Search Results (5,980)

Achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is a key objective for sustainable building projects, yet targeting LEED credit attainment remains a challenge influenced by multiple factors. This study applies machine learning (ML) models to analyze the relationship between project attributes, climate conditions, and LEED certification outcomes. A structured framework was implemented, beginning with data collection from the USGBC (LEED-certified projects) and US NCEI (climate data), followed by preprocessing steps. Three ML models—Decision Tree (DT), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and XGBoost—were evaluated, with XGBoost emerging as the most effective due to its ability to handle large datasets, manage missing values, and provide interpretable feature importance scores. The results highlight the strong influence of the LEED version and project type, demonstrating how certification criteria and project-specific characteristics shape sustainability outcomes. Additionally, climate factors, particularly cooling degree days (CDD) and precipitation (PRCP), play a crucial role in determining LEED credit attainment, underscoring the importance of regional environmental conditions. By leveraging ML techniques, this research offers a data-driven approach to optimizing sustainability strategies and enhancing the LEED certification process. These insights pave the way for more informed decision-making in green building design and policy, with future opportunities to refine predictive models for even greater accuracy and impact. Full article

Reproductive efficiency is crucial for dairy farm productivity, but achieving consistent fertility remains challenging. TAI improves pregnancy rates by synchronizing ovulation and enabling precision breeding. Despite the advancements in hormone synchronization protocols, outcomes vary due to genetic, physiological, and metabolic differences among cows. This review examines current TAI protocols, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-based and estradiol/progesterone (P4)-based synchronization methods, emphasizing their effectiveness and practical limitations. We also examined how to integrate emerging omics technologies, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, into TAI protocols, marking a significant shift in reproductive management. These tools unveil molecular biomarkers that enable the precise tailoring of TAI protocols to the genetic, metabolic, and physiological profiles of individual animals, addressing challenges in variable fertility responses. Key factors influencing TAI success, such as animal health, environment, and insemination timing, are explored. This review identifies gaps in the existing literature, such as the integrated omics methodologies and data integration across platforms, and proposes a framework for future research to refine TAI protocols to address genetic variability and apply omics technologies to identify validated biomarkers for early pregnancy detection, which will significantly enhance the practical impact of TAI. Future directions highlight the need for interdisciplinary approaches combining molecular insights with robust on-farm applications to improve fertility outcomes and reduce reliance on blanket synchronization methods. By combining traditional synchronization methods with cutting-edge molecular tools, TAI offers promising opportunities for improving reproductive efficiency and sustainability in dairy farming. Full article

Background: Oxidative stress and systemic inflammation during cardiac surgery can lead to postoperative complications. Although vitamin C and thiamine (vitamin B1) have individually demonstrated protective effects, their combined effects remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combined vitamin C and B1 therapy versus that of vitamin C alone in reducing inflammatory and cardiac biomarkers and improving postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: In this prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 64 patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery at a tertiary care center were randomized to receive either 1000 mg vitamin C or a combination of 1000 mg vitamin C and 100 mg vitamin B1 at four perioperative time points. Primary outcomes included changes in inflammatory biomarkers [C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and white blood cells], and cardiac biomarkers [creatine kinase-MB, Troponin-I, and lactate dehydrogenase]. Secondary outcomes included hemodynamic parameters and left ventricular function. Results: Compared with vitamin C alone, combined vitamin B1 and vitamin C significantly reduced postoperative cardiac biomarker levels. IL-6 levels were significantly lower immediately in the combined group; however, this effect was not sustained at 24 h post-surgery. Up to 24 h after surgery, no significant differences in hemodynamic stability or left ventricular ejection were observed between the groups. Notably, the combined therapy group demonstrated a lower incidence of postoperative arrhythmias and shorter dobutamine duration within 24 postoperatively. Conclusions: Combined vitamin C and B1 therapy significantly reduced markers of myocardial injury and early inflammatory responses (IL-6) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, suggesting its potential as a protective agent. Full article

Forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku in Japanese) is used as an intervention for improving mental health, with VR being used to create virtual forests for relaxation. Background/Objectives: In this research, we added therapeutic intent to a virtual forest with the goal of reducing social anxiety, with and without therapeutic instruction. Methods: Fifty-eight first-year psychology students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: virtual forest only, therapeutic exercises only, and both combined. Results: All three conditions enhanced restorative effects equally. However, only the therapeutic exercise-only condition showed a tendency to reduce social anxiety. Participants in the combined condition reported more positive experiences and showed better comprehension of therapy content in the virtual forest. Conclusions: While the non-VR approach may offer immediate relaxation and possible anxiety reduction, combining the virtual forest with therapeutic exercises may yield better outcomes for sustained engagement and understanding over multiple therapeutic sessions. Full article

This article argues that rational self-interest is but one dimension of human behavior. In the context of ‘overshoot’—the excessive consumption of resources beyond the planet’s regenerative capacity—rational self-interest proves detrimental from an evolutionary perspective. This paper provides an alternative to the Tragedy of The Commons, which results from collective action problems when rational, self-interested consumers put their individual welfare over that of the group, and offers the relational consumer, one who balances individual and group interests. Highlighting how ethics play a pivotal role in consumer behavior, we discuss human behavior, resource management, and collective action, then examine these theoretical frameworks in two case studies based in southern Africa. First is a biotic example of The Commons paired with the uMhlathuze Water Stewardship Partnership; second is an abiotic example of The Commons paired with Rotating Savings and Credit Association. These case studies exemplify not only that coordination is the best outcome, but also that institutions promoting self-interested behavior can undermine both collective and individual well-being. Considering intercultural ethics can augment consumer theory, especially in terms of sustainable long-term development. Full article

Project management often overlooks the consideration of long-term effects that may impact sustainability transition and innovation. This paper addresses this gap by presenting an analysis that extends the traditional project life cycle model through the incorporation of a new phase, labelled “system impact”, which integrates innovation and sustainability into project management using a system dynamics methodology. To explore this extension, a simulation model is developed to analyse a solar photovoltaic (PV) power project, providing valuable insights into the systemic and dynamic impacts required for successful project outcomes, including effective benefits management and value creation. The results provide a sustainability-focused assessment of project success. Process innovation efficiency reaches its peak at 140 completed tasks, shortening the project duration from 18 to 13.25 months. This study highlights CO₂ emission avoidance over 25 years compared to fossil fuel generators. Economically, despite an initial cost three times higher, the solar PV alternative proves more cost-effective in the long run, amounting to only 19% of the total cost of the fossil fuel option. Full article

The Artemis missions will establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, serving as a crucial steppingstone for future Mars exploration. Astronauts on these ambitious missions will have to successfully complete complex tasks, which will frequently involve rapid and effective decision making under unfamiliar or high-pressure conditions. Exposure to low doses of space radiation (SR) can impair key executive functions critical to decision making. This study examined the effects of exposure to 10 cGy of Galactic Cosmic Ray simulated radiation (GCRsim) on decision-making performance in male and female rats with a naturally low predisposition for risk-taking (RTP) prior to exposure. Rats were assessed at monthly intervals following SR exposure and the RTP performance contrasted with that observed during the prescreening process. Exposure to 10 cGy of GCRsim impaired decision making in both male and female rats, with sex-dependent outcomes. By 30 days after SR exposure, female rats became more risk-prone, making less profitable decisions, while male rats retained their decision-making strategies but took significantly longer to make selections. However, continued practice in the RTP tasks appeared to reduce/reverse these performance deficits. This study has expanded our understanding of the range of cognitive processes impacted by SR to include decision making. Full article

In an era of rapid market shifts and technological disruption, the success of organizational change rests on the ability of leaders to navigate complex cultural dynamics. This study explores how culturally adaptive leadership can drive employee outcomes in Sierra Leone’s commercial banking sector during periods of change. By integrating transformational and transactional leadership styles with Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, which focuses on power distance (respect for authority) and uncertainty avoidance (preference for structure), this research examines how these cultural values influence the relationship between leadership approaches and employee outcomes. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 820 employees across commercial banks in Sierra Leone, with data analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings reveal that transformational leadership significantly enhances employee outcomes, specifically in high power distance environments where authority is deeply respected, while transactional leadership proves more effective in high uncertainty avoidance settings, where clear structure and predictability are paramount. The study highlights the complementary nature of these leadership styles, suggesting that effective leaders must adapt their strategies to the cultural context to drive performance. While the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, this research underscores the critical importance of culturally adaptive leadership, recognizing how cultural dimensions shape behavior and promote sustained success during change. Full article

Introduction: Childhood obesity has reached critical levels in Chile, particularly among preschoolers from low-income families who face barriers to nutritious food and physical activity. Early interventions are essential to mitigate long-term health risks. This study evaluates the Chile Active Intervention, a community-based program promoting physical activity and healthy eating among preschoolers attending public daycare centers in Antofagasta, Santiago, and Temuco. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a structured intervention in improving physical activity levels, dietary habits, and obesity-related risk factors in children aged 3 to 5 years old. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was implemented with intervention and control groups, including 1204 children from public daycare centers. The intervention-comprised educator training on healthy eating structured physical activity sessions tailored for young children and family engagement through “Healthy Days” events. Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured anthropometric variables, body composition, physical activity, and dietary intake. Results: The intervention led to positive changes in weight-for-height Z-scores, body fat percentage, and skinfold thickness, particularly among high-risk children. Physical activity assessments showed reduced sedentary time and increased active play. Dietary improvements included higher fruit and vegetable consumption and reduced ultra-processed food intake. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that early, community-based interventions can effectively improve health behaviors in preschoolers. The program’s scalability across Chile is promising, with parental involvement and institutional support being key to sustaining impact. Long-term evaluations are recommended to assess its lasting effects on childhood health outcomes. Full article

The increase in composite material waste from the aviation and wind energy sectors will become a significant environmental challenge in the near future. This escalation is attributed to the enhanced use of new, advanced composite materials, such as Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP). Despite their benefits, the disposal of these materials at their end-of-life poses considerable environmental and logistical challenges. Assessing the condition of these materials is thus pivotal to develop sustainable strategies for their recycling, reusing, or repurposing. This study investigates the use of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques, with a focus on Active Thermography, to evaluate GFRP components’ suitability for sustainable management without compromising the material integrity. This research highlights the use of Active Thermography for extensive, non-invasive inspections, due to its capability to inspect a large area quickly using external energy heating. It delves into Pulse Phase Thermography (PPT) and Principal Component Thermography (PCT), two advanced signal post-processing techniques, tested on GFRP materials with purposefully induced defects. Finally, an automated method based on the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) value is implemented for defect detection, with which defects of a 5 mm diameter and a 3 mm depth can be detected. The document elaborates on the theoretical principle of NDT, PPT, and PCT, details the experimental methodology and specimens, and analyzes the outcomes of employing these techniques, drawing comparisons between them. Full article

Background: Attracting and retaining sufficient numbers of nurses is an international challenge. The group most difficult to retain are newly qualified nurses within their first five years of practice or earlier. A recent US study reported that approximately 25 percent of nurses leave within the first year of graduation. Health organisations play a crucial role in providing workplace cultures where nurses feel empowered and can thrive. Research needs to focus on improving organisational culture, yet most approaches to supporting and retaining nurses have used top–down, management-designed interventions. This article describes a collaborative international programme of research. Methods: This innovative international theory-driven multi-site action research programme adopts a longitudinal co-design approach based on principles of appreciative inquiry to develop and implement organisational support for newly qualified nurses. It integrates the Institute for Health Improvement (IHI) Framework for Improving Joy at Work and the Thriving at Work model, both focused on improving the well-being of the healthcare workforce and health service outcomes. Each year, a new group of nurses during their first-year orientation is invited to participate. Over five years, each cohort will then participate in an annual survey, focus groups, and co-design meetings with nurse leaders/managers, generating new solutions developed through open dialogue for subsequent testing driven by these key stakeholders. Expected outcomes: This research will generate a new co-design management model to improve systems of support that may assist nurse retention and thriving that can be shared with other nursing organisations. It will provide an understanding of the effectiveness of current support for nurses by their employers from the perspective of those nurses whilst providing evidence about what extra support nurses would like from their employers. Conclusions: This international research programme gives agency to nurses and organisational nurse leaders/managers to co-design interventions for building positive work environments where early-career nurses can thrive. This programme will capture what works, where, how, and with whom, ultimately benefiting both individual nurses and the overall effectiveness and sustainability of healthcare systems. Full article

The coordination between poverty alleviation and ecological protection is both a crucial requirement and a long-standing challenge for sustainable development. China’s implementation of a targeted poverty alleviation strategy has completed the task of eliminating extreme poverty. However, the evaluation of the corresponding ecosystem changes in the entire poverty-alleviated areas is still insufficient. This study investigated the spatiotemporal changes in ecosystem vulnerability across China’s 832 national poverty-stricken counties from 2005 to 2020. A habitat–structure–function framework was applied to develop an evaluation index, along with a factor analysis of environmental and socio-economic indicators conducted through the Geodetector model. Finally, the implications of China’s practices to balance poverty alleviation and ecological protection were explored. The results show that ecosystem vulnerability decreased from 2005 to 2020, with an even greater decrease observed after 2013, which was twice the amount of the decrease seen before 2013. The post-2013 changes were mainly brought about by the enhancement of the ecosystem function in critical zones such as the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Ecoregion, Yangtze River and Sichuan–Yunnan Key Ecoregion, and Yellow River Key Ecoregion. From 2013 to 2020, the influence of the gross domestic product (GDP) surpassed that of other factors, playing a significant positive role in diminishing ecosystem vulnerability in the three regions mentioned. The results suggest that China’s poverty-alleviated areas have found a “win–win” solution for poverty alleviation and ecological protection, that is, they have built a synergistic mechanism that combines government financial support with strict protection policies (e.g., more ecological compensation, eco-jobs, and ecological public welfare positions for poor areas or the poor). These findings elucidate the mechanisms behind China’s targeted poverty alleviation outcomes and their ecological implications, establishing a practical framework for coordinated development and environmental stewardship in comparable regions. Full article

The linear “take–make–dispose” model of plastic consumption has led to significant environmental challenges and unplanned waste legacies, emphasising the need for more sustainable recycling practices. This study explored the integration of post-consumer recycled polylactic acid (rPLA) into 3D printing filaments as a step towards sustainable manufacturing. Using 100% virgin PLA (vPLA) as the baseline, filaments were produced with rPLA-to-vPLA ratios of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% and evaluated for surface roughness, tensile strength, flexural properties, and hardness. The results revealed that increasing the rPLA content negatively affects the mechanical properties and surface quality. Surface roughness increased from 7.06 µm for pure vPLA to 10.50 µm for 100% rPLA, whilst the tensile and flexural strengths of 100% rPLA decreased by 48.4% and 49%, respectively, compared to vPLA. Hardness also declined, with 100% rPLA showing a 7.5% reduction relative to vPLA. Despite these reductions, the blends with up to 50% rPLA retained over 90% of the mechanical performance of pure vPLA, demonstrating a viable compromise between performance and sustainability. Morphological analysis highlighted poor interlayer adhesion and void formation as the primary causes of performance degradation in higher rPLA blends. Despite these challenges, this study demonstrated that rPLA-vPLA blends can extend the life cycle of PLA and promote sustainable manufacturing practices. By addressing polymer degradation challenges, this research supports the integration of recycled materials in 3D printing, contributing to the circular economy goals of recycling, resource efficiency, and sustainable manufacturing production outcomes. Full article

Background: Sleep disturbances are a core feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affecting up to 90% of patients and often persisting after standard PTSD treatment. As all the current interventions have limitations, amygdala-targeted neuromodulation may offer a novel treatment pathway. Methods: Secondary analysis of a prospective, single-arm trial (n = 58) was carried out evaluating Prism™ amygdala-derived-EEG-fMRI-Pattern neurofeedback (Amyg-EFP-NF). Sleep outcomes were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) sleep item, PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) sleep item, and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) sleep items at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Treatment consisted of 15 sessions over 8 weeks. Results: At 3-months’ follow-up, 63.79% of participants demonstrated clinically meaningful reduction in sleep disturbances (≥1 point reduction in CAPS-5 Item 20). Sleep improvement showed a moderate correlation with overall PTSD symptom reduction (r = 0.484, p < 0.001) and a balanced improvement pattern (−15.1% early, −9.1% late). Sleep responders sustained improvement across multiple measures and showed significant increases in cognitive reappraisal (mean change: +2.57 ± 1.0, p = 0.006), while non-responders showed initial but un-sustained improvement in trauma-related dreams. Conclusions: Amyg-EFP-NF shows preliminary promise for treating PTSD-related sleep disturbances. Our exploratory analyses suggest distinct temporal patterns of sleep improvement and potential associations with enhanced cognitive reappraisal capacity that warrant rigorous investigation in future randomized controlled trials. Full article

This article explores the cost efficiency of public procurement procedures, techniques and strategic policies. Member States in the EU spend large sums of money on the procurement of various items, yet public procurement in the EU struggles with issues of competitiveness, efficiency and overlapping goals. The competitiveness and efficiency of various factors, procedures, techniques and sustainable measures employed in public procurement procedures that influence cost efficiency were examined in this study using data from Slovenian public procurement over the past eight years. The analysis employed a binary logit model that facilitates the efficient utilization of public funds and predicts substantial price reductions in public procurement procedures. The findings underscore the significance of transparency and open markets. The optimal cost-efficiency outcomes are achieved through combinations of transparent procedures and an undisclosed market environment during the tendering phase, complemented by less binding secondary procurement objectives. Conversely, procurement techniques that tend to disclose more information about competitors in the procurement process are found to be less cost-effective. Non-mandatory sustainable policies in public procurement tend to lead to better results in terms of cost efficiency than those imposed by an obligatory legal framework. Full article