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33 pages, 7252 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Driving Mechanisms of the Thermal Environment, Air Pollution, and Carbon Sequestration Capacity in Henan Province, China

by Shaowei Zhang, Chen Li, Shennian Zhang, Ling Song, Chenming Zhang and Pu Jia

Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6708; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136708 (registering DOI) - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and climate change have intensified the interconnected challenges of surface heating, air pollution, and declining ecosystem functions, with important implications for regional sustainability. Taking Henan Province, China, as the study area, this study selected 2013, 2018, and 2023 as representative years [...] Read more.

Rapid urbanization and climate change have intensified the interconnected challenges of surface heating, air pollution, and declining ecosystem functions, with important implications for regional sustainability. Taking Henan Province, China, as the study area, this study selected 2013, 2018, and 2023 as representative years and used land surface temperature (LST), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone (O3), and net primary productivity (NPP) to characterize the thermal environment, air pollution, and carbon sequestration capacity. Pearson correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, and XGBoost-SHAP were integrated to examine bivariate associations, independent linear associations, factor importance, nonlinear responses, and potential threshold characteristics associated with natural, ecological, and anthropogenic factors. The results showed marked spatial differences in the four environmental variables. The multiple linear regression models explained 57.4–69.0% of the variation in LST, 23.8–72.0% in O3, 81.0–84.8% in PM2.5, and 57.4–62.5% in NPP. Natural factors generally showed relatively large and temporally stable standardized coefficients. Precipitation and potential evapotranspiration were positively associated with LST, whereas elevation and precipitation were negatively associated with PM2.5 and O3. NDVI showed an environmentally favorable pattern, being negatively associated with LST, PM2.5, and O3 but positively associated with NPP. Anthropogenic variables generally exhibited smaller and less temporally stable coefficients. The XGBoost models demonstrated good predictive performance, particularly for PM2.5, with R² values of 0.945, 0.920, and 0.905 in 2013, 2018, and 2023, respectively. SHAP analysis identified DEM, PRE, PET, and NDVI as the main contributors to model predictions and revealed nonlinear responses and potential threshold characteristics. These findings indicate that coordinated management of vegetation cover, hydrothermal conditions, and urban development can support heat mitigation, air pollution control, ecosystem productivity, and more sustainable, climate-resilient, and low-carbon development in rapidly urbanizing regions. Full article

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13 pages, 1998 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study of the Composition and Function of Endosymbiont Communities in Two Tea Plantation Planthoppers

by Shiyan Xu

Diversity 2026, 18(7), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18070407 (registering DOI) - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

The planthopper pests Geisha distinctissima and Ricanula fujianensis are major threats to tea plantations. Although insect endosymbionts are functionally important, their communities in these pests are poorly understood. This study, conducted in the representative tea-growing region of Guiyang in southwestern China, employed high-throughput [...] Read more.

The planthopper pests Geisha distinctissima and Ricanula fujianensis are major threats to tea plantations. Although insect endosymbionts are functionally important, their communities in these pests are poorly understood. This study, conducted in the representative tea-growing region of Guiyang in southwestern China, employed high-throughput sequencing to analyze the bacterial and fungal endosymbionts of both species. We found that bacterial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, with core genera such as Enterobacter and Rickettsia showing significant interspecific variation. Fungal communities were primarily composed of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, and key genera like Fusarium exhibited host-specific patterns. Most notably, we discovered an intriguing pattern: bacterial communities differed in structure but showed conserved predicted functions, whereas fungal communities were structurally similar yet functionally divergent. This suggests that bacterial symbionts may underpin core physiological stability, while fungal symbionts could act as key drivers of host-specific adaptation. These results provide critical insights into planthopper–microbe interactions and establish a theoretical basis for developing targeted, microbiome-based pest management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Microbial Diversity and Culture Collections)

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29 pages, 8791 KB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Reactive Dye Removal from Aqueous Solutions: Practical and Theoretical Approaches

by Iuliana Gabriela Breaban, Imad A. M. Ahmed, Maria Ignat and Loredana Brinza

Nanomaterials 2026, 16(13), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16130821 (registering DOI) - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study addresses the critical challenge associated with the removal of reactive yellow dyes from aqueous media and industrial wastewater streams. Owing to their pronounced chemical stability and resistance to conventional degradation techniques, such dyes constitute a substantial environmental concern. In this context, [...] Read more.

This study addresses the critical challenge associated with the removal of reactive yellow dyes from aqueous media and industrial wastewater streams. Owing to their pronounced chemical stability and resistance to conventional degradation techniques, such dyes constitute a substantial environmental concern. In this context, the present work investigates the efficacy of unmodified magnetite nanoparticles (plate-like rounded structures 6–23 nm in size), synthesised under rigorously controlled conditions and well characterised, as high-performance adsorbents for the sequestration of persistent dye species exhibiting limited susceptibility to rapid degradation. The effects of key operational parameters on dye removal efficiency were systematically evaluated to establish optimal treatment conditions. Complete removal of reactive yellow dye (100%) was achieved within 30 min at low initial dye concentrations (20 mg/L) under mildly acidic conditions and continuous agitation. Adsorption equilibrium studies, interpreted using the Langmuir isotherm model, revealed a maximum adsorption capacity of 33 mg/g under optimised conditions. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous (−ΔG° ≈ 46–54 kJ/mol) and endothermic (ΔH° = 21.12 kJ/mol), accompanied by an increase in system disorder (ΔS° = 0.2 kJ/mol × K). Importantly, experiments conducted using real wastewater matrices demonstrated performance comparable to that obtained in deionised water, thereby underscoring the practical applicability of the proposed system. Furthermore, the nanoparticles retained more than 90% removal efficiency after five consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles, employing a basic eluent for dye desorption and surface regeneration. The intrinsic magnetic properties of the adsorbent additionally enable facile recovery and potential reutilisation in secondary applications, including asphalt production. Collectively, these findings highlight the considerable potential of magnetite nanoparticles as effective and reusable adsorbents for wastewater remediation and support further investigation toward pilot-scale implementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoadsorbents for Environmental Remediation)

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34 pages, 6647 KB

Open AccessArticle

Engineered Misunderstanding Under Psychological Warfare: A Bayesian Signaling Game of Felt-Understanding Collapse in the German Atomausstieg

by Ryanne R. L. Fairchild

Games 2026, 17(4), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/g17040036 (registering DOI) - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Russian state-sponsored disinformation has been described in policy and the operational literature, but it is less often formalized in game-theoretic terms. Here, a two-layered formal model is developed showing how adversarial perturbation of a communication channel can collapse cross-group felt understanding—the third-order intentional [...] Read more.

Russian state-sponsored disinformation has been described in policy and the operational literature, but it is less often formalized in game-theoretic terms. Here, a two-layered formal model is developed showing how adversarial perturbation of a communication channel can collapse cross-group felt understanding—the third-order intentional state/belief structure, established empirically by Livingstone, in which one group believes its perspectives are recognized and accepted as valid by another. The Analytical Model is a static Bayesian signaling game with binary types and a noisy channel parameterized by perturbation rate π. The Analytical Model shows that when recognition benefits exceed signaling costs, there exists a perturbation threshold π* = 1 − c_R/(u_R · p) above which mutual misrecognition becomes the unique Perfect Bayesian Equilibrium outcome. The Computational Model embeds this logic in an agent-based simulation on a homophilic stochastic block model and scale-free networks with continuous recognition capacity. Four substantive findings emerge: the closed-form analytical threshold from the Analytical Model predicts the boundary of collapse in the dynamic networked simulation; high network homophily protects cooperative behavior below π* but provides no rescue above it; bridge seeding—the placement of recognition-capable agents at structurally central cross-group positions—is the most effective of three policy interventions tested, rescuing cooperation even above π*; and uniform adversarial volume is approximately as damaging as strategically targeted adversarial precision across both small dense and large scale-free topologies, qualifying the operational claim that targeted disinformation should strictly outperform volume-based approaches. The model is illustrated with the German Atomausstieg (nuclear phase-out) case, and implications for clinical psychology, public policy, and intergroup recognition under psychological warfare are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Games with Incomplete Information)

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18 pages, 1355 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hierarchical TSK Fuzzy Classification Through Positive Intervention for Teaching Evaluation

by Limin Wang, Yuanqing Yang and Yu Zhou

Symmetry 2026, 18(7), 1137; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18071137 (registering DOI) - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Currently, most existing traditional teaching evaluation models are difficult to truly reflect the contribution and guiding role of administrative policies in teaching decision-making, and lack the interpretability of teaching semantics in assessing actual teaching methods and effectiveness. In addition, the substantive strategies of [...] Read more.

Currently, most existing traditional teaching evaluation models are difficult to truly reflect the contribution and guiding role of administrative policies in teaching decision-making, and lack the interpretability of teaching semantics in assessing actual teaching methods and effectiveness. In addition, the substantive strategies of intervention are also difficult to quantify and evaluate. This study proposes a hierarchical Takagi–Sugeno–Kang (TSK) fuzzy classification model (Pgt-TC) with positive intervention guidance ability. The study stacks several interpretable zero-order TSK fuzzy classifiers as the basic training units (BTUs), ensuring that the final model has high interpretability of teaching semantics. Firstly, the fuzzy rule base corresponding to BTUs is determined according to the contribution level of each rule, and residual is used to reduce the error interference between adjacent BTUs, achieving the goal of improving the generalization ability of the training model. In addition, this study designed a strategy to generate posterior parameters by solving the approximation error of adjacent BTUs, which improved the classification and generalization performance of the fuzzy system. The proposed model is evaluated on five datasets, including one core educational research dataset (177 samples, 19 features) and four UCI benchmark datasets (163–5000 samples, 4–27 features). Results are reported using 5-fold cross-validation with mean values. Experimental results show that Pgt-TC achieves competitive classification performance across all datasets. On the educational dataset, it attains an average test accuracy of 93.47 and an average test SE value of 98.60, while also offering interpretability to explain educational intervention decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry/Asymmetry in Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Systems)

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21 pages, 6045 KB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers’ Learning Through the Development of Climate Change Education Materials for Family Engagement

by Jeehea Baek

Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 1061; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16071061 (registering DOI) - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study explores the learning experiences of pre-service early childhood teachers as they develop climate change education materials for family engagement within a teacher education context. Grounded in the need for practice-oriented climate change education that connects young children’s everyday lives with meaningful [...] Read more.

This study explores the learning experiences of pre-service early childhood teachers as they develop climate change education materials for family engagement within a teacher education context. Grounded in the need for practice-oriented climate change education that connects young children’s everyday lives with meaningful action, it examines how pre-service teachers construct their understanding through designing educational materials. A qualitative approach was employed with 24 pre-service teachers enrolled in a science education course in South Korea. Over a five-week project, participants developed family-connected materials, including videos and brochures. Data were collected through reflective journals, researcher notes, and project artifacts, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The findings reveal that participants translated abstract climate change concepts into developmentally appropriate learning experiences, employed creative and sensory-based strategies to encourage voluntary engagement, and designed shared digital spaces that connect home and educational settings. They also recognized the importance of fostering climate sensitivity grounded in positive emotions and developed a sense of responsibility as future educators. These findings suggest that developing family-connected climate change education materials provides an effective and scalable practice-based approach that integrates climate literacy, sensitivity, and action in early childhood teacher education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Education for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Education Through Empirical Research)

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24 pages, 12762 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stacking Ensemble Learning with Genetic Algorithm Optimization for Multi-Property Prediction and Inverse Design of BCC-Type V-Based Hydrogen Storage Alloys

by Yishen Wu and Xiaofang Chen

Coatings 2026, 16(7), 794; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16070794 (registering DOI) - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Accurate prediction of hydrogen storage properties is needed for accelerating the design of body-centered cubic (BCC)-type V-based alloys, where the composition–property space is too large for trial-and-error experimentation alone. Here we report a stacking ensemble framework that combines XGBoost, Random Forest, Extra Trees, [...] Read more.

Accurate prediction of hydrogen storage properties is needed for accelerating the design of body-centered cubic (BCC)-type V-based alloys, where the composition–property space is too large for trial-and-error experimentation alone. Here we report a stacking ensemble framework that combines XGBoost, Random Forest, Extra Trees, and Gradient Boosting as base learners with linear or ridge meta-learners, with hyperparameters tuned by a genetic algorithm (GA). Three descriptor strategies are compared across seven target properties: composition-only (C), property-only (P), and composition–property fusion (CP). On target-specific subsets containing 95–901 experimental records and 17 alloying elements (the smallest subset, 95 records, corresponds to maximum hydrogen capacity

C_{\max}

, which may limit model stability for that property), the best model for each target gives

R^{2}

values from 0.865 to 0.981 (all metrics are from five-fold cross-validation; no independent external test set was employed); the P-type model for desorption plateau pressure reaches

R^{2} = 0.981

. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis shows that physically derived descriptors, including valence electron concentration, atomic size mismatch, and electronegativity difference, dominate in P and CP models, whereas Ti and Cr contents are the leading compositional features. A Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) optimizer then ranks 3000 final candidate alloy compositions in six alloy families using four objectives: high predicted retention, high predicted cycle count, high predicted BCC phase ratio, and a low cost proxy; these candidates represent model-based predictions and await experimental synthesis and cycling validation. The V–Ti–Cr–Fe–Mn system contains the largest number of candidates with predicted retention above 99%, while Ti-free V–Cr–Fe–Mn–Al alloys provide low-cost alternatives in the model search space. First-principles calculations on four representative alloys only show that BCC structures are lower in energy than FCC structures by about 0.08–0.13 eV/atom and that hydrogenated structures exhibit clear charge accumulation around H sites, supporting the physical plausibility of the data-driven screening results, though density functional theory (DFT) validation does not replace experimental measurement of PCI curves and cyclic stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Metal Surface Process)

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19 pages, 4100 KB

Open AccessArticle

Migration Behavior of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁷⁹Se, and ⁹⁹Tc in Clay Rocks: Role of Competitive Adsorption Under Coexistence Conditions

by Yunfeng Shi, Song Yang, Hanhan Liu, Zhou Li, Longjiang Wang, Jun Tan, Weijie Chen, Ting Wang, Aiming Zhang and Bing Lian

Materials 2026, 19(13), 2835; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19132835 (registering DOI) - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

To address the issue of radioactive waste generated by the large-scale promotion and use of nuclear energy, safety evaluations of disposal sites in various surrounding rocks are essential. These evaluations are a prerequisite for ensuring the long-term safe disposal of radioactive waste. This [...] Read more.

To address the issue of radioactive waste generated by the large-scale promotion and use of nuclear energy, safety evaluations of disposal sites in various surrounding rocks are essential. These evaluations are a prerequisite for ensuring the long-term safe disposal of radioactive waste. This study focuses on the blocking capacity of clay rocks concerning the advection–dispersion behavior of representative radionuclides such as ¹³⁷Cs, ⁷⁹Se, and ⁹⁹Tc. It further examines the effects of competitive adsorption that arise when these three radionuclides coexist. (Since ⁷⁹Se is difficult to obtain, ⁷⁵Se was used as a substitute nuclide. In the mixed-nuclide experiments, the stable isotope Re was used to replace ⁹⁹Tc.) The experimental findings revealed that competitive adsorption can significantly reduce the adsorption capability of clay rocks for ¹³⁷Cs and ⁷⁹Se, altering the adsorption mechanism. During the advection–dispersion process, the weak adsorption sites of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁷⁹Se on clay rocks become active after the strong adsorption sites are preferentially occupied, resulting in a decline in both adsorption quantity and rate. In the case of ⁹⁹Tc, competitive adsorption weakens the effect of anion repulsion, leading to a reduction in the immobile liquid regions (θ_im). Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Construction and Building Materials)

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16 pages, 394 KB

Open AccessReview

Hypoxic Preconditioning: An Underestimated Endogenous Protective Strategy?

by Jinqiao Liu, Changhong Ren, Tariq Kermalli, Yuchuan Ding, Xunming Ji, Guowei Lu and Sijie Li

Biomolecules 2026, 16(7), 976; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16070976 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Hypoxic Preconditioning (HPC) describes the phenomenon whereby brief, non-lethal hypoxic episodes enhance cellular resilience to subsequent severe hypoxia. Initially recognized in altitude studies, HPC has since been linked to broad protective effects, particularly in the protection of ischemia/hypoxia. This article highlights the biological [...] Read more.

Hypoxic Preconditioning (HPC) describes the phenomenon whereby brief, non-lethal hypoxic episodes enhance cellular resilience to subsequent severe hypoxia. Initially recognized in altitude studies, HPC has since been linked to broad protective effects, particularly in the protection of ischemia/hypoxia. This article highlights the biological rationale, potential mechanisms and applications, while addressing the challenges of clinical translation. As a form of endogenous adaptation, HPC offers a promising paradigm for preventive and therapeutic strategies across various diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Medicine)

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26 pages, 5822 KB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Transformation Strategies: A Technology Roadmap in the Korean Water Industry

by Seoungbeom Na, Chang-Geun Lee, Jae-Wan Park, Woosik Jang and Youngwoong Lee

Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6745; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136745 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

With the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the adoption of digital transformation technologies has accelerated across industries. Digital transformation has become a critical task for businesses, with success depending on strategic responses to rapidly changing environments, where establishing a technology development roadmap [...] Read more.

With the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the adoption of digital transformation technologies has accelerated across industries. Digital transformation has become a critical task for businesses, with success depending on strategic responses to rapidly changing environments, where establishing a technology development roadmap is pivotal. This study proposes a framework for a technology roadmap aimed at promoting effective digital transformation and applies it to the Korean water industry. Key technological management areas requiring digital transformation were identified, followed by an evaluation of development trends, preferences, technology levels, and potential through expert surveys. Data were quantitatively analyzed using Euclidean distance and frequency analysis. Results indicate that the most urgent areas for digital transformation in the Korean water industry are natural environment management and prediction, water supply and customer service, water intake and resource facilities, and water purification. Essential technologies to be prioritized in each area were also derived. Unlike previous studies that only compared technological priorities, this research contributes by providing a multi-layered analysis that considers preferences, levels, and potential, constructing a more robust roadmap. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Water Management)

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19 pages, 612 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Digital Clear Aligner Systems as Multifunctional Platforms for Tooth Bleaching: A Systematic Review of Material Performance and Mechanical Implications in Esthetic Dentistry

by Nicolas Nassar, Karim Corbani, Roland Kmeid, Carlos Enrique Cuevas-Suárez, Abigailt Flores-Ledesma and Rim Bourgi

Adhesives 2026, 2(3), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/adhesives2030013 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background: Clear aligners fabricated via computer-aided design and manufacturing are increasingly used in orthodontics and may also serve as carriers for peroxide-based bleaching agents. However, exposure to bleaching agents may affect the physical and surface properties of aligner polymers, which could influence their [...] Read more.

Background: Clear aligners fabricated via computer-aided design and manufacturing are increasingly used in orthodontics and may also serve as carriers for peroxide-based bleaching agents. However, exposure to bleaching agents may affect the physical and surface properties of aligner polymers, which could influence their clinical performance. Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate the available evidence on the use of clear aligners as carriers for tooth bleaching agents, with a focus on bleaching efficacy and reported effects on aligner materials based on the identified literature. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, and Embase for studies published up to January 2026. Eligible clinical and in vitro studies investigated bleaching procedures using clear aligners or conventional trays and reported color change outcomes and/or changes in material properties such as hardness, surface integrity, or mechanical performance. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tools and standardized criteria for in vitro and clinical studies. Results: Six studies (three clinical and three in vitro) met the inclusion criteria. Clinical evidence indicated that bleaching delivered through clear aligners achieved similar whitening outcomes to conventional tray-based systems. In vitro studies reported changes in surface hardness and mechanical properties of polymer-based aligner materials after peroxide exposure; however, no major structural degradation was observed. Clinical studies were generally at high risk of bias, while in vitro studies showed low to moderate risk. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this systematic review, clear aligners may represent a potential carrier for tooth bleaching agents with outcomes comparable to conventional trays. However, the available evidence is limited and heterogeneous. Well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm clinical effectiveness and long-term material safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Adhesive Technologies for Dental and Biomedical Applications)

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29 pages, 448 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Efficient Numerical Methods for Fractional- and Integer-Order Ordinary Differential Equations

by Marian Milev, Radan Miryanov and Yuri Dimitrov

Axioms 2026, 15(7), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms15070501 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

This paper proposes numerical methods for solving ordinary differential equations and fractional ordinary differential equations. The proposed methods are based on discretizations of first- and second-order derivatives, the L1 approximation of the Caputo fractional derivative, and a shifted L1-based approximation on a uniform [...] Read more.

This paper proposes numerical methods for solving ordinary differential equations and fractional ordinary differential equations. The proposed methods are based on discretizations of first- and second-order derivatives, the L1 approximation of the Caputo fractional derivative, and a shifted L1-based approximation on a uniform mesh. The discretizations of the integer-order derivatives depend on a free parameter, which enables the construction of numerical schemes with any prescribed order of accuracy in the interval

(0, 2]

and supports the development of efficient, fast algorithms for computation of the solution. The discretizations of fractional derivatives employ the weights of the L1 approximation together with values of the Riemann zeta function. The convergence and accuracy of the numerical methods are analyzed theoretically. Numerical experiments confirm the theoretical results and demonstrate the improvement of the proposed methods over L1 schemes for the numerical solution of ordinary fractional differential equations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Numerical Analysis and Its Applications)

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19 pages, 6208 KB

Open AccessCommunication

The Comparative Study of WC–Ni Coatings Deposited by APS and HV-APS Processes

by Tadeusz Kubaszek, Anita Slys-Palacz, Marek Goral, Krzysztof Krupa and Marcin Drajewicz

Materials 2026, 19(13), 2834; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19132834 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study investigates the properties of WC–10Ni cermet coatings deposited by plasma spraying using two different plasma torches: a conventional A60 torch (APS) and an advanced Axial III torch (HV-APS). The aim of the work was to compare the microstructure, porosity, surface roughness, [...] Read more.

This study investigates the properties of WC–10Ni cermet coatings deposited by plasma spraying using two different plasma torches: a conventional A60 torch (APS) and an advanced Axial III torch (HV-APS). The aim of the work was to compare the microstructure, porosity, surface roughness, phase composition, and mechanical properties (hardness and instrumented indentation), as well as erosion, scratch response, and resistance to tribological wear of the obtained coatings. The coatings were deposited onto S235 steel substrates using WC–10Ni (WOKA 3302) powder. The results revealed that both coatings exhibit a typical lamellar structure characteristic of plasma-sprayed materials; however, distinct differences in surface roughness, porosity, and mechanical response were observed. The coating produced using the Axial III torch showed lower porosity (~6%) and higher hardness (~1000 HV) compared to the coating deposited with the A60 torch (~12% porosity and ~831 HV). Phase analysis confirmed the presence of WC, W₂C, and Ni in both coatings, indicating partial decarburization of carbides during the spraying process. Erosion resistance tests did not reveal significant differences between the coatings. Erosion testing revealed comparable performance for both coatings, with erosion rates of approximately 0.7 mg/min. Scratch testing showed significantly lower acoustic emission activity for the Axial III coating, indicating less intensive fracture-related events during loading and confirming its more compact microstructure. In contrast, ball-on-disk tribological tests demonstrated comparable wear rates for both coatings (≈9 × 10⁻⁵ mm³·N⁻¹·m⁻¹), despite the substantially higher hardness of the Axial III coating (1010 HV0.2 compared with 792 HV0.2 for the A60 coating). These results indicate that the improvements in hardness and coating densification achieved by the HV-APS process did not result in a measurable reduction in steady-state sliding wear under the applied test conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Thin Films and Interfaces)

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17 pages, 4859 KB

Open AccessArticle

Selective Allocation of LC-PUFA-Containing Lipids During Vitellogenesis in Female Sichuan Taimen (Hucho bleekeri): Implications for Female Broodstock Rearing During Artificial Propagation

by Qinyao Wei, Yeyu Chen, Fubin Wang, Wei Shao, Yongshen Ru, Huanchao Yang, Jun Du, Zhaobin Song, Zhenming Lai and Hua Li

Biology 2026, 15(13), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15131059 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Oocyte quality determines fertilization success during the reproductive period of fish and is affected by a key intrinsic factor: the level of lipid deposition in the yolk. In this study, lipidomics was used to characterize lipid profiles of adipose tissue, liver, serum and [...] Read more.

Oocyte quality determines fertilization success during the reproductive period of fish and is affected by a key intrinsic factor: the level of lipid deposition in the yolk. In this study, lipidomics was used to characterize lipid profiles of adipose tissue, liver, serum and ovary to clarify divergent hepatic lipid allocation to fat depots versus ovary in Sichuan taimen (Hucho bleekeri). The results showed that glycerophospholipids (GPs) constituted the most diverse lipid class across all four tissues, with phosphatidylcholine (PC) being the most abundant in each tissue. Relative to adipose tissue, liver, and serum, the ovary exhibited significant enrichment of PC and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and higher accumulation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)- and arachidonic acid (ARA)-containing GPs and triacylglycerols (TGs), as well as enrichment in TGs, diacylglycerols (DGs), and cardiolipin (CL), compared to adipose tissue. The expression levels of fads6, elovl2, elovl5, dgat1b, dgat2, pparα, nfyb, and fabp7 were higher in the liver, while lpcat1 was highly expressed specifically in the ovary. The results of this study demonstrate that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) exhibited selective enrichment in the ovary, which facilitates yolk lipid deposition and provides structural and energetic support for oocyte development and early embryonic development. From a lipidomic perspective, this study reveals the regulatory characteristics underlying ovarian yolk deposition in H. bleekeri, providing important evidence for understanding the mechanisms of egg quality formation as well as a theoretical basis for broodstock management, artificial propagation, and the improvement of egg and larval quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Status and Future Perspectives on Lipid Biology and Beyond)

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16 pages, 3516 KB

Open AccessArticle

Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium Essential Oil Attenuates Periodontitis via Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

by Juan Ma, Likuan Liu, Yi Ren, Mingjin Wang, Xing Li and Jinping Li

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(13), 5966; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27135966 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Periodontitis, driven by Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) biofilms, is a global health burden with limited treatment options due to antibiotic resistance. Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium is traditionally used in China for clearing heat and reducing swelling, yet its anti-periodontitis potential remains uncharacterized. This [...] Read more.

Periodontitis, driven by Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) biofilms, is a global health burden with limited treatment options due to antibiotic resistance. Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium is traditionally used in China for clearing heat and reducing swelling, yet its anti-periodontitis potential remains uncharacterized. This study evaluated the antibacterial and therapeutic effects of its essential oil (CLEO) against periodontitis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of CLEO against P. gingivalis were determined by broth microdilution. Anti-biofilm activity was assessed via XTT assay. Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations were employed to identify active compounds and core targets. Experimental periodontitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by molar ligation. Mice received topical CLEO at concentrations of 2, 3, and 4 mg/mL, 2% minocycline, or vehicle once daily for 14 days. Periodontal inflammation, alveolar bone loss, collagen organization, osteoclast activity, and serum levels of MMP-9 and COX-2 were evaluated. CLEO exhibited potent anti-P. gingivalis activity, with an MIC of 2 mg/mL and MBC of 4 mg/mL. At the MIC, CLEO disrupted 57.5% of pre-formed P. gingivalis biofilms. Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified α-bisabolol, chamazulene, and 1,8-cineole as key active compounds, with the chamazulene-HSP90AA1 complex showing the strongest binding affinity (−10.0 kcal/mol). The 100 ns MD simulation confirmed the stability of this complex (RMSD < 1 nm). In the mouse periodontitis model, topical application of CLEO at 3 and 4 mg/mL significantly reduced gingival inflammation, alveolar bone resorption, and the number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts compared with the vehicle-treated periodontitis group (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, CLEO treatment dose-dependently lowered serum MMP-9 levels (from 24.15 ± 0.24 pg/mL in the model group to 12.36 ± 0.54 pg/mL in the high-dose group) and COX-2 levels (from 15.38 ± 0.62 pg/mL to 8.99 ± 0.57 pg/mL). The therapeutic efficacy of the high-dose CLEO group was comparable to that of the 2% minocycline group. CLEO exerts anti-P. gingivalis and anti-biofilm effects in vitro and ameliorates periodontitis in vivo through multi-target mechanisms, providing pharmacological evidence for its traditional use in inflammatory conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)

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13 pages, 1348 KB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Assessment of Respiratory-Induced Clinical Target Volume Motion During Postoperative Whole-Breast Radiotherapy Using Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography

by Ji Hwan Jo, Jeong Won Lee and Ki Ho Seol

Cancers 2026, 18(13), 2142; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18132142 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: We quantitatively evaluated respiratory-induced clinical target volume (CTV) motion during postoperative whole-breast radiotherapy in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS) using four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) and determined the internal margins for assessing respiratory motion. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 100 patients who underwent [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: We quantitatively evaluated respiratory-induced clinical target volume (CTV) motion during postoperative whole-breast radiotherapy in patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS) using four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) and determined the internal margins for assessing respiratory motion. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 100 patients who underwent postoperative whole-breast breast RT after BCS. Simulation CT was performed using 4DCT, and the CTV was delineated for the 10 respiratory phases (0–90%). CTV center displacement was measured in the lateral, anteroposterior, and superoinferior directions and three-dimensional (3D) vector magnitudes were calculated. Internal margins for respiratory motion were calculated using the Van Herk formula (2.5Σ + 0.7σ). Results: Mean CTV center displacement (mm) was 0.94 ± 0.52 (lateral), 1.29 ± 0.59 (anteroposterior), and 1.00 ± 0.51 (superoinferior). The mean 3D vector magnitude was 1.99 ± 0.68 (range, 0.70–3.51) mm. Anteroposterior motion was significantly greater than the lateral and superoinferior motion (p < 0.001). No patient exhibited motion exceeding 3 mm in any direction. Right-breast 3D motion was significantly larger than the left-breast motion (2.17 ± 0.66 vs. 1.82 ± 0.65 mm, p = 0.008). Internal margins (mm) for respiratory motion were 1.02 (lateral), 1.24 (anteroposterior), and 1.03 (superoinferior). Conclusions: Respiratory-induced CTV motion during whole-breast RT after BCS was small, with anteroposterior dominance. Calculated internal margins were approximately 1 mm in all directions, suggesting that a conventional 5 mm CTV-to-planning target volume (PTV) margin is adequate to compensate for respiratory motion and indicating that routine 4DCT or respiratory motion management may be unnecessary for target coverage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radiation Therapy in Oncology)

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28 pages, 3753 KB

Open AccessArticle

BFFPN-YOLO: Detection of Cow Estrus Behavior Under Fisheye Imaging via Boundary Enhancement and Frequency-Domain Compensation

by Xiaohan Yang, Rong Wang, Qifeng Li, Weiwei Huang, Yujiao Rong, Xuwen Li, Tonghui Wu and Ronghua Gao

Agriculture 2026, 16(13), 1458; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16131458 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

In modern farm management, accurate detection of estrus behavior in dairy cows is essential for improving reproductive efficiency and enabling intelligent decision-making. Although fisheye lenses offer a wider field of view, they often introduce image distortion. This leads to geometric and scale deformation [...] Read more.

In modern farm management, accurate detection of estrus behavior in dairy cows is essential for improving reproductive efficiency and enabling intelligent decision-making. Although fisheye lenses offer a wider field of view, they often introduce image distortion. This leads to geometric and scale deformation of cow mounting behavior features, which reduces detection accuracy. To address this issue, a lightweight model called Boundary-Enhanced Frequency-Domain Feature Pyramid Network YOLO (BFFPN-YOLO) was developed. It is designed for detecting dairy cow mounting behavior under fisheye imaging, incorporating boundary enhancement and frequency-domain compensation. Initially, the backbone network was equipped with the multi-scale dilated fusion structure SPPELAN. This structure expands the receptive field and preserves detailed information, thereby enhancing boundary modeling for targets with scale variations. Subsequently, a boundary-enhanced frequency-domain feature pyramid network (BFFPN) module was designed for reconstructing the top-down transmission path in the Neck. The module is composed of the frequency-domain detail compensation FreqFusion and the spatial attention enhancement SEAM. By strengthening boundary responses, compensating for high-frequency details, and replacing the traditional upsampling and concatenation operations, it effectively mitigates blurred target boundaries in images of dairy cow mounting behavior. The improved algorithm demonstrates strong detection performance, achieving a Precision of 88%, a Recall of 84.5%, and an mAP@0.5 of 92.7%. Compared with the original YOLOv11, these metrics were increased by 3.8, 2.3, and 4.6 percentage points, respectively. The model parameter count was reduced by 1.10 × 10⁶. In complex scenarios, edge features and high-frequency details of dairy cow mounting behavior are more accurately captured by the improved model. These improvements provide a reliable technical basis for the intelligent detection of estrus behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Farm Animal Production)

28 pages, 3450 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Big Data Analytics Framework with Interactive Dashboards for Decision-Support in Ecuador’s Agricultural Sector

by Ashley Aguilar-Serrano, Jean Ávila-Villaprado, Maritza Pinta and Bertha Mazon-Olivo

Digital 2026, 6(3), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital6030055 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Ecuador’s agricultural sector plays a strategic role in the national economy; however, agricultural data remains fragmented across heterogeneous and isolated sources, limiting integrated analysis and evidence-based decision-making. This study proposes and implements a Big Data analytics framework based on the Medallion architecture and [...] Read more.

Ecuador’s agricultural sector plays a strategic role in the national economy; however, agricultural data remains fragmented across heterogeneous and isolated sources, limiting integrated analysis and evidence-based decision-making. This study proposes and implements a Big Data analytics framework based on the Medallion architecture and interactive dashboards to integrate, process, and visualize agricultural indicators from INEC, ESPAC, Ecuador Open Data, and FAOSTAT for the 2010–2024 period. The proposed framework adopts the Team Data Science Process (TDSP) methodology and structures workflows into Bronze, Silver, and Gold layers using Databricks for scalable data ingestion, transformation, and dimensional modeling. Interactive dashboards were developed in Tableau Public to support dynamic analysis of agricultural production, trade, producer prices, losses, and producer profiles. A comparative performance evaluation between Databricks Free Edition and Azure Databricks was conducted using SQL analytical workloads and dashboard interaction tests. Results showed that Azure Databricks reduced query execution times by up to 57%, especially in aggregation and join operations. Usability validation with 31 agricultural stakeholders reported high acceptance levels, including a 100% recommendation rate and a data trust score of 4.45/5. The findings demonstrate that scalable and low-cost Big Data technologies can effectively support agricultural digital transformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Data Management in Data Analysis)

34 pages, 797 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Spirituality and Mental Health Among Vulnerable Women: A Systematic Review

by Fabiana Chyczij, Ana Caramelo, Pedro Morgado and Sara Diogo Gonçalves

Women 2026, 6(3), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/women6030045 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Spirituality and religiosity are increasingly recognized as important factors influencing mental health, particularly among women exposed to diverse vulnerabilities such as interpersonal violence, trauma, HIV infection, homelessness, and socioeconomic disadvantage. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the associations between spiritual or [...] Read more.

Spirituality and religiosity are increasingly recognized as important factors influencing mental health, particularly among women exposed to diverse vulnerabilities such as interpersonal violence, trauma, HIV infection, homelessness, and socioeconomic disadvantage. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the associations between spiritual or religious resources and mental health outcomes in these populations. A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science to identify studies examining the association between spirituality, religiosity, and mental health outcomes in vulnerable women. A total of 28 studies were identified, including cross-sectional, longitudinal, and mixed-methods designs, which measured spirituality and religiosity using validated instruments such as SWBS, DUREL, FACIT-Sp-12, and Brief RCOPE, alongside standardized mental health measures. Narrative synthesis revealed that the majority of studies (n = 15) reported that higher spiritual well-being, intrinsic religiosity, and adaptive religious coping were associated with lower depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, and with higher resilience, quality of life, and post-traumatic growth. These associations appeared to be shaped by contextual factors, including the type and severity of trauma, cultural and religious frameworks, and the lived experiences of the populations studied. Negative associations were primarily linked to negative religious coping (n = 5 studies), rather than religiosity per se. Additional factors that attenuated or reversed the expected positive effects included higher trauma severity or ongoing adversity (n = 4), reactive patterns in which greater psychological distress was associated with increased use of religious coping (n = 3), maladaptive religious beliefs such as interpretations of trauma as divine punishment (n = 2), and cultural or contextual influences (n = 3). Overall, the evidence suggests that spirituality and specific dimensions of religiosity (e.g., intrinsic religiosity, religious coping) can support mental health among vulnerable women, though personal, cultural, and situational factors shape their impact. These findings suggest the potential value of integrating spiritual resources into interventions and the need for further longitudinal and culturally sensitive research. Full article

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20 pages, 5464 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Different Aging Temperatures on the Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior Evolution Characteristics of the Al-Cu-Li Alloy

by Danyang Liu, Minghao Li, Wenbin Sun, Jinghang Zhou, Gengxuan Yang, Jianmei Li, Chao Cai and Jinfeng Li

Metals 2026, 16(7), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16070732 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

In the current work, the microstructural characteristics and corrosion performance of an Al-3.6Cu-1.0Li-0.40Mg-0.32Mn-0.12Zr alloy are correlated across different artificial aging regimes (150 °C, 160 °C, and 170 °C). In the under-aging stage, the corrosion depth increases with rising aging temperature, from 342.86 μm [...] Read more.

In the current work, the microstructural characteristics and corrosion performance of an Al-3.6Cu-1.0Li-0.40Mg-0.32Mn-0.12Zr alloy are correlated across different artificial aging regimes (150 °C, 160 °C, and 170 °C). In the under-aging stage, the corrosion depth increases with rising aging temperature, from 342.86 μm at 150 °C to 495.13 μm at 170 °C, indicating deteriorated corrosion resistance at higher temperatures. This trend is closely related to the significant increase in the proportion of the T1 phase in the matrix’s primary precipitate. Upon artificial aging for 24 h, the hardness increases gradually as the aging temperature rises. At higher aging temperatures, short-term aging hardness is higher, likely due to the formation of the T1 phase, which can also provide a strengthening effect. In contrast, the corrosion resistance of the alloy is enhanced at higher aging temperatures after 24 h of aging. These corrosion phenomena are closely related to the dominance of the θ″ phase during low-temperature aging and the gradual increase in the S′ phase during high-temperature aging. Furthermore, a transition from intergranular corrosion to pitting corrosion is identified at the high aging temperature of 170 °C with extended aging time. This corrosion mode transformation behavior is speculated to result from intermittent formation of magnesium segregation near the grain boundary, which alters the electrochemical heterogeneity between grain boundaries and the alloy matrix. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Processing, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Alloys)

19 pages, 5365 KB

Open AccessArticle

WAD-YOLO: A Lightweight Fall Detection Algorithm for Visual Sensor Systems Based on Wavelet Transform and Dynamic Convolution

by Zhongyu He, Fenghua Zhu, Shengli Duan, Xiaowei Li, Zhenyu Shen and Yuanlin Wang

Sensors 2026, 26(13), 4199; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26134199 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Falls among the elderly and vulnerable populations represent a critical public health challenge, and camera-based visual sensor systems have emerged as a promising non-intrusive solution for continuous fall monitoring. However, deploying accurate fall detection on resource-constrained edge sensor nodes remains difficult due to [...] Read more.

Falls among the elderly and vulnerable populations represent a critical public health challenge, and camera-based visual sensor systems have emerged as a promising non-intrusive solution for continuous fall monitoring. However, deploying accurate fall detection on resource-constrained edge sensor nodes remains difficult due to the trade-off between model complexity and detection performance. In this paper, we propose WAD-YOLO, an efficient and lightweight fall detection algorithm tailored for visual sensor systems, based on wavelet transform and dynamic convolution. First, a wavelet transform convolution (WTConv) module is introduced to expand the receptive field of the visual feature extractor via cascaded wavelet decomposition, enabling the sensor-driven model to better capture low-frequency fall-related patterns without parameter explosion. Second, a dynamic upsample (DySample) operator is incorporated into the detection head to achieve content-aware, flexible upsampling by generating dynamic offsets, maintaining high efficiency suitable for real-time sensor data processing. Third, an adaptive downsampling (ADown) module is integrated to reduce spatial resolution while preserving semantic information, further reducing the computational burden for deployment on embedded sensor platforms. Experiments on the public Fall Detection dataset demonstrate that, compared with the baseline YOLOv11n, the proposed method increases precision P by 3.8%, mAP50 by 3.7%, and reduces the parameter count by 3.0 × 10

^{5}

. The reduced parameter count and matched GFLOPs relative to YOLOv11n suggest that WAD-YOLO is a theoretically promising candidate for lightweight, high-accuracy fall detection on edge sensor platforms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Transportation Systems: Sensing, Automation and Control)

17 pages, 11554 KB

Open AccessArticle

Inflammatory and Structural Endotypes of Human Atherosclerotic Plaque Revealed by Integrated Transcriptomic Analysis

by Eunseuk Lee, Anshu Sutihar, Meirajuddin Tousif, Song Peng Ang, Daniel Tran and Jose Iglesias

Genes 2026, 17(7), 779; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17070779 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Atherosclerotic plaque instability is driven by complex interactions among inflammatory, structural, and cellular remodeling programs. While bulk RNA sequencing provides insight into tissue-level transcriptional states and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) defines cellular heterogeneity, integration across these transcriptomic layers remains limited. We aimed [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Atherosclerotic plaque instability is driven by complex interactions among inflammatory, structural, and cellular remodeling programs. While bulk RNA sequencing provides insight into tissue-level transcriptional states and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) defines cellular heterogeneity, integration across these transcriptomic layers remains limited. We aimed to identify coordinated transcriptional programs associated with stable and unstable plaque phenotypes and map these programs to specific cellular compartments and regulatory networks. Methods: Paired bulk RNA-seq data from stable and unstable human carotid plaques (GSE120521) and scRNA-seq data from human coronary atherosclerotic lesions (GSE131778) were analyzed. Differential expression and Hallmark gene set enrichment analyses were performed using limma and clusterProfiler. Bulk-derived inflammatory and structural signatures were projected onto single-cell data using Seurat module scoring. Compartment-level transcriptional scores, an inflammatory–structural endotype index, and transcription factor activity inference using decoupleR and DoRothEA were used to characterize plaque-associated transcriptional states. Results: Unstable plaques demonstrated enrichment of inflammatory pathways, including interferon gamma response, inflammatory response, TNFα/NF-κB signaling, IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling, complement activation, and reactive oxygen species pathways. In contrast, stable plaques demonstrated relative enrichment of myogenesis and structural remodeling programs. Projection of bulk-derived signatures onto single-cell data localized inflammatory programs predominantly to TREM2hi and inflammatory macrophage populations, whereas structural programs localized to smooth muscle cell and fibromyocyte-like compartments. Compartment-level analyses showed increased myeloid and adaptive immune signatures in unstable plaques and increased smooth muscle cell/fibro-remodeling signatures in stable plaques. Transcription factor activity analysis identified increased SPI1, NFKB1, RELA, and STAT1 activity in unstable plaques and higher SRF and TEAD1 activity in stable plaques. Conclusions: Integrative analysis of bulk and single-cell transcriptomic data identified distinct inflammatory and structural plaque transcriptional states associated with unstable and stable plaque phenotypes, respectively. These findings support a systems-level framework linking tissue-level plaque behavior to specific cellular and regulatory programs and provide evidence for inflammatory and structural plaque endotypes in human atherosclerosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic and Molecular Insights into Cardiovascular Disease: From Mechanisms to Precision Medicine)

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23 pages, 457 KB

Open AccessArticle

Open Justice and Hidden Harm: The Experiences of Children and Families Impacted by Parental Imprisonment When Parental Crime Is Reported

by Lorna Brookes, Fran Yeoman and Thomas McCooey

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(7), 440; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15070440 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Children of imprisoned parents, who are often described as ‘orphans of justice’, suffer a multitude of disadvantages when a parent is sent to prison. Whilst their experiences of loss, stigma, and social exclusion are well documented, one area that remains critically under-examined is [...] Read more.

Children of imprisoned parents, who are often described as ‘orphans of justice’, suffer a multitude of disadvantages when a parent is sent to prison. Whilst their experiences of loss, stigma, and social exclusion are well documented, one area that remains critically under-examined is how court reporting processes may further exacerbate these harms. This study explores the lived experience of children 11–17 yrs (n = 6) who had experienced parental imprisonment, and non-offending adults (parents, caregivers, and adult children of offenders/n = 6) in relation to their experiences of parental crime reported in the press. This study also integrates views from individual interviews conducted with journalists and press regulators (n = 5), as well as data from a content analysis of three regional and two national newspapers across a three-week period. Findings indicate that current court reporting practices can be, for some children and family members, a contributing factor to their difficulties. Participating children and family members assert that publishing partial home addresses and references to family relationships heightens their visibility in the community, which they say contributes to community backlash and negatively affects their physical and mental wellbeing. The content analysis (n = 186 custody related news reports) showed selective disclosure of offenders’ personal and family details. Interviewed journalists strongly defended the principle of open justice and felt legally unable to add the wider context families often wished to share. However, they expressed genuine sympathy for the children, and while resistant to new legal restrictions, were open to developing voluntary guidance to help reduce harm where possible. This study proposes an integrated framework to strengthen ethical journalism and better protect children impacted by parental imprisonment, calling for improved public information, trauma-informed education, participatory research and practitioner tools that centre children’s rights. It argues that open justice must be balanced with relational accountability, ensuring open justice does not come at the expense of children’s wellbeing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Support in Mitigating the Impact of Family Imprisonment on Children and Families)

18 pages, 631 KB

Open AccessArticle

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Status and 12-Week Functional Outcomes After Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Lateral Epicondylitis: A Retrospective Cohort Study

by Ki-Hyeok Ku and Eo Jin Park

Nutrients 2026, 18(13), 2152; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18132152 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is a clinically used biomarker of vitamin D nutritional status, although it is also influenced by sunlight exposure, supplementation, season, and other host factors. Short-term functional status after extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for lateral epicondylitis varies. We [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is a clinically used biomarker of vitamin D nutritional status, although it is also influenced by sunlight exposure, supplementation, season, and other host factors. Short-term functional status after extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for lateral epicondylitis varies. We evaluated whether serum 25(OH)D level and status were associated with 12-week functional outcomes among ESWT-treated patients. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort included 62 adults with lateral epicondylitis who received outpatient ESWT and had baseline and 12-week assessments. Baseline variables included grip strength ratio, Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score, serum 25(OH)D measured using the Architect 25-OH D vitamin kit, common extensor tendon (CET) thickness, age, sex, and body mass index. Multivariable linear regression was used in an analysis-of-covariance framework. Serum 25(OH)D was assessed continuously and as <20 versus ≥20 ng/mL in exploratory threshold analysis. Results: Serum 25(OH)D was 21.0 ± 8.4 ng/mL; 30 patients (48.4%) had <20 ng/mL, 22 (35.5%) had 20–29.9 ng/mL, and 10 (16.1%) had ≥30 ng/mL. QuickDASH decreased from 42.0 ± 17.4 to 27.0 ± 13.7, and grip strength ratio increased from 0.58 ± 0.14 to 0.76 ± 0.14. Higher serum 25(OH)D was associated with lower 12-week QuickDASH after adjustment (β per 10 ng/mL = −4.04, 95% CI −7.17 to −0.91; p = 0.012). Additionally, 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL was associated with higher 12-week QuickDASH (β = 6.43, 95% CI 1.17 to 11.69; p = 0.017). Serum 25(OH)D was not clearly associated with 12-week grip strength ratio. Conclusions: Lower serum 25(OH)D, interpreted as a vitamin D nutritional-status marker rather than as a nutrition-specific causal exposure, was associated with worse 12-week patient-reported function, but not grip strength ratio. The <20 ng/mL threshold analysis was exploratory and was not powered for subgroup inference. These findings should be interpreted as observational and hypothesis-generating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin D Status and 25(OH)D Thresholds: From Musculoskeletal to Systemic and Beyond)

28 pages, 4356 KB

Open AccessArticle

NeuroJPS-A: Neural Jump Point Search with Adaptive Potential Fields for UAV Path Planning and Obstacle Avoidance in Orchard Environments

by Beibei Cui, Mingyang Wang, Pengpeng Dong, Lei Zhang, Kunpeng Zhang and Liang Zhao

Drones 2026, 10(7), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones10070504 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

With the continuous expansion of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications, generating near-optimal paths and achieving effective obstacle avoidance in complex environments remain highly challenging tasks. To address the problems of multi-objective path planning and obstacle detection for UAV flight missions in orchard environments, [...] Read more.

With the continuous expansion of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications, generating near-optimal paths and achieving effective obstacle avoidance in complex environments remain highly challenging tasks. To address the problems of multi-objective path planning and obstacle detection for UAV flight missions in orchard environments, this paper proposes a novel hybrid algorithmic framework named NeuroJPS-A. The main scientific contribution is the synergistic integration of neural combinatorial optimization, 3D-JPS, and adaptive APF, enabling task-aware obstacle avoidance and closed-loop trajectory adjustment. This method introduces neural combinatorial optimization from the TSP into the 3D-JPS algorithm, optimizing the search mechanism of the traditional JPS and further shortening the UAV’s globally planned path length. In addition, this study integrates the proposed algorithm with the APF to solve the local dynamic obstacle avoidance problem. Quantitative results show that NeuroJPS-A reduces path length by 10% and the number of turns by 47.8% in 2D, and achieves a 24.9% shorter path and 22% of A*’s computation time in 3D. To verify the performance of the proposed method, comprehensive simulation experiments were conducted. The experimental results demonstrate that the NeuroJPS-A algorithm enables UAVs to quickly and effectively generate optimal planned routes, ensuring safe navigation in complex orchard environments and preventing collisions during flight missions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advanced Methods in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Control, Navigation, and Safety)

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73 pages, 15147 KB

Open AccessReview

Thermal Runaway in Batteries: A Database-Driven Literature Review and Exploratory Statistical Analysis

by Felix Elsner and Stefan Pischinger

Batteries 2026, 12(7), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries12070240 - 2 Jul 2026

Abstract

Thermal runaway (TR) in batteries remains a key safety challenge, yet its prediction is hindered by strongly coupled physics and many interdependent influencing factors. This review bridges the gap between mechanistic TR overviews and narrowly scoped experimental studies by conducting a broad database-driven [...] Read more.

Thermal runaway (TR) in batteries remains a key safety challenge, yet its prediction is hindered by strongly coupled physics and many interdependent influencing factors. This review bridges the gap between mechanistic TR overviews and narrowly scoped experimental studies by conducting a broad database-driven review of published TR experiments. Therefore, the largest publicly available TR database to date is curated. It comprises 1703 tests from 257 papers and 203 variables describing cell properties, test conditions, and TR outcomes. Descriptive and pairwise inferential methods are applied to identify recurring patterns reported across the literature and to enable structured description of observed trends. Cathode chemistry, specific energy, and state of charge (SOC) emerge as the key associates of characteristic TR temperatures, with oxygen release from nickel-rich cathodes significantly amplifying TR severity. Aging-related effects strongly depend on the specific aging history and remain insufficiently characterized. Relative mass loss can reach 90% and is linked to the severity of TR reactions and the associated gas generation. On average, vent gas volume scales at 1.7 L/Ah, but capacity-normalized volume varies significantly with cell chemistry and SOC. H₂, CO, and CO₂ dominate vent gas compositions, with dependence on chemistry, SOC, and overall explosivity, while toxic and condensable species are clearly under-reported. The influence of abuse type and test setup on measured TR characteristics is highlighted, and emerging battery technologies are discussed. The database and derived trends provide a basis for benchmarking cell safety, informing pack-level design and modeling, suggesting future research directions, and supporting the development of standardized TR test protocols. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Runaway and Thermal Management: Toward Safe and Reliable Batteries)

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