Search Results (2,029)

Background Sex disparity has been highlighted in personalized medicine for various human diseases including acute/chronic liver diseases. In the transplant community, greater graft failure risk in female-to-male liver transplantation (LT) has been repeatedly reported, and a recent study in living donor LT reported that the inferiority of female-to-male LT is shown only when donor age is ≤40 y. We aimed to analyze the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database to test if the poorer outcome of female-to-male LT changes by donor age of 40 y in deceased donor LT, as shown in living donor LT. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, 11,752 adult patients in the UNOS registry who underwent deceased donor LT between 2000–2023 were analyzed. Multivariable analysis was performed to adjust the effects from transplant years, graft ischemia time, disease severity, and others. The primary outcome was graft failure. Results Within the subgroup of recipients with ≤40 y donors, graft failure risk was significantly greater in female-to-male LT than others (vs. female-to-female, HR = 1.43 [1.16–1.76], p < 0.001; vs. male-to-female, HR = 1.46 [1.18–1.81], p < 0.001; vs. male-to-male, HR = 1.26 [1.16–1.49], p = 0.009). In contrast, within the subgroup of recipients with >40 y donors, the risk was comparable between female-to-male LT and other donor-recipient sex groups (vs. female-to-female, p = 0.907; vs. male-to-female, p = 0.781; vs. male-to-male, p = 0.937). We tested various cutoff donor ages and determined that 40 y is the best cutoff value to define the risk subgroup in female-to-male LT. Conclusions In the current study, we found that the sex disparity shown in living donor LT is also observed in deceased donor LT. That is, post-transplant graft failure risk was greater in female-to-male LT than other donor–recipient sex groups only when donor age was ≤40 y. In contrast, graft failure risk was comparable irrespective of donor-recipient sex combinations when donor age was >40 y. Full article

This article examines the physical properties, performance metrics, and cooling requirements of a range of superconducting materials, with a particular focus on their compatibility with hydrogen-based cryogenic systems. It analyses recent developments and challenges in this field, and considers how hydrogen cryomagnetic could transform superconducting technologies, making them economically viable and environmentally sustainable for a variety of critical applications. The discussion aims to provide insights into the intersection of metallic and ceramic superconductors with the hydrogen economy and to chart a path towards scalable and impactful solutions in the energy sector. Full article

Environmental risk assessment (ERA) for pesticide approval in the context of predatory insects remains inadequate as it often overlooks the influence of agricultural practices. An increasing number of studies have shown that prolonged and synergistic pesticide exposure can elevate insect mortality. However, such effects remain largely unstudied in non-target predatory carabid beetles. The carabid beetle Platynus assimilis was subjected to repeated oral and continuous contact exposure to low doses of prothioconazole (20 g ha⁻¹), lambda-cyhalothrin (0.4 g ha⁻¹), or their combination over a 64-day period. The food consumption rate, body mass, locomotor activity, and mortality were monitored throughout the experiment. All pesticide-treated groups showed significantly increased final mortality, with median lethal times (LT₅₀) of 51.6 days for prothioconazole, 60.3 days for lambda-cyhalothrin, and 12.2 days for their combination. A significant synergistic effect on mortality was observed in the combined treatment group, with the highest synergistic ratio detected 20 days after the first exposure. Pesticide-treated beetles exhibited significant abnormalities in locomotor activity and body mass compared to the untreated group. These findings demonstrate that both time-cumulative mortality and potential synergistic interactions, reflecting field-realistic conditions, must be considered in ERA. Failure to do so may lead to an underestimation of pesticide toxicity to predatory carabids. Full article

Streptococcus iniae (S. iniae) is a globally significant aquatic pathogen responsible for severe economic losses in aquaculture. While the S. iniae infection often exhibits distinct seasonal patterns strongly correlated with water temperature, there is limited knowledge regarding the temperature-dependent immune evasion strategies of S. iniae. Our results demonstrated a striking temperature-dependent virulence phenotype, with significantly higher A. latus mortality rates observed at high temperature (HT, 33 °C) compared to low temperature (LT, 23 °C). Proteomic analysis revealed temperature-dependent upregulation of key virulence factors, including streptolysin S-related proteins (SagG, SagH), antioxidant-related proteins (SodA), and multiple capsular polysaccharide (cps) synthesis proteins (cpsD, cpsH, cpsL, cpsY). Flow cytometry analysis showed that HT infection significantly reduced the percentage of lymphocyte and myeloid cell populations in the head kidney leukocytes of A. latus, which was associated with elevated caspase-3/7 expression and increased apoptosis. In addition, HT infection significantly inhibited the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) but not nitric oxide (NO) production. Using S. iniae cps-deficient mutant, Δcps, we demonstrated that the cps is essential for temperature-dependent phagocytosis resistance in S. iniae, as phagocytic activity against Δcps remained unchanged across temperatures, while NS-1 showed significantly reduced uptake at HT. These findings provide new insights into the immune evasion of S. iniae under thermal regulation, deepening our understanding of the thermal adaptation of aquatic bacterial pathogens. Full article

The growing global demand for electricity, driven by the development of electromobility, data centers, and smart technologies, necessitates innovative approaches to energy generation. Wind power, as a clean and renewable energy source, plays a pivotal role in the global transition towards low-carbon power systems. This paper presents a comprehensive review of generator technologies used in wind turbine applications, ranging from conventional synchronous and asynchronous machines to advanced concepts such as low-speed direct-drive (DD) generators, axial-flux topologies, and superconducting generators utilizing low-temperature superconductors (LTS) and high-temperature superconductors (HTS). The advantages and limitations of each design are discussed in the context of efficiency, weight, reliability, scalability, and suitability for offshore deployment. Special attention is given to HTS-based generator systems, which offer superior power density and reduced losses, along with challenges related to cryogenic cooling and materials engineering. Furthermore, the paper analyzes selected modern generator designs to provide references for enhancing the performance of grid-synchronized hybrid microgrids integrating solar PV, wind, battery energy storage, and HTS-enhanced generators. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers developing next-generation wind energy technologies with improved efficiency and integration potential. Full article

This study comprehensively compares the performance of two non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques—active thermography (AT) and digital shearography (DS)—for identifying various damage types in composite structures. Three distinct composite specimens were inspected: a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) plate with flat-bottom holes, an aluminum honeycomb core sandwich plate with a circular skin-core disbond, and a CFRP plate with two low-energy impacts damage. The research highlights the significant role of post-processing methods in enhancing damage detectability. For AT, algorithms such as fast Fourier transform (FFT) for temperature phase extraction and principal component thermography (PCT) for identifying significant temperature components were employed, generally making anomalies brighter and easier to locate and size. For DS, a novel band-pass filtering approach applied to phase maps, followed by summing the filtered maps, remarkably improved the visualization and precision of damage-induced anomalies by suppressing background noise. Qualitative image-based comparisons revealed that DS consistently demonstrated superior performance. The sum of DS filtered phase maps provided more detailed and precise information regarding damage location and size compared to both pulsed thermography (PT) and lock-in thermography (LT) temperature phase and amplitude. Notably, DS effectively identified shallow flat-bottom holes and subtle imperfections that AT struggled to clearly resolve, and it provided a more comprehensive representation of the impacts damage location and extent. This enhanced capability of DS is attributed to the novel phase map filtering approach, which significantly improves damage identification compared to the thermogram post-processing methods used for AT. Full article

Sedation and anesthesia are essential for ensuring animal welfare during surgical procedures such as hernia repair in swine. However, the number of sedative and anesthetic agents officially approved for livestock use remained limited. This study evaluated the sedative efficacy and serotonergic effects of a romifidine/ketamine/diazepam protocol, with and without the addition of tramadol, in swine undergoing umbilical hernia repair. Sixty-six crossbred Large White swine were randomly allocated to three groups: LL (lidocaine 4 mg/kg by infiltration), LT (lidocaine 2 mg/kg by infiltration + tramadol 2 mg/kg intraperitoneally), and TT (lidocaine2 mg/kg by infiltration + tramadol 4 mg/kg intraperitoneally). The physiological parameters heart rate, arterial pressure, oxygen saturation, rectal body temperature, and respiratory rate were assessed. The depth of intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative sedation was assessed using an ordinal scoring system (0–3). Plasma serotonin (5-HT) concentration was measured at baseline and 24 h post-surgery. Physiological parameters remained within species-specific reference ranges throughout the procedure. Anesthesia depth scores significantly decreased over time in all groups (p ≤ 0.001), with the tramadol-treated groups (LT and TT) showing more prolonged deeper anesthesia. Postoperative sedation was significantly higher in the TT group (p ≤ 0.001). Serotonin concentration decreased in LL, increased in LT, and remained stable in TT. These findings suggest that tramadol may enhance sedation and recovery, potentially through serotonergic modulation. Moreover, serotonin could serve as a physiological marker warranting further investigation in future studies of anesthetic protocols in veterinary medicine. Full article

This article examines the role of managed ecosystems, and particularly forests, in achieving carbon neutrality in Russia. The range of estimates of Russia’s forests’ net carbon balance in different studies varies by up to 7 times. The. A comparison of Russia’s National GHG inventory data for 2023 and 2024 (with the latter showing 37% higher forest sequestration) is presented and explained. The possible changes in the Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy of Russia (LT LEDS) carbon neutrality scenario due to new land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) data in National GHG Inventory Document (NID) 2024 are discussed. It is demonstrated that the refined net carbon balance should not impact the mitigation ambition in the Russian forestry sector. An assessment of changes in the drafts of the Operational plan of the LT LEDS is presented and it is concluded that its structure and content have significantly improved; however, a delay in operationalization nullifies efforts. The article highlights the problem of GHG emissions increases in forest fires and compares the gap between official “ground-based” and Remote Sensing approaches in calculations of such emissions. Considering the intention to increase net absorption by implementing forest carbon projects, the latest changes in the regulations of such projects are discussed. The limitations of reforestation carbon projects in Russia are provided. Proposals are presented for the development of the national forest policy towards increasing the net forest carbon absorption, including considering the projected decrease in annual net absorption by Russian forests by 2050. The role of government and private investment in improving the forest management of structural measures to adapt forestry to modern climate change and the place of forest climate projects need to be clearly defined in the LT LEDS. Full article

Liver transplantation (LT) for hepatic malignancies is becoming increasingly common, largely because it offers superior survival relative to other treatment approaches. LT is well-accepted for primary liver cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and is being increasingly accepted for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and metastases of colorectal cancer or neuroendocrine tumors to the liver. Over time, indications for transplant oncology have broadened, as has the acceptable disease burden for transplantation, particularly with the advent of new neoadjuvant therapies. Other current frontiers in the field include expanding the donor pool through living donors, extended criteria donors, machine perfusion and increasing access to LT for people from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Expanding access to LT can offer renewed hope for long-term survival to patients with primary and secondary liver cancer. Full article

Background and Objectives: Glucose instability has been established to be related to postoperative morbidity and mortality in liver transplantation. To date, the impact of maintaining optimal blood glucose (BG) levels on the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) following liver transplantation (LT) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the impact of optimal BG level after reperfusion (REP BG) on the incidence of AKI after living donor LT (LDLT). Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 3331 patients who underwent LDLT between January 2008 and December 2019. Patients were divided into optimal (110 mg/dL < BG < 180 mg/dL) and non-optimal (BG < 110 mg/dL or >180 mg/dL) REP BG groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess factors associated with AKI. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare the incidence of AKI, AKI severity, and progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) between the groups. Results: The incidence of AKI was 66.7%. After PSM, patients in the optimal REP BG group showed a lower incidence of AKI (66.5% vs. 70.6%, p = 0.032). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the non-optimal REP BG group was independently associated with a higher risk of AKI (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.45; p = 0.037) compared to the optimal group. Similarly, the risks of severe AKI (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.11–1.58; p = 0.002) and progression to CKD (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.01–1.41; p = 0.039) were significantly higher in the non-optimal group after PSM. Conclusions: Maintenance of an optimal REP BG was associated with a significantly lower incidence of AKI and a reduced risk of progression to CKD within 1 year after LDLT. Full article

With the increase in the penetration rate of distributed sources and loads, the sensor monitoring data is increasing dramatically. Power grid maintenance services require a rapid response in power quality data analysis. To achieve a rapid response and highly accurate classification of power quality disturbances (PQDs), this paper proposes an efficient classification algorithm for PQDs based on Lissajous trajectory (LT) and a lightweight DenseNet, which utilizes the concept of Lissajous curves to construct an ideal reference signal and combines it with the original PQD signal to synthesize a feature trajectory with a distinctive shape. Meanwhile, to enhance the ability and efficiency of capturing trajectory features, a lightweight L-DenseNet skeleton model is designed, and its feature extraction capability is further improved by integrating an attention mechanism with L-DenseNet. Finally, the LT image is input into the fusion model for training, and PQD classification is achieved using the optimally trained model. The experimental results demonstrate that, compared with current mainstream PQD classification methods, the proposed algorithm not only achieves superior disturbance classification accuracy and noise robustness but also significantly improves response speed in PQD classification tasks through its concise visualization conversion process and lightweight model design. Full article

This study examined the relationship between microhardness, morphology, and phase composition of dental yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP), which directly impact their long-term clinical performance and durability. The primary objective was to investigate the effects of yttria content and polishing on the surface properties and hardness of these materials. Samples from ZirCAD Prime, Cercon ht ML, ZIRCONIA YML, and ZirCAD LT were analyzed using Vickers hardness testing, Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). SEM analysis revealed a gradual increase in grain size and porosity with higher yttria content in unpolished samples. Polishing resulted in a relatively uniform surface morphology with observable striations across all samples, subsequently leading to similar Vickers hardness values for all polished samples. PXRD and SEM analyses identified that these similar hardness values were likely due to the predominant monoclinic phase on the surface, induced by polishing. These findings underscore the significant influence of yttria content and polishing on Y-TZP microstructure and surface hardness, highlighting their critical role in the long-term success and clinical applicability of dental restorations. Full article

This study evaluates six parameter estimation methods for the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution: maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), two probability-weighted moments (PWM-UE and PWM-PP), and three robust two-stage order statistics estimators (TSOS-ME, TSOS-LMS, and TSOS-LTS). Their performance was assessed using simulation experiments under varying tail behaviors, represented by three types of GEV distributions: Weibull (short-tailed), Gumbel (light-tailed), and Fréchet (heavy-tailed) distributions, based on the mean squared error (MSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The results showed that TSOS-LTS consistently achieved the lowest MSE and MAPE, indicating high robustness and forecasting accuracy, particularly for short-tailed distributions. Notably, PWM-PP performed well for the light-tailed distribution, providing accurate and efficient estimates in this specific setting. For heavy-tailed distributions, TSOS-LTS exhibited superior estimation accuracy, while PWM-PP showed a better predictive performance in terms of MAPE. The methods were further applied to real-world monthly maximum PM2.5 data from three air quality stations in Bangkok. TSOS-LTS again demonstrated superior performance, especially at Thon Buri station. This research highlights the importance of tailoring estimation techniques to the distribution’s tail behavior and supports the use of robust approaches for modeling environmental extremes. Full article

With the increasing demand for electricity in modern society, the scale of substation construction projects has greatly expanded, and the ever-increasing technical requirements have led to rising project costs year by year. Effective cost management not only enhances a company’s market competitiveness but also ensures the construction quality of projects. This paper addressed the issues of cost management in substation projects by exploring the application of unbalanced bidding, target costing, and improved earned value management (EVM) in cost control. By introducing quality indicators to improve traditional EVM, this study proposed a comprehensive evaluation model that considers cost, schedule, and quality to ensure a good construction performance of substations. Using LT 220 kV substation of Company A project as a case study, the paper analyzed specific measures of cost management in the bidding decision, preparation, and construction phases, verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of the improved model. The results indicated that the enhanced EVM can effectively improve cost control in substation projects, achieving an optimal balance among quality, schedule, and cost with significant practical application value. Full article

Arsenic (As) contamination in the Tambo River (Perú), linked to mining activities and volcanic eruptions, poses significant health and agricultural risks. This study evaluated sodium alginate extracted from the brown macroalgae Lessonia trabeculata (LT) as a biosorbent for As removal. Water samples from three river points revealed As concentrations up to 0.309 mg/L, exceeding regulatory limits (0.1 mg/L). Sodium alginate was obtained via a simplified alkaline method, yielding an average of 21.44% (w/w relative to dry algae biomass) and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), showing structural similarity to industrial alginate (A1). Biosorption assays under simulated environmental conditions (neutral pH, 20 °C) demonstrated that LT alginate (A2) reduced As by 99% at 48 h with a 1.0 g/L dose, outperforming A1. Langmuir (q_max = 0.0012 mmol/g; b = 506.9 L/mg) and Freundlich (n = 1.94) isotherms confirmed favorable adsorption, while kinetics followed a Pseudo-Second-Order Model, suggesting physisorption. These results highlight LT alginate as a sustainable and scalable solution for remediating As-contaminated water, promoting the conservation of a vulnerable marine resource. This study underscores the potential of algal biopolymers in bioremediation strategies aligned with environmental and socioeconomic needs. Full article