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Backgroundand Objectives: Cervical adenocarcinoma (CAC) is a histologically distinct subtype of cervical cancer with a rising incidence in many regions. While the roles of key driver mutations are known, a comprehensive understanding of its genomic landscape, particularly variations across different populations and tumor stages, remains incomplete. This study aims to characterize the somatic genomic landscape of CAC by identifying recurrent mutations, copy number alterations (CNAs), and patterns of co-occurrence, with a focus on variations across racial groups and between primary and metastatic tumors. Materials and Methods: We conducted a comprehensive genomic analysis of 102 tumor samples from 99 patients diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinoma using data from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) database. Results: The most frequently mutated genes were PIK3CA (25.5%), TP53 (21.6%), ARID1A (20.6%), and KRAS (16.7%). Significant amplification of ERBB2 was also observed (n = 3; 4.83%). Our analysis revealed notable genomic disparities across racial groups, with TP53 mutations being significantly more frequent in White patients compared to Asian and Black patients (p = 0.0236). Furthermore, we identified significant co-occurrence between mutations in KRAS and MSH2 (p = 0.011) as well as ATM and STK11 (p = 0.037). In comparing tumor types, mutations in BCL6 were found to be significantly enriched in metastatic samples. Conclusions: This study validates the primary drivers of cervical adenocarcinoma and reveals novel findings, including notable racial disparities in TP53 mutation frequency and unique patterns of co-occurring mutations. These findings highlight the genomic heterogeneity of the disease and suggest that ancestry and tumor evolution may influence its molecular pathogenesis, offering potential avenues for the development of targeted therapies and personalized biomarkers. Full article

Coral aggregate concrete (CAC) serves as a critical material for sustainable development in marine engineering, effectively addressing the shortage of aggregate resources in the construction of offshore islands and reefs. In this paper, the aggregate characteristics, static and dynamic mechanical properties and modification technology of CAC are systematically reviewed. Research indicates that the coral aggregates (CAs), due to its high porosity (approximately 50%), low bulk density (900–1100 kg/m³), and rough, porous surface, results in relatively low static compressive strength (20–40 MPa), insufficient elastic modulus, and significant brittleness in CAC. However, its dynamic performance shows the opposite advantage. Under impact loads, the energy absorption capacity is enhanced by 32.6–140.3%, compared to ordinary concrete (OC) due to the energy dissipation mechanism of pore platic deformation. Through the modification techniques, such as aggregate pre-treatment (acid washing/coating), incorporation of auxiliary cementitious materials (silica fume increases strength by 16.4%), fibre reinforcement (carbon fibres enhance flexural strength by 33.3%), and replacement with novel cementitious materials (magnesium sulphate cement improves chloride ion binding capacity by 90.7%), the mechanical properties and durability of CAC can be significantly optimised. This paper highlights gaps in current research regarding the high strain rate (>200 s⁻¹) dynamic response, multi-factor coupled durability in marine environments, and the engineering application of alkali-activated materials, providing theoretical basis for future research directions. Full article

Methylbutynol (MB) is a typical propargylic alcohol with both alkynyl and hydroxyl groups, featuring excellent modifiability and broad applications. Currently, it is produced through the reaction of alkaline metallic acetylides and acetone, requiring expensive raw material and harsh reaction conditions. Herein, a novel method was proposed by replacing the metallic acetylide with calcium carbide (CaC₂) as a low-cost industrial acetylide reagent. The effects of solvent, activator, and proton donor on the ball mill reaction, and the defoaming performance of the resultant MB and its oxidative coupling product (2,7-dimethyl-3,5-octadiyn-2,7-diol), were studied. Nucleophilic reactivity of CaC₂ with acetone can be regulated by the activating effect of the ball mill, an appropriate activator, and a proton donor. High yield of MB (~94%) was obtained under synergistic action of TBAF·3H₂O and acetylene, which represents a facile synthesis process of MB under mild conditions. MB exhibits good defoaming performance, and 2,7-dimethyl-3,5-octadiyn-2,7-diol is more promising, being an excellent non-ionic defoamer. The result is of great significance for exploring new chemical reactions of CaC₂ and its high-value utilizations. Full article

In recent years, the number of interconnected computers and resources has increased drastically. To ensure the privacy of these resources, a secure access control mechanism must be implemented. Traditional access control models lack adequate emergency handling. Threshold-based collaborative access control (T-CAC) addresses the issue of handling emergencies without overriding the access control model by shifting trust from individuals to groups, thereby enforcing collaboration among different actors. Given the risks associated with improper and uncontrolled delegation of authority, along with the need to enforce the zero-trust principle of continuous verification, this study proposes a secure and adaptable model, Adaptive Trust-Based Access Control with Honey Objects and Behavior Analysis (ATACHOBA). It enables user delegation based on both trust and behavior analyses. In the proposed model, access decisions are determined by trust values and recommendations provided by the machine learning algorithm. ATACHOBA imposes penalties for any abnormal or malicious activity. Moreover, it utilizes honey objects and honey requests to ensure appropriate user behavior. Full article

Low-temperature plasma treatments were applied to barley seeds using a dielectric barrier-stabilized corona discharge operated in ambient air enriched with oxygen or nitrogen to quantify surface chemical modifications and seed wettability. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that oxygen-enriched plasma produced the strongest oxidation, increasing surface oxygen from 9 ± 5 at% (control) to 24 ± 5 at%, while reducing carbon from 88 ± 5 at% to 76 ± 5 at%. Nitrogen-enriched plasma induced more moderate changes (O: 13 ± 5 at%, C: 85 ± 5 at%) but resulted in clear nitrogen incorporation, with an enhanced N 1s amine/amide component at ~400.8 eV. The hydroxyl O 1s contribution increased from 70% (control) to 82% (oxygen) and 90% (nitrogen), indicating substantial surface hydroxylation. SEM-EDX showed only minor micrometer-scale composition changes and no detectable morphological damage. Raman and ATR-FTIR spectra confirmed that polysaccharide, protein, and lipid structures remained intact, with intensity variations reflecting increased hydrophilicity. Water imbibition kinetics fitted with the Peleg model demonstrated faster initial hydration after plasma exposure, with 1/k₁ increasing from 20.25 ± 1.90 h⁻¹ (control) to 36.70 ± 6.56 h⁻¹ (oxygen) and 38.87 ± 7.57 h⁻¹ (nitrogen), while 1/k₂ remained nearly unchanged. Full article

Construction safety remains a critical concern, with frequent accidents leading to fatalities, severe injuries, and significant economic losses. To address these challenges and enhance accident prevention, this study adopts a systems thinking approach to investigate the causal factors of construction safety accidents. First, drawing on Rasmussen’s risk management framework, this study developed a Construction Accident Causation System (CACS) model that comprises six hierarchical levels and 23 influencing factors. Through the analysis of 331 investigation reports of construction accidents in China, causal factor correlations were refined, and the topological structure and network parameters of the model were determined. This study integrates diagnostic reasoning, sensitivity analysis, and fuzzy mathematics within a Bayesian Network (BN) framework. Through this approach, it identifies the most probable accident pathways and highlights seven critical and three sensitive factors that jointly exacerbate construction safety risks. A real-world case of a formwork collapse in Baotou City is further analyzed to verify the model’s reliability and practical relevance. The results confirm that the integrated CACS and BN framework effectively captures the multi-level interactions among managerial, behavioral, and technical factors, providing a scientific basis for proactive safety management and accident prevention in the construction industry. Full article

Designing ionic liquids (ILs) where a single functional group orchestrates a suite of enhanced properties remains a key challenge in materials science. Here, we introduce 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium mandelate, [Bmim][Man], a novel IL where the hydroxyl group on the mandelate anion simultaneously enhances hydrogen bonding, thermal stability, antimicrobial activity, and extraction selectivity. The structure-property relationships of [Bmim][Man] were investigated through measurements of density, viscosity, and conductivity and were compared with analogous ILs. The presence of the hydroxyl group on the mandelate anion resulted in the highest density and viscosity among the series, attributed to strong hydrogen bonding and efficient ion packing. Notably, [Bmim][Man] exhibited a high molar conductivity that decouples from its high viscosity, suggesting an unusual degree of ion dissociation facilitated by the hydroxyl group. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed superior thermal stability. Furthermore, the investigated ionic liquid demonstrated a low critical aggregation concentration (CAC = 0.01982 mol·dm⁻³) in water, indicating a strong propensity for self-aggregation. [Bmim][Man] showed synergistic, enhanced antibacterial activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Finally, the functional utility of this designed liquid was demonstrated in separation science, where [Bmim][Man]-based aqueous biphasic systems showed selective extraction capabilities for transition metals, a process driven by the same hydrogen-bonding and coordination interactions that define its bulk properties. These findings establish [Bmim][Man] as a promising multifunctional material where the mandelate anion concurrently dictates liquid microstructure, thermal resilience, antimicrobial performance, and application in extraction. Full article

Methenamine, a urinary antiseptic with antimicrobial properties, decomposes into toxic formaldehyde under acidic conditions. Its use is prohibited in dairy cattle in Korea to prevent harmful residues in milk. This study was designed to develop and validate a sensitive and reliable LC–MS/MS method for determining methenamine in raw milk and bovine muscle in compliance with the Positive List System (PLS) regulations. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile (ACN)–methanol (MeOH) (7:3, v/v) containing ammonia water, followed by defatting with n-hexane and purification with primary secondary amine (PSA). Chromatographic separation was performed on a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) column, and quantification was conducted using matrix-matched calibration to minimize matrix effects. The method showed excellent linearity (R² > 0.999), low limits of quantification (LOQ) (0.49 μg/kg for raw milk; 0.64 μg/kg for bovine muscle), and acceptable recoveries (78.1–102.8%) with precision (CV ≤ 8.75%), meeting Codex CAC/GL 71-2009 criteria. Stability studies demonstrated that methenamine remained stable in stock solutions, working standards and processed extracts under the storage and handling conditions used. Application to incurred samples resulted in the detection of methenamine in 2 of 32 raw milk samples (0.65 and 1.14 μg/kg) but in none of the 25 bovine muscle samples, with all detected levels below the Korean PLS limit. These findings confirm that the developed method is accurate, sensitive, and applicable for routine surveillance of methenamine residues to ensure consumer safety. Full article

Background/Objectives: The long-term clinical success of dental luting cements largely depends on their mechanical performance. This study systematically compared six commonly used definitive dental cements by assessing key mechanical characteristics such as compressive strength and fatigue resistance. Methods: The tested materials included Adhesor Zinc Phosphate (AphC), Harvard Zinc Phosphate (HphC), polycarboxylate cement (CaC), glass ionomer cement (GIC), resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC), and resin cement (ReC). Both static and dynamic compressive load tests were performed using an Instron ElectroPuls E3000 dynamic testing instrument. During static testing, 77 samples were subjected to an increasing load up to 1500 N. Dynamic tests on 78 samples involved cyclic loading over seven phases from 50 N to 1600 N, with 1500 cycles per phase at 10 Hz. Results: Static load results indicated that GIC, CaC, and phosphate cements exhibited similar performance and were significantly weaker compared to RMGIC and ReC. In the dynamic fatigue tests, most ReC and RMGIC samples maintained integrity throughout the entire protocol, demonstrating markedly superior mechanical reliability. Finite element analysis (FEA) further confirmed the experimental observations, revealing more homogenous stress distribution and lower peak stresses in ReC and RMGIC compared with the conventional cements. Conclusions: Overall, the resin-based and resin-modified glass ionomer cements showed the highest compressive strength and fatigue resistance, indicating superior long-term mechanical stability compared to the conventional cements. These findings support the clinical use of resin-based cements as reliable luting agents for definitive fixation in high-load prosthodontic applications. Full article

The superconducting transition temperature, $T_c$, of the graphite intercalation compound, Ca${\mathrm{C}}_6$, was calculated using the Roeser–Huber (RH) formalism. This method was adapted to alloys with complex crystal structures by identifying symmetric paths for the superconducting charge carriers (Cooper pairs) and incorporating interactions with neighboring atoms through phonon coupling. The evaluation of the lowest energy levels, ${\Delta }_{\left(0\right)}$, along all relevant crystallographic directions reveals a slight anisotropy between the in-plane and out-of-plane directions, consistent with the experimental observation of the gap anisotropy by point contact spectroscopy. The $T_c$ values obtained for Ca${\mathrm{C}}_6$, Ca${\mathrm{C}}_6$ with applied high pressure, and Yb${\mathrm{C}}_6$ show good agreement with experimental data, thereby supporting both the validity of the RH approach and its predictive capability in describing superconductivity within complex crystal structures. Full article

Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is extensively used to quantify gene expression under drought conditions; however, its reliability depends on the validation of the reference genes under specific conditions. In cucumber, reference genes have rarely been validated under drought conditions. This study identified stable housekeeping genes for RT-qPCR normalization in the leaves of two inbred lines with contrasting drought responses. Plants underwent a 7-day drought period, with leaf samples collected at multiple points along with watered controls. The expression stability of 13 candidate genes was evaluated using four algorithms: geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and the comparative ΔCt method, with the results integrated using RefFinder. Ten genes producing specific and efficient amplicons were analyzed for stability. CACS and UBI-1 consistently ranked among the most stable genes, with TIP41-like as an additional reliable option, whereas GAPDH and HEL were unstable. GeNorm pairwise variation analysis showed that the two reference genes were sufficient for accurate normalization. Functional validation with three drought-responsive targets (LOX, HsfC1, and CYP72A219) and comparison with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) fold changes confirmed that normalization using CACS and UBI-1 yielded the most biologically credible expression profiles. These reference genes will facilitate robust RT-qPCR analyses of drought response in cucumber leaves and provide a starting point for validating suitable normalizers in other cucumber organs and related cucurbits. Full article

Background: While the 2024 ESC Guidelines provide guidance on utilising incidental CAC findings from non-gated CT scans to enhance risk stratification and guide treatment decisions, there remain gaps in detailed protocols for managing such incidental findings, particularly in inpatient settings. An incidental finding of CAC in a patient without known atherosclerosis provides an opportunity to assess cardiac risk, promote risk factor optimisation and evaluate need for further cardiac work up. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of incidental coronary artery calcification on non-cardiac dedicated gated CT thorax scans among general medical inpatients and to evaluate the subsequent management of these findings. Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective observational study of consecutive general medical inpatients aged 40–75, who had undergone a non-cardiac gated CT thorax during their admission, between February and March 2025. Data were collected using local electronic health records. Exclusion criteria were patients with known ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Risk factor assessment was noted by documentation of smoking status, hypertension, diabetes and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values. Results: A total of 186 patients with thoracic CT scans were identified. On review of all CT reports, 53 (28.4%) patients had CAC reported, of whom 17 had known IHD. Therefore 36 (19.4%) patients were identified for further analysis. An exercise stress test was booked in none of the patients. A coronary angiogram was booked in 1 patient. Conclusions: One fifth of medical inpatients in our study had a new finding of CAC on thoracic imaging. Cardiovascular risk factors of LDL and HbA1c were checked in less than half of patients. None of these patients went on to have functional testing. There is a valuable opportunity to optimise cardiac risk factors and evaluate the need for functional testing in a subset of patients with CAC reported on non-cardiac CTs. This can be facilitated by raising awareness and implementing a flowchart tool for hospital physicians to reference. Full article

Recently, evidence indicating that microplastics (MPs) have a hazardous effect on human health is accumulating. The potential of MPs having a role in carcinogenesis was suggested. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate MPs’ effect on colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) development. The AOM/DSS-induced CAC model was reproduced in two groups of adult male C56BL/6 mice. One of these groups received MPs (5 μm polystyrene microbeads) with drinking water at a dose of 1.48 mg/kg/day throughout the experiment (12 weeks), and the other received water untreated with MPs. In the colons of mice that consumed MPs, there was a higher number of tumor nodules at the macroscopic level, a greater tumor prevalence on histological sections, more pronounced inflammatory infiltration, a higher goblet cell volume fraction, the content of highly sulfated mucins was found in them, and there were more tumors with increased enteroendocrine cell content. We did not find any MP effects on the claudins, mucins, proapoptotic factor Bax, or on the proliferation marker Mki67 gene expression in the medial colon, nor on the serum level of TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 cytokines. Thus, MPs promote the CAC development in mice by exacerbating intestinal local inflammation and damaging the epithelial barrier, and MPs may represent a potential environmental cofactor contributing to CAC risk. Full article

Background/Objectives: Bladder carcinoma (BC) is strongly associated with tobacco exposure, a major shared risk factor for several smoking-related diseases (SRDs), including pulmonary disorders and coronary atherosclerosis. However, the prevalence of SRDs in patients with high-grade (HGBC) or muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (MIBC) has not been systematically investigated. We aimed to evaluate SRD prevalence and to assess the potential role of chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in a population with histologically confirmed HGBC or MIBC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 166 patients with histologically confirmed HGBC/MIBC who underwent staging HRCT. SRDs—including emphysema, suspicious pulmonary nodules, airway disease, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and coronary artery calcifications (CAC)—were assessed. Associations between smoking status and SRDs were evaluated using binary logistic regression, and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: Overall, 60.2% of patients had at least one SRD. Smokers showed a significantly higher SRD prevalence than non-smokers (p < 0.05). Pulmonary SRDs were observed in 31.9% of patients, with emphysema being most strongly associated with smoking (p < 0.01). Suspicious pulmonary nodules (Lung-RADS ≥ 3) were detected in 6.6% of patients, more commonly among smokers (72.7%), though the difference was not statistically significant. Histological confirmation, available for 45% of these nodules, revealed primary lung cancers rather than metastatic bladder carcinoma in all verified cases. Conclusions: Patients with HGBC/MIBC demonstrate a high prevalence of SRDs, supporting the integration of chest HRCT into staging protocols. HRCT may enable early detection of clinically relevant comorbidities and help identify candidates for lung cancer screening. Full article

Background: Visual assessment of coronary artery calcium (CAC) on ungated chest CT has been described previously. However, its reliability and clinical utility remain uncertain, particularly in PET/CT studies that use low-dose, low-slice CT and are susceptible to respiratory artifacts. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 106 patients (median age, 66 years [interquartile range, 60–75 years]; 67 men [63.2%]) who underwent PET/CT and electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated chest CT within a 90-day interval. Six readers (three radiologists and three nuclear medicine physicians) independently assessed CAC on PET/CT using a standard four-point visual scale and a 0–12 ordinal scale based solely on written instructions. Agatston scoring was also performed. Interobserver agreement and concordance with ECG-gated chest CT Agatston score categories were calculated. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were recorded over a median follow-up of 3.5 years. Results: Interobserver agreement was good for both the standard visual (κ = 0.761) and ordinal (κ = 0.779) scales. Concordance with ECG-gated CT Agatston categories was higher for standard visual (κ = 0.849) and ordinal (κ = 0.750) scoring than for PET/CT Agatston categories (κ = 0.464). Both qualitative scales tended to underestimate CAC categories compared with ECG-gated CT; however, severe CAC on PET/CT predicted MACE (hazard ratios: 4.41 standard visual; 6.59 ordinal), and the ordinal scale significantly stratified MACE-free survival (p = 0.047). Conclusions: Standard visual and ordinal CAC scoring on the ungated CT portion of PET/CT is quick, reproducible, closely mirrors ECG-gated-CT Agatston grading, and offers prognostic value for future MACE in cancer patients. Full article