Search Results (7,698)

Falls are a leading cause of morbidity, loss of independence, and diminished quality of life among older adults, particularly in underserved ethnic minority populations. Physical activity interventions such as Tai Chi (TC) have been shown to improve balance and reduce the risk of falls. However, the influence of psychosocial factors in maximizing these benefits remains underexplored. This study examined the effectiveness of a community-based TC intervention and the role of psychosocial support in enhancing physical health outcomes among Latino older adults at risk of falling. Twenty-eight subjects were recruited to complete a 12-week TC program, and 23 participants with complete outcome data were included in the data analysis. Balance performance was assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test at baseline, immediately after the 12-week intervention, and at a 12-week follow-up assessment (24 weeks from baseline). Psychosocial support was measured using the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire. Linear mixed models were used to analyze changes in TUG scores and the moderating effect of psychosocial support. Results showed that participants with higher levels of psychosocial support showed significantly greater changes in balance than those with lower support scores (p < 0.05) immediately after the intervention program; these improvements were not maintained at follow-up. The findings should be interpreted cautiously, given the single-group design without a control group. Overall, the results highlight the importance of incorporating psychosocial components into health intervention programs for older adults, suggesting that supportive environments may be associated with improvements in both physical health and psychosocial well-being in aging minority populations. Full article

To unveil the underlying risk structures in complex industrial systems, this paper proposes a hybrid analytical framework that integrates BERTopic modeling, a large language model (LLM), and social network analysis (SNA). This framework aims to extract systemic safety intelligence from unstructured accident reports. It first employs BERTopic to identify latent causal topics based on 745 Chinese accident investigation reports and utilizes DeepSeek-V3.1 (LLM) for semantic refinement and causal mapping of these topics. Subsequently, a semantic network of causal keywords based on positive pointwise mutual information (PPMI) is constructed, and its topological structure is analyzed using SNA methods. The study identifies and analyzes five major risk communities: confined spaces, fire, mining, construction, and road traffic. It reveals that accident causation exhibits the small-world characteristics of multi-factor coupling and non-linearity, with core risk nodes concentrated in systemic inducements such as organizational management and compliance deficiencies. The results demonstrate that this framework effectively identifies the latent systemic risk patterns embedded within the texts, providing methodological support for developing sustainable safety management mechanisms based on design for safety. Full article

To systematically investigate the combined effects of moisture content, confining pressure, and loading rate on the mechanical properties of weakly cemented soft rock, this study focuses on the Jurassic coal measures from the Hoxtolgay coalfield in Xinjiang. A series of uniaxial and triaxial compression tests were conducted under varying moisture states, loading velocities, and confining pressures. Complementary X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brazilian splitting tests were performed to analyze the microstructural evolution and tensile failure characteristics. The experimental results demonstrate that moisture content acts as the primary governing factor for mechanical degradation; increased hydration promotes clay mineral swelling and attenuates inter-granular cementation, leading to a continuous reduction in both compressive and tensile strengths, as well as the elastic modulus. Conversely, confining pressure consistently enhances these macroscopic mechanical parameters by restricting lateral deformation. While the loading rate alters the mechanical response, its impact is secondary compared to the definitive effects of moisture and stress constraints. Furthermore, by utilizing established stress–strain-based indices, the study quantitatively evaluates the brittleness characteristics, confirming that hydration fundamentally drives the rock mass from a brittle state toward ductility. This research elucidates the coupled degradation mechanisms of highly sensitive soft rock, providing a theoretical foundation for stability design and risk assessment in underground geotechnical engineering. Full article

Deep learning is increasingly integrated into oral rehabilitation workflows, particularly in implant planning, prosthodontic design automation, and peri-implant diagnosis. However, reported performance is heterogeneous and difficult to compare across tasks, modalities, and validation designs. The goal of this study was to critically analyze deep learning architecture families applied to oral rehabilitation and to provide task-driven selection guidance supported by an evidence table reporting dataset characteristics, validation strategy, and performance metrics. A focused narrative review was conducted using transparent, database-specific search criteria (final n = 10 included studies), emphasizing implant planning (cone–beam computed tomography [CBCT]-based segmentation), prosthodontic design (intraoral scan [IOS]/mesh inputs), and peri-implant diagnosis (periapical/panoramic radiographs). Evidence certainty for each clinical task was assessed using GRADE-informed ratings (High/Moderate/Low/Very Low). Extracted variables included clinical task, imaging modality, dataset size, architecture, validation strategy (internal vs. internal + external), split level, ground truth protocol, and performance metrics. A structured computational and hardware feasibility analysis was conducted for each architecture family to support real-world deployment planning. Encoder–decoder networks (U-Net/nnU-Net) dominate CBCT segmentation for implant planning, while detection architectures (Faster R-CNN, YOLO) support implant localization and peri-implant assessment on radiographs. Generative models (3D GANs, transformer-based point-to-mesh networks) enable crown design from three-dimensional scans. Hybrid CNN–Transformer architectures show promise for multimodal CBCT–IOS fusion, though direct evidence from the included studies remains limited to a single study. External validation remains uncommon yet essential given the risk of domain shift. In conclusion, architecture selection should be anchored to task geometry (2D vs. 3D), artifact burden, and required clinical output type. Reporting standards should prioritize dataset transparency, validation rigor, multi-center external testing, and uncertainty-aware outputs. Full article

Olive cultivation represents a key pillar of rural economies and cultural heritage in Mediterranean regions, including western Greece. Despite its socio-economic importance, the sector faces increasing pressures from climate change, market volatility, and technological transformation, while progress toward environmentally sustainable production remains uneven. This study investigates how olive farmers’ perceptions of carbon footprint and climate risks are influenced by their demographic characteristics. Primary data were collected through 402 structured questionnaires distributed to olive producers in the Aetolia–Acarnania region. The sample was designed to represent farmers directly engaged in olive production, ensuring the relevance and reliability of the collected data. The findings, based on descriptive statistics, reveal significant heterogeneity in producers’ perceptions of climate risks and their capacity to respond through sustainable practices. Demographic characteristics appear to play an important role in shaping awareness of carbon footprint and the potential adoption of environmentally responsible farming strategies. These results suggest that sustainability transitions in perennial cropping systems depend not only on technological availability but also on social, informational, and institutional capacities. Strengthening agricultural advisory services, farmer training, and climate adaptation strategies may therefore support the adoption of climate-smart practices in olive cultivation. Furthermore, cooperation and value-chain integration are identified as potentially important mechanisms for facilitating knowledge transfer and supporting the adoption of sustainable practices (e.g., efficient irrigation and optimized input use). However, their contribution to environmental performance and greenhouse gas mitigation cannot be directly inferred from the present perception-based analysis and should be examined in future research using appropriate quantitative or environmental assessment frameworks. Full article

Material and texture decisions in bionic machinery installation art often remain intuition-dependent, limiting the reusability of empirical evidence for experience design. Building on the biomimetic content logic in biomimetic design theory, this study proposes a targeted framework—Texture Bionics—and operationalizes texture into four quantifiable perceptual dimensions: transparency, hardness, roughness, and surface texture, forming a controllable sample space of 12 plastic texture conditions. A case database encompassing 56 representative works (2000–present) was constructed to justify material selection; plastics were chosen for their tunable properties and feasibility for parameterized modulation. In a standardized viewing setup (≈500 lx illumination; 60 cm viewing distance), participants viewed a dynamic biomimetic mechanical wing module with interchangeable textured plastic surfaces. Subjective affect responses were captured using PAD ratings, and objective attention was assessed via wearable eye-tracking technology. Repeated-measures analyses showed robust main effects of texture on total fixation duration across all four dimensions, and selective effects on time to first fixation (significant/marginal for transparency, roughness, and surface texture but not hardness); pupillary response metrics provided no stable discrimination. PAD mappings further revealed functional “role types” (e.g., Key driver, Explore guide, Stable base), and a strong association between Arousal and inter-participant variability in fixation distribution, suggesting that high-arousal textures act as strategy amplifiers rather than uniformly increasing attention. Finally, findings were translated into an actionable Texture Design Toolkit using a three-question workflow—function label → attention goal → differentiation risk—to support evidence-based orchestration of installation narratives. Full article

Background and Objectives: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, largely due to late-stage diagnosis and the absence of effective population-based screening. Intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) has emerged as a potential risk phenotype. This narrative review critically appraises the clinical, metabolic, epidemiologic, and mechanistic evidence linking IPFD to PDAC and discusses its implications for risk stratification and prevention. Materials and Methods: A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus for studies published between 2007 and 2025 using predefined terms related to pancreatic steatosis and pancreatic cancer. After duplicate removal and screening according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 42 articles were included. Evidence was synthesized focusing on epidemiologic associations, mechanistic pathways, and imaging-based quantification methods. Results: A strong association between IPFD and PDAC was found. Although definitive causality remains unproven, some studies support temporal correlation between IPFD and PDAC, suggesting that IPFD precedes PDAC. A possible pathophysiological explanation to this correlation has been advanced in experimental models indicating IPFD as a pro-inflammatory factor cooperating with oncogenic KRAS to facilitate neoplastic progression. Finally, variability in IPFD definitions and heterogeneity in imaging assessment limit interpretability. Conclusions: Current evidence links IPFD to PDAC risk, suggesting a strong suspicion that pancreatic steatosis may represent an independent risk factor for PDAC. Still robust causal inference remains unproven. Well-designed prospective studies, standardized imaging protocols, and mechanistic investigations are required to clarify causality and determine whether pancreatic steatosis can be incorporated into risk-based screening and preventive strategies. Full article

To ensure safe and stable operation of towed array systems in complex marine environments, the concept of a Safe Maneuvering Envelope (SME) for towing maneuvers is proposed based on flexible cable dynamics theory. The dynamic equations of the towed array are established using the Lumped Mass Method. Using diving depth and breaking tension as boundaries, array configuration data sets are calculated for combinations of main cable outer diameter, vessel speed, and deployed cable length. Mapping relationships between vessel speed, cable deployment length, diving depth, and breaking strength are presented to construct the maneuvering safety envelope. This envelope defines the operational range where the array meets design maneuverability criteria. The safety envelope concept provides quantitative operational guidelines for towed array systems and offers crucial theoretical foundations and methodological support for safe system design and risk assessment. Full article

Mental fatigue (MF) has been hypothesized to contribute to injury risk in athletes, but observational studies have not directly investigated this relationship. Therefore, the current study evaluates potential relationships between mental fatigue and subsequent injury occurrence in basketball. Using an observational design, we monitored fourteen male semi-professional basketball players (age: 22 ± 4 years; stature: 192.6 ± 8.8 cm; body mass: 85.5 ± 9.1 kg; Tier 3) from a single team for 21 weeks throughout the competitive season. Each week, the players participated in 5 team-based training sessions, 2–4 individual training sessions, and 1–2 official games. Subjective MF ratings were collected using 100 mm visual analogue scales twice a week (the day before and after the official game) and then averaged. Time-loss injuries were registered, noting the body location, mechanism, and context (training and games). Generalized logistic mixed models were employed to evaluate whether MF levels were associated with injury occurrence in the subsequent 1, 3, and 5 days and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of basketball activity. A total of 11 injuries were registered during the study (7.40 per 1000 h of basketball activity), with an average time loss of 12 ± 19 days. There were no associations between MF and injury occurrence in the following 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks (all p > 0.05, odds ratios: 1.00–1.28). In male semi-professional basketball settings, preliminary evidence indicates that MF might not be associated with injury occurrence. However, due to the dearth of injury events, the statistical power of this study is insufficient to detect potential small–medium effects. Therefore, the current results should be considered exploratory as opposed to a definitive rejection of the hypothesis. Future studies should evaluate the relationship between MF and injury risk in larger samples and among professional athletes. Full article

The cement plug-casing interface is critical for long-term wellbore integrity in well abandonment to prevent fluid channeling. However, traditional cement easily debonds under long-term in situ stress and fluid exposure, causing seal failure and safety risks. To address this issue and overcome the limitations of conventional cement, a three-dimensional finite element model was established based on stress-seepage coupling theory. A systematic comparative analysis of the interface debonding mechanisms for three materials—cement, resin, and alloy—and their different combination sequences was conducted. The entire process of interface damage was quantified. The effects of material combination, formation elastic modulus, and injection rate on sealing performance were analyzed. Results show that the stiffness gradient dominates the failure mode, and the “cement–resin–alloy” configuration best suppresses damage propagation, reducing failure height by about 30%. Additionally, interface integrity is sensitive to formation constraints and operational parameters: the interface failure height decreases as the formation elastic modulus increases, and increases as the injection rate rises. The findings of this study can provide a theoretical basis and engineering reference for the optimal design of composite plugging barriers in demanding operational conditions, such as those encountered in carbon sequestration wells. Full article

This study evaluates the extent and quality of tax transparency reporting among the Top 40 firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), distinguishing between mandatory tax disclosures and voluntary transparency practices. A qualitative, disclosure-based research design was employed, involving content analysis of publicly available annual reports, integrated reports, and sustainability reports. A structured tax transparency framework grounded in stakeholder theory and legitimacy theory, and adapted from prior empirical studies was applied to systematically assess tax-related disclosures. Findings indicate high compliance with mandatory tax disclosure requirements, reflecting strong adherence to accounting standards and regulatory obligations. In contrast, voluntary tax transparency shows considerable variation: firms predominantly provide narrative, policy-oriented, and governance-related information, while detailed, forward-looking, and jurisdiction-specific disclosures remain limited. The discussion highlights that voluntary transparency is shaped by stakeholder expectations, legitimacy concerns, and perceived reputational and commercial risks, leading to selective disclosure. Regulatory compliance emerges as the primary driver of tax reporting, whereas voluntary practices are influenced by firm-specific and contextual factors. The results hold relevance for investors, regulators, and policymakers seeking greater corporate accountability, and for standard-setters aiming to enhance the consistency and depth of tax transparency reporting. Overall, the study enriches the limited literature on corporate tax transparency in emerging markets by offering contemporary empirical evidence from South Africa and identifying key areas requiring improvement in voluntary tax disclosures. Full article

The rapid growth of cities and expansion of impervious surfaces have intensified surface runoff problems and urban flooding risk. This scenario, exacerbated by the effects of climate change, demands sustainable and integrated solutions. Thus, this study evaluates the pre-feasibility of implementing sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) in the Monteverde neighborhood in Montería, Colombia; an area that is critically affected by floods during rainfall events. Using the storm water management model (SWMM) and hydrological simulations based on design hyetographs for different return periods, the performance of a conventional drainage system was compared with five scenarios using SUDS. To determine the modeling scenarios, a decision-making method through the analytic hierarchy process, AHP, was used to select the most appropriate SUDS. The results showed that implementing storage tanks reduces peak flows at outlets 1 and 2 up to 50%, while bioretention zones and rain gardens in isolation showed reduced effectiveness (<6%). Combining strategies slightly improves overall efficiency, although the impact keeps being dominated by tanks. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of SUDS in vulnerable urban areas lessens water risks, strengthens urban resilience, promotes rainwater harvesting, and eases the transition to a more sustainable infrastructure. In addition, it proposes a methodology that can be replicated in other similar Latin American cities. Full article

To address the prominent fatigue failure risk of planetary gears in power-split hybrid buses and the lack of quantitative damage analysis across various operating modes in existing studies, this paper focuses on the front planetary gear set of a power-split hybrid bus. Based on a full-vehicle co-simulation model, loads under full operating conditions are decomposed into 11 operating modes, mode-switching loads are analyzed and extracted, and mode-decomposed and mode-switching fatigue loading spectra are compiled. Fatigue simulation is then conducted using Miner’s linear damage accumulation rule. Results show that the sun gear directly coupled to motor is the system’s most fatigue-susceptible component, exhibiting significant asymmetric unilateral tooth flank damage. The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode contributes approximately 88% of total damage to the sun gear’s right flank, dominating system fatigue damage. Transient mode-switching conditions account for approximately 60% of total damage to the sun gear’s left flank, serving as the core damage source. Compared with the traditional full-condition merging method, the proposed mode-decomposed method improves the conservatism of life prediction. This work provides methodological support for refined strength design and targeted optimization of power-split hybrid transmission systems. Full article

Strategic bidding for wind–battery hybrid systems is increasingly critical as electricity spot markets transition toward market-oriented mechanisms, particularly in Chinese pilot regions. However, dual uncertainties—wind generation variability and volatile locational marginal prices (LMPs)—expose market participants to significant financial tail risk. This study develops a risk-constrained reinforcement learning framework for optimal bidding of wind–storage hybrid systems. We employ soft actor–critic (SAC) for continuous action control and integrate conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) into reward design to explicitly penalize low-probability, high-loss outcomes. The framework incorporates realistic operational constraints, including linearized battery degradation costs and a market-compatible single-bid abstraction for hourly settlement. Using one-year historical operational data from a 150 MW wind farm (with a 91-day test period), we find that storage integration increases annual profit by 108.4–114.2% relative to wind-only operation. Critically, the SAC–CVaR policy (η = 0.35) preserves 97.3% of risk-neutral profit ($7.71 M vs. $7.93 M) while substantially mitigating downside risk: CVaR@95% improves by 42.4% (−$549 vs. −$952) and VaR@95% improves by 30.1% (−$275 vs. −$393). The trained policy achieves sub-millisecond inference (0.262 ms per decision, ~3820 decisions/s), corresponding to a 3.8 × 10⁴–5.7 × 10⁴× speedup over optimization-based solvers (10–15 s per decision), enabling real-time deployment. Behavioral analysis reveals that the agent learns adaptive, forecast-normalized bidding strategies with more conservative reporting in high-price regimes and counter-cyclical battery dispatch patterns, demonstrating effective coordination between profitability and risk control under volatile market conditions. Full article