Search Results (8,386)

Modeling urban microclimates is essential for assessing thermal comfort and the urban heat island (UHI) effect, particularly in the context of climate change. The UHI intensifies thermal discomfort, increases energy demand, and exacerbates health risks during extreme heat events. Accurate urban modeling is crucial for evaluating microclimatic conditions and developing effective mitigation strategies. However, traditional 3D modeling approaches often lack the efficiency and precision required to capture complex urban morphologies and integrating key environmental elements such as vegetation. This study presents an optimized workflow for large-scale 3D urban modeling that combines open-source geospatial data with programming and parametrisation tools to enhance the accuracy and scalability of urban studies. The methodology applied in Seville comprises data acquisition, processing, and modeling to produce a high-resolution urban environment model. Using Grasshopper and the ShrimpGIS plugin, spatial datasets of buildings and urban vegetation are processed to create a high-fidelity model. The resulting model is structured for integration into environmental analysis tools such as Ladybug Tools. This integration enables the direct assessment of design choices and morphological relationships for climate resilience, facilitating a detailed evaluation of urban microclimates and climate adaptation strategies. This approach provides urban planners and researchers with a replicable, efficient methodology to support evidence-based decisions for climate-responsive urban development. Full article

Background/Objectives: A fermented lingonberry juice spray (FLJ spray) was developed from lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis idaea L.) juice as a natural adjunct for oral health. It has a low sugar content and contains naturally occurring phenolic compounds to decrease oral microbial burden, inflammation, and dry mouth symptoms. This human intervention single-arm pilot study examined the oral effects of fermented lingonberry spray (FLJ spray) treatment, used for a period of 30 days. Methods: Eleven adult patients were recruited from a private dental clinic in Tampere, Finland. Traditional clinical oral examinations, periodontal status, and samples were collected at baseline, two weeks, and four weeks. Bleeding on probing (BOP), visible plaque index (VPI), and probing pocket depths (PPD) were examined, and active-matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) mouthrinse assays (cut off 20 ng/mL) were conducted. Additionally, stimulated and resting saliva, pH, and buffering capacity were assessed. A questionnaire assessing dry mouth symptoms was also recorded. Results: The effect of FLJ spray on clinical variables during the study period was analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Use of the Lingora^® spray reduced the assessed periodontal indices BOP (p < 0.05), VPI (p < 0.001), PPD ≥ 6 mm (p = 0.136), and aMMP-8 (p = 0.084). No adverse or contrary effects on the parameters were observed during the study. Conclusions: The use of FLJ spray improved periodontal status and reduced plaque burden and signs of inflammation, such as BOP and collagenolytic aMMP-8 levels. This pilot study suggests that FLJ spray is safe and appeared to be beneficial for use in addition to oral home care. Full article

Pangolins (Manidae), recognized for their distinctive keratinous scales, are the world’s most trafficked mammals. This is primarily due to their extensive use in traditional medicine systems in Africa and Asia, where their body parts, particularly their scales, are used in various health practices. This high demand fueled widespread poaching and illegal wildlife trade, placing immense pressure on their populations. A critical knowledge gap persists regarding the specific body parts utilized and the global extent of pangolin use in traditional medicine, which hinders effective conservation strategies and demand mitigation efforts. Bridging the divide between traditional knowledge and modern scientific research is essential to ensure both cultural practices and species preservation. Therefore, this review comprehensively examines the complex relationship between pangolins and human health practices. It explores the cultural, medicinal, and ecological significance of pangolins, addresses sustainability challenges of their populations, and outlines the key drivers of their exploitation. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer is a major public health concern in Ghana, where most cases present late and mortality remains high. Community education is essential for improving awareness and early detection. Traditional health talks are widely used, but interactive approaches such as board games have received little evaluation. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of a Social Cognitive Theory–Socioecological Model-based literacy board game (S-S-LIBOG) with a traditional health talk in improving prostate cancer knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions. Methods: A quasi-experimental, two-arm interventional study was conducted in a semi-urban Ghanaian cohort. Participants (n = 197) were allocated to either the board game arm (n = 80) or the health talk arm (n = 61) after accounting for attrition. A structured questionnaire measured knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) before and after intervention. Statistical analyses at 5% alpha level included chi-square tests, two-proportion Z-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Among participants, 29.4% were female, 64.5% male, and 6.1% other genders. Tertiary education was reported by 81.7%, secondary 9.6%, postgraduate 5.6%, and primary 3.0%. Ethnicities: Ewe 41.6%, Akan 26.9%, Northern 13.7%, Ga 6.6%, Guan 1.5%, others 9.6%. Rural dwellers: 29.9%. LIBOG improved ‘good knowledge level’ from 35.0% at baseline to 60.0% post-intervention, compared to 35.0% to 62.3% by the Health Talk (HT). S-S-LIBOG also narrowed gender, education, and lifestyle disparities in KAP, with males showing higher odds of positive attitude (OR = 4.16, p = 0.004) and perception (OR = 2.79, p = 0.047), and rural residents having increased odds of good knowledge (OR = 4.39, p = 0.041) post—its intervention. HT similarly equalized disparities, except for perception, which remained linked to education. The significant improvements in knowledge were (LIBOG: z = 2.85, p = 0.004; HT: z = 3.10, p = 0.002). Even though health talks achieved higher overall knowledge gains, no statistically significant difference in overall effectiveness was observed between the two methods (Wilcoxon W = 102.0, p = 0.107). Acceptability of the board game was high, with over 80% of participants reporting satisfaction. Conclusions: The S-S-LIBOG board game was not inferior to the traditional health talk, showing particular strengths in enhancing attitudes and perceptions. Its interactive and culturally adapted design makes it a feasible adjunct to conventional health education methods. Future studies should examine long-term impacts and application in more diverse populations. This study was retrospectively registered by the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry on 10 October 2025; with the Trial Registration number PACTR202510512711680. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but traditional risk calculators such as Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE2) may not fully capture the elevated risks in individuals with obesity, especially when metabolic health is considered. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of QRESEARCH risk estimator version 3 (QRISK3) in estimating 10-year cardiovascular risk in individuals with varying obesity phenotypes compared to SCORE2. Methods: A total of 88 participants (25 men, 63 women; mean age 37.4 ± 11.8 years) were categorized into four obesity phenotypes according to metabolic and anthropometric criteria. The 10-year CVD risk was calculated using SCORE2 and QRISK3 algorithms. Functional cardiovascular assessment included blood pressure (BP) measurement and electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation for conduction abnormalities and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Biochemical analysis included carbohydrate metabolism (fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, HbA1c) and lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, atherogenic index). Results: SCORE2 underestimated CVD risk (3–8%), whereas QRISK3 predicted higher values (6–16%), particularly in metabolically unhealthy phenotypes. LVH occurred in 26–45% of participants, with elevated BP and early subclinical ECG changes even in metabolically healthy obesity individuals. Carbohydrate metabolism disturbances were observed in metabolically unhealthy participants with normal or elevated BMI, while lipid abnormalities—including elevated total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, and atherogenic index—were prominent in these metabolically unhealthy phenotypes. Insulin resistance, assessed via the triglyceride–glucose index, exceeded reference ranges in all obesity phenotypes, with the highest values seen in metabolically unhealthy individuals. Conclusions: QRISK3 provides a more precise and thorough assessment of 10-year cardiovascular risk in individuals with obesity than SCORE2. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating anthropometric and metabolic data into cardiovascular risk assessments and support the clinical use of QRISK3 for more personalized risk stratification, especially in populations with obesity and metabolic disturbances. Early identification of high-risk individuals using QRISK3 could lead to more timely and targeted preventive interventions, improving long-term cardiovascular outcomes. Full article

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known for their health benefits, which are isolated frequently from various fermented foods. This study aimed to evaluate the safety, metabolite production, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity of LAB isolated from Chinese traditional cheese and their application in fermented dairy products. According to 16S rRNA sequence analysis, seven LAB strains were identified as Lactococcus lactis W3A and W3C, Streptococcus lutetiensis W3B, Enterococcus durans W3D, Leuconostoc mesenteroides W3E, Enterococcus lactis W3F, and Leuconostoc lactis W3J, respectively. Hemolysis and antibiotic sensitivity tests showed that all strains were safe for consumers. Meanwhile, all strains showed a good ability to produce exopolysaccharide (330.57–1097.10 mg L⁻¹) and organic acid (31.83–65.43 g L⁻¹). The antioxidant assay indicated that seven LAB strains could effectively scavenge DPPH (37.72–53.13%), ABTS⁺ (95.86–98.67%), ·OH (86.06–95.26%), ·O₂⁻ (11.88–31.30%) free radicals, and chelate ferrous ion (23.98–54.70%) and could reduce ferric ions (35.56–273.14 μmol L⁻¹). In addition, they also displayed different antibacterial activity (10–30 mm inhibition zone) against all 13 foodborne pathogenic bacteria. Finally, the two best strains (Leu. lactis W3J and E. lactis W3F) were selected with PCA and EW-TOPSIS methods and used to ferment goat milk. Fermented samples provided a stronger antioxidant ability than the unfermented goat milk. The results suggested that these two LAB strains had potential applications in antioxidant foods. Full article

Background: Self-medication with leftover antibiotics (SMLA) drives antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in developing countries. This study examined knowledge–practice gaps regarding antibiotic use and handling among individuals with prior SMLA across seven developing countries. Methods: A cross-sectional study (February 2023–February 2024) included 3191 adults from Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, India, Jordan, Lebanon, and Serbia who reported previous leftover antibiotic use. The questionnaires assessed knowledge of antibiotic use (15 items), resistance (12 items), and SMLA risks (15 items). Storage and disposal practices were evaluated using dichotomized correct/incorrect measures. Results: Participants demonstrated above-average knowledge scores as follows: antibiotic use (54.4 ± 8.4), resistance (43.3 ± 6.1), and SMLA risks (58.4 ± 10.3). However, substantial practice gaps emerged. Only 21.9% properly disposed of leftover antibiotics, while 47.0% used household garbage. For storage, 55.1% used appropriate methods, but 32.6% stored antibiotics inappropriately, and 12.8% lacked protocols. Serbian participants showed the highest SMLA risk knowledge (64.3 ± 10.6), Bangladeshi participants the lowest (52.0 ± 8.5, p < 0.001). Women had superior knowledge (59.6 ± 10.4 versus 56.5 ± 9.8, p < 0.001) and storage practices (56.6% versus 52.7%, p = 0.031). Paradoxically, higher AMR knowledge was associated with poorer disposal practices (OR = 0.97, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Despite extensive theoretical knowledge, unsafe medication practices persist, revealing a critical knowledge–practice gap. Our findings challenge education-focused AMR approaches, suggesting cognitive awareness alone cannot drive behavioral change. Effective interventions must address structural barriers, cultural factors, and individual health beliefs beyond traditional knowledge-deficit models. Full article

Donkeys (Equus asinus) play a critical role in agricultural, transport, and livelihood systems across Asia, yet they remain among the most neglected domestic species in terms of welfare, management, and research attention. This review synthesizes recent literature on donkey welfare, health, breeding, and conservation across Asia, highlighting regional disparities and emerging challenges. A systematic review of published studies identified welfare determinants including nutrition, workload, shelter, and veterinary access. Welfare conditions are found to be poorest in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, where chronic undernutrition, inadequate housing, excessive workloads, and limited veterinary support prevail. Preventive healthcare, such as vaccination and deworming, remains largely absent, reflecting low owner awareness and weak veterinary infrastructure. In contrast, China demonstrates substantial progress through semi-intensive farming systems, structured welfare management, and research-based breeding programs that integrate welfare with productivity enhancement. Recent advancements in molecular genetics have further expanded the scope of donkey conservation and improvement. Studies on key genes, including PRKG2, NR6A1, LTBP2, HOXC8, and DCAF7, have elucidated their roles in vertebral number, skeletal development, and body conformation in Dezhou donkeys, offering new opportunities for genomic-level conservation and marker-assisted selection. Nonetheless, significant health challenges, such as parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections (Theileria equi, Giardia duodenalis, and Equid herpesviruses), continue to threaten productivity and welfare. Reproductive management across most Asian countries remains traditional and uncoordinated, whereas China leads in artificial insemination, genetic resource preservation, and policy-supported breeding initiatives. Ethical concerns surrounding overexploitation and the commercial use of donkeys, particularly in the ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin) industry, are also gaining attention. Overall, this review underscores the urgent need for a “One Welfare” approach, linking Animal Welfare, human livelihoods, and sustainable industry development. Strengthening veterinary infrastructure, promoting owner education, and integrating genomic tools into breeding programs are essential steps toward improving the welfare, productivity, and long-term conservation of donkeys across Asia. Full article

Traditional wind turbine drivetrain health assessment generally depends on feature extraction guided by expert experience and prior knowledge. However, the effectiveness of this approach is often limited when such knowledge is insufficient or when fault features are obscured by high levels of ambient noise. In response to these issues, this study proposes a new data-driven framework that combines intelligent frequency band identification with a deep learning architecture. In the proposed approach, vibration signals from the bearings are transformed into their spectral representation, and the frequency spectrum is divided into multiple frequency bands. The relative importance of each band is evaluated and ranked using XGBoost, enabling the selection of the most informative features and significant dimensionality reduction. A hybrid CNN–Transformer model is then employed to combine local feature extraction with global attention mechanisms for accurate fault classification. Experimental evaluations using two open-source datasets indicate that the proposed framework achieves high classification accuracy and rapid convergence, offering a robust and computationally efficient solution for wind turbine drivetrain fault diagnosis. Full article

The growing adoption of laminated fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in aerospace, automotive, and civil engineering demands advanced design methodologies capable of navigating their complex anisotropic behavior. While traditional design approaches rely heavily on iterative simulations and classical optimization, recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) offer a transformative alternative. This review systematically examines the expanding role of AI in composite design and optimization—highlighting a critical transition from physics-based modeling to data-driven, intelligent frameworks. This paper emphasizes emerging AI paradigms not yet widely covered in the composite literature, including Explainable AI (XAI) for interpretable decision-making and Large Language Models (LLMs) for automating design synthesis and knowledge retrieval. Key findings demonstrate AI’s capacity to efficiently optimize stacking sequences, ply orientations, and manufacturing parameters while satisfying multi-objective constraints such as weight, stiffness, and damage tolerance. Furthermore, we explore AI’s integration across the composite lifecycle—from surrogate-assisted finite element analysis and uncertainty-aware design allowables to in-service structural health monitoring. By bridging the gap between computational intelligence and industrial practicability, this review underscores AI’s potential not as a supplementary tool, but as a foundational technology poised to redefine next-generation composite engineering. Full article

Genomics has revolutionized epidemiology and disease surveillance by providing powerful tools for identifying, tracking, and analyzing pathogens at the molecular level. This exploratory analysis examines the integration of genomic with traditional epidemiological approaches, highlighting the role of whole-genome sequencing as a key method for pathogen identification, outbreak investigation, and understanding transmission dynamics. By enabling the detection of mutations and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance, genomics allows for precise mapping of infection sources and transmission pathways, thereby improving the timeliness and accuracy of public health responses. Furthermore, genomic surveillance supports the early detection of emerging variants, such as those observed during viral outbreaks like COVID-19, facilitating proactive intervention strategies. Despite its transformative potential, challenges related to data privacy, infrastructure, and interdisciplinary collaboration persist. This analysis emphasizes the importance of genomics in building resilient surveillance systems to address future infectious disease threats and advocates for sustained investment in genomic technologies to advance global health security. Full article

Astragalus membranaceus (A. membranaceus), a traditional Chinese medicine, has gained increasing recognition for its potential in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This review aims to systematically integrate the mechanisms of action of A. membranaceus and its bioactive compounds on CNS diseases, with a focus on exploring its therapeutic potential and introducing related health food products. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed and Web of Science from January 2015 through July 2025. Our analysis reveals that A. membranaceus and its bioactive compounds, particularly A. membranaceus IV (AS-IV) and A. membranaceus polysaccharides (APS), exert multifaceted neuroprotective effects. These effects encompass the mitigation of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and ferroptosis, as well as the regulation of autophagy and protection of the blood–brain barrier. The therapeutic potential of A. membranaceus is linked to the modulation of key signaling pathways, such as NF-κB, Nrf2, and PI3K/Akt. Furthermore, based on the concept of “homology of medicine and food,” A. membranaceus is being developed into various health food formulations, offering a promising strategy for the adjuvant treatment and preventive care of CNS diseases. In conclusion, A. membranaceus represents a promising, multi-target pharmacological agent for CNS disorders, yet further high-quality clinical studies are warranted to validate its efficacy and safety in humans. Full article

Biosensing technology serves as a cornerstone in biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, personalized medicine, and wearable devices, playing an indispensable role in precise detection and real–time monitoring. Compared with traditional sensing platforms, functional nanomaterials—by virtue of their ultra–large specific surface area, exceptional optoelectronic properties, and superior catalytic activity—significantly enhance the sensitivity, selectivity, and response speed of biosensors. This has enabled ultrasensitive, rapid, and even in situ detection of disease biomarkers, pollutants, and pathogens. This review summarizes recent advances in five key categories of functional nanomaterials—metallic, semiconductor, carbon–based, two–dimensional, and stimulus–responsive materials—for advanced biosensing applications. It elucidates the structure–property relationships governing sensing performance, such as the surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles and the high carrier mobility of graphene, and analyzes the core mechanisms behind optical sensing, electrochemical sensing, and emerging multimodal sensing strategies. With a focus on medical diagnostics, wearable health monitoring, and environmental and food safety surveillance, the review highlights the application value of functional nanomaterials across diverse scenarios. Current research is progressively moving beyond single–performance optimization toward intelligent design, multifunctional integration, and real–world deployment, though challenges related to industrial application remain. Finally, the review outlines existing issues in the development of functional nanomaterial–based biosensors and offers perspectives on the integration of nanomaterials with cutting–edge technologies and the construction of novel sensing systems. This work aims to provide insights for the rational design of functional nanomaterials and the cross–disciplinary translation of biosensing technologies. Full article

The epidemic of infectious diseases, such as influenza A, has imposed a severe health burden on the population. Early detection, diagnosis, reporting, isolation, and treatment are crucial for the prevention, control, and management of infectious diseases. Nucleic acid testing represents a vital approach for the rapid diagnosis of pathogenic microorganism types. However, current nucleic acid detection methods face notable bottlenecks: traditional CRISPR fluorescence assays require time-consuming pre-amplification of target nucleic acids, while existing carbon-nanotube field-effect transistor (FET)-based platforms, though amplification-free, often necessitate complex chip surface modification and probe immobilization, and suffer from non-reusable chips, all limiting their utility in point-of-care testing (POCT) and large-scale screening. This study reports a CRISPR-based amplification-free RNA detection platform (CRISPR-FET) for the rapid identification of influenza A virus. The CRISPR-FET platform described herein enables the detection of viral RNA without amplification within 20 min, with a limit of detection as low as 1 copy/μL. Secondly, a reporter RNA conjugated with gold particles is used to achieve signal amplification in FET detection; meanwhile, the method eliminates probe immobilization, thereby omitting this step and simplifying chip modification to reduce complex work-flows and pre-treatment costs. The chip’s reusability further enhances cost-effectiveness. Additionally, streptavidin-modified magnetic bead adsorption minimizes background errors from excessive reporter RNA and non-target nucleic acids. Finally, validation with 24 clinical samples confirmed the platform’s efficacy. By integrating rapidity, simplicity, and high sensitivity, alongside cost advantages from reusable chips, this CRISPR-FET platform meets the critical need for early influenza A diagnosis and holds promise for advancing POCT and large-scale epidemiological screening. Full article

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is now essential for certifying many composite primary structures as it resolves strain redistribution at the moment of impact. Traditional detection methods, including resistive strain gauges, face challenges due to susceptibility to electromagnetic noise, as well as increased mass and wiring complexity proportional to the number of channels. This study proposes an impact strain monitoring and simulating method using optical fiber sensors for composite skin panels. Repeated low-velocity impact tests were conducted on large-size composite skin panels using various impact forces and locations. The 95% confidence interval for unit load strain in the simulation results differs from the experiment by 18%. This method effectively facilitates the monitoring of global impact strain on large-size composite skin panels. Full article