Search Results (4,351)

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of retro-cavity preconditioning with or without 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution on root surface pH as well as dislodgement resistance of NeoMTA2 and MTA Flow retro-fills. Methods: Forty-eight single-rooted human incisors were selected. After completion of endodontic treatment, root-end resections were performed, and retro-cavities were prepared. The samples were randomly divided into two groups of A and B (n = 24 each). In group A, retro-cavities were preconditioned with 2.5% NaOCl, followed by 17% EDTA solution, whereas in group B, preconditioning was performed using 2.5% NaOCl before final irrigation with normal saline. Samples in each group were randomly subdivided into two subgroups of 1 and 2. Retro-fillings in the A1 and B1 subgroups were performed with MTA Flow, and in the A2 and B2 subgroups, they were performed with NeoMTA2. Root surface pH was measured in each sample at three different stages: before preparation of retro-cavities (pH0), after retro-cavity preconditioning (pH1), and three days after retro-filling (pH2). Subsequently, the push-out bond strength (PBS) of the retro-filling materials was measured by a universal testing machine, and their failure modes were visualized under 64× magnification. Results: Preconditioning with EDTA caused a significant increase in PBS for both NeoMTA2 and MTA Flow (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the average bond strength of MTA Flow and Neo MTA2 (p = 0.271). There was a significant increase in the average pH2 compared to pH1 and pH0 across all groups (p < 0.001). Specifically, the use of EDTA led to a notable increase in the average pH2 in the MTA Flow group compared to the Neo MTA2 group (p = 0.027). Groups preconditioned with EDTA more frequently indicated a cohesive failure mode. Conclusions: The use of EDTA significantly increased the push-out bond strength of retro-fill materials to dentin. However, it did not prevent the ultimate alkalinity of retro-filled cavities. Full article

Urbanization is a rapidly accelerating global phenomenon that challenges sustainable development, requiring innovative frameworks for understanding and managing urban complexity. This study explores the application of Complexity Theory in sustainable urban development, framing cities as Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), where dynamic social, economic, environmental, and technological interactions generate emergent behaviors. A systematic literature review was conducted, analyzing 91 studies retrieved from Scopus that explicitly link Complexity Theory to urban sustainability. Key findings reveal trade-offs, such as balancing economic growth with ecological preservation and social equity, while emphasizing the role of self-organization and adaptive governance in enhancing urban resilience. Concrete examples include the application of fractal analysis in urban planning to predict sprawl and optimize infrastructure and the use of system dynamics models to align smart city initiatives with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Wider co-benefits identified include improved public health through integrated green infrastructure and the reinforcement of social cohesion via participatory urban planning. This research concludes that embracing Complexity Theory enables a holistic approach to urban sustainability, fostering adaptable, resilient systems that can better manage uncertainty. This study highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative policy frameworks to navigate the multifaceted challenges of modern urbanization. Full article

The key role of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation in the sensory quality of set yogurt made from whole oats was demonstrated. The optimal process was established by the orthogonal and response surface methodology based on the acidity, textural, and rheological properties. The results indicated that the enzymatic hydrolysis appropriately consisted of liquefaction with 12 U/mL α-amylase at 70 °C and pH 6.5 for 60 min, followed by saccharification with 400 U/mL α-1,4-glucan glucohydrolase at 60 °C and pH 4.5 for 60 min. The Streptococcus thermophilus ST15 and Lactobacillus bulgaricus 20249 strains were the most efficacious strains, with a 0.1% inoculation for the fermentation at 42 °C for 16 h. So, a soft semisolid oat yogurt formed with an 8% solid–liquid ratio, which exhibited an acidity of 73.17 °T, a cohesiveness ratio of 0.51, and a maximum apparent viscosity of 1902.67 Pa·s. The coagulated texture of the oat yogurt was closely associated with the exopolysaccharide (EPS) yield up to 304.99 mg/L. These findings supported the optimal processing of oat yogurt, especially its correlation with the high capacity of EPS production by strains. It is an innovative and feasible way to improve the properties of set-type oat yogurt, especially the utilization of the whole oat. Full article

As a pivotal research method in the field of granular computing (GrC), fuzzy rough sets (FRSs) have garnered significant attention due to their successful overcoming of the limitations of traditional rough sets in handling continuous data. This paper is dedicated to exploring the application potential of FRS models within the framework of multi-source complex information systems, which undoubtedly holds profound research significance. Firstly, a novel multi-source mixed information system (MsMIS), encompassing five distinct data types, is introduced, thereby enriching the dimensions of data processing. Subsequently, a similarity function, designed based on the unique attributes of the data, is utilized to accurately quantify the similarity relations among objects. Building on this foundation, fuzzy T-norm operators are employed to integrate the similarity matrices derived from different data types into a cohesive whole. This integration not only lays a solid foundation for subsequent model construction but also highlights the value of multi-source information fusion in the analysis of the MsMIS. The integrated results are subsequently utilized to develop FRS models. Through rigorous examination from the perspective of information granularity, the rationality of the FRS model is proven, and its mathematical properties are explored. This paper contributes to the theoretical advancement of FRS models in GrC and offers promising prospects for their practical implementation. Full article

Moving on in my recovery (MOIMR) is a new, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) based group intervention to support recovery from substance use disorder. It was co-developed by, and is co-facilitated with, people in recovery. This study used a grounded theory model to understand the process of change experienced by individuals who completed the group programme. Ten individuals who were abstinent from substances following their participation in MOIMR were interviewed. The model that emerged depicted a chronological series of processes that centred around a core category of gains derived from approaching their emotional vulnerability by leaning in to discomfort (e.g., difficult internal experiences like thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations) whilst pursuing activities that aligned to what mattered to them. Initial key processes indicated that participants experienced a degree of suffering from substance use prior to engagement. Group safety was a key element in fostering connection, normalisation, and cohesion, combined with psychological understanding being significantly derived from those with a lived experience of substance misuse and addiction. Later processes reflecting core ACT mechanisms such as letting go, value-guided action, and acceptance of difficult internal experiences took time to develop; many participants reported completing MOIMR more than once as a means of understanding these components. Limitations, along with implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed. Full article

Vegetation concrete is one of the most widely used substrates in ecological slope protection, but its practical application often limits the growth and nutrient uptake of plant roots due to consolidation problems, which affects the effectiveness of slope protection. This paper proposed the use of a plant protein foaming agent as a porous modifier to create a porous, lightweight treatment for vegetation concrete. Physical performance tests, direct shear tests, plant growth tests, and scanning electron microscopy experiments were conducted to compare and analyze the physical, mechanical, microscopic characteristics, and phyto-capabilities of differently treated vegetation concrete. The results showed that the higher the foam content, the more significant the porous and lightweight properties of the vegetation concrete. When the foam volume was 50%, the porosity increased by 106.05% compared to the untreated sample, while the volume weight decreased by 20.53%. The shear strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle of vegetation concrete all showed a decreasing trend with increasing foaming agent content. Festuca arundinacea grew best under the 30% foaming agent treatment, with germinative energy, germinative percentage, plant height, root length, and underground biomass increasing by 6.31%, 13.22%, 8.57%, 18.71%, and 34.62%, respectively, compared to the untreated sample. The scanning electron microscope observation showed that the pore structure of vegetation concrete was optimized after foam incorporation. Adding plant protein foaming agents to modify the pore structure of vegetation concrete is appropriate, with an optimal foam volume ratio of 20–30%. This study provides new insights and references for slope ecological restoration engineering. Full article

Background: Ministerial Decree (D.M.) 77/2022 aims to reform Italy’s primary care system by establishing community health centres and integrating digital tools to address healthcare access disparities and workforce shortages. This review focuses on frailty assessment tools, digital health innovations, and workforce challenges in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, South Tyrol, emphasising interprofessional trust and collaboration issues. Methods: Using a narrative custom review approach guided by the SANRA checklist, this study synthesised findings from PubMed, official health websites, and regional surveys on frailty, workforce dynamics, interprofessional collaboration, and digital infrastructure in South Tyrol. Results: General practitioners (GPs) exhibited high professional motivation but expressed concerns about autonomy and administrative burdens in collaborative care models. Trust issues between GPs and specialists hinder workforce cohesion and care coordination, highlighting the need for structured inter-professional communication. Frailty assessments, such as the PRISMA-7 tool, identify over 33% of community-dwelling individuals aged 75 years and older as frail, necessitating targeted interventions. Digital health adoption, particularly electronic health records and telemedicine, is slow because of workforce shortages and infrastructure limitations. Conclusions: The successful implementation of D.M. 77/2022 in South Tyrol requires addressing workforce challenges, improving interprofessional trust, expanding digital infrastructure, and integrating frailty assessment findings into care strategies. These measures are critical for achieving a more resilient, equitable, and effective primary healthcare system. Full article

Intergenerational sharing promotes social cohesion within communities by encouraging dialogue and understanding across different age groups. Nevertheless, existing research has inadequately delved into the human experiences and meaning-making processes that underpin intergenerational sharing, leading to a limited grasp of effective design intervention strategies in community spaces. This study aimed to explore the environmental and social factors influencing intergenerational interactions in community public spaces in Changsha, China, addressing two primary questions: (1) What environmental factors shape intergenerational sharing behaviors? (2) What design strategies can enhance intergenerational sharing in community public spaces? This research employed a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative observation and quantitative importance–performance analysis (IPA) through a survey of 212 residents, to investigate the intergenerational sharing needs of residents. To begin with, the study conducted a detailed analysis of the characteristics and variations in Changsha’s community public spaces. The finding revealed notable disparities in intergenerational sharing behaviors among three types of community spaces: traditional, commercial housing, and integrated neighborhoods. Through environmental behavior observation and IPA, key environmental factors influencing intergenerational sharing behaviors were identified, emphasizing areas for improvement. Based on these findings, the study proposed a design framework consisting of community planning and design, spatial layout and facility construction, and community management, with nine targeted strategies to optimize environmental factors for intergenerational sharing to cater to the unique characteristics of different community types. These findings can deepen our understanding of intergenerational sharing mechanisms and offer practical recommendations for fostering stronger interactions, providing valuable insights for future community public space design. Full article

There are significant lithological and stress differences between continental shale layers, posing challenges for hydraulic fractures (HFs) to propagate through the formations, leading to weak fracture effects. To address this, this article adopts the finite element and cohesive force element methods to formulate a three-dimensional numerical model for hydraulic fracture (HF) propagation through layers, considering interlayer lithology and stress variations. The accuracy of the model was verified by physical experiments, and the one-factor analysis method was used to creatively reveal the complex mechanism of the effect of geological and engineering variables on the diffusion of HFs in continental shale reservoirs. The results show that high interlayer stress difference, high interlayer tensile strength difference, low interlayer Young’s modulus difference and large interlayer thickness are not conducive to the penetration of HFs, but increasing the injection rate and the viscosity of fracturing fluid can effectively improve the penetration of HFs. The influence ranking of each factor was determined using the grey relational degree analysis method: interlayer stress difference > interlayer Young’s modulus difference > interlayer tensile strength difference > interlayer thickness > injection rate > fracturing fluid viscosity. Full article

The concept of a smart campus is rapidly gaining traction worldwide, driven by the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), along with the digital transformation of higher education institutions. While numerous initiatives have been undertaken to enhance the capability of smart campus systems to keep pace with AI advancements, there have been few attempts to develop a cohesive conceptual framework for the smart campus, and to date, there has been limited empirical research conducted to validate the framework. This study bridges this gap by providing the first in-depth assessment of a holistic smart campus conceptual framework. The paper uses a Delphi study approach to validate and consolidate a framework for assessing the robustness of the smart campus assessment framework for application in university settings. The framework consists of four domains, 16 categories, and 48 indicators, comprising a total of 68 items that were validated by experts across the globe. Two rounds of structured questionnaires were conducted to achieve consensus on the framework. The first round involved 34 experts from diverse geographic and professional backgrounds in the smart campus field. The second round included 21 of the earlier participants, which was sufficient to determine consensus. In total, seven of the forty-eight indicators were agreed upon after Round 1, increasing to forty-three after Round 2. The results indicate strong agreement among the experts, affirming the framework’s robustness. This study offers an expert-based, interpretive assessment of the development of the smart campus concept, with a particular focus on validating the smart campus framework. Full article

Background: ceramic tile wastewater slurry contains a large amount of fine kaolinite particles acting as a matrix for mineral filler particles of quartz and mullite. Reinforcing it with natural fibers increases its compression strength. A novel approach is using Stipa pennata fibers because of their local availability, good mechanical properties, and feathery aspect, making them able to reinforce ceramic slurry compacts. Preparation and investigation methods: Slurry conditioned at 33% humidity and milled at 6000 rpm for 5 min contains 39% quartz, 37% kaolinite, 16% mullite and 8% lepidocrocite (observed via XRD correlated with mineralogical microscopy). Kaolinite particles ensure optimal binding of the mineral filler and the Stipa pennata fibers into a dense composite structure, as observed via SEM. EDS maps reveal a local increase in C content, along with the natural fibers being associated with significant levels of Al and Si, indicating the microstructural compactness of the reinforcement layer. An additional compaction load enhances microstructural cohesion. Results: The sample without reinforcement has a compressive strength of 1.29 MPa. This increases to 2.89 MPa by adding a median reinforcing layer and reaches 3.13 MPa by adding a compaction load of 20 N. A median crossed fiber-reinforcing layer combined with the compaction load of 20 N ensures a compressive strength of 4.78 MPa. Introducing two reinforcing layers oriented perpendicular to one another ensures a compressive strength of 2.48 MPa. Lateral placement of the two reinforcing layers regarding the sample median plan causes a slight decrease in the compressive strength. SEM fractography reveals that the feather-like structure of Stipa pennata fiber acts as an anchor for the median site of the samples, slowing crack initiation under compressive efforts, creating a novel approach compared to natural fiber without lateral flakes. Conclusions: The optimal place for the reinforcement layer is the median site of the sample, and interlaced reinforcement ensures the best compressive resistance. Ceramic slurry reinforced with Stipa pennata is useful as an intermediary layer on the modular walls of ecologic buildings. Full article

The accurate prediction of the spatial variability for soil water content (SWC) in farmland is essential for water resource management and sustainable agricultural development. However, natural factors introduce uncertainty and result in poor alignment when predicting farmland SWC, leading to low accuracy. To address this, this study introduced a novel indicator: landscape indices. These indices include the largest patch index (LPI), edge density (ED), aggregation index (AI), patch cohesion index (COH), contagion index (CON), landscape division index (DIV), percentage of like adjacencies (PLA), Shannon evenness index (SHEI), and Shannon diversity index (SHDI). A Bayesian optimization–deep forest (BO–DF) model was developed to leverage these indices for predicting the spatial variability of SWC. Statistical analysis revealed that landscape indices exhibited skewed distributions and weak linear correlations with SWC (r < 0.2). Despite this, incorporating landscape index variables into the BO–DF model significantly improved prediction accuracy, with R² increasing by 35.85%. This model demonstrated a robust nonlinear fitting capability for the spatial variability of SWC. Spatial mapping of SWC using the BO–DF model indicated that high-value areas were predominantly located in the eastern and southern regions of the Yellow River Delta in China. Furthermore, the SHapley additive explanation (SHAP) analysis highlighted that landscape indices were key drivers in predicting SWC. These findings underscore the potential of landscape indices as valuable variables for spatial SWC prediction, supporting regional strategies for sustainable agricultural development. Full article

Electric vehicles (EVs) emerged as a help for Indonesia as a pathway to address environmental challenges related to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. Despite governmental efforts, including Presidential Regulation No. 55/2019, EV adoption rates in Indonesia remain low, although sales are increasing annually due to limited charging infrastructure, high upfront costs, and consumer perception. This study distinguishes itself from previous research by moving beyond a singular focus on policy, adoption factors, barriers, or economic opportunities. Instead, it integrates these dimensions into a cohesive analysis while placing particular emphasis on government policies. By adopting this multidimensional approach, the study presents a nuanced understanding of EV adoption in Indonesia, exploring not only the drivers, challenges, and economic potential but also the tangible benefits of EV manufacturing and usage for both producers and consumers within the current regulatory framework. It highlights the transformative impacts of EV adoption on key areas such as job creation, GDP expansion, and energy security, offering strategic insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders. Future research could explore rural infrastructure development, local battery production impacts, and long-term economic implications of EV in Indonesia’s ecosystem. Full article

Hydrophobization could improve the moisture resistance of biopolymer-based materials, depending on the methods and materials used, providing benefits for packaging applications. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of increasing concentrations (0–2.0%) of candelilla wax (CW) and oleic acid (OA) on the structural and physicochemical properties, including water affinity, of glycerol-plasticized pea protein isolate (PPI) films. OA acidified the film-forming solution and increased its viscosity more effectively than CW. At the highest concentration, OA prevented cohesive film formation, indicating a weakening of protein self-interaction. OA caused less yellowing, matting, and a smaller reduction in UV/VIS light transmittance compared to CW. Both lipids caused a slight reduction in the films’ water content. Phase separation (creaming) of CW enhanced surface hydrophobicity, resulting in a greater reduction in water vapor permeability than OA (~37–63% vs. 2–18%). The addition of lipids did not reduce film solubility or water absorption, and OA even increased these parameters. Increasing lipid content decreased the mechanical strength and stretchability of the films by 28–37% and 18–43%, respectively. The control film exhibited low heat-sealing strength (0.069 N/mm), which improved by 42% and 52% with the addition of CW and OA at optimal levels. Full article

Under what conditions will digital activism elicit a response from industry? What is the nature of that response and how does it impact sustainable supply chain practices? I develop three hypotheses in response to these questions by examining a recent case of digital activism targeted at the use of a controversial bioproduct in the Canadian dairy industry. Drawing on 14 key informant interviews as well as a novel Twitter dataset, I hypothesize that digital activism can elicit a response from industry when it originates with a small number of activists, provided that it also spreads to traditional media. I further hypothesize that industry’s response will be superficial and result in only token changes to sustainable supply chain practices due to the ephemerality and lack of cohesion inherent in some forms of digital activism. These hypotheses lay a foundation for broader cross-sectoral research on how industries respond to digital activism directed at their supply chains and add nuance to ongoing debates about the efficacy of digital activism as a means of changing industry practices. Full article