Search Results (559)

Surface electromyography (sEMG) gesture recognition degrades across recording days under domain shift, increasing calibration burden for myoelectric interfaces. Many cross-day adaptation pipelines retrain the deployed recognizer or require labeled target-session data, which can be impractical in assistive-device settings where classifier versions may need to remain locked for traceability and regulatory compliance. We study unsupervised cross-day adaptation under two constraints: the task classifier remains frozen and holdout-day labels are not used when training the adaptor. We propose the Source-Reprojection Module (SRM), a plug-in front end that combines conditional adversarial feature learning with a residual signal-space projector guided by the frozen classifier’s gradients, identity regularization, and latent-space distribution matching, using labeled source days and unlabeled adaptation days only. On a multi-day protocol with four healthy participants (at least five calendar-day sessions per participant, split 3:1:1 into source, adaptation, and holdout domains) and three random seeds per participant (12 runs), mean holdout accuracy increases from 70.9% for the frozen classifier alone to 72.8% with SRM ($+1.98\pm 0.91$ percentage points averaged across subjects). SRM outperforms the frozen baseline in 10 of 12 subject–seed runs. The gain is modest and the cohort is small, so the result supports proof-of-mechanism under the stated protocol rather than population-level clinical generalization. Full article

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Since miRNAs modulate host immune responses, they represent promising molecular biomarkers of paratuberculosis (PTB), particularly during early or subclinical stages, when conventional diagnostic tests may lack sensitivity. In this context, faecal miRNAs could provide valuable insights into intestinal immune responses and mucosal damage associated with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection. Although miRNAs have been extensively investigated in serum, blood, and tissues, their detection and characterization in bovine faeces remain poorly explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression profiles of selected candidate faecal miRNAs in Marchigiana beef cattle naturally exposed to MAP and to assess their association with different infection phenotypes. Thirty-four cows were classified into three phenotypic groups: healthy exposed, MAP-infected, and PTB-affected based on longitudinal diagnostic records including interferon-γ assay, serological testing (ELISA), and faecal qPCR. Five candidate miRNAs were selected from previous studies and quantified in faecal samples by RT-qPCR. Four of the five selected miRNAs were consistently detected across samples. Bta-miR-92a was significantly downregulated in both MAP-infected and PTB-affected animals compared with healthy cattle, suggesting early modulation during MAP infection. Bta-miR-223 was significantly upregulated in PTB-affected animals compared with both healthy and MAP-infected groups, consistent with its established role in the regulation of intestinal inflammation. The ortholog of hsa-miR-501-5p was significantly upregulated in MAP-infected cattle, potentially reflecting early host–pathogen interactions at the intestinal mucosal level, while bta-miR-24-3p showed no significant differences among groups. Overall, these findings support the feasibility of faecal miRNA analysis as a complementary non-invasive molecular approach to support traditional diagnostic tests for PTB, especially during the early and subclinical stages of MAP infection. Full article

Glyphosate, the most extensively used herbicide worldwide, is frequently detected in aquatic environments due to its high solubility, persistence, and intensive agricultural application. Its occurrence, together with that of its principal metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), raises substantial environmental and public health concerns. Conventional water treatment technologies generally exhibit limited efficiency in achieving complete removal and mineralization of this compound. In recent years, advanced electrochemical oxidation processes, and particularly anodic oxidation, have emerged as promising alternatives owing to their ability to generate highly reactive hydroxyl radicals in situ. This review provides the first contaminant-specific and mechanistic assessment dedicated exclusively to the anodic electro-oxidation of glyphosate. In contrast to previous reviews offering broad surveys of electrode materials or generalized evaluations of glyphosate treatment technologies, this work synthesizes all mechanistic, kinetic, and material-dependent insights reported between 2016 and 2025. A comparative analysis of major anode families (including boron-doped diamond (BDD), ${\mathrm{P}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{O}}_2$, mixed-metal oxides, and Magnéli-phase Ti₄O₇) is presented, highlighting glyphosate-specific degradation pathways, intermediate formation, and the operational parameters controlling mineralization efficiency and energy demand. By establishing a structured framework that links electrode properties, radical-generation mechanisms, and pollutant-specific degradation chemistry, this review addresses a critical gap in the literature and provides a scientific basis for designing next-generation electrochemical processes for the efficient and sustainable removal of glyphosate and related organophosphorus contaminants. Full article

In January 2021, the new journal Conservation was launched, creating a platform for the publication of comprehensive reviews, original research articles, communications, case reports, brief reports, commentaries, and other perspectives related to the biological, sociological, ethical, economic, methodological, and other transdisciplinary dimensions of conservation [...] Full article

Although the green belt around Greater Lomé (GBGL) is a vital ecological buffer, it is currently facing significant degradation. This decline appears to be associated with a combination of various socioeconomic uses by the local community and formal operations of established businesses. Grounded in the cultural materialism framework, this study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of the socioeconomic uses of the green belt around Greater Lomé in a context of degradation and investigates the dynamics of these socioeconomic uses and their environmental impacts through a multidisciplinary methodology. This approach combines anthropological analysis based on field observation, 53 semi-structured interviews and 5 focus groups, a quantitative questionnaire survey (n = 384) and an analysis of land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics derived from Landsat imagery (2003–2023). The results reveal six main types of socioeconomic uses of the GBGL (notably land transactions, agriculture, breeding and grazing, exploitation of wood energy, timber and utility wood, sand mining, and waste disposal), which lead to complex social dynamics ranging from conflicts to alliances among stakeholders. The LULC dynamics analysis indicates a staggering 468.26% expansion in built-up areas over the last 20 years, at the expense of swamp vegetation/gallery forest (−76.79%), tree-and-shrub savanna (−53.47%) and plantations (−49.43). This study provides a scientific basis supporting the urgent necessity to establish the GBGL as a legally protected entity and argues in favour of an inclusive management model that is designed to reconcile the socioeconomic survival needs of local populations with sustainable preservation of essential ecosystem services. Full article

Background: Postbiotics, including cell-free supernatants and their fractions, have emerged as a safe and effective alternative to live probiotics for managing intestinal inflammation. This study investigated the protective effects of low-molecular-weight fractions (<3 kDa) of the probiotic Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 (LMW-LF) in a murine model of experimental colitis. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were orally administered LMW-LF for 10 days prior to colitis induction with 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) for 5 days. Colonic damage was assessed via the Disease Activity Index (DAI), histology, and immunofluorescence (Ocln and Ki67). Immune cell populations were analyzed by flow cytometry, while mucosal gene expression and gut microbiota composition were evaluated using RT-qPCR and 16S rRNA sequencing, respectively. Results: LMW-LF administration significantly attenuated clinical symptoms and macroscopic colonic damage. Treatment restored epithelial barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins (Tjp1) and mucin genes (Muc1-3) while normalizing DSS-induced epithelial hyperproliferation. Immunologically, LMW-LF reduced pro-inflammatory monocyte infiltration; downregulated Il6, Tnfa, and Ifng; and promoted an immunoregulatory phenotype by enhancing Ampk expression and partially restoring regulatory T cell (Treg) populations. Furthermore, LMW-LF reshaped the gut microbiota by increasing alpha diversity and promoting the enrichment of beneficial taxa, specifically Akkermansia muciniphila, which correlated with improved mucus layer preservation. Conclusions: LMW-LF is an active fraction acting across the host–microbiota axis. By integrating epithelial protection, immunomodulation, and microbial reshaping, it represents a promising dietary strategy for the management of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Full article

The present work investigates the combined effect of precursor source and solvent on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of ZnO thin films prepared by the spin-coating technique. Three precursor sources (zinc acetate dihydrate, zinc chloride, and zinc nitrate hexahydrate) and four solvents (ethanol, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-propanol, and 1-methoxy-2-propanol) were systematically explored. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that all films crystallize in the hexagonal wurtzite structure, with a pronounced (002) preferential orientation for zinc acetate-derived and most of the zinc chloride-derived films. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that both precursor and solvent strongly influence surface morphology. Zinc acetate yields smoother and more compact films, zinc chloride promotes larger hexagonal grains, and zinc nitrate leads to relatively porous structures. Among the solvents, 2-methoxyethanol produces the most uniform and dense films regardless of the precursor. Optical measurements show that transmittance is highly dependent on synthesis conditions, reaching up to 90% in the visible range for zinc acetate-based films, particularly with 2-methoxyethanol. The optical band gap varies between 3.20 and 3.37 eV, reflecting differences in crystallinity and defect density. Overall, these results highlight the key role of precursor–solvent interactions in tailoring ZnO thin film properties for optoelectronic applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: African Swine Fever (ASF) represents one of the most serious threats to animal health and global food security. The causative agent of ASF is the African swine fever virus (ASFV), a DNA virus belonging to the Asfarviridae family. Here, we describe ex vivo results for an original anti-ASFV vaccine approach based on the cellular immune response induced by extracellular vesicles (EVs) engineered to express four ASFV proteins. EV engineering was achieved by expressing a DNA vector encoding a biologically inactive HIV-1 Nef protein (Nef^mut), which exhibits unusually high efficiency of incorporation into EVs, even when fused to foreign proteins. Previous studies have demonstrated that intramuscular injection of Nef^mut-based vectors leads to the engineering of Evs, spontaneously released by muscle cells, and induction of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cell immunity. Methods: We designed DNA vectors expressing the fusion products between Nef^mut and each of the four ASFV structural proteins p30, p54, pp62, and p72. Engineered EVs were molecularly characterized by Western blot and nanotrack analysis, and their potential immunogenicity was assessed by priming and cross-presentation assays. Results: We assessed that the four fusion proteins were successfully expressed in transfected mammalian cells, with the release of valuable amounts of engineered EVs. When immature swine dendritic cells were challenged with the engineered EVs and then co-cultivated with autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes in priming assays, lymphocyte subpopulations specifically reacting against each ASFV antigen were elicited, as detected by an IFN-γ ELISpot assay. In addition, we provide evidence that the Nef^mut-based fusion products incorporated into the engineered EVs can be cross-presented by professional antigen-presenting cells, leading to cross-priming of autologous lymphocytes. Conclusions: These results represent the best premise to go forward with experiments examining immunogenicity and antiviral efficiency in pigs. Full article

We introduce a mathematical model describing a dynamical system made up of interdependent compartments subject to intrinsic fragility and cross-support. The dynamics are driven by the competition between hierarchical sublinear dissipation and cyclic coupling, enabling a natural interpretation of transitions between distinct regimes (e.g., resilience versus degradation, vulnerability and crisis/extinction in finance or biology). We establish the existence, uniqueness, positivity, and global continuation of solutions. We also investigate the qualitative behavior of the system by studying the stability of equilibrium points and deriving threshold conditions characterizing increasing, decreasing, and stationary regimes. Numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the theoretical results and the transition phenomena between extinction and self-sustained dynamics. Full article

Togolese agriculture is vulnerable to climate variability. In this context, this study aims to analyze the seasonal variability of climatic parameters and its effects on food production in the western Plateaux region. To achieve this, climatic data (from stations in Agou-Gare, Adéta, Amou, Badou, Kouma Konda, and Atakpamé) and agricultural data (yields, production, and areas of maize, rice, cowpea, cassava, and yam) from 1991 to 2020 were processed using RStudio 4.4.0. A methodology integrating both daily rainfall and changes in available soil water (ASW) was used to determine the rainy seasons and their durations. Seasonal rainfall totals were used to analyze spatial variability. Finally, an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model with a threshold of 10% was used to assess the effect of climate parameters on food production. The results reveal a transition from a bimodal rainfall regime to a monomodal regime, characterised by a dry season of 4–5 months and a rainy season of 7–8 months. This transition is accompanied by an increase in temperatures ranging from 24.69 °C to 34.7 °C. The results also reveal an uncertain start to the long rainy season (early or late), an extension of the short season and dry spells lasting between 11 and 34 days that affect crops. Finally, spatial variability in precipitation remains significant during the long rainy season. Agroclimatic analysis reveals that maximum temperature positively influences cowpea yields (p = 0.0079) but negatively influences cassava (p = 0.00013) and rice (p = 0.050) yields. These results could inform the development of effective adaptation strategies tailored to this environment, helping to maintain and increase food production in the context of climate change. Full article

Single-use plastics (SUPs) impose substantial environmental costs. Following Directive (EU) 2019/904, Austria introduced producer charges and mandatory participation in collection and recycling systems. This paper exploits a monthly aggregated and disaggregated panel of retail offer spells drawn from a price-comparison platform to estimate the extent to which compliance costs pass through to posted online prices in Austria. The treated sample comprises keyword-matched SUP products—balloons, to-go cups, wet wipes, plastic bags, food containers, tobacco-filter items, beverage bottles, and plastic wraps—observed alongside a control group of non-SUP listings over 2020–2024. A two-way fixed-effects (TWFE) specification places the average post-treatment price increase at approximately 4.1 percent. A sequential TWFE model that disaggregates the administrative reporting phase (from March 2023) from the payment-due phase (from March 2024) reveals that the larger adjustment occurs during the earlier reporting stage, with a reporting-only effect of approximately 8.1 percent and an incremental payment-phase effect of 5.6 percent. For balloons—a category subject to pronounced regulatory fee exposure—event-study estimates exceed 50 percent in the months immediately following the initial payment date and remain elevated throughout most of the post-treatment window. Taken together, these findings indicate that Austrian online retailers began adjusting prices in advance of fee-payment deadlines, a pattern consistent with anticipatory pass-through of expected compliance costs rather than a discrete response to realized payments. As the data contain price observations but not quantity data, the analysis speaks to price incidence and does not extend to consumption or environmental outcomes. Full article

Surgical workflow understanding requires recognizing procedural phases and fine-grained activities from long-horizon videos, yet acquiring dense annotations for surgical video analysis is costly and requires medical expertise. To address this challenge, we present a text-guided and annotation-efficient framework for surgical video understanding based on a frozen surgical vision–language-pretrained (VLP) encoder and a lightweight temporal adapter. The frozen SurgVLP image encoder provides frame-level visual embeddings, and the temporal adapter aggregates them into clip-level representations while preserving compatibility with the pretrained visual–text embedding space. We evaluate the proposed framework on CholecT50 using text-guided prototype matching for phase recognition and few-shot triplet recognition. Experiments show that temporal adaptation improves phase recognition while preserving the pretrained SurgVLP embedding space. In particular, among the evaluated methods, the proposed Text Contrastive method with rich phase prompts achieves the highest phase recognition performance, outperforming the phase-only baseline. Furthermore, the proposed framework enables classifier-free few-shot triplet recognition in the frozen text space without training a dedicated triplet classifier. These results suggest that effective surgical video understanding under limited annotation depends not only on temporal adaptation but also on preserving alignment with the pretrained text space and using semantically informative text prompts. Full article

Due to rapid urbanization, climate and socio-economic change, vernacular architecture in the Kara region of Togo is now facing mutations that threaten its existence. In the Kara region, new forms of housing, inspired by ancestral building practices and green technologies, are emerging as neo-vernacular architecture. This study aims to evaluate the overall performance of the CIDAP social hall, which is considered a model of neo-vernacular architecture. Through a series of both qualitative and quantitative tools, including the VerSus tool, the PTVA method and the calculation of the temperature difference ratio (TDR), the CIDAP social hall was analyzed regarding the criteria of durability, vulnerability to climatic hazards and thermal comfort. This work indicates that this building achieves a sustainability score of 88.33%. In terms of vulnerability to climatic hazards, the vulnerability index is around 0.392 for heavy rainfall, 0.389 for high heat and 0.309 for strong wind hazard. For thermal behavior, the TDR is of the order of 0.634. All these results reveal a satisfactory performance of the CIDAP social hall in terms of durability, vulnerability and thermal comfort. Full article

In hot, semi-arid zones, cities are experiencing longer and more intense warm spells. Although the literature offers strategies to mitigate this threat, studies verifying their feasibility are limited. In this study, we aim to ascertain the feasibility of reducing land surface temperature (LST) through greening. We combine LST analysis with a feasibility assessment of cooling measures and consider physical and ownership dimensions alongside environmental and social factors, with Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) serving as a case study. The average LST during the hottest period (April–May) was calculated from ECOSTRESS and Landsat remotely sensed data, and multiple regression models were used to analyse the relationship between LST and land cover/land use across the city’s districts and sectors. Our assessment incorporates greening scenarios, SWOT analyses, and equity assessments, and our results indicate that barren land is the primary determinant of diurnal LST. Planting 0.45 million trees could reduce LST by up to 2.4 °C in peripheral sectors if large roads, utilities, and vacant lands are targeted. This may reduce disparities in tree cover between sectors but could widen the gap between districts. Recommendations include a more hierarchical street network, enhancing utility provision, and reducing barren land in the peripheral sectors. Full article

Background/Objectives: Transitions to new vaccines or antigen schedules represent complex system changes requiring coordinated governance, reliable data systems, domestic financing, and multisectoral collaboration. In 2025, African countries were moving toward a switch from separate pentavalent and inactivated poliovirus vaccines to the combined hexavalent vaccine. This project report describes the Hexavalent Vaccine Switch Early Adopters Workshop in Dakar, Senegal, which included ten African countries, and its implications for future vaccine introductions. Methods: We conducted a practice analysis drawing on structured documentation of plenary presentations, country case studies, interactive problem-solving sessions, and national roadmap exercises. A thematic framework aligned to ten process points for the hexa switch guided synthesis. Results: Countries reported shared system vulnerabilities, including coexistence risks of legacy and new vaccine stocks, inconsistent data completeness, under-resourced vaccine safety surveillance, and financing uncertainties. Early adopter countries demonstrated operational feasibility, logistical efficiencies, and opportunities for reducing injection burden. Outputs included a Health System Adaptation Checklist, a Switch Risk Mitigation Catalog, and 12-month national roadmaps. Conclusions: Regional peer-learning mechanisms can accelerate decision-making, improve operational quality, and strengthen accountability for vaccine introductions. Structured cross-country collaborations can transform a product switch into a scalable system-strengthening opportunity. Full article