Search Results (20,324)

Background/Objectives: The PHOTON trial established the efficacy of aflibercept 8 mg using fixed-interval dosing in treatment-naïve patients; however, real-world evidence regarding pro re nata (PRN) regimens in switch cases remains limited. This pilot study evaluated the short-term efficacy and safety of switching to aflibercept 8 mg with PRN dosing in eyes with DME. Methods: This retrospective study included 20 eyes from 12 patients with DME who switched to aflibercept 8 mg and were followed for 6 months. Patients received initial induction doses (1–3 injections based on predetermined anatomical and functional criteria) followed by PRN dosing based on clinical findings. Primary outcomes were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT). Treatment intervals and injection frequency were also analyzed. Results: Mean logMAR BCVA was maintained from baseline (0.242 ± 0.252) throughout the follow-up period: 0.164 ± 0.218 at 1 month, 0.138 ± 0.241 at 2 months, 0.145 ± 0.204 at 3 months, 0.143 ± 0.181 at 4 months, 0.149 ± 0.166 at 5 months, and 0.180 ± 0.224 at 6 months. No statistically significant changes in BCVA from baseline were observed at any time point. Mean CRT decreased from baseline (369.6 ± 138.3 μm) at all follow-up time points: 251.5 ± 82.1 μm at 1 month, 269.1 ± 104.5 μm at 2 months, 255.8 ± 67.8 μm at 3 months, 275.2 ± 76.6 μm at 4 months, 301.4 ± 81.2 μm at 5 months, and 302.7 ± 86.8 μm at 6 months. Statistically significant reductions in CRT were observed at 1 through 4 months (1 month: p = 0.000010; 2 months: p = 0.000243; 3 months: p = 0.000035; 4 months: p = 0.000597), whereas the reductions at 5 months (p = 0.0317) and 6 months (p = 0.0424) were not statistically significant. The mean number of injections over 6 months was 1.45 ± 1.05 (median 1; range 1–4), with 70% of eyes achieving treatment intervals ≥ 4 months. Five eyes (25%) required only the switching dose with no additional treatment during follow-up. No intraocular inflammation or retinal vasculitis was observed. Conclusions: Switching to aflibercept 8 mg with PRN dosing provided sustained anatomical improvement and maintained visual acuity in DME, with one quarter of the cases maintaining these outcomes with only a single additional injection. These real-world findings from a pilot study suggest that the PRN approach appears feasible and effective in real-world practice, offering a practical treatment option that may help reduce treatment burden while maintaining disease control. Full article

Accurate registration of multi-temporal LiDAR point clouds is essential for reliable monitoring of mining subsidence. Systematic errors in point clouds acquired at different times can arise from GNSS/INS positioning drift, sensor calibration bias, and differences in observation geometry. These errors typically manifest as global reference shifts or gradual distortions. When such errors are superimposed on real terrain changes, they can mask subsidence signals and introduce observational pseudo-differences, thereby increasing the difficulty of separating actual subsidence from artifacts. To address this issue, this study proposes Robust-Registration-Based Systematic Error Correction for Time-Series Point Clouds (RR-SEC), which establishes a consistent reference framework across epochs. The method does not assume that stable areas remain strictly unchanged. Instead, it identifies regions whose local change patterns are more temporally consistent using an information entropy analysis of multi-temporal differences. Under complex terrain, the method selects points with lower difference entropy as stable control points and uses them to constrain the registration process. It then performs Generalized Iterative Closest Point (GICP) rigid registration under these constraints to estimate the overall three-dimensional translation and rotation between point clouds from different periods. The estimated transformation is applied to the entire point cloud to correct inter-epoch reference mismatches and unify the coordinate reference across all epochs. Comprehensive validation using simulated complex terrain data containing rigid reference biases and non-rigid deformations, as well as UAV LiDAR data collected from the MuduChaideng Coal Mine, shows that, compared with the baseline GICP method, RR-SEC reduces alignment errors. It decreases the mean residual in stable areas by approximately 85%. The subsidence values computed from the corrected point clouds are more consistent with measured values, and the spatial deformation patterns are easier to interpret. RR-SEC demonstrates robust performance and can serve as a practical approach to improve the accuracy of deformation monitoring in mining areas and potentially other geoscientific applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Endometrial cancer frequently develops resistance to therapy, partly due to the ability of tumor cells to adapt to cellular stress through non-apoptotic mechanisms. Mitochondrial dysfunction and cytoskeletal remodeling are increasingly recognized as key components of stress adaptation; however, their structural relationship under pharmacological stress in three-dimensional (3D) tumor models remains poorly characterized. The present study aimed to investigate the ultrastructural and phenotypic effects of lithium chloride (LiCl)-induced stress in 3D endometrial cancer spheroids, with a particular focus on mitochondrial alterations and intermediate filament organization. Methods: Three-dimensional spheroids generated from Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells were exposed to lithium chloride at concentrations of 1, 10, or 50 mM for defined time periods. Cell viability, proliferative activity, and clonogenic capacity were assessed using Trypan Blue exclusion, BrdU incorporation, and soft agar assays. Ultrastructural changes were examined by transmission electron microscopy to evaluate mitochondrial morphology, cytoplasmic organization, and intermediate filament distribution. Results: LiCl exposure resulted in a dose- and time-dependent reduction in cell viability, proliferation, and clonogenic potential in 3D spheroids. Ultrastructural analysis revealed pronounced mitochondrial swelling, cristae disorganization, and membrane-associated mitochondrial alterations. These changes were consistently accompanied by conspicuous accumulation and reorganization of intermediate filaments in close spatial proximity to damaged mitochondria, suggesting a structural association between cytoskeletal remodeling and mitochondrial injury. Across all experimental conditions, classical apoptotic ultrastructural features, including chromatin condensation and apoptotic body formation, were not observed. Conclusions: Together, these observations indicate that lithium chloride elicits a stress phenotype in 3D endometrial cancer spheroids that primarily manifests at the organelle and cytoskeletal levels, rather than through classical apoptotic execution. Although descriptive in nature, the present study highlights intermediate filament accumulation as a prominent structural feature of lithium-induced mitochondrial stress and establishes a structural reference point for future studies aimed at further investigating mitochondrial–cytoskeletal relationships during pharmacological stress in endometrial cancer. Full article

Background: Left ventriculo-arterial coupling (VAC) integrates the interaction between left ventricular contractility and the arterial system, representing a key determinant of cardiovascular efficiency. In rapidly changing hemodynamic states such as septic or cardiogenic shock, conventional indices of pressure or flow alone may be misleading. VAC provides a unified physiological framework to assess global cardiovascular performance and guide therapy. Objective: To review the physiological foundations, bedside assessment, and therapeutic applications of VAC in critically ill patients with rapidly fluctuating circulatory conditions. Methods and Content: The article revisits the underlying principles of VAC, expressed as the ratio between arterial elastance (Ea) and end-systolic elastance (Ees), and discusses their derivation from the pressure–volume relationship. Practical echocardiographic methods for bedside estimation, including the non-invasive single-beat approach, are outlined with illustrative figures. The review further examines how VAC patterns evolve in sepsis, cardiogenic shock, and heart failure and how this integrative index clarifies paradoxical responses to vasoactive and inotropic therapies. Specific therapeutic phenotypes are proposed according to Ea/Ees profiles, providing a structured approach to optimise coupling and restore circulatory efficiency. Summary: VAC offers a physiology-based perspective on cardiovascular performance, enabling clinicians to interpret complex hemodynamic changes beyond traditional measures of ejection fraction or mean arterial pressure. Its dynamic tracking may refine the assessment of therapeutic trajectories and improve bedside decision-making. Conclusions: By integrating ventricular and arterial function into a single measure, VAC bridges cardiovascular physiology and clinical practice. Its incorporation into routine critical care monitoring could enhance individualised hemodynamic management and serve as a foundation for future outcome-driven studies. Methodology: This narrative review was conducted using a structured literature search to ensure comprehensive coverage of contemporary evidence regarding ventriculo-arterial coupling (VAC) in critical care and shock states. A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases was performed from database inception through October 2025. The following key search terms were used: “ventriculo-arterial coupling”; “arterial elastance”; “end-systolic elastance”; “Ea/Ees”; “pressure–volume loops”; “septic shock”; “cardiogenic shock”; “critical care echocardiography”; “point-of-care ultrasound”; “mechanical circulatory support”. Reference lists of relevant articles, review papers, and consensus documents were also manually screened to identify additional pertinent studies. Only English-language publications were included. Both seminal foundational studies and recent contemporary investigations were reviewed to provide historical context and up-to-date clinical applicability. Full article

Tipping points of vegetation transitions represent the thresholds beyond which ecosystems can no longer maintain their stable states. Approaching these critical points may result in declined resilience or irreversible vegetation transitions. Detecting and predicting tipping points remains notably challenging, yet it is essential for guiding the preservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, lag-1 temporal autocorrelation (AC1) derived from the Kernel Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (kNDVI) was utilized as an early warning signal to monitor resilience dynamics. We developed a new tipping-point detection method by combining land-cover changes, time series segmentations and temporal–spatial filters. We revealed a widespread resilience decline in China, with the dominant transition type as shrub encroachment. Then, two machine learning models coupled with temporal cross-validation were employed to predict the probabilities of abrupt shifts in the near future. The results showed that Random Forest models (accuracy > 70%) demonstrated robustness across lead times. High probabilities of transitions in 2024 were concentrated along the 400 mm annual isohyet, mainly affected by decreased water availability, lower soil acidity and degraded vegetation functions. Our study provides an effective methodology to pinpoint hotspots of vegetation vulnerability and to support the conservation of ecosystems for a sustainable future. Full article

Background: Early diagnosis of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) remains challenging. Although ECG and morphological abnormalities at diagnosis are well-described, their temporal evolution has not been systematically evaluated. This study characterized the prevalence and longitudinal progression of electrical and structural cardiac abnormalities preceding ATTR-CM diagnosis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with confirmed ATTR-CM evaluated at a specialist amyloidosis center between 2006 and 2023. Diagnosis was established by grade 2–3 myocardial uptake on 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy. Standard 12-lead ECGs and transthoracic echocardiograms were reviewed at diagnosis and at baseline, 3–5 years earlier. Results: Sixty-three patients (79% men; mean age 77 ± 8 years) were studied, including 33 (52%) with hereditary ATTR (ATTRv) and 30 (48%) with wild-type ATTR (ATTRwt). Overall, 95% had a NAC score ≤ 2, consistent with less advanced disease at diagnosis. During the prediagnostic phase, 79% of patients exhibited pathological ECGs. Non-specific ST–T abnormalities (40%), prolonged QTc (38%), left-axis deviation (35%), first-degree AV block (33%) and anterior infarction pattern (33%) were each observed in at least one-third of patients. From baseline to diagnosis, significant prolongation was observed in the PR interval (+26 ms), QRS duration (+11 ms), and QTc interval (+22 ms) (p < 0.001 for all), and a leftward shift observed in the electrical axis (−12.03°, p = 0.011). Low voltage was uncommon at both time points. Although interventricular septal thickness increased significantly (+3.42 mm; p < 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction and dimensions were relatively stable. Conclusions: In this proof-of-concept study, electrical remodeling precedes functional changes and outperforms low voltages to raise clinical suspicion of ATTR-CM. Full article

Resilience pads provide elastic behavior and reduce impact and vibration loads in sleeper floating tracks, but their long-term degradation affects critical track components. Their performance is currently measured using labor-intensive, expensive restricted field sampling and indoor static stiffness testing, which cannot reliably measure entire track sections. The objective of this study was to measure and analyze a rail’s supporting-point reaction force (pressure) using a skin sensor according to the train load (as the force changes with spring stiffness) and the resilience pad spring stiffness of the sleeper floating track. To evaluate the rail-supporting-point reaction force of the sleeper floating track, a skin sensor was installed at the bottom of the concrete sleeper, and the reaction force was measured according to the train load. Laboratory testing demonstrated that resilience pad spring stiffness affects the rail-supporting-point reaction force. Field measurements of the train load were used to examine the sleeper floating track’s supporting-point reaction force and the resilience pad’s spring stiffness, confirming field applicability. Therefore, this innovative skin-sensor-based assessment technique for reaction forces at rail-support points may predict resilience pad replacement and identify anomalies in real time, making it easier to assess performance and diagnose sleeper floating tracks. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to quantitatively assess site-specific mean autofluorescence intensity across normal oral mucosal subsites and to evaluate the effectiveness of Autofluorescence Imaging (AFI) as an adjunct tool for distinguishing benign lesions, OPMDs, and oral cancers by comparing lesion intensity with anatomically matched healthy subsites. Methods: This observational study employed dual-mode imaging, comprising paired White Light Imaging (WLI) and AFI, captured from different oral cavity subsites using a smartphone-based point-of-care device. The Region of Interest (ROI) was annotated on WLI and automatically mapped to the corresponding AFI for both normal mucosa and lesions. WLI and AFI images were separated into their constituent red, green, and blue (RGB) channels, and AFI intensity was quantified via ImageJ. Results: A total of 1380 dual-mode images were acquired from 86 healthy participants. AFI intensities were comparable across most oral subsites, except for the lateral and ventral tongue. The lateral border showed the lowest fluorescence (Green channel-GC: 68.12 ± 28.27; Blue channel-BC: 25.29 ± 7.93), whereas the ventral tongue showed the highest (GC: 98.89 ± 42.22; BC: 37.08 ± 11.04; both p < 0.001). Among 611 lesions, predominantly from the buccal mucosa, AFI intensity declined progressively with increasing disease severity. Homogeneous leukoplakia (n = 149; GC: 38.62 ± 25.05; BC: 21.60 ± 9.50), non-homogeneous leukoplakia (n = 25; GC: 30.42 ± 18.66; BC: 18.25 ± 7.17) and oral cancer (n = 21; GC: 23.39 ± 15.53; BC: 15.82 ± 7.15; all p < 0.001) showed markedly reduced fluorescence, while benign lesions (n: 44; GC: 66.99 ± 30.88; BC: 32.01 ± 13.62) exhibited intermediate intensities, supporting AFI’s discriminative potential. Conclusions: This phase-1, proof-of-concept study highlights subsite-specific variations in autofluorescence intensity within healthy oral mucosa, providing an essential baseline for objective interpretation of lesion-associated fluorescence changes. AFI has the potential to be used as a non-invasive adjunct for monitoring OPMDs. Further validation in larger and more diverse cohorts is required before clinical implementation. Full article

Ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating (UWFBG) sensors are increasingly applied in asphalt pavement monitoring; however, the quantitative criteria for their vertical placement based on deformation coordination remain insufficient. This study investigates the deformation coordination mechanism between UWFBG sensors and the asphalt mixture under different vertical embedding positions. Three mesoscale finite element beam models with sensors embedded at the top (T), middle (M), and bottom (B) positions were established to simulate the lateral strain field evolution, core lateral tensile strain response of the UWFBG sensor, and interfacial mechanical behavior under three-point bending loading. To quantitatively evaluate the deformation compatibility, a weighted deformation coordination index was constructed by integrating the lateral tensile strain change rate of the UWFBG core (representing strain response sensitivity), the interface damage degree, and the interface opening displacement. A weight sensitivity analysis was performed to ensure the consistency of the result ranking. The results demonstrate that the vertical embedding position of the UWFBG sensor not only affects its own lateral tensile strain response, but also alters the lateral strain redistribution within the asphalt mixture beam, the migration of the neutral surface, and the damage development at the UWFBG sensor–asphalt mixture interface. The UWFBG sensor embedded at the bottom (B) position induces the most pronounced tensile strain amplification and neutral surface migration in the surrounding asphalt mixture, whereas the sensors embedded at the middle (M) and top (T) positions exhibit faster degradation of the UWFBG sensor–asphalt mixture interface or limited strain amplification, resulting in lower deformation coordination levels. Overall, the bottom-embedded configuration exhibits the strongest strain amplification, with the highest peak lateral tensile strain of the UWFBG core. The deformation coordination index (I_c) of the bottom configuration at the later loading stage is approximately 0.42, which is higher than that of the middle (0.37) and top (0.31) configurations. The consistent ranking under different weight combinations confirms the robustness of the evaluation work and identifies the bottom-embedding configuration as the most favorable arrangement for strain monitoring. Full article

Background: Elderly patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who experience worsening heart failure (wHF) remain at high residual risk despite optimal medical therapy (OMT), and data on cognitive function and comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in this setting are lacking. This study evaluated the association between 12-month treatment with vericiguat and changes in cardiac, functional and geriatric parameters in elderly patients with recent wHF. Methods and results: In this single-center prospective observational study, 55 patients (45 men, mean age 76.4 ± 5.1 years) with HFrEF on OMT and a recent episode of wHF were treated with vericiguat and followed for 12 months. Clinical assessment, CGA and echocardiography including speckle-tracking were performed at baseline, 6, and 12 months. At 12 months, the mean vericiguat dose was 5.5 ± 2.9 mg/day. NT-proBNP levels decreased from 980 (467–2106) to 654 (274–1762) pg/mL (p < 0.0001), while left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 36.8 ± 3.1% to 43.4 ± 5.7% (p < 0.0001). Global longitudinal strain improved from −9.2 ± 1.7% to −11.5 ± 2.1% (p = 0.008), with parallel improvements in right ventricular function and pulmonary pressures. Cognitive performance improved (MMSE 25.1 ± 1.7 to 26.2 ± 2.1 points, p < 0.0001), as did depressive symptoms (GDS 7.8 ± 2.0 to 5.4 ± 1.6 points, p < 0.0001), physical performance (SPPB 6.7 ± 1.1 to 8.4 ± 0.9 points, p < 0.0001), and gait speed (0.70 ± 0.10 to 0.83 ± 0.06 m/s, p < 0.0001). Conley score decreased from 5.2 ± 2.3 to 2.4 ± 1.8 points (p < 0.0001), suggesting a lower risk of falls. Loop diuretic and MRA use were significantly reduced during follow-up. Conclusions: In this elderly HFrEF cohort with recent wHF on contemporary OMT, 12-month treatment with vericiguat was associated with consistent improvements in cardiac structure and function, biomarkers, and multidimensional geriatric status. These hypothesis-generating findings support the integration of CGA into future controlled studies of vericiguat in frail older patients with HFrEF. Given the observational design and lack of a control group, causal inference is not possible. Full article

Detecting distributional changes in multivariate sensor networks is a fundamental task for monitoring complex systems such as industrial processes, structural health monitoring, and large-scale Internet of Things infrastructures. Despite significant progress, most existing change-point detection methods either operate on high-dimensional observations in a black-box manner or provide limited insight into how inter-sensor dependencies evolve over time, thereby restricting their practical utility in safety-critical applications. In this work, we propose an interpretable change detection framework based on the Cauchy–Schwarz (CS) divergence. By extending CS divergence to conditional distributions over sensor variables, the proposed method detects distributional shifts through changes in sensor-wise conditional relationships. This design enables reliable change detection while simultaneously providing transparent sensor-level explanations of detected changes. Extensive experiments on synthetic data, generic multivariate sensor time series, and a large-scale industrial process benchmark demonstrate that the proposed method achieves competitive or superior detection performance compared to representative baselines, while offering fine-grained interpretability for practical sensor monitoring systems. Full article

In the present study, the fruit extract of haritaki (T. chebula) was successfully encapsulated in liposomes, achieving an encapsulation efficiency of 97.2% for the total polyphenols, with the most significant release occurring under simulated digestive conditions in the intestinal phase. The zeta potential and Z-average size of the loaded liposomes were 20.52 mV and 521.73 nm at a pH of 2 and −59.72 mV and 823.03 nm at a pH of 8, respectively. The prepared liposomes were further incorporated in the matrix of dark chocolate in a content of 10%. The addition of liposomes significantly (p < 0.05) increased the particle size distribution (d(0.9), d(0.5) and d(0.1)) and the rheological (Casson’s yield point and viscosity) parameters of the chocolate, while the hardness and maximum melting temperature did not change significantly (p > 0.05). The results of the sensory analysis of the chocolates confirmed that the liposomes were well homogenized in the chocolate matrix and that the herbal taste of haritaki was successfully masked by incorporating it into the chocolate in the encapsulated form. Full article

When bridge towers are subjected to strong winds, they exhibit significant displacements. This displacement change can serve as an important indicator for structural performance warning. The displacement and acceleration collected in real time by the intelligent bridge monitoring system are disturbed by various noises, resulting in missed alarms in the monitoring system and causing huge economic losses. This study employs the fractional-order Butterworth lowpass filter method, eliminating the maximum value method, triple standard deviation method, etc. for preprocessing abnormal monitoring data characterized by missing values and outlier points. A fractional-order multi-rate Kalman fusion is proposed to process and model the correlation of structural displacement and acceleration data, and the simulated data and measured data are analyzed and verified respectively. Spectral analysis confirmed that by effectively fusing the low-frequency GPS signal with the high-frequency accelerometer signal, the fractional-order multi-rate Kalman fusion displacement measurement has a relatively high accuracy. Displacements obtained by the fractional-order multi-rate Kalman fusion method are adopted for correlation modeling, and residuals generated from this fractional-order fusion modeling are used for structural performance warning testing. The effectiveness of this structural performance warning is quantitatively validated through statistical assessment of warning accuracy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Research on the association between change from baseline in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exists. This study evaluated the association between post-baseline PROs and OS in patients with advanced NSCLC who received first-line cemiplimab-based therapy. Methods: We evaluated PRO data from two phase III studies (EMPOWER-Lung 1 [NCT03088540] and EMPOWER-Lung 3 [NCT03409614]) using a Cox proportional hazards model. Twelve pre-specified PRO scales from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 and Quality of Life Questionnaire Lung Cancer 13 module were evaluated. Landmark analyses were conducted at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Time-dependent analyses using change from baseline PROs as a time-dependent covariate were conducted to evaluate the association of post-baseline PRO improvement with OS. Results: At the 3-month landmark, we observed a 56% reduction in the risk of death (HR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.32–0.62; nominal p < 0.0001) among stable/improved vs. worsened/unobserved PROs for global health status (GHS)/quality of life (QoL). Results at the 6-, 9-, and 12-month landmarks of GHS/QoL were consistent with those at the 3-month landmark. Time-dependent analyses showed that every 10-point improvement in GHS/QoL was associated with a 31% reduction in the risk of death (HR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.64–0.75; nominal p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In patients with advanced NSCLC who received first-line cemiplimab-based therapy, improvements in post-baseline PROs are associated with improved OS. These results may inform endpoint selection and interpretation of future clinical trials. Full article

Despite increasing efforts by the scientific community to raise awareness of breed-related health problems through educational campaigns, public information initiatives, and veterinary outreach programmes, brachycephalic dog breeds remain highly popular. As the number of brachycephalic dogs increases, the prevalence of associated health problems rises accordingly. Ethical and animal welfare considerations appear to play a limited role in breed selection. In German-speaking regions, extensive educational efforts have been undertaken in recent years to address the issue of so-called torture breeding, defined as intentional selection for extreme phenotypic traits that impair health, reduce welfare, and cause chronic suffering, particularly in brachycephalic breeds. The aim of this study was to determine the underlying reasons for the decision to buy and keep a brachycephalic dog. Although the veterinary profession is already improving education and communication, this qualitative study intended to find new starting points for targeted education against animal suffering and to explore the sociological background of the ownership of such dogs. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews with people with brachycephalic dogs were conducted throughout Switzerland (n = 16). The focus was on the animal–human relationship. The interviews were defined by systematically applied guidelines for the design of the interview process, while still allowing maximum openness (all possibilities for expression). The transcribed interviews were coded and analysed according to the Kuckartz methodology, which allows us to set certain focal points of analysis and to structure them according to codes. The results of this study indicate that, although awareness of torture breeding is present within the broader population, owners of brachycephalic dogs frequently rely on individualised arguments and rationalisations. These typically involve emphasising the perceived health, functionality, or exceptional characteristics of their own animal (e.g., claims that their dog is “healthy” or not affected by breed-related problems), thereby distancing their personal ownership experience from the general welfare concerns associated with the breed. This psychological pattern can be interpreted as cognitive dissonance, in which contradictory beliefs are harmonised through selective perception or re-evaluation. The results also show that brachycephalic dogs offer a very strong projection surface: their owners assign them a variety of social roles that go beyond the classic animal–human relationship—for example, as a substitute for children, a romantic partner, or a best friend. This qualitative study provides differentiated insights into the attitudes and motivations of owners of brachycephalic dogs and illustrates that traditional awareness campaigns have not been sufficient to effectively change problematic breeding practices and ownership patterns. In order to develop long-term effective solutions, interdisciplinary cooperation is therefore needed—for example, between veterinary medicine, animal welfare, communication science, psychology and law. In addition to individual education, new, target-group-specific communication strategies and consistent legal regulations are needed to protect animal welfare in the long term. This study is intended to serve as a catalyst for a broader ethical and social debate on the keeping of torture breed dogs. Full article