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16 pages, 1215 KiB

Open AccessReview

Understanding Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia: Implications for Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment

by Supriya Peshin, Adit Dharia, Ehab Takrori, Jasmeet Kaur, Kannan Thanikachalam and Renuka Iyer

Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(8), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32080455 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) is a common yet underrecognized complication of systemic chemotherapy, particularly in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Despite progress in targeted and immune-based therapies, platinum-based and fluoropyrimidine regimens, especially oxaliplatin-containing protocols, remain standard in GI cancer treatment and are linked to high rates [...] Read more.

Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) is a common yet underrecognized complication of systemic chemotherapy, particularly in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Despite progress in targeted and immune-based therapies, platinum-based and fluoropyrimidine regimens, especially oxaliplatin-containing protocols, remain standard in GI cancer treatment and are linked to high rates of CIT. This complication often leads to treatment delays, dose reductions, and elevated bleeding risk. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology, clinical implications, and management strategies of CIT in GI malignancies. CIT arises from several mechanisms: direct cytotoxicity to megakaryocyte progenitors, disruption of the marrow microenvironment, thrombopoietin dysregulation, and immune-mediated platelet destruction. Platinum agents, antimetabolites, and immune checkpoint inhibitors can contribute to these effects. Oxaliplatin-induced CIT may occur acutely via immune mechanisms or chronically through marrow suppression. CIT affects 20–25% of solid tumor patients, with highest rates in those receiving gemcitabine (64%), carboplatin (58%), and oxaliplatin (50%). Within GI cancer regimens, FOLFOXIRI and S-1 plus oxaliplatin show higher CIT incidence compared to FOLFIRI and CAPIRI. Thrombocytopenia is graded by severity, from mild (Grade 1–2) to severe (Grade 3–4), and often necessitates treatment adjustments, transfusions, or supportive therapies. Current strategies include chemotherapy dose modification, platelet transfusion, and thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) like romiplostim and eltrombopag. While platelet transfusions help in acute settings, TPO-RAs may preserve dose intensity and reduce bleeding. Emerging agents targeting megakaryopoiesis and marrow protection offer promising avenues for long-term management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Therapeutic Strategies, Biomarkers, and Molecular Pathways in Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Cancers)

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29 pages, 6246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DASeg: A Domain-Adaptive Segmentation Pipeline Using Vision Foundation Models—Earthquake Damage Detection Use Case

by Huili Huang, Andrew Zhang, Danrong Zhang, Max Mahdi Roozbahani and James David Frost

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(16), 2812; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17162812 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Limited labeled imagery and tight response windows hinder the accurate damage quantification for post-disaster assessment. The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a deep learning-based Domain-Adaptive Segmentation (DASeg) workflow to detect post-disaster damage using limited information [...] Read more.

Limited labeled imagery and tight response windows hinder the accurate damage quantification for post-disaster assessment. The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a deep learning-based Domain-Adaptive Segmentation (DASeg) workflow to detect post-disaster damage using limited information available shortly after an event. DASeg unifies three Vision Foundation Models in an automatic workflow: fine-tuned DINOv2 supplies attention-based point prompts, fine-tuned Grounding DINO yields open-set box prompts, and a frozen Segment Anything Model (SAM) generates the final masks. In the earthquake-focused case study DASeg-Quake, the pipeline boosts mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) by 9.52% over prior work and 2.10% over state-of-the-art supervised baselines. In a zero-shot setting scenario, DASeg-Quake achieves the mIoU of 75.03% for geo-damage analysis, closely matching expert-level annotations. These results show that DASeg achieves superior workflow enhancement in infrastructure damage segmentation without needing pixel-level annotation, providing a practical solution for early-stage disaster response. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Machine Learning at the Object: Fine-Grained Extraction and Analysis in Remote Sensing)

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21 pages, 2366 KiB

Open AccessReview

CD20-Negative Large B-Cell Lymphomas: The Diagnostic Challenge of Tumors with Downregulation of Mature B-Cell Marker Expression

by Magda Zanelli, Maurizio Zizzo, Francesca Sanguedolce, Stefano Ricci, Andrea Palicelli, Alessandra Bisagni, Valentina Fragliasso, Giuseppe Broggi, Serena Salzano, Ioannis Boutas, Nektarios Koufopoulos, Ione Tamagnini, Claudia Camposeo, Andrea Morini, Rosario Caltabiano, Luca Cimino, Massimiliano Fabozzi, Paola Parente, Lucia Mangone, Alberto Cavazza, Antonino Neri and Stefano Ascani Show full author list Hide full author list

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7843; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167843 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

CD20-negative aggressive B-cell lymphomas are a rare and heterogeneous group of lymphomas representing a diagnostic challenge for pathologists and a therapeutic issue for clinicians, because the outcome of these patients is poor with the current therapeutic approaches. CD20-negative aggressive lymphomas include plasmablastic lymphoma, [...] Read more.

CD20-negative aggressive B-cell lymphomas are a rare and heterogeneous group of lymphomas representing a diagnostic challenge for pathologists and a therapeutic issue for clinicians, because the outcome of these patients is poor with the current therapeutic approaches. CD20-negative aggressive lymphomas include plasmablastic lymphoma, primary effusion lymphoma, ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma and HHV8-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Conditions of immunosuppression and viral infections, such as Epstein–Barr virus and Human Herpes virus 8, are associated with all of these lymphomas with the exclusion of ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma, which occurs in immunocompetent hosts and is not associated with viral infections. Common features of these aggressive tumors are high-grade histology with immunoblastic or plasmablastic differentiation, the absence or weak expression of mature B-cell markers such as CD20 and the frequent expression of plasma cell-associated markers. The aim of this review is to highlight the diagnostic challenges associated with the group of CD20-negative aggressive B-cell lymphomas, emphasizing key morphologic and molecular features, which are critical in the diagnosis of the different entities belonging to this rare group of diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Oncology)

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16 pages, 4236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toxic Effects of Tetramethyl Bisphenol A on Embryonic–Larval Development of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

by Ermei Yin, Manwen Zeng, Haipeng Yan, Jiahao Gao, Zuchun Chen, Ning Zhang, Yusong Guo, Zhongduo Wang and Zhongdian Dong

Fishes 2025, 10(8), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10080407 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Tetramethyl bisphenol A (TMBPA), a novel alternative to Bisphenol A, is widely used as an industrial flame retardant and a raw material for tetramethyl polycarbonate plastics. With the increasing use of TMBPA, its aquatic ecological risks remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the [...] Read more.

Tetramethyl bisphenol A (TMBPA), a novel alternative to Bisphenol A, is widely used as an industrial flame retardant and a raw material for tetramethyl polycarbonate plastics. With the increasing use of TMBPA, its aquatic ecological risks remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the developmental toxicity of TMBPA using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model, exposing embryos to 0.5, 5, 50, and 200 μg/L TMBPA for 120 h. The results showed that treatment with 5, 50, and 200 μg/L TMBPA decreased the hatching rate of zebrafish embryos at 48 h post-fertilization (hpf), while no significant difference was observed at 72 hpf. Meanwhile, TMBPA exposure at all concentrations showed no significant effect on the survival rate. Furthermore, a high concentration of TMBPA (200 μg/L) significantly reduced the total length and suppressed swimming ability in zebrafish larvae. In addition, gene expression analysis revealed impacts on antioxidant system (cat, gpx, mn-sod, keap1, ucp2, nrf2), hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis (ttr, ugt1ab, trβ), cardiac developmental (tbx2b, myl7, bmp4, notch1b, amhc), and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis (pomca and nr3c1). The results indicated that TMBPA exposure adversely disrupted embryo hatching and larval development of zebrafish, accompanied by altering the expression of functional genes in larvae. These results provide further evidence for the potential environmental hazard posed by TMBPA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environment and Climate Change)

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21 pages, 2821 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Cr, Mo, and W Contents on the Semiconductive Properties of Passive Film of Ferritic Stainless Steels

by Seung-Heon Choi, Young-Ran Yoo, Young-Cheon Kim and Young-Sik Kim

Crystals 2025, 15(8), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15080723 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of Cr, Mo, and W alloying elements incorporated into ferritic stainless steel on the characteristics of passive films formed under acidic chloride conditions. Electrochemical assessments demonstrated that increasing the amounts of Cr, Mo, and W reduces passive current [...] Read more.

This study investigated the influence of Cr, Mo, and W alloying elements incorporated into ferritic stainless steel on the characteristics of passive films formed under acidic chloride conditions. Electrochemical assessments demonstrated that increasing the amounts of Cr, Mo, and W reduces passive current density and enhances polarization resistance. Through XPS analysis, it was determined that the passive film exhibits a double-layer structure, consisting of an inner layer rich in metal oxides and an outer layer containing metal oxy-anions. Mott–Schottky analysis indicated the presence of both p-type and n-type semiconducting properties. To clarify the effect of these alloying elements on the passive films at the surface of stainless steel, this work introduces a new parameter termed the “Bipolar Index,” defined as |p-type slope| + |n-type slope|. With higher Cr, Mo, and W contents, the bipolar index increases, reflecting modifications in the semiconductive behavior. Consequently, the point defect concentration within the passive film decreases, causing a reduction in passive current density and a rise in polarization resistance. Full article

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28 pages, 8838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Effectiveness of Skin Restoration Using a Biopolymer Hydrogel Scaffold with Encapsulated Mesenchymal Stem Cells

by Marfa N. Egorikhina, Lidia B. Timofeeva, Yulia P. Rubtsova, Ekaterina A. Farafontova, Dariya D. Linkova, Irina N. Charykova, Maksim G. Ryabkov, Anna A. Ezhevskaya, Ekaterina A. Levicheva and Diana Ya. Aleynik

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7840; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167840 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Improving the restoration of skin defects of various etiologies continues to be an important medical challenge globally. This primarily applies to the treatment of chronic wounds and major burns, which create particularly complex and socially significant problems for surgery. In recent decades the [...] Read more.

Improving the restoration of skin defects of various etiologies continues to be an important medical challenge globally. This primarily applies to the treatment of chronic wounds and major burns, which create particularly complex and socially significant problems for surgery. In recent decades the progress in these fields has largely been associated with techniques for regenerative medicine, specifically, techniques based on the use of tissue-engineered constructs. Before their use in clinical practice, all such newly developed constructs require preclinical studies to confirm their safety and effectiveness in animal models. This paper presents the results of preclinical studies of the effectiveness of restoration of full-layer degloving wounds in pigs using grafts of either an original biopolymer hydrogel scaffold or a skin equivalent based on it, but seeded with autologous skin cells (ASCs). It is demonstrated that the scaffold itself integrates into the wound bed tissues, facilitating cell recruitment and the accumulation and early maturation of granulation tissue. Then, at later stages of regeneration, the scaffold accelerates the maturation of connective tissue and promotes the formation of tissues similar to those of healthy skin in terms of thickness and structure. Owing to the ASCs present in it, the skin equivalent demonstrates greater effectiveness than the scaffold alone, in particular, due to overall faster remodeling of the graft connective tissue. Therefore, the scaffold we have developed and the skin equivalent based on it have much potential as products for the repair of skin wounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rational Design and Application of Functional Hydrogels)

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20 pages, 820 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Local Government Debt Reduce Urban Economic Inequality? Evidence from Chinese Cities

by Hongsheng Lin and Yingjia Hu

Sustainability 2025, 17(16), 7340; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167340 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

As China pursues sustainable development goals, the rapid accumulation of local government debt raises questions about its impact on economic inequality. Inequality represents a key dimension of sustainability and a core challenge for developing economies. Our paper examines how city-level local government debt [...] Read more.

As China pursues sustainable development goals, the rapid accumulation of local government debt raises questions about its impact on economic inequality. Inequality represents a key dimension of sustainability and a core challenge for developing economies. Our paper examines how city-level local government debt influences economic inequality in China. Using a dataset of 1680 city-year observations from 2015 to 2020, we analyze the relationship between local government debt ratios and the Gini coefficient derived from nighttime light intensity data. Our results show that as local government debt rises, urban economic inequality falls. Further mechanism analysis suggests that debt-financed investment reduces inequality through the development of infrastructure, industrial parks and logistics facilities. Our findings contribute to the literature on local government debt, economic inequality, and the political economy of local government behavior in China. Our results suggest that debt-financed investments may serve as a tool for fostering more equitable and sustainable development. Full article

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19 pages, 11123 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Establishment and Characterization of Behavioral Changes in the Nuclear Localization Human α-Synuclein Transgenic Mice

by Ziou Wang, Mengchen Wei, Shengtao Fan, Zheli Li, Weihu Long, Haiting Wu, Yiwei Zhang and Zhangqiong Huang

Diseases 2025, 13(8), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases13080261 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to establish a transgenic mouse model expressing nucleus-localized human α-synuclein (α-syn) to investigate its impact on the central nervous system and behavior and the underlying mechanisms involved. Methods: A nuclear localization sequence (NLS) was added to the end of [...] Read more.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish a transgenic mouse model expressing nucleus-localized human α-synuclein (α-syn) to investigate its impact on the central nervous system and behavior and the underlying mechanisms involved. Methods: A nuclear localization sequence (NLS) was added to the end of the human SNCA (hSNCA) gene. Subsequently, an empty vector and a mammalian lentiviral vector of the hSNCA-NLS were constructed. Transgenic mice were generated via microinjection, with genotyping and protein expression confirmed by PCR and western blotting. Only male mice were used in subsequent behavioral and molecular experiments. Immunofluorescence identified the colocalization of human α-syn with the cell nucleus in mouse brain tissues. Behavioral changes in transgenic mice were assessed using open field, rotarod, and O-maze tests. qPCR and Western blotting detected expression levels of genes and proteins related to inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and apoptosis. Bulk RNA sequencing was used to screen for differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways. Results: We successfully constructed a transgenic mouse model expressing human α-syn. Human α-syn was widely expressed in the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, and brain of the mice, with distinct nuclear localization observed. Behavioral assessments demonstrated that, by 2 months of age, the mice exhibited motor dysfunction alongside astrocyte proliferation and neuroinflammation. At 6 months, the elevated expression of ERS-related genes (ATF6, PERK, and IRE1) and activation of the PERK-Beclin1-LC3II pathway indicated progressive ERS. By 9 months, apoptotic events had occurred, accompanied by significant anxiety-like behaviors. Bulk RNA sequencing further identified key differentially expressed genes, including IL-1α, TNF, PERK, BECLIN, GABA, IL-6α, P53, LC3II, NOS, and SPAG, suggesting their involvement in the observed pathological and behavioral phenotypes. Conclusions: The nuclear localization human α-syn transgenic mice were successfully established. These findings demonstrate that nucleus-localized α-syn induces early motor deficits, which are likely mediated by neuroinflammation, whereas later anxiety-like behaviors may result from ERS-induced apoptosis. This model provides a valuable tool for elucidating the role of nuclear α-syn in Parkinson’s disease and supports further mechanistic and therapeutic research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress in Neurodegenerative Diseases)

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13 pages, 4113 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metal–Organic Network-Based Composite Phase Change Materials with High Thermal and Photothermal Conversion Performance

by Dian Wei, Yi Wang, Shuoshuo Yu, Qingtang Zhang and Yi Wang

Materials 2025, 18(16), 3814; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18163814 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Solid–liquid phase change materials (PCMs), promising for thermal management, face limited application due to leakage and low thermal conductivity. In this work, a shape-stabilized composite PCM was fabricated using a one-pot in situ process by mixing polyethylene glycol (PEG) with the novel metal–organic [...] Read more.

Solid–liquid phase change materials (PCMs), promising for thermal management, face limited application due to leakage and low thermal conductivity. In this work, a shape-stabilized composite PCM was fabricated using a one-pot in situ process by mixing polyethylene glycol (PEG) with the novel metal–organic network called CFK, which was synthesized from carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CMWCNTs), FeCl₃, and Kevlar nanofibers (KNFs). The morphology, composition, and thermophysical characteristics of the composite PCM were assessed. Key properties analyzed to validate its performance included leakage rate, thermal conductivity, latent heat, light absorption, photothermal conversion efficiency, and cycling stability. This composite PCM exhibits reduced leakage while maintaining remarkable thermal energy charge/discharge performance. The study establishes that the composite PCM containing 89.9 wt% PEG has a leakage rate of 0.76% since the PEG molecules are deeply embedded in the pores of CFK. The thermal conductivity of this composite PCM was enhanced by 170.5% relative to pure PEG, and the latent heat was measured as 147.9 J·g⁻¹ for fusion and 143.7 J·g⁻¹ for crystallization. Additionally, this composite PCM reveals excellent light absorption capacity, a photothermal conversion efficiency as high as 83.4%, and outstanding stability in photothermal cycling experiments. In short, this work offers a new strategy for both preparing high-performance composite PCMs and applying them in visible light conversion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Composites)

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14 pages, 19171 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Cardboard Box Ventilation Hole Size During Forced-Air Precooling on Postharvest Quality and Physiological Properties in Cut Roses

by Ruifeng Gu, Jie Bai, Jiawei Sun, Lei Li, Xuan Wang, Huijun Yan, Hao Zhang, Wensheng Wang, Junping Gao and Xiaoming Sun

Horticulturae 2025, 11(8), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11080959 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Forced-air cooling (FAC) is a method for rapidly reducing the temperature of horticultural products. However, its effects on the physiological properties and quality of cut flowers remain elusively unclear. This study investigated the impact of FAC with different vent hole diameters (4, 8, [...] Read more.

Forced-air cooling (FAC) is a method for rapidly reducing the temperature of horticultural products. However, its effects on the physiological properties and quality of cut flowers remain elusively unclear. This study investigated the impact of FAC with different vent hole diameters (4, 8, and 12 cm) on multiple metabolic pathways and the quality of cut rose flowers. Compared with controls with a conventional slow cooling method, FAC using 8 cm vent holes (FAC8) prolonged the vase life of cut roses by 3 days and reduced Botrytis cinerea incidence by 60%. The data revealed that FAC8 suppressed excessive transpiration in the late vase stages while it enhanced water uptake throughout the vase period. Additionally, FAC8 reduced the respiratory rate in cut roses, decreasing cumulative respiration by 15% versus controls. When detached leaves from cut roses were subjected to water loss treatment, FAC8 induced tighter stomatal closure, resulting in a 33% smaller stomatal aperture than that of controls after 2 h. Correlation analysis of measured indices demonstrated that FAC significantly contributed to the improvement of postharvest quality (p < 0.05) via the regulation of physiological properties. In conclusion, FAC enhances the postharvest quality of cut roses by maintaining stomatal regulatory ability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pre/Post-harvest Treatments to Improve Quality and Longevity of Cut Flowers)

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19 pages, 3330 KiB

Open AccessReview

Endocrine Adverse Events Induced by Cancer Treatments: The Role of ¹⁸F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography

by Luca Giovanella, Murat Tuncel, Alfredo Campennì, Rosaria Maddalena Ruggeri, Martin Huellner and Petra Petranović Ovčariček

Cancers 2025, 17(16), 2651; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17162651 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized cancer therapy, substantially improving survival across a broad range of malignancies. However, these agents are associated with a unique profile of endocrine immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including thyroiditis, hypophysitis, adrenalitis, and pancreatitis, [...] Read more.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized cancer therapy, substantially improving survival across a broad range of malignancies. However, these agents are associated with a unique profile of endocrine immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including thyroiditis, hypophysitis, adrenalitis, and pancreatitis, which differ significantly from the toxicities seen with conventional chemotherapy. These complications often arise unpredictably during treatment and may result in irreversible hormone deficiencies requiring lifelong replacement, underscoring the importance of early detection. ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) has emerged as a valuable tool not only for oncologic staging and response assessment but also for detecting metabolic changes in endocrine organs. PET/CT can identify irAEs before the appearance of clinical symptoms or biochemical abnormalities. Emerging evidence suggests that the presence of endocrine irAEs identified by ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT may correlate with improved treatment response and survival, possibly reflecting enhanced immune activation. This comprehensive review discusses the role of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in the early recognition of therapy-induced endocrine toxicities, facilitating timely intervention through hormone replacement or immunosuppressive therapy while minimizing unnecessary treatment interruptions. Effective integration of metabolic imaging with clinical and laboratory evaluation requires coordinated multidisciplinary collaboration among oncologists, endocrinologists, and nuclear medicine physicians to optimize outcomes and reduce endocrine-related morbidity in the era of precision oncology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hormones and Tumors)

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12 pages, 1959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Rice Productivity and Solar Power Generation in Agriphotovoltaic Systems

by Su-Min Yun, Deok-Gyeong Seong, Jeung Joo Lee and Jung-Sung Chung

Agriculture 2025, 15(16), 1741; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15161741 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of integrating photovoltaic (APV) systems with rice cultivation, focusing on growth characteristics, chlorophyll content and fluorescence, yield components, and electricity production. An APV system was installed over a rice paddy area in Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, [...] Read more.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of integrating photovoltaic (APV) systems with rice cultivation, focusing on growth characteristics, chlorophyll content and fluorescence, yield components, and electricity production. An APV system was installed over a rice paddy area in Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, with 607 modules providing a total capacity of approximately 97.12 kW. The Baegokchal variety of rice was cultivated following standard practices, and growth characteristics, chlorophyll content, and fluorescence were measured throughout the growing period. Yield components were analyzed, and electricity production was monitored to assess the performance of the APV system. The rice growing period in 2021 experienced lower than average temperatures and higher rainfall. Despite these conditions, rice in the APV systems showed increased chlorophyll content and fluorescence, indicating an adaptive response to reduced sunlight. Rice plants in APV systems exhibited greater plant height but fewer tillers compared to the control group. Leaves were significantly longer and wider, enhancing photosynthetic efficiency under shading. The yield of rice in APV systems was reduced by approximately 9% compared to the control, less severe than that reported in other studies. The APV system demonstrated stable electricity production, with consistent output throughout the year, despite variations in solar radiation. Integrating photovoltaic systems with rice cultivation is feasible and beneficial, providing a reliable source of renewable energy and enhancing farm income despite a slight reduction in rice yield. This study highlights the potential of APV systems to contribute to sustainable agriculture and renewable energy expansion, suggesting the need for further research on various crops and conditions to optimize system performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainable Energy Systems)

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25 pages, 1137 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Neurosensory Disturbances Following Inferior Alveolar Nerve Relocation and Implant Placement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Raffaele Vinci, Saverio Cosola, Korath Varkey M, Sowndarya Gunasekaran, Jaibin George and Ugo Covani

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(16), 5741; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14165741 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Background: Rehabilitation of atrophic posterior mandibles using dental implants is often complicated by anatomical limitations, particularly the proximity of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). Techniques such as IAN lateralization and transposition enable implant placement but are associated with neurosensory disturbances (NSDs). This systematic [...] Read more.

Background: Rehabilitation of atrophic posterior mandibles using dental implants is often complicated by anatomical limitations, particularly the proximity of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). Techniques such as IAN lateralization and transposition enable implant placement but are associated with neurosensory disturbances (NSDs). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the incidence, duration, and predictors of NSDs following IAN repositioning for implant placement and to evaluate the effectiveness of adjunctive methods like piezo-surgery and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in minimizing complications. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search of electronic databases and gray literature identified 20 studies, including randomized controlled trials, prospective cohorts, and retrospective analyses published between 2009 and 2024. Outcomes analyzed included incidence of NSDs, recovery rates, implant stability quotient (ISQ), marginal bone loss, and implant success rates. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software, with heterogeneity and publication bias assessed using standard Cochrane tools. Results: Transient NSDs occurred in 15–40% of cases, with higher rates observed in transposition techniques. Most patients experienced recovery within 6 months. Piezoelectric surgery significantly reduced the incidence and duration of NSDs compared to rotary instruments. Meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between lateralization and transposition techniques in ISQ, marginal bone loss, success rate, or NSDs at 3 months (p > 0.05). PRF was associated with accelerated nerve recovery. IAN repositioning is effective for implant placement in atrophic mandibles with a risk of transient NSDs. Conclusions: Lateralization combined with piezo-surgery and PRF shows favorable outcomes in minimizing nerve injury and optimizing implant success. The PROSPERO registration code is as follows: CRD420251086835. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Periodontal Diseases and Systemic Health: Pathogenesis, Prevention and Management)

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18 pages, 914 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Low-Protein Amino Acid-Balanced Diets and Astragalus Polysaccharides on Production Performance, Antioxidants, Immunity, and Lipid Metabolism in Heat-Stressed Laying Hens

by Wenfeng Liu, Xiaoli Wan, Zhiyue Wang and Haiming Yang

Animals 2025, 15(16), 2385; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15162385 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of low-protein amino acid-balanced (LPAB) diets supplemented with Astragalus polysaccharides (APSs) on the production performance, antioxidants, immunity, and biochemical index of laying hens in an elevated-temperature environment. Fifty-two-week-old Hy-Line Brown chickens (n [...] Read more.

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of low-protein amino acid-balanced (LPAB) diets supplemented with Astragalus polysaccharides (APSs) on the production performance, antioxidants, immunity, and biochemical index of laying hens in an elevated-temperature environment. Fifty-two-week-old Hy-Line Brown chickens (n = 768) were randomly divided into four groups, with eight replicates of 24 hens each. The control group was kept at 24 °C with a basal diet (CON), while the treatment groups were exposed to 32 °C and given the following diets: basal (HB), LPAB (HL), and LPAB with 0.5% APSs (HLA). Under heat stress, APSs increased the egg production rate and number of small white follicles, improved the yolk color, and lowered the feed conversion ratio. LPAB diets increased follicle-stimulating hormone, antioxidant enzyme activities, and anti-inflammatory cytokine activity and up-regulated related genes, whereas they reduced stress-related hormones, malondialdehyde concentrations, and triglyceride concentrations and down-regulated related genes. The addition of APSs enhanced immunoglobulin concentrations and cholesterol recovery and altered the expression of related genes. The study found that the adverse effects of high temperatures are directly related to oxidative stress. LAPB diets and APSs relatively alleviate these adverse effects. Therefore, the importance of feeding strategies such as LPAB diets and APSs for laying hens under heat stress conditions has been identified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Plant Extracts on Meat Quality, Intestinal Microbiota and Resistance to Diseases and Stresses of Food Animals)

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33 pages, 3734 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Performance Characterization of Melamine-Formaldehyde-Microencapsulated Waterborne Topcoat–Brass Powder–Waterborne Acrylic Coating

by Wenjing Chang, Yan Han, Xiaoxing Yan and Jun Li

Coatings 2025, 15(8), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15080951 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

A novel self-healing brass powder/waterborne acrylic decorative coating for wooden substrates was developed, in which γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH570)-modified brass powder (with a coupling agent concentration of 6% and reaction solution pH of 5) was employed as the filler, and melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin-encapsulated water-based paint [...] Read more.

A novel self-healing brass powder/waterborne acrylic decorative coating for wooden substrates was developed, in which γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH570)-modified brass powder (with a coupling agent concentration of 6% and reaction solution pH of 5) was employed as the filler, and melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin-encapsulated water-based paint microcapsules were utilized as the healing agent. The brass powder content and the core–wall ratio of the topcoat microcapsules were identified as the predominant factors affecting both the optical and mechanical properties of the self-healing brass powder/waterborne acrylic coating on Basswood surfaces. Therefore, the brass powder content was selected as the primary influencing factor. With concentration gradients of 0.5%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 9%, and 10%, and under constant conditions of 3% microcapsule content and room temperature curing, the effect of brass powder content on the properties of self-healing microcapsule coatings with different core–wall ratios was investigated. The waterborne acrylic wood coating containing 3% brass powder and 3% microcapsules with a core–wall ratio of 0.58:1 exhibited superior overall performance. This optimized formulation not only maintained excellent optical properties but also significantly enhanced mechanical performance, while preserving outstanding aging resistance, liquid resistance, and self-healing capability. The coating demonstrated the following comprehensive performance metrics: a glossiness of 24.0 GU, color difference (ΔE) of 2.13, chromatic aberration (ΔE*) of 13.68, visible light reflectance of 0.5879, dominant wavelength of 587.47 nm, visible light transmittance of 74.33%, pencil hardness of H grade, impact resistance of 2 kg·cm, adhesion rating of class 2, surface roughness of 2.600 μm, along with excellent aging resistance and liquid resistance properties, while achieving a self-healing efficiency of 19.62%. The coating also exhibited a smooth and uniform microscopic morphology, with the chemical bonds of both the modified brass powder and microcapsules remaining intact within the coating matrix. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Microcapsule Technology in Coatings)

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17 pages, 1152 KiB

Open AccessReview

Optimizing Recovery in Cardiac Surgery: A Narrative Review of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocols and Clinical Outcomes

by Arzina Jaffer, Kayleigh Yang, Alisha Ebrahim, Amy N. Brown, Ryaan EL-Andari, Aleksander Dokollari, Alex J. Gregory, Corey Adams, William D. T. Kent and Ali Fatehi Hassanabad

Med. Sci. 2025, 13(3), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci13030128 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is an evidence-based, holistic perioperative recovery protocol intended to improve patient outcomes and decrease postoperative complication rates. While ERAS protocols were first introduced in 1997, specific guidelines for cardiac surgery were not established until 2019. Although the core [...] Read more.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is an evidence-based, holistic perioperative recovery protocol intended to improve patient outcomes and decrease postoperative complication rates. While ERAS protocols were first introduced in 1997, specific guidelines for cardiac surgery were not established until 2019. Although the core principles of ERAS remain constant across surgical disciplines, ERAS guidelines for cardiac surgery have remained relatively understudied, likely due to the unique complexities posed by cardiac procedures. Within this comprehensive narrative review, we aimed to explore the current guidelines and evidence for ERAS in both cardiac and non-cardiac surgeries. In non-cardiac surgeries, ERAS has been shown to improve various outcomes, including ICU length of stay, patient satisfaction, and pain management. ERAS for cardiac surgery has also shown encouraging results, including shorter ICU and hospital stays, reduced postoperative opioid use, and faster recovery times. However, there is limited consensus across studies, particularly regarding its impact on morbidity and mortality, with mixed results reported. Furthermore, the limited data on the efficacy of ERAS in minimally invasive cardiac surgeries makes it difficult to establish well-supported guidelines for these procedures. Despite its limitations, the overall outcomes of ERAS for cardiac surgery remain promising. As our understanding and application of ERAS in cardiac surgery continue to evolve, these protocols have the potential to redefine cardiac surgical care standards. Full article

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15 pages, 2607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptive Feedback Compensation Algorithm for Quantum Random Number Generators

by Wei Deng, Kun Chen, Fei Hua, Jing Cheng, Banghong Guo and Huanwen Xie

Entropy 2025, 27(8), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/e27080860 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

As a core component in quantum cryptography, Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) face dual critical challenges: insufficient randomness enhancement and limited compatibility with post-processing algorithms. This study proposes an Adaptive Feedback Compensation Algorithm (AFCA) to address these limitations through dynamic parameter feedback and [...] Read more.

As a core component in quantum cryptography, Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) face dual critical challenges: insufficient randomness enhancement and limited compatibility with post-processing algorithms. This study proposes an Adaptive Feedback Compensation Algorithm (AFCA) to address these limitations through dynamic parameter feedback and selective encryption strategies. The AFCA dynamically adjusts nonlinear transformation intensity based on real-time statistical deviations, retaining over 50% of original bits while correcting local imbalances. Experimental results demonstrate significant improvements across QRNG types: the Monobit Test p-value for continuous QRNGs increased from 0.1376 to 0.9743, and the 0/1 distribution deviation in discrete QRNGs decreased from 7.9% to 0.5%. Compared to traditional methods like von Neumann correction, AFCA reduces data discard rates by over 55% without compromising processing efficiency. These advancements provide a robust solution for high-security quantum communication systems requiring multi-layered encryption architectures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Quantum Information)

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23 pages, 348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Key Drivers of Financial Performance in the Context of Corporate and Public Governance: Empirical Evidence

by Georgeta Vintilă, Mihaela Onofrei, Alexandra Ioana Vintilă and Vasilica Izabela Fometescu

Information 2025, 16(8), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16080691 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

This research focuses on analyzing the determinants of financial performance for the companies included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index over the period from 2014 to 2023. To guide managerial decisions aimed at enhancing company performance, this study examines, as key drivers, [...] Read more.

This research focuses on analyzing the determinants of financial performance for the companies included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index over the period from 2014 to 2023. To guide managerial decisions aimed at enhancing company performance, this study examines, as key drivers, the main financial indicators, core corporate governance characteristics, and U.S. public governance indicators. The investigation begins with a retrospective review of the specialized literature, highlighting the findings of previous studies in the field and providing the basis for selecting the variables used in the present empirical analysis. The research method employed is fixed-effects panel-data regression. The dependent variables are financial performance measures, such as the EBITDA margin, EBIT margin, net profit margin, and ROA. This study’s main results show that the price-to-book ratio, liquidity, sales growth, CEO duality, board gender diversity, ESG score, and U.S. regulatory quality exert a positive influence on financial performance. In contrast, the price-to-earnings ratio, net debt, capital intensity, R&D intensity, weighted average cost of capital, board independence, and the COVID-19 pandemic crisis have a negative impact on the financial performance of U.S. companies. The findings of this investigation could serve as benchmarks for supporting managerial decisions at the company level regarding the improvement of their financial performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Models for Economics and Business Management)

17 pages, 2085 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of PAX3 Gene Polymorphism with Three-Dimensional Nasal Root Morphology

by Seishiro Ueda, Ryosuke Kimura, Yong-Il Kim, Mohamed Adel, Yu Hikita, Reina Hatanaka, Masahiro Takahashi, So Koizumi and Tetsutaro Yamaguchi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7842; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167842 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Paired box gene 3 (PAX3) plays an important role in craniofacial development. Mutations in this gene are associated with Waardenburg syndrome, which is a condition characterized by facial anomalies such as widely spaced inner corners of the eyes. PAX3 gene polymorphisms [...] Read more.

Paired box gene 3 (PAX3) plays an important role in craniofacial development. Mutations in this gene are associated with Waardenburg syndrome, which is a condition characterized by facial anomalies such as widely spaced inner corners of the eyes. PAX3 gene polymorphisms are associated with the relative position of the nasal root (nasion), even among healthy individuals. Facial morphology has primarily been examined using three-dimensional (3D) facial scans of soft tissues, whereas studies focusing on hard tissues remain limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze 3D craniofacial morphology in hard tissues using computed tomography imaging and investigate the influence of PAX3 polymorphisms on the 3D morphology of the nasal root. The analysis was conducted on three populations: 201 healthy Japanese, 74 healthy Korean, and 142 healthy Egyptian individuals. DNA was extracted from saliva samples, and the genotypes of two PAX3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs9288572 and rs7559271) were analyzed. A multiple regression analysis of the association between these SNPs and measurements related to nasal root morphology revealed a significant association between rs7559271 and the protrusion angle of the nasion. These findings suggest that PAX3 gene polymorphisms influence the morphological development of the nasal root within the normal range of hard tissues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics and Genomics)

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10 pages, 258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Expression Profile of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α in Breast Tumors

by Harryson W. G. dos Santos, Beatriz C. Bramante, Matheus M. Perez, Glaucia L. da Veiga, Beatriz da C. A. Alves and Fernando L. A. Fonseca

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7841; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167841 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Chronic inflammation is associated with several neoplasms. Many studies tried to evaluate the correlation between cytokines and the pathogenesis of various cancer types and IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α are often target of these analyses. The aim of the present [...] Read more.

Chronic inflammation is associated with several neoplasms. Many studies tried to evaluate the correlation between cytokines and the pathogenesis of various cancer types and IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α are often target of these analyses. The aim of the present study was to analyze cytokines mRNA expression in breast cancer samples to better understand pathogenesis and clinical aspects. Patients were selected from the oncology service of Centro Universitário FMABC; tumor RNA was obtained from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsies of breast cancer tissue. Gene expression was assessed by qPCR. Samples from 95 patients were obtained, presenting tumor stages varying from 0 to IIIB, with most of them in stage IIIA (33.68%). IL-2 and TNF-α expression presented a significant correlation with tumor stage. There was no correlation of cytokines expression with Ki-67 and prognostic factors. The study illustrated the pleiotropic role of IL-2, with no expression in early stages of cancer, varying according to “stage worsening”. Regarding progesterone receptor (PR), correlation with TNF-α and IL-2 can reinforce the role of PR as an indicator of positive prognosis. The findings of this investigation suggest IL-2 and TNF-α could be evaluated in a larger study to better understanding pathogenesis and prognosis for this patient profile. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circulating Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Cancer)

10 pages, 658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Nitrification Rate Is Affected by Plant Species and Nitrogen Levels

by Luca Vitale, Giuseppe Maglione, Francsico Garcia-Sanchez, Lourdes Yabor, Maria Riccardi, Lucia Ottaiano, Bruno Di Matteo, Rosario Nocerino, Antonio Manco and Anna Tedeschi

Agriculture 2025, 15(16), 1740; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15161740 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

The soil nitrification rate is significantly affected by plant species, and it is also modulated by different nitrogen levels in the soil. There are a wide range of plant species with the capacity to produce biological nitrification inhibitors (hereafter referred to as BNI [...] Read more.

The soil nitrification rate is significantly affected by plant species, and it is also modulated by different nitrogen levels in the soil. There are a wide range of plant species with the capacity to produce biological nitrification inhibitors (hereafter referred to as BNI species). The preliminary results of this study report the influence of three different plant species on the nitrification rates under soil supply with three (0 mM, 3.5 mM, and 7.0 mM) nitrogen levels. The aim was to evaluate the potential of hemp, ryegrass, and sorghum in mitigating nitrification, in order to define a sustainable strategy for improving the nitrogen use efficiency by crops and to limit the nitrogen loss from agroecosystems. Leaf gas exchange measurements were also carried out in this study. Photosynthesis was only affected by nitrogen supply in hemp, resulting in a reduction in CO₂ assimilation at nitrogen doses higher than the plant’s requirements. Ryegrass devotes more reductive power towards leaf nitrogen assimilation than sorghum and hemp do. The greatest variation in nitrification rate in response to N was observed in soil cultivated with hemp (which also showed the highest potential nitrification rate), followed by sorghum and ryegrass. We speculate that this occurred because the greater seed sowing density for ryegrass ensured a greater quantity in the soil of molecules acting on nitrification compared to sorghum and hemp, with these latter being sown at lower densities. Our results suggest that sorghum and ryegrass might directly affect nitrification by BNI molecules, whereas hemp might indirectly mitigate nitrification through the nitrogen uptake. However, further research is needed to evaluate the effects exerted by the studied plant species on nitrification rates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Soils)

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28 pages, 968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

EVuLLM: Ethereum Smart Contract Vulnerability Detection Using Large Language Models

by Eleni Mandana, George Vlahavas and Athena Vakali

Electronics 2025, 14(16), 3226; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14163226 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Smart contracts have become integral to decentralized applications, yet their programmability introduces critical security risks, exemplified by high-profile exploits such as the DAO and Parity Wallet incidents. Existing vulnerability detection methods, including static and dynamic analysis, as well as machine learning-based approaches, often [...] Read more.

Smart contracts have become integral to decentralized applications, yet their programmability introduces critical security risks, exemplified by high-profile exploits such as the DAO and Parity Wallet incidents. Existing vulnerability detection methods, including static and dynamic analysis, as well as machine learning-based approaches, often struggle with emerging threats and rely heavily on large, labeled datasets. This study investigates the effectiveness of open-source, lightweight large language models (LLMs) fine-tuned using parameter-efficient techniques, including Quantized Low-Rank Adaptation (QLoRA), for smart contract vulnerability detection. We introduce the EVuLLM dataset to address the scarcity of diverse evaluation resources and demonstrate that our fine-tuned models achieve up to 94.78% accuracy, surpassing the performance of larger proprietary models, while significantly reducing computational requirements. Moreover, we emphasize the advantages of lightweight models deployable on local hardware, such as enhanced data privacy, reduced reliance on internet connectivity, lower infrastructure costs, and improved control over model behavior, factors that are especially critical in security-sensitive blockchain applications. We also explore Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) as a complementary strategy, achieving competitive results with minimal training. Our findings highlight the practicality of using locally hosted LLMs for secure, efficient, and reproducible smart contract analysis, paving the way for broader adoption of AI-driven security in blockchain ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Network Security and Cryptography Applications)

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12 pages, 900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative DSA Analysis of MCA Aneurysms Using SymDIRECT Pixel Clustering: A Novel Framework for Objective Post-Treatment Evaluation

by Ante Rotim, Marina Raguž, Nikica Fulir, Darko Orešković, Vladimir Kalousek, Petar Marčinković, Krešimir Rotim, Bruno Splavski, Silva Butković Soldo and Tomislav Sajko

Diagnostics 2025, 15(16), 2036; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15162036 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Background: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the gold standard for assessing aneurysm morphology before and after treatment. While visual interpretation is common, quantitative image analysis remains underutilized in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate postoperative vascular changes in patients with middle cerebral [...] Read more.

Background: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the gold standard for assessing aneurysm morphology before and after treatment. While visual interpretation is common, quantitative image analysis remains underutilized in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate postoperative vascular changes in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms using SymDIRECT-based pixel clustering on preoperative and postoperative DSA images. Methods: A total of 59 patients with unruptured MCA aneurysms were analyzed retrospectively. SymDIRECT clustering segmented angiographic images into four intensity clusters. Quantitative comparison of cluster pixel counts between pre- and postoperative images was performed. Results: Both neurosurgical clipping and endovascular treatment groups demonstrated significant reductions in medium- and high-intensity pixel clusters postoperatively, reflecting successful aneurysm occlusion. The background cluster increased post-treatment in most cases, with an average rise of over 14%, indicating effective anatomical exclusion of the aneurysm. Conclusions: SymDIRECT-based pixel clustering enables objective, pixel-level quantification of treatment response in DSA images. This approach may support standardized imaging follow-up protocols and improve reproducibility in neurovascular outcome assessment. Future integration with AI-based segmentation could facilitate real-time image interpretation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Nervous System Diseases—3rd Edition)

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30 pages, 5536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Explainable Artificial Intelligence for the Rapid Identification and Characterization of Ocean Microplastics

by Dimitris Kalatzis, Angeliki I. Katsafadou, Eleni I. Katsarou, Dimitrios C. Chatzopoulos and Yiannis Kiouvrekis

Microplastics 2025, 4(3), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics4030051 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Accurate identification of microplastic polymers in marine environments is essential for tracing pollution sources, understanding ecological impacts, and guiding mitigation strategies. This study presents a comprehensive, explainable-AI framework that uses Raman spectroscopy to classify pristine and weathered microplastics versus biological materials. Using a [...] Read more.

Accurate identification of microplastic polymers in marine environments is essential for tracing pollution sources, understanding ecological impacts, and guiding mitigation strategies. This study presents a comprehensive, explainable-AI framework that uses Raman spectroscopy to classify pristine and weathered microplastics versus biological materials. Using a curated spectral library of 78 polymer specimens—including pristine, weathered, and biological materials—we benchmark seven supervised machine learning models (Decision Trees, Random Forest, k-Nearest Neighbours, Neural Networks, LightGBM, XGBoost and Support Vector Machines) without and with Principal Component Analysis for binary classification. Although k-Nearest Neighbours and Support Vector Machines achieved the highest single metric accuracy (82.5%), k NN also recorded the highest recall both with and without PCA, thereby offering the most balanced overall performance. To enhance interpretability, we employed SHapley Additive exPlanations, which revealed chemically meaningful spectral regions (notably near 700 cm⁻¹ and 1080 cm⁻¹) as critical to model predictions. Notably, models trained without Principal Component Analysis provided clearer feature attributions, suggesting improved interpretability in raw spectral space. This pipeline surpasses traditional spectral matching techniques and also delivers transparent insights into classification logic. Our findings can support scalable, real-time deployment of AI-based tools for oceanic microplastic monitoring and environmental policy development. Full article

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29 pages, 9110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wind Field Retrieval from Fengyun-3E Radar Based on a Backpropagation Neural Network

by Zhengxuan Zhao, Fang Pang, George P. Petropoulos, Yansong Bao, Qing Xiao, Yuanyuan Wang, Shiqi Li, Wanyue Gao and Tianhao Wang

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(16), 2813; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17162813 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

Ocean surface wind fields are crucial for marine environmental research and applications in weather forecasting, ocean disaster monitoring, and climate change studies. However, traditional wind retrieval methods often struggle with modeling complexity and ambiguity due to the nonlinear nature of geophysical model functions [...] Read more.

Ocean surface wind fields are crucial for marine environmental research and applications in weather forecasting, ocean disaster monitoring, and climate change studies. However, traditional wind retrieval methods often struggle with modeling complexity and ambiguity due to the nonlinear nature of geophysical model functions (GMFs), leading to increased computational costs and reduced accuracy. To tackle these challenges, this study establishes a sea surface wind field retrieval model employing a backpropagation (BP) neural network, which integrates multi-angular observations from the Wind Radar (WindRAD) sensor aboard the Fengyun-3E (FY-3E) satellite. Experimental results show that the proposed model achieves high precision in retrieving both wind speed and direction. The wind speed model achieves a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 1.20 m/s for the training set and 1.00 m/s for the selected test set when using ERA5 data as the reference, outperforming the official WindRAD products. For wind direction, the model attains an RMSE of 23.99° on the training set and 24.58° on the test set. Independent validation using Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) buoy observations further confirms the model’s effectiveness, yielding an RMSE of 1.29 m/s for wind speed and 24.37° for wind direction, also surpassing official WindRAD products. The BP neural network effectively captures the nonlinear relationship between wind parameters and radar backscatter signals, showing significant advantages over traditional methods and maintaining good performance across different wind speeds, particularly in the moderate range (4–10 m/s). In summary, the method proposed herein significantly enhances wind field retrieval accuracy from space; it has the potential to optimize satellite wind field products and improve global wind monitoring and meteorological forecasting. Full article

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23 pages, 2744 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CASF: Correlation-Alignment and Significance-Aware Fusion for Multimodal Named Entity Recognition

by Hui Li, Yunshi Tao, Huan Wang, Zhe Wang and Qingzheng Liu

Algorithms 2025, 18(8), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/a18080511 (registering DOI) - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

With the increasing content richness of social media platforms, Multimodal Named Entity Recognition (MNER) faces the dual challenges of heterogeneous feature fusion and accurate entity recognition. Aiming at the key problems of inconsistent distribution of textual and visual information, insufficient feature alignment and [...] Read more.

With the increasing content richness of social media platforms, Multimodal Named Entity Recognition (MNER) faces the dual challenges of heterogeneous feature fusion and accurate entity recognition. Aiming at the key problems of inconsistent distribution of textual and visual information, insufficient feature alignment and noise interference fusion, this paper proposes a multimodal named entity recognition model based on dual-stream Transformer: CASF-MNER, which designs cross-modal cross-attention based on visual and textual features, constructs a bidirectional interaction mechanism between single-layer features, forms a higher-order semantic correlation modeling, and realizes the cross relevance alignment of modal features; construct a dynamic perception mechanism of multimodal feature saliency features based on multiscale pooling method, construct an entropy weighting strategy of global feature distribution information to adaptively suppress noise redundancy and enhance key feature expression; establish a deep semantic fusion method based on hybrid isomorphic model, design a progressive cross-modal interaction structure, and combine with contrastive learning to realize global fusion of the deep semantic space and representational consistency optimization. The experimental results show that CASF-MNER achieves excellent performance on both Twitter-2015 and Twitter-2017 public datasets, which verifies the effectiveness and advancement of the method proposed in this paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Algorithms for Multidisciplinary Applications)

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