Search Results (23,192)

Background: Cervical cancer is associated with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Besides cervical cancer, oro-pharyngo-laryngeal or uro-genital cancers are also reported. The HPV vaccine has been strongly recommended for school age children. However, the parents’ or guardians’ hesitancy remains. Methods: This is a mixed-method study in which the parents or guardians of school children, aged 10–18 years, were enrolled voluntarily. Their general demographic data, knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of vaccine accessibility, healthcare cost entitlement of the children, types of school affiliation, education administration areas where the schools were located, and the presence of a healthcare professional in family were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted with all studied variables to define the significant associated factors with the parents’ or guardians’ HPV vaccine acceptance (p < 0.05). In-depth interviews were subsequently performed with the selected participants until the qualitative data were saturated. Thematic analysis was applied, and the results of the two study methods were integrated to explore the reasons for vaccine acceptance or hesitancy. Results: A total of 943 questionnaire respondents were enrolled, among whom 75.8% were female and 86.4% were parents. A total of 663 (70.3%) participants accepted the HPV vaccine. Parents’ or guardians’ knowledge and attitudes, awareness of vaccine accessibility, type of school affiliation, the children’s healthcare cost entitlement, and the presence of a healthcare professional in the family were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance in the multivariate analysis (p < 0.05). The qualitative study revealed that misunderstanding of the vaccine’s safety and benefits combined with inadequate reliable information sources were associated factors with HPV vaccine hesitancy among the parents or guardians. Conclusion: Providing clear-cut knowledge about the HPV vaccine benefit vs. risk and clearing financial barriers for the parents or guardians of school children are advocated. Full article

Tissue engineering is entering a new era, one defined not by passive scaffolds but by smart, adaptive biomaterials that can sense, think, and respond to their surroundings. These next-generation materials go beyond simply providing structure; they interact with cells and tissues in real time. Recent advances in mechanically responsive hydrogels and dynamic crosslinking have demonstrated how materials can adjust their stiffness, repair themselves, and transmit mechanical cues that directly influence cell behavior and tissue growth. Meanwhile, in vivo studies are demonstrating how engineered materials can harness the body’s own mechanical forces to activate natural repair programs without relying on growth factors or additional ligands, paving the way for minimally invasive, force-based therapies. The emergence of electroactive and conductive biomaterials has further expanded these capabilities, enabling two-way electrical communication with excitable tissues such as the heart and nerves, supporting more coordinated and mature tissue growth. Meanwhile, programmable bioinks and advanced bioprinting technologies now allow for precise spatial patterning of multiple materials and living cells. These printed constructs can adapt and regenerate after implantation, combining architectural stability with flexibility to respond to biological changes. This review brings together these cross-cutting advances, dynamic chemical design, mechanobiology-guided engineering, bioelectronic integration, and precision bio-fabrication to provide a comprehensive view of the path forward in this field. We discuss key challenges, including scalability, safety compliance, and real-time sensing validation, alongside emerging opportunities such as in situ stimulation, personalized electromechanical sites, and closed loop “living” implants. Taken together, these adaptive biomaterials represent a transformative step toward information-rich, self-aware scaffolds capable of guiding regeneration in patient-specific pathways, blurring the boundary between living tissue and engineered material. Full article

Aiming at the reliability of ear picking and the consistency of stalk chopping length in the process of corn ear and stalk harvesting, a new type of corn harvester with both ear and stalk harvesting based on exciting ear picking was developed. Based on the vertical cutting table, the machine realizes the excitation of the ear during the process of stalk transportation by rotating the eight-edged special-shaped pick-up roll, and the stable and orderly transportation of stalks before cutting is realized by the way of clamping and conveying with the rear rollers. By analyzing the configuration and parameter determination methods of the main working parts, the high-efficiency and low-loss harvest of the ear was realized, and the consistency of the cut length of the stalk was guaranteed. A discrete element model (DEM) of ear-bearing maize plants was established using EDEM (version 2024, Altair Engineering, Troy, MI, USA) simulation software, and a five-factor, three-level quadratic orthogonal rotation experiment was conducted based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The simulation results indicated that the optimal operational quality was achieved under the following parameters: a header angle of 10°, a snapping roller speed of 942 rpm, a clamping roller speed of 215 rpm, and a moving blade speed of 1450 rpm. Furthermore, multiple sets of field trials were conducted at various forward speeds to validate these findings. The mean values of seed loss rate, ear loss rate, and seed breakage rate are 0.51%, 0.55%, and 0.32%, respectively, for the harvester at operating speeds of 4 km/h, 6 km/h, 8 km/h, and 10 km/h. The σ values are 97%, 98%, 97%, and 98%. The field harvesting performance indexes meet the requirements of technical specifications for evaluating the operation quality of corn combine harvester, and meet the design requirements of low loss, high efficiency, and consistency of stem chopping length. Full article

Equipped with one degree of freedom in one-dimensional translation of the base, a mobile dual-arm robot (MDAR) is proposed in this paper, and the two arms and the base move simultaneously. As a result, the motion of the base has a significant influence on the motion of both end-effectors at the same time, and the relative positions of the two end-effectors change all the time. Therefore, this paper focuses on the main issues related to the presented MDAR in two key areas: the relative dynamics and relative force/position hybrid control. First, based on the D-H parametric method, the relative kinematics of the proposed MDAR is established, and the relative Jacobian matrix of the robot is derived. Secondly, the dynamic model of the proposed MDAR is constructed using the Lagrangian method. Furthermore, a closed-loop control strategy for relative force/position hybrid control of the MDAR based on the relative dynamics is proposed to enable the two end-effectors of the MDAR to track the planned trajectory accurately. Finally, a simulation is carried out on a dual-arm cutting robot (DACR) for a coal mine to prove the effectiveness of the proposed relative dynamics and the proposed relative force/position hybrid control law in terms of the absolute error (AE) and root mean square error (RMSE). The results show that the proposed relative dynamic model and relative force/position hybrid control can significantly reduce error of the DACR, effectively improve the adaptability and operation accuracy of the system to complex environment, and verify the feasibility and superiority of the method in practical application. Full article

Oxygen-reduced air injection technology has demonstrated considerable potential for developing heavy oil reservoirs. However, the low-temperature oxidation (LTO) behavior and non-isothermal heat release of heavy oil under oxygen-reduced conditions remain poorly understood. Accordingly, this study systematically investigated the oxygen consumption characteristics of heavy crude oil under two oxygen concentrations (8% and 10%) through isothermal static oxidation experiments. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were employed to analyze the microstructural evolution of rock cuttings and the exothermic characteristics of heavy oil before and after oxidation. The results indicated that as the oxygen concentration increased from 8% to 10%, the pressure drop during the LTO process rose from 1.73 to 2.04 MPa, and the oxygen consumption rate increased from 1.47 × 10⁻⁵ to 2.06 × 10⁻⁵ mol/(h·mL). This demonstrated that higher oxygen partial pressure promoted LTO reactions, thereby generating more abundant coke precursors for the subsequent high-temperature oxidation (HTO) stage. SEM analysis revealed that the microstructure of the rock cuttings after oxidation transitioned from an originally smooth, “acicular” morphology to a “flaky” structure characterized by extensive crack development, which significantly improved the connectivity of the pore-fracture system. DSC analysis further demonstrated that the mineral components in the rock cuttings played a dual role during the oxidation process: at the LTO stage, their heat capacity effect suppressed the exothermic behavior during oxidation; whereas at the HTO stage, their larger specific surface area and the catalytic effect of clay minerals enhanced the heat release from coke combustion. This study thus provided a theoretical foundation for developing heavy oil reservoirs through oxygen-reduced air injection. Full article

The growing global population, along with evolving dietary trends and increasing concerns about health and the environment, underscores the urgent need to transform current food systems to minimize their environmental footprint and enhance global food security. This transformation has driven the development and demand for alternative food sources. In this context, alternative proteins emerge as promising options due to their production from plants, microorganisms, and insects, which potentially reduces the environmental impact of food production while supporting global food security. Nevertheless, the transition toward alternative proteins presents significant challenges related to the presence of antinutritional compounds, poor amino acid composition, lower digestibility, and undesirable organoleptic characteristics. Moreover, these new generations of alternative foods are highly processed, raising concerns about their nutritional adequacy compared to traditional products. In this context, fermentation technologies have emerged as promising tools to overcome these limitations. Traditional fermentation can degrade antinutritional factors, improve digestibility, and release bioactive compounds, allowing the production of new products with health-promoting properties. Beyond traditional fermentation, biomass fermentation to single-cell protein or microbial protein production represents a sustainable alternative, promoting a climate-friendly approach aligned with circular bioeconomy principles by upcycling various agro-industrial streams. Thus, this review discusses how microbial strategies (from traditional fermentation to cutting-edge microbial protein production) can enhance the nutritional properties of alternative protein-based foods. Emphasis is placed on the capacity of traditional fermentation to improve nutritional quality and bioactivity, mitigate undesirable sensory traits, and preserve or enhance micronutrient content. Additionally, integrating biomass fermentation and emerging precision fermentation positions microorganisms as valuable contributors to more nutritious and sustainable food systems. Full article

Cervical cancer, primarily caused by high-risk Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), remains a global health concern. Prognostic biomarkers reflecting systemic inflammation and immune response—the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) and the Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI)—have recently attracted interest for their potential predictive value in cervical cancer. We conducted a retrospective observational study including 344 patients who underwent loop electrosurgical excision of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia at Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, between 2021 and 2024. Demographic, cytologic, histologic, and laboratory data were collected, and SII and SIRI were calculated. Statistical analyses, including Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses, were performed. Higher SII and SIRI values were significantly associated with higher-grade lesions and invasive carcinoma. ROC analyses indicated good discriminatory performance, with negative predictive values of 96–100%, suggesting potential utility in ruling out malignant transformation. SII and SIRI are simple, cost-effective, and minimally invasive biomarkers that correlate with lesion severity in cervical disease. Their high negative predictive value supports a potential role as complementary rule-out tools in diagnostic evaluation. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and to define clinically meaningful cut-off values for routine use. Full article

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) offer promising low-power alternatives to conventional neural models but often incur considerable redundancy in parameters and computations. To address these inefficiencies, we propose SpikingDynamicMaskFormer (SDMFormer), a novel framework that integrates dynamic masking and lightweight position encoding into a spike-based Transformer backbone. Specifically, our Dynamic Mask Encoder Block adaptively suppresses ineffective spike channels by learning mask parameters, reducing parameter count to 37.93–42.69% of the original Spikformer. Simultaneously, a redesigned lightweight position embedding replaces resource-intensive relative position convolutions, further lowering complexity. Experiments on three neuromorphic vision datasets—DVS128, CIFAR10-DVS and N-Caltech101—demonstrate that SDMFormer cuts energy consumption by 42.79–50.13% relative to Spikformer while maintaining or slightly surpassing accuracy. Moreover, compared with recent leading works, SDMFormer achieves competitive accuracy with substantially fewer parameters and delivers higher inference efficiency, reaching up to 196.20 img/s on CIFAR10-DVS. These results highlight the efficacy of combining event-driven attention with structured pruning and parameter-efficient position encoding, indicating the potential of SDMFormer for resource-efficient SNN deployment in low-power applications. Full article

Background and Objectives: The tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) classification system is the standard for staging gastric cancer and predicting survival. However, its accuracy can be compromised by insufficient lymph node (LN) dissection during surgery or inadequate pathologic examination. Alternative staging systems, such as the lymph node ratio (LNR) and log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS), may provide better prognostic value when LN examination is suboptimal. Because the current N staging system was not able to accurately stratify patients relative to their survival outcomes in our series, this study assessed the prognostic impact of LNR and LODDS on overall survival (OS) of patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for cancer. Materials and Methods: Between March 2005 and June 2025, the authors performed gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma in 114 patients. Out of these patients, 39 were excluded (19 had stage IV, while 20 underwent palliative gastrectomy with D1 lymphadenectomy). Thus, the study cohort included 75 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy, with 4 (5.3%) of them dying postoperatively. Potential prognostic factors associated with OS (including age, sex, tumor location, T stage, N stage, TNM stage, LNR, and LODDS) were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Because the recurrence data were missing in 41 patients, the disease-free survival (DFS) analysis would not be meaningful. Results: The OS analysis was based on the 71 patients surviving postoperatively. Because successive N stage groups could not accurately stratify patients according to their OS, we used X-tile software version 3.6.1 to identify two cut-offs (both for LNR and LODDS) that were able to stratify patients in three subgroups with significantly distinct survival outcomes. Multivariate analysis found that both LODDS and LNR systems were independent prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions: LNR and LODDS provide more detailed insights into lymph node status and have demonstrated potential for enhancing prognostic accuracy compared to N staging, even in patients who underwent curative gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy. Although LNR and LODDS are usually useful in patients who underwent suboptimal lymphadenectomy, the current study demonstrated that these systems could improve prognostic stratification even in patients with more than 15 retrieved LNs. However, due to the small sample size, the current observations and proposed cut-offs of LNR and LODDS have to be validated in larger studies including such patients. Full article

The titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V is widely used in the aerospace, medical, and automotive industries; however, its machining remains challenging due to its low thermal conductivity and high chemical reactivity. This study investigates the influence of the tool clearance angle on tool wear during the turning of Ti-6Al-4V under wet cutting conditions. A Design of Experiments (DoE) approach was employed, varying the clearance angle, cutting speed, and feed rate to determine their effects on tool wear. Tool wear was analysed using 3D topography measurements. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the experimental data with the main objective of quantifying the impact of the individual factors and their interactions, resulting in the development of a predictive statistical model. The model’s accuracy was assessed using the coefficient of determination (R²) and the adjusted coefficient of determination (R²adj). The results demonstrate that the clearance angle has a significant impact on crater wear formation and overall tool life. An optimised moderate clearance angle reduces tool degradation, enhances tool life, and improves the surface integrity of the machined component. Full article

Goat meat represents a valuable source of high-quality protein and healthy lipids, although its consumption remains limited in Europe. This study aimed to evaluate the qualitative–quantitative changes in the nutritional, rheological, and sensorial characteristics of meat (Quadriceps femoris and Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscles) from three different autochthonous goat breeds (Garganica, Derivata di Siria, and Capra di Potenza) and a cosmopolitan, genetically selected one (Saanen), reared in Basilicata (Italy), during a 7-day wet aging process. Forty kids (10 per breed) were slaughtered at 50 ± 3 days, and meat samples were vacuum-aged at 4 ± 1 °C and analyzed at 0, 3, and 7 days. Data showed that genotype was the main factor influencing meat quality, while wet aging mainly improved rheological parameters, particularly in LTL muscles. Notably, Capra di Potenza exhibited the most favorable fatty acid profile, with lower atherogenic (average values of 0.80 in LTL and 0.92 in QF) and thrombogenic (average values of 1.49 in LTL and 1.59 in QF) indices, whereas Derivata di Siria showed the greatest oxidative stability (average values of 0.060 in LTL and 0.036 in QF). Overall, local breeds of kids’ groups produced more tender and aromatic meat than Saanen. These findings highlight the potential of native goat breeds for premium meat production and suggest an effective post-mortem aging technique to enhance their quality, promoting the diffusion of niche products as well as biodiversity preservation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) represents a critical transition stage between normal aging and dementia, with executive dysfunction playing a key prognostic role. Traditional neuropsychological tests show limited ecological validity and may fail to detect early executive deficits. Virtual Reality (VR) offers an innovative alternative by reproducing everyday situations in realistic environments. This study investigated whether the Picture Interpretation Test 360° (PIT 360°), a VR-based assessment, can (1) discriminate between MCI patients and healthy controls (HCs); (2) identify executive dysfunction within the MCI group; and (3) correlate with standard neuropsychological measures. Methods: One hundred and one participants aged ≥65 years (53 MCI, 48 HCs) underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and PIT 360° evaluation. The PIT 360° requires interpreting a complex scene in a 360-degree virtual environment. Hierarchical linear regression, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and binary logistic regression were performed to examine group differences and diagnostic accuracy. MCI patients were stratified based on their performance on the Modified Five Point Test to identify visuospatial dysexecutive deficits. Results: MCI patients showed significantly longer PIT 360° completion times than HCs (92.6 vs. 65.3 s, p = 0.006), independent of age. MCI patients with visuospatial dysexecutive deficits exhibited the most severe deficits (median = 105 s, p = 0.017 vs. HCs). ROC analysis revealed adequate discriminative ability (AUC = 0.64, 95% CI [0.53, 0.75]) with a preliminary, sample-derived cut-off at ≥22 s, yielding high sensitivity (86.5%) but low specificity (42.6%). This threshold requires validation in independent samples. PIT 360° completion time correlated significantly with visuospatial executive functions, visual memory, and verbal fluency. Conclusions: The PIT 360° effectively screens for visuospatial executive dysfunction in MCI with high sensitivity, making it suitable for ruling out clinically significant impairment. Its ecological validity, brief administration, and correlations with traditional measures support integration into routine clinical practice for early detection and rehabilitation planning. Full article

(1) Background: The transcription factor p73 exists in multiple isoforms with divergent functions in cancer. While DNp73 promotes stemness, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis, the tumor-suppressive isoform TAp73 can also switch to promoting cancer progression. How isoforms sharing the same DNA-binding domain produce divergent outcomes remains unclear. (2) Methods: Here, we performed CUT&RUN in combination with JASPAR, transcriptomics, proteomics, patient survival and gene expression data to map genome-wide and promoter-associated DNA-binding and coregulatory transcription factor (coTF) profiles of TAp73α and DNp73β in melanoma cells. (3) Results: Systematic screening for motif enrichment in cancer hallmark gene sets revealed TAp73- and DNp73-specific coTF repertoires with distinct functions. We identified a coregulator signature for EMT genes enriched for both isoforms that has tumor context-dependent effects on survival and correlates with unfavorable patient prognosis. Of these EMT-associated coTFs, PATZ1 was validated as a novel direct interactor of DNp73β. (4) Conclusions: Our results provide a comprehensive reference map of p73 isoform-specific binding and coregulator recruitment and establish a workflow to model their influence on cancer reprogramming with implications for AI-based individualized therapy. Full article

The frictional resistance of impeller machinery blades such as aircraft engines, gas turbines, and wind turbines has a decisive impact on their efficiency and energy consumption. Inspired by the micro-tooth structure on the surface of shark skin, microstructural drag reduction technology has become a cutting-edge research direction for improving aerodynamic performance and a continuous focus of researchers over the past 20 years. However, the significant difficulty in fabricating microstructures on three-dimensional curved surfaces has led to the limited widespread application of this technology in engineering. Addressing the issue of drag reduction and efficiency improvement for small axial flow fans (local Reynolds number range: (36,327–40,330), this paper employs Design of Experiments (DOE) combined with high-precision numerical simulation to clarify the drag reduction law of bionic microgroove surfaces and determine the dimensions of bionic microstructures on fan blade surfaces. The steady-state calculation uses the standard k-ω model and simpleFoam solver, while the unsteady Large Eddy Simulation (LES) employs the pimpleFoam solver and WALE subgrid-scale model. The dimensionless height (h⁺) and width (s⁺) of microgrooves are in the range of 8.50–29.75, and the micro-grooved structure achieves effective drag reduction. The microstructured surface is fabricated on the suction surface of the blade via a spray coating process, and the dimensions of the microstructures are determined according to the drag reduction law of grooved flat plates. Aerodynamic performance tests indicate that the shaft power consumed by the bionic fan blades during the tests is significantly reduced. The maximum static pressure efficiency of the bionic fan with micro-dimples is increased by 2.33%, while that of the bionic fan with micro-grooves is increased by 3.46%. The fabrication method of the bionic microstructured surface proposed in this paper is expected to promote the engineering application of bionic drag reduction technology. Full article

Microplastics represent a pressing global environmental concern due to their persistence, widespread occurrence, and adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Effective removal of these contaminants from water is essential to safeguard biodiversity and ensure water quality. This work focuses on the pivotal role of membrane-based filtration technologies, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, membrane bioreactors, and dynamic membranes, in capturing and eliminating microplastics. The performance of these systems depends on key membrane characteristics such as pore size, material composition, hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, and module design, which govern retention efficiency, fouling resistance, and operational stability. Membrane filtration offers a highly effective, scalable, and sustainable approach to microplastic removal, outperforming conventional treatment methods by selectively targeting a wide range of particle sizes and morphologies. By highlighting the critical contribution of membranes and filtration processes, this study underscores their potential in mitigating microplastic pollution and advancing sustainable water treatment practices. Full article