Search Results (320)

The increasing interest in the development and integration of navigation and positioning services across a wide range of receivers has exposed them to various security threats, including GNSS jamming and spoofing attacks. Early detection of jamming and spoofing interference is crucial to mitigating these threats and preventing service degradation. This research introduces an interference detection technique leveraging an AI algorithm applied to GNSS data utilizing various methods to enhance detection accuracy and efficiency. The objective was to use modern sensors and AI to develop an effective tool that detects, characterizes, and localizes interference, thereby reducing associated risks. These sensors and algorithms enable continuous GNSS interference monitoring and support real-time Decision-making. A server plays a crucial role in managing the entire system. Its primary function is to process data collected from various sensors referred to as nodes (e.g., static, rover, drone, and space) and from (public) GNSS networks as well as to perform localization using rotating-antenna nodes. Within the interference detection module, various methods were implemented at different points in the software receiver architecture. Each method’s certainty in identifying an interference source depends on its design and capabilities, with outcomes—whether positive or negative—being subject to potential accuracy or errors. To enhance the Decision-making process, an AI-based Decision-making block has been introduced to determine the presence of interference at a given epoch. The proposed interference monitoring methods were evaluated through experiments using GNSS signals under clean, jamming, and spoofing scenarios. The results demonstrate the techniques’ applicability across diverse scenarios, achieving high performance in interference detection, characterization, and localization. Full article

Hydrogel-based scaffolds are central to three-dimensional (3D) epithelial culture systems, yet commonly used matrices such as Matrigel^® suffer from batch variability, undefined composition, and limited translational relevance. Here, we comparatively evaluated an animal-free nanocellulose hydrogel (GrowDex^®) and Matrigel^® in a hybrid vascularized intestinal–chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Pre-cultured epithelial–immune constructs (Caco-2/HT29-MTX with immune components) were embedded in both matrices and grafted onto the CAM for 72 h. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that nanocellulose-based constructs maintained more cohesive epithelial coverage, improved scaffold integrity, and yielded a more continuous cytokeratin-positive layer at the scaffold–CAM interface. In contrast, Matrigel^® constructs frequently exhibited heterogeneous epithelial distribution and central discontinuities. While both matrices enabled CAM engraftment, the chemically defined nanocellulose hydrogel demonstrated enhanced structural robustness during in vivo exposure and histological processing. These findings highlight the suitability of standardized nanocellulose hydrogels for reproducible scaffold-based epithelial models in vascularized environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: The combination of hearing loss and visual impairment in a single patient strongly suggests a genetic aetiology. However, after conventional testing, a considerable proportion of deafblindness cases remain without a genetic diagnosis. The aim of this study was to address this diagnostic gap. Methods: We developed an enhanced exome strategy that uses a whole-exome backbone complemented by spike-in capture probes for (i) low-coverage coding segments and clinically validated, non-coding regions (including deep intronic splice-altering sites and untranslated exonic sequences) across 659 genes associated with hearing loss and/or visual impairment, and (ii) mitochondrial DNA. Results: With 66.6 million paired-end reads per sample, this methodology achieved coverage of at least 20 reads per base at 99.3% of target coding and non-coding positions of genes associated with deafness and/or blindness, as well as 98.8% of the whole exome. The enhanced exome approach correctly identified the genetic variants causative of deafness and/or blindness in 10 out of 10 cases with a previously known genetic cause, in 3 out of 10 additional cases that remained undiagnosed after extensive panel sequencing, and in 4 out of 4 cases that had not been genetically studied before. Comparison of the performance of two commercial bioinformatics platforms for enhanced exome interpretation revealed that eVAI consistently prioritised causative variants higher than, or as high as, VarSome Clinical, resulting in a tendency toward shorter interpretation times using the former. Both platforms offered the same diagnostic yield and both failed to correctly call one of the causative variants. Conclusions: In an era where many centres operate exome analysis through virtual panels, enhanced exome sequencing leverages the advantages of whole-exome and custom panel sequencing: it provides panel-like sensitivity for clinically actionable loci, while offering the flexibility to periodically reanalyse data and discover candidate genes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often develop altered muscle architecture and calf muscle contractures. Orthotic immobilization aims to provide prolonged stretch to lengthen the muscle belly and muscle–tendon unit (MTU), but immobilization may also cause atrophy. This study investigated whether immobilization combined with periods of daily muscle activation has a different effect on calf muscle properties than continuous immobilization alone. Methods: Fourteen children with CP and equinus deformity (mean age: 9.9 ± 3.0 years; GMFCS Level I: 10, II: 4) were enrolled in a 12-week randomized controlled trial. Participants were allocated to one of two groups: continuous immobilization (23 h per day) with a dynamic ankle–foot orthosis (AFO), or a combined regimen consisting of immobilization (14 h) and a daily activity phase (10 h). Gastrocnemius medialis (GM) MTU properties, including muscle belly and Achilles tendon (AT) length, fascicle length, and muscle volume, among others, were assessed four times using three-dimensional (3D) freehand ultrasound. Results: Significant within-group increases in MTU and AT lengths were observed over time at both a 90° ankle position (p < 0.01) and a more dorsiflexed ankle position (4 Nm applied torque, p < 0.01). However, no significant group × time interactions were observed for any parameter. Conclusions: Contrary to our hypothesis, combining activity and immobilization did not confer additional benefits. Nevertheless, shorter orthosis-wearing time had the same effect on the MTU and could lead to improved compliance with orthosis treatment in CP. Larger trials are needed to support our findings. Full article

Accessing and understanding medication information can be challenging for many people, especially when patient information leaflets (PILs) are long, complex, and printed in small font. This study presents MediChat, an open-source, locally executable chatbot designed to provide reliable, easy-to-read answers to medication-related questions based exclusively on official PILs. MediChat follows a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architecture: PILs from the Austrian Medicinal Product Index are received via API, converted to text, split into overlapping chunks, embedded, and stored in a Chroma vector database. From there the top-k relevant chunks are retrieved, and Llama 3.1 generates German responses based on this evidence. The system was evaluated using a hybrid framework. Quantitatively, 200 yes/no questions across ten drugs were answered with 80% accuracy, overall precision 0.977, recall 0.686, F1-score 0.806, and a mean response time of 727 ms. Qualitatively, two personas were used in eight simulated dialogues. Response times were around 1.1–1.3 s, and task completion exceeded 85% with high ratings for relevance and quantity. These results indicate that an open-source RAG chatbot can deliver leaflet-grounded, user-friendly medication information and provide a reproducible template for future healthcare chatbot evaluations. Full article

Bacillus cereus is a major foodborne pathogen responsible for food spoilage and foodborne illness, including strains producing emetic toxins. In this study, two bacteriophages, PBC_MG88 and PBC_MG99, were isolated from wastewater using emetic B. cereus strains as hosts and were comprehensively characterized. Both phages formed clear plaques with halos and exhibited siphovirus morphology. Host range analysis against 172 B. cereus strains showed that PBC_MG88 and PBC_MG99 infected 50 and 60 strains, respectively. One-step growth experiments revealed efficient lytic activity, with latent periods of 20–25 min and burst sizes of 59–63 PFU per infected cell. More than 90% of phage particles adsorbed to host cells within 15 min. Both phages were stable across a wide temperature range (4–55 °C) and pH values (4–11). Genome sequencing revealed ~37 kb double-stranded DNA genomes lacking antibiotic resistance or virulence genes; however, the presence of lysogeny-related genes suggests a temperate lifestyle. Comparative genomic analyses indicated that both phages represent novel species within the genus Lwoffvirus. Biofilm assays demonstrated significant inhibition of B. cereus biofilm formation and reduction of pre-established biofilms. Overall, this study expands knowledge of B. cereus phage diversity and highlights the importance of genomic characterization in phage-based biocontrol research. Full article

This dataset compiles continuous hydraulic and water quality observations from the combined sewer overflow structure at the outlet of the Graz-West R05 catchment in Austria, covering the period from 2008 to 2011. It integrates high-resolution in-sewer measurements of flow rate, water level, flow velocity and water quality parametres (COD, TSS, temperature), complemented by laboratory analyses of discrete grab samples. Water quality parametres were monitored using an in situ UV/VIS spectrometer installed on a floating pontoon. Additional locally calibrated COD values derived from laboratory measurements are included. The in-sewer data were acquired at 1 or 3 min intervals depending on flow conditions. Flow rates, water levels and overflow discharges were monitored using radar and ultrasonic sensors. Three nearby tipping-bucket rain gauges provided time-stamped precipitation increments, enabling the detailed reconstruction of wet-weather dynamics. A hydrodynamic SWMM model of the catchment, including geospatial information and dry-weather calibration, is included to support modelling applications. This combination of long-term measurements and a calibrated hydrodynamic model supports the development, testing and validation of process-based, statistical or data-driven approaches for simulating combined sewer system behaviour and pollutant dynamics. Full article

Background/Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus worldwide and is frequently detected in women of reproductive age. In this population, HPV-related diseases and their management may affect reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes. This narrative review summarizes the current evidence on HPV infection and HPV-related diseases in relation to fertility, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes, and discusses preventive strategies, with a particular focus on HPV vaccination. Methods: An international, multidisciplinary team of clinicians from the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) Prevention Committee reviewed the literature on HPV, HPV-related diseases, HPV vaccination, and reproductive outcomes, without time restrictions, prioritizing studies judged to meaningfully reflect the available evidence. Results: The most consistent evidence linking HPV-related conditions to adverse pregnancy outcomes relates to the treatment of cervical precancer, particularly excisional procedures, which are associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and mid-trimester pregnancy loss. In contrast, evidence that maternal HPV detection alone causes adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcomes remains limited and inconsistent. Data on HPV infection and subfertility are scarce and heterogeneous. Management of HPV-related lesions during pregnancy remains challenging and requires careful balancing of maternal safety with avoidance of unnecessary interventions. HPV DNA has been detected in neonatal samples, but convincing evidence for clinically relevant vertical transmission is lacking. Available data indicate that inadvertent HPV vaccination shortly before or during pregnancy is not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that reproductive risks are more strongly associated with the treatment of HPV-related diseases than with HPV infection itself. Preventive strategies—especially HPV vaccination—remain central to reducing HPV-related disease burden. Although HPV vaccines are not routinely recommended during pregnancy, evidence supports the safety of inadvertent exposure around conception or during gestation, while potential long-term benefits of vaccination regarding reproductive health require further study. Full article

Background and Objectives: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) remains a disease without a curative treatment. Hence, patient healthcare is mostly based on symptom management and the application of coping strategies, such as pacing. In this strategy, patients learn how to plan their daily physical and cognitive activities according to their perceived energy reservoir (or envelop). However, there is currently no evidence for the feasibility of pacing in Portugal, where ME/CFS is not well recognized. Materials and Methods: We implemented a 8-week pacing program in Portuguese patients with an official diagnosis of ME/CFS. We focused on recruitment feasibility, protocol adherence, and patient acceptability, with secondary exploratory analysis of pre- and post-intervention variations in the Chalder’s fatigue questionnaire and SF36 physical functioning scores. Results: We were able to recruit thirteen patients for the study. The patients attended, on average, seven out of the eight sessions expected per participant, with the majority adhering to the research protocol ($n=7;53.8\%$). In a post-intervention survey, the respondents ($n=10$) considered that the intervention addressed the specific needs of people living with ME/CFS. Concerning the outcome trends, the average fatigue score decreased from 27.5 at baseline to 17.7 after the intervention. The mean physical functioning score increased from 24.6 to 31.7. Conclusions: This exploratory study supported the feasibility of benchmark studies in Portugal with increased sample size, longer interventions, and including a control group (e.g., specialized medical care), with which eventual placebo effects can be better accounted for. Full article

This study presents a life cycle assessment of a low-cost pilot-scale wastewater treatment system that combines solar photocatalytic oxidation with Nature-based Solutions (NBSs) for a specially constructed wetland (CW). The prototype was designed and assessed for its efficiency in treating urban wastewater and its environmental impact on agricultural irrigation reuse. Evaluations were performed with the SimaPro software, applying the Impact ReCiPe Medpoint methodology, which includes characterization and selection of the relevant environmental issues steps. The results demonstrate the potential of this hybrid system for providing high-quality treated wastewater suitable for agricultural reuse in water-scarce regions. The analysis reveals that the operational phase, mainly driven by energy consumption for pumping, aeration, and photocatalytic processes, accounts for over 85–98% of the total global warming potential (GWP), primarily due to reliance on fossil-based electricity. Conversely, the construction phase significantly impacts land use and toxicity categories, with concrete and substrate production contributing around 95% to land occupation and 97% to human toxicity. The photocatalytic subsystem also contributes notably to embodied carbon at 42.4%, owing to energy-intensive manufacturing. The results underscore the importance of optimizing operational energy efficiency and selecting sustainable materials to mitigate environmental burdens. The integrated system demonstrates promising potential for producing high-quality treated effluent suitable for agricultural reuse in water-scarce regions, supporting sustainable water management. These findings provide important insights for reducing ecological impacts and advancing environmentally sustainable wastewater treatment solutions. Full article

This work introduces an original sequential bio-inspired strategy combining lytic phage pretreatment with TiO₂–thyme essential oil (TEO) photocatalysis, achieving near-complete inhibition of both biofilm initiation and maturation. By simultaneously targeting planktonic cells, mature biofilms, and extracellular DNA (eDNA), this approach addresses key mechanisms involved in biofilm persistence. Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 4114 was selected as the biological model due to its relevance in water distribution systems and its strong biofilm-forming ability. Experimental results showed that phage pretreatment alone inhibited biofilm formation by planktonic cells by up to 99.6% (inactivation rate constant k = 0.034 min⁻¹) and weakened bacterial attachment in mature biofilms by 89.06% (k = 0.011 min⁻¹). To further enhance photocatalytic efficacy, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was combined with TEO at 0.05% (v/v) as a bio-inspired photosensitizer. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed TiO₂-TEO interactions that extended light absorption into the visible region (400–700 nm), thereby enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. This combination was designed to suppress residual biofilm development and disrupt extracellular DNA (eDNA), a critical component of biofilm structure and stability. The integrated approach involving phage pretreatment followed by TiO₂–TEO (0.05%) photocatalysis achieved 99.99% inhibition of both biofilm initiation and maturation phases, with significantly increased kinetic parameters (A = 2.62 for planktonic cells and A = 3.65 for sessile cells; k = 0.076 min⁻¹ and 0.063 min⁻¹, respectively; p < 0.01). This study provides novel insights into water disinfection strategies using photocatalytic treatment, emphasizing the importance of monitoring post-treatment bacterial virulence factor expression. Full article

Excess nutrients in wastewater pose significant environmental risks, highlighting the need for low-cost treatment strategies that enable their removal. This study evaluated the adsorption capacity of woodchip biochar, a widely available waste material, for phosphate (PO₄³⁻), nitrate (NO₃⁻), and ammonium (NH₄⁺) in raw and secondary-treated wastewater, and compared the results against those obtained using synthetic solutions. Approach to equilibrium was reached quicker for NH₄⁺ (≈20 min) than for NO₃⁻ and PO₄³⁻ (≈40 min), with NH₄⁺ removal reaching up to 80% at a dosage of 20 g/L. Nutrient adsorption kinetics were best described by the pseudo-second-order model for the anionic species (NO₃⁻ and PO₄³⁻), while the pseudo-first-order model provided a better fit for the cationic species NH₄⁺. The Freundlich isotherm provided a good fit to the equilibrium data for all species, indicating the presence of heterogeneous adsorption sites. SEM–EDX and FTIR analyses confirmed nutrient adsorption onto the biochar surface and highlighted the involvement of carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups, with FTIR showing the greatest spectral changes for NH₄⁺. Adsorption tests using secondary-treated wastewater showed high removal efficiencies (100% PO₄³⁻, 25.4% NO₃⁻, 89.5% NH₄⁺), whereas performance in raw wastewater was poor (maximum 32% NH₄⁺). Overall, woodchip biochar demonstrates strong potential as a tertiary treatment material, and its nutrient-saturated form may be reused as fertiliser, supporting nutrient recovery within a circular-economy framework. Full article

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system unintentionally attacks and damages $\beta$ cells in the pancreas, reducing the organ’s ability to produce insulin. An artificial pancreas is a technology that uses a pump to inject the appropriate amount of insulin subcutaneously after analysing information collected by sensors, including continuous blood glucose monitoring. Over the past thirty years, several methods for controlling an artificial pancreas have been investigated in clinical and simulation environments. The improved Hovorka model, a comprehensive nonlinear model that explains the effects of insulin on transport, disposal and endogenous synthesis in both accessible and inaccessible compartments for blood glucose control by insulin administration, is used for this research. The presented model has the characteristics of a switching nonlinear system. The work proposes to analyse different nonlinear control strategies for blood glucose regulation and shows the effectiveness of the linear model predictive control strategy compared to other nonlinear controllers used in the literature. Full article

This study aims to present the preparation of date stone activated carbon (DSAC) through physical activation with carbon dioxide. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) technique, Boehm titrations, elemental analysis, Raman and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy have been used to characterize the raw material (date stone), date stone activated carbon (DSAC) produced, Congo Red (CR) and to investigate the adsorption phenomena. The study of the DSAC porous material revealed the dominance of micropores with a specific surface area greater than 535.9 m² g⁻¹ and an approximate volume value equal to 0.208 cm³ g⁻¹. The Langmuir model predicted an adsorption capacity of approximately 27.77 mg g⁻¹, while a 90% removal efficiency for CR dye was achieved under neutral pH conditions. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed that the adsorption of CR on DSAC has a spontaneous (ΔG° < 0) and exothermic (ΔH° < 0) character. The adsorption mechanism of CR on DSAC was proposed and discussed, based on the determination of electrostatic interactions being identified as a critical factor that controls the adsorption phenomenon of CR on DSAC. A 2³ full factorial design was implemented to systematically investigate the effects of three critical parameters (temperature, adsorbent dosage, and pH) on the adsorption performance. Statistical analysis indicated that all three primary factors significantly influenced the results. The square correlation coefficient of the model (R²-sq of 97.26%) was in good agreement with the statistical model. The variable is considered statistically significant when the p-value is lower than 0.05. These findings, supported by experimental data, strongly indicate that DSAC possesses remarkable potential as a sustainable and effective bio-adsorbent for wastewater remediation applications capable of removing diverse contaminants with high efficiency. Full article

This paper presents the Gaussian conditional method (GCM) for the problem of frequency difference of arrival (FDOA)-only source localization under correlated noise. GCM identifies the source position through approximating its posterior distribution using a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) and applying successive conditioning to the measurement likelihood. The algorithm development leverages the fact that FDOA measurements follow a multivariate Gaussian distribution with a non-diagonal covariance. Simulation results demonstrate that GCM can achieve the Cramér–Rao lower bound (CRLB) under moderate noise levels, while having lower computational complexity than baseline techniques including the recently developed Gaussian division method (GDM). The proposed algorithm is particularly effective for passively locating narrowband sources, where the time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements become unreliable, and it can operate without the need for accurate initialization. Full article