Search Results (182,068)

Background/Objectives: The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the impact of bariatric surgery on phase angle (PhA) and other bioimpedance measures among adults with obesity, comparing the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines, including studies up to May 2024 from MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Eligible studies assessed PhA changes pre- and post-bariatric surgery in adults with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m². Data on PhA, fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), body cell mass (BCM), weight, and BMI were extracted and analyzed. Results: Thirteen studies with a total of 1124 patients were included. Significant PhA reductions were observed at 6 months post-surgery (effect size: −1.00; 95% CI: −1.11 to −0.89; p < 0.001), with a more substantial reduction in RYGB patients compared to SG. FM and FFM decreased significantly at 12 months (FM: −27.58; 95% CI: −32.58 to −22.57; p < 0.001; FFM: −10.51; 95% CI: −12.81 to −8.94; p < 0.001). Weight and BMI showed marked reductions at 6 months (Weight: −31.42 kg; 95% CI: −37.28 to −25.26; p < 0.001; BMI: −11.39; 95% CI: −12.60 to −10.18; p < 0.001), with sustained decreases at 12 and 24 months. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery significantly reduces PhA, FM, FFM, weight, and BMI, with initial greater impacts observed in RYGB compared to SG. PhA shows potential as a marker for monitoring post-surgical recovery and nutritional status. Further long-term studies and standardized measurement protocols are recommended to optimize patient management. Full article

Türkiye is making great efforts to generate new projects within the scope of the “Türkiye Century” strategy, with the aim of increasing its effectiveness in the international community and the welfare of its citizens. In this respect, it is of great importance to conduct new studies and develop suggestions to further increase the effectiveness of new projects. This study seeks to provide a solution to the problems in politics, education, economy, public administration, justice, and corruption identified and reported by international organizations such as the OECD, the European Union, and the public institutions of the Republic of Türkiye, by associating them with the Society 5.0 strategy. The study aims to test the applicability of Society 5.0 in solving these problems through structural equation modeling using niche innovation and convergent stakeholder theories. In the light of the data obtained, it is realized that Society 5.0 has an effect on all the other variables except for one and the policy variable mediates this situation. In this regard, in accordance with the findings, it can be stated that Society 5.0 can be regarded as a significant alternative for solving the problems experienced on a suitable political basis. Full article

Soil piping erosion is an underground soil erosion process that is significantly underestimated or overlooked. It can lead to intense soil erosion and trigger surface processes such as landslides, collapses, and channel erosion. Conducting susceptibility mapping is a vital way to identify the potential for soil piping erosion, which is of enormous significance for soil and water conservation as well as geological disaster prevention. This study utilized airborne radar drones to survey and map 1194 sinkholes in Sunjiacha basin, Huining County, on the Loess Plateau in Northwest China. We identified seventeen key hydrogeomorphological factors that influence sinkhole susceptibility and used six machine learning models—support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression (LR), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF), and gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT)—for the susceptibility assessment and mapping of loess sinkholes. We then evaluated and validated the prediction results of various models using the area under curve (AUC) of the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC). The results showed that all six of these machine learning algorithms had an AUC of more than 0.85. The GBDT model had the best predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.94) and model migration performance (AUC = 0.93), and it could find sinkholes with high and very high susceptibility levels in loess areas. This suggests that the GBDT model is well suited for the fine-scale susceptibility mapping of sinkholes in loess regions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Raloxifene (RLF) is a therapeutic option for invasive breast cancer because it blocks estrogen receptors selectively. Low solubility, limited targeting, first-pass action, and poor absorption are some of the challenges that make RLF in oral form less effective. This study aimed to create an intra-tumoral in situ pH-responsive formulation of RLF–invasome (IPHRLI) for breast cancer treatment, with the goals of sustaining RLF release, minimizing adverse effects, and enhancing solubility, bioavailability, targeting, and effectiveness. Methods: Numerous RLF–invasome formulations were optimized using design expert software (version 12.0.6.0, StatEase Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA). Integrating an optimal formulation with an amalgam of chitosan and glyceryl monooleate resulted in the IPHRLI formulation. In vivo testing of the IPHRLI formulation was conducted utilizing the Ehrlich cancer model. Results: Requirements for an optimum RLF–invasome formulation were met by a mixture of phospholipids (2.46%), ethanol (2.84%), and cineole (0.5%). The IPHRLI formulation substantially sustained its release by 75.41% after 8 h relative to free RLF. The bioavailability of intra-tumoral IPHRLI was substantially raised by 4.07-fold compared to oral free RLF. Histopathological and tumor volume analyses of intra-tumoral IPHRLI confirmed its efficacy and targeting effect. Conclusions: the intra-tumoral administration of the IPHRLI formulation may provide a potential strategy for breast cancer management. Full article

The optimal conditions for synthesizing a pure chalcopyrite CuFeS₂ phase were thoroughly investigated through the combination of mechanical alloying (MA) and hot pressing (HP) processes. The MA process was performed at a rotational speed of 350 rpm for durations ranging from 6 to 24 h under an Ar atmosphere, ensuring proper mixing and alloying of the starting materials. Afterward, MA-synthesized chalcopyrite powder was subjected to HP at temperatures between 723 K and 823 K under a pressure of 70 MPa for 2 h in a vacuum. This approach aimed to achieve phase consolidation and densification. A thermal analysis via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed distinct endothermic peaks at the range of 740–749 K and 1169–1170 K, corresponding to the synthesis of the chalcopyrite phase and its melting point, respectively. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of the tetragonal chalcopyrite phase across all samples. However, a minor secondary phase, identified as Cu_1.1Fe_1.1S₂ (talnakhite), was observed in the sample hot-pressed at the highest temperature of 823 K. This secondary phase could result from slight compositional deviations or local phase transformations at elevated temperatures. The thermoelectric properties of the CuFeS₂ samples were evaluated as a function of the HP temperatures. As the HP temperature increased, the electrical conductivity exhibited a corresponding rise, likely due to enhanced densification and reduced grain boundary resistance. However, this increase in electrical conductivity was accompanied by a decrease in both the Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity. The reduction in the Seebeck coefficient could be attributed to the higher carrier concentration resulting from improved electrical conductivity, while the decrease in thermal conductivity was likely due to reduced phonon scattering facilitated by the grain boundaries. Among the samples, the one that was hot-pressed at 773 K displayed the most favorable thermoelectric performance. It achieved the highest power factor of 0.81 mWm⁻¹K⁻¹ at 523 K, indicating a good balance between the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity. Additionally, this sample achieved a maximum figure-of-merit (ZT) of 0.32 at 723 K, a notable value for chalcopyrite-based thermoelectric materials, indicating its potential for mid-range temperature applications. Full article

Analyzing the reliability of the aging class of life distribution provides important information about how long a product lasts and sustainability measures that are essential for determining the environmental impact and formulating resource-saving plans. The study emphasizes the goodness-of-fit technique of the nonparametric test for the NBRU_mgf class because age data are crucial for applications. Evaluations were conducted using the test’s asymptotic properties and Pitman efficiency methodology for some selected asymmetric probability models, and the outcomes were compared with those of alternative methods. We assessed the test’s power against widely used reliability distributions for some well-known alternative asymmetric distributions, including the Weibull, Gamma, and linear failure rate (LFR) distributions, and provided percentiles for both censored and uncensored data. This study shows the efficacy of the test in various sectors using real-world datasets and comprehensive tables of test statistics. Full article

This study explores the identity of traditional values among Chinese adolescents and its correlation with their mental health. A questionnaire survey, utilizing the Confucian Traditional Values Scale and the Secondary School Students’ Mental Health Scale, was conducted with 500 students from Grade 7 through the final year of college. Our results showed the following: (1) adolescents generally agree with traditional values; (2) there were no significant differences in overall agreement with traditional values among adolescents based on their gender, place of birth, class cadre status, only-child status, or academic major, though differences were observed in specific dimensions based on these variables; (3) traditional values identity varied across grade levels, with senior high school students showing notably higher identification than junior high school and college students, peaking in the second year of senior high school; and (4) there is a significant negative correlation between adolescents’ traditional values identity scores and their mental health scores, indicating that higher traditional values identity scores are associated with better mental health levels. These findings highlight the positive influence of traditional values on the development and well-being of Chinese adolescents, underscoring the importance of integrating these values into educational and developmental frameworks in China and other East Asian regions with similar cultural backgrounds. Full article

Girth welds are weak points in pipelines, and failures occur frequently. In a gas transmission pipeline, a girth weld experienced cracking, prompting a failure analysis using experimental methods and finite element analysis (FEA). Experimental results showed that X-ray non-destructive testing (NDT) revealed cracks, porosity, and lack of fusion in the girth weld. However, the hardness and microstructure of the material showed no abnormalities. During operation, the pipeline experienced an increase in soil cover and was subjected to ground subsidence and vehicle loads. Finite element analysis was conducted on the defective girth weld under different conditions, including varying soil cover depths, different levels of subsidence, and varying vehicle loads, to examine the pipeline’s stress response. The results indicated that the combination of soil cover, subsidence, and vehicle loads led to pipeline failure, whereas none of these factors alone was sufficient to cause girth weld failure. To prevent such failures from occurring again, the following measures are recommended: strengthen on-site welding quality control of girth welds, conduct inspections for defects in girth welds of in-service pipelines, and promptly address any defects that exceed acceptable limits. Full article

The frequency and intensity of urban flooding continuously increase due to the dual influences of climate change and urbanization. Conducting individual importance classification of urban stormwater channel networks (USCNs) is of significant importance for alleviating urban flooding and facilitating targeted stormwater management implementation. However, a quantitative classification method is lacking for trellis networks, which are a common type of USCN. This study proposed a novel importance classification methodology for channel segments in most types of USCNs, especially suitable for trellis networks, based on permutation and algebraic graph theory. The concept of permutation was integrated into the methodology to measure the importance of each channel segment to the USCN. Algebraic graph theory was employed to quantify the topological structure and hydraulic characteristics of the USCN. To verify the applicability and rationality of the proposed methodology, a real-world city with trellis USCNs in China (i.e., Huai’an) was selected as the study area. Seventy channel segments in the USCN were efficiently classified into three categories based on individual importance. This study provided a decision-support methodology from the perspective of individual importance classification in the USCN and offered valuable reference for urban flooding managers. Full article

Parents of children With Special Needs and Disabilities (W-SND) who require long-term healthcare are at high risk of Parental Burnout (PB). However, most studies have focused on PB among parents of children Without Special Needs (WO-SN). This study aimed to develop a new model explaining PB of mothers of children W-SND/WO-SN. The main hypothesis was that the nexus of correlations between risk factors of PB (severity of child’s disability/challenge, perceived caregiver burden) and protective resources (social support, learned resourcefulness, deep emotion work) will explain the variance of PB of mothers of children W-SND and WO-SN. A questionnaire assessing PB, its risk factors, and protective resources was completed by 352 Israeli mothers of children W-SND (mean age 36.9) or WO-SN (mean age 32.3). The child’s disabilities were communicative, physical, intellectual and developmental. The main results are that mothers of children W-SND reported higher PB, higher caregiver burden, and a higher severity of disability. About 50% of PB variance was significantly explained by the nexus of correlations between selected risk and protective factors. Among all mothers, the more social support they received, the higher their learned-resourcefulness. However, learned resourcefulness mediates the correlation between caregiver burden and PB among mothers of children W-SND. Accordingly, it is important to increase awareness among healthcare professionals regarding the risk factors and symptoms of PB, and to develop workshops on protective resources in order to prevent PB and promote mothers’ well-being. Further research should be conducted among fathers and parents from diverse cultures. Full article

Background: Meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials were inconclusive regarding the role of gabapentinoids in patients undergoing joint arthroplasties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a preoperative low dose of gabapentin in patients undergoing total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasties (TKA). Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 135 patients undergoing THA and TKA at the National Orthopedic Hospital Cappagh, Dublin, from July to December 2022. The primary outcome was the assessment of numerical rating scores (NRS) for postoperative pain at various time intervals. Results: During the observation period, 55 patients received a preoperative dose of gabapentin, while 80 patients did not. Statistically significant differences in numerical rating scores (NRS) were found at 6 (3 vs. 0, p < 0.001), 12 (4 vs. 2, p < 0.001), 18 (4 vs. 3, p < 0.001), and 24 h (4 vs. 3, p = 0.010) after surgery, in favor of the group receiving gabapentin. A reduction in opioid consumption, measured as morphine equivalents, was also noted in the gabapentin group (40 vs. 30 mg, p = 0.040). Conclusions: A low preoperative dose of gabapentin was associated with reduced postoperative pain and opioid consumption in patients undergoing TKA and THA, without impacting hospital stay. Prospectively designed trials are encouraged to assess the safety and effect on pain control of a preoperative low dose of gabapentin. Full article

Piezoresistive sensors composed of nickel nanostrands, nickel-coated carbon fibers, and silicone can be used to measure large physical deflections but exhibit viscoelastic properties and creep, leading to a complex and nonlinear electrical response that is difficult to interpret. This study considers the impact of modifying the geometry and architecture of the sensors on their mechanical and electrical performance. Varying the sensor thickness leads to potentially significant differences in conductive fiber alignment, while adding external layers of pure silicone provides elastic support for the sensors, potentially reducing their extreme viscoelastic nature. The impact of such modifications on both mechanical and electrical behavior was assessed by analyzing strain to failure, the magnitude of hysteresis with cycling, the repeatability of the electro-mechanical response, the strain level at which resistance begins to monotonically decrease, and the drift in electrical response with cycling. The results indicate that thicker single-layer sensors have less electrical drift. Sensors with a multilayered architecture exhibit several improvements in behavior, such as increasing the range of the monotonic region by approximately 52%. These improvements become more significant as the thickness of the pure silicone layers increases. Full article

To clarify the adaptation strategies of cold-tolerant wheat against global warming, this study examined the effects of daily temperature, precipitation, and sunshine duration on wheat yield in Hokkaido, Japan, over 13 years (2011–2023). Yield components were also analyzed over 20 years (2004–2023). The number of snow-cover days decreased by about 24 days over the 20-year period. As a result, the growth of overwintered wheat accelerated, with the heading and maturity of plants advancing by about 8 and 5 days, respectively, and the grain-filling period extending from about 44 to about 48 days. Multiple regression analysis was conducted using wheat yield as the objective variable and weather conditions as explanatory variables. Three weather conditions were selected: precipitation for 8 days from 27 March, sunshine hours for 8 days from 21 March, and sunshine hours for 12 days from 13 June, which yielded a coefficient of determination of 0.953. Despite the highest mean summer temperatures on record being registered in 2023, high yields were ensured by the number of sunshine hours, which were approximately 1.5 times the normally recorded hours. This highlights the importance of this parameter in mitigating the impact of high summer temperatures. Full article

Background: This study examines nationwide prevalence of US childhood behavioral, mental, and developmental problems in the 6–11 age group category between 2019 and 2022, and several key metrics related to caregiver social determinants of health. Methods: We used NSCH data for 6–11-year-old children for the years 2019–2022. Summary statistics for the selected sample were generated and binary logistic regressions were conducted for each severity level binary variable for each study year with caregiver mental or emotional health as a covariate. Results: Our study found significant associations between severe childhood anxiety and “fair” or “poor” caregiver rankings of mental and emotional health for both the 2020 and 2022 survey years. Our study also found that caregiver mental and emotional health may play a role in childhood ADD and ADHD prevalence rates as caregivers who ranked their mental health as “fair” or “good” had significantly higher odds of having a child with severe ADD or ADHD than caregivers who reported “excellent” mental and emotional health. Conclusion: These findings support prospects of an increase in the need for developmental health services, thus necessitating efforts towards effective allocation and focus of developmental treatment programs tailored to children and pediatric population groups. Full article

The effects of balanced fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) on foxtail millet productivity and the soil environment under the same conditions of total nutrients have received limited research attention. Therefore, in this study, three balanced fertilization patterns of 27-14-10 (T1), 27-17-7 (T2), and 30-10-11 (T3), and one no fertilization treatment (CK), a total of four treatments, were set up through a two-year field experiment to study the effects of balanced fertilization patterns on foxtail millet yield and soil environment. Mantel analysis was conducted to reveal the correlation between soil environmental factors and the community and their contribution to productivity. The results showed that: (1) all balanced fertilization treatments significantly increased foxtail millet yield, with the highest yield in the T1 treatment. (2) The contents of EC, available K, available P, and alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen in the soil of the two-year TI treatments were higher than those of the other treatments and increased by 7.20–9.36%, 24.87–52.35%, 55.83–56.38%, and 21.05–43.95%, respectively, compared with CK. (3) Soil urease activity in the T1 treatment increased significantly by 26.67% and 9.00% compared with the control over the two years. Sucrase activity increased by 36.27% and 23.88% in the T1 treatment compared to CK, and glutaminase activity increased by 33.33% and 19.23% in the T1 treatment compared to CK. (4) T1 treatment significantly increased the OUT number and diversity index of the soil bacterial community. (5) Mantel analysis and principal component analysis showed that available soil nutrients and soil enzymes were positively correlated, and soil enzymes and soil nutrients contributed more to foxtail millet productivity. In this study, the 27-14-10 balanced fertilization pattern was more effective, providing a theoretical basis for the research and development of special fertilizers for foxtail millet and offering technical guidance for realizing the light simplified cultivation of foxtail millet and sustainable development of cost–saving and increased efficiency. Full article