Search Results (2,657)

The intensification of aquaculture practices has been accompanied by an increased incidence of bacterial diseases, leading to a greater reliance on antibiotics for disease control. Consequently, the widespread and often indiscriminate use of these compounds has contributed to the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria within aquaculture systems, posing a serious threat to animal health, environmental sustainability, and public health. In this regard, research efforts have focused on developing alternative strategies to reduce antibiotic use. Natural compounds have gained particular attention due to their well-documented antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. In this context, the combined application of antibiotics and natural compounds has emerged as a promising approach to enhance antimicrobial efficacy while potentially mitigating the development of resistance. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on antibiotic resistance in aquaculture, highlights the role of biofilm formation as a key resistance mechanism, and critically examines the potential of antibiotic–natural compound combinations against major aquaculture pathogens, with particular emphasis on bacterial growth inhibition, biofilm disruption, and virulence attenuation. Collectively, the evidence discussed underscores the potential of synergistic strategies as a sustainable tool for improving disease management in aquaculture while supporting efforts to limit antibiotic resistance. Full article

Background and Objectives: Bladder cancer (BC) represents a significant global health burden, ranking as the tenth most commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide, with an incidence rate of 5.6 per 100,000 person-years annually. The research team aimed to summarize evidence on specialized nursing-led interventions for bladder cancer management across the disease continuum. Materials and Methods: This scoping review used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) methodology to search four databases from January 2018 to November 2025. Results: This concise but informative scoping review of 20 studies revealed substantial clinical and patient-reported benefits from specialized nursing interventions. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols incorporating structured nursing care demonstrated a 35% reduction in postoperative complications. Integrated nursing interventions during postoperative intravesical therapy significantly improved patient satisfaction, treatment compliance, and self-efficacy while reducing anxiety and depression. Digital health platforms, including internet-based and mobile applications, proved effective in reducing caregiver burden, enhancing disease knowledge, and improving coping strategies. Preoperative stoma education and postoperative ostomy care management significantly improved self-efficacy, stoma care knowledge, and overall health-related quality of life. Psychosocial interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based approaches, demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life and reductions in fear of recurrence, depression, and anxiety. However, a critical evidence gap exists regarding bladder cancer-specific mental health interventions. Conclusions: Specialized nursing-led care plays a critical role in strengthening clinical and assistive practice in bladder cancer. Evidence from this scoping review shows that nursing-led interventions significantly improve clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, symptom management, and quality of life across all phases of bladder cancer care while reducing caregiver burden and enhancing psychological well-being for both patients and families, reinforcing the value of integrating specialized nursing roles into routine bladder cancer management. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer remains a significant public health burden globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where rising incidence rates are compounded by limited screening, late-stage diagnosis and disparities in healthcare access. In South Africa, the Eastern Cape Province reports high prostate cancer prevalence, with many patients presenting at advanced stages. Understanding the epidemiological profile of affected individuals is critical for developing targeted health strategies. Objectives: This sub-study aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, using secondary data from Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (NMAH), focusing on patients seen between March 2020 and November 2021. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study design is employed. De-identified secondary data extracted from clinical records of male patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and managed at NMAH during the study period. Variables include demographic information, clinical characteristics, health service utilization indicators. Analysis: Data will be captured and coded in Microsoft excel 2013 (Microsoft corporation, Seattle, WA, USA). The data will then be exported to STATA 18 for analyses. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize the data. Inferential analyses such as logistic regression and chi-square tests will be used to explore associations between variables and treatment outcomes. The study provides insights into the demographic and clinical profiles of prostate cancer patients in a high-burden setting. It is anticipated that findings will highlight the age distribution, stage at diagnosis, and treatment patterns among patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. This will inform future prevention and intervention strategies in the Eastern Cape Province. Conclusions: By mapping out the epidemiological patterns of prostate cancer in the Eastern Cape through this sub-study, the research contributes to evidence-based planning and resource allocation, ultimately supporting efforts to reduce prostate cancer morbidity and mortality in rural South Africa. Full article

Multilayer liquid crystal devices can offer enhanced optical functionalities for augmented reality and photonic applications, but fabrication remains severely limited by solvent incompatibility between photoalignment materials and underlying polymerized layers. Conventional photoalignment agents use aggressive solvents like N,N-dimethylformamide that damage polymerized substrates, necessitating protective interlayers. This study demonstrates a water-soluble photoalignment approach using AbA-2522 that eliminates these fabrication barriers. The water-soluble alignment material enables direct multilayer processing without layer damage while maintaining alignment quality equivalent to conventional materials. We successfully fabricate compact transmissive devices integrating liquid crystal polarization gratings with quarter-wave plates, achieving a first-order diffraction efficiency of 65.4% for 9 μm period gratings for linearly polarized incident light (λ = 457 nm). The multilayer structure exhibits highly selective polarization-dependent diffraction with efficiency ratios exceeding 10:1 between preferred and suppressed orders, eliminating external polarization control elements. Polarized optical microscopy confirms excellent alignment uniformity, while the fabrication process offers environmental benefits and reduced complexity. This approach establishes a practical pathway for advanced multilayer photonic devices critical for next-generation augmented reality systems and photonic integration, addressing fundamental challenges that have limited multilayer liquid crystal device development. Full article

Source plasma centers sustain hematology therapeutics by safeguarding testing, traceability, and cold-chain integrity before fractionation. Despite regulatory requirements (21 CFR 606/640; EU Directive 2005/62/EC), published pre-operational validation frameworks demonstrating deviation-readiness before first collections remain sparse. We conducted a simulation-based pre-operational validation of an electronic quality management system (eQMS) with an Incident → Deviation → Corrective Action and Preventive Action (CAPA) pathway at a new source plasma center, performing 20 chairside mock runs, 3 freezer-alarm drills, and a document-control stress test. Primary endpoints were anomaly rate, alarm-response time relative to a 15 min service-level agreement (SLA), and deviation-closure SLA compliance. Analyses were descriptive and designed to demonstrate system functionality, not long-term process stability. Minor anomalies occurred in 6/20 mock runs (30.0%; 95% CI 11.9–54.3); no major/critical events were observed (0/20; 95% CI 0–16.8). Deviation-closure SLAs were met in 6/6 tests (100%; 95% CI 54.1–100). Alarm-response times averaged 7.0 min (SD 1.0; range 6–8 min; 95% CI 4.5–9.5), and all drills met the 15 min vendor SLA, illustrating a preliminary readiness margin (Cpu ≈ 2.7) rather than a statistically stable capability estimate. Simulation-based pre-operational validation produced inspection-ready documentation and quantitative acceptance criteria aligned to U.S./EU expectations, supporting reproducible multi-site deployment. By protecting cold-chain integrity and traceability before first collections, the validated QMS helps preserve supply reliability for plasma-derived therapeutics central to hematology care and establishes the measurement infrastructure for post-operational performance validation. Full article

Spatial equity of healthcare services is a critical concern in social equity and spatial justice research. Despite the availability of various methods to measure this equity, few studies have integrated the supply–demand coupling perspective with the analysis of impacts of residents’ travel behaviors’ on equity. This study develops and applies a Travel Behavior-based Coupling Coordination Degree (TB-CCD) method to assess the spatial equity of healthcare services in the Xi’an region. The results show the following: (1) Traditional single-mode models may fail to accurately assess this equity, whereas the TB-CCD model provides a more realistic evaluation. (2) Public transportation and driving provide a more equitable distribution of healthcare services compared to walking and cycling modes. The spatial equity of healthcare services exhibits a distinct core–periphery pattern, where accessibility and equity levels are significantly higher in city centers than in suburban areas. (3) The distribution of inequity ‘deserts’ and ‘oases’ in healthcare services is found to be travel-mode dependent, with the walking and public transportation modes exhibiting the highest incidence of these classifications. These findings provide valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers to formulate strategies and spatial plans aimed at enhancing equity in healthcare services. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics have emerged as contaminants of global concern, posing potential threats to ecosystem security and organismal health. To investigate the individual and combined toxicity of microplastics (PS-MPs) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), we conducted a 120 h acute exposure experiment using embryo–larval zebrafish as a toxicological model. Our findings demonstrate that both PS-MPs and SMX can induce neurodevelopmental toxicity in embryo–larval zebrafish during embryonic development. Notably, PS-MPs and SMX exerted a significant synergistic effect. PS-MPs 1 µm in diameter were restricted to the chorion surface of pre-hatching zebrafish, whereas post-hatching, PS-MPs accumulated mainly in the gut and gills, with accumulation levels increasing progressively with exposure duration. Individual exposure to PS-MPs or SMX reduced spontaneous locomotion, decreased heart rate, and shortened body length in embryo–larval zebrafish. In addition to exacerbating these effects, coexposure further increased the incidence of malformations such as pericardial effusion and spinal curvature. PS-MPs and SMX significantly decreased the levels of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in zebrafish while also suppressing acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and increasing acetylcholine (ACh) levels. Moreover, upon coexposure at high concentrations, PS-MPs and SMX acted synergistically to reduce the levels of DA and GABA. The downregulation of key neurodevelopmental genes (elavl3, gap43, and syn2a) and related neurotransmitter pathway genes indicates that PS-MPs and SMX impaired structural development and functional regulation of the nervous system. An integrated biomarker response (IBR) index confirmed that PS-MPs and SMX significantly enhanced developmental neurotoxicity during early neurodevelopment in embryo–larval zebrafish through synergistic effects. Our study provides critical toxicological evidence for the scientific assessment of the ecological risks posed by microplastic–antibiotic cocontamination. Full article

Aortic aneurysms and dissections are devastating vascular diseases with high mortality, yet no pharmacological therapy has proven effective in halting growth or preventing rupture. Surgical and endovascular repair remain the only treatment options for advanced disease. Animal models have been indispensable in defining mechanisms and testing candidate therapies, but the diversity of protocols, strain-dependent variability, and heterogeneous endpoints complicate interpretation and translation. This review provides an update focused on how to match models to specific research questions. We critically compare commonly used abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) models (angiotensin II ± hyperlipidemia, elastase, calcium chloride, β-aminopropionitrile BAPN hybrids, and mineralocorticoid agonist/fludrocortisone models) with thoracic aortopathy and dissection models (BAPN alone or with AngII, genetic models including Marfan and smooth muscle contractile mutations, and AngII + TGF-β blockade). We highlight practical considerations on segment specificity, rupture incidence, lipid dependence, comorbidities, and outcome measurement, with emphasis on rigor and reporting standards. A translational thread on platelet–intraluminal thrombus biology, including the emerging biomarker and therapeutic targets such as glycoprotein VI (GPVI), is integrated across models. We offer a decision grid and rigor checklist to harmonize model use, enhance reproducibility, and accelerate translation. Full article

Fatty liver in fish is characterized by excessive lipid accumulation, driven by factors such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and the overexpression of lipid-related genes. This condition can lead to metabolic dysfunction and reduced disease resistance, resulting in growth disorders and even mortality. Increasing incidence of fatty liver is closely linked to environmental conditions and feeding practices, posing significant challenges to the aquaculture industry. This paper offers a comprehensive overview of hepatic steatosis, with a particular emphasis on fish species. Through a detailed review of various scholarly works, this paper seeks to identify common patterns, emerging trends, and measurable correlations, highlighting the critical importance of understanding this complex relationship. The study of fatty liver is conducted across three dimensions: influencing factors, underlying mechanisms, and potential solutions. Currently, numerous factors contribute to the development of fatty liver, such as feed composition and environmental temperature. On a mechanistic level, the research explores lipid accumulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, and related processes. Furthermore, the paper suggests various solutions and preventive strategies, including considering environmental adaptability during animal migration, employing genetic enhancement techniques, modifying feeding practices, investigating the Nrf2 pathway, and utilizing rapamycin. These findings have significant implications for fisheries management and aquaculture practices, providing valuable insights to enhance sustainability in the industry. Full article

Semiconductor technologies are susceptible to radiation effects. The particle incidence in susceptible areas of an integrated circuit (IC) can generate physical interactions capable of producing errors. This paper predicts the IC cross sections for Single Event Effects. The cross section is a metric that provides an IC’s susceptibility to radiation. It deals with particle source interaction and physical design volumes. This work evaluates the IC cross section, exploring the physical design characteristics of susceptible regions in logic gates. It explores particles with low LET, identifying the charge collection areas. Also, the heavy ions are used to evaluate the critical cross section range. Distinct benchmark circuits were simulated to characterize sensitivity trends. The influence of circuit input conditions along with cells’ susceptibility reveals significant findings. The results indicate a difference up to ten times between low- and high-energy particles. Consequently, predicting the IC cross section at an early stage of the design flow is essential, especially for electronics devices used in radiation environments. Full article

The construction of undersea tunnels involves multiple potential hazards, among which water-related risks are particularly critical during the construction phase. Tunnel water inrush can trigger serious safety incidents and increase maintenance costs during operation. Therefore, accurately predicting water inflow is essential to ensure construction safety and long-term operational reliability. This study calculated the water inflow per meter of an undersea tunnel using the built-in FISH programming language in FLAC^3D 7.0 finite difference software. A series of numerical models was established to examine the effects of eight influencing factors, including seawater depth, permeability of the surrounding rock, overburden thickness, and the thickness and permeability coefficients of both the grouting ring and the lining. The results indicate that water inflow generally increases linearly with greater seawater depth and overburden thickness. Although higher permeability of the surrounding rock leads to increased inflow, the growth rate gradually decreases. When the thickness of the grouting ring exceeds 6 m, the marginal benefit of its effect gradually decreases. The inflow was found to decrease as the lining permeability declined, with a more evident reduction under higher grouting ring permeability. Sensitivity analysis further revealed that seawater depth exerts the most significant influence on water inflow, whereas the thickness of the grouting ring has the least effect. Full article

As global airspace operations grow increasingly complex, the risk of near-mid-air collisions (NMACs) poses a persistent and critical challenge to aviation safety. Traditional collision-avoidance systems, while effective in many scenarios, are limited by rule-based logic and reliance on transponder data, particularly in environments featuring diverse aircraft types, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and evolving urban air mobility platforms. This paper introduces a novel, integrative machine learning framework designed to analyze NMAC incidents using the rich, contextual information contained within the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) database. The methodology is structured around three pillars: (1) natural language processing (NLP) techniques are applied to extract latent topics and semantic features from pilot and crew incident narratives; (2) cluster analysis is conducted on both textual and structured incident features to empirically define distinct typologies of NMAC events; and (3) supervised machine learning models are developed to predict pilot decision outcomes (evasive action vs. no action) based on integrated data sources. The analysis reveals seven operationally coherent topics that reflect communication demands, pattern geometry, visibility challenges, airspace transitions, and advisory-driven interactions. A four-cluster solution further distinguishes incident contexts ranging from tower-directed approaches to general aviation pattern and cruise operations. The Random Forest model produces the strongest predictive performance, with topic-based indicators, miss distance, altitude, and operating rule emerging as influential features. The results show that narrative semantics provide measurable signals of coordination load and acquisition difficulty, and that integrating text with structured variables enhances the prediction of maneuvering decisions in NMAC situations. These findings highlight opportunities to strengthen radio practice, manage pattern spacing, improve mixed equipage awareness, and refine alerting in short-range airport area encounters. Full article

The growth of the cruise industry and rising passenger numbers have led to an increase in cruise-related accidents, presenting challenges for mass rescue operations. It is crucial to understand the evolution of MAss Life-Threatening Incidents at Sea (MALTISs) in order to make effective decisions in such situations. This study, therefore, presents a scenario deduction model for MALTIS, integrating knowledge element theory, Bayesian Networks (BNs), fuzzy set theory, and improved Dempster–Shafer (DS) evidence theory. Based on knowledge element theory, this study identifies the scenario elements in typical maritime accidents. Given the large scale and complex disaster chain characteristics of MALTISs, the BN method is employed to convert the scenario elements into BN nodes, therefore constructing the MALTIS deduction model. To minimize the subjectivity associated with expert assessments, this study combines fuzzy set theory and the improved DS evidence theory to integrate the opinions of multiple experts, thereby enhancing the reliability of the model’s deduction. BN inference is then used to calculate the probabilities of various situational states, and sensitivity analysis is conducted to identify the key nodes. The Costa Concordia grounding incident serves as an empirical case study. The deduction results closely align with the actual accident evolution, and sensitivity analysis reveals five critical nodes in the event’s progression. This validates the effectiveness of the proposed scenario deduction model. These findings demonstrate that the model can effectively support emergency decision-making in MALTISs. Full article

Coal and gas outbursts constitute a major hazard for mining safety, which is critical for the sustainable development of China’s energy industry. Rapid, accurate, and reliable pre-diction is pivotal for preventing and controlling outburst incidents. Nevertheless, the mechanisms driving coal and gas outbursts involve highly complex influencing factors. Four main geological indicators were identified by examining the attributes of these factors and their association to outburst intensity. This study developed a machine learning-based prediction model for outburst risk. Five algorithms were evaluated: K Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Back Propagation (BP), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). Model optimization was performed via Bayesian hyperparameter (BO) tuning. Model performance was assessed by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve; the optimized XGBoost model demonstrated strong predictive performance. To enhance model transparency and interpretability, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was implemented. The SHAP analysis identified geological structure was the most important predictive feature, providing a practical decision support tool for mine executives to prevent and control outburst incidents. Full article

Traditional surgical techniques are based on the manual application of force using mallets and osteotomes, which often result in uncontrolled impact forces, procedural inconsistencies, and patient discomfort. Magnetic mallets (MMs), magnetodynamic devices, provide a controlled application of force using electromagnetism, aiming to achieve greater precision, reduced operating time, and improved surgical outcomes. The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of MMs compared to conventional surgical techniques in oral and implant surgery. The focused question was as follows: “Do magnetic mallets improve clinical outcomes in oral and implant surgery compared to traditional instruments?” Only clinical studies comparing the use of MMs with traditional techniques in oral surgery were included. The following databases were searched up to 27 November 2025: Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science. For quality assessment, the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool was applied for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), while the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for non-randomized studies. Data were screened and synthesized by two reviewers. The systematic review was conducted based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement. In total, 347 studies were initially found and 6 matched the inclusion criteria and were included in the review, for a total of 282 patients. Five RCTs were included, as well as one retrospective study. The studies investigated were as follows: implant site preparation (two studies with a total of 86 patients), sinus lift and contextual implant insertion (three studies, total: 102 patients), dental extraction (two studies, total: 70 patients), and split-crest (one study with 46 patients). The outcomes suggest that MMs may serve as a potential alternative to traditional techniques, exhibiting promising although preliminary outcomes. The studies included reported a lower incidence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with the use of MMs compared to hand osteotomes. Regarding quality assessment, RCTs raised some concerns, while the retrospective study had a moderate risk of bias. Despite the promising results, the paucity of high-quality controlled trials limits definitive conclusions on the superiority of MM over conventional techniques. Further well-designed comparative trials are needed to confirm the clinical benefits, optimize protocols across different indications, and evaluate MMs’ potential role in the management of critical bone conditions and complex surgery. Full article