Search Results (85)

Traditional villages embody tangible repositories of historical, cultural, and geographical heritage, and their sustainable and authentic development poses a global challenge. By applying complex adaptive system (CAS) theory via a bottom–up approach, we analyze traditional settlements using China’s Zheshui village as a representative case. Road networks and spatial configurations were examined through image analysis (ImageJ 1.54 p, Depthmap+ Beta 1.0), integrating space syntax, box-counting dimension, and point-density analysis to decode hierarchical point-line-plane structures. Key findings reveal that building units self-similarly aggregate into courtyards under landmark constraints, with courtyards further coalescing into villages. Road systems function as adaptive agents that facilitate nodal information flow while exhibiting fluidity and diversity. The village emerges as a macro-scale complex system from the building-unit level, displaying cross-scale self-similarity, yet intrinsic diversity in architecture and roads underlies its core complexity. BTM topic modeling of tourist sentiment—identifying tourists as novel adaptive agents—predictively guides strategies for enhanced cultural dissemination and public infrastructure. By establishing a CAS-driven internal generative mechanism, this work offers a novel methodological framework for authentic conservation and sustainable development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood. Rotary bur handpiece excavation has been the standardised mechanical benchmark for infected dentine removal in the primary dentition, but it is associated with noise, vibration, and nociceptive triggers that influence behavioural cooperation in paediatric patients. CMCR gels have been developed for selective softening and excavation of infected primary dentine without macroscopic removal of adjacent sound tissue at the protocol-defined site. The objective of this review was to systematically synthesise the evidence on chemomechanical caries removal (CMCR) using Papacarie or Brix 3000 compared with infected dentine excavation using rotary bur handpiece instrumentation in the primary (deciduous) dentition, focusing on excavation effectiveness, paediatric procedural tolerance, anaesthetic requirement, dentine surface morphology at the excavation interface, and protocol-level operative duration per primary molar. Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for English-language studies from database inception to 31 December 2023. Although no eligible paediatric dental records addressing CMCR gels for excavation of infected primary dentine were identified before 2009, the earlier literature was not intentionally excluded; rather, it did not retrieve topic-specific matches meeting the eligibility criteria. Clinical and in vitro investigations evaluating CMCR gels (Papacarie or Brix 3000) for excavation of infected primary dentine in primary molars were eligible. Outcomes were aggregated qualitatively by excavation approach and reported per primary molar at the individual study protocol level. Quantitative pooling or meta-analysis was not conducted due to heterogeneity in study designs and lack of unified denominators across the included literature. Results: Fifteen studies were included (randomised clinical trials, observational clinical investigations, clinical comparative studies, and in vitro assessments) evaluating infected dentine excavation in primary molars. CMCR gels achieved successful excavation of infected primary dentine with dentine preservation at the adjacent non-infected interface without macroscopic loss of sound tissue. Individual study protocols that reported paediatric pain outcomes during primary-molar excavation registered lower pain scores, reduced acoustic/vibratory stress, lower anaesthetic escalation cycles, and decreased local anaesthesia requirement per primary molar compared with rotary bur handpiece excavation arms. Dentine surfaces analysed under SEM protocols at the infected excavation interface described patent tubules, absence of compacted smear at the interface, preserved intertubular dentine, and no iatrogenic gouging or macrofracture of non-infected primary dentine per molar at the individual study level. Operative duration for CMCR ranged from 10 to 25 min per primary molar per tooth, while rotary bur handpiece excavation required 3–10 min per primary molar per tooth, depending on cavity extension and dentine hardness, as defined by each study protocol. Microleakage and bond-strength assays performed in vitro at the individual protocol level did not register disadvantage signals traceable to adhesive or sealing incompatibility following CMCR gel excavation per primary molar. Conclusions: CMCR with Papacarie or Brix 3000 enables protocol-level selective excavation of infected primary dentine in primary molars, reducing acoustic, vibratory, and nociceptive triggers that influence behaviour and local anaesthetic requirement per primary molar. Clinical inference should be restricted to infected dentine excavation per primary-molar denominators, avoiding extrapolation to all caries depths or all deciduous-tooth types. Standardised paediatric primary-molar infected dentine excavation trials with homogeneous denominators, bias-controlled outcome instruments, and longitudinal follow-up are required to strengthen cavity-depth indications, pulp-proximal excavation reliability, and restorative longevity guidance in the primary dentition clinical workflow. Full article

As a potential strategic resource of critical metals, deep-sea cobalt-rich crusts represent one of the most promising metal reservoirs within oceanic seamount systems, and their metallogenic mechanism constitutes a frontier topic in deep-sea geoscience research. This review focuses on the cobalt-rich crusts from the Magellan Seamount region in the northwestern Pacific and synthesizes existing geological, mineralogical, and geochemical studies to systematically elucidate their mineralization processes and metal enrichment mechanisms from a microstructural perspective, with particular emphasis on cobalt enrichment and its controlling factors. Based on published observations and experimental evidence, the formation of cobalt-rich crusts is divided into three stages: (1) Mn/Fe colloid formation—At the chemical interface between oxygen-rich bottom water and the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ are oxidized to form hydrated oxide colloids such as δ-MnO₂ and Fe(OH)₃. (2) Key metal adsorption—Colloidal particles adsorb metal ions such as Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺ through surface complexation and oxidation–substitution reactions, among which Co²⁺ is further oxidized to Co³⁺ and stably incorporated into MnO₆ octahedral vacancies. (3) Colloid deposition and mineralization—Mn–Fe colloids aggregate, dehydrate, and cement on the exposed seamount bedrock surface to form layered cobalt-rich crusts. This process is dominated by the Fe/Mn redox cycle, representing a continuous evolution from colloidal reactions to solid-phase mineral formation. Biological processes play a crucial catalytic role in the microstructural evolution of the crusts. Mn-oxidizing bacteria and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) accelerate Mn oxidation, regulate mineral-oriented growth, and enhance particle cementation, thereby significantly improving the oxidation and adsorption efficiency of metal ions. Tectonic and paleoceanographic evolution, seamount topography, and the circulation of Antarctic Bottom Water jointly control the metallogenic environment and metal sources, while crystal defects, redox gradients, and biological activity collectively drive metal enrichment. This review establishes a conceptual framework of a multi-level metallogenic model linking macroscopic oceanic circulation and geological evolution with microscopic chemical and biological processes, providing a theoretical basis for the exploration, prediction, and sustainable development of potential cobalt-rich crust deposits. Full article

Background/Objectives: Isotretinoin remains an essential therapy for severe acne, yet its safety profile continues to raise concerns. This study analyzed adverse event reporting patterns for isotretinoin versus topical retinoids using EudraVigilance data. Methods: Aggregated ADR data for isotretinoin and four topical retinoids (tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene, trifarotene) were retrieved from the EMA ADRreports portal (April 2025). Disproportionality was assessed using reporting odds ratios (RORs) with 95% confidence intervals at the MedDRA system organ class (SOC) level. Significant demographic differences (age and sex; both p < 0.001) justified stratified ROR analyses for SOCs showing positive signals. Results: Among 35,030 isotretinoin and 3795 topical retinoid reports, isotretinoin showed strong over-reporting in six SOCs: psychiatric disorders (ROR 11.96; 95% CI 10.11–14.14), gastrointestinal disorders (3.88; 3.50–4.31), musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders (2.89; 2.50–3.35), surgical and medical procedures, social circumstances, and ear and labyrinth disorders. Fourteen SOCs demonstrated significant under-reporting, including neoplasms, immune system disorders, cardiac disorders, and blood/lymphatic disorders. Stratified analyses confirmed the robustness of the positive signals. Psychiatric disorders exhibited the highest disproportionality in males (22.10; 16.11–30.31) and adolescents aged 12–17 (25.85; 13.32–50.19). Gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal signals remained significant across all age and sex strata. Conclusions: Isotretinoin presents a distinct safety profile characterized by consistently elevated reporting of psychiatric, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal adverse events, independent of age and sex. These results refine the comparative safety landscape of systemic versus topical retinoids and support focused pharmacovigilance monitoring. Full article

The rapid diffusion of digital technologies, including big data, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, unlocks significant potential for marketing innovation in e-commerce while simultaneously raising fresh governance challenges. Digital platforms, as core infrastructures for online transactions and marketing interactions, have therefore come under increasing regulatory scrutiny amid tensions between technological progress and social stability. This study compiles a comprehensive Chinese Digital Platform Policy dataset consisting of national-level policy documents issued from 2000 through July 2025. We introduce a time-dimension topic clustering approach using density-based LDA algorithm to construct a policy corpus with reduced thematic overlap and develop a document-level policy intensity index by quantifying and aggregating the salience of domain-specific terms across documents. Validation exercises confirm the intensity measure strongly correlates with e-commerce transaction value and with digital innovation, with statistically significant lags consistent with policy implementation and firm adaptation. Beyond offering an empirically grounded metric, our analysis traces the dynamic co-evolution of regulation and technology adoption and identify composition effects—the joint influences of enabling and disciplining policy elements—on market outcomes. We argue that such effects also reconfigure the mix of marketing innovations. Collectively, the corpus and measurement framework provide a foundation for analyzing how regulatory innovation shapes the trajectory of marketing innovation and e-commerce development. Full article

This study examined the potential of artificial intelligence tools for detecting pediatric flatfoot pathology. We would like to emphasize that there is very little research in this area and we would like to point out that this is a relevant and very important topic in medicine. First, the base flow was used: a pre-trained “backbone” on the ImageNet platform. In this study, this term is used to describe the feature extraction part of a convolutional network. A standardized pre-processing with pruning and augmentation was performed, and a three-stage training schedule (stages 1, 2 and 3), average and maximum aggregation at the subject level and the addition of light test time were proposed. Eight different model architectures were used. From stage 2 onwards, all models were trained on feet. Three-dimensional photographs with real flatfoot shapes, from flatfoot stages I to III, were used. The most validated model was displayed in accurate AUROC plots with estimated average and maximum aggregation values with standard deviation. The research and calculations conducted demonstrate the possibility of applying artificial intelligence in the field of orthopedics. Full article

Fire incident reports contain detailed textual narratives that capture causal factors often overlooked in structured records, while financial damage amounts provide measurable outcomes of these events. Integrating these two sources of information is essential for uncovering interpretable links between descriptive causes and their economic consequences. To this end, we develop a data-driven framework that constructs a composite Risk Index, enabling systematic quantification of how specific keywords relate to property damage amounts. This index facilitates both the identification of high-impact terms and the aggregation of risks across semantically related clusters, thereby offering a principled measure of fire-related financial risk. Using more than a decade of Korean fire investigation reports on the chemical industry classified as Special Buildings (2013–2024), we employ topic modeling and network-based embedding to estimate semantic similarities from interactions among words, and subsequently apply Lasso regression to quantify their associations with property damage amounts, thereby estimating the fire risk index. This approach enables us to assess fire risk not only at the level of individual terms, but also within their broader textual context, where highly interactive related words provide insights into collective patterns of hazard representation and their potential impact on expected losses. The analysis highlights several domains of risk, including hazardous chemical leakage, unsafe storage practices, equipment and facility malfunctions, and environmentally induced ignition. The results demonstrate that text-derived indices provide interpretable and practically relevant insights, bridging unstructured narratives with structured loss information and offering a basis for evidence-based fire risk assessment and management. The derived Risk Index provides practical reference data for both safety management and insurance underwriting by enabling the prioritization of preventive measures within industrial sites and offering quantitative guidance for assessing facility-specific risk levels in insurance decisions. An R implementation of the proposed framework is openly available for public use. Full article

This systematic review applies the PRISMA methodology (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) to evaluate the use of recycled sand, obtained from construction and demolition waste (CDW), in mortars for civil construction. A total of 24 studies published between 2020 and 2025 were analyzed, retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The main objective is to assess the technical feasibility and environmental benefits of recycled sand in mortars, while addressing research gaps such as the lack of standardized methodologies and the limited understanding of durability at higher replacement levels. Given the significant resource consumption and waste generation in the construction sector, the study highlights emerging trends in adopting recycled sand as a sustainable alternative to natural aggregates. Findings indicate that optimal replacement levels range between 30 and 50% in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortars, and up to 100% in geopolymer mixtures when appropriate processing and activation methods are applied, without compromising mechanical performance. Reported benefits include cost reduction, lower carbon footprint, and enhanced compactness. However, challenges such as higher porosity and the need for optimized mix designs, and high heterogeneity of CDW sources and processing methods remain. Overall, the review confirms that recycled sand is a technically viable and environmentally beneficial material for mortar production, though future research must focus on harmonizing test protocols and long-term performance evaluation. In addition, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to map scientific output on this topic, identifying key countries, journals, and publication trends. Full article

Background: Medication adherence is one of the critical factors in optimizing treatment outcomes for chronic diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD). Existing studies use aggregate data, but there is a need for assessment of medication adherence phases, such as the initiation and discontinuation of therapy. The aim of this study was to assess medication adherence across patients with moderate to severe AD, investigating the impact of drug treatment characteristics, particularly the route of administration, on adherence levels during treatment. Methods: A retrospective observational study on an Italian sample included 821 newly diagnosed AD patients from January 2021 to June 2022. Medication adherence was evaluated by EMERGE guidelines, focusing on initiation and discontinuation. Discontinuation was assessed at 6 and 12 months, comprising sensitivity analysis. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and descriptive statistics on treatment duration. Results: Treatment initiation is significantly lower for tacrolimus ointment (38% non-initiation) than for dupilumab injection (12% non-initiation), due to initial healthcare support for dupilumab patients. After six months, 75.6% of dupilumab injection patients remained on therapy, while 24.4% of patients continued tacrolimus ointment treatment. After one year, therapy persistence was 68.7% among users of dupilumab, while only 22.5% of patients remained on tacrolimus therapy. Dupilumab demonstrated a significantly longer median treatment duration compared to tacrolimus (4.4 vs. 2.6 months; p < 0.01). Conclusions: The observed differences in adherence patterns between topical tacrolimus and subcutaneous dupilumab suggest that distinct contextual and behavioral factors influence patient adherence during therapy. Full article

Discrimination and harassment (DH) against women are topics of broad concern to gender equality advocates. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of DH against women in Nigeria, based on seven specific forms of DH captured in the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), and to identify key socio-demographic factors associated with an aggregated DH outcome variable. Drawing upon data from 38,806 women aged 15–49, we used descriptive statistics to summarize the prevalence of DH across seven reasons and the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, followed by chi-square analysis to test bivariate associations and binary logistic regression to identify predictors. Results showed that the prevalence of DH against Nigerian women (18.9%) was significantly associated with socio-demographic factors such as age, education level, wealth index, marital status, and ethnicity. At the individual level, women who felt very unhappy had higher odds of experiencing DH (OR = 3.101, 95% CI: 2.393–4.018, p < 0.001) compared to those who felt very happy. In contrast, women with higher/tertiary education (OR = 0.686, 95% CI: 0.560–0.842, p < 0.001) were 31.4% less likely to face DH than those with no education. Regionally, respondents living in Zamfara (OR = 5.045, 95% CI: 3.072–8.288, p < 0.001) were over five times more likely to experience DH than those in Kano state. The findings underscore the need for policy interventions and support systems to address DH against women in Nigeria. Full article

Handling preliminary information appropriately is a critical challenge for many aspects of systems engineering design. The topic is gaining renewed visibility due to the expanding possibilities to apply AI to preliminary information to support systems design, engineering, and management. However, there are few empirical studies of the practicalities of handling immature information and there is a lack of concretely developed, empirically evaluated, and practical approaches for clarifying information maturity levels, needed to ensure such information is appropriately used. This article addresses the gap, contributing new insight into how immature information is handled in industrial practice that is derived from interviews with 15 engineering and product development professionals from 5 companies. Thematic analysis reveals how practitioners work with preliminary information and where they require support. A solution was developed to address the empirically identified needs. In 5 follow-up interviews, practitioner feedback on this concept demonstrator was supportive. The main result of this research, in addition to the insights into practice, is a practical maturity grid-based assessment system that can help the providers of preliminary information self-assess and communicate information maturity levels. The assessments may be stored alongside the information and may be aggregated and visualised in CAD, augmented reality, or a range of charts to make information maturity visible and hence allow it to be more deliberately considered and managed. Implications of this research include that managers should promote greater awareness and discussion of preliminary information’s maturity and should introduce structured processes to track and manage the maturity of key information as it is progressively developed. The detailed maturity grids presented in this article may provide a foundation for such processes and can be adapted for particular situations. Full article

This article provides a critical review of the current design and research challenges in contemporary timber architecture. Conducted from the perspective of a designer-researcher, the review focuses on the role of wood as a material at the intersection of environmental performance, cultural meaning, and spatial practice. The study adopts a conceptual, problem-oriented approach, eschewing the conventional systematic aggregation of existing data. The objective of this study is to identify, interpret and categorise the key issues that are shaping the evolving discourse on timber architecture. The analysis is based on peer-reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2025, sourced from the Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection databases. Fifteen thematic challenges have been identified and classified according to their recognition level in academic and design contexts. The subjects under discussion include well-established topics, such as life cycle assessment and carbon storage, as well as less commonly explored areas, such as symbolic durability, social acceptance, traceability, and the upcycling of low-grade wood. The review under consideration places significant emphasis on the importance of integrating technical, cultural, and perceptual dimensions when evaluating timber architecture. The article proposes an interpretive framework combining design thinking and transdisciplinary insights. This framework aims to bridge disciplinary gaps and provide a coherent structure for understanding the complexity of timber-related challenges. The framework under discussion here encourages a broader understanding of wood as not only a sustainable building material but also a vehicle for systemic transformation in architectural culture and practice. The study’s insights may support designers, educators, and policymakers in identifying strategic priorities for the development of future-proof timber-based design practices. Full article

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a widespread pathogen responsible for recurrent infections, primarily affecting the skin and mucous membranes. With the aim of targeting both the viral infection and the associated inflammatory response, biotechnologically produced Lavandula angustifolia Miller (L. angustifolia) extract, rich in rosmarinic acid, was incorporated into liposomal formulations intended for topical application. Lavender is known for its strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound-healing, and antiviral properties. However, its low stability under certain conditions limits its therapeutic potential. Four different formulations were developed: conventional liposomes, glycerosomes, hyalurosomes, and glycerohyalurosomes. The vesicles were characterized for size, stability, and entrapment efficiency. Glycerosomes were the smallest (~58 nm), while the other formulations ranged around 77 nm, all maintaining a highly negative surface charge, ensuring stability and reduced aggregation. Glycerol-containing formulations demonstrated superior stability over 12 months, while liposomes and hyalurosomes increased their size after only two months. Entrapment efficiency reached up to 100% for most vesicles, except for glycerohyalurosomes (~54%). In vitro studies on Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts (NHDFs) demonstrated that all formulations were biocompatible and enhanced cell viability under oxidative stress. Glycerosomes, hyalurosomes, and glycerohyalurosomes exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity by reducing MMP-1 and IL-6 levels in LPS-stimulated fibroblasts. Furthermore, these preliminary results highlighted promising antiviral activity against HSV-1 of the obtained formulations, particularly when applied during or post-infection. Overall, these phospholipid vesicles offer a dual therapeutic approach, combining antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects, positioning them as promising candidates for the treatment of HSV-induced skin lesions and related inflammatory conditions. Full article

The packaging of perishable products, such as fruits, contributes to their preservation during storage and safe transportation. The use of suitable packaging materials contributes to forming a desirable atmosphere inside the package so that the level of respiration, transpiration, and ethylene emission can be kept low. However, it would be useful for consumers to know relevant information on the deterioration rate of different types of fruit (tree fruits, berries, stone fruits, and aggregate accessory fruits). The technology of intelligent and active packaging systems (smart packaging) enables the provision of information related to the deterioration rate of fruits to consumers and, in parallel, extends the shelf life of fruits and other plant-based foods, maintaining a high quality. Intelligent packaging systems include biosensors and gas sensors, along with microbial, freshness, and time–temperature indicators. On the other hand, the active packaging system includes the use of moisture, odor, and gas absorbers, along with antioxidant and antimicrobial agents to maintain the quality of plant-based foods and extend their shelf life. This review article aims to make an in-depth evaluation of the most relevant literature on this topic by highlighting the challenges, trends, and future directions related to different types of fruits. Full article

Cultured meat (CM) is currently experiencing a surge in popularity, primarily due to its promise to produce animal-based products with a lower environmental impact and a higher level of animal welfare. Although CM production remains limited and lacks pre-market approval (except for Singapore and the USA), recent technological advancements have been notable. A greater number of stakeholders, including biotechnology companies, start-ups, private investors, NGOs and big agrifood companies, are entering the CM value chain. This paper aims to aggregate, synthesize, and analyze existing studies on the CM value chain to highlight the characteristics, methodologies, and topics they address. Our secondary purpose is to analyze elements emerging in terms of global value chain dynamics. To do so, this study applies a conceptual framework based on the interplay of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and global value chain frameworks. This systematic literature review identifies 43 studies and shows that the most addressed topics are regulations on pre-market approval and labelling, technological progress, the use of patents, the availability and sources of funding, and actors’ roles in the CM market. The analysis and discussion of these findings highlight key aspects of the CM global value chain and present further areas of research to investigate the governance of the chain. Full article