Search Results (7,008)

Numerous safety hazards in construction projects can readily cause safety accidents. While collaborative governance among stakeholders is vital for construction safety, it is hampered by interest-related factors. Evolutionary game theory is an excellent tool for analyzing participants’ behavioral decisions based on interest factors, and it is employed in this study to explore strategies for promoting collaborative governance. However, existing studies rarely mention the concept of collaborative governance of construction safety risks, seldom focus on construction payment disputes between owners and contractors, and barely take into account the differences in interests and decisions faced by stakeholders under projects of varying costs. Based on this, an evolutionary game model among the government, owner and contractor is established by taking China’s construction industry as an example, and MATLAB numerical simulation is conducted. First, the heterogeneity of the laws of strategy evolution under different cost levels was verified. Subsequently, cost levels were divided into two major categories and four subcategories based on strategy evolution results, and sensitivity analysis was conducted for each corresponding scenario. It was found that rewards for owners and contractors are barely effective, while cutting government regulatory costs and boosting positive governmental incentives generally play a positive role. The effects of penalties for inadequate safety investment and safety accidents on collaboration differ across project costs. Nevertheless, collaborative governance can be achieved via reasonable parameter optimization. This study addresses the critical issue of interest factors hindering collaborative governance, and provides a critical perspective for promoting construction safety and the sustainability of the construction industry. Cost-stratified analysis reduces overly definitive suggestions, offering valuable insights for both theory and practice. Full article

In order to tackle resilient supplier selection (RSS) of high uncertainty in resilient supply chain management, an effective correlation coefficients-based multicriteria group decision-making (MCGDM) methodology has been constructed. The major contribution of the present study is twofold. Firstly, in view of that extant criteria systems are all in lack of theoretical rationality, this paper establishes a capabilities-based analytical framework for intensive evaluation of supplier resilience by taking processual viewpoints of dynamic capabilities theory and risk management theory. Secondly, to empower the proposed correlation coefficients-based MCGDM methodology, probabilistic dual hesitant fuzzy uncertain unbalanced linguistic set (PDHF_UUBLS) is employed to capture hybrid uncertainties in decision processes of RSS. Then, theoretically compliant correlation coefficients (CCs) for PDHF_UUBLS are developed, including statistics-based CC, information energy-based CC and their weighted versions. Especially, information energy-based CCs overcome limitations of statistics-based CCs in special cases, thus exhibiting general applicability. In addition, a compatibility-based programming model has also been developed to objectively derive an unknown weighting vector for DMUs. Furthermore, illustrative case studies and comparative experiments have been carried out to verify effectiveness and stability of the proposed methodology. Taken together, this paper satisfies the new normal demand of resilience building in supply chain management and presents an effective MCGDM methodology for handling the key problems of RSS. Full article

Research on financial risk tolerance and risk-taking increasingly incorporates personality traits into predictive and descriptive models of risk-taking behavior; however, intercorrelations among traits can obscure the unique contributions of individual traits. This is known as the suppressor effect. This study employed a two-stage analytic framework to test and adjust for suppressor effects across the Big Five personality dimensions in describing financial risk tolerance. In Stage 1, correlation and OLS regression analyses identified suppression patterns, revealing that the explanatory validity of some factors was distorted by shared variance. In Stage 2, suppression-adjusted trait estimates were used to reassess their unique association with financial risk-taking mediated through financial risk tolerance. Results indicate that Openness to Experience and Extraversion are the strongest descriptors of financial risk-taking once suppressor effects are controlled. At the same time, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness contribute modestly and context-dependently to descriptions of financial risk-taking. These findings demonstrate that ignoring suppression effects can lead to mischaracterizing the role of personality in financial decision-making. This study shows that more precise estimates of trait influences can improve theoretical models of investor behavior and enhance the delivery of financial advice and education. Full article

Surface water–groundwater interactions within oasis–desert ecotones of arid regions play a pivotal role in sustaining regional water security and ecological stability. Taking the Niya River Basin in Xinjiang, Northwest China, as a representative inland watershed, this study systematically elucidates the mechanisms and seasonal dynamics of surface water–groundwater coupling under the combined influences of natural processes and anthropogenic activities. A total of 68 surface water and groundwater samples were collected during the dry, normal, and wet hydrological periods. Integrated hydrochemical characterization, mineral saturation index analysis, and stable isotope (δ²H and δ¹⁸O) mass balance modeling were employed to quantify recharge contributions and unravel hydrogeochemical evolution pathways. Results indicate that the waters in the study area are predominantly brackish to saline, with consistent dominant ionic assemblages (SO₄²⁻ and Na⁺) across all hydrological periods, highlighting evaporite dissolution as the primary control on solute composition. Hydrochemical evolution is jointly regulated by evaporation concentration, water–rock interactions, and cation exchange processes. Surface water chemistry reflects the combined effects of silicate weathering and evaporite dissolution, whereas groundwater chemistry is mainly governed by evaporite dissolution coupled with pronounced cation exchange. Stable isotope signatures reveal substantial secondary evaporation of regional precipitation prior to recharge. Frequent bidirectional recharge between surface water and groundwater was observed, exhibiting distinct seasonal transitions. During the dry period, groundwater provides significant baseflow support to surface water (48.6% in the oasis zone and 54.3% in the desert zone). In the normal period, recharge direction reverses, with surface water becoming the dominant source of groundwater recharge (99.0% in the oasis zone and 76.6% in the desert zone). In the wet period, spatial heterogeneity becomes evident: surface water continues to dominate groundwater recharge in the oasis zone (92.7%), whereas groundwater recharge to surface water prevails in the desert zone (50.5%). This study identifies a seasonally dynamic “discharge–infiltration–zonal regulation” bidirectional recharge pattern in arid inland river systems. The findings advance the mechanistic understanding of hydrological connectivity reconstruction within oasis–desert ecotones and provide a scientific basis for optimized regional water resource allocation and groundwater salinization risk mitigation. Full article

Nowadays information logistics and its integration with information systems is a competitive advantage for a company. The focus is on theoretical knowledge gained from e-maintenance environments, security measures, and objectives. In companies, it is important to conduct a risk analysis and subsequently to specify security measures. Risk analysis focuses on the creation of a Quality Function Deployment (QFD) matrix, taking into account customer requirements, with the outcome being the determination of the importance of these requirements. The result of the regression and correlation analyses confirm the research hypothesis, demonstrating a strong positive relationship (r = 0.849) between flexibility in problem solving and the implementation of security measures. The Mann–Kendall test was used to verify the trend of specified solved problems. When performed on the current data set, the test provided a variance of S = 31 and a standardized test statistic of Z_s = 2.0669. The outcomes of this article may guide organizations in refining their security strategies using customer-driven methodologies such as QFD. The field of information logistics and its integration with information systems can be beneficial for companies. Full article

Against the backdrop of the in-depth adjustment of the global energy pattern and the accelerated advancement of the energy transition, coupled with the frequent occurrence of extreme climate events and the continuous intensification of risks such as supply fluctuations and external shocks faced by urban energy systems, improving urban energy resilience has become a core measure for all countries to address the vulnerability of energy systems and promote urban sustainable development. As a core technical carrier of intelligent manufacturing, the enabling role of industrial robots (IRs) in enhancing urban energy resilience (UER) has also become an important research topic in the field of the energy economy. This paper takes 280 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2009 to 2023 as research samples and empirically examines their impact effects by constructing a Double Machine Learning (DML) model, transmission mechanism, and moderating effect of IRs on UER and ensures the reliability of conclusions through various robustness tests. The research findings indicate that IRs significantly promote the improvement of UER; industrial structure upgrading and green technology innovation are the main mediating paths, verifying how IRs affect UER from two different aspects and both environmental regulation (ER) and science expenditure (SE) positively moderate the promoting effect of IRs on UER, with the coefficients of the interaction terms being significantly positive. Robustness tests show that the core conclusions are highly reliable. This study fills the research gap in the transmission mechanism between IRs and UER and provides empirical evidence for the formulation of relevant policies. Accordingly, it is proposed that governments should strengthen the policy support for the application of industrial robots in high-energy-consuming industries, optimize the synergy mechanism between environmental regulation and scientific and technological expenditure, guide the deep integration of industrial robots with industrial structure upgrading and green technology innovation, and formulate differentiated promotion strategies based on regional energy resilience characteristics and industrial development foundations, so as to fully release the energy-resilience-improvement effect of industrial robots. Full article

Background/Objectives: Non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) also known as low FT3 syndrome is characterized by altered thyroid hormone levels during severe illness, is common in end-stage renal disease, and reflects metabolic and inflammatory stress. This study evaluated the thyroid hormone profiles of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, assessing relationships between NTIS severity and dialysis adequacy while accounting for mineral and bone metabolism markers, anemia status, duration of dialysis therapy, and their association with the number of deaths during follow-up. Methods: This prospective bi-center study included adults receiving maintenance hemodialysis for at least 3 months. Patients treated for thyroid disease or taking medications affecting the hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid axis were excluded. Thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine (fT3), and free thyroxine (fT4) levels were measured, and dialysis adequacy was assessed using spKt/V. Patients were classified as euthyroid or having NTIS (stratified by severity), and associations between clinical characteristics and the number of deceased patients during a 6-month observation period were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine prognostic cut-off values for thyroid hormones. Results: Among 74 patients, 50% had NTIS and exhibited significantly lower dialysis adequacy than euthyroid individuals (median spKt/V 1.0 vs. 1.1; p = 0.03), with spKt/V declining as NTIS severity increased (stages I–III, p = 0.008). NTIS severity correlated with age and pulmonary comorbidities, while mineral and bone metabolism markers were comparable between the groups. During the 6-month follow-up, 23% of the patients died, exhibiting significantly lower fT3 and fT4 levels than survivors. ROC analysis identified clinically relevant fT3 and fT4 cut-off values that were associated with the number of deaths. Conclusions: NTIS in hemodialysis patients correlates with reduced dialysis adequacy and appears to be a prognostic factor for risk of death. NTIS severity correlated with declining spKt/V, potentially reflecting disease burden, and thyroid hormone assessment may provide prognostic information. Full article

The remain well clear (RWC) function of a detect-and-avoid (DAA) system provides guidance to a remote pilot (RP) of a remotely piloted aircraft to prevent a conflict from developing into a collision hazard. The ACAS Xu standard is a decision support system that uses RWC bands to advise a RP which headings to avoid. A recent A* DAA system is a resolution support system that advises a RP which route to take. The objective of this study is to achieve structured feedback by professional RPs on the horizontal RWC guidance of both systems. Nine RPs participated in on-line experiments, where they were shown videos of DAA displays of encounter scenarios between two aircraft. At various stages the RPs were asked for their opinion about transparency, pilot manoeuvring, situation awareness, display orientation, risk perception, competence, trust, and overall system preference. The results show that the scores for competence, trust and pilot manoeuvring were significantly higher, and the score for perceived risk was significant lower for the RWC route guidance. Overall, 89% of the RPs preferred the RWC route guidance, while one RP had no preference. An implication of the uncertainty in pilot behaviour is that ACAS Xu model-based optimisation may provide suboptimal RWC guidance strategies, while the A* DAA optimisation can be managed effectively. Full article

Background: Depression in men often goes unrecognized, even though it leads to high rates of suicide. Men may show symptoms that are external, behavioral, or physical, which traditional assessment tools focused on internal symptoms do not adequately reflect. Methods: A narrative review was carried out to gather evidence on depression scales tailored for men. We searched PubMed up to November 2025 for studies discussing the development, validation, and clinical use of the Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS), the Male Depression Risk Scale (MDRS-22 and MDRS-7), and the Gender-Sensitive Depression Screening scale (GSDS-26). We organized the findings by instrument. Results: The studies indicate that male-sensitive scales capture symptom domains such as emotional suppression, anger, risk-taking behaviors, substance misuse, and somatic complaints. The GMDS has demonstrated applicability across psychiatric, somatic, and paternal perinatal populations. The MDRS-22 and MDRS-7 were particularly sensitive to externalizing symptom patterns associated with male presentations of depression and behavioral profiles linked to elevated suicide risk. The GSDS-26 integrates both prototypical and externalizing symptoms, enabling the identification of diverse depressive profiles. However, the current evidence base remains limited due to a reliance on non-clinical samples and the scarcity of long-term and cross-cultural validation studies. Conclusions: Male-sensitive depression scales may serve as useful complementary screening tools that improve recognition of male-typical depressive presentations and behavioral patterns associated with increased suicide risk. Further clinical and longitudinal research is needed to confirm their diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility. Full article

Intercropping is a pivotal strategy for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 2—End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture (SDG 2)—by enhancing food security agroecosystem resilience and sustainability. By integrating diverse species within the same plot, this sustainable approach takes advantage of the beneficial interactions between them. The simultaneous cultivation of multiple crop species within the same field increases agricultural diversification and contributes to a more resilient production system, breaking the uniformity of modern intensive agriculture. The objective of this review is to evaluate intercropping practices throughout the Mediterranean, specifically in Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece), North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia), and the Middle East (Turkey, Israel, and Jordan). This review intends to show advantages and disadvantages of intercropping and crops used and also highlight how intercropping systems affect crop production and quality, soil quality and microbiome, and proliferation of weeds, pests and diseases. The literature suggests that diversification in agriculture supports biodiversity and ecosystem services by the cultivation of diverse crop species together and, hence, may reduce independence in external outputs such as nutrient supply, pesticides and soil amendment. Despite the potential benefits of intercropping, the major caveats of this practice are the competition between different crops on resources, potential risks of plant protection, technical challenges of integrating the different requirements of each crop used in the system, and culture-related restrictions or regulations. Full article

Corporate risk-taking, crucial for sustainable development, is shaped by the interplay of multiple institutional logics. However, existing research lacks a systematic understanding of how government, market, and technology logics collectively drive corporate risk-taking. This study addresses this gap by employing fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis on data from Chinese intelligent manufacturing firms to explore the configurational pathways leading to high risk-taking. Our analysis reveals three distinct pathways: (1) An innovation-driven transformation pathway, characterized by a strong synergy between government and technology logics, with market logic playing a supplementary role. (2) A green transformation pathway, where government logic dominates, supported by market and technology logics in a hierarchical structure. (3) A resource synergy pathway, marked by the high-level integration of all three logics for strategic breakthroughs. Theoretically, this study advances institutional theory by developing an integrative framework that moves beyond a single-logic perspective, revealing the synergistic and substitutive relationships among multiple logics. Practically, our findings provide managers with a configurational roadmap for strategically aligning with institutional forces to enhance risk-taking capacity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer is linked to poorer overall survival and a higher risk of brain metastases compared to HER2-negative breast cancer. Current preclinical studies lack robust HER2+ metastatic syngeneic mouse models for investigating targeted and immunomodulatory therapies. This study aims to develop effective HER2+ mouse models to investigate response dynamics to HER2-targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Methods: The human HER2 gene (WT or mutant p.A775_G776insYVMA, GFP-tagged at the C-terminus) was introduced into triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) mouse mammary carcinoma cells with known metastatic potential (4T1 and EO771) via lentiviral transduction. HER2 expression and phosphorylation were analyzed using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Tumors were treated with HER2-targeted therapy (trastuzumab and tucatinib), immune checkpoint blockade (anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4), and anti-HER2 antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) to evaluate treatment efficacy. Metastatic potential was assessed with brain fluorescence imaging. Statistical analysis included ANOVA and Kaplan–Meier tests. Results: Newly established lines demonstrated expression of HER2+, with HER2^YVMA lines showing higher phosphorylation than HER2^WT lines. Cells were tumorigenic, demonstrating in vivo tumor take rates at 100% for 4T1-HER2 and 15–30% for EO771-HER2. HER2 overexpression led to a 30% increase in spontaneous brain metastasis in the 4T1-HER2 models. Trastuzumab alone did not reduce primary tumor size but significantly reduced brain GFP signal by 17% ± 8% and 26% ± 7% in the 4T1-HER2^WT and 4T1-HER2^YVMA models, respectively. Combinational therapies with anti-HER2 therapy and immune checkpoint blockade effectively suppressed primary tumor growth and prolonged survival in EO771-HER2^YVMA model. T-Dxd, but not T-DM1, demonstrated partial treatment response in the EO771-HER2^WT model. Conclusions: HER2+ syngeneic tumor models were developed that spontaneously metastasize to the brain and demonstrate variable responses to immunotherapies and ADCs. These models are valuable for advancing molecular imaging modalities for HER2+ brain metastasis, studying blood–brain barrier penetration of HER2-targeted drugs, and exploring the combination of therapies, including immunotherapy. Full article

Introduction: Obesity is a well-established risk factor for numerous chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Obesity-related complications can be managed through nutritional therapy, pharmacotherapy, and surgical interventions, each capable of achieving weight loss of over 10%. Understanding patient preferences and the factors that influence treatment choices is crucial to enhancing adherence and effectiveness. This sub-study aimed to identify the factors shaping patient preferences for nutritional therapies in the context of available pharmacological and surgical options. Methods: A participatory action study recruited 43 patients aged 18–75 years with a BMI greater than 35 kg/m² and obesity-related complications, including metabolic dysfunction, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. Participants viewed a 60-min informational video outlining treatment options before taking part in one-to-one interviews. Data were analysed using reflective thematic analysis. Results: This sub-study focuses on patients who expressed distinct attitudes toward nutritional therapy. Of the participants, 47% preferred nutritional therapy, 41% chose pharmacotherapy alone, and 6% selected a combination of pharmacotherapy and nutritional therapy. Five themes emerged to explain the preference for nutritional therapy: patient satisfaction, the personalised approach, effectiveness, empowerment, and side effects. Discussion: Nutritional therapies were still the most popular choice of many patients, suggesting there remain unmet needs of patients and that it should not be assumed that large majorities of patients with obesity only want pharmacotherapies or surgical therapies. Conclusion: Ensuring patients receive comprehensive information and regular guidance from nutritional experts is likely to further strengthen engagement. Full article

The high energy consumption in the building sector and the increasing impacts of climate change have necessitated the transition to net-zero-energy buildings (NZEBs), in which energy retrofit strategies play a key role. However, neglecting moisture transport and climatic design while improving energy efficiency often leads to reduced building performance, material deterioration, worse occupant health, and indoor environmental problems. This review examines in detail the basic mechanisms of moisture transport, including diffusion, capillary action, and airborne moisture transport, and illustrates how poor moisture control affects thermal performance and resident health. Additionally, a comparative analysis of the impact of retrofit strategies implemented in different climatic regions on energy efficiency, carbon emission reduction, moisture-related failures and net-zero goals is conducted. At the same time, the need exists to incorporate awareness regarding the adverse effects on the health of occupants. This systematic review analyzed 120 peer-reviewed studies published from 1994 to 2026, covering different climatic regions (e.g., cold, temperate, warm–humid, etc.). The analysis found that the energy savings rates were reported to range from 18% to 45%, while the moisture-related failures in inappropriately retrofitted buildings were observed to increase by up to 32% in some cold regions. This research review provides a comprehensive advisory framework for domestic residents to take remedial steps until retrofit experts gain access in order to prevent health risks from mold and moisture ingress, which can contribute to a healthy lifestyle and a net-zero-energy building. Full article

Strengthening transparency has emerged as a pivotal issue in promoting the responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI). As the prevailing framework for corporate information disclosure, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting shares an inherent synergy with AI governance; both are rooted in the pursuit of sustainable development and the disclosure of specific matters to investors and broader stakeholders. This study analyzes the status of artificial intelligence (AI) information disclosure in the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports of listed companies across the United States, Europe, and China, finding that: (1) ESG reports have emerged as a primary channel for business organizations to disclose AI-related information; (2) significant disparities exist in disclosure levels across four key AI-related domains—development, application, manufacturing, and consumption; and (3) disclosure density varies considerably across E, S, and G dimensions, with the Governance (G) pillar exhibiting the most comprehensive information. Based on an empirical analysis of the ESG-AI disclosure framework, this study proposes an optimization scheme for ESG-AI reporting, clearly defining mandatory ESG-AI disclosure obligations for listed companies and employing the “comply or explain” mechanism to balance corporate transparency with operational efficiency while adhering to the “Double Materiality” principle by disclosing model training energy consumption and ecological impacts under Environmental (E) matters, addressing employment, employee training, marketing labeling, and customer privacy under Social (S) matters, and elaborating on corporate AI strategies, risk management protocols, and governance policies under Governance (G) matters. Regarding procedural safeguards, taking China as a case study, centralized disclosure could be implemented through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System, complemented by an assurance system for listed company reports to enhance the accessibility and accuracy of information disclosure. Full article