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The Late Eocene Huizhou-A sandy conglomeratic system in the Pearl River Mouth Basin presents a highly heterogeneous reservoir system shaped by intense synsedimentary fault activity and variable depositional processes. Utilizing 3D seismic interpretation, well log analysis, and core calibration, this study reconstructs the tectono-sedimentary evolution, facies distribution, and diagenetic modifications controlling reservoir quality. Results show that the best reservoir quality is not confined to proximal fan-delta coarse-grained deposits near steep boundary faults, but occurs mainly in fan-delta front and braided-river-delta deposits, especially braided- and turbidite-channel microfacies. These reservoirs benefit from better sorting, favorable grain size, and higher textural maturity, whereas proximal clastic-flow deposits are poorer due to heterogeneity, poor sorting, and compaction. Reservoir quality is also depth-dependent: upper Enping reservoirs are mainly controlled by maturity, while lower Enping reservoirs are more influenced by grain size. Semi-quantitative analysis identifies the 7–11 km transport-distance zone as the optimal fairway for vertically stacked high-quality reservoirs. This approach not only guides exploration and development in the Huizhou Sag but also offers a transferable predictive model for similar steep slope lacustrine rift basins with comparable tectono-sedimentary settings worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Reservoir Genesis and Quality Evolution in Hydrocarbon Systems)

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29 pages, 3391 KB

Open AccessArticle

CNN–Transformer–KAN: A Hybrid Deep-Learning Framework with an Inspectable KAN Classification Head for Industrial Process Fault Diagnosis

by Yujie Wu, Maoyu Zhang, Aoxuan Ding, Yu Hua, Zhehao Jin and Yiyang Dai

Information 2026, 17(7), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/info17070626 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

Detecting and identifying faults in industrial chemical plants is essential for safe and stable operation, and modern monitoring systems increasingly rely on deep learning to classify faults from multivariate sensor data. A practical obstacle to adoption is trust: most deep-learning diagnosers reach their decisions through a classification layer that operators cannot inspect, making it hard to see how the model maps process signals to a particular fault. This study targets fault diagnosis on the Tennessee Eastman (TE) process, a standard benchmark of simulated chemical-plant sensor data, and asks whether this final decision stage can be made directly inspectable without sacrificing accuracy. We propose CNN–Transformer–KAN (CTKAN), a hybrid model that learns local temporal patterns with a one-dimensional convolutional encoder, captures global inter-time-step dependencies with a Transformer encoder, and classifies faults with a Kolmogorov–Arnold Network (KAN) head whose learnable B-spline activations can be plotted and examined individually, in place of a conventional multi-layer perceptron (MLP). On the TE benchmark, CTKAN attains a Macro-F1 of 91.38 ± 0.26% over ten independent runs, comparable to a CNN + Transformer + MLP ablation (91.21 ± 0.32%) and a capacity-matched MLP-head variant (91.43 ± 0.37%) within seed-to-seed variability. The main finding is therefore not a higher score: at matched capacity the KAN and MLP heads are statistically indistinguishable in accuracy, so the KAN head’s value is to add a directly inspectable view of the classification stage at no measurable accuracy cost, helping process engineers sanity-check how the diagnoser separates faults in safety-critical settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Advanced Collaborative Manufacturing Systems)

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29 pages, 9801 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phosphorylated Chitosan Modulates the Surface, Mechanical, Optical, and Antibacterial Behavior of Short- and Long-Term 3D-Printed Dental Resins

by Sofia Garibaldi Otavio, Renan Leonardi de Oliveira Rigotti, Tatiane Cristina Dotta, Rogério Valentim Gelamo, Ana Paula Ramos and Rodrigo Galo

Polymers 2026, 18(13), 1576; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18131576 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

The incorporation of antimicrobial agents into 3D-printed resins may improve their biological performance; however, their effects on physicochemical and mechanical properties remain unclear. This study evaluated the influence of phosphorylated chitosan (P-Chi; 0.25% and 0.50% w/w) incorporated into short- (ST) and long-term (LT) 3D-printed dental resins. Surface, mechanical, optical, and antibacterial properties against Streptococcus mutans were investigated using standardized methods. FTIR confirmed the successful phosphorylation and incorporation of P-Chi into both resin matrices. P-Chi significantly reduced S. mutans CFU counts compared with the control (p < 0.001, η²p = 0.286), regardless of concentration, although no inhibition halos were detected, indicating a contact-dependent antimicrobial mechanism. Enhanced antibacterial activity was accompanied by increased surface roughness and wettability. Nanoparticle concentration significantly affected mechanical performance (p = 0.001), whereas resin type did not (p = 0.613). The 0.25% groups exhibited lower flexural strength and microhardness than the controls (p < 0.05), while the 0.50% groups maintained flexural strength comparable to that of the controls, with G6 showing the highest elastic modulus (3494.95 ± 301.30 MPa). Color variation was influenced by resin type rather than P-Chi concentration (p < 0.05). Overall, P-Chi enhanced antibacterial activity while maintaining clinically acceptable mechanical properties, supporting its use as a multifunctional additive for biofunctional 3D-printed provisional resins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chitosan and Its Composite Materials for Biomedical Applications)

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23 pages, 1920 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Biosorption of Cr(III) from Aqueous Solutions Using Tamarind Shell (Tamarindus indica L.): Effect of Pretreatments, Thermodynamic Analysis and Surface Characterization

by Fatima L. Parada-Vargas, Mercedes Salazar-Hernández, Alfonso Talavera-López, Oscar Joaquin Solis-Marcial, Alba N. Ardila Arias, Rosa Hernández-Soto and Jose A. Hernández

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(13), 6353; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16136353 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

The discharge of metal-containing effluents into aquatic systems remains a major environmental concern because metal ions can persist in water bodies and accumulate in biological systems, potentially affecting ecosystem and human health. Among these contaminants, Cr(III) is frequently encountered in waste streams generated by industrial activities, making its removal an important objective in water quality management. This study investigated the adsorption behavior of Cr(III) using lignocellulosic biosorbents obtained from tamarind shell (Tamarindus indica) after water, H₂O₂, and HCl pretreatments, with particular emphasis on equilibrium behavior, thermodynamic characteristics, and pretreatment-induced physicochemical modifications. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate equilibrium behavior. The highest adsorption capacity (41.6 mg g⁻¹) was obtained with the water-treated biosorbent at 60 °C. The equilibrium data were best represented by the Sips model, suggesting that Cr(III) adsorption occurred on surfaces containing adsorption sites with different energetic characteristics. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous, while the enthalpy changes indicated predominantly endothermic behavior for the pretreated biosorbents. ATR-FTIR, SEM, EDS, and XRD analyses were performed to characterize the biosorbents before and after adsorption. The characterization results indicated that oxygen-containing functional groups, particularly hydroxyl and carbonyl functionalities, were associated with the adsorption process. SEM images showed morphological changes associated with pore occupation, while EDS confirmed chromium adsorption and suggested possible ion-exchange mechanisms. XRD patterns indicated a mainly amorphous structure. The results demonstrated that pretreatment-induced modifications strongly influenced the adsorption performance of tamarind shell. Water pretreatment produced the most favorable adsorption behavior, yielding the highest adsorption capacity among the evaluated biosorbents. The combined interpretation of equilibrium, thermodynamic, and characterization results revealed a close relationship between surface properties and Cr(III) uptake. Full article

38 pages, 5087 KB

Open AccessReview

Physical Instability and Functional Deterioration of High-Protein Dairy Powders: Mechanisms of Caking, Agglomeration, and Rehydration Loss

by Marek Szołtysik, Nesa Dibagar, Monika Słupska, Małgorzata Serowik, Artur Gryszkin and Adam Figiel

Molecules 2026, 31(13), 2230; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31132230 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

The rapid expansion of high-protein dairy-based powders (HPDPs), including milk protein concentrates and isolates (MPC/MPI), whey protein concentrates and isolates (WPC/WPI), and micellar casein concentrates and isolates (MCC/MCI), has intensified the need to understand instability phenomena that emerge during processing and storage. These products are governed by protein-rich amorphous matrices, in which molecular mobility, interfacial composition, and mineral interactions dictate both physical stability and functional performance. Importantly, these physical instabilities are directly coupled with functional deterioration, particularly in terms of impaired wetting, dispersion, and dissolution during rehydration. This review presents an integrated mechanistic framework linking these instability phenomena across processing, storage, and reconstitution, thereby consolidating concepts that remain fragmented across the current literature on high-protein dairy matrices. Key controlling factors include glass transition temperature (Tg), water activity-induced plasticization, protein–protein and protein–mineral interactions, and surface compositional heterogeneity established during spray drying. These factors govern the progression from surface stickiness through uncontrolled agglomeration to caking, forming a consolidation continuum. In contrast to lactose-driven matrices, caking and agglomeration in HPDPs arise primarily from protein-mediated restructuring and inter-particle bonding, with lactose crystallization acting only as a secondary mechanism in mixed-composition grades. The review further distinguishes engineered agglomeration from storage-induced consolidation and evaluates advances in molecular mobility characterization and Tg-based stability mapping. Significant gaps remain in linking localized surface evolution, mineral redistribution, and inter-particle bridge chemistry under realistic environmental conditions. The review concludes by proposing a mobility-centered “stability-by-design” framework that integrates composition, processing, particle architecture, and storage conditions to guide the development of future HPDPs with improved physical stability and functional recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Valorization of Food By‑Products: Bioactive Molecules and Food‑Grade Delivery Systems)

41 pages, 19238 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for Core Symptoms of Chronic Primary Pain: A Meta-Analysis of RCTs

by Alessandra Telesca, Alessandra Vergallito, Anna Vedani, Gaia Locatelli, Benedetta Visiello and Leonor J. Romero Lauro

Brain Sci. 2026, 16(7), 663; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16070663 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Chronic primary pain (CPP) is a new diagnostic category including chronic pain conditions lacking clinical signs or a clear etiopathogenetic origin. These disorders may share a common neural mechanism known as central sensitization, where nociceptive neurons become hyper-responsive to standard or subthreshold pain stimuli, resulting in pain hyper-sensitivity. In this context, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) appears to be a promising tool for improving CPP symptoms by targeting maladaptive brain activity and connectivity. To date, the effects of NIBS on CPP symptoms remain unexplored. To fill this gap, we conducted a meta-analysis, investigating the effect of NIBS in improving the three core symptoms of CPP, namely pain intensity, emotional distress, and functional disability. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we screened four databases up to February 2025 for English-language, peer-reviewed randomized clinical trials that included CPP patients treated with NIBS and reported pre/post or follow-up scores on validated measures of at least one core symptom. Quality of life was examined as an additional outcome. Results: Fifty-four studies were included, with 1371 participants receiving real stimulation and 1103 sham. Findings highlighted that real stimulation improved CPP symptoms immediately after treatment and at one-month follow-up. Meta-regressions showed that longer CPP duration reduced short-term effects on emotional distress and diminished all outcomes at one-month follow-up. Conclusions: Further research is needed to establish standardized NIBS protocols for CPP management, to investigate the effectiveness at longer follow-up periods, and to test whether combining NIBS with other interventions enhances treatment effectiveness and durability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies and Approaches for Understanding and Treating Psychological Disorders)

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15 pages, 1123 KB

Open AccessArticle

Drep1, a Potential Mediator of miR-137, Modulates Yorkie-Driven Overgrowth in Drosophila

by So-Min An, Kihan Tak, Jae-Yoon Yang, Dong-Seok Lee, Younghwi Kwon and Eunbyul Yeom

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(13), 5718; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27135718 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

The Hippo–Yorkie (Yki) signaling pathway is a conserved regulator of tissue growth, and its dysregulation leads to excessive growth and tumorigenesis. Although several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in Hippo pathway regulation, how they modulate Yki activity in vivo remains incompletely understood. Here, we identify miR-137 as a suppressor of Yki-driven overgrowth in a Drosophila model. A functional miRNA screen revealed that miR-137 overexpression markedly suppresses Yki-induced eye overgrowth, whereas inhibition of miR-137 enhances eye overgrowth phenotypes. Through bioinformatic prediction and genetic screening, we identified Drep1 as a candidate downstream factor associated with miR-137 function. RNAi-mediated depletion of Drep1 phenocopies the suppressive effects of miR-137, whereas Drep1 overexpression enhances Yki-driven tissue overgrowth and proliferation. Consistent with these phenotypes, miR-137 overexpression or Drep1 depletion reduces the expression of canonical Yki target genes, including Diap1 and Expanded, indicating decreased Yki transcriptional output. Importantly, Drep1 knockdown was associated with reduced Yki immunostaining in a complementary wing-disk context, suggesting a potential link between Drep1 and Yki-associated signaling. Consistent with this, miR-137 also reduced the expression of ICAD, the mammalian homolog of Drep1, providing preliminary evidence that miR-137 may regulate ICAD expression in mammalian cells. Together, these findings support a potential regulatory relationship between miR-137 and Drep1 that modulates Yki-driven eye overgrowth and reveal an additional layer of Hippo pathway regulation in vivo. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drosophila: A Versatile Model in Biology and Medicine—3rd Edition)

22 pages, 3773 KB

Open AccessArticle

Housing-Market Reconfiguration in a Redevelopment Precinct: A Synthetic Control Assessment of Turnover–Valuation Divergence

by Young Jae Kim

Buildings 2026, 16(13), 2514; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16132514 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

Redevelopment precincts are often assessed through price uplift, although price appreciation alone does not show whether a local housing market becomes more active or liquid. This study examines whether residential turnover and property valuation diverged around the Etihad Campus redevelopment precinct in East Manchester after the 2014Q4 consolidation of the wider campus setting. Using Office for National Statistics House Price Statistics for Small Areas, the analysis applies a neighborhood-scale synthetic control design to a compact Core-4 treatment precinct, using a filtered within-Manchester donor pool to construct the synthetic benchmark. Residential turnover is measured as the mean residential sales count per Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA), and valuation is measured as the average of LSOA-level median house-price trajectories. Robustness is assessed using alternative treatment definitions and pre-intervention calibration windows. The results show a persistent post-2014 turnover shortfall relative to the synthetic benchmark, supported by rank-based placebo diagnostics and retained across all valid turnover specifications. By contrast, valuation evidence is weaker, mixed, and more sensitive to design choice. These findings indicate selective housing-market reconfiguration rather than generalized uplift. Redevelopment evaluation should therefore distinguish transaction circulation from price-based valuation, particularly in cumulative precinct-scale redevelopment settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Real Estate and Housing Management—2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 3275 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mirtazapine Induces Lipocalin-Type Prostaglandin D Synthase Expression in Brain Pericytes

by Aya Narita, Akiko Nakano-Doi, Ryo Nishiyama, Toshinori Sawano, Kazuaki Fukushima, Tomohiro Matsuyama and Takayuki Nakagomi

Biomolecules 2026, 16(7), 945; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16070945 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

The brain maintains homeostasis partially by scavenging waste products. Failure of this function is closely associated with the onset and pathogenesis of various brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, sleep disorder, and the delay of the reparative process after brain injuries. We recently demonstrated that brain pericytes (BPCs) are sources of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), a waste scavenger, in the brain. Based on the above, chemical compounds which promote L-PGDS production could have potential against brain diseases, such as dementia, sleep disorders, and brain injuries. However, the specific chemical compounds that may enhance L-PGDS production in BPCs have not yet been identified. In this study, we explored 158 chemical compounds from FDA-approved drug libraries with these activities. qPCR analysis showed that mirtazapine (MTZ), a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant, can increase L-PGDS expression in BPCs as well as in mouse- (m-BPCs) and human-derived BPCs (h-BPCs) in a dose-dependent manner. Since L-PGDS is a secretory protein, m-BPCs and h-BPCs were treated with various MTZ doses and L-PGDS levels in the culture supernatant were investigated. Western blot analysis showed that L-PGDS levels were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner in both cell types, indicating that MTZ promoted L-PGDS secretion from m-BPCs and h-BPCs. Thus, MTZ may have the potential to be applied as drug repositioning for various brain diseases other than depression by activating L-PGDS production in BPCs, highlighting the importance of BPCs as the source to maintain brain homeostasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biological Factors)

23 pages, 3663 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Activity Levels Among Older Adults in Urban Central Asia: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Yerkezhan Tolegenova, Aigul Abduldayeva, Ainur Aiypkhanova, Gulnur Doszhanova and Olzhas Kozhamkulov

Healthcare 2026, 14(13), 1843; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14131843 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is a key modifiable factor influencing healthy aging, yet data on activity patterns and their physiological correlates in older adults from Central Asia remain limited. Understanding these relationships is essential for informing region-specific health promotion strategies. Objectives: This study assessed physical activity levels among urban-dwelling older adults in Astana, Kazakhstan, and examined associations between activity level, body composition, visceral fat accumulation, metabolic indicators, and muscle strength. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 608 adults aged ≥60 years (median age: 68 years; 82.1% women). Physical activity was measured using the validated Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Anthropometric and body composition indicators, including BMI, total and visceral fat, skeletal muscle mass, and handgrip strength, were evaluated. Spearman correlation and linear regression analyses were applied. The analyses were exploratory and did not include adjustment for potential confounders such as sex, chronic disease burden, or socioeconomic status; therefore, the observed associations should be interpreted with caution. Results: The median PASE score was 55.55, with 61.8% of participants demonstrating moderate activity levels, primarily through walking and household tasks. In analyses without adjustment for potential confounding factors, PASE scores showed weak inverse associations with visceral fat (ρ = −0.214; p < 0.001) and waist-to-hip ratio (ρ = −0.154; p < 0.001), as well as weak positive associations with handgrip strength. Across the reported significant associations, correlation coefficients ranged from |ρ| = 0.103 to 0.235, and the explanatory capacity of the regression models was low, with R² values ranging from 0.6% to 8.2%. Conclusions: Higher habitual physical activity may be linked to selected bioelectrical impedance parameters, WHR, and handgrip strength among urban older adults. Given the cross-sectional design, causal interpretation should be approached with caution. These findings provide meaningful regional baseline evidence for future longitudinal and intervention studies on physical activity and healthy aging in Central Asia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Science and Health Promotion)

24 pages, 1984 KB

Open AccessArticle

Scutellaria baicalensis Extract Protects against Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Male Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via the PI3K/AKT Pathway

by Mengxuan Zhang, Xueao Chen, Chenhuan Shentu, Dongdong Jin, Jiaying Zhu, Chendao Ruan, Mingjiang Mao and Xiaofeng Yuan

Nutrients 2026, 18(13), 2073; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18132073 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

Background:Scutellaria baicalensis (Scu) extract has been traditionally used in the treatment of stroke-related syndromes, yet its underlying molecular mechanisms, particularly those involving ferroptosis, remain to be fully elucidated. Purpose: This study aims to validate the hypothesis that Scu extract improves cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) by inhibiting ferroptosis through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Methods: This study employed middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) models to evaluate the protective effects of Scu extract against CIRI. Multiple approaches were integrated to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, a range of experimental techniques, including neurological function assessment, TTC staining, histopathological analysis, biochemical assays, qPCR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence, were used to comprehensively validate its neuroprotective effects. Results: Scu extract significantly improved neurological outcomes and attenuated brain injury in MCAO rats. Proteomic analysis revealed significant enrichment of ferroptosis-related pathways, which was supported by reduced mitochondrial damage, decreased iron accumulation, and restoration of the SLC7A11/GPX4 axis. Subsequently, UPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis revealed that four major bioactive components were absorbed in MCAO rats. KEGG pathway analysis based on network pharmacology further indicated that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is a key regulatory target. Notably, pharmacological inhibition of PI3K with LY294002 markedly abolished the anti-ferroptotic effects of Scu extract, which was further confirmed in vitro. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that Scu extract confers neuroprotection against CIRI in MCAO rats potentially through inhibiting ferroptosis via activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Phytochemicals and Human Health)

17 pages, 3182 KB

Open AccessArticle

Coriander Honey Accelerates Human Osteoblast Differentiation and Matrix Mineralization via Intracellular Ca²⁺ Signaling

by Gregorio Bonsignore, Elia Ranzato and Simona Martinotti

Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(7), 979; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19070979 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Managing bone diseases demands novel, natural compounds to bypass the heavy side effects of current therapies. Honey is well-known for its therapeutic traits, yet we know very little about how specific floral varieties impact bone tissue. This study confronts this gap by comparing how acacia, chestnut, and coriander honeys drive human osteoblast behavior in vitro. Methods: After mapping the phenolic/flavonoid profiles and antioxidant capacities of these honeys, we tested them on hFOB 1.19 human osteoblasts. We tracked cell migration via scratch assays and validated osteogenic maturation through Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin Red (AR) mineralization over 7 days. Confocal time-lapse imaging with pharmacological inhibitors monitored intracellular calcium dynamics, while gene shifts were analyzed via qRT-PCR. Results: Coriander honey (CH) packed the highest polyphenol levels and antioxidant power. Biologically, while all honeys accelerated scratch closure, CH drove cell motility most potently. Remarkably, a 7-day treatment with these honeys sparked a significant and robust increase in ALP activity and mineralization, surpassing the osteogenic induction observed with standard osteoinductive media. Mechanistically, CH triggered a sharp [Ca²⁺] spike, relying on external calcium entry and IP3-dependent internal release via PLC activation. qRT-PCR confirmed this anabolic shift via OPG and OPN upregulation. Conclusions: Honey exerts pronounced multi-level osteopromotive effects at both the functional and transcriptional levels, tightly linked to its botanical source. Among the variants, coriander honey stands out for its exceptional ability to fast-track osteoblast migration, differentiation, and early mineral deposition. Therefore coriander honey represents a promising in vitro candidate that warrants further preclinical evaluation for bone repair applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Beehive Products for Wound Repair and Skin Care)

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21 pages, 6738 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Evaluation of Recurrent Deep Learning Models for Air Pollutant Prediction in Industrial Regions of Turkey: GRU-LSTM Dual-Path Hybrid Model

by Resul Ozluk, Büşra Bilir Yildiz and Figen Altıner

Pollutants 2026, 6(3), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/pollutants6030034 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

Air pollution negatively impacts human health and environmental sustainability, particularly in areas with high industrial activity. This study comparatively evaluated deep learning-based models for estimating PM₁₀ and SO₂ pollutants in Dilovası and Ereğli (Turkey), industrial areas with high pollutant loads. The study utilized Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Units (GRUs), an RNN–GRU stacked hybrid model, an attention-based hybrid model, and the proposed GRU–LSTM dual-path hybrid model. The proposed method consists of four main stages: data conversion into a time-series format, data preprocessing and feature generation, model architecture development, and model training and performance evaluation. The dataset consisted of 365 daily PM₁₀ and SO₂ observations obtained from the Air Monitoring Center for the Dilovası and Ereğli monitoring stations. Model performance was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R²), training time, root mean squared error (RMSE), mean squared error (MSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) metrics. The findings showed that the hybrid models provided higher accuracy compared to the single-track models. Specifically, the proposed GRU–LSTM dual-path hybrid model produced the highest R² and lowest error values for both pollutant parameters in both the Dilovası and Ereğli regions. In Dilovası, this model achieved R² = 0.97 for SO₂ and R² = 0.96 for PM₁₀; in Ereğli, it reached R² = 0.92 for SO₂ and R² = 0.98 for PM₁₀. Thus, it has been shown that the GRU–LSTM dual-path hybrid model, which models short-term and long-term temporal dependencies in parallel, is an effective and reliable method for air pollutant forecasting in industrial areas. These findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed model to support air quality monitoring, early warning systems, and environmental decision-making in industrial regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air Pollution)

19 pages, 1928 KB

Open AccessArticle

Taxifolin Inhibits Invasion and Endovascular Differentiation of Extravillous Trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo Cells

by Aleksandra Vilotić, Janko Legner, Žanka Bojić-Trbojević, Marija Bruić, Biljana Spremo-Potparević, Milica Jovanović Krivokuća and Andrea Pirković

Cells 2026, 15(13), 1152; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15131152 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

Adequate placental development and function, prerequisites for the development of a healthy fetus, rely on controlled trophoblast invasion into the decidua and remodeling of the spiral arteries. These tightly regulated processes involve epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and endovascular differentiation of trophoblast cells. Taxifolin (dihydroquercetin), a natural flavonoid with various pharmacological effects, previously showed cytoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity on trophoblast cells. Given that the literature indicates that this flavonoid suppresses EMT and can affect angiogenesis across different cell types, we investigated the potential of taxifolin (10 and 100 µM) to modulate invasion and endothelial-like differentiation in human extravillous trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo cells by functional tests. Expression of different molecular markers relevant to these processes was evaluated at the mRNA and protein levels. Our results showed that taxifolin inhibited invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells, involving downregulation of integrin α5 subunit and modulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression and secretion. No changes in the concentrations of secreted TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were observed following taxifolin treatment. Furthermore, downregulation of N-cadherin and vimentin in treated trophoblast cells indicated suppression of EMT. Taxifolin inhibited endothelial-like differentiation of HTR-8/SVneo cells, as evidenced by reduced tube formation and downregulation of VE-cadherin in treated cells. Moreover, expression of TGFB1 was upregulated in treated cells, as were levels of phosphorylated SMAD2/3, indicating involvement of TGF-β signaling in TF-induced effects on trophoblast cells. The in vitro effects of taxifolin on suppression of trophoblast invasion, EMT, and endothelial-like differentiation highlight its potential impact on placental development processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Trophoblast Differentiation)

23 pages, 1532 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Contactless Edge-AI Prototype for Simulated Apnea-like Respiratory Suppression and Motion Artifact Detection Using 60 GHz FMCW Radar

by Sathit Pairoch, Pattarapong Phasukkit and Nongluck Houngkamhang

Technologies 2026, 14(7), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies14070388 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026

Abstract

Sleep-related respiratory disturbances are difficult to monitor continuously outside specialized laboratories because conventional polysomnography is resource-intensive and intrusive. This study presents a contactless edge-AI engineering prototype for detecting controlled voluntary respiratory-motion suppression and motion artifacts using a 60 GHz frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar. The system integrates a 60 GHz radar front end, lightweight local preprocessing, an INT8 one-dimensional convolutional neural network deployed on the Analog Devices MAX78000 CNN accelerator (Analog Devices Thailand, Chon Buri, Thailand), and an event-driven Raspberry Pi Zero 2W gateway for alert transmission. Evaluation was performed using a controlled healthy-volunteer dataset consisting of normal breathing, voluntary breath-holding-induced respiratory suppression, and deliberate motion artifact. The final valid test set contained 270 technically valid 30 s windows balanced across the three classes. The INT8 model achieved an overall accuracy of 92.6% (95% confidence interval: 88.8–95.2%), with a macro-averaged precision, recall, and F1-score of 92.6%, 92.6%, and 92.5%, respectively. Active CNN inference on the MAX78000 consumed 0.152 ± 0.011 mJ and was completed in 5.20 ± 0.11 ms, corresponding to approximately 280-fold lower active inference energy than Python 3.14.6/TensorFlow Lite 2.21.0-based execution on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W. These results demonstrate the feasibility of privacy-aware, low-power respiratory-pattern classification at the edge. However, the study should be interpreted strictly as an engineering proof-of-concept based on controlled voluntary breathing and movement tasks in healthy volunteers. It is not a clinically validated apnea or obstructive sleep apnea detection system and did not include polysomnography, oxygen saturation measurement, airflow sensing, sleep staging, or diagnosed patient cohorts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable Vital Signs and Activities Detection: Systems and Applications)

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