Search Results (543)

Cu–Fe alloys combine the high electrical conductivity of Cu with the strengthening and magnetic contributions of Fe, making them promising high-strength, electrically conductive functional materials. However, for high-Fe Cu–Fe alloys with Fe contents exceeding 10 wt.%, the microstructural response, texture evolution, and two-phase deformation partitioning during warm rolling remain insufficiently understood. In this study, Cu–10Fe, Cu–15Fe, and Cu–20Fe alloys were investigated to clarify the effect of Fe content on microstructure evolution, texture characteristics, deformation behavior, and property balance after single-pass warm rolling at 500 °C with a 50% reduction. The results show that, as the Fe content increased from 10% to 20%, the Fe-rich phase became progressively denser after warm rolling and gradually transformed from discrete spherical/spindle-like particles into fibrous structures distributed along the rolling direction, while the average grain size of the alloy decreased. EBSD analysis indicates that increasing Fe content weakened the preferred orientation of the Cu matrix. The maximum texture intensity of the Cu matrix decreased from 5.08 to 4.21, and texture showed a weakening trend. The mechanical properties show that, with increasing Fe content, the ultimate tensile strength increased from 434 MPa to 514 MPa, whereas the elongation decreased from 10.7% to 5.1%. This indicates that the increased amount of Fe-rich phase enhanced strength but reduced plasticity; nevertheless, dynamic recovery and local recrystallization induced by warm rolling helped maintain a certain degree of ductility. The electrical conductivity decreased from 19.43% IACS to 16.71% IACS with increasing Fe content, corresponding to a decrease of only approximately 2.7% IACS, suggesting that warm rolling partially mitigated the negative effect of increasing Fe content on electrical conductivity. Based on the combined microstructural, texture, and KAM/GND analyses, the deformation behavior of the alloys with increasing Fe content exhibited a transition from heterogeneous deformation dominated by the Cu matrix/interface to cooperative deformation involving the Fe-rich phase. Full article

Oxygen-free copper wires are widely required in advanced electronic and electrical systems. However, the relationship between deformation-induced microstructure evolution and property variation during severe cold drawing is not fully understood. In this study, oxygen-free copper rods with a diameter of φ20 mm were fabricated by upward continuous casting, followed by multi-pass cold drawing with deformation degrees up to 99.75%. The microstructure evolution, texture transformation, and property changes during drawing and annealing were systematically investigated. It found that increasing drawing deformation progressively elongated, fragmented, and refined the grains, reducing the average grain size from 339.18 μm to 2.12 μm. Dense dislocation cells, substructures, and nanoscale twins were generated during severe deformation, while the texture gradually evolved from random orientations to preferred <111> and <100> textures. After annealing, fine recrystallized equiaxed grains with abundant annealing twins formed together with recrystallization <101> texture. At 99.75% deformation, the tensile strength reached 486 MPa, with an electrical conductivity of 96.7% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard). After annealing, the electrical conductivity recovered to 101.5% IACS, while the tensile strength decreased to 187 MPa. This work establishes the relationship between severe deformation microstructure evolution and property response in oxygen-free copper, providing guidance for the fabrication of high-strength and high-conductivity copper conductors. Full article

 The present research provides the results of an experimental study of diffusion-welded joints between Cu–Nb microcomposite conductors designed for potential application in electrical connections for magnetic systems. The joints were produced in the solid state using uniaxial diffusion bonding and glow-discharge diffusion welding with metal foil interlayers, which made it possible to avoid remelting the Cu–Nb conductor and limit the degradation of its filamentary microstructure. The effect of the interlayer materials on the microstructure, as well as on the mechanical and electrical properties of the joints, was evaluated. Among the configurations studied, the Cu–Ti–Cu interlayer provided the best combination of properties, with a tensile strength of 400 MPa, a yield strength of 220 MPa, an elongation of 2.5%, and an electrical conductivity of 51.6% IACS. Compared to the initial conductivity of the conductor (65.1% IACS), this corresponds to a reduction in conductivity of approximately 20.7%. The results demonstrate a clear trade-off between mechanical and electrical characteristics when using interlayers containing titanium. Thus, diffusion bonding using a glow discharge and foil interlayers is considered a promising approach for Cu–Nb conductor joints that are not directly exposed to the maximum magnetic and tensile forces generated in high-power solenoids.  Full article

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) on preoperative surgical decision-making and risk assessment for mandibular third molar (MM3) extractions in cases identified as high-risk by orthopantomography (OPG). Materials and Methods: This prospective observational diagnostic study utilized the purposive sampling method, recruiting 50 MM3s from 33 patients (21 females, 12 males; mean age 24.24 ± 6.77 years, range 16–42). Samples were categorized into five distinct radiographic groups based on the proximity of roots to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) on OPG. The methodology involved a comparative 3D analysis to determine neurovascular contact, spatial orientation, and the presence of a cortical border. Surgical strategies, specifically the necessity for coronectomy or the lingual split technique, were reassessed following 3D evaluation. Postoperative neurosensory outcomes were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher–Freeman–Halton and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: CBCT identified direct IAC contact in 74% of the cases. In 18% of the cases initially deemed high-risk by OPG, CBCT revealed a safe distance, thereby altering the surgical approach. Tooth angulation (p = 0.012) and Pell and Gregory classification (p = 0.024) were significant predictors of contact. Temporary neurosensory disturbances occurred in 4% (n = 2) of the sample, specifically in cases where CBCT had confirmed the loss of nerve canal cortication. Conclusions: In accordance with the study aim, CBCT provides essential 3D data that refines surgical planning in nearly one-fifth of high-risk cases. The findings justify selective CBCT use, guided by the ALADA principle, to minimize iatrogenic injury. Full article

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has been linked to an increased risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, particularly preeclampsia (PE). As both conditions involve vascular and endothelial dysfunction, a mechanistic overlap has been proposed. This study examines the relationship between maternal COVID-19 and preeclampsia by analyzing inflammatory, endothelial, and angiogenic biomarkers in pregnancies with and without these complications. Methods: A case–control study was conducted, including four groups: healthy pregnancies before 2020 (n = 10), preeclampsia cases before 2020 (n = 10), COVID-19 cases without preeclampsia (n = 10), and COVID-19 cases with preeclampsia (n = 10). The groups were selected to be comparable in terms of gestational age at blood sampling. Biomarkers related to endothelial, inflammatory, and angiogenic pathways were measured. Results: Significant differences in biomarker levels were detected among the four groups. Regarding endothelial damage, sICAM1 levels were significantly higher in the COVID-PE group compared with the COVID-noPE group (p = 0.002). Additionally, vWF (p = 0.006), END1 (p < 0.001), and sVCAM1 (p = 0.030) levels varied significantly across groups. IL8 levels showed significant differences (p < 0.001), and were particularly elevated in preeclampsia cases (preCOVID-PE and COVID-PE groups) compared with controls (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). Angiogenic markers sFlt-1, PLGF, and sFlt-1/PLGF exhibited significant group differences (p < 0.001). In contrast, maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in the absence of preeclampsia was not associated with a significant alteration of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. Discussion: PE associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection preserved the classical angiogenic signature of preeclampsia, but showed additional endothelial and inflammatory biomarker alterations. These findings support an association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and a distinct endothelial and inflammatory biomarker profile in PE, warranting confirmation in larger prospective studies. Full article

Background: Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping patterns have been associated with cerebrovascular disease, but the differential impact of non-dipping versus reverse dipping on white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden and intracranial arterial calcification (IAC) remains unclear. Methods: This retrospective study included 376 patients who underwent 24 h ambulatory BP monitoring, brain MRI, and cranial CT. Patients were classified as dipper (≥10% SBP decline, n = 148), non-dipper (0–10%, n = 156), or reverse dipper (<0%, n = 72). WMH was assessed using the Fazekas scale (0–3) and analyzed with ordinal logistic regression. IAC was scored as present/absent. Multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and coronary artery disease (CAD). Results: Reverse dippers had significantly higher Fazekas grades (OR 2.26; 95% CI 1.13–4.56; p = 0.022) and IAC prevalence (OR 8.03; 95% CI 2.42–29.18; p = 0.001) compared to dippers. Non-dippers showed no association with Fazekas (OR 0.78; 0.45–1.36; p = 0.386) but were independently associated with IAC (OR 3.75; 1.43–10.76; p = 0.010). A significant dose–response trend was observed for IAC (OR 2.89 per category; 1.60–5.47; p = 0.001) but not for Fazekas grade (OR 1.35; 0.97–1.90; p = 0.078). Age, diabetes, and CAD were also independent predictors of IAC, while female sex was protective. Conclusions: Reverse dipping was associated with both higher WMH burden and IAC, whereas non-dipping was associated mainly with IAC. These findings suggest that nocturnal BP phenotypes may be differentially associated with cerebral microvascular and macrovascular imaging markers. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these observations. Full article

Background: Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) are among the most serious complications of intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) for retinoblastoma (RB). This study evaluated the incidence and potential risk factors of this rare event. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included RB patients who received IAC at a tertiary cancer center. Diagnosis of CVAs was based on clinical and/or neuroimaging findings. Data included demographics, tumor features, complications, and outcomes. Meta-analysis was not feasible due to heterogeneity. A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted across major databases up to December 2025, including studies reporting CVA after IAC. Results: The cohort included 33 children who underwent 104 IAC procedures (Melphalan). CVA occurred in three patients (3/33 (9%) of patients, and 3/104 (2.9%) of procedures). Two were confirmed by neuroimaging, while one was a transient ischemic attack. Two patients (67%) were girls, and 2 of 3 (67%) were younger than 1 year. All events occurred during the IAC procedure and were ipsilateral to the treated eye. Two patients had no residual neurological deficits, while one showed improvement with only a minor residual deficit. The systematic review included 14 studies with 932 patients and identified 11 CVA events (1.2%; Range 0–9.1% per patient and 0–2.2% per IAC procedure). All were ischemic with variable presentations. Younger age, repeated catheterization, vasospasm, and embolic events were common risk factors. Outcomes were generally favorable. Conclusions: CVA after IAC, though rare, may be underreported. Events are likely procedure-related and influenced by age, treatment intensity, and vascular toxicity. Careful technique, close monitoring, and standardized reporting are needed to recognize/reduce the real risk. Full article

Thirteen mandarin and hybrid cultivars grafted onto the commercial rootstocks Rangpur Lime and Swingle Citrumelo were comparatively assessed for vegetative growth, fruit physicochemical attributes, and field incidence and severity of Altenaria Brown Spot (ABS) and Huanglongbing (HLB). The experiment was conducted from January 2015 to December 2018 under a randomized block design, with ten replicates per scion–rootstock combination. Plant height, canopy volume, fruit mass, juice yield, acidity, soluble solids, and disease assessments were performed. RL induced greater vegetative growth but was associated with higher HLB severity, particularly in the Dekopon IAC 2009 and TM × LP 358 varieties. SC resulted in less vigorous trees but improved fruit quality, with higher acidity and soluble solids. Regarding ABS, the Loose Jacket IAC 515 and Muscia varieties showed high susceptibility, while Ortanique IAC 554 and Rainha BRS exhibited tolerance to both ABS and HLB. These findings suggest that although RL promotes vigorous growth, it may increase disease susceptibility, whereas SC is associated with reduced disease severity and improved fruit quality. Ortanique IAC 554 and Rainha BRS showed consistently low severity of ABS and HLB, combined with stable vegetative development and fruit quality, underscoring the importance of rootstock choice for guiding cultivar deployment in orchards under high disease pressure. Full article

Mass-based circularity indicators, such as ISO 59020:2024, quantify material recovery as a share of total throughput but do not account for chemical composition or functional performance, as a consequence of their sector-agnostic design. In copper metallurgical systems, trace tramp elements (e.g., As, Sb, Bi, Fe, Sn, Ni) present in WEEE-derived scrap, anode slimes, and refinery residues can significantly reduce electrical conductivity. Even at nominal purities of ≥99.7 wt.% Cu, conductivity may drop to 85.0–88.0% IACS, as illustrated by selected reported cases—a level of functional degradation that remains undetected by mass-based accounting. Analysis of Grade A cathode standards (EN 1978:2022, LME Cu-CATH-1, ASTM B115-10:2021) shows that impurity limits as low as 2 ppm (Bi) constrain the achievable share of secondary feed in closed-loop recycling. For a specific flash-smelting–refinery configuration, modeling indicates that secondary feed shares above approximately 30% may lead to impurity accumulation beyond the stated specification constraints unless low-impurity primary copper is introduced. This study introduces the Quality-Adjusted Circularity Indicator (QACI), a conceptual, specification-constrained indicator framework that applies a dilution factor f_dil derived from a binary blending mass balance to adjust ISO 59020:2024 inflow-based circularity indicators using a feed-composition blending constraint anchored to Grade A specification limits. The QACI functions as a feed-composition screening indicator operating at the anode blending stage and does not represent a correction of the full electrorefining system. Parametric scenario analysis across six stylized impurity configurations shows that, at identical mass-based circularity (C_mass = 25%), the QACI ranges from 7.1% to 25.0%. This corresponds to a 1.3- to 3.5-fold difference between the mass-based and quality-adjusted indicator values under the stated feed-composition assumptions, illustrating the potential overestimation introduced when feed-quality constraints are not considered. This ratio quantifies the divergence between two indicator values under stylized conditions and should not be interpreted as a directly measured fold-difference in actual loop-closure performance. Positioned within the ISO 59020:2024 Annex C complementary method space, the QACI is positioned as a first-order screening approach of existing circularity metrics that may inform future research discussion of quality-differentiated approaches in EU secondary metals policy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although early institutionalization has been linked to socioemotional difficulties, its relationship with interoception in early childhood remains unclear. This study examined differences in interoception, emotion regulation, and prosocial behavior between institutionalized preschool children (IPC) and noninstitutionalized preschool children (NIPC) and explored the associations among these domains. Methods: In total, 51 children aged 4–6 years (26 IPC, 25 NIPC) participated in this study. Interoceptive accuracy (IAc) was assessed using an adapted Jumping Jack Paradigm that combined subjective reports and objective heart rate measures. Interoceptive sensitivity was evaluated using the iBEAT task based on gaze duration toward synchronous and asynchronous stimuli. Cooperation was measured using a joint fishing task, and emotion regulation was assessed using a delayed gratification task and the Early Emotion Regulation Behavior Questionnaire. Group differences were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Regression analyses were performed to explore the associations among variables. Results: Both groups had IAc values close to zero, indicating overall correspondence between subjective and objective signals. However, IPC showed more negative values, indicating underestimation, whereas NIPC showed more positive values, indicating overestimation. No significant differences in interoceptive sensitivity were found, and no evidence of discrimination between synchronous and asynchronous stimuli emerged. Compared with the IPC, the NIPC exhibited greater cooperation. No group differences were found in inhibitory control, although differences were observed in specific emotion regulation strategies. Regression analyses indicated that institutionalization and interoceptive sensitivity predicted IAc, whereas emotion regulation strategies and synchronous preference predicted cooperation. Conclusions: The results suggest that early institutionalization may induce changes in interoception, emotion regulation, and cooperation. Full article

Background: Most predictive models for assessing the invasiveness of pure ground-glass nodules (pGGOs) have been developed in Asian populations, which may limit their applicability to Western cohorts. As the detection of pGGOs continues to increase, there is a growing need for reliable, population-specific tools to support preoperative decision-making. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study analyzed patients from the GORDON database who underwent surgical resection for pGGOs < 40 mm between January 2013 and June 2024. Radiologic features were assessed using preoperative high-resolution and contrast-enhanced CT scans. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC). A radiologic nomogram was developed and internally validated using a training (80%) and validation (20%) cohort. Results: A total of 490 pGGOs were included, of which 421 (85.9%) were IAC and 69 (14.1%) noninvasive (Adenocarcinoma in Situ or Minimally Invasive Adenocarcinoma). Upon multivariable analysis, maximum radiologic diameter (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.09, p = 0.001), spiculated margins (aOR = 3.07, p = 0.006), and unenhanced CT attenuation (aOR = 1.01, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of invasiveness. These variables were incorporated into a nomogram demonstrating good discrimination, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.81–0.90) in the training cohort and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.70–0.90) in the validation cohort. Conclusions: A radiologic nomogram based on routinely available CT features enables accurate estimation of invasive adenocarcinoma risk in pGGOs. By integrating parameters beyond lesion size, this tool supports personalized management and may improve preoperative decision-making. Full article

Contemporary vulnerability management relies on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) and the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), both of which evaluate Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) entry in isolation, disregarding the network topology in which vulnerable components operate. We present the Dynamic Security Resistance Distance (DSRD) framework, which parses Docker Compose, GNS3, and Containerlab configuration files into weighted attack graphs where edge conductance reflects EPSS exploitability. A version-aware filtering stage matches discovered CVEs against the software versions declared in container image tags, reducing version-irrelevant CVE matches by up to 97%. Kirchhoff effective resistance, computed via the Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse of the graph Laplacian, yields a structural compromise affinity—a monotone score guaranteed not to increase upon patching. Four algorithms—Ant Colony Optimization, Physarum, Fungal Network Growth, and Greedy Kirchhoff-rank vulnerabilities by their structural impact on network-wide risk. Evaluation on nine representative topologies derived from public IaC artifacts, spanning six Docker Compose and three GNS3 deployments, with 895 version-relevant vulnerability nodes from cvelistV5 shows that graph-aware prioritization reduces structural risk by up to $5.62\times {10}^{-2}$ after ten patches, whereas EPSS-only ordering achieves at most $1.28\times {10}^{-2}$ on the same topology. EPSS-only targets high-probability CVEs on entry points that do not lie on critical paths; graph-aware methods instead prioritize CVEs on high-resistance paths toward critical assets. The advantage depends on infrastructure heterogeneity and topology structure: topologies with diverse vendors and well-defined structural bottlenecks benefit most, while densely connected or homogeneous environments show marginal improvement. We release the full pipeline as open-source software. Full article

Bark beetle–fungus associations are essential for nutrition, detoxification, and host colonisation, but their composition and function vary across developmental stages and environmental contexts. Hence, we characterised the fungal communities associated with two pine-feeding bark beetles, Ips sexdentatus (ISX) and Ips acuminatus (IAC), across developmental stages and compared wild-collected and laboratory-bred populations using ITS2 amplicon sequencing. Both beetle species maintained a stable core mycobiome dominated by Kuraishia, Ogataea, Ophiostoma, Graphilbum, and Cyberlindnera. These taxa have been earlier reported to be associated with nutrient provisioning, detoxification of host secondary metabolites, and chemical signalling. Adult beetles showed species-specific community differences, whereas wild-collected beetles, particularly IAC, harboured higher fungal diversity than laboratory populations, indicating a strong environmental effect. Beetles shared more fungal taxa with control wood than with gallery wood, suggesting possible fungal acquisition during feeding and concurrent restructuring of the wood mycobiome during infestation. Monoterpene bioassays with selected yeast symbionts showed differential growth responses to α-pinene, 3-carene, and terpinolene, and their mixture, with the mixture producing stronger inhibition than individual compounds. These yeast symbionts further displayed selective antagonistic activity in vitro against selected filamentous fungi, including entomopathogenic taxa, along with detectable lytic and digestive enzyme activities. Together, our findings highlight a link between community structure, predicted functions, and observed interaction phenotypes, providing a strong basis for future mechanistic studies of beetle–fungus–conifer interactions. Full article

Public enterprises operate under a dual mandate: optimizing internal workflows while delivering reliable services and demonstrable public value. This study develops and tests a governance-enabled capability framework linking Process Optimization (PRO) to Service Quality (SQ) and Public Value (PV) in a public enterprise in Ecuador. Using an employee survey instrument (7-point Likert; N = 300) covering leadership and governance (LGO), digitalization and automation (DGA), standardization and BPM (STB), human capability (HCC), performance and data management (PDM), budget/line-item management (BLM), interunit coordination (IAC), PRO, SQ, and PV, we combine capability profiling (PCA + k-means) with PLS-SEM. PCA shows a dominant maturity gradient (PC1 = 87.17%). In the baseline model, PRO is most strongly associated with DGA (β = 0.242), BLM (β = 0.230), and IAC (β = 0.132), with very high explained variance (R²(PRO) = 0.976). The outcome chain is strong (PRO → SQ β = 0.964; SQ → PV β = 0.964). A second-order “Capability Maturity” robustness model preserves downstream performance (R²(SQ) = 0.929; R²(PV) = 0.930) while sharply reducing structural collinearity (max inner VIF for PRO predictors: 25.246 → 1.515). Results are interpreted as associations consistent with a capability–maturity mechanism. Full article

Adenoviruses have been implicated in childhood cancers, primarily leukemia, yet prior neonatal investigations have rarely examined other pediatric tumor types. This study evaluated whether adenoviral early region (E1A) sequences can be detected in archival neonatal Guthrie cards from children who later developed diverse pediatric tumors and in corresponding paraffin-embedded tissues. DNA extraction was optimized for long-stored dried blood spots, and PCR conditions were refined for both Guthrie card and paraffin-derived DNA. Adenoviral E1A was analyzed using conventional and nested PCR, and sequencing of representative amplicons confirmed correspondence to human adenovirus species C. E1A PCR positivity was found in 43% of Guthrie cards from cases (n = 54) and 34% of controls (n = 32), and in 41% of tumor tissues (n = 75) compared with 5% of non-tumor paraffin controls (n = 20). Detection occurred across multiple tumor categories without a clear association with tumor type. Partial concordance was observed between paired neonatal and tumor samples, and cytomegalovirus markers were detected in a subset of E1A-positive specimens. These findings confirm the suitability of Guthrie cards for retrospective viral DNA detection and extend previous leukemia-focused neonatal studies to broader pediatric tumors. The data suggest a potential association between birth-stage adenoviral detection and childhood cancer, though a causal link remains unproven and requires further longitudinal investigation. Full article