Search Results (1,138)

Background/Objectives: Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) face unique challenges in balancing dietary choices, physical health outcomes, and social–emotional well-being in school settings. This cross-sectional exploratory pilot study examined the associations of diet with physical health and teacher-reported social–emotional functioning in students with T1DM. Methods: Students with T1DM (mean age = 13.42; 47 female, 50 male; 50% White, Non-Hispanic, 50% minority) self-reported their nutritional habits using the KBlock Dietary Screener for Children when school was in session. Teacher-rated school-related behaviors were assessed through the Behavior Assessment Scale for Children-2nd Edition (BASC-2). Canonical correlation analysis was conducted to determine whether the variable sets (diet with physical health and school-related behavioral health) shared a significant multivariate relationship. Results: Youth with lower glycemic loads and consuming more sugar, dairy, and meat/poultry/fish but fewer legumes, fruit, and less saturated fat exhibited fewer externalizing symptoms and higher BMI. Diet uniquely accounted for modest variance in combined social–emotional and physical health, controlling for demographics and T1DM duration. Findings support increasing the availability of whole, nutrient-rich foods, integrating comprehensive nutrition education into curricula, and ensuring access for all students, regardless of socioeconomic status. Conclusions: Comprehensive dietary assessments and school-based randomized control trials are needed to enact more evidence-based dietary recommendations or interventions for youth, aiming for a balanced approach that addresses both mental and physical health outcomes. Full article

Background: Optical genome mapping (OGM) detects genome-wide structural variants (SVs), including balanced rearrangements and complex copy-number alterations beyond standard-of-care cytogenomic assays. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), cytogenetic and genomic risk stratification is traditionally based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), karyotyping, targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS), and immunogenetic assessment of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) somatic hypermutation status, each of which interrogates only a limited aspect of disease biology. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated fifty patients with CLL using OGM and integrated these findings with cytogenomics, targeted NGS, IGHV mutational status, and clinical time-to-first-treatment (TTFT) data. Structural variants were detected using OGM and pathogenic NGS variants were derived from a clinical heme malignancy panel. Clinical outcomes were extracted from the electronic medical record. Results: OGM identified reportable structural variants in 82% (41/50) of cases. The most frequent abnormality was del(13q), observed in 29/50 (58%) and comprising 73% (29/40) of all OGM-detected deletions with pathologic significance. Among these, 12/29 (42%) represented large RB1-spanning deletions, while 17/29 (58%) were focal deletions restricted to the miR15a/miR16-1 minimal region, mapping to the non-coding host gene DLEU2. Co-occurrence of adverse lesions, including deletion 11q/ATM, BIRC3 loss, trisomy 12, and deletion 17p/TP53, were recurrent and strongly associated with shorter TTFT. OGM also uncovered multiple cryptic rearrangements involving chromosomal loci that are not represented in the canonical CLL FISH probe panel, including IGL::CCND1, IGH::BCL2, IGH::BCL11A, IGH::BCL3, and multi-chromosomal copy-number complexity. IGHV data were available in 37/50 (74%) of patients; IGHV-unmutated status frequently co-segregated with OGM-defined high-risk profiles (del(11q), del(17p), trisomy 12 with secondary hits, and complex genomes whereas mutated IGHV predominated in OGM-negative or structurally simple del(13q) cases and aligned with indolent TTFT. Integration of OGM with NGS further improved genomic risk classification, particularly in cases with discordant or inconclusive routine testing. Conclusions: OGM provides a comprehensive, genome-wide view of structural variation in CLL, resolving deletion architecture, identifying cryptic translocations, and defining complex multi-hit genomic profiles that tracked closely with clinical behavior. Combining OGM and NGS analysis refined risk stratification beyond standard FISH panels and supports more precise, individualized management strategies in CLL. Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical utility of OGM-guided genomic profiling in contemporary treatment paradigms. Full article

Betanodavirus infection poses a significant threat to marine fish species in the Mediterranean, affecting both aquaculture and wild populations. Despite increasing evidence of viral circulation in farmed and wild fish, data on natural outbreaks in wild groupers remain limited. This study investigated mortality episodes in wild dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus) within two marine protected areas (MPAs): Portofino MPA (Liguria, Italy) and Larvotto MPA (Principality of Monaco) during 2018–2019. Pathological examinations and virological diagnostics confirmed that the causative agents were betanodavirus strains belonging to the RGNNV genotype. Phylogenetic analyses revealed high genetic similarity among viral strains detected at geographically distant sites and across host species, suggesting potential regional connectivity mediated by mobile vectors or environmental transport. Seawater temperature analysis indicated that extreme and prolonged high-water temperatures were prodromal and coincided with observed outbreaks, supporting a role for thermal stress in triggering outbreak onsets. These findings highlight the susceptibility of wild dusky grouper populations to betanodavirus and underscore the interplay between host behavior, environmental conditions, and pathogen dynamics. The study emphasizes the importance of integrated health surveillance strategies within and around MPAs to monitor fish health and environmental parameters, thereby conserving wild fish populations and biodiversity. Full article

Heat exchangers are central to energy and process industries, yet performance is bounded by the trade-off between higher heat transfer and greater pressure drop. This review targets indirect-type heat exchangers and organizes bioinspired strategies through a multi-scale lens of surface, texture, and network scales. It provides a structured comparison of their thermo-hydraulic behaviors and evaluation methods. At the surface scale, control of wettability and liquid-infused interfaces suppresses icing and fouling and stabilizes condensation. At the texture scale, microstructures inspired by shark skin and fish scales regulate near-wall vortices to balance drag reduction with heat-transfer enhancement. At the network scale, branched and bicontinuous pathways inspired by leaf veins, lung architectures, and triply periodic minimal surfaces promote uniform distribution and mixing, improving overall performance. The survey highlights practical needs for manufacturing readiness, durability, scale-up, and validation across operating ranges. By emphasizing analysis across scales rather than reliance on a single metric, the review distills design principles and selection guidelines for next-generation bioinspired heat exchangers. Full article

Protecting aquatic biodiversity while ensuring reliable hydropower production and water supply remains a core challenge for both water security and biosecurity. In this PRISMA-based systematic review, we synthesize evidence from 96 studies on fish guidance and deterrence at hazardous water intakes. We examine non-physical barriers, including acoustic and light cues, electric fields, bubble curtains, and chemical stimuli, as well as physical barriers such as racks, guidance structures, and nets or screens that aim to divert fish away from intakes and toward selective passage routes. Overall, guidance and deterrence performance is strongly species- and site-specific. Multimodal systems that combine multiple cues show the highest mean guidance efficiency (~80%), followed by light-based deterrents (~77%). Acoustic, electric, and bubble barriers generally achieve intermediate efficiencies (~55–58%), whereas structural devices alone exhibit lower mean performance (~46%), with substantial variability among sites and designs. Physical screens remain effective for larger size classes but can increase head loss and debris accumulation. By contrast, non-physical systems offer more flexible, low-footprint options whose success depends critically on local hydraulics, the sensory ecology of target species, and ambient environmental conditions. We identify major knowledge gaps relating to underlying sensory and behavioral mechanisms, hydraulics-based design rules, and standardized performance metrics. We also highlight opportunities to integrate advanced monitoring and AI-based analytics into adaptive, site-specific guidance systems. Taken together, our findings show that carefully selected and tuned barrier technologies can provide practical pathways to enhance water security and biosecurity, while supporting sustainable fish passage, improving invasive-species control, and reducing ecological impacts at water infrastructure. Full article

Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide, and experimental tumor models are essential for evaluating new therapeutic approaches before clinical application. The Walker-256 carcinoma model exhibits biological behavior comparable to human carcinoma and allows short-term assessment of tumor progression. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of dietary supplementation on Walker-256 tumor growth. We followed the PRISMA guidelines and searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases without time restrictions. The meta-analysis included clustering based on the type of supplementation received, comparing treatment groups with control groups. Twenty-one studies were included, analyzing 18 different supplements, and 12 studies were considered for quantitative synthesis. The overall effect indicated a significant reduction in tumor growth with supplementation (SMD = 2.83, 95% CI = 1.99–3.66, p < 0.001), despite high heterogeneity (I² = 93.3%). Oils had the greatest impact, particularly fish oil (SMD = 6.99, 95% CI = 3.15–10.83, p < 0.001) and shark liver oil (SMD = 4.43, 95% CI = 2.19–6.67, p < 0.01). Full article

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma (BSNS) is a very rare, locally aggressive sarcoma arising in the sinonasal region, initially recognized as low-grade sinonasal sarcoma with neural and myogenic differentiation. Here, we report a case of BSNS extending into the intracranial and intraorbital regions, finally diagnosed by a break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay for rearrangements of PAX3. A 50-year-old woman presented with left diplopia and exophthalmos. CT and MRI revealed a large ethmoidal mass with intracranial and intraorbital extension. Since preoperative biopsy suggested a benign tumor, endoscopic endonasal resection was performed while preserving the anterior skull base and intraorbital structures. Postoperative histopathological diagnosis indicated synovial sarcoma, and proton beam therapy with adjuvant chemotherapy was subsequently administered. After treatment, FISH demonstrated rearrangements of PAX3 and MAML3 genes, leading to a revised diagnosis of BSNS, which typically does not require chemotherapy due to its non-metastatic behavior. Eleven years after treatment, the patient remains free of recurrence. Understanding BSNS is essential to avoid excessive intervention, and confirmation of PAX3 rearrangement by FISH or equivalent molecular testing is crucial for accurate diagnosis. Full article

Maintaining water quality and fish well-being in newly established, small, unfiltered betta (Betta splendens) aquaria is a significant challenge. To improve betta fish breeding and welfare, this study set up four groups: the Sagittaria subulata (S.su) group, the Alternanthera reineckii (A.re) group, the Wolffia globosa (W.gl) group, and the plant-free (CG) group. We evaluated the effects of aquatic plants on water quality, fish behavior, and microbial community in newly established tanks over 25 days. The results demonstrated that both the dissolved oxygen (DO) and potential of hydrogen (pH) decreased with the experimental duration, while ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) increased over time in all groups. Compared to the CG group, all aquatic plants significantly reduced the NH₃-N accumulation. The S.su group exhibited the lowest mean NH₃-N concentration of only 0.14 mg·L⁻¹, which was considerably lower than that of the other groups (p < 0.05). The behavioral analysis revealed that, during the 25-day randomized monitoring period, bettas in the S.su group exhibited the lowest surface breathing, with an average of only 0.36 events per 5 min, which was significantly lower than that of the CG group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the S.su and W.gl groups demonstrated longer average swimming durations than the other groups, suggesting a potential trend toward improved welfare in betta fish. Aquatic plants shaped the microbial diversity and composition within the experimental aquatic system. The W.gl group had the highest microbial diversity, and the A.re and S.su groups enriched Verrucomicrobiota. These results demonstrate the preferential shaping of microbial communities by aquatic plants, suggesting a potential pathway for enhancing water quality. In conclusion, S. subulata demonstrates the greatest benefits under the experimental conditions, making it a more suitable choice for this experiment. Full article

Inspired by the Tesla valve, the island-type fishway is a novel design whose biological performance remains unelucidated. This study integrated hydraulic experiments, CFD modeling, and 3D computer vision to investigate the passage performance and swimming behavior of juvenile silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The results confirmed high biological feasibility, with upstream success rates exceeding 70%. The island and arc-baffle configuration create a heterogeneous flow field with an S-shaped main flow and low-velocity zones; each island unit contributes 8.9% to total energy dissipation. Critically, fish utilize a multi-dimensional navigation strategy to avoid high-velocity cores: temporally adopting an intermittent “rest-burst” pattern for energetic recovery; horizontally following an “Ω”-shaped bypass trajectory; and vertically preferring the bottom boundary layer. Passage failure was primarily linked to suboptimal path selection near the high-velocity main flow. These findings demonstrate that fishway effectiveness depends less on bulk hydraulic parameters and more on the spatial connectivity of hydraulic refugia aligning with fish behavioral traits. This study provides a scientific basis for optimizing eco-friendly hydraulic structures. Full article

The reproductive behavior and nest-building activity of the sand-dwelling goby Hazeus ammophilus were investigated to examine its nesting characteristics and to determine how and why this species builds radial structures around its nests. Field observations revealed that males spawned with multiple females in open muddy-sand bottoms, using bivalve shells or fallen leaves as spawning substrates. Males cared for eggs after spawning and repeatedly mated with multiple females, suggesting a male-territory-visiting polygamous mating system. A distinctive feature of this species was the presence of radial ditches extending from the nest. These ditches developed through repeated male behaviors of digging from the nest toward the surrounding area and sweeping accumulated sand out of the nest, resulting in a crater-like structure around the nest. These behaviors may contribute to cleaning and stabilizing the spawning substrate, and the resulting structures themselves may also be involved in female mate choice. Taken together, these findings indicate that H. ammophilus has evolved a flexible reproductive strategy, and nest-building behavior possibly adapted to unstable open sandy environments, highlighting the behavioral diversity and ecological plasticity within gobiid fishes. Full article

Aquaculture digitalization is increasingly regarded as a crucial pathway to improving productivity, sustainability, and resilience in the fisheries sector. Policy instruments intended to foster this digital transformation—such as substantial subsidies and stringent regulatory mandates—often face constraints stemming from fiscal limitations, administrative burdens, and implementation inefficiencies. Behavioral interventions (nudges) represent a potentially effective and less resource-intensive alternative, yet their capacity—individually or in conjunction with moderate subsidies and regulatory measures—to foster aquaculture digitalization remains empirically underexplored. Drawing on survey data from 254 fish farmers in the lower Yangtze River region and employing a combination of principal component analysis (PCA), ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, Propensity Score Matching (PSM), and Gradient Boosted Trees (GBT) techniques, this study finds that: (1) Social nudging has a robust and consistent positive effect on digital transformation; (2) The effects of subsidies and regulations are heterogeneous and context-dependent; (3) The negative interactions between nudging and constraints, as well as between nudging and subsidies, are context-dependent and tend to inhibit digital transformation; (4) Policy effects display marked heterogeneity across different contexts, particularly with respect to sales channels, external pressures, producers’ transformation capabilities, and the scale of aquaculture operations. These findings deepen the understanding of how behavioral and structural policies interact in agricultural digitalization, emphasizing that effective policy should combine financial and regulatory measures with efforts to strengthen farmers’ digital awareness and behavioral adaptability. Full article

To avoid predators, benthic fish will stir up the sediment on the seabed by flapping their pectoral fins, thus burying themselves. This self-burial concealment strategy can offer bionic enlightenment for the benthic residence method of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs). In this paper, based on the observation results of the self-burial behavior of benthic fish, a two-dimensional fluid-particle numerical model was developed to simulate the processes of sediment transport induced by pectoral fin flapping. In addition, an orthogonal experimental design was employed to analyze the effects of body length, flapping amplitude, flapping number, flapping frequency, and particle size on burial ratio, input power, and burial efficiency. The results reveal that rapid pectoral fin flapping enables benthic fish to fluidize sediments and achieve self-burial. Among the influencing factors, body size has the most significant impact on coverage ratio and input power, as larger fish generate stronger tip vortices and fluid disturbances, making local flow velocities more likely to exceed the critical starting velocity. In contrast, particle size has the weakest effect on burial performance, while kinematic parameters exert a far greater impact on self-burial than environmental parameters. The research results can offer references for the biomimetic design of self-burying UUVs. Full article

Fish skin, a by-product of commercial fish processing, represents a viable source of type I collagen. Acetic acid has been widely used for the extraction of collagen from fish skin because it can preserve the native structure. However, it requires an extraction time of more than 72 h and complex and time-consuming dialysis steps to remove acetic acid residues from the extracted collagen which can otherwise cause inferior structural modifications. Therefore, this study describes a simple time- and cost-effective method to extract collagen using hydrochloric acid. The experiments focused on understanding the behavior of fish skin and changes in the extraction medium. The extraction procedure developed in this study includes treatment with a 0.01 M hydrochloric acid solution at a 1:20 mass to volume ratio for 5 h, followed by homogenization. The native triple-helical structure of collagen was confirmed by ATR-FTIR and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Thermal stability was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry. This study also provides guidelines for the application of this knowledge to skin of any fish species of interest: (i) an upper limit of pH 4 during collagen extraction; (ii) a manageable viscosity of the collagen extract solution; and (iii) as few undissolved skin pieces as possible after homogenization. Full article

Background: University students are often exposed to environments that encourage unhealthy eating, but universities can promote better health and sustainability by making sustainable food options more accessible. Methods: Temporal changes in dietary patterns and environmental footprints of 1684 students at the University of Rijeka, Croatia, over a 16-year period (2009–2025) were retrospectively analyzed using data from 3 cross-sectional studies. Results: A significant transition toward less sustainable diets, increased consumption of animal-based foods, and proinflammatory eating habits was observed (both p < 0.001). Adherence to the Mediterranean and Planetary Health Diet declined over time (p < 0.001), followed by increased prevalence of overweight and obesity. Three dietary patterns were identified: high fruit and vegetable intake, consistently high milk and dairy consumption, and lower-to-moderate intake of all other food groups with temporal variation. Consumption of most food groups increased, leading to higher water and ecological footprints. Only the intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish declined, which corresponded with reduced carbon footprints for these and a few other food groups, while the environmental impact of other foods significantly increased (all p < 0.001). Gender, diet quality, and a proinflammatory diet were significant predictors of dietary environmental footprints. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for systemic changes and addressing barriers at the university level to support sustainable eating behaviors. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and researchers, which aim to help students become health-conscious and environmentally responsible consumers. Further research is needed to explore the broader factors influencing dietary choices and the long-term impact of future institutional interventions. Full article

Accurate monitoring of fish movement is essential for understanding behavioral patterns and group dynamics in aquaculture systems. Underwater scenes—characterized by dense populations, frequent occlusions, non-rigid body motion, and visually similar appearances—present substantial challenges for conventional multi-object tracking methods. We propose an improved CenterTrack-based framework tailored for multi-fish tracking in such environments. The framework integrates three complementary components: a multi-branch feature extractor that enhances discrimination among visually similar individuals, occlusion-aware output heads that estimate visibility states, and a three-stage cascade association module that improves trajectory continuity under abrupt motion and occlusions. To support systematic evaluation, we introduce a self-built dataset named Multi-Fish 25 (MF25), continuous video sequences of 75 individually annotated fish recorded in aquaculture tanks. The experimental results on MF25 show that the proposed method achieves an IDF1 of 82.5%, MOTA of 85.8%, and IDP of 84.7%. Although this study focuses on tracking performance rather than biological analysis, the produced high-quality trajectories form a solid basis for subsequent behavioral studies. The framework’s modular design and computational efficiency make it suitable for practical, online tracking in aquaculture scenarios. Full article