Search Results (7,952)

Subsistence family farming in Peru is increasingly constrained by ecosystem degradation, climate variability, and limited access to productive services, particularly where environmental exposure is high. This study develops an Agro-productive and Territorial Vulnerability Index (IVAPT) to evaluate environmental, ecosystem, and socioeconomic vulnerability of subsistence agriculture at the district level nationwide. The index integrates district-level agricultural survey data (ENA-2024) with multi-temporal MODIS NDVI series (2000–2024) and comprehensive climatic, topographic, land-cover, and accessibility indicators, processed through multivariate statistics. Three objective weighting schemes (ENTROPY, CRITIC, PCA) construct thematic sub-indices of Environmental Exposure (EnvExp), Ecosystem Condition (EcoCond), and Socioeconomic Capacity (SocioCap). Results show more than half of Peru’s 1552 districts fall within moderate to very high vulnerability, with highest concentration in the Amazon region (Loreto, Ucayali, Madre de Dios), Andean-Amazonian transitions, and highland districts (Huancavelica, Apurímac, Ayacucho, Puno) where biophysical constraints, ecosystem pressure, and socioeconomic isolation converge. Dimensional spatial complementarity EnvExp peaking on coast, EcoCond in Amazon, SocioCap in Andes demonstrates effective vulnerability reduction requires dimension-specific interventions. Despite divergent weighting schemes, spatial patterns remained consistent, validating identified hotspots. IVAPT provides a reproducible framework supporting evidence-based territorial planning and targeted investments in water infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation. Full article

A simple method employing dextrose as a capping agent was adopted for making MgAl₂O₄@MgO (AM), 5%NiO-MgAl₂O₄@MgO (AMNi), 5%CoO-MgAl₂O₄@MgO (AMCo), and 5%CuO-MgAl₂O₄@MgO (AMCu) nanocomposites. The average particle sizes, determined via SEM, were in the range of 21.6–51.4 nm, 9.8–13.8 nm, 19.1–32.2 nm, and 9.2–31.2 nm for AM, AMCu, AMNi, and AMCo, respectively. The nanosorbents exhibited type IV isotherm curves and type H3 hysteresis loops, signifying mesoporous properties. The AM, AMCu, AMNi, and AMCo exhibited surface areas of 69.47, 95.87, 86.23, and 75.87 m²/g, respectively. The pseudo second order described the indigo carmine (IDC) sorptions onto AM, AMCu, AMNi, and AMCo. The liquid film diffusion regulated IDC sorption on AMNi and AMCo, whereas the intraparticle diffusion was the dominant model on AM and AMCu. The AMCu’s showed a q_t value of 127 mg g⁻¹ from a 50 mg L⁻¹ IDC solution at 20 °C, and 286.2 mg g⁻¹ from a 200 mg L⁻¹ IDC solution at 50 °C, establishing its capability for treating contaminated water. The IDC sorption onto AMCu aligns with the Freundlich model, which may elucidate the elevated q_t value of AMCu. Elevating the temperature induced the IDC sorption on AMCu, indicating its endothermic nature, and the negative ΔG° implied that the IDC sorption by AMCu was spontaneous. A 5.0 and 10.0 mg L⁻¹ IDC concentration in natural water samples was treated by the AMCu, which showed 100.0% efficacy for both groundwater samples; however, its efficacy toward the 5 and 10 mg L⁻¹ IDC in seawater was 99.23% and 89.78%, respectively. The MACu’s efficiency throughout four reuse cycles decreased by only 7.21%, demonstrating excellent stability and reusability performance. Full article

The Xinding Basin is located in the high-heat-flow geothermal anomaly zone in the north-central part of China. Revealing the geothermal origin mechanism of the basin is of great significance for filling the measurement gap in heat flow values in China and providing a scientific basis for the evaluation and utilization of regional geothermal resources. Based on the hydrogeochemical characteristics of thermal reservoirs and borehole data in the Xinding Basin, this paper analyzes water–rock interaction process between geothermal water and heat reservoirs and discusses the types of geothermal systems in the basin. The results indicate that the fault structures in the basin are well-developed. The hydrochemical type of typical geothermal fields is dominated by the Cl·SO₄-Na type. Geothermal water is mainly immature water and receives recharge from shallow cold water with relatively rapid circulation. The discovered magma intrusion residues in the basin indicate that sections of the upper mantle with a shallow burial depth serve as the dynamic heat sources for regional thermal reservoirs. Intense extensional stretching in the Cenozoic Era resulted in high terrestrial heat flow values and an upward arching phenomenon of the Curie isothermal surface in the basin. Neotectonic movement is active in the basin. The regional geothermal reservoirs in the Xinding Basin occur in the glutenite beds of the Cenozoic Erathem and the rock formations of the New Archaean Erathem. The thick-layered Cenozoic loose sediments serve as the thermal cap rocks in this area. An efficient heat-convergent geothermal system integrating a heat source, heat channel, thermal reservoir, and cap rock (the “four-in-one” system) has promoted the formation of geothermal resources in the Xinding Basin. Full article

In the present work, three-dimensional (3D) simulations have been performed for the characterization of a rectangular column for a uniform gas distributor with µm-sized holes at a ratio of 5. The model is first validated with experimental data from the literature. Simulations are then performed for a gas distributor with identical pitch but two different hole sizes, namely 600 µm and 200 µm. Three superficial gas velocities, namely 0.002 m/s, 0.004 m/s, and 0.006 m/s, were used for each distributor type. The gas movement in the fluid is found to be a strong function of hole size. For a 600 µm hole size, the operating condition has minimal impact on gas plume movement and moves centrally in a fully aerated regime. However, for a hole size of 200 µm, for all superficial velocities, the gas plume movement is dynamic and partially aerated. The plume moves along the right wall initially and then follows vertically. These characteristics are different from the meandering plume in centrally located spargers. The liquid mixing in the bulk is a function of time. During the plume development flow, different shapes are observed. Based on the analogy with the shapes found in nature, these shapes have been termed as balloon, cap, jet or candle flame, bull horn, mushroom, tree shape, and disintegrated mushroom shapes. Quantitative insights have been obtained in the form of time-averaged radial profiles of both volume fractions and liquid axial velocities. A symmetric parabolic shape for a hole size of 600 µm and skewed asymmetric shapes for a 200 µm hole size for three different axial positions, namely 0.1, 0.25, and 0.4 m, are observed. Correlations for gas holdup and liquid velocity have been proposed for low superficial velocities, which are in good agreement with the CFD simulation data, with a deviation of 15–20%. The deviations are partly due to the use of the k-ε turbulent model. The correlations perform better than the correlations available in the reported literature for similar superficial gas velocities. Full article

Markerless motion capture is increasingly used in pediatric neurorehabilitation, yet its ability to detect patient-specific gait abnormalities in small and heterogeneous cohorts remains unclear. This study evaluated a smartphone-based markerless workflow (OpenCap integrated with OpenSim) as a clinical assessment tool to support individualized planning in the context of robot-assisted gait rehabilitation (RAGT) by characterizing individualized gait deviations in four pediatric patients with neurological gait disorders, referenced against normative data from 30 healthy individuals. Sagittal hip, knee, and ankle kinematics were extracted, normalized, and converted into gait-cycle–dependent Z-scores. Group-level comparisons using one-sample Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) revealed no significant deviations between patient-group means and normative trajectories (p ≥ 0.05). In contrast, individualized deviation profiling—including Z-score heatmaps, phase-wise Z-score analysis, and per-patient kinematic overlays—identified distinct, clinically meaningful abnormalities in every patient, such as excessive swing-phase hip and knee flexion, mid-stance knee extension deficits, reduced terminal-stance hip extension, and markedly diminished late-stance ankle plantarflexion and push-off. Several deviations exceeded |2–5| SD from the normative dataset, indicating substantial impairments that were obscured by group averaging. These individualized patterns were consistent with each patient’s clinical presentation and could be interpreted in relation to modifiable gait features that are commonly considered during planning and phase-specific adjustment of robot-assisted gait rehabilitation, rather than serving as direct evidence of therapeutic efficacy. Overall, the findings demonstrate that smartphone-based markerless motion capture enables sensitive, individualized gait assessment even when group-level statistics remain nonsignificant, supporting its use as an exploratory, decision-support framework rather than as an outcome measure of RAGT. Full article

With the continuous growth of highway traffic volume and the increasing proportion of heavy vehicles, vehicle–bridge collisions have emerged as a significant accidental hazard threatening the safe operation of bridge infrastructure. Systematic investigation of the collision resistance of critical bridge components is therefore essential for the development of rational anti-collision design strategies and reliable risk assessment methods. Focusing on the representative disaster scenario of high-speed heavy vehicles impacting concrete bridge piers, this study first develops a finite element model of an RPC beam and validates its reliability through impact experiments. The validated modeling approach is then extended to bridge piers, where a high-fidelity finite element model established using ANSYS/LS-DYNA 2020 is employed to simulate the vehicle–pier collision process and to systematically investigate collision force characteristics, bridge damage evolution, and collision response behavior. The results show that the established reactive powder concrete (RPC) beam model, validated through drop hammer impact tests, reliably captures the impact-induced damage and dynamic response of concrete members. During heavy-vehicle impacts, the vehicle head and cargo compartment successively interact with the pier, generating two distinct collision force peaks, with the peak force induced by the cargo compartment being approximately 38.2% higher than that caused by the vehicle head. Severe damage is mainly concentrated within the impact region, characterized by punching shear failure on the impact face, tensile damage on the rear face, and shear failure near the pier top. The collision-induced structural response is dominated by horizontal displacement, which remains below 10 mm during the vehicle head impact but exceeds 260 mm under the cargo compartment impact. Significant displacements are also observed in the cap beam, with maximum horizontal and vertical values of 24 mm and 19 mm, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into the impact behavior and failure mechanisms of concrete bridge piers, offering a sound theoretical basis and technical support for anti-vehicle collision design, collision-resistant structural optimization, bridge damage assessment, and the refinement of relevant design specifications. Full article

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a promising strategy to personalize chemotherapy dosing, especially for agents with narrow therapeutic indices such as epirubicin. However, widespread adoption is hindered by logistical challenges associated with venous blood sampling and centralized laboratory workflows. Objective: This study aimed to perform a method-comparison validation of the True Dose^® TD-EPI microsampling kit by verifying analytical agreement between capillary and venous epirubicin measurements in real patient samples. The study focuses on analytical performance and does not constitute validation of the whole decentralized workflow, including unsupervised patient self-sampling. Methods: 13 patients with early-stage breast cancer receiving the first cycle of neoadjuvant or adjuvant epirubicin were enrolled. Capillary samples were collected using the finalized TD-EPI kit (Cap-TD) at 2.5 h (n = 13) and/or 48 h (n = 10) post-infusion and stored at room temperature for 72 h before analysis. Matched venous samples were analyzed using both conventional protein precipitation (“Traditional”) and a modified lab-based True Dose workflow (Lab-TD). Epirubicin concentrations were quantified via validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Results: Cap-TD concentrations showed strong agreement with Traditional venous values (r = 0.953), with minimal bias (mean difference = 0.013 μM) in Bland–Altman analysis. Passing–Bablok regression confirmed analytical equivalence. Intra-assay variability remained within ICH M10 guidelines (CV ≤ 15%), and recovery was unaffected by 72 h ambient storage. Lab-TD results closely matched Traditional workflows, supporting reproducibility. Conclusions: The TD-EPI kit enables accurate decentralized monitoring of epirubicin, eliminating the need for venous access, cold-chain logistics, or in-clinic sampling. These findings support its integration into personalized oncology care and future applications in home-based TDM. Trial Registration: This study is part of an approved protocol registered in the EU Clinical Trials Register (EUCT Number 2024-514818-12-00; EudraCT Number 2017-000641-44; registration date: 15 June 2017). Full article

Background/Objectives: Low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC) is known as an uncommon subtype of cancer with poor response to standard chemotherapy, so novel targets are required. The current study aims to highlight the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 (HER2/neu) immunohistochemical (IHC) expression in LGSOCs. Methods: The study was conducted using 33 cases of LGSOCs from the calendar years 2017–2024. IHC staining was performed using antibody anti-HER2/neu (clone 4B5). HER2/neu scoring was performed based on the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) criteria for breast carcinoma. Results: The mean age of the 33 patients was 46.5 years. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage data for patients revealed a predominance of advanced disease: 82.7% (24/29) were in advanced stages. Early stages comprised 17.3% (5/29) of cases. The study did not find HER2/neu overexpression in all cases. In 3.0% of samples (1/33), HER2/neu IHC staining was scored as 1+, and in 6.1% (2/33) of all LGSOCs, ultralow phenotype was observed. Of 23 cases in the HER2-negative group, 6 patients were alive with progressive disease, 1 patient died in 5 months, and 16 were alive with no evidence of disease. Of two patients with the HER2-ultralow phenotype, one was alive with no evidence of disease at 16 months follow-up. Conclusions: The results support the idea that HER2/neu overexpression is exceptionally rare in LGSOC; nevertheless, future trials are essential to fully characterize the spectrum of HER2/neu alterations in LGSOC and to determine definitively whether the rare cases with mutations or ultralow expression could represent a small subgroup that might benefit from specific targeted agents. Full article

Background: Through the direct electrical stimulation of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) of the hearing nerve, cochlear implants overcome functionally impaired or missing hair cells in patients with profound to severe hearing loss. In routine clinical fitting, regions with severe local SGN degeneration (modiolar “dead regions”) cannot be identified. As a result, the electrical fields of neighboring electrodes are broadened, which can lead to increased channel interaction and, consequently, poorer speech understanding and hearing. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether neural health status can be evaluated by using cochlear implants’ inbuilt measures. Methods: Electrode impedance (MP1-, MP2-, MP1/MP2-, common ground mode), transimpedance matrix (TIM) and electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP) measurements were performed before and after laser-induced induction of lesions on the modiolus of the guinea pig. Laser treatment-related shifts in impedance, TIM, and eCAP characteristics (threshold, amplitude, and a modified version of the failure index, referred to as the efficiency index (EI)) were correlated with the histologically assessed damage in three predefined areas of the basal modiolus within the electrode region. Results: Modiolar damage resulted in a significant reduction in the electrode impedance in MP2- and MP1/2-mode, the eCAP amplitude, and the EI. In contrast, TIM values and eCAP thresholds were significantly elevated. MP1, MP1/MP2 electrode impedance, TIM, and the eCAP thresholds were not correlated with the extent of modiolar damage. The shifts in eCAP amplitudes and the EI were significantly correlated with the damage at all regions of the basal modiolus. Conclusions: The eCAP amplitude and the EI are both capable of objectively evaluating the neural health status of the cochlea. Thus, a modiolar dead region could be expected from a local drop in eCAP amplitude values or the modified EI within the electrode array. Full article

This study focuses on fabrication and comprehensive characterization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stabilized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), correlating polymer degradation with colloidal stability and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) behavior under controlled gamma doses from 5 to 125 Gy. AuNPs were synthesized via laser-assisted synthesis (LAS) in aqueous medium containing PVP or PEG as a stabilizing and capping agent. Morphology, size distribution, and surface functionalization of the resulting AuNPs@polymer-stabilized were verified through UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, DLS, zeta potential, and TEM. Results show that the polymer shell effectively preserved the nanoparticles’ integrity by minimizing aggregation and maintaining LSPR features even after exposure to high gamma doses (>75 Gy). PVP demonstrated superior protection compared to PEG, due to the robustness of the solvation layer and carbonyl groups of PVP coating around the AuNPs. These findings highlight the potential of polymer-stabilized AuNPS for applications in radiation-rich environments, while demonstrating LAS as an environmentally friendly and efficient synthesis route. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed medicines in the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED). The overuse of antibiotics is directly linked to the emergence of resistance. Recent clinical trials have emerged in children in which short courses have proven to be as effective as longer courses. The aim of this study was to analyze the duration of antibiotic treatment prescribed in our PED for the most important and common infections in children and to compare with the best available evidence. Methods: A single-center retrospective study was conducted in the PED of a tertiary hospital. We evaluated outpatients from birth to 16 years who were discharged with antibiotic therapy during a 1-year period (2022) to classify duration of therapy as appropriate or inappropriate. Results: 1972 antibiotic prescriptions were analyzed. 28.3% (560/1972) of the prescriptions were classified as inappropriate according to duration of therapy; 551 (98.3%) were due to longer-than-recommended duration. The condition associated with the highest number of inappropriate prescriptions was Uncomplicated Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP) (427/560; 76.2%). When focusing on each infectious syndrome, Uncomplicated CAP had also the highest percentage of inappropriate duration (92.6%) comparing with appropriate prescription. Regarding specific types of antibiotics, amoxicillin accounted for the highest number of inappropriate prescriptions (422/560; 75.4%). Conclusions: A longer-than-recommended prescription of antibiotics is frequent in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Uncomplicated CAP is the condition associated with the highest number of inappropriate duration of antibiotics in our setting. Full article

This paper presents, for the first time, the structure-dependent parameter trade-off optimization on figure-of-merit (R_onC_off) and power compression of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) for radio frequency (RF) switch applications. For GaN HEMTs operating in switching mode, it was demonstrated that R_onC_off can be effectively reduced by increasing the gate foot length (L_{g_foot}), decreasing the gate cap length (L_{g_cap}), reducing the gate bias resistance (r_g), and adopting a high work function metal for the gate electrode (Φ_g). However, these parameter adjustments affect power compression and R_onC_off in opposing manners. This paper also presents supplementary research on the effects of source-drain spacing (L_ds) and gate width (W_g) on switching performance. This research achieves a dynamic balancing method for structural parameters, delivering application-specific design rules for different scenarios ranging from high-frequency to high-power applications. Full article

It has been known for decades that eukaryotic cellular mRNAs are frequently translated by multiple ribosomes organized into polysomes of diverse topology, including circular arrangements. The closed-loop model, in which the 5′ cap and 3′ poly(A) tail are bridged by initiation factors, provided a mechanistic basis for mRNA circularization and suggested that the spatial proximity of termini facilitates ribosome recycling. Various biochemical, structural, and imaging approaches—including electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, cryo-electron tomography, and single-molecule fluorescence—have since demonstrated that polysomes indeed adopt compact and heterogeneous conformations, with circular assemblies representing a significant fraction. Although direct visualization of ribosome recycling remains technically challenging, ribosome turnover experiments, kinetic analyses and modeling support the concept of closed-loop-assisted reinitiation (CLAR), whereby terminating ribosomes are re-utilized to sustain translation efficiency. Together, the findings suggest that mRNA circularization is a dynamic and regulated state that enhances protein synthesis under specific conditions, while linear or modular polysome architectures may dominate in others. Understanding the balance between these modes of translation remains central to elucidating the interplay between mRNA topology, ribosome dynamics, and translational control. Full article

The Jaboi geothermal field, located on Weh Island in western Indonesia, has a potential output of approximately 55 MWe. Previous geophysical surveys have not sufficiently identified the components of the geothermal system. The success of drilling in identifying a geothermal system depends heavily on the accuracy of the conceptual model. Consequently, developing a more precise subsurface model is crucial to minimizing drilling failures. This study aims to map the resistivity structure of the Jaboi geothermal field using the magnetotelluric method. In our research, we used 16 magnetotelluric sites that recorded data for 7 to 8 h. We successfully estimated the cap rock area with resistivity < 10 Ωm distributed across Jaboi Volcano to depths of 500 m and identified an intense resistive anomaly starting at depths of 1–2 km with resistivity > 5000 Ωm. This anomaly is probably due to a block of crystalline basement being uplifted by upwelling magmatic intrusions. The reservoir zone was estimated to be located directly below the cap rock area. The resistivity structure also reveals a fluid pathway zone in the upflow and outflow zone that connects the reservoir to the surface manifestations influenced by the Ceunohot Fault and Jaboi Fault. The resistivity structure confirmed the boundary of the Jaboi geothermal system along the coastline and in the southeastern part. This study successfully identifies key components of geothermal systems, including cap rock, reservoir zones, and fluid migration pathways. Full article

Metformin is a promising small molecule for dentin regeneration, but an effective local delivery system for pulp applications has been underexplored. This study encapsulated metformin in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres and incorporated them into calcium phosphate–chitosan cement (CPCC) as a direct pulp-capping material (DPC). Metformin-PLGA microspheres were prepared by double emulsion and mixed with CPCC at a concentration of 0% to 20% by weight. Microsphere morphology, encapsulation efficiency, chemical composition, and physico-mechanical properties were characterized, and compatibility with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) was evaluated by live/dead assay and SEM. The microspheres were spherical (5.43 ± 0.17 µm) with (51 ± 3.69%) encapsulation efficiency, and FTIR confirmed metformin incorporation. The 15% Met-PLGA-CPCC group showed flexural strength (15.22 ± 1.98 MPa), elastic modulus (4.60 ± 0.73 GPa), and work of fracture (104.96 ± 12.48 J/m²) comparable to or higher than CPCC and MTA, while all Met-PLGA-CPCC groups had shorter setting times ranging from 18 min to 27 min than CPCC (39.15 ± 2.10 min) and MTA (123 ± 4.2 min). Metformin release increased proportionally with Met-PLGA content. hDPSCs exhibited good attachment and high viability on all materials over the evaluated period. In conclusion, Met-PLGA-CPCC provides fast-setting and favorable physico-mechanical properties, sustained metformin delivery, and excellent hDPSC compatibility. These properties support its potential as a bioactive direct pulp-capping material and as a versatile platform for regenerative applications. Full article