Search Results (11,676)

Amid growing divergence and confusion in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating methodologies and results for assessing corporate sustainability, this study proposes a dual-dimensional framework that conceptualizes ESG rating quality through two distinct yet complementary lenses—validity (the rigor, transparency, and reproducibility of rating methodologies) and utility (the practical value and relevance of rating outputs for user-specific objectives). While the framework provides a structured approach for evaluating existing ratings, it also serves as prescriptive guidance for constructing user-oriented ESG assessment models. To demonstrate its operational value, the framework is implemented in the Chinese A-share market with two explicit utility targets—local adaptability (addressing the poor cross-regional transferability of international ESG standards) and entrepreneurial enablement (counteracting the systematic size-based ESG discrimination). The findings demonstrate that the dual-dimensional framework not only provides a coherent basis for assessing ESG rating quality from the bottom (an overall quality score of 71.67 assessed for the implemented model) but also yields meaningful empirical patterns that support the top objectives (corresponding ESG trends following China’s major policy events reflected in both rating distributions and market reactions, and significantly flattened ESG–size correlation from 0.27 to 0.18 and the reduced missing indicator ratio for smaller firms from 81% to 74%). Methodologically, the target alignment is benefited by four streams of data science techniques—event-based and location-based data, machine learning for carbon footprint estimation, generative AI for extracting and summarizing structured ESG information, and a hybrid analytic hierarchy process–entropy-weighting approach. This study contributes a replicable and user-interactive approach to ESG assessment, bridging macro-level policy influence and micro-level data validity, with practical implications for investors, regulators, rating agencies, and small enterprises navigating the “long tail” of sustainable development. Full article

Zhongshan Partridge duck is a unique indigenous dual-purpose waterfowl native to China’s Pearl River Delta. This once endangered breed has been restored through conserved breeding. Its slow growth and low breast muscle yield limit industrial application, and obvious sexual dimorphism in pectoral muscle growth and metabolism lacks systematic molecular explanation. Herein, we combined GWAS, pectoral RNA-seq and untargeted metabolome to dissect regulatory networks of growth and carcass traits using 365 standardized ducks. Ten growth and carcass phenotypes were collected, and the Gompertz model fitted growth trajectories with mean R² > 0.98. Critical trait-related genes, including FTO, ACVR2B and IGFBP3, were identified by GWAS. We detected 313 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed differentially expressed pattern between high- and low-breast-weight groups in males and 309 DEGs in females. Distinct sex-specific metabolic patterns were observed: males depended on pentose phosphate and glycine–serine–threonine pathways for muscle protein deposition, whereas females utilized fatty acid β-oxidation for energy and lipid control. Lipid gene ECHS1 and growth factor PRDM16 were identified as candidate regulators mediating sexually dimorphic breast muscle development. Joint enrichment of DEGs and differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) pinpointed key pathways for myogenesis. This study elucidates multi-level sexual dimorphism in duck pectoral development, supplies molecular markers for indigenous duck conservation and breeding, and advances our understanding of poultry growth regulation. Full article

Urbanisation is a major driver of environmental contamination, yet its physiological consequences for amphibians in rapidly developing regions remain poorly understood. This study investigated spatial variation in heavy-metal bioaccumulation and associated physiological stress biomarkers in Bufo regularis along an urban–rural gradient in Southwestern Nigeria. Adult toads were sampled from Osogbo, Ile-Ife, and Modakeke sites, and concentrations of selected heavy metals (including Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Cr) were quantified in liver and muscle tissues. To assess sublethal biological effects, oxidative stress biomarkers superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) were analysed alongside body condition indices. Heavy-metal concentrations were significantly higher in individuals from Osogbo sites than in those from Ile-Ife and Modakeke locations, with Pb and Cd showing the strongest spatial gradients. Correspondingly, Osogbo populations exhibited elevated antioxidant enzyme activities and MDA levels, indicating heightened oxidative stress, while GSH levels and body condition indices were reduced. These findings demonstrate that B. regularis effectively reflects spatial patterns of metal pollution and associated biological effects across land-use gradients. The study highlights the utility of amphibians as bioindicators of urban environmental health and underscores the potential long-term ecological consequences of metal contamination in tropical urbanising landscapes. Full article

The digital revolution has transformed the face of mass media from a one-way channel to an interactive space that dynamically shapes public opinion. In Indonesia, this dynamic is increasingly crucial as the media oversees law enforcement amid a surge of scandals involving officials. This paper investigated how YouTube shapes public perceptions of the crisis of trust in law enforcement. Unlike previous qualitative research, we employed a quantitative approach grounded in data science and social computing. Using zero-shot prompt engineering techniques in large language models (LLMs), we analyzed the relationship between editorial stance and audience response. This paper utilized media stance detection to identify editorial positions, sentiment analysis to dissect opinion polarity, named entity recognition (NER) to map the targets of these sentiments, and pseudo-labeling techniques for the morality dimension. Our findings revealed an interesting pattern: while the model classified the stance as neutral, on the contrary, the model captured predominantly negative sentiment with a strong focus on individual actors and moral framing in digital discourse. Full article

Olive leaf biomass, generated as a residue of olive cultivation, represents a readily available source of phenolic compounds with recognized nutraceutical potential. However, the composition of these bioactive compounds is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of cultivar and sampling period on the biophenolic composition and mineral nutrient content of olive leaves from six cultivars maintained under comparable environmental conditions in central Dalmatia, Croatia. Leaves were collected during the harvest and pruning periods. Phenolic compounds were determined by HPLC and mineral nutrients by ICP-MS, FAAS, and UV/Vis spectrophotometry. Significant cultivar-dependent differences were observed for most analyzed phenolic compounds and mineral nutrients. Cultivar ‘Leccino’ exhibited the highest concentrations of several phenolic compounds and total phenols during the pruning period, while distinct accumulation patterns were recorded among cultivars. Ten of the thirteen individual phenolic compounds showed a significant sampling-period effect; nine were higher during the pruning period, whereas apigenin was higher at harvest. Seven of the ten mineral nutrients were significantly affected by sampling period, all of them decreasing towards pruning. Multivariate analysis identified cultivar as the dominant source of variation in both fractions, and the phenolic and mineral profiles were congruent among cultivars within each sampling period. Higher phenolic accumulation during the pruning period differed in magnitude among cultivars for 15 of the 24 variables. These findings support the potential valorization of olive leaves as a source of bioactive compounds and highlight cultivar and sampling period as important considerations for their targeted utilization. Full article

This study examined the determinants of both the intention to use and the self-reported use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in academic research by means of a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM), collecting data from 167 research-active faculty members at three higher education institutions in southwestern Colombia. The findings show that perceived ease of use is the strongest predictor of usage intention, followed by social influence and perceived benefits, whereas social influence emerges as the primary predictor of perceived benefits. Contrary to the conventional reading that associates resource deficits with non-adoption, individual resource barriers are positively associated with perceived benefits, supporting a compensatory logic: the greater the constraints of time and knowledge, the higher the value attributed to a tool capable of mitigating them. Concerns about AI output quality exhibit an asymmetric pattern, as they are unrelated to perceived benefits yet are associated with lower usage intention, suggesting that these concerns operate as a behavioral brake without eroding the recognized utility. The main contribution lies in identifying this dissociation between the recognition of utility and the willingness to act accordingly. It is concluded that GAI is valued as a useful tool for compensating research-related deficits, yet it coexists with concerns about the quality of its outputs that must be addressed by institutions through training, communities of practice, and clear guidelines on verification and responsible use. Full article

This study investigates the structural characteristics, annual trends, and qualitative rationales underlying modified audit opinions issued within the independent audit reports of Turkish banks between 2022 and 2025. Utilizing a formal content analysis of 248 bank-year independent audit reports based on a complete census approach, the study evaluates the incidence and persistence of modifications under ISA 705 and IAS 37. The empirical findings reveal a recurring pattern of qualified opinions associated with unmandated discretionary provisioning, with all qualified opinions in the sample issued by Big Four audit firms and recurring across multiple reporting periods. Interpreted through institutional decoupling and signaling perspectives, the findings are consistent with the possibility that these qualifications may reflect interactions between accounting requirements, regulatory conditions, and provisioning practices rather than providing direct evidence of financial distress or managerial intent. The study contributes to the auditing and banking literature by examining the accounting bases and longitudinal patterns underlying modified audit opinions and by discussing their implications within an institutional framework relevant to emerging economies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of congenital morbidity and mortality, but evidence from public pediatric cardiology services in Brazil remains limited. This study aimed to characterize the clinical and epidemiological profile of children and adolescents referred to a public pediatric cardiology service in Southern Brazil, including referral patterns, diagnostic findings, and healthcare utilization, and to explore factors associated with age-appropriate development. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, medical records of patients aged 0–17 years referred to and evaluated at a public university hospital in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic, referral, clinical, diagnostic, hospitalization, family history, school performance and developmental data were extracted. Groups were compared using the chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. Poisson regression with robust variance estimated prevalence ratios in an exploratory secondary analysis of age-appropriate development. Sensitivity analyses were performed excluding isolated patent foramen ovale, applied a stricter structural CHD definition, restricted the adjusted analysis to patients who underwent echocardiography, and modeled age using clinical categories. Results: Among 263 referred patients, CHD was confirmed in 128 (48.7%); among these, 84% had acyanotic and 16% had cyanotic CHD. Suspected heart disease was the most frequent reason for referral (64%). Echocardiography was performed in all patients with confirmed CHD compared with 24% of those without CHD, and hospitalization was more frequent among patients with confirmed CHD (52% vs. 21%). In the exploratory adjusted analysis, no statistically significant overall association was detected between CHD category and age-appropriate development (p = 0.122). The estimate for cyanotic CHD suggested a lower prevalence than no CHD, but the confidence interval included the null and the estimate was imprecise (adjusted PR 0.745; 95% CI 0.553–1.002). Age at evaluation showed a small inverse association. Sensitivity analyses yielded estimates in the same direction as the primary model, while the overall CHD-category association was statistically significant only in the analysis restricted to patients who underwent echocardiography. Conclusions: Under the record-based operational definition, CHD was confirmed in nearly half of the referred patients, predominantly acyanotic. These findings characterize the clinical and epidemiological profile and healthcare demands of children reaching specialized pediatric cardiology care in southern Brazil and may support improvements in referral pathways and planning of specialized care for patients with CHD. Full article

DC distribution networks employing a low-current grounding method offer high power supply reliability. However, when a single-pole grounding fault occurs on a feeder, the fault current characteristics are not distinct, making accurate fault identification and feeder protection challenging. Prolonged operation with the fault may cause insulation damage, potentially leading to pole–pole short-circuit faults and escalating the incident. Therefore, equipping the system with reliable and rapid feeder protection is crucial. This paper analyzes the fault current in a two-level VSC-based DC distribution system under single-pole grounding faults, clarifies the relationship between the transient current of the feeder and the line capacitive current, and further investigates the variation patterns of fault transient current and Teager-based signal-feature characteristics. Based on this, a single-pole grounding fault protection method utilizing the Teager instantaneous-current feature is proposed. The Teager energy operator is employed to extract the instantaneous current feature of each feeder, and a protection criterion is constructed using the dimensionless feature ratio between the faulty pole and the non-fault pole to identify the faulty feeder. A simulation model of the DC distribution network is built using MATLAB/Simulink. Simulation results show that the proposed protection method can adapt to various scenarios, including different line faults, fault locations, fault resistances, and noise, while demonstrating satisfactory performance. Full article

Elucidating the spatiotemporal interaction patterns among cotton yield, fiber quality, and seed nutritional traits is crucial for the efficient use of cotton as an oil, fiber, and feed crop and for advancing multi-objective breeding. A two-year field experiment (2023–2024) with eight upland cotton varieties was conducted to systematically analyze the dynamic evolution and association networks of multiple traits across flowering stages and canopy positions. Significant genotypic differences were observed: J206-5 (A8) showed a strong yield potential; Tada 1611 (A6) demonstrated an excellent and stable fiber quality; and Xinhuimian 230 (A4) and Shida K9 (A5) showed a consistently high oil and protein accumulation. Temporally, mid-July emerged as a critical window for the synergistic improvement of the fiber quality and protein, while late July favored the boll weight, lint percentage, and oil content. Spatially, the central fruit branches optimized the yield; the upper branches enhanced nutrient accumulation; and the lower branches showed a superior fiber quality. Correlation analysis revealed that fiber quality traits had a stable internal structure, but yield–quality associations were significantly reshaped by interannual environmental fluctuations. Notably, the oil content and protein content were positively correlated across years and positions, yet independently of fiber traits, suggesting that kernel nutrition and fiber development are governed by relatively independent pathways. A comprehensive evaluation classified the germplasm into three groups: integrated high-yield, high-quality, high-nutrition types; trait-specific types; and poor performers. This study provides systematic evidence for the phenotypic feasibility of synergistically improving cottonseed nutrition and fiber quality. It identifies July 17 as the critical flowering window and middle fruit branches as the core canopy position for multi-trait coordination, offering a theoretical basis and practical reference for oil–fiber–feed utilization and multi-objective breeding in southern Xinjiang cotton. Full article

Conventional nitrogen fertilizers are often constrained by a short effective period, high nitrogen loss rates, and low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Novel amino acid-based fertilizers, such as polyaspartic acid (PASP)-urea, offer a promising solution to mitigate nitrogen losses and enhance crop NUE. To evaluate the efficacy of PASP-urea in paddy fields, field and pot experiments were conducted in 2019 and 2020 using two rice cultivars, Shuhui 498 and Duohui 1. The study assessed three fertilizer treatments: PASP-urea, conventional urea, and a no-urea control. By analyzing soil and plant nitrogen content, root architecture, gene expression, and grain yield, this study investigated the relationship between PASP-urea application, soil nitrate distribution, and root architecture configuration. Compared with conventional urea, PASP-urea significantly increased nitrate concentration in the 0–10 cm soil layer for both rice varieties by 45.8–81.4% at 30 days after tillering fertilization. Concurrently, it significantly upregulated the expression of nitrate transporters NRT1.1A and NRT1.1B and promoted greater root distribution in the nitrate-enriched topsoil. This root distribution pattern promotes the uptake and utilization of nitrogen by rice plants. Consequently, PASP-urea increased grain yield by 6.7–11.7%, while nitrogen agronomic efficiency (NAE), nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE), and nitrogen partial factor productivity (PFP) increased by 15.2–25%, 17.8–49.6%, and 6.8–11.2%, respectively. These results indicate that PASP-urea enhances NUE and is associated with increased topsoil nitrate concentration, upregulated nitrate uptake genes, and a remodeled root architecture, offering a viable strategy for sustainable rice production. Full article

Background: Monitoring antibiotic consumption represents an important objective for antimicrobial stewardship programs in hospitals. The aim of this study was to analyze antibiotic consumption patterns in three Romanian hospitals. Methods: A five-year retrospective study was conducted using monthly pharmacy consumption data from three Romanian hospitals for the years 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Antibiotic consumption was quantified using defined daily doses (DDD) per 100 bed-days. Antibiotics were grouped using the World Health Organization AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification. Results: The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in overall antibiotic consumption among the three hospitals (p < 0.001). A significant annual correlation between hospitalization days and antibiotic consumption was observed for some years in two of the facilities. Post hoc analysis confirmed statistically significant differences across all AWaRe category pairwise comparisons. Watch antibiotics had the highest consumption rates (over 60%). By therapeutic classes, the highest overall consumption was for cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, penicillins, and carbapenems. Cefuroxime accounted for the highest cumulative consumption, followed by ceftriaxone, meropenem, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole. Conclusions: Antibiotic consumption differed among the participating hospitals and study years. Monitoring antibiotic consumption provides valuable information on hospital antibiotic utilization patterns and can support evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals. Full article

Against the backdrop of industrialization and urbanization, China’s cropland resource utilization has changed significantly, yet existing research lacks integrated zoning and formation mechanisms. Taking the Huang–Huai–Hai region as a case, this study constructed an indicator system covering quantitative endowment, landscape morphology, natural background, and production functions from the perspective of dominant and recessive land-use transitions. Based on the general characteristics and spatiotemporal evolution of different cropland resource utilization forms, we used 3S technology and the CART algorithm to classify the 52 cities in the Huang–Huai–Hai region into five cropland resource utilization patterns. From 2000 to 2020, these patterns evolved from fragmented and extensive to large-scale, intensive, and functional. Market reforms and land tenure interventions were closely associated with this evolution, as they affected labor allocation, property rights, farming practices, technology, and farmers’ risk aversion. This study enriches cropland resource utilization theory and supports territorial optimization for high-quality agriculture in the region. Full article

Efficient nitrogen acquisition and utilization are essential for sustainable wheat production in contrasting management systems. However, little is known about how genotype × management interactions are associated with tissue-specific expression of nitrogen (N)-related genes in durum wheat under organic and conventional field conditions. This study evaluated the agronomic, physiological, and molecular responses of 12 durum wheat genotypes (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) grown under organic and conventional management during the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 growing seasons. Six genotypes, comprising four higher-performing and two lower-performing genotypes, were selected for molecular analysis. The expression of ten genes involved in nitrate and ammonium transport and N assimilation was analyzed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in leaf, stem, and root tissues. The mean grain yield was 4078.29 kg ha⁻¹ under organic management and 3997.35 kg ha⁻¹ under conventional management. Thus, mean grain yield was approximately 2.0% higher under organic management. Genotypic responses differed between the two systems: AYM-6 had the highest grain yield under conventional management (5201.92 kg ha⁻¹), whereas AYM-3 had the highest grain yield under organic management (5059.72 kg ha⁻¹). Among the ten genes, NRT2.1 and GS1 had higher transcript abundance under conventional management, whereas the other eight had higher transcript abundance under organic management. GS1 generally had the highest transcript abundance, while NRT1 had the lowest. Gene expression was strongly tissue-dependent, with leaves generally showing the highest transcript levels. Gene–trait analysis further revealed a positive relationship between leaf NRT2.1 expression and grain yield under conventional management (R² = 0.78, p = 0.020) and a negative relationship between root NRT1.1 expression and grain yield under organic management (R² = 0.68, p = 0.043). The results showed management- and genotype-specific agronomic responses, while selected N-related gene-expression patterns were associated with grain yield in a tissue- and management-dependent manner. These findings support the evaluation and selection of durum wheat genotypes directly within the target management system. Full article

Background: Bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAVD) is the most frequent congenital heart disease, occurring either as an isolated lesion or in association with other congenital cardiovascular malformations, with variable patterns of progression and risk of valvular and vascular complications. Studies addressing pediatric bicuspid aortopathy are still in their infancy. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on the current scientific evidence regarding BAVD-associated aortopathy in pediatric patients, underscoring multiple challenges in initial diagnosis, long-term surveillance, and therapeutic decision-making, and focusing on the potential roles of circulating biomarkers and advanced multimodal imaging tools that may improve individualized risk stratification. Methods: Despite the narrative design of this review, a structured search of the current available literature was performed to identify studies addressing pediatric BAV, associated aortopathy, biomarkers, vascular remodeling, and multimodal imaging. Priority was given to pediatric cohorts, longitudinal studies, consensus documents, and contemporary guidelines. The search was conducted in the online databases PubMed/Medline and Web of Science for English-language original articles published in the last 10 years, up to May 2026. We used the following main terms: “Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease” [MeSH], “Aorta” [MeSH], “Infant” [MeSH], “Child” [MeSH], “Adolescent” [MeSH], combined by Boolean operators with secondary keywords: “pathogenesis”, “mechanism”, “progression”, “multimodal imaging”, “echocardiography”, “cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging”, “computed tomography”, “circulating biomarkers”. The retrieved studies were screened for eligibility using previously established inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 63 studies were included in the analysis for this narrative review. Results: Two main theories underpin the etiopathogenesis of aortopathy associated with the bicuspid aortic valve, positing that genetic factors predispose the aortic wall to remodeling in an abnormal hemodynamic environment. Embryological development and dysregulation of molecular and cellular structures are also intertwined during the formation and progression of the aortic valve with two semilunar cusps, resulting in consequent alterations in the aortic wall’s architectural organization. Advances in molecular studies have highlighted circulating biomarkers with potential utility in predicting aortopathy, as they are involved in extracellular matrix remodeling, endothelial dysfunction, and aortic valve calcification, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and microRNAs. In addition, multimodal imaging techniques have emerged as essential tools for assessing the morphology and function of cardiovascular structures, particularly aortic biomechanical properties and hemodynamic abnormalities, at the time of initial diagnosis and during regular monitoring. Taken together, blood biomarkers and imaging parameters of aortic remodeling and flow disturbances might gain increasing prognostic value in pediatric BAVD-associated aortopathy. However, larger longitudinal studies are required for clinical validation beyond research settings. Although guidelines on the management of BAVD are available for adults, they are not entirely applicable to children, who are undergoing continuous somatic growth that affects diagnostic possibilities and therapeutic options. Conclusions: Despite growing literature in the realm of BAVD and related conditions, the management of pediatric patients remains challenging in daily clinical practice, as adult guidelines cannot be completely applied to children. Given the heterogeneity and complexity of pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentations, natural history, and outcomes, future research is warranted to explore the progression profiles of valvular and vascular disorders associated with BAV in children and to achieve an optimal approach to pediatric bicuspid aortopathy. Full article