Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and repetitive behaviours. Diagnosing ASD early is difficult for healthcare professionals due to its diverse and intricate presentation. However, early detection is vital for enhancing outcomes and enabling the children to access targeted therapies that support the development of social and communication skills. Moreover, Classical models were time-consuming and resource-intensive, and they required lengthy assessments and specialized training. To bridge these complications, this research proposes a Sales Training-Based Optimization enabled Deep High-Order Principal Component Network (STBO_DHPCNet) for ASD classification using resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) brain images from 1114 subjects in the ABIDE dataset. First, gamma correction is applied to enhance the quality of the autism brain image. Next, the Region of Interest (ROI) extraction is performed. Afterwards, the nub region extraction is performed based on Sales Training Based Optimization (STBO). On the other hand, feature extraction is done based on an enhanced brain image. Finally, the classification of ASD is done by using DHPCNet, and it is trained using STBO. Here, DHPCNet is developed by incorporating the Deep High-Order Attention Neural Network (DHA-Net) and Principal Component Analysis Network (PCA-Net). Moreover, the evaluation results show that the DHPCNet gained an increased range of accuracy, sensitivity and specificity as 95.62%, 94.79%, and 95.86%.
In France, methylphenidate, mainly used in the treatment of ADHD, has been subject to prescription restrictions that were relaxed at the end of 2021. This study analyses trends in methylphenidate consumption in France and examines changes following the modification to prescribing rules in 2021. This ecological study was based on data from the Medic'AM database, which records reimbursed outpatient drug dispensation in France from January 2016 to December 2023. Methylphenidate sales were expressed as defined daily dose per thousand inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) and expenditure as euros per thousand inhabitants. Time-series analyses were conducted to assess changes in methylphenidate sales and associated expenditure following modifications to prescribing arrangements in September and November 2021. Methylphenidate consumption rose from 0.607 DDD/TID per month in 2016 to 1.457 DDD/TID in 2023, an increase of 84%. Associated expenditure followed a similar upward trend. A more pronounced increase in methylphenidate sales was observed after the end of 2021. The study shows a clear increase in methylphenidate sales after 2021, coinciding with changes in prescribing regulations. Given the ecological design, this temporal association cannot be interpreted as causal. The observed trends likely reflect multiple factors, including regulatory changes, increased recognition of ADHD, and evolving clinical practices. These findings highlight how changes in prescribing policies may be associated with variation in healthcare utilization and expenditure. In France, methylphenidate, a medication mainly used to treat attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has been subject to strict prescribing rules, which were relaxed at the end of 2021. These changes allowed community‐based specialists to initiate treatment and extended access to adults. Using national health insurance data on outpatient drug dispensations from 2016 to 2023, this study examined trends in methylphenidate sales over time. Use increased by 84% during this period, along with a rise in related healthcare expenditure. A more marked increase was observed after the changes in prescribing rules in 2021. Because this study was based on aggregated data, it cannot determine whether these policy changes directly caused the increase. However, the findings suggest that regulatory changes, along with other factors such as improved recognition of ADHD, may have contributed to increased use of methylphenidate. Overall, this study shows that changes in prescribing rules may be associated with changes in medication use and healthcare spending.
Background Recreational cannabis legalization has expanded rapidly in the United States; however, population-level analyses examining its association with traffic fatalities yield mixed results. These heterogeneous findings arise from methodological limitations, including short follow-up windows, a focus on early-adopting states, and methods that do not adequately account for staggered policy adoption. Methods We analyzed a 50-state panel (2005-2024) using an imputation-based difference-in-differences estimator designed for staggered policy adoption. The outcome was the log traffic fatality rate per one billion vehicle miles traveled. We estimated effects from the year of legalization through year four, with four pre-treatment years to assess parallel trends. The primary model included state- and year-fixed effects and controlled for demographic composition, weather (precipitation and annual average temperature), unemployment, traffic safety laws, and COVID-19 mortality. Sensitivity analyses estimated robustness by varying the sample composition (excluding early adopters, pandemic years, and Florida), modifying the treatment definition (legalization effective date vs. retail sales start), and including Poisson count-model replication. Results The panel included 1,000 state-year observations; the primary difference-in-differences analysis used 951 observations meeting all inclusion criteria. Post-legalization, traffic fatality rates increased by approximately 4.2% in the legalization year (τ=0: 0.041; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.006, 0.077; p=0.022) and 6.1% by year four (τ=4: 0.060; 95% CI: 0.007, 0.112; p=0.027). Pre-treatment trends were parallel between treatment and control groups (joint test: χ²(4)=4.93; p=0.295), and the post-legalization increase was statistically significant overall (joint test: χ²(5)=11.56; p=0.041). Findings remained consistent when excluding early-adopting states, pandemic years, or Florida, and a Poisson count-model replication produced the same direction and magnitude. When treatment was instead indexed to the start of retail sales, no increase was observed in the first year (τ = 0: 0.011; 95% CI: -0.027, 0.050), and the overall post-retail joint test did not reach conventional significance (p = 0.067). Conclusion Legalizing recreational cannabis was followed by a rise in traffic deaths during the first four years after the law took effect. The increase began at legalization rather than at the start of retail sales. This suggests that the change in law and shifting public attitudes had a greater impact on traffic safety than the availability of cannabis in stores. States considering legalization should prepare traffic safety measures in advance, while those that have already legalized should reinforce existing efforts to address ongoing risks.
The goal of this study was to describe characteristics of warnings from state cannabis programs in the United States. From September 2024 to February 2025, we compiled regulations related to cannabis warnings on product packages in states with legalized cannabis sales (medical and adult-use), verifying regulations with regulators from each state. Two coders independently coded warning regulations for different characteristics. We identified 60 state cannabis programs across the United States with legalized cannabis sales, of which 56 (93%) required cannabis warnings. Of the programs requiring warnings, 55% included warning content about a specific health risk, most often addiction (41%). Few programs had warnings about cannabis' effects on mental health (16%), respiratory health (5%), or cardiovascular health (4%). Few programs required warnings to contrast with backgrounds (23%), rotating warnings (7%), or front-of-package warnings (4%). The mean number of words in warnings was 57 (Standard Deviation: 30), and the mean reading level was 9th grade. Although 93% of cannabis programs with legalized sales require warnings, only half mention specific health risks; less than 10% require rotating or front-of-package warnings; and warnings may be difficult to read and understand. Further research is vital to strengthen cannabis warning labels.
Riparian buffer zones can reduce pesticide transport from agricultural land to streams but may themselves become contaminated and expose non-target organisms to pesticides. Despite their ecological importance, pesticide occurrence in riparian vegetation and soil remains difficult to predict. Here, we developed a machine learning framework to predict the occurrence of individual pesticides in riparian buffer zones using physicochemical properties, German national pesticide sales data, spatially explicit land use, and topographic predictors. We trained the model on presence-absence data for 93 pesticides measured in vegetation and soil along transects between agricultural fields and streams. The model performance was high for both vegetation and soil. Across 20 cross-validation runs, overall accuracy averaged 0.94 ± 0.01 for vegetation and 0.93 ± 0.01 for soil, with macro average F1-scores of 0.85 ± 0.02 and 0.76 ± 0.02, respectively. Predictor importance analyses showed that national pesticide sales, followed by physicochemical properties, contributed most strongly to model predictions at the individual-predictor level. At the grouped level, physicochemical properties contributed most strongly to model performance in both vegetation and soil. Including adjacent field samples improved soil predictions, whereas stream samples did not improve soil or vegetation predictions. Our results show that pesticide occurrence in riparian buffer zones can be predicted from a combination of usage intensity, compound-specific environmental behavior, and landscape context. Therefore, this approach may support the targeted monitoring and management of non-target habitats in agricultural landscapes.
Alcohol is a major preventable risk factor for cancer, causally linked to seven types of cancer. Yet the potential cancer-preventive impact of population-level alcohol control policies remains unquantified; this study provides the first such estimates for the European Union (EU). We conducted a modelling analysis for 27 EU countries to estimate changes in alcohol consumption and alcohol-attributable cancer incidence. Four policy scenarios were examined, based on real-world studies from high-income economies reviewed in the International Agency for Research on Cancer Handbooks of Cancer Prevention Volume 20B: increased alcohol excise taxation, a Sunday alcohol sales ban, a national alcohol marketing ban, and an integrated alcohol policy implemented in Lithuania Relative changes in recorded alcohol consumption were applied to 2012 exposure data to estimate cancer incidence in 2022, assuming a 10-year latency period. Alcohol-attributable fractions were calculated for seven causally related cancers by country, sex, and age, with uncertainty quantified using Monte Carlo-like simulation. In 2022, an estimated 146,194 cancer cases (16.1% across seven causally related sites) in the EU were attributable to alcohol. All policy scenarios would have reduced cancer incidence across the EU. The integrated policy scenario would avert 9220 cases (95% UI: 8568-9833; 6.5% of alcohol-attributable cases). Increased taxation would avert 8387 cases (95% UI: 7954-8 862, 5.9%), a Sunday sales ban 5491 cases (95% UI: 5365-5 618, 3.8%), and a marketing ban 6434 cases (95% UI: 5899-6 973, 4.5%). The largest absolute reductions were for female breast, and oesophageal cancers. Implementation of major alcohol policies could prevent thousands of cancer cases in the EU. Population-level alcohol policies represent an underused tool for cancer prevention and should be integrated within EU and national cancer control frameworks. EU4Health Programme (SANTE/2022/SI2.883729); French National Cancer Institute (INCa_19160).
To determine the prevalence and associated factors of ophthalmic self-medication (OSM) and explore the lived experiences of adult patients with ophthalmic problems attending the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest Ethiopia. An institution-based mixed-methods study comprising a cross-sectional quantitative component and a phenomenological qualitative component. This study was conducted at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest Ethiopia, between 28 May and 6 August 2025. For the quantitative component, 463 adult patients with ophthalmic problems were included via systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analysed with SPSS V.27. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with OSM. For the qualitative component, eight participants with a history of OSM were purposively selected for in-depth interviews, and data were thematically analysed using OpenCode V.4.0. Prevalence of OSM, factors associated with OSM and themes from the qualitative analysis. The prevalence of OSM was 43.4% (95% CI 38.8 to 48.1). Significant predictors included long travel distance to health facilities (adjusted OR (AOR) = 4.49; 95% CI 2.48 to 8.16), drug availability at home (AOR=3.33; 95% CI 1.97 to 5.62), chronic systemic illness (AOR=2.96; 95% CI 1.51 to 5.80), poor knowledge about risks (AOR=3.19; 95% CI 1.95 to 5.21) and lack of health insurance (AOR=2.29; 95% CI 1.25 to 4.20). Older age was a protective factor (AOR=0.22; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.71). Qualitative findings revealed that accessibility, perceived knowledge, socio-cultural influences, symptom severity and health system barriers were key reasons for OSM. OSM is common in Northwest Ethiopia, driven by both individual and systemic factors. Interventions should focus on awareness creation, expanding insurance coverage, regulating over-the-counter sales and improving access to eye care services.
Occupational exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is a growing concern, as workers may experience higher exposures compared to the general population. However, the contribution of occupational exposure to PFAS on overall body burden remains understudied. This study aims to identify occupational groups with high PFAS body burden based on the data from 2013 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and assess potential health risks using the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) guidelines for clinicians. Serum concentration of 12 PFAS compounds among U.S. residents aged ≥16 yr was obtained from the 2013 to 2014 NHANES (N = 2099), which provides the most recent cycle with detailed information on current and longest jobs. Occupational history was obtained from 2010 U.S. Bureau of the Census Industrial & Occupational Classification coding system reported in the NHANES dataset. Occupations and industries associated with the highest PFAS body burden were determined and categorized into 3 risk groups per NASEM thresholds (<2, 2 to 20, and >20 ng/mL) for the sum of 7 PFAS. Survey-weighted linear regressions were conducted to compare PFAS levels across 23 occupational/industry groups, stratified by gender and age. Higher total PFAS concentrations (sum of all detectable PFAS) were observed for both current and longest jobs (GMs: 12.4 to 14.4 ng/mL) in construction/extraction, installation/maintenance/repair, and arts/design/entertainment/sports/media occupations. PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA accounted for >70% of total PFAS body burden. Over 20% of participants exceeded the NASEM high-risk threshold (≥20 ng/mL) in installation/maintenance/repair, construction, manufacturing, durable goods, and transportation/warehousing, with GMs ranging from 28.6 to 37.6 ng/mL. Elevated PFAS levels were observed in construction and installation/maintenance/repair groups in adjusted models, relative to their respective reference groups. Significantly elevated associations were most pronounced among adults aged 30 to 64 and among females in installation/maintenance/repair compared with sales. The observed differences in PFAS serum levels, including elevated body burdens among workers in construction/extraction, arts/design/entertainment/sports/media, and installation/maintenance/repair, underscore the need for targeted biomonitoring and exposure intervention among these occupational groups.
The illicit drug trade generates billions of dollars in revenue per year, much of which comes from wholesale and retail sales late in the supply chain. Yet, the methods retailers and low-level wholesalers use to launder this revenue remain poorly understood. Using in-depth interviews with illicit drug entrepreneurs in the United States and the United Kingdom, this article analyses laundering strategies among such market actors. Our findings indicate that a significant proportion of their illicit proceeds are disposed of through relatively small-scale 'everyday' cash transactions (< $1,000) that are effectively untraceable. For those generating more substantial revenues, a variety of accessible and uncomplicated laundering strategies are employed, such as reporting such revenues as taxable income, using proxies to launder funds, and using revenues as investment capital within small-scale legal enterprise. Ultimately, we identify uncomplicated, yet largely effective, methods of laundering criminal proceeds amongst our sample of low- to medium-level illicit drug sellers. Though the sums at an individual level are relatively trivial, the 'mass of minor offences' of this nature likely accounts for a significant share of laundered drug revenues in Western consumer drug markets.
In April 2024, medical cannabis was removed from the list of narcotic drugs in Germany. This case study explores trends in the supply and demand of medical cannabis over a one-year period. Information on available cannabis flower products (including product names, sales prices, stock quantities and THC and CBD concentrations) was regularly accessed from one online dispensary in Germany. Product demand was ascertained by differences in stock quantity over time. Accounting for the impact of %THC and prices, the supply and demand of medical cannabis were explored. Between December 2024 (n=266) and November 2025 (n=401), the number of cannabis flower products available for purchase increased (total availability across the study period: n=996). Median %THC remained mostly stable, but the price per 10mg THC dropped by -0.003€ every week (95% Confidence Interval[CI]: -0.004 to -0.002€). Products with 20 to 29.9% THC made up more than two-thirds of total demand. Product demand quantities increased with every percentage point higher %THC (Incidence Rate Ratio[IRR]=1.13, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.17) and decreased with every € higher price (IRR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.63; R2 = 0.38). The price changed at least once for about every second product, with price reductions being associated with demand increases. This case study suggests that a highly dynamic commercial market for medical cannabis is evolving in Germany. The increasing demand for cheap products with high %THC contrasts with the available evidence on the safe use of medical cannabis use. Current regulation of the medical cannabis market may not align with public health principles.
Acute poisoning is a severe global public health issue that involves injury or death caused by exposure to an exogenous substance through any route. This study evaluated the most common poisons, reasons for poisoning, clinical management of poisoning cases, and their associated outcomes. One-year prospective cohort study executed at an academic medical center in Sindh, Pakistan. The predictors of outcomes are examined using a binary logistic regression model. Among 1404 enrolled patients, the majority were male (57.1%), aged 16-30 years (63.2%) and married (77.6%). Organophosphate compounds (42.8%) were the primary reasons for poisoning. Clinical manifestations as abnormalities in blood pressure (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.04-2.97; p = 0.034), abnormal consciousness (AOR = 10.41; 95% CI: 5.91-18.35; p < 0.001), dyspnea (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.72-5.96; p < 0.001), bronchorrhea (AOR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.06-3.74; p = 0.032) and salivation (AOR = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.38-5.29; p = 0.004) were associated with higher odds of death. Symptomatic management was achieved through the administration of proton pump inhibitors (89.0%) and antidotes, such as pralidoxime (49.9%). The findings highlight the need for stricter regulation of organophosphate storage and sales, alongside community awareness campaigns. Establishing regional poison and antidote centers, ensuring early recognition of clinical manifestations, and implementing standardized management protocols may reduce mortality risk.
Understanding adolescents' perspectives on how alcohol policies and the normalization of alcohol consumption affect their behavior remains crucial. This study explores how microsocial systems (peers and family) shape adolescent alcohol consumption within the macrosocial systems (social norms and public policies) in which they are embedded. We conducted 25 group interviews with 197 students in Years 8 to 10 (55.3% girls) enrolled in nine schools. Interviews were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Despite recent restrictions on alcohol sales to adolescents, participants perceived alcohol as still easily accessible. Young people employ various strategies to obtain it, and small neighborhood retailers often fail to comply with regulations despite being aware of them. These macrosocial dynamics also contribute to the normalization of alcohol use during celebrations and in private settings such as the home. In addition, social norms help explain parental attitudes that legitimize adolescents' early experiences with alcohol in the home, while these attitudes-together with parents' own drinking behaviors-further reinforce the normalization of alcohol use. Prevention strategies for adolescents should address the normalization of alcohol use in Chile and its embedding in social contexts, such as families. The enforcement of alcohol policies must be assessed, considering adolescents' reports of access to alcohol.
 INTRODUCTION: The therapeutic role of metamizole (dipyrone) remains controversial because of the risk of metamizole-induced agranulocytosis, a very rare, idiosyncratic, life-threatening adverse reaction. We described utilisation, spontaneous reporting and recent regulatory actions in Switzerland.  We estimated national metamizole utilisation as defined daily doses (DDD; WHO DDD 3 g/day) for 2014-2023, derived from aggregated national sales data; individual case safety reports (ICSR) of metamizole-induced agranulocytosis were retrieved from VigiBase (the WHO global safety database) for 2014-2024. Outputs included annual counts, fatal proportion and utilisation-normalised reporting (metamizole-induced agranulocytosis per million DDD); analyses were primarily descriptive. Utilisation increased by ~79% during the analysed period with a formulation mix of 95.7% oral, 4.2% ampoules, 0.1% suppositories. Metamizole-induced agranulocytosis reports rose from 13 (2014) to 57 (2024), with year-to-year variability; the fatal proportion declined from 13.5% (2014-2018; 17/126) to 5.8% (2019-2023; 13/224) and 1.8% in 2024 (1/57). Utilisation-normalised reporting increased from 1.42 to 3.29 per million DDD (total), while fatal reports remained low and trended downward (mean 0.249 per million DDD, 2014-2023). Among Swiss fatal cases, methotrexate was co-reported as a concomitant drug in 39.5% (15/38) (extended fatal set 2011-2025; fatal ICSRs irrespective of onset year). Switzerland contributes a disproportionately high absolute number of cumulative metamizole-induced agranulocytosis reports.  EMA and Swissmedic implemented strengthened warnings; Swissmedic additionally required a red-framed outer carton statement, clarified indications (second-line severe pain; refractory high fever) and advised avoiding concomitant methotrexate; a Direct Healthcare Professional Communication was issued. Regulatory assessments by EMA and Swissmedic concluded that the benefits of metamizole continue to outweigh the risks, provided the drug is used appropriately, action is taken promptly at first symptoms and concomitant methotrexate is avoided. However, the number of reported cases of agranulocytosis underscores the known risk in the context of widespread use. Spontaneous reports reflect reporting intensity, not incidence; ongoing monitoring of risk-minimisation effectiveness is warranted.
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a major enteric pathogen that causes severe intestinal damage, characterized by epithelial disruption, inflammation, and impaired regeneration. Nutritional intervention has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate such injury and promote mucosal repair. Casein enzymatic hydrolysate (CEH) possesses well-documented anti-inflammatory and mucosa-protective properties. However, whether CEH exerts its protective effects against S. Typhimurium-induced intestinal injury by modulating the gut microbiota, and the underlying mechanisms, remains largely unknown. Twelve-month-old C57BL/6J mice were pretreated with streptomycin and challenged with S. Typhimurium. In the primary efficacy study, mice were assigned to four groups: control, control + CEH, model, and model + CEH (2% CEH in diet for 10 days before and throughout infection). Disease severity, intestinal histology (H&E and PAS staining), inflammation (TNF-α and IL-10 ELISA; CD45+ flow cytometry), barrier function (E-cadherin flow cytometry; PEPT1/SGLT1 immunofluorescence), stem cell activity (LGR5/Ki67 and CD24+LGR5+ staining), Paneth cell niche factors (LYZ1/Wnt3A immunofluorescence and western blot), gut microbiota composition (16S rDNA sequencing), and luminal L-lactate levels (biochemical assay) were evaluated. To establish causality, additional mechanistic experiments were performed using exogenous L-lactate supplementation, the GPR81 inhibitor 2,5-DHBA, and the Wnt secretion inhibitor Wnt-C59, with the same panel of tests. CEH administration significantly improved survival, alleviated clinical disease severity, and attenuated systemic and intestinal inflammation. CEH preserved mucosal architecture, restored goblet cells and barrier proteins (PEPT1, SGLT1, E-cadherin), and promoted LGR5+ and CD24+LGR5+ intestinal stem cell regeneration. CEH reshaped the gut microbiota, enriched lactate-producing genera, and increased luminal L-lactate levels, accompanied by restored Paneth cell LYZ1 expression and elevated Wnt3A in the crypt niche. Strikingly, lactate supplementation improved CEH's protective effects on Paneth cell function, ISC proliferation, barrier integrity, and inflammatory cytokines. LYZ1+ Paneth cells co-expressed the lactate-sensing receptor GPR81. Pharmacological blockade of GPR81 or Wnt abrogated the beneficial effects of both CEH and lactate, confirming that CEH acts through the lactate-GPR81-Wnt3A axis. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that CEH alleviates S. Typhimurium-induced enteritis in adult mice via a microbiota-lactate-GPR81-Wnt3A-ISC axis. CEH represents a promising nutritional strategy to counteract infection-induced intestinal injury and promote regeneration in adult hosts with diminished regenerative reserve.
Electroretinography (ERG) is a non-invasive technique used to assess retinal function via electrical responses to light stimuli. We established baseline ERG parameters and a standardized recording protocol for collared scops owls (Otus lettia). Twelve eyes of six owls were evaluated. In addition to the pre-release assessment, ocular reflex tests and basic ophthalmic examinations were performed before the induction of anesthesia. Routine radiographic and hematological examinations were performed under general anesthesia, followed by ERG recordings. Under scotopic -20 dB conditions, the a-wave amplitude was 1.78 ± 0.53 μV (implicit time: 37.83 ± 5.52 ms), and the b-wave was 41.59 ± 10.71 μV (100.88 ± 10.9 ms). For scotopic 0 dB mixed responses, the a-wave amplitude was 27.98 ± 5.9 μV (27.64 ± 2.71 ms), and that of the b-wave was 175.51 ± 13.82 μV (97.02 ± 7.01 ms). Under photopic conditions, the a-wave and b-wave amplitudes were 2.88 ± 2.06 μV (28.67 ± 2.77 ms) and 25.53 ± 10.61 μV (77.78 ± 16.18 ms). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to establish species-specific baseline ERG parameters for collared scops owls. These findings provide a valuable tool for assessing retinal function in raptors and may serve as a baseline framework for ERG evaluation in other avian species.
This structured narrative review is a study of foods specifically mentioned in the Quran and for which recent scientific findings support several nutritional observations mentioned in the hadith literature. The two-phase method was used: searching for scripturally described foods and summarizing the literature (2016-26) available in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. It was found that 16 foods were plant-, animal-, or marine-based. Compositional analysis revealed common bioactive components, including polyphenols, flavonoids, unsaturated fatty acids, soluble fiber (such as 0-glucan), thymoquinone, gingerols, and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Mechanistic proof suggests common antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, glycemic-regulatory, lipid-modulating, and microbiota-associated routes. The strength of clinical substantiation of the clinical benefits of olive oil, fish, and barley represents a continuum of evidence: there is comparatively strong evidence of cardiometabolic benefit in these three items, but weak to mottled evidence of promise in pomegranate, grapes, Nigella sativa, ginger, vinegar, and dates. All in all, most of the scripturally discussed foods are consistent with modern functional food paradigms; nevertheless, their health implications can be most appropriately viewed through the lens of balanced diets rather than singular therapeutic assertions. More, longer, and standardized clinical trials are required to shed light on dose-response relations and long-term disease outcomes.
Early differentiation of startup founders with high success potential remains a central challenge for entrepreneurship research, innovation policy, and capital allocation in high-uncertainty environments. Existing approaches rely largely on broad personality models or intention-based instruments developed primarily to explain entry into entrepreneurship rather than differentiation of founders associated with realized venture success. In this study, we introduce a domain-specific model of founder success characteristics and develop a 31-item Startup Founder Success Scale (SFSS) to differentiate realized success from entrepreneurial intent. The sample (N = 10,007) included startup founders recruited from predefined pools meeting objective funding, revenue, or acquisition benchmarks, as well as corporate managers and aspiring entrepreneurs. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported six distinct dimensions-Relentless Resilience, Value-Creating Opportunism, Intrinsic Curiosity, Courageous Decision-Making, Strategic Innovativeness, and Transformational Leadership-which together accounted for 71% of the common variance in founder-specific latent trait measures within the scale, indicating strong internal coherence. Group comparisons showed that these dimensions reliably distinguished Successful Startup Founders from Corporate Managers and Aspiring Entrepreneurs, with large effect-size separations (Cohen's d = 0.83-1.77) exceeding the small-to-moderate effects (d ≈ 0.2-0.5) typically reported for broad personality traits in entrepreneurship research. Conceptually, these findings are consistent with a multi-level framework in which founder-specific characteristics are closely aligned with decision-making under uncertainty and resource orchestration during early venture execution, helping explain why intent-based and general personality models, while valuable for understanding entrepreneurial entry, may be less closely aligned with realized startup success. Practically, the SFSS provides a validated psychometric tool that may support more structured evaluation of founder-related characteristics, targeted training, and resource allocation across venture capital, angel investing, public investment bodies, accelerators, and entrepreneurial education programs. Prospective longitudinal research is required to establish predictive validity for real-world outcomes.
Unhealthy food and beverage marketing is harmful to all children because it generates preferences for foods associated with obesity. Our aim was to expand knowledge about the appeal of food advertising to urban-dwelling South African teenage children. We asked 49 boys and girls aged 14-16-years-old, from three Johannesburg high schools, about food advertisements that appealed to them and their peers in six same-gender focus group discussions. We conducted thematic analysis of the discussions and content analysis of 55 advertisements that participants identified as appealing. Classic features of child-directed marketing, such as cartoons, young child characters and bright colours, no longer appealed. Black, young adult (often same gender) characters doing 'grown-up' things were perceived as appealing to teenagers, as were advertisements, including misrepresentations of bigger, better-looking food, and for foods that teenagers already liked. The participants did not mention depictions of middle-class lifestyles nor gender stereotypes as appealing, although these featured prominently in specific advertisements that they identified as appealing. Because teenagers in South Africa find food advertisements that do not directly target them appealing, targeted advertising restrictions will likely be ineffective. Comprehensive bans on advertising unhealthy food are required to protect teenage children from the harms of unhealthy food marketing.
In August 2023, the United Kingdom introduced alcohol taxation reforms designed to encourage alcohol producers to lower the alcoholic strength of their products. This study aims to quantify the extent of reformulation of alcoholic drinks sold in the off-trade in Great Britain between 2018 and 2025 and explore the role the tax reforms may have played. We used continuous longitudinal data on alcohol purchases from Worldpanel by Numerator's Take Home data to examine changes between 2018 and 2025 in the mean alcohol-by-volume (ABV) of all alcohol sold, identify specific product reformulations and examine how their timing related to the 2023 tax reforms. We also explored growth in the < 3.5% ABV beer market, for which tax rates were cut in the reforms. The average ABV of all alcohol rose from 17.2% in late 2018 to 17.7% in June 2022, before falling to 16.7% in December 2025. We identified 557 reformulations, of which 50% were for wine and 17% were for beer. Reformulations increased substantially following the reforms, with the proportion of the beer market, measured in pure alcohol, sold below 3.5% ABV increasing from 1.1% in 2022 to 18.1% in 2025. Our findings suggest that the 2023 UK alcohol tax reforms appear to have contributed to an increase in reformulations that reduced the strength of alcoholic drinks. In turn, these may have played a role in reductions in the overall ABV of alcoholic drinks purchases. Following the reforms, there was a large and immediate increase in the market share of lower-strength beers.
This study investigates the role of Digital Service Innovation (DSI) in enhancing environmental performance through its influence on Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) and supply chain agility in Egypt's industrial sector. The research examines how climate change anxiety motivates the adoption of GSCM practices and how DSI moderates this relationship. Using a survey of 511 professionals and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, findings reveal that climate change anxiety positively affects GSCM adoption, which in turn mediates the enhancement of supply chain resilience and robustness. The moderating effect of DSI indicates that higher levels of digital service capabilities shift the motivation for GSCM adoption from anxiety-driven reactions toward strategic and data-driven decision-making, thereby strengthening environmental outcomes. These results underscore the crucial role of GSCM as the operational mechanism translating psychological climate concerns into tangible improvements in supply chain agility and environmental performance. The study contributes to theory understanding by integrating Protection Motivation Theory, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and the Technology-Organization-Environment framework to reveal how Digital Service Innovation transforms anxiety-driven motivation into systematic green practices, a novel integration that extends each theory into the digital sustainability domain. For practice, the findings demonstrate that fostering climate awareness alone is insufficient; strategic investments in digital service innovation are essential to convert psychological impetus into sustained environmental and operational gains. By providing empirical evidence from Egypt's industrial sector, the study also offers context-specific insights for emerging economies facing similar climate and digitalization challenges, thereby contributing to both academic knowledge and actionable policy guidance.