Search Results (135)

Background and Clinical Significance: Hepatic sarcoidosis is a benign lesion of unknown etiology. The gold standard for diagnosing hepatic sarcoidosis is histopathological examination. The symptoms and imaging findings of patients with hepatic sarcoidosis are often atypical, leading to misdiagnosis as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ultrasound resolution microscopy (URM) can overcome the diffraction limit, enabling fine visualization and quantitative analysis of the microvascular networks. This study aimed to provide new evidence for the differential diagnosis of these two diseases by comparing the URM parameters of hepatic sarcoidosis initially misdiagnosed as HCC with those of HCC. Case Presentation: A 67-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital due to upper abdominal pain for two weeks. Ultrasonography revealed a liver mass. The lesion was located in segment IV of the left hepatic lobe, was approximately 18 × 10 mm in size, and appeared hypoechoic. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging both showed a “fast-in, fast-out” pattern, strongly suggesting HCC. The tumor markers were within the normal range. The patient underwent a laparoscopic left hepatic lobectomy. The histopathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was “hepatic sarcoidosis”. URM examination was performed during the preoperative diagnostic process. Subsequently, the URM parameters of the patient’s lesion were analyzed and compared with those of HCC. The results showed differences in multiple URM parameters, including microvascular flow velocity, diameter, microvascular density ratio, and vascular distribution, between this case of hepatic sarcoidosis and HCC. Conclusions: URM can quantitatively and multidimensionally evaluate the microvasculature of liver lesions, providing new reference data for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hepatic sarcoidosis. Full article

Deep-ultraviolet (DUV, 193 nm) tools for lithography and precision micromachining are often limited by beam-profile nonuniformity, which degrades critical-dimension control, line-edge roughness, and process windows. Conventional phase-dependent homogenizers can lose performance under realistic phase noise and pointing jitter. We investigate two complementary, energy–space-modulation routes to robust homogenization: (i) a metalens-based microlens array (MLA) that forms a flat-top via controlled beamlet overlap and (ii) a chromium-on-sapphire attenuator that equalizes intensity purely by amplitude shaping. Coupled FDTD and optical modeling guide a graded-transmittance Cr design (target transmittance 0.8–0.9) that converts a Gaussian input into a flat-top plateau. Experiments at 193 nm verify that both approaches achieve high static uniformity (Urms <3.5%). Under dynamic conditions, the MLA exhibits sensitivity to transverse-mode hops and phase fluctuations due to its reliance on coherent overlap, leading to reduced uniformity and fill factor. In contrast, the Cr attenuator remains phase-insensitive and maintains stable output under jitter, offering a power-robust, low-maintenance alternative for industrial DUV systems. We discuss design trade-offs and outline hybrid MLA + attenuation schemes that preserve MLA-level flatness while approaching the robustness of amplitude-shaping solutions. Full article

The failure behaviour of historic unreinforced masonry (URM) structures is strongly influenced by the properties of bricks and mortar. Over time, degradation processes compromise these materials, with significant effect on structural response and safety. Nevertheless, deterioration effects on the nonlinear behaviour of masonry have been only marginally investigated. This study investigates the mechanical behaviour and failure mechanisms of historic brick masonry with weak and irregular mortar joints, representative of Mediterranean traditional constructions. An extensive experimental programme was conducted on mortars, historic clay bricks, prisms, wallets, and triplet specimens, complemented by in-situ flat jack tests. Results confirm the critical role of mortar quality and joint irregularities in reducing compressive and shear strength and in influencing deformation capacity of historic masonry. The experimental findings served as a basis for the calibration of a Finite Element Model (FEM), subsequently employed to gain deeper insight into the governing failure mechanisms in a real study case. A critical discussion of compression and shear failure criteria is presented, focusing on historic masonry. Experimental and analytical comparisons show major discrepancies in classical criteria, especially with degraded mortars. The study shows that in historic masonry with weak joints, failure is often governed by compression rather than shear. Full article

With reference to the widespread out-of-plane (OOP) failures of infill walls in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings during the 6 February 2023 earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, this paper investigates the OOP strength of unreinforced masonry (URM) infills without openings, enclosed in RC frames, while also considering the effect of prior in-plane (IP) loading. A comprehensive database has been compiled, including all available tests on infills subjected to OOP loading and sequential IP–OOP loading, as well as those on infills with gaps between the RC frame and the masonry panel. This study evaluates the effectiveness of established design models at predicting the OOP strength of infills in RC frames and proposes refinements to improve the predictive accuracy. For the OOP strength, two arch-based models are applied, and the impact of prior IP loading is addressed through a reduction factor, R. Based on test observations showing that prior IP loading disproportionately reduces the OOP strength in vulnerable infills, an improved R-factor is introduced, providing better alignment with experimental results than four existing design formulas. The influence of gaps between the infill and RC frame on the OOP behavior is also examined. The findings reveal inconsistencies and reduced reliability among the available design models, highlighting the need for further research on this critical topic. Full article

Collagenases are enzymes with broad biotechnological applications in medicine. This study describes the production and characterization of a collagenase from Aspergillus serratalhadensis URM 7866, isolated from the Caatinga biome. Solid-state fermentations were conducted using wheat bran under varying conditions of pH (6, 7, 8), moisture content (50%, 60%, 70%), and substrate concentration (2.5 g, 5 g, 10 g). The optimal condition—10 g of wheat bran at pH 8 and 70% moisture—yielded the highest collagenolytic activity (177.96 U/mL) and a specific activity of 50.55 U/mg. The enzyme was purified via multiple chromatography, with pre-purification and final purification factors of 18.09 and 20.21, respectively, reaching a specific activity of 1021.86 U/mg. The enzyme showed optimal activity at 50 °C and pH 8, with stability from 20 to 40 °C and pH 7–9. PMSF caused >80% inhibition; EDTA caused ~34% inhibition. Activity increased with Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ and was inhibited by Zn²⁺. The enzyme retained full activity in anionic and non-ionic surfactants (1–10%). FTIR confirmed characteristic amide bands, and kinetic analysis revealed a Km of 1.72 mg/mL and Vmax of 6.89 mg/mL/min. These findings support its potential for alkaline and surfactant-rich industrial processes. Full article

The application of biochar and beneficial microorganisms has gained attention as a sustainable strategy to enhance soil health and plant resistance to pathogens. Trichoderma spp. play critical roles in nutrient mobilization, rhizosphere colonization, and suppression of soilborne diseases. However, little is known about the interactive effects of biochar and Trichoderma on the suppression of Fusarium equiseti (P1I3)-induced root rot in grapevine seedlings. In this study, we investigated the effects of two Trichoderma aureoviride strains (URM 6668 and URM 3734), with and without grapevine pruning-derived biochar (BVP), on disease severity, plant growth, and soil properties. Our results revealed that the combination of biochar and Trichoderma significantly reduced disease incidence and promoted biomass accumulation. Notably, BVP and T. aureoviride URM 3734 were the most effective at reducing leaf disease severity, resulting in a 53% decrease. Conversely, the combination of BVP and T. aureoviride URM 6668 led to the greatest reduction in root disease severity, with a 56% decrease. These findings suggest a synergistic relationship between biochar and beneficial fungi, reinforcing the role of organic soil amendments in promoting plant health. The integrated use of biochar and Trichoderma strains offers a viable, environmentally sound approach for managing grapevine root rot and enhancing seedling health in sustainable viticulture systems. Full article

This study reviews existing research on the effects of the interaction between in-plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OOP) behaviors on the seismic response of non-framed unreinforced masonry (URM) structures. During earthquakes, masonry buildings exhibit complex behaviors. First, walls may experience simultaneous IP and OOP actions, or pre-existing IP and OOP damage, deformation, or loads that can alter their unidirectional IP or OOP seismic response. Second, the IP and OOP action of one wall can affect the behavior of its intersecting walls. However, the effects of these behaviors, referred to as “direct IP-OOP interactions” and “Flange effects”, respectively, are often disregarded in design and assessment provisions. To address this gap, this study explores findings from experimental and numerical research conducted at the wall level currently available in the literature, identifying the nature of these interaction effects and the key parameters that affect their extent. The available body of work includes only a few experimental studies on interaction effects, whereas numerical investigations are more extensive. However, most numerical studies focus on how OOP pre-damage/deformation influences the IP behaviors (OOP/IP interactions) and the role of flanges in IP response (F/IP interactions), leaving significant gaps in understanding the effects of IP pre-damage/deformation on the OOP response (IP/OOP interactions) and the OOP response in the presence of flanges (F/OOP interactions). Among the parameters studied, boundary conditions, wall height-to-length aspect ratio, and vertical overburden are found to have the most significant influence on interaction effects because of their relevance for the IP and OOP failure mechanisms. Other parameters, such as the restriction of top uplift, the presence of openings, or changes in slenderness ratio, are not comprehensively studied, and the available data are insufficient for definitive conclusions. Methodologies available in the literature for extrapolating the findings observed at the wall level to building-level analyses are reviewed. The current predictive equations primarily address the effects of OOP pre-load and Flange effects on IP response. Furthermore, only a few macro-element models are proposed for cost-effective, large-scale building simulations. To bridge these gaps, future research must expand experimental investigations, develop more comprehensive design and assessment equations, and refine numerical modeling techniques for building-level applications. Full article

Biological control employs beneficial microorganisms to suppress phytopathogens and mitigate the incidence of associated plant diseases. This study investigated the in vitro development and survival of Trichoderma spp. isolates derived from commercial formulations under different temperatures, pH levels, and sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations and with synthetic fungicides with distinct modes of action. Three isolates were analyzed: URM-5911 and TRA-0048 (T. asperellum) and TRL-0102 (T. longibrachiatum). The results revealed substantial variability among the isolates, with the optimal mycelial growth temperatures ranging from 24.56 to 29.42 °C. All the isolates exhibited broad tolerance to the tested pH (5–9) and salinity levels (250–1000 mM), with TRL-0102 demonstrating the highest salt resistance. The fungicide treatments negatively affected mycelial growth across all the isolates, with Azoxystrobin + Difenoconazole and Boscalid causing growth reductions of up to 50%. Notably, Boscalid enhanced conidial production more compared to the control (126.0% for URM-5911, 13.7% for TRA-0048, and 148.5% for TRL-0102) and decreased the percentage of inactive conidia to less than 10% in all the isolates. These results provide strategic information for the application of Trichoderma spp. in agricultural systems, supporting the selection of more adapted and suitable isolates for integrated disease management programs. Full article

Gender recognition from pedestrian imagery is acknowledged by many as a quasi-solved problem, yet most existing approaches evaluate performance in a within-domain setting, i.e., when the test and training data, though disjoint, closely resemble each other. This work provides the first exhaustive cross-domain assessment of six architectures considered to represent the state of the art: ALM, VAC, Rethinking, LML, YinYang-Net, and MAMBA, across three widely known benchmarks: PA-100K, PETA, and RAP. All train/test combinations between datasets were evaluated, yielding 54 comparable experiments. The results revealed a performance split: median in-domain F1 approached 90% in most models, while the average drop under domain shift was up to 16.4 percentage points, with the most recent approaches degrading the most. The adaptive-masking ALM achieved an F1 above 80% in most transfer scenarios, particularly those involving high-resolution or pose-stable domains, highlighting the importance of strong inductive biases over architectural novelty alone. Further, to characterize robustness quantitatively, we introduced the Unified Robustness Metric (URM), which integrates the average cross-domain degradation performance into a single score. A qualitative saliency analysis also corroborated the numerical findings by exposing over-confidence and contextual bias in misclassifications. Overall, this study suggests that challenges in gender recognition are much more evident in cross-domain settings than under the commonly reported within-domain context. Finally, we formalize an open evaluation protocol that can serve as a baseline for future works of this kind. Full article

Our paper presents a case for co-learning, a novel hybridization of teacher professional learning and student out-of-school learning wherein students and teachers collaborate and learn together. The benefits of collaborative learning are well documented in the literature; however, a co-learning approach to engaging teachers and students in integrated STEM activities is unexplored. This qualitative study was designed to unpack the co-learning experience from the perspectives of teachers and students to understand the opportunities and challenges of a co-learning model. We drew upon end-of-workshop semi-structured interviews with teacher and student participants, focusing specifically on participants’ reflections and insights about their experience with co-learning. The findings of our study highlight that (1) co-learning can be a powerful model for learning STEM content for both teachers and students, (2) co-learning leads both teachers and students to develop new insights and perspectives about each other, (3) co-learning requires teachers to navigate multiple roles, and (4) challenging group dynamics can impact co-learning. This research provides a proof of concept that co-learning is a model with much potential and may serve as a valuable model for creating integrated STEM learning experiences that serve both teachers and underrepresented racially minoritized (URM) students. Full article

Reinforced concrete began replacing traditional masonry construction in the early 20th century, yet hybrid buildings combining unreinforced masonry (URM) walls with concrete slabs remain prevalent in Istanbul. Understanding their seismic behavior is critical for risk mitigation and heritage preservation. This study investigates a seven-story masonry residential building with cast-in-place reinforced concrete slabs constructed in 1953. The assessment involved non-destructive inspections, double flat-jack and shear tests, and geophysical site surveys. A finite element model was developed using Midas Gen software v2020 and analyzed through linear response spectrum and nonlinear pushover analyses based on TBSC-18 and SRMGHS-17. The modulus of elasticity ranged from 200.2 MPa to 1062.2 MPa, and bed joint shear strength varied between 0.50 MPa and 0.79 MPa. The building satisfied inter-story drift criteria for limited damage (SL-3), controlled damage (SL-2), and pre-collapse (SL-1). However, it failed to meet the shear force requirements at all levels. Pushover analysis revealed ultimate lateral capacities of 11,997 kN in the x-direction and 16,209 kN in the y-direction. The findings highlight the shear vulnerability of such hybrid systems and underscore the importance of combining experimental characterization with numerical modeling to develop effective retrofitting strategies. Full article

The application of biochar is extensively recognized as an effective strategy to enhance soil ecosystem services. However, its combined effect with beneficial microorganisms, such as Trichoderma, still requires further investigation to understand its impact on soil microbiota and nutrient cycling processes. To address this gap, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of biochar produced from on-farm winery waste, specifically grape stalks (GSB) and grape fermentation residues (GFB), generated after wine production, when co-applied with Trichoderma aureoviride URM 5158 and Trichoderma hamatum URM 6656 in soil cultivated with Malbec grapevines. Our findings reveal that both types of biochar and Trichoderma promoted changes in soil properties. The application of GSB biochar combined with T. hamatum increased grape productivity, while GFB biochar enhanced soil enzymatic activities, particularly those expressed per unit of microbial biomass carbon. Additionally, biochar applications increased pH, phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, and microbial biomass carbon of the soil. Soils treated with the GFB + T. hamatum treatment exhibited an increase of 569.23% in microbial biomass carbon compared to the control. The results of this study provide substantial evidence that biochar and Trichoderma can be used to improve the chemical and biological properties of vineyard soils, increasing nutrient availability, especially carbon. These effects may contribute to soil fertility by promoting a more favorable environment for microbiota development and grapevine growth. This is the first field study to investigate the impact of on-farm winery waste transformed into biochar, combined with Trichoderma isolates, on Malbec grapevines. Full article

Background/Objectives: Prior studies have shown that most students seeking entry into a nursing program (also known as pre-nursing students) do not make it into the nursing profession, mostly due to failing one or more science courses in their first year of college. These students give up on nursing, dropping out of college or changing to a less challenging major. Objectives: We aimed to determine the effect of a living learning community (LLC) on the retention and success of students seeking entry into a Baccalaureate Science Nursing (BSN) program. Methods: The aim of this descriptive, prospective cohort project was to improve student retention and success by creating a living–learning community (LLC) for first-year students preparing to apply to a BSN program. The effectiveness of this intervention was determined by comparing retention and success for those in the LLC with those who were not in the LLC over a period of 4 years. Results: Fewer students in the LLC dropped out of or failed college (21% vs. 33%), fewer changed majors (24% vs. 27%), and more were ultimately admitted to the BSN program (42% vs. 36%) during their 3rd year of college. Of those not admitted within the study’s timeframe, there were more students still preparing to apply to a BSN program than those not in the LLC (13% vs. 3%). Regarding minority outcomes, fewer LLC underrepresented minority (URM) students dropped out of college or failed (29% vs. 43%), but more of them changed majors and remained in college, working towards a college degree in another field of study (43% vs. 29%). There was no apparent effect of participation in the LLC program on minority student nursing program admission success. An equal percentage (29%) of minority students from the LLC group and the non-LLC group were admitted to the BSN program during this study. Conclusions: The limitations affecting this study include the prohibition of large face-to-face gatherings during the initial part of this study and the lingering effects of the pandemic and infection control efforts on student learning outcomes. As reported in prior research, first-year nursing students have a high risk of failing or dropping out of college. However, the students who were able to participate in the LLC demonstrated better student outcomes than those who did not, resulting in more students who were able to move towards their goal of becoming a nurse. Full article

This research investigates the enhanced photocatalytic activity of cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) nanoparticles (NPs)-titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanotube (NT) composites for air purification, focusing on the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria under simulated sunny light. Cu₂O-NPs were successfully deposited onto TiO₂-NTs via the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method. The resulting p- and n-type semiconductor heterojunction nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible-light spectroscopy, and chlorinated radicals. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated for different VOCs present in indoor air (butadione, chloroform, and butyraldehyde) in the presence of E. coli bacteria. The results showed that the Cu₂O-NPs/TiO₂-NTs composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to pure TiO₂-NTs. The Langmuir–Hinshelwood model was used to describe the degradation kinetics, revealing that Cu₂O loading and the nature of the target pollutant influence the photocatalytic efficiency. This study has also highlighted the role of chlorinated radicals in the degradation process, especially for chloroform. The degradation process of chloroform generated chlorine radicals, which not only contributed to the degradation of other VOCs, but also enhanced the overall oxidative capacity of the system. This synergistic effect was observed to accelerate pollutant removal and improve the antibacterial efficacy against E. coli. The Cu₂O-NPs/TiO₂-NTs composites demonstrated significant reusability and antibacterial properties, highlighting their potential for sustainable indoor air purification applications. Full article

The excessive occupation of ecological space (ES) due to city expansion and construction can reduce a variety of natural values and socioeconomic benefits, which would also bring challenges associated with ecological rights and justice between urban areas (with economic impetus) and rural areas (with rich ecological endowments). A more sustainable development mode is required to shift population–industry–land (PIL) allocation from urban-led commensalism (ULC) to PIL interaction by urban–rural mutualism (URM). Thus, an urban–rural integration six-step symbiotic framework (UISS) was built to reflect how the change in urban–rural integration symbiotic mode (the ULC to URM transformation process) can ameliorate socioeconomic inequity in ecological space (IES). Moreover, the two-way fixed-effects model and heterogeneity analysis are used to discuss how the improvement of urban–rural integration symbiotic development level (URI) ameliorates the IES under socioeconomic development to reduce the unfairness, differences between regions, and mismatch of gravity centers from the perspective of spatiotemporal and dynamic changes under various symbiotic environments. The comprehensive multi-perspective analysis of IES based on the symbiotic framework (MEU) was applied to reflect the effect of dynamic PIL interaction changes from ULC mode to URM mode on IES in Yunnan Province, China. The results can be obtained as follows: (1) The URI including symbiotic units of PIL shows a steady rise in growth, with a maximum growth rate of 22.89%, which indicates that the URI has changed from the urban-led commensalism development mode to the urban–rural mutualism development mode. (2) The IES in temporal unfairness has been steadily alleviated, but the spatial differences remain obvious due to the unique symbiotic environment. The dynamic changes in the distance of the gravity centers between ES and PO-IN reflect an increasing mismatch in some regions (e.g., Kunming), while decreasing in others (e.g., Qujing). (3) URI generates a significant symbiotic effect on IES to reduce unfairness, differences, and mismatch, especially through the integration of industrial and population symbiotic units. The heterogeneity analysis shows that a good symbiotic environment, including business environment, industrial structure, transportation conditions, and government size, is conducive to ameliorating IES through the environmental adaptability of symbiotic units. All the results can provide a scientific reference for regional sustainable planning and management under mutualistic population–industry–land interaction between urban and rural areas. Full article