Risk-based strategy for evaluating and controlling residual protein impurities in enzymatically synthesized calcium gluconate: Bridging analytical detection to safety assessment.

Chronic exposure to sodium fluoride or to tebuconazole disrupts the thyroid hormone and immune systems during early development of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Rapid and stress-free measurement of sheep body size is important for precision production and breeding. Most reported methods require sheep to stand in a fixed position with a standard posture, leading to stress and inefficiency. This study proposes a rapid and stress-free method: firstly, sheep's body keypoints are detected through the YOLOv11-pose model and corrected by a self-built correction algorithm during sheep's natural walk; subsequently, five walking body sizes (WBS) and eight posture angles (WPA) are calculated based on the corrected keypoints, and are used to estimate sheep's standing body sizes (SBS) through a regression model. The results show that the keypoint correction algorithm reduces the 2.54% mean percentage error (MAPE) on 17 unfamiliar sheep compared to the uncorrected case when the search radius is 5 pixels. The combined input feature set WPA+WBS outperforms either the standalone WPA or the standalone WBS feature set. The image resolution factor exhibited significance, while shooting distance and lighting intensity did not, and the high-resolution group (848×480) is highly recommended. The Ridge model performs best among four regression models, and its MAPE for body height, hip height, body slope length, abdominal depth, and abdominal circumference are 3.95%, 4.69%, 6.46%, 7.48%, and 6.19%, respectively, with a mean of 5.75% on 17 unfamiliar sheep. Compared to the original 11.54% based keypoint-based method, the accuracy has significantly improved by 50.17%. This method provides a solid theoretical foundation and technical support for rapid and stress-free estimation of sheep body size in production and breeding. Science4Impact Statement: This study proposes an automated method for measuring sheep body size that addresses key challenges in livestock production, specifically in relation to food security and animal welfare. For livestock breeders and farm operations , the method enables rapid, non-invasive measurements during natural walking, thereby complying with internationally recognized animal welfare standards while eliminating the need for physical restraint and minimizing stress-related productivity losses. For agricultural technology companies , the method offers empirically validated performance: the custom-developed correction algorithm improves keypoint localization accuracy, reducing the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) by 2.54%, while the Ridge regression model demonstrates robust predictive capability (mean MAPE of 6.04% for familiar individuals and 5.75% for unfamiliar sheep), supporting its integration into commercial measurement systems. For agricultural advisory and regulatory bodies, the technique contributes to quality assurance in precision breeding by providing quantified assessments of walking posture and regression-based estimates of standing body size—information that can support the development of breeding efficiency benchmarks. By delivering practical benefits to stakeholders—enhancing productivity in support of food security while safeguarding animal welfare—this work addresses an important gap in non-invasive digital body measurement technologies for livestock.

Analysis of viscoelastically active polypropylene sutures.

In recent years, the global consumption of herbal medicines has been increasing, accompanied by increasing reports of immediate hypersensitivity reactions (IHRs). Given the potential impact on patient safety, there is an increasing need to tighten regulations on herbal medicine use to reduce the incidence of herbal medicine-induced IHRs. Hence, this review consolidates current evidence on the pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and regulatory responses related to IHRs caused by herbal medicines, before providing perspectives for future research in diagnosis, pharmacovigilance, and policymaking. Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated and non-IgE-mediated mechanisms are implicated in IHRs. Bioactive constituents and impurities in herbal medicines have been identified as possible causes of IHRs. Clinically, herbal-induced IHRs present with cutaneous, respiratory, and systemic symptoms that may progress to anaphylaxis. Regulatory bodies worldwide have implemented regulatory frameworks and pharmacovigilance systems, however there is still room for improvement. IHRs to herbal medicines represent a growing safety concern in integrative healthcare. Future research should emphasize mechanistic characterization, improved pharmacovigilance, and well-planned regulation on herbal medicines. Strengthening clinician awareness and adverse-event reporting will be critical to safeguarding patients and ensuring the evidence-based integration of herbal medicines into modern medical practice.

Narrating the energy transition: A critical geopolitical analysis of Czech media discourse

This study investigated Finnish veterinarians' perceptions of medication safety risks in sows, an area with limited research in veterinary medicine. Understanding these risks is essential for enhancing sow medication safety, health and welfare. This qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured, thematic individual interviews with 15 veterinarians who provide herd health visit services to sow farms. The interviews employed open-ended questions to elicit in-depth information from participants. Thematic analysis of the transcribed interviews was conducted using the ATLAS.ti software to identify key medication safety risks. The analysis identified eight key risk themes: (1) overreliance on caretakers' competence; (2) insufficient veterinary guidance; (3) communication and information barriers; (4) challenges with medicine logistics and availability; (5) unhygienic and inappropriate medication practices; (6) insufficient sick sow examination and follow-up; (7) injection-related pain and insufficient pain management; and (8) challenges in farm conditions and management. Recognizing medication safety risks is vital for veterinarians to effectively guide and monitor medicine use, ensuring optimal care for sows. This study offers new perspectives into these risks within veterinary medicine, particularly concerning animals used for food production. By identifying key risks that can jeopardize medication safety, this study provides valuable information for producers, veterinarians, policymakers, and regulatory bodies. Understanding these mechanisms enables stakeholders to develop targeted systems-based protocols that enhance sow health and welfare while promoting safer and more responsible medication practices.

The pursuit of pharmacological enhancement in sport has evolved from the widespread use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) to novel agents such as peptides and peptide analogues. Marketed as more selective and ostensibly safer alternatives, peptides-including growth hormone secretagogues (e.g., Ipamorelin), growth hormone-releasing hormone analogues (e.g., CJC-1295, Sermorelin), and synthetic fragments (e.g., Frag 176-191, KPV)-are promoted for muscle growth, fat metabolism, recovery, and anti-inflammatory effects. Their pharmacological profiles, including enhanced stability and receptor selectivity, have made them attractive in both medical research and bodybuilding communities. Despite their growing popularity, the clinical evidence supporting peptide use in sport is limited. Most published studies examine therapeutic applications under controlled dosing regimens, not the supraphysiological or combined protocols common in bodybuilding. Emerging data highlight potential risks: cardiovascular strain, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and psychiatric instability. The largely unregulated supply chain exacerbates these dangers, as products are often mislabeled or contaminated. Regulatory bodies such as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have responded by expanding detection technologies, yet analytical challenges remain due to peptides' structural similarity to endogenous hormones and short half-lives. Beyond elite sport, the extent of peptide use in the general population is unknown. Anecdotal reports and widespread promotion on social media suggest growing uptake among recreational gym-goers, including younger individuals, but prevalence studies are lacking. This represents a critical gap in current knowledge. In conclusion, peptides represent a new phase in performance enhancement but remain experimental substances with poorly defined long-term risks. Until longitudinal data clarify their safety and prevalence, peptide use in both competitive and recreational settings should be considered high-risk and ethically problematic.

From 2008 and 2025, a number of worldwide crises caused considerable fluctuations in the Indian share market. Investor behaviour, market volatility, and general financial stability have all been significantly impacted by events like the Global Financial Crisis (2008), the Eurozone Debt Crisis, the COVID-19 epidemic, the war between Russia and Ukraine, inflationary pressures, geopolitical conflicts, and global economic slowdowns. The goal of the current study is to examine the organism of research on how severely international crises have affected the Indian stock market and to determine the opportunities and difficulties that regular investors encounter in these unpredictable times. This study is descriptive and analytical in nature, and it is solely based on secondary data gathered from books, journals, financial institution reports, regulatory bodies, research papers, and reliable web sources.

The use of pharmacotherapies in non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: a UK expert consensus.

Human radiolabeled mass balance studies are crucial for comprehensively characterizing the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of investigational drugs, providing essential data for drug development, regulatory evaluation, and product labeling. The IQ Consortium's Human Mass Balance Radiolabeled ADME (hADME) Working Group developed this perspective to address key considerations and highlight opportunities for these studies. This is particularly relevant as regulatory guidance, such as the 2024 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), have finalized dedicated guidance documents, along with recommendations from other global regulatory bodies (including European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (of Japan; PMDA)); still, there are some regional differences. This review outlines current practices and emerging trends in hADME study design. It details seven clinical designs, from conventional radiolabeled approaches to microtracer studies that employ analytical techniques, such as accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). It further highlights alternative non-radioactive approaches, including the use of Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance (19F-NMR) spectroscopy. The manuscript also explores the integration of hADME studies with absolute bioavailability (ABA) assessments and highlights their impact on early drug development with case studies. This collective effort by the IQ working group highlights fit-for-purpose study designs to ensure comprehensive ADME characterization supporting drug registration and patient well-being.

Subject. Formation of a methodology for scenario modeling of the development of an innovative resource in regional agriculture. Objectives. Development of a methodological approach to choosing a model for innovative agricultural development in a region, depending on the state of its innovation resource. Methods. Systems, institutional, comparative and simulation approaches, as well as general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis were used to identify the structural components of the innovation resource and their interrelationships. Results. Based on the assessment of the innovation resource in four interrelated blocks (economic resources, organizational and legal mechanism, innovative system of agricultural entrepreneurship and the effectiveness of achieving the goals of innovative development), a consolidated economic indicator of the innovation resource has been formed. The ranking of regions by four levels of this indicator is justified: critical, low, medium and high. To introduce and develop innovations in the agricultural sector, a map of 10 innovative development models has been developed, arranged in a sequential series according to the degree of complexity and resource capacity. An important result of the research was the creation of a scenario modeling matrix. Conclusions. The study confirmed the expediency of ranking agricultural innovation development models depending on the level of the region's innovation resource, since it is precisely this differentiation that provides the theoretical and applied validity of the choice of regional innovation policy instruments. It has been established that for regions with an average level of innovation resource, the most appropriate model is innovation adaptation, focused on the development and replication of already proven technological and organizational management solutions. The results of the study can be applied by regional government bodies to develop innovative agricultural development programs, branch ministries in substantiating the priorities of state support for innovation activities, scientific and educational organizations for the formation of training materials.

The article presents the results of the analysis of the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in the management of agricultural land resources in the Omsk region. A list of organizations using GIS is identified, including Rosreestr, Roskadastr, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agrochemcenter and private geodetic enterprises. The dynamics of the number of organizations using GIS for 2020–2024 is shown, which decreased by 3.1% due to economic factors, but the share of farms using open-source software is growing. The land management structure, including federal, regional and municipal bodies, is described, and key problems are identified: departmental disunity, outdated cartographic materials, lack of field measurements and low data integration. Solutions are proposed, including the creation of a unified geoinformation environment based on the integration of remote sensing data, unmanned aerial vehicles, IoT sensors and field surveys. The expected effectiveness of the proposed technology will increase the efficiency and reliability of information, reduce land management costs and improve control over the use of agricultural land.

The surface of nanoparticles for pharmaceutical use is crucial as it is the first interface that interacts with the biological environment in the body and therefore determines the fate of the nanoparticle itself. Aware of its key role, regulatory agencies urgently require rigorous quality control of the surface, including polyethylene glycol (PEG) coatings, a component widely used in nanomedicine, which is also present in recent vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, to ensure efficacy and safety. Building on a review of the literature and experimental testing, this study proposes a workflow to overcome critical issues related to liposome PEG coating. It integrates microfluidic synthesis with PEG postinsertion, using mild incubation conditions and a straightforward quality control analysis for method efficiency and reliability. Using multidetector Asymmetric-Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4-MD) in combination with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to a Charged Aerosol Detector (HPLC-CAD) proved to be an efficient strategy for analyzing simultaneously both the size distribution and other size-dependent parameters with special attention on the precise composition of PEGylated liposomes. By exploiting the AF4 size separation of PEGylated liposomes from unincorporated PEG-lipid micelles, this approach enables the optimization of postinsertion reaction conditions and the validation of traditional purification methods. This comprehensive workflow allows for in-depth liposome characterization, focusing on critical quality attributes. It includes reliable and straightforward PEG coating determination, essential for postinsertion tuning, and offers potential adaptability to other stealth coatings, thus providing a valuable reference for nanomedicine developers, control laboratories, and regulatory bodies.

As mRNA therapeutics advance beyond the vaccine paradigm into oncology, rare disease, and in vivo cell engineering, Nucleic Acid Insights turns its attention to the 6th mRNA-Based Therapeutics Summit, taking place in Boston, July 20–22. Convening senior leaders from Moderna, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, GSK, Sanofi, CREATE Medicines, Replicate Bioscience, Strand Therapeutics, Providence Therapeutics, and global regulatory bodies, the summit addresses the field's central challenge: translating platform innovation into scalable, clinically validated outcomes. The program spans the development and comparative evaluation of circular, self-amplifying, and trans-amplifying RNA modalities; progress in LNP and non-viral delivery systems for targeted and extrahepatic applications; manufacturing and CMC strategies that align impurity control and analytical rigor with commercial readiness; evolving regulatory expectations from global agencies shaping quality frameworks and pathways toward first non-vaccine mRNA approvals; and the integration of AI/ML and predictive design tools to optimize sequence performance and accelerate development timelines. This preview highlights the key sessions, speakers, and themes defining the current mRNA moment.

Voluntary horizontal sharing of confidential food safety data among companies for joint analysis can improve food safety, efficiency, and decision-making, especially for rare events. Despite its potential benefits, horizontal data sharing in the food industry has lagged, with limited research exploring the reasons for hesitation. To address this gap, we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 27 food industry leaders. Four themes emerged: (1) benefits of data sharing, (2) technical barriers, (3) trust as a determinant of data sharing decisions, and (4) data governance as a solution. Across these themes, we found that companies face trade-offs when deciding to share food safety data, weighing risks against benefits. Data sharing decisions were strongly influenced by trust in stakeholders (e.g., industry peers, regulatory bodies, customers) and in data protection measures. Data governance emerged as a solution to concerns stemming from trust, such as loss of control once data is shared. Taken together, the findings reveal underlying tensions between individual firm incentives and collective benefits, including uneven cost-benefit distributions, opportunism concerns, and participation cost asymmetries. These findings offer timely insights to guide data sharing initiatives and prioritize areas for future research.

Rare diseases, affecting approximately 8% of the global population, remain among the most underserved areas in modern medicine due to their low prevalence, complex genetic origins, and limited commercial incentives for drug development. Rare neurological disorders, in particular, pose formidable challenges owing to their progressive nature and the difficulty of delivering thera-peutics across the blood-brain barrier. This review explores the emerging role of nanomedicine in transforming rare disease management through precision-targeted drug delivery, enhanced bioavail-ability, and the ability to bypass biological barriers. Nanoparticles (NPs)-including PEGylated NPs, lipid-based NPs, polymeric NPs, and hybrid formulations-are being engineered to deliver therapeu-tic agents for gene therapy, enzyme replacement, and RNA interference. These platforms have shown promise in treating conditions such as Krabbe disease, Niemann-Pick type C1, spinocerebel-lar ataxia type 1, and prion diseases. Additionally, nanotherapeutics are being investigated for pulmonary and congenital lung disorders, including cystic fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibro-sis, with improved tissue penetration and reduced systemic toxicity. The review also highlights the potential of AI-integrated diagnostics and personalized nanomedicine to address disease heterogene-ity and improve patient outcomes. Despite these advances, significant barriers remain, including regulatory complexity, high development costs, and limited clinical models. The manuscript calls for collaborative innovation across academia, industry, and regulatory bodies to accelerate clinical translation and ensure equitable access. By bridging molecular innovation with patient-centric care, nanotherapeutics offer a paradigm shift in the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, potentially redefining therapeutic landscapes and improving the quality of life for affected individuals.

Monsoon-driven spatio-temporal dynamics of microplastics in Brahmaputra riverbank sediments: Quantification using spectroscopic, pollution index and multivariate analysis.

The increasing adoption of machine learning and artificial intelligence in surgical risk prediction has introduced new challenges related to the fairness and equity of these algorithms. These models range from regression-based risk calculators to machine learning systems, and differential performance may reflect poor calibration within a group, which is mainly a safety concern, or unequal performance between groups, which is mainly an equity concern. Predictive models trained on surgical registry data have shown differential performance across racial and ethnic groups in some studies, raising concerns about the potential for these tools to perpetuate or amplify existing disparities in surgical care. This review examines the sources and mechanisms of algorithmic bias in surgical risk prediction models, evaluates the evidence for differential model performance across patient subgroups, and discusses emerging debiasing strategies and regulatory frameworks. Training datasets from major surgical registries frequently contain incomplete or poorly granular race and ethnicity data, and the inclusion of race as a predictive variable remains controversial. Individual studies have reported lower sensitivity or higher false-negative rates for specific subgroups, potentially leading to an underestimation of surgical risk in those groups, although such discrimination-based measures do not by themselves establish miscalibration or demonstrated harm. Debiasing techniques, including reweighting, adversarial training, and fairness-aware multitask learning, have shown promise but remain largely untested in surgical contexts and are constrained by inherent trade-offs between within-group calibration and error rate parity across groups. Although regulatory bodies have begun to address algorithmic fairness, standardized auditing frameworks for surgical prediction models are still lacking. This review highlights the need for multicenter, demographically diverse validation studies, transparent model reporting, and equity-focused governance to ensure that artificial intelligence in surgery serves all patients safely and equitably.

Purpose This viewpoint examines how changing social norms and evolving organisational culture in healthcare, particularly within clinical laboratories and quality management systems, have reshaped conceptions of acceptable practice. Drawing a parallel with cultural reckonings in reality TV, the paper contends that healthcare's progression from “that is how it was done” to “this is how we improve” reflects not simply procedural updating but a deeper cultural transformation. Using the New Zealand (NZ) clinical lab sector as a case study, it explores how structural reform, accreditation systems, workforce change and safety reporting mechanisms have collectively redefined the normative landscape, making a shift from hierarchy to psychological safety and from compliance-driven to value-driven quality approaches. Design/methodology/approach This viewpoint synthesises concepts from organisational sociology, quality improvement literature and healthcare safety research. The discussion integrates theoretical perspectives (e.g. Mannion and Davies on organisational culture, Edmondson on psychological safety and Westrum's safety culture taxonomy) with empirical developments from the NZ context. The case study draws on doctoral research, accreditation history, legislative analysis under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act 2003, workforce studies and Health Quality and Safety Commission documentation. Findings Healthcare organisations experience sustained normative change. Practices once considered routine are increasingly viewed as inconsistent with contemporary expectations of safety and equity. This shift reflects a broader movement from compliance-driven models toward value-driven quality cultures. The NZ lab sector illustrates these dynamics. Structural reform altered governance arrangements; accreditation institutionalised expectations of quality; protected reporting mechanisms supported psychological safety; workforce change introduced new values; and mandatory reporting embedded systematic safety surveillance. Key themes include the centrality of psychological safety for learning, the influence of leadership behaviour in cultural change and the importance of structural interventions that reinforce professional values. Cultural transformation emerges as both a quality imperative and an ethical progression. Research limitations/implications As a conceptual viewpoint, the article synthesises existing literature and policy development rather than presenting primary empirical data. While the NZ case offers a rich illustration, findings may not be directly transferable to systems with different regulatory and funding arrangements. Further research should integrate organisational culture metrics into quality assessment frameworks, examine how cultural variables influence improvement outcomes and explore interactions between structural reform and professional agency over time. Practical implications Sustainable quality improvement requires attention to culture as well as procedure. Creating psychological safety demands intentional leadership behaviours. Accreditation and regulatory bodies should consider cultural indicators alongside compliance measures. Structured reporting mechanisms, generationally responsive workforce strategies and protected quality assurance (QA) activities can strengthen learning environments. The NZ experience suggests that legislative design can embed safety culture institutionally. Social implications Normative evolution in healthcare reflects broader societal shifts in expectations of dignity, safety and accountability. Just as public tolerance for exploitation or humiliation in media has diminished, healthcare systems are increasingly oriented toward transparency, equity and psychological safety. Professional norms do not develop in isolation; they evolve alongside changing social values. Healthcare organisations therefore both respond to and contribute to wider moral progress. Originality/value This viewpoint offers three contributions. First, it introduces a novel parallel between media-based cultural reckoning and normative change in healthcare. Second, it presents an integrated account of structural reform, accreditation development, protected reporting and workforce transformation within the NZ lab sector as a cohesive case study in organisational culture change. Third, it synthesises organisational sociology, safety and quality improvement scholarship to argue that the shift from “that's how it was done” to “this is how we improve” reflects substantive normative evolution within healthcare practice.