Characterization of microbial community metabolic output is crucial to understanding their functions. Construction of genome-scale metabolic models from metagenome-assembled genomes (MAG) has enabled prediction of metabolite production by microbial communities, yet little is known about their accuracy. Here, we examined the performance of two approaches for metabolite prediction from metagenomes, one that is MAG-guided and another that is taxonomic reference-guided. We applied both on shotgun metagenomics data from human and environmental samples, and validated findings in the human samples using untargeted metabolomics. We found that in human samples, where taxonomic profiling is optimized and reference genomes are readily available, when number of input taxa was normalized, the reference-guided approach predicted more metabolites than the MAG-guided approach. The two approaches showed significant overlap but each identified metabolites not predicted in the other. Pathway enrichment analyses identified significant differences in inferences derived from data based on the approach, highlighting the need for caution in interpretation. In environmental samples, when the number of input taxa was normalized, the reference-guided approach predicted more metabolites than the MAG-guided approach for total metabolites in both sample types and non-redundant metabolites in seawater samples. Nonetheless, as was observed for the human samples, the approaches overlapped substantially but also predicted metabolites not observed in the other. Our findings report on utility of a complementary input to genome-scale metabolic model construction that is less computationally intensive forgoing MAG assembly and refinement, and that can be applied on shallow shotgun sequencing where MAGs cannot be generated.IMPORTANCELittle is known about the accuracy of genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) of microbial communities despite their influence on inferring community metabolic outputs and culture conditions. The performance of GEMs for metabolite prediction from metagenomes was assessed by applying two approaches on shotgun metagenomics data from human and environmental samples, and validating findings in the human samples using untargeted metabolomics. The performance of the approach was found to be dependent on sample type, but collectively, the reference-guided approach predicted more metabolites than the MAG-guided approach. Despite the differences, the predictions from the approaches overlapped substantially but each identified metabolites not predicted in the other. We found significant differences in biological inferences based on the approach, with some examples of uniquely enriched pathways in one group being invalidated when using the alternative approach, highlighting the need for caution in interpretation of GEMs.

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European manufacturing firms have to cope with the new regulations that advocate a greener and more sustainable future with less emissions and at the same time enhance or at least maintain their productivity levels. A unique dataset is constructed by combining information on different firms\' pollutants with their financial information during the 2011-2017 period. A non-radial directional distance function analysis is adopted with desirable and undesirable outputs to estimate environmental productivity growth and its components, which addresses the problem of heterogeneity. A regulatory impact indicator that provides information about the loss of outputs resulting from new policies is also computed. Finally, the impact of environmental regulations on productivity growth is explored using a panel vector autoregressive method. Our findings showcase different average values of productivity for each pollutant group. Moreover, results indicate that increasing the index of regulations by 1%, increases environmental productivity by 0.24% and 0.44% for heavy metals and greenhouse gases groups, respectively. Finally, results support the \"weak\" Porter Hypothesis, which attests that welldesigned environmental regulations can exert a positive effect on environmental innovation.

Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), mainly made from recycled materials such as construction and demolition waste (CDW), has emerged as a sustainable alternative to natural aggregate concrete (NAC). While RAC offers potential benefits in waste reduction and resource conservation, a comprehensive understanding of its environmental impact and sustainability compared to NAC has been lacking. This study addresses this gap by conducting a thorough review and analysis of comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies between RAC and NAC. This paper synthesizes current literature to evaluate the environmental impact of both materials throughout their life cycles, from raw material extraction to disposal. It examines key factors such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource depletion to provide a thorough comprehension of the effects on the environment of each concrete type throughout their life cycles. Challenges in using RAC as a sustainable concrete option, such as sourcing and quality control, are also discussed, along with recommendations for future research and industry practices. The findings indicate that the environmental impact of RAC compared to NAC is significantly influenced by transport distances and modes. In addition, the choice of functional units in LCAs substantially affects the comparison between RAC and NAC, with strength reliability offering a clear benefit by addressing concrete property variability and better reflecting real-world conditions.

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Currently, exposome studies include a raft of different monitoring tools, including remote sensors, smartphones, omics analyses, distributed lag models, etc. The similarity in structure between the exposome and the microbiota plus their functions led us to pose three pertinent questions from this viewpoint, looking at the actual relationship between the exposome and the microbiota. In terms of the exposome, a bistable equilibrium between health and disease depends on constantly dealing with an ever-changing totality of exposures that together shape an individual from conception to death. Regarding scientific knowledge, the exposome is still lagging in certain areas, like the importance of microorganisms in the equation. The human microbiome is defined as an aggregate assemblage of gut commensals that are hosted by our surfaces related to the external environment. Commensals\' resistance to a variety of environmental exposures, such as antibiotic administration, confirms that a layer of these organisms is protected within the host. The exposome is a conceptual framework defined as the environmental component of the science-inspired systems ideology that shifts from a specificity-based medical approach to reasoning in terms of complexity. A parallel concept in population health research and precision public health is the human flourishing index, which aims to account for the numerous environmental factors that affect individual and population well-being beyond ambient pollution.

UNASSIGNED: Tea harvesting is a common agricultural occupation, usually conducted in mountainous regions with steep slopes and high altitudes. Despite the utilization of modern technology and mechanized equipment in agriculture, a substantial portion of tea harvesting continues to be traditional and physically strenuous. This dependence on manual labor can lead to a higher likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders among tea harvesting farmers.
UNASSIGNED: The objective of this research was investigation of prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders in tea harvesting farmers.
UNASSIGNED: In this review study, we analyzed all published articles on the prevalence and factors influencing musculoskeletal disorders in tea harvesting farmers from March 10, 2010, to November 10, 2023 (last search date). We systematically searched for articles using keywords (risk factor, risk assessment, lower limb, upper limb, musculoskeletal disorders, tea harvesting, posture, manual handling, discomfort, ergonomics, prevalence, farmers) in PubMed, Google Scholar, SID, Web of Science, Scopus, Magiran, Iran Medex, Cochrane Library, and Embase. The quality of the articles was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), 2018 version. Unrelated articles were excluded following PRISMA statement guidelines, and only articles directly related to the study were reviewed. GraySource and BASE databases were also utilized to identify Gray sources..
UNASSIGNED: Initially, 128 articles were found across different databases, and a total of 17 articles were selected for the final assessment. The primary areas of the body that workers are commonly exposed to musculoskeletal issues are the back, hands, wrists, shoulders, neck, and knees. The research identified four main categories of factors: personal, occupational, environmental, and psychosocial that contribute to musculoskeletal problems. Among these factors are women working in physically demanding environments, lifting heavy bags of harvested tea, time pressures during tea collection, repetitive hand motions from using harvesting tools, the height of the tea plants in the field, working in wet and slippery conditions, uneven ground surfaces, extended working hours, low pay, and lack of support from employers.
UNASSIGNED: Ergonomic interventions such as redesigning tea harvesting tools, enhancing tea plants and workspaces, teaching ergonomic principles of body posture and manual movement, and organizing work with job rotation and adequate rest are recommended to alleviate musculoskeletal disorder symptoms.

Trueperella (T.) pyogenes is a mastitis-causing pathogen formerly known to cause severe clinical mastitis (CM), especially during the summer, leading to milk losses and low recovery rates. Unfortunately, its transmission behavior within herds is unclear. The diversity and occurrence of T. pyogenes were monitored to gain an initial insight into the infection transmission behavior of T. pyogenes in dairy herds and to lay a foundation for following targeted investigations. CM milk samples were collected from German herds, and one Swedish farm was sampled for isolates from subclinical mastitis. All in all, 151 T. pyogenes isolates from 16 herds were isolated, identified by MALDI TOF analysis and typed with RAPD PCR. Of these, 17 isolates originated from subclinical mastitis cases. We found that T. pyogenes mastitis occurred year-round, and clinical mastitis cases were caused by multiple strains (31 affected animals/28 strains). Instances of multiple cows being infected with the same T. pyogenes strain were rare and typically only involved a small number of animals at a time. However, if several quarters of a cow were affected, it was likely the same strain. Unlike clinical infections, subclinical T. pyogenes infections, in one investigated farm, harbored a dominant strain. Additionally, we found that T. pyogenes infections tended to persist and stay within a herd for a minimum of 7 months in the same or different cows.

This research project expands on previous studies to analyze the institutional image from the perspective of higher education students in Singapore. The work builds on extensive prior research and examines the impact of the recent pandemic and lockdowns in Asia, which have increased Singapore\'s popularity as a study destination for Asian students, particularly from China. Known as the Garden City and one of Asia\'s wealthiest cities, Singapore has grown significantly due to foreign direct investment and its strategic location near Malaysia and Indonesia. This study aims to identify institutional and city image dimensions in higher education, focusing on three of Singapore\'s six publicly funded universities. The critical factors examined include Institutional Image, Economic Image, Social Image, Environmental Image, Perceived Educational Quality, and Satisfaction and Loyalty. These factors are crucial for Singapore\'s goal to become an innovation and talent powerhouse by 2030, aligning with national scientific and technological advancement plans. The research also explores how Singapore competes with traditional study destinations like the USA, Britain, and Australia.

Occupational lung/thoracic diseases are a major global public health issue. They comprise a diverse spectrum of health conditions with complex pathology, most of which arise following chronic heavy workplace exposures to various mineral dusts, metal fumes, or following inhaled organic particulate reactions. Many occupational lung diseases could become irreversible; thus accurate diagnosis is mandatory to minimize dust exposure and consequently reduce damage to the respiratory system. Lung biopsy is usually required when exposure history is inconsistent with imaging, in case of unusual or new exposures, in case of unexpected malignancy, and in cases in which there are claims for personal injury and legal compensation. In this paper, we provide an overview of the most frequent occupational lung diseases with a focus on pathological diagnosis. This is a paper that summarizes the expert opinion from a group of European pathologists, together with contributions from other specialists who are crucial for the diagnosis and management of these diseases. Indeed, tight collaboration of all specialists involved in the workup is mandatory as many occupational lung diseases are misdiagnosed or go unrecognized. This document provides a guide for pathologists in practice to facilitate the accurate diagnosis of occupational lung disease. The review article reports relevant topics discussed during an educational course held by expert pathologists, active members of the Pulmonary Pathology Working Group of the European Society of Pathology. The course was endorsed by the University of Padova as a \"winter school\" (selected project in the call for \"Shaping a World-class University\" 2022).