Saved Queries

by Michael O. Glocker, Manuela Ruß, Cornelia Koy, Michael Kreutzer, Fiona T. I. Melder, Yelena Diebler, Harald Illges and Kwabena F. M. Opuni

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(17), 7662; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27177662 (registering DOI) - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Studying protein structure dynamics is key to understanding protein function modulation. Alternative protein conformations are well discriminated from each other by nanoESI mass spectrometry and ion mobility measurements. Experimentally determined collisional cross-sections were compared to calculated collisional cross-sections of fifteen peptides, single-domain proteins, and protein complexes. The multi-domain proteins investigated here, four immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and protein G, are present as compacted/folded “native” conformations in neutral buffered solutions, and they are identified by molecular ions with narrow charge-state distributions, relatively few charges, and small collisional cross-sections. Simultaneously present extended/folded but nevertheless “native” conformations produced additional ions with higher charge states, different charge-state distributions, and larger collisional cross-sections. Computed collisional cross-sections from compacted “o-shape” and extended “l-shape” protein G three-dimensional (3D) structures match experimental data, indicating equilibrium, and suggest a dynamic “o2l” flip process. Likewise, “m-shape” (compacted) and “Y-shape” (extended) IgGs are regarded as two supposedly reversibly adopted antibody conformations which may interchange by an “m2Y” flip. Adopting an m-shape would prevent an antibody-based initiation of humoral and cellular immune system responses, such as opsonophagocytosis, prior to antigen contact, which stands in line with the rearrangement hypothesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 25th Anniversary of IJMS: Updates and Advances in Macromolecules)

45 pages, 56685 KB

Open AccessArticle

Detecting and Ranking Recurrent Bottlenecks on Urban Expressways: A Speed-Only Severity Index from Floating Car Data

by Turan Alkan, Mehmet Tektas, Necla Tektas, Selahattin Kosunalp, Vedat Tumen and Erdal Akin

Sustainability 2026, 18(17), 8755; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18178755 (registering DOI) - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Accurate identification of traffic bottlenecks is a fundamental task in the operational analysis of urban expressways. Traditional bottleneck detection methods rely heavily on fixed-location sensors, which suffer from limited spatial coverage and high infrastructure costs. This study proposes a comprehensive Floating Car Data (FCD)-based framework for detecting, characterizing, and ranking recurrent bottlenecks on urban expressways using segment-level speed data alone. The methodology integrates normalized speed fields, a spatially aware moving window algorithm with adaptive downstream verification, and temporal persistence criteria to distinguish active bottlenecks from transient congestion events. To prioritize detected bottlenecks by their operational significance, a Speed-only Bottleneck Severity Index (S-BSI) is introduced. The S-BSI is a 0–100, five-component severity index that ranks active bottlenecks using segment-level speed data only, without requiring flow or density measurements; its components capture upstream spatial extent, temporal persistence, speed deficit magnitude, queue length, and queue growth rate. This research presents a structured methodology for identifying, characterizing, and ranking bottlenecks on urban expressways using Floating Car Data. Detection parameters are selected through a systematic grid search over 128 combinations. The framework is validated using one year of weekday commercial FCD (248 days) obtained from an urban expressway corridor. Empirical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm reliably identifies spatially concentrated and temporally recurrent bottlenecks; in total, 32 distinct critical bottleneck locations (S-BSI ≥ 35) are detected, of which 31 (96.9%) coincide with an identifiable physical or operational congestion-generating feature of the corridor. By providing a scalable, cost-effective, and transferable detection-and-severity methodology, this research contributes to the growing body of literature on probe vehicle data applications for corridors where fixed-sensor infrastructure is limited or absent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Transportation Planning: Gender, Mobility and Care)

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16 pages, 1390 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study of Endothelial Biomarkers in Non-Obese Women with and Without Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome

by Manjula Nandakumar, Sana Waris, Thozhukat Sathyapalan, Alexandra E. Butler and Stephen L. Atkin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(17), 7661; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27177661 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction has been reported in polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) and is associated with obesity. We hypothesised that circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction would not differ between non-obese women with PMOS and age- and BMI-matched controls in the absence of major between-group differences in insulin resistance (IR), systemic inflammation or vitamin D status. Plasma concentrations of 20 endothelial-associated proteins were measured using Slow Off-rate Modified Aptamer (SOMAscan) technology in 29 non-obese women with PMOS and 29 age- and BMI-matched controls. Women with PMOS had higher Ferriman–Gallwey scores, free androgen index (FAI) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), whereas HOMA-IR, C-reactive protein (CRP), vitamin D metabolites and endothelial-associated biomarkers did not differ significantly between groups. Within the PMOS cohort, FAI was strongly positively associated with E-selectin (Pearson r = 0.718, p < 0.001, FDR-adjusted q = 0.027), and HOMA-IR was positively associated with ICAM-2 (r = 0.670, p = 0.001, q = 0.046). The FAI–E-selectin association remained robust in Spearman sensitivity analysis (ρ = 0.720, p < 0.001, q = 0.009), whereas the HOMA-IR–ICAM-2 association remained nominally significant (ρ = 0.579, p = 0.007) but not after FDR correction. A positive association between 24,25(OH)₂D₃ and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) was observed using Pearson correlation (r = 0.648, p = 0.002, q = 0.042), but was not retained after FDR correction in Spearman sensitivity analysis. Thus, non-obese women with PMOS did not demonstrate a generalised alteration in circulating endothelial biomarkers compared with matched controls. Hyperandrogenism, in particular, was robustly associated with endothelial activation, whereas associations with IR were less consistent and vitamin D metabolites showed no robust relationship with the endothelial biomarker profile. Collectively, the findings suggest that variation in endothelial activation in non-obese PMOS is more closely associated with metabolic dysfunction and androgen excess than with circulating vitamin D status, while the cross-sectional design precludes inference regarding causality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 25th Anniversary of IJMS: Advances in Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism)

22 pages, 773 KB

Open AccessReview

Rabies in Military Personnel: Epidemiology, Clinical Challenges, and Strategies for Prevention and Management

by Elodie Monchatre-Leroy, Diana Isabela Costescu Strachinaru, Oula Itani, Sophie Wensierski, Alexandre Servat and Patrick Soentjens

Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(9), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11090243 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

For deployed military personnel, a single exposure from a rabies-infected animal can become a death sentence. With a case fatality rate approaching 100%, rabies remains a serious, yet insufficiently acknowledged hazard for service members, for whom prevention in operational environments poses unique challenges. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify relevant studies on rabies risk in armed forces personnel. By analysing rabies-related fatalities in the military, this review highlights the operational challenges posed by animal bites during deployment, including underreporting and delayed access to care, which compromise timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administration. Special emphasis is placed on prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and animal control protocols tailored to military settings. Its aim is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals involved in the protection of deployed forces against this ancient yet still deadly infectious disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Military Medicine: An Everlasting War against Tropical and Infectious Diseases)

28 pages, 2807 KB

Open AccessArticle

Chloride Salts and Light Modulate Germination and Early Seedling Performance in Dittrichia viscosa

by María del Pilar Cordovilla, Isidro Sánchez, Marlene Gladys Aguilar and Manuel Melendo

Plants 2026, 15(17), 2607; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15172607 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Soil salinity is one of the main environmental factors limiting plant germination and establishment, particularly in Mediterranean ecosystems. This study evaluated the germination, recovery, and early development of Dittrichia viscosa exposed to NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂, MgCl₂, and an equimolar mixture (0–360 mM) under a 12 h light–dark regime and continuous darkness. In the absence of salt, final germination was similar under both regimes, although it was faster in the dark. Increased salt concentration reduced and delayed germination, depending on the type of salt and the light regime used. KCl maintained the highest germination percentages under the light–dark regime at 90 and 180 mM, whilst CaCl₂ and MgCl₂ were the most inhibitory individual salts at 180 mM. The salt mixture was the most restrictive under both regimes. Following transfer to a salt-free medium, ungerminated seeds showed a high rate of recovery even after exposure to the highest concentrations of individual salts, indicating that the inhibition was largely reversible. The first two components of the principal component analysis (PCA) explained 71.89% of the variation, linking germination and its rate to seedling vigour. Overall, D. viscosa showed considerable germination tolerance to individual salts but high sensitivity to their combined action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Salt Stress Tolerance: Mechanisms and Applications)

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12 pages, 1141 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Wallpaper on the Moisture Performance of Traditional Solid Walls

by Rosanne Walker, David Skinner, Anna Hofheinz, Tracy Connaughton, Graham Hickey and Oliver Kinnane

Heritage 2026, 9(9), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage9090341 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Wallpaper has been used for centuries to enhance the appearance of internal walls in traditional buildings. While there is evidence that wallpaper can influence the moisture performance of wall assemblies, particularly by delaying drying, limited experimental work has characterised the hygric properties of wallpaper and its role in this process. This paper investigates the vapour permeability and drying behaviour of lime plaster, wallpaper paste, and five wallpaper types to assess their impact on moisture dynamics within wall assemblies. Hygrothermal modelling using the measured material parameters is undertaken, enabling detailed analysis of moisture transport and drying behaviour across the full wall thickness. The findings indicate that the bio-based wallpaper paste and many traditional and non-woven wallpapers do not significantly affect vapour permeability or drying. However, the vinyl-coated wallpaper showed a measurable impact on moisture behaviour, reducing both vapour permeability and drying. Hygrothermal modelling shows that wallpapers with low vapour permeability (high s_d value) can increase relative humidity within wall assemblies. This effect is more pronounced in walls with higher baseline moisture content, whether due to substrate properties or environmental exposure, making such walls more vulnerable to potential fabric decay. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Architectural Heritage and Cultural Landscape)

7 pages, 554 KB

Open AccessBrief Report

Unintended Interruption of Caplacizumab Therapy Can Compromise Outcomes in Immune-Mediated Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Lessons from Two Clinical Cases

by Fedai Özcan, Fahri Kiziler, Paul Brinkkoetter, Lucas Kühne, Paul Knöbl and Alexandra Brinkhoff

J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(17), 6601; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15176601 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background: Caplacizumab is a cornerstone in the management of immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP), in combination with plasma exchange (PEX) and immunosuppression. Pivotal trials and real-world data have demonstrated faster platelet count recovery and improved remission rates. Nevertheless, a subset of patients still experiences exacerbations or delayed response. Observational evidence suggests that unintended treatment interruptions may contribute to these unfavorable outcomes. Methods: We report on two patients with iTTP treated with caplacizumab and immunosuppression; PEX was used in Case 1 and as escalation therapy in Case 2. Laboratory parameters including platelet count, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ADAMTS13 activity, and anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies were monitored. Results: In the first case, a 29-year-old female experienced an exacerbation and ischemic complications after two individual caplacizumab doses were unintentionally missed on days 12 and 14. Subsequent continuous administration led to stabilization and recovery. In the second case, a 42-year-old male presented with hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and ADAMTS13 activity of 1% and was initially treated with prednisolone and caplacizumab without PEX. Two individual caplacizumab doses were unintentionally missed on days 3 and 5 and were followed by delayed treatment response and microembolic infarcts. Treatment escalation to PEX and rituximab and reinitiation of continuous caplacizumab administration led to clinical stabilization. Conclusions: Even brief interruptions of caplacizumab therapy may compromise outcomes in iTTP. Continuous administration and secured availability, together with serial monitoring of ADAMTS13 activity to guide treatment duration and discontinuation, are essential to improve patient care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) and Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP): Pathophysiology, Clinical Practice and Future Developments)

23 pages, 1203 KB

Open AccessArticle

Kinetics and Mechanism of Hydrogen Sulfide Oxidation to Elemental Sulfur over a Redox-Active [BMIM][FeCl₄] Ionic Liquid

by Hafiz Abuzar Ahsan, Mohamad Azmi Bustam, Hussain Ali Murtaza, Muddasar Jamal, Abrar Ahmad, David Asubonteng, Mohamad Rizza Othman and Bawadi Abdullah

Catalysts 2026, 16(9), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16090773 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) removal with simultaneous sulfur recovery is essential for natural gas, refinery, and biogas processing because of the toxicity and corrosivity of H₂S. However, conventional Claus sulfur recovery is energy-intensive, operates at high temperatures, and requires multiple processing units, creating a need for efficient low-temperature alternatives. In this study, the redox-active ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate ([BMIM][FeCl₄]) was investigated as both an absorbent and catalyst for the direct oxidation of H₂S to elemental sulfur. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory-scale semi-batch single-bubble reactor at 25–100 °C and 500–3000 ppm H₂S. Under the optimum operating conditions, H₂S conversion exceeded 99%, with removal efficiency increasing from 95.0% at 25 °C to 99.1% at 100 °C within 60 min. Kinetic analysis revealed first-order reaction kinetics with respect to H₂S and Fe(III), with apparent rate constants increasing from 0.0506 to 0.0636 min⁻¹ over the investigated temperature range and an apparent activation energy of 2.78 kJ mol⁻¹. Hatta number analysis confirmed that the process operated predominantly in the reaction-controlled regime. Raman spectroscopy showed the attenuation of [FeCl₄]⁻ vibrational bands together with the appearance of characteristic S₈ bands, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) verified the formation of crystalline elemental sulfur. CHNS analysis provided complementary elemental evidence for sulfur formation. The ionic liquid exhibited excellent thermal stability (>320 °C) and retained 92–95% of its initial activity after repeated regeneration cycles. These findings demonstrate that [BMIM][FeCl₄] effectively integrates H₂S absorption and catalytic oxidation within a single liquid phase, providing a promising low-temperature and energy-efficient alternative to conventional sulfur recovery technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 15th Anniversary of Catalysts: Shaping a Sustainable Future Through Catalysis)

42 pages, 1464 KB

Open AccessReview

Marine Pigments as Drugs, and Other Applications: Where Are We?

by Amro Abd Al Fattah Amara

Chemistry 2026, 8(9), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry8090117 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

The use of different marine resources, including various colouring agents, is rooted in human history. They have been used as nutrients and medicaments and in luxury products. Readily available marine biological pigments (MBPs) are considered inexpensive materials, since they can be used as colourants. MBPs form part of the ‘’blue technology’’ approach for industrial colouring applications, including staining, textile dyeing, and uses to give fashionable colours to luxury products. They serve as nutrient additives, cosmetic ingredients, and as parts of beauty products. Today, they still are broadly used in the context of diverse new applications. MBPs can be concentrated differently on the bodies of marine creatures, providing each pigment its unique colour and properties. MBPs like carotenoids can complement important cell activities, like photosynthesis. They can function independently or support other micro- and macromolecules. MBPs are essential for their host’s survival. Outside their primary hosts (in the context of uses on and in consumers’ corpora), they either stay unmodified or can be changed by association with specific micro- and macromolecules. A few types of MBPs have been extracted, purified, identified, and formulated as drugs or pure chemicals. MBPs share common properties, such as functioning as antioxidants, can protect against sunlight and UV waves, and can improve vision. They take part in health protection and disease treatment, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-neurodegeneration, anti-ageing, and anti-wrinkle functions, and can function as an antimicrobial. With many undiscovered properties, MBPs represent a source for de novo applications with innumerable chances that might offer mastery of the fields of colour-based applications. This review summaries the importance of MBPs and addresses important applicable properties that make them attractive for nutraceutical, medicinal, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical uses, in addition to various industrial applications, and discusses historical and contemporary facts that have attracted human attention, both in the past and today, along with setting out expectations for the future of MBPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry)

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27 pages, 1453 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Efficacy and Safety of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

by Franco Rodríguez-Brown, Jamee Guerra Valencia and Akram Hernández-Vásquez

Nutrients 2026, 18(17), 2795; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18172795 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background/Objective: Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 is among the most studied probiotic strains for pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs), but prior trials and systematic reviews have reached inconsistent conclusions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of L. reuteri DSM 17938 in children and adolescents with FAPDs. Methods: This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024618099). PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and LILACS were searched from inception to 8 April 2026, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling children ≤ 18 years with Rome III/IV-defined FAPDs receiving L. reuteri DSM 17938 versus placebo. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed for pain severity, pain frequency, quality of life, and adverse events; risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 and certainty of evidence with GRADE. Results: Seven RCTs (513 participants) were included. Pain severity showed no significant difference at end of follow-up (SMD −0.58; 95% CI −1.32 to 0.16; I² = 89.3%) but a significant reduction at end of treatment (SMD −0.49; 95% CI −0.93 to −0.06; p = 0.027; I² = 82.0%), an effect not robust to sensitivity analysis. Pain frequency showed no significant difference at end of follow-up (MD −0.15 episodes/week; 95% CI −1.18 to 0.87) or end of treatment. No trial assessed quality of life. Adverse events were reported narratively only. Certainty of evidence was very low for pain outcomes and low for adverse events. Conclusions: Current evidence does not support a consistent beneficial effect of L. reuteri DSM 17938 on pain severity or frequency in pediatric FAPDs, and safety data remain limited. Certainty of evidence was low to very low across outcomes, underscoring the need for larger, methodologically rigorous trials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pediatric Nutrition)

12 pages, 623 KB

Open AccessCase Report

Mixed Legionella pneumophila Serogroup Infection in a Single Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

by Bram Vanmechelen, Fedoua Echahidi, Stijn Jonckheere, Patricia Vandecandelaere, Ines Malysse, Oriane Soetens and Charlotte Michel

Infect. Dis. Rep. 2026, 18(5), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr18050093 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background: Legionnaires’ disease (LD) is most often described as caused by a single Legionella pneumophila (Lp) serogroup (SG), typically SG1. However, mixed infections involving multiple SGs or even different Legionella species can occur within a single host. Such cases remain underrecognized and pose challenges for diagnosis, clinical management, and outbreak investigation. Case presentation: A 61-year-old woman developed acute fever, malaise, and productive cough after visiting a wellness spa in France, with radiological findings consistent with a lower respiratory tract infection. The urinary antigen test (UAT) for Lp was negative, but respiratory multiplex PCR was weakly positive. Subsequent testing at the Belgian National Reference Centre (NRC) for Legionella revealed an unexpected discordance between an in-house SG1-specific PCR and culture-based findings. Further analysis identified co-infection with two distinct Lp strains, SG1 (sequence type, ST146) and SG10 (ST1267), using a combination of direct sequence-based typing (SBT) and culture with serogrouping of multiple colonies. The patient improved rapidly after treatment with oral levofloxacin. Conclusions: Mixed Lp SG infections are likely underrecognized in routine practice, as neither UAT, commercial molecular assays, nor characterization of a single cultured isolate may adequately capture within-host strain diversity. Comprehensive diagnostic approaches combining culture with analysis of multiple colonies and molecular tests are essential for accurate case detection and source attribution. Referral to NRCs is recommended when advanced typing methods are unavailable. This first reported Belgian case illustrates the potential implications for patient management and epidemiological investigations, underscoring the need for broader diagnostic strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Bacterial Diseases)

18 pages, 7897 KB

Open AccessArticle

YOLO11-ECA: A Lightweight Tea Bud Detection Method for Complex Tea Plantation Environments

by Zhaodong Wang, Xinqiang Liao, Yi Jiang, Hao You, Wenzhi Liao and Yang Li

Sensors 2026, 26(17), 5398; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26175398 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Accurate tea bud detection in natural plantation environments is challenged by variable illumination, foliage occlusion, target–background similarity, and dense target distribution. This study proposes YOLO11-ECA, a lightweight detector derived from YOLO11n, to improve the detection performance while reducing the computational demands. The P3/8 prediction branch and its associated high-resolution feature fusion path are removed, while the P4/16 and P5/32 detection scales are retained. Standard adaptive efficient channel attention (ECA) modules are then integrated into the retained feature paths for lightweight channel recalibration. On the validation set, YOLO11-ECA achieved 79.8% precision, 85.1% recall, an 89.2% mAP@0.5, a 52.8% mAP@0.5:0.95, and an F1 score of 82.0%. Relative to YOLO11n, these metrics increased by 1.9, 2.6, 3.1, 0.4, and 2.0 percentage points, respectively, while the parameters and GFLOPs decreased by 7.4% and 28.8%. Scale-specific evaluation showed that P3 removal reduced the AP

_{S}

from 36.0% to 32.4%, whereas adding ECA to the dual-scale architecture increased the AP

_{S}

to 37.0%. On an independent test set, YOLO11-ECA achieved 82.2% precision, an 84.8% mAP@0.5, and an F1 score of 81.0%. The model also reached 86.28 FPS with end-to-end latency of

11.59 \pm 0.75

ms under a unified GPU evaluation protocol. These results indicate a favorable balance between tea bud detection performance and computational efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Smart Agriculture)

17 pages, 347 KB

Open AccessArticle

Parental Perspectives on Respiratory Illness, Healthcare Access, and Environmental Concerns Among Children with Down Syndrome: A Qualitative Study in South Carolina

by Vinita Oberoi Leedom, Daniela B. Friedman, Geoffrey I. Scott, Dwayne E. Porter and Russell S. Kirby

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(9), 1111; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23091111 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background: Children with Down syndrome often have co-occurring physical conditions affecting well-being, and respiratory issues remain a leading cause of hospitalization and death among people with Down syndrome. Parents of children with Down syndrome experience stressors associated with respiratory illness and challenges navigating healthcare access. No prior qualitative study has examined parental perspectives on respiratory health specifically among children with Down syndrome. Identifying parental concerns can help in the development of strategies to mitigate respiratory ailments in children with Down syndrome. Methods: One-hour, semi-structured interviews were conducted among 24 families of children with Down syndrome to understand respiratory concerns. Findings were identified through codebook thematic analysis. Results: The themes identified included persistent concerns about respiratory health, repeated impact from acute and chronic respiratory issues, a rapid and unexpected decline in health during respiratory illness, insurance coverage concerns, and a lack of confidence in assessing air quality which could impact respiratory health. Conclusions: Insights gained from interviews of parents of children with Down syndrome can help policy makers identify opportunities to prevent and mitigate respiratory health problems. Findings underscore the importance of clinician responsiveness to parental concern about rapid deterioration and suggest that insurance coverage policies for this high-risk population warrant further research and policy consideration. Full article

33 pages, 6128 KB

Open AccessArticle

Robust Fractional-Order Control of Vehicle Platoon Under Actuator and Communication Delay Intervals

by Majid Ghorbani, Omar Hanif, Patrick Gruber, Aldo Sorniotti, Komeil Nosrati, Aleksei Tepljakov, Eduard Petlenkov and Umberto Montanaro

Automation 2026, 7(5), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation7050134 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Stabilisation of autonomous vehicle platoons becomes challenging in the presence of uncertain delays in actuator dynamics and vehicle-to-vehicle communication. This paper presents a distributed fractional-order proportional derivative (FOPD) control protocol for a platoon operating under various communication topologies, with bounded uncertainties in actuator lag and communication delay, respectively. It builds on an auxiliary function-based robust stability approach that provides a geometric interpretation of the delay-uncertain characteristic family and eliminates the need for exhaustive parameter gridding. This is followed by a numerical design procedure that evaluates the derived robust stability conditions on explicitly stated frequency grids. Numerical analysis of heterogeneous platoons indicates that the FOPD strategy produces bounded stable responses for the sampled uncertainty realisations and exhibits improved tracking behaviour compared with the integer-order PD baseline using the same numerical values of

K_{P}

and

K_{D}

. It also provides better damping of oscillations and reduced tracking errors under uncertain operating conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Control Theory and Methods)

26 pages, 29387 KB

Open AccessArticle

Bridging the Gap: Competition-Aware MH3SFCA Mapping of Dental Care Accessibility in Germany

by Sebastian Völker, Boris Kauhl, Tim Johansson and Antje van der Zee-Neuen

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2026, 15(9), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi15090386 - 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Equitable access to dental care across Germany remains constrained by geographic barriers, yet traditional provider-to-population ratios fail to capture spatial complexity. This study employed a Modified Huff Three-Step Floating Catchment Area (MH3SFCA) method to quantify dental care accessibility at the ZIP-code level across all 8171 German postal code zones, integrating 2022 Census demand data, 38,023 dental facilities, and network-based travel times. Results revealed stark geographic disparities: accessibility exhibited strong positive spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I = 0.97, p < 0.001), with 22.6% of the population in high-access urban clusters concentrated in Berlin, Hamburg, and the Rhine-Ruhr region, while statistically significant cold spots affected only a small share of the national population but formed geographically persistent clusters in rural and peripheral regions. The Gini coefficient of 0.55 indicated moderate overall inequality, substantially higher than for physician distribution (Gini = 0.19). Regional heterogeneity was prominent: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania had 74.9% of its population in the lowest accessibility quartile (mean index = 0.7), while Berlin achieved near-universal high access (mean = 15.3). The MH3SFCA framework provides German planning bodies with a dynamic tool for routine accessibility monitoring and scenario analysis, supporting targeted, place-based workforce interventions that move beyond static mapping toward more equitable distribution of dental care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue HealthScape: Intersections of Health, Environment, and GIS&T (2nd Edition))

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