Search Results (213)

Background/Objectives: The timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in persons living with HIV (PLWH) can improve clinical outcomes. However, ART commencement is often delayed. Portugal, despite having one of the highest new HIV diagnosis rates within the European Union, has limited available national-level data. Prior evidence from 2017 to 2018 suggests that the average time to ART initiation exceeds the recommendations for optimal patient benefits. This study aimed to determine the number of days from the first hospital appointment to the commencement of ART among newly diagnosed PLWH in Portugal between 2017 and 2022 at the national level and across different hospitals. It was hypothesized that newly diagnosed PLWH in Portugal experience a delay in ART initiation beyond the recommended timeframe. Methods: A retrospective analysis of records from Portuguese public tertiary care hospitals, which manage most HIV patients, was conducted. Descriptive statistics (measures of central tendency, dispersion, and frequency) were applied, along with association tests and a binary logistic regression model to examine factors influencing the timing of ART initiation. Results: A total of 2229 cases (out of 3434 received) from 19 hospitals were considered eligible. The median time interval between the first hospital appointment and ART initiation was 29.00 days, with a decreasing tendency between 2017 and 2022. Patients initiating therapy after 14 days had higher CD4 levels and lower viral loads compared to those starting within 14 days, with statistical significance. Conclusions: Continuous and regular monitoring of key indicators, such as the time to ART initiation, is pivotal for assessing the effectiveness of HIV treatment programs and pinpointing areas in need of improvement. Full article

Objective: There is growing interest in analyzing whether ethical climates influence the emotional states of organizational members. For this reason, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between a benevolent ethical climate, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization, taking into account the mediating effect of job autonomy. Methodology: To evaluate the research hypotheses, data were collected from 448 people belonging to six organizations in the Colombian electricity sector. Statistical analysis was performed using two structural equation models (SEMs). Results: The results show that a benevolent climate and its three dimensions (friendship, group interest, and corporate social responsibility) mitigate the negative effect of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. A work environment focused on people and society triggers positive moods that prevent the loss of valuable psychological resources. On the other hand, job autonomy is a mechanism that has a direct impact on the emotional well-being of employees. Therefore, being able to intentionally direct one’s own sources of energy and motivation prevents an imbalance between resources and demands that blocks the potential effect of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Practical implications: This study has important practical implications. First, an ethical climate that seeks to build a caring environment needs to strengthen emotional communication among employees through a high perception of support. Second, organizations need to grow and achieve strategic objectives from a perspective of solidarity. Third, a benevolent ethical climate needs to be nurtured by professionals with a clear vocation for service and a preference for interacting with people. Finally, job autonomy must be accompanied by the necessary time management skills. Social implications: This study highlights the importance to society of an ethical climate based on friendship, group interest, and corporate social responsibility. In a society with a marked tendency to disengage from collective problems, it is essential to make decisions that take into account the well-being of others. Originality/value: This research responds to recent calls for more studies to identify organizational contexts capable of mitigating the negative effects of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Full article

Ground subsidence is a significant geotechnical hazard in urban areas, leading to property damage, casualties, and broader societal issues. This study investigates the mechanisms of cavity formation and ground subsidence through laboratory model tests using Korean standard sand and marine clay under controlled conditions. A transparent soil box apparatus was fabricated to simulate sewer pipe damage, with model grounds prepared at various relative densities, groundwater levels, and fines contents. The progression of cavity formation and surface collapse was observed and quantitatively analyzed by measuring the time to cavity formation and ground subsidence, as well as the mass of discharged soil. Results indicate that lower relative density accelerates ground subsidence, whereas higher density increases cavity volume due to greater frictional resistance. Notably, as the fines content increased, a tendency was observed for ground subsidence to be increasingly suppressed, suggesting that cohesive clay particles can limit soil loss under seepage conditions. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting backfill materials and managing subsurface conditions to mitigate ground subsidence risks in urban infrastructure. Full article

This study investigates the impact of hydrogen supplementation on the performance, efficiency, and emissions of a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, with a specific focus on knock phenomena. A Nissan HR16DE engine was modified to operate in a dual-fuel mode using gasoline (E95) and high-purity hydrogen. Hydrogen was injected via secondary manifold injectors and managed through a reprogrammable MoTeC ECU, allowing precise control of ignition timing and fuel delivery. Experiments were conducted across various engine speeds and loads, with hydrogen mass fractions ranging from 0% to 30%. Results showed that increasing hydrogen content enhanced combustion intensity, thermal efficiency, and stability. Brake specific fuel consumption decreased by up to 43.4%, while brake thermal efficiency improved by 2–3%. CO, HC, and CO₂ emissions were significantly reduced. However, NO_x emissions increased with higher hydrogen concentrations due to elevated combustion temperatures. Knock tendency was effectively mitigated by retarding ignition timing, ensuring peak in-cylinder pressure occurred at 14–15° CAD aTDC. These findings demonstrate the potential of hydrogen supplementation to reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions in spark ignition engines, while highlighting the importance of precise combustion control to address challenges such as knock and NO_x formation. Full article

Understanding individual movement patterns in stream-resident salmonids is critical for conservation and river management, particularly in Mediterranean streams characterized by high environmental variability. We tagged 997 Mediterranean brown trout (Salmo trutta complex) and conducted an 11-month mark–recapture study using Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) technology to assess movement behavior in the Flamisell River (Ebro Basin, northeastern Iberian Peninsula). Movements followed a leptokurtic distribution, with 81.8% of the individuals classified as sedentary (median movement = 24.9 m) and 18.2% as mobile (median movement = 376.2 m). Generalized linear models revealed distinct drivers of fish movement for each group. In sedentary trout, movement was mainly influenced by mesohabitat type, season, sex, and body size, with males and larger individuals moving farther. In mobile trout, mesohabitat type, density, and body size were key predictors. Movement patterns were repeatable over time, indicating consistent behavioral tendencies. These results support a bimodal movement strategy and highlight the importance of individual variation. Conservation planning should account for both sedentary and mobile groups to preserve functional and genetic connectivity and improve resilience of Mediterranean streams. Full article

Campylobacteriosis has been described as an ever-changing disease and health issue that is rather dangerous for different population groups all over the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 33 million years of healthy living are lost annually, and nearly one in ten persons have foodborne illnesses, including Campylobacteriosis. This explains why there is a need to develop new policies and strategies in the management of diseases at the intergovernmental level. Within this framework, an advanced stochastic fractional delayed model for Campylobacteriosis includes new stochastic, memory, and time delay factors. This model adopts a numerical computational technique called the Grunwald–Letnikov-based Nonstandard Finite Difference (GL-NSFD) scheme, which yields an exponential fitted solution that is non-negative and uniformly bounded, which are essential characteristics when working with compartmental models in epidemic research. Two equilibrium states are identified: the first is an infectious Campylobacteriosis-free state, and the second is a Campylobacteriosis-present state. When stability analysis with the help of the basic reproduction number $R_0$ is performed, the stability of both equilibrium points depends on the $R_0$ value. This is in concordance with the actual epidemiological data and the research conducted by the WHO in recent years, with a focus on the tendency to increase the rate of infections and the necessity to intervene in time. The model goes further to analyze how a delay in response affects the band of Campylobacteriosis spread, and also agrees that a delay in response is a significant factor. The first simulations of the current state of the system suggest that certain conditions can be achieved, and the eradication of the disease is possible if specific precautions are taken. The outcomes also indicate that enhancing the levels of compliance with the WHO-endorsed SOPs by a significant margin can lower infection rates significantly, which can serve as a roadmap to respond to this public health threat. Unlike most analytical papers, this research contributes actual findings and provides useful recommendations for disease management approaches and policies. Full article

Background/Objective: Obesity is a documented risk factor for impaired pulmonary function and abnormal oxyhaemoglobin levels during sleep. This functional impairment becomes more significant when there are additional respiratory pathologies, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Overnight pulse oximetry may offer an effective evaluation of nocturnal oxyhaemoglobin levels/waveform patterns. We evaluated the correlation between obesity, overnight pulse oximetry (parameters, waveform patterns) and pulmonary function in patients diagnosed with moderate–severe OSA and normal oxyhaemoglobin saturation levels during waking hours. We also compared the overnight oxyhaemoglobin saturation levels between patients with OSA alone and those with associated COPD. Methods: This was a retrospective, transversal, non-interventional study on consecutive patients with moderate–severe OSA diagnosed using overnight cardiorespiratory polygraphy over a period of 18 months. After analyzing the study population’s characteristics, the patients were divided into two subgroups: one consisting of patients with OSA alone (Group A), and the second with coexisting OSA and COPD (Group B). Results: Seventy-six patients were included in the study, and 18% were diagnosed with COPD. A higher body mass index (BMI) correlated with a higher number of ≥3% SpO₂ drops/h (ODI3) and percentage of time with oxyhaemoglobin saturation < 90% (t90) and a lower average nocturnal oxyhaemoglobin saturation (avgSpO₂). ODI3 correlated negatively with avgSpO₂ and positively with t90. After eliminating BMI as a confounding factor, lower values of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) were associated with lower avgSpO₂ and higher t90. FEV1 did not corelate with ODI3. After dividing the study population into the two subgroups, patients from Group B had a tendency towards lower average nocturnal SpO₂ levels compared to Group A. Conclusions: Different phenotypes/patterns of nocturnal hypoxemia can be identified using quantitative and qualitative analyses of overnight pulse oximetry: repetitive, consecutive obstructive respiratory events with a characteristic intermittent (saw-tooth) hypoxemia pattern and alveolar hypoventilation, resulting in a continuous (plateau) hypoxemia pattern. According to our findings, nocturnal hypoxemia is more important at lower FEV1 values (correlating with lower avgSpO₂/higher t90, but not with ODI3). The presence of a continuous hypoxemia pattern in patients with OSA may suggest that pulmonary function tests should be performed in order to differentiate patients with alveolar hypoventilation secondary to obesity (restrictive syndrome) from those with associated COPD (obstructive syndrome). This can have an impact on the management of the case and the therapeutic approach (positive pressure therapy with/without supplemental oxygen). Full article

The fragmented nature of Chinese households’ forestland hinders the realization of economies of scale in forestry production. Understanding the role of forestry service outsourcing organizations in mitigating this fragmentation provides a critical foundation for the exploration of pathways to scaled forestry management. Based on tracking data from 500 households across 10 counties in Fujian Province between 2013 and 2018, this study examines an unbalanced panel containing six periods and 2780 valid observations. It constructs a panel Logit model to examine the influence of forestry service outsourcing organizations on the likelihood of forestland transfer by households, and it employs a panel Tobit model to analyze the relationship between these organizations and the scale of forestland transferred. To capture potential heterogeneity, the analysis incorporates households’ part-time status and the forestland terrain conditions. The results indicate that the duration of establishment of county-level forestry project teams and forestry companies in households’ regions significantly reduces the tendency of households to lease out their forestland, especially for those in plain and hilly regions and part-time forestry producers. Furthermore, the longer the establishment history of township-level forestry project teams, the more inclined households are to retain their family forestland management rights. Our study demonstrates that, when specialized forestry service outsourcing organizations emerge in the market, households are less likely to lease out their forestland, thereby retaining management rights, avoiding the risk of forestland loss, and reducing forestland abandonment. As forestry service outsourcing organizations continue to develop and expand—with improvements in service levels and production efficiency—forestry production is gradually transitioning toward a new stage of service-oriented scale operations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Globally, antibiotic contamination has become an emerging issue in agricultural lands. The presence of antibiotic residues in farmlands, especially through the application of manure fertilizers containing veterinary antibiotics, e.g., tetracycline (TC), can cause severe toxicity, which inhibits crop growth and performance, subsequently threatening human health via consumption of contaminated products. This study was conducted to evaluate the phytotoxicity of TC on Kimchi cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) during seed germination, seedling, and vegetative growth stages, along with its physiological responses and bioaccumulation under TC stress. Methods: The responses of cabbage plants to TC stress were assessed through a germination test and a pot experiment, conducted for three days and six weeks, respectively, under different doses of TC (0, 5, 10, 25, and 50 mg/L). Results: As a result of the germination test, higher TC doses (25 and 50 mg/L) tended to delay seed germination, but all treatments achieved a 100% germination percentage by Day 3 after sowing. Eight days after sowing, the length of shoots and roots of seedlings exhibited a TC dose-dependent decline, specifically under 50 mg TC/L, showing a considerable decrease of 24% and 77%, respectively, compared to control. Similar results were observed in the plants transitioning from the seedling to vegetative stages in the pot experiment. Four and six weeks after sowing, the 50 mg TC/L dose showed the strongest phytotoxicity in cabbage plants with physiological parameters, such as the maximum photosystem II quantum yield (F_v/F_m), pigment content (chlorophyll and carotenoid), biomass, and leaf number, significantly reduced by 26 to 60% compared to control. Interestingly, at lower TC doses (5 and 10 mg/L), a hormesis effect was observed in the phenotype and biomass of the plants. In addition, the degree of TC accumulation in the plants was highly dose-dependent at Week 4 and Week 6, but a temporal decline in TC accumulation was noted between these time points in all TC treatments. This phenomenon might affect the value of the bio-concentration factor (BCF) as an indicator of the plant’s tendency to uptake TC. That is, in Week 6, the dose-dependent reduction in BCF for TC in the plants was likely attributed to a dilution effect caused by plant biomass increase or a degradation mechanism within the plant. Conclusions: Overall, our findings suggest that tetracycline toxicity induces seed germination delay and influences seedling elongation and photosynthetic functions, ultimately impairing crop growth and performance. Also, the antibiotic dynamics related to accumulation and degradation in plants were identified. These results will not only suggest the toxicity threshold of TC for cabbage but also provide insights into effective soil management strategies for food production safety and agroecosystem sustainability in antibiotic-contaminated soils. Full article

In the era of Artificial Intelligence, the magic of achieving results at the “speed of light” for tasks that until recently required a lot of work and effort shocks, arouses enthusiasm and generates fears at the same time. Therefore, starting from this reality of our days, we proposed within the current research to study the relationship between the factors of technostress (techno-overload, techno-invasion, techno-complexity, techno-insecurity, techno-uncertainty) perceived as a result of the implementation of AI at the societal level and the quality of life, filtering the relationship through the “lens” of the positive and negative affect mediators. The mediation analyses, conducted on a sample of 217 adult Romanian citizens (18–62 years old), suggested that although AI-related technostress does not directly influence quality of life, it has a significant indirect impact through affective traits—general tendencies to frequently experience positive or negative emotions. This indicates that technostress contributes to variations in quality of life by influencing emotional experiences, which mediate the relationship. These findings emphasize not only the absence of a direct effect, but also the importance of the indirect pathway in understanding how individuals are affected by AI-related stress. We believe that the results of the current study can be equally useful in raising awareness of the psychological mechanisms responsible for the quality of life and in understanding the importance of implementing official programs, both technically, regarding the development of skills to understand and work with AI, and psychological support programs, considering the management of emotions, with reference to this technology. Full article

Pain management in children remains a challenge. Postoperative pain assessment, which currently relies on behavioral and subjective scales, could be enhanced by the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms effect on pain thresholds and opioid metabolism. This study explores the impact of nine SNPs—rs1799971, rs4680, rs4633, rs6269, rs4818 (with catechol-o-methyltransferase haplotypes), rs7832704, rs1801253, and rs1045642—on postoperative pain intensity, opioid requirements, coanalgesic use, C-reactive protein levels, and post-anesthesia care unit length of stay. This study involved 42 pediatric patients undergoing scoliosis correction surgery with postoperative sufentanil infusion. The genotyping was performed using real-time PCR with peripheral blood samples. Patients with the rs1801253 ADRB1 GG genotype showed significantly lower 24 h NRS pain ratings (p = 0.032) and lower sufentanil infusion rates at the level of statistical tendency (p = 0.093). Patients with the rs1205 CRP CT genotype had a shorter PACU length of stay (p = 0.012). In contrast, those with the rs1045642 ABCB1 GG genotype had a longer PACU stay by 0.72 h (p = 0.046). No significant associations were found for OPRM1 rs1799971, COMT, or ENPP2 SNPs. ADRB1 rs1801253may be a novel SNP indicating higher postoperative pain risk, while rs1205 CRP and rs1045642 ABCB1 could predict increased care requirements in PACUs. The ADRB1 rs1801253 SNP may also predict opioid demand. These results suggest SNPs should be considered in acute pain assessment. Full article

Recent meteorological variability in winter and spring complicates predicting and managing frost damage in apples and pears. This study investigated the relationship between frost injury during the flowering stages of apples (‘Hongro’ and ‘Fuji’) and pears (‘Wonwhang’ and ‘Niitaka’) and weather conditions across regions at varying altitudes. Orchards were categorized into coastal, inland, mid-mountainous, and mountainous regions, and flowering stages and frost injury were analyzed. The flowering period of apples, from the onset of blooming to full bloom, averaged approximately 15 days, which was about 3 to 5 times longer than that of pears. Furthermore, the total flowering duration of apples was 1.5 to 2.0 times longer than that of pears. Additionally, flowering exhibited a tendency to be delayed at higher altitudes. However, orchards situated in mid-mountainous regions experienced earlier flowering compared to those in other regions. Among the two apple cultivars, the average frost damage was more severe in central flowers than in lateral flowers and was relatively higher in ‘Fuji’ than in ‘Hongro’. In pears, frost damage was most prevalent in the first to fourth flowers within the inflorescence, with ‘Wonhwang’ exhibiting relatively greater susceptibility than ‘Niitaka’. Across different cultivation regions, severe frost damage was observed in orchards located in mid-mountainous areas for both fruit species and cultivars. The severity of frost damage followed the order mid-mountainous, mountainous, plain, and coastal regions. Minimum temperatures were lowest in mid-mountainous and mountainous regions, while daily temperature differences were largest in mid-mountainous regions. Meteorological analysis (1981 to 2022) revealed consistent trends, with an increase in daily temperature range in recent years. These findings highlight the vulnerability of mid-mountainous orchards due to flowering stages overlapping with coastal and plain regions, exposing them to lower temperatures and larger temperature differences. Further studies on temperature variability are essential to mitigate frost damage risks. Full article

The increasing frequency of extreme climate events has posed severe challenges to China’s socio-economic development and ecological environment due to geological disasters. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective adaptive strategies to enhance geo-disaster resilience. Environmental governance, as an effective measure to reduce risks from extreme climates and disasters while promoting high-quality social development, remains underexplored in terms of its impact on geo-disaster resilience. This study innovatively constructs a resilience assessment framework that considers extreme climate and geo-disaster intensity, integrating various statistical methods, including the Super-Efficiency Slacks-Based Measure Data Envelopment Analysis (SBM-DEA) model, spatial Markov chains, and methods such as Geodetector and the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR), to reveal the spatiotemporal evolution of geo-disaster resilience in China from 2007 to 2022, while also analyzing the mechanisms through which environmental governance influences resilience and its spatiotemporal variations. The findings indicate that China’s geo-disaster resilience exhibits unstable growth with significant regional disparities. Spatially, resilience shows notable spillover effects and a tendency toward convergence within similar regions. Environmental governance unevenly enhances resilience over time and space: soil and water conservation and afforestation are generally effective measures, while the contributions of ecological water replenishment, environmental facility management personnel, fiscal expenditure, and nature reserve protection vary by region. This research offers key insights into improving geo-disaster resilience and optimizing environmental governance strategies to enhance China’s disaster response capacity and regional sustainable development. Full article

The speedy progress of computer vision and machine learning engineering has inaugurated novel means for improving the purchasing experiment in brick-and-mortar stores. This paper examines the utilization of YOLOv (You Only Look Once) and DeepSORT (Deep Simple Online and Real-Time Tracking) algorithms for the real-time detection and analysis of the purchasing penchant in brick-and-mortar market surroundings. By leveraging these algorithms, stores can track customer behavior, identify popular products, and monitor high-traffic areas, enabling businesses to adapt quickly to customer preferences and optimize store layout and inventory management. The methodology involves the integration of YOLOv5 for accurate and rapid object detection combined with DeepSORT for the effective tracking of customer movements and interactions with products. Information collected in in-store cameras and sensors is handled to detect tendencies in customer behavior, like repeatedly inspected products, periods expended in specific intervals, and product handling. The results indicate a modest improvement in customer engagement, with conversion rates increasing by approximately 3 percentage points, and a decline in inventory waste levels, from 88% to 75%, after system implementation. This study provides essential insights into the further integration of algorithm technology in physical retail locations and demonstrates the revolutionary potential of real-time behavior tracking in the retail industry. This research determines the foundation for future developments in functional strategies and customer experience optimization by offering a solid framework for creating intelligent retail systems. Full article

As the primary secondary tree species in Northeast China, Quercus mongolica possesses significant ecological and economic value. This study employed the Biomod2 platform in conjunction with ArcGIS spatial analysis to assess the potential suitable habitat distribution area of Q. mongolica under current climatic conditions. Furthermore, it forecasted the distribution range and niche changes of potentially suitable habitats for Q. mongolica from 2022 to 2090 and pinpointed the key environmental factors influencing its distribution. The findings reveal that the total potential suitable area for Q. mongolica covers 74,994.792 km², predominantly spread across Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and other regions. The primary determinants of suitable area distribution were peak temperature of hottest month, lowest temperature of coldest month, and altitude. Under future climate scenarios, the potentially suitable habitats of Q. mongolica are anticipated to diminish to varying extents, with the distribution center exhibiting a tendency towards northward migration. Concurrently, the overlap among different climate scenarios is predicted to expand over time. This investigation facilitates a comprehensive understanding of Q. mongolica’s adaptation to climate change, enabling informed adjustments and serving as a valuable reference for the preservation and sustainable management of Q. mongolica populations. Full article