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29 pages, 1323 KB

Open AccessArticle

Prognostic Value of Preoperative Inflammatory, Hematological, and Metabolic Blood Indices in Endometrioid-Type Endometrial Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

by Gorkem Ulger, Kasim Akay, Hamza Yildiz, Pelin Aytan, Sevki Goksun Gokulu and Tolgay Tuyan Ilhan

Medicina 2026, 62(9), 1767; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62091767 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Peripheral blood indices have been proposed as prognostic biomarkers in endometrial cancer, but most reports include mixed histological subtypes, do not control for benign uterine pathology that independently alters hematological profiles, and evaluate these indices in isolation. We evaluated [...] Read more.

Background and Objectives: Peripheral blood indices have been proposed as prognostic biomarkers in endometrial cancer, but most reports include mixed histological subtypes, do not control for benign uterine pathology that independently alters hematological profiles, and evaluate these indices in isolation. We evaluated all three categories head-to-head in a histologically homogeneous endometrioid cohort and formally tested whether they add prognostic information beyond established clinicopathological variables. Materials and Methods: Of 195 patients operated for endometrioid-type endometrial cancer between 2018 and 2024, 142 were included; adenomyosis or leiomyoma on final histopathology, active infection and hematological disease were exclusion criteria. Fourteen preoperative blood-derived indices spanning the three categories were analyzed as continuous variables. A pre-specified clinical model (age category, grade, FIGO stage) was compared with models adding the biomarkers using likelihood-ratio tests, Harrell’s concordance index, time-dependent areas under the curve, bootstrap internal validation, and influence diagnostics. Results: Median follow-up was 52.5 months; 34 patients (23.9%) died and 5-year overall survival was 74.1%. None of the conventional inflammatory ratios were associated with survival (SII p = 0.893; all others p ≥ 0.26). In the multivariable model, histologic grade and NRBC% remained associated with survival (NRBC% HR 3.30 per 1%, 95% CI 1.09–9.97, p = 0.034). Adding NRBC% to the clinical model improved fit (likelihood-ratio p = 0.039) but not discrimination (ΔC 0.006, 95% CI −0.041 to 0.053, p = 0.814), and no index retained significance after Benjamini–Hochberg adjustment. The NRBC% association disappeared on dichotomization at the detection limit and could not be estimated once the five patients with values above 0.30% were excluded. Conclusions: In a predominantly early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancer cohort, preoperative blood-derived indices added no measurable discriminatory information beyond established pathological variables. The NRBC% association rests on very few observations at the upper end of its distribution and is hypothesis-generating only. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Gynecological Cancer Research: Emerging Technologies and Future Therapeutic Strategies)

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31 pages, 2175 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sphingolipid Remodeling and Extracellular Vesicle Signatures Reflect Disease Severity in Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy Driven by Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

by Manuela Moriggi, Lucia Ruggiero, Enrica Torretta, Dario Zoppi, Beatrice Arosio, Chiara Fiorillo, Vincenzo Nigro, Daniele Capitanio and Cecilia Gelfi

Antioxidants 2026, 15(9), 1166; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15091166 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a progressive and heterogeneous disorder lacking reliable circulating biomarkers for disease monitoring and therapeutic response. We hypothesized that metabolic dysregulation, lipotoxicity, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induce sphingolipid remodeling that is reflected in serum and correlates with [...] Read more.

Background: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a progressive and heterogeneous disorder lacking reliable circulating biomarkers for disease monitoring and therapeutic response. We hypothesized that metabolic dysregulation, lipotoxicity, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induce sphingolipid remodeling that is reflected in serum and correlates with disease severity. Methods: We performed RNA sequencing, differential expression, and pathway analyses on biceps brachii muscle biopsies from mild (n = 9) and severe (n = 5) FSHD patients and healthy controls (n = 6). Selected transcripts were validated by OpenArray quantitative PCR. Serum samples from mild (n = 9), severe (n = 13), and control subjects (n = 10) were analyzed by targeted and untargeted LC-MS/MS sphingolipidomics. Results: Severe FSHD exhibited transcriptomic signatures of mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress, inflammation, and extracellular vesicle biogenesis. RNA-seq revealed activation of the de novo ceramide synthesis pathway, with increased SPTLC1–3, CERS2, CERS5, and DEGS1, reduced SMPD1/4 and SMPDL3A, and dysregulation of cerebroside metabolism. Migrasome/extracellular vesicle markers (TSPAN4, TM4SF1, PIGK, CPQ, ITGA5, and ITGB1) were predominantly upregulated in patients with severe disease. Serum lipidomics showed severity-dependent increases in dihydroceramides, ceramides, sphingomyelins, and dihydrosphingomyelins, while the Cer/HexCer d18:1/18:0 ratio progressively increased with disease severity. Conclusions: Integrated transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses identify sphingolipid dysregulation and extracellular vesicle biogenesis as hallmarks of severe FSHD and support circulating sphingolipids as candidate biomarkers for disease severity and therapeutic monitoring. Full article

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17 pages, 1265 KB

Open AccessViewpoint

The FIT–FRAIL–DISABLE Framework: A Multidimensional CGA-Based Model for Proportional Treatment of Older Adults Across Speciality Care

by Crescenzo Testa, Francesco Palmese, Grazia Daniela Femminella, Marco Domenicali, Marcello Giuseppe Maggio and Fulvio Lauretani

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(9), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23091213 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Frailty, cognitive impairment, depression, functional dependency, low physical performance, and undernutrition are highly prevalent in older adults referred for cancer treatment, cardiovascular interventions, neurological therapies, and orthopaedic surgery, and each independently predicts treatment toxicity, post-procedural complications, and mortality. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is [...] Read more.

Frailty, cognitive impairment, depression, functional dependency, low physical performance, and undernutrition are highly prevalent in older adults referred for cancer treatment, cardiovascular interventions, neurological therapies, and orthopaedic surgery, and each independently predicts treatment toxicity, post-procedural complications, and mortality. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is the most accurate predictor of treatment outcomes in older patients, yet it remains structurally absent from most speciality pathways, contributing to overtreatment of biologically frail patients and undertreatment of biologically robust ones. In this Viewpoint, we propose and operationalise the FIT–FRAIL–DISABLE multidimensional geriatric stratification model as a conceptual framework for translating CGA findings into proportional, speciality-specific treatment recommendations across oncology, cardiology, neurogeriatrics, and orthogeriatrics. The model integrates six validated CGA instruments—the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), basic and instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL, IADL), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF)—into three actionable categories (FIT, FRAIL, DISABLE) aligned with full-intensity, risk-adapted, and symptom-focused care, and is explicitly positioned in relation to the deficit-based frailty paradigm and the WHO Intrinsic Capacity (ICOPE) framework, which it complements rather than replaces. We specify a provisional, a priori decision rule for combining domain scores and describe how each stratification category should inform—but not dictate—goal-concordant treatment intensity within a shared decision-making process. FIT–FRAIL–DISABLE is presented as a proposed, hypothesis-generating framework: its composite thresholds and domain weighting have not yet been empirically derived, and the model has not undergone prospective validation. Retrospective calibration on existing CGA cohorts and prospective multicentre validation are being designed within the GERIA-NET research consortium. If validated, the framework has the potential to reduce both overtreatment-related harm and undertreatment-related therapeutic deprivation in older adults undergoing active treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Global Health)

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22 pages, 793 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Traditional Moroccan Bandek Processing on Nutritional Composition, In Vitro Starch Digestibility, and Volatile Profiles of Barley and Durum Wheat Genotypes

by Kubra Ozkan, Lorenzo Palombi, Abderrazek Jilal, Ghizlane Salih, Francesco Sestili, Cagla Ozer, Maria Tufariello, Barbara Laddomada, Osman Sagdic, Andrea Visioni, Samuela Palombieri and Hamit Koksel

Foods 2026, 15(18), 3250; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15183250 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Traditional processing can modify the nutritional and volatile characteristics of cereal-based foods. This study evaluated Moroccan Bandek production, comprising soaking, steaming, solar drying, and roasting, using three durum wheat genotypes—conventional Svevo, high-amylose Svevo HA, and soft-kernel Faridur—and the high-β-glucan hull-less barley Chifaa. Raw [...] Read more.

Traditional processing can modify the nutritional and volatile characteristics of cereal-based foods. This study evaluated Moroccan Bandek production, comprising soaking, steaming, solar drying, and roasting, using three durum wheat genotypes—conventional Svevo, high-amylose Svevo HA, and soft-kernel Faridur—and the high-β-glucan hull-less barley Chifaa. Raw wholemeal flours and corresponding Bandek products were analyzed for color, protein, β-glucan, resistant starch, iron, zinc, phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In vitro starch hydrolysis and predicted glycemic index (pGI) were determined in Bandek products. Compared with the corresponding flours, Bandek products were darker and showed higher resistant starch, extractable phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, iron, and zinc concentrations, whereas protein content was lower. However, marked differences emerged among the cereal matrices. Among the durum wheats, Svevo HA Bandek had the highest resistant starch content (6.82%) and a lower pGI than conventional Svevo, whereas Faridur showed the highest pGI (74.75%). In contrast, Chifaa barley Bandek retained 6.03% β-glucan and had the lowest pGI (53.78), clearly distinguishing it from the durum wheat products. Following standardized sample preparation, total semi-quantitative VOC abundance was higher in Bandek than in flour, with pyrazines providing the clearest distinction between the processed and raw matrices and additional variation attributable to genotype. These findings demonstrate that Bandek characteristics depend strongly on the cereal species and genotype, highlighting the distinct nutritional potential of high-β-glucan barley and high-amylose durum wheat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)

57 pages, 3135 KB

Open AccessReview

Chrono-Nutritional Disruption as a Potential Modifiable Factor in Bipolar Disorder

by Marianna Mazza and Giuseppe Marano

Nutrients 2026, 18(18), 3011; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18183011 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Bipolar disorder is characterized by marked circadian and metabolic vulnerability, but direct evidence linking the timing of food intake to its course remains sparse. This structured narrative review examines chrono-nutritional disruption, including irregular meal timing, nocturnal eating, prolonged or inconsistent fasting, eating-window variability, [...] Read more.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by marked circadian and metabolic vulnerability, but direct evidence linking the timing of food intake to its course remains sparse. This structured narrative review examines chrono-nutritional disruption, including irregular meal timing, nocturnal eating, prolonged or inconsistent fasting, eating-window variability, and eating jet lag, as a potential behavioral correlate and mechanistic contributor to bipolar instability. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for literature published from January 2000 to 30 June 2026, supplemented by predefined foundational studies. Evidence was organized as direct bipolar-specific, indirect human, or translational/preclinical. The strongest direct findings are cross-sectional associations involving night eating, eveningness, sleep disturbance, and functioning; bipolar-specific longitudinal and completed interventional evidence remains insufficient. Indirect human and experimental studies suggest that biologically mistimed eating can alter peripheral-clock entrainment, glucose–insulin regulation, cortisol rhythmicity, mitochondrial function, inflammatory signaling, and gut microbial rhythms. On this basis, we propose a hypothesis-generating chrono-metabolic model in which food timing may interact bidirectionally with sleep, mood state, medication effects, and metabolic health. Routine attention to nutritionally adequate and feasible meal regularity may be considered within broader monitoring of social rhythms, but it has not been shown independently to prevent relapse or improve mood outcomes. Time-restricted eating is investigational in bipolar disorder and should be evaluated only in carefully monitored research or specialist contexts. Prospective within-person studies and adequately powered trials are required before chrono-nutritional strategies can be regarded as evidence-based bipolar interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Nutrition and Neuro Sciences)

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47 pages, 4224 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Force System Acting Within an Orthodontic Appliance

by Amelia Smaranda Roșianu, Dragoș Laurențiu Popa, Gabriel Buciu and Stelian-Mihai-Sever Petrescu

Bioengineering 2026, 13(9), 1069; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering13091069 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background: Implant-prosthetic rehabilitation of single-tooth edentulism often requires orthodontic reshaping of the potential implant-prosthetic space because its dimensions change due to the migration of adjacent teeth. In this context, it is very important to understand the force system generated by orthodontic arches in [...] Read more.

Background: Implant-prosthetic rehabilitation of single-tooth edentulism often requires orthodontic reshaping of the potential implant-prosthetic space because its dimensions change due to the migration of adjacent teeth. In this context, it is very important to understand the force system generated by orthodontic arches in order to control tooth movement and to achieve, at the end of orthodontic treatment, the correct dimensions of the potential implant-prosthetic space for dental implant placement. Materials and Methods: The study was based on CBCT images acquired from a 25-year-old female patient with maxillary and mandibular lateral edentulism. The images were processed using InVesalius and Geomagic to obtain a patient-specific three-dimensional reconstruction of the dento-maxillary structures. Orthodontic brackets, adhesive components, and round-section nickel–titanium archwires were subsequently modeled and positioned within a common three-dimensional coordinate system. The reconstructed geometry was used to extract local geometric parameters of the archwire. These parameters were subsequently introduced into a local equivalent Euler–Bernoulli beam formulation to estimate elastic force components and transverse reactions associated with the bracket-related points. Results: The study revealed an uneven distribution of forces along the orthodontic arches. For the upper arch, the elastic force values ranged from 0.044 to 0.383 N, and for the lower arch, from 0.050 to 0.308 N. The calculated reactions at the bracket components also varied depending on the orthodontic archwire geometry and the position of the support points. Conclusions: Patient-specific three-dimensional reconstruction combined with a local analytical beam approximation provides a framework for estimating geometry-dependent elastic force components within an orthodontic appliance. The calculated values should be interpreted as equivalent local force estimates derived from the reconstructed geometry and not as a complete three-dimensional force–moment system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Trends and Future Perspectives in Orthodontic Treatment)

30 pages, 8245 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Mapping and Attribution of Wheelchair Users’ Accessibility Decay Under an “Ideal-Realistic” Scenario Comparison

by Qian Li, Ying Sun, Tianqi Guo and Xiangfeng Li

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2026, 15(9), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi15090420 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Within the “15-min community life circle”, spatial accessibility of basic services is critical to ensuring social equity for people with disabilities. However, existing wheelchair accessibility assessments predominantly focus on static “origin-destination” node configurations, treating the road network as homogeneous and failing to capture [...] Read more.

Within the “15-min community life circle”, spatial accessibility of basic services is critical to ensuring social equity for people with disabilities. However, existing wheelchair accessibility assessments predominantly focus on static “origin-destination” node configurations, treating the road network as homogeneous and failing to capture how micro-level physical barriers induce macro-level accessibility decay through network connectivity transmission. This study addresses this gap by introducing an “ideal-realistic” scenario comparison framework combined with weighted edge betweenness centrality. This approach backward-traces resource accessibility loss to two dimensions of micro-level road-segment failure, namely topological function loss and service resource loss, shifting the analytical paradigm from resource configuration assessment to network connectivity diagnosis. Taking the central Xinhai Subdistrict of Lianyungang, China, as a case study, this paper constructs a dual-scenario network based on field-surveyed barrier data and establishes a two-dimensional measurement system centered on segment-level function loss and resource loss. The findings reveal that realistic physical barriers cause significant deprivation in wheelchair users’ access to life-circle services. Moreover, this decay is not homogeneously distributed but is highly contingent on the topological role of road segments, exhibiting observed spatial patterns such as skeletal network collapse, critical entrance blockages, and isolated terminal resource clusters. The analysis elucidates how micro-level physical barriers are propagated through spatial connectivity, offering a new perspective for understanding impedance dynamics in existing urban slow-traffic environments. The results can inform precision interventions in pre-standard neighborhood renewal: critical bottleneck segments provide spatial targets for prioritizing resource allocation and context-specific strategies across communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Approaches in Geospatial Analysis and Modeling of Urban Environments)

19 pages, 2039 KB

Open AccessArticle

Computational–Experimental Characterization of Transcranial Magneto-Acoustic Stimulation for Dose-Efficient Neural Activation

by Ruxin Tan, Fangxuan Chu, Xin Wang, Xiaoqing Zhou, Ren Ma, Tao Yin, Haojun Fan and Zhipeng Liu

Brain Sci. 2026, 16(9), 973; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16090973 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Transcranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS) is an emerging multiphysics neuromodulation modality that introduces magneto-acoustically induced currents into ultrasound-based neural stimulation. However, how this coupled physical input is converted into neuronal recruitment and measurable biological responses remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to establish [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Transcranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS) is an emerging multiphysics neuromodulation modality that introduces magneto-acoustically induced currents into ultrasound-based neural stimulation. However, how this coupled physical input is converted into neuronal recruitment and measurable biological responses remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to establish a computational–experimental framework for quantifying TMAS-induced neural activation across stimulation dose, spike timing, and calcium-related response domains. Methods: The model combined ultrasound-induced membrane mechanics, charge-based neuronal electrophysiology, pressure-dependent calcium-current modulation, and a Lorentz-force-mediated current source for TMAS. Regular-spiking excitatory neurons and low-threshold-spiking inhibitory interneurons were simulated to estimate excitation thresholds, firing latency, and spike-pattern transitions. Two model-informed stimulation conditions were examined using in vitro calcium imaging, in vivo hippocampal fiber photometry, and c-Fos/microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) immunofluorescence. Results: TMAS reduced the half-maximal effective dose relative to transcranial ultrasound stimulation by 71.4–76.3% in regular spiking neurons and 51.5–58.2% in low-threshold spiking interneurons, while shortening firing latency and expanding burst-response domains. Experimentally, near-threshold TMAS produced larger peak calcium responses and greater c-Fos/MAP2 immunoreactivity than TUS. Conclusions: TMAS enhances neuronal responsiveness more efficiently than TUS by reducing excitation thresholds, improving spike-timing responses, and reshaping firing-pattern transitions. Consistent with the overall computational comparison, experimental measurements showed greater neuronal activation under TMAS than under TUS at matched ultrasound parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Computational Neuroscience, Neuroinformatics, and Neurocomputing)

34 pages, 1130 KB

Open AccessReview

Recent Research Trends on Social Robots in Higher Education: A Systematic Review

by Sebastián Matus, Sandra Cano and Carina González

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(18), 9123; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16189123 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is transforming higher education by enabling technologies that support teaching and learning. Among these, social robots have attracted increasing attention because their physical embodiment enables rich human–robot interactions beyond conventional digital systems. Despite growing research activity, evidence regarding their implementation in [...] Read more.

Artificial intelligence is transforming higher education by enabling technologies that support teaching and learning. Among these, social robots have attracted increasing attention because their physical embodiment enables rich human–robot interactions beyond conventional digital systems. Despite growing research activity, evidence regarding their implementation in higher education remains fragmented. This systematic literature review synthesizes recent evidence on the educational contexts, human–robot interaction designs, reported outcomes, and methodological characteristics of social robots in higher education. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, studies published between 2020 and 2025 were identified in Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore, resulting in a final corpus of 32 studies. Methodological quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), version 2018, to account for the heterogeneity of the included research designs. Findings indicate that social robots are primarily implemented in formal teaching settings using humanoid platforms, face-to-face multimodal interactions, and tutor-oriented roles. Reported outcomes extend beyond academic performance, with acceptance, engagement, motivation, and social presence among the most frequently investigated dimensions. However, the evidence remains dominated by short-term interventions and self-reported measures, limiting conclusions regarding sustained educational effects. Overall, the literature increasingly positions social robots as educational partners whose applications extend beyond instruction to social, motivational, and interactive dimensions of learning; however, stronger longitudinal and methodologically rigorous evidence is required to establish sustained educational effectiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human–Robot Interaction: Recent Advances in Theory, Methods and Applications)

19 pages, 695 KB

Open AccessReview

Recent Progress in Optimising Sustainable Energy Smart Grids Using Swarm Robotics: A Systematic Narrative Review

by Dimitris Ziouzios and Vayos Karayannis

Electronics 2026, 15(18), 4174; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15184174 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

This systematic narrative review examines recent advances in the application of swarm robotics and swarm intelligence to smart grid systems in the context of renewable energy sources. Smart grids represent a transformative paradigm in power systems, integrating advanced communication, monitoring, and control technologies [...] Read more.

This systematic narrative review examines recent advances in the application of swarm robotics and swarm intelligence to smart grid systems in the context of renewable energy sources. Smart grids represent a transformative paradigm in power systems, integrating advanced communication, monitoring, and control technologies to enhance the reliability, performance, and sustainability of power distribution. Swarm robotics, drawing inspiration from the collective behaviour of social insects, enables the coordination of numerous autonomous agents to carry out complex tasks in a decentralised, scalable, and fault-tolerant manner. Over the past decade, swarm intelligence approaches—including Particle Swarm Optimisation, Ant Colony Optimisation, and consensus-based distributed control—have emerged as promising methods for addressing smart grid challenges such as decentralised energy management, fault detection, infrastructure monitoring, and maintenance. This review was conducted through a two-stage systematic search of three databases (Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library; Web of Science was not accessible during the search period and was therefore excluded), which identified 54 primary studies meeting the full-text inclusion criteria, supplemented by 11 additional records located through hand-search, for a final corpus of 65 references. For each application domain (monitoring and inspection, energy distribution optimisation, fault detection and resilience, and cybersecurity and communication), we summarise the methodologies employed, the reported performance outcomes, and the evidence level of the available studies. We also analyse the scalability limits of current swarm approaches, communication constraints relevant to grid deployment, and the integration of swarm systems with existing SCADA and EMS infrastructure. The review identifies a significant gap between laboratory demonstrations and utility-scale deployment, and outlines priority directions for future research. Full article

36 pages, 7822 KB

Open AccessArticle

Trained Still Wins: Narrowing the Gap to Zero-Shot Video Anomaly Detection

by Preet Kanwal, Shylaja S. S and Prasad B. Honnavalli

Electronics 2026, 15(18), 4172; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15184172 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Video anomaly detection has two very different answers to the question of how a detector should acquire its notion of “normal” for a given camera: adapt its parameters to hours of normal footage recorded by that exact camera, or perform no target-scene adaptation [...] Read more.

Video anomaly detection has two very different answers to the question of how a detector should acquire its notion of “normal” for a given camera: adapt its parameters to hours of normal footage recorded by that exact camera, or perform no target-scene adaptation at all and rely on frozen, heavily pretrained backbones—a vision-language image–text model and a large language model applied to text descriptions of frames. We call the second setting target-scene-training-free: the backbones themselves are trained on very large general-purpose corpora, but no parameter is updated, fine-tuned, or transfer-learned on the target scene. That setting is far more convenient to deploy, but how much accuracy does it give up, and can any of that gap be closed without target-scene adaptation? We define an anomaly operationally, as a frame whose score under a scoring function

s (\cdot) \in [0, 1]

exceeds a threshold, and evaluate every system with one metric definition and one implementation: frame-level area under the ROC curve (AUC) and equal error rate (EER), computed over all ground-truth-labeled test frames of each benchmark. We train a simplified future-frame-prediction network—a U-Net optimized with an intensity and gradient-difference loss, with the optical-flow and adversarial terms of the original design removed—on the normal-only training split of UCSD Ped1, UCSD Ped2, and CUHK Avenue, reaching a mean AUC of 0.848. A target-scene-training-free system starts far behind at 0.567, because its semantic signal is dropped in practice: the vision-language model that would produce it is too slow to run over a full test set. We close this gap in three ways, all evaluated on full test sets: CLIP-Guided Semantic Grounding (CSG), Vision-Language Reasoning (VLR), and Statistically-Calibrated Semantic Grounding (SCSG). Our best method raises mean AUC to 0.653, closing roughly a third of the gap with no target-scene adaptation. The trained model nonetheless leads on every benchmark, and because it is deliberately simplified, the gap we report is a conservative lower bound on the gap a fully engineered trained model would show. We report every result honestly, including a prompt-sensitivity analysis showing how much of the training-free result depends on prompt wording, cases where a more sophisticated method did not beat a simpler one, and a measured explanation of why UCSD Ped1 is the weakest benchmark for the trained model. Full article

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31 pages, 3244 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Linear Topology-Aware Alignment Framework for Belt Conveyor Maintenance Knowledge Graph

by Xin Li, Yutong Wang, Cong Han and Ziming Kou

Sensors 2026, 26(18), 5833; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26185833 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

To address spatial confusion and semantic collapse in maintenance knowledge graph construction for long-distance belt conveyor systems, this study proposes a linear topology-aware alignment framework driven by large language models. The framework constructs a Physical–Space–Fault–Rule ontology and introduces a normalized linear topology mapping [...] Read more.

To address spatial confusion and semantic collapse in maintenance knowledge graph construction for long-distance belt conveyor systems, this study proposes a linear topology-aware alignment framework driven by large language models. The framework constructs a Physical–Space–Fault–Rule ontology and introduces a normalized linear topology mapping mechanism to assign unique spatial anchors to highly homogeneous components. For noisy and colloquial maintenance logs, a Condition–Constraint–Action–Space (CCAS) extraction mechanism is developed to reconstruct implicit fault causal chains and spatial information from unstructured text. To prevent erroneous merging of components with similar semantic descriptions but different physical locations, the LTA-Alignment algorithm integrates Gaussian topological penalties with LLM-based grey-zone arbitration. A structured gold-standard annotation protocol is further established using maintenance logs, BOM records, spatial anchors, and closed-loop repair evidence. Experiments over three predefined runs show that CCAS achieves a global F1-score of 94.10 ± 0.56%, exceeding T5 by 6.20 percentage points. LTA-Alignment achieves a Merge F1-score of 95.75 ± 0.53% and an entity cluster purity of 96.70 ± 0.53%, exceeding SCSA by 3.36 and 3.90 percentage points, respectively. In downstream fault traceability, the dynamic spatiotemporal knowledge graph achieves an Accuracy@1 of 92.78 ± 0.36%, 10.16 percentage points higher than R-GCN, together with an estimated 68.50 ± 0.73% reduction in rule-based simulated troubleshooting time relative to Keyword Retrieval. The results demonstrate that combining normalized spatial topology with LLM reasoning improves entity disambiguation, fault-causal reconstruction, and traceability performance under the evaluated non-branching belt conveyor maintenance setting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advanced Artificial Intelligence Solutions for Modern Engineering Applications)

51 pages, 1809 KB

Open AccessReview

From Donor to Discovery and Diagnosis: A Comprehensive 2026 Review of International Biobanking Guidelines Underpinning Molecular Pathology-Driven Cancer Diagnostics, with a Practical Roadmap for Establishing a New Biobank

by Andreea-Adriana Neamțu, Robert Barna, Alon Vigdorovits, Iulian-Andrei Hotinceanu, Mihaela-Mirela Muresan, Andrei-Vasile Pascalau and Ovidiu-Laurean Pop

Cancers 2026, 18(18), 2974; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18182974 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Molecular pathology-driven oncologic diagnostics—genomic profiling, transcriptomics, proteomics, and, increasingly, artificial intelligence applied to tissue and liquid biopsy—can only be as accurate as the biospecimens on which they are performed. Biobanks are the infrastructures that secure this foundation, linking donors, biological samples, and data [...] Read more.

Molecular pathology-driven oncologic diagnostics—genomic profiling, transcriptomics, proteomics, and, increasingly, artificial intelligence applied to tissue and liquid biopsy—can only be as accurate as the biospecimens on which they are performed. Biobanks are the infrastructures that secure this foundation, linking donors, biological samples, and data to discovery and, through the pathology interface, back to diagnosis. Their scientific and diagnostic value, however, is determined less by the number of specimens stored than by the rigor of the guidelines under which those specimens are collected, processed, annotated, governed, and shared. The normative landscape has changed considerably in the last three years: the ISBER Best Practices reached their fifth edition (2023), the NCI Best Practices were comprehensively revised (2026), the Standard PREanalytical Code (SPREC) was updated to version 4.0 (2024/2025), MIABIS Core reached version 3.0 (2024), the 2024 revision of the Declaration of Helsinki explicitly anchored biobank governance to the Declaration of Taipei, the European Health Data Space Regulation (EU) 2025/327 entered into force, and ISO 20387—the accreditation standard for biobanks—is undergoing its first full revision. This review synthesizes the current (2026) status of international biobanking standards, ethical and legal frameworks, pre-analytical and quality management requirements, data and interoperability standards, and sustainability models, drawing on more than 200 sources with emphasis on the 2023–2026 literature. Standards are presented not as an inventory but as an operational system, organized along the biobanking workflow from donor consent to sample distribution and impact tracking. On this basis, we propose a phased, guideline-anchored roadmap and a start-up checklist to help new teams establish a real-world biobank—particularly hospital-integrated biobanks in settings without a mature national biobanking infrastructure—and we review comprehensively the financial, operational, regulatory, and societal challenges that determine whether a new biobank thrives or stalls. Particular attention is given to the specimen classes and quality controls on which molecular tumor diagnostics depend—FFPE tissue and its sequencing artifacts, fresh-frozen tissue, liquid biopsy analytes, and DV200-gated derivative quality—and to the interface between research biobanking and the accredited diagnostic laboratory, which is set out explicitly because the two are governed by different standards. We further provide explicit, endpoint-specific operational control of warm and cold ischemia, a quality-control framework for advanced patient-derived models (xenografts and organoids) and their interface with dedicated model cores, an explicit statement of the evidence underlying the practical recommendations, and a dedicated limitations section. The review is intended as a reference piece for biobankers, pathologists, clinician-researchers, quality managers, and institutional decision-makers building the biobanks on which the coming decade of precision oncology will depend. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Pathology-Driven Approaches to Improve Cancer Diagnostic Accuracy)

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17 pages, 1721 KB

Open AccessArticle

Kinetic and Interfacial Aspects of Bi(III) Ion Electroreduction in the Presence of Acetonitrile and 2-Thiouracil

by Alicja Natalia Pawlak, Agnieszka Nosal-Wiercińska, Robert Pietrzak, Sebastian Grzyb and Selehattin Yilmaz

Molecules 2026, 31(18), 3260; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31183260 - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Both bulk solution properties and the molecular organisation of the electrode/solution interface may influence the kinetics and reversibility of an electrode process. In this study, the effects of acetonitrile (ACN) and 2-thiouracil (2-TU) in an acidic perchlorate medium on the electroreduction of Bi(III) [...] Read more.

Both bulk solution properties and the molecular organisation of the electrode/solution interface may influence the kinetics and reversibility of an electrode process. In this study, the effects of acetonitrile (ACN) and 2-thiouracil (2-TU) in an acidic perchlorate medium on the electroreduction of Bi(III) ions were investigated. A cyclically renewable liquid silver amalgam film electrode (R-AgLAFE) was used as the working electrode as an alternative to classical mercury electrodes. Direct current polarography (DC), square-wave voltammetry (SWV), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and differential capacitance measurements were used. Increasing the ACN content from 0_(v/v) to 50%_(v/v) decreased the current response, D_ox, and effective kinetic parameters α and k_s,app while increasing ΔE_p, indicating decreased apparent reversibility of the electrode process. The addition of 2-TU caused a pronounced increase in the SWV peak current and a decrease in the difference between the anodic and cathodic peak potentials. In the 50%_(v/v) ACN solution, the accelerating effect was weakest at the highest 2-TU concentration. The differential capacitance measurements provided evidence consistent with significant reorganisation of the interfacial layer. Overall, the observed acceleration associated with 2-TU is consistent with adsorption-dependent interfacial effects and the possible participation of labile Bi(III)–2-TU-associated species in the near-electrode region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in European Electrochemistry)

23 pages, 11127 KB

Open AccessArticle

Progressive Fine-Tuning and Adaptive Dual-Path Evidence Augmentation Framework for Industrial Equipment Maintenance

by Yuhang Zeng, Ping Lou, Tianren Ming, Ruochen Gao and Jianmin Hu

Machines 2026, 14(9), 1044; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines14091044 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Industrial equipment-maintenance knowledge is scattered across technical manuals, historical work orders, and field experience. Rapidly retrieving these heterogeneous sources and generating accurate guidance are essential to reducing downtime losses and ensuring operational safety. General-purpose large language models perform well in open-domain question answering, [...] Read more.

Industrial equipment-maintenance knowledge is scattered across technical manuals, historical work orders, and field experience. Rapidly retrieving these heterogeneous sources and generating accurate guidance are essential to reducing downtime losses and ensuring operational safety. General-purpose large language models perform well in open-domain question answering, but their pretraining corpora lack industrial maintenance terminology and diagnostic reasoning patterns, causing severe mistakes in direct applications. Semantic-similarity-based retrieval-augmented generation can introduce domain knowledge to reduce hallucinations, yet it cannot preserve causal direction and procedural-order constraints. This limitation can logically misalign retrieved evidence and misguide maintenance decisions. Field queries also vary in wording and information completeness and often contain equipment abbreviations, colloquial transcriptions, and omitted key details, making fixed retrieval and response strategies unreliable. Our framework combines progressive fine-tuning with dual-path evidence fusion. A perplexity-driven sample-difficulty partition organizes two-stage fine-tuning so that the model learns basic domain knowledge before complex diagnostic reasoning, mitigating domain hallucinations. Parallel knowledge-graph and vector retrieval uses graph topology to preserve recorded relation directions and source procedures to supply operating-sequence information. A three-level router driven by retrieval necessity and entity-matching status selects direct answering, vector retrieval, or joint graph–vector retrieval for queries with different levels of information completeness. Independent tests, noisy-query experiments, and blinded expert evaluation show improved answer accuracy, logical consistency, and noise robustness. Relative to the base model, two-stage fine-tuning improves BLEU and ROUGE by approximately 14% and 7%, respectively. The results indicate that progressive domain learning and structured external evidence can provide reliable decision support for industrial equipment maintenance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Manufacturing)

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29 pages, 1898 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Embedded Software Contribution Under Data Scarcity: An Improved Grey PCA and GRA Framework

by Tian Meng and Guoping Jiang

Electronics 2026, 15(18), 4173; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15184173 - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

With the intelligent and digital upgrading of modern industrial system operation modes, software, as the core carrier of intelligent system equipment, has shown increasingly prominent application value. The traditional cost-based pricing and evaluation system for system software fails to effectively quantify its innovative [...] Read more.

With the intelligent and digital upgrading of modern industrial system operation modes, software, as the core carrier of intelligent system equipment, has shown increasingly prominent application value. The traditional cost-based pricing and evaluation system for system software fails to effectively quantify its innovative value and intellectual attribute contributions, which makes it necessary to establish a performance-oriented comprehensive evaluation model. Aiming at the defects of existing contribution rate evaluation methods in small sample size and heterogeneous system assessment scenarios, this paper proposes a software contribution rate evaluation method based on grey correlation analysis and improved grey principal component analysis. The proposed method first screens core characteristic indicators via grey correlation analysis, adopts the improved grey principal component analysis algorithm to realize dimensionality reduction of high-dimensional characteristic data, and takes the grey correlation degree between principal components and system performance indicators as the weight to complete the quantitative calculation of the software contribution rate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Industrial Electronics)

34 pages, 4146 KB

Open AccessArticle

Reliability Analysis of High-Speed Train Running on Embankment in Crosswind Environment

by Yunfeng Zou, Tian Zhang and Jiawei Jiao

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(18), 9122; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16189122 - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

The aerodynamic calculation model of a high-speed train on the embankment under crosswind is built according to computational fluid dynamic (CFD) theory in order to obtain the aerodynamic forces on the train, and the running process of a high-speed train on the embankment [...] Read more.

The aerodynamic calculation model of a high-speed train on the embankment under crosswind is built according to computational fluid dynamic (CFD) theory in order to obtain the aerodynamic forces on the train, and the running process of a high-speed train on the embankment is simulated on basis of multi-body dynamic theory. Furthermore, the crosswind aerodynamic performance and running reliability of a high-speed train on the embankment are studied. Considering the randomness of wind load, the influence of the embankment height, the embankment slope coefficient and the position of the upper/lower wind line, the aerodynamic characteristics of the train are analyzed. At the same time, taking the aerodynamic load as input, considering the different embankment heights, slope coefficients, mean wind velocities and train speeds, the change rules of failure probability for train operation with embankment height, train speed and wind velocity are analyzed, and then the probabilistic characteristic wind curve of the train and running safety area for the train under different embankment heights are obtained. The results show that the aerodynamic coefficients of the train gradually increase as the embankment height increases. When the embankment slope coefficient is the same, the absolute value of aerodynamic factor of the leading car is the largest. The aerodynamic factor of the train running on the downwind line is higher than on the upwind line. If the failure probability is given, the maximum operating speed of the train when the wind speed reaches a certain value can be determined through the probabilistic characteristic wind curve. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Civil Engineering)

20 pages, 1094 KB

Open AccessArticle

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of the Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Needs Measure (CaSUN) in Russian- and Kazakh-Speaking Cancer Survivors in Kazakhstan

by Gulnar Karabasova, Kerbez Kimatova, Nurgul Abenova, Anar Tulyayeva, Zalika Klemenc-Ketiš and Perizat Aitmaganbet

Healthcare 2026, 14(18), 3012; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14183012 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The growing population of cancer survivors has increased the need for reliable, culturally appropriate instruments to identify unmet supportive care needs. The Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Needs Measure (CaSUN) is a survivorship-specific assessment tool, but validated Russian and Kazakh versions have not previously [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: The growing population of cancer survivors has increased the need for reliable, culturally appropriate instruments to identify unmet supportive care needs. The Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Needs Measure (CaSUN) is a survivorship-specific assessment tool, but validated Russian and Kazakh versions have not previously been available. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt CaSUN, evaluate its psychometric properties in cancer survivors in Kazakhstan, and examine unmet needs relevant to survivorship care. Methods: This cross-sectional psychometric validation study included 404 cancer survivors (Russian version, n = 201; Kazakh version, n = 203). Translation and cultural adaptation involved forward- and back-translation, expert review, cognitive debriefing, and pilot testing. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Construct validity was evaluated using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), with measurement invariance examined across language versions. Unmet needs and associated demographic and clinical factors were also examined. Results: Both versions demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: Russian = 0.966; Kazakh = 0.978). KMO values were 0.920 and 0.940, respectively (Bartlett’s tests, p < 0.001). EFA yielded a five-factor solution explaining 68.1% and 64.2% of the variance in the Russian and Kazakh versions, respectively; however, parallel analysis supported five factors in the Russian sample but suggested three in the Kazakh sample, indicating greater structural uncertainty for the Kazakh version. CFA demonstrated good incremental fit in both language groups (Russian: CFI = 0.975, TLI = 0.973; Kazakh: CFI = 0.973, TLI = 0.971), although RMSEA (0.096 and 0.102, respectively) and SRMR (0.116 and 0.099, respectively) indicated residual model misfit. Metric invariance was supported, while scalar invariance was supported by conventional fit index criteria but should be regarded as provisional. The most frequent unmet needs concerned medical care, up-to-date information, and involvement in health management. Younger age, male sex, urban residence, a history of cancer recurrence, and Kazakh language completion were independently associated with more unmet needs. Conclusions: The Russian and Kazakh CaSUN versions demonstrated high internal consistency and evidence supporting construct validity and cross-language comparability. These culturally adapted versions may support systematic needs assessment and patient-centered survivorship care in multilingual oncology services in Kazakhstan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Public Health and Preventive Medicine)

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29 pages, 1069 KB

Open AccessArticle

Towards a Standardized BIM Manager Profile: Comparative Review Across Economies with Varied Digital Construction Policies: A Case Study of the Polish BIM Labor Market

by Jarosław Górecki, Sara Jurska, Abdullah Emre Keleş and Mümine Kaya Keleş

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(18), 9121; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16189121 - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become a key driver of digital transformation in the construction sector, increasing the demand for professionals capable of managing BIM-enabled projects across their entire life cycle. However, despite the growing importance of the BIM Manager (BIMM), there is [...] Read more.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become a key driver of digital transformation in the construction sector, increasing the demand for professionals capable of managing BIM-enabled projects across their entire life cycle. However, despite the growing importance of the BIM Manager (BIMM), there is still no widely accepted competency framework applicable across different regulatory and market contexts. This study aims to identify the core competencies required of BIM Managers operating in countries with different digital construction policies and to evaluate the extent to which the Polish labour market and educational system align with international expectations. A qualitative comparative approach was adopted, combining a narrative literature review, an analysis of 48 job advertisements from 6 countries representing different BIM policy and implementation contexts, with 8 advertisements analysed per country, and an exploratory qualitative comparative study of selected Polish academic and professional educational programs. To complement the qualitative approach, an auxiliary text frequency analysis was conducted by extracting the most frequently occurring post-related vocabulary from the analysed job advertisements. The extracted terms were subsequently grouped into broader competency domains to support the interpretation of employer expectations. The results demonstrate that employer expectations are remarkably consistent and extend beyond technical BIM expertise to include leadership, communication, information management, and strategic decision-making competencies. The auxiliary text frequency analysis confirmed the consistency of the qualitative findings by demonstrating that the most frequently occurring competency-related terms could be meaningfully interpreted within four complementary categories: Technical BIM Competencies, Managerial & Operational Competencies, Information & Data Management Competencies, and Behavioral (Soft) Competencies. In addition, prospective Emerging Digital Competencies are discussed as a future-oriented conceptual extension reflecting the ongoing digital transformation of BIM practice. Although Poland represents an emerging BIM market without mandatory BIM implementation in public procurement, its labour market and educational offers largely reflect international competency expectations. The identified competency domains provide a foundation for developing a standardized BIM Manager profile and support future efforts toward harmonizing higher education, professional certification, and industry practice in digitally transforming construction markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Twin and AI in Construction and Urban Sustainability)

31 pages, 3272 KB

Open AccessArticle

Decentralized-to-Centralized Transition of Yibin’s Camphora longepaniculata Essential Oil Processing Industry: A Scenario-Based LEAP Case Study of Energy and Pollution–Carbon Co-Benefits

by Yan Xie, Yulin Zhang, Shulin Pan and Jinlei Chen

Atmosphere 2026, 17(9), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17090897 - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Traditional household-based decentralized agro-processing is an important source of air pollution in rural China, yet the pollution–carbon co-benefits of centralization remain poorly quantified. In this paper, a LEAP-based scenario framework (2018–2035) is developed for Yibin’s Camphora longepaniculata essential oil processing industry under four [...] Read more.

Traditional household-based decentralized agro-processing is an important source of air pollution in rural China, yet the pollution–carbon co-benefits of centralization remain poorly quantified. In this paper, a LEAP-based scenario framework (2018–2035) is developed for Yibin’s Camphora longepaniculata essential oil processing industry under four scenarios: baseline, policy (27% centralization share), enhanced scenario 1 (ENH1; 50% centralization share), and enhanced scenario 2 (ENH2; 50% centralization share with a 2% efficiency retrofit). The framework simulates energy demand and emissions of CO₂, PM₁₀, SO₂, NOx, and VOCs based on specified emission factors and technological assumptions. The results indicate that centralization reduces unit energy consumption by 51.20% and CO₂ intensity by 63.12%. The 27% penetration rate (current policy) lowers emission levels but cannot alter the growth trajectory during output expansion, whereas the 50% penetration rate achieves net CO₂ and energy reductions of 31.56% and 25.60%, respectively, relative to the baseline. All pollutants exhibit synergy elasticity coefficients (ε) above unity (PM₁₀ > SO₂ > VOCs > NOx); these coefficients are governed by the emission factor structure rather than the penetration rate. Thus, scaling centralization drives absolute reductions, whereas co-benefit enhancement requires process or end-of-pipe upgrades. All of the reported results are scenario-based model outputs, not field measurements, and biogenic CO₂ is included only for cross-scenario comparability, not as a climate impact claim. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)

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29 pages, 2666 KB

Open AccessArticle

Human–AI Creative Collaboration as a Socio-Technical System: Perceptions of AI Tool Features, Perceived Control, Perceived Collaboration, and Designers’ Creative Self-Efficacy

by Yuzhuo Zhang, Rui Yang and Qianling Jiang

Systems 2026, 14(9), 1150; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14091150 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

As AIGC becomes increasingly embedded in design practice, the relationship between designers and AI is shifting from tool use toward sustained creative collaboration. Drawing on socio-technical systems theory, affordance theory, and self-efficacy theory, this study examines how five perceived AI tool features—Customizability, Self-Learning [...] Read more.

As AIGC becomes increasingly embedded in design practice, the relationship between designers and AI is shifting from tool use toward sustained creative collaboration. Drawing on socio-technical systems theory, affordance theory, and self-efficacy theory, this study examines how five perceived AI tool features—Customizability, Self-Learning Capability, Explainability, Intelligent Feedback, and Emotional Support—are associated with designers’ Perceived Control, Perceived Collaboration, and Creative Self-Efficacy. Survey data from 461 design professionals with experience in AI-assisted design were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) to test structural associations and indirect effects, and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify configurations associated with high Creative Self-Efficacy. Perceived Control and Perceived Collaboration were both positively associated with Creative Self-Efficacy, but the five AI tool features exhibited distinct patterns. Customizability was associated primarily with Perceived Control, Intelligent Feedback primarily with Perceived Collaboration, and Self-Learning Capability, Explainability, and Emotional Support with both evaluations. The fsQCA results further showed that high Creative Self-Efficacy corresponded to multiple configurations rather than a single unique configuration and that Explainability was a core condition across multiple high-level configurations. These findings indicate differentiated relationships between AI tool features and designers’ control and collaborative experiences; these experiences were in turn associated with Creative Self-Efficacy. By distinguishing the functional roles of AI tool features, two related but distinct psychological evaluations, and multiple configurations, the study advances understanding of human–AI creative collaboration and complements existing human–AI team research from an individual-level perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-AI (H-AI) Teams: Designing for Human-AI Interactions)

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23 pages, 21855 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Discriminative PCR Assay Enabling Differentiation of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ Subgroups 16SrXII-A and -P

by Rafael Toth, Nadine Fluck, Johannes Ritz, Mark Varrelmann and Michael Kube

Plants 2026, 15(18), 2823; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15182823 - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Phytoplasmosis associated with the ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ subgroups 16SrXII-A and 16SrXII-P (Mollicutes) poses a threat to European sugar beet cultivation, alongside the “basses richesses” syndrome caused by ‘Ca. Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’ (Gammaproteobacteria). Both subgroups co-occur in sugar beet and have been [...] Read more.

Phytoplasmosis associated with the ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ subgroups 16SrXII-A and 16SrXII-P (Mollicutes) poses a threat to European sugar beet cultivation, alongside the “basses richesses” syndrome caused by ‘Ca. Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’ (Gammaproteobacteria). Both subgroups co-occur in sugar beet and have been detected in Pentastiridius leporinus, a polyphagous planthopper associated with SBR-affected fields. Despite ongoing monitoring of disease spread and pathogen characterization, approaches for direct subgroup differentiation remain limited. Consequently, discriminative conventional PCR assays targeting secY were developed, with detection limits estimated using synthetic gene fragments. Assay performance was assessed using 900 DNA templates from sugar beet from Germany and neighboring countries, 50 German red beet samples, and 320 planthoppers. Distinct amplicon sizes of 549 bp and 857 bp enabled reliable detection and differentiation of 16SrXII-A and 16SrXII-P, respectively. Detection rates were broadly concordant with those obtained using an established phytoplasma detection approach. Estimated detection limits were 100 target copies for 16SrXII-A and 1000 for 16SrXII-P. Assay application indicated more frequent detection of 16SrXII-P in samples from Germany and of 16SrXII-A in those from neighboring countries. The assays provide a rapid and accessible tool for subgroup differentiation and may facilitate large-scale epidemiological surveillance and future studies of host tolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostics and Monitoring of Plant Diseases)

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44 pages, 3926 KB

Open AccessArticle

Design of Real-Time Browser-Based Platform for Thermohydraulic Characterization of a Laboratory Heat Exchanger Using PolyVR

by Vasil Hristov, Nely Georgieva, Petko Tsankov and Victor Häfner

Computers 2026, 15(9), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/computers15090618 - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

This paper presents a real-time browser-based platform for thermohydraulic characterization of a compact laboratory heating system, developed using the PolyVR research-grade virtual reality engine. Experimental measurements are retrieved at 1 Hz from a cloud-based database and processed via browser-native computational framework that continuously [...] Read more.

This paper presents a real-time browser-based platform for thermohydraulic characterization of a compact laboratory heating system, developed using the PolyVR research-grade virtual reality engine. Experimental measurements are retrieved at 1 Hz from a cloud-based database and processed via browser-native computational framework that continuously performs thermophysical modeling, hydraulic analysis and energy balance evaluation. The system calculates the rate of heat transfer (h), overall heat transfer coefficient (U), dimensionless numbers (Re, Pr, Gr, Nu), pump performance, heater efficiency and cumulative thermal energy. PolyVR provides the immersive environment in which the partial digital twin functionality is integrated alongside the browser-based thermohydraulic calculations. The whole system includes support for animations regarding flow diagrams, valve state indicators, thermal field visualization and manipulation of system elements. The system architecture is designed to work on desktops, head-mounted devices, as well as in CAVE (cave automatic virtual environment) systems with remote connection made possible via using ngrok tunnels. The experiments were separated into three categories (steady-state, dynamic and validation). Steady-state and dynamic datasets show that the browser computation with PolyVR achieves high-fidelity thermohydraulic analysis similar to that done in laboratory settings. The steady-state and transient datasets illustrate that browser-based computation provides highly accurate thermohydraulic simulation close to that of the laboratory reference computations. For all experiments performed on the platform, the deviation of measurements does not exceed ±0.5 K in temperature, ±5% in flow rate and ±1% in pressure. The energy balance is closed with a deviation of ±2–3%. Full article

21 pages, 2038 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dimensionally Consistent Torsional-Stiffness Modeling for Long Flexible Wind-Turbine Blades Using the Variational Asymptotic Method

by Long Wang, Zizhen Zhao, Chengfeng Li, Xilai Li, Meilin Wang and Tongguang Wang

Energies 2026, 19(18), 4356; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19184356 - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

With the increasing size of wind turbines and the trend toward longer and more flexible blades, the aeroelastic response of blades has become significant. To achieve efficient and high-fidelity modeling, a new approach is required. In this study, a parametric two-dimensional cross-sectional model [...] Read more.

With the increasing size of wind turbines and the trend toward longer and more flexible blades, the aeroelastic response of blades has become significant. To achieve efficient and high-fidelity modeling, a new approach is required. In this study, a parametric two-dimensional cross-sectional model is developed based on the Variational Asymptotic Method, retaining Saint-Venant free warping. Vlasov theory is incorporated to add the warping-rigidity term associated with longitudinal variation in the torsion rate to the energy functional, thereby representing non-uniform-warping energy. To address the taper effect in variable-section blade structures, dimensionally consistent offset- and gradient-dependent correction terms are introduced through Tapered Beam Modification (TBM) to establish an expression for tapered torsional stiffness. Numerical results are presented for a tapered beam, a uniform composite beam, and the NH1500 blade; the method is then applied to the IEA 15-MW blade. The results show that, for the tapered beam, TBM reduces the deviation in the global frequency-equivalent stiffness from 4.2% to 2.1%, while for the IEA 15-MW application the peak sectional correction is 3.88% at x = 0.320 and the first torsional frequency differs by 5.21% between the two reduced-order models. The reported time-domain and AEP differences quantify sensitivity to the structural model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section A3: Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy)

21 pages, 3786 KB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Transformations of Metals in a Hypersaline Mediterranean Agricultural Wetland (Laguna Honda, South Spain)

by Antonio Medina-Ruiz, Juan Jiménez-Millán, Isabel Abad and Rosario Jiménez-Espinosa

Toxics 2026, 14(9), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14090818 - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

This study investigated the biogeochemical processes governing heavy metal sequestration in Laguna Honda, a hypersaline Mediterranean wetland affected by intensive olive cultivation located in the Guadalquivir Basin River (S Spain). A network of sediment samples was analyzed from the wetland using X-ray fluorescence, [...] Read more.

This study investigated the biogeochemical processes governing heavy metal sequestration in Laguna Honda, a hypersaline Mediterranean wetland affected by intensive olive cultivation located in the Guadalquivir Basin River (S Spain). A network of sediment samples was analyzed from the wetland using X-ray fluorescence, ICP-MS, and high-resolution electron microscopy (FESEM/HRTEM). Geochemical data were treated with statistical factor analysis. Sediments show significant enrichment of Cu, Hg, and Au due to anthropogenic agrochemical treatments. Mineralogical characterization revealed authigenic pyrite framboids and metallic sulfide nanoparticles (CuS and HgS) within organic-rich sediments, where sequestration is primarily probably driven by the metabolic activity of sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRMs) under reducing conditions. Additionally, Au enrichment is attributed to mechanical transport and coagulation of pesticide-derived nanoparticles, exhibiting a distinct geochemical correlation with rare earth elements (REEs). We concluded that hypersaline wetlands act as critical environmental sinks, where microbial activity, high organic matter content, and detrital transportation interact to facilitate the immobilization and stabilization of toxic trace elements through the precipitation of low-solubility sulfide phases (Cu and Hg) and the mechanical accumulation of nanoparticles (Au). Full article

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19 pages, 4851 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Ru on Interfacial Re Segregation and Low-Cycle Fatigue Behavior of NiAlRe and NiAlReRu Model Superalloys

by Youbei Sun, Keman Liu, Jianjiang Zhao, Xiufang Gong, Bin Long, Yubing Pei, Wei Wang, Juanqiang Ding and Hua Wei

Metals 2026, 16(9), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16091023 - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

The effects of Ru on Re segregation and low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior were investigated in two model single-crystal superalloys, Ni-8.5Al-4Re and Ni-8.5Al-4Re-2Ru (wt.%). Microstructural morphology, elemental distribution, fatigue deformation behavior, and dislocation structures were systematically compared, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were [...] Read more.

The effects of Ru on Re segregation and low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior were investigated in two model single-crystal superalloys, Ni-8.5Al-4Re and Ni-8.5Al-4Re-2Ru (wt.%). Microstructural morphology, elemental distribution, fatigue deformation behavior, and dislocation structures were systematically compared, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to examine the associated atomic and electronic effects. The results show that Re segregates at the γ′/γ interface in both alloys, whereas the addition of 2 wt.% Ru reduces the extent of interfacial Re segregation. The Gibbsian interfacial excess of Re decreases from 18.19 ± 1.75 to 11.42 ± 0.01 atom nm⁻², while the maximum interfacial Re concentration ratio decreases from 1.36 ± 0.01 to 1.17 ± 0.02 after Ru addition. DFT calculations further show that Re increases the unstable stacking-fault energy of the γ′/γ interface by 10.34% relative to the unalloyed interface, whereas the corresponding increase is 5.05% in the Re–Ru co-doped system. Fatigue-deformed NiAlRe exhibits interfacial dislocation networks along the γ′/γ interfaces, whereas more extensive dislocation penetration into the γ′ precipitates is observed in NiAlReRu. At a strain amplitude of 0.6%, the Ru-containing alloy exhibits a lower cyclic stress response and more pronounced crack initiation and coalescence. These results show that Ru modifies the interfacial segregation behavior of Re and is associated with changes in the post-fatigue dislocation structures and high-temperature LCF response of the model superalloys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Entropic Alloys and Meta-Metals)

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17 pages, 1926 KB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical, Microbiological and Genomic Characterization of OXA-48-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST395 Circulating in a Secondary-Care Hospital in North-Eastern Italy, 2024–2025

by Simone Giuliano, Chiara Moreal, Michela Bulfoni, Jacopo Angelini, Valeria Fox, Nicolò Gualandi, Cinzia Lombardo, Francesco Curcio, Corrado Pipan, Carlo Federico Perno, Francesco Serino, Paolo Cesselli, Carlo Tascini and Paolo Gaibani

Antibiotics 2026, 15(9), 906; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15090906 (registering DOI) - 14 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the epidemiology, resistance, virulence determinants, and genomic relatedness of OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a secondary-care hospital in north-eastern Italy, and to assess the in vitro activity of cefepime-based β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the epidemiology, resistance, virulence determinants, and genomic relatedness of OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a secondary-care hospital in north-eastern Italy, and to assess the in vitro activity of cefepime-based β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of consecutive, non-duplicate isolates (September 2024–January 2025). Susceptibility testing was performed using VITEK^® 2 and MIC TestStrip. All isolates underwent single-read Nanopore whole-genome sequencing, with assembly and in silico detection of resistance genes, porin alterations, plasmid replicons and virulence loci. Core-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis with recombination filtering assessed genetic relatedness. Results: Thirteen isolates were recovered from elderly, highly comorbid inpatients, mainly from urine (46.2%) and rectal/fecal screening (38.5%). Twelve patients were classified as colonized, whereas one patient had an infection due to OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae, with the organism recovered from both blood and urine cultures. All belonged to sequence type 395 and carried blaOXA-48 and blaCTX-M-15, together with a truncated OmpK35 and an OmpK36 loop-3 GD insertion. The yersiniabactin locus ybt16 within integrative conjugative element ICEKp12 was detected in 92.3% of isolates. Core-genome analysis showed high genomic similarity among isolates, consistent with local circulation of an ST395 lineage. Although yersiniabactin may contribute to iron acquisition and bacterial fitness, its presence alone does not establish a hypervirulent phenotype or predict clinical virulence. In the absence of aerobactin, salmochelin, rmpADC, and rmpA2, and without phenotypic virulence testing, these isolates should be regarded as yersiniabactin-positive but non-hypervirulent based on their genomic profile. Core-genome analysis indicated close genetic relatedness among the isolates, consistent with possible local clonal circulation. In a subset, cefepime/enmetazobactam and especially cefepime/zidebactam substantially reduced cefepime minimum inhibitory concentrations. Conclusions: We identified a multidrug-resistant OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae ST395 lineage circulating locally, predominantly in colonization contexts. Active screening and genomic surveillance may support infection control and inform the potential role of emerging cefepime-based inhibitor combinations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Antibiotics Use and Antimicrobial Stewardship)

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