Search Results (11,412)

Grant-free non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) enables communication without a scheduling process. Base station (BS) must detect active users without knowing their number, a challenge that also occurs in grant-free NOMA–Internet of Things (IoT). Device detection in grant-free NOMA-IoT can be considered as signal reconstruction in compressive sensing (CS). To address this limitation, we propose extended sparsity estimation- orthogonal matching pursuit (ESE-OMP) to detect active devices in single measurement vector (SMV) and multiple measurement vector (MMV) problems for grant-free NOMA-IoT systems, a reconstruction method in CS that operates without prior knowledge of the sparsity level, which corresponds to the number of active devices. The algorithm iteratively detects active devices by monitoring the absolute difference in $l_1$-norm of successive residuals, terminating when the change falls below a predefined threshold $\epsilon$. ESE-OMP is evaluated under various grant-free NOMA-IoT systems, irregular low-density spreading-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (LDS-OFDM), regular LDS-OFDM, and pattern division multiple access (PDMA) systems. When the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is 10 dB for the SMV problem with static active device composition, the regular LDS-OFDM system achieves a bit error rate (BER) of $2.95\times {10}^{-4}$, while irregular LDS-OFDM and PDMA systems achieve BERs of $3.78\times {10}^{-3}$ and $1.79\times {10}^{-2}$, respectively. The smaller the number of active devices, the better the performance of ESE-OMP. Full article

This study presents a sodium alginate/chitosan/activated carbon (SA/CS/AC) gel microspheres loaded with Citrus reticulata peel allelochemicals for continuous inhibition of Microcystis aeruginosa by controlled release. Preparation parameters were optimized via response surface methodology (RSM) for improved algal inhibition, yielding an optimal formulation: 1.97% SA, 0.76% CS, 0.31% AC. The optimized gel microspheres showed a 7-day inhibition rate of 85.17 ± 2.49%, consistent with the predicted 85.29%. Characterization revealed that AC optimized the gel’s porous structure and surface functionality, providing more adsorption sites for allelochemicals. This helps improve the loading capacity of the gel microspheres and enables stable sustained release, with a cumulative release of 70% over 25 days. Algal inhibition declined slightly from day 7 to 30 due to allelochemical depletion but remained 76.27%, versus 30.58% for the blank SA/CS/AC carrier and 52.81% for the allelochemical-loaded SA/CS gel microspheres. AC thus synergistically strengthens algal inhibition by elevating allelochemical loading and prolonging activity, providing a feasible strategy for sustainable cyanobacterial bloom control. Full article

Gymnema lactiferum (G. lactiferum) is a medicinal plant that contains potent bioactive phytochemicals, which are prone to degradation during processing and digestion. In this study, G. lactiferum extract was prepared and encapsulated into soy lecithin primary liposomes (PL) and then coated with chitosan to form secondary liposomes (chitosomes, CS) to enhance stability. Physicochemical characteristics, morphology, thermal behavior, and storage stability were evaluated. Extract loading significantly (p < 0.05) increased the mean diameter of PL from 128.6 nm to 146.3 nm and of CS from 359.1 nm to 408.9 nm compared with unloaded liposomes. Both liposomal systems exhibited homogeneous size distributions and good colloidal stability, with zeta potentials of −39.4 mV for PL and +35.8 mV for CS and low polydispersity indices (<0.25) for both systems. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated predominantly spherical morphologies in both systems. Chitosan coating significantly (p < 0.05) improved both encapsulation efficiency (77.3%) and encapsulation yield (82.4%) compared with PL (73.7% and 79.1%, respectively). HPLC-based quantification using rutin as a reference analyte further indicated EE-R% values of 59.8% for PL-GE and 70.3% for CS-GE, supporting improved extract retention following chitosan coating. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed successful encapsulation without apparent chemical alterations or reactions. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated that chitosan coating modified the thermal transition behavior of the liposomal membrane, consistent with altered bilayer packing and increased membrane fluidity, while incorporation of the extract partially restored thermal order within the coated system. Overall, chitosan coating effectively enhanced the encapsulation efficiency, stability, and yield of G. lactiferum extract-loaded liposomes towards their incorporation into functional food formulations. Full article

Mapping the spatial distribution of fallout radionuclides in soil is essential for environmental assessments and evaluating potential future radiological risks, while also supporting the interpretation of spatial variability relevant to their use as soil redistribution tracers. However, model performance depends on data characteristics and spatial context, which limits the possibility of defining a universally optimal interpolation method. This study aimed to model the spatial distribution of ¹³⁷Cs at the national scale in Serbia by systematically applying and comparing 33 interpolation techniques, classified as deterministic or stochastic. A total of 193 soil samples, collected in accordance with International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines, were analyzed for ¹³⁷Cs activity using gamma spectrometry. The performance of interpolation techniques was evaluated through leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) and an appropriateness index (AI) for comparison. Among the tested techniques, Empirical Bayesian Kriging Regression Prediction (EBKRP), which incorporates a digital elevation model (DEM) as an additional explanatory variable, achieved the best performance (AI = 0.8548). The resulting map of ¹³⁷Cs activity reveals a pronounced spatial gradient, with values ranging from below 22 Bq/kg to approximately 148 Bq/kg, reflecting the combined effects of initial ¹³⁷Cs deposition following the Chernobyl accident and subsequent long-term soil redistribution. Higher activities are restricted to the hilly and mountainous regions of western, eastern, and southeastern Serbia. Interpolation uncertainty increases in regions with elevated ¹³⁷Cs activities and should be accounted for in spatial interpretation. Full article

Critical infrastructures (CI) are essential to modern society, providing vital services such as energy, water, and transportation. However, these systems are increasingly targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks, exploiting vulnerabilities in both IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) environments, posing significant risks to safety, economic stability, and national security. Despite advancements, current anomaly detection models for CI often cannot effectively integrate diverse data sources or provide detailed attack classifications. To address these challenges, we propose a novel Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) model integrated with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) layers for effective anomaly detection and attack classification in CI. The model leverages Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) and MITRE ATT&CK techniques, integrating network traffic and physical device data to enhance detection of sophisticated threats. Unlike approaches using binary classification, our model performs multiclass classification to recognize specific attack types, bridging the gap in understanding complex attack patterns within CI. By incorporating Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) from MISP (Malware Information Sharing Platform) with the SWAT (Secure Water Treatment) dataset, we developed a graph-based data structure where nodes represent entities like SCADA tags and IP addresses. The model processes this dynamic graph using convolutional layers for spatial feature extraction and LSTM layers for temporal dependencies. Results indicate a significant improvement over existing solutions, achieving a test accuracy of 99.04% and a macro F1-score of 0.9151. The integration of multiple data sources enhances the model’s capacity to handle evolving cyber threats, making it well-suited for protecting CI. Full article

Background: Salvadora persica (S. persica), commonly known as ‘Miswak,’ has been used in ethnotraditional applications since ancient times. This study was formulated to examine bioactive phenolics and flavonoids from the hydroethanolic extract of S. persica bark, anticancer activity, and in silico binding interaction analysis with key therapeutic targets of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Methods: UHPLC was used to identify the phytochemicals in S. persica bark extract. Cell death was analyzed by MTT assay in TNBC MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells. Moreover, cellular apoptosis, ROS generation, MMP, and cell cycle checkpoints were also carried out. AutoDock Tools 1.5.7 and PyRx 0.8 tools were used for molecular binding interaction analysis. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of total phenolic and total flavonoid content of 26.90 ± 0.46 μg GAE/mg and 54.51 ± 0.42 μg QE/mg of bark extract, respectively. UHPLC analysis confirmed the presence of fumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and quercetin in the extract. S. persica significantly reduced cell viability of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 144 and 128 μg/mL, respectively. S. persica extract elevated ROS generation, loss of MMP, late apoptosis induction, and G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest, while it did not show any significant effect against normal kidney Vero cells. Molecular docking studies revealed that rutin showed strong binding affinity towards EGFR with B.E. = −9.8 and −9.5 Kcal/mol; FGFR1 with B.E. = −7.4 and −7.5 Kcal/mol; FGFR4 with B.E. = −7.5 and −7.9 Kcal/mol; and csGRP78 with B.E. = −9.0 and −9.3 Kcal/mol, using Autodock Vina and PyRx tools, respectively. SwissADME and drug-likeness analysis confirmed acceptable drug-like characteristics and favorable pharmacokinetic profiles of the identified molecules. Conclusions: This study highlighted the potential of phytochemicals from S. persica bark as promising compounds for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics. Full article

This study investigates the effect of controlled acid demineralization of coal shale from Shubarkol Komir JSC using HCl solutions with concentrations of 9–37% by mass on its structural characteristics, the kinetics of thermal decomposition, and the ability to concentrate rare and dispersed trace elements in the solid residue from the hydrodemetallization of the heavy fraction of coal tar. Analysis of IR spectroscopy, TG/DTG and isoconversional kinetics showed that acid treatment leads to the removal of carbonate and partially iron-containing phases while maintaining the aluminosilicate framework, increasing the structural uniformity of the matrix and moving to a more ordered thermal decomposition mechanism. The activation energy in the range of α = 0.1–0.7 is 83–87 kJ/mol for all modified samples, increasing to 96.20 kJ/mol at α = 0.9 for CS100. It has been established that the ability of coal shale to concentrate rare and dispersed trace elements in the solid residue of hydrodemetallization changes non-monotonically: the total content of trace elements reaches a maximum of 1452.19 g/t with moderate acid treatment (CS50) and sharply decreases to 137.85 g/t with deep demineralization (CS100). It has been shown that the degree of acid treatment acts as a controlled parameter that allows for purposefully regulating the ability of coal shale to concentrate rare and dispersed trace elements in the process of hydrodemetallization of heavy hydrocarbon raw materials. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of artificial saliva ageing and cyclic hydrothermal loading on the mechanical properties of dental composite materials. Two commercial composites (Filtek Z550 and Filtek Ultimate Flow) and two experimental materials representing flow-type and hybrid composites were investigated. SENB specimens were prepared in accordance with ASTM E399, together with flat specimens intended for impact strength testing using the Dynstat method. All samples were aged in artificial saliva for approximately one month at 37 ± 1 °C, and subsequently, half of the specimens were subjected to thermocycling in the temperature range of 10–65 °C for 10,000 cycles. Static mechanical tests, including three-point bending (TFS), biaxial flexural strength (BFS), and compression strength (CS), were performed before and after thermocycling. In addition, impact strength and fracture toughness expressed by the stress intensity factor K_IC were determined. The results were analyzed in terms of the residual work of fracture (WOF), while the durability of the materials was evaluated using Weibull distribution parameters. The experimental analysis was complemented by SEM observations of the microstructure. The obtained results demonstrated a pronounced deterioration of mechanical properties after hydrothermal loading. The average impact strength after artificial saliva ageing reached 11.69 J/mm² for Filtek Z550, 11.57 J/mm² for Ex-hyb(P), 16.39 J/mm² for Filtek Ultimate Flow, and 10.27 J/mm² for Ex-flow(P), whereas after thermocycling, these values decreased to 5.38 J/mm², 8.86 J/mm², 4.55 J/mm², and 4.39 J/mm², respectively. A similar trend was observed for the fracture toughness parameter KIC, which decreased considerably after thermocycling for all investigated materials. The analysis of the residual work of fracture revealed the influence of thermocycling on the energy-related parameters of the composites. In the case of TFS, the average WOF decreased, among others, from 13.65·10⁻³ J to 1.90·10⁻³ J for Filtek Ultimate Flow and from 4.76·10⁻³ J to 2.37·10⁻³ J for Filtek Z550. For BFS, a noticeable decrease in WOF was also observed, particularly for Ex-flow(P) and Filtek Ultimate Flow. In the compression tests (CS), the changes were less unambiguous, and some materials exhibited an increase in WOF after thermocycling. Furthermore, changes in the scale and shape parameters of the Weibull distribution were identified, indicating degradation of composite durability under hydrothermal loading. The results confirmed that cyclic hydrothermal loading exerts a greater influence on impact strength and fracture toughness than on static flexural strength. While all investigated materials exhibited degradation, the extent of changes was material-dependent, and compression behaviour showed non-uniform responses. Weibull analysis confirmed reduced reliability and increased heterogeneity of the composites after ageing, indicating that hydrothermal fatigue is a dominant factor governing long-term mechanical deterioration of dental resin-based composites. Full article

This study aimed to characterize corn (CS), wolf fruit (WF), and butterfly lily (BL) starches; to develop bioactive coatings from pure starches and their binary and ternary blends; and to evaluate the synergistic effects of these formulations on the physiological quality of common bean seeds. Films were prepared by thermocompression (80 °C, 6 min, 3 t) of film-forming solutions obtained via microwave processing and formulated using a simplex-centroid mixture design. The starches were characterized in terms of amylose content, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Rapid Visco Analyser, while the films were evaluated for thickness, water solubility, and water vapor permeability. The film-forming solutions were applied as coatings, and seed physiological quality was assessed through germination, first count, seedling length, and dry mass. BL exhibited higher gelatinization temperatures and produced films with adequate thickness and moderate permeability, indicating greater structural stability. The CS:BL blend produced films with balanced hydration, promoting rapid and uniform water uptake. Coatings based on BL and CS:BL showed the highest germination percentages, whereas CS:WF resulted in lower physiological performance. These results demonstrate that film properties directly influence seed vigor and germination. BL, alone or blended with CS, represents a promising starch-based material for seed coating, promoting high physiological quality and environmentally friendly characteristics. Full article

Amid rapid urbanization and the expansion of higher education campuses, the physical and psychological well-being of college students has garnered increasing scientific attention. Although outdoor activities are crucial for student health, participation rates are heavily constrained by outdoor thermal comfort (OTC). This study investigates the OTC of university students in Xi’an, China, utilizing the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) to assess thermal perceptions across four distinct open spaces and to propose localized bioclimatic design interventions. The results reveal four key findings: (1) The meteorological correlates of thermal sensation vary significantly by spatial typology; relative humidity (RH) and air temperature (Ta) dominate in sunken spaces (HB), whereas solar radiation (G), globe temperature (Tg), and wind velocity (Va) are the primary correlates in sports squares (CS) and activity squares (SH). (2) Thermal benchmarks exhibit remarkable spatial heterogeneity during summer. The Neutral UTCI (NUTCI) varied widely from 17.11 °C in hard-paved squares (SH) to 26.13 °C in shaded bridge areas (JG), with the corresponding neutral zones (NUTCIR) shifting accordingly. (3) Significant variations in thermal adaptation exist even within identical macro-climates, underscoring the necessity of microclimate-specific design. (4) Targeted bioclimatic strategies—including optimized vegetation deployment, shading structures, localized sprinkler systems, and permeable paving—are proposed. These findings provide actionable guidelines for urban planners and landscape architects to optimize campus environments, thereby encouraging outdoor engagement and enhancing student well-being. Full article

Recent first principles simulation of the Raman spectral intensity of a bis(ethylenedithio)-tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF or ET) singly charged dimer suggested that the very important C=C stretching region of a κ-phase BEDT-TTF salt needs a reinterpretation. In fact, the possible presence of the out-of-phase coupled infrared active C=C anti-symmetric stretching b_1uν₂₇ did not receive the proper attention Here, the comparison of the calculated Raman spectra of ET⁺ cation with those of a doubly charged dimer, (ET)₂²⁺, shows that in a dimer, not only the C=C stretching modes but also anti-symmetric C-S stretching and ring breathing b_1u modes show Raman intensity comparable to that of the corresponding totally symmetric phonons. The calculations are validated through the comparison with the experimental Raman spectra of two charge-transfer salts, (ET)₂[Re₂Cl₈] and (ET)₂[Re₂Br₆CH₃COO]0.5(C₂H₃Cl₃), in which the ET molecules form almost isolated centrosymmetric (ET)₂²⁺ dimers. We also present the Raman spectra of a well-known ET salt, κ-(ET)₂Cu[N(CN)₂]Br (κ-CuBr), the experiment being performed on the rarely investigated (101) crystal face. The comparison with the Raman calculations on a singly charged ET dimer oriented as in the κ-CuBr salt allows us to clearly identify the out-of-phase coupled b_1u phonons, yielding a reliable interpretation of the most important (ET)₂⁺ spectral regions, i.e., the C=C and C-S stretching, and the ring breathing ones. The present results constitute a reliable basis for the interpretation of the Raman spectra of ET crystals characterized by the presence of isolated or almost isolated singly or doubly charged ET dimers. Full article

This study evaluated reliability and accuracy of interproximal space measurement in two different orthodontic tooth-segmentation programs in comparison with clinical space measurement and assessed the minimum distance threshold ensuring accuracy. From 6586 digital dental models, eligible digital dental images (DDIs) were selected based on anterior spacing, intra-oral scans, and clinical space (CS) measurement in vivo. Interproximal spaces were virtually measured using two programs: semi-automatic (VS_S; Orthoanalyzer^®) and full-automatic (VS_F; DentOne^®). Accuracy was analyzed against CS as the gold standard, and the minimum distance threshold for reliable measurement was explored. In 85 interproximal spaces from 22 adult patients, both programs showed excellent repeatability (VS_S, ICC=0.922; VS_F, ICC = 0.948). Agreement between VS_S and CS was good (ICC = 0.785 to 0.882), while agreement between VS_F and CS was consistently good (ICC ≈ 0.884). Mean VS values (VS_S, 0.11; VS_F, 0.13 mm) were lower than CS (0.21 mm, p < 0.001). The mean difference was −0.101 to −0.113 mm in VS_S and −0.078 to −0.082 mm in VS_F. The 95% limits of agreement (LoA) for VS_F were narrower compared to VS_S with a higher proportion of measurements falling within the LoA (95.3% vs. 91.8–92.9%). A significant association between space size and measurement accuracy was found in discrete CS intervals, with higher relative measurement accuracy for larger interproximal spaces (all, p < 0.001). This suggests that tooth-segmentation programs showed reliable accuracy in measuring interproximal spaces > 0.20 mm, though with slight underestimation compared to clinical measurements. Clinical assessment could be supplemented to enhance virtual orthodontic planning, particularly for narrow interproximal spaces. Full article

Objectives: To externally validate the Barcelona Predictive Models (BCN-PM 1 and 2) for detecting csPCa in an Ibero-American population. BCN-PM 1 was designed to reduce magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) use, whereas BCN-PM 2 aims to decrease unnecessary prostate biopsies. Methods: This prospective, multicenter study included 661 men with suspected PCa recruited in 2025 across three Ibero-American centers. All participants underwent MRI followed by targeted biopsies of lesions with the Prostate Imaging–Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) ≥ 3, along with systematic biopsy. When PI-RADS lesions were <3, only systematic biopsies were performed. CsPCa was defined as International Society of Urological Pathology Grade Group ≥ 2. BCN-PM 1 incorporates age (years), family history of PCa (no vs. yes), prior negative prostate biopsy (no vs. yes), digital rectal examination (DRE: normal vs. suspicious), and prostate volume-derived estimation by DRE (small, median, or large). BCN-PM 2 includes age, family history of PCa, prior negative prostate biopsy, prostate volume measured by MRI (mL), and PI-RADS score (1–5). Results: The rate of csPCa detection was 53.7%. Both models demonstrated good calibration with strong agreement between predicted probabilities and observed csPCa rates. BCN-PM 1 closely followed the reference line, with minor deviations at higher predicted probabilities, whereas BCN-PM 2 showed modest departures at the extremes of risk. The area under the curve was 0.740 (95% CI 0.702–0.777) for BCN-PM 1 and 0.803 (95% CI 0.769–0.836) for BCN-PM 2 (p < 0.001). Decision curve analysis demonstrated a net benefit for both models compared with strategies of biopsy in all or no men. BCN-PM 2 showed greater net benefit than BCN-PM 1. At 95% sensitivity, BCN-PM 1 reduced MRI requests by 10.6%, while BCN-PM 2 avoided 19.4% of unnecessary biopsies. The sequential use of BCN-PM 1 and 2 resulted in a 10.6% reduction in MRI exams and a 23.1% reduction in biopsies, at the cost of missing 8.4% of csPCa cases. The performance of the biopsy improved from 53.7% to 64.0% (p < 0.001). Conclusions: BCN-PM1 and BCN-PM 2 were successfully validated in an Ibero-American population. Full article

Biofouling presents numerous challenges across various sectors, including aquaculture, agriculture, infrastructure, and medicine. The development of anti-biofouling techniques remains a significant challenge. In the water industry, biofouling on monitoring sensors substantially compromises the accuracy of measurements by interfering with the sensors’ measuring ability. Biofouling also significantly increases the running costs by increasing the frequency of maintenance needed to keep sensors clean and accurate. Consequently, anti-biofouling techniques are widely employed to clean in situ optical sensors, ensuring accurate measurements while minimizing overall system costs. The conventional approach for preventing biofouling from in situ sensors typically involves the application of coatings, mechanical brushes, ultraviolet radiation, and ultrasonic waves, which possess distinct advantages and disadvantages contingent upon their application. The challenges associated with protecting the small windows of water quality sensors from biofouling over extended periods using current methods are either expensive or adversely affect the integrity of monitoring data. This study introduces a low-cost centimeter-scale high-frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW) device to protect the small windows of in situ water quality sensors continuously from biofouling, functioning as an auxiliary anti-biofouling mechanism. This study found that this 16 MHz SAW device can mitigate the formation of biofilms by adhesive diatom strains CS-1664, CS-1665, and by planktonic algae CS-327 by approximately 98% in comparison to control conditions, functioning effectively as an anti-biofouling tool for itself and surrounding surfaces without adversely affecting aquatic organisms. The dimension and resonance frequency (RF) of the SAW device are also capable of being fabricated according to the area requiring cleaning. A miniaturized 16 MHz SAW device can sustain operation for prolonged periods up to a couple of months without maintenance, at a low cost and power consumption, providing a new anti-biofouling technology. This methodology aims to assist the Australian inland and coastal water quality monitoring system by reducing maintenance costs while simultaneously enhancing the longevity of sensors submerged in water for extended periods. Full article

Background: Minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values are independent predictors of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPC). We developed a novel ADC-based bi-color map and evaluated its utility for identifying lesions suspicious for csPC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 108 targeted prostate biopsy cases and 93 radical prostatectomy cases. In the biopsy cohort, we assessed the association between ADC-based bi-color map positivity and csPC in lesions with a Prostate Imaging–Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score ≥ 3. In the prostatectomy cohort, we evaluated additional color map-positive lesions not categorized as PI-RADS ≥ 3 on preoperative MRI. Results: In the biopsy cohort, 118 lesions were positive on the ADC-based bi-color map, including lesions outside PI-RADS ≥ 3 categories. Among 157 lesions with a PI-RADS score ≥ 3, csPC was detected in 65 lesions (41.4%). Of these lesions, 70 (44.6%) were positive on the bi-color map, and csPC was identified in 49 (70.0%). The added value of the bi-color map was most evident in PI-RADS 4 lesions, where csPC detection rates were significantly higher in color map-positive than in color map-negative lesions (74.4% vs. 23.3%). In the prostatectomy cohort, 215 lesions were positive on the bi-color map, and csPC was confirmed pathologically in 126 lesions (58.6%). Among 82 color map-positive lesions not classified as PI-RADS ≥3, 55 (67.1%) corresponded to csPC. Conclusions: The ADC-based bi-color map may improve lesion highlighting and risk stratification for csPC and help identify suspicious lesions overlooked on conventional MRI assessment. Full article