Search Results (3,474)

Background: Peri-prosthetic joint infection (PJI) following total knee arthroplasty complicated by soft tissue compromise presents a major reconstructive challenge. Successful management requires the eradication of infection while restoring durable soft tissue coverage and limb function. This study reports the outcomes of a patient-specific, multidisciplinary orthoplastic approach to complex knee PJI. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed five patients with complex infected knee arthroplasty and associated soft tissue compromise managed at our institution between 2021 and 2025 by a single orthopaedic surgeon and two plastic reconstructive surgeons. All cases required personalized management, including the use of custom spacers, patient-specific orthopaedic reconstruction, and individualized soft tissue reconstruction techniques. Data collected included patient demographics, infection characteristics, reconstructive techniques, and functional outcomes. Results: All patients achieved durable soft tissue coverage and infection eradication at final follow-up. Of the five patients, one underwent primary closure of a persistent sinus, one required a local axial bi-pedicled flap for sinus control and soft tissue closure, two were managed with medial gastrocnemius flaps, and one complex case with an associated bone defect required a custom-designed spacer to achieve stability and dead-space management. Conclusions: In this retrospective case series, we aim to demonstrate that complex knee PJI with associated soft tissue defects may be successfully managed with an individualized, multidisciplinary strategy. We aim to demonstrate the feasibility of such an approach in a tertiary referral centre and to highlight the importance of customisation in achieving infection control and limb preservation. Full article

Tendon injuries are common and debilitating musculoskeletal conditions that impose pain and debilitation to patients, significant challenges to medical professionals, and financial burdens to the healthcare system. Due to limited natural healing capacity, tendons typically undergo scar-mediated repair that compromises biomechanical integrity and increases the risk of reinjury. Despite a variety of therapeutic strategies, functional tendon healing remains a major clinical challenge. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent an attractive strategy to improve tendon healing, largely due to their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. Increasing evidence suggests that the therapeutic potential of MSCs is primarily attributed to their paracrine activity via the release of the secretome, a set of bioactive molecules that are known to mimic the immunomodulatory and regenerative properties of their parental cells. More recently, acellular approaches using MSC secretome derivatives, such as conditioned media and extracellular vesicles, have been largely explored for tendon healing. This review of the literature explores the therapeutic potential of MSC secretome derivatives for tendon healing, highlighting their advantages over cell-based therapies, proposed mechanisms of action, manufacturing and scalability considerations, and current state of research. Full article

Wood coatings play a critical role in protecting wood substrates from environmental degradation, particularly ultraviolet (UV)-induced photodegradation. This review comprehensively examines the mechanisms of wood coating photodegradation, the factors influencing their durability, and current anti-aging strategies. Photodegradation arises from polymer chain scission, chemical structure reorganization, and photo-oxidation of lignin and cellulose, leading to coating chalking, cracking, gloss loss, and color changes, ultimately compromising wood mechanical properties and service life. Key anti-aging strategies include UV absorbers, which convert harmful UV radiation into heat; hindered amine light stabilizers (HALSs) that capture free radicals and quench excited-state molecules; barrier and shielding materials that form dense physical or nanostructured networks to block UV penetration and enhance mechanical and water resistance; and antioxidants that neutralize free radicals or decompose peroxides at the molecular level. Each approach can be employed individually or synergistically to enhance coating durability. Challenges remain in achieving long-term outdoor stability, balancing transparency and UV shielding, optimizing nanoparticle dispersion, and maintaining the activity of natural antioxidants. Future research should focus on multifunctional composite coatings integrating bio-based materials and nanotechnology, smart responsive systems, adaptive protection mechanisms, and standardized long-term evaluation protocols. These advancements will facilitate the development of high-performance, sustainable wood coatings and promote the value-added utilization of wood resources. Full article

The livestock sector underpins food security, employment, and rural livelihoods across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), contributing up to 50% of agricultural GDP and supporting more than 60% of rural households. Yet climate change poses escalating threats through heat stress, declining pasture productivity, water scarcity, and vector-borne diseases that compromise productivity and economic resilience. This review identifies and locates effective climate change mitigation strategies along the livestock value chain, spanning production, processing, transport, and consumption, to promote sustainable, low-emission, and inclusive growth in the SADC region. A broad review of 46 peer-reviewed and institutional sources (2000–2024) was undertaken, focusing on livestock-related mitigation within SADC and comparable agro-ecological systems. Strategies were thematically categorized by value-chain stage and assessed for their emission-reduction and livelihood-enhancement potential. Local strategies include genetic improvement for low-methane and heat-tolerant breeds, adaptive rangeland and feed management, renewable-energy adoption in processing, climate-resilient transport infrastructure, and consumer awareness of low-emission products. Evidence suggests potential GHG-emission reductions of 18–30%, coupled with productivity gains and improved smallholder incomes. Coordinated implementation through the SADC Regional Agricultural Investment Plan (2021–2030) and national policies can transform the livestock sector into a climate-resilient driver of inclusive growth. Further research should quantify the socioeconomic feasibility and scaling potential of these strategies across production systems. Successful integration of climate change mitigation imperatives must be tailored to local biophysical conditions (e.g., rainfall, soil type) and socioeconomic contexts (e.g., market access, cultural practices). Full article

Water-based fracturing fluids, which are essential for enhancing oil and gas production, increasingly utilize seawater or produced water as alternatives to freshwater due to scarcity and cost considerations. However, the high salinity of these alternative water sources can compromise fluid stability and induce formation damage. Herein, the rheological behavior of borate-crosslinked hydroxypropyl guar (HPG) fracturing fluids was systematically evaluated in the presence of individual salts to elucidate the effects of ionic composition and concentration. Viscosity measurements at 80 °C and 170 s⁻¹ revealed that Ca²⁺ above 1500 mg/L reduced viscosity to below 50 mPa·s within 50 min, whereas Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ up to 10,000 mg/L exhibited no significant influence on viscosity and shear resistance. Among the cations investigated, Fe³⁺ exerted the most severe effect: only 15 mg/L Fe³⁺ caused viscosity to drop below 50 mPa·s within 30 min, far below the requirement for field applications. At elevated concentrations, MgCl₂, CaCl₂ and FeCl₃ compromised gel structural strength, while KCl-containing fluids demonstrated superior elastic resistance compared to NaCl at equivalent high concentrations. Microstructural analysis by SEM revealed that Na⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺ enhanced polymer hydration and HPG fiber entanglement, promoting the formation of well-defined network structures. In contrast, Ca²⁺ and Fe³⁺ disrupted the crosslinked gel architecture through complexation and electrostatic interactions with the polymer, resulting in reduced structural integrity. These findings provide critical insights for formulating fracturing fluids using saline or recycled water sources and inform targeted pretreatment strategies for flowback water in hydraulic fracturing operations. Full article

Climate-driven heat and water stress are increasingly compromising rainfed maize yields in transition zones, with significant implications for global food security. While continental-scale models of crop suitability exist, they often fail to capture the high-resolution heterogeneity of agricultural landscapes or distinguish between irrigated and rainfed systems in semi-arid regions. This study models the current and future suitability of rainfed maize in Kansas, USA, using a Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) approach. To accurately isolate biophysical constraints, we employed a novel data-filtering workflow using the USDA Cropland Data Layer (CDL) and Landsat-based Annual Irrigated Datasets (LANID) to train the model exclusively on rainfed occurrences. We projected suitability shifts for the mid- (2041–2070) and end-of-century (2071–2100) periods under two CMIP6 Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5), using high-resolution CHELSA bioclimatic variables. The model, achieving an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.73 and validated against 30 years of historical USDA production records, reveals a distinct spatial contraction of areas climatically suitable for growing maize. Projections indicate a significant decline in suitability across Western and Central Kansas driven by rising temperatures and precipitation variability, with the most highly suitable optimal habitats projected to decline by approximately 90% by mid-century. These findings quantify mounting climate impacts on maize-growing areas of the Great Plains and provide spatially explicit baselines for the development of regional adaptation strategies and groundwater conservation policies. Full article

Male infertility is an escalating global health issue, frequently associated with metabolic problems like obesity, diabetes, and age. Recent evidence designates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) as a pivotal regulator linking energy balance to male reproductive function. AMPK regulates essential activities such as spermatogenesis, metabolic support of Sertoli cells, and steroidogenesis in Leydig cells, as well as sperm motility, capacitation, and the acrosome reaction. At the molecular level, AMPK coordinates signaling networks that include mTOR, SIRT1, PGC-1α, and FOXO to modulate mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and autophagy-related quality control. Dysregulation of AMPK during metabolic and environmental stress results in compromised spermatogenesis, diminished sperm quality, mitochondrial malfunction, and reduced testosterone synthesis. Targeting AMPK signaling constitutes a possible therapeutic approach for enhancing male reproductive health. Pharmacological agents like metformin and AICAR, together with natural bioactive substances, lifestyle modifications, and exercise mimetics, have shown promise in reestablishing metabolic equilibrium and improving reproductive results. Moreover, combinatorial strategies that integrate antioxidants and autophagy modulators may yield synergistic advantages. Nonetheless, obstacles concerning tissue selectivity, optimum dose, and clinical translation persist. Future perspectives highlight precision medicine, biomarker-directed therapies, and the incorporation of metabolic health into fertility treatment. AMPK-targeted treatments collectively provide a novel and mechanistically sound method for addressing male infertility. Full article

Inflammation is a physiological and tightly regulated component of normal pregnancy, contributing to implantation, placental development, and the initiation of parturition. The placenta functions as an active immunological hub, coordinating innate and adaptive immune responses to maintain tolerance while protecting against infection. Preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR) are major causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity worldwide and represent central manifestations of placental disease. Increasing evidence indicates that these conditions share key pathophysiological mechanisms, including placental dysfunction and maladaptive maternal immune responses. When immune regulation at the maternal–fetal interface becomes disrupted, inflammatory pathways contribute to impaired placental development and vascular maladaptation. In this context, excessive immune activation—driven by inflammasome signaling, Th1/Th17 polarization, and altered natural killer and macrophage function—can compromise placental perfusion, promote antiangiogenic imbalance, and lead to systemic endothelial dysfunction. This review, therefore, focuses on how immune dysregulation contributes to placental dysfunction in preeclampsia and FGR, synthesizing current knowledge of the maternal–fetal immune interface and exploring therapeutic strategies that link pathogenic mechanisms to targeted interventions. A deeper understanding of placental immunology and inflammatory signaling is essential to develop precision therapies. Established therapies, including low-dose aspirin, low-molecular-weight heparin, and antenatal corticosteroids, aim to mitigate inflammation and optimize fetal outcomes, while adjunctive strategies target oxidative stress, nutritional deficits, and the maternal microbiome. Emerging approaches such as cytokine-targeted biologics, inflammasome inhibitors, and mesenchymal stem cell therapies show promise but require rigorous safety and efficacy evaluation. Future research should prioritize biomarker validation, pathway-specific interventions, and equitable implementation to reduce inflammation-driven pregnancy complications. Full article

Cucurbit crops—including cucumber (Cucumis sativus), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), and melon (Cucumis melo)—are of major economic and nutritional importance worldwide. Yet their productivity and quality are severely compromised by foliar fungal diseases, particularly powdery mildew (PM), downy mildew (DM), and target leaf spot (TLS). While PM and DM have been extensively studied, TLS has emerged as an increasingly prevalent and damaging disease in key production regions, yet it remains comparatively understudied—especially with respect to its molecular basis and comparative pathobiology relative to PM and DM. Current reliance on chemical fungicides is hampered by escalating pathogen resistance and concerns over residual toxicity, whereas conventional breeding approaches face inherent limitations in pyramiding durable, broad-spectrum resistance against multiple pathogens. In this context, cucumber has emerged as a pivotal model species for dissecting foliar disease resistance mechanisms in cucurbits, supported by a high-quality reference genome, extensive resequencing datasets, diverse germplasm collections, and an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. Despite these advantages, existing reviews predominantly address PM or DM resistance in isolation; comprehensive syntheses integrating TLS resistance advances—and critically, cross-disease comparisons of genetic architecture, transcriptional reprogramming, and defense signaling—are notably scarce. Furthermore, the translational pipeline—from gene discovery and functional validation to deployment in marker-assisted or genome-edited breeding—lacks systematic evaluation. Here, we provide a focused, cucumber-centered review that (i) synthesizes recent progress in mapping QTLs and GWAS loci, and characterizing key resistance-associated gene families (such as NLRs, RLKs, PR genes) conferring resistance to PM, DM, and TLS; (ii) integrates transcriptomic, epigenomic, and proteomic evidence to delineate conserved versus pathogen-specific host responses; (iii) highlights breakthroughs and unresolved questions in TLS resistance research, including the roles of novel susceptibility factors and non-canonical immune regulators; and (iv) critically assesses bottlenecks in translating resistance genes into practical breeding outcomes—such as linkage drag, functional redundancy, and genotype-by-environment interactions—and proposes empirically grounded strategies for accelerating molecular design of multi-disease-resistant cultivars. Collectively, this review aims to bridge fundamental insights with applied breeding goals, offering a conceptual and strategic framework for integrated management of foliar fungal diseases and the development of durable, broad-spectrum resistance in cucurbits. Full article

Recommender systems are increasingly exposed to anomalous user behavior that can distort recommendation outcomes and compromise system reliability. In real-world settings, explicit labels identifying malicious activity are rarely available, motivating the adoption of unsupervised detection approaches. This study presents a systematic comparative analysis of classical machine learning and deep learning techniques for anomaly detection in recommender systems. Using the MovieLens 1M dataset, we construct a user-level behavioral representation based on statistical, temporal, and interaction-based features derived from explicit rating data. Three unsupervised detection models are evaluated: Isolation Forest, One-Class Support Vector Machine, and an autoencoder-based neural network. To address the absence of ground-truth labels, evaluation is conducted using a comprehensive label-free protocol, including score distribution analysis, percentile-based thresholding, ranking stability, and inter-model agreement. In addition, controlled experiments with synthetic attack profiles are conducted to assess detection performance under different adversarial strategies. Results indicate that individual models capture complementary aspects of anomalous behavior, exhibiting low to moderate agreement. An ensemble scoring strategy improves ranking stability and provides a consistent mechanism for identifying highly deviant user profiles. The findings suggest that ensemble-based unsupervised detection constitutes a practical and interpretable first-layer screening approach for recommender system monitoring under label-scarce conditions. Full article

European airspace is currently facing significant challenges due to increasing traffic demand and limited sector capacity. This situation leads to an overload of demand, so Air Traffic Controllers (hereinafter ATCOs) are often forced to implement regulations that cause delays. Moreover, an ATCO cannot be endorsed in an unlimited number of sectors, as doing so would compromise the maintenance of operational proficiency and specific sector skills. Consequently, the limited cross-sector flexibility of controllers has become a key constraint in optimizing airspace management. Additionally, the strategic definition of sector groups has a direct impact on which sector configurations can be activated. An inadequate sector grouping strategy may hinder operations by restricting access to more efficient sector configurations. While in some cases, controllers may be endorsed for multiple sectors (up to ten), this flexibility remains insufficient to mitigate capacity and efficiency challenges fully. IFAV3 (Increased Flexibility of ATCO Validation En-Route) project has been developed within the Single European Sky ATM Research (hereinafter SESAR) framework, aiming to maximize flexibility in ATCO rostering. Its main expected benefits include an improvement in cost efficiency in Air Traffic Control (hereinafter ATC) through reduced training costs and optimized rostering by a better utilization of existing capacity. Full article

Natural killer (NK) cells are promising effectors for cancer immunotherapy, as they can recognize and eliminate tumor cells without prior antigen sensitization. However, insufficient tumor recognition remains a critical limitation that reduces the anticancer efficacy of NK cells against solid tumors. To address this limitation, we developed a lipid-mediated cell membrane engineering strategy to enhance the targeting and cytotoxic efficacy of NK cells toward solid tumors, particularly ovarian cancer cells. In this strategy, poly-L-glutamic acid (PLE) was employed as an ovarian cancer-targeting module due to the specific affinity of PLE for cholesterol-rich membrane domains. To display PLE on NK cells, a lipid moiety is incorporated to anchor PLE onto the NK cell membrane via hydrophobic insertion, enabling rapid and non-genetic surface modification. As a result, the surface-engineered NK cells with PLE-Lipid (i.e., PLE-NK) displayed PLE on the NK cell surface, allowing direct recognition of ovarian cancer cells without compromising the intrinsic properties of NK cells. This enhanced recognition subsequently increased NK–cancer cluster formation by promoting interactions between membrane-presented PLE on NK cells and cholesterol on ovarian cancer cells. Consequently, PLE-NK cells exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against ovarian cancer cells (i.e., OVCAR-3 cells) and effectively disrupted 3D tumoroids, while PLE-NK cells showed no off-target effects on normal fibroblasts. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that PLE-Lipid-mediated NK surface engineering provides a simple and effective strategy to improve the tumor targeting ability of NK cells and offers a promising platform for NK cell-based immunotherapy against ovarian cancer. Full article

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) faces challenges related to irregular flowering, which compromises crop productivity. Gibberellic acid (GA₃) is a plant growth regulator known for its role in inducing reproductive processes, although its effects on this species are not yet fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different GA₃ doses on flowering and vegetative growth in black pepper plants. The experiment was conducted with black pepper seedlings of the Bragantina cultivar in a randomized block design, with four doses of GA₃ (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg L⁻¹) and six replications, using eight-month-old plants grown in pots under full sun. GA₃ applications were performed in two floral induction cycles. Variables related to flowering, chlorophyll a fluorescence, vegetative growth, biomass allocation, and carbohydrate distribution were evaluated. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, regression analysis, mean grouping tests, and principal component analysis. The results showed that intermediate doses (10 and 20 mg L⁻¹) significantly stimulated flowering at early developmental stages, whereas the 30 mg L⁻¹ dose enhanced vegetative growth while reducing floral induction. Additionally, GA₃ affected physiological parameters by increasing photosynthetic efficiency and altering carbohydrate balance, with higher accumulation of soluble sugars in leaves and reduced starch content in roots. It is concluded that GA₃ application is a promising strategy to modulate reproductive transition in black pepper, with 10 to 20 mg L⁻¹ doses recommended to promote flowering without compromising plant development. Full article

Tough-on-crime policies, including mandatory minimum laws, three-strikes statutes, and habitual offender laws, have contributed to prison overcrowding and the growth of aging prison populations. As incarceration costs for prisoners increase, policymakers have increasingly considered early release policies for older incarcerated adults who pose a low risk of recidivism. This paper reviews recent trends in late-life incarceration and evaluates the policy logic and practical conditions under which early release may serve as a response to aging incarceration. Drawing on existing legal scholarship and prior research, we argue that early release of aging inmates likely represents a feasible and cost-effective strategy for addressing prison overcrowding without compromising public safety. The analysis further identifies the legal, institutional, and policy conditions under which early release programs for older prisoners are most likely to gain legitimacy and political support. By situating aging-related release within broader debates on punishment, proportionality, and public safety, this study contributes to ongoing discussions of sustainable and normatively grounded responses to mass incarceration. Full article

Weed interference and herbicide-induced phytotoxicity, particularly from HPPD inhibitors such as tembotrione, represent significant limitations to yield stability in grain sorghum. Developing strategies to enhance crop tolerance without compromising weed control is of high practical interest. This study tested the hypothesis that a commercial Ascophyllum nodosum-based biostimulant can mitigate tembotrione-induced oxidative stress and phytotoxicity in sorghum without compromising the weed-control activity of the herbicide. Sorghum plants at the V4 phenological stage (four fully expanded leaves) were subjected to five treatments: (1) untreated control; (2) biostimulant application alone; (3) tembotrione application alone; (4) simultaneous application of tembotrione and biostimulant; and (5) tembotrione followed by biostimulant application after six days of application (6 DAT). After 10 days of treatment, photosynthetic pigment synthesis, primary photochemistry, gas exchange, antioxidant metabolism, phytotoxicity levels, growth parameters, and yield indices were evaluated. The results support the hypothesis that A. nodosum-based biostimulants can act as effective mitigating agents. The biostimulant sustained carotenoid levels and preserved the stability of the photosynthetic apparatus (PSII), counteracting HPPD enzyme inhibition caused by the herbicide. Isolated biostimulant application upregulated net photosynthesis by 60%, while simultaneous co-application with tembotrione preserved membrane integrity and the leaf area index. Furthermore, the efficacy of the mitigation strategy was highly time-dependent, as simultaneous co-application proved superior to the delayed (6 DAT) intervention. From an agronomic perspective, the biostimulant reduced visual injury and restored the grain number per plant to control levels under simultaneous co-application, although the final yield of combined treatments did not differ statistically from either the untreated control or the treatment of tembotrione alone. This study shows that the integration of A. nodosum extracts into the chemical management of sensitive crops represents a viable biotechnological strategy to enhance herbicide selectivity and yield stability. Full article