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19 pages, 6929 KB

Open AccessArticle

CaP-Coated Cyclosporine A Liposomes Formulated as an Inhalable Dry Powder for Lung Inflammatory Diseases

by Davide D’Angelo, Stefania Glieca, Lisa Flammini, Simona Bertoni, Annalisa Bianchera, Eride Quarta, Ben Forbes, Fabio Sonvico and Francesca Buttini

Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(6), 684; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18060684 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Background: Cyclosporine is widely used to prevent transplant rejection; however, its systemic administration is associated with low bioavailability and a risk of severe adverse side effects. In the context of lung transplantation, local pulmonary delivery represents a promising strategy to reduce the required [...] Read more.

Background: Cyclosporine is widely used to prevent transplant rejection; however, its systemic administration is associated with low bioavailability and a risk of severe adverse side effects. In the context of lung transplantation, local pulmonary delivery represents a promising strategy to reduce the required dose while enhancing local anti-inflammatory efficacy and limiting systemic toxicity. Methods: In this study, cyclosporine was encapsulated in liposomes coated with calcium phosphate to improve cellular uptake. The liposomal formulation was subsequently converted into a dry powder for inhalation to enable pulmonary administration, combining cyclosporine-loaded liposomes with a calcium phosphate coating, extending prior work on inhaled liposomal cyclosporine and mineral-coated liposomes into a single platform. The cyclosporine loading was optimised to achieve an efficient drug content in the final formulation. Results: The presence of the calcium phosphate coating on the liposomal surface was confirmed by the shift in zeta potential and by cryo-transmission electron microscopy. The resulting dry powder exhibited suitable aerodynamic properties for pulmonary delivery with a fine particle fraction of 33.6 ± 1.6%. In vitro biocompatibility studies performed on A549 epithelial cells and THP-1 monocytic cells demonstrated that the formulation did not affect cell viability. Furthermore, the formulation containing calcium phosphate-coated liposomes showed a stronger anti-inflammatory effect compared with both uncoated liposomal formulations and the corresponding raw material, consisting of a physical mixture of phospholipids and cyclosporine. Conclusions: Overall, despite limitations on respirability and efficacy that will require further in vivo studies, this calcium phosphate-coated liposomal dry powder could represent a promising strategy for targeted pulmonary delivery of cyclosporine, with potential to improve the prevention of lung transplant rejection while minimising systemic side effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pharmaceutical Technology, Manufacturing and Devices)

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16 pages, 14859 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Multi-Omics Characterization of the Salt-Sensitive Mutant sss1 in Soybean

by Ziyun Chen, Xi Li, Jinyang Zhang, Chunyu Liu, Liyan Wan, Guangcheng Bai, Peiying Hao, Ping Deng and Fengjie Yuan

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1695; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111695 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Soil salinity is a major constraint on soybean (Glycine max) production. While ionic toxicity is a primary factor, the integration of metabolic and hormonal responses remains unclear. Here, we characterize the salt-sensitive mutant, sss1, using physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses. [...] Read more.

Soil salinity is a major constraint on soybean (Glycine max) production. While ionic toxicity is a primary factor, the integration of metabolic and hormonal responses remains unclear. Here, we characterize the salt-sensitive mutant, sss1, using physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses. We demonstrate that the primary defect in sss1 is disrupted ion homeostasis, characterized by excessive Na⁺ accumulation, impaired K⁺ retention, and a high Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. Multi-omics integration revealed that sss1 exhibits extensive metabolic reprogramming. Notably, mannose was identified as a potential hub linking carbohydrate metabolism and glycosylation; its reduction in the mutant suggests a metabolic vulnerability. Furthermore, the mutant showed a dual impairment of abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling, evidenced by reduced hormone levels and downregulation of biosynthetic genes. Collectively, our results associate the sss1 locus with systemic disruptions in ion homeostasis, hormone signaling, and metabolic reprogramming. This multi-omics landscape provides a foundation for the future cloning of SSS1 and elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying salt sensitivity in soybean. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bean Breeding)

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13 pages, 4539 KB

Open AccessArticle

TaKMT-7A Gene Positively Regulates Spike Number in Wheat

by Qun Wu, Junsheng Sun, Shengfu Yang, Mingxia Zhang, Di Yang, Hao Xue, Haimeng Wu, Ying Guo, Sishen Li and Yanrong An

Genes 2026, 17(6), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17060630 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial global food crop that plays a central role in agricultural production and food security. The spike number per unit area (SN) is one of the three component factors of grain yield. In this study, we [...] Read more.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial global food crop that plays a central role in agricultural production and food security. The spike number per unit area (SN) is one of the three component factors of grain yield. In this study, we combined the UG-Map with 27 environments of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, and mapped a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for SN, QSn-7A-9048, in which the meta-QTL interval contains only one candidate gene, TraesCS7A02G-364700 (TaKMT-7A). Using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we generated two homozygous mutant lines, aa-1 and aa-2 of TaKMT-7A, which resulted in frameshift mutations, leading to the premature termination of the translation process. The SN values for the wild type (WT), aa-1, and aa-2 were 4.48, 3.43, and 3.48, respectively. Compared with the WT, the SN of the two mutant lines significantly decreased, and no significant differences for grain number per spike (GNS) and thousand-grain weight (TGW) were detected. We also obtained two overexpression (OE) lines of TaKMT-7A, OE-1 and OE-2. The SN values for the negative control (NC), OE-1, and OE-2 were 2.31, 3.33, and 3.00, respectively. Compared with NC, the SN values in the OE lines significantly increased. The phenotypes of the knockout (KO) lines and OE lines demonstrate that TaKMT-7A acts as a positive regulator of SN in wheat. We performed RNA-Seq analysis using young tiller buds from the WT and aa-1 mutant lines at the tillering stage, and a total of 2315 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. We screened 22 wheat genes, of which 18 orthologous genes have previously been cloned and are associated with branching in rice and Arabidopsis. These genes included nitrogen transporter, amino metabolism, auxin transporter, auxin homeostasis, auxin response, auxin biosynthesis, strigolactone biosynthesis, and repress gibberellin responses. These genes may represent potential downstream targets of TaKMT-7A. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Recent Advances in Plant Genetics and Breeding)

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23 pages, 1679 KB

Open AccessArticle

From Sustainability Concepts to STEM Projects: Conceptual Learning Following an Integrated STEM Intervention in Primary and Secondary Education

by Guadalupe Martínez-Borreguero, Jesús Maestre-Jiménez, Milagros Mateos-Núñez and Francisco Luis Naranjo-Correa

Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 865; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16060865 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Integrating sustainability into science education remains a key challenge for the design of contextualised, socially relevant instruction. Within this framework, integrated STEM education offers a promising avenue for connecting scientific concepts with socio-environmental problems through the analysis and development of technological solutions. This [...] Read more.

Integrating sustainability into science education remains a key challenge for the design of contextualised, socially relevant instruction. Within this framework, integrated STEM education offers a promising avenue for connecting scientific concepts with socio-environmental problems through the analysis and development of technological solutions. This study examines the conceptual learning associated with a sustainability-oriented integrated STEM intervention implemented in real classroom settings in Primary Education and Compulsory Secondary Education. The intervention was designed based on a national curriculum analysis and was structured in two blocks: one centred on conceptual development of content related to water, energy, and waste, and another focused on applying this knowledge through the analysis and development of STEM projects. A single-group pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design was employed. The sample comprised 66 students: 43 in the third year of Compulsory Secondary Education and 23 in the sixth year of Primary Education. Conceptual learning was assessed using multiple-choice questionnaires adapted to each educational stage. The results indicate statistically significant improvements at both levels following the intervention, although the magnitude of the gains varied according to educational stage and conceptual domain. These findings provide empirical evidence of short-term conceptual changes associated with a sustainability-oriented STEM intervention and highlight the need for further research on its implementation in authentic school contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section STEM Education)

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11 pages, 1793 KB

Open AccessArticle

Orchestration of Endothelial and Osteogenic Marker Expression During Osteogenesis

by Sydney Chen, Yan Zhao, Nikki Chen, Xiuju Wu, Li Zhang, Zheng Jing, Lei Qi, Xinjiang Cai, Kristina I. Boström and Yucheng Yao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(11), 4977; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27114977 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) coordinate with osteogenic processes to establish the specialized vasculature of bone tissue, where endothelial cells and bone cells interact, and bone cells regulate EC proliferation and differentiation. However, it remains unclear how ECs and bone cells are coordinated during [...] Read more.

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) coordinate with osteogenic processes to establish the specialized vasculature of bone tissue, where endothelial cells and bone cells interact, and bone cells regulate EC proliferation and differentiation. However, it remains unclear how ECs and bone cells are coordinated during early bone formation and whether these interactions differ between endochondral ossification (e.g., femur) and intramembranous ossification (e.g., skull). To address this question, we analyzed endothelial and osteogenic marker expression in the femur and skull between postnatal days 3 and 39. We identified distinct expression patterns of endothelial markers (Endomucin, VE-cadherin and CD31) and osteogenic markers (Osterix, Cbfa1 and BGLP) during osteogenesis in these tissues. In the femurs, endothelial marker expression alternated with the expression of osteogenic markers, suggesting potential reciprocal regulation. In contrast, in the skull, endothelial and osteogenic markers exhibited similar temporal expression patterns without alternation. We also analyzed the expression of VEGF and its receptor FLK1. In the femur, VEGF expression paralleled osteogenic marker expression, whereas in the skull VEGF expression differed from both osteogenic and endothelial marker patterns. Together, these results demonstrate that the coordination of endothelial and osteogenic marker expression, as well as VEGF signaling, differs between endochondral and intramembranous ossification, suggesting distinct modes of interaction between endothelial and bone cells during the formation of long and flat bones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Studies of Bone Biology and Bone Tissue: 2nd Edition)

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26 pages, 12137 KB

Open AccessReview

Vitamin D Deficiency as a Context-Dependent Modifier of Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

by Chien-Lin Lu, Ren-Yeong Huang, Cai-Mei Zheng and Kuo-Cheng Lu

Nutrients 2026, 18(11), 1769; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18111769 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by impaired bone remodeling, vascular compromise, immune dysregulation, and mucosal barrier disruption. Although these mechanisms have been extensively investigated, they are often discussed separately, limiting an integrated understanding of ONJ pathogenesis. Vitamin D [...] Read more.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by impaired bone remodeling, vascular compromise, immune dysregulation, and mucosal barrier disruption. Although these mechanisms have been extensively investigated, they are often discussed separately, limiting an integrated understanding of ONJ pathogenesis. Vitamin D has emerged as a biologically relevant factor across these interconnected pathways, yet its role in ONJ remains incompletely defined. This narrative and hypothesis-generating review synthesizes current mechanistic, preclinical, observational, and clinical evidence regarding vitamin D biology and ONJ and proposes a vitamin D-centered vulnerability model in which vitamin D deficiency acts as a context-dependent modifier rather than a primary causal driver. Mechanistically, vitamin D deficiency may impair osteoblast function and mineralization, disrupt angiogenic responses, promote pro-inflammatory immune signaling, and compromise mucosal integrity, collectively creating a microenvironment susceptible to impaired healing and osteonecrosis. These effects are likely to vary across clinical settings, particularly in patients receiving antiresorptive or antiangiogenic therapies. Clinical and epidemiological studies have reported associations between low vitamin D status and increased ONJ risk or severity, while some observational studies suggest that vitamin D supplementation may be associated with improved outcomes in selected populations. However, current human evidence remains predominantly observational and subject to substantial heterogeneity and residual confounding, and direct randomized evidence is lacking. Overall, this framework provides an integrated perspective linking vitamin D biology to ONJ-related pathogenic processes and may support future mechanistic research, risk stratification, and supportive multidisciplinary management strategies. Nevertheless, the proposed model should be interpreted cautiously as hypothesis-generating and requires further validation in well-designed prospective studies and randomized controlled trials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Roles of Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Maintaining Metabolic Homeostasis and Health)

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20 pages, 876 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

New Approaches in Motor Intervention for Infants Aged 0–2 Years with or at High Risk of Unilateral or Bilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

by Laura Beccani, Monica Valle, Sara Damilano, Francesco Venturelli, Massimo Vicentini, Olivia Vecchi and Silvia Faccioli

Children 2026, 13(6), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13060762 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Early motor intervention is increasingly recognized as a critical component in the management of infants with, or at high risk of, cerebral palsy (CP). This systematic review aimed to synthesize recent evidence on early motor interventions in infants aged 0–2 years and [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Early motor intervention is increasingly recognized as a critical component in the management of infants with, or at high risk of, cerebral palsy (CP). This systematic review aimed to synthesize recent evidence on early motor interventions in infants aged 0–2 years and to identify current gaps in knowledge. Methods: We performed a systematic literature review across PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus. Studies published between 1 January 2020 and 5 October 2024 were included. Eligible studies were Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), non-randomized trials, and cohort studies that involved infants aged 0–2 years diagnosed with CP or classified as at high risk of CP who received early motor interventions targeting motor outcomes. Study selection and data extraction were executed by two independent reviewers following standardized protocols. The Rob2 Checklist was used to assess the risk of bias. This systematic review protocol was registered on PROSPERO with the ID 506784. Results: Six articles representing four RCTs were included. Although intervention protocols varied, shared therapeutic principles emerged across studies. Most participants were approximately 12 months old; only one study included infants younger than 3 months, highlighting limited evidence in the earliest detectable risk period. No consistent superiority of experimental interventions over standard care was observed; however, notable within-group improvements in motor and developmental domains were reported across both study arms. Major limitations included heterogeneity of outcome measures, limited use of CP-specific standardized tools, and insufficient assessment of functional and goal-based outcomes. Conclusions: Current evidence indicates a shift toward meaningful, family-centered early motor interventions, emphasizing active participation and parental involvement. Five core principles were identified: early initiation, task specificity, active experience, guided support, and engagement of both the child and caregivers. Future research should focus on earlier intervention timing, standardized outcome measures, and caregiver-related outcomes to optimize early intervention strategies during critical developmental windows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Early Detection and Intervention in Children with Cerebral Palsy)

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16 pages, 1278 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Cognitive Deterioration After COVID-19 Infection (The ACDC Study): An Exploratory Multimodal Neuroimaging Study

by Jonathan McLaughlin and Gordon Waiter

J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(11), 4241; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15114241 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Background: Cognitive difficulties are common after SARS-CoV-2 infection, yet their neurobiological underpinnings remain uncertain. Cognitive symptoms in post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) are often characterised by attentional and executive dysfunction, although the relationship between subjective symptoms and objective neurobiological changes remains uncertain. Methods: Adults previously [...] Read more.

Background: Cognitive difficulties are common after SARS-CoV-2 infection, yet their neurobiological underpinnings remain uncertain. Cognitive symptoms in post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) are often characterised by attentional and executive dysfunction, although the relationship between subjective symptoms and objective neurobiological changes remains uncertain. Methods: Adults previously hospitalised with COVID-19 who reported persistent cognitive symptoms underwent neuropsychological testing and 3 T MRI. The protocol included high-resolution volumetric imaging, diffusion-based tractography, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of frontal white matter. Data were compared with age- and sex-matched controls from a pre-COVID-19 cohort and against pooled normative MRS datasets. Analyses adjusted for intracranial volume, sex, and time since infection, with false-discovery-rate correction. This study was exploratory and hypothesis-generating in design. Results: Thirty participants were recruited; twenty-nine completed MRI acquisition. Participants (mean age 58 years; 62% female; approximately two years post-infection) demonstrated selective impairments in attention, working memory, and verbal fluency. No widespread volumetric or white-matter differences were identified, although reduced posterior hypothalamic volume and altered occipito-parietal connectivity were observed. MRS demonstrated reduced N-acetylaspartate and elevated choline, myo-inositol, and glutamate-glutamine ratios relative to normative reference ranges. No significant associations were observed between imaging measures and cognitive or symptoms outcomes after correction. Conclusions: PCC is characterised by circumscribed cognitive changes and subtle neural differences, but these objective changes do not closely align with subjective symptom severity. This mismatch shares phenotypic features with functional cognitive disorder and suggests that post-COVID-19 “brain fog” is not driven by structural or neurochemical changes alone. Instead, it potentially reflects a combination of mild neurobiological effects and functional cognitive processes. Together, these findings highlight the importance of considering both brain-based and functional contributors to persistent cognitive complaints after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Neurology)

34 pages, 1737 KB

Open AccessReview

From Latin American Agro-Industrial Waste and CO₂ to High-Value Bioproducts: Fermentation-Based Production Platforms for a Regional Bioeconomy

by José Rubén Morones-Ramírez

Fermentation 2026, 12(6), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation12060268 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

This focused review examines fermentation and fermentation-integrated microbial platforms that convert two regionally relevant substrate classes, Latin American agro-industrial residues and concentrated CO₂ streams, into high-value bioproducts. The review is not intended as a complete survey of all biomass valorization routes in [...] Read more.

This focused review examines fermentation and fermentation-integrated microbial platforms that convert two regionally relevant substrate classes, Latin American agro-industrial residues and concentrated CO₂ streams, into high-value bioproducts. The review is not intended as a complete survey of all biomass valorization routes in Latin America. Instead, it evaluates platform–feedstock–product combinations with clear translational relevance for regional biorefineries, with emphasis on literature from 2020–2025 and on earlier benchmark studies only when they define current technical performance limits. Latin America and the Caribbean combine high-volume sugarcane, agave, coffee, citrus, banana, cacao, and tuber-processing residues with biogenic CO₂ from ethanol fermentation and industrial point sources from cement, lime, and oil-and-gas operations. The technical opportunity is therefore not residue abundance alone, but the rational coupling of residue chemistry, CO₂-source quality, locally isolated microbial strains, and process architectures that can be scaled under regional constraints. We compare phototrophic CO₂-fixing modules based on cyanobacteria and microalgae, chemoautotrophic gas fermentation using Cupriavidus necator and related systems, heterotrophic yeast platforms including Rhodotorula spp. and Yarrowia lipolytica, and bacterial platforms for PHAs, bacterial cellulose, and organic acids. The core technical analysis focuses on substrate conditioning, hydrolysate inhibition, oxygen- and gas-transfer constraints, light delivery, C/N control, mixed-sugar utilization, metabolic engineering, reactor configuration, downstream processing, and quantitative reporting metrics. One fermentation-integrated laboratory case study—the Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803–Rhodotorula mucilaginosa UANL-001L CO₂-to-carotenoid relay—and one explicitly defined non-fermentative boundary case on peel-extract-derived coating films are used to illustrate two different aspects of regional biorefinery design: dual-feedstock microbial conversion and low-CapEx product-fit decisions for agro-industrial residues. We conclude that Latin America’s strongest near-term position is in technically disciplined, product-specific biorefineries that integrate local feedstock chemistry with engineered or locally adapted chassis, rather than in generic biomass-to-product claims. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation in Waste Management)

15 pages, 4720 KB

Open AccessArticle

Photocatalytic Transesterification of Palm Oil Using TiO₂-K: Synthesis, Characterization, and Kinetic Modeling

by Andrés Suárez-Escobar, Ricardo Ríos-Linares, Tatiana Santos-Castellanos, Andrea Álvarez-Cabrera, Felipe Mendoza-Abella and Miguel A. Esteso

Inorganics 2026, 14(6), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics14060150 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Potassium-modified titanium dioxide (TiO₂–K) was synthesized and evaluated as a heterogeneous photocatalyst for fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) production from palm oil under UV irradiation. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy coupled [...] Read more.

Potassium-modified titanium dioxide (TiO₂–K) was synthesized and evaluated as a heterogeneous photocatalyst for fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) production from palm oil under UV irradiation. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). Potassium modification preserved the TiO₂ crystalline framework while producing marked changes in morphology and a significant decrease in surface area. Photocatalytic transesterification was optimized using a central composite design, evaluating the effects of catalyst loading and the methanol-to-oil molar ratio on FAME yield. The quadratic response surface model adequately described the experimental data and predicted an optimum FAME yield of approximately 98.96% under the evaluated conditions. Kinetic analysis showed that the reaction profile was well described by an apparent pseudo-first-order model, consistent with the use of excess methanol, while the Avrami–Weibull equation provided a flexible empirical representation of the conversion profile. Control experiments confirmed that irradiation and catalyst presence were required for measurable FAME formation. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of TiO₂–K as a photocatalyst for light-assisted biodiesel production and provides an initial framework for process optimization and kinetic interpretation. Full article

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20 pages, 2593 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanistic Insights into the Photocatalytic Degradation of Chlorophenols in Aqueous Systems via Nonlinear Kinetic Modeling

by Liliana Bobirică, Cristina Orbeci, Giovanina-Iuliana Ionică and Constantin Bobirică

Toxics 2026, 14(6), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14060480 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Chlorophenols (CPs), such as 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), are persistent and toxic organic pollutants commonly found in industrial effluents. This study investigates their photocatalytic degradation using a TiO₂-based heterogeneous catalyst under UV irradiation, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The [...] Read more.

Chlorophenols (CPs), such as 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), are persistent and toxic organic pollutants commonly found in industrial effluents. This study investigates their photocatalytic degradation using a TiO₂-based heterogeneous catalyst under UV irradiation, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The degradation kinetics were analyzed using both pseudo-first order and nonlinear Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) models, accounting for competitive adsorption and successive oxidation of intermediates. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) identified key intermediates, including hydroquinone, catechol, chlorocatechols, and benzoquinone. Nonlinear kinetic modeling of coupled differential equations accurately reproduced the temporal profiles of both the parent compounds and their intermediates, providing mechanistic insights into multi-step hydroxylation, dechlorination, and oxidation processes. The results demonstrate that photocatalytic oxidation effectively mineralizes chlorophenols within 500–600 min, and the developed kinetic model offers a predictive tool for optimizing photocatalytic remediation strategies for chlorinated aromatic pollutants. The novelty of this study lies in the development of a nonlinear Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model integrating experimentally identified degradation intermediates, competitive adsorption phenomena, and parallel photocatalytic reaction pathways for both 4-chlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol oxidation systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Degradation and Remediation of Environmental Pollutants)

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16 pages, 2733 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pre-Activation of Mitophagy Protects Against Hyperbaric Oxygen-Induced Central Nervous System Oxygen Toxicity

by Wei Ding, Qi Zhu, Houyu Zhao, Guanning Wei, Guoyang Huang, Jing Shi, Longfei Wang, Nan Zhao, Jin Ding and Yiqun Fang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(11), 4982; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27114982 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Central nervous system oxygen toxicity (CNS-OT) is a major complication of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) characterized by seizures and neuronal damage, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Using male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 6 per group) and HT22 neurons exposed to either [...] Read more.

Central nervous system oxygen toxicity (CNS-OT) is a major complication of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) characterized by seizures and neuronal damage, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Using male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 6 per group) and HT22 neurons exposed to either HBO (6 ATA, 100% O₂) or hyperbaric normoxia (HNO), our results demonstrate that HBO, but not HNO, caused mitochondrial structural damage and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Transcriptomic analysis revealed enrichment of apoptosis and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Using HeLa cells stably overexpressing Parkin and Mito-Keima, a pH-sensitive mitochondrial probe system for monitoring mitophagy, we observed that mitophagic flux was initiated but proceeded too slowly to clear damaged mitochondria in a timely manner in HBO-exposed neurons. Pharmacological preconditioning to activate mitophagy enabled the prompt elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria and rescued HBO-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. In vivo, everolimus treatment promoted timely mitophagic clearance, prolonged seizure latency, attenuated ΔΨm loss, and suppressed p-p38 activation. These findings demonstrate that HBO exposure disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis and activates pro-apoptotic MAPK signaling. Meanwhile, endogenous mitophagy is initiated but fails to clear damaged mitochondria in a timely manner. Pre-activation of mitophagy by everolimus enables the timely clearance of damaged mitochondria, protecting against CNS-OT and highlighting a promising therapeutic strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Mitochondria on Human Disease and Health)

13 pages, 552 KB

Open AccessArticle

Longer Diagnostic Delay and Post-Diagnosis Overall Survival in a Classic-Kaposi-Sarcoma-Predominant Retrospective Cohort

by İsmail Bayrakçı, Didem Divriklioğlu, Gizem Bakır Kahveci, Tayyip İlker Aydın, Dicle Yurdatap Koç, Ece Demirdelen, Ahmet Küçükarda, Muhammet Bekir Hacıoğlu, Bülent Erdoğan and Sernaz Topaloğlu

J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(11), 4243; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15114243 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an HHV-8-associated angioproliferative malignancy with heterogeneous clinical presentation. Early lesions may be overlooked or misattributed to benign conditions, potentially causing diagnostic delay. We evaluated whether diagnostic delay was associated with survival outcomes in a real-world KS cohort. Methods: [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an HHV-8-associated angioproliferative malignancy with heterogeneous clinical presentation. Early lesions may be overlooked or misattributed to benign conditions, potentially causing diagnostic delay. We evaluated whether diagnostic delay was associated with survival outcomes in a real-world KS cohort. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 87 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed KS diagnosed between 2007 and 2025. Diagnostic delay was defined as the interval between first patient-reported lesion/symptom recognition documented in medical records and histological diagnosis. An exploratory, maximally selected log-rank method was used to identify the delay cut-off that best separated overall survival (OS). OS and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier estimates, log-rank tests, and Cox regression models. Results: The exploratory optimal cut-off for diagnostic delay was 6.5 months, defining early (≤6.5 months; n = 46) and late (>6.5 months; n = 41) diagnosis groups. Median OS was 202.2 months (95% CI 62.3–342.1) in the early group and 92.9 months (95% CI 61.8–124.0) in the late group (log-rank p < 0.001). Late diagnosis was associated with a higher risk of death (HR 3.6, 95% CI 1.6–8.1; p = 0.001). This association was attenuated after multivariable adjustment and was no longer statistically significant (adjusted HR, 1.711, 95% CI 0.696–4.207; p = 0.242). Patients with late diagnosis were older (median 74 vs. 67 years, p = 0.004), had greater comorbidity burden (39.0% vs. 13.0%; p = 0.005), and more frequently had lymphedema (19.5% vs. 4.3%; p = 0.041). Conclusions: In this single-center KS cohort, longer diagnostic delay was associated with poorer post-diagnosis overall survival in unadjusted analyses, while this association was attenuated after multivariable adjustment. The exploratory 6.5-month threshold identified a subgroup with less favorable survival; however, this data-driven cut-off should be considered hypothesis-generating. These findings support efforts to improve early recognition, biopsy, and referral in KS, particularly in older and more comorbid patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Oncology)

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12 pages, 1305 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of High-Risk Breast Cancer Screenings with Concurrent Versus Staggered Breast MRI and Mammogram Schedules

by Lauren Foster Cornell, Marie Plante, Tanmayi Pai, Zhuo Li, Santo Maimone, Andrey Morozov, Robert Maxwell, Pooja Advani and Kristin Robinson

J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(11), 4239; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15114239 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Background: The current guidelines recommend that women at elevated risk for breast cancer (BC), defined as lifetime BC risk ≥ 20%, undergo annual screening with breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammogram. However, limited evidence exists in the literature to guide the optimal [...] Read more.

Background: The current guidelines recommend that women at elevated risk for breast cancer (BC), defined as lifetime BC risk ≥ 20%, undergo annual screening with breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammogram. However, limited evidence exists in the literature to guide the optimal timing of the MRI relative to the mammogram. Our study evaluated women undergoing high-risk BC screenings to determine the impact of timing for supplemental MRI on BC detection. Methods: Patients who completed high-risk screening MRI at a single institution from January 2019 through June 2022 were included. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were collected through retrospective chart review. MRI exams were divided into two groups based on timing of MRI: concurrent (<90 days from mammogram) and staggered (≥90 days from mammogram). Results: Of 1115 patients initially identified, 770 met inclusion criteria, with a total of 3707 screening exams performed (2073 mammograms and 1634 MRIs). The final analysis included 1355 MRI exams for 712 patients, where a prior mammogram and MRI were available. Of the MRIs included, 784 (57.9%) were concurrent and 571 (42.1%) were staggered. Additional imaging was performed for 12.5% (98/784) of concurrent MRIs and 9.6% (55/571) of staggered MRIs. Biopsy rates were 9.8% (77/784) for concurrent and 7.0% (40/571) for staggered MRIs. In this high-risk population, there were surprisingly low BC detection rates, with a BC incremental detection rate of 0.5% in both the concurrent and staggered groups (p = 1.0), with the median size of detected invasive BCs equaling 5 mm in the concurrent group and 4 mm in the staggered group (p = 0.72). Conclusions: When comparing concurrent and staggered MRI regimens, there were no significant differences in incremental cancer detection rate, tumor size, rates of additional imaging, or negative biopsies. Further investigation with prospective analysis is needed to validate these findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Clinical Approaches to Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment)

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25 pages, 453 KB

Open AccessArticle

Preparing for Ethnoculturally Diverse Kindergartens: Which Multicultural Teaching Competence Standards Do Preservice Preschool Teachers Endorse?

by Karmen Mlinar

Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16060864 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Increasing ethnocultural diversity in kindergartens makes preschool teachers’ multicultural teaching competence (MTC) a core professional requirement. Therefore, it is important that, during initial preschool teacher education (IPTE), candidates come to regard the standards embedded in MTC as professionally relevant—what we conceptualize in this [...] Read more.

Increasing ethnocultural diversity in kindergartens makes preschool teachers’ multicultural teaching competence (MTC) a core professional requirement. Therefore, it is important that, during initial preschool teacher education (IPTE), candidates come to regard the standards embedded in MTC as professionally relevant—what we conceptualize in this paper as endorsement of MTC standards—as this may shape their later development and enactment of MTC in practice. Yet, previous research has not examined the extent to which preservice preschool teachers endorse MTC standards or the antecedents of such endorsement. To address this gap, we assessed preservice preschool teachers’ (N = 88) endorsement of MTC standards and the related antecedents. Exploratory factor analysis of the adapted Multicultural Teaching Competency Scale identified three dimensions: multicultural teaching knowledge, equity-driven classroom practice, and multicultural content implementation standards. Participants reported high endorsement of equity-driven practice and multicultural teaching knowledge, but lower endorsement of multicultural content implementation standards. Linear regression analyses showed that multicultural attitudes were positively related to endorsement across all three dimensions, while multicultural ideology and frequency of traveling abroad were related only to multicultural content implementation. Implications are discussed for improving initial and continuing preparation programs, including through anti-bias education and intersectionality-informed frameworks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cross-Cultural Education: Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers)

14 pages, 242 KB

Open AccessArticle

Association Between the CALLY Index and Carotid Artery Stenosis Severity in Patients Younger and Older than 65 Years

by Demet Doğan and Erce Güler

J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(11), 4242; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15114242 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Atherosclerosis is a multifaceted inflammatory condition closely linked to immunonutritional status. The C-reactive protein–albumin–lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a composite marker of immunonutrition. We assessed the relationship between this index, age, and carotid stenosis in individuals undergoing carotid Doppler ultrasonography. Methods: [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Atherosclerosis is a multifaceted inflammatory condition closely linked to immunonutritional status. The C-reactive protein–albumin–lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a composite marker of immunonutrition. We assessed the relationship between this index, age, and carotid stenosis in individuals undergoing carotid Doppler ultrasonography. Methods: Individuals who underwent routine carotid Doppler ultrasonography were retrospectively analyzed. Carotid stenosis was categorized by severity, and bilateral intima–media thickness was recorded. The composite index integrating C-reactive protein, albumin, and lymphocyte parameters was derived from laboratory parameters. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking status, were also recorded and incorporated into multivariable analyses. Sex-related differences were additionally evaluated using sex-stratified correlation analyses. Results: Among 1516 patients, 895 (59.1%) were younger than 65 years and 621 (40.9%) were aged 65 years and above. Carotid artery stenosis and intima–media thickness were significantly higher in individuals aged 65 years and above. The mean index value was significantly lower in the older group (4.0 versus 8.3; p < 0.001). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia were significantly more prevalent in patients with carotid stenosis (p < 0.001 for all), whereas smoking was not associated (p > 0.05). Male sex was independently associated with carotid stenosis, and sex-stratified analyses demonstrated similar inverse associations between age and CALLY index values in both sexes. In multivariable analysis, lower index values were independently associated with carotid stenosis and carotid intima–media thickness in both age groups. In the overall cohort, the index demonstrated moderate discriminatory performance (area under the curve = 0.724). Similar moderate performance was observed in the <65 (AUC = 0.681) and ≥65 (AUC = 0.685) subgroups. Conclusions: The CALLY index was independently associated with carotid stenosis and CIMT after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Although effect sizes were comparable between age groups, CALLY index levels were lower in older individuals. These findings suggest that the CALLY index may provide complementary information in the assessment of carotid atherosclerosis, particularly in elderly populations. However, given the retrospective cross-sectional design and moderate discriminatory performance, it should not be interpreted as a standalone, causal, or disease-specific marker. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly: Prevention and Diagnosis)

22 pages, 753 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seasonality, Weather, and Obstetric Level of Care: An Analysis of Rural Delivery Locations

by Andreas Thorsen, Maggie L. Thorsen, Ronald G. McGarvey and Sean Harris

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(6), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23060731 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Birth seasonality in the United States typically peaks in late summer, yet research has rarely examined these patterns in northern mountainous regions or across different hospital obstetric levels. This study investigates the temporal dynamics of maternal healthcare-seeking behavior in Montana, specifically focusing on [...] Read more.

Birth seasonality in the United States typically peaks in late summer, yet research has rarely examined these patterns in northern mountainous regions or across different hospital obstetric levels. This study investigates the temporal dynamics of maternal healthcare-seeking behavior in Montana, specifically focusing on seasonality in birth volume and obstetric bypassing (delivering at a non-local hospital). We conducted a retrospective analysis of 98,524 birth records (2014–2022) at hospitals with Level 1, 2, and 3 obstetric units, integrating driving distances and monthly county-level climate data. Statistical analyses included calculating observed-to-expected (O-E) ratios to identify seasonality and regression models to test interactions between season, hospital level, and weather. Montana birth volume is distinguished by a peak in June and a trough in January, with seasonality most pronounced at Level 3 hospitals. Obstetric bypassing significantly decreases during winter (O-E ratio 0.95), particularly for Level 1 hospitals, while increasing during warm, high-precipitation months. Over time, bypassing toward Level 3 hospitals has risen from 13.6% to 20%. We conclude that seasonality and weather correlates are associated with significant variation in care-seeking patterns, reflecting the unique challenges facing rural hospitals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Access and Utilization of Maternal Health Services in Rural Areas)

23 pages, 1928 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multimodal Evidence of How Indoor CO₂ Concentration Impairs Office Task Efficiency: Behavioral and EEG Insights

by Hongying Zhou, Shiyuan Li, Xingyue Chen, Dan Chong and Siyu Liao

Buildings 2026, 16(11), 2210; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16112210 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Indoor carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration significantly influences office workers’ cognitive performance, yet the neurobehavioral mechanisms linking exposure to task efficiency remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates how varying indoor CO₂ concentrations (500, 1000, and 2500 ppm) impact task efficiency (accuracy [...] Read more.

Indoor carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration significantly influences office workers’ cognitive performance, yet the neurobehavioral mechanisms linking exposure to task efficiency remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates how varying indoor CO₂ concentrations (500, 1000, and 2500 ppm) impact task efficiency (accuracy and reaction time) through neurophysiological pathways grounded in Cognitive Load Theory. Using a within-subject repeated-measures design, 20 participants performed three office tasks—numerical verification, text entry, and reading comprehension—while behavioral metrics, daytime sleepiness, and electroencephalography (EEG) signals were recorded. Results demonstrate that increasing CO₂ concentration monotonically decreased mean accuracy from 93.50% at 500 ppm to 80.89% at 2500 ppm, while mean reaction time rose from 2.00 s to 2.74 s. Daytime sleepiness significantly mediated the CO₂–accuracy relationship. Furthermore, task type significantly moderated this effect (β = −6.182, p = 0.0289), with accuracy declines being more pronounced in tasks with higher intrinsic cognitive demand. EEG spectral analysis corroborated these findings, revealing systematic reductions in beta and theta power under elevated CO₂. These findings indicate that CO₂ acts as an extraneous cognitive load interacting with intrinsic task demands, providing a neurobehavioral basis for developing cognitive-aware environmental control strategies in intelligent buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Built Environment Performance Through Human-Centered Design and Intelligent Optimization)

15 pages, 16791 KB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of the Phosphoglycerate Kinases and Functional Analysis of GmPGK5 in Regulating Oil Accumulation in Soybean

by Kai Zhang, Fengjia Zhu, Xiuli Yue, Songnan Yang, Yajun Mo, Shancen Zhao, Junyi Gai and Yan Li

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1693; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111693 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) is a vital glycolytic enzyme that provides energy and carbon skeletons to support fatty acid synthesis. However, the PGK gene family has not been characterized in soybean (Glycine max), and its role in soybean oil accumulation remains unclear. [...] Read more.

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) is a vital glycolytic enzyme that provides energy and carbon skeletons to support fatty acid synthesis. However, the PGK gene family has not been characterized in soybean (Glycine max), and its role in soybean oil accumulation remains unclear. Here, we identified six GmPGK genes in soybean, all of which encode proteins containing conserved PGK domains. Phylogenetic analysis clustered soybean PGK proteins into three groups. Analysis of GmPGK promoters revealed relatively abundant cis-elements related to plant growth, development, and phytohormone response. Expression profiling showed that GmPGK5 transcript abundance increases progressively with oil accumulation during seed development, and is significantly higher in the high-oil variety NN1138-2. Overexpression of GmPGK5 significantly increased total fatty acid content in soybean hairy roots. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located at Chr15:49447855 within the GmPGK5 promoter was significantly associated with both seed oil content and seed weight in natural soybean accessions. Based on this SNP, a derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) marker was developed to facilitate soybean molecular breeding. Our findings suggest that GmPGK5 may positively regulate fatty acid accumulation in soybean. The identified natural variation and dCAPS marker provide potential valuable tools for marker-assisted selection to improve soybean oil content and seed weight. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bean Breeding)

23 pages, 1144 KB

Open AccessArticle

Natural Cold Source Computing Cluster Thermal Management Coupled with PCM

by Yi Ren, Wenqian Jia, Sijie Sun, Yue Shu, Xuan Zhang, Yufeng Zhang and Bo Zhou

Buildings 2026, 16(11), 2211; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16112211 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

As the power density of office computing clusters rises to 200–250 W per chip, the substantial heat generated during operation not only impairs chip performance and shortens lifespan but also compels heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to operate at high loads. [...] Read more.

As the power density of office computing clusters rises to 200–250 W per chip, the substantial heat generated during operation not only impairs chip performance and shortens lifespan but also compels heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to operate at high loads. This increases energy consumption by 30–40% and causes indoor temperature fluctuations that reduce office workers’ comfort. Targeting centralized thermal management for such clusters, this study proposes a hybrid cooling strategy integrating outdoor natural cold air (as a continuous heat sink) with phase change materials (PCMs, for transient heat peak absorption). Six adjustable heating plates (power range: 50–250 W per unit, simulating 7 nm office chips) mimicked heat dissipation in a six-chip cluster. Latent heat storage (LHS) units served as passive cooling, with fan coils as auxiliary for natural/forced convection. By using PCMs (melting point: 48 °C) to absorb transient peaks and coils to utilize outdoor cold air, the system maintained circulating water at approximately 60 °C (steady-state equilibrium temperature under full-load conditions) and kept chip temperatures below 80 °C (industrial safety threshold). The hybrid system reduced combined pump and fan power to 125 W, achieving 75% energy savings compared to the HVAC system (500 W) and 40% savings compared to using only natural cold air (210 W pump and fan power). Positive pressure in the outdoor unit (increasing coil air velocity by 1.2 m/s relative to natural convection) further improved heat dissipation efficiency by 15%. Finally, this study quantifies the influence of PCM thermal conductivity and filling mass on the system’s temperature control performance through numerical simulations, providing direct evidence for parameter design of LHS units. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Indoor Environment Comfort)

21 pages, 6030 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multiparametric MRI Assessment of Cervical Lymphadenopathy: Combined Diagnostic Performance of Morphological Features and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient

by Iulian-Alexandru Taciuc, Mihai Dumitru, Daniela Vrinceanu, Andreea Nicoleta Marinescu, Crenguta Serboiu, Adrian Costache and Adina Zamfir-Chiru-Anton

Healthcare 2026, 14(11), 1524; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14111524 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Background: Accurate differentiation between benign and malignant cervical lymphadenopathy remains clinically important for diagnostic stratification and treatment planning. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of conventional morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in a mixed cohort of [...] Read more.

Background: Accurate differentiation between benign and malignant cervical lymphadenopathy remains clinically important for diagnostic stratification and treatment planning. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of conventional morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in a mixed cohort of cervical lymphadenopathies. Methods: This retrospective lesion-based diagnostic study included 88 cervical lymph nodes from 39 patients who underwent head-and-neck MRI between September 2023 and December 2025. The cohort had malignant entities such as squamous cell carcinoma metastases, thyroid carcinoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and medullary thyroid carcinoma, as well as benign/reactive, inflammatory, CMV-related, tuberculous, Warthin tumor-associated, and cystic lymphangioma-related lymphadenopathies. MRI examinations were performed for heterogeneous indications, including the initial assessment of palpable cervical lymphadenopathy, oncological staging, post-biopsy follow-up, suspected recurrence, and benign/inflammatory lesion characterization; therefore, not all patients underwent MRI for the same clinical indication. Most examinations were performed during the initial diagnostic work-up, while six cases represented post-biopsy follow-up. Morphological features and ADC values were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U tests, chi-square tests, ROC analysis, DeLong testing, Firth penalized logistic regression, generalized estimating equations (GEE), patient-level bootstrap resampling, and calibration analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using Python (Version 3.12), with exploratory verification in JASP. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The cohort included 39 patients with a mean age of 54 years (range: 18–74 years), with 20 males and 19 females. Of the 88 lymph nodes, 33 were malignant and 55 benign. Malignant nodes demonstrated significantly lower ADC values than benign nodes (0.87 ± 0.23 vs. 1.25 ± 0.22 × 10⁻³ mm²/s; U = 207, p < 0.001). ADC alone showed good diagnostic performance, with an AUC of 0.886 (95% CI: 0.803–0.960). The optimal ADC cutoff was 0.900 × 10⁻³ mm²/s, yielding 75.8% sensitivity and 89.1% specificity. The final GEE model, including the ADC, nodal shape, and margin characteristics while accounting for intra-patient clustering, achieved an apparent AUC of 0.956. Leave-one-patient-out cross-validation yielded an AUC of 0.929, and the bootstrap optimism-corrected AUC was 0.949. DeLong testing confirmed that the combined model significantly outperformed the ADC alone (AUC improvement = 0.070; p = 0.006), and the inter- and intra-observer reproducibility for ADC was excellent. Conclusions: ADC values, nodal shape, and margin characteristics provide complementary diagnostic information for differentiating benign from malignant cervical lymph nodes. A structured multiparametric MRI approach demonstrated high diagnostic performance, although the findings should be interpreted in the context of the retrospective single-center design and histopathological heterogeneity. Full article

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47 pages, 24473 KB

Open AccessArticle

TASC-SwinMT: Task-Adaptive Synergistic Cross-Task Swin Multi-Task Framework for CT and MRI Image Interpolation and Segmentation

by Yujia Sun, Yingying Yang and Nan Bao

Tomography 2026, 12(6), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/tomography12060080 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Background: Computed Tomography(CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) interpolation and segmentation are critical for clinical diagnosis, anatomical quantification and personalized treatment. Most existing methods perform these two tasks separately, leading to computational redundancy and insufficient mining of shared spatial features. This study aims to [...] Read more.

Background: Computed Tomography(CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) interpolation and segmentation are critical for clinical diagnosis, anatomical quantification and personalized treatment. Most existing methods perform these two tasks separately, leading to computational redundancy and insufficient mining of shared spatial features. This study aims to construct an integrated multi-task learning framework for the synchronous processing of medical image interpolation and segmentation. Methods: We propose a unified multi-task framework named TASC-SwinMT for joint interpolation and multi-frame segmentation of CT and MRI images. It employs a shared SwinUNet encoder to extract general spatial features, matched with two task-specific decoders for frame prediction and mask generation. Three functional modules are designed for cross-task synergistic learning, and a dynamic multi-task loss function is used to balance objective optimization. Experiments are performed on Medical Segmentation Decathlon Task02_Heart and Task06_Lung datasets. Results: Our method outperforms baseline models and ablation variants in both tasks with outstanding accuracy and significantly reduced computational overhead. It exhibits superior performance in lesion boundary depiction, small object segmentation and inter-slice consistency, and anatomical prior constraints with frequency-domain modeling further enhance prediction quality. Conclusions: The cross-task feature sharing and joint optimization strategy are validated effective. The proposed TASC-SwinMT framework has favorable stability and generalization ability, providing a reliable solution for clinical medical image analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Applications: Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning Revolutionizing CT and MRI)

16 pages, 11239 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptomic Analysis Based on RNA-Seq Technology Reveals the Molecular Mechanisms of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Response to Salt Stress

by Yanfang Zhang, Jiaxin Xie, Shuchun Guo, Mengjie Liu, Haijun Chen, Min Xie, Ruifen Sun and Xiuwen Huo

Genes 2026, 17(6), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17060629 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the four major oil crops worldwide and possesses strong stress tolerance. However, salt stress remains limiting in the improvement of sunflower yield and quality. Methods: In this study, the salt-tolerant cultivar P50 [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the four major oil crops worldwide and possesses strong stress tolerance. However, salt stress remains limiting in the improvement of sunflower yield and quality. Methods: In this study, the salt-tolerant cultivar P50 and salt-sensitive cultivar P29 were used as experimental materials to conduct transcriptome sequencing on root and leaf samples treated with NaCl. Subsequently, the molecular mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in sunflower were revealed through assembly and splicing, functional annotation, differential expression analysis, enrichment analysis, and transcription factors (TFs) prediction. Results: Results showed that 54,860,184 and 60,601,572 high-quality clean reads were obtained from the two cultivars, respectively. A total of 110,751 all-unigenes were generated after assembly and clustering, of which 77,536 were functionally annotated. A total of 21,332 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 10,306 upregulated and 11,026 downregulated genes. Quantitative real-time PCR validation of 15 DEGs showed a 93.33% consistency rate with the sequencing data. GO enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways related to antioxidant enzyme activities. KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrated that DEGs were primarily involved in 15 carbohydrate metabolism pathways, especially starch and sucrose metabolism. In addition, 67 differentially expressed TF families containing 528 DEGs were identified, including bHLH, AP2/ERF-ERF, MYB, C3H, WRKY, EREBP, B3-ARF, and NAC. Conclusions: Our study constructed a comprehensive transcription map of the sunflower response to salt stress and systematically elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying salt tolerance. The salt-tolerant sunflower cultivar P50 exhibits an efficient salt stress defense system via three core strategies: (i) activating the antioxidant system to rapidly scavenge excess reactive oxygen species and mitigate oxidative damage; (ii) regulating carbohydrate metabolism through starch and sucrose redistribution to provide energy and osmotic protection against physiological drought; and (iii) mobilizing multiple TF families to establish a complex regulatory network for the precise control of downstream functional genes. Full article

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

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49 pages, 2294 KB

Open AccessReview

Bioremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: Mechanisms, Emerging Technologies, and Pathways to Field-Scale Application

by Iuliana Motrescu and Camelia Elena Luchian

Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1215; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111215 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Agricultural soils worldwide are facing escalating contamination by heavy metals, which present high risks for health due to their persistence, being non-biodegradable, accumulating across the soil profile, and being easily transferred into edible plant tissues, thus propagating through the food chain, with serious [...] Read more.

Agricultural soils worldwide are facing escalating contamination by heavy metals, which present high risks for health due to their persistence, being non-biodegradable, accumulating across the soil profile, and being easily transferred into edible plant tissues, thus propagating through the food chain, with serious consequences for human health and ecosystem integrity. Conventional physical and chemical remediation approaches are costly, ecologically disruptive and operationally complex for the extent of contamination of agricultural land. Thus, there is an urgent need for sustainable and scalable alternatives. This review addresses the need by providing an integrated, mechanistically grounded synthesis of plant-based bioremediation strategies for heavy metal contamination removal, emphasizing the links between soil chemistry, plant physiology, and soil microbiology. First, the principal contamination pathways and controls on metal speciation and bioavailability are summarized, highlighting how parameters such as pH, organic matter, clay minerals, and redox conditions govern the metal fraction available for the plants. The molecular basis of plant heavy metal uptake, translocation and detoxification is examined in detail, including transporter-mediated root uptake, xylem loading and long-distance transport, and chelation by phytochelatins and metallothioneins. The performance and limitations of the main phytoremedation strategies are evaluated across representative hyperaccumulator species, then two major enhancement solutions are discussed: chemical enhancement using synthetic and biodegradable agents, and biological enhancement through plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and mycoremediation fungi. Integrating these perspectives, this review provides a critical assessment of when and how phytoremediation can offer a realistic and agronomically compatible route for managing heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiple Soil Health Assessment Methods for Changing Agricultural Environment)

14 pages, 6097 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Lithology Identification and Formation Parameter Prediction Algorithms Based on Machine Learning

by Junjie He, Qian Li, Xuyong Liu, Hehong Deng, Tongyi Li and Siwei Wei

Processes 2026, 14(11), 1793; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14111793 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

(Objective) To improve the accuracy and efficiency of lithology identification and formation parameter prediction during drilling, the study used drilling parameter data and implemented SVM, XGBoost, random forest, LightGBM and an ensemble of five algorithms for comparative experiments under baseline, noise interference (10% [...] Read more.

(Objective) To improve the accuracy and efficiency of lithology identification and formation parameter prediction during drilling, the study used drilling parameter data and implemented SVM, XGBoost, random forest, LightGBM and an ensemble of five algorithms for comparative experiments under baseline, noise interference (10% and 20% noise levels) and data imbalance scenarios. (Results) In lithology identification, the stacking ensemble achieved accuracies of 86.80% and 83.10% under 10% and 20% noise scenarios respectively. The accuracy of the random forest algorithm was 91.15% for the baseline scenario, and for the imbalanced scenarios (10% and 5%), the accuracies were 88.9% and 88.1%, respectively. In formation parameter prediction, random forest achieved mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 3.45, 0.0019, 0.0008 and 0.0004 for seismic velocity, pore pressure, fracture pressure and overburden pressure in the baseline scenario and performed best under noise and imbalanced data conditions. (Conclusions) An adaptive hybrid model was ultimately established: stacking ensemble is used for lithology prediction in noisy environments, while random forest is used for lithology prediction in non-noisy environments and for formation parameter prediction across all environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Drilling and Extraction Techniques for the Future of Oil and Gas)

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22 pages, 806 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pathology-Informed Personalized Exoskeleton Assistance for Post-Stroke Gait Rehabilitation via Simulation-to-Real Reinforcement Learning

by Chuyi Ou, Yinbin Peng and Furong Zhang

Healthcare 2026, 14(11), 1523; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14111523 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Post-stroke gait impairment is highly heterogeneous, which limits the effectiveness of standardized exoskeleton control strategies. Deep reinforcement learning offers a route to adaptive assistance, but its use in stroke rehabilitation is constrained by limited pathological gait data and the lack of interpretable [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Post-stroke gait impairment is highly heterogeneous, which limits the effectiveness of standardized exoskeleton control strategies. Deep reinforcement learning offers a route to adaptive assistance, but its use in stroke rehabilitation is constrained by limited pathological gait data and the lack of interpretable transfer frameworks. We developed a data-efficient, pathology-informed reinforcement learning framework for personalized exoskeleton assistance under limited clinical gait data. Methods: The framework combines neuromuscular-inspired parametric augmentation (NIPA) with parameter-efficient transfer learning. NIPA synthesizes pathological gait trajectories by modeling weakness, stiffness or contracture, and abnormal synergies. A policy is first pretrained in simulation and then adapted to clinical gait data by freezing a shared feature extractor and fine-tuning the output heads. The framework was evaluated on a public clinical gait dataset of 50 stroke survivors using tracking error, reward, smoothness, generalization, and data efficiency as main outcomes. Results: The proposed method outperformed zero assistance, rule-based control, and reinforcement learning from scratch on the test set. Compared with scratch, it reduced total MSE from 14.8681 to 11.9369 (

p = 5.96 \times 10^{- 8}

) and improved reward from −21.2264 to −18.4798 (

p = 3.76 \times 10^{- 4}

). Hip MSE decreased from 5.9544 to 4.0143 (

p = 7.51 \times 10^{- 8}

) and knee MSE decreased from 6.5507 to 5.4507 (

p = 1.51 \times 10^{- 5}

), with significant improvements in repeated experiments. Conclusions: The proposed framework reduces reliance on large pathological training datasets and improves offline trajectory-level personalization under limited clinical data. It also provides an interpretable basis for quantitative characterization of post-stroke gait heterogeneity and may support individualized rehabilitation assessment and assistance planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare)

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