Search Results (1,084)

This study proposes the SMR Smart Net-Zero City (SSNC) framework—a scalable model for achieving carbon neutrality by integrating Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), renewable energy sources, and sector coupling within a microgrid architecture. As deploying renewables alone would require economically and technically impractical energy storage systems, SMRs provide a reliable and flexible baseload power source. Sector coupling systems—such as hydrogen production and heat generation—enhance grid stability by absorbing surplus energy and supporting the decarbonization of non-electric sectors. The core contribution of this study lies in its real-time data emulation framework, which overcomes a critical limitation in the current energy landscape: the absence of operational data for future technologies such as SMRs and their coupled hydrogen production systems. As these technologies are still in the pre-commercial stage, direct physical integration and validation are not yet feasible. To address this, the researchers leveraged real-time data from an existing commercial microgrid, specifically focusing on the import of grid electricity during energy shortfalls and export during solar surpluses. These patterns were repurposed to simulate the real-time operational behavior of future SMRs (ProxySMR) and sector coupling loads. This physically grounded simulation approach enables high-fidelity approximation of unavailable technologies and introduces a novel methodology to characterize their dynamic response within operational contexts. A key element of the SSNC control logic is a day–night strategy: maximum SMR output and minimal hydrogen production at night, and minimal SMR output with maximum hydrogen production during the day—balancing supply and demand while maintaining high SMR utilization for economic efficiency. The SSNC testbed was validated through a seven-day continuous operation in Busan, demonstrating stable performance and approximately 75% SMR utilization, thereby supporting the feasibility of this proxy-based method. Importantly, to the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first publicly reported attempt to emulate the real-time dynamics of a net-zero city concept based on not-yet-commercial SMRs and sector coupling systems using live operational data. This simulation-based framework offers a forward-looking, data-driven pathway to inform the development and control of next-generation carbon-neutral energy systems. Full article

This article investigates the paradox of disappearance as both an aesthetic and a political phenomenon. Taking inspiration from Radiohead’s song “How to Disappear Completely,” it argues that aesthetic representations of disappearance never achieve total erasure; instead, they give rise to new forms of visibility. A true aesthetics of disappearance does not exist. Through case studies such as H.G. Wells’s The Invisible Man and Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle, the article demonstrates that disappearance is always mediated: the invisible man becomes hyper-visible through his clothing, bandages, and mask, while the spectacle conceals marginalized lives only to expose them through mechanisms of institutional control (e.g., prisons, medical facilities, schools—as analyzed in Michel Foucault’s work). An investigation of the “novel of the institution” (Campe), especially as it appears in the works of Franz Kafka and Robert Walser, eventually explores the nexus between aesthetic representation and institutionalized forms of coerced visibility. Ultimately, the essay argues that disappearance, as an aesthetic and political event, destabilizes regimes of visibility—not by erasure alone, but by exposing the fragility of appearance itself. The tension between opacity and exposure suggests that resistance lies not in pure absence but in subverting the very mechanisms of representation. Full article

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has evolved from a breakthrough ophthalmologic imaging tool into a cornerstone technology in interventional cardiology. After its initial applications in retinal imaging in the early 1990s, OCT was subsequently envisioned for cardiovascular use. In 1995, its ability to visualize atherosclerotic plaques was demonstrated in an in vitro study, and the following year marked the acquisition of the first in vivo OCT image of a human coronary artery. A major milestone followed in 2000, with the first intracoronary imaging in a living patient using time-domain OCT. However, the real inflection point came in 2006 with the advent of frequency-domain OCT, which dramatically improved acquisition speed and image quality, enabling safe and routine imaging in the catheterization lab. With the advent of high-resolution, second-generation frequency-domain systems, OCT has become clinically practical and widely adopted in catheterization laboratories. OCT progressively entered interventional cardiology, first proving its safety and feasibility, then demonstrating superiority over angiography alone in guiding percutaneous coronary interventions and improving outcomes. Today, it plays a central role not only in clinical practice but also in cardiovascular research, enabling precise assessment of plaque biology and response to therapy. With the advent of artificial intelligence and hybrid imaging systems, OCT is now evolving into a true precision-medicine tool—one that not only guides today’s therapies but also opens new frontiers for discovery, with vast potential still waiting to be explored. Tracing its historical evolution from ophthalmology to cardiology, this narrative review highlights the key technological milestones, clinical insights, and future perspectives that position OCT as an indispensable modality in contemporary interventional cardiology. As a guiding thread, the myth of Prometheus is used to symbolize the evolution of OCT—from its illuminating beginnings in ophthalmology to its transformative role in cardiology—as a metaphor for how light, innovation, and knowledge can reveal what was once hidden and redefine clinical practice. Full article

Background: Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. While most diagnoses occur in outpatient settings, a subset of cases are incidentally identified during emergency department (ED) visits. The clinical characteristics and treatment decisions of these patients, particularly in relation to social background factors such as living situation and access to primary care, remain poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with malignancies in the ED of a single institution between April 2018 and December 2021. Patients diagnosed with lung cancer within 60 days of an ED visit were included. Data on demographics, disease status, treatment decisions, and background factors—including whether patients lived alone or had a primary care physician (PCP)—were extracted and analyzed. Results: Among 32,108 patients who visited the ED, 148 were diagnosed with malignancy within 60 days; 23 had lung cancer. Of these, 69.6% had metastatic disease at diagnosis, and 60.9% received active treatment (surgery or chemotherapy). No significant associations were observed between the extent of disease and either living arrangement or PCP status. However, the presence of a PCP was significantly associated with the selection of best supportive care (p = 0.023). No significant difference in treatment decisions was observed based on age (cutoff: 75 years). Conclusions: Although social background factors such as living alone were not significantly associated with cancer stage or treatment choice, the presence of a primary care physician was associated with a higher likelihood of best supportive care being selected. This may indicate that patients with an established PCP have more clearly defined care goals at the end of life. These findings suggest that primary care access may play a role in shaping end-of-life care preferences, highlighting the importance of personalized approaches in acute oncology care. Full article

Grounded in health behavior theory, this study examined patterns of preventive health behavior in a culturally diverse, multilingual region of northern Italy using data from a representative population survey (n = 2090). Preventive behaviors were assessed using the 16-item Good Health Practices (GHP-16) scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified five behavioral profiles, ranging from ‘Globally Low Engagers’ to ‘Comprehensive High Engagers’. Binary logistic regression compared ‘Globally Low Engagers’ to ‘Broadly Moderate Preventers’, examining predictors including gender, age, education, language, chronic disease status, health literacy (HLS-EU-Q16), patient activation (PAM-10), mistrust of health information, living situation, and healthcare employment. The results showed that men, younger adults, individuals with low patient activation, those living alone, and respondents with high mistrust of health information had higher odds of belonging to the low engagement group. Health literacy and language group membership were not significantly associated with the profile membership. Item-level comparisons revealed gender differences in information-seeking, oral hygiene, and dietary behaviors, with men reporting lower engagement. These findings support a segmentation-based understanding of preventive health behavior and highlight the need to address personal capacities and contextual barriers in interventions while challenging assumptions of uniformly higher female health vigilance. Full article

Background: There is little information about the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in combatting nutrient inadequacies in primary care, where most malnutrition exists. Aim: To examine the extent to which readymade ONS add or displace the nutrients consumed in the diet and their impact on combatting dietary inadequacies. Methods: 308 free-living people >50 years with medium + high risk of malnutrition (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool) were randomised to receive readymade low volume (2.4 kcal/mL), liquid ONS plus dietary advice (ONS + DA) or dietary advice alone (DA). Intake was assessed at baseline (24 h recall) and 4-weekly for 12 weeks (3-day diet record). Total nutrient intake was benchmarked against UK and European dietary reference values (DRVs). The proportion of energy and nutrients from the ONS that added or displaced those from the diet (net addition/displacement) was calculated. Results: ONS + DA led to significantly greater total energy and nutritional intakes, with 25/29 nutrient intakes significantly higher than with DA alone. There were no significant differences in dietary energy and nutrient intakes from food between the groups. There was little or no displacement of nutrients from the diet, with over 90% of the energy and nutrients consumed in the ONS additive to the diet. ONS + DA more than halved the number of people with nutrient intakes that failed to meet DRVs and the number of nutrients per person that did not meet DRVs compared to DA alone. Conclusions: Supplementation with readymade, low volume (2.4 kcal/mL) liquid ONS overcomes most nutrient intake inadequacies in malnourished older people in primary care without significantly reducing intake from the diet. This makes ONS an effective way to improve nutritional intakes above dietary advice alone to improve the outcomes for the management of older people at risk of malnutrition. Full article

In this study, four types of fall detection systems for seniors living alone using x-y scatter and Doppler range images measured from frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) millimeter-wave (mmWave) sensors were introduced. Despite advancements in fall detection, existing long short-term memory (LSTM)-based approaches often struggle with effectively distinguishing falls from similar activities of daily living (ADLs) due to their uniform treatment of all time steps, potentially overlooking critical motion cues. To address this limitation, an attention mechanism has been integrated. Data was collected from seven participants, resulting in a dataset of 669 samples, including 285 falls and 384 ADLs with walking, lying, inactivity, and sitting. Four LSTM-based architectures for fall detection were proposed and evaluated: Raw-LSTM, Raw-LSTM-Attention, HOG-LSTM, and HOG-LSTM-Attention. The histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) method was used for feature extraction, while LSTM networks captured temporal dependencies. The attention mechanism further enhanced model performance by focusing on relevant input features. The Raw-LSTM model processed raw mmWave radar images through LSTM layers and dense layers for classification. The Raw-LSTM-Attention model extended Raw-LSTM with an added self-attention mechanism within the traditional attention framework. The HOG-LSTM model included an additional preprocessing step upon the RAW-LSTM model where HOG features were extracted and classified using an SVM. The HOG-LSTM-Attention model built upon the HOG-LSTM model by incorporating a self-attention mechanism to enhance the model’s ability to accurately classify activities. Evaluation metrics such as Sensitivity, Precision, Accuracy, and F1-Score were used to compare four architectural models. The results showed that the HOG-LSTM-Attention model achieved the highest performance, with an Accuracy of 95.3% and an F1-Score of 95.5%. Optimal self-attention configuration was found at a 2:64 ratio of number of attention heads to channels for keys and queries. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hypertension (HTN) continues to be a leading cause of death and disability in older adults, especially in the southeastern United States. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the relationships among measured, diagnosed, and treated (HTN) in community-dwelling adults participating in student-led health screenings in eastern Alabama. Methods: Between 2017 and 2019, students from health-related disciplines facilitated screenings at 23 community and independent living sites to conduct health assessments, including measuring blood pressure (BP), obtaining medical history, and evaluating current prescriptions. Statistical analyses including chi-square tests, t-tests, and backward stepwise linear regression were performed. Results: The current sample includes data from 357 adults aged 60 to 99 years (mean age 74.6 ± 8.7), who were 70.9% females, 60.8% identifying as Black/African American (BA), and 36.8% residing in rural areas. The majority of clients had a prior HTN diagnosis (71.1%) and/or currently measured HTN (78.7%). Forty-three percent of adults screened had measured, diagnosed, and pharmaceutically treated HTN, while 31% had measured but untreated HTN. Black clients had higher measured systolic and diastolic BP and were more likely to also have been diagnosed with HTN (p < 0.05 for all). Linear regression indicated that lower systolic BP was predicted by not living alone (p = 0.003), White race (p = 0.004), and previous HTN diagnosis (p = 0.012), while female gender (p = 0.079) and decreasing body mass index (p = 0.053) had marginal predictive value. Conclusions: These results indicate that awareness and screening of HTN in this population are noteworthy, though management of the disease through ongoing screening and referrals is essential to reduce disparities. Full article

Background and Objectives: The transition from pediatric to adult-oriented healthcare is challenging and data on parental involvement and perception regarding the transition of children with chronic digestive diseases are scarce. Materials and Methods: Legal guardians of adolescents with chronic digestive diseases receiving care at a North-Eastern Romanian tertiary center and private offices were administered a 30-item survey. Results: There were 124 responders; 73.4% lived in rural areas; 81.5% were patients’ mothers. Positive correlations were found between parents’ perception of the child’s readiness for health-related decisions and appreciation of the children’s preparedness for transition (0.544; p = 0.000), between parents encouraging their children to maintain healthcare records and their perception of the children’s knowledge about their disease (0.67; p = 0.000), between parents’ fear of therapeutic breaks during transition and their perception of the need for transition training (0.704; p = 0.000), between fears for children’s impropriate health-related choices, fears of therapeutic breaks (0.573; p = 0.00) and parental perception that the adult physicians would be more patient-oriented and less family-centered (0.453; p < 0.000) and between parents’ trust in their children’s self-management skills and encouraging them to make decisions on their own (0.673; p < 0.000). Conclusions: The results of our study highlight the importance of addressing parental fears during special parent–children counseling sessions and promoting a child’s independence, chronic disease knowledge, records and alone consultations. Full article

There is a lack of systematic research on the comprehensive regulatory effects of urea and organic fertilizer application on soil quality and cotton yield in summer direct-seeded cotton fields in the Yangtze River Basin. Additionally, there is a redundancy of indicators in the cotton field soil quality evaluation system and a lack of reports on constructing a minimum dataset to evaluate the soil quality status of cotton fields. We aim to accurately and efficiently evaluate soil quality in cotton fields and screen nitrogen application measures that synergistically improve soil quality, cotton yield, and nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency. Taking the summer live broadcast cotton field in Jiangxi Province as the research object, four treatments, including CK without nitrogen application, CF with conventional nitrogen application, N1 with nitrogen reduction, and N2 with nitrogen reduction and organic fertilizer application, were set up for three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024. A total of 15 physical, chemical, and biological indicators of the 0–20 cm plow layer soil were measured in each treatment. A minimum dataset model was constructed to evaluate and verify the soil quality status of different nitrogen application treatments and to explore the physiological mechanisms of nitrogen application on yield performance and stability from the perspectives of cotton source–sink relationship, nitrogen use efficiency, and soil quality. The minimum dataset for soil quality evaluation in cotton fields consisted of five indicators: soil bulk density, moisture content, total nitrogen, organic carbon, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, with a simplification rate of 66.67% for the evaluation indicators. The soil quality index calculated based on the minimum dataset (MDS) was significantly positively correlated with the soil quality index of the total dataset (TDS) (R² = 0.904, p < 0.05). The model validation parameters RMSE was 0.0733, nRMSE was 13.8561%, and the d value was 0.9529, all indicating that the model simulation effect had reached a good level or above. The order of soil quality index based on MDS and TDS for CK, CF, N1, and N2 treatments was CK < N1 < CF < N2. The soil quality index of N2 treatment under MDS significantly increased by 16.70% and 26.16% compared to CF and N1 treatments, respectively. Compared with CF treatment, N2 treatment significantly increased nitrogen fertilizer partial productivity by 27.97%, 31.06%, and 21.77%, respectively, over a three-year period while maintaining the same biomass, yield level, yield stability, and yield sustainability. Meanwhile, N1 treatment had the risk of significantly reducing both boll density and seed cotton yield. Compared with N1 treatment, N2 treatment could significantly increase the biomass of reproductive organs during the flower and boll stage by 23.62~24.75% and the boll opening stage by 12.39~15.44%, respectively, laying a material foundation for the improvement in yield and yield stability. Under CF treatment, the cotton field soil showed a high degree of soil physical property barriers, while the N2 treatment reduced soil barriers in indicators such as bulk density, soil organic carbon content, and soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio by 0.04, 0.04, 0.08, and 0.02, respectively, compared to CF treatment. In summary, the minimum dataset (MDS) retained only 33.3% of the original indicators while maintaining high accuracy, demonstrating the model’s efficiency. After reducing nitrogen by 20%, applying 10% total nitrogen organic fertilizer could substantially improve cotton biomass, cotton yield performance, yield stability, and nitrogen partial productivity while maintaining soil quality levels. This study also assessed yield stability and sustainability, not just productivity alone. The comprehensive nitrogen fertilizer management (reducing N + organic fertilizer) under the experimental conditions has high practical applicability in the intensive agricultural system in southern China. Full article

Background: Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly pathogenic virus that predominantly affects puppies, with mortality rates exceeding 70%. Although commercial multivalent live attenuated vaccines (MLV) are widely employed, their efficacy is often compromised by maternal antibody interference. Consequently, the development of novel vaccines remains imperative for effective CPV control. Methods: Recombinant CPV VP2 protein (rVP2) and canine interlukine 12 protein (rcIL-12) were expressed using the Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system and the biological activity of these proteins was assessed through hemagglutination, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and IFN-γ induction assays. The combined immunoenhancement effect of rVP2 and rcIL-12 protein was evaluated in puppies. Results: Both rVP2 and rcIL-12 were successfully expressed and purified, exhibiting confirmed antigenicity, immunogenicity, and bioactivity. Co-administration of rVP2 with rcIL-12 elicited higher neutralizing antibody titer (6–7 times higher), complete challenge protection efficiency (no clinical symptoms and tissue and organ lesions), fewer viral shedding (decreasing significantly 8-day post challenge) and superior viral blockade (lower viral load in the organism) compared to rVP2 alone. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that rVP2 co-administered with rcIL-12 induces robust protective immunity in puppies and significantly mitigated the inhibitory effects of maternal antibodies. This represents a promising strategy for enabling earlier vaccination in puppies and rational design of CPV subunit vaccines. Full article

Background/Objectives: The complex relationship between nutrition and mental well-being has been widely documented, with empirical evidence supporting both the influence of dietary habits on psychological health and, conversely, the impact of mental state on food choices. However, a critical gap remains in understanding the mechanisms underlying this interaction. While previous literature have examined various biological and psychological mediators, limited attention has been given to the potential mediation role of interpersonal relationships in shaping this dynamic. This article seeks to address this theoretical gap by exploring how the quality of social interactions—both in their intentional dimension and in their lived experiential aspect—may function as a key mediator between nutrition and mental well-being. Methods: Methodologically, a combination of systematic review (PRISMA) and narrative review was employed, given that the findings of the systematic review alone are insufficient to formulate a hypothesis that requires interdisciplinary dialog in a still emerging and underexplored field. Results: The hypothesis we aim to propose is whether the quality of interpersonal relationships acts as a catalyst and enhancer of the effect of nutrients on mental health. Conclusions: This could open new avenues for the design of dietary interventions and mental well-being programs from a socially integrated approach. Full article

Cerebellar ataxias are a group of disorders characterized by clumsy movements because of defective muscle control. In affected individuals, muscular impairment might have an impact on activities like walking, balance, hand coordination, speech, and feeding, as well as eye movements. The development of symptoms typically takes place during the span of adolescence, and it has the potential to cause distress for individuals in many areas of their lives, including professional and interpersonal relationships. Although skeletal muscle is understudied in ataxias, its examination may provide hitherto unexplored details in this family of disorders. Observing muscle involvement can assist in diagnosing conditions where genetic tests alone are inconclusive. Furthermore, it helps determine the stage of progression of a pathology that might otherwise be challenging to assess. In this study, we reviewed the main scientific literature reporting on skeletal muscle examination in autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCAs), with a focus on the rare Marinesco–Sjögren syndrome. (MSS). Our aim was to highlight the similarities in muscle alterations observed in ARCA patients while also considering data gathered from preclinical models. Analyzing the similarities among these disorders could enhance our understanding of the unidentified mechanisms underlying the phenotypic evolution of some less common conditions. Full article

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine confers broad, non-specific immunity that may bolster defenses against respiratory viruses. While NOD2 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2)-driven pathways are central to innate immune responses, the contribution of surface receptor modulation on monocytes to shaping these responses remains underexplored. We analyzed whole-blood cultures from BCG-vaccinated Polish children, stratified by serostatus to SARS-CoV-2 and RSV, and stimulated for 48 h with live BCG, purified viral antigens, or both. RT-qPCR quantified mRNA levels of NOD2 and key cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF), while flow cytometry assessed CD14, HLA-DR, CD11b, and CD206 expression. Co-stimulation with BCG + RSV elicited the strongest transcriptional response, notably a 2–4-fold upregulation of NOD2, IL-1β, and IL-6 versus RSV alone. In SARS-CoV-2(+) donors, RSV alone induced higher NOD2 expression than BCG or BCG + RSV, while IL-2 peaked following BCG + SARS-CoV-2. Across conditions, NOD2 positively correlated with IL-4 and IL-6 but negatively correlated with IL-1β in SARS-CoV-2 cultures. Viral antigens increased CD14 and HLA-DR on monocytes, suggesting activation; CD206 rose only in dual-seropositive children. Our findings indicate that BCG stimulation affects pediatric antiviral immunity through NOD2-related cytokine production and induction of a CD14⁺HLA-DR⁺ phenotype, supporting its potential role in boosting innate defenses against respiratory pathogens. Full article

The ageing population and rising housing costs in Switzerland are increasing the number of older adults facing financial housing concerns. Older women have particularly limited housing choices because they, on average, earn less, live longer, and are more likely to live alone. This study explores potential levers to alleviate housing-related financial fears among baby boomer women (aged 55–75) living alone in Switzerland, a subject with limited academic coverage. Using regression and random forest models on unique 2023 survey data ($N=371$), we examine the influence of socio-demographic, financial, well-being, and housing factors on fears related to affordability, price increases, and lack of housing supply. Key findings show that ownership status, perceived financial situation, and concerns about maintaining one’s lifestyle significantly drive these fears. The fear of unsuitable housing strongly influences perceived lack of supply. These results highlight the importance of retirement planning and support the consideration of measures such as reverse mortgages, co-housing, subsidies, and rent-controlled units. Full article