Search Results (16,651)

This study examines how the strategic integration of digital transformation and national innovation capacity contributes to accelerating sustainable development in Saudi Arabia by focusing on six Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 4—Quality Education, SDG 7—Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 8—Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9—Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 12—Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13—Climate Action. Using annual data on ICT use, ICT access, R&D expenditure, and patent applications, the analysis evaluates both the direct and joint relationships between these indicators and SDG performance. Digital transformation is captured through ICT use and ICT access, while national innovation capacity is represented by R&D expenditure and patent applications, reflecting the input and output dimensions of formal innovation activity. The findings indicate that the direct long-run effects of digital transformation and national innovation capacity on the six SDGs are not statistically significant, suggesting that these domains have not yet become standalone drivers of educational advancement, clean-energy adoption, economic performance, industrial upgrading, sustainable resource management, or emissions reduction. In contrast, their interaction produces substantial positive effects on SDG 4, SDG 7, SDG 8, and SDG 9, highlighting improvements in educational quality, renewable energy transition, productivity, and industrial innovation. The interaction also has significant negative effects on SDG 12 and SDG 13, as reflected by reductions in CO₂ intensity and environmental pressures. These results indicate that meaningful progress toward the SDGs emerges when digital capabilities and national innovation capacity evolve jointly, rather than through isolated improvements in ICT infrastructure or innovation inputs. Robustness checks using a composite SDG index confirm the stability of these complementary effects. These findings suggest that Saudi Arabia can accelerate progress toward the SDGs by adopting integrated policies that link ICT expansion with stronger R&D systems, patent commercialization, technological innovation, and sustainability-oriented industrial transformation across education, energy, industry, resource efficiency, and climate action. Full article

Recently, there has been a significant expansion of additive technologies, especially Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). This article aims to upgrade a commercial 3D printer to develop viscous polymeric materials, as this option is not currently available. The FFF method is primarily used with thermoplastics and elastomers in filament form. However, materials derived from various water-soluble acrylates offer significant potential, with advantages including environmental friendliness and desirable mechanical and visual properties. The possibility of using a viscous polymer as a carrier for metal material prior to sintering is also a significant factor. The aim of the text is to present the preparation of a 3D printer suitable for printing the above materials. The main requirement was to modify the selected printer with minimal interference with HW and SW. We mainly focused on adjusting the print head. A new prototype for the printing of viscous polymeric materials was visualized. Furthermore, the individual components were designed and printed; a functional system capable of processing these materials was assembled. Full article

The regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex remains a significant challenge in regenerative endodontics. While conventional therapeutic approaches are effective in eliminating infection and preserving dental structure, they fail to restore the biological functionality of the pulp tissue. In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) printing and biopolymer-based bioprinting have opened unprecedented opportunities in dental tissue engineering, enabling the fabrication of biomimetic scaffolds with precisely controlled structural and bioactive properties. This review synthesizes current advances in bioprinting technologies, the diversity of biomaterials and bioinks employed, and the various stem cell sources utilized in pulp regeneration. It further examines how the three-dimensional microenvironment modulates cell viability, odontogenic differentiation, and the promotion of angiogenesis and neurogenesis, emphasizing the role of scaffold composition, mechanical properties, and internal architecture in influencing regenerative outcomes. Additionally, persistent challenges are discussed, including the optimization of bioink formulations, the achievement of functional vascular integration, and long-term validation of regenerated tissues, underscoring the need for multidisciplinary strategies to facilitate clinical translation. By integrating recent evidence, this review establishes a conceptual framework for the development of personalized and predictable approaches to dentin-pulp complex reconstruction. Full article

Parallel shield tunneling in close proximity to existing metro tunnels induces additional settlement deformation of existing structures, which poses a challenge to operational safety. In this paper, a self-developed Φ200 mm model shield machine test system is adopted to carry out model test research on the settlement response of existing tunnels induced by parallel symmetric shield tunneling. A 1:30-scaled 3D-printed refined assembled segment model is fabricated based on similarity theory, and high-precision distributed optical fiber sensing technology is used for deformation monitoring. The influences of vertical spacing of tunnels, center spacing of new tunnels, axis angle and stratum loss rate on the settlement of existing tunnels are analyzed. The results show that the settlement curve of the existing tunnel arch presents a normal distribution shape, and the maximum settlement occurs near the new tunnel side. The settlement of existing tunnels decreases with the increase in vertical spacing between new and existing tunnels, and increases with the increase in stratum loss rate and center spacing of new tunnels. The research results can provide experimental support for safety control of parallel shield tunnel construction. Full article

Stem cells, with their self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation potential, hold promise for tissue repair and intractable diseases treatment. Yet clinical translation of stem cell therapies has long been hindered by insufficient scalable stem cell manufacturing, stemness loss and functional decline in 2D expansion, and poor post-transplantation cell retention, unregulated fate control. Programmable microcarriers (MCs) paired with 3D dynamic culture offer an emerging strategy to address these bottlenecks and enable stem cell fate regulation. In this review, we systematically review advanced MC fabrication strategies for stem cell fate regulation, comparing features of emerging technologies (microfluidics, electrospraying, in-air microfluidics, integrated in situ functionalization) and their implications for programmable MC control and scalable manufacturing. We analyze how MCs modulate stem cell behaviors (adhesion, proliferation, stemness maintenance, differentiation) via synergistic static physicochemical cues and dynamic stimuli-responsive properties. We map the latest advances in functionalized MC-mediated stem cell therapy across osteochondral defects, autoimmune, skin, ophthalmic and neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we pinpoint unresolved challenges for clinical translation of MC–stem cell system and outline key future research directions. This review offers a systematic roadmap for advancing programmable MC fabrication, clinical-grade stem cell biomanufacturing, and precise cell therapy development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Exposure to high and sustained levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in the peripartal period is the main cause of fatty liver disease in dairy cows. Rumen-protected choline is often fed as part of the nutritional management of peripartal cows, with in vivo and in vitro data indicating positive effects of this nutrient on alleviating liver lipid accumulation. Although hepatic molecular mechanisms associated with choline supply have been studied using a target gene, protein, or metabolite approach, application of high-throughput technologies could vastly enhance fundamental knowledge on the functional role of choline. The main objective was to challenge isolated hepatocytes with a mixture of NEFA and determine proteome- and metabolome-wide effects in response to choline supply. Methods: Three healthy female calves (1 d old, 30–45 kg) were sacrificed to harvest hepatocytes. During a 12 h incubation, isolated hepatocytes were challenged without NEFA (control), 1.2 mM NEFA (c9-18:1, 18:2, 16:0, 18:0, and c9-16:1 at 43.5%, 4.9%, 31.9%, 14.4%, and 5.3% of total NEFA, respectively), or NEFA for 6 h followed by 10 μM choline chloride for another 6 h (NEFA + Chol). iTRAQ labeling-based protein profiling and GC/MS-based metabolomics profiling were used to determine changes in proteins and metabolites. Differentially abundant proteins for each group comparison were determined at a threshold of 1.4-fold change. Differences in metabolite profiles were assessed via pairwise comparisons. A subset of differentially abundant proteins was validated via qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: Compared with the control, there were 90 proteins and 22 metabolites in the NEFA group, and 83 proteins and 29 metabolites in the NEFA + Chol. Compared with NEFA, there were 49 proteins and 17 metabolites in the NEFA + Chol group. Greater abundance of hexokinase-1 (HK1), fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (ALDOA), mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1), and increased concentrations of lactate with high NEFA treatment alone suggested greater glycolytic and TCA cycle activity. Accumulation of triacylglycerol in the NEFA group was associated with lipotoxicity and markers of inflammation, such as greater abundance of prostaglandin reductase 1 (PTGR1), serious cell autophagy processes, such as greater abundance of cell division cycle 42 (CDC42), and NFκB-related proteins. Choline supplementation reduced TAG partly due to greater VLDL secretion driven by greater abundance of diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1), perilipin 3 (PLIN3), and apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3). In addition, a greater abundance of carnitine O-palmitoyltransferase 1b (CPT1B) with choline suggested enhanced mitochondrial β-oxidation. Activation of the CDC42/JNK pathway and ROS/NFκB axis-related proteins, along with depressed PI3K/AKT/RAC-related proteins, indicated enhanced mitochondrial autophagy in response to NEFA. Conclusions: Overall, data confirmed published effects of choline on TAG accumulation, VLDL secretion, and fatty acid oxidation, while highlighting negative effects of NEFA on the respiratory electron transport chain, autophagy, and inflammatory processes. Full article

Background/Objectives: The obesity epidemic coexists with the phenomenon of “hidden hunger” (Type B malnutrition)—a micronutrient deficiency amidst a caloric excess. Traditional dietary assessment methods often distort the actual picture by ignoring technological losses during cooking, which necessitates the use of digital tools. Methods: A cross-sectional study (N = 3267) was conducted using the digital platform “NIAP”. The analysis was based on valid 3–7-day dietary records with algorithmic accounting for nutrient retention factors during thermal processing. The nutrient profiles of individuals with a normal body mass index (BMI) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) were compared. Results: The epidemiology of intake shortfalls was highly prevalent and pronounced: 99.9% of the cohort had ≥1 inadequacy (with a mean negative deviation of −77.3% for vitamin D and −59.2% for Omega-3), and 61.5% exhibited ≥10 simultaneous multiple intake shortfalls. These inadequacy rates remained robust in a sensitivity analysis excluding under-reporters. The obesity group consumed significantly more energy, saturated fatty acids, added sugars, cholesterol, and sodium, but demonstrated a lower relative macronutrient intake (g/kg of body weight). Absolute fiber intake did not differ between the groups, indicating a decrease in its density per 1000 kcal in the diet of individuals with obesity; the intake of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) showed a downward trend. The Na:K ratio was significantly higher in the obesity group (1.19 vs. 1.04, p < 0.001). Correlation analysis confirmed an inverse relationship between BMI and the overall nutrient density of the diet. Conclusions: A high-energy diet does not compensate for systemic micronutrient inadequacy among the evaluated cohort. Obesity is associated with a dietary imbalance favoring “empty calories” and pro-inflammatory components against a background of severe multiple dietary inadequacies. The integration of algorithmic dietary assessment that accounts for cooking losses is critical for objective diagnosis and personalized nutritional intervention. Full article

Soil salinization represents one of the most severe abiotic constraints on global agricultural productivity, threatening crop yields and food security across increasingly large areas of cultivated land. Among the molecular mechanisms underlying plant physiological adaptation to salinity, histone methylation has emerged as a central epigenetic regulatory layer governing salt-responsive transcriptional reprogramming through the coordinated and opposing actions of histone methyltransferases, demethylases, and reader proteins at specific chromatin loci. Recent advances reveal how dynamic changes in activating marks, principally H3K4me3 and H3K36me3, and repressive marks, H3K9me2 and H3K27me3, orchestrate the activation of stress-responsive gene networks and the silencing of growth-incompatible programs under salt stress. How these modifications establish and sustain stress memory across somatic and transgenerational timescales is discussed. Recent technological advances, including single-cell epigenomics, CUT&RUN, CUT&Tag, and spatial transcriptomics, are assessed as future research priorities. The application of CRISPR/dCas9-based epigenome editing and epigenetic breeding strategies for improving crop salt tolerance is further explored. Full article

Radiation-based treatments have emerged as important environmental and postharvest regulatory tools for improving the quality of edible mushrooms. Visible light, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, gamma irradiation, and pulsed-light treatments influence mushroom growth, morphogenesis, nutrient accumulation, antioxidant capacity, and storage performance through distinct physiological and molecular mechanisms. However, current findings remain fragmented, and a comprehensive synthesis of their regulatory effects and underlying mechanisms is lacking. This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 framework. A structured literature search was performed in the Web of Science, PubMed, and CNKI databases. After screening and eligibility assessment, 111 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. The available evidence indicates that radiation-based treatments exert stage-dependent and species-specific effects on edible mushrooms. Visible light primarily regulates morphogenesis through photoreceptor-mediated signaling pathways, whereas UV radiation promotes vitamin D₂ biosynthesis and antioxidant accumulation through photochemical and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related mechanisms. Gamma irradiation and pulsed-light treatments are mainly applied during postharvest handling to suppress microbial contamination, delay browning and senescence, and extend shelf life. Based on the available evidence, a unified mechanistic framework linking signal perception, ROS regulation, transcriptional reprogramming, metabolic responses, and quality formation is proposed. Despite these advances, substantial challenges remain, including limited mechanistic understanding, insufficient integration of multi-omics evidence, lack of standardized treatment protocols, and difficulties in industrial-scale implementation. Future research should focus on multi-radiation synergistic strategies, precision environmental regulation, and intelligent cultivation systems. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence regarding radiation-mediated quality regulation in edible mushrooms and offers a theoretical basis for optimizing mushroom production and developing sustainable postharvest preservation technologies. Full article

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a globally significant horticultural crop, characterized by high nutritional value and substantial commercial status. However, frequent outbreaks of powdery mildew severely threaten its yield and fruit quality. Current early detection methods primarily focus on detached leaf assays, which often lack sufficient model generalization. This study proposes a temporal 3D multispectral point cloud reconstruction method for melon plants by integrating multispectral imaging with 3D reconstruction technology. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for 3D spatial light field distribution was developed based on a hemispherical white reference to achieve precise reflectance calibration of the multispectral point clouds. Post-calibration, the coefficient of variation (CV) for the spectral reflectance of the hemispherical reference in 3D space was reduced to less than 2.4%. On this basis, an early classification model for melon powdery mildew was constructed using Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) based on the mean reflectance spectra of individual plant point clouds. The results demonstrate that the average recognition accuracy reaches 85.94% from 4 days post-inoculation onwards, enabling disease early warning three days in advance. This research provides critical theoretical support and technical reference for the non-destructive early monitoring and precision smart plant protection of crops in facility agriculture. Full article

As a next-generation automotive display technology, Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (AR-HUD) has demonstrated immense potential in reshaping driving safety and enhancing the human–computer interaction experience. To address the challenges of barrel distortion and perspective distortion inherent in HUD systems, we propose a joint-learning-based dual-path pre-correction method. This approach employs a shared encoder to extract image features, which are then decoupled into two parallel branches: a classification branch and a distortion flow prediction branch. Building upon this architecture, a model-fitting method is introduced to estimate the distortion model parameters in the parameter space using the predicted distortion types and flows, thereby reconstructing a refined distortion flow. Finally, image rectification is achieved through a resampling method. On the ARHDD dataset, the proposed method achieves a PSNR of 24.617 dB (barrel) and 25.062 dB (perspective), an SSIM of 0.845 and 0.873, and an NRMSE of 0.163 and 0.157, respectively. On the Places 365 dataset, it achieves a PSNR of 23.914 dB (barrel) and 21.870 dB (perspective), an SSIM of 0.812 and 0.748, and an NRMSE of 0.174 and 0.211, respectively. Both quantitative and qualitative comparative experiments against other state-of-the-art methods demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves superior correction performance for both types of distortion. Finally, the simulation verification of the HUD system proved that this correction method demonstrated excellent potential, but further verification is still needed in a real or semi-real environment. Full article

Abiotic stresses severely restrict plant growth, development, and crop yield. Histone modification functions as a key epigenetic regulator in plant stress adaptation. This review systematically summarizes the major types of histone modifications (e.g., acetylation, methylation) and their catalytic enzyme systems. It clarifies the regulatory patterns of chromatin remodeling and gene expression under diverse abiotic stress conditions, like extreme temperature changes, persistent drought, elevated salinity, and heavy metal exposure, and reveals the crosstalk networks between histone modifications and ABA, CBF/DREB, and ROS signaling pathways. It also discusses the transgenerational inheritance of stress-induced histone modification variations and their molecular basis, and introduces the application of CRISPR/Cas9 and dCas9-based epigenetic editing in improving crop stress resistance. Currently, research on histone modification in plateau crops remains fragmented: studies mostly focus on single stress rather than combined multiple abiotic stresses, lack tissue-specific epigenetic regulatory maps for native plateau plants, and the field application of epigenetic breeding technologies is seriously insufficient. Considering the compound stresses, including low temperature, drought, salinization, and heavy metals, on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, this review identifies current research gaps, such as tissue specificity, multi-stress crosstalk, and field application, and proposes future directions, including multi-omics analysis, stress adaptation mechanisms of plateau plants, and precise epigenetic breeding. Overall, this review fills the research gap of systematic collation on histone-mediated stress tolerance epigenetics under plateau combined abiotic stresses, and provides a theoretical reference for epigenetic research on plant stress resistance and for the improvement of plateau crops. Full article

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the clonal proliferation and survival of neoplastic plasma cells (PCs) within the bone marrow (BM), where disease progression is critically supported by interactions with the BM tumor microenvironment (TME). Despite significant advances in therapeutic strategies, MM remains incurable, underscoring the need for improved preclinical models to better understand the disease biology and therapeutic response. This review summarizes current and emerging MM treatment approaches and critically examines the development of models designed to more accurately recapitulate interactions between MM-PCs and the surrounding BM niche. We describe established and emerging modeling platforms, with emphasis on advanced three-dimensional (3D) culture systems and highlight their unique contributions to the preclinical assessment of both existing and novel therapies. The advantages of 3D models, including in vitro and in silico systems, over traditional two-dimensional (2D) models are discussed, alongside a comparative evaluation of scaffold-free and scaffold-based approaches. In addition, the benefits and recent advances in the customization of BM niche simulation using microfluidic technologies and organ-on-a-chip platforms are reviewed. The application of 3D models in MM research is increasingly enabling the study of disease pathogenesis, progression, drug resistance and precision-medicine approaches (informed by biomarker discovery). Although standardized preclinical approaches for evaluating MM therapeutics are currently lacking, the growing imperative to reduce reliance on preclinical animal models highlights the importance of alternate systems. Consequently, the development and adoption of physiologically relevant models that accurately recapitulate MM-PC interactions with the BM TME will be critical for advancing future therapeutic strategies in MM. Full article

Medical image analysis is a cornerstone of modern healthcare, yet conventional single-modal deep learning often struggles with the unique physical constraints and structural variability inherent in data acquired from diverse medical sensors. Recently, Vision-Language Models (VLMs) have sparked a paradigm shift by bridging the semantic gap between visual sensor signals and clinical narratives. Following the PRISMA guidelines, 167 representative studies are systematically synthesized in this review to provide a comprehensive roadmap of VLM technological evolution and clinical utility. First, rather than treating VLMs as generic feature extractors, their underlying mechanisms are uniquely distilled into seven core operational principles, which are then explicitly mapped to downstream applications such as few-shot diagnosis, prompt-driven segmentation, and multi-task foundation models. To facilitate intuitive evaluation, a rigorous quantitative cross-comparison of current benchmark architectures is presented. Crucially, this review goes beyond highlighting successes by critically assessing prevalent clinical bottlenecks, including zero-shot segmentation failures, multi-modal hallucinations in diagnosing rare diseases, and the prohibitive computational complexity associated with 3D volumes and gigapixel whole slide images. Finally, a novel, forward-looking framework is proposed: the transition from static “image-text alignment” to dynamic “multi-source sensor-driven intelligence”. By addressing both physical sensor constraints and algorithmic limitations, this survey offers actionable insights for developing trustworthy, sensor-aware clinical diagnostic agents. Full article

Advances in imaging and fabrication technologies offer new opportunities to develop tools that support the visualization and understanding of complex biological materials. This contribution presents a comprehensive methodological framework for generating anatomically representative, species-specific 3D models of wood microstructure, intended to enhance student comprehension in wood science and related fields. The workflow integrates micro-X-ray computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning, image segmentation, STL model preparation, and additive manufacturing. Using micro-CT, we captured high-resolution, non-destructive 3D datasets of four wood species—European beech (Fagus sylvatica), oak (Quercus robur L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The resulting volumetric data were processed with dedicated software to isolate and reconstruct key anatomical features, which were subsequently converted into printable STL models. These models were fabricated at a 1:400 scale using filaments composed of 40% wood particles and 60% biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA), underscoring the relevance of sustainable materials in educational tool development. The primary aim of this work is to document and justify each stage of the technological process, thereby providing a replicable pathway for producing detailed, pedagogically useful representations of wood microstructure. The resulting models are publicly available on the Sketchfab platform as part of the “3D Wood Micro Structure Collection.” Full article