Search Results (976)

Background/Objectives: Cold-smoked salmon (CSS) is a ready-to-eat product with minimal preservation hurdles and a microbiota shaped by raw-material contamination and processing environments. Short breaks in refrigeration commonly occur during shopping and transport, yet their microbiological impact remains unclear. Here, we used ASV-resolved 16S rRNA gene metataxonomics to characterize storage-driven microbiota dynamics in CSS—quantifying ASV-level genetic diversity and phylogeny-aware (UniFrac) community structure—and to evaluate the effect of a brief, consumer-mimicking 2 h room-temperature cold-chain disruption. Methods: Three CSS types (organic, conventional Norwegian, and conventional Scottish) were stored at 5 °C for 35 days. On day 16, half of each batch was exposed to 2 h at room temperature (RT) before analysis; paired controls remained refrigerated. Culture-based counts (total mesophiles, lactic acid bacteria, Photobacterium spp.; indicator/pathogen screens) were performed per ISO methods. Community profiling used 16S rRNA (V3–V4) amplicon sequencing with QIIME 2/DADA2 and SILVA taxonomy. Linear mixed effects modelled alpha diversity; beta diversity by PERMANOVA on UniFrac distances; differential abundance by ANCOM-BC. Results: ASV-resolved 16S rRNA gene profiles of CSS were dominated by Pseudomonadota and Bacillota, with storage-driven shifts and taxon-specific trajectories (e.g., increasing Latilactobacillus). Both time and product type significantly explained phylogeny-aware community structure (unweighted and weighted UniFrac), consistent with storage-driven phylogenetic convergence across products. At day 16, ASV-level genetic diversity (Shannon/Observed features) and genus-level composition did not differ between RT-disrupted and continuously refrigerated samples. Culture-dependent counts increased from baseline to day 16 and largely plateaued by day 35, with lactic acid bacteria in Norwegian CSS continuing to rise; no systematic effect of the 2 h RT exposure was observed in culture-based comparisons. Indicator/pathogen screens detected no unexpected pathogenic species throughout the study period. Conclusions: Refrigerated storage drives pronounced, phylogeny-aware microbiota shifts and cross-product convergence in cold-smoked salmon, whereas a single 2 h RT interruption at mid-storage did not measurably alter ASV-level genetic diversity or community structure under the tested conditions. Integrating culture-based enumeration with ASV-resolved 16S rRNA gene metataxonomics provides complementary insights for shelf-life evaluation and risk assessment in ready-to-eat seafood. Full article

Urban air pollution remains a critical public health issue, especially in densely populated cities where pedestrians experience direct exposure to traffic-related and environmental emissions. This study develops and tests a pollution-aware pedestrian routing framework for Thessaloniki, Greece, designed to minimize environmental exposure while maintaining route efficiency. The framework combines high-resolution air-quality data and computational techniques to represent pollution patterns at pedestrian scale. Air-quality is expressed as a continuous European Air Quality Index (EAQI) and is embedded in a network-based routing engine (OSRM) that balances exposure and distance through a weighted optimization function. Using 3000 randomly sampled origin-destination pairs, exposure-aware routes are compared with conventional shortest-distance paths across short, medium, and long walking trips. Results show that exposure-aware routes reduce cumulative AQI exposure by an average of 4% with only 3% distance increase, while maintaining stable scaling across all route classes. Exposure benefits exceeding 5% are observed for approximately 8% of medium-length routes and 24% of long routes, while short routes present minimal or no detours, but lower exposure benefits. These findings confirm that integrating high-resolution environmental data into pedestrian navigation systems is both feasible and operationally effective, providing a practical foundation for future real-time, pollution-aware mobility services in smart cities. Full article

Apis mellifera L. is an important pollinator of both wild and domesticated crop plants, thus greatly contributing to plant biodiversity and commercial agriculture. However, in field conditions, honey bees remain exposed to different pesticides which ultimately affect colony health parameters and their associated ecological services. In the current study, the individual toxicities of sub-lethal doses of two distinct insecticides (bifenthrin and acetamiprid) belonging to different groups (pyrethroid and neonicotinoid) were assessed against the foraging activity, social interactions, and longevity of A. mellifera. The bees were exposed to individual doses of both insecticides via the dietary trophic route through contaminated pollen and nectar under natural field conditions. Sunflower crop (Hysun-33) was sown at nine different sites with an isolation distance of 3 km, and was treated with different doses (1/2, 1/4, 1/10, and 1/20 of the recommended field doses) of both insecticides. However, the untreated control crop plots were not subjected to any chemical treatments (bee colonies received no insecticide, and served as the baseline for making comparison). Twenty-seven bee colonies were introduced in these sites after seven days of treatment applications. Significant differences were observed in the foraging activity of A. mellifera (including bees going out from the hive, returning foragers, and those carrying pollens). The fecundity, adult longevity, and social behaviors like trophallaxis and antennation were significantly lower in bees exposed to higher individual insecticidal concentrations. However, the hatching duration, larval duration, and pupal duration were not affected by the tested insecticidal treatments. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the dietary trophic exposure of sub-lethal doses of insecticides compromised colony activities, which is indeed a matter of concern regarding the existing pesticide application methods in different agro-ecosystems. Such impacts may ultimately impair the survival of colonies, particularly when bees remain exposed to these chemicals over an extended period of time. Therefore, future studies must consider the pesticide application techniques and their application timing to mitigate the direct and indirect negative impacts of pesticides on pollinators. Full article

Brake dust (BD) generated by vehicle braking systems, including those of cars and trains, contains various Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) that may pose risks to human health and the environment, particularly in soils where it accumulates. This study aims to evaluate differences in the chemical composition of BD emitted by road and railway transport, to analyze its deposition mechanisms in soil, and to estimate the associated carcinogenic (CR) and non-carcinogenic (HQ) risks from ingestion and dermal exposure. Two sites were selected: one adjacent to a busy roadway and the other near a railway line. At both locations, soil-sampling transects were established perpendicular to the emission sources at distances of 3, 6, 15, 25, and 45 m. Elemental concentration analyses were integrated with magnetic measurements, which are selective for magnetic iron oxide particles. The results confirm elevated concentrations of several metals at both sites. Both elemental and magnetic data reveal a clear deposition gradient, with the highest accumulation within 15 m of the source, followed by a gradual stabilization up to 45 m. However, the railway site exhibited significantly higher concentrations than the road site, highlighting the relevance of non-exhaust emissions (NEEs) from railway traffic, which remain poorly investigated. While HQ was non-significant, CR associated with Pb-, Ni-, and As-rich BD exceeded acceptable threshold values, particularly for ingestion exposure at the railway site. These results highlight the significance of NEEs from rail traffic in terms of soil contamination and risk assessment. Full article

Trees are known to modify radiation on building façades via shading effects. However, the combined influence of tree morphological traits and street canyon geometry on façade solar exposure remains inadequately quantified. This paper will fill this gap by using an integrated field measurement, ENVI-met simulations and theoretical analysis of an east–west street canyon in Hangzhou, China. We present the stratified cumulative shortwave radiation disturbance (SRD) and the mean value (MSRD) of R as indices for assessing the influence of the tree height (TH), canopy diameter (D_C), leaf area density (LAD), and under-canopy height (UH) on the shortwave radiation profile of the south façade. Using 54 parametrized simulation scenarios, it was found that tree height is the most sensitive parameter to affect MSRD in the 1114 m range, with under-canopy height defining the building layers below. An LAD of 2 m²/m³ will be an optimal shading and daylighting. When discussed in terms of space, a canopy diameter of 5 m and a wall-to-canopy distance of 1 m (D_W-T) provides better shading in asymmetric canyons where the buildings in the south are lower. Further, canyon building height on either side of the canyon is found to be a decisive factor that mediates tree impacts on radiation, which allows specific approaches to greening canyons of diverse kinds. Through this work, there is a theoretical basis for understanding how trees and canyons interact, and this work gives scientific principles for a tree-planting initiative to reduce urban heat islands. Full article

Pesticides remain among the most significant threats to biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Non-invasive methods, such as the analysis of bird faeces, have shown great potential for detecting pesticide exposure. In this study with a new approach, we analysed faecal sacs from nestlings of Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great tits (Parus major) to gain deeper insights into pesticide contamination during the breeding period. Samples were collected from three distinct sites near Münster, Germany. In total, we detected 65 substances from 57 different pesticides, as well as caffeine, with pesticides present in 16.07% of the 168 samples. Concentrations varied between species and sites and were higher for fungicides and insecticides in nests located closer to agricultural fields. While no direct effects on reproductive success were found, our results underscore the potential of faecal sac analysis as a valuable tool for spatially resolved pesticide monitoring. The novel, non-invasive approach to pesticide monitoring offers crucial exposure data on juvenile birds during their sensitive breeding period. Full article

This observation-based and explainable approach demonstrates the applicability of multi-source remote sensing for flood assessment in data-scarce regions, offering a robust scientific basis for flood management and spatial planning in monsoon-affected areas. Floods are among the most frequent and devastating natural hazards, particularly in developing countries such as Myanmar, where monsoon-driven rainfall and inadequate flood-control infrastructure exacerbate disaster impacts. This study presents a satellite-driven and interpretable framework for high-resolution flood susceptibility and risk assessment by integrating multi-source remote sensing and geospatial data with ensemble machine-learning models—Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM)—implemented on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Eleven satellite- and GIS-derived predictors were used, including the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), slope, curvature, precipitation frequency, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), land-use type, and distance to rivers, to develop flood susceptibility models. The Jenks natural breaks method was applied to classify flood susceptibility into five categories across Myanmar. Both models achieved excellent predictive performance, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of 0.943 for XGBoost and 0.936 for LightGBM, effectively distinguishing flood-prone from non-prone areas. XGBoost estimated that 26.1% of Myanmar’s territory falls within medium- to high-susceptibility zones, while LightGBM yielded a similar estimate of 25.3%. High-susceptibility regions were concentrated in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Rakhine coastal plains, and the Yangon region. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis identified precipitation frequency, NDVI, and DEM as dominant factors, highlighting the ability of satellite-observed environmental indicators to capture flood-relevant surface processes. To incorporate exposure, population density and nighttime-light intensity were integrated with the susceptibility results to construct a natural–social flood risk framework. This observation-based and explainable approach demonstrates the applicability of multi-source remote sensing for flood assessment in data-scarce regions, offering a robust scientific basis for flood management and spatial planning in monsoon-affected areas. Full article

A portable and integrated monitoring device was developed to digitally assess both water levels and surrounding fire-related conditions in forest firefighting water buckets using multi-sensor fusion. The system integrates a hydrostatic liquid-level sensor with temperature–humidity and smoke sensors. Validation was performed through field-oriented experiments conducted under semi-controlled conditions. Water-level measurements were collected over a three-month period under simulated forest conditions and benchmarked against conventional steel-ruler readings. Early-stage fire monitoring experiments were carried out using dry wood and leaf litter under varying wind speeds, wind directions, and representative extreme weather conditions. The device achieved a mean water-level bias of −0.60%, a root-mean-square error of 0.64%, and an overall accuracy of 99.36%. Fire monitoring reached a maximum detection distance of 7.30 m under calm conditions and extended to 16.50 m under strong downwind conditions, with performance decreasing toward crosswind directions. Stable operation was observed during periods of strong winds associated with typhoon events, as well as prolonged high-temperature exposure. The primary novelty of this work lies in the conceptualization of a Collaborative Forest Resource–Hazard Monitoring Architecture. Unlike traditional isolated sensors, our proposed framework utilizes a dual-domain decision-making model that simultaneously assesses water-bucket storage stability and micro-scale fire threats. By implementing a robust ‘sensing–logic–alert’ framework tailored for rugged environments, this study offers a new methodological reference for the intelligent management of forest firefighting resources. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human, animal and environmental health, underscoring the need for integrated surveillance to understand its dynamics and ecosystem interactions. This study investigated the potential of swifts (Apus spp.), long-distance migratory birds, as valuable bioindicators of environmental AMR dissemination. Four sampling sessions were conducted over two years (2023–2024) at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Trieste, Italy. Buccal and cloacal swabs were collected from 47 swifts: 10 sampled at arrival and 37 before autumn migration. Swabs were streaked on selective media for targeted isolation of Enterobacterales, Bacillales and Lactobacillales, yielding 168 bacterial isolates. Bacteria were identified using MALDI-TOF and antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed through disk diffusion method, using ECOFFs values or “no inhibition zone” criterion. Of the 168 bacterial isolates, 51 (30.36%) were non-wild type (NWT), with highest percentages of NWT isolates for clarithromycin (33.33%), erythromycin (31.50%), clindamycin (21.88%) and tetracycline (14.29%). Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (45.83%) and carbapenem NWT isolates (9.38%) were also detected. Bacillales isolates showed significantly higher NWT proportion (58.33%; p < 0.0001) compared to Enterobacterales and Lactobacillales. These findings, in clinically healthy non-antimicrobial treated swifts, suggest environmental exposure to resistant bacteria, and support a possible role of swifts as bioindicators of environmental AMR contamination, highlighting the need to strengthen environmental AMR surveillance within a One Health perspective. Full article

Environmental pesticide exposure has been linked to adverse health effects, and residential proximity to agricultural land is commonly used as a proxy for exposure; however, the contribution of non-agricultural biomes remains insufficiently explored. This study examined whether the proximity and area of different biomes are associated with the detection of selected pesticides in human urine in Latvia. Urine samples were collected from 202 participants (101 adults and 101 children) within the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) study during the winter and summer seasons of 2020. A suspect screening approach using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was applied and 23 pesticides were detected (8 insecticides, 12 fungicides, 2 herbicides and triclosan, an antimicrobial ingredient used in cleaning agents). Geospatial data were analysed in Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) to derive biome proximity and area within a 1000 m residential buffer; associations were assessed using generalized linear mixed-effects models. Agricultural land was present within 1000 m of 93.1% of residences, yet neither its distance nor area was consistently associated with pesticide detection. Boscalid was detected in 18.4% of samples and was positively associated with wetland area across seasons (p < 0.001), while fludioxonil (14.7%) showed weak and heterogeneous spatial associations and pirimiphos-methyl (10.2%) showed no significant patterns. Overall, pesticide exposure was substance-specific and influenced by landscape characteristics beyond agricultural proximity, highlighting the need to integrate non-agricultural biomes into human biomonitoring in low-intensity pesticide-use settings. Full article

Background: Three-dimensional virtual surgical planning (Three-dimensional VSP) has become standard practice in the treatment of mandibular oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the last decade. Dutch guidelines recommend a care pathway interval (CPI) of a maximum of 30 days, and a free bone margin of at least 5 mm. Fused MRI and CT data are used for accurate tumor delineation. Based on this data, a virtual surgical plan is created and transferred to the operating room using resection guides and patient-specific implants (PSIs). Long-term evaluation is needed to further optimize its clinical use. Objectives: This study evaluates adherence to bone margin and CPI guidelines in mandibular OSCC. Additionally, it assesses the accuracy of tumor resection and reconstruction using 3D-VSP and compares the complications of 3D-planned mandibular reconstruction using different kinds of osteosynthesis plates. Methods: All patients who underwent a segmental mandibulectomy between 2014 and 2024 at the University Medical Center Groningen were included. CPI, clinical outcomes, and complications were analyzed. The preoperative virtual plan was compared with the postoperative outcome to assess accuracy. Results: The median CPI was 34 days, and 93.7% of bone margins were tumor-free. Mean absolute resection deviation was 1.63 mm (±1.42). PSI reconstructions were significantly more accurate in intergonial distance and coronal angle compared to conventional plates. Plate-related complications were more common in non-bony reconstructions; PSI reconstructions showed significantly more plate exposure. Conclusions: 3D-VSP leads to high accuracy in resection and reconstruction and favorable bone margins. Shortening the CPI and reducing biological complications are essential to further improve oncological outcomes. Full article

Background: In nuclear medicine, numerous cancer types are treated via internal irradiation with radiopharmaceuticals, including low-LET (linear energy transfer) beta-emitting radionuclides like Lu-177. In most cases, such treatments lead to low-dose exposure of organ systems with β-irradiation, which induces only few isolated DSBs (double-strand breaks) in the nuclei of hit cells, the most threatening DNA damage type. That damaging effect contrasts with the clustering of DNA damage and DSBs in nuclei traversed by high-LET particles (α particles, ions, etc.). Methods: After in-solution β-irradiation for 1 h with Lu-177 leading to an absorbed dose of about 100 mGy, we investigated the spatial nano-organization of chromatin at DSB damage sites, of repair proteins and of heterochromatin marks via single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) in PBMCs. For evaluation, mathematical approaches were used (Ripley distance frequency statistics, DBScan clustering, persistent homology and similarity measurements). Results: We analyzed, at the nanoscale, the distribution of the DNA damage response (DDR) proteins γH2AX, 53BP1, MRE11 and pATM in the chromatin regions surrounding a DSB. Furthermore, local changes in spatial H3K9me3 heterochromatin organization were analyzed relative to γH2AX distribution. SMLM measurements of the different fluorescent molecule tags revealed characteristic clustering of the DDR markers around one or two damage foci per PBMC cell nucleus. Ripley distance histograms suggested the concentration of MRE11 molecules inside γH2AX-clusters, while 53BP1 was present throughout the entire γH2AX clusters. Persistent homology comparisons for 53BP1, MRE11 and γH2AX by Jaccard index calculation revealed significant topological similarities for each of these markers. Since the heterochromatin organization of cell nuclei determines the identity of cell nuclei and correlates to genome activity, it also influences DNA repair. Therefore, the histone H3 tri methyl mark H3K9me3 was analyzed for its topology. In contrast to typical results obtained through photon irradiation, where γH2AX and H3K9me3 markers were well separated, the results obtained here also showed a close spatial proximity (“co-localization”) in many cases (minimum distance of markers = marker size), even with the strictest co-localization distance threshold (20 nm) for γH2AX and H3K9me3. The data support the results from the literature where only one DSB induced by low-dose low LET irradiation (<100 mGy) can remain without heterochromatin relaxation for subsequent repair. Full article

Background/Objectives: Percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) using advanced navigation techniques is increasingly performed; however, pulmonologists’ experience remains limited. This study reports an interventional pulmonologist’s initial experience with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) laser-guided PTNB and the diagnostic performance for lesions with diameters greater than or less than 20 mm. Methods: We retrospectively analysed the data of patients who underwent PTNB in a C-arm CBCT-equipped hybrid operating room between July 2020 and March 2024. All patients underwent the biopsy procedure under local anaesthesia. This was preceded by an initial 3D scan for planning of the needle route, followed by coaxial needle insertion. A post-procedural scan was also performed to identify complications. Results: Seventy-seven patients were enrolled in the study. The median distances of the needle path from the skin to the pleura and from the pleura to the lesion were 33.4 mm and 31.7 mm, respectively. The median number of tissue samplings was 4.9 ± 1.8. The median operating room duration was 51.5 ± 25.7 min, respectively. The median total dose area product was 8485.4 ± 5819.9 µGym². The sensitivity and specificity of our study findings were 93.3% (56/60) and 100%, while the accuracy was 94.8% (73/77). The overall complication rate was 13%. Conclusions: PTNB procedure by pulmonologists is a feasible and safe, single-operator workflow in a hybrid operating room. It can be performed under CBCT laser guidance with a similar diagnostic yield, acceptable radiation exposure and procedure duration, and minimal or manageable complications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Neck pain is highly prevalent among dentists and has been linked to occupational exposure and cervical degeneration. However, the relationship between cervical MRI findings and symptoms remains inconsistent. This study aimed to explore MRI-based cervical structural profiles in active dentists and examine their associations with neck pain, disability, and participant characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 57 practicing dentists. Participants reported neck pain and completed the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Cervical MRI scans were assessed by an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist. An exploratory hierarchical cluster analysis (complete linkage, Euclidean distance) was applied using MRI degenerative variables to identify structural profiles, followed by bivariate comparisons with clinical and occupational factors. Results: Degenerative MRI findings were common (disc bulging, 66.7%; disc herniation, 54.4%). Two MRI-based profiles were identified, one characterized by a higher burden of degenerative findings (including disc and facet changes) (70.2%), and another with fewer/milder degenerative features (29.8%). Neck pain and NDI scores ≥ 20 were more frequent in the higher-degeneration profile (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). Age showed a non-linear pattern, with younger dentists reporting pain despite milder MRI changes, whereas older dentists showed more degeneration with fewer symptoms. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, individual MRI findings were not independently associated with neck pain, while a higher overall burden of degenerative changes tended to co-occur with greater symptom reporting and disability. These findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and warrant confirmation in larger, longitudinal studies. Full article

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is transmitted to humans via tick bites and occasionally via the consumption of unpasteurized milk products. According to the literature, the most important driver of TBE emergence and increase in incidence in humans is changes in human behaviour/activities. Method and principal findings: To compensate for the lack of data, expert opinions were gathered to identify the risk factors for exposure to tick bites linked to twenty-eight human activities (professional or recreational) in forests and to target prevention messages at the populations most at risk. Opinions were elicited from a total of twenty-five European experts. Seven criteria were included in the analysis for each activity: frequency, seasonality, duration of exposure, distance covered, degree of contact with vegetation, speed and average level of protection against tick bites. The activities considered to be the most at risk of exposure to tick bites are, in descending order: three occupational activities (forest monitoring activities, forestry and wood industry activities and scientific and/or analytical activities), five recreational activities and one hunting activity (mushroom picking, spending the night in the forest, hunting, naturalist activities, orienteering, and berry or fruit picking). Conclusions and significance: Prevention messages regarding tick bites could be targeted at people who engage in activities considered in this analysis to be at highest risk of exposure to tick bites. Full article