Search Results (4,483)

Energy transition includes the substitution of centralized energy systems with decentralized variable renewable energy sources (vRES), the growth of which brings drawbacks such as grid congestion and intermittency. These issues are increasingly troublesome in many local energy systems, including in The Netherlands. Biogas may provide options to provide backup renewable energy in times of energy supply uncertainty. In The Netherlands, the consideration of biogas in such functions is limited. Meanwhile, local energy initiatives (LEIs) are spearheading the adoption of vRES. Because of concern over local grid balancing, LEIs may want or need to innovate and diversify their activities. Such innovation could include bioenergy in general, and biogas specifically. However, only a small number of LEIs consider bioenergy, and Dutch LEIs seem hesitant to venture into biogas specifically. In this paper we explore the question of what hinders adoption of biogas in The Netherlands in general, and by LEIs specifically, deploying an approach based on the technological innovation systems (TIS) concept. In that approach, we take insights from current and expected policy in The Netherlands juxtaposed with insights from similar countries surrounding The Netherlands. We conclude that historic developments in biogas already created a moderately supportive platform for large-scale biogas development, but some essential factors remain inadequately developed. Key barriers to biogas innovation, especially for LEIs, are insufficient mobilization of financial and knowledge resources, and insufficient attention to alleviating preconceptions. Dependable support and attention for socio-economic factors in policymaking would improve conditions associated with resources, preconceptions and resistance, and the situation for LEIs to explore the potential of biogas. However, it remains uncertain whether such measures would be sufficient to improve the potential of local biogas utilization in The Netherlands in a way that opens a role for biogas in solving energy transition challenges such as energy system balancing. Full article

Puberty health and sex education (PHSE) curricula are not comprehensive or inclusive towards gender-independent, intersex, non-binary, or transgender (GIaNT) youth. A majority of this population seeks this information in online settings. Over the past two years, our research team, in collaboration with GIaNT communities, has developed an open-access online educational resource (OER) intending to bridge this gap in comprehensive PHSE for GIaNT youth in a gender-affirming, fun, and interactive way. After the OER was developed, our team recruited participants (aged 16–26) to navigate our website and complete a multi-method survey to gain their feedback, insights, and perceptions on this new OER. The survey responses indicated two key themes for the development and use of the OER: facilitators and strengths, and areas for improvement. The findings from this study were used to better meet the wants and needs of this population vis-à-vis changes to be made to our OER before its public launch for open-access, free use. Full article

Background/Objectives: Regulated cell death (RCD), a process that relies on a series of molecular mechanisms, can be targeted to eliminate superfluous, irreversibly damaged, and potentially harmful cells. In this research, we want to better understand how the cell death pathway contributes to cancer therapy. Methods: We studied 1150 cancer cells in the Dependency Map (DepMap) database for 12 distinct cell death pathways and assessed their gene essentialities. Genes which are essential in 90% or more of cancer cell lines are called always essential, or partial essential if falling into (10%, 90%), or rare essential if they are essential in less than 10% of cancer cell lines. Results: Overall, among these 12 cell death pathways, 23, 47, and 549 genes were classified as always essential, partial essential, and rare essential, respectively. In two cell death pathways, Parthanatos, and Pyroptosis, all genes were rare essential. Among the other ten cell death pathways, Apoptosis, Autosis, Necroptosis, Efferocytosis, Ferroptosis, Mitotic cell death, Autophagy, Lysosome-dependent cell death, MPT-driven necrosis and Immunogenic, there are (10, 1, 13, 6, 3, 9, 11, 1, 1, 0) partial essential genes, and (2, 0, 3, 1, 1, 13, 4, 0, 0, 1) always essential genes. Conclusions: These cell death pathway essential genes could be viable targets for therapeutic drug development for cancer therapies. Full article

To combat climate change, farmers want to develop sustainable agriculture that enhances food production while strengthening their capacity to cope with extreme weather events and pest and disease pressures. Promoting agroecological farming practices is a promising approach in enhancing sustainability and strengthening the climate-resilient farming systems. Recent research often overlooks to what extent the agroecological farming practices (AFP) provide a measurable advantage over non-AFP methods under increasing environmental challenges. In this regard, this study compares the extent of climate resilience between AFP mango-based farming systems and non-AFP mango-based farming systems in southern Ethiopia. AFP adopters applied ecological principles like intercropping, integrated pest management, agroforestry, canopy management, varietal diversity, and water and soil preservation to enhance biodiversity and soil health, and boost productivity and ecosystem services. The study employed a mixed-method design, drawing on the data from 395 selected households. The resilience of AFP and non-AFP farming systems was assessed by computing the 13 agroecosystem indicators of climate resilience using the Self-evaluation and Holistic Assessment of Climate Resilience of Farmers and Pastoralists (SHARP+) tool. Households in AFP mango-based farming system demonstrated greater diversification in agricultural production system compared to those in non-AFP mango farming system. The analysis of climate resilience indicators showed that the mango production systems under the AFP were more climate-robust than their conventional systems. Both the compound resilience score and the household resilience index showed that the mango farming systems under AFP substantially enhanced climate resilience. Hence, coordinated supports from the extension services, NGOs, and researchers are needed to scale up these benefits of AFP. Strengthening the AFP mango farming requires addressing the key barriers such as market access, input availability, and crop diversification strategies. This paper identifies important avenues for further AFP research in Sub-Saharan African countries. Full article

This essay conducts a comparative analysis of the literary use of kabbalistic motives in the two seemingly very distant authors: Jacques Derrida and Philip K. Dick. It shows how the Lurianic “fable,” conceived in the Derridean terms as a literary récit, shapes their understanding of time as an open-ended game whose outcome remains unknown. It thus wants to prove that Derrida’s essay Given Time, based on the little prose by Charles Baudelaire called “The False Coin,” and the penultimate book by Philip K. Dick, The Divine Invasion, tell the same story which is also a meta-story: a speculative meditation on the nature of temporality and story-telling, which involves the messianic “theology of risk.” In both cases we deal with what the essay terms as an “inverted Gnosticism”: while the traditional Gnostic doctrine envisions time as the factor of the world’s decay and imperfection, Derrida and Dick, inspired by the Lurianic kabbalah, see it as the chance of the world to verify itself, that is, to make itself real and true in the process of “unprejudiced becoming.” Full article

Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) cause gastrointestinal symptoms that affect patients’ quality of life. IBD improves with physical activity; however, fear of movement is a limiting factor. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of kinesiophobia and assess patients’ knowledge on the role of physical activity and physiotherapists in IBD management. Methods: Participants completed online questionnaires to evaluate demographic and clinical data, lifestyle, physical activity, joint complaints, and physiotherapy preferences. The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS) was employed to assess kinesiophobia, and the Godin scale was used to assess regular physical activity. Results: Overall, 356 patients with IBD were analyzed. In total, 51% of the patients reported a decrease in physical activity. Of these, 93% have not consulted a physiotherapist, with 51% expressing a need for it. Meanwhile, 75% of the patients wanted additional information. Higher TKS scores were associated with CD, age, and joint pain. The level of kinesiophobia was high and negatively correlated with the amount of physical activity. Conclusions: Physiotherapists play an important role in patient education and influencing lifestyle in IBD. Their expertise is underutilized, and patients should be sufficiently informed regarding their illness. Integrating education and physiotherapy may reduce kinesiophobia and improve patients’ quality of life. Full article

Pleural Mesothelioma (PM) is a rare, incurable malignancy of the pleura. Lung-sparing surgery, considered investigational, aims to prolong survival and improve quality of life (QOL). Beyond the standard quantitative measures used to determine successful surgical outcomes, an understanding of an individual’s perception of the impact surgery has had on their symptom burden and QOL has not been reported in the literature. The primary aim of this study was to explore the lived experience of dyspnea and QOL before and after lung-sparing surgery. The philosophical approach to this study was grounded in hermeneutical phenomenology. Participants underwent in-depth semi-structured interviews before and 3–4 months post-surgery, analyzed through Interpretive Phenomenological analysis. The analysis identified Group Experiential Themes (GETs) before and after surgery: Psychological (mind supports body), Physiological (body fighting, enduring, and adapting), Social (others sharing and supporting), and Existential (facing an uncertain future). The emotional impact of PM is multidimensional, involving time, internal psychological struggles, and coping with the diagnosis. The physical impact disrupts normal routines and interactions, while social interactions influence the perception of the illness experience. Facing PM disrupts normal bodily routines and interactions with the world. This study provides qualitative evidence that perceptions of dyspnea and QOL significantly impact the patient experience before and after surgery. The enriched understanding of living with mesothelioma and enduring lung-sparing surgery comes from the patients’ voices, highlighting the continuum of dyspnea and QOL influenced by various factors. Healthcare teams must consider patients’ physical, emotional, social, and existential experiences beyond measurable outcomes. Full article

Background: Intestinal barrier problems cause obesity and related health issues. We focus on treatments that fix the gut lining and change gut bacteria. Soy oligosaccharides (SOSs) are prebiotics. They change gut bacteria and help lower fats. The mechanism by which SOS affects high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity remains to be fully elucidated. Objectives: We want to see if SOS improves the mucus barrier in the gut by investigating how mucus is produced, modified and released. We hypothesise that SOS can reduce obesity and associated health problems by regulating mucus and gut bacteria. Methods: Accordingly, HFD-fed mice were used in this study. Results: The results showed that SOS alleviated HFD-induced weight gain and glucose disorders. It also enhanced the gut mucus barrier by promoting goblet cell differentiation and regulating mucus-related genes. In addition, SOS intervention was associated with increased abundance of potentially beneficial gut taxa. These bacterial changes were linked to better health measures. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that SOS confer metabolic protection against HFD-induced obesity, at least partially, by coordinately modulating the mucus–microbiota axis. Conclusions: These data suggest that SOS may alleviate obesity and related disorders by improving the intestinal mucus layer and gut microbiota. Full article

Rising energy costs and strict CO₂ traceability regulations create demand for monitoring energy and CO₂ emissions in manufacturing. This paper presents a framework for modelling component-wise energy models with deployable accuracy. In many factories, power metres log data at a sampling rate of 1–2 Hz, so short start-up peaks of components are underestimated. Manufacturers want to exploit this information to support operational decisions, such as peak shaving and optimising energy contract costs. To enable data-driven decisions with limited measurement infrastructure, energy models must extrapolate component behaviour from sparse data. The framework is based on power measurements in accordance with ISO 14955-3, ensuring that the load characteristics required for subsequent modelling are known. The measurements are then segmented, and regressions are fitted for each segment. As a case study considering the mist extractors of two different machine tools, the proposed segmentation achieved determination coefficients (R²) of up to 0.94 in the complex ramp-up phase. The resulting models are compact, interpretable, and suited for energy monitoring on edge devices. The contribution is a reproducible framework for delivering peak-aware, component-level energy models from low-frequency industrial power metre data. Full article

This paper examines the cross-cultural prevalence of the femme fatale (dangerous woman) motif using folkloric materials, ethnographic accounts, and consultations with ethnographers across 84 societies. Narratives were coded for depictions in which male protagonists suffer harm following involvement with an unfamiliar but physically attractive woman. Results show that 94% of sampled societies contain recognizable femme fatale imagery. When male motivation could be inferred, narratives overwhelmingly emphasized expectations of emotional attachment or long-term partnership rather than short-term sexual encounters. This pattern challenges interpretations that frame male involvement primarily in terms of sexual gratification or predatory intent. Instead, the findings suggest that femme fatale narratives function as culturally mediated responses to recurrent mating dilemmas rooted in asymmetric emotional investment. More broadly, the study demonstrates how universal predispositions toward attraction and attachment are symbolically elaborated within culturally specific moral frameworks. Full article

To investigate the influence of train operating speed on the transient characteristics of the pantograph–catenary arc, this paper establishes an integrated simulation model encompassing the traction network, electric locomotive, and arc. In this model, the traction network adopts a chain circuit model based on multi-conductor transmission line theory. The electric locomotive model considers the train body and the on-board transformer. For the pantograph–catenary offline arc, an improved Habedank model is employed, which takes the train operating speed and arc current as variables. Based on this model, this paper systematically investigates the variation patterns of arc electrical parameters and transient currents in each line of the traction network with train operating speed under pantograph–catenary offline. The simulation results indicate that as train speed increases, both the steady-state arc voltage and the maximum voltage at arc ignition rise, and the arc extinction time at current zero-crossing is prolonged. The peak arc currents on the contact wire, feeder, protective wire, and rails decrease, while the transient current on the ground wire increases. This study can provide a reference for the electromagnetic compatibility design, insulation coordination optimization, and electromagnetic protection of high-speed railway traction power supply systems. Full article

This narrative review integrates landmark studies, recent publications, and major clinical guidelines to highlight the current state of the art concerning acute pancreatitis, a well-known yet still challenging condition. We will focus on recent practice transitions and future perspectives arising from advances in diagnostic imaging and interventional endoscopy. Pathogenesis and etiology: We carry out an overview of the fundamental mechanisms underlying acute pancreatitis, followed by an analysis of both common and uncommon causes, along with emerging evidence regarding idiopathic forms. Diagnosis and risk stratification: We pursue two objectives: on one hand, to emphasize the enduring importance of clinical assessment in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis; on the other, to analyze the increasingly central role that imaging has acquired over recent decades. Identification of patients at higher risk for complications or an unfavorable prognosis is crucial. Several scoring systems have been proposed over the past decades, but with limited impact on daily clinical practice. Treatment: Therapeutic approaches have undergone significant revisions over time. Our objective is to provide an overview of the current standards together with best evidence-based medical approaches, targeted and interventional therapies, with focus on the endoscopic ones. Furthermore, we want to clarify the importance of nutrition and its proper management. Conclusions: Acute pancreatitis continues to stimulate discoveries and improvements in clinical management. We will place emphasis on unmet needs and emerging innovations that may importantly influence future practice also promoting evidenced-based standards of care. Full article

Experience-based co-design emphasizes understanding service-users’ experiences to inform service improvement, yet little research has explored domestic abuse survivors’ perspectives within this framework. This study examined survivors’ accounts of their interactions with the police and organizations that support domestic abuse survivors. We aimed to identify aspects of practice experienced as either helpful or in need of improvement. Semi-structured interviews with six survivors in one area of England were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Survivors described obstructive and supportive responses from formal services. Four interrelated themes were developed: The Importance of Being Understood, Believed, and Cared For; It Is Important That There Is Good Communication Between the Survivor and Formal Services; Survivors Want a Victim-Centered, Rapid, and Meaningful Response; and Specific Circumstances Sometimes Influence Opportunities for Help-Seeking. Survivors described being dismissed and disbelieved, which contributed to negative help-seeking experiences and heightened feelings of vulnerability. In contrast, empathic and timely responses validated survivors’ experiences and supported their sense of safety. The findings highlighted the importance of practice that recognizes the different forms abuse can take, provides timely, victim-centered support, and responds equitably to survivors in diverse circumstances. This study demonstrates the valuable insights gained through applying an experience-based co-design approach in this setting. Full article

Environmental sustainability has emerged as a strategic requirement of those organizations that want to remain competitive in the long run, but most companies continue to adopt green human resource management (GHRM) practices and organizational change initiatives individually, thus restraining their potential transformation. This paper constructs and confirms a combined approach of how the fit between GHRM practices and adaptive change management processes results in high performance in sustainable innovation. In this study, 83 organizations from both the manufacturing and service sectors were selected using a purposive sampling method, to ensure diversity across developed and developing countries and varying levels of GHRM integration (low, moderate, and high). The sample was chosen to represent a broad spectrum of sustainability maturity levels, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of how GHRM practices influence green product, process, and business model innovation. This selection, alongside 30 peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025, underpins the conceptual framework used to activate change preparedness and link GHRM dimensions with innovation outcomes. I demonstrate that organizations with a high GHRM–change management fit have much higher levels of innovation performance—both in terms of the number of green product innovations (485%) and more sustainable performance improvement (90.5 on average)—than low-integration organizations. Findings also reveal that leadership commitment, employee engagement, organizational learning, and systemic reinforcement are key mediating processes that enhance the effect of GHRM activities. Temporal trajectory analysis demonstrates that integrated organizations go through deployment, consolidation, and optimization phases, as well as increasing returns to performance, with an accelerating trend of 36 months. This paper is important in management research as it fills in gaps in the literature, providing an explanation of how human resource practices facilitate organizational change at the system level. In practice, this study offers evidence-based recommendations to managers who want to establish sustainability-oriented innovation capability by implementing a coordinated GHRM and adaptive change management approach. Full article