Search Results (17,822)

The excessive use of chemical fertilizers is a primary driver of soil degradation in agricultural systems. Planting green manure during fallow periods offers a sustainable alternative for soil conservation. The present study investigated the effects of different green manure cropping systems (Ryegrass (TR), Chinese milk vetch (TM), and Spinach (TS)) on soil physicochemical properties, biological activity, and microbial communities, compared to a control (CT). Results demonstrated that green manure treatments significantly enhanced soil fertility by increasing the content of soil organic matter (SOM), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK). Notably, the TR treatment increased SOM, AN, and AP by 23.0%, 60.0%, and 44.6% (p < 0.05), respectively. Concurrently, key soil enzyme activities (urease, dehydrogenase, catalase) were significantly boosted (p < 0.05), with TR showing the most pronounced effect. Earthworm indicators (such as earthworm biomass and abundance) were significantly higher in the Ryegrass plots (p < 0.05). Microbial analysis revealed that TM enhanced bacterial diversity, whereas TR increased fungal richness (p < 0.05). Beneficial bacterial phyla, particularly Proteobacteria, exhibited a marked increase under the TM and TR treatments, while the fungal community underwent a favorable shift. Consequently, a significant elevation was observed in the overall Soil Quality Index (SQI) across all green manure treatments. Notably, the TR treatment resulted in a substantial 150% increase. In summary, ryegrass emerged as the most effective treatment in enhancing soil fertility, biological activity, and microbial diversity, underscoring its considerable potential as a green manure for sustainable soil management during fallow periods in paddy fields. Full article

Background/Objectives: Poor diet quality is common among young Saudi adults, characterised by high fast-food intake and low fruit and vegetable consumption. This study investigated the association between diet quality and lifestyle factors using a validated short Healthy Eating Index (sHEI). Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional design, gathering responses through a self-completed online questionnaire. Demographic data were collected. Diet quality was assessed using the Arabic version of the sHEI, physical activity was evaluated with the Arabic short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and sleep quality was measured using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). Saudi residents aged 18–25 years were eligible; pregnant or lactating individuals and those with chronic conditions affecting dietary intake were excluded. Results: Among 478 participants (mean age 21.1 ± 1.9 years), 88.1% were female, 24.7% were overweight or obese, and half reported poor diet quality. Moderation scores were slightly higher (54.2% high), whereas adequacy scores were nearly equal (49.8% high and 50.2% low). Most participants reported low physical-activity levels (78.5%) and poor sleep quality (55.2%). Sleep quality was significantly associated with all diet quality measures, increasing the odds of good total sHEI (OR = 1.74, p = 0.003), adequacy (OR = 1.49, p = 0.034), and moderation (OR = 1.54, p = 0.021). Conclusions: Sleep quality is significantly associated with diet quality among young Saudi adults. While body mass index and physical activity showed no significant associations, improving sleep quality may promote healthier dietary behaviours. Future studies should explore pathways linking sleep and diet. Full article

Chronic kidney disease is defined as a progressive pathology that affects more than 10% of the world’s population, affecting waste filtration capacity. Sarcopenia, characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength, is a common complication in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis. It is associated with inflammation, malnutrition and reduced quality of life. Hemodialysis is the fundamental treatment for people with chronic kidney disease, as it is key to the elimination of toxins from the body. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of probable sarcopenia in patients with chronic kidney disease in the Dialysis Unit of Extremadura (Spain). Material and Methods: This is a descriptive study in which 33 patients with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis were selected as participants in the assessment of functional capacity and physical fitness. The procedure was performed prior to the dialysis session. Socio-demographic, clinical and physical variables were assessed. The assessment of probable sarcopenia was carried out using manual grip strength test (dynamometry), physical performance (4-meter walk test) and phase angle (PhA) (single frequency 50 Hz bioimpedance). The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was used to determine the severity of chronic disease and its impact, and analytical variables such as albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Index (NLI), Lymphocyte–Platelet Index (LPI) and total protein (TP), among others, were also included. Results: The prevalence of probable sarcopenia was 93.9% according to the criteria for muscle strength and physical performance (EWGSOP2). PhA showed statistically significant differences between the groups with and without sarcopenia (p = 0.039), suggesting its usefulness as a nutritional marker. No statistically significant differences were found between sarcopenia and age, albumin, Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Index or C-reactive protein (p > 0.05). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of probable sarcopenia, associated with decreased handgrip strength and gait speed in patients with chronic kidney disease in hemodialysis. In addition, PhA stands out as an influential factor in the development of sarcopenia. Full article

Precision soil management is fundamental to the sustainable production of high-quality tea, yet the spatial integration of fertility and heavy metal safety remains a significant challenge. This study aimed to delineate multi-dimensional management zones (MZs) in the tea plantations of Tianmuhu, Jiangsu Province, by evaluating three clustering algorithms: K-means (KM), Fuzzy C-means (FCM), and Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique (ISODATA). A total of 70 representative soil samples were analyzed for 10 properties. Descriptive statistics revealed pronounced spatial heterogeneity, particularly for Hg (CV = 71.04%) and P (CV = 61.83%). Pearson correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated strong synergistic relationships among organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), and potassium (K) (r = 0.49–0.69, p < 0.01), which formed a distinct Fertility Factor on PC1. Conversely, PCA identified divergent sources for heavy metals, with Cr primarily governed by pedogenic processes (PC2), while Cd were associated with anthropogenic inputs. Guided by these distinct spatial drivers, this study separately delineated fertility and heavy metal safety MZs. The optimal number of clusters was determined by balancing statistical validity with spatial operationality via the Silhouette Coefficient (SC) and Smoothness Index (SI), with results indicating that a 2–3 zone scheme yielded the most favorable scores. Comparative analysis showed that for soil fertility, ISODATA outperformed KM and FCM by effectively capturing the high variability of P and producing statistically distinct zones (p < 0.05). For heavy metal pollution, FCM provided better partitioning by reflecting the continuous gradients of composite contaminants. Validation results showed that while 61% of the area was classified as high-fertility (ISODATA), approximately 63–75% fell into relatively higher heavy metal accumulation categories. This dual-objective zoning framework provides a scientific basis for site-specific fertilization and targeted environmental monitoring in the regional tea industry. Full article

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by microbial dysbiosis and an exacerbated host immune response. This leads to progressive breakdown of periodontal tissues. Although scaling and root planing remains the standard treatment, its capacity to fully restore immune balance and host–microbiota homeostasis is limited. Probiotics have emerged as promising adjunctive strategies to modulate pathways involved in periodontal disease progression. This review aimed to evaluate current clinical evidence on the use of probiotics as adjuncts in periodontal therapy. The review followed the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles criteria, applied exclusively as a reporting-quality framework. A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE via PubMed for manuscripts indexed through January/2026, using MeSH terms related to periodontitis and probiotics. Probiotics demonstrate potential as adjunctive agents in periodontal therapy, as evidenced by improvements in clinical parameters (probing depth, clinical attachment level, and/or bleeding on probing) reported in clinical studies. However, the findings remain heterogeneous across trials. Variability in probiotic strains, CFU concentrations, administration routes, and treatment durations highlights the need for standardized clinical protocols to improve comparability and reproducibility and better establish their clinical efficacy. Stronger, long-term evidence is required to standardize therapeutic protocols. Full article

Regular social, economic and agricultural interactions occurred between the Horn of Africa and Southern Arabian Peninsula for millennia, raising questions about potential geo-culinary exchanges, including of the little-studied fermented flatbreads produced in these areas. A comparative analysis of Somali laxoox/canjeero, Ethiopian injera, Sudanese kisra and Yemeni/Saudi lahoh was conducted by combining a literature review and consultations with 17 local experts, then processing the data in a hierarchical cluster analysis to quantify “biocultural” diversity. In an interdisciplinary approach, technical aspects (bread appearance, ingredients, and production stages) and cultural characteristics (consumption patterns and social function) were considered to identify key descriptors of the breads. A dendrogram generated through cluster analysis of a binary (0/1) matrix, structured with the key descriptors, showed that each bread has a distinct biocultural identity, and enabled the quantification of their similarities. Somali laxoox/canjeero and Yemeni/Saudi lahoh had a 64% similarity to each other (Jaccard index); each had a 53% similarity to Ethiopian injera; while all of them were 41% similar to Sudanese kisra. Hierarchical cluster analysis, applied for the first time to flatbreads, contributes to their comprehensive characterization and comparison in this unique geographic region and lays the foundations for policies to protect their identity and quality. Full article

Objective: Clinical remission is a major therapeutic goal in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) because of its association with improved long-term outcomes. However, its relationship with patient-reported burden, quality of life, and disease perception remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with SLE in clinical remission, identify factors associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and assess physician–patient discordance in disease activity perception. Methods: A total of 106 adult patients with SLE in clinical remission according to the definition proposed by Zen et al. were enrolled at a single rheumatology center. Patients were classified into complete remission, clinical remission off corticosteroids, or clinical remission on corticosteroids. Demographic, clinical, and treatment-related data were collected, including organ damage (SLICC-SDI) and disease activity (SLEDAI-2K). Patients completed PRO measures including SF-36, Global Health (GH), pain VAS, STAI-Y1 and STAI-Y2, Zung Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and HAQ. Disease activity was assessed by both the patient (PGA) and the physician (PhGA); a PGA–PhGA difference >25 mm was considered clinically relevant discordance. Results: Among patients in clinical remission, mild anxiety was observed in 17.1% according to STAI-Y1 and in 27.9% according to STAI-Y2, mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms in 47.1%, and mild insomnia in 25.5%. Of the 106 patients, 24 (22.6%) were in complete remission, 27 (25.5%) in clinical remission off corticosteroids, and 55 (51.9%) in clinical remission on corticosteroids. Patients in clinical remission on corticosteroids showed worse patient-reported outcomes than those in complete remission or clinical remission off corticosteroids. In multivariable analyses, poorer physical HRQoL was independently associated with functional disability, pain intensity, and depressive symptoms, whereas poorer mental HRQoL was independently associated with trait and state anxiety. Clinically relevant physician–patient discordance was observed in 22.6% of the cohort and was almost exclusively driven by higher patient than physician scores. Pain intensity emerged as the most robust independent correlate of discordance. Conclusions: A substantial patient-reported burden may persist in patients with SLE despite clinical remission. Pain, psychological distress, insomnia, and functional disability contribute to impaired HRQoL, while physician–patient discordance appears to reflect a broader mismatch between inflammatory disease control and the patient’s lived experience of illness. These findings support a more comprehensive and patient-centered approach to remission assessment in SLE. Full article

This study presents an assessment of ambient air quality in Chichiri and Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) locations, Blantyre City, Southern Malawi. The study aimed at assessing temporal trends, identifying exceedance of thresholds, investigating relationships between pollutants and meteorological factors, and exploring the predictability of air quality index (AQI). Five pollutants: ${\mathrm{P}\mathrm{M}}_{2.5}$, ${\mathrm{P}\mathrm{M}}_{10}$, ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{x}}$, ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_2$ and TVOC were assessed over a two-month period using fixed low-cost sensors. Daily and hourly temporal analysis showed that pollutants peak during morning and evening hours. A significant number of exceedances for ${\mathrm{P}\mathrm{M}}_{2.5}$ and ${\mathrm{P}\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ were observed when compared to indicative thresholds. Chichiri exhibited more frequent AQI classifications in the “unhealthy” range. A strong positive relationship between ${\mathrm{P}\mathrm{M}}_{2.5}$ and ${\mathrm{P}\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ (r $=$ 0.84) and positive correlations between ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{x}}$ and ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_2$ were observed. A multiple linear regression model achieved a high coefficient of determination (${\mathrm{R}}^2$ $=$ 0.938), identifying ${\mathrm{P}\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ and ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{x}}$ as dominant predictors of AQI variability. Temperature and humidity showed modest inverse relationship with AQI, suggesting dispersion effects. A comparison with African cities showed that the study areas’ pollution levels were within regional norms, but that there is a need for targeted mitigation. These findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring, data-driven policy making and regional collaboration to address urban air quality challenges. Full article

Salinity is a major constraint for lettuce production, affecting plant growth, physiological status, and market quality. This study evaluated the combined effects of increasing salinity levels (S₀: non-saline control; S₃₀, S₆₀, and S₁₂₀ mM NaCl) and Trichoderma harzianum inoculation on morphological, physiological, and quality-related traits of lettuce. Increasing salinity levels resulted in significant reductions in growth-related parameters, particularly leaf area, shoot biomass, root volume, and cutting resistance (CR), with the most pronounced decreases observed at S₁₂₀. In contrast, several physiological and quality-related parameters showed different response patterns. Membrane stability index (MSI) and chlorophyll index remained relatively stable across salinity treatments, while total soluble solids (C) increased with increasing salinity, indicating osmotic adjustment under stress conditions. Leaf color parameters showed reductions in lightness and chroma at higher salinity levels, suggesting structural and optical changes in leaves rather than severe pigment degradation. The effects of Trichoderma on plant growth were limited and did not consistently mitigate growth reductions under salinity. However, inoculation influenced several physiological and quality-related traits, including MSI and TSS, indicating a role in physiological regulation and stress adaptation rather than direct growth promotion. Multivariate analyses indicated that salinity was the main factor contributing to treatment separation, whereas Trichoderma application influenced the overall trait profile without consistently increasing growth parameters. Overall, the results suggest that under saline conditions, Trichoderma may contribute to stress tolerance and physiological stability rather than directly increasing plant growth, and its effectiveness depends on stress severity. Full article

Phosphogypsum (PG), a major by-product of the phosphate industry, has potential for improving acidic and nutrient-poor red soils, yet its agronomic benefits and heavy metal risks require systematic evaluation. A field experiment was conducted with five treatments, CK (soil only), GT (50% modified phosphogypsum, MPG), TT (40% MPG), ZT (50% phosphorite tailings), and DT (25% MPG + 25% lake sediment), to assess their effects on soil properties, enzyme activities, peanut growth, yield, quality, and heavy metal accumulation. All amendments improved soil structure, moisture retention, nutrient availability, and enzymatic activities. Peanut pod and kernel yields increased under all treatments, with DT achieving the greatest improvements (29.89% and 40.88%, respectively), whereas ZT showed the weakest response (1.91% and 6.26%). DT also achieved the highest soil quality index, and performed best in both yield improvement and root development. Although Cd accumulation increased under DT, heavy metal concentrations in peanut kernels remained below national food safety limits. Overall, DT was identified as the most effective amendment for enhancing red soil fertility and peanut productivity, while long-term monitoring of Cd bioavailability is recommended to ensure sustainable and safe application. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fibromyalgia is a painful syndrome with biopsychosocial components that predominantly affects middle-aged women. This study aimed to evaluate changes in sleep quality and quality of life following intravenous (IV) lidocaine treatment in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia who underwent intravenous lidocaine treatment at a tertiary pain clinic between June 2023 and June 2024 and had a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score > 5. The patients’ demographic data, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) scores at baseline and at 1 and 3 months post-treatment, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11) scores, Short Form-12 (SF-12) mental and physical component scores (MCS-12, PCS-12), and PSQI scores were recorded. Results: Overall, 51 patients were included. 92.2% of the patients were women, with a mean age of 41.6 ± 9.5 years. Statistically significant reductions in NRS-11, FIQ, and PSQI scores and increases in SF-12 component scores were observed at 1 and 3 months compared with baseline (p < 0.001). Negative correlations were found between NRS-11 and PCS-12 and MCS-12, and a positive correlation was found between FIQ and PSQI. Sleep quality showed a marked improvement at 1 month; however, attenuation of this benefit was observed at the 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: Sleep quality appeared to be associated with short-term functional outcomes, whereas pain intensity was associated with mid-term clinical status in patients with fibromyalgia. Prospective randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings and to determine optimal dosing and treatment schedules. Full article

Degraded groundwater quality, characterized by elevated salinity and nitrate concentrations, poses significant public health concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children. High content of nitrate in drinking water may lead to non-carcinogenic health risks, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable groundwater management strategies to protect both human health and environmental integrity. This study assesses the suitability of groundwater resources in the Regueb Basin for irrigation and drinking purposes, with particular attention paid to nitrate contamination. The Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) indicates considerable spatial variability in groundwater quality, with values varying between 15.86 and 89.55 and a median of 41.69, reflecting differing levels of suitability for irrigation across the basin. Similarly, the Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI) ranges from 149.16 to 982.42, with a median value of 445.71, suggesting significant concerns regarding groundwater suitability for drinking purposes. The health risk assessment (HHRA) based on the Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI) and the nitrate hazard quotient (HQ__nitrate) reveal substantial risks to human health. NPI values vary between 0.45 and 5.5, with a median of 1.65 indicating varying levels of nitrate pollution. The HQ__nitrate results show that all groundwater samples (100%) pose health risks for children (HQ > 1). For women, 75.61% of HQ values exceed the safe threshold, affecting approximately 80% of the study area, whereas for men, 48.48% of HQ values exceed 1, impacting about 36.67% of the area. Overall, these findings highlight the urgent need for effective groundwater management strategies to mitigate nitrate contamination and ensure the safe and sustainable use of the groundwater resources in the Regueb Basin. Full article

New quality productive forces are increasingly recognized as important drivers of coordinated regional development, with urban agglomerations acting as key vehicles for their spatial implementation. Based on the theory of new quality productive forces, this study takes the 13 cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration as its research subjects, spanning the period from 2005 to 2023, and constructs a four-dimensional evaluation index system for new quality productive forces covering economic, social, ecological, and technological dimensions. It employs the entropy method to determine indicator weights and calculate development indices for each dimension and utilizes a coupling coordination model to measure the overall and subsystem-level coordination by analyzing their spatiotemporal evolution characteristics. The results indicate a steady upward trend in the overall coordination level, progressing from a low level to an intermediate level, with the state of coordination continuously improving; spatial differentiation is significant, forming a gradient development pattern centered on Beijing, with marked disparities in coordination levels among cities. Subsystem analysis reveals an imbalanced synergy structure: while economic and ecological synergy levels are relatively high, the coupling and synergy between science and technology and the economy and society remain prominent weaknesses. Most cities in Hebei Province lack sufficient scientific and technological innovation capabilities, resulting in a weak supportive role for economic and social development. Based on these findings, this study proposes policy recommendations such as establishing a regional innovation community, promoting the integration of factor markets, and strengthening collaborative governance of the ecological environment, with the aim of leveraging new quality productive forces to drive a qualitative leap in the coordinated development of the BTH urban agglomeration. Full article

Unlike image-only systems that falter in shadows, glare, and low contrast, LiDAR directly records surface geometry and supports depth-aware quantification. This survey examines LiDAR-based road surface damage classification across the entire pipeline, encompassing acquisition with mobile and terrestrial laser scanning, preprocessing and representation choices, supervised, semi-supervised, and unsupervised learning techniques, as well as multisensor fusion at early, mid, and late stages. A consistent thread is measurement, not just detection: we describe how LiDAR damage classification maps to agency practices such as the Distress Identification Manual and the Pavement Condition Index. We summarize datasets and evaluation protocols for detection, segmentation, 3D reconstruction, and ride quality. We outline practical concerns for corridor-scale deployment: calibration and timing, intensity normalization, tiling/streaming, and runtime budgeting. The review concludes with open problems and outlines directions for robust, severity-aware, and scalable field systems. Full article