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36 pages, 4163 KB  
Article
A Unified Superelliptic Framework for the Differential Geometry of Gielis Transformations
by Zehra Özdemir, Esra Parlak and Johan Gielis
Axioms 2026, 15(5), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms15050325 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
The Gielis superformula is a powerful parametric tool that generates an infinite variety of natural and organic curves and surfaces through a compact set of parameters. However, classical differential geometry has lacked a unified framework for analyzing their curvature, torsion, and intrinsic geometric [...] Read more.
The Gielis superformula is a powerful parametric tool that generates an infinite variety of natural and organic curves and surfaces through a compact set of parameters. However, classical differential geometry has lacked a unified framework for analyzing their curvature, torsion, and intrinsic geometric properties. This study addresses this gap by developing a novel superelliptic geometric framework that integrates the superformula with the differential geometry of curves and surfaces. We define the superelliptic inner and cross products, the star derivative, and the superelliptic Frenet frame to extend Euclidean and Riemannian interpretations of curvature and torsion to a more flexible parametric structure. The framework provides a uniform geometric characterization of all Gielis curves and surfaces in an intrinsic sense with respect to the proposed superelliptic metric, rather than relying on their classical Euclidean parametric representations; singular cases (e.g., n1<2), which correspond to non-smooth or corner-like behavior in the Euclidean setting due to degeneracies in the radial function r(t), are regularized within this framework, since the induced metric maps such Gielis-type curves to intrinsically circular geometries with constant superelliptic curvature. This unifies the entire family under a common, robust foundation while preserving orthonormality and differentiability. This superelliptic approach offers a consistent and computationally tractable model that bridges mathematical abstraction with real-world morphology, with the superformula serving as a representative example of the framework’s broad generality for diverse geometric structures. The proposed theoretical framework is further supported by computational visualization, and all figures and numerical illustrations presented in this study were generated using MATLAB R2024a, ensuring a consistent implementation of the proposed superelliptic model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Differential Geometry and Singularity Theory, 2nd Edition)
19 pages, 1709 KB  
Article
Establishment and Validation of a Cell-Based Relative Potency Method for Respiratory Syncytial Virus mRNA Vaccine Drug Substance
by Shifeng Zheng, XiaoQin Zhang, WenHua Li and Hui Zhao
Vaccines 2026, 14(5), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14050401 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Background: An accurate, sensitive, and robust potency assay is essential for the quality control of mRNA drug substances, which are characterized by complex manufacturing processes, intricate molecular structures, and high susceptibility to degradation. Currently, mRNA vaccine manufacturers use a variety of biological potency [...] Read more.
Background: An accurate, sensitive, and robust potency assay is essential for the quality control of mRNA drug substances, which are characterized by complex manufacturing processes, intricate molecular structures, and high susceptibility to degradation. Currently, mRNA vaccine manufacturers use a variety of biological potency assays, often without systematic method development or rigorous evaluation. As a result, these assays may lack sufficient accuracy and robustness, making it difficult to reliably distinguish mRNA drug substance samples with different potency levels. Therefore, there is a need for a standardized, robust, and reliable potency assay for the evaluation of mRNA drug substance samples across a range of potencies. Methods: In this study, we developed a cell-based relative potency assay for a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) mRNA drug substance encoding an engineered prefusion (PreF) form of the RSV type A (RSV-A) F protein, a recognized target for RSV vaccine development. The RSV mRNA drug substance was complexed with transfection reagents and introduced into cells in vitro to enable expression of the RSV-A PreF protein, which was then quantified using a double-antibody sandwich ELISA. Results: Systematic optimization showed that cell line, cell density, transfection reagent, mRNA-to-transfection reagent ratios, and transfection duration all influenced assay performance. Under optimized conditions, the assay demonstrated acceptable accuracy and precision, with relative bias values ranging from −25% to 13% across the potency range of 44~156%, measured-to-expected ratios within 0.8~1.2, and relative standard deviations of 18% and 16% for intra- and inter-assay precision, respectively. Furthermore, the optimized potency assay effectively distinguished mRNA drug substance samples with varying potency levels. Conclusions: This study provides a useful functional complement to physicochemical characterization and supports quality control and batch-to-batch consistency of RSV mRNA drug substances. In addition, the development strategy may also serve as a useful reference for the establishment of in vitro potency assays for other mRNA drug substances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Development of mRNA Vaccines)
15 pages, 300 KB  
Article
Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections: Effectiveness and Safety
by Paloma Suárez-Casillas, Marta Mejías-Trueba, Iris Martínez Alemany, Lola Navarro Amuedo, Julia Praena Segovia, Arístides de Alarcón González, Rafael Luque Márquez, Zaira R. Palacios-Baena, Juan Manuel Carmona-Caballero, José Manuel Sánchez Oliva, María Victoria Gil-Navarro, Manuel García Gutiérrez, Laura Herrera-Hidalgo, Manuel Poyato Borrego, Luis E. López-Cortés and José M. Cisneros
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(5), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18050549 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Objective: Given the increasing use of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) and the clinical challenges posed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of OPAT for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections in a real-world cohort. Methods: [...] Read more.
Objective: Given the increasing use of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) and the clinical challenges posed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of OPAT for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections in a real-world cohort. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study with retrospective analysis including adult patients with P. aeruginosa infections treated within a multidisciplinary OPAT program shared by two tertiary hospitals between November 2012 and December 2024. Clinical characteristics, infection type, antimicrobial therapy, resistance patterns, source control, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Primary outcomes were treatment failure during OPAT and within 30 days after OPAT completion. Secondary outcomes included adverse events and vascular access complications. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with treatment failure. Results: A total of 290 patients were included. The most frequent infections were bronchiectasis exacerbations (39.7%) and complicated urinary tract infections (15.2%). Most patients received monotherapy (72.8%), mainly ceftazidime, while 27.2% received combination therapy with a beta-lactam plus an aminoglycoside. Treatment failure occurred in 7.6% of patients during OPAT and in 15.5% within 30 days after OPAT completion, with an overall clinical success rate of 77%. Male sex and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were independently associated with failure during OPAT. At 30 days, higher Charlson comorbidity index, COPD exacerbation, and endovascular infection were associated with failure, whereas combination therapy was associated with a lower risk of failure. Antimicrobial-related adverse events were rare (3.2%). Conclusions: Our results support OPAT as an effective and safe strategy for managing P. aeruginosa infections in clinically stable patients. Patients with COPD, either as a comorbidity or during an exacerbation, and those with a higher Charlson score may require closer follow-up. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Pharmaceutics)
19 pages, 1344 KB  
Article
Transient Increase in AT1R Expression at the Myocardial Infarct Site Is Associated with Early Fibrotic Remodeling in Infarcted Rat Heart
by Gergana O. Drumeva, Daniil R. Petrenyov, Cen Chen, Shant Der Sarkissian, François B. Tournoux, Nicolas Noiseux and Jean N. DaSilva
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 3999; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093999 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Myocardial infarction initiates complex remodeling processes involving the renin–angiotensin system, through activation of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R). This study correlated AT1R expression with fibrosis and cardiac function in the heart and kidneys following cardiac ischemic injury [...] Read more.
Myocardial infarction initiates complex remodeling processes involving the renin–angiotensin system, through activation of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R). This study correlated AT1R expression with fibrosis and cardiac function in the heart and kidneys following cardiac ischemic injury in animal models. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent Sham surgery, Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R, 20-min ligation) or Permanent Ligation (PL) of the left anterior descending artery. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. AT1R expression was measured in the heart (infarct and remote areas) and kidneys (cortex, medulla) via [125Iodine]Sarcosine1-Isoleucine8-Angiotensin II autoradiography. Collagen deposition was evaluated through picrosirius red staining. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction declined in PL models but remained stable following I/R. Post-I/R, a transient increase in cardiac AT1R (day-3 to week-5) correlated with an increase in collagen, whereas after PL, elevations persisted through week-12. Infarct areas consistently displayed higher AT1R and collagen than remote areas. Renal AT1R and collagen levels were unchanged across groups. In analyses with pooled animals, cardiac AT1R expression correlated with collagen and inversely correlated with LV Fractional Shortening (LVFS), whereas LVFS inversely correlated with collagen deposition. These findings suggest that cardiac AT1R levels may serve as a target of cardiac remodeling, while changes in renal AT1R appear less pronounced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Pharmacology)
15 pages, 1114 KB  
Article
Alterations in Dental Enamel Color and Surface Characteristics Following Plaque-Disclosing Agent Application and Prophylactic Procedures
by Ece Açıkgöz-Alparslan, Mediha Büyükgöze-Dindar and Meltem Tekbaş-Atay
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 4374; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16094374 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Plaque-disclosing agents are widely used to enhance visualization of dental biofilm. However, their chromogenic components may adhere to enamel surfaces, resulting in transient extrinsic discoloration. This study evaluated the extent and short-term recovery of such discoloration and compared three removal modalities in terms [...] Read more.
Plaque-disclosing agents are widely used to enhance visualization of dental biofilm. However, their chromogenic components may adhere to enamel surfaces, resulting in transient extrinsic discoloration. This study evaluated the extent and short-term recovery of such discoloration and compared three removal modalities in terms of enamel color change (CIEDE2000, ΔE00), surface roughness (Ra), and gloss (GU). Extracted human anterior teeth with intact buccal enamel were stained using an erythrosine-based disclosing agent and randomly allocated into three groups (n = 15): manual brushing with conventional toothpaste, rubber-cup polishing with a perlite-containing paste (1000 rpm, 5 s), or erythritol-based air-polishing (5 s; 50% power/100% water). ΔE00 was measured at baseline, immediately after cleaning, and after 1 week of storage in artificial saliva. Ra and GU were recorded at baseline and post-cleaning. Data were analyzed using appropriate tests (p < 0.05). All modalities were associated with a reduction in visible discoloration without significantly affecting Ra or GU (p > 0.05). Immediate ΔE00 values remained above commonly reported acceptability thresholds, indicating residual discoloration. Partial color recovery occurred after artificial saliva storage. Within the limitations of this study, the findings indicate no statistically significant differences among the tested procedures, without evidence of superiority of any single modality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Operative Dentistry)
33 pages, 12776 KB  
Article
Coordinated Multicellular Immune Programs and Drug Targets Revealed by Single-Cell Analysis in Driver-Mutated NSCLC
by Kuan Yang, Kaiyue Yang, Jiasi Wang, Hang Zhao, Wenqi Jiang, Depeng Mu, Xiao Peng, Yiming Yan, Xing Gao, Jing Bai, Congxue Hu, Yunpeng Zhang and Xia Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 3997; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093997 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Oncogenic driver mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) activate defined signaling pathways that sustain tumor growth and influence the immune landscape. Yet, how coordinated interactions among diverse cell populations within the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) contribute to this process remains largely unresolved. [...] Read more.
Oncogenic driver mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) activate defined signaling pathways that sustain tumor growth and influence the immune landscape. Yet, how coordinated interactions among diverse cell populations within the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) contribute to this process remains largely unresolved. To address this, we profiled approximately 200,000 single cells from 45 treatment-naïve NSCLC patients representing seven major driver mutations. This analysis uncovered five multicellular modules (CM1–5) with distinct functional properties, each linked to specific malignant regulatory programs. Among them, CM2 and CM5 exhibited pronounced invasive features and were associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. CM2 was predominantly observed in EGFR- and MET-driven brain metastases and was defined by strong crosstalk between astrocytes and myofibroblasts. Factors such as SPP1, PTN, and PSAP, together with metabolic alterations, contributed to a microenvironment supportive of metastatic colonization in the brain. By contrast, CM5 was enriched in ROS1-, KRAS-, and EGFR-mutant tumors and consisted of diverse myeloid and endothelial subsets characterized by immunosuppressive and pro-angiogenic signaling, including MIF, GALECTIN, and RETN, collectively facilitating immune escape and vascular remodeling. We further constructed and validated a driver mutation-specific prognostic signature (DMSP.sig) model integrating receptor–ligand interactions and core transcription factors, which effectively stratified patient survival. Leveraging this model, we also identified potential therapeutic candidates linked to these prognostic features, highlighting opportunities for clinical intervention. In summary, our study delineates how oncogenic drivers give rise to distinct TIME architectures, providing a framework for prognostic assessment and precision immunotherapy in high-risk NSCLC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Oncology)
21 pages, 1655 KB  
Article
Soil Organic Carbon Storage in Temperate Forests: Utilizing of the Forestry Site Classification and the Role of Main Tree Species
by Vít Šrámek, Kateřina Neudertová Hellebrandová, Ondřej Špulák and Věra Fadrhonsová
Forests 2026, 17(5), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17050547 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in forests is governed by complex interactions between site conditions and vegetation. This study quantifies SOC stocks across a gradient of Target Management Sets (TMS) in the Czech Republic (Central Europe) to evaluate the baseline storage capacity of [...] Read more.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in forests is governed by complex interactions between site conditions and vegetation. This study quantifies SOC stocks across a gradient of Target Management Sets (TMS) in the Czech Republic (Central Europe) to evaluate the baseline storage capacity of distinct ecological sites and the modifying effects of dominant tree species, specifically Norway spruce and European beech. Utilizing large-scale spatial data, linear mixed-effects models, and piecewise structural equation modeling (pSEM), we analyzed SOC stratification across middle (≈400–600 m a.s.l.) and higher (≈600–800 m a.s.l.) elevational zones. The results indicate that while overall SOC stocks inherently increase with elevation due to climatic constraints, tree species dictate the vertical carbon distribution within the soil profile. Specifically, conifers (i.e., Norway spruce and Scots pine) accumulate SOC primarily in the organic layer, whereas broadleaves (mainly European beech and oak) translocate and stabilize carbon in deeper mineral horizons. The pSEM analysis revealed that beech functions as a ‘calcium pump’, increasing topsoil pH and driving calcium-mediated SOC stabilization in mineral soils. This mechanism is highly effective at middle elevations but partially overridden by abiotic limits at higher elevations. We conclude that inherent site conditions (TMS) determine total SOC capacity, whereas tree species management controls SOC stability. Although no significant differences were observed in total SOC stocks between conifers and broadleaves at the same sites (medians of total SOC ranged from approx. 5 to 16 kg·m−2, depending on the site), converting purely coniferous stands into broadleaves represents an effective strategy for long-term mineral SOC stabilization, particularly in middle-elevation sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
15 pages, 2402 KB  
Article
Research on Data-Driven Modeling of Solid Rocket Motor Plume Temperature Distribution with Physics Guidance
by Bo Cheng, Chengyuan Qian, Xinxin Chen and Chengfei Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 4373; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16094373 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Aiming at the problems of the large prediction error of model-driven algorithms and poor interpretability (even potential violation of physical laws) of pure data-driven algorithms in the prediction of aerospace vehicle plume characteristics, a physics mechanism-guided prediction algorithm for aerospace vehicle plume characteristics [...] Read more.
Aiming at the problems of the large prediction error of model-driven algorithms and poor interpretability (even potential violation of physical laws) of pure data-driven algorithms in the prediction of aerospace vehicle plume characteristics, a physics mechanism-guided prediction algorithm for aerospace vehicle plume characteristics was proposed. Taking the long short-term memory (LSTM) network as the backbone, this algorithm constructed a hybrid physics–data model by embedding the prior knowledge of physical laws and empirical rules into the neural network, and designed a loss function combined with physical mechanisms to guide network training. The aerospace vehicle plume dataset was preprocessed through characteristic parameter extraction, extended physical parameter calculation, data splicing and sliding window operation, and the LSTM network structure was optimized by adjusting hyperparameters such as the number of hidden layers and neurons. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm achieves a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 31.89 and a Physical Inconsistency of 0.1723 on the test set, with MAE reduced by 14% and Physical Inconsistency reduced by 7.5% compared with traditional machine learning models such as Random Forest. Ablation experiments verify that the introduction of physical mechanisms can improve the prediction accuracy of the model by about 25%. This algorithm makes up for the defects of traditional prediction algorithms, has good generalization ability and physical consistency, and provides an effective method for the prediction of engine exhaust plume temperature distribution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Aerospace Science and Engineering)
22 pages, 21064 KB  
Article
Spatial Organization and Mineral Transformations of 2:1 Phyllosilicates in Saline–Alkaline Soil–Lake Systems of the Pantanal (Nhecolândia, Brazil)
by André Renan Costa-Silva, Débora Ayumi Ishida, Ingred Nóbrega Teixeira, Yves Lucas, Adolpho José Melfi and Célia Regina Montes
Minerals 2026, 16(5), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16050466 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
In the saline–alkaline lake (SAL) systems of the Nhecolândia region, Brazilian Pantanal, soils exhibit complex mineralogical assemblages controlled by sediment inheritance, pedogenesis, and hydrogeochemical gradients. This study investigates the distribution and transformation of 2:1 phyllosilicates along representative SAL toposequences. Soil samples were characterized [...] Read more.
In the saline–alkaline lake (SAL) systems of the Nhecolândia region, Brazilian Pantanal, soils exhibit complex mineralogical assemblages controlled by sediment inheritance, pedogenesis, and hydrogeochemical gradients. This study investigates the distribution and transformation of 2:1 phyllosilicates along representative SAL toposequences. Soil samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), supported by granulometry and adjustment of the FTIR spectra. Mineralogical data were integrated with geochemical (Al, K, Mg, Ca, Na) and pH data and examined using principal component analysis (PCA). Greenish loamy horizons act as key morphological controls on hydrogeochemistry, regulating solute retention along mid- to downslope transitions. Illite is more strongly associated with upslope positions, whereas downslope alkaline environments are associated with smectitic phases (e.g., montmorillonite and Mg-rich varieties such as saponite) and mixed-layer minerals structures (e.g., illite–smectite and montmorillonite–vermiculite structures). These assemblages are consistent with non-linear transformation pathways, with illite as a possible transitional phase between micas and expandable structures. The PCA results suggest a primary mineral distribution structured by fine-material content and depth, while pH and alkalinity emerge as key geochemical controls that differentiate mineral stability fields and reinforce the hydrogeochemical compartmentalization of the profiles. Geochemical data show strong associations of Al, Mg, and K with fine-fraction accumulation. The integration of these approaches highlights that a 2:1 phyllosilicate assemblage results from multiple superimposed pedogenetic pathways, offering a conceptual framework for studying complex soil–lake systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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17 pages, 2848 KB  
Article
Retinoic Acid Receptor γ Activity Plays a Critical Role in Regulating Early Mouse Gastruloid Development
by Jide T. Olanipekun, Benjamin Edginton-White, Caitlin McQueen, Geoffrey Brown and William E. B. Johnson
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 3995; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093995 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Regulation of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) signaling is crucial to early embryonic development. Embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived gastruloids mimic normal development in response to the Wnt/β-catenin agonist CHIR9901, and this study has examined the importance of the activities of RAR (retinoic acid [...] Read more.
Regulation of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) signaling is crucial to early embryonic development. Embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived gastruloids mimic normal development in response to the Wnt/β-catenin agonist CHIR9901, and this study has examined the importance of the activities of RAR (retinoic acid receptor) α and γ to gastruloid development. Expression of retinoic acid receptor (RAR)γ within developing gastruloids was spatially restricted to primitive cells that co-expressed ES cell and early progenitor cell markers, i.e., Nanog, Sox2, and Oct4. In contrast, RARα expression was ubiquitous. mRNAs for the key enzymes involved in ATRA synthesis (Aldh1a2) and degradation (Cyp26a1) were not seen in cells that expressed RARγ. Treatment of ES cell-derived gastruloids with physiologically relevant (10 nM) levels of ATRA or with a highly selective RARγ agonist blocked normal developmental processes, preventing symmetry-breaking and axial elongation. This was not seen following treatments with an RARα agonist, where there was a tendency for enhanced axial elongation. Brachyury (TBXT) immuno-positive cells localized in the posterior end of elongated gastruloids in control- and RARα agonist-treated cultures, with Sox2 immuno-positive cells seen more widely, whilst both TBXT and Sox2 immuno-positive cells were randomly distributed throughout ATRA- and RARγ agonist-treated gastruloids. Concurrent treatment of gastruloids with 10 nM ATRA and 100 nM of an RARγ antagonist partially abrogated the ATRA-mediated block to axial elongation. Conversely, 10 nM RARγ antagonist treatments were associated with the formation of multi-axis gastruloid elongations, with comparatively little effect seen after treatments with an RARα antagonist. These findings reveal that RARγ plays a crucial role in the development of embryonic tissues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)
38 pages, 6690 KB  
Review
A Review on Optimization of Metallurgical Batching Process Based on Intelligent Algorithms
by Kaixuan Xue, Jiayun Li, Zhiqiang Yu, Lin Ma, Wenhui Ma, Zekun Li, Yukun Zhao and Jijun Wu
Metals 2026, 16(5), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16050484 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Metallurgical batching—governing raw material proportioning across sintering, blast furnace ironmaking, converter steelmaking, and non-ferrous smelting—critically determines product quality, energy consumption, and production cost throughout the full process chain. Its inherent complexity, characterized by strong nonlinear physicochemical coupling, measurement delays of up to 1.5 [...] Read more.
Metallurgical batching—governing raw material proportioning across sintering, blast furnace ironmaking, converter steelmaking, and non-ferrous smelting—critically determines product quality, energy consumption, and production cost throughout the full process chain. Its inherent complexity, characterized by strong nonlinear physicochemical coupling, measurement delays of up to 1.5 h, and multi-source raw material disturbances, renders conventional linear programming and empirical methods inadequate for dynamic, multi-objective industrial environments. This review systematically examines 98 representative studies (2020–2026) on intelligent algorithms applied to metallurgical batching optimization. A two-dimensional analysis framework of the fusion algorithm function and metallurgical scene is established. All kinds of methods are divided into three categories: prediction-oriented, optimization-oriented and decision-oriented, covering four typical scenes of sintering burdening, blast furnace ironmaking, converter steelmaking and non-ferrous metal smelting. Traditional machine learning models achieve sintering burn-through point prediction with R2 ≈ 0.85 and offer superior interpretability via SHAP analysis. Deep learning architectures deliver blast furnace silicon content prediction with RMSE ≈ 0.04%, while multi-objective evolutionary algorithms provide mature Pareto optimization for batching cost and carbon objectives. Reinforcement learning holds long-term potential for closed-loop adaptive control but remains constrained by Sim-to-Real safety barriers. Converter steelmaking and non-ferrous smelting are identified as underexplored domains. Three priority directions are proposed: domain-adaptive predictive modeling for cross-plant generalization, real-time re-optimization embedding mechanism constraints, and safe reinforcement learning transfer via high-fidelity digital twins. Full article
24 pages, 491 KB  
Review
Bioplastics Toxicity Upon Ingestion: A Critical Review of Biotransformation and Gastrointestinal Effects
by Cristiana Fernandes, Helena Oliveira, Teresa Rocha-Santos and Verónica Bastos
Polymers 2026, 18(9), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18091091 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
In response to the plastic pollution crisis, bioplastics emerged as a sustainable alternative. However, low degradation rate and abiotic decomposition generate micro- and nanoplastics. These particles enter the food chain, establishing oral intake as a key route of human exposure. This review gathered [...] Read more.
In response to the plastic pollution crisis, bioplastics emerged as a sustainable alternative. However, low degradation rate and abiotic decomposition generate micro- and nanoplastics. These particles enter the food chain, establishing oral intake as a key route of human exposure. This review gathered studies on the biotransformation of bioplastics in the gastrointestinal tract and on their toxicity in human cells and murine models. Most studies focused on polylactic acid particles due to widespread use in food packaging. Under simulated gastrointestinal conditions in vitro, particles were modulated, resulting in cavity and pore formation, fragmentation, lipase competition, protein corona formation, and alterations in the gut microbiota (including Selenomonadaceae, Bifidobacterium, and Prevotellaceae). Also, particle breakdown increases surface area, enhancing interactions with biomeiolecules and causing higher in vitro and in vivo toxicity. Indeed, pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, oxidative stress induction, and redox imbalance were found in both models. In mice, alterations in gut microbiota involving Bacillales indirectly mediated hepatotoxicity, leading to uric acid and triglyceride accumulation. Furthermore, microbiota adaptation over time was suggested with an increase in microorganisms and the potential conversion of L-lactic into harmful D-lactic acid. Despite limited studies, this review highlighted that ingested bioplastic-derived micro- and nanoplastics can lead to toxic effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Circular and Green Sustainable Polymer Science)
15 pages, 1236 KB  
Article
Carbohydrate Knowledge in People with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in the NutriNet-Santé Cohort Study
by Sopio Tatulashvili, Alice Bellicha, Chantal Julia, Laurent Bourhis, Nathalie Arnault, Hélène Bihan, Serge Hercberg, Mathilde Touvier, Michael Joubert and Emmanuel Cosson
Nutrients 2026, 18(9), 1415; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18091415 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Background: Effective glycemic control in diabetes management relies heavily on dietary carbohydrate knowledge. This study aimed to assess carbohydrate knowledge in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (itT2D) using the GluciQuizz tool. Methods: A total of 465 persons [...] Read more.
Background: Effective glycemic control in diabetes management relies heavily on dietary carbohydrate knowledge. This study aimed to assess carbohydrate knowledge in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (itT2D) using the GluciQuizz tool. Methods: A total of 465 persons (96 with T1D, 153 with itT2D; 89 and 127 matched controls without diabetes, respectively) from the French NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort were included. Participants completed the GluciQuizz questionnaire, which evaluates carbohydrate knowledge across five domains: carbohydrate food recognition; carbohydrate food content; nutrition label reading; glycemic targets and hypoglycemia prevention and treatment; and carbohydrate content of meals. Results: The mean age ± standard deviation of participants with diabetes was 65.8 ± 11.2 years, 44.2% male, with a diabetes duration of 23.3 ± 12.9 years. T1D participants scored significantly higher on the GluciQuizz compared to those with itT2D (23.9 ± 5.0 vs. 17.5 ± 5.6, p < 0.001). In secondary analysis, T1D participants showed superior knowledge to their matched controls without diabetes, whereas itT2D participants showed similar knowledge to their matched controls without diabetes. Conclusions: T1D participants demonstrated the best carbohydrate knowledge compared to those with itT2D. Targeted educational interventions in itT2D populations may improve dietary management and clinical outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nutrition and Diabetes)
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10 pages, 548 KB  
Article
Circulating Omentin Levels in Heart Failure: A Case–Control Study
by Diego Currò, Edoardo Vergani, Maria Anna Nicolazzi, Angela Maria Rita Favuzzi, Flavia Angelini, Antonio Mancini and Andrea Silvestrini
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 3998; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093998 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of global mortality, with heart failure (HF) representing a critical clinical endpoint. HF is traditionally classified into two distinct phenotypes based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, LVEF < 40%) and [...] Read more.
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of global mortality, with heart failure (HF) representing a critical clinical endpoint. HF is traditionally classified into two distinct phenotypes based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, LVEF < 40%) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, LVEF > 50%). While HFrEF is well-characterized and responsive to conventional pharmacological therapies, HFpEF remains therapeutically challenging due to its complex pathophysiology involving metabolic comorbidities and systemic inflammation. Emerging evidence suggests that adipokines may play a role in these inflammatory pathways. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare circulating levels of omentin, a recently discovered visceral adipose tissue-derived adipokine, in patients with HFrEF and HFpEF. This study reports that omentin levels were significantly lower in both HFpEF and HFrEF compared to controls. Moreover, omentin is inversely correlated to BMI and significantly lower in HF subjects with COPD than in those with no medical history of COPD. In conclusion, omentin may represent a potential biological signal in heart failure; however, further validation in broader populations is necessary to establish its clinical relevance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Macromolecules)
21 pages, 7396 KB  
Article
Convolutional Neural Network for Specimen-Invariant Structural Health Monitoring of FRC Under Flexural Loading
by George M. Sapidis, Ioannis Kansizoglou, Maria C. Naoum, Nikos A. Papadopoulos, Konstantinos A. Tsintotas, Maristella E. Voutetaki and Antonios Gasteratos
Sensors 2026, 26(9), 2788; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26092788 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures experience progressive degradation over their service life due to mechanical loading and environmental exposure, leading to reduced bearing capacity and compromised structural safety. Incorporating discrete fibers into concrete mitigates crack propagation and enhances ductility, resulting in fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) [...] Read more.
Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures experience progressive degradation over their service life due to mechanical loading and environmental exposure, leading to reduced bearing capacity and compromised structural safety. Incorporating discrete fibers into concrete mitigates crack propagation and enhances ductility, resulting in fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) with superior fracture energy, durability, and sustainability characteristics. Despite these advantages, research on Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques for FRC elements remains limited. The Electromechanical Impedance (EMI) method, which exploits piezoelectric transducers as both actuators and sensors, offers high sensitivity for detecting early-stage damage by monitoring variations in local mechanical impedance. This study investigates the effectiveness of a deep learning-enabled EMI framework for assessing the structural condition of FRC beams under flexural loading. A one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) is proposed to automatically extract salient features from high-frequency EMI signatures and classify structural health into three predefined states. The model is rigorously evaluated using specimen-invariant validation to ensure generalization across different FRC specimens, addressing a critical limitation of conventional cross-validation approaches in SHM research. Experimental tests on FRC beams instrumented with surface-bonded PZT transducers provide a dataset of 264 EMI responses for training and validation, enabling direct comparison between common and specimen-invariant validation schemes. The results demonstrate the superior robustness of the specimen-invariant approach and confirm the capability of the proposed 1D-CNN to identify flexural damage progression in FRC elements accurately. An ablation study further highlights the contribution of each architectural component to overall model performance. The findings underscore the potential of integrating EMI-based sensing with advanced deep learning models for reliable, automated, and scalable SHM of next-generation resilient concrete infrastructures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensor-Based Structural Health Monitoring of Civil Infrastructure)
17 pages, 1869 KB  
Article
Adaptive Spiking Gating Multi-Scale Liquid State Machine for Orbital Maneuver Detection
by Guo Shi, Zhongmin Pei, Hui Chen, Jiameng Wang, Chunyang Song and Yongquan Chen
Aerospace 2026, 13(5), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13050417 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Orbital maneuver detection is a core component of space situational awareness. The multi-scale characteristics of satellite orbital behavior and sample imbalance issues lead to challenges in existing methods, including insufficient feature adaptation and limited detection accuracy. This paper proposes an Adaptive Spiking Gating [...] Read more.
Orbital maneuver detection is a core component of space situational awareness. The multi-scale characteristics of satellite orbital behavior and sample imbalance issues lead to challenges in existing methods, including insufficient feature adaptation and limited detection accuracy. This paper proposes an Adaptive Spiking Gating Multi-Scale Liquid State Machine (ASG-MSLSM) for orbital maneuver detection based on variations in satellite orbital parameters. The method integrates multi-scale reservoir pools with different scale-dependent decay factors and Leaky Integrate-and-Fire (LIF) neurons to enhance multi-scale temporal feature extraction capability. A spiking gating network is designed to adaptively learn fusion weights for multi-scale features, replacing traditional fixed equal-weight fusion strategies. During training, weighted binary cross-entropy loss is employed to address class imbalance. Experimental results based on real satellite data demonstrate that the proposed method significantly outperforms baseline models in maneuver detection metrics, achieving higher recall, improving feature separability, and reducing both missed detections and false alarms. These results indicate that the proposed method provides a robust solution for orbital maneuver detection. Full article
19 pages, 892 KB  
Article
Real-World Osteoporosis Pharmacotherapy in the UAE: Prescribing Trends, Adherence, and Patient Beliefs
by Maryam Abdulrahman Almoosa Alnuaimi, Syed Arman Rabbani, Khulood Ebrahim Ali Alnaeimi, Khalid Abdulaziz Abu Obaid, Syed Sikandar Shah, Mohamed El-Tanani and Aftab Alam
Healthcare 2026, 14(9), 1201; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14091201 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Background: Osteoporosis is a chronic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass and structural deterioration, increasing fracture risk and affecting patients’ quality of life (QoL). Pharmacological treatments are essential in managing osteoporosis; however, suboptimal prescribing patterns and poor medication adherence can limit therapeutic [...] Read more.
Background: Osteoporosis is a chronic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass and structural deterioration, increasing fracture risk and affecting patients’ quality of life (QoL). Pharmacological treatments are essential in managing osteoporosis; however, suboptimal prescribing patterns and poor medication adherence can limit therapeutic outcomes. This study primarily aimed to assess medication adherence among patients with osteoporosis using the MMAS-8, as well as prescribing patterns and patient beliefs. Methods: We conducted a single-center cross-sectional observational study at Saqr Hospital, Ras al Khaimah, UAE, between October 2024 and May 2025, enrolling 300 adults with clinically diagnosed osteoporosis and/or a bone mineral density T-score ≤ −2.5. Data were collected through structured interviews and medical-record review. Medication adherence was assessed using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), and beliefs about medicines were measured using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ). Prescribing patterns were characterized by drug class, dose, and frequency, and prescribing appropriateness was evaluated using prescribed daily dose/defined daily dose (PDD/DDD) ratios based on WHO ATC/DDD standards. Predictors of adherence were examined using univariate and multivariable Firth penalized logistic regression. Results: The median age was 70 years (IQR 63–76), 89.0% of participants were female, and 32.0% had a prior fracture history. Denosumab was the most frequently prescribed anti-osteoporotic therapy (59.0%), followed by romosozumab (30.7%), whereas bisphosphonates and parathyroid hormone analogues were infrequently used (2.7% and 4.7%, respectively). Prescribed dosing closely aligned with WHO standards for all evaluated agents. Overall, 40.7% of patients were classified as adherent and 59.3% as non-adherent. Adherence was not significantly associated with age, gender, nationality, fracture history, polypharmacy, or most comorbidities. In contrast, medication beliefs demonstrated a strong relationship with adherence. In multivariable Firth regression, stronger medication concerns were independently associated with lower odds of adherence (adjusted OR 0.033, 95% CI 0.003–0.355; p = 0.0049), while having more than two comorbidities was also associated with reduced adherence (adjusted OR 0.076, 95% CI 0.008–0.688; p = 0.022). Conclusions: In this UAE real-world cohort, osteoporosis pharmacotherapy was dominated by injectable biologic agents and was prescribed in close agreement with standard dosing recommendations. However, medication adherence remained suboptimal. Patient beliefs, particularly treatment-related concerns, emerged as a more important determinant of adherence than demographic or most clinical characteristics. These findings highlight the need for belief-sensitive, patient-centered adherence interventions alongside optimized pharmacotherapy to improve osteoporosis outcomes in routine practice. Full article
15 pages, 3326 KB  
Article
Age-Related Expression and Localization of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in Different Tissues of Yak
by Qin Wu, Huan Yang, Junyu Chen, Zhixin Chai, Hongwen Zhao and Zhijuan Wu
Oxygen 2026, 6(2), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/oxygen6020010 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
The yak (Bos grunniens), a unique bovine species that is endemic to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent mountainous regions, exhibits remarkable adaptations to chronic high-altitude hypoxia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying yaks’ adaptation to this extreme environment remain poorly understood. This [...] Read more.
The yak (Bos grunniens), a unique bovine species that is endemic to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent mountainous regions, exhibits remarkable adaptations to chronic high-altitude hypoxia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying yaks’ adaptation to this extreme environment remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the spatiotemporal expression dynamics of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and 2α (HIF-2α) in major tissues of yaks across developmental stages (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 4.5 years; n = 3 per group). The tissues (heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels and skeletal muscles) were analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry. The results revealed significant differences in the expression levels of HIF-1α and HIF-2α between tissues and at different ages. In cardiac tissue, both HIF-1α and HIF-2α are localized to the myocardial interstitium, with HIF-1α expression peaking at 1.5–2.5 years and HIF-2α expression reaching its maximum at 2.5 years. Hepatic HIF-1α showed perivenous hepatocytes enrichment and peaked at 2.5 years (p < 0.01 vs. other ages), while HIF-2α was uniformly distributed across lobules without age-related changes. Splenic HIF-1α and HIF-2α levels increased progressively with age, both peaking at 4.5 years (p < 0.01), and age was strongly correlated with expression levels (HIF-1α: r = 0.430; HIF-2α: r = 0.493). In pulmonary tissues, HIF-1α in bronchial smooth muscle peaked at 2.5 years, whereas alveolar septal HIF-2α peaked at 1.5 years (p < 0.05). In the kidney, HIF-1α was primarily localized to tubular epithelial cells and HIF-2α was diffusely distributed in the glomerular interstitium; neither factor showed significant variation across ages. In vascular tissues, HIF-1α expression remained stable across all ages and was predominantly observed in the smooth muscle layer, while HIF-2α exhibited a significant peak in endothelial cells at 2.5 years (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that HIF-1α predominates during early development stages, while HIF-2α becomes dominant as yaks approach maturity. Full article
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26 pages, 4153 KB  
Article
Dynamic Offloading Modeling for FPSOs with Real-Time Mass Transfer Effects and Experimental Validation
by Yiwen Zhang, Fengze Xie, Cheng Zhao, Wei Wang, Guoqiang Li, Zhenhuang Du, Jun Wang, Tinghui Liu and Peng Peng
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(9), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14090828 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
To address the neglect of real-time mass transfer effects by traditional analysis methods during the side-by-side offloading process of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) and shuttle tankers, a numerical model incorporating the variable mass effect is established to enable the simulation of [...] Read more.
To address the neglect of real-time mass transfer effects by traditional analysis methods during the side-by-side offloading process of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) and shuttle tankers, a numerical model incorporating the variable mass effect is established to enable the simulation of dynamic offloading processes. Using this model, the dynamic response characteristics under different offloading rates and sea conditions are systematically investigated and validated against towing tank tests. Based on the previously optimized benchmark configuration, which includes 16 side-by-side mooring lines, six floating fenders, and an anchor line angle of 60° for the FPSO, the evolution laws of mooring line tension and fender pressure under different offloading rates were systematically investigated under normal and extreme sea conditions. The results show that an increase in offloading rate significantly amplifies the system’s fender load; when the offloading rate reaches approximately 1.4 t/s, the system transitions from the quasi-static response region to a significant nonlinear coupling region, demonstrating obvious sea condition–rate coupling characteristics. Under the combined action of high offloading rates and severe sea conditions, fender pressure rapidly approaches the design limit, becoming the primary safety bottleneck for the system. Model test results indicate that the numerical model can well predict mechanical responses under low and medium offloading rate conditions. The research results can provide a reference for offloading rate control, safety assessment, and operational window determination during FPSO side-by-side dynamic offloading operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)
22 pages, 5481 KB  
Article
Encapsulation of Menthol in Bimodal Mesoporous Silica via Normal-Temperature and Alcohol-Thermal Loading Methods for Achieving Sustained Releasing Performances
by Yuhua Bi, Tiejun Ma, Andong Wang, Fei Liu, Ruohan Xu, Tallat Munir, Jihong Sun, Wenliang Fu and Donggang Xu
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(9), 545; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16090545 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Background: Menthol is a naturally occurring volatile terpene alcohol, widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and tobacco products; however, its high volatility leads to significant flavor loss during storage and handling. Methods: Herein, bimodal mesoporous silica materials (BMMs) were employed as carriers [...] Read more.
Background: Menthol is a naturally occurring volatile terpene alcohol, widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and tobacco products; however, its high volatility leads to significant flavor loss during storage and handling. Methods: Herein, bimodal mesoporous silica materials (BMMs) were employed as carriers to encapsulate menthol, the loading and release behaviors were systematically compared using normal-temperature and alcohol-thermal loading methods. Results: Comprehensive characterizations (XRD and SAXS patterns, FT-IR spectra, SEM images, and N2-sorption isotherms) confirmed that menthol incorporation did not disrupt the hierarchical mesoporous channels of BMMs. The alcohol-thermal loading method achieved a superior menthol loading capacity of 87%, significantly outperforming the normal-temperature loading (58%). Release performances revealed a transition in the dominant release mechanism, from diffusion-controlled behavior at low loading levels to concentration gradient-driven desorption at high loadings. Molecular dynamics simulations further demonstrated that alcohol-thermal loading enabled faster molecular diffusion and a more uniform distribution of menthol within the mesopores due to weaker interfacial interactions, whereas normal-temperature loading induced localized multilayer adsorption, resulting in mesopore blockage and hindered diffusion. In addition, long-term atmospheric release tests assessed sustained menthol retention over 30 days. Conclusions: Overall, this work establishes alcohol-thermal loading as an effective approach for regulating adsorption and release in mesoporous carriers, providing a foundation for developing volatile compound encapsulation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nanocomposite Materials)
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24 pages, 3635 KB  
Article
VSGN: Visual–Semantic Guided Interaction Network for Multimodal Named Entity Recognition
by Jianjun Yao, Zhikun Zhou, Ruisheng Li, Jiaming Zhang and Zhiwei Qi
Symmetry 2026, 18(5), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18050769 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Multimodal Named Entity Recognition (MNER) aims to integrate textual and visual information to identify entities with specific semantic categories. However, existing methods often suffer from insufficient intra-modal semantic modeling, coarse cross-modal alignment, and vulnerability to noisy or ambiguous expressions in social media. To [...] Read more.
Multimodal Named Entity Recognition (MNER) aims to integrate textual and visual information to identify entities with specific semantic categories. However, existing methods often suffer from insufficient intra-modal semantic modeling, coarse cross-modal alignment, and vulnerability to noisy or ambiguous expressions in social media. To address these challenges, we propose a Visual–Semantic Guided Interaction Network (VSGN), which improves multimodal representation learning from both semantic and structural perspectives. Specifically, we first design an adaptive visual–semantic fusion module that incorporates visual descriptions as semantic guidance, enabling more informative cross-modal interactions. To further enhance feature quality, we introduce a deviation-aware channel-wise inhibitory routing (CIR) mechanism, which jointly models channel importance and distributional deviation to suppress noisy or redundant visual signals. In addition, we propose a visual–semantic guided graph structure learning module (VSG), which explicitly captures structural dependencies across modalities. By enforcing distribution-level alignment between textual and visual graph representations, the model achieves structure-aware cross-modal interaction and reduces modality inconsistency. Extensive experiments on the Twitter-2015 and Twitter-2017 datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, achieving F1 scores of 76.72% and 87.86%, respectively. The results show that jointly modeling semantic enhancement and structural alignment leads to more robust and discriminative multimodal representations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computer)
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9 pages, 1939 KB  
Case Report
PART as a Negative Outcome Modifier of Glioblastoma Treatment, Case Report
by Ross Terada, Jennifer Dailey, Sherry Yan, Michael Punsoni and Eric T. Wong
NeuroSci 2026, 7(3), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/neurosci7030053 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Background: Severe neurocognitive decline is often seen in elderly glioblastoma patients after treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. But the mechanism behind their deterioration is unclear. We describe one such patient with concomitant primary age-related tauopathy (PART) in bilateral hippocampi. Case presentation: An 88-year-old [...] Read more.
Background: Severe neurocognitive decline is often seen in elderly glioblastoma patients after treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. But the mechanism behind their deterioration is unclear. We describe one such patient with concomitant primary age-related tauopathy (PART) in bilateral hippocampi. Case presentation: An 88-year-old woman experienced unsteadiness, memory loss, and slurred speech that was caused by an epithelioid glioblastoma with wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 and methylated promoter of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase. She was treated with gross total resection, followed by intensity-modulated radiotherapy and daily temozolomide. Shortly after starting treatment, she developed fatigue, anorexia, and neurocognitive impairment, which were refractory to corticosteroids. After two cycles of adjuvant temozolomide, she experienced impulsivity, disorientation, hallucinations, somnolence, and incontinence despite stable neuroimaging findings. Treatment was subsequently discontinued, and she died 20 months from the time of her glioblastoma diagnosis. Autopsy revealed tau-positive neurofibrillary tangles, but rare Aβ plaques, in the trans-entorhinal and entorhinal cortices of both hippocampi. These findings are consistent with a diagnosis of PART. Conclusions: Undiagnosed tauopathy could be a negative modifier of glioblastoma treatment. The identification of PART and other tauopathies as risk factors in the elderly population may be important to guide treatment decision. Full article
11 pages, 2276 KB  
Article
Synchronous Mark Design Based on Collinear Holographic Data Storage System to Improve Reconstruction Efficiency
by Ruying Xiong, Lin Peng, Xu Zheng, Junhui Wu, Hongjie Liu and Xiaodi Tan
Photonics 2026, 13(5), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13050438 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
A collinear holographic data storage system stores two-dimensional information in the three-dimensional spatial domain of the medium, offering features such as high speed, high density, and long lifespan, making it a promising technology for the future of data storage. However, a collinear holographic [...] Read more.
A collinear holographic data storage system stores two-dimensional information in the three-dimensional spatial domain of the medium, offering features such as high speed, high density, and long lifespan, making it a promising technology for the future of data storage. However, a collinear holographic data storage system is limited by the alignment error of the optical system and is also sensitive to environmental noise and external interference, which increases the reading error. When recording and reading holographic storage materials, synchronous marks are used for positioning to correct data misalignment. Therefore, optimizing synchronous mark design of data pages is crucial for improving storage stability and reading accuracy. In this paper, we propose a star-shaped synchronous mark to replace the square-shaped synchronous mark, which improves the holographic grating coupling efficiency. Experimental results show that this method enhances reconstruction strength and reduces reading errors caused by external factors. The star-shaped synchronous mark achieves a better spectral match with the reference pattern, yielding a stronger diffracted signal. Experimental results show that this method reduces the bit error rate by approximately 25% compared to square-shaped synchronous marks under displacement multiplexing. Full article
14 pages, 371 KB  
Article
Global Disparities and Trends in Radiotherapy for Early-Stage Glottic Cancer
by Issa Mohamad, Shatha Abu Taha, Ahmad Bushehri, Bassem Youssef, Enis Ozyar, Ibrahim Alotain, Ibrahim Abu-Gheida, Mohammed Aldehaim, Carlton Johnny, Layth Mula-Hussain, Majed Alghamdi, Mohamed Shelan, Mohammed Al Dohan, Nadeem Pervez, Olgun Elicin, Saad Alrashidi, Wael El-Sheshtawy, Shoukri Temraz, Zineb Dahbi, Ahmed Abbasi, Abdulrahman Sumaida, Hikmat Abdel-Razeq, Khawla Ammar, Akram Al-Ibraheem and Ali Hosniadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Curr. Oncol. 2026, 33(5), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol33050259 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
We evaluated global radiotherapy practices in the management of early-stage (AJCC/UICC 8th edition stages I-II) glottic cancer (ESGC). A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in March 2025 across centers worldwide. Data was collected on clinical practices, including staging, CT simulation, target volumes delineation, [...] Read more.
We evaluated global radiotherapy practices in the management of early-stage (AJCC/UICC 8th edition stages I-II) glottic cancer (ESGC). A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in March 2025 across centers worldwide. Data was collected on clinical practices, including staging, CT simulation, target volumes delineation, organs-at-risk contouring, radiotherapy techniques, dose and fractionation schedules, treatment delivery techniques, and image guidance practices. A total of 181 responses were received, primarily from Asia (41.4%) and Europe (24.3%). Most respondents were from non-academic public centers (44.2%), with multidisciplinary team involvement reported by 84.5%. Head and neck CT scan was the most used staging modality (80.1%). Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy was the most common planning technique (82.9%). Hypofractionated radiotherapy schedules predominated for T1 (84%) and T2 (72.4%) disease. T1a was typically treated with whole-larynx target volume (72.4%). Use of ipsilateral involved vocal cord irradiation varied by geographical region (p = 0.015), being most common in North America (44.8%) and Europe (38.6%). Accelerated fractionation for T2 also differed significantly (p < 0.001), with the highest use reported in North America (41.4%). Daily Cone-Beam Computed Tomography was acquired by (58.2%). In total, 70% of respondents expressed interest in the results of a future phase III randomized trial comparing stereotactic body radiation therapy to conventional radiotherapy. Significant global variations in radiotherapy practices for ESGC were observed, likely reflecting disparities in access and differences in institutional protocols. The development and implementation of standardized, evidence-based global guidelines are essential to harmonize care, minimize toxicity, and improve outcomes for patients with ESGC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Head and Neck Oncology)
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4 pages, 187 KB  
Editorial
Editorial for the Special Issue “Toxicology of Anthropogenic Pollutants on Fish”
by Zhongdian Dong
Fishes 2026, 11(5), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11050265 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Anthropogenic pollution is among the most pervasive and persistent pressures affecting aquatic ecosystems worldwide, and fish are central to this issue not only because they are directly exposed to contaminants throughout their life cycle, but also because they connect environmental quality, ecosystem functioning, [...] Read more.
Anthropogenic pollution is among the most pervasive and persistent pressures affecting aquatic ecosystems worldwide, and fish are central to this issue not only because they are directly exposed to contaminants throughout their life cycle, but also because they connect environmental quality, ecosystem functioning, fisheries’ sustainability, and food safety[...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicology of Anthropogenic Pollutants on Fish)
12 pages, 485 KB  
Article
Association Between Ozone-Polluted Air and Birth Weight in Rural and Suburban Spain
by Susan Moss-Pérez, Lidia Pérez Ormita, María Alonso-Colón, Juan Antonio Ortega-García, Diana Gómez-Barroso, Beatriz Núñez-Corcuera and Rebeca Ramis-Prieto
Atmosphere 2026, 17(5), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17050457 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2026
Abstract
Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with neonatal morbidity, mortality and long-term health complications. Global studies report an association between air pollution, such as tropospheric ozone, and LBW. This study aims to analyze the association between ozone exposure during pregnancy and LBW in [...] Read more.
Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with neonatal morbidity, mortality and long-term health complications. Global studies report an association between air pollution, such as tropospheric ozone, and LBW. This study aims to analyze the association between ozone exposure during pregnancy and LBW in 130 municipalities in rural and semi-urban Spain. We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study using data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) and air quality data from the Spanish Government for the 2001–2017 period. We performed descriptive analysis, logistic regression and linear regression analyses adjusted for various covariates. In addition, we fitted generalized additive models (GAMs) to estimate non-linear relationships. An association between decreased neonatal weight and high ozone exposure was found, especially in the first and second trimester. An increase in ozone concentration could lower neonatal weight but not enough evidence demonstrates an association with LBW. More research is needed to understand the impact of ozone exposure on neonates during pregnancy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality and Health)
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