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18 pages, 2493 KB

Open AccessArticle

Luminescence Enhancement of an Indium(III) Complex Through Introducing an Electron-Donating Group in (1H-Pyrazol-1-yl)pyridazine

by Evgeniia Sergeevna Sedykh, Nikita Vasilievich Naletov, Veronika Igorevna Komlyagina, Yulia Sergeevna Spiridonova, Elvira Ilgizovna Musina, Marianna Ivanovna Rakhmanova, Nikolay Filippovich Romashev, Katerina Aleksandrovna Vinogradova, Marat Damirovich Nafikov, Alexey Yuryevich Vorob’ev, Iakov Sergeevich Fomenko and Artem Leonidovich Gushchin

Molecules 2026, 31(18), 3217; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31183217 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

New deep-blue-emitting materials are crucial for Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, as iridium-based blue emitters often suffer from degradation and inadequate colour purity. Indium(III) complexes offer an alternative, since the d¹⁰ configuration of In³⁺ precludes metal-centred transitions, and emission arises from [...] Read more.

New deep-blue-emitting materials are crucial for Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, as iridium-based blue emitters often suffer from degradation and inadequate colour purity. Indium(III) complexes offer an alternative, since the d¹⁰ configuration of In³⁺ precludes metal-centred transitions, and emission arises from ligand-centred states via the chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect. We previously reported complexes 1 ([In(L^H)(H₂O)Cl₃]) and 2 ([In(L^Me)₂Cl₂][InCl₄]), which exhibited excitation-dependent emission, and the electronic transitions were assigned as ILCT for 1 and mixed ILCT/LL’CT for 2. Herein, we present a new complex, complex 3, i.e., [In(L^Morph)₂Cl₂][InCl₄], where L^Morph contains electron-donating morpholine substituents, in contrast to the acceptor chloride group in L^H and L^Me. Complex 3 was characterised by elemental CHN analysis, infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (SC-XRD), and photoluminescence. The ionic structure of 3 is analogous to 2, with a cis-octahedral [In(L^Morph)₂Cl₂]⁺ cation and tetrahedral [InCl₄]⁻ anion. The UV-Vis spectrum of 3 shows a significant bathochromic shift relative to 1 and 2 which is attributable to the morpholine group. TD-DFT calculations were employed to assign the electronic transitions. The introduction of a morpholino group into the pyridazine ring resulted in significant changes to the solid-state photoluminescence properties of the indium complex: (i) the emission maximum shifted to the red region (CIE 1931 coordinates: 0.1725, 0.2487), (ii) the lifetime increased by an order of magnitude, and (iii) the quantum yield rose to 15%. This work highlights that substituent variation on the pyrazolyl–pyridazine scaffold provides a versatile route to tune the structural and photophysical properties of indium(III) complexes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Complexes: From Synthesis to Applications)

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16 pages, 9080 KB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Diversity of Beet Necrotic Yellow Vein Virus in Serbia: First Detection of J-Type RNA5 and P25 Tetrad Associated with Resistance-Breaking Isolates

by Anja Milosavljević, Ivana Stanković, Danijela Ristić, Tatjana Popović Milovanović, Katarina Zečević, Jelena Đukanović and Nenad Trkulja

Microorganisms 2026, 14(9), 2030; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14092030 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), the causal agent of rhizomania, is a major threat to sugar beet production worldwide. In Serbia, during a three-year monitoring period (2023–2025) conducted across 31 localities (72 fields) representing the main sugar beet production areas, BNYVV was [...] Read more.

Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), the causal agent of rhizomania, is a major threat to sugar beet production worldwide. In Serbia, during a three-year monitoring period (2023–2025) conducted across 31 localities (72 fields) representing the main sugar beet production areas, BNYVV was detected in 26.5% of analyzed samples. Of the 88 ELISA-positive samples, 60 originated from cultivars carrying the Rz1, whereas 28 were obtained from cultivars carrying the combined Rz1+Rz2 resistance genes. This study presents the first analysis of the genetic diversity and population structure of BNYVV in Serbia, based on P25 tetrad variability and RNA5 sequence analysis. Sequence analysis revealed five distinct P25 tetrad variants, with the ALHG tetrad being the most prevalent. Moreover, in one locality in the Bačka region, the VHHG variant, previously associated with Rz1-resistance-breaking isolates, was also detected. Phylogenetic analysis based on p25 sequences grouped all Serbian isolates within the P25-I cluster, corresponding to the A-type virus population, and showed close relationship with European isolates, particularly those from Italy. Importantly, RNA5 was detected in all selected isolates, representing the first report of RNA5 in Serbia. The results of the p26sequence analysis revealed high conservation among Serbian isolates, which clustered within the J-type in phylogenetic analysis. Overall, the results demonstrate that Serbian BNYVV populations are genetically diverse and include variants associated with Rz1-resistance breaking. These findings highlight the need for continuous molecular surveillance to monitor the emergence and spread of virulent strains and to support effective disease management strategies in sugar beet cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Plant Pathogens)

27 pages, 1302 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Fault Diagnosis in Twisted-Pair Cables of Networked Control Systems Using Transferometry

by Abdel Karim Abdel Karim

Eng 2026, 7(9), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng7090471 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

In networked control systems, power line communication technique is used to transfer data over existing energy cables. A soft fault degrades the integrity of the signal without impacting the system behaviour. This work develops a transferometry-based method for detecting, localising, and estimating the [...] Read more.

In networked control systems, power line communication technique is used to transfer data over existing energy cables. A soft fault degrades the integrity of the signal without impacting the system behaviour. This work develops a transferometry-based method for detecting, localising, and estimating the severity of two simultaneous soft faults in such cables. A soft fault is modelled as a series impedance, and the transmission coefficient (TC) is computed from the ABCD cascade model of the cable. We prove that, under unmatched terminations, the time-domain TC exhibits a five-pulse signature whose peak positions and amplitudes map directly to the two fault positions and their individual severities. A residual signal constructed from this signature yields closed-form estimators for the fault positions and their combined severities; individual fault severities require a bounded nonlinear least-square fit, valid for approximately symmetric, known terminations. We further show that the method extends to n simultaneous soft faults under a combined soft-fault condition, with the

(2 n + 1)

-pulse pattern verified in simulation for

n \in {1, 2, 3, 4}

. A Monte Carlo study using correct localisation probability as the detection criterion establishes a practical SNR threshold of 25 dB; fault-separation resolvability shows intermittent, sidelobe-driven degradation rather than a single threshold. Simulations on a measured 24 AWG cable, extrapolated beyond its characterised band, confirm reliable two-fault diagnosis under additive noise, with reliable multi-fault performance demonstrated for

n = 1, 2

, presented as a numerical proof of concept on this extrapolated cable model rather than a characterisation confirmed by measurement over the full simulated band. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

24 pages, 5099 KB

Open AccessArticle

From Blast to Biological Uptake: Residual Dinitrotoluene as an Occupational Exposure Hazard in Explosive Ordnance Disposal

by Gareth Collett, Kelly Johnstone, Tim Bashford, William Proud, Mia Tazi, Mieke Van Hemelrijck, Richard T. Bryan and Bryan G. Fry

Toxics 2026, 14(9), 812; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14090812 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Repeated mixed-munition demolition may require explosive ordnance disposal personnel to re-enter a common demolition pit to inspect effects, recover debris and prepare subsequent stacks. Dinitrotoluene (DNT) is a recognised explosive ordnance occupational toxicant absorbed by inhalation, skin and ingestion. Urinary-tract malignancies and other [...] Read more.

Repeated mixed-munition demolition may require explosive ordnance disposal personnel to re-enter a common demolition pit to inspect effects, recover debris and prepare subsequent stacks. Dinitrotoluene (DNT) is a recognised explosive ordnance occupational toxicant absorbed by inhalation, skin and ingestion. Urinary-tract malignancies and other adverse outcomes have been reported in highly exposed nitroaromatic-explosives workers. Recently, bladder-cancer incidence was documented as elevated among former British Army ammunition technicians. While these observations do not establish a causal relationship with DNT, they however provide a strong rationale for further investigation of credible exposure pathways. This study developed a scenario-based source-pathway-receptor model to examine whether residual DNT could constitute an occupational exposure source during these tasks. This model was applied to an explosive ordnance disposal operation involving 20 sequential demolitions and a documented aggregate TNT-equivalent basis of 1000 kg, used as a screening proxy because the operational inventory was predominantly TNT-filled. The model identified plausible primary inhalation from a blast-generated plume and secondary inhalation from resuspended residues, together with dermal and incidental-ingestion pathways. An important caveat is that it does not reconstruct individual dose or establish disease causation. Validation requires time-resolved post-blast and task-based personal air sampling, surface assessment, biomonitoring and detailed exposure reconstruction during representative demolition operations. As such, this study establishes crucial foundational hypotheses for future occupational hazard research into DNT exposure to explosive ordnance disposal personnel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Risk Assessment of Emerging Pollutants—an Integration of Exposure Estimation and Mechanism-Based Toxicity Study)

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19 pages, 900 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multimodal Physiological Detection of Passive Fatigue in SAE Level 3 Automated Driving Using Eye-Movement and ECG Features

by Jiangtian Li and Chenghui Lan

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(18), 9049; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16189049 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

In SAE Level 3 automated driving, drivers are required to supervise vehicle operation and respond to overtaking requests. Owing to task monotony and insufficient workload, drivers are prone to passive fatigue, which may impair vigilance and safety. This study investigated passive fatigue development [...] Read more.

In SAE Level 3 automated driving, drivers are required to supervise vehicle operation and respond to overtaking requests. Owing to task monotony and insufficient workload, drivers are prone to passive fatigue, which may impair vigilance and safety. This study investigated passive fatigue development during automated driving and proposed a multimodal detection method. Thirty licensed participants completed one automated driving task and one manual driving task in a driving simulator. Eye-movement and ECG/heart rate variability indicators were synchronously collected, and fatigue states were assessed using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. Results show that passive fatigue during automated driving developed differently from active fatigue during manual driving. Based on PERCLOS, pupil diameter, pupil diameter variation, SDNN, and LF/HF, an SVM-based passive fatigue detection model was developed to classify alert and passive fatigue states. Across repeated subject-wise validation, the model achieved an accuracy of 89.19%, sensitivity of 91.83%, specificity of 86.54%, balanced accuracy of 89.19%, F1 score of 89.48%, and precision of 87.28%, outperforming the model trained on manual driving active fatigue data. These findings demonstrate the need for scenario-specific driver-state monitoring models in automated driving systems and provide an applied physiological sensing approach for passive fatigue detection and warning design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Transportation and Future Mobility)

21 pages, 3286 KB

Open AccessReview

Anodal Motor-Cortex Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Explosive Lower-Limb Power in Healthy Active Adults: A Sham-Controlled Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Taeseok Choi, Hanshin Jeong and Yohan Uhm

Sports 2026, 14(9), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14090401 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) has been proposed as an ergogenic aid. Prior reviews pooled heterogeneous outcomes, and none isolated explosive lower-limb power or separated jump output from force–time kinetics. We asked whether anodal M1 tDCS [...] Read more.

Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) has been proposed as an ergogenic aid. Prior reviews pooled heterogeneous outcomes, and none isolated explosive lower-limb power or separated jump output from force–time kinetics. We asked whether anodal M1 tDCS versus sham improves explosive lower-limb power in healthy active adults, analysing these two outcome categories separately. Following PRISMA 2020 (PROSPERO CRD420261438841), four databases were searched up to 3 July 2026 for randomised and crossover trials. Random-effects meta-analyses (REML with Hartung–Knapp) pooled Hedges’ g by category; risk of bias (RoB 2) and certainty (GRADE) were assessed. Seven trials were included. tDCS did not significantly improve jump output (k = 6; g = 0.44, 95% CI −0.05 to 0.92; p = 0.069; I² = 19%). The kinetics estimate was moderate (k = 3; g = 0.67, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.81; I² = 0%) but did not survive a conservative small-sample correction (95% CI −0.23 to 1.57; p = 0.086). Certainty was very low throughout. Including a further trial whose comparator was a no-intervention control made both estimates significant, indicating a fragile evidence base. Current evidence does not establish an ergogenic benefit; adequately powered, pre-registered trials are needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Brain to Movement: Cognitive and Perceptual Roles in Motor Control and Sport Performance)

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21 pages, 2667 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of a Digital Game-Based Curriculum on Students’ Digital Rights and Responsibilities Literacy, Cognitive Absorption and Learning Anxiety

by Yunxiang Zheng, Biyi Liao, Lixiang Liu and Jingxiu Huang

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(18), 9048; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16189048 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Digital rights and responsibilities education is a core component of digital citizenship in primary schools, yet existing approaches often prioritize rule transmission over behavioral internalization. This study examined the effects of integrating Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) into the final lesson of a digital [...] Read more.

Digital rights and responsibilities education is a core component of digital citizenship in primary schools, yet existing approaches often prioritize rule transmission over behavioral internalization. This study examined the effects of integrating Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) into the final lesson of a digital rights and responsibilities curriculum. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 88 fifth-grade students during a four-lesson curriculum delivered over four weeks. Both groups received the same teacher-led instruction during the first three lessons. In the final lesson, Cyber Judge was incorporated into instruction for the experimental group (EG) as a game-supported learning activity, while the control group (CG) received conventional instruction on the same content. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA and t-tests, with Holm–Bonferroni adjustments applied for multiple comparisons. The EG showed higher adjusted post-test digital rights and responsibilities literacy, with significant differences in Rights Awareness and Responsibilities Behavior, and higher overall cognitive absorption, particularly in Temporal Separation. No significant between-group differences were found in learning anxiety. These findings highlight the potential of DGBL to connect ethical knowledge with situated decision-making while underscoring the importance of considering learners’ affective responses in the design of game-supported instruction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Gamification and IoT-Based Education)

26 pages, 1823 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping the Spatial Heterogeneity and Driving Mechanisms of Species-Specific Mangrove Carbon Stock with GF-1 Imagery and Models

by Xin Li, Yuxing Wang, Xunan Liu, Lei Zhang and Xiaoyong Shi

Sensors 2026, 26(18), 5787; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26185787 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Accurate estimation of mangrove carbon stocks and the driving mechanisms behind their spatial patterns are crucial for blue carbon assessment and management. This study addresses several challenges in remote sensing estimation of mangroves, including the limited generalizability of single estimation models, the difficulty [...] Read more.

Accurate estimation of mangrove carbon stocks and the driving mechanisms behind their spatial patterns are crucial for blue carbon assessment and management. This study addresses several challenges in remote sensing estimation of mangroves, including the limited generalizability of single estimation models, the difficulty in directly inverting belowground biomass (BGB), and insufficient analysis of the driving mechanisms underlying spatial heterogeneity. Using typical coastal mangrove distribution regions as the study area, an analytical framework integrating species-specific modeling, high-accuracy species classification, and multi-dimensional mechanism analysis was constructed by combining GF-1 remote sensing images with field survey data. First, species-specific aboveground biomass (AGB) and belowground biomass estimation models were established. Subsequently, high-precision mangrove species classification was achieved, with an overall species classification accuracy of 98.18% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.94. Furthermore, a variety of methods—including SHAP analysis, geographical detectors, and structural equation modeling (SEM)—were comprehensively applied to systematically examine the driving mechanisms behind the spatial distribution of carbon stocks. The results indicate that spatial heterogeneity in carbon stocks is primarily driven by spatial characteristics (latitude (Lat) and longitude (Lon), explanatory power = 0.514), with topographic characteristics (DEM, slope, aspect, explanatory power = 0.239) playing a synergistic and enhancing auxiliary role, and significant interactions existing among these factors. This study significantly improves the accuracy of mangrove carbon stock estimation and deepens the understanding of its driving mechanisms, providing scientific methodology and a case study support for refined monitoring, conservation, and carbon sink management of coastal blue carbon ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Remote Sensors)

44 pages, 14713 KB

Open AccessReview

Ion-Containing Mesoporous Silica-Based Nanomaterials for Bone Regeneration: Emphasis on In Situ Co-Condensation, Multifunctional Bioactivity, and Spatiotemporal Delivery

by Nutchalin Isariyavuth, Chomploy Renumas, Jarupha Meeyim, Yoshinori Onuki, Takefumi Yamashita, Motoki Inoue, Takayuki Furuishi and Pakorn Kraisit

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(18), 9047; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16189047 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Bone defects remain difficult to treat because conventional grafting approaches may cause infection, inflammation, donor-site morbidity, or graft rejection. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have emerged as versatile nanomaterials for drug delivery owing to their large surface area, tunable pore structure, high loading capacity, [...] Read more.

Bone defects remain difficult to treat because conventional grafting approaches may cause infection, inflammation, donor-site morbidity, or graft rejection. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have emerged as versatile nanomaterials for drug delivery owing to their large surface area, tunable pore structure, high loading capacity, and readily modifiable surfaces. However, conventional MSNs are relatively bioinert and provide limited direct stimulation of bone regeneration. Incorporating therapeutic metal ions into the silica framework through in situ co-condensation can improve their biological activity while retaining their drug-delivery advantages. This review highlights recent advances in ion-doped MSNs as multifunctional delivery systems for bone regeneration, focusing on their osteogenic, angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. The review discusses how ion doping influences particle structure, biodegradation, drug loading, and release behavior and the potential of single- and multiple-ion systems to provide complementary or, where experimentally demonstrated, synergistic therapeutic effects. Particular attention is given to controlled and spatiotemporal delivery strategies designed to match the sequential phases of bone healing. Future research should improve synthetic reproducibility, establish ion-specific therapeutic windows, integrate stimuli-responsive release mechanisms, and confirm long-term safety and efficacy in clinically relevant animal models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Drug Delivery Systems: Latest Advances and Applications)

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16 pages, 2600 KB

Open AccessArticle

Structure–Dispersion–Performance Relationship in Fe-Functionalized Silicon Oxide for Enhanced Degradation of Recalcitrant Azo Dyes

by Areli J. Hernandez-Guzman, Daniel M. Paredes, Fabricio G. Méndez-Landín, Alejandro Vega-Ríos, Marilia Guillén, Erick Roberto Bandala, Martín Pacheco-Álvarez, Rosmary Guillén, Patricio J. Espinoza-Montero, Miguel A. Sandoval-Lopez and Oscar Manuel Rodriguez-Narvaez

Processes 2026, 14(18), 2899; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14182899 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Recalcitrant azo dyes in textile wastewater are a significant environmental concern due to their persistence and potential impacts on human and ecosystem health. Heterogeneous Fenton-like processes offer a promising approach for their removal, although catalyst performance depends strongly on the physicochemical characteristics of [...] Read more.

Recalcitrant azo dyes in textile wastewater are a significant environmental concern due to their persistence and potential impacts on human and ecosystem health. Heterogeneous Fenton-like processes offer a promising approach for their removal, although catalyst performance depends strongly on the physicochemical characteristics of the active material. This study investigated Fe-functionalized silicon oxide (Fe-SiO) catalysts for sodium percarbonate (SPC)-activated removal of Reactive Orange 84 (RO84). The catalysts were prepared using silicon oxide supports with and without thermochemical pretreatment and different amounts of Fe during synthesis. Their structural, morphological, and elemental characteristics were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), complemented by textural analysis. Increasing the amount of Fe used during synthesis shifted removal from adsorption-influenced to oxidation-associated, as reflected in the kinetic behavior. Thermochemical pretreatment promoted more homogeneous Fe dispersion and reduced aggregation in the S2 series, consistent with its higher catalytic response under several evaluated conditions. The PFO model empirically described the observed removal kinetics. Overall, the Fe-SiO materials showed potential for SPC-assisted RO84 removal under the evaluated conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Chemical Processes and Systems)

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20 pages, 1596 KB

Open AccessArticle

Anthranilate Reduces Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection Severity through an Antibiotic-Independent Anti-Virulence Mechanism

by Huiyan Li, Min-Hee Kang, Wen-Xin Niu, Eunsoo Kim and Joon-Hee Lee

Antibiotics 2026, 15(9), 898; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15090898 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health challenge, especially with tricky bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Anthranilate, previously identified as a signaling molecule in P. aeruginosa, modulates various pathogenicity-related phenotypes by reducing virulence factor production, inhibiting biofilm formation, and increasing antibiotic [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health challenge, especially with tricky bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Anthranilate, previously identified as a signaling molecule in P. aeruginosa, modulates various pathogenicity-related phenotypes by reducing virulence factor production, inhibiting biofilm formation, and increasing antibiotic susceptibility. Based on these good properties as an anti-virulence agent, this study evaluated the actual therapeutic potential of anthranilate using mouse skin infection and lung infection models. Specifically, the efficacy of anthranilate in a standalone treatment was investigated without reliance on conventional antibiotics. Methods: The therapeutic efficacy of anthranilate was evaluated in murine skin and lung infection models of P. aeruginosa. Anthranilate was administered as a standalone treatment, and its effects on bacterial burden, inflammatory responses, and tissue lesion progression were assessed and compared with those of gentamicin treatment. Results: Anthranilate effectively reduced bacterial suppuration, mitigated inflammatory responses, and suppressed lesion progression in infected skin and lung tissues. Notably, anthranilate alone produced therapeutic effects comparable to those of gentamicin. Conclusions: These findings highlight its potential of standalone treatment as an alternative to traditional antibiotics and offer a novel anti-virulence strategy that minimizes selective pressure for resistance development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights Toward the Development of Novel Inhibitors of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa Factors)

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22 pages, 2403 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Ca²⁺ on Membrane Potential with Altered Function of NALCN and K2P Channels

by Youngwoo Kim, Jiwoo Kim and Robin L. Cooper

Membranes 2026, 16(9), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes16090298 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Cells exhibit a membrane potential due to the differential distribution of ions and the density of channels, pumps, and exchangers. It is known in larval Drosophila that the membrane potential gravitates towards the equilibrium potential of K⁺ due to the high density [...] Read more.

Cells exhibit a membrane potential due to the differential distribution of ions and the density of channels, pumps, and exchangers. It is known in larval Drosophila that the membrane potential gravitates towards the equilibrium potential of K⁺ due to the high density of K2P channels. Higher extracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_o) tends to drive the resting membrane potential to a more negative state, while lowering it has an opposite effect. The expression of the K2P channel and NALCN was altered genetically to determine the sensitivity to changes in [Ca²⁺]_o, and computational simulations using the theoretical Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation allowed estimating changes in ion (Na⁺) permeability due to altered function of the NALCN. Increasing [Ca²⁺]_o hyperpolarized the membrane potential, and decreasing [Ca²⁺]_o depolarized it, likely because Ca²⁺ ions block NALCN. An accessory protein to NALCN and NALCN itself were targeted by RNAi. Overexpression of K2P channels and decreased NALCN function reduced the effect of altered [Ca²⁺]_o on membrane potential. Given the limited understanding of how altered membrane potentials affect cells, this study provides a foundation for future investigations into how cells respond to variations in [Ca²⁺]_o under altered K2P and NALCN expression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biological Membranes)

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18 pages, 2780 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Compact High-Efficiency Tri-Band CPW-Fed Millimeter-Wave Dielectric Patch Antenna for Wireless Systems

by Ali-Abdullah Albarakati and Salam K. Khamas

Sensors 2026, 26(18), 5788; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26185788 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

A low-profile tri-band millimeter-wave (mmWave) dielectric patch (DP) antenna (DPA) is proposed for fifth-generation (5G) and beyond wireless communication systems. Multiband operation is achieved by exciting the resonant

{TM}_{11}

,

{TM}_{31}

, and

{TM}_{51}

modes at approximately 22, 30, and [...] Read more.

A low-profile tri-band millimeter-wave (mmWave) dielectric patch (DP) antenna (DPA) is proposed for fifth-generation (5G) and beyond wireless communication systems. Multiband operation is achieved by exciting the resonant

{TM}_{11}

,

{TM}_{31}

, and

{TM}_{51}

modes at approximately 22, 30, and 36 GHz, respectively. Crucially, these operating bands are strategically designed to align with essential mmWave communication standards: the 22 GHz band targets fixed short-range microwave backhaul links; the 30 GHz band services 5G New Radio (NR) n257/n258 allocations; and the 36 GHz band accommodates early 5G NR n260 spectrum requirements alongside emerging radar and sensing applications. The three modes are excited using a coplanar waveguide (CPW) feed structure. A prototype was fabricated and experimentally characterized, and its measured reflection coefficient, realized gain, and radiation patterns were compared with full-wave simulations. The proposed DPA exhibits an overall profile of

0.086 λ_{0}

while providing impedance bandwidths of

4.57 %

(

21.4

–

22.4

GHz),

4.24 %

(30–

31.3

GHz), and

2.75 %

(

35.8

–

36.8

GHz), together with simulated radiation efficiencies of

93 %

,

95 %

, and

95 %

across the three respective bands. In addition, it delivers measured peak realized gains of

8.3

,

5.2

, and

4.3

dBi at 22, 30, and 36 GHz, respectively. The proposed antenna combines tri-band coverage, a low profile, and high simulated efficiency in a single compact radiating element, making it a highly compelling candidate for modern compact multiband mmWave wireless system infrastructures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embodied Intelligent Wireless Systems: Key Technologies, Applications, and Challenges)

21 pages, 5637 KB

Open AccessArticle

VSG-Based Active Support Strategy for Grid-Forming VSC-HVDC

by Wei Chen, Yunche Su, Fang Liu, Chuan Yuan, Yuhong Wang, Kuangyu Chen and Jianquan Liao

Symmetry 2026, 18(9), 1526; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18091526 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

As renewable generation and power-electronic interfaces account for a growing share of power systems, reduced system inertia and weakened voltage support place greater demands on the stable operation of weak and passive networks. This paper proposes a virtual synchronous generator (VSG)-based active support [...] Read more.

As renewable generation and power-electronic interfaces account for a growing share of power systems, reduced system inertia and weakened voltage support place greater demands on the stable operation of weak and passive networks. This paper proposes a virtual synchronous generator (VSG)-based active support strategy for grid-forming voltage source converter-based high-voltage direct-current (VSC-HVDC) systems. First, the power-balance relationship between the converter station and the synchronous generator is analyzed to establish the basis for VSG control. For active-power–frequency regulation, a virtual zero-error frequency regulation (VZFR) strategy is proposed by introducing an additional power compensation term into the conventional VSG control, improving frequency recovery while retaining virtual inertia and damping. For voltage–reactive-power regulation, the transient voltage support mechanism is analyzed in two stages: the controlled voltage-source characteristic and virtual impedance provide initial voltage support, while the reactive-power–voltage loop subsequently regulates the internal voltage and reactive power output. PSCAD/EMTDC simulations under active load disturbances and different grid voltage sags show that the proposed strategy enhances both frequency regulation and voltage support provided by the VSC-HVDC system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry/Asymmetry in Renewable Energy Power Systems: Modeling, Design, and Control)

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37 pages, 18816 KB

Open AccessReview

Research Progress of Terahertz Technology in Microbiology

by Ding Cao, Ruibing Dong, Guangyou Fang and Xuequan Chen

Biosensors 2026, 16(9), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16090515 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature, and microbial activities are closely intertwined with the entire life cycle system and human life. Developing novel technologies for the detection, characterization and manipulation of microorganisms promotes their applications in clinical, environmental and industrial areas. Over the last [...] Read more.

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature, and microbial activities are closely intertwined with the entire life cycle system and human life. Developing novel technologies for the detection, characterization and manipulation of microorganisms promotes their applications in clinical, environmental and industrial areas. Over the last two decades, terahertz (THz) technology has emerged as a new optical tool for microbiology. The great potential originates from the unique advantages of THz waves including the high sensitivity to water and inter-/intra-molecular motions, the non-invasive and label-free detecting scheme, and their low photon energy. THz waves have been utilized as a stimulus to alter microbial functions or as a sensing approach for quantitative measurement and qualitative differentiation. This review specifically focuses on recent research progress of THz technology applied in the field of microbiology, including two major parts of THz biological effects and the microbial detection applications. At the end of this paper, we summarize the research progress and discuss the challenges currently faced by THz technology in microbiology, along with potential solutions. We also provide a perspective on future development directions. This review aims to build a bridge between THz photonics and microbiology, promoting both fundamental research and application development in this interdisciplinary field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Terahertz Biophotonics: Advancing Biosensing Technologies)

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29 pages, 13891 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Optimization of Laser Cladding Process Parameters and Overlap Strategies for CuCrZr Copper Alloy Powders

by Jinsu Yu, Duc Anh Le, Chao Zhang and Ji Zhao

Materials 2026, 19(18), 3887; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19183887 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

The quality of laser cladding is influenced by a combination of various process parameters, including laser power, powder feed rate, scanning speed, defocus amount, overlap ratio, and the flow rates of the powder feed gas and shielding gas. Taking into account the adjustment [...] Read more.

The quality of laser cladding is influenced by a combination of various process parameters, including laser power, powder feed rate, scanning speed, defocus amount, overlap ratio, and the flow rates of the powder feed gas and shielding gas. Taking into account the adjustment characteristics of laser cladding equipment, this paper selects laser power, powder feed rate, and scanning speed as the primary factors of study and systematically analyzes the patterns of their effects on the quality of the cladding layer. Based on the results of preliminary experiments, a single-factor experimental design was formulated, and the experimental results were analyzed according to the established cladding quality evaluation system. By developing an orthogonal experimental design and employing a combination of range analysis and analysis of variance, the optimal combination of process parameters was determined. Subsequently, the overlap ratio and Z-axis lift were derived and calculated using the equal-area method, providing a reference for the rapid estimation of multi-pass and multi-layer cladding coating process Windows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Manufacturing Processes and Systems)

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26 pages, 1303 KB

Open AccessArticle

Interpretable Mean Residual Life Framework for Survival Rule Induction from Right-Censored Data: Methodology with Biostatistical Applications

by Abdulmajeed A. R. Alharbi

Mathematics 2026, 14(18), 3311; https://doi.org/10.3390/math14183311 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Survival-rule induction is commonly guided by log-rank separation, whereas some prognostic questions target conditional future lifetime. We propose a directional finite-horizon mean residual life (MRL) criterion for survival-rule induction under right censoring, combining normalized subgroup support with a survival-weighted restricted-MRL discrepancy. The framework [...] Read more.

Survival-rule induction is commonly guided by log-rank separation, whereas some prognostic questions target conditional future lifetime. We propose a directional finite-horizon mean residual life (MRL) criterion for survival-rule induction under right censoring, combining normalized subgroup support with a survival-weighted restricted-MRL discrepancy. The framework includes favorable and adverse objectives, training-only horizon selection and tuning, overlapping-rule prediction, and finite-candidate plug-in consistency. Across nine simulation scenarios (200 replications each), MRL recovered the true subgroup partition more accurately under delayed benefit, crossing hazards, delayed benefit with 60% censoring, and small-sample crossing; log-rank was stronger under proportional hazards, early-only effects, rare subgroups, and the adverse stress test. In repeated nested analyses, Cox proportional hazards achieved the lowest mean integrated Brier score (IBS) in WHAS100 (0.1797) and malignant melanoma (0.1300); controlled log-rank also yielded lower IBS than MRL (0.1926 vs. 0.2038 and 0.1358 vs. 0.1404, respectively). MRL nevertheless identified different conditional-lifetime structures. These results position MRL-guided rules as an estimand-specific complement to hazard-oriented methods rather than a universally superior predictor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Statistics in Medicine and Biostatistics)

26 pages, 6833 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Multimodal AI Framework for Medical Education: Integrating Adaptive Image Retrieval, Fast Synthesis, and LLM-Based Clinical Auditing

by Miguel Díaz-Benito, Cecilia Diana-Albelda, Álvaro García-Martín, Mario Rubén Paz Campos and Jesus Bescos

J. Imaging 2026, 12(9), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging12090438 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Access to reliable medical images is essential for clinical training. To address this need, this paper presents an extended version of MIRAGE, a multimodal retrieval and generation system that utilizes a shared latent space to process medical queries by retrieving real images from [...] Read more.

Access to reliable medical images is essential for clinical training. To address this need, this paper presents an extended version of MIRAGE, a multimodal retrieval and generation system that utilizes a shared latent space to process medical queries by retrieving real images from the ROCO dataset, generating synthetic scans, and providing LLM-based clinical descriptions alongside dual-concept visual comparisons. To overcome previous computational limits and the lack of clinical validation, we introduce three core enhancements: first, an Auto-

α

module to dynamically weight visual and textual similarities; second, the integration of LCM-LoRA to accelerate synthetic image generation; and third, an automated clinical auditor based on Gemini 2.5 Flash. Experimental results demonstrate that Auto-

α

improves retrieval accuracy for heterogeneous queries, reaching

38.83

% Top-1 Recall over a 65,419-image gallery and outperforming nine fusion baselines evaluated under a unified configuration, with a controlled ablation attributing most of this gain to learning the weight rather than merely making it query-adaptive, while the LCM-LoRA module reduces computational costs by a factor of 12.5× in CPU environments, with a blinded radiologist evaluation confirming only a small drop in clinical quality. Furthermore, the clinical auditor achieves a 0.805 Pearson correlation against an expert radiologist, effectively correcting the systematic overestimation of traditional CLIP scores. Finally, the optimized platform is publicly deployed on Hugging Face. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging)

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23 pages, 1285 KB

Open AccessArticle

Time-Dependent Reliability Analysis and Maintenance Strategy for Fully Enclosed High-Speed Railway Noise Barriers

by Ming Li, Jiahao Ouyang, Wenlong Zhao, Tao Huang, Didi Hao, Xudong Wang, Miaomiao Peng, Changqing Miao and Chunfeng Wan

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(18), 9046; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16189046 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

To assess the long-term fatigue safety of fully enclosed high-speed railway noise barriers and to optimize maintenance strategies, a time-dependent probabilistic reliability framework focusing on fatigue damage and bolt preload relaxation is developed. The stochastic nature of train velocity, load scaling factor, and [...] Read more.

To assess the long-term fatigue safety of fully enclosed high-speed railway noise barriers and to optimize maintenance strategies, a time-dependent probabilistic reliability framework focusing on fatigue damage and bolt preload relaxation is developed. The stochastic nature of train velocity, load scaling factor, and daily traffic volume is explicitly considered. Using the 350 km/h two-train passing scenario as the reference case, the stress time history at the column base is extracted. The damage per train pass is computed via rain-flow counting and Miner’s rule, and the time-dependent reliability indices are obtained through parallel Monte Carlo simulations (10⁴ samples, daily time steps over 50 years). The results show that the fatigue failure probability at 50 years is 0.11%, with a reliability index β ≈ 3.06 and a mean cumulative damage of 0.325; failures are concentrated in the 40–50-year period, and train velocity is identified as the most influential factor. Furthermore, 98.3% of the bolts require retightening within 50 years, with a median intervention time of 18.2 years—far earlier than the occurrence of fatigue failure. The joint system analysis reveals that the overall system failure is dominated by bolt relaxation; when the coupling effect is included, the fatigue failure probability increases to 0.18%. A phased maintenance strategy is accordingly proposed: monitor preload during years 0–15, perform comprehensive re-torquing during years 15–30, and intensify fatigue inspections during years 30–50. The proposed methodology provides a quantitative basis for life-cycle safety assessment and operational decision-making for fully enclosed high-speed railway noise barriers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Civil Engineering)

43 pages, 5250 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evidential Involution–Attention Based Networks for Medical Imaging Diagnosis

by Salha M. Alzahrani

Mathematics 2026, 14(18), 3310; https://doi.org/10.3390/math14183310 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Convolution is spatially fixed and channel-specific, whereas involution is location-specific and channel-agnostic, capturing spatially varying patterns efficiently. Existing involutional networks, however, generate point-estimate kernels and expose no native measure of where the operator is uncertain, while prevailing uncertainty and calibration methods act on [...] Read more.

Convolution is spatially fixed and channel-specific, whereas involution is location-specific and channel-agnostic, capturing spatially varying patterns efficiently. Existing involutional networks, however, generate point-estimate kernels and expose no native measure of where the operator is uncertain, while prevailing uncertainty and calibration methods act on the network output rather than on the aggregation operator itself. We propose Evidential Involution–Attention (EvIA) networks, which recast involution as a distributional operator whose per-location neighborhood aggregation is a Dirichlet distribution. This yields, in a single forward pass and at the same parameter cost as involution, a closed-form epistemic-uncertainty (vacuity) map. The vacuity drives a parameter-free, precision-weighted gate that fuses the local involution branch with a global branch, instantiated as windowed self-attention (EvIA-W) or lightweight channel attention (EvIA-C). A lemma and three propositions establish that normalized involution is the infinite-evidence limit of the operator, that convex aggregation makes it non-expansive, that the Dirichlet strength is the precision of the aggregated feature, and that the gate is the minimum-variance unbiased fusion of the two branches. An evidential head trained with a differentiable calibration objective produces reliable confidences. Over five seeds with paired tests on brain magnetic resonance imaging, chest radiography, and dermatoscopy, the windowed variant EvIA-W is significantly stronger on brain MRI, attaining 0.803 ± 0.026 accuracy against 0.714 ± 0.019 (p = 0.006) by EvIA-C, and reducing the area under the risk–coverage curve from 0.187 to 0.092 (p = 0.001). Architecture-matched controls show that the discrimination gain on brain MRI comes from the global branch, while substituting evidential for standard involution leaves accuracy, calibration, and selective risk statistically unchanged, so the operator supplies its uncertainty machinery at no measurable cost. We further report that the spatial vacuity map does not localize input corruption, because the aggregation weights are invariant to the evidence scale and no objective term supervises it, an analysis that motivates the operator-level regularizers we define for future work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section E1: Mathematics and Computer Science)

19 pages, 1192 KB

Open AccessArticle

Small Molecule Modulation of NOS1AP for Molecularly Targeted Glioblastoma Therapy

by Ashraf N. Abdo, Sungwoo Cho and Moustafa Gabr

Life 2026, 16(9), 1519; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16091519 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

NOS1AP (CAPON) is a signaling adaptor implicated in glioblastoma (GBM) proliferation, but its chemical tractability remains largely unexplored. Here, affinity selection–mass spectrometry screening of 10,000 drug-like compounds identified NGM1, a small molecule scaffold that directly binds NOS1AP. Binding was confirmed by microscale [...] Read more.

NOS1AP (CAPON) is a signaling adaptor implicated in glioblastoma (GBM) proliferation, but its chemical tractability remains largely unexplored. Here, affinity selection–mass spectrometry screening of 10,000 drug-like compounds identified NGM1, a small molecule scaffold that directly binds NOS1AP. Binding was confirmed by microscale thermophoresis (MST), yielding a dissociation constant of 11.9 ± 7.0 μM. Focused structure–activity analysis and molecular modeling identified structural features associated with NOS1AP recognition and provided a framework for compound optimization. In living cells, NGM1 produced a concentration-dependent reduction in the NanoBRET signal generated by the NOS1AP-NOS1 reporter pair, consistent with perturbation of the complex. NGM1 reduced viability in U87 and U251 GBM cells, with IC₅₀ values of 12.7 ± 0.91 and 17.3 ± 1.04 μM, respectively, while normal human astrocyte viability remained above 50% at 150 μM. Mechanistic studies in U87 cells demonstrated reduced DNA synthesis, G₀/G₁ cell-cycle accumulation, and induction of apoptosis, accompanied by increased p53 and CDKN1A and decreased CDK6. Collectively, these findings establish the initial chemical tractability of NOS1AP and identify NGM1 as a chemical scaffold for investigating NOS1AP-associated signaling in GBM. The findings also provide a foundation for optimizing NOS1AP-directed compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Physiology and Pathology)

20 pages, 1079 KB

Open AccessArticle

Engineering Control Readiness and Airborne Fungal Contamination in Forensic Pathology Facilities in Gauteng, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Occupational Hygiene Study

by Tanusha Singh, Lufuno Muleba, Zubaydah Kirsten, Lesedi Victoria Monaiwa and Dikeledi Matuka

Hygiene 2026, 6(3), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene6030063 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Airborne fungal contamination poses an occupational health risk in environments where engineering-controls are essential for maintaining indoor air quality. However, evidence integrating assessments of engineering-control readiness and airborne fungal contamination in forensic pathology facilities remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This [...] Read more.

Airborne fungal contamination poses an occupational health risk in environments where engineering-controls are essential for maintaining indoor air quality. However, evidence integrating assessments of engineering-control readiness and airborne fungal contamination in forensic pathology facilities remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study assessed engineering-control readiness, indoor environmental conditions, and airborne fungal contamination in three public forensic pathology facilities in Gauteng Province, South Africa, and explored factors associated with airborne fungal contamination. A cross-sectional occupational hygiene study was conducted in three public forensic pathology facilities. Engineering-control readiness was assessed using structured walkthroughs and summarised using a study-specific Engineering Control Readiness Index (ECRI). Indoor temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and airborne fungal concentrations were measured concurrently. Duplicate fungal air samples were collected at predefined locations over three consecutive sampling days. For the primary regression analysis, duplicate fungal measurements were averaged within each physical sampling location and sampling day, yielding 54 indoor location-day observations from 18 physical indoor sampling locations. Multivariable log-linear regression included facility, functional work area, area-specific ventilation and environmental-control deficiency, temperature, relative humidity and CO₂, with cluster-robust inference accounting for repeated measurements within physical sampling locations. Overall ECRI scores ranged from 50.1% to 53.9%, with ventilation and environmental control representing the weakest domain. Airborne fungal concentrations differed significantly between facilities, with FPF G recording the highest indoor median concentration (740 CFU/m³). Cladosporium spp. and Penicillium spp. predominated. After adjustment for facility, functional work area and environmental conditions and accounting for repeated sampling, engineering-control deficiency was not independently associated with fungal concentration (adjusted change per 10-percentage-point increase: −16.3%; 95% CI: −70.9% to 140.9%; p = 0.727). Substantial engineering-control deficiencies and airborne fungal contamination were identified; however, the independent contribution of engineering-control deficiency could not be estimated with adequate precision in this three-facility study. Larger longitudinal studies incorporating objective ventilation-performance measurements are required to clarify the contribution of specific engineering controls to occupational bioaerosol exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Occupational Hygiene)

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19 pages, 338 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Three-Step Iterative Scheme for Nonexpansive Mappings: Convergence Analysis and Applications to Convex Optimization

by Fahad M. Alamrani, Nidal H. E. Eljaneid, Nifeen H. Altaweel, Mona Y. Alfefi, Shurooq B. Alblawie, Rana Ahmed Alshehri and Faizan Ahmad Khan

Axioms 2026, 15(9), 680; https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms15090680 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

This study focuses on a three-step iterative scheme, referred to as the NIP iteration, for the approximation of fixed points associated with nonexpansive mappings in uniformly convex Banach spaces. Weak convergence is established using Fejér monotonicity, asymptotic regularity and the demiclosedness principle. Strong [...] Read more.

This study focuses on a three-step iterative scheme, referred to as the NIP iteration, for the approximation of fixed points associated with nonexpansive mappings in uniformly convex Banach spaces. Weak convergence is established using Fejér monotonicity, asymptotic regularity and the demiclosedness principle. Strong convergence is proved under uniform convexity, compactness, and Condition (I) of Senter and Dotson. A numerical convergence and computational-cost comparison is developed numerically, showing that the NIP iteration performs better than the Ishikawa, S, Noor, Abbas–Nazir and SP schemes. Numerical experiments for nonlinear nonexpansive mappings validate the theoretical findings. An application to convex optimization via fixed point reformulation is also presented, illustrating the effectiveness of the method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Mathematical Analysis)

21 pages, 41955 KB

Open AccessReview

ELAVL Proteins, miRNA Fate, and Extracellular RNA Communication in Brain Aging and Neurodegeneration

by Kamalika Mukherjee and Suvendra N. Bhattacharyya

Cells 2026, 15(18), 1649; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15181649 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Brain aging is accompanied by changes in RNA homeostasis, intercellular communication, and stress responses that increase vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases. The neuronal protein HuD (ELAVL4) and the broadly expressed HuR (ELAVL1) regulate RNA stability, translation, localization, and selected microRNA (miRNA) activities. Recent studies [...] Read more.

Brain aging is accompanied by changes in RNA homeostasis, intercellular communication, and stress responses that increase vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases. The neuronal protein HuD (ELAVL4) and the broadly expressed HuR (ELAVL1) regulate RNA stability, translation, localization, and selected microRNA (miRNA) activities. Recent studies further show that HuD can promote export of let-7a and miR-125b during differentiation of PC12 cells, whereas HuR can bind selected miRNAs and engage endosomal export or intracellular buffering mechanisms in other cellular contexts. These observations support an emerging ELAVL–miRNA–extracellular vesicle (EV) framework. They do not yet establish an integrated HuD/HuR-dependent neuron–glia pathway in aging human brain or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We therefore distinguish direct, model-specific findings from hypotheses that age-, amyloid-, or inflammation-associated changes in ELAVL abundance, localization, or RNA binding could redistribute miRNAs between intracellular pools and EVs. Testing this framework in primary human neural cells, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived systems, organoids, and in vivo models may identify context-specific mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of miRNA Metabolism and Extracellular Transport)

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54 pages, 1323 KB

Open AccessReview

Soil Microbiome Responses to Sustainable Agricultural Practices

by Dragana Miljaković, Jelena Marinković, Marjana Vasiljević, Vuk Đorđević, Marie Aristea Bakogianni, Nikolaos Nikoloudakis and Ioannis Manikas

Agriculture 2026, 16(18), 1957; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16181957 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Agricultural practices based on sustainable principles (e.g., conservation tillage, crop rotation, cover cropping, and the application of organic inputs) have been tested for their potential to improve soil structure, enhance soil organic matter, and support agrobiodiversity. These practices are directly linked to soil [...] Read more.

Agricultural practices based on sustainable principles (e.g., conservation tillage, crop rotation, cover cropping, and the application of organic inputs) have been tested for their potential to improve soil structure, enhance soil organic matter, and support agrobiodiversity. These practices are directly linked to soil microbial diversity. Diverse soil microbial communities play multiple roles in promoting beneficial interactions between plants and their environment and in maintaining functional agroecosystems. Key functions enabled by soil microorganisms are carbon dynamics, nutrient cycling, soil structure improvement, pathogen suppression, plant growth promotion, and stress tolerance. Soil microorganisms are increasingly recognized as a promising but still underexploited source in tackling sustainability challenges in agricultural production. However, their potential varies depending on the interactions among abiotic and biotic factors, as well as the applied cultivation practices. In recent decades, advances in DNA extraction from soil and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have enabled comprehensive characterization of microbial diversity, community composition, and functional potential for assessing soil health and agroecosystem functioning. Understanding, predicting, and exploring relevant plant–soil–microbiome interactions are essential for enhancing agroecosystem capacity for sustainable production. This review paper highlights how different factors and agricultural practices affect microbiome biodiversity. The focus is on microbiome approaches that integrate information on community composition with assessments of functional potential and measured microbial activity and ecosystem processes, combining state-of-the-art molecular monitoring, ecological indicators, and predictive modeling to support evidence-based management recommendations, distinguishing approaches that are currently applicable in agricultural practice from those that require further experimental validation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Soils)

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24 pages, 1771 KB

Open AccessArticle

Carbendazim Transport and Interactions with Regenerated Cellulose Membranes Probed by Analytical Diafiltration

by Hernán Valle, Verónica Izquierdo and Manuel Palencia

Sci 2026, 8(9), 254; https://doi.org/10.3390/sci8090254 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Carbendazim (CBDZ) is widely used for the prevention and control of fungal diseases in agricultural crops. Its extensive and recurrent application may lead to the occurrence of residues in agricultural environments and increase the potential for contamination of aquatic systems. In this study, [...] Read more.

Carbendazim (CBDZ) is widely used for the prevention and control of fungal diseases in agricultural crops. Its extensive and recurrent application may lead to the occurrence of residues in agricultural environments and increase the potential for contamination of aquatic systems. In this study, analytical diafiltration was used to investigate the transport and interfacial association of CBDZ with regenerated cellulose membranes (CELms) rather than to evaluate size-exclusion-based pesticide removal. Continuous diafiltration experiments using the washing mode were performed with an 8.0 ppm CBDZ solution and 10 kDa of CELm at different pH values (3.0–9.0), while permeate flow rate and CBDZ concentration in successive permeate fractions were monitored throughout the process. CBDZ membrane retention (Rm) ranged from (7.4 ± 3.3%) at pH 9.0 to (23.2 ± 2.0%) at pH 3.0, with a maximum membrane-associated amount (\(R_m^{max}\) ) of 478 μg CBDZ per g of CELm. The pH dependence of Rm was accurately described by Rm = 24.9740 + 0.1814 ph − 0.2375 ph² for 3.0 ≤ pH ≤ 9.0 (r² = 0.999). The results are consistent with adsorption-mediated interfacial association, mainly involving physicochemical interactions with hydroxyl- and carboxyl-containing functionalities of CELms, while electrostatic interactions contributed less than 3.0% within the pH range of 6.0–7.0. The diafiltration profiles were successfully described by the ExDM–IDZ model. The parameters governing the shape of the retention profile were Rm, associated with the horizontal asymptote, and (j), which describes the decay rate and was related to the evolution of CBDZ concentration and its apparent residence behavior during diafiltration. Overall, these results demonstrate that analytical diafiltration provides a useful framework for investigating the transport, partitioning, and adsorption-mediated interactions of low-molecular-weight, water-soluble pesticides with membrane materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental and Earth Science)

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35 pages, 9197 KB

Open AccessArticle

Data-Driven Position Control of a McKibben Pneumatic Artificial Muscle: Simulation and Experimental Validation of PID and LQI Controllers

by Tomislav Bazina, Luka Kopajtić, Ervin Kamenar and Goran Gregov

Actuators 2026, 15(9), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/act15090484 (registering DOI) - 11 Sep 2026

Abstract

Pneumatic artificial muscles, including McKibben-type actuators, offer high power-to-weight ratio, compliance, and inherent safety, but their nonlinear pressure–contraction behavior, hysteresis, saturation, and load-dependent dynamics make accurate position control challenging. This study develops a practical data-driven workflow that derives a branchwise feedforward compensator and [...] Read more.

Pneumatic artificial muscles, including McKibben-type actuators, offer high power-to-weight ratio, compliance, and inherent safety, but their nonlinear pressure–contraction behavior, hysteresis, saturation, and load-dependent dynamics make accurate position control challenging. This study develops a practical data-driven workflow that derives a branchwise feedforward compensator and an LQI or PID controller from one open-loop characterization experiment. Quasi-static characterization first identifies a conservative control-ready voltage window. A bounded random excitation within this window is replayed with

4 s

holds to expose terminal and transient behavior. The same experiment supplies branchwise discrete plant models and a feedforward lookup. Two open-loop-derived transient layers, voltage creep compensation and dynamic pressure referencing, are applied to the raw lookup before simulation. Four controller variants are compared on a common simulated closed-loop benchmark built from the identified plant: a feedforward-only baseline, a branchwise proportional–integral–derivative (PID) baseline, a base linear quadratic integral (LQI) controller with displacement and pressure feedback, and a velocity-state LQI extension with a filtered velocity estimate. A multi-metric optimization score balances tracking RMS, settled oscillation, command activity, saturation, and gain magnitude. The score selects the base LQI within the LQI family. The selected gains and transient layers are deployed in a real-time implementation with manually reduced position gains. The controllers are then evaluated on a common reference stream against the physical actuator. Although simulation metrics cannot be transferred directly to the real system, the combined-metric ranking of the controllers remains unchanged. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Centric Intelligent Actuation Systems: Innovations in Control, Sensing, and Multidisciplinary Applications)

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