Acute lung injury, a fatal condition characterized by a high mortality rate, necessitates urgent exploration of treatment modalities. Utilizing UHPLS-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS, our study scrutinized the active constituents present in Rosa roxburghii-fermented juice (RRFJ) while also assessing its protective efficacy against LPS-induced ALI in mice through lung histopathological analysis, cytokine profiling, and oxidative stress assessment. The protective mechanism of RRFJ against ALI in mice was elucidated utilizing metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking methodologies. Our experimental findings demonstrate that RRFJ markedly ameliorates pathological injuries in ALI-afflicted mice, mitigates systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, enhances energy metabolism, and restores dysregulated amino acid and arachidonic acid metabolic pathways. This study indicates that RRFJ can serve as a functional food for adjuvant treatment of ALI. Full article

Considering the essential expansion of agricultural production, current research primarily focuses on static factors, such as the distribution of fine-grained arable land, omitting an in-depth analysis of its developmental dynamics and key drivers. Addressing this knowledge gap is crucial for enhancing the scalability of agricultural production. This research utilizes landscape ecology techniques, correlation analysis, random forest algorithms, and structural equation modeling to explore spatial pattern trends of arable land in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. Its objective is to clarify how the expansion of agricultural production scale affects food production through changes in arable land patterns and to determine the impact of socio-economic factors on these configurations. The results show that: (1) the landscape pattern of arable land is transitioning to a more fragmented arrangement with complex contours, (2) grain yield per unit area correlates positively with the landscape pattern index in Beijing, negatively in Hebei, and exhibits no significant correlation in Tianjin, and (3) land ownership plays a crucial role in land fragmentation, alterations in land morphology, and influences other socio-economic variables. Analyzing the spatial pattern of arable land in conjunction with socio-economic factors is essential for developing holistic land management approaches, improving resource efficiency, minimizing external inputs, and mitigating food security challenges. Full article

In this paper, we consider the problem of asynchronous estimation in the presence of packet losses for the randomly sampling nonlinear system. Packet losses occur at the control input and at the measurement side. Firstly, the synchronization of the asynchronous sampling system is realized by weighting the state of the adjacent state update points. Secondly, the projection theorem is used to estimate the system state at the sampling time. Due to modeling errors and unmodeled dynamics, obtaining an accurate dynamic model is challenging. Therefore, observation inference based on interpolation techniques is proposed to solve the asynchronous estimation problem. Furthermore, the algorithm is extended to multi-sensor systems to obtain a distributed fusion estimator. Finally, simulation experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the algorithm. Full article

The large variation in vertebral shape and calcification observed among elasmobranch species prevents using a single method for enhancing growth bands and reading age. Further, estimating age and growth parameters can be difficult or impractical when samples are incomplete due to the bycatch of a size-selective fishery. Using a single and rapid method, age readings were obtained on the vertebrae of four batoid species, namely 53 individuals of Dasyatis pastinaca, 51 of Raja asterias, 15 of Torpedo marmorata, and 55 specimens of Torpedo torpedo, from the local small-scale trammel net fishery in the coastal waters (5–20 m depth) of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea during 2019–2021. Based on these data, a statistical routine was developed to obtain multiple estimates of age and growth parameters for incomplete samples due to size-selective fishing. The acceptable agreement between and within readers (intra and inter-reader disagreement < 5%) and the rate of increase in vertebral size with body size (differently ranked across species) demonstrated the consistency of the enhancing method. The parameters estimated by the Von Bertalanffy and Gompertz growth models matched the data available in the Mediterranean Sea for the species studied, with D. pastinaca, T. torpedo, and R. asterias showing the lowest (k = 0.05–0.12), intermediate (k = 0.112–0.19), and highest (k = 0.18–0.23) growth rates, respectively, in line with the life history traits of these species. Overall, the method proved effective both in delineating band pairs in vertebrae of different species and in reliably estimating the age and growth parameters of problematic samples due to size-selective fishing. The proposed method supports the collection of comparable demographic data from other areas where similar multi-specific assemblages are bycatch of size-selective fisheries impacting potential nursery areas and other essential habitats for elasmobranchs. Full article

As the transportation industry seeks sustainable alternatives to internal combustion engine trucks (ICET), understanding the dynamics behind battery electric truck (BET) adoption becomes essential. This paper explores the critical factors influencing the procurement decision for BET in the freight transportation sector, employing a novel combination of fuzzy logic and the Delphi method to bridge qualitative assessments and quantitative analysis. Through a comprehensive literature review and expert consultations via the Delphi method, the research identifies the barriers to BET adoption, including initial investment costs, charging infrastructure, and legislative clarity. Fuzzy logic is then applied to model these factors’ impacts on the purchasing decision, translating subjective judgments into a structured analytical framework. This approach enables the assessment of BETs’ viability against ICETs, considering the total cost of ownership (TCO), travel time (TT) ratios, and perceived social benefits. While economic factors primarily drive the purchasing decision, the study reveals that social utility also plays a crucial role. This research contributes to the sustainable transportation literature by offering a detailed model of the decision-making process for BET procurement, providing valuable insights for industry professionals, policymakers, and academics committed to advancing environmentally friendly freight solutions. Full article

Tchaikovsky enjoyed composing Yevgeni Onegin. He expressed his fulfillment in a famous letter to Sergey Taneyev. What could his enthusiasm convey about the content of the project? Music criticism has taken Tchaikovsky’s words as proof for the thesis that the opera is connected to autobiographical circumstances. In this mode of thinking, the quality of Tchaikovsky’s music is the result of the composer’s identification with the subject matter. Despite the objection of several Tchaikovsky scholars, the autobiographical paradigm remains very much alive in the reception of Tchaikovsky’s music. As an alternative, Tchaikovsky scholarship has explored a hermeneutical approach that would link his music to its context in Russian society and culture. In this paper, I present another possible reaction to Tchaikovsky’s statement: an exploration of the composer’s approach to musical characterization. Analysis of some key scenes reveals that the definition of characters and situations by musical means is more precise than standard interpretations of the opera would concede. This discovery may lead to a new assessment of characterization as a critical tool to refine the definition of Tchaikovsky’s position in European music history. The method may be applied to examples outside his operatic output, such as Serenade for Strings and the Fifth Symphony. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented surge in respiratory illness cases worldwide. Although uncommon, pulmonary cavitation has been reported as a potential complication of COVID-19. This case series report describes four cases of COVID-19 patients with lung cavities, highlighting the various causes and clinical manifestations of this complication, and a review of the literature on the presence of lung cavities in COVID-19 patients. In two cases, the cavities were most likely due to secondary bacterial superinfections, with one case being complicated by multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Another case developed cavities secondary to a fungal infection, while the third case was directly caused by SARS-CoV-2 invasion in the lungs. The presence of cavities with or without air-fluid level or pneumothorax in COVID-19 patients should be considered as a potential complication of this infection, especially in those with respiratory symptoms. Physicians should remain vigilant for the development of pulmonary cavitation in COVID-19 patients, particularly those receiving high doses of steroids. Additionally, spontaneous pneumothorax should be considered an alarming sign in COVID-19 patients. Full article

This essay aims to explore the theoretical limitations that hidden curricula—hidden normative values, beliefs, and knowledge that are often considered problematic—place on our understanding of teacher–pupil relationships. It applies Habermas’ theory of communicative action—synonymous with mutual understanding and predicated on his concept of the lifeworld—to analyse hidden curricula. It finds that hidden curricula limit teachers’ comprehension of teacher–pupil relationships dependent on pupils’ responses to teacher-level hidden curricula. Where they respond with compliance, pupils limit expressions of their subjectivity; conversely, where they reject teacher-level hidden curricula, pupils’ subjective lifeworlds are already disrupted by them. Both responses impede teachers’ understanding of teacher–pupil relationships. In addition, pupil-level hidden curricula, which are often asymmetrical and oriented in response to teacher-level hidden curricula, present another barrier to teachers unveiling hidden curricula and the subjectivities of teacher–pupil relationships. In effect, pupil-level hidden curricula render teachers ‘alone in a crowd’. Finally, I argue that systematically examining hidden curricula represents strategic action—communicative action’s counterpoint—and colonisation of pupils’ lifeworlds. While hidden curricula present significant theoretical limitations to understanding teacher–pupil relationships, teachers might use this as a ‘pedagogical hinge’, freeing them from the unknowable and uncontrollable to a more practical view of teacher–pupil relationships. Full article

Both high serum insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (s-IGFBP-1) and insulin resistance (IR) are associated with poor functional outcome poststroke, whereas overweight body mass index (BMI; 25–30) is related to fewer deaths and favorable functional outcome in a phenomenon labeled “the obesity paradox”. Furthermore, IGFBP-1 is inversely related to BMI, in contrast to the linear relation between IR and BMI. Here, we investigated s-IGFBP-1 and IR concerning BMI and 7-year poststroke functional outcome. We included 451 stroke patients from the Sahlgrenska Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS) with baseline measurements of s-IGFBP1, homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), BMI (categories: normal-weight (8.5–25), overweight (25–30), and obesity (>30)), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a measure of general inflammation. Associations with poor functional outcome (modified Rankin scale [mRS] score: 3–6) after 7 years were evaluated using multivariable binary logistic regression, with overweight as reference due to the nonlinear relationship. Both normal-weight (odds-ratio [OR] 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30–4.14) and obese (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.08–4.71) patients had an increased risk of poor functional outcome, driven by deaths only in the normal-weight. In normal-weight, s-IGFBP-1 modestly attenuated (8.3%) this association. In the obese, the association was instead attenuated by HOMA-IR (22.4%) and hs-CRP (10.4%). Thus, a nonlinear relation between BMI and poor 7-year functional outcome was differently attenuated in the normal-weight and the obese. Full article

Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12) and national waste reduction goals require frequent waste analyses for monitoring and governance decisions. We developed and tested a citizen science (CS)-based household waste diary for ten consecutive days with 89 volunteer households in Switzerland as a complementary monitoring option to official composition analyses. Discrepancies between the CS-based household diary data and the official composition analyses ranged between 55–65% less reported waste quantities for minerals, compound products, and plastics and 80–90% less for paper, avoidable food waste, and glass. Household waste diaries should be digitalized and prolonged to 21–28 days, and volunteers from different demographic groups are needed to produce stratified, representative results. We conclude that a hybrid CS study design involving waste composition analyses and waste diaries could reduce self-reporting biases while increasing the monitoring frequencies of household waste compositions. CS-based hybrid household waste projects can be a powerful means to complement the measures identified in the 2022 Swiss action plan against food waste and for data reporting for the SDG 12.3 Food Waste Index. Full article

The rapid pace of urbanization and the increasing concentration of populations in urban areas have generated a substantial demand for architectural structures, resulting in a significant increase in building stock and continuous material flows that interact with the environment. This study emphasizes the importance of high-spatial-resolution mapping of residential building stock for effective urban-construction resource management, planning, and waste management. Focusing on Xi’an as a case study, the research develops a comprehensive framework for mapping urban residential building stock by integrating diverse data dimensions, including temporal, spatial, network, and multi-attribute aspects. The findings indicate that between 1990 and 2020, approximately 4758 residential communities were established in central Xi’an. The analysis of seven key residential construction materials revealed that the building stock escalated from 1.53 million tons to 731.12 million tons, with a steady spatial expansion of material distribution. The study attributes this growth to factors such as population increase, economic advancement, and policy initiatives, which, in turn, have driven the demand for residential building materials and reinforced the interdependence between urban expansion and residential construction development. Remarkably, from 1990 to 2020, the population surged by 2.1-fold, the economy by 66-fold, and the stock of residential building materials by 477-fold, indicating that the growth rate of material stock consistently outpaced that of both population and economic growth. Over the past three decades, the rapid expansion of residential buildings has led to the encroachment of urban ecological spaces by concrete structures. The methodology proposed in this study for quantifying building material offers valuable insights for policymakers and urban and environmental planners to foster responsible resource consumption and supports component-level circularity in the built environment. Full article

Wastewater pipelines are present everywhere in urban areas. Wastewater is a preferable fuel for renewable electricity generation from microbial fuel cells. Here, we created an integrated microbial fuel cell pipeline (MFCP) that could be connected to wastewater pipelines and work as an organic content biosensor and energy harvesting device at domestic waste-treatment plants. The MFCP used a pipeline-like terracotta-based membrane, which provided structural support for the MFCP. In addition, the anode and cathode were attached to the inside and outside of the terracotta membrane, respectively. Co−MnO₂ was used as a catalyst to improve the performance of the MFCP cathode. The experimental data showed a good linear relationship between wastewater chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration and the MFCP output voltage in a COD range of 200–1900 mg/L. This result implies the potential of using the MFCP as a sensor to detect the organic content of the wastewater inside the wastewater pipeline. Furthermore, the MFCP can be used as a long-lasting sustainable energy harvester with a maximum power density of 400 mW/m² harvested from 1900 mg/L COD wastewater at 25 °C. Full article

Soil moisture can be an important indicator of climate change in humid and semi-arid areas. This indicator can more efficiently propose different public policies related to climate change than just using precipitation and temperature data. Given the above, the objective of this study is to evaluate changes in soil moisture in the state of Pernambuco during the period 1961–2021, using the System of Hydrological Response Units for Pernambuco. In this study, two river basins in the state of Pernambuco that represent the different climatic conditions of the state were chosen. The results show that in the coastal region there is a tendency towards more saturated soils, and in the semi-arid region there is a tendency towards drier soils. With these results, it is possible to conclude that public policy decisions for the economy, environment, and society must consider this vital water balance variable. Leveraging soil moisture and precipitation data makes it possible to differentiate between flood risks and landslide vulnerabilities, particularly in regions characterized by higher levels of rainfall. Monitoring soil water content in humid and semi-arid areas can significantly enhance early warning systems, thereby preventing loss of life and minimizing the socio-economic impacts of such natural events. As such, this study provides a holistic understanding of the relationship between climatic patterns, soil moisture dynamics, and the occurrence of droughts and floods, ultimately contributing to more effective disaster preparedness and response measures in Pernambuco and similar regions. Full article

Diopatra neapolitana Delle Chiaje, 1841 (Annelida, Onuphidae) is one of the most exploited polychaete species in European waters, particularly in Ria de Aveiro, a coastal lagoon in mainland Portugal, where the overexploitation of this resource has led to a generalized decline of local populations. In an attempt to reduce the impact of harvesting, several management actions were implemented, but illegal poaching still fuels a parallel economy that threatens the sustainable use of this marine resource. The present study evaluated the combination of fatty acid profiles and elemental fingerprints of the whole body and jaws, respectively, of D. neapolitana collected from four harvesting locations within Ria de Aveiro in order to determine if their geographic origin could be correctly assigned post-harvesting. Results showed that both fatty acid profiles and elemental fingerprints differ significantly among locations, discriminating the geographic origin with higher accuracy when combining these two natural barcodes than when employing each individually. The present work can, therefore, contribute to the implementation of an effective management plan for the sustainable use of this marine resource, making it possible to detect if D. neapolitana was sourced from no-take zones and if it was collected from the place of origin claimed by live bait traders. Full article

The efficacy, targeting ability, and biocompatibility of plant-based nanoparticles can be exploited in fields such as agriculture and medicine. This study highlights the use of plant-based ginger nanoparticles as an effective and promising strategy against cancer and for the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections and related disorders. Ginger is a well-known spice with significant medicinal value due to its phytochemical constituents including gingerols, shogaols, zingerones, and paradols. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) derived from ginger extracts could be an important non-toxic and eco-friendly nanomaterial for widespread use in medicine. In this study, AgNPs were biosynthesized using an ethanolic extract of ginger rhizome and their phytochemical, antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties were evaluated. UV–visible spectral analysis confirmed the formation of spherical AgNPs. FTIR analysis revealed that the NPs were associated with various functional biomolecules that were associated with the NPs during stabilization. The particle size and SEM analyses revealed that the AgNPs were in the size range of 80–100 nm, with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.510, and a zeta potential of −17.1 mV. The purity and crystalline nature of the AgNPs were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The simple and repeatable phyto-fabrication method reported here may be used for scaling up for large-scale production of ginger-derived NPs. A phytochemical analysis of the ginger extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids, which can serve as active biocatalysts and natural stabilizers of metallic NPs. The ginger extracts at low concentrations demonstrated promising cytotoxicity against Vero cell lines with a 50% reduction in cell viability at 0.6–6 μg/mL. When evaluated for biological activity, the AgNPs exhibited significant antioxidant and antibacterial activity on several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. This suggests that the AgNPs may be used against multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Ginger-derived AgNPs have a considerable potential for use in the development of broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anticancer medications, and an optimistic perspective for their use in medicine and pharmaceutical industry. Full article

The aim of this study is to design and manufacture a multi-plate clutch system that uses magnetorheological (MR) fluid control to allow for a variable power transmission ratio in power distribution systems. MR fluid is a smart material that enables presenting a solution to the shocks and power loss that occur due to mechanical problems in power distribution systems. As such, the longitudinal and lateral dynamic properties of 4WD (four-wheel drive) vehicles were examined and analyzed to develop an algorithm to control the front/rear power distribution according to the road surface state and driving conditions. To verify the algorithm, the CarSim vehicle dynamics simulation program was adopted to perform experiments to understand the vehicle’s dynamic performance improvements and turning stability via a HILS (Hardware in the Loop) system. In this study, an MR fluid, multi-plate clutch was used that combines a dry clutch and a wet clutch using the characteristics of the MR fluid. Such a clutch was designed to enable continuous and smooth torque transmission by utilizing the strengths of each of the dry and wet clutches. The CarSim vehicle dynamics program was used to conduct the experiments, which were conducted by linking to the manufactured MR fluid clutch experimental device. The experiments investigated the dynamic performance based on the power distribution ratio by performing longitudinal flat, inclined driving and lateral DLC (double lane change) driving. In summary, this study found that it is possible to perform power transmission by applying a current to an MR fluid and forming a magnetic field to change the flow properties of the fluid to control the torque transmission ratio that occurs in an MR fluid clutch. Full article

The ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) is an essential mechanism responsible for the selective degradation of substrate proteins via their conjugation with ubiquitin. Since cardiomyocytes have very limited self-renewal capacity, as they are prone to protein damage due to constant mechanical and metabolic stress, the UPS has a key role in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. While altered proteasomal activity contributes to a variety of cardiac pathologies, such as heart failure and ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), the environmental cues affecting its activity are still unknown, and they are the focus of this work. Following a recent study by Ciechanover’s group showing that amino acid (AA) starvation in cultured cancer cell lines modulates proteasome intracellular localization and activity, we tested two hypotheses in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs, CMs): (i) AA starvation causes proteasome translocation in CMs, similarly to the observation in cultured cancer cell lines; (ii) manipulation of subcellular proteasomal compartmentalization is associated with electrophysiological abnormalities in the form of arrhythmias, mediated via altered intracellular Ca²⁺ handling. The major findings are: (i) starving CMs to AAs results in proteasome translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, while supplementation with the aromatic amino acids tyrosine (Y), tryptophan (W) and phenylalanine (F) (YWF) inhibits the proteasome recruitment; (ii) AA-deficient treatments cause arrhythmias; (iii) the arrhythmias observed upon nuclear proteasome sequestration(-AA+YWF) are blocked by KB-R7943, an inhibitor of the reverse mode of the sodium–calcium exchanger NCX; (iv) the retrograde perfusion of isolated rat hearts with AA starvation media is associated with arrhythmias. Collectively, our novel findings describe a newly identified mechanism linking the UPS to arrhythmia generation in CMs and whole hearts. Full article

This paper presents a model for assessing the impact of various factors on maritime accidents. This paper discusses the issue of maritime transport and its risks. The taxonomy of causes and consequences used in maritime transport is explained. Two mathematical principles were used, i.e., multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The analyses were carried out using the Promethee/Gaia method. The connection between causes and accidents constituted the decision problem. The evaluation criteria, a set of actions and preferences, were identified based on the method principles. The results of this research include rankings of causal chains. They were analysed in multi-criteria and single-criteria dimensions. The outcomes are presented numerically and graphically. Such research contributes to improving safety at sea. It allows us to understand how a particular transport system works. Conclusions can be drawn and measures can be initiated to change the situation in the future. Full article

Improving water use efficiency is gaining relevance for the sustainability of agricultural practices. In semi-arid Mediterranean areas, recent studies highlighted that future climatic scenarios will be even more critical for crops, given the increase in water scarcity. In this context, the rationalization of irrigation water is necessary to sustain processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) yield and quality since this crop requires large volumes of water. The present research aimed to identify the effects of a regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategy on the environmental and economic sustainability and fruit technological and functional quality of the processing tomato crop in the Mediterranean area. A two-year, open-field experiment was carried out to compare full irrigation management (IRR, restoring 100% ET_c) with an RDI strategy based on restoring 50% ET_c when the first fruit cluster reached the typical size (BBCH 701 phenological stage, relative to Solanaceous fruits). Remarkable water saving (21.46%, average of the two years) was achieved under RDI without significant variations in total and marketable yield compared to the IRR regime. Consequently, improved economic water productivity (+23.17%) was observed, allowing enhanced processing tomato sustainability. The RDI strategy boosted the glucose content (+17.78%), soluble solids content (SSC, +10.17%), and dry matter of the fruits (+10.03 g%). Furthermore, a higher SSC-to-titratable acidity ratio (+15.47%) and a negative shift in fructose/glucose balance (−7.71%) were observed in RDI-treated plants. Higher levels of the drought stress markers proline (+38.99%) and total polyphenols (+20.58%) were detected in RDI- compared to IRR-irrigated tomato fruits. These findings suggested the RDI strategy as an effective and sustainable approach for increasing both water productivity and the fruit quality of the processing tomato crop under semi-arid Mediterranean climatic conditions. Full article

This study investigates the host diversity and characteristics of the rare parasitic plant Silverberry-like taxillus (Taxillus yadoriki). Seogwipo, Jeju Island, where T. yadoriki grows naturally, was examined to clarify the diversity of host species, their location, and the part of the tree where T. yadoriki is attached. A total of 687 host trees were found. Taxillus yadoriki was intensively distributed in the lowlands below 200 m a.s.l. The host trees belonged to 40 species, four varieties, three cultivars, and two hybrids from 32 genera and 21 families, of which 23 taxa were identified as host plants for the first time in this study. Incredibly, this plant was found to be able to parasitize a variety of plants from 12 orders. Taxillus yadoriki was found to be parasitic in three orders of Gymnosperms, Ginkgoales, Cupressales, and Pinales, as well as nine orders of Angiosperms, including Magnoliales, Rosales, and Ericales. Rosaceae was the most diverse at 18.0%, and most species were broad-leaved and arboreal. Among them, Cryptomeria japonica and Litsea japonica had the highest frequency of parasitization and T. yadoriki was mainly attached to the upper part of the main tree and the main branch; as a result, T. yadoriki was distributed and showed specificity in the position of disturbance on the host. T. yadoriki’s specific distribution model was built as a Maxent program. The area under the curve of the receiver operation characteristic was 0.948 ± 0.026 (mean ± standard deviation), and the performance of the constructed model was excellent. Of the total eight environmental factors, density of artistic forest and meant temperature of coldest quarter accounted for 75.3% of the total importance, which was the main distribution determinant of species. In the average distribution probability map of T. yadoriki, the critical probability for determining distribution was calculated to be 0.2898 ± 0.1018. Accordingly, the distribution of species is predicted to expand from Jeju Island to the entire southern and southeastern coasts. Full article

The relocation of Indonesia’s capital to the IKN (Ibu Kota Negara) Nusantara in East Kalimantan is leading to significant changes in land use, shifting from natural vegetation and agriculture to urban infrastructure. This transition brings about economic diversification and urban expansion, but it also raises concerns about its impact on society, the economy, and the environment. The rapid development affects biodiversity conservation, food security, and the livelihoods of rural and Indigenous communities, leading to conflicts across social and economic dimensions. This research uses qualitative and quantitative data to examine the socio-economic and environmental changes in the IKN Nusantara area from 2003 to 2023. The findings show a notable increase in built-up areas, indicating urbanization and a decrease in agricultural land. The study discusses the implications for local populations and ecosystems, emphasizing the need for inclusive governance, community participation, and conflict resolution. It also proposes a comprehensive policy framework that promotes sustainable land management, recognizes Indigenous and local rights, and fosters inclusive economic growth to respect Indonesia’s rich environmental and cultural heritage. Full article

Tendinopathies continue to be a challenge for both patients and the medical teams providing care as no universal clinical practice guidelines have been established. In general, tendinopathies are typically characterized by prolonged, localized, activity-related pain with abnormalities in tissue composition, cellularity, and microstructure that may be observed on imaging or histology. In the lower limb, tendinopathies affecting the Achilles and the patellar tendons are the most common, showing a high incidence in athletic populations. Consistent diagnosis and management have been challenged by a lack of universal consensus on the pathophysiology and clinical presentation. Current management is primarily based on symptom relief and often consists of medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, injectable therapies, and exercise regimens that typically emphasize progressive eccentric loading of the affected structures. Implementing the knowledge of tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) and assessing their potential in enhancing tendon repair could fill an important gap in this regard. In the present pilot in vivo study, we have characterized the structural and cellular alterations that occur soon after tendon insult in models of both Achilles and patellar tendinopathy. Upon injury, CD146⁺ TSPCs are recruited from the interfascicular tendon matrix to the vicinity of the paratenon, whereas the observed reduction in M1 macrophage polarization is related to a greater abundance of reparative CD146⁺ TSPCs in situ. The robust TSPCs’ immunomodulatory effects on macrophages were also demonstrated in in vitro settings where TSPCs can effectively polarize M1 macrophages towards an anti-inflammatory therapeutic M2 phenotype. Although preliminary, our findings suggest CD146⁺ TSPCs as a key phenotype that could be explored in the development of targeted regenerative therapies for tendinopathies. Full article