL analysis reveals causal relationships among barriers based on experts’ perceived influence between factors. (4) Integrated ISM-MICMAC methodology was used to establish hierarchical structures and barrier classifications. Institutional barriers emerged as the primary impediment to MC diffusion, with unclear authority distribution between government administrations and design organizations identified as the most critical factor. The MICMAC analysis categorized the 21 barriers into four distinct groups based on their driving power and dependence characteristics, revealing complex causal relationships among barriers across the six project stages while highlighting the emergent role of higher education institutions in industrial transformation. Successful MC implementation requires market-oriented, context-specific strategies prioritizing institutional framework development, with the findings providing actionable insights for policymakers to address regulatory ambiguities and practical guidance for industry practitioners developing targeted MC promotion strategies in emerging markets. Full article

Zanthoxylum species, commonly known as Sichuan pepper, are valued as food ingredients for their unique aroma and pungency. However, a comprehensive understanding of their lipid composition, which may serve as both flavor precursors and nutritional components, remains limited. In this study, we performed a comparative lipidomic analysis of three economically important Zanthoxylum species (Z. bungeanum, Z. schinifolium, and Z. armatum) using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Fatty acids were concurrently analyzed by gas chromatography. A total of 315 lipid molecules were identified and categorized into 53 fatty acyls, 132 glycerolipids, 50 glycerophospholipids, 46 sphingolipids, and 34 sterol lipids. Triacylglycerols (22.84–54.25%) and free fatty acids (28.07–39.61%) were the most abundant lipid subclasses. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed 44 significantly different lipid molecules among the species, and pathway enrichment analysis indicated glycerolipid metabolism as the most significantly altered pathway. Furthermore, fatty acid profiling showed a nutritionally balanced n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio (1.04–1.12). These species-specific lipid signatures not only provide a basis for varietal authentication but also highlight the potential of Zanthoxylum lipids in shaping flavor profiles and contributing to nutritional value, supporting their diversified application in food products. Full article

The N Oilfield is the first offshore extra-heavy oilfield developed using thermal recovery methods, adopting cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) and commissioned in 2022. The development of offshore heavy oil reservoirs is confronted with numerous technical and operational challenges. Key constraints include limited platform space, stringent economic thresholds for single-well production, and elevated operational risks, collectively contributing to significant uncertainties in project viability. For effective exploitation of the target oilfield, a comprehensive strategy was proposed, which consisted of effective artificial lifting, steam channeling and high water cut treatment. First, to achieve efficient artificial lifting of the extra-heavy oil, an integrated injection–production lifting technology using jet pump was designed and implemented. In addition, during the first steam injection cycle, challenges such as inter-well steam channeling, high water cut, and an excessive water recovery ratio were encountered. Subsequent analysis indicated that low-quality reservoir intervals were the dominant sources of unwanted water production and preferential steam channeling pathways. To address these problems, a suite of efficiency-enhancing technologies was established, including regional steam injection for channeling suppression, classification-based water shutoff and control, and production regime optimization. Given the significant variations in geological conditions and production dynamics among different types of high-water-cut wells, a single plugging agent system proved inadequate for their diverse requirements. Therefore, customized water control countermeasures were formulated for specific well types, and a suite of plugging agent systems with tailored properties was subsequently developed, including high-temperature-resistant N₂ foam, high-temperature-degradable gel, and high-strength ultra-fine cement systems. To date, regional steam injection has been implemented in 10 well groups, water control measures have been applied to 12 wells, and production regimes optimization has been implemented in 5 wells. Up to the current production round, no steam channeling has been observed in the well groups after thermal treatment. Compared with the pre-measurement stage, the average water cut per well decreased by 10%. During the three-year production cycle, the average daily oil production per well increased by 10%, the cumulative oil increment of the oilfield reached 15,000 tons, and the total crude oil production exceeded 800,000 tons. This study provides practical technical insights for the large-scale and efficient development of extra-heavy oil reservoirs in the Bohai Oilfield and offers a valuable reference for similar reservoirs worldwide. Full article

Although product returns present significant challenges for retailers, the service recovery paradox suggests they can also generate value. When return services are managed effectively, they can offset initial customer dissatisfaction and increase repurchase likelihood beyond what would occur without a return. However, prior research often treats returns as homogeneous, overlooking how different return types trigger distinct customer responses. Using transaction-level data from 27,178 orders at a major U.S. online apparel retailer between 2016 and 2019, this study investigates how customer-reported return reasons influence subsequent repurchase behavior. Return reasons are categorized by locus of responsibility—customer-, retailer-, or intermediary-attributed—and analyzed using logistic regression. The findings reveal substantial heterogeneity in post-return outcomes: customer-attributed returns are positively associated with repurchase, retailer-attributed returns are negatively associated, and intermediary-attributed returns show no significant effect. By demonstrating that return recovery effects depend on attribution, this study provides both theoretical insights and practical guidance for managing returns in a sustainable manner that enhances customer retention, improves operational efficiency, and strengthens the long-term sustainability of retail return management systems. Full article

Defect categorization is essential to product quality assurance during the production of magnetic random access memory (MRAM). Nevertheless, traditional defect detection techniques continue to face difficulties in large-scale deployments, such as a lack of labeled examples with complicated defect shapes, which results in inadequate identification accuracy. In order to overcome these problems, we create the MARMset dataset, which consists of 39,822 photos and covers 14 common defect types for MRAM defect detection and classification. Furthermore, we present a baseline framework (GAGBnet) for MRAM defect classification, including a global attention module (GAM) and an attention-guided block (AGB). Firstly, the GAM is introduced to enhance the model’s feature extraction capability. Secondly, inspired by the feature enhancement strategy, the AGB is designed to incorporate an attention-guided mechanism during feature fusion to remove redundant information and focus on critical features. Finally, the experimental results show that the average accuracy rate of this method on the MARMset reaches 92.90%. In addition, we test on the NEU-CLS dataset to evaluate cross-dataset generalization, achieving an average accuracy of 98.60%. Full article

A key objective of the dairy industry is to balance genetic progress with reproductive efficiency. Ovum pick-up followed by in vitro embryo production (OPU-IVP) is a pivotal technology for accelerating genetic gain. However, the relationship between follicle size and oocyte developmental competence in high-producing dairy cows under hormonal stimulation remains to be fully elucidated. This study systematically evaluated the effects of follicle diameter ovum pick-up on OPU-IVP outcomes and the underlying follicular fluid (FF) microenvironment. A total of 109 high-yielding Holstein cows were subjected to ovarian stimulation and OPU. Follicles were categorized as small (2.0–5.9 mm), medium (6.0–9.9 mm), or large (10.0–20.0 mm). Oocyte recovery, quality, and developmental competence were assessed. FF was analyzed for hormonal profiles, including anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and progesterone (PROG); oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC); and untargeted metabolomics (n = 10 per group). Consistently, oocytes from medium follicles exhibited superior developmental competence, achieving the highest maturation (89.93%), cleavage (72.19%), and blastocyst rates (41.88%). In contrast, large follicles had a low recovery rate (32.64%), a high proportion of degenerated oocytes (32.00%), and reduced embryonic efficiency. Metabolomic profiling revealed distinct microenvironmental differences, with medium follicles enriched in pathways like pyruvate metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism indicating an optimal metabolic state. Hormonally, AMH decreased while E2 and PROG increased with follicle size. Large follicles exhibited significantly elevated MDA levels, indicating oxidative stress, without a concurrent rise in antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, while small follicles provide an abundant source of morphologically good oocytes, medium follicles (6.0–9.9 mm) represent a distinct “window of competence” for OPU-IVP, characterized by a follicular microenvironment most conducive to embryo production. Excessive reliance on large follicle aspiration should be avoided due to signs of over-maturity and oxidative damage. These findings provide a physiological basis for optimizing OPU strategies to enhance IVP efficiency in high-producing dairy cows. Full article

This study addresses the ongoing challenge of accurately classifying beers by fermentation type and product category, an issue of growing importance for quality control, authenticity assessment, and product differentiation in the brewing sector. We applied a multiblock chemometric framework that integrates phenolic profiling obtained via GC–MS, antioxidant and antiradical activity derived from in vitro assays, and complementary colorimetric and physicochemical measurements. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed clear compositional structuring within the dataset, with p-coumaric, gallic, syringic, and malic acids emerging as major contributors to variance. Supervised machine-learning classification demonstrated robust performance, achieving approximately 93% accuracy in discriminating top- from bottom-fermented beers, supported by a well-balanced confusion matrix (25 classified and 2 misclassified samples per group). When applied to ale–lager categorization, the model retained strong predictive ability, reaching 90% accuracy, largely driven by the C* chroma value and the concentrations of tyrosol, acetic acid, homovanillic acid, and syringic acid. The integration of multiple analytical blocks significantly enhanced class separation and minimized ambiguity between beer categories. Overall, these findings underscore the value of multi-block chemometrics as a powerful strategy for beer characterization, supporting brewers, researchers, and regulatory bodies in developing more reliable quality-assurance frameworks. Full article

Background/Objectives: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen causing severe infections, particularly in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Its intrinsic multidrug resistance and biofilm-forming capacity complicate treatment. Although biofilms are generally associated with antimicrobial tolerance, the relationship between biofilm formation and planktonic antibiotic resistance in S. maltophilia remains poorly understood. This study investigated the association between antibiotic resistance profiles and biofilm production in clinical isolates from CF and non-CF patients. Methods: A total of 86 clinical isolates (40 from CF airways and 46 from non-CF patients) were analyzed. Susceptibility to seven antibiotics was assessed by disk diffusion, and multidrug resistance profiles were defined using standard criteria. Biofilm formation was quantified after 24 h using a crystal violet microtiter plate assay and categorized by using a semiquantitative scale. Results: High resistance rates were observed, particularly to meropenem (87.2%), ciprofloxacin (80.2%), and rifampicin (72.1%). CF isolates exhibited significantly higher resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam and a greater prevalence of multidrug resistance. Biofilm formation was detected in 94.2% of isolates, with strong or powerful producers predominating. However, CF isolates formed significantly less biofilm than non-CF isolates. Notably, resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam and meropenem was associated with reduced biofilm biomass and a lower proportion of high biofilm producers. Across all isolates, an inverse correlation was observed between the number of antibiotic resistances and biofilm biomass. These trends persisted after stratification by clinical origin, although some comparisons did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: This study reveals an unexpected inverse relationship between planktonic antibiotic resistance and biofilm-forming capacity in S. maltophilia. Enhanced biofilm production may represent an alternative persistence strategy in more antibiotic-susceptible strains, with important implications for infection management and therapeutic failure. Full article