Abstract:

The global demand for argane oil has grown considerably in recent years, creating economic opportunities while raising concerns about ecosystem degradation and the sustainability of production systems. To support long-term viability, several initiatives have promoted environmentally friendly practices and fair value-chain models. However, the effective market integration of these initiatives depends on understanding consumer behavior and preferences toward sustainable products. This study aims to identify the determinants influencing consumers’ purchase intention for sustainable argane oil using an extended framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A structural equation modeling approach was applied to analyze responses from adult consumers with a minimum secondary education level. The results show that consumer attitude, perceived behavioral control, and willingness to pay have significant positive effects on purchase intention, while ecological literacy exerts an indirect influence through attitude, social norms, perceived behavioral control, and willingness to pay. In contrast, ecological literacy has no significant direct impact. These findings improve the understanding of behavioral mechanisms underlying green product consumption and offer insights for designing marketing strategies that align with sustainability values and promote responsible consumer choices.

Abstract:

Basal stem rot (BSR), caused by Ganoderma boninense, is a major threat to oil palm plantations, leading to severe yield losses and significant economic impact. Early detection of BSR remains challenging because of the delayed onset of symptoms, while monoculture practices further exacerbate disease prevalence. G. boninense, a white rot fungus, invades root and vascular tissues of oil palm, impairing water and nutrient transport, ultimately causing plant decay and death. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify bacterial isolates with both anti-Ganoderma and plant growth-promoting (PGP) abilities from a commercial biofertilizer, CRPO, specifically formulated for oil palm cultivations. Two isolates, K3 (Margalitia shackletonii) and K8 (Bacillus subtilis) displayed strong antagonistic activity against G. boninense, with percentage inhibition of radial growth (PIRG) values exceeding 89%. For PGP traits, K3 demonstrated broad potential, including phosphate and potassium solubilization, nitrogen fixation, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, siderophore and high indole-3-acetic acid production. In contrast, K8 displayed positive results only for nitrogen fixation and ACC deaminase production. The dual functions of these isolates in suppressing G. boninense while enhancing plant growth confirms their presence as biocontrol agents. These advance sustainable BSR management strategies by reducing reliance on chemical inputs and strengthening oil palm resilience.

Abstract:

Older adults with multiple diseases are likely to be prescribed multiple medications including anticholinergic agents, which are frequently prescribed to manage conditions such as overactive bladder and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Parkinson’s disease. Overactive bladder (OAB) has been the subject of increased disease awareness and is a common and significant cause of reduced quality of life, particularly in the elderly. The selective β₃ adrenoceptor agonist, mirabegron was developed for the pharmacological treatment of OAB. Mirabegron has been shown to exert off-target effects on various functional proteins such as muscarinic receptors in rat tissues. This agent may relax the detrusor muscle by activating β₃ adrenoceptors and also antagonizing muscarinic receptors. Mirabegron and antimuscarinics exerted additive effects on muscarinic receptor binding and relaxant responses of cholinergic contractions of the detrusor muscle. Mirabegron excreted in human urine appears to directly attenuate muscarinic receptor-mediated functions in the bladder. Combination therapy of mirabegron and solifenacin in patients with OAB may enhance not only their therapeutic effects on OAB, but also increase the risk of anticholinergic adverse effects. Therefore, the safety of concomitant use of mirabegron and other drugs such as antimuscarinics for elderly patients needs to be carefully considered.

Abstract: Contaminated water detoxification remains difficult due to the presence of persistent halo-organic contaminants, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and chlorophenols, which are chemically stable and resist conventional purification methods. Functionalized membrane-based separation and decontamination have garnered immense attention in recent years. Commercially available microfiltration membrane (PVDF) and polymeric non-woven fiber filters (glass and composite) are functionalized with Poly (methacrylic acid) (PMAA) that shows outstanding pH responsive performance and tunable water permeability under ambient conditions perfect for environmental applications. Polymer loading based on weight gain measurements on PMAA-Microglass composite fibers (137%) and Microglass fibers (116%) confirmed their extent of functionalization, which was significantly greater than that of PVDF membrane (25%) due to its wide effective pore diameter. Presence of chemically active hydrogel within PVDF matrix was validated by FTIR (hydroxyl/carbonyl) stretch peak, substantial decrease in contact angle (68.8° ± 0.5° to 30.8°± 1.9°), and decrease in pure water flux from 509 to 148 LMH/bar. Nanoparticles are generated both in solution and within PVDF membranes using simple redox reactions. This strategy is extended to PVDF-PMAA membranes, which are loaded with Fe/Pd nanoparticles for catalytic conversion of 4-chlorophenol and PFOA, forming Fe/Pd-PVDF-PMAA systems. 0.25 mg/L Fe/Pd nanoparticles synthesized in solution displayed alloy-type structures and demonstrated a strong catalytic performance, achieving complete hydrogenation of 4-chlorophenol to phenol and 67% hydrogenation of PFOA to its reduced form at 22-23 °C with ultrapure hydrogen gas supply at pH 5.7. These results underscore the potential of hybrid polymer–nanoparticle systems as a novel remediation strategy, integrating tunable separation with catalytic degradation to overcome the limitations of conventional water treatment methods.

Abstract: Background and aim: Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is an important source of community- and hospital-associated infections, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA). Detecting MRSA colonization is essential for infection prevention and may help guide antimicrobial therapy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nasal colonization by S. aureus and assess methicillin and glycopeptide resistance patterns in hospital and non-hospital settings in Maputo, Mozambique. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study was conducted among symptomatic outpatients and asymptomatic university students. Nasal specimens were cultured on Mannitol Salt and HiCrome™ Rapid MRSA agar, with isolates identified by Gram stain, catalase, and Microgen® Staph tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility to cefoxitin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer method. Results: A total of 50 (39.1%) S. aureus isolates were obtained from 128 collected nasal samples, in which 104 (31.3%) were from university students and 24 (7.8%) from outpatient’s form university clinic. The isolates showed a low overall 7.8% resistance to cefoxitin and, 14.1% and 11.7% presumptive resistance to teicoplanin and vancomycin, respectively. Conclusion: Methicillin and glycopeptide resistant S. aureus were highly prevalent in asymptomatic students. These observations call for strategies to prevent S. aureus spread to more vulnerable populations where the consequences can be severe.

Abstract: The Cladia aggregata group of lichen-forming fungi comprises multiple species that are difficult to differentiate based on phenotypic characters. The Cladia aggregata group has a wide distribution across several continents, but is most diverse in Australasia. We aimed to delimit the species complex further, investigate the relatedness of the lineages, and examine their distributional ranges and phenotypic traits. We used Restriction Site Associated DNA Sequencing (RAD-seq) to compare thousands of loci across 91 individuals from the Americas, Asia, and Australasia. All Asian samples formed a distinct, monophyletic clade in all phylogenetic trees, while the American samples divided into two clades: one comprising South American samples and another comprising Caribbean samples—the latter representing C. aggregata sensu stricto, as the type specimen was collected in Jamaica. Further population-genomic analyses support the conclusion that the Asian samples are genetically distinct and are here described as a new species. The new species, Cladia asiatica, accommodates the Asian samples previously included in C. aggregata. Our analysis highlights the potential of next-generation sequencing to reveal hidden diversity and resolve the phylogeny of this species complex and lichen-forming fungi in general.

Abstract: The integration of Generative AI into civil engineering is currently constrained by the susceptibility of Large Language Models (LLMs) to hallucination and their inherent lack of physics-based knowledge. To address these limitations, this paper presents a conceptual framework for the integration of Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the complete lifecycle of seismic-resistant structural engineering. The proposal employs a modular software architecture built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), enabling distributed collaboration among specialised AI agents across six critical stages: (1) seismic hazard assessment, (2) structural modelling and analysis, (3) design and optimisation, (4) construction quality control, (5) structural health monitoring (SHM), and (6) ethical audit and explainability. In this architecture, agents operate as autonomous MCP Clients within a standardised context, orchestrating workflows by communicating directly with deterministic MCP Servers and the human user. This structure strictly manages tool execution through synchronous, verifiable MCP calls, ensuring that stochastic agentic reasoning remains decoupled from immutable numerical execution. By grounding generative outputs in physics-based engines and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), the framework ensures traceable reasoning, transparency, and professional accountability, offering a pathway for the ethical deployment of AI systems in civil and structural engineering.

Abstract: The transition to intelligent, low-carbon mining requires turning solid-waste liabilities into strategic resources. This study develops a Responsible Recovery framework for the disposal and utilisation of mine tailings, integrating global governance standards, advanced process technologies, and emerging AI tools. Using critical-material tailings as a test domain, the framework connects risk classification, disclosure, and flowsheet design to auditable performance metrics. Intelligent modules - from site-inventory parsing and flowsheet recommendation to automated validation of ESG datasets - show how artificial intelligence can improve technical accuracy while strengthening transparency. The approach supports circular recovery of cobalt, nickel, and rare-earth-bearing residues, reducing both waste and import dependence. By aligning digital innovation with established standards such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) and that of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), the paper shows how tailings management can evolve into a governed, data-driven pathway for recovering critical materials within the wider Intelligent Green Mining agenda.

Abstract: This paper proposes Trace & Trajectory (T&T) Semantics, a pre-representational framework for understanding meaning as intent-driven navigation through informational space. Motivated by fieldwork with multimodal, intersubjective communication—where meaning emerges through gesture, prosody, and embodied coordination rather than propositional structures—I extend Hoffman and Prakash's trace logic to continuous semantic trajectories. The framework models meaning not through Euclidean feature spaces but through attractor dynamics: meaning stabilizes where intent-driven trajectories converge under dissipative constraints, creating basins that guide navigation without representational anchoring. The critical innovation is operator σ's fractal architecture. As meta-awareness intensifies, trace patterns achieve self-similarity across scales, enabling collapse and reconjunction without infinite regress. This mechanism naturalizes prototype effects, conceptual metaphor, image schema stability, and abstract reasoning as emergent from how conscious agents navigate meaning-space under intent, dissipation, and σ-modulation—not from mental representations. T&T dissolves the hard problem of semantic content by grounding meaning in informational dynamics during concrete intersubjective engagement, where patterns maintain semiotic coherence through intent-driven navigation, without reference to external representational targets. This preserves systematicity while respecting embodied intuition. The framework offers cognitive linguists, anthropologists, and semantic theorists an approach that is formally rigorous (utilizing attractor dynamics, Markov kernels, and σ-operators), empirically tractable (applicable to actual discourse and interaction), and phenomenologically adequate. Crucially, the formalism describes patterns in conscious, intentional dynamics—not neural mechanisms—making it appropriate for phenomena in which agent purpose drives semantic organization.

Abstract: Background: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) contributes significantly to recurrent childhood urinary tract infections and renal scarring, yet predicting which patients will develop adverse outcomes or benefit from specific investigations or treatments remains challenging. Numerous prognostic tools have been proposed, but none have achieved widespread adoption. Methods: A comprehensive search of literature available on MEDLINE, PUBMED, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, and Google Scholar was performed to identify combinations of factors, scoring systems, ratios, models, and tools relating to VUR. This included predicting spontaneous resolution of established vesicoureteral reflux, the risk of breakthrough urinary tract infections (UTIs), and guiding clinical decision making regarding the need for VCUG in patients with UTIs, continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP), or surgical intervention in patients with confirmed VUR. Articles were included if they either described or validated a predictive tool that was designed to aid clinical decision making in patients with either suspected or confirmed VUR with regards to investigation or management strategies. All studies included were then analysed and the predictive tools have been summarised in a narrative format. Results: Seventeen predictive tools developed over 39 years were identified: six predicting spontaneous resolution, four predicting breakthrough urinary tract infection (BTUTI) on CAP, two determining which children benefit from CAP, and five estimating the probability of VUR or high-grade VUR after a first febrile UTI. Approaches ranged from radiological ratios to multifactorial clinical–radiological scores and machine-learning models. Only five tools had any external validation, and none demonstrated sufficient reliability for universal clinical use. Significant heterogeneity in design, imaging interpretation, inclusion criteria, and outcome definitions limited comparison and wider applicability. Conclusions: This atlas provides the first consolidated overview of prognostic tools in paediatric VUR. Future development should prioritise multicentre, prospectively validated models that integrate established clinical and radiological predictors with transparent computational methods to create practical, generalisable risk-stratification frameworks for routine care.

Abstract:

The chronology of the Petralona hominid continues to stimulate vigorous debate, and the recent contribution by Falguères assigning an age of ~300 ka has prompted me to a short commentary and critically recall and reassess the reported age with earlier investigations, most of which were missing from the said publication. Between 1980 and 1984 a series of seven papers devoted to the radiochemical dating of speleothems and travertines from Petralona Cave. These works represented some of the earliest systematic applications of Uranium–Thorium disequilibrium dating (U-234/Th-230) to the archaeological context of a hominid fossil. Taken together, earlier seven published studies, the methodological refinement for handling contamination, and the stratigraphic confirmation from the Mausoleum chamber all support a secure assignment of the Petralona hominid to at least 230 ka, most probably 250–300 ka BP.

Abstract: The paper studied the effect of high-voltage short-pulse electrohydraulic discharge (HVSPED) on the processes of catalytic cracking of oil sludge in order to increase the yield of light hydrocarbon fractions. A set of laboratory experiments was carried out with varying the key parameters of HVSPED - voltage, pulse frequency and exposure time. A nanocomposite bentonite catalyst impregnated with nickel was used. The optimal electrophysical parameters of oil-sludge treatment by HVSPED were determined, providing the maximum yield of gasoline and kerosene fractions. The effectiveness of HVSPED treatment of oil sludge in the presence of a catalyst was confirmed by DTA–thermogravimetric analysis and chromatographic-mass spectral analysis of the light and middle fractions of the hydrogenate. The proposed approach made it possible to enhance the resource and energy efficiency of oil-sludge processing using HVSPED, demonstrating high potential for further industrial application.

Abstract:

Background/Objectives: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by genetic and epigenetic alterations. This study aimed to assess the methylation status of E-Cadherin and MMP-9 gene promoters and to explore their relationships with disease pathogenesis and hematological parameters in CLL patients. Methods: A case–control study was conducted including 70 newly diagnosed CLL patients and 70 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Promoter methylation of E-Cadherin and MMP-9 genes was evaluated using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme PCR (MSRE-PCR), respectively. Results: The median patient age was 62 years, and 68.5 % were males. Binet stage A was the most common (57.3 %). E-Cadherin promoter methylation was detected in 75.7 % of CLL patients and 77.1 % of controls (p = 0.91), showing no significant association with disease occurrence, however, it showed a significant correlation with higher lymphocyte counts (p = 0.01). In contrast, MMP-9 promoter methylation was significantly less frequent in CLL cases (70.0 %) than in controls (100 %, p = 0.001). Unmethylated MMP-9 correlated significantly with female gender (p = 0.02), lower hemoglobin (p = 0.031), and reduced platelet counts (p = 0.001) and higher lymphocytes counts (p = 0.035). Conclusion: MMP-9 promoter hypomethylation may play a pathogenic role in CLL and is associated with female gender and cytopenia, whereas E-Cadherin methylation appears non-specific. MMP-9 methylation status could therefore serve as a potential biomarker for CLL biology and prognosis.

Abstract: In many scientific and engineering fields (e.g., measurement science), a probability density function often models a system comprising a signal embedded in noise. Conventional measures, such as the mean, variance, entropy, and informity, characterize signal strength and uncertainty (or noise level) separately. However, the true performance of a system depends on the interaction between signal and noise. In this paper, we propose a novel measure, called "inforpower", for quantifying the system’s informational power that explicitly captures the interaction between signal and noise. We also propose a new measure of central tendency, called “information-energy center”. Closed-form expressions for inforpower and information-energy center are provided for ten well-known continuous distributions. Moreover, we propose a maximum inforpower criterion, which can complement the Akaike information criterion (AIC), the minimum entropy criterion, and the maximum informity criterion for selecting the best distribution from a set of candidate distributions. Two examples (synthetic Weibull distribution data and Tana River annual maximum streamflow) are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed maximum inforpower criterion and compare it with existing goodness-of-fit criteria.

Abstract: This study employed machine learning methods to predict household credit access concerns using comprehensive financial and demographic data from the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), analyzing 4,595 households to examine which characteristics predict whether families have been turned down for credit or feared credit denial in the past five years, a critical measure of financial vulnerability affecting approximately 84% of surveyed households. Two classification models were developed and compared: an XGBoost gradient boosting model and a logistic regression model, both using 263 principal components derived from the original feature space. The XGBoost model (Model A) achieved exceptional predictive performance (AUC = 0.9885, accuracy = 96.65%, precision = 97.52%, recall = 82.01%), substantially outperforming the logistic regression model (Model B: AUC = 0.7955, accuracy = 80.34%, precision = 44.93%, recall = 78.37%), demonstrating that credit access concerns follow highly systematic patterns. Feature importance analysis revealed that asset-based financial indicators dominated predictions, with Equity to Income, Homeownership, Credit application history, Emergency Savings, and Leverage Ratios emerging as the top five predictors, while behavioral and historical factors particularly payment delinquencies and prior credit experiences exhibited substantial importance, supporting path-dependent theories of financial exclusion. Race ranked 14th among predictors, suggesting that observed disparities operate substantially through differential economic circumstances, though structural barriers persist. The findings have immediate implications for financial institutions, which can deploy similar predictive models to identify at-risk customers for targeted financial counseling, develop alternative credit scoring approaches accounting for asset ownership and emergency savings, and design early warning systems flagging households with declining liquid assets or increasing leverage ratios for preventive assistance. Financial advisors can use these insights to prioritize asset-building strategies over simple income increases, emphasize emergency savings establishment as critical for credit access maintenance, counsel clients on credit history management following past delinquencies, and recognize that payment delinquencies create enduring barriers requiring proactive rehabilitation.

Abstract: This work introduces the theoretical framework of Momentary Quantum Tunneling (MQT), proposing that the final state of a rotating black hole (Kerr geometry) is not a classical singularity, but rather a \emph{quantum bounce} of finite curvature, described by Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG). The classical metric function $\Delta(r)$ is regularized through \textbf{effective coupled functions of mass ($M$) and angular momentum ($a$)}, expressed as $\Delta_{q}(r) = r^2 - 2m_{\mathrm{eff}}(r)\,r + a_{\mathrm{eff}}^{2}(r)$, producing a nonsingular core. The resulting dynamics, derived from the effective Hamiltonian constraints of LQG, reveal a transient contraction–expansion cycle, in which the collapsing region undergoes a momentary tunneling into an expanding white-hole domain. Although this transition is ultrafast in internal proper time ($\tau$), it appears cosmologically long for an external observer due to extreme gravitational time dilation. This model provides a continuous gravitational evolution (collapse, bounce, and expansion), offering a semiclassical bridge between General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. Potential astrophysical signatures and connections to cosmological bounces are discussed, suggesting a new route for resolving the black-hole information paradox.

Abstract: Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are still the most common healthcare-associated infections globally. Although catheter designs have improved, based on the duration of use, such as indwelling catheters, substantial numbers of infections are still caused by contamination from the collection bag (intraluminal) and from the external catheter's surface (extraluminal). This study assessed the safety and practicality of a novel silver-based device designed for external attachment between a catheter outlet and a urine collection bag to stop bacteria from traveling up from the urine bag into the bladder through the inside of the tube. Methods: The accessory features a silver ion-releasing polymer matrix with a synergistic formulation and an anti-reflux valve to prevent urine backflow. Laboratory tests included microbial adherence, 10-day biofilm formation, and MIC assays against common uropathogens. Biocompatibility was assessed by ISO 10993-5. A pilot clinical trial randomized 157 catheterized patients (80 received the antiseptic accessory, 77 were controls) to evaluate safety and initial efficacy. Results: Laboratory studies showed that the matrix material reduced all tested microbes by at least 5 log and had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.15–0.3 ppm for silver ions. Cytotoxicity testing found it to be non-cytotoxic (Grade 0–2). In clinical assessments, the accessory was evaluated for CAUTI-related organisms by comparing urine samples from the bag and catheter port. The accessory reduced intraluminal infection incidence in half (5.6% vs. 9.6%) and no device-related adverse events were reported. Conclusions: The accessory device was biocompatible, well tolerated, and showed strong antimicrobial activity against common CAUTI pathogens. It may help prevent intraluminal infections, but not overall CAUTI due to extraluminal infection via the catheter surface. More research is needed to confirm the benefits of this concept.

Abstract: Translationally silent ribosomes have become an important focus in RNA biology. Lacking mRNAs, they represent a hibernating ribosome state. Their quantification remains challenging. This protocol outlines how to measure silent ribosome induction under diverse conditions by analyzing RNA from polysome-profiling fractions in yeast and mammalian cells, using RNA-seq with detection and removal of anomalously amplified rRNAs, complemented by qPCR for validation. For an example of the execution of this protocol, please refer to Rahaman, et. al [1].

Abstract: This essay aims to explore the perception, public awareness, and acceptance of Digital Signatures globally as well as in Malaysia as a case study. It begins with a general overview of what Digital Signatures and their role in modern digital landscape then dives into public perception and general public sentiment surrounding its adoption followed by an analysis of their advantages and disadvantages, the potential challenges faced with their implementation, and their current status in Malaysia. The essay also shines light on the major Digital Signature Certification Authorities (CAs) in Malaysia and their details along with a general comparison between CAs followed by conclusion.

Abstract: AI-generated content and misinformation are increasingly prevalent on social networks. While prior research primarily examined textual misinformation, fewer studies have focused on visual content's role in virality. In this work, we present the first large-scale analysis of how misinformation and AI-generated images propagate through repost cascades across five ideologically diverse Reddit communities. By integrating textual sentiment, visual attributes, and diffusion metrics (e.g., time-to-first repost, community reach), our framework accurately predicts both immediate post-level virality (AUC=0.83) and long-term cascade-level spread (AUC=0.998). These findings offer essential insights for moderating synthetic and misleading visual content online.