Search Results (139)

The development of biometric techniques in domestic animals has greatly advanced scientific practices in wildlife research. The association between seminal characteristics and body and testicular biometry enables the selection of suitable breeders, though appropriate measurement techniques are required. The present study assessed differences among conventional methods and formulas for estimating testicular parameters. Testicular length, width, and thickness were measured using three methods in 13 adult male domestic cats. Testicular area, volume, and weight were estimated, from which the gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated. Sperm were collected using an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist and urethral catheterization, and characterized in terms of volume, vigor, total motility, progressive motility, concentration, plasma membrane integrity, and morphology. The three methods were consistent in terms of testicular area, volume, weight, and GSI. Moderate positive correlations were observed for testicular weight (r = 0.61, p < 0.05) and GSI (r = 0.58, p < 0.05). Testicular parameters showed strong positive correlations among each other (r > 0.80, p < 0.05). We observed a moderate positive correlation between head length and progressive motility (r = 0.65, p < 0.05). In conclusion, all testicular measurement and estimation techniques showed comparable performance. Therefore, testicular biometry is useful for selecting breeding males in feline conservation programs, wherein larger body biometrics are related to improved seminal and reproductive parameters. Full article

Biophilic design has emerged as a multidimensional response to growing concerns about health, well-being, and ecological balance in the built environment. Despite its rising prominence, research on the topic remains fragmented across building typologies, user groups, and geographic contexts. This study presents a comprehensive review of the biophilic design literature, employing a hybrid methodology combining structured content analysis and bibliometric mapping. All peer-reviewed studies indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus were manually screened for architectural relevance and systematically coded. A total of 435 studies were analysed to identify key trends, thematic patterns, and research gaps in the biophilic design discipline. This review categorises the literature by methodological strategies, building typologies, spatial scales, population groups, and specific biophilic design parameters. It also examines geographic and cultural dimensions, including climate responsiveness, heritage buildings, policy frameworks, theory development, pedagogy, and COVID-19-related research. The findings show a strong emphasis on institutional contexts, particularly workplaces, schools, and healthcare, and a reliance on perception-based methods such as surveys and experiments. In contrast, advanced tools like artificial intelligence, simulation, and VR are notably underused. Few studies engage with neuroarchitecture or neuroscience-informed approaches, despite growing recognition of how spatial design can influence cognitive and emotional responses. Experimental and biometric methods remain scarce among the few relevant contributions, revealing a missed opportunity to connect biophilic strategies with empirical evidence. Regarding biophilic parameters, greenery, daylight, and sensory experience are the most studied parameters, while psychological parameters remain underexplored. Cultural and climate-specific considerations appear in relatively few studies, and many fail to define a user group or building typology. This review highlights the need for more inclusive, context-responsive, and methodologically diverse research. By bridging macro-scale bibliometric patterns with fine-grained thematic insights, this study provides a replicable review model and valuable reference for advancing biophilic design as an evidence-based, adaptable, and human-centred approach to sustainable architecture. Full article

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common pelvic floor disorder with substantial impact on women’s quality of life, necessitating accurate and reproducible diagnostic methods. This study investigates the use of three-dimensional (3D) transperineal ultrasound, integrated with artificial intelligence (AI), to evaluate pelvic floor biomechanics and identify correlations between biometric parameters and prolapse severity. Thirty-seven female patients diagnosed with genital prolapse (mean age: 65.3 ± 10.6 years; mean BMI: 29.5 ± 3.8) were enrolled. All participants underwent standardized 3D transperineal ultrasound using the Mindray Smart Pelvic system, an AI-assisted imaging platform. Key biometric parameters—anteroposterior diameter, laterolateral diameter, and genital hiatus area—were measured under three functional states: rest, maximal Valsalva maneuver, and voluntary pelvic floor contraction. Additionally, two functional indices were derived: the distensibility index (ratio of Valsalva to rest) and the contractility index (ratio of contraction to rest), reflecting pelvic floor elasticity and muscular function, respectively. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and univariate correlation analysis using Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system scores. Results revealed a significant correlation between laterolateral diameter and prolapse severity across multiple compartments and functional states. In apical prolapse, the laterolateral diameter measured at rest and during both Valsalva and contraction showed positive correlations with POP-Q point C, indicating increasing transverse pelvic dimensions with more advanced prolapse (e.g., r = 0.42 to 0.58; p < 0.05). In anterior compartment prolapse, the same parameter measured during Valsalva and contraction correlated significantly with POP-Q point AA (e.g., r = 0.45 to 0.61; p < 0.05). Anteroposterior diameters and genital hiatus area were also analyzed but showed weaker or inconsistent correlations. AI integration facilitated real-time image segmentation and automated measurement, reducing operator dependency and increasing reproducibility. These findings highlight the laterolateral diameter as a strong, reproducible anatomical marker for POP severity, particularly when assessed dynamically. The combined use of AI-enhanced imaging and functional indices provides a novel, standardized, and objective approach for assessing pelvic floor dysfunction. This methodology supports more accurate diagnosis, individualized management planning, and long-term monitoring of pelvic floor disorders. Full article

Background/Objectives: Access to nutritious and well-balanced food is essential for well-being. We investigated the relationship between food insecurity (FI) and cardiovascular health (CVH). Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included a nationwide sample consisting of 12,369 Korean adults. The 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module was employed to evaluate FI, with categories ranging from none, to mild, to moderate-to-severe. CVH was assessed through the “Life’s Essential 8” (LE8) framework established by the American Heart Association. This framework includes four health behaviors (diet quality, exercise, tobacco use, and sleep) and four biometric factors (body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure). Overall, CVH was scored on a scale from 0 to 100 and categorized into ideal (LE8 score: 80–100), intermediate (LE8 score: 50–79), and poor CVH (LE8 score: 0–49). Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to determine the association of FI with CVH status. Results: Within the sample, 3.7% and 0.8% experienced mild and moderate-to-severe FI, respectively. Compared with those without FI, individuals with mild (β: −2.92; 95% CI [confidence interval]: −4.37, −1.48) or moderate-to-severe (β: −7.71; 95% CI: −11.22, −4.20) FI had lower LE8 scores. Additionally, those with mild or moderate-to-severe FI were more likely to have poor CVH status (OR [odds ratio]: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.33, 3.66 for mild FI and OR: 4.83; 95% CI: 1.64, 14.17 for moderate-to-severe FI). Conclusions: FI is negatively associated with CVH in Korean adults. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive policy interventions to enhance food access and promote CVH in this at-risk population. Full article

Background: Thyroid disorders, particularly thyroid autoimmunity, are increasingly prevalent among women of reproductive age and have been linked to fertility outcomes. While current endocrinology guidelines define distinct thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) target values for women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART), the optimal preconception TSH range for in vitro fertilization (IVF) success remains a topic of debate. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of baseline TSH levels within the recommended normal range on IVF outcomes, specifically clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. Additionally, we assessed the predictive value of procedural and preprocedural factors, including maternal body mass index (BMI) and TSH, using machine learning models. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center cohort study at the Institute of Reproductive Medicine, University of Szeged, involving 996 women who underwent IVF, with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Biometric, medical history, laboratory, and procedural factors were analyzed. Pregnancy and live birth predictions were modeled using support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithms. The significance of features in the RF and XGBoost models was assessed. Results: SVM models achieved a mean accuracy of 72.26% in predicting pregnancy but were less effective for live birth classification. RF and XGBoost models demonstrated an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.76 and 0.74 for pregnancy and 0.67 and 0.61, respectively, for live birth. Key predictors included embryo score, maternal age, BMI, and specific hormone levels. Notably, male factors also contributed to outcome prediction. Analysis suggested that variations in maternal TSH within the normal range (0.3–4.0 mIU/L) had no significant impact on IVF success. Conclusions: Our study suggests that preconception TSH levels within the reference range do not significantly influence IVF success, which indirectly supports the validity of the current recommendations on this matter. While machine learning models demonstrated promising predictive performance, larger prospective studies are needed to refine thyroid function targets in ART, with a separate analysis of women with thyroid autoimmunity. Full article

Soil compaction is a well-known harmful process for germination and seedling growth. Studies about compaction in mining tailings have been neglected despite being essential for the reforestation of impacted areas. This work evaluated the effects of compaction of iron mining tailings on the seedling emergence, early growth, and photosynthesis of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi, a tolerant species with potential for reforestation. Experiments were implemented in a greenhouse where seeds of S. terebinthifolia were sown in iron mining tailings with four compaction treatments: (1) an uncompacted dry tailing, (2) uncompacted moistened tailing, (3) compacted dry tailing, and (4) compacted moistened tailing. Penetration resistance, seedling emergence, emergence speed index, seedling biometry, and photochemical traits were evaluated. Compacted moistened tailings showed the highest penetration resistance and uncompacted dry tailings the lowest. Other treatments showed intermediate means. The compacted moistened tailings produced the lowest seedling emergence rate and emergence speed index, and these parameters showed the highest means at uncompacted dry tailings with other treatments showing intermediate means. The compaction did not affect the seedling’s biometric parameters, with a similar growth among all treatments. S. terebinthifolia seedlings showed improved growth parameters during the experimental period, evidencing the potential of the species for the reforestation of impacted areas by iron mining tailings. Full article

Given the implications of heat stress on contaminant uptake and the importance of salmonid fish to Northern Indigenous peoples, investigating temperature-driven patterns in trace metal bioavailability is essential for assessing climate change risks. Here, juvenile Arctic charr were exposed for 8 weeks to cadmium (Cd) at a nominal concentration of 3 µg·L⁻¹ (measured Cd: 1.81 ± 0.47 µg·L⁻¹) or controls (measured Cd: 0.03 ± 0.03 µg·L⁻¹) at a low (6 °C) or high (16 °C) temperature. Cd concentrations were measured in dorsal muscle, liver, and kidney tissues, and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT)) and anaerobic (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) capacities were assessed in liver tissue. Elevated temperatures significantly increased Cd uptake in analyzed tissues. Log₁₀SOD activity decreased in the 6 °C-Cd treatment, while log₁₀CAT activity declined in high-temperature treatments and log₁₀LDH activity was reduced in Cd-exposed groups. The results highlight the influence of temperature, but also of combined thermal and trace metal stressors on Arctic charr’s antioxidant and anaerobic capacities. Biometric data indicate that temperature exerted a stronger negative influence on growth than Cd, with synergistic effects of temperature and Cd on the hepatosomatic index. Overall, this research highlights the thermal stress impacts on Cd uptake and Arctic charr physiology. Full article

As aquaculture expands, plant-based feeds are increasingly used, but some fish species poorly tolerate them, affecting health and growth. Probiotics can help counter these effects by improving digestion, nutrient absorption, and immunity. This study evaluated the effect of dietary incorporation of Bacillus subtilis FI99 on the intestinal health of meagre. A nutritional challenge was performed with a practical control diet and three diets higher in plant-based ingredients: one without probiotic and two with probiotic incorporated at 1 × 10⁹ CFU g⁻¹ and 5.5 × 10¹¹ CFU g⁻¹. Histomorphological analysis was used to assess intestinal health and validate previously established machine learning models in predicting fish nutritional status. No differences were observed in zootechnical performance and biometric indexes. Most effects were observed in the anterior intestinal section, where probiotics improved total area, lumen area, lumen maximum diameter, total maximum diameter, villi area, and villi + lumen area. Additionally, probiotics improved supranuclear vacuole size, eosinophilic granulocytes, and intraepithelial leukocytes presence in anterior and intermediate sections. Machine learning models could not accurately predict the nutritional status of fish. Overall, the study indicates that dietary inclusion of B. subtilis enhances the intestinal health of meagre fed plant-based diets. Machine learning models require further development for improved accuracy. Full article

Background: Skeletal age estimation plays a fundamental role in orthopedic treatments. Since the most reliable methods are based on ionizing radiation, this study aimed to use machine learning techniques to explore a skeletal age assessment method not based on additional radiographies. Methods: Patients aged between 6 and 16 years old whose clinical records included orthopantomography, radiographs of the second phalanx of the third finger, and biometric data were enrolled for the study. The radiographs were analyzed to estimate the maturation degree of the left lower first premolars, the midpalatal suture, and the second phalanx of the third finger. Both an explicative data analysis and a multivariate analysis were performed. Results: The sample comprised 111 subjects. The multivariate analysis revealed an explanatory role for sex (p < 0.01) and chronological age (p < 0.01). The ordinal tool showed how the use of height (p = 0.02) and weight (p = 0.03) was explicative of skeletal age against a loss of statistical significance corresponding to the use of body mass index (p = 0.6). The median palatine suture (p = 0.01) was explicative. Conclusions: The combined evaluation of weight, height, sex, chronological age, and grade of maturation of the midpalate suture provides an explicative tool for assessing skeletal age without additional radiographic exams, besides a routine orthopantomography. Full article

Many of today’s innovative materials used to carry trace elements (TEs) are derived from chelates. Most of the materials used for this purpose have been produced on the basis of EDTA, which is not considered to be environmentally friendly due to its high persistence. Research is therefore being carried out to produce materials that do not pose an environmental risk. Therefore, a study was carried out to determine the effects of newly developed innovative materials with embedded biodegradable and environmentally safe chelates (IDHA—iminodisuccinic acid—and N-butyl-D-gluconamide ligands) containing copper, molybdenum and iron on the yield, biometric characteristics and chemical composition of soybean and selected soil properties. It is difficult to find publications on their effects in soybean cultivation. The greatest increase in soybean leaf greenness index (SPAD) was found after the addition of pure Salmag^® (Sal.^®). The effect of the chelates on the SPAD index was lower, with Sal.^® + Fe chelate having the greatest effect during the vegetative development stage and Cu chelate having the greatest effect during the flowering stage. Sal.^® + Cu, especially with Fe, accelerated pod and seed ripening in the last vegetative stage of soybean. Sal.^® + Cu had the most favourable impact on plant height, pure Sal.^® on the pod number per plant, Sal.^® + Fe on the seed number per pod, Sal.^® with Mo and Fe chelates on soybean seed yield, and pure Sal.^® on fresh weight remaining above-ground part yield, while pure Sal.^® and Sal.^® + Fe had the most favourable impact on dry weight aerial yield. The fertiliser materials (especially Sal.^® + Cu) generally increased the N content of the tested soybean organs and the Cu content of the other above-ground soybean parts (especially those containing chelates) and had an antagonistic effect on the Mg content of the soybean above-ground parts. Sal.^® + Cu also had a negative effect on the Fe content of other above-ground soybean parts. Sal.^® + Fe had a positive impact on the iron content, and Sal.^® + Mo had a positive impact on the molybdenum content of soybean. The applied fertilisers had little effect on the contents of Cu, Mo and Fe in the soil. There was only a significant increase in the Cu content of the soil after the addition of Sal.^® + Cu and a significantly smaller increase under the influence of Sal.^® without chelates, as well as an increase in the Mo content of the soil with Sal.^®. The present study confirms the beneficial impact of the novel materials with chelates. It has been demonstrated that the presence of materials containing Mo and, in particular, Cu has a considerable effect on the yield and quality characteristics of soybeans. Full article

Intrabody communication (IBC) establishes a wireless connection between devices in a Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) by utilizing the human body as a transmission medium. The characteristics of the IBC channel are significantly influenced by the geometric and biological features of the human body and tissues. This paper analyzes a dataset with experimental real subjects’ data on signal loss in a galvanic IBC channel, models IBC identification using the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) algorithm, and proposes a novel IBC WBAN architecture incorporating an identification function. The analysis of the dataset revealed that the IBC channel gain exhibits a wide range of variations depending on individual human body characteristics such as height, weight, body mass index, and body composition. Consequently, biometric identification can be leveraged within the IBC WBAN paradigm. Through modeling IBC identification on cleaned and labeled data, we demonstrated an identification accuracy of 99.9% based on the results of our modeling. The proposed IBC WBAN architecture with an integrated identification function is anticipated to enhance the application scope and accelerate the development of IBC WBANs. Full article

Fallow is a practice in which the soil is left uncultivated for a period of time and is used less due to the pressure on agricultural land, which impairs soil regeneration. The cultivation of legumes, such as peanuts, is a viable alternative that leads to an improvement in the soil chemistry and grain capacity. Despite their importance, there are gaps regarding the use of peanuts for land reclamation and their importance for enzymatic activity in the soil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of straw incorporation and peanut cultivation in fallow land on the soil’s chemical and biological quality and to determine whether the introduction of these elements contributes to an improvement in the soil fertility parameters and enzymatic activity. To achieve these objectives, experimental plots were established in fallow soils with different amounts of straw (0; 5 and 10 t ha⁻¹), with and without herbicide application and with peanut incorporation. The soil chemistry and enzymatic activity, plant biometrics and productivity were evaluated. The results showed that the straw treatment resulted in better plant development and increased productivity by up to 80%. The pH, soil organic matter, soil organic carbon, P, K, sum of bases and cation exchange capacity variables increased significantly with the presence of the plant and the incorporation of straw compared to uncovered soil, by 10%, 86%, 80%, 68%, 42%, 38% and 27%, respectively. For the enzymatic activity, the values showed that straw and peanut management affects the higher activity of β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase, with differences of 75 and 74% compared to the control. The incorporation of straw and peanuts in fallow land improves the chemical and biological quality of the soil. The use of herbicides has no effect on the soil dynamics or peanut development in the presence of straw and the presence of peanuts provides a better soil quality index and increases the β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase activity in the soil. Full article

Biometric parameters of hop plants were studied over a three-year period on the Czech variety Premiant grown in the Žatec (Saaz) hop-growing region under an organic farming regime. Initially, only bine leaves developed, with lateral leaves emerging during the third growing month (June). Their leaf area at the time of harvest was larger than the bine leaves. The moment when the area size of both leaf categories was the same, designated as the breaking point (BP), was determined in the interval 181–195 DOY (day of year). The leaf area (LA) measured using infrared imaging and gravimetric methods yielded comparable results, with correlation coefficients of 0.93 and 0.96, respectively. The total leaf area of one hop plant (LA) with four trained bines, which developed dynamically during ontogeny, was 10.45 m² (2019), 6.65 m² (2020), and 12.04 m² (2021) in the harvest period. With a spacing of 3 m × 1 m, the corresponding Leaf Area Index (LAI) values were 3.5, 2.2 and 4.0 in the harvest season. Therefore, they are comparable to other crops such as maize or sorghum. Regression equations were calculated to determine the dry biomass of bine and lateral leaves depending on DOY. Correlations between the dry mass of leaves and the size of the leaf area for both bine and lateral leaves were also evaluated. This work also contains data on the mass proportions of the main plant organs (bine, leaves, cones). Full article

Nanoplastics (NPs) can cross cellular membranes and affect cellular performance. This study aims to determine the effects of polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs, 44 nm) on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) exposed for 14 days to 100 μg/L PS-NPs. The results show that biometric indicators (weight, length, Fulton’s condition factor, and hepatosomatic index) were not affected after the experimental exposures. No significant effects were observed on white blood cell count, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, or platelets compared to the control group. However, there was a significant decrease in hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit values, and mean corpuscular cell volume in fish exposed to PS-NPs. There were no significant effects on plasmatic cholesterol, triglyceride, alkaline phosphatase, or aspartate aminotransferase levels. The histological anatomy of both the gills and the intestine revealed no obvious signs of cellular damage, excessive mucous, or inflammation in the PS-NP group. The expression of transcripts related to lipid metabolism (pparα, pparβ), growth and development (igf1), detoxification (bche), and oxidative stress (sod, gpx1) were significantly downregulated in animals exposed to PS-NPs, indicating a slight impairment in lipid homeostasis and antioxidant response. Full article

According to the Sustainable Blue Economy Communication, the Farm to Fork Strategy, and the European Green Deal, novel business models supporting the use of resources from oceans and seas are of primary importance. Interestingly, several infesting seaweeds are consumed as foods in Asia and are fundamental ingredients in several traditional dishes. Herein, according to the circular economy approach, we investigate the use of Chaetomorpha linum (CL) as a Tenebrio molitor larvae feed in different percentages: 20%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. We analyzed the effects of CL on the survival and biometric parameters of larvae. The survival rate remained comparable to the control, while the mean weight was inversely proportional to the CL%. The nutrient composition was substantially different from the control, showing increased protein and reduced fat content. Analysis of the secondary metabolites revealed a better fatty acid composition, rich in PUFA, with lipid nutritional indexes comparable to seaweeds and crabs. The simulated gastrointestinal digestion highlights the increased content of essential amino acids, and a two times higher antioxidant activity with respect to the control. Taken together, our results confirm that CL can be used as a TML supplement, with beneficial effects in protein content and fat quality. Full article