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The Lidia cattle breed is featured in several traditional popular bullfighting festivals throughout Spain, including the “Toro de Cuerda” event, in which the animals are subjected to intense physical exercise. However, the physiological impact and welfare implications of these activities remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the stress response and muscle damage in Lidia breed bulls during roping bull celebrations through comprehensive blood analysis. Blood samples were collected from 53 adult male Lidia bulls before and after a standardized 45 min continuous running exercise during traditional roping bull events in four Spanish autonomous regions. Hematological parameters, muscle enzymes (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, lactate), and stress hormones (cortisol and ACTH) were analyzed. Significant increases (p < 0.05) were observed in leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, erythrocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and post-exercise platelets. Muscle enzymes showed marked elevations, with creatine kinase increasing up to 10-fold above baseline values. Stress hormones, cortisol and ACTH, also demonstrated significant increases. Despite the magnitude of these changes, all parameters remained within established reference ranges for the bovine species. This study provides the first physiological assessment of Lidia cattle during popular bullfighting celebrations, establishing baseline data for evidence-based welfare evaluation and management protocols. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Cattle)

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29 pages, 6672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Discovery of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide from Paenibacillus sp. Na14 with Potent Activity Against Gram-Negative Bacteria and Genomic Insights into Its Biosynthetic Pathway

by Nuttapon Songnaka, Adisorn Ratanaphan, Namfa Sermkaew, Somchai Sawatdee, Sucheewin Krobthong, Chanat Aonbangkhen, Yodying Yingchutrakul and Apichart Atipairin

Antibiotics 2025, 14(8), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14080805 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) contributes to millions of deaths globally each year, creating an urgent need for new therapeutic agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their potential to combat AMR pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of an AMP from a soil-derived bacterial isolate against Gram-negative bacteria. Method: Soil bacteria were isolated and screened for antimicrobial activity. The bioactive peptide was purified and determined its structure and antimicrobial efficacy. Genomic analysis was conducted to predict the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) responsible for AMP production. Results: Genomic analysis identified the isolate as Paenibacillus sp. Na14, which exhibited low genomic similarity (61.0%) to other known Paenibacillus species, suggesting it may represent a novel species. The AMP from the Na14 strain exhibited heat stability up to 90 °C for 3 h and retained its activity across a broad pH range from 3 to 11. Structural analysis revealed that the Na14 peptide consisted of 14 amino acid residues, adopting an α-helical structure. This peptide exhibited bactericidal activity at concentrations of 2–4 µg/mL within 6–12 h, and its killing rate was concentration-dependent. The peptide was found to disrupt the bacterial membranes. The Na14 peptide shared 64.29% sequence similarity with brevibacillin 2V, an AMP from Brevibacillus sp., which also belongs to the Paenibacillaceae family. Genomic annotation identified BGCs associated with secondary metabolism, with a particular focus on non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene clusters. Structural modeling of the predicted NRPS enzymes showed high similarity to known NRPS modules in Brevibacillus species. These genomic findings provide evidence supporting the similarity between the Na14 peptide and brevibacillin 2V. Conclusions: This study highlights the discovery of a novel AMP with potent activity against Gram-negative pathogens and provides new insight into conserved AMP biosynthetic enzymes within the Paenibacillaceae family. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Peptides: An Emerging Hope in the Era of New Infections and Resistance, 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 1097 KiB

Open AccessReview

Natural Feed Additives in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Efficiency and Sustainability in Ruminant Production

by Zonaxolo Ntsongota, Olusegun Oyebade Ikusika and Thando Conference Mpendulo

Ruminants 2025, 5(3), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/ruminants5030036 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Ruminant livestock production plays a crucial role in the agricultural systems of Sub-Saharan Africa, significantly supporting rural livelihoods through income generation, improved nutrition, and employment opportunities. Despite its importance, the sector continues to face substantial challenges, such as low feed quality, seasonal feed shortages, and climate-related stresses, all of which limit productivity and sustainability. Considering these challenges, the adoption of natural feed additives has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance animal performance, optimise nutrient utilisation, and mitigate environmental impacts, including the reduction of enteric methane emissions. This review underscores the significant potential of natural feed additives such as plant extracts, essential oils, probiotics, and mineral-based supplements such as fossil shell flour as sustainable alternatives to conventional growth promoters in ruminant production systems across the region. All available documented evidence on the topic from 2000 to 2024 was collated and synthesised through standardised methods of systematic review protocol—PRISMA. Out of 319 research papers downloaded, six were included and analysed directly or indirectly in this study. The results show that the addition of feed additives to ruminant diets in all the studies reviewed significantly (p < 0.05) improved growth parameters such as average daily growth (ADG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group. However, no significant (p > 0.05) effect was found on cold carcass weight (CCW), meat percentage, fat percentage, bone percentage, or intramuscular fat (IMF%) compared to the control. The available evidence indicates that these additives can provide tangible benefits, including improved growth performance, better feed efficiency, enhanced immune responses, and superior meat quality, while also supporting environmental sustainability by reducing nitrogen excretion and decreasing dependence on antimicrobial agents. Full article

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13 pages, 2759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Serum-Based Bioassay for Quantification of Cancer-Associated Transformation Activity: A Case–Control and Animal Study

by Aye Aye Khine, Hsuan-Shun Huang, Pao-Chu Chen, Chun-Shuo Hsu, Ying-Hsi Chen, Sung-Chao Chu and Tang-Yuan Chu

Diagnostics 2025, 15(15), 1975; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15151975 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The detection of ovarian cancer remains challenging due to the lack of reliable serum biomarkers that reflect malignant transformation rather than mere tumor presence. We developed a novel biotest using an immortalized human fallopian tube epithelial cell line (TY), which exhibits anchorage-independent growth (AIG) in response to cancer-associated serum factors. Methods: Sera from ovarian and breast cancer patients, non-cancer controls, and ID8 ovarian cancer-bearing mice were tested for AIG-promoting activity in TY cells. Results: TY cells (passage 96) effectively distinguished cancer sera from controls (68.50 ± 2.12 vs. 17.50 ± 3.54 colonies, p < 0.01) and correlated with serum CA125 levels (r = 0.73, p = 0.03) in ovarian cancer patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.85, cutoff: 23.75 colonies). The AIG-promoting activity was mediated by HGF/c-MET and IGF/IGF-1R signaling, as inhibition of these pathways reduced phosphorylation and AIG. In an ID8 mouse ovarian cancer model, TY-AIG colonies strongly correlated with tumor burden (r = 0.95, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the TY cell-based AIG assay is a sensitive and specific biotest for detecting ovarian cancer and potentially other malignancies, leveraging the fundamental hallmark of malignant transformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Diagnosis of Gynecological Diseases)

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47 pages, 7003 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phthalocyanines Conjugated with Small Biologically Active Compounds for the Advanced Photodynamic Therapy: A Review

by Kyrylo Chornovolenko and Tomasz Koczorowski

Molecules 2025, 30(15), 3297; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30153297 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Phthalocyanines (Pcs) are well-established photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy, valued for their strong light absorption, high singlet oxygen generation, and photostability. Recent advances have focused on covalently conjugating Pcs, particularly zinc phthalocyanines (ZnPcs), with a wide range of small bioactive molecules to improve selectivity, efficacy, and multifunctionality. These conjugates combine light-activated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production with targeted delivery and controlled release, offering enhanced treatment precision and reduced off-target toxicity. Chemotherapeutic agent conjugates, including those with erlotinib, doxorubicin, tamoxifen, and camptothecin, demonstrate receptor-mediated uptake, pH-responsive release, and synergistic anticancer effects, even overcoming multidrug resistance. Beyond oncology, ZnPc conjugates with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antiparasitics, and antidepressants extend photodynamic therapy’s scope to antimicrobial and site-specific therapies. Targeting moieties such as folic acid, biotin, arginylglycylaspartic acid (RGD) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) peptides, carbohydrates, and amino acids have been employed to exploit overexpressed receptors in tumors, enhancing cellular uptake and tumor accumulation. Fluorescent dye and porphyrinoid conjugates further enrich these systems by enabling imaging-guided therapy, efficient energy transfer, and dual-mode activation through pH or enzyme-sensitive linkers. Despite these promising strategies, key challenges remain, including aggregation-induced quenching, poor aqueous solubility, synthetic complexity, and interference with ROS generation. In this review, the examples of Pc-based conjugates were described with particular interest on the synthetic procedures and optical properties of targeted compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Organic Chemistry)

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26 pages, 4606 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced YOLO11n-Seg with Attention Mechanism and Geometric Metric Optimization for Instance Segmentation of Ripe Blueberries in Complex Greenhouse Environments

by Rongxiang Luo, Rongrui Zhao and Bangjin Yi

Agriculture 2025, 15(15), 1697; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15151697 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

This study proposes an improved YOLO11n-seg instance segmentation model to address the limitations of existing models in accurately identifying mature blueberries in complex greenhouse environments. Current methods often lack sufficient accuracy when dealing with complex scenarios, such as fruit occlusion, lighting variations, and target overlap. To overcome these challenges, we developed a novel approach that integrates a Spatial–Channel Adaptive (SCA) attention mechanism and a Dual Attention Balancing (DAB) module. The SCA mechanism dynamically adjusts the receptive field through deformable convolutions and fuses multi-scale color features. This enhances the model’s ability to recognize occluded targets and improves its adaptability to variations in lighting. The DAB module combines channel–spatial attention and structural reparameterization techniques. This optimizes the YOLO11n structure and effectively suppresses background interference. Consequently, the model’s accuracy in recognizing fruit contours improves. Additionally, we introduce Normalized Wasserstein Distance (NWD) to replace the traditional intersection over union (IoU) metric and address bias issues that arise in dense small object matching. Experimental results demonstrate that the improved model significantly improves target detection accuracy, recall rate, and mAP@0.5, achieving increases of 1.8%, 1.5%, and 0.5%, respectively, over the baseline model. On our self-built greenhouse blueberry dataset, the mask segmentation accuracy, recall rate, and mAP@0.5 increased by 0.8%, 1.2%, and 0.1%, respectively. In tests across six complex scenarios, the improved model demonstrated greater robustness than mainstream models such as YOLOv8n-seg, YOLOv8n-seg-p6, and YOLOv9c-seg, especially in scenes with dense occlusions. The improvement in mAP@0.5 and F1 scores validates the effectiveness of combining attention mechanisms and multiple metric optimizations, for instance, segmentation tasks in complex agricultural scenes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Artificial Intelligence and Digital Agriculture)

16 pages, 2369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

HMGB1 Deficiency Occurs in a Broad Range of Human Cancers and Is Often Associated with Unfavorable Tumor Phenotype

by Viktoria Chirico, Hena Sharifi, Maria Christina Tsourlakis, Seyma Büyücek, Clara Marie von Bargen, Katharina Möller, Florian Lutz, David Dum, Martina Kluth, Claudia Hube-Magg, Georgia Makrypidi-Fraune, Piero Caneve, Maximilian Lennartz, Morton Freytag, Sebastian Dwertmann Rico, Simon Kind, Viktor Reiswich, Eike Burandt, Till S. Clauditz, Patrick Lebok, Christoph Fraune, Till Krech, Sarah Minner, Andreas H. Marx, Waldemar Wilczak, Ronald Simon, Guido Sauter, Stefan Steurer and Kristina Jansen Show full author list Hide full author list

Diagnostics 2025, 15(15), 1974; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15151974 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Aberrant expression of high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) has been linked to cancer development and progression. Methods: To better comprehend the role of HMGB1 expression in cancer, a tissue microarray containing 14,966 samples from 134 different tumor entities and 608 samples of 76 different normal tissue types was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results: Strong HMGB1 staining occurred in almost all normal cell types and in most cancers. Of 11,808 evaluable cancers, only 7.8% showed complete absence of HMGB1 staining (HMGB1 deficiency) while 9.9% showed 1+, 25.0% showed 2+, and 57.2% showed 3+ HMGB1 positivity. Absence of HMGB1 staining mostly occurred in pheochromocytoma (90.0%), seminoma (72.4%), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (28.6%), adrenal cortical carcinoma (25.0%), and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (25.0%). Low HMGB1 staining was linked to poor histologic grade (p < 0.0001), advanced pT stage (p < 0.0001), high UICC stage (p < 0.0001), and distant metastasis (p = 0.0413) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, invasive tumor growth in urothelial carcinoma (pTa vs. pT2–4, p < 0.0001), mismatch repair deficiency (p = 0.0167) in colorectal cancers, and advanced pT stage in invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (p = 0.0038). Strong HMGB1 staining was linked to nodal metastases in high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (p = 0.0213) and colorectal adenocarcinomas (p = 0.0137), as well as to poor histological grade in squamous cell carcinomas (p = 0.0010). Conclusions: HMGB1 deficiency and reduced HMGB1 expression occur in a broad range of different tumor entities. Low rather than strong HMGB1 staining is often linked to an aggressive tumor phenotype. Whether HMGB1 deficiency renders cells susceptible to specific drugs remains to be determined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics)

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29 pages, 5769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Complexity in Spondyloarthritis: Contributions of HLA-B Alleles Beyond HLA-B*27 in Romanian Patients

by Ruxandra-Elena Nagit, Mariana Pavel-Tanasa, Corina Cianga, Elena Rezus and Petru Cianga

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7617; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157617 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

This study examined the distribution and disease associations of non-HLA-B*27 HLA-B alleles in Romanian spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients, aiming to address the underrepresentation of Eastern European populations in immunogenetic research. Methods: We analyzed 263 HLA-B*27-negative patients from Northeastern Romania fulfilling ASAS criteria. HLA-B genotyping was performed at two-digit resolution, and allele distributions were compared with two Romanian HLA-B*27-negative control groups (n = 335 and n = 1705 cases), using chi-square testing and logistic regression. Compared to controls, HLA-B*47 (p = 0.0007) and HLA-B*54 (p = 0.0013) were significantly enriched, while HLA-B*40 was underrepresented (p = 0.0287). Notably, HLA-B*54 was observed exclusively in axial SpA. Within the cohort, both HLA-B*13 and HLA-B*57 alleles were associated with psoriasis, while HLA-B*37 and HLA-B*41 alleles were clustered within the reactive arthritis group. The HLA-B*35 and HLA-B*18 alleles were the most frequently observed alleles across most clinical phenotypes. When comparing the frequency of HLA-B associations, the most common genotypes among SpA patients were B*08-B*18, B*13-B*35, and B*35-B*51. Notably, B*08-B*18 was more frequent in patients with radiographic sacroiliitis grade ≥ 2, while B*35-B*51 was more frequent in those with confirmed systemic inflammation, as indicated by elevated CRP or ESR levels. Analysis of peptide-binding patterns revealed a cluster of risk alleles, HLA-B*08, B*18, B*35, B*40, and B*54, sharing similar features, distinct from the canonical profile of B*27. These findings highlight the contribution of non-B*27 HLA-B alleles to SpA susceptibility in an Eastern European population and support the notion that HLA-B*27-negative SpA may represent a distinct clinical and immunological entity, driven by alternative pathogenic mechanisms. They also emphasize the importance of population-specific immunogenetic profiling and support expanding genetic characterization in HLA-B*27-negative patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of HLA (Human Leucocyte Antigen) in Human Diseases)

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17 pages, 4939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distinct Effects of PFOS and OBS on Neurotoxicity via PMK-1 Mediated Pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans

by Jiahong Jiang, Qi Liu, Boxiang Zhang, Lei Zhao and Dan Xu

Toxics 2025, 13(8), 662; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13080662 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS) has been proposed as a substitute for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), yet it has garnered increasing attention due to its environmental persistence and potential toxicity. Despite these concerns, the neurotoxic mechanisms of OBS remain unclear. This study investigates and compares the neurotoxic effects and mechanisms of OBS and PFOS in Caenorhabditis elegans. L4-stage worms were exposed to OBS (0.1–100 μM) or PFOS (100 μM) for 24 h. Neurobehavioral analysis showed that OBS exposure induced concentration-dependent neurobehavioral deficits, with 100 μM OBS significantly reducing pharyngeal pumping rate (29.8%), head swing frequency (23.4%), and body bending frequency (46.6%), surpassing the effects of PFOS. Both compounds decreased the fluorescence intensity of dopaminergic, glutamatergic, and γ-aminobutyric acid neurons and downregulated neurotransmitter-associated genes. They also increased ROS generation and inhibited antioxidant gene expression. Molecular docking revealed that OBS had a stronger binding affinity to p38 MAPK key protein (PMK-1) than PFOS. OBS and PFOS upregulated pmk-1 and skn-1, modulating oxidative stress and neuronal function. pmk-1 mutation differentially affected OBS-induced neurobehavioral changes and gene expression alterations. Our findings indicate that OBS exhibits stronger neurotoxicity than PFOS in Caenorhabditis elegans, mediated through the PMK-1 pathway. These results highlight the need for further investigation into the safety of OBS as a PFOS alternative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of PFAS-Induced Toxicity and Carcinogenicity)

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20 pages, 2960 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Kaolinite with and Without Polyaluminum Chloride (PAC) in Removing Toxic Alexandrium minutum

by Cherono Sheilah Kwambai, Houda Ennaceri, Alan J. Lymbery, Damian W. Laird, Jeff Cosgrove and Navid Reza Moheimani

Toxins 2025, 17(8), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17080395 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Alexandrium spp. blooms and paralytic shellfish poisoning pose serious economic threats to coastal communities and aquaculture. This study evaluated the removal efficiency of two Alexandrium minutum strains using natural kaolinite clay (KNAC) and kaolinite with polyaluminum chloride (KPAC) at three concentrations (0.1, 0.25, and 0.3 g L⁻¹), two pH levels (7 and 8), and two cell densities (1.0 and 2.0 × 10⁷ cells L⁻¹) in seawater. PAC significantly enhanced removal, achieving up to 100% efficiency within two hours. Zeta potential analysis showed that PAC imparted positive surface charges to the clay, promoting electrostatic interactions with negatively charged algal cells and enhancing flocculation through Van der Waals attractions. In addition, the study conducted a cost estimate analysis and found that treating one hectare at 0.1 g L⁻¹ would cost approximately USD 31.75. The low KPAC application rate also suggests minimal environmental impact on benthic habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Harmful Algal Blooms in Waters: Characterization, Monitoring and Management)

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19 pages, 1628 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Regulation of Oncogenic Pathways in Breast and Gynaecological Cancers

by Ammar Ansari, Aleksandra Szczesnowska, Natalia Haddad, Ahmed Elbediwy and Nadine Wehida

Non-Coding RNA 2025, 11(4), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/ncrna11040061 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Female cancers such as breast and gynaecological cancers contribute to a significant global health burden and are a leading cause of fatality among women. With current treatment options often limited by resistance to cytotoxic drugs, side effects and lack of specificity to the cancer, there is a pressing need for alternative treatments. Recent research has highlighted the promising role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) in regulating these issues and providing more targeted approaches to suppressing key cancer pathways. This review explores the involvement of the various types of non-coding RNAs in regulating key oncogenic pathways, namely, the MAPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Wnt/β-catenin and p53 pathways, in a range of female cancers such as breast, cervical, ovarian and endometrial cancers. Evidence from a multitude of studies suggests that non-coding RNAs function as double-edged swords, serving as both oncogenes and tumour suppressors, depending on their expression and cellular interactions. By mapping and investigating these regulatory interactions, this review demonstrates the complexity and dual functionality of ncRNAs in cancer. Understanding these complex mechanisms is essential for the development of new and effective ncRNA-based diagnostic methods and targeted therapies in female cancer treatment. Full article

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16 pages, 1119 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Storage Time and Reheating Method on the Quality of a Precooked Lamb-Based Dish

by Zhihao Yang, Chenlei Wang, Ye Jin, Wenjia Le, Liang Zhang, Lifei Wang, Bo Zhang, Yueying Guo, Min Zhang and Lin Su

Foods 2025, 14(15), 2748; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14152748 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Ready-to-eat meat products face quality challenges during storage and reheating. This study aimed to (i) characterize the physicochemical/microbiological changes in stewed mutton during storage (4 °C/−18 °C, 0–28 days) and (ii) evaluate reheating methods (boiling vs. microwaving) on day-7 samples. The nutritional analysis confirmed moisture reduction (57.32 vs. 72.12 g/100 g)-concentrated protein/fat levels. Storage at −18 °C suppressed microbial growth (the total plate count (TPC), 3.73 vs. 4.80 log CFU/g at 28 days; p < 0.05) and lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS): 0.14 vs. 0.19 mg/kg) more effectively than storage at 4 °C. The total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) kinetics projected a shelf life ≥90 days (4 °C) and ≥120 days (−18 °C). Microwave reheating after frozen storage (−18 °C) maximized the yield (86.21% vs. 75.90% boiling; p < 0.05) and preserved volatile profiles closest to those in the fresh samples (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)/electronic nose). The combination of freezing storage and subsequent microwave reheating has been demonstrated to be an effective method for preserving the quality of a precooked lamb dish, thereby ensuring its nutritional value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Research on the Effects of Novel Processing Technologies on Meat Flavor and Quality Characteristics)

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16 pages, 824 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot for Cochlear Implant Side Selection: A Preliminary Study

by Daniele Portelli, Sabrina Loteta, Mariangela D’Angelo, Cosimo Galletti, Leonard Freni, Rocco Bruno, Francesco Ciodaro, Angela Alibrandi and Giuseppe Alberti

Audiol. Res. 2025, 15(4), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres15040100 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being applied in otolaryngology, including cochlear implants (CIs). This study evaluates the accuracy and completeness of ChatGPT-4 and Microsoft Copilot in determining the appropriate implantation side based on audiological and radiological data, as well as the presence of tinnitus. Methods: Data from 22 CI patients (11 males, 11 females; 12 right-sided, 10 left-sided implants) were used to query both AI models. Each patient’s audiometric thresholds, hearing aid benefit, tinnitus presence, and radiological findings were provided. The AI-generated responses were compared to the clinician-chosen sides. Accuracy and completeness were scored by two independent reviewers. Results: ChatGPT had a 50% concordance rate for right-side implantation and a 70% concordance rate for left-side implantation, while Microsoft Copilot achieved 75% and 90%, respectively. Chi-square tests showed significant associations between AI-suggested and clinician-chosen sides for both AI (p < 0.05). ChatGPT outperformed Microsoft Copilot in identifying radiological alterations (60% vs. 40%) and tinnitus presence (77.8% vs. 66.7%). Cronbach’s alpha was >0.70 only for ChatGPT accuracy, indicating better agreement between reviewers. Conclusions: Both AI models showed significant alignment with clinician decisions. Microsoft Copilot was more accurate in implantation side selection, while ChatGPT better recognized radiological alterations and tinnitus. These results highlight AI’s potential as a clinical decision support tool in CI candidacy, although further research is needed to refine its application in complex cases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Technologies in Audiology: Advancing Assessment, Intervention, and Accessibility)

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28 pages, 1211 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phosphorus in Salmonid Aquaculture: Sources, Requirements, and System-Level Implications

by Vegard Øvstetun Flo, Torbjørn Åsgård and Odd-Ivar Lekang

Fishes 2025, 10(8), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10080388 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of phosphorus (P) dynamics relevant to salmonid aquaculture, with a particular focus on Atlantic salmon. It explores the global P cycle, the chemical forms of P in aquatic systems, and the implications of P sourcing, processing, and availability in aquafeeds. The review distinguishes between digestibility and availability of P, summarizes requirement studies, and evaluates the contribution of marine, animal, vegetable, and inorganic sources to dietary P. It also examines how aquaculture system design, particularly recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs), influences P accumulation and emissions. By integrating nutritional, physiological, and environmental perspectives, this review offers a uniquely holistic view of P efficiency and sustainability in salmonid aquaculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Aquaculture)

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10 pages, 713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pulse Steroid Therapy for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

by Yasumasa Kawano, Junichi Maruyama, Mitsuaki Nishikimi, Hisatomi Arima, Yuhei Irie, Shinichi Morimoto, Kentaro Muranishi, Maiko Nakashio and Yoshihiko Nakamura

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(15), 5547; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155547 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Low-dose corticosteroids have gained popularity in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); however, the efficacy of high-dose corticosteroids as pulse steroid therapy remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of pulse steroid therapy in patients with severe ARDS requiring venovenous (V-V) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), where enhanced anti-inflammatory effects may be beneficial. Methods: Using data from the J-CARVE registry, which included patients with severe ARDS managed with V-V ECMO across 24 Japanese hospitals between January 2012 and December 2022, we identified 373 patients treated with corticosteroids. The patients were divided into two groups: pulse steroid therapy and non-pulse steroid therapy. Propensity score matching was performed, and all-cause hospital mortality and ECMO-free days within 28 days were compared between groups. Pulse steroid therapy was defined as methylprednisolone at a dose of 1000 mg/day. Results: After matching, 48 patients were included in each group. The all-cause hospital mortality rates were 41.7% (20/48) in the pulse steroid group and 47.9% (23/48) in the non-pulse steroid group, with no significant difference (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval: 0.53–3.12, p = 0.68). The median ECMO-free days were 9.5 (interquartile range [IQR]: 0–17.3) in the pulse steroid group and 3 (IQR: 0–17) in the non-pulse steroid group, showing no significant difference (p = 0.69). Conclusions: Pulse steroid therapy did not improve all-cause hospital mortality or ECMO-free days in patients with severe ARDS who required V-V ECMO. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Emergency Medicine)

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