Search Results (4,345)

Background: Postoperative bone healing can be impaired by systemic factors and surgical trauma, leading to delayed recovery. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been proposed as a non-invasive method to enhance osteogenesis, but variability in protocols and outcomes limits its clinical use. Aim: To systematically review and synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating PBMT’s effectiveness in promoting postoperative osteogenesis. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Only RCTs comparing PBMT with sham treatment or standard care were included. Data on laser parameters, surgical indications, and outcomes such as bone regeneration, healing time, and implant stability were extracted. The risk of bias of the included randomized studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB version 2) tool. Results: Twelve RCTs were included. PBMT consistently improved early soft tissue healing and reduced postoperative inflammation and edema. Some studies showed accelerated bone maturation, especially in grafted sockets and distraction osteogenesis, while others reported no significant long-term effects on implant stability or chronic lesion healing. Heterogeneity in laser parameters limited comparability. Conclusions: PBMT is a safe adjunct that reliably enhances early postoperative healing and may promote bone remodeling in selected cases. Standardized protocols and larger, high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm long-term benefits and optimize treatment parameters. Full article

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are key regulators of cerebrovascular function, integrating vascular, inflammatory, and neuronal signaling within the neurovascular unit (NVU). Increasing evidence suggests that GPCR actions are highly dependent on cell type, signaling pathway, and disease stage, leading to distinct, and sometimes opposing, effects during acute ischemic injury and post-stroke recovery. In this review, we reorganize GPCR signaling mechanisms using a disease-stage-oriented and NVU-centered framework. We synthesize how GPCR-mediated intercellular communication among neurons, glial cells, and vascular elements dynamically regulates cerebral blood flow, neuroinflammation, blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, and neuronal circuit remodeling. Particular emphasis is placed on phase-dependent GPCR signaling, highlighting receptors whose functions shift across acute injury, secondary damage, and recovery phases. We further critically evaluated the translational implications of GPCR-targeted therapies, discussing why promising preclinical neuroprotection has frequently failed to translate into clinical benefit. By integrating molecular mechanisms with temporal dynamics and translational constraints, this review provides a framework for the rational development of cell-type and stage-specific GPCR-based therapeutic strategies in cerebrovascular disease. Full article

This paper introduces a novel approach for designing a Fractional Order Proportional-Integral-Derivative (FOPID) controller for the Hydraulic Turbine Regulating System (HTRS), aiming to overcome the challenge of tuning its five complex parameters (K_p, K_i, K_d, λ and μ). The design is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem, minimized using the Multi-Objective Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (MOICA). The goal is to minimize two key transient performance metrics: the Integral of Squared Error (ISE) and the Integral of the Time Multiplied Squared Error (ITSE). MOICA efficiently generates a Pareto-front of non-dominated solutions, providing control system designers with diverse trade-off options. The resulting optimal FOPID controller demonstrated superior robustness when evaluated against simulated variations in key HTRS parameters (mg, eg and Tw). Comparative simulations against an optimally tuned integer-order PID and established literature methods (FOPID-GA, FOPID-MOPSO and FOPID-MOHHO) confirm the enhanced dynamic response and stable operation of the MOICA-based FOPID. The MOICA-tuned FOPID demonstrated superior performance for Setpoint Tracking, achieving up to a 26% faster settling speed (ITSE) and an 8% higher accuracy (ISE). Furthermore, for Disturbance Rejection, it showed enhanced robustness, leading to up to a 23% quicker recovery speed (ITSE) and an 18.9% greater error suppression (ISE). Full article

Large-scale storage solutions play a critical role in the ongoing energy transition, with Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) emerging as a possible option. UHS can benefit from existing natural gas storage expertise; however, key differences in hydrogen’s behavior compared to CH₄ must be characterized at the pore scale to optimize the design and the management of these systems. This work investigates two-phase (gas–water) flow behavior using microfluidic devices mimicking reservoir rocks’ pore structure. Microfluidic tests provide a systematic side-by-side comparison of H₂–water and CH₄–water displacement under the same pore-network geometries, wettability, and flow conditions, focusing on the drainage phase. While all experiments fall within the transitional flow regime between capillary and viscous fingering, clear quantitative differences between H₂ and CH₄ emerge. Indeed, the results show that hydrogen’s lower viscosity enhances capillary fingering and snap-off events, while methane exhibits more stable viscous-dominated behavior. Both gases show rapid breakthrough; however, H₂’s flow instability—especially at low capillary numbers (Ca)—leads to spontaneous water imbibition, suggesting stronger capillary forces. Relative permeability endpoints are evaluated when steady state conditions are reached: they show dependence on Ca, not just saturation, aligning with recent scaling laws. Despite H₂ showing a different displacement regime, closer to capillary fingering, H₂ mobility remains comparable to CH₄. These findings highlight differences in flow behavior between H₂ and CH₄, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies for UHS to manage trapping and optimize recovery. Full article

Blue economy aims to bring prosperity to coastal communities whilst also protecting natural ocean resources for future generations. But how can this vision be put into practice, especially in communities in which dependence on natural resources is high, and food and livelihood security are key concerns? This paper examines two cases of community-led nature-based enterprise in Kenya in a search for solutions to this challenge: fisheries reform through market access and gear sustainability; mangrove forest conservation and community development using carbon credit revenues. I use a ‘diverse economies framework’ for the first time in blue economy contexts to delve into the heterogeneous relations at work and in search of insights that can be applied in multiple contexts. Analysed through key informant interviews and field observation, the cases reveal a complex assemblage of institutions, knowledges, technologies, and practices within which enterprises operate. Whilst the enterprises featured are still relatively new and developing, they suggest a direction of travel for a community-led sustainable blue economy that both supports and benefits from nature recovery. The insights gained from this diverse economies analysis lead us to appreciate a sustainable blue economy as a rediscovered and reinvigorated relationship of reciprocity between society and nature—one that nurtures place-based nature-based livelihoods and nature recovery together, and which embodies a set of values and ethics shared by government, communities, and business. Full article

Face super-resolution (FSR) has made great progress thanks to deep learning and facial priors. However, many existing methods do not fully exploit landmark heatmaps and lack effective multi-scale texture modeling, which often leads to texture loss and artifacts under large upscaling factors. To address these problems, we propose a Multi-Scale Residual Stacking Network (MRSNet), which integrates multi-scale texture enhancement with multi-stage heatmap fusion. The MRSNet is built upon Residual Attention-Guided Units (RAGUs) and incorporates a Face Detail Enhancer (FDE), which applies edge, texture, and region branches to achieve differentiated enhancement across facial components. Furthermore, we design a Multi-Scale Texture Enhancement Module (MTEM) that employs progressive average pooling to construct hierarchical receptive fields and employs heatmap-guided attention for adaptive texture refinement. In addition, we introduce a multi-stage heatmap fusion strategy that injects landmark priors into multiple phases of the network, including feature extraction, texture enhancement, and detail reconstruction, enabling deep sharing and progressive integration of prior knowledge. Extensive experiments on CelebA and Helen demonstrate that the proposed method achieves superior detail recovery and generates perceptually realistic high-resolution face images. Both quantitative and qualitative evaluations confirm that our approach outperforms state-of-the-art methods. Full article

Background: Vitamins are micronutrients involved in multiple physiological processes critical for athletic performance. Because athletes are often exposed to increased oxidative stress, higher metabolic turnover, and greater nutritional demands, which can potentially lead to deficiencies in vitamins, understanding vitamin supplementation as a function of sport discipline is of fundamental importance. Methods: This narrative review synthesizes research findings from the past decade, supplemented with earlier studies where necessary, focusing on vitamins A, C, D, E, and the B-complex vitamins. Peer-reviewed literature was evaluated for evidence on the prevalence of deficiencies in athletes, physiological mechanisms, supplementation strategies, and their effects on performance, injury prevention, and recovery. Results: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among athletes, particularly in indoor sports and during the winter months. Supplementation has been shown to improve musculoskeletal health and potentially reduce injury risk. The antioxidant vitamins C and E can attenuate exercise-induced oxidative stress and muscle damage; however, excessive intake may impair adaptive responses such as mitochondrial biogenesis and protein synthesis. Vitamin A contributes to immune modulation, metabolic regulation, and mitochondrial function, while B-complex vitamins support energy metabolism and red blood cell synthesis. Conclusions: Vitamin supplementation in athletes should be individualized, targeting confirmed deficiencies and tailored to sport-specific demands, age, sex, and training intensity. Dietary optimization should remain the primary strategy, with supplementation serving as an adjunct when intake is insufficient. Further high-quality, sport-specific, and long-term studies are needed to establish clear dosing guidelines and to assess the balance between performance benefits and potential risks associated with over-supplementation. Full article

Plant byproducts represent a valuable and underutilized source of bioactive compounds. Among these, phenolic compounds have attracted growing interest from the agricultural, cosmetic, and food industries due to their diverse biological activities. These naturally occurring compounds are derived from various plant species, and they exhibit strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. Their yield, as well as quality and bioavailability, has improved with more recent advancements within green extraction, as well as purification and characterization techniques. Several phenolic compounds exhibit strong antiviral and antioxidant activities, which are highlighting their value as bioactive compounds. It is essential to evaluate extraction methods for high-yield phenolic compounds from plant byproducts so that they can contribute to the circular bioeconomy, reduction in environmental waste, and development of biomedical and food industrial applications. Their physicochemical characteristics and potential applications may lead to a determination by contributing to promising fields through expanded in vitro, in vivo, and in silico experiments. This review summarizes current research on the extraction, recovery, and applications of phenolic compounds derived from plant byproducts, providing new insights into their sustainable utilization and bioactive potential. Full article

Hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1) is a rare metabolic disorder caused by fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase deficiency, leading to the accumulation of toxic metabolites such as fumarylacetoacetate (FAA) and succinylacetone (SA). We report an 11-year-old boy with poorly controlled HT1 who presented with a severe neurovisceral crisis after suboptimal adherence to nitisinone (NTBC) therapy, characterized by abdominal pain, hypertension, paralytic ileus, seizures, and profound hyponatremia. Biochemical evaluation revealed markedly elevated urinary δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), consistent with a porphyria-like metabolic decompensation, together with inappropriately increased plasma copeptin in the setting of hypotonic hyponatremia and clinical euvolemia, fulfilling diagnostic criteria for the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Optimization of NTBC therapy combined with tailored fluid management resulted in complete clinical and biochemical recovery. This case supports a pathophysiological link between acute disruption of the heme–porphyrin pathway and inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. In HT1, this susceptibility may be further amplified by FAA- and SA-mediated oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and heme depletion, with an additional contribution from SA-associated renal tubular impairment. Overall, our findings underscore SIADH as a potentially underrecognized cause of acute hyponatremia in HT1 and highlight the importance of strict NTBC adherence and early monitoring of urinary ALA during metabolic decompensation. Full article

The increasing discharge of recalcitrant organic dyes from the textile industry necessitates the development of efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies. This study reports the successful eco-friendly fabrication of magnetically separable cerium–manganese ferrite (Ce-MnFe₂O₄) nanocatalysts via a one-pot green synthesis route, utilizing an aqueous extract of Brachychiton populneus leaves. The structural, morphological, magnetic, and optical properties of the synthesized nanocatalysts were systematically investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of a phase-pure cubic spinel structure, with evidence of Ce³⁺ ion incorporation leading to lattice expansion and the formation of beneficial oxygen vacancies. The composite material exhibited superparamagnetic behavior with a high saturation magnetization of 38.7 emu/g, which facilitates efficient magnetic separation and recovery. Optical studies revealed a direct bandgap of 2.33 eV, enabling significant photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The Ce-MnFe₂O₄ nanocatalyst demonstrated superior performance, achieving degradation efficiencies of 96% for methylene blue and 98% for Congo Red within 90 min. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrated good operational stability, maintaining 62% of its initial degradation efficiency for CR and 51% for MB after five consecutive reuse cycles. These results underscore the potential of this green-synthesized, magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst as a highly effective and sustainable solution for the remediation of dye-contaminated industrial effluents. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pediatric cancer survivors frequently experience neuromuscular sequelae related to chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity. Agents such as vincristine, methotrexate, and platinum compounds can lead to persistent gait alterations and sensorimotor deficits that impair mobility and quality of life. This study aimed to objectively assess gait in pediatric cancer survivors after the completion of oncological pharmacological treatment to identify specific spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic alterations and characterize neuromechanical patterns associated with neurotoxic exposure. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted including pediatric cancer survivors (6–18 years) who had completed chemotherapy and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Gait was analyzed using a Vicon^®3D motion capture system, with reflective markers placed on standardized anatomical landmarks. Spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic variables were compared between groups using parametric tests and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) with Holm–Bonferroni correction (α = 0.05). Results: Pediatric cancer survivors showed slower gait velocity (Mean Difference (MD) = 0.17, p = 0.018, Confidence Interval CI95% = 0.04; 0.4), shorter step (MD = 0.1, p = 0.015, CI95% = 0.01; 0.19) and stride length (MD = 0.17, p = 0.018, CI95% = 0.03; 0.31), as well as reduced single support time (MD = 0.1, p = 0.043, CI95% = 0.01; 0.19), along with significant alterations in pelvic, hip, knee, and ankle kinematics compared with controls. Increased pelvic elevation (MD = 0.92, p = 0.018, CI95% = 0.25; 1.58), reduced hip extension during stance (MD = −2.99, p = 0.039, CI95% = −5.19; −0.74), knee hyperextension in mid-stance (MD = −3.84, p < 0.001, CI95% = −6.18; −0.72), and limited ankle dorsiflexion (MAS MD = −4.04, p < 0.001, CI95% = −6.79; −0.86, LAS MD = −3.16, p < 0.001) and plantarflexor moments in terminal stance (MAS MD = −149.65, p = 0.018, CI95% = −259.35; −48.25, LAS MD = −191.81, p = 0.008, CI95% = −323.81; −57.31) were observed. Ground reaction force peaks during loading response (MAS MD = −16.86, p < 0.001, CI95% = −26.12; −0.72 LAS MD = −11.74, p = 0.001, CI95% = −19.68; −3.94) and foot-off (MAS MD = 10.38, p = 0.015, CI95% = 0.41; 20.53, LAS MD = 11.88, p = 0.01, CI95% = 3.15; 22.38) were also reduced. Conclusions: Children who have completed chemotherapy present measurable gait deviations reflecting persistent neuromechanical impairment, likely linked to chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity and deconditioning. Instrumented gait analysis allows early detection of these alterations and may support the design of targeted rehabilitation strategies to optimize functional recovery and long-term quality of life in pediatric cancer survivors. Full article

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, and new technologies such as Fully Immersive Virtual Reality (FIVR) are being explored to promote functional recovery as well as optimize rehabilitation outcomes. The aim of the present study was to explore Greek OTs’ perspectives on the use of FIVR in rehabilitation of the upper limb after stroke. Two focus groups took place with six experienced OTs, who were recruited from diverse clinical settings across Greece. The interviews were facilitated using a semi-structured guide and inductively coded using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-stage process. Six theme-rich findings were elicited. Therapists identified FIVR’s potential to enable patient involvement, motivation, and recovery of function through the use of immersion and feedback-based practice. They reported significant barriers, however, in terms of technical challenges, safety issues, and costly equipment. OTs also highlighted the fact that occupation-based, culturally sensitive task design is central to ensuring ecological validity and transfer to naturalistic settings. There is a high potential for FIVR in stroke rehabilitation, but it requires user-centered design, cultural adaptation, adequate training, and systemic support towards long-term implementation. Full article

This study analyzed the impact of human drivers’ Keep Right Rule noncompliance on sustainable freeway operations in mixed traffic. Using the microscopic traffic simulation tool, a total of 36 scenarios were examined based on variations in driving behavior, presence of slow vehicles in the passing lane, desired speed, and number of lanes. The Wiedemann-99 car-following model and autonomous driving logic were applied for simulation. Simulation results revealed that the occupation of the passing lane by a human-driven slow vehicle increased the recovery time and variability in right-side rule compared to free lane selection. Also, 20 km/h was a threshold desired speed gap that activated the bottleneck by the slow vehicle in a passing lane. Lastly, as the number of lanes increased, bottleneck formation was diminished. The findings point to a mixed traffic systemic paradox. Human drivers can alleviate bottleneck formation by flexibly performing right-side overtaking even though it is illegal, whereas autonomous vehicles cannot perform right-side overtaking, which unintentionally activates a bottleneck under strict rule compliance. These results show that in mixed traffic conditions, even minor violations of traffic rules by human drivers can lead to congestion. Therefore, to achieve sustainable and safe road traffic by harmonizing mixed traffic, institutional improvements are necessary alongside advances in autonomous driving technology. Full article

Tendon injuries, whether resulting from trauma, repetitive strain, or degenerative conditions, present a considerable clinical challenge. The natural healing process, which involves inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases, is often inefficient and leads to excessive scar tissue formation, ultimately compromising the mechanical properties of the tendon compared to its native state. This highlights the critical need for innovative approaches to enhance tendon repair and regeneration. Leveraging the regenerative properties of human amniotic membrane (HAM) and electrospun PCL/gelatin nanofibers, this study aims to develop and assess a novel composite scaffold in a rodent model to facilitate improved tendon healing. This prospective experimental study involved 12 male Sprague Dawley rats (250–300 g), randomly assigned to three groups: Group A (No Treatment/No HAM), Group B (HAM-treated), and Group C (HAM with electrospun nanofibers, HAM-NF). A surgically induced tendon injury was created in the left hind limb, while the right limb served as a control. Following surgery, HAM and HAM-NF (0.5 cm²) were applied to the respective treatment groups, and tendon healing was assessed after six weeks. Gait analysis, including stride length and toe-out angle, was conducted both pre-operatively and six weeks post-operatively. Macroscopic and microscopic evaluations were performed on harvested tendons to assess regeneration, comparing treated groups to the controls. Gait analysis demonstrated that the HAM-NF group showed a significant increase in stride length from 11.70 ± 1.50 cm to 12.79 ± 1.71 cm (p < 0.05), with only a modest change in toe-out angle (14.58 ± 2.96° to 16.27 ± 2.20°). In contrast, the No Treatment group exhibited reduced stride length (10.27 ± 2.17 cm to 8.40 ± 1.67 cm) and a marked increase in toe-out angle (16.33 ± 4.51° to 26.47 ± 5.81°, p < 0.05), while the HAM-only group showed mild changes in both parameters. Macroscopic evaluation showed a significant difference in tendon healing. HAM-NF group had the highest score that indicates more rapid tissue regeneration. Histological analysis after 6 weeks showed that tendons treated with HAM-NF achieved a mean histological score of 5.54 ± 4.14, closely resembling the uninjured tendon (6.67 ± 1.63), indicating substantial regenerative potential. The combination of human amniotic membrane (HAM) and electrospun nanofibers presents significant potential as an effective strategy for tendon regeneration. The HAM/NF group exhibited consistent improvements in gait parameters and histological outcomes, closely mirroring those of uninjured tendons. These preliminary results indicate that this biomaterial-based approach can enhance both functional recovery and structural integrity, providing a promising pathway for advanced tendon repair therapies. Full article

Efficient metadata and page management are essential for sustaining database performance on modern flash-based storage. However, conventional SQLite configurations—rollback journal and WAL—often trigger excessive small writes and frequent synchronization events, leading to high write amplification and degraded tail latency, particularly on UFS and NVMe devices. This study introduces ALEX (Adaptive Log-Embedded Extent Layer), a lightweight VFS-level extension that coalesces scattered 4 KB page updates into sequential, page-aligned extents while embedding compact log records for recovery. The proposed design reduces redundant writes through in-memory page deduplication, minimizes fdatasync()frequency by flushing multi-page extents, and preserves full SQLite compatibility. We evaluate ALEX on both Linux NVMe SSDs and Android UFS storage under controlled workloads. Results show that ALEX significantly lowers write amplification, reduces sync counts, and improves p95–p99 write latency compared with baseline SQLite modes. The approach consistently achieves near-sequential write patterns without modifying SQLite internals. These findings demonstrate that lightweight extent-based coalescing can provide substantial efficiency gains for embedded and mobile database systems, offering a practical direction for enhancing SQLite performance on flash devices. Full article