Search Results (1,017)

Rainfall is an essential component of boreal forest ecosystems. Aerotechnogenic pollution significantly affects the composition of rainfall. To predict the dynamics of biogeochemical cycles and develop strategies to enhance forest resilience in the Arctic zone, it is necessary to study the composition and characteristics of rainfall. The objective of this study is to evaluate the variation in the chemical composition of stemflow in the most typical pine and spruce forests of Fennoscandia under conditions of aerotechnogenic pollution based on long-term monitoring data from 1999 to 2022. The research was carried out in forests exposed to atmospheric industrial pollution from the largest copper–nickel smelter in northern Europe (Murmansk Region, Russia). The study of rainwater composition was conducted in four microsites: open areas (OA), between crowns (BWC), below crowns (BC) and stemflow (SF). A significant influence of the tree canopy on the rainfall composition was noted. Stemflow was found to have the highest concentration of pollutants, indicating a significant biochemical role of this type of precipitation. The results showed an increase in the concentrations of heavy metals and sulfates in rainwater as we moved closer to the pollution source. Below crowns and in the stemflow of spruce forests, element concentrations are higher compared to pine forests. The highest concentrations of major pollutants in stemflow (Ni, Cu and SO₄²⁻) are observed in June—at the beginning of the growing season. Long-term dynamics reveal a decrease in the concentrations of Cu, Cd and Cr in defoliated forests and technogenic sparse forests. Stemflow volume rises from background to technogenic sparse forests due to deteriorating tree-crown conditions. This is associated with the deteriorating condition of tree stands, as manifested by reductions in tree height, diameter and needle cover. It has been established that under pollution conditions, trees’ assimilating organs actively accumulate heavy metals, thereby altering the composition of precipitation passing through the canopy. Full article

Background: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma is an aggressive, heterogeneous yet treatable disease. Primary bone lymphoma is a lymphoma involving a single or multiple osseous sites with or without regional nodal involvement. It is exceedingly rare, representing <1% of new non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases per year. Most cases of primary bone lymphoma are diffuse large B cell lymphoma. They infrequently involve the craniofacial bones and mandible; its rarity can lead to delays in diagnosis. Case Series Presentation: Two 64-year-old male patients initially presented to local dentists with concerns of tooth pain and numbness. Both underwent extensive dental procedures including extraction and debridement, with an initial diagnosis of osteomyelitis. They were placed on long-term antibiotics. After months without improvement, further testing was pursued, including imaging and repeat biopsies. The patients were finally diagnosed with primary bone diffuse large B cell lymphoma. From the initial treatment of osteomyelitis, a median time of 8.5 months passed before diagnosis of lymphoma. Treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy was initiated and both patients achieved remission. Conclusions: As in the two cases presented here, the initial point of entry into the medical system may be a visit to the local dentist. When patients present with periodontal complaints, it is imperative to maintain a broad differential, including lymphoma. This is especially crucial when the patient’s clinical course does not respond to initial treatment. This results in delays of diagnosis and initiation of therapy for a treatable cancer. Full article

Controlling pre-analytical conditions for medical biology tests, particularly during transport, is crucial for complying with the ISO 15189 standard and ensuring high-quality medical services. The use of drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles, to transport clinical samples is growing in scale, but requires prior validation to verify that there is no negative impact on the test results provided to doctors. This study aimed to establish a secure, high-quality solution for transporting biological samples by drone in a coastal region of France. The 80 km routes passed over several densely populated urban areas, with take-off and landing points within hospital grounds. The analytical and clinical impact of this mode of transport was compared according to two protocols: an interventional clinical trial on 30 volunteers compared to the reference transport by car, and an observational study on samples from 126 hospitalized patients compared to no transport. The system enabled samples to be transported without damage by maintaining freezing, refrigerated, and room temperatures throughout the flight, without any significant gain in travel time. Analytical variations were observed for sodium, folate, GGT, and platelet levels, with no clinical impact on the interpretation of the results. There is a risk of time-dependent alterations of blood glucose measurements in heparin tubes, which can be corrected by using fluoride tubes. This demonstrated the feasibility and security of transporting biological samples over long distances in line with the ISO 15189 standard. Controlling transport times remains crucial to assessing the quality of analyses. It is imperative to devise contingency plans for backup solutions to ensure the continuity of transportation in the event of inclement weather. Full article

Background/Objectives: Functional limitations are common among older cancer survivors and tend to increase with age and survivorship duration. Physical activity (PA) associates with better functional outcomes, but little is known about how these associations vary as time passes post-diagnosis. This study examined how years since diagnosis, three types of physical activity, and their interactions associate with functional limitations in older cancer survivors. Methods: Data drawn from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), representing adults aged 55+ and with a prior cancer diagnosis (n = 9356; mean age = 72.17 ± 8.5 years), were studied. A four-item self-reported difficulty index (i.e., washing/dressing, walking one block, climbing stairs, and picking up/opening objects) was summed to measure functional limitations. PA was assessed using the items aligned with the United States PA Guidelines. Hierarchical regression was used to evaluate associations between functional limitations and years since diagnosis, vigorous physical activity, moderate physical activity, and strength training. Interaction effects of years since diagnosis and each activity type were also examined. Covariates were age, sex, BMI, and educational attainment. Results: Elapsed time since cancer diagnosis positively associated with functional limitations in interaction with physical behaviors, while moderate physical activity and strength training negatively associated with functional limitations. Interactions of years since diagnosis and both moderate physical activity and strength training revealed smaller increases in functional limitations. No interaction effects were observed for vigorous physical activity. Conclusions: Among older cancer survivors, the association between survivorship duration and functional limitations differs by engagement in moderate and resistance-based physical activity. These findings support the clinical importance of promoting sustainable, non-vigorous physical activity in long-term survivorship care. Full article

Background/Objectives: Even with solid proof of its benefits for cardiovascular health and metabolism, adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) in Spain has noticeably declined in recent years. The socioeconomic changes occurring in recent decades have prompted shifts in cooking habits and in how food is socially experienced, particularly among children and adolescents. The MD is more than just food: it is a cultural tradition and a lifestyle, rich in food and cooking skills, and food wisdom passed down over generations. When these practices fade, it affects both health and the environment, making them vital components in strengthening support for food knowledge, cooking abilities, and a healthier lifestyle. Considering these shifting dietary patterns and the growing need for targeted educational strategies, the present study aimed to investigate the association between cooking skills, MD-related health literacy, and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet across different developmental stages: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood in a sample of the Spanish population. Additionally, a secondary objective was to identify potential critical windows for intervention based on the strength of these associations. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 832 Spanish participants grouped by age: children and early adolescents (n = 408), older adolescents (n = 136), and adults (n = 288). Cooking skills were assessed using CooC11 for children and FCSk for older groups. Adults also completed Lit_MEDiet to assess MD-related health literacy. Adherence was measured with KIDMED (children/adolescents) and MEDAS (adults). Spearman correlations and standardized linear regressions were used. All statistical tests were two-sided, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: In children, no significant association was found between cooking skills (CooC11) and KIDMED scores (β = 0.008; p = 0.875). Among adolescents, a strong positive association emerged between FCSk and KIDMED (β = 0.313; p < 0.001; ρ = 0.371), indicating a large, standardized effect and suggesting that this stage is particularly sensitive to food skills. In adults (18+), both food and cooking skills (FCSk) (β = 0.189; p = 0.001) and MD-related health literacy (Lit_MEDiet) (β = 0.187; p = 0.004) were moderately associated with MEDAS scores. Conclusions: These findings suggest that mid-adolescence could represent a favourable developmental window where food skills may hold potential to influence positive dietary behaviours. Regarding adults, the results indicate that combining practical and educational components appears to beneficial for dietary quality. Overall, this study supports the relevance of age-tailored public health strategies to potentially enhance long-term adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. Full article

Migration through Central America continues to rise, yet limited research examines how people make migration decisions, especially among those traveling in transit. This study addresses that gap by analyzing the motivations of migrants passing through Casa del Migrante San José in Ocotepeque, Honduras, to examine how long-term pressures interact with immediate triggers during migration. A mixed-methods approach was used, integrating two data sources: 3934 registration records from the Human Mobility Pastoral database (2021–2022) and 75 semi-structured interviews conducted in December 2022. The Push-Pull Plus (PPP) framework was applied to interpret how persistent conditions, immediate triggers, and available support networks influence decisions to migrate. Quantitative results show a marked increase in arrivals during 2022, especially among Venezuelan migrants, with a peak in October following a U.S. policy announcement. Most participants were men aged 21–40 with incomplete secondary education, and economic hardship was the most frequently cited reason for leaving. However, interviews indicate that financial motives were often intertwined with insecurity, family obligations, and unexpected opportunities to travel. Overall, the findings suggest that migration decisions are complex, dynamic, and timing-sensitive, underscoring the need for policies that address the root causes while providing support for migrants in transit. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Percutaneous ablation is an increasingly used nephron-sparing treatment for small renal masses (SRMs). Although generally considered safe, tumor seeding along the applicator tract is rare (<0.1%) and may be underreported. This study reviews the existing literature to synthesize patterns, potential risk factors, and clinical presentation of this complication following percutaneous thermal ablation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Case Presentation: We report the case of an 84-year-old man who developed late subcutaneous abdominal-wall tumor seeding more than ten years after nephron-sparing surgery for a T1a renal mass and following three sessions of percutaneous cryo- and microwave ablation for recurrent clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The lesion was surgically excised, and histology confirmed ccRCC with negative margins. A descriptive literature review was conducted using PubMed and ScienceDirect to identify English-language case reports and case series (CS) documenting tumor seeding after RCC percutaneous ablation. Eight studies involving nine patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 66 years (interquartile range [IQR] 64–74; range 47–84). The median follow-up duration was 11 months (IQR, 4.5–18.5; range 3–60), and the median interval to tumor seeding was 11 months (IQR, 6–18.5; range 3–60). Management included surgical excision (50%), repeat cryoablation (25%), and systemic therapy or supportive care (25%). Conclusions: Tumor tract seeding following percutaneous ablation for RCC is rare, with variable latency and presentation. Procedural factors such as the absence of tract ablation, multiple probe passes, and intra-procedural biopsy may increase risk. Awareness of this complication and long-term surveillance should be incorporated into follow-up protocols. Despite this risk, percutaneous ablation remains a safe and effective option for appropriately selected patients. Full article

We present E-CAHORS—a compact mid-infrared open-path diode-laser spectrometer designed for the simultaneous measurement of carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor concentrations in the near-surface atmospheric layer. These measurements, combined with simultaneous data from a three-dimensional anemometer, can be used to determine fluxes using the eddy-covariance method. The instrument utilizes two interband cascade lasers operating at 2.78 µm and 3.24 µm within a novel four-pass M-shaped optical cell, which provides high signal power and long-term field operation without requiring active air sampling. Two detection techniques—tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) and a simplified wavelength modulation spectroscopy (sWMS)—were implemented and evaluated. Laboratory calibration demonstrated linear responses for all gases (R² ≈ 0.999) and detection precisions at 10 Hz of 311 ppb for CO₂, 8.87 ppb for CH₄, and 788 ppb for H₂O. Field tests conducted at a grassland site near Moscow showed strong correlations (R = 0.91 for CO₂ and H₂O, R = 0.74 for CH₄) with commercial LI-COR LI-7200 and LI-7700 analyzers. The TDLAS mode demonstrated lower noise and greater stability under outdoor conditions, while sWMS provided baseline-free spectra but was more sensitive to power fluctuations. E-CAHORS combines high precision, multi-species sensing capability with low power consumption (10 W) and a compact design (4.2 kg). Full article

Traditional fusion methods for integrating multi-source gravity data rely on predefined mathematical models that inadequately capture complex nonlinear relationships, particularly at wavelengths shorter than 10 km. We developed a convolutional neural network incorporating differential marine geodetic data (DMGD-CNN) to enhance marine gravity anomaly recovery from HY-2A satellite altimetry. The DMGD-CNN framework encodes spatial gradient information by computing differences between target points and their surrounding neighborhoods, enabling the model to explicitly capture local gravity field variations. This approach transforms absolute parameter values into spatial gradient representations, functioning as a spatial high-pass filter that enhances local gradient information critical for short-wavelength gravity signal recovery while reducing the influence of long-wavelength components. Through systematic ablation studies with eight parameter configurations, we demonstrate that incorporating first- and second-order seabed topography derivatives significantly enhances model performance, reducing the root mean square error (RMSE) from 2.26 mGal to 0.93 mGal, with further reduction to 0.85 mGal achieved by the differential learning strategy. Comprehensive benchmarking against international gravity models (SIO V32.1, DTU17, and SDUST2022) demonstrates that DMGD-CNN achieves 2–10% accuracy improvement over direct CNN predictions in complex topographic regions. Power spectral density analysis reveals enhanced predictive capabilities at wavelengths below 10 km for the direct CNN approach, with DMGD-CNN achieving further precision enhancement at wavelengths below 5 km. Cross-validation with independent shipborne surveys confirms the method’s robustness, showing 47–63% RMSE reduction in shallow water regions (<2000 m depth) compared to HY-2A altimeter-derived results. These findings demonstrate that deep learning with differential marine geodetic features substantially improves marine gravity field modeling accuracy, particularly for capturing fine-scale gravitational features in challenging environments. Full article

Microbial lipid production from renewable carbon sources, particularly lignocellulosic hydrolysates, is a promising alternative to plant-derived oils and fats for food applications, as it can minimize the land use by utilizing agricultural wastes and byproducts from food production. In this context, a standard approach to prevent oxygen limitation at reduced air gassing rates during long-term aerobic microbial processes is to operate bioreactors at increased pressure for elevating the gas solubility in the fermentation broth. This study investigates the effect of absolute pressures of up to 2.5 bar on the conversion of the carbon sources (glucose, xylose, and acetate), growth, and lipid biosynthesis by Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosus converting a synthetic nutrient-rich lignocellulosic hydrolysate at low air gassing rates of 0.1 vessel volume per minute (vvm). Increasing pressure delayed xylose uptake, reduced acetic acid consumption, and reduced biomass formation. Lipid accumulation decreased with increasing pressure, except for fermentations at 1.5 bar, which achieved a maximum lipid content of 83.6% (±1.6, w/w) (weight per weight in %). At an absolute pressure of 1.5 bar, a lipid yield from glucose, xylose, and acetic acid of 38% (w/w) was reached after 6 days of fermentation. The pressure sensitivity of C. oleaginosus may pose challenges on an industrial scale due to the dynamic changes in pressure when the yeast cells pass through the bioreactor. Increasing liquid heights in full-scale bioreactors will result in increased hydrostatic pressures at the bottom, substantially reducing lipid yields, e.g., to only 23% (w/w) at 2.0–2.5 bar, as shown in this study. However, further scale-up studies with dynamic pressure regimes (1–2.5 bar) may help to evaluate scale-up feasibility. Full article

The absence of a recognizable P wave in an electrocardiogram (ECG) is a critical indicator for the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). An algorithm capable of distinguishing between physiological and pathological states in a short period of time could serve as a valuable tool for timely and effective diagnosis, even in a home setting. To achieve this goal, a deterministic algorithm is proposed. The Fantasia Database and the AF Termination Challenge Database were used for training the model. Subsequently, for the test session, a one-minute recording was extracted from the Autonomic Aging Dataset and the Long-Term AF Database. After band-pass filtering, characteristic points such as R-peaks and P waves were extracted. The R-peak detection algorithm was compared with the gold standard Pan-Tompkins, obtaining a p-value > 0.05 on the Fantasia Database, which means that there is no statistical difference between them. Subsequently derived features such as duration, amplitude, subtended area, and P wave slope have been used to discriminate healthy subjects from AF patients. The P-wave slope emerged as the most effective feature, achieving a classification accuracy of 100% and 96% for the training and test sets, respectively. This algorithm thus represents a significant advancement as it achieves a performance comparable to other deterministic methods based on P wave analysis using only one-minute recordings, thereby enabling accurate diagnosis in a shorter time frame. Full article

In order to determine the causes of crack defects in Mn18Cr2 high-manganese wear-resistant steel plates, this paper conducted a systematic analysis of the steel plates’ microstructure, chemical composition, and hardness via metallographic microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and Vickers hardness tester. The results indicated that there were folded cracks on the surface of the steel plate. The interior of the cracks was oxidized, and inclusions were observed in the crack gaps. A significant difference in the contents of Mn and Cr elements was detected at the defect locations, indicating that very obvious long-range diffusion of Mn and Cr elements had occurred during long-term high-temperature oxidation. The crack defects on the surface of the steel plate were related to the inheritance of the original cracks on the surface of the cast billet before rolling. There were cracks on the surface of the cast billet; the oxide scale and inclusions inside the cracks had not been completely removed. Multiple passes of rolling led to the cracks and oxide scale being pressed into the steel surface, thereby forming folding defects. The fine grain strengthening and deformation twinning generated by rolling deformation formed the hardened layer on the surface, resulting in higher surface hardness than core hardness. The austenite grain size inside the steel plate was in the range of 23–30 μm, and the hardness was around 275 HV. The grain size near the surface of the steel plate was around 10 μm. The surface hardness was 351 HV, which was higher than the core hardness of the steel plate. Full article

The single-step Rydberg excitation of cesium atoms requires a 319 nm ultraviolet laser with a narrow laser linewidth, high frequency stability, and high output power. To meet these requirements, in this work, we construct a high-power, single-frequency UV laser system at this wavelength. In this system, the frequency stabilization of the 1560.492 nm seed laser is critical to the performance of the ultraviolet laser. We employ nonlinear frequency conversion technology, the 1560.492 nm laser is frequency-doubled to 780.246 nm via a single pass through a PPLN crystal, and function integration is realized based on the modular parameter adjustment interface provided by the PyRPL software. Subsequently, the 1560.492 nm laser is stabilized to the $D_2$ hyperfine transition line of Rb-87 atoms using polarization spectroscopy (PS) and radio-frequency-modulated saturation absorption spectroscopy (RF-SAS). A comparative study of these two techniques shows that RF-SAS achieves superior stabilization performance, with the residual frequency fluctuation of the frequency-doubled laser being 1.07 MHz over 30 min. According to frequency doubling theory, the actual residual frequency fluctuation of the 1560.492 nm fundamental-frequency laser can be calculated as 0.535 MHz. Compared with our earlier scheme that utilized an ultra-low-expansion (ULE) optical cavity as a frequency reference, the present scheme eliminates the long-term drift induced by environmental factors. In contrast to frequency stabilization relying on discrete instruments, this integrated scheme significantly reduces the cost, simplifies the system architecture, saves space, and greatly enhances the flexibility and controllability of the system. It therefore provides a reliable and cost-effective solution to ensure the portability and practicability of high-performance UV laser sources. This high-precision frequency stabilization scheme directly guarantees the performance of the 319 nm UV laser, suppressing its linewidth below 10 kHz. Thus, it fully meets the stringent laser linewidth and frequency stability requirements for the single-step Rydberg excitation of cesium atoms and provides a reliable light source foundation for subsequent precision spectroscopic measurements. Full article

The AC Optimal Power Flow (AC-OPF) problem remains a major computational bottleneck for real-time power system operation. Conventional solvers are accurate but time-consuming, while Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) offer faster approximations yet struggle to capture long-range dependencies and handle topological variations. To address these limitations, we propose a Heterogeneous Graph Transformer with bus-centric Local–Global Message Passing (LG-HGNN). The model performs type-specific local message passing over heterogeneous power graphs and applies a global Transformer only on bus nodes to capture system-wide correlations efficiently. Effective-resistance positional encodings and resistance-biased attention enhance electrical awareness, whereas bounded decoders and physics-informed regularization preserve operational feasibility. Experiments on IEEE 14-, 30-, and 118-bus systems show that LG-HGNN achieves near-optimal results within a few percent of the AC-OPF optimum and generalizes to thousands of unseen N-1 contingency topologies without retraining. Compared with interior-point solvers, it attains up to $190\times$ speedup before power-flow correction and over $10\times$ afterward on GOC 2000-bus systems, providing a scalable and physically consistent surrogate for real-time AC-OPF. Full article

The performance of cement adhesive in large-tonnage insulators is crucial for determining their structural stability and service life when subjected to long-term electromechanical loading and complex environmental interactions. This work addresses the issue of late-stage strength reduction in alumina cement by employing a rapid steam curing process. The influence of curing temperature on the phase composition and microstructure of the hydration products is investigated, along with the evolution over time of the mechanical properties, dry shrinkage rate and elastic modulus. These findings are further validated through thermal–mechanical performance testing of bonded insulators. The results demonstrate that: (1) The hydration products of the adhesive are significantly influenced by steam curing temperature: the metastable phase CAH₁₀ forms at 20 °C; it transforms into the metastable phase C₂AH₈ at 50–60 °C; it changes to the stable phase C₃AH₆ at 70 °C; and microcracks appear and porosity increases at 80–90 °C, although the stable phase C₃AH₆ remains the dominant phase. (2) Alumina cement adhesive prepared via 2 h steam curing at 70 °C exhibited superior properties, with flexural and compressive strengths reaching 14.2 MPa and 112.7 MPa, respectively. After 360 days, flexural strength remained above 12 MPa and compressive strength exceeded 110 MPa. Dry shrinkage was below 0.04%, with an elastic modulus of approximately 49.6 GPa. (3) Microstructural analysis revealed that the hydration products of the cured adhesive were predominantly C₃AH₆ and AH₃, exhibiting stable structures. After 90 days, porosity decreased to 3.56%, with the C₃AH₆ and AH₃ gels tightly enveloping the aggregates and forming a dense, three-dimensional network structure. (4) All bonded insulators successfully passed thermomechanical performance tests. Therefore, this work can provide a good way to prepare a high-performance cement adhesive for insulators. Full article