Search Results (111,583)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a growing medical, diagnostic and social challenge, and it is estimated to effect 8.5–9.8% of the global population and requires expensive modes of treatment, such as hemodialysis or renal transplants. Currently, a diagnosis of CKD is set based on the level of creatinine in the blood, which is the gold standard of renal function diagnostics. Unfortunately, decrease in GFR is secondary to damage of the kidney parenchyma and indicates that the best time to start more aggressive treatment has already passed. Therefore, several non-invasive methods have been proposed for predicting increased risk of CKD progression; however, in most of the cases kidney biopsy is essential. Currently, the greatest hopes for a method that can confirm CKD are associated with the development of MRI, the most tissue-specific imaging method, and it is already proven to be capable to detect inflammatory and edematous changes, fibrosis, as well as perfusion and oxygenation disturbances. Therefore, in our manuscript we decided to present up-to-date knowledge about kidney MRI from a clinical point of view. Full article

This article presents an autoethnographic narrative account of curating and performing two pieces for solo piano and string orchestra—Climate Concerto by Brian Field and Eclogue by Gerald Finzi—to advocate for climate action. It discusses the selection of a concert venue that could be “thickly lived”, offering layers of cultural, historical and aesthetic resonance, and a concert date that could generate “interaction chains”, where engagement in one event motivates engagement in others. The article reflects on the multiple forms of loss brought about by the climate emergency, exploring Field’s musical portrayal of environmental loss and Finzi’s evocation of a harmonious human-nature relationship, which highlights a way of being-in-the-world that has been lost. In response to pervasive pessimism and dystopian narratives in climate communication, the discussion foregrounds hope as a powerful motivator for positive action, showing how the narrative scope of Field’s large-scale forms and the aesthetic beauty of Finzi’s music can elicit felt hope. The article also advocates for gentle musical activism for climate action, emphasising music’s capacity to cultivate relational sensitivity, ethical responsiveness, and collective responsibility toward each other and the world—even amid ecological crisis, social fragmentation, and uncertainty. Full article

This study examines the role of religious–moral values in supporting the inclusion of students with special educational needs (SEN) within the broader framework of inclusive education. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, the research combines a qualitative phase based on semi-structured interviews with special education teachers (N = 9 participants) and a quantitative phase involving a questionnaire administered to a larger sample (N = 324 respondents). The qualitative findings indicate that teachers associate religious–moral values with the development of socio-emotional competencies, such as empathy, respect, solidarity, and a sense of belonging, which are considered essential for inclusion. The quantitative results support these perspectives, showing high levels of agreement regarding the contribution of these values to fostering positive attitudes, social acceptance, and the classroom integration of students with SEN. The findings also suggest that teachers attribute greater importance to core values than to formal religious instruction and prefer adaptive, student-centered strategies, including narrative and experiential approaches. Overall, the study highlights the potential of religious–moral values as a resource for inclusive education when applied in a flexible, interdisciplinary, and context-sensitive manner. These findings contribute to ongoing discussions on the role of religion in education, particularly in relation to inclusion, equality, and respect for diversity. Full article

The main purpose of the current study is to investigate how the beliefs and values of Alevism are transmitted to young people in the city and to examine the problems that arise in the process, drawing on the daily life experiences and perspectives of Alevi dedes (religious guides). This study primarily examines the difficulties that dedes encounter in transmitting Alevi beliefs and values to young people in urban settings, as well as the innovative methods they develop to address these challenges. The present study used a phenomenological design to answer the research question. Furthermore, the interview technique was preferred to collect research data, and semi-structured interview questions were asked to dedes. Sixteen Alevi dedes residing in Eskişehir, Ankara, Afyon, and Kütahya provinces in Türkiye were selected as the study sample. The findings show that young people’s participation in cem ceremonies declines due to the city’s intense work pace, their desire to pursue education and careers, and their fear of exclusion. Despite these challenges, dedes strive to ease the conditions for participation in cem ceremonies and to shorten their duration, to transmit Alevi beliefs and values to young people, and to increase their participation in cem ceremonies. Full article

Background: In the context of global population aging, nutritional risk has emerged as an important factor associated with both physical and mental health among older adults. This study aimed to examine the associations between nutritional risk, depression, and cognitive function in older adults and to explore potential variations across residential area, educational attainment, employment status, frailty status, and activities of daily living (ADL). Methods: Data were obtained from 9955 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older who participated in the 2023 National Survey of Older Koreans. Nutritional risk was assessed using the DETERMINE checklist (21-point scale), a multidimensional screening tool reflecting dietary, functional, and social risk factors. Depression was measured using the Short-form Geriatric Depression Scale (15-point scale), and cognitive function was assessed using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination-2 (K-MMSE-2; 30-point scale). Hierarchical multiple linear regression, correlation, subgroup, and sensitivity analyses were conducted, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and geriatric factors. Results: Correlation analyses showed significant associations between nutritional risk and cognitive function (r = −0.191, p < 0.05), nutritional risk and depression (r = 0.440, p < 0.05), and depression and cognitive function (r = −0.259, p < 0.05). Higher nutritional risk scores were significantly associated with greater depressive symptoms (B = 0.314, p < 0.001) and lower cognitive function (B = −0.051, p < 0.05). While some subgroup differences were observed, not all interaction effects reached statistical significance, and these findings should be interpreted with caution. Conclusions: These findings suggest that nutritional risk is associated with depressive symptoms and cognitive function in older adults. Given that the DETERMINE checklist reflects multidimensional vulnerability, the results should be interpreted as indicating broader risk contexts rather than direct nutritional status alone. These findings highlight the importance of integrated, multidimensional approaches to support older adults at nutritional risk in community settings. Full article

Background: Subclinical psychological symptoms—such as low mood, perceived stress, and poor sleep—affect a large portion of the population and can impair quality of life despite remaining below clinical thresholds. The gut–brain axis has emerged as a promising target for interventions that support emotional and psychological resilience. Probiotics and postbiotics are gaining attention for their potential to modulate mood and stress via microbiome-related mechanisms, but human evidence remains limited, particularly in non-clinical populations. Objectives: We aimed to assess the effects of a two-strain combination of live microorganisms alongside a two-strain combination of heat-treated inactivated microorganisms on outcomes associated with anxiety, mood, perceived stress, and quality of life in healthy adults experiencing mild stress. Methods: This study was conducted in two parts. In Part I, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 100 participants were randomized to receive either a blend of live microorganisms (Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT 8361) or an identical placebo once daily for 12 weeks. In Part II, a pilot feasibility study, a subset of eight placebo non-responders from Part I received the heat-inactivated preparation of the same bacterial strains in a 6-week trial extension phase. For Parts I and II, the primary outcome was the change in the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Secondary outcomes included measures of mood (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)), stress (state and trait anxiety inventory (STAI); Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)), sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)), quality of life (36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36)), gastrointestinal symptoms (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)), salivary cortisol and microbiome modulation. Results: In Part I, there were no significant effects of the live blend on the HAM-A, indicating that the primary endpoint was not met. In addition, no significant effects were seen on the STAI or PSS scores when compared to the placebo. However, participants consuming the live blend trended toward a reduction in total PHQ-9 scores compared to placebo (p = 0.089), whilst preliminary exploratory analyses suggested an improvement in anhedonia (p = 0.045). Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in the vitality domain of the SF-36 compared to placebo (p = 0.017). On microbiome analysis, it was noted that consumption of the live blend was linked to the preservation of butyrate-producing bacteria, particularly members of the Pseudoflavonifractor genus and the Clostridium SGB6179 species. Furthermore, the abundance of B. longum species was found to be inversely associated with the total PSS Scores. In Part II, supplementation with the inactivated preparation resulted in significant within-group improvements for the vitality (p = 0.006) and social functioning (p = 0.010) domains of the SF-36 and improvements in PSS scores compared to baseline (p = 0.050). Conclusions: Supplementation with either the dual-strain live or inactivated formulations was associated with significant improvements in the vitality domain of the SF-36, whilst participants receiving the inactivated formulation demonstrated lower perceived stress and improved social functioning compared to baseline. Overall, the findings from this pilot study suggest that these two biotic consortia are well-tolerated and may be associated with improvements in measures of vitality in individuals with subclinical psychological symptoms. The subtle observations detected for stress and anhedonia suggest that further well-powered trials are needed to better characterize these findings, potentially in populations with greater baseline symptomatology. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cancer-related terminology is not merely descriptive and plays a critical role in shaping emotional responses, personal identity, and communication across clinical, social, and public spheres. Despite growing interest in the psychosocial dimensions of illness language, few studies have centered the lived experiences of individuals navigating cancer through the lens of terminology. This study explores how people living with and beyond cancer perceive, interpret, and emotionally respond to cancer-related language, focusing on the way terminology influences identity, stigma, and communicative interaction. Methods: A sequential mixed-methods design was employed. The quantitative phase involved 146 participants with a cancer diagnosis completing a structured questionnaire on preferred terminology and emotional impact. The qualitative phase followed, using open-ended questionnaires with 11 participants to deepen understanding of linguistic experiences. Thematic content analysis was used to identify patterns across narratives. Results: These findings reveal that labels such as “cancer patient” evoke strong negative emotional reactions, associated with stigma, fear, and identity reduction. Person-first and context-sensitive language was perceived as more respectful and empowering. Emotional responses to language varied widely, from fear to neutrality, shaped by speaker role, context, and time since diagnosis. Media representations were often seen as dramatizing or moralizing, reinforcing the need for communicative clarity, empathy, and education in both clinical and public discourse. Conclusions: Cancer-related language is a powerful psychosocial force. It shapes how individuals are seen and see themselves and can either reinforce stigma or foster dignity and resilience. This study highlights the urgent need for person-centered, context-aware communication practices across healthcare, media, and society. Full article

Slaughterhouse detection of lesions compatible with bovine tuberculosis represents a key passive surveillance component in Santa Catarina, Brazil, yet subsequent trace-back investigations often fail to identify infected farms. This study developed a quantitative framework to prioritize epidemiological investigations by estimating the probability of infection associated with each farm connected to PCR-confirmed cases. Using official movement records and historical diagnostic data, we reconstructed the lifetime contact networks of slaughtered cattle presenting confirmed Mycobacterium bovis lesions (n = 502). For each sentinel animal–farm interaction (n = 1452), infection probability was estimated through a non-homogeneous Poisson process incorporating exposure duration and the time-weighted average herd size as determinants of infectious pressure. After evaluating stochastic variability through Monte Carlo simulation, a deterministic model using the mean infectious-pressure parameter was applied to classify farms into high-, medium-, and low-risk categories. Model performance was assessed using validated field diagnostic outcomes within a three-year temporal window. High-risk farms represented most validated contacts (58%) and demonstrated a relative risk of 3.48 compared with lower-risk category. These findings indicate that a standardized risk-based classification can substantially improve the prioritization of trace-back investigations, offering a practical decision-support tool to enhance bovine tuberculosis surveillance and contribute to eradication strategies in Santa Catarina. Full article

Subgraph isomorphism counting is a fundamental yet computationally challenging task in graph analysis, with broad applications in bioinformatics and social network mining. With the tightening of data privacy regulations and the emergence of data silos, traditional centralized Graph Neural Network (GNN) approaches face significant deployment hurdles. Existing federated subgraph counting methods are primarily designed for database federation scenarios, focusing on exact queries and the privacy and security concerns of databases. However, this rigid focus on exactness and heavy cryptographic security severely limits their scalability and generalizability to complex, arbitrary query patterns. To bridge this gap, we propose a general Federated Edge-Centric Framework for Subgraph Isomorphism Counting (FedCount), shifting the paradigm from exact querying on federated databases to neural approximate counting under federated architectures. Rather than relying on heavy cryptographic techniques, we exclusively leverage the inherent structural isolation of federated learning as a lightweight empirical privacy measure. While this framework does not theoretically defend against advanced gradient-based inference attacks, it successfully prevents the direct leakage of raw graph topology and node features, achieving high-precision approximate counting without the prohibitive cryptographic overheads. Specifically, we introduce two key technical innovations to enhance local counting capability: (1) we integrate a provable edge encoding scheme into the interaction-based GNN architecture, explicitly modeling edge-to-edge interactions to break the expressiveness bottleneck of standard message passing; (2) we design a Residual Edge-Centric Readout mechanism that mitigates the gradient vanishing problem, enabling the effective training of deeper networks to capture high-order topological dependencies. Extensive experiments on multiple benchmark datasets demonstrate that our framework significantly outperforms existing distributed enumeration baselines in terms of generalization and efficiency, approaching the performance of centralized state-of-the-art models. Full article

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, compounded by difficulties in emotional regulation, which have sparked growing interest due to their relationship with emotional intelligence (EI). Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness and characteristics of interventions aimed at developing EI in people diagnosed with ADHD. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 in the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Dialnet, ERIC, and SpringerLink databases. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria and evaluating methodological quality, 31 studies were selected. Results: The evidence shows that children and adolescents with ADHD have lower levels of EI than the typically developing population, especially in emotional regulation, stress management, adaptability, and interpersonal skills. Interventions focused on emotional training have demonstrated improvements in emotional competencies, self-control, ADHD symptoms, and social functioning. However, variations are observed according to age, clinical subtype, the presence of comorbidities, and the type of informant, as well as heterogeneity in the assessment instruments used. Conclusions: Strengthening EI emerges as a promising complementary strategy for improving the emotional and social adaptation of people with ADHD. It is recommended to move toward longitudinal studies and more personalized interventions tailored to the clinical and developmental characteristics of the disorder. Full article

This paper develops a Business Resilience Index (BRI) that measures county-level resilience to natural disasters at a county-quarter frequency for the United States over 2014–2024. The index integrates high-frequency labor market outcomes from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages with flood insurance policy information from FEMA, disaster damages from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and social and health determinants from County Health Rankings. Starting from a broad candidate set, we apply an interpretable feature-screening pipeline to retain 79 variables and then use principal component analysis to extract four orthogonal structural dimensions of resilience: market scale, socioeconomic resilience, urban density risk, and industrial economy profile. We construct a domain-weighted strategic index and benchmark it against data-driven and equal-weight alternatives, showing that county rankings are highly stable across weighting schemes. To evaluate whether the BRI aligns with recovery behavior under acute shocks, we implement a matched difference-in-differences event study around two major flood episodes—Texas in 2015Q2 and North Carolina in 2018Q3. Conditional on exposure intensity and matched comparability, higher pre-event BRI counties exhibit earlier stabilization and a stronger post-event employment path relative to lower BRI counties, with differences in magnitude and timing across cases. Overall, the BRI provides an interpretable, high-frequency baseline for identifying capacity constraints that may slow recovery and for supporting preparedness targeting and post-disaster monitoring. Full article

This study examines the influence of misinformation on vaccination decision-making and the perception of social security in Romania in the context of potential future pandemics. Using a survey-based design, data were collected through an online questionnaire administered to a sample of 1005 respondents. The analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including chi-square tests, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis tests, principal component analysis (PCA), K-means clustering, random forest models, and Spearman correlations. The results indicate statistically significant associations between belief in misinformation and vaccination attitudes (p < 0.001), with moderate effect sizes. Effect size estimates indicated small-to-moderate associations (e.g., Cramér’s V up to 0.371 for key demographic differences, and Kendall’s W = 0.273 for the increase in willingness across the three severity scenarios). Individuals with higher levels of education, urban residence, and younger age were more likely to report higher willingness to vaccinate, whereas respondents from rural areas and those with lower educational levels showed greater susceptibility to misinformation. In addition, risk perception was significantly associated with vaccination intention, which increased as the severity of hypothetical pandemic scenarios intensified. Predictive modeling identified specific misinformation beliefs—particularly those related to vaccine safety and natural immunity—as key factors associated with vaccination decisions. These findings suggest that misinformation is strongly associated with both individual vaccination behavior and broader perceptions of social security. Full article

Over 85% of young women in the United States do not meet fruit and vegetable intake recommendations, placing them at risk for low antioxidant nutrient intake. Social health programming (SHP) can improve dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, but it is not known how SHP impacts serum levels of specific antioxidant nutrients. This observational cohort study assessed the effect of participation in SHP through Girls Inc., Omaha, on serum carotenoid, retinol, and tocopherol levels for 12–29-year-old women. Serum nutrient levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography and nutrient intake from diet was measured using three 24 h dietary recalls (ASA24^®). Pearson chi-squared tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and linear regressions were used to compare differences in nutritional status between SHP participants and non-participants. After adjustment for age and race/ethnicity, SHP participation was associated with significantly higher serum concentrations of total lycopene, δ-tocopherol, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein + zeaxanthin, and α-carotene. There were no between-group differences in average daily intake of carotenoids, vitamin A, or vitamin E after adjustment for race/ethnicity and age. These findings suggest that SHP may be a successful intervention to improve antioxidant nutritional status. Full article

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial practices, raising important questions about its role in shaping human creativity and innovation. This qualitative study examines how postgraduate social entrepreneurship students engage with generative AI during the creativity phase of sustainable startup development. Drawing on Amabile’s componential theory of creativity, this study explores how AI is perceived to relate to domain-relevant skills, creativity-relevant processes, task motivation, and social–contextual factors. Data were collected through an AI-assisted ideation task, followed by semi-structured interviews, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings reveal that generative AI was perceived as supporting information access and associative thinking, while being unable to replicate human intuition and the “aha” moment associated with deep creativity. Moreover, AI was perceived to have limited influence on intrinsic motivation, which remains driven by personal values and contextual responsibility. Socially, AI was consistently described as a tool rather than a teammate, with emotional responses regarded as superficial. The study further suggests that AI may be understood as a social–contextual condition and highlights a perceived trade-off between efficiency and creativity in AI-assisted ideation. These insights extend the application of creativity theory to AI-supported sustainability contexts and offer practical implications for fostering responsible, human-centered innovation in entrepreneurship education. Full article

With the shortage of natural aggregates and the massive accumulation of iron tailings (ITs) solid waste restricting the sustainable development of asphalt pavement engineering, replacing natural aggregates with ITs has become a promising low-carbon solution with prominent economic and social benefits. However, the poor interfacial adhesion between ITs and asphalt severely restricts the engineering application of tailings, and the micro-interaction mechanism at their interface still lacks systematic clarification, which is the key research gap addressed in this work. Different from conventional macro road performance tests, this study innovatively combined molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with microscopic characterization, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), to comprehensively reveal the interfacial interaction mechanism between ITs and asphalt at the molecular and microscales. The results indicate that asphalt molecules exhibit higher aggregation concentration and diffusivity on Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ surfaces than on SiO₂ surfaces, proving stronger interfacial interaction between asphalt and iron-rich oxide minerals. Moderate temperature optimizes the adhesion performance of asphalt with Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃, while the interfacial bonding of asphalt on CaCO₃ and SiO₂ weakens as temperature rises. The silane coupling agent KH-550 can effectively react with acidic minerals, SiO₂ minerals in ITs, which significantly increases the concentration, diffusion coefficient, and distribution uniformity of asphalt molecules at the interface. FT-IR results verify that the combination of ITs and asphalt mainly relies on physical adsorption without generating new chemical bonds. AFM tests further confirm that alkaline minerals improve the surface roughness of asphalt mastic, and KH-550 greatly enhances the micro-adhesion force of the interface. The novelty of this work lies in clarifying the mechanism of typical mineral components in ITs and revealing the modification enhancement law of silane coupling agent and alkali minerals at the micro level. This study provides a scientific theoretical support for the high-value engineering utilization of ITs in asphalt pavement, and offers a reference for optimizing the interfacial modification design of solid waste aggregate. Full article