MDPI - Publisher of Open Access Journals

71 pages, 1916 KB

Open AccessReview

Oral Health in Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals: Addressing Widespread Global Health Barriers Through Emerging Digital Technologies—A Comprehensive Review

by Maria Pia Di Palo, Federica Di Spirito, Francesco Giordano, Giuseppina De Benedetto, Elena Gaia Colacurcio, Vittoria Ferraro, Olimpia Prevete, Antonio Di Giulio, Marina Garofano, Alessia Nunziante and Alessia Bramanti

Dent. J. 2026, 14(9), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/dj14090589 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) individuals face significant barriers in accessing healthcare, which may negatively impact oral health outcomes. Despite increasing recognition of these disparities, oral health remains underexplored, and the integration of emerging digital technologies to support accessible dental care is still [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) individuals face significant barriers in accessing healthcare, which may negatively impact oral health outcomes. Despite increasing recognition of these disparities, oral health remains underexplored, and the integration of emerging digital technologies to support accessible dental care is still limited. Therefore, the present comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of the oral health status of DHH individuals and the potential role of emerging digital technologies specifically tailored for the DHH population, considering, when relevant, the heterogeneity of this population based on the subgroup impairments classification. Methods: An electronic search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases till October 2025. An additional manual search was performed through reference screening of included studies. Results: DHH individuals exhibited poor periodontal health, high caries experience with predominant untreated decayed components, and unmet orthodontic needs. Emerging technologies, including m-health applications, 3D sign language avatars, speech-to-text systems, and virtual reality, may improve oral health literacy, reduce dental anxiety, and enhance patient-provider communication. Conclusions: Disparities in oral health among DHH individuals stem primarily from communicative impairments. Integrating tailored digital solutions into clinical pathways and professional education may offer a viable solution for fostering equitable, patient-centered dental care. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 2036 KB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Interpretation and Graphical Visualization of Generalized Fuzzy Fractional Inequalities Through Different Convexities

by Mamoona Siddiq, Rana Safdar Ali, Hadia Noor and Dalal Alhwikem

Axioms 2026, 15(9), 677; https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms15090677 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

The generalization of convexities and fractional operators is a significant approach that not only refines the fractional inequalities but has also resolved many problems that are facing the non-integer family of calculus. In this paper, we introduce the class of modified exponential–trigonometric functions, [...] Read more.

The generalization of convexities and fractional operators is a significant approach that not only refines the fractional inequalities but has also resolved many problems that are facing the non-integer family of calculus. In this paper, we introduce the class of modified exponential–trigonometric functions, (p,s)-convex functions, and (s)-convex functions, and include them in a single framework of modified exponential trigonometric

(p, s)

-convex (MET-

(p, s)

-convex) functions. The present concept is generalized to the fuzzy-interval-valued case by means of Prabhakar fuzzy fractional integral operators. We obtain new Hermite–Hadamard- and trapezoid-type inequalities and their Hölder and power mean refinements. Lower and upper endpoint functions are utilized to prove the obtained results, and the results are also unified by fuzzy-order relation. The proposed class is a strict generalization of several convexity classes and fits some non-convex mappings not covered by the classical Hermite–Hadamard inequality. Moreover, the obtained inequalities offer computable upper and lower bounds to the uncertainty of Prabhakar fractional means. Theoretical results are illustrated by numerical examples and graphical illustrations, which show that the main advantage of the proposed framework is a wider class of admissible mappings rather than sharper numerical bounds. The classical Hermite–Hadamard inequality and several existing convexity-based inequalities are recovered as special cases of the results obtained here. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theory and Application of Integral Inequalities, 3rd Edition)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 1861 KB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Macroeconomic Clusters in the European Union Before and After 2020

by Zlatko Čehulić and Rajka Hrbić

J. Risk Financ. Manag. 2026, 19(9), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm19090717 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Macroeconomic indicators of European Union member states are essential for analyzing patterns of comparative economic development, identifying structural differences, and designing policies aimed at reducing regional disparities. This study applies cluster and discriminant analysis to group countries according to selected indicators and to [...] Read more.

Macroeconomic indicators of European Union member states are essential for analyzing patterns of comparative economic development, identifying structural differences, and designing policies aimed at reducing regional disparities. This study applies cluster and discriminant analysis to group countries according to selected indicators and to determine the variables that contribute most to differentiating more developed and less developed member states. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to reduce data dimensionality and identify latent structures among countries, while factor analysis provides exploratory evidence consistent with the role of selected variables in shaping economic profiles. The results reveal the existence of a stable core of countries with high GDP and favourable fiscal positions, whereas Southern and Eastern European countries exhibit greater internal differences, particularly in inflation rates, unemployment, and public debt. Cluster and factor patterns indicate the consistency of country typologies across both periods, and PCA highlights more complex latent structures and potential convergence processes among certain country groups. These findings provide a solid foundation for understanding the dynamics of macroeconomic processes and planning future comparative analyses and policies, including guidance for targeted economic interventions and strategies to reduce regional inequalities, for both academic research and policy formulation. Measured as an annual rate rather than a price-level index, inflation is shown to diverge markedly after 2020, whereas real convergence in GDP per capita and unemployment continues; endogenous structural-break tests support a break around 2020, and internal validation indices support a stable three-cluster typology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economics and Finance)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 48671 KB

Open AccessArticle

Early Bearing Fault Evolution Modeling with a Dynamics-Constrained Graph Neural Network

by Enxu Liu, Zhan Wang, Rui Zhao, Shiyu Xing and Zinan Wang

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(18), 9020; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16189020 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

During the incipient localized-fault stage, impact signatures in ball bearings are weak. Accurate degradation labels are difficult to construct. Purely data-driven models often lack physical consistency. To address these issues, a dynamics-constrained graph neural network (DC-GNN) was developed for early fault evolution modeling [...] Read more.

During the incipient localized-fault stage, impact signatures in ball bearings are weak. Accurate degradation labels are difficult to construct. Purely data-driven models often lack physical consistency. To address these issues, a dynamics-constrained graph neural network (DC-GNN) was developed for early fault evolution modeling in ball bearings. Firstly, a bearing dynamic model was established based on nonlinear ball–raceway contact mechanics. A fault evolution parameter was then introduced. The incipient localized fault was represented by contact stiffness degradation. It was also described through increased local additional displacement. This formulation captured the continuous transition from a healthy condition to slight localized damage. Secondly, the bearing was represented as a graph structure. The inner ring, outer ring and balls were defined as nodes. Ball–raceway contacts were treated as edges. Contact deformation, contact stiffness, contact force, and a fault-region indicator were embedded into node or edge features. A DC-GNN was then constructed. Finally, dynamic simulations were performed under different fault evolution levels. Bearing vibration data were also used for validation. The results show that contact-force fluctuations intensified as the fault evolution parameter increased. The time-domain impact amplitude also increased. Fault characteristic components became more prominent in the envelope spectrum. The degradation indicator exhibited a consistent evolution trend. These variations agreed well with incipient localized fault progression. This study provides an effective approach for early fault evolution characterization in rolling bearings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Mechanical Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 542 KB

Open AccessArticle

Are Wild Boars Exposed to Triclosan and Triclocarban?

by Slawomir Gonkowski, Manolis Tzatzarakis, Elena Vakonaki and Liliana Rytel

Animals 2026, 16(18), 2863; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16182863 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) are antimicrobial compounds widely used in numerous industries, making them significant environmental pollutants that infiltrate living organisms and exhibit endocrine-disrupting activity. However, knowledge regarding the exposure of wild terrestrial mammals to these substances remains virtually non-existent. Therefore, this [...] Read more.

Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) are antimicrobial compounds widely used in numerous industries, making them significant environmental pollutants that infiltrate living organisms and exhibit endocrine-disrupting activity. However, knowledge regarding the exposure of wild terrestrial mammals to these substances remains virtually non-existent. Therefore, this study analyzed, for the first time, TCS and TCC levels in the hair of wild boars using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Despite widespread environmental contamination with these compounds, concentrations above the limit of detection (LOD: 2.3 pg/mg for TCS and 0.8 pg/mg for TCC) were detected in only a small percentage of the analyzed samples: 14.81% for TCC and 3.70% for TCS. Higher concentrations and a greater frequency of TCC occurrence were observed in animals from highly urbanized and industrialized regions. In contrast, TCC and TCS concentrations in animals from other areas only sporadically exceeded the LOD. These results suggest that wild boars are primarily exposed to TCC in highly urbanized areas. In less-urbanized regions, animal exposure to both compounds is usually below the LOD and likely depends on poorly defined local factors. Nonetheless, fully clarifying the exposure of wild terrestrial mammals to TCC and TCS requires further comprehensive research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Xenobiotic Exposure and Toxicological Effects: A One Health Approach)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 670 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seeding Density Outweighs Light Intensity in Microgreens Yield on a Vertical Farming System

by Felipe Marques de Lima, Matheus Kainan de Paula Manjavachi, Andressa Jociane Franzotti Menas, Tiago José Leme de Lima de Nadai, Simone da Costa Mello, Fernando César Sala, Fabia Barbosa da Silva, Thais Queiroz Zorzeto-Cesar and Luis Felipe Villani Purquerio

Horticulturae 2026, 12(9), 1149; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12091149 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

The optimal photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and seeding density (SD) combinations for microgreens production on vertical farming systems remain unclear for many species. This study aimed to determine the effects of PPFD (50, 100, 150, and 200 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ [...] Read more.

The optimal photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and seeding density (SD) combinations for microgreens production on vertical farming systems remain unclear for many species. This study aimed to determine the effects of PPFD (50, 100, 150, and 200 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and SD for sunflower (1275, 1700, and 2125 g m⁻²), radish (272, 340, and 408 g m⁻²), and green and red cabbage (126, 180, and 235 g m⁻²) microgreens. PPFD had no effect on the yield of sunflower, radish, or red cabbage, indicating that 50 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ was sufficient to meet plant demands. Green cabbage yield increased ~10% at 150 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Increasing SD enhanced yields, with gains of up to ~22%, 49%, 52%, and 30% for sunflower, radish, green, and red cabbage, respectively (1700, 408, 235, and 180 g m⁻²). PPFD did not affect the nutrient content of sunflower, likely due to its high seed reserves. A higher SD increased anthocyanin in red cabbage but diminished its content in all other species. Our findings highlight that SD is more impactful than PPFD on determining yield, at least under low irradiance, in sunflower, radish, and red cabbage microgreens grown on indoor vertical farming systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production and Cultivation of Microgreens)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 1704 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

The Role of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Nurturing Creativity: A Systematic Review of the Early Adoption Phase

by Fabrizio Lo Presti, Crispino Tosto, Pier Cesare Rivoltella, Mario Allegra and Manuel Gentile

Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1486; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16091486 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Creativity is recognized as a multifaceted competence that can be nurtured within educational contexts, yet traditional pedagogies often fail to foster its potential. Concurrently, the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) is reshaping conceptions of creative agency, positioning AI as a collaborative [...] Read more.

Creativity is recognized as a multifaceted competence that can be nurtured within educational contexts, yet traditional pedagogies often fail to foster its potential. Concurrently, the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) is reshaping conceptions of creative agency, positioning AI as a collaborative partner rather than a mere tool. This systematic review examines 27 empirical and theoretical studies on generative AI tools and closely related AI-mediated creative-support systems in their early adoption phase (January 2022–March 2024) aimed at enhancing creativity in educational and professional settings, with a focus on art and design educational contexts. Findings indicate that while AI tools show promise in boosting short-term creativity dimensions like fluency and originality, the field remains methodologically fragmented. The empirical studies mostly rely on short-term interventions, small samples, and individual-centric measures, missing the dialogic complexity of human–AI collaboration. Based on these gaps, this study proposes a theoretically grounded research agenda. The agenda consists of three theoretically informed propositions for future investigation: Interaction as a transversal unit of analysis across the 4P framework; creative agency as a dynamic continuum regulating initiative, control, and responsibility; and process-oriented assessment capable of supporting metacognitive reflection during human–AI co-creation. Finally, this work presents a reflection on post-2024 AI developments, underlining how such developments increase the relevance of the proposed research agenda. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Creative Thinking and Visual Arts Education: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ecologies of Learning)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 4497 KB

Open AccessArticle

Marine Protected Area Research and Global Governance Priorities: Thematic Shifts, Geographic Inequalities, and Science–Policy Alignment

by Javier De La Hoz-M, Humberto Llinás, Manuel J. Campuzano, Enrique Delahoz-Domínguez and Rick Acosta-Vega

Oceans 2026, 7(5), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans7050077 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are central to global ocean conservation, yet the latent thematic organization of three decades of MPA research has not been systematically characterized. This study applies BERTopic, a transformer-based neural topic modeling framework, to 10,735 peer-reviewed publications indexed in Scopus [...] Read more.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are central to global ocean conservation, yet the latent thematic organization of three decades of MPA research has not been systematically characterized. This study applies BERTopic, a transformer-based neural topic modeling framework, to 10,735 peer-reviewed publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science (1992–2025). Eight semantically coherent research themes were identified, and their structural relationships were quantified using the Relative Importance Factor (RIF) Index, a rank-based dominance measure derived from discrete power-law modeling. Marine Conservation Governance and Marine Biodiversity Patterns together account for 64.3% of the scientific output, forming the cognitive core of the field. Temporal analysis reveals that marine pollution, megafauna movement ecology, and Chinese coastal governance are the fastest-growing themes, yet they remain structurally peripheral, a phenomenon described here as accelerated marginality. Geographic analysis further identifies a pronounced epistemic governance gap, whereby countries hosting many of the world’s most valuable marine ecosystems contribute disproportionately little to the knowledge base guiding global conservation policy. Taken together, these findings carry a policy implication: achieving the objectives of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework will require not only expanding protected areas, but also rebalancing the thematic and geographic architecture of the research that underpins them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence in Fisheries Management and Monitoring)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2690 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

The Effect of Photobiomodulation Therapy in the Treatment of Postoperative Pain After Impacted Third Lower Molar Extraction: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

by Leopoldo Mauriello, Vitolante Pezzella, Andrea Blasi, Giuseppe Trapanese, Elio Ramaglia, Vincenzo Iorio-Siciliano and Luca Ramaglia

Dent. J. 2026, 14(9), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/dj14090588 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Postoperative pain following impacted mandibular third molar extraction is a common complication that negatively affects patients’ quality of life. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy has been proposed as a non-pharmacological adjunctive approach to reduce postoperative pain. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Postoperative pain following impacted mandibular third molar extraction is a common complication that negatively affects patients’ quality of life. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy has been proposed as a non-pharmacological adjunctive approach to reduce postoperative pain. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intraoral PBM in reducing postoperative pain after impacted mandibular third molar extraction compared with placebo, sham treatment, or standard postoperative care. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed and Embase were searched through January 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating intraoral PBM after impacted mandibular third molar extraction. Only studies reporting postoperative pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed at 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively using standardized mean differences (SMDs). Results: Eight RCTs met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis, whereas only two provided extractable data for quantitative analysis. Meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in postoperative pain in the PBM group at 24 h (SMD = −0.64; 95% CI: −0.90 to −0.38; p < 0.001), 48 h (SMD = −0.82; 95% CI: −1.64 to −0.01; p = 0.047), and 72 h (SMD = −1.11; 95% CI: −1.38 to −0.84; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Intraoral PBM appears to reduce postoperative pain during the first 72 h. However, the available evidence is limited by the small number of studies included in the meta-analysis, heterogeneity in PBM protocols, and inconsistent outcome reporting. Additional well-designed RCTs are needed to strengthen the current evidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Lasers in Dentistry)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

33 pages, 10983 KB

Open AccessPerspective

On-Skin Wearable Health Monitoring Devices: Recent Trends and Perspectives

by Francisco J. Romero, Isabel Blasco-Pascual, Alfonso Salinas-Castillo, Noel Rodríguez and Diego P. Morales

Sensors 2026, 26(18), 5770; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26185770 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

On-skin non-invasive Wearable Health-Monitoring Devices (WHMDs) have rapidly evolved from laboratory prototypes into commercially viable systems capable of continuously tracking physiological and biochemical signals. By integrating epidermal temperature sensors, electrophysiological electrodes, biochemical sensing platforms, low-power electronics, and wireless communication technologies, these systems are [...] Read more.

On-skin non-invasive Wearable Health-Monitoring Devices (WHMDs) have rapidly evolved from laboratory prototypes into commercially viable systems capable of continuously tracking physiological and biochemical signals. By integrating epidermal temperature sensors, electrophysiological electrodes, biochemical sensing platforms, low-power electronics, and wireless communication technologies, these systems are emerging as key enablers of personalized and decentralized healthcare through the continuous acquisition of clinically relevant information directly from the skin surface. In this Perspective, we present our view on the state-of-the-art across the key technological pillars that define modern on-skin WHMDs, including non-invasive sensing strategies, advanced materials, processing and wireless communication units, energy-storage solutions, energy-harvesting techniques, and power-management architectures, with a particular focus on technologies that have already reached high Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). We highlight how the next-generation of on-skin WHMDs must balance performance with sustainability and long-term reliability. This includes the adoption of biodegradable and recyclable materials, low-power and reconfigurable electronics, solid-state batteries, and hybrid energy-harvesting systems. By aligning technological innovation with human-centric and eco-friendly design principles, on-skin WHMDs can evolve into scalable, equitable, and environmentally responsible tools for future digital healthcare. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable Technologies and Sensors for Health Monitoring)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 7900 KB

Open AccessArticle

Storage Physiological Characteristics and Transcriptome Expression of Broccoli Under LED Green Light Irradiation Combined with Low Temperature

by Xian Shen, Yunlong Zhang, Peiyin Jiang, Yuemao Chen, Mengmeng Wang, Yicheng Xu, Zhiyu Zhu, Yunxiang Zang and Jianguo Wu

Agronomy 2026, 16(18), 1787; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16181787 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

To explore the regulatory effects and mechanisms of LED green light (peak at 520 nm) combined with different low temperatures on broccoli postharvest storage, the Brassica oleracea var. italica ‘Meiqing’ was harvested and stored under two temperatures and pretreated with supplemental LED green [...] Read more.

To explore the regulatory effects and mechanisms of LED green light (peak at 520 nm) combined with different low temperatures on broccoli postharvest storage, the Brassica oleracea var. italica ‘Meiqing’ was harvested and stored under two temperatures and pretreated with supplemental LED green light. Periodic determinations were conducted on physical and chemical indexes, including appearance, texture, nutritional quality, and antioxidant capacity, along with differential gene expression analysis via transcriptome sequencing. Results showed that 0 °C storage outperformed 4 °C overall, and the 1 h green light pretreatment achieved the optimal effect. This treatment significantly delayed curd yellowing, reduced weight loss, maintained high firmness, preserved nutritional components, enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and key enzymes in the AsA-GSH cycle, and alleviated membrane damage by reducing H₂O₂ and MDA levels. Transcriptome analysis revealed that green light pretreatment regulated gene expression in chlorophyll metabolism and antioxidant-related pathways. Overall, 0 °C combined with 1 h of green light pretreatment effectively prolonged the storage period of broccoli and maintained its commercial and nutritional quality, providing a novel technical strategy for postharvest broccoli preservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Horticultural and Floricultural Crops)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 676 KB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Engagement and Visitor Loyalty at Cultural Festivals: Evidence from Vilnius and Implications for Financial Sustainability

by Antanas Usas and Dalia Streimikiene

J. Risk Financ. Manag. 2026, 19(9), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm19090719 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Cultural festivals increasingly depend on digital channels to reach audiences, which makes the allocation of limited promotional resources a recurring management problem. This study examines how digital engagement shapes visitor satisfaction and revisit intention at a cultural tourism event, using the Vilnius Pink [...] Read more.

Cultural festivals increasingly depend on digital channels to reach audiences, which makes the allocation of limited promotional resources a recurring management problem. This study examines how digital engagement shapes visitor satisfaction and revisit intention at a cultural tourism event, using the Vilnius Pink Soup Festival as a case. Five factors (social media, public website quality, electronic word of mouth (eWOM), festival expectations, and ICT usability) are tested as predictors of visitor satisfaction and revisit intention. The decision to model visitor-level rather than adoption-level outcomes follows the human-centric premise of Industry 5.0, which motivates the choice of dependent variables but is not itself operationalized or tested. Five factors (social media, public website quality, electronic word of mouth (eWOM), festival expectations, and ICT usability) are tested as predictors of visitor satisfaction and revisit intention. A quantitative survey of 384 attendees was analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics 29 by ordinary least squares regression on composite construct scores, with mediation tested through the PROCESS macro (Model 4) using 5000 bootstrap resamples. Four of the five factors significantly influence satisfaction, with festival expectations exerting the strongest effect, followed by social media, public website quality and electronic word of mouth; ICT usability was not significant once website quality was accounted for. Satisfaction did not mediate the relationships between these antecedents and revisit intention; with the antecedents controlled, they predicted revisit intention directly, explaining 57.5% of its variance. No ticket revenue, visitor expenditure, marketing expenditure or sponsorship income was collected, and no financial outcome is tested here. The findings are therefore reported as evidence on visitors’ response, and their financial relevance—which channels organizers might prioritize when allocating promotional budgets—is developed as a managerial implication rather than as an empirical result. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Financing the Sustainable Digital Economy: Investment, Risk, and Human-Centric Value in the Industry 5.0 Era)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 13433 KB

Open AccessArticle

Biological Activity of Actinobacterial Biosurfactants Towards Biofim Formation by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis Strains

by Ivo Ganchev, Daniela Stoeva, Gabriela Beleva, Aneliya Milanova and Georgiana Mihalache

Appl. Microbiol. 2026, 6(9), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol6090108 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

This study evaluated the anti-biofilm activity of the lipopeptide of Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. lavendulae 214 and aminoglycolipid biosurfactant of Streptomyces griseoflavus 2265 strains against biofilm formation by Xanthomonas strains. The biosurfactants of Streptomyces griseoflavus 2265 and Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. lavendulae 214 at a [...] Read more.

This study evaluated the anti-biofilm activity of the lipopeptide of Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. lavendulae 214 and aminoglycolipid biosurfactant of Streptomyces griseoflavus 2265 strains against biofilm formation by Xanthomonas strains. The biosurfactants of Streptomyces griseoflavus 2265 and Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. lavendulae 214 at a minimal concentration of 40 mg/L, characterized by antibiofilm activity against the development of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis 2417 strain and its mutant strains. The structure of the isolated biosurfactant was identified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The mutations in the rpfA gene of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis 8636 strain and deletions in the rpfGC genetic segment of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis 8737 strain did not ensure resistance to the effects of antimicrobial agents secreted by actinomycetes strains during the study. The concentration of aminoglycolipid biosurfactant of Streptomyces griseoflavus 2265 strain up to 20 mg/L and lipopeptide biosurfactant of Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. lavendulae 214 strain up to 10 mg/L stimulated cell motility in Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis strains, while the increase in their value was accompanied by its inhibition, which was not affected by mutations in the rpfA gene of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis 8636 strain and deletions in the rpfGC genetic segment of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis 8737. These results may provide fundamental information for understanding the antagonistic effect of biological surfactants from soil microorganisms, which are dominated by actinomycetes, on the development and spread of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis strains of different genotypes on agricultural crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances as Antimicrobial Agents for Food, Agriculture, and Health Applications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

4 pages, 181 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue ‘Molecular Mechanisms and New Markers of Cancer’—From Static Biomarkers to Context-Aware Precision Oncology

by Antonio d’Amati

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(18), 8085; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27188085 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Cancer molecular medicine has been built on a compelling premise: if the alteration that sustains a tumor can be identified, it can be measured, interpreted, and eventually targeted [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms and New Markers of Cancer)

35 pages, 1002 KB

Open AccessReview

AI and Robotics in Tribological Experimentation: Robotic Platforms, Artificial Intelligence, and Closed-Loop Evaluation

by Raj Shah, Mathew Stephen Roshan, Sunghan Kim, Amit Sutradhar and Hong Liang

Lubricants 2026, 14(9), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants14090350 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Tribology, the science of friction, wear, and lubrication, governs the reliability of nearly every mechanical system. Tribological contacts account for approximately 23% of global energy consumption, including 20% used to overcome friction and 3% associated with remanufacturing worn components. Nevertheless, the field has [...] Read more.

Tribology, the science of friction, wear, and lubrication, governs the reliability of nearly every mechanical system. Tribological contacts account for approximately 23% of global energy consumption, including 20% used to overcome friction and 3% associated with remanufacturing worn components. Nevertheless, the field has remained constrained by low experimental throughput, operator variability, and a scarcity of standardized, reusable datasets. This review surveys two converging trends positioned to address these limitations: the development of robotic and automated platforms for tribological experimentation, and the growing application of artificial intelligence to tribological analysis. High-throughput tribometer architectures, robotic specimen preparation, and multi-modal in situ sensing are examined as components of an emerging automated tribometry infrastructure. Supervised learning, physics-informed neural networks, and Bayesian optimization are reviewed as AI methods organized by the data regime in which they operate. The convergence of these trends in closed-loop autonomous tribological experimentation is assessed, including system architecture, optimization target specification, current partial implementations, and tribology-specific integration barriers that distinguish this domain from adjacent self-driving laboratory applications. Application domains spanning industrial machinery, biomedical implants, and aerospace and automotive drivetrains are discussed. Key challenges including dataset standardization, model transferability, and hardware-software integration complexity are identified. Prospects for fully autonomous tribological discovery pipelines are outlined, with emphasis on open-access data infrastructure and physics-constrained learning as the enabling conditions for the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI and Robots for Advanced Tribology)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 4061 KB

Open AccessCase Report

Mesenteric Abscess Complicated by Septic Peritonitis in a Dog: Multimodal Diagnosis, Surgical Management, and Serial Quantitative Bacterial Load Monitoring

by Daniel Schidu, Alina Levința, Paula Cucu, Codrin Moldovanu-Tonița, Eusebiu Viorel Șindilar, Liviu Cătălin Burtan, Vlad Zelinschi and Gheorghe Solcan

Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(9), 946; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13090946 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Mesenteric abscesses are an uncommon cause of septic peritonitis in dogs, and serial quantitative monitoring of bacterial load in peritoneal exudate has rarely been reported. This case report describes the diagnostic work-up and treatment response of a 14-month-old, 33 kg intact male Cane [...] Read more.

Mesenteric abscesses are an uncommon cause of septic peritonitis in dogs, and serial quantitative monitoring of bacterial load in peritoneal exudate has rarely been reported. This case report describes the diagnostic work-up and treatment response of a 14-month-old, 33 kg intact male Cane Corso with a mesenteric abscess complicated by septic peritonitis, two weeks after treatment for babesiosis. The dog presented with a 72 h history of anorexia, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Abdominal radiography revealed decreased peritoneal serosal contrast and findings suggestive of foreign material ingestion. Serial ultrasonography identified a mesenteric abscess with peritoneal effusion. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed the diagnosis; the abscess was excised, and the abdominal lavage was performed. Histopathology confirmed a mesenteric abscess with marked neutrophilic infiltration. Bacterial culture isolated Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium, with antimicrobial therapy guided by susceptibility testing. Serial quantitative bacterial counts of the peritoneal exudate on three postoperative occasions showed a progressive decline, paralleling clinical and hematological improvement. The dog fully recovered, with complete clinical and laboratory normalization confirmed at the 60-day reassessment. This case suggests that a multimodal diagnostic approach may assist in guiding management and confirming treatment response in canine mesenteric abscess with septic peritonitis, although the role of serial quantitative monitoring requires further evaluation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal, Liver and Pancreatic Disorders in Companion Animals: Emerging Trends and Clinical Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 5393 KB

Open AccessArticle

Character-Level Visual Guidance for Arbitrarily Shaped Scene Text Detection and Recognition

by Lijia Chen, Hu Lin and Dan Chen

Electronics 2026, 15(18), 4120; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15184120 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Curved, blurred, low-contrast, and cluttered scene text remains difficult to localize and transcribe because visual boundaries and character identities are often ambiguous. Most detectors refine spatial regions from visual and positional features, while many recognizers depend on implicit attention between global image tokens [...] Read more.

Curved, blurred, low-contrast, and cluttered scene text remains difficult to localize and transcribe because visual boundaries and character identities are often ambiguous. Most detectors refine spatial regions from visual and positional features, while many recognizers depend on implicit attention between global image tokens and language context. This separation weakens character-level evidence in both localization and text decoding. To address this issue, this paper studies explicit character-level guidance for scene text detection and recognition. For arbitrary-shaped text detection, the character-guided adaptive detector (CADet) combines a text-enhancement network (TENet), a character information adaptive guidance module (CIA), and a position and classification compensation module (COMP). Then, character semantics can participate in boundary-query construction before final detection. For scene text recognition (STR), serialized image embeddings for text recognition (SIETR) introduce local visual embeddings into autoregressive decoding via the character local image embedding module (CLIE) and permutation language modeling (PLM). On ArT, Total-Text, and CTW1500, CADet obtains F-measures of 79.5%, 89.4%, and 89.2%, respectively, outperforming representative Transformer-based detectors with only a small increase in computation. For recognition, SIETR reaches 95.6% sample-size-weighted average accuracy with 23.8 M parameters and 3.2 G FLOPs and improves most irregular-text benchmarks over PARSeq with fewer FLOPs. The results indicate that character semantics for detection and local visual evidence for decoding are an effective way to improve robustness in difficult scene text. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Visual Text Recognition and Understanding)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 18212 KB

Open AccessArticle

Reinforced Chitosan Active Film with Deep Eutectic Solvent and Chestnut Shell Extract: Physicochemical Characteristics, Structure, and Application in Strawberry Preservation

by Jialin Xue, Yating Sun, Meng Wang, Lixiang Huai, Yuting Xiao, Zhenyin Lu, Zhongxu Li, Xianjin Zhou, Haoran Wang, Ruiguo Cui and Lijun Song

Foods 2026, 15(18), 3217; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15183217 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

In this study, ternary composite active packaging films composed of chitosan (CH), deep eutectic solvent (DES), and chestnut shell extract (CSE) were prepared. The physicochemical properties, structural characteristics, and application in strawberry preservation were studied. The results show that the DES hydrogen-bond network [...] Read more.

In this study, ternary composite active packaging films composed of chitosan (CH), deep eutectic solvent (DES), and chestnut shell extract (CSE) were prepared. The physicochemical properties, structural characteristics, and application in strawberry preservation were studied. The results show that the DES hydrogen-bond network may promote interactions between CSE and CH, enhancing compatibility and stability. At 5% CSE addition, the maximum values were observed for antioxidant activity (DPPH: 80.49%, ABTS: 86.69%) and antibacterial activity (Antibacterial Zone Diameter (AZD): 27.61 mm for Escherichia coli E. coli and 27.15 mm for Staphylococcus aureus). FTIR analysis indicated the hydrogen bonding between CSE and the polymer matrix. XRD results indicated that CSE addition enhanced the crystallinity of the film matrices, while SEM revealed that it promoted the formation of a dense structure. Molecular docking results provide computational evidence suggesting that DES may serve as an interfacial bridge connecting CH and CSE. Satisfactorily, after treatment with the CH–DES–CSE-5% film, the shelf life of strawberries was significantly extended. After 8 days of storage, the decay rate (36.67%) was significantly lower than that of the control group (96.67%). The original quality indicators were well maintained. This study provides a theoretical basis for both the valorization of chestnut shell waste and the development of CSE-based active food packaging materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Plant Natural Products in Food Preservation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 5106 KB

Open AccessArticle

Divergent Association Pathways of Soil Organic Carbon Variation Under Grazing Exclusion Across Three Grassland Sites: Relationships with Microbial Network Structure and Community Assembly

by Asitaiken Julihaiti, Zongjiu Sun, Jinhua Guo, Yisheng Jing and Yiqiang Dong

Microorganisms 2026, 14(9), 2023; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14092023 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Grazing exclusion is a widely implemented restoration strategy for degraded grasslands, but its effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) remain highly variable, and the ecological pathways associated with these changes—particularly the roles of soil microorganisms—are still insufficiently understood. To investigate context-dependent SOC responses, [...] Read more.

Grazing exclusion is a widely implemented restoration strategy for degraded grasslands, but its effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) remain highly variable, and the ecological pathways associated with these changes—particularly the roles of soil microorganisms—are still insufficiently understood. To investigate context-dependent SOC responses, we conducted a 12-year grazing exclusion study across three contrasting grassland sites representing an environmental gradient (temperate desert, temperate steppe, and mountain meadow) on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains. By integrating multidimensional vegetation–soil–microbe observations with microbial network analysis and community assembly approaches, we examined how plant, soil, and microbial characteristics were associated with SOC variation under grazing exclusion. Our results showed that grazing exclusion was associated with significant increases in surface SOC content across all three investigated sites (16–81%), but these increases corresponded to distinct site-specific ecological association patterns. At the temperate desert site, SOC variation was mainly associated with soil conditions and microbial characteristics, where soil moisture and nutrient availability, together with fungal network complexity, showed significant associations with SOC content. At the temperate steppe site, vegetation recovery represented an important ecological component associated with SOC variation, while bacterial community assembly patterns were also related to SOC differences. At the mountain meadow site, plant, soil, and microbial characteristics showed multiple associations with SOC variation. Across all sites, grazing exclusion was consistently associated with changes in microbial network structure and community assembly processes, and these microbial ecological characteristics showed significant statistical relationships with SOC content. Our findings indicate that SOC responses to grazing exclusion are context-dependent and involve different ecological association pathways across contrasting grassland ecosystems, highlighting the importance of considering local environmental conditions when evaluating grassland restoration outcomes and carbon management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Microbiology)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2177 KB

Open AccessArticle

Association Between Nutritional Status, Body Mass Index, and Oral Health Among Older Adults in Primary Health Care

by Cleomar Ana de Souza Valentim, Ademir Alves de Melo, Thiago Costa Florentino, André Silva Valentim and Marília Jesus Batista

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(9), 1205; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23091205 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to analyze factors associated with body mass index and nutritional status, including oral health, among older adults in Primary Health Care. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 60 years, selected from five Health Units [...] Read more.

Objective: We aimed to analyze factors associated with body mass index and nutritional status, including oral health, among older adults in Primary Health Care. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 60 years, selected from five Health Units in a Brazilian city. A questionnaire was applied to collect the following data: sociodemographic data, anthropometric status assessed by Body Mass Index (BMI) (weight and height), oral health (number of teeth and self-perceived chewing ability: good, fair, or poor), cognition assessed using the 10-Point Cognitive Screener (10-CS), nutritional status using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), health literacy using the 14-item Health Literacy Scale (HLS-14), sarcopenia risk using the SARC-F questionnaire plus calf circumference (SARC-F + CC), and frailty using the Clinical Functional Vulnerability Index-20 (CFVI-20). The outcomes were Body Mass Index (BMI)-defined anthropometric status, dichotomized as non-excess weight (underweight/normal weight) vs. excess weight (overweight/obese), and nutritional status assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), dichotomized into normal nutritional status vs. nutritional risk or malnutrition. Descriptive, bivariate (Chi-square test), and multiple binary logistic regression analyses were performed for each outcome (p < 0.05). Results: A total of 211 older adults participated in the study. The sample was 72% female, with a mean age of 70.41 (±7.45) years. In the adjusted regression analysis, the use of four or more medications (OR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.08–4.17), sedentary behavior (OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.58–6.04), and absence of sarcopenia risk (OR = 4.99; 95% CI: 2.02–12.34) were associated with higher odds of overweight/obesity. Conversely, usual attendance at the neighborhood PHC unit (OR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.07–0.72) and possible cognitive impairment (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.08–0.98) were inversely associated with overweight/obesity. Nutritional risk or malnutrition was associated with edentulism (OR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.05–4.23), poor chewing ability (OR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.06–5.82), fair chewing ability (OR = 2.88; 95% CI: 1.29–6.47), and the presence of feelings of discouragement, sadness, or hopelessness (OR = 3.52; 95% CI: 1.78–6.96). Among participants with overweight/obesity, 28.4% were also classified as being at nutritional risk or malnourished according to the MNA. Conclusions: Among older adults in Primary Health Care, nutritional risk or malnutrition was associated with oral health and psychosocial characteristics, whereas overweight/obesity was associated with distinct clinical, healthcare-use, behavioral, cognitive, and functional characteristics, even after adjustment for sociodemographic, clinical, functional, and psychosocial characteristics. These findings support the importance of comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment and care to address the heterogeneous and coexisting nutritional challenges of aging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Social Inequalities on the Oral Health of Vulnerable Populations)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 484 KB

Open AccessArticle

Inclusion in Software Development Teams: An Empirical Study

by Saiqa Aleem, Faheem Ahmed, Luiz Fernando Capretz and Shayma Alkobaisi

Software 2026, 5(3), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/software5030040 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

In a software development team, people work together in different roles to carry out the activities of the software development process. Human factors have always been critical in managing software teams. However, they have always been overshadowed by a focus on technology and [...] Read more.

In a software development team, people work together in different roles to carry out the activities of the software development process. Human factors have always been critical in managing software teams. However, they have always been overshadowed by a focus on technology and underlying processes. Recently, there has been greater focus on team diversity, allowing for individual differences among team members, such as age, gender, race and ethnicity, culture, etc. The real challenge of team diversity is to assemble a software development team with a balanced representation of various diverse groups and to foster an inclusive work environment where every team member is engaged and productive, especially those in the minority. The research on inclusiveness in software development teams, which goes hand in hand with diversity, appears limited, and this work outlines its objectives and novelty. This exploratory study investigates correlations between specific workplace inclusion factors and perceived self-efficacy among members of software development teams, using the Mor Barak Inclusion–Exclusion Scale. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2569 KB

Open AccessArticle

Gastric Tissue Biomonitoring Identifies Tissue-Specific Metal Profiles Associated with Helicobacter pylori Infection

by Tolga Aydin and Vugar Ali Turksoy

Toxics 2026, 14(9), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14090808 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is a common chronic bacterial infection and an established cause of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. Environmental and host metal status may interact with gastric inflammatory and microbial processes, and infection-related changes in gastric acidity, mucosal [...] Read more.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is a common chronic bacterial infection and an established cause of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. Environmental and host metal status may interact with gastric inflammatory and microbial processes, and infection-related changes in gastric acidity, mucosal permeability, and metal handling may in turn alter local tissue concentrations. This study compared systemic and gastric tissue concentrations of seven elements in adults with histopathologically confirmed H. pylori infection and uninfected controls. Methods: This single-center case–control study included 110 adults undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (55 H. pylori-positive and 55 H. pylori-negative). H. pylori status was established by hematoxylin–eosin and modified Giemsa staining. Whole blood collected in purple-top K₂EDTA tubes was analyzed for As, Pb, Cd, and Sn; serum obtained from yellow-top serum-separator tubes containing clot activator and separator gel was analyzed for Al, Co, and Ni. A separate fresh antral biopsy, not the formalin-fixed histology specimen, was used for ICP-MS; tissue concentrations were normalized to recorded dry weight. Between-group metal comparisons were corrected as one family of 14 tests using Benjamini–Hochberg FDR. Prespecified age- and sex-adjusted models and an exploratory multivariable model were supplemented by ROC, PCA, and internally cross-validated PLS-DA analyses. Results: The H. pylori-positive group was older than the negative group (55.65 ± 15.01 vs. 52.42 ± 12.53 years). Blood aluminum was nominally higher in the positive group (p = 0.032; q = 0.112). In gastric tissue, aluminum was higher [0.23 (0.13–13.40) vs. 0.13 (0.10–0.23) μg/g dry weight; p < 0.001; q = 0.002], whereas arsenic was lower [1.35 (0.54–2.02) vs. 1.92 (1.47–2.43) μg/g dry weight; p < 0.001; q = 0.003] in H. pylori-positive participants. Tissue cobalt and blood/tissue nickel differences did not remain significant after FDR correction. In prespecified age- and sex-adjusted models, tissue arsenic showed an inverse association (OR = 0.431, 95% CI 0.263–0.705; p = 0.0008), whereas tissue aluminum showed a positive association (OR = 4.957, 95% CI 1.629–15.085; p = 0.0048). In the exploratory joint model, only tissue aluminum remained significant (adjusted OR = 4.016, 95% CI 1.119–14.417; p = 0.033). The joint model had an apparent within-cohort AUC of 0.774; repeated five-fold cross-validated PLS-DA yielded an AUC of 0.707. Conclusions: Histopathologically confirmed H. pylori status was associated with compartment-specific metal concentration patterns, particularly higher tissue aluminum and lower tissue arsenic. Because the study was cross-sectional and measured total concentrations, these findings do not establish environmental exposure, temporal accumulation, toxicity, or a causal direction. The regression and multivariate findings are exploratory and require validation in independent cohorts with standardized tissue sampling, arsenic speciation, exposure assessment, and quantitative gastric pathology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Environmental and Human Health (bio)Monitoring: Contributions to One Health Approach)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

22 pages, 5613 KB

Open AccessArticle

Field Verification and Multi-Site Deployment of a Multi-Sensor Node for Continuous Environmental Monitoring in Commercial Beef Cattle Facilities

by Guang Yi, Xilin Wang, Songyu Jiang, Jianfeng Zhao, Tengfei He and Zhaohui Chen

Animals 2026, 16(18), 2862; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16182862 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Continuous multi-parameter monitoring is important for characterizing environmental conditions in commercial beef cattle facilities, but sensor performance and system reliability require evaluation under production conditions. This study developed a LoRa-based multi-sensor node for air temperature, relative humidity, CO₂, NH₃, [...] Read more.

Continuous multi-parameter monitoring is important for characterizing environmental conditions in commercial beef cattle facilities, but sensor performance and system reliability require evaluation under production conditions. This study developed a LoRa-based multi-sensor node for air temperature, relative humidity, CO₂, NH₃, air speed, and illuminance. Field performance was evaluated at one commercial farm by synchronous comparison with commercial instruments using 1-min paired observations and regression- and agreement-based analyses. Nine prototype nodes were subsequently deployed at three sites for 14-day monitoring periods. Temperature and relative humidity showed the strongest linear relationships with the comparison instruments (R² = 0.995 and 0.994), followed by illuminance, air speed, and CO₂ (R² = 0.990, 0.863, and 0.773). NH₃ showed a weaker relationship (R² = 0.604), improving after 10-min aggregation; most application-monitoring estimates below 5 ppm were extrapolated rather than validated absolute concentrations. Overall data availability was 99.66%, and continuous monitoring captured temporal patterns in thermal conditions, air quality, local airflow, and illuminance. The evaluation focused on environmental monitoring performance rather than animal-based outcomes. These findings support parameter-specific environmental monitoring and multi-site deployment in commercial beef cattle facilities, with potential for future anomaly detection and environmental control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Technologies for Precision Livestock Management: From Data to Decisions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 1550 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Central Environmental Protection Inspection Affect Corporate ESG Performance: A Quasi-Natural Experiment from China

by Kang Li, Zhizhuo Li and Jie Gao

Sustainability 2026, 18(18), 9346; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18189346 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

This study examines how the Central Environmental Protection Inspection (CEPI), a vertical oversight initiative launched in China in 2016, affects corporate ESG performance. While prior studies have documented a positive effect of CEPI on ESG performance, the underlying mechanisms and firm-specific contingencies remain [...] Read more.

This study examines how the Central Environmental Protection Inspection (CEPI), a vertical oversight initiative launched in China in 2016, affects corporate ESG performance. While prior studies have documented a positive effect of CEPI on ESG performance, the underlying mechanisms and firm-specific contingencies remain largely unexplored. Treating CEPI as a quasi-natural experiment, we employ a multi-period difference-in-differences design with firm and year fixed effects, using panel data on A-share listed firms from 2011 to 2022. Supported by a battery of robustness checks, the results indicate a positive association between CEPI and corporate ESG performance. Our mediation analysis identifies three distinct transmission channels: government environmental subsidies, green technological innovation, and public environmental concern. Moreover, we find that CEPI’s impact is more pronounced among state-owned enterprises, heavily polluting firms, large firms, and manufacturing firms, and is amplified in highly marketized regions. These findings highlight the importance of vertical regulatory oversight in shaping corporate sustainability and offer practical implications for designing differentiated environmental policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

47 pages, 1298 KB

Open AccessArticle

Anomaly-Based Intrusion Detection for IoT Microcontrollers Using Power Side-Channel Fingerprinting

by Samar Mohamed Hussein Shukry, Frank Kargl, Tallal El-Shabrawy and Amr Talaat Abdel-Hamid

Sensors 2026, 26(18), 5769; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26185769 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

This study introduces a unified evaluation framework for device-level intrusion detection using power side-channel fingerprints under an open-set threat model. We target post-enrollment device substitution: an adversary replaces a legitimate Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) node with a counterfeit of the same model and firmware [...] Read more.

This study introduces a unified evaluation framework for device-level intrusion detection using power side-channel fingerprints under an open-set threat model. We target post-enrollment device substitution: an adversary replaces a legitimate Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) node with a counterfeit of the same model and firmware after enrollment, during deployment or maintenance, making the substitution invisible to credential-based authentication. To address this scenario, we evaluate seven ESP32-WROOM-32 and seven Arduino Uno R3 devices across four sessions spanning 45 days. Each platform group is drawn from a single manufacturing batch so that measured differences reflect within-batch variation; results are correspondingly established at this scale and for this sourcing. Unlike most prior studies that evaluate fingerprinting under isolated assumptions, this study treats intrusion detection as a system-level problem that requires the joint consideration of temporal stability, open-set recognition, and feature representation. We conduct a two-tier evaluation. Tier 1 characterizes device uniqueness and temporal stability using handcrafted statistical features and neural embeddings trained via triplet + Additive-Margin Softmax (AM-Softmax) loss, analyzed via separation ratios,

d^{'}

scores, F1-scores, and statistical power. Tier 2 applies embeddings to an open-set intrusion-detection protocol using percentile-based thresholding. This analysis reveals that temporal viability is strongly influenced by feature representation under the evaluated conditions. Over 45 days, under an identical Leave-One-Run-Out protocol and scoring rule, neural embeddings achieve a 93.9% true positive rate at a 9.9% false acceptance rate, whereas the same rule applied to handcrafted statistical features yields 66.4% and 35.8%. When each device identity is withheld from training altogether, embeddings hold a 26.0% false acceptance rate against 39.0% for statistical features. Platform comparison shows that ESP32 achieves a

1.80 \times

higher separation ratio than Arduino (3.06 vs. 1.70), with architecture-dependent discriminability. Statistical power analysis yields 89.1% power at

d = 0.774

. These results identify representation-level robustness as a key requirement for practical power-based intrusion detection, while longer-term validation remains an important direction for future work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Internet of Things)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2712 KB

Open AccessArticle

Quadri-Wave Lateral Shearing Interferogram Outpainting Using QW-GAN for Accurate Wavefront Reconstruction

by Yao Fan, Yaxuan Duan, Yiwen Zhang, Zhengshang Da and Yang Yue

Sensors 2026, 26(18), 5771; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26185771 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel outpainting technique for quadri-wave lateral shearing interferograms which employs Quadri-Wave Generative Adversarial Networks (QW-GANs). QW-GAN is adversarially trained to capture the high-order statistics of real interferograms. It thereby avoids the Gibbs-ringing artifacts and spectral leakage caused by deterministic [...] Read more.

This paper proposes a novel outpainting technique for quadri-wave lateral shearing interferograms which employs Quadri-Wave Generative Adversarial Networks (QW-GANs). QW-GAN is adversarially trained to capture the high-order statistics of real interferograms. It thereby avoids the Gibbs-ringing artifacts and spectral leakage caused by deterministic interpolation or single-frame extrapolation. The recovered fringes remain physically consistent with preserved Fourier support, enabling more accurate wavefront phase retrieval. Numerical simulations and comparisons with aberrations (defocus, astigmatism, coma, spherical, and random), along with real experimental results, demonstrate the enhanced reconstruction precision of our method, providing an efficient solution for wavefront reconstruction in optical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Developments in Optical Communications, Perception and Computing)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 2708 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on the Corrosion Resistance and Service Life Prediction of Water-Based Epoxy-Coated Reinforced Concrete in Harsh Environments

by Zhongshuai Hu, Shaoyuan Zheng, Ping Lyu, Chunhui Zhang, Yuting Lv, Yongkang Wang, Yan Li, Xinrong Zhao, Weiqiang Zhang and Liguo Ma

Materials 2026, 19(18), 3877; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19183877 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

To investigate the corrosion resistance and service life of water-based epoxy-coated reinforcing bars under severe environmental conditions, HRB400 ribbed reinforcing bars were used as the substrate. Four types of water-based epoxy-coated reinforcing bars were prepared, containing 0.3% graphene–polyaniline (PAG), 0.3% iron oxide, 10% [...] Read more.

To investigate the corrosion resistance and service life of water-based epoxy-coated reinforcing bars under severe environmental conditions, HRB400 ribbed reinforcing bars were used as the substrate. Four types of water-based epoxy-coated reinforcing bars were prepared, containing 0.3% graphene–polyaniline (PAG), 0.3% iron oxide, 10% zinc phosphate, and 10% zinc–iron powder, respectively, with a bare reinforcing bar control group also included. In accordance with standards such as the ‘Design Standard for Durability of Concrete Structures’, durability tests were conducted under various conditions, including long-term immersion in marine chloride solutions, wet–dry cycling, de-icing salt freeze–thaw cycles, baking and immersion in saline soil, and concrete mixed with seawater. Corrosion current density (I_corr) was monitored using a three-electrode system and the linear polarisation method, and service life was predicted based on the Wiener process. The results indicate that, under all severe environmental conditions, the corrosion current density of the coated reinforcing bars was significantly lower than that of the bare reinforcing bars (BRBs). After 70 cycles of marine wet–dry cycling, the corrosion current density of the bare reinforcing bars reached 0.4569 μA·cm⁻², whilst that of the 0.3% PAG coating was 0.1103 μA·cm⁻², substantially lower than that of the bare bars (0.4569 μA·cm⁻²); after 110 freeze–thaw cycles in a de-icing salt environment, the corrosion current density of the bare reinforcing bars was 0.4480 μA·cm⁻², whilst that of the PAG-coated bars was 0.1003 μA·cm⁻². After 80 cycles of baking and immersion in a saline soil environment, the corrosion current density of the graphene–polyaniline-coated steel increased from 4.97 × 10⁻³ μA·cm⁻² to 0.1021 μA·cm⁻² (approximately a 20-fold increase), whilst that of the bare steel rose to 0.4489 μA·cm⁻². In concrete mixed with seawater, the corrosion current density of bare reinforcing bars reached as high as 8.60 μA·cm⁻² after 120 days, whereas that of coated reinforcing bars was 0.24 μA·cm⁻², markedly lower than 8.60 μA·cm⁻² for the bare bars. Lifespan predictions indicate that, provided that the specifications for concrete strength and protective layer thickness are met, water-based epoxy coatings have the potential to delay the onset of severe corrosion (I_corr ≥ 1 μA·cm⁻²) beyond the 50-year design threshold in seawater wet–dry cycling zones and saline soil environments, and are projected to meet the 100-year design requirements in de-icing salt environments. It should be noted that these projections are based on accelerated tests and require validation through long-term field performance data. Graphene-containing polyaniline nanocomposite coatings exhibited the best overall protective performance, whilst zinc phosphate coatings demonstrated outstanding stability in high-chloride environments. For the specific formulations tested in this study, the enhanced corrosion resistance is attributed to the synergistic combination of the epoxy matrix, inorganic fillers (TiO₂ and BaSO₄) and functional additives; these components collectively provide physical shielding, chemical passivation and dynamic pore-blocking effects. Within the scope of this study, the nanocomposite coating containing 0.3 per cent PAG exhibited the best overall protective performance. Full article

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

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Recent Articles

Open Access Journals

Highly Accessed Articles

Latest Books

News

Blog Posts

Topics

Selected Special Issues

Selected Collections

Journals by Subject

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI