Search Results (3,137)

Background: Obesity is traditionally defined by excess fat mass; however, the preservation of fat-free mass (FFM), particularly skeletal muscle, has gained increasing relevance due to its metabolic, endocrine, and functional roles. Weight loss interventions, including hypocaloric diets, pharmacological treatments, and bariatric surgery, are frequently associated with unintended loss of skeletal mass, increasing the risk of sarcopenic obesity and related complications. Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of whey protein supplementation in preserving fat-free mass and muscle-related outcomes in adults with obesity undergoing weight loss interventions. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials published in English were identified through searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Embase, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP, searched up to September 2025. Eligible studies included adults (>18 years) with obesity receiving whey protein supplementation as part of a hypocaloric diet, compared with placebo or standard interventions. Primary outcomes were changes in fat-free mass assessed by validated methods (DXA, BIA, MRI), while secondary outcomes included body weight, fat mass, metabolic parameters, adherence, and safety. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool, and certainty of evidence was evaluated with GRADE. The abstract was registered in PROSPERO with code CRD420251069996. There was no funding and no conflicts of interest. Results: Fourteen randomized controlled trials were included. Whey protein supplementation generally supported the maintenance or modest improvement of fat-free mass, particularly when combined with resistance exercise or anabolic-enriched formulations such as leucine or vitamin D. Several trials, however, reported neutral effects, especially in the absence of structured physical activity. Overall, effect estimates ranged from small gains to null or uncertain differences, and the certainty of evidence was frequently downgraded due to limited sample sizes, wide confidence intervals, heterogeneity across interventions and assessment methods, short follow-up periods, and methodological limitations including open-label designs and inconsistent adherence monitoring. Conclusions: Whey protein supplementation may support fat-free mass preservation during weight loss in adults with obesity, particularly as part of a multimodal intervention. Further high-quality trials are needed to define optimal dosing strategies and target populations. Full article

Food waste is a major global problem that worsens food insecurity and contributes to environmental challenges and resource depletion. Reducing food waste, especially before it reaches consumers, is a crucial strategy for combating food insecurity and advancing environmental sustainability. This scoping review examines the factors, impacts, and practices related to food loss and waste (FLW) in the pre-consumption stage of the U.S. supply chain using a predefined coding scheme. A machine learning technique (i.e., topic modeling) was used to supplement the manual coding to identify themes. Findings from 104 articles from 2015 to 2024 revealed that (a) macro and micro-level factors were understudied; (b) impacts of FLW were predominantly assessed in terms of environmental consequences, with less attention given to economic, social, cultural, and political impacts; (c) despite the high concentration on donation, prevention, recovery, and recycling as solutions, there were critical gaps in the exploration of policy and regulatory strategies, as well as education and awareness; and (d) minimization is the most dominant approach compared to prevention. We recommend that more research focus on causes of food loss, economic, social, cultural, and political impacts, policy and regulatory strategies, as well as education and awareness. We also recommend shifting from weak minimization efforts to strong prevention practices, emphasizing cooperation among all participants in the supply chain. Full article

In molecular communication via diffusion (MCvD) uplinks where multiple nano-sensors report concurrently to a fusion center (FC), the long channel memory and the near–far imbalance jointly create strong multiple access interference (MAI) coupled with residual inter-symbol/inter-chip effects. This paper studies an oversampling-enabled time-domain reception for an uplink molecular code-division multiple-access (MoCDMA) system employing bipolar molecular signalling. By exploiting intra-chip oversampling at the FC, three linear detectors following the principles of maximum ratio combining (MRC), zero-forcing (ZF), and minimum mean-square error (MMSE) are developed and further enhanced through a feedback-assisted interference subtraction (FAIS) scheme that combines single-tap ISI feedback equalization with near-to-far successive MAI subtraction. Owing to the complementary structure of bipolar molecular emissions, the signal-dependent counting noise corresponding to the two molecule types can be jointly modeled in a symmetric and information-independent manner to support unified linear detection and FAIS processing. Numerical results demonstrate that oversampling effectively improves detection reliability, while increasing the molecular emission budget alone is insufficient to mitigate near–far effects. Moreover, FAIS provides significant performance gains, particularly for far NSs. Full article

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is 17–18%, substantially higher than the ~9–10% reported in Western populations, with some Gulf states approaching 25% in adults. Historically, Arab diets, characterized by high fiber intake from whole grains, legumes, and fermented dairy products, have contrasted markedly with the Western dietary pattern increasingly prevalent among urbanized Arab populations. These nutritional shifts have been associated with changes in gut microbial composition, including lower representation of short-chain fatty acid–producing bacteria and higher abundance of dysbiosis-associated taxa. Concurrently, diet-derived compounds and microbial metabolites have been associated with changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression. Epigenome-wide association studies revealed both shared and population-specific methylation signatures in patients with T2D. However, integrated multi-omics studies remain limited in Arab populations, where the disease burden is highest. This review integrates emerging evidence on diet-linked epigenetic alterations, microbiome-associated metabolic pathways, and their intersection in potentially contributing to T2D risk and progression. Given the heterogeneity of T2D across populations, there is a pressing need for culturally contextualized precision medicine frameworks that integrate population-specific diet–microbiome–epigenome dynamics rather than extrapolating findings across populations. Additionally, this review synthesizes evidence that dietary patterns are associated with T2D-relevant pathways through the diet–microbiome–epigenome axis, with emphasis on Arab/MENA populations and Western comparator cohorts. Full article

The integration of wearable inertial measurement units (IMU) in animal welfare Internet of Things (IoT) systems has become crucial for monitoring animal behaviors and enhancing welfare management. However, the vulnerability of IoT devices to network and hardware attacks poses significant risks, potentially compromising data integrity and misleading caregivers, negatively impacting animal welfare. Additionally, current animal monitoring solutions often rely on intrusive tagging methods, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or ear tagging, which may cause unnecessary stress and discomfort to animals. In this study, we propose a lightweight integrity and provenance-oriented security stack that complements standard transport security, specifically tailored to IMU-based animal motion IoT systems. Our system utilizes a 1D-convolutional neural network (CNN) model, achieving 88% accuracy for precise motion recognition, alongside a lightweight behavioral fingerprinting CNN model attaining 83% accuracy, serving as an auxiliary consistency signal to support collar–animal association and reduce mis-attribution risks. We introduce a dynamically generated pre-shared key (PSK) mechanism based on SHA-256 hashes derived from motion features and timestamps, further securing communication channels via application-layer Hash-based Message Authentication Code (HMAC) combined with Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. In our design, MQTT/TLS provides primary device authentication and channel protection, while behavioral fingerprinting and per-window dynamic–HMAC provide auxiliary provenance cues and tamper-evident integrity at the application layer. Experimental validation is conducted primarily via offline, dataset-driven experiments on a public canine IMU dataset; system-level overhead and sensor-to-edge latency are measured on a Raspberry Pi-based testbed by replaying windows through the MQTT/TLS pipeline. Overall, this work integrates motion recognition, behavioral fingerprinting, and dynamic key management into a cohesive, lightweight telemetry integrity/provenance stack and provides a foundation for future extensions to multi-species adaptive scenarios and federated learning applications. Full article

In a globalized world where data play a critical role in system operation, process automation, and decision-making, the development of real-time control systems is essential, as it enables operators and supervisors to monitor the current status of a process based on its physical variables. Consequently, a wide range of software and hardware platforms is currently available for implementing real-time control systems, including Arduino, ESP32, and PIC microcontrollers. However, these platforms lack sufficiently robust hardware features for closed-loop control applications, as they were primarily designed for general-purpose use. To address the limitations of conventional embedded systems, this paper presents a novel approach for the implementation of digital controllers using Texas Instruments embedded systems applied to experimental plants designed with different control strategies. The proposed contribution focuses on the development of an experimental framework that integrates multi-platform programming, automatic code generation, and the use of dedicated real-time control modules, such as the Control Law Accelerator available in the LAUNCHXL-F28379D LaunchPad embedded system. The results highlight the capability of Texas Instruments microcontrollers to execute real-time control loops applied to different physical systems and operating under various control parameters. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that Texas Instruments embedded systems equipped with advanced microcontroller architectures represent a promising alternative not only for scalable control applications but also for industrial-level control system development. Full article

This study presents a structured development and implementation process executed within the KAMAX manufacturing plant, leveraging a sophisticated technical workflow that integrates 3D scanning (via iPad Pro), the FataMorgana AR ecosystem, and Microsoft HoloLens 2 hardware. The goal is to practically show the possibilities of using the means of augmented reality in connection with specific hardware equipment, which helps in more agile management and functioning of a modern production company. A fundamental methodological advancement of this research is the deployment of a QR-code-based spatial synchronization protocol, which guarantees high-fidelity alignment during the superimposition of digital twins onto the physical production environment. Through a pilot initiative centered on the configuration of new manufacturing cells, the research empirically validates that AR-enhanced auditing substantially mitigates spatial design discrepancies. Specifically, the system excels at detecting physical interferences undetectable in conventional 2D blueprints, thereby streamlining the consultative and decision-making processes for organizational stakeholders during layout verification. These findings offer significant empirical evidence regarding the integration and interoperability of AR devices and IoT datasets within the broader Industry 4.0 paradigm. Full article

This study presents the development of a computational tool designed to help automate decision-making in excavation and foundation construction in rock, aiming to minimize risks to adjacent historical structures in an urban context. The tool uses a graphical interface and focuses on estimating the propagation of vibrations generated by these construction processes. A working methodology has been proposed, and a computational tool has been developed to predict the feasibility and safety of specific construction techniques in different areas of study. Using field-collected data, a three-dimensional survey of adjacent buildings is conducted in a 3D CAD model, converting the continuous terrain into a discrete point mesh. This mesh enables the tracing of vibrational wave trajectories from their origin to potentially affected structures. The tool then calculates the peak particle velocities (PPV) at the foundations of these structures. By comparing these PPV values with predefined thresholds—selected from different excavation procedures with heavy equipment—excavation zones where equipment can be safely used are visually represented using a color-coded scheme. To validate the applicability of the proposed method and developed approach, the tool was tested on a case study: The Rehabilitation Project of the Cervantes Theater in Segovia, promoted by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda. This project is currently halted due to damage sustained by adjacent buildings during the excavation process. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chloroplast genomes are essential for understanding the systematics and adaptive evolution of alpine plants, yet genomic data for high-altitude Delphinium species remain scarce. Delphinium densiflorum, a medicinal plant endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, exhibits notable high-altitude adaptations, but its plastome features and evolutionary position are still unclear. This study aims to assemble and characterize its complete chloroplast genome and clarify its phylogenetic placement within Delphinium. Methods: Using Illumina NovaSeq data, we de novo assembled the D. densiflorum plastome, annotated it with CPGAVAS2, and compared it with 12 published Ranunculaceae plastomes. We analyzed IR-boundary dynamics, genome-wide sequence variation, and codon-usage bias and constructed a maximum-likelihood phylogeny based on 69 shared protein-coding genes. Results: The plastome is 154,161 bp (GC 38.24%) with a canonical quadripartite structure, encoding 131 genes (87 CDS, 8 rRNA, 37 tRNA). An IR expansion into the SSC region yields the shortest SSC reported among the compared Delphinium species and produces unique structural variants. Photosynthetic genes are extremely conserved (nucleotide diversity Pi ≤ 0.01), whereas several loci (e.g., ycf1 and psaC) are highly divergent (Pi ≥ 0.05). Codon usage shows a strong bias toward AU-ending triplets. Phylogenetically, D. densiflorum forms a 100%-bootstrap clade with other high-altitude congeners, supporting the non-monophyly of Delphinium. Conclusions: This study delineates the plastome architecture and putative adaptive signatures of D. densiflorum, identifies robust candidate loci for DNA barcoding, and provides molecular evidence for taxonomic revision and conservation strategies in Delphinium. Full article

Shutdown dose rate (SDDR) assessments have been performed for the DEMO tokamak model, including the latest design and environmental configurations. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the shutdown radiation fields and establish dose rate limits to ensure safe personnel access to the Vacuum Vessel (VV) and nearby components. The simulations were based on the DEMO baseline model, further refined with the minor updates of the lower port, equatorial port limiter, and upper port assemblies. The computational approach employed the Monte Carlo particle transport code MCNP for neutron and photon transport calculations, coupled with the activation and decay code FISPACT-II to determine time-dependent decay gamma source terms. The mesh-coupled Rigorous Two-Step (R2Smesh) methodology developed in KIT was applied to achieve spatially resolved decay of photon source distributions and to compute corresponding SDDR 3D maps within the DEMO reactor configuration. The results provide a detailed characterization of the residual radiation environment inside the VV, offering insight into the accumulated activity, shielding performance of different materials, and potential access scenarios for maintenance operations in next-generation fusion devices. Full article

In this study, we statistically analyze the performance of a threshold-based multiple optical signal selection scheme (TMOS) for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and adaptive coded modulation (ACM); this is achieved using free space optical (FSO) communication between mobile platforms in maritime environments with fog and 3D pointing errors. Specifically, we derive a new closed-form expression for a composite probability density function (PDF) that is more appropriate for applying various algorithms to FSO systems under the combined effects of fog and pointing errors. We then analyze the outage probability, average spectral efficiency (ASE), and bit error rate (BER) performance of the conventional detection techniques (i.e., heterodyne and intensity modulation/direct detection). The derived analytical results were cross-verified using Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that we can obtain a higher ASE performance by applying TMOS-based WDM and ACM and that the probability of the beam being detected in the photodetector increased at a low signal-to-noise ratio, contrary to conventional performance. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that applying WDM and ACM is suitable, particularly in maritime environments where channel conditions frequently change. Full article

This study proposes an integrated façade design framework that harmonizes the creative divergence of Generative AI with the economic efficiency of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA). To address low productivity in the construction industry, a stepwise pipeline is developed, synthesizing image generation via Midjourney, automated coding using ChatGPT, and quantitative optimization. Central to this process is the Hamming Distance algorithm, which evaluates image similarity to implement core DfMA principles: standardization and simplification. The study introduces a multidimensional decision-making model utilizing Grid Size (GS), Replacement Rate (RR), and Hamming Threshold (HT) indices to visualize the trade-off between component minimization and design fidelity. This process transforms abstract 2D patterns into manufacturable geometric panels, bridging the gap between conceptual design and constructability. The results demonstrate that algorithmic optimization significantly reduces component count, contributing to potential cost savings and schedule reduction. Ultimately, this research establishes a collaborative model where architects’ qualitative insights complement AI’s quantitative analysis, enabling designers to regain agency over digital tools and realize creative visions within technical constraints. Full article

This study investigates the archaeological significance and preservation state of the Lombardo, a XIX century paddle steamer closely associated with Garibaldi’s Mille Expedition and now resting off the Tremiti Islands. The research aims to contextualize the vessel’s historical role and to reconstruct its steam engine, paddle wheel and shipwreck dynamics, providing the first comprehensive three-dimensional documentation of the site. Underwater photogrammetry was carried out using high-resolution imaging, a dedicated geodetic network of coded markers, and Structure-from-Motion workflows to generate a scaled 3D model of the wreck. Historical and technical sources were also examined to identify the original configuration of the steam engine and paddle wheel. The results show a highly fragmented site distributed between 9 and 22 m depth, where the surviving remains corroborate historical accounts of post-wreck salvage operations and subsequent natural collapse processes. Analysis of the wreck reveals that the ship’s steam engine was a Maudslay Siamese double-cylinder type, driving radial paddle wheels. The distribution of the remains also suggests that the vessel originally settled on its port side, oriented along a north–south axis. The conclusions demonstrate how integrated archaeological, geomatic, and archival methods could clarify the technical characteristics of the Lombardo and improve understanding of its post-depositional transformation, providing a robust basis for future conservation and dissemination activities. Full article

Molten salts act as fuel carriers and coolants in liquid-fueled molten salt reactors (MSRs), characterized by strong coupling between neutronics and thermal hydraulics (N-TH) in practical MSR operations. In this study, an in-house light water reactor static and transient analysis code, RESTA-3D, has been extended and applied to MSR transient safety analysis. A parallel multi-channel TH model and a neutron kinetics model incorporating the transport of delayed neutron precursors were implemented into RESTA-3D to account for the MSR-specific N-TH coupling characteristics. Few-group cross-section parameters were generated by the TMSR-LINK code and tabulated for use in RESTA-3D to support MSR transient analysis. The code system was verified against simulation results from well-established MSR dynamics codes and validated against experimental data from the MSRE (Molten Salt Reactor Experiment), covering steady-state temperature distributions, fuel pump-driven transients, and the MSRE natural convection test. Good agreement of the improved RESTA-3D results with the experiment data of MSRE was confirmed, with key parameters such as temperature within a 1% deviation margin, thereby confirming that RESTA-3D is suitable for MSR dynamics analysis. Furthermore, this code was applied to assess the transient characteristics of a 2 MWth thorium-based molten salt reactor (TMSR). The core characteristics, including the inlet fuel overcooling and overheating, unprotected fuel pump start-up and coast-down, were simulated and discussed, indicating that the 2 MWth TMSR design possesses high inherent safety. Full article

Early-onset breast cancer (EOBC) is disproportionately common in Saudi Arabia, where women present nearly a decade earlier than in Western countries, suggesting unique inherited susceptibility. While BRCA1/2 explain part of the hereditary risk, the contribution of rare coding variants in Arab EOBC remains unclear. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on germline DNA from 102 unrelated Saudi EOBC patients and 1395 cancer-free controls recruited from the same national Saudi cohort. Rare variants were defined by stringent frequency and quality thresholds and classified as rare loss-of-function (RLOF) or rare predicted damaging variants (RPDVs). Gene-level case–control analyses were conducted using burden tests, with exome-wide significance set at p < 2.5 × 10⁻⁶. RLOF variants in BRCA1 (6.9% of EOBC vs. 0.14% of controls; OR = 51.3; p < 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁰) and RPDVs in TP53 (4.9% vs. 0.36%; OR = 14.3; p = 5.39 × 10⁻⁸) demonstrated strong associations. Sequence Kernel Association Test (SKAT) analysis identified NOTCH4 and OR12D3 and reinforced burden-based significance in GUCY2F, FRMPD3, and SHROOM2. No enriched signaling pathway emerged, indicating heterogeneous rare-variant mechanisms. This first germline exome-wide rare-variant association study in Saudi EOBC identifies substantial enrichment driven by BRCA1, TP53, and additional candidate genes, supporting population-specific genetic risk evaluation and the need for replication in larger Arab cohorts. Full article