Search Results (121,574)

Cultural heritage virtual tourism offers users a novel digital heritage experience, becoming an essential channel for cultural dissemination and preservation. However, how to stimulate users’ continuous behavioral intention remains unresolved. This study integrates the Stimulus–Organism–Response theory (SOR) and experience economy theories to construct a comprehensive model, exploring factors influencing users’ continuous intentions in cultural heritage virtual tourism. By analyzing data from 451 valid questionnaires through structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) methods, several key findings emerged. The SEM results show that (1) esthetics, entertainment, escapism, education, and connection experiences all positively affect perceived value and satisfaction; (2) except for escapism, other experiences positively influence cultural identity; and (3) perceived value, satisfaction, and cultural identity significantly impact continuous intention. The FsQCA results show that (1) in high continuous intention scenarios, perceived value, satisfaction, and cultural identity are core conditions, while esthetics, entertainment, escapism, education, and connection act as supporting conditions, enhancing users’ willingness to continue engaging under different configurations; (2) in low continuous intention cases, the absence of escapism, satisfaction, cultural identity, education, esthetics, and connection weakens users’ virtual tourism experiences, leading to a decline in continuous usage intentions. This study provides theoretical and practical insights for promoting users’ continuous intentions in cultural heritage virtual tourism. Full article

Background: Pyroptosis, an inflammatory cell death, is involved in the progression of atherosclerosis. Pyroptosis in endothelial cells (ECs) and its underlying mechanisms in atherosclerosis are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of a caspase-4/5-NF-κB pathway in pyroptosis in palmitic acid (PA)-stimulated ECs and EVs as players in pyroptosis. Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in an endothelial cell medium, treated with Ox-LDL, PA, caspase-4/5 inhibitor, NF-κB inhibitor, and sEV release inhibitor for 24 h, respectively. The cytotoxicity of PA was determined using an MTT assay, cell migration using a scratch-wound-healing assay, cell morphology using bright field microscopy, and lipid deposition using oil red O staining. The mRNA and protein expression of GSDM-D, CASP4, CASP5, NF-κB, NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 were determined with RT-PCR and Western blot. Immunofluorescence was used to determine NLRP3 and ICAM-1 expressions. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were isolated using an exosome isolation kit and were characterized by Western blot and scanning electron microscopy. Results: PA stimulation significantly changed the morphology of the HUVECs characterized by cell swelling, plasma membrane rupture, and increased LDH release, which are features of pyroptosis. PA significantly increased lipid accumulation and reduced cell migration. PA also triggered inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, as evidenced by NLRP3 activation, upregulation of ICAM-1 (endothelial activation marker), and pyroptotic markers (NLRP3, GSDM-D, IL-1β, IL-18). Inhibition of caspase-4/5 (Ac-FLTD-CMK) and NF-κB (trifluoroacetate salt (TFA)) resulted in a significant reduction in LDH release and expression of caspase-4/5, NF-κB, and gasdermin D (GSDM-D) in PA-treated HUVECs. Furthermore, GW4869, an exosome release inhibitor, markedly reduced LDH release in PA-stimulated HUVECs. EVs derived from PA-treated HUVECs exacerbated pyroptosis, as indicated by significantly increased LDH release and augmented expression of GSDM-D, NF-κB. Conclusions: The present study revealed that inflammatory, non-canonical caspase-4/5-NF-κB signaling may be one of the crucial mechanistic pathways associated with pyroptosis in ECs, and pyroptotic EVs facilitated pyroptosis in normal ECs during atherosclerosis. Full article

Aggressiveness is one of the personality traits of crustaceans, playing a crucial role in their growth, life history, and adaptability by influencing resource acquisition. However, the neuroregulatory mechanisms of aggressiveness in crustaceans remain poorly understood. The thoracic ganglion offers valuable insights into complementary aspects of aggression control. This study identified the aggressiveness of swimming crabs Portunus trituberculatus, conducted transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of the thoracic ganglia, and confirmed the neural regulatory effects on aggressiveness. Behavioral analyses showed that highly aggressive individuals exhibited increased frequency and duration of chela extension, more frequent attacks, approaches and retreats, as well as extended movement distances. Omics analysis revealed 11 key candidate genes and three metabolites associated with aggressiveness, which were primarily enriched in pathways related to energy metabolism and neurodegeneration. Injection of an NMDAR activator significantly decreased aggressiveness in highly aggressive crabs, accompanied by a significant increase in NMDAR protein fluorescence intensity and downregulation of NR2B, CaMKII, and CREB genes. Conversely, when lowly aggressive crabs were injected with an NMDAR inhibitor, they showed increased aggressiveness alongside significantly decreased NMDAR protein fluorescence intensity, upregulated NR2B expression, and downregulated CaMKII and CREB genes. These results suggest that NMDAR within the thoracic ganglia serves as a key receptor in modulating aggressiveness in P. trituberculatus, potentially by influencing neural energy state via the NMDAR-CaMKII pathway, which in turn affects oxidative phosphorylation, cAMP, and FoxO pathways. Full article

Tourism development should be economically viable, environmentally responsible, and aligned with community goals. Participation in decision-making ensures that community values are reflected in sustainable tourism guidelines. Traditional methods of public engagement in tourism planning include public meetings, focus groups, and interviews, as outlined in the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) framework, which ranges from education to empowerment. However, the rise of information technology and digital platforms has brought about new participatory channels, such as Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGISs), which use geospatial technologies to improve decision-making. This paper investigates the use of PPGISs in the tourism industry based on a thorough review of peer-reviewed literature from 2000 to 2024. By examining the use of PPGISs in tourism, the study identifies common characteristics and the scope of existing research, emphasizing how PPGISs can be applied across various tourism sectors. The study discovered that PPGIS is a credible alternative to traditional public participation methods and provides useful insights into residents’ perspectives on tourism-related issues. This study contributes to the tourism field by thoroughly understanding PPGIS applications, proposing future research strategies, and suggesting how these technologies can enhance public engagement and decision-making in tourism planning. Full article

Rooibos tea, traditionally consumed by Indigenous populations, is naturally caffeine-free and contains unique polyphenols with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycaemic properties. As such, a systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023467829) to evaluate the potential association between rooibos tea consumption and health outcomes. Relevant articles were searched from journal inception until October 2024 using five electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection and Google Scholar) and one register (Cochrane Clinical Register of Controlled Trials). Included studies involved consumption of any rooibos tea beverage or supplement in humans 18 years or older and reported any health outcomes measured pre- and post-intervention. Following article screening and full text review, eight studies (175 participants) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and investigated the effects of rooibos consumption on biological [blood (n = 6); urine (n = 1)] and physiological [heart metrics (n = 2); muscle strength (n = 1)] health markers. Based on the included studies, the findings suggest benefits of rooibos consumption, particularly related to cardiometabolic health, with five studies supporting significant (p < 0.05) results. However, there is insufficient evidence to support the health benefits of rooibos consumption given the limited studies meeting inclusion criteria, the narrow scope of markers assessed and interstudy heterogeneity. Full article

Although genome-wide studies have identified a number of candidate regions evolving under selection in domesticated animals and cultivated plants, few attempts have been made, from the point of a definite biological process, to assess sequence variation and characterize the regimes of the selection on miRNA-associated motifs. Here, we performed a genome-wide dissection of nucleotide variation and selection of miRNA targets associated with rice flower development. By sampling and resequencing 26 miRNA targets for globally diverse representative populations of Asian cultivated rice and wild relatives, we found that purifying selection has reduced genetic variation at the conserved miRNA binding sites on the whole, and highly conserved miRNA binding sequences were maintained in the studied rice populations. Conversely, non-neutral evolution of positive and/or artificial selection accelerates the elevated variations at nonconserved binding sites in a population-specific behavior which may have contributed to flower development-related phenotypic variation. Taken together, our results elucidate that miRNA targets involved in flower development are under distinctive selection regimes during rice evolution. Full article

(1) Background: General nutrition knowledge is a fundamental pillar of well-being and healthy lifestyles. This study aimed to measure the general nutrition knowledge questionnaire (GNKQ) scores of overweight and obese participants who joined a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) and the association between changes in GNKQ scores and changes in anthropometric measures. (2) Methods: A total of 30 and 25 participants had completed the trial at the 3- and 6-month visits, respectively. All participants enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and received a hypocaloric-tailored diet and three online nutrition education sessions over 6 months. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: an intervention group supported with weekly telemonitoring and monthly telehealth coaching vs. a control group. The Arabic-validated GNKQ was used, covering four sections: dietary recommendations; food groups and nutrient sources; healthy food choices; and associations between the diet–disease relationship and weight. (3) Results: The findings show that both the intervention and control groups showed improvements in GNKQ scores over time, with the intervention group demonstrating significant increases in overall nutrition knowledge and specific areas, such as the diet–disease relationship and weight management, at 3 months. In addition, changes in GNKQ scores had a significant negative association with BMI and visceral fat percentage. The findings underline the benefits of supporting dietary weight loss interventions with telemonitoring and telehealth coaching, suggesting that an increase in nutrition knowledge may relate to lower body fat metrics. Nevertheless, the small sample size and high attrition rate of participants were the main limitations of this study, such that large populations are required to confirm the reliability of the obtained findings. Full article

The exponential growth in global student mobility has resulted in a corresponding increase in demand for international student fairs. Education fairs serve as pivotal platforms for the acquisition of information and the formulation of decisions pertaining to academic pursuits, with a considerable number of students ultimately enrolling in undergraduate, graduate, and language programs abroad. By reaching a large number of students at international education fairs, students from underdeveloped or developing countries benefit from educational opportunities in developed countries, providing significant contributions to social sustainability and socio-economic opportunities. The success of these events is reliant upon the selection of an appropriate location, which necessitates a multifaceted process that considers a range of factors and potential risks. This initial study on the location selection of international education fairs addresses the existing literature gap by employing the interval-valued neutrosophic fuzzy TOPSIS (IVN Fuzzy TOPSIS) method, a novel approach to the location country selection decision problem faced by a fair company operating in Türkiye for international education fairs. IVN Fuzzy TOPSIS is an advanced decision-making method that incorporates interval-valued neutrosophic sets—using high and low values for truthiness (T), indeterminacy (I), and falsity (F)—to more effectively handle uncertainty and indeterminacy in evaluating alternatives. The study demonstrates the efficacy of this method in addressing uncertainty through a real-world case analysis, which provides a balanced assessment of various criteria. The findings, in which Poland was identified as the optimal fair location among five alternatives, demonstrate the efficacy of the method in facilitating expeditious and precise decision-making, particularly through the incorporation of linguistic expressions that simplify the complexities of decision-making processes. This research not only advances the understanding of site selection for education fairs but also offers a practical tool for decision-makers navigating similar challenges in event planning. Full article

The growing significance of English in global communication has heightened interest in sustainable English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction. Regrettably, sustainable EFL education has received insufficient attention, especially in the Indonesian context. To address this issue, recent conceptual research by Gayatri et al. has put forth a practical recommendation, namely the Sustainable Blended Global Discussion (SBGD) method, which combines classroom and online learning to engage students in global discussions with foreigners, promoting critical thinking. Despite being constructed on a solid foundation of theory and Indonesian context, the success of SBGD remains to be demonstrated. Hence, a multiple case study was conducted to examine the adaptation of SBGD in EFL classes at different universities. The EFL teachers were interviewed to explore the method’s advantages and challenges. Questionnaires were employed to study the perception and the critical thinking skills of 57 students, with some of them also being interviewed. Results showed that students indicated positive perception of the implementation of SBGD (M = 4.02 and M = 4.05). Additionally, students demonstrated a higher level of critical thinking skills through the teacher’s SBGD implementation in teaching and learning. Furthermore, greater student engagement, improved English language skills, and improved critical thinking were all observed; however, improvements like smaller group discussions, more facilitator involvement, and institutional supports were needed. This study is significant in addressing challenges and recommending the SBGD method as a solution for implementing online technologies in under-resourced contexts, specifically Indonesian higher education. The findings contribute to the literature on blended teaching and digital tools for second language education, with broader implications for similar educational settings. Full article

The study explores the integration of thermo and ombroclimatic bioindicators into sustainable agricultural practices, focusing on olive production in the Mediterranean. Given the increasing challenges posed by climate change, the study highlights the critical role of bioindicators in optimizing crop resilience and yield. Using data from the CHELSA model and long-term olive production records, the research identifies the impact of key climatic factors, such as temperature and precipitation, on olive yield variability. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that geographical location, precipitation, and thermal extremes significantly influence productivity. Furthermore, a multiple linear regression model confirmed the ombroclimatic index (Io) as a strong predictor of yield, emphasizing the necessity of balanced climatic conditions. The findings advocate for the integration of bioclimatic principles into agricultural training programs, promoting a holistic approach to crop management. Ultimately, the study underscores the need for informed decision-making and adaptive practices to ensure sustainable agricultural production under varying climatic conditions. This research provides a framework for future studies aiming to enhance crop resilience and address climate challenges, suggesting a pathway towards an innovative, sustainable agricultural model. Full article

The Lower Cambrian Changping Formation in the Western Hills of Beijing hosts tidal flat and lagoonal carbonates comprising dolomites, limestones, and dolomitic limestones, reflecting the processes of dolomite cementation and dolomitization within a sedimentary framework. Based on petrographic textures, two types of dolomites were identified: microcrystalline dolomite and fine-mesocrystalline dolomite. Integrating petrological and geochemical data unveils two diagenetic stages. The initial dolomite formation, attributed to hypersaline fluids, occurred in a supratidal-sabkha setting during the early Cambrian. The dolomitization at the top of the Changping Formation, driven by evaporatively concentrated brines from the overlying Mantou Formation, altered peritidal carbonates. This study evaluates the original sedimentary environment and dolomitization within a sequence stratigraphic context, revealing a correlation between dolomitization episodes and the stratigraphic framework in the study area. Factors influencing this framework profoundly impact depositional environments and material composition, leading to micromorphological differences in dolomites. Sabkha dolomite formation, associated with evaporative pumping, predominates near the base of transgressive systems tracts. Seepage reflux dolomite, often linked with evaporative pumping dolomite, constitutes a vertical cycle in the sequence framework. The sequence from bottom to top is sabkha microcrystalline dolomite, limestone and dolomitic limestone, seepage reflux saccharoidal dolostone, and sabkha dolomite. Full article

In today’s business world, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly dedicated to social responsibility and environmental sustainability, gaining recognition from communities, investors, and customers who view them as socially and environmentally conscious. Thus, this research examines how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) orientation, commitment, and participation affect strategic business performance (SBP) of SMEs in hospitality sectors, along with the potential mediation function of CSR engagements. To investigate the proposed model, this study employed a cross-sectional dataset of 163 hospitality SMEs, incorporating 482 valid responses. The representative sample was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM), regression analysis, and bootstrapping techniques to test direct and indirect effects. Findings indicate that CSR orientation, commitment, and participation play vital roles as antecedents of SBP. In hospitality SMEs, adopting CSR practices is imperative for increasing SBP. This study bridges a crucial research gap, particularly in understanding how hospitality SMEs engage in CSR and its impact on business success, offering valuable insights for SME management, practitioners, and stakeholders. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex multifactorial neurodegenerative disease. With the escalating aging of the global population, the societal burden of this disease is increasing. Although drugs are available for the treatment of AD, their efficacy is limited and there remains no effective cure. Therefore, the identification of safe and effective prevention and treatment strategies is urgently needed. Functional factors in foods encompass a variety of natural and safe bioactive substances that show potential in the prevention and treatment of AD. However, current research focused on the use of these functional factors for the prevention and treatment of AD is in its initial stages, and a complete theoretical and application system remains to be determined. An increasing number of recent studies have found that functional factors such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, melatonin, and caffeine have positive effects in delaying the progression of AD and improving cognitive function. For example, polyphenols exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, and polysaccharides promote neuronal growth and inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, unsaturated fatty acids inhibit Aβ production and Tau protein phosphorylation and reduce neuroinflammation, and melatonin has been shown to protect nerve cells and improve cognitive function by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis and autophagy. Caffeine has also been shown to inhibit inflammation and reduce neuronal damage. Future research should further explore the mechanisms of action of these functional factors and develop relevant functional foods or nutritional supplements to provide new strategies and support for the prevention and treatment of AD. Full article

Background/Objectives: While studies suggest that young children can learn and think about sustainability, most research has focused on children aged three to five, leaving a significant gap in understanding how to engage toddlers (one to three years of age) in early-childhood education in sustainability (ECEfS). This study aims to address this gap, a crucial and often overlooked area, by investigating preschool teachers’ views of ECEfS and their daily practices for nurturing sustainability in a toddler group in a Swedish preschool. Methods: We employed a case study approach, incorporating observations, interviews, and document analysis for data collection. Qualitative techniques were used for data analysis. The research was conducted with a strong commitment to ethical considerations, including obtaining participants’ consent, ensuring confidentiality and privacy, informing them of their right to withdraw, and maintaining anonymity. Results: The findings demonstrate that the teachers possessed a solid understanding of education for sustainability and were capable of effectively implementing sustainability-related daily practices in toddler groups. By creating suitable learning environments and integrating sustainability issues into daily classroom activities, they enhanced the children’s overall learning experiences. Conclusions: This study’s findings underscore the pivotal role of educators in shaping the mindsets and behaviors of future generations, thereby supporting the long-term goals of sustainable development. By nurturing toddlers’ innate curiosity and harnessing their brains’ plasticity, educators can effectively engage toddlers in ECEfS and promote sustainable development from an early age. This study’s implications highlight the need to prioritize ECEfS during toddlerhood to realize the full potential of this critical investment in the future of our planet. Full article

Corridors play an important role in the mechanized production of fruits and vegetables in solar greenhouse clusters. A corridor structure that is suitable for the automated production of solar greenhouse clusters is designed in this paper. To increase the corridor’s ventilation efficiency and enhance the temperature environment, the computational fluid dynamics method is applied to analyze the effects of corridor structure, ventilation mode, wind speed, and direction on internal temperature and humidity. Studies have indicated that an erroneous layout of the corridor structure may result in the formation of accumulated temperature and heat concentration inside, and ventilation within the corridor is essential. The corridor’s ideal dimensions are 3.2 m high by 5 m wide, and it has an internal wind speed and cooling rate that are superior to other structural factors. The ventilation method adopts a combination of top and bottom ventilation, and when the bottom window opening is 70%, there is a good ventilation effect inside the corridor. The corridor has an excellent ventilation effect when the wind speed is 2 m/s and the wind direction is east or west. This study supports the intensive and sustainable growth of greenhouse vegetable production by providing guidance for the planning and corridor design of solar greenhouse clusters. Full article