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20 pages, 13959 KB  
Article
The Global Scientific Trends and Knowledge Structure of Deforestation Research (1974–2025): A Bibliometric Analysis
by Mangala Jayarathne, Takehiro Morimoto, Manjula Ranagalage and Yuji Mureyama
Forests 2026, 17(7), 798; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17070798 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026
Abstract
Deforestation remains a crucial Anthropocene challenge, driving biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, and socio-ecological disruption. Despite extensive study, the long-term structure, thematic evolution, and collaborative patterns of deforestation research remain insufficiently synthesized. This bibliometric analysis examines 5091 publications from WoS and Scopus (1974–2025), using [...] Read more.
Deforestation remains a crucial Anthropocene challenge, driving biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, and socio-ecological disruption. Despite extensive study, the long-term structure, thematic evolution, and collaborative patterns of deforestation research remain insufficiently synthesized. This bibliometric analysis examines 5091 publications from WoS and Scopus (1974–2025), using RStudio (version 4.5.2 (31 October 2025)), VOSViewer (version 1.6.20), and Excel to analyze publication trends, citation patterns, thematic clusters, and collaboration networks. Results show rapid growth after 2000, with citation peaks in 2010 and 2020. Major thematic clusters include deforestation, climate change, agriculture, governance, REDD+, and remote sensing. Environmental Research Letters is the most influential journal; Fearnside, P., is the leading author, and the UC system is a top institution. The USA and Brazil lead nationally, with the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia as primary geographic foci, reflecting persistent North–South collaboration dynamics. Limitations include reliance on English-language publications and title-only search criteria, which may underrepresent non-Anglophone research. Future research should expand to multiple languages, incorporate gray literature, and examine the policy impacts of deforestation-free supply chain regulations, such as the EUDR. This review underscores deforestation science as a growing, multidisciplinary field that requires the integration of social and ecological sciences, AI, and geospatial tools, alongside stronger research-policy linkages and enhanced capacity in forest-affected regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
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22 pages, 15111 KB  
Article
Study on the Mechanism of Gas-Phase Space in Liquid Hydrogen Cylinders Under Different Filling Rates
by Hui Wu, Zuolei Xiao, Chaoyang Hao, Zengming Feng and Zheng Cao
Processes 2026, 14(13), 2214; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14132214 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026
Abstract
To ensure that the necessary gas-phase safety space is retained after the filling of a liquid hydrogen cylinder and to reduce the risk of rapid pressure rise caused by overfilling, a 34 L vehicle-mounted liquid hydrogen cylinder was taken as the research object. [...] Read more.
To ensure that the necessary gas-phase safety space is retained after the filling of a liquid hydrogen cylinder and to reduce the risk of rapid pressure rise caused by overfilling, a 34 L vehicle-mounted liquid hydrogen cylinder was taken as the research object. A non-isothermal two-dimensional numerical model considering gas–liquid two-phase flow, heat transfer, and phase change was established. The dynamic and thermal characteristics of cylinders with and without a gas phase space were compared under different filling rates. The results show that, during liquid hydrogen filling, the liquid phase first accumulates at the bottom of the main chamber. Then, the liquid level rises and compresses the upper gas phase, and part of the liquid hydrogen enters the gas-phase space in the later stage. The gas-phase space can delay the occupation of the safety gas cushion by liquid hydrogen, allowing a certain volume of compressible gas to remain during overfilling. The pressure variation presents three stages: a rapid increase in the initial stage, a slower increase in the middle stage, and another rapid increase in the final stage. These stages are related to liquid hydrogen flash evaporation, gas-phase cooling and condensation, and compression of the remaining gas, respectively. The tank temperature generally shows a rapid decrease followed by a slower decrease. As the filling rate increases, the liquid level rises faster, the gas–liquid interface disturbance becomes stronger, the liquid hydrogen enters the gas-phase space earlier, the pressure rise rate increases, and the buffering effect weakens. The results indicate that the gas-phase space structure can improve the safety margin in the final stage of liquid hydrogen cylinder filling, but the filling rate should still be reasonably controlled in actual filling processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Systems)
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19 pages, 5792 KB  
Article
Sex-Dependent Vascular Responses to Atorvastatin Across Multiple Arterial Beds in a Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome
by Patrick Hunt, Kimberly Huynh, Brikena Gusek, Anna Stimpson, Roshanak Rahimian and Mitra Esfandiarei
Cells 2026, 15(13), 1225; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15131225 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026
Abstract
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is characterized by progressive aortic aneurysm formation resulting from mutations in the fibrillin-1 (Fbn1) gene. Although the thoracic aorta is the primary site of pathology, accumulating evidence indicates that vascular dysfunction in MFS extends beyond the aorta to involve multiple [...] Read more.
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is characterized by progressive aortic aneurysm formation resulting from mutations in the fibrillin-1 (Fbn1) gene. Although the thoracic aorta is the primary site of pathology, accumulating evidence indicates that vascular dysfunction in MFS extends beyond the aorta to involve multiple arterial beds. Statins have been shown to attenuate aneurysm progression in experimental models of MFS; however, their effects on systemic vascular remodeling and arterial stiffness outside the aorta remain poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated the impact of chronic atorvastatin therapy on vascular structure and hemodynamic function across multiple vascular beds in the Fbn1^C1041G/+^ mouse model of MFS. Male and female control and MFS mice received drinking water with or without atorvastatin (1 g/kg/day) from 4 weeks to 6 months of age, enabling the effects of atorvastatin to be assessed in both healthy and MFS arteries. High-frequency ultrasound imaging was used to assess vascular parameters in the aorta, left common carotid artery (LCCA), and posterior cerebral artery (PCA). Atorvastatin treatment significantly attenuated aortic root dilation in both male and female MFS mice and reduced aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), indicating improved arterial compliance. In the carotid circulation, atorvastatin significantly reduced LCCA wall thickness and carotid PWV, although carotid wall strain did not improve. Atorvastatin raised both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in male and female MFS mice relative to untreated MFS animals, reaching levels not significantly different from untreated controls in both sexes, while having little effect in healthy controls apart from a rise in female diastolic pressure. In the posterior cerebral artery, peak systolic velocity, a hemodynamic index rather than a direct measure of perfusion, showed similarly sex-dependent changes, increasing in female MFS mice but decreasing further in males after atorvastatin. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that atorvastatin exerts systemic but heterogeneous vascular effects in MFS, improving arterial stiffness and structural remodeling across multiple arterial beds while producing sex-specific hemodynamic responses that warrant further investigation. Full article
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16 pages, 2866 KB  
Article
Endophytic Leptobacillium sp. Sl27 Modulates Early Tomato Plant Responses to Water Stress in a Genotype-Dependent Manner
by Luisa Liu-Xu, Loredana Scalschi, Begonya Vicedo, Gemma Camañes and Eugenio Llorens
Horticulturae 2026, 12(7), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070829 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026
Abstract
Drought-induced water stress is a major constraint on crop productivity, especially under climate change conditions. In previous work, we isolated a fungal endophyte, Leptobacillium sp. Sl27, from Solanum lycopersicum and found that its growth-promoting effects were dependent on the tomato genotype. In this [...] Read more.
Drought-induced water stress is a major constraint on crop productivity, especially under climate change conditions. In previous work, we isolated a fungal endophyte, Leptobacillium sp. Sl27, from Solanum lycopersicum and found that its growth-promoting effects were dependent on the tomato genotype. In this study, we investigated whether Sl27 modulates early plant responses to water stress in the following two tomato genotypes with differing sensitivities to drought: ADX2 and MO-10. Seeds were inoculated with the endophyte, and 4-week-old seedlings were subjected to water stress by withholding watering for 12 days under controlled growth chamber conditions. We assessed plant performance by measuring physiological parameters (including photosynthetic rate, transpiration, and stomatal aperture) and overall stress response by leaf phenotypic traits. Under severe stress conditions, Sl27-inoculated plants, particularly in the more sensitive genotype MO-10, showed reduced early damage and partially maintained physiological activity during initial stages of stress. However, under prolonged stress, all plants reached similarly high levels of damage, indicating that the effect was transient and did not confer sustained drought tolerance. To explore plant performance under more moderate and agronomically relevant conditions, a second independent experiment was conducted in MO-10 using a controlled water deficit (40% field capacity) and plantlet-stage inoculation. In this experimental context, Sl27 primarily promoted plant growth, increasing shoot and root biomass, with a non-significant trend toward improved performance under stress. Overall, these results indicate that Sl27 does not confer classical drought tolerance but instead improves plant performance and modulates early responses to water deficit in a genotype-dependent manner, with stronger effects observed in the more sensitive genotype MO-10. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Vegetable Production Systems)
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13 pages, 3561 KB  
Article
A Study of Coronary Stent Thrombosis Growth
by Ivan Fernney Ibanez Aguilar, Marcos Beltrão Paraizo, Pedro Soares Teixeira, Adriano Camargo Carneiro, Bruno Alvares de Azevedo, Angela Ourivio Nieckele and Carlos Eduardo Rochitte
Bioengineering 2026, 13(7), 779; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering13070779 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026
Abstract
In this study, the impact of thrombus growth at the left coronary ostium—resulting from a misplaced stent—was investigated through numerical simulations. Blood flow from the aortic root into the coronary arteries was modeled for several potential thrombus sizes to assess changes in pressure [...] Read more.
In this study, the impact of thrombus growth at the left coronary ostium—resulting from a misplaced stent—was investigated through numerical simulations. Blood flow from the aortic root into the coronary arteries was modeled for several potential thrombus sizes to assess changes in pressure and shear stress caused by thrombus development. The results showed that even in the most severe case examined (with the thrombus growing three times its original size), the obstruction to the coronary cross-sectional area was not sufficient to produce a significant pressure drop or wall shear stress increases. This outcome is primarily attributed to the thrombus’s location at the tip of the stent; even with considerable elongation, it did not significantly narrow the coronary artery’s lumen. While the specific configurations studied did not result in critical obstruction, it is important to note that other thrombus shapes or positions could potentially block flow more severely, leading to substantial pressure drops in the left coronary arteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials)
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22 pages, 2729 KB  
Article
Differential Cardiac and Peripheral Vascular Low-Frequency Oscillation Responses to Voluntary Breath-Hold
by Anton R. Kiselev and Olga M. Posnenkova
Life 2026, 16(7), 1127; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16071127 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026
Abstract
Objective. This study performed a comparative analysis of autonomic responses during voluntary breath-holds at inspiration and expiration by assessing low-frequency (LF) oscillations in heart rate (HR) and photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals. Methods. Eleven healthy volunteers underwent a modified head-up tilt test with [...] Read more.
Objective. This study performed a comparative analysis of autonomic responses during voluntary breath-holds at inspiration and expiration by assessing low-frequency (LF) oscillations in heart rate (HR) and photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals. Methods. Eleven healthy volunteers underwent a modified head-up tilt test with breath-holds at inspiration and expiration in supine and standing positions. Electrocardiogram, finger PPG, and respiratory signals were recorded simultaneously. LF oscillation (0.04–0.15 Hz) amplitudes were assessed during spontaneous breathing and breath-hold phases. Relative changes in LF amplitudes (ΔLFA) were calculated for each signal, and the ΔLFA ratio (ΔLFAPPG/ΔLFAHR) was derived. Results. Cardiac and vascular signals showed divergent responses in LF oscillation amplitude during breath-holds. While PPG signals demonstrated a significant increase during expiration-holds (ΔLFAPPG = +71.56%, p = 0.003), HR signals showed a non-significant overall decrease (ΔLFAHR = −25.28%, p = 0.481). In this exploratory study (n = 11), comparative analysis showed that the vascular response (ΔLFAPPG) was significantly greater than the cardiac response (ΔLFAHR) during expiration-holds (p = 0.005) and across all stages (p = 0.012). However, expiration holds were systematically shorter than inspiration holds by approximately 24 s (median 32.1 s vs. 56.3 s). Because breath-hold duration was self-determined and not standardized, the observed differences between inspiration and expiration conditions may reflect either respiratory phase, cumulative apnea duration, or their interaction (our design cannot disentangle these effects). The ΔLFA ratio showed a negative median value overall (−0.25), indicating a complex and often inverse relationship between vascular and cardiac responses. However, due to the small sample size (n = 11), these results are strictly hypothesis-generating and cannot be generalized beyond the studied cohort. The study was powered only to detect large effect sizes (Cohen’s d > 1.2), and the wide bootstrap confidence intervals indicate substantial estimation uncertainty. Independent replication in larger, more diverse populations is essential before any clinical or physiological generalization can be made. Conclusions. This study documents opposing directional changes in cardiac and peripheral vascular LF oscillations during shorter expiration and longer inspiration breath-hold. Because respiratory phase and apnea duration are confounded in our design, we cannot determine whether these differential responses are phase-dependent, duration-dependent, or driven by both factors. The findings highlight the necessity of multi-signal analysis incorporating both ECG and PPG for a more comprehensive autonomic assessment of local and systemic autonomic influences and underscore that future studies must employ standardized breath-hold durations across both respiratory phases to isolate the specific contribution of respiratory phase. The ΔLFA ratio is explored here as a descriptive metric of the direction and magnitude of cardiac-vascular response differences, but its mathematical stability and physiological interpretation remain limited and require validation with direct sympathetic nerve recordings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physiology and Pathology)
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10 pages, 621 KB  
Case Report
An Unintended Hazard of Environmental Stewardship: Marine Envenomation Following Invasive Lionfish Culling in Curacao
by Gregory D. Hawley, Chu Sandy Wang and Andrea K. Boggild
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(7), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11070187 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026
Abstract
Marine envenomations are common non-infectious hazards for travelers. Lionfish, venomous fish native to Indo-Pacific waters, have become an invasive species in the Atlantic Ocean and threat to native marine ecosystems. Various control measures have been implemented in response to rapidly expanding lionfish populations, [...] Read more.
Marine envenomations are common non-infectious hazards for travelers. Lionfish, venomous fish native to Indo-Pacific waters, have become an invasive species in the Atlantic Ocean and threat to native marine ecosystems. Various control measures have been implemented in response to rapidly expanding lionfish populations, including licensed culling by recreational divers. We herein review lionfish envenomation through framing with a case that occurred during a diving trip to Curacao for the purpose of lionfish spearfishing. Following initial management in Curacao with hot water immersion, wound care, and antibiotic prophylaxis, the patient continued to have persistent swelling, bruising, and pain to the puncture site and was referred to our outpatient clinic for further evaluation. In addition to reviewing clinical syndromes and approach to management for common marine envenomations that may be encountered in the post-travel setting, we situate this case within the broader ecological context of expanding invasive species ranges with climate change and rising sea temperatures. Pre-travel providers should counsel patients at high risk for marine envenomations on preventative measures, along with how and when to seek care following exposure. Post-travel providers should be familiar with the immediate and long-term sequelae of non-infectious envenomations and intoxications, including marine exposures. Larger national and multinational collaborations are required to mitigate the effects of climate change and international marine movement on invasive species, especially those that incur risk to marine and human health alike. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latin American Tropical Diseases: Epidemiology & Prevention)
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21 pages, 676 KB  
Perspective
Next-Generation Thermal Management in EVs: Combining Dielectric Insulation with Latent Heat Storage
by Lakshmi Shiva Shankar, Tibor Cseke and Zoltan Weltsch
Clean Technol. 2026, 8(4), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol8040100 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026
Abstract
Efficient thermal management is a critical constraint for the performance, safety, and lifetime of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, particularly under transient high-power operation, where conventional dielectric coolants remain limited by the absence of thermal buffering. This Perspective examines PCM–dielectric hybrid coolants as a [...] Read more.
Efficient thermal management is a critical constraint for the performance, safety, and lifetime of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, particularly under transient high-power operation, where conventional dielectric coolants remain limited by the absence of thermal buffering. This Perspective examines PCM–dielectric hybrid coolants as a multiphase electro-thermal-fluid system, in which microencapsulated phase-change materials provide localized latent heat storage within a circulating insulating medium. Rather than proposing a new material concept, the work establishes a system-level engineering framework that links material properties, transport behavior, and electrical constraints to practical implementation. Key challenges, including dispersion stability, capsule durability under coupled stresses, dielectric reliability in heterogeneous media, and rheological limitations, are analyzed alongside quantitative design envelopes and validation pathways. A structured roadmap is presented, spanning multiphysics modeling, accelerated material qualification, system-level testing, and industrial integration, supported by techno-economic and lifecycle considerations. Full article
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32 pages, 6329 KB  
Article
Dynamics of Perceived Risk in Risk-Sharing by Exogenous Information: A Non-Hermitian Hamiltonian Quantum Approach
by Miwaka Yamashita
Mathematics 2026, 14(13), 2429; https://doi.org/10.3390/math14132429 (registering DOI) - 6 Jul 2026
Abstract
This paper introduces quantum risk measurement models focusing on the evolution of risk observation over time triggered by the arrival of information. These models address the contextuality of risk-related decision-making with greater flexibility and greater coherence than conventional approaches. A typical example of [...] Read more.
This paper introduces quantum risk measurement models focusing on the evolution of risk observation over time triggered by the arrival of information. These models address the contextuality of risk-related decision-making with greater flexibility and greater coherence than conventional approaches. A typical example of such information is the commencement of external support for a risk-sharing pool. This paper investigates the amplification and attenuation of perceived risk within risk-sharing pools, driven by the arrival of exogenous information using open system quantum theory models. Rather than adopting a closed system framework—where the quantum model employs a Hermitian Hamiltonian resulting in unitary time evolution—an open system approach is implemented utilizing a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian and non-unitary time evolution to describe the dynamics of risk observation. The perceived risk is measured by a quantum risk measure operator. While unitary time evolution preserves the sum of the eigenvalues of this operator, keeping the magnitude of the expectation value under strict constraints, our proposed open system framework breaks these limitations. By employing a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian and non-unitary transformations, the model captures the risk dynamics of amplification or attenuation of the size more realistically, allowing exogenous information to alter the scale of observed risk fundamentally, flexibly, and significantly. Agent-based models provide less structural insight, and the jump diffusion models do not treat mind state interactions. Numerical simulations demonstrate that this model successfully accounts for both risk amplification and attenuation—phenomena that occur naturally in the real world but cannot be explained by unitary transformations. The time evolution described by the Schrödinger equation shows step-by-step effects of perceived risk size changes and risk-based interactions. Practical applications include scenarios where new informational shocks alter the perceived severity of risk, such as the formalization of risk pooling rules or the establishment of new regulatory frameworks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mathematical Modeling for Insurance and Risk Management)
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29 pages, 1892 KB  
Article
Research on the Impact of Non-Agricultural Employment on Agricultural Carbon Emission Reduction: An Empirical Analysis Based on 295 Prefecture-Level Cities in China
by Hui Yang and Ruifang Zheng
Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6883; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136883 - 6 Jul 2026
Abstract
In the context of China’s Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Goals, understanding how non-agricultural employment affects agricultural carbon emission intensity is critical for achieving green and sustainable agricultural development. This study asks whether the reallocation of labor away from agriculture increases or reduces [...] Read more.
In the context of China’s Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Goals, understanding how non-agricultural employment affects agricultural carbon emission intensity is critical for achieving green and sustainable agricultural development. This study asks whether the reallocation of labor away from agriculture increases or reduces agricultural carbon emission intensity, through which transformation-related pathways this relationship may operate, and whether the relationship changes across development stages and spatially connected regions. Using panel data from 295 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2023, this study constructs a factor-substitution framework and applies fixed-effects models, potential pathway analysis, threshold models, and Spatial Durbin Models. The results show that non-agricultural employment has a significant inverted U-shaped association with agricultural carbon emission intensity: at relatively low levels it is associated with higher emission intensity, whereas beyond the estimated turning point it is associated with lower emission intensity. Non-agricultural employment is also systematically associated with agricultural structural adjustment, mechanization transformation, and AI-related patenting activity, which are interpreted as potential pathways rather than definitive causal mediation channels. Threshold results indicate that economic development and urbanization condition the marginal effect of non-agricultural employment, while spatial estimates show that the nonlinear relationship extends to neighboring regions through significant spillover effects. These findings suggest that agricultural carbon-reduction policies should distinguish between cities at different stages of labor reallocation, promote low-carbon forms of capital and technology substitution, and strengthen cross-regional coordination in agricultural producer services and green technology diffusion. Full article
16 pages, 7041 KB  
Article
Head-to-Head Comparison of [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET Interpreted with Non-Contrast CT Versus Excretory-Phase CT Urography in Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer
by Vicky Betech-Antar, Juan J. Rosales, Fernando Mínguez, Marta Romera, Luis Fuertes, Fernando Díez-Caballero, Bernardino Miñana-López, Rafael Martinez-Monge, Edgar F. Guillen and Macarena Rodríguez-Fraile
Cancers 2026, 18(13), 2171; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18132171 - 6 Jul 2026
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to determine whether incorporating radiologic contrast during the excretory (urographic) phase enhances the detection of recurrence on [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in patients with biochemical relapse (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis included 43 men with BCR [...] Read more.
Background: This study aimed to determine whether incorporating radiologic contrast during the excretory (urographic) phase enhances the detection of recurrence on [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in patients with biochemical relapse (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis included 43 men with BCR after RP who underwent [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. Each patient underwent two comparative assessments. In the first assessment, whole-body PET images acquired at 60 min post-injection were fused with the non-contrast CT from early dynamic pelvic imaging (PET/CTd), and local recurrence and pelvic nodal involvement were evaluated according to PROMISE V2 and E-PSMA frameworks by two blinded readers. In the second assessment, the same PET dataset was fused with the excretory-phase CT urography (CT-U) obtained during the same imaging session at 60 min post-injection, and the same parameters were re-evaluated. Endpoints included surgical-bed classification, peri-ureteric nodal status, reader confidence, ureter visualization/opacification, and interpretation time. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was assessed, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Results: Surgical-bed positivity decreased from 12/43 (27.9%) on PET/CTd to 5/43 (11.6%) on PET/CT-U, leading to reclassification in seven patients (p = 0.016). Reader confidence improved significantly in five cases (p < 0.005). Peri-ureteric nodal status was changed in four patients (two positive-to-negative and two negative-to-positive), with overall positivity unchanged (5/43 vs. 5/43; p = 1.000). Ureter visualization improved markedly (inadequate: 31 vs. 10 cases), reducing diagnostic uncertainty by 50%. CT-U opacification was ≥50% in most cases (κ = 0.814), enabling reliable delineation of the ureteral course. Inter-reader agreement remained strong (surgical bed κ: 0.944 vs. 0.876; nodes κ: 0.896 both). Interpretation time decreased for both readers (senior: 3.12 vs. 2.10 min (−32.7%); junior: 4.06 vs. 2.42 min (−40.4%)). Conclusions: Adding an excretory-phase CT urography to [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT improves diagnostic confidence, reduces interpretive uncertainty in the surgical bed, clarifies peri-ureteric nodal findings, enhances ureter visualization, and shortens interpretation time. CT-U is a practical enhancement to low-dose PET/CT protocols for BCR after RP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Use of PET/CT and MRI in Prostate Cancer: 2nd Edition)
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27 pages, 17169 KB  
Article
Effect of Mechanical Vibration on the Crystallization Behavior of ZBLAN Fluoride Glass Under Controlled Thermal Treatment
by Ayush Subedi, Anthony Torres, Jeff Ganley and Ujjwal Dhakal
Materials 2026, 19(13), 2903; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19132903 - 6 Jul 2026
Abstract
ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF) fluoride glass is a promising infrared optical fiber material because of its wide transmission window and low theoretical attenuation; however, unwanted crystallization during thermal processing can introduce scattering centers and degrade optical performance. [...] Read more.
ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF) fluoride glass is a promising infrared optical fiber material because of its wide transmission window and low theoretical attenuation; however, unwanted crystallization during thermal processing can introduce scattering centers and degrade optical performance. Previous studies have mainly focused on temperature effects and microgravity-based crystallization suppression, while the role of mechanical vibration remains insufficiently understood. This study addresses this gap by investigating how controlled mechanical vibration influences crystallization onset, morphology, and structural evolution in ZBLAN glass during short-duration thermal treatment. ZBLAN samples were treated at selected temperatures with and without vibration using a custom heating–vibration apparatus and characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Temperature-only treatment produced a gradual transition from transparent amorphous glass to crystallized structures with increasing temperature. Vibration-assisted treatment altered crystallization behavior, producing distinct needle-like, bow-tie, and feather-like morphologies depending on temperature and vibration intensity. AFM confirmed a significant increase in surface roughness, while XRD verified structural evolution from amorphous to highly crystallized states. At higher vibration levels, irregular crystallization suggested that excessive sample movement may reduce thermal contact and change the effective heating condition. These findings demonstrate that mechanical vibration is a critical and controllable processing variable in ZBLAN fabrication and should be carefully managed to suppress unwanted crystallization in both terrestrial and space-based fiber manufacturing. Full article
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14 pages, 440 KB  
Article
Evaluating the Operational Feasibility of Repeated Field-Based Cholinesterase Monitoring Among Farmworkers: A Preliminary Study
by Gregory D. Kearney, Jun Wang, Hussian Maanaki, Joshua T. Butcher, Gabriella Morin, Quirina Vallejos, Ann Watson, Elizabeth Cantu and Emily Nunan
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(13), 6795; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16136795 - 6 Jul 2026
Abstract
Farmworkers experience disproportionate risks of pesticide exposure, yet only two U.S. states, California and Washington, currently mandate routine cholinesterase biomonitoring programs for agricultural workers. Although regulatory and resource limitations influence implementation of worker protection programs, operational barriers also complicate repeated biomonitoring among highly [...] Read more.
Farmworkers experience disproportionate risks of pesticide exposure, yet only two U.S. states, California and Washington, currently mandate routine cholinesterase biomonitoring programs for agricultural workers. Although regulatory and resource limitations influence implementation of worker protection programs, operational barriers also complicate repeated biomonitoring among highly mobile and underserved farmworker populations. The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate the operational feasibility of recruiting, retaining, and repeatedly monitoring farmworkers using a novel, rapid, portable cholinesterase analysis device under routine agricultural field conditions. Guided by an evidence-based feasibility framework, a multidisciplinary team administered surveys and collected blood samples from 25 farmworkers in rural North Carolina at three time points during a single agricultural season. Participation and visit completion rates were high, although worker mobility, changing job assignments, environmental conditions, and temperature-sensitive samples created logistical challenges. Experienced bilingual promotoras de salud played a critical role in coordination, communication, scheduling, and retention. Findings provide preliminary evidence that repeated field-based cholinesterase biomonitoring protocols are feasible and acceptable when supported by community-based outreach organizations with Spanish speaking health workers, structured logistics, and culturally responsive engagement strategies. Evaluation of the analytical performance is beyond the scope of this report, however, these results provide practical insights for strengthening occupational health surveillance and future implementation studies designed to protect agricultural workers. Full article
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16 pages, 1923 KB  
Article
Efficiency and Risk of ASEAN Commercial Banks: Panel Vector Autoregressive Approach
by Duong Thi Anh Tien and Anh Tuan Nguyen
J. Risk Financial Manag. 2026, 19(7), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm19070504 - 6 Jul 2026
Abstract
This study investigates the causal relationship between profit efficiency and bank risk in Southeast Asian commercial banks using a Panel Vector Autoregression framework. The banking data is unbalanced panel data collected from BankFocus from 2007 to 2022 from the data of financial institutions [...] Read more.
This study investigates the causal relationship between profit efficiency and bank risk in Southeast Asian commercial banks using a Panel Vector Autoregression framework. The banking data is unbalanced panel data collected from BankFocus from 2007 to 2022 from the data of financial institutions in 11 Southeast Asian countries. The author excluded commercial bank data from three countries, including Brunei, East Timor, and Myanmar, due to their lack of financial reports. Therefore, the number of commercial banks obtained is 118 banks from eight countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Profit efficiency is measured by ROA and ROE, and bank risk is proxied by Z-score. The results reveal a bidirectional causal relationship between profit efficiency and bank risk. Bank risk positively affects ROA at a 10% significance level, while ROA has a negative effect on bank risk at a 1% level. In contrast, bank risk exerts a negative and significant impact on ROE at a 1% level, whereas changes in ROE do not significantly influence bank risk. These findings imply that Vietnamese commercial banks need to maintain a balance between traditional operations and diversification strategies. Simultaneously, evidence of a causal relationship between profitability and risk supports hypotheses of poor management and austere behavior, thereby highlighting the need to strengthen governance capacity, improve operational quality, and implement appropriate development strategies to optimize efficiency and ensure sustainable risk control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Banking and Finance)
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21 pages, 3318 KB  
Article
BES-Driven Machine Learning Prediction of Future Energy Loads in Broiler Housing Under SSP Climate Scenarios in South Korea
by Jaeeun Kim, Kyeong-Seok Kwon, Soon-kun Choi, Jong-Bok Kim, Dong-Hwa Jang, Byeonghyeon Kim and Seungsoo Kim
Animals 2026, 16(13), 2097; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16132097 - 6 Jul 2026
Abstract
The increasing frequency of heatwaves and high-temperature events due to climate change intensifies heat stress and mortality risk in broiler production and necessitates reassessment of facility design and energy management. This study developed a machine learning surrogate model trained on BES-simulated heating and [...] Read more.
The increasing frequency of heatwaves and high-temperature events due to climate change intensifies heat stress and mortality risk in broiler production and necessitates reassessment of facility design and energy management. This study developed a machine learning surrogate model trained on BES-simulated heating and cooling loads to estimate future energy load changes in broiler houses under SSP climate scenarios. Training data were constructed using simulated energy load results under different insulation conditions combined with historical meteorological data (2011–2020). Four machine learning models, namely Linear Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and XGBoost, were applied to compare their predictive performance for heating and cooling loads. Model performance was evaluated using five-fold cross-validation (K-fold cross-validation, K = 5). XGBoost and Random Forest showed the best performance for heating and cooling load prediction, respectively (R2 > 0.99, MAPE < 10%). These models were applied to SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 climate scenarios. Results showed decreasing heating loads and increasing cooling loads across all scenarios, with cooling demand projected to increase by more than 150% relative to baseline levels under SSP5-8.5 by the late 21st century. This study demonstrates that simulation-trained machine learning can efficiently estimate long-term energy-demand changes, supporting climate-responsive facility design and energy management in livestock housing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Poultry)
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