This paper addresses a trajectory tracking control algorithm for underactuated marine vehicles moving horizontally in which the current in the North–East–Down frame is constant. This algorithm is a modification of a control scheme based on the input-output feedback linearization method, for which the application condition was that the vehicle was symmetric with respect to the left and right sides. The proposed control scheme can be applied to a fully asymmetric model, and, therefore, the geometric center can be different from the center of mass in both the longitudinal and lateral directions. A velocity transformation to generalized vehicle equations of motion was used to develop a suitable controller. Theoretical considerations were supported by simulation tests performed for a model with 3 degrees of freedom, in which the performance of the proposed algorithm was compared with that of the original algorithm and the selected control scheme based on a combination of backstepping and integral sliding mode control approaches. Full article

Garlic is known to have diverse effects on mammalian cells, being cytotoxic, especially to cancer cells, but also protect against oxidative stress. Mammalian erythrocyte is a simple cell devoid of intracellular organelles, protein synthesis ability, and most signaling pathways. Therefore, examination of the effects of garlic on erythrocytes allows for revealing primary events in the cellular action of garlic extract. In this study, human erythrocytes or erythrocyte membranes were exposed to garlic extract at various dilutions. Hemoglobin oxidation to methemoglobin, increased binding of hemoglobin to the membrane, and formation of Heinz bodies were observed. Garlic extract depleted acid-soluble thiols, especially glutathione, and induced a prooxidative shift in the cellular glutathione redox potential. The extract increased the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes, induced hemolysis, and inhibited hemolysis in isotonic ammonium chloride, indicative of decreased membrane permeability for Cl⁻ and increased the membrane fluidity. Fluorescent probes indicated an increased level of reactive oxygen species and induction of lipid peroxidation, but these results should be interpreted with care since the extract alone induced oxidation of the probes (dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and BODIPY C11). These results demonstrate that garlic extract induces oxidative changes in the erythrocyte, first of all, thiol and hemoglobin oxidation. Full article

Normally, the acidic impurities in hemihydrate phosphogypsum (HPG) must be neutralized when HPG is utilized, and a little amount of calcium hydroxide (CH) is the best choice. In this paper, the effects of excessive CH (5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 15 wt.% and 20 wt.% of HPG) for carbonation curing on the performance of hardened HPG paste were studied. According to the results of macro tests and microanalyses of XRD, TG, SEM-EDS, MIP and N₂ physisorption, it could be verified that CaF₂, Ca₃(PO₄)₂ and a large amount of nanoscale CaCO₃ crystals were produced as a result of neutralization and carbonation, and the compressive strength and the water resistance of carbonated HPG + CH paste were significantly improved due to the effects of nanoscale CaCO₃ crystals on pore refinement and the coverage on the surfaces of gypsum crystals of the hardened paste. Therefore, this study suggests a feasible and green method for recycling HPG/PG, with the collaborative effects of neutralization, performance enhancement and reductions in CO₂ emissions. Full article

Higher education institutions have been investing in teachers’ professional development and pedagogical innovation, on the one hand, aiming to promote the quality of institutions and, on the other hand, aiming to promote students’ personal and academic development. One of the methodologies that has received particular attention is service-learning, which aims to promote students’ learning by providing a service to vulnerable community groups. In this study, we aim to present the results of the application of this methodology in a fourth-year social work course. To this end, a mixed-methods study was conducted with 10 students in the Contemporary Social Work III course using the service-learning methodology. Students experienced between 15 and 30 h of service-learning, most of them for 7 weeks or more in an elder care institution, with varied activities such as social consulting and home visits. When we tried to understand the students’ perceived impact, we found higher mean scores in the post-test, with statistically significant differences on several dimensions, particularly self-confidence, problem solving, adaptability and flexibility, dealing with diversity and multiculturalism, understanding complex social issues, and a sense of purpose and life. These data are aligned with the qualitative analysis, which identified six themes such as the integration of practice and theory, development of skills, positive impact on academic training, valuing practical experience, reflective and meaningful learning, and support and guidance. The results highlight the value of pedagogical innovation for students’ skills, especially when it is aligned with the identity and mission of the institution and the values of the study program. Full article

Here, starch derivatives, i.e., sodium starch octenylsuccinate (OSA starch, hereinafter referred to as OSA), were employed as both reducing and stabilizing agents for the unique, inexpensive, and simple synthesis of gold nanoparticles (OSA-AuNPs) in an aqueous solution with gold salt. The obtained OSA-AuNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the obtained gold colloids was studied in the reduction of organic dyes, including methylene blue (C.I. Basic Blue 9) and rhodamine B (C.I. Basic Violet 10), and food coloring, including tartrazine (E102) and azorubine (E122), by sodium borohydride. Moreover, OSA-AuNPs were utilized as signal amplifiers in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The obtained results confirmed that gold nanoparticles can be used as effective catalysts in reduction reactions of selected organic dyes, as well as signal enhancers in the SERS technique. Full article

Mercury contamination stemming from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations poses significant environmental and health concerns. This study focuses on the Darmali area in River Nile State, Sudan, where the reprocessing of amalgamation tailings has led to mercury contamination. This study assessed the mercury content in soil and tailings samples, as well as in tap and groundwater, to evaluate the human health risks from ASGM activities and assess contamination levels within the study area. Soil and water samples were collected from various locations, including agricultural, residential, and tailings sites, as well as groundwater and tap water from the Nile. Mercury analysis was conducted using MA-3000 (NIC), and geo-accumulation index analysis revealed extreme pollution levels in areas with tailings and moderate pollution levels in agricultural and residential areas. Hazard quotients were applied to assess health risks, with inhalation of mercury vapor identified as the primary exposure route. The results indicated that tailings pose significant health risks, particularly for children, while water samples and soil from agricultural and residential areas did not pose significant risks. These findings underscore the urgent need for authorities and local communities to address mercury contamination by removing and treating tailings from affected areas to mitigate health risks. Full article

Nowadays, we have observed the dynamic development of bio-heating plants that use wood biomass for heating or energy purposes. The result of this process is a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as well as in the production of biomass ash (BA). Despite the waste nature of BA, it should be carefully analyzed and assessed for various applications, including environmental ones. Due to the features attributed to BA, including its alkaline reaction, the high capacity of its sorption complex, relatively low salinity, and significant content of macro- and microelements, a hypothesis was put forward in this work undertaken about the positive role of BA as an immobilizing factor for Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-contaminated soils. This research was based on a pot experiment in which four series were considered: (1) BA; (2) BA + Cd; (3) BA + Pb; and (4) BA + Zn. BA was used at doses of 30, 60, and 90 mg pot⁻¹, and metals at doses of 2 mg Cd, 100 mg Pb, and 300 mg Zn kg⁻¹ of soil. The test plant was corn grown for green mass. The study took into account the influence of BA on the content of the total forms of heavy metals (Me_tot) and their available forms (Me_av). In the soil without the addition of metals, a significant increase in the content of Cd_tot and Cd_av, and a decrease in the content of Zn_tot were observed due to the application of BA. The addition of metals against the background of the BA used resulted in a significant increase in Cd_tot, Pb_tot, and Zn_tot, as well as an increase in the available forms of Pb_av but a decrease in Zn_av. However, there was no significant increase in the Cd_av content. The obtained results may indicate the potentially immobilizing role of BA only in the case of zinc. They may constitute the basis for further, more detailed research aimed at determining the role of BA in the immobilization of various metals in soil. Full article

Achieving effective control over microbial contamination necessitates the precise and concurrent identification of numerous pathogens. As a common bacterium in the environment, Pseudomonas is rich in variety. It not only has pathogenic strains, but also spoilage bacteria that cause food spoilage. In this research, we devised a remarkably sensitive duplex droplet digital PCR (dddPCR) reaction system to simultaneously detect pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and spoilage Pseudomonas fragi (P. fragi). By employing comparative genomics, we identified four genes of P. fragi. Through a specific analysis, the RS22680 gene was selected as the detection target for P. fragi, and the lasR gene was chosen for P. aeruginosa, which were applied to construct a dddPCR reaction. In terms of specificity, sensitivity and anti-interference ability, the constructed dddPCR detection system was verified and analyzed. The assay showed excellent sensitivity and applicability, as evidenced by a limit of detection of 10⁰ cfu/mL. When the concentration of natural background bacteria in milk or fresh meat was 100 times that of the target detection bacteria, the method was still capable of completing the absolute quantification. In the simulation of actual sample contamination, P. aeruginosa could be detected after 3 h of enrichment culture, and P. fragi could be detected after 6 h. The established dddPCR detection system exhibits exceptional performance, serving as a foundation for the simultaneous detection of various pathogenic bacteria in food products. Full article

Background: COVID-19 is an infectious disease characterized by a severe catabolic and inflammatory state, leading to loss of muscle mass. The assessment of muscle mass can be useful to identify nutritional risk and assist in early management, especially in older adults who have high nutritional risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of calf circumference (CC) with clinical and biochemical markers and mortality in older adults with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in a public hospital. CC was adjusted for body mass index (BMI), reducing 3, 7, or 12 cm for a BMI of 25–29.9, 30–39.9, and ≥40 kg/m², respectively, and classified as reduced when <33 cm for women and <34 cm for men. Pearson’s correlation between BMI and CC was performed to assess the association between variables. Regression analysis was adjusted for sex, age, and BMI variables. Cox regression was used to assess survival related to CC. Results: A total of 208 older adults diagnosed with COVID-19 admitted to ICU were included, of which 84% (n = 176) were classified as having reduced CC. These patients were older, with lower BMI, higher nutritional risk, malnourished, and higher concentration of urea and urea–creatinine ratio (UCR) compared with the group with normal CC. There was an association between edematous patients at nutritional risk and malnourished with reduced CC in the Cox regression, either adjusted or not for confounding. Conclusions: CC was not associated with severity, biochemical markers, or mortality in older adults with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, but it was associated with moderately malnourished patients assessed by subjective global assessment (SGA). Full article

The global issue of oil spreading in water poses a significant environmental challenge, emphasizing the critical need for the accurate determination and monitoring of oil content in aquatic environments to ensure sustainable development of the environment. However, the complexity arises from challenges such as oil dispersion, clustering, and non-uniform distribution, making it difficult to obtain real-time oil concentration data. This paper introduces a sophisticated system for acquiring induced fluorescence spectra specifically designed for the quantitative analysis of oil pollutants. The paper involved measuring the fluorescence spectra across 20 concentration gradients (ranging from 0 to 1000 mg/L) for four distinct oil samples: 92# Gasoline, Mobil Motor Oil 20w-40, Shell 10w-40 engine oil, and Soybean Oil. The research focused on establishing a relationship model between relative fluorescence intensity and concentration, determined at the optimal excitation wavelength, utilizing the segmented Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm. Evaluation metrics, including standard addition recovery, average recovery, relative error, and average relative error, were employed to assess the accuracy of the proposed model. The experimental findings suggest that the average recovery rates for the four samples ranged between 99.61% and 101.15%, with the average relative errors falling within the range of 2.04% to 3.14%. These results underscore the accuracy and efficacy of the detection methodology presented in this paper. Importantly, this accuracy extends to scenarios involving heavier oil pollution. This paper exhibits exceptional sensitivity, enabling precise detection of diverse oil spills within the concentration range of 0~1000 mg/L in water bodies, offering valuable insights for water quality monitoring and sustainable development of the environment. Full article

A grammatical construction resembling Present-Day English locative inversion has already been found in Old English, with a fronted prepositional phrase prompting V2 word order, both in main and subordinate clauses. It has been demonstrated that several discourse-related factors influence the positioning of objects, fronted locatives, finite verbs and subjects in subordinate clauses. One of the main aims of the present paper is to provide a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the locative inversion construction in Old English subordinate clauses. The Old English data for this study were obtained from the York–Toronto–Helsinki Parsed Corpus of Old English Prose, and they were analysed using Corpus Studio. The results were compared with those for main clauses, and discourse-related factors such as PP anaphoricity or subject type were analysed in order to find the motivation for the existence of this alternation of word orders. PP anaphoricity proved not to be a determining factor in triggering finite verb inversion, while other factors such as subject weight and subject type do seem to motivate finite verb inversion, thus yielding an embedded PP-V-S word order. Full article

Background: Appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) rank as the third most frequent neoplasm affecting the appendix, originating from enterochromaffin cells. This study aims to evaluate the influence of various prognostic factors on the mortality rates of patients diagnosed with NETs of the appendix. Methods: Conducted retrospectively, the study involved 3346 patients, utilizing data sourced from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Our analysis centered on investigating demographic characteristics, clinical features, overall mortality (OM), and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) among the cohort. Variables showing a p-value < 0.1 in the univariate Cox regression were incorporated into the multivariate Cox regression analysis. A Hazard Ratio (HR) > 1 indicated an unfavorable prognosis. Results: In the multivariate analysis, higher OM and CSM were observed in males, older age groups, tumors with distant metastasis, poorly differentiated tumors, and those who underwent chemotherapy. Non-Hispanic Black individuals showed elevated mortality rates. Conclusion: Delayed diagnosis may contribute to the increased mortality in this community. Improved access to healthcare and treatment is crucial for addressing these disparities. Larger prospective studies are needed to pinpoint the underlying causes of elevated mortality in non-Hispanic Black populations, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are warranted to evaluate therapies for advanced-stage appendix NETs. Full article

Spatial planning, a policy instrument for creating sustainable environments that meet the needs of the current and future generations, has been implemented extensively worldwide. However, it is difficult for urban planners to thoroughly determine the spatial value of a territory and make informed decisions regarding the efficient utilization of regional resources in the real world. This study proposes a novel methodological framework for spatial pattern optimization that can guide future land use by integrating Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) clustering with a comprehensive evaluation system (dual evaluation). Furthermore, the validity of this framework is demonstrated through a case study of territorial spatial planning in Deyang, China. The findings indicate that (1) the methodological framework presented in this study offers valuable guidance for the spatial arrangement of territorial resources, especially in practical projects; and (2) the combination of dual evaluation and MST clustering can facilitate automatic regionalization to identify spatial clusters exhibiting functional similarity in terms of land use. By focusing on methodological advancements, this study concludes that the integration of dual evaluation (DE) and MST clustering not only simplifies the identification of optimal land-use patterns but also promotes a more systematic and efficient approach to support spatial planning. Full article

HBV infection is challenging to cure due to the persistence of viral covalently closed circular viral DNA (cccDNA). The dedicator of cytokinesis 11 (DOCK11) is recognized as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for CDC42 that has been reported to be required for HBV persistence. DOCK11 is expressed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of human hepatocytes and is functionally associated with retrograde trafficking proteins Arf-GAP with GTPase domain, ankyrin repeat, and pleckstrin homology domain-containing protein 2 (AGAP2), and ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1), together with the HBV capsid, in the trans-Golgi network (TGN). This opens an alternative retrograde trafficking route for HBV from early endosomes (EEs) to the TGN and then to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), thereby avoiding lysosomal degradation. DOCK11 also facilitates the association of cccDNA with H3K4me3 and RNA Pol II for activating cccDNA transcription. In addition, DOCK11 plays a crucial role in the host DNA repair system, being essential for cccDNA synthesis. This function can be inhibited by 10M-D42AN, a novel DOCK11-binding peptide, leading to the suppression of HBV replication both in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with a combination of 10M-D42AN and entecavir may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Consequently, DOCK11 may be seen as a potential candidate molecule in the development of molecularly targeted drugs against CHB. Full article

This study examines fiscal sustainability in Latin American countries from a unique time–frequency perspective, focusing on Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico from 1997 to 2022. Using wavelet coherence analysis, it uncovers dynamic relationships between government revenue and expenditure over different time horizons, revealing varying causality patterns across countries and periods. The findings underscore the importance of balanced fiscal planning and resource allocation to ensure fiscal sustainability and support economic growth. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of Latin America’s economic landscape and provides valuable insights for policymakers, economists, and stakeholders concerned with the region’s economic stability and development. Full article

Over the last two decades, the invasiveness of thoracic surgery has decreased along with technological advances and better diagnostic tools, whereas the patient’s comorbidities and frailty patterns have increased, as well as the number of early cancer stages that could benefit from curative resection. Poor aerobic fitness, nutritional defects, sarcopenia and “toxic” behaviors such as sedentary behavior, smoking and alcohol consumption are modifiable risk factors for major postoperative complications. The process of enhancing patients’ physiological reserve in anticipation for surgery is referred to as prehabilitation. Components of prehabilitation programs include optimization of medical treatment, prescription of structured exercise program, correction of nutritional deficits and patient’s education to adopt healthier behaviors. All patients may benefit from prehabilitation, which is part of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs. Faster functional recovery is expected in low-risk patients, whereas better clinical outcome and shorter hospital stay have been demonstrated in higher risk and physically unfit patients. Full article

An efficient and accurate estimation of wheat growth and yield is important for wheat assessment and field management. To improve the accuracy and stability of wheat growth and yield estimation, an estimation method based on a genetic algorithm-improved support vector regression (GA-SVR) algorithm was proposed in this study. The correlation analysis between vegetation indices calculated from spectral data and wheat growth phenotypes and yields was performed to obtain the optimal combination of vegetation indices with high correlation and good estimation performance. At the same time, the optimal model for wheat growth monitoring was screened and constructed in experiments with 12 wheat varieties and 3 gradient nitrogen fertilizer application levels. Then, the yield estimation model was established and its applicability was verified under different nitrogen fertilizer application levels. The results showed that the constructed models for the leaf area index, plant height, and yield estimation performed well, with coefficients of determination of 0.82, 0.71, and 0.70, and root mean square errors of 0.09, 2.7, and 68.5, respectively. This study provided an effective UAV remote sensing technique for monitoring wheat growth status and estimating yield. This study provides an effective unmanned aerial remote sensing technique for monitoring wheat growth and estimating yield, and provides technical support for wheat yield assessment and field management. Full article

A three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer is a critical component in elliptical and longitudinal ultrasonic vibration-assisted cutting processes, with its geometric structure directly influencing its performance. This paper proposes a structural optimization method based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA2). This method establishes a transducer lumped model to obtain the electromechanical coupling coefficients (X-$k_e$ and Z-$k_e$) and thermal power (X-P) indicators, evaluating the bending and longitudinal vibration performance of the transducer. By creating a finite element model of the transducer with mechanical losses, a dataset of different transducer performance parameters, including the tail mass, piezoelectric stack, and dimensions of the horn, is obtained. Training a CNN model with this dataset yields objective functions for the relationship between different transducer geometric structures and performance parameters. The NSGA2 algorithm solves the X-$k_e$ and Z-$k_e$ objective functions, obtaining the Pareto set of the transducer geometric dimensions and determining the optimal transducer geometry in conjunction with X-P. This method achieves simultaneous improvements in X-$k_e$ and Z-$k_e$ of the transducer by 22.33% and 25.89% post-optimization and reduces X-P to 18.97 W. Furthermore, the finite element simulation experiments of the transducer validate the effectiveness of this method. Full article

A link between bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and cognitive disorders has been suggested. However, the differences in BPA concentrations between subjects with and without cognitive impairment have not been analysed. Therefore, this observational study aimed to compare urine BPA levels in subjects with normal cognitive function (NCF) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 89 MCI subjects and 89 well-matched NCF individuals were included in this study. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) scale. Urine BPA concentrations were evaluated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and adjusted for creatinine levels. Moreover, anthropometric parameters, body composition, sociodemographic factors, and physical activity were also assessed. Creatinine-adjusted urine BPA levels did not differ between the NCF and MCI groups (1.8 (1.4–2.7) vs. 2.2 (1.4–3.6) µg/g creatinine, p = 0.1528). However, there were significant differences in MOCA results between groups when the study population was divided into tertiles according to BPA concentrations (p = 0.0325). Nevertheless, multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that only education levels were independently associated with MCI. In conclusion, urine BPA levels are not significantly different between subjects with MCI and NCF, but these findings need to be confirmed in further studies. Full article

In recent years, the intensity and frequency of droughts have been increasing with the advent of the climate crisis. Agricultural droughts have a significant economic and social impact. Agricultural drought is not only a natural disaster but also leads to food security threats and reduced economic activities, such as decreased productivity. Therefore, it is very important to specify the scale of agricultural drought and quantitatively estimate the economic damage. In this study, we developed an analytical methodology to quantitatively assess the economic damage of agricultural drought and estimated the damage of agricultural drought in 2018 and 2019 for the Republic of Korea. The 2018 agricultural drought was estimated to have caused USD 4.438 million in damage cost and USD 5.180 million in recovery cost. The 2019 drought was less damaging than the previous year, with an estimated damage cost of USD 286,000 and recovery costs of USD 218,000. The results suggest that the economic impact of agricultural drought varies by region depending on the frequency and intensity of the drought and confirm the importance of regional strategies for effective drought management and response. The impacts of agricultural drought go beyond short-term agricultural losses and lead to long-term economic burdens. Therefore, the results of this study are expected to be used as a basis for understanding the impacts of agricultural drought on national economies and for developing policies and strategies to minimize impacts. Full article

Background: Postoperative de novo atrial fibrillation (POAF) is one of the most frequently encountered complications following cardiac surgery. Despite the identification of several risk factors, the link between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and POAF has barely been examined. The objective of this prospective observational study was to determine whether severe SDB is associated with POAF in patients after elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Study design and methods: The incidence and preoperative predictors of in-hospital POAF were assessed in 272 patients undergoing CABG surgery at the University Medical Center Regensburg (Germany). In-hospital POAF was detected by continuous telemetry-ECG monitoring and 12-lead resting ECGs within the first seven postoperative days. POAF that occurred after hospital discharge within 60 days post CABG surgery was classified as post-hospital POAF and was ascertained by standardized phone interviews together with the patients’ medical files, including routinely performed Holter-ECG monitoring at 60 days post CABG surgery. The night before surgery, portable SDB monitoring was used to assess the presence and type of severe SDB, defined by an apnea–hypopnea index ≥ 30/h. Results: The incidence of in-hospital POAF was significantly higher in patients with severe SDB compared to those without severe SDB (30% vs. 15%, p = 0.009). Patients with severe SDB suffered significantly more often from POAF at 60 days post CABG surgery compared to patients without severe SDB (14% vs. 5%, p = 0.042). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that severe SDB (odds ratio, OR [95% confidence interval, CI]: 2.23 [1.08; 4.61], p = 0.030), age ≥ 65 years (2.17 [1.04; 4.53], p = 0.038), and diabetes mellitus (2.27 [1.15; 4.48], p = 0.018) were significantly associated with in-hospital POAF. After additional adjustment for heart failure, the association between sleep apnea and postoperative atrial fibrillation was attenuated (1.99 [0.92; 4.31], p = 0.081). Conclusions: Amongst established risk factors, severe SDB was significantly associated with in-hospital POAF in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Whether SDB contributes to POAF independently of heart failure and whether risk for POAF may be alleviated by proper treatment of SDB merits further investigation. Full article

As companies increasingly undergo digital transformation, the role of talent management processes becomes pivotal in enhancing overall organizational performance. The objective of this research is to assess the extent to which greater digitalization in the talent management process is linked to company size. The research has addressed four research questions in order to explore the significance of talent management in corporate digital transformation, examining whether variations in the digitalization of these processes can be attributed to company size. A qualitative approach was employed, utilizing a questionnaire, and collecting responses from 202 organizations across diverse sectors. The findings reveal disparities in digitalization throughout the talent management process, with pronounced presence in the attracting, selecting, and rewarding phases, but diminishing in deployment and development, and further declining in planning. A positive correlation between company size and the adoption of specific digital platforms was observed. Larger enterprises exhibit greater utilization of digital platforms in talent deployment and development. Moreover, corporate communication tools are consistently utilized in the rewarding phase, irrespective of company size. These findings offer practical insights for organizations aiming to optimize their digitalization strategies based on their scale, thereby contributing to more effective and tailored digitalization endeavours. The uniqueness of this research lies in its exploration of the influence of company size on the digitalization of talent management processes and its potential to explain variations across different stages of these processes. Full article