Search Results (1,367)

Expansive clays exhibit shrink–swell behavior driven by microscale physicochemical interactions that are not fully captured by conventional macroscopic descriptors. This study presents a quantitative framework for evaluating microstructural evolution in expansive clays using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) combined with fractal dimension and lacunarity analysis under controlled suction paths. ESEM micrographs were collected along primary drying and secondary wetting paths across multiple magnification scales. Fractal dimension quantifies surface complexity, while lacunarity characterizes pore distribution and clustering. Fractal dimension increases with magnification and suction, reflecting greater exposure of particle surfaces as pore water is removed. Lacunarity decreases with magnification and shows soil-dependent trends with suction, indicating changes in pore heterogeneity. Hysteresis in both metrics reveals irreversible microstructural rearrangement associated with particle aggregation and fluid redistribution. These results demonstrate that fractal dimension and lacunarity provide complementary descriptors of soil fabric and establish a quantitative link between microstructure and suction-driven behavior in expansive clays. Full article

Background: Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) enables noninvasive, high-resolution visualization of skin tumors and may improve preoperative margin assessment in nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). However, its impact on surgical outcomes in routine clinical practice remains incompletely defined. Objective: To evaluate surgical outcomes of NMSC managed with systematic preoperative RCM-guided margin assessment, comparing wide local excision (WLE) and Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 71 consecutive NMSC treated at a tertiary dermatologic oncology center. All tumors underwent RCM evaluation for diagnosis and preoperative margin mapping. Outcomes included positive margins after WLE, local recurrence, recurrence-free survival, and the number of Mohs stages. Associations were analyzed using Fisher’s exact tests and Firth penalized logistic regression. Results: Among 47 tumors treated with WLE, positive margins occurred in 10.6%. Among 24 MMS cases, 70.8% were cleared in a single stage. Local recurrence occurred in 14.9% of WLE-treated tumors and in none of the MMS-treated tumors (p = 0.087). All recurrences occurred in tumors initially demonstrated positive margins after WLE, despite subsequent re-excision and histologic clearance. In multivariable Firth regression, MMS was associated with a lower risk of recurrence (OR 0.13; 95% CI, 0.008–2.10). Conclusions: In this RCM-guided cohort, low margin positivity after WLE and high single-stage clearance in MMS suggest improved surgical accuracy and efficiency. Recurrence was confined to margin-positive tumors, supporting a margin-driven model of tumor control and highlighting RCM as a potential preoperative margin-control strategy. Full article

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a highly specialized skin cancer procedure that combines complete microscopic margin assessment with maximal preservation of uninvolved tissue. The technique is based on staged excision of the tumor with systematic horizontal sectioning and real-time examination of the entire peripheral and deep surgical margins, allowing further tissue removal only in areas where residual tumor is identified. Its unique strength lies in the ability to detect subclinical tumor extensions that may be missed by conventional excision and standard vertical sectioning, thereby improving local control while minimizing unnecessary tissue sacrifice. Since its introduction in the 1930s by Frederic E. Mohs, the technique has evolved into a cornerstone of modern dermato-oncology, particularly for tumors arising in anatomically critical areas, recurrent neoplasms, and histologically aggressive malignancies. MMS is now widely regarded as the treatment of choice for high-risk basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma because of its superior cure rates and tissue-sparing approach. Beyond its oncologic advantages, MMS allows precise clinicopathologic correlation and immediate reconstruction tailored to the final defect, contributing to favorable functional and cosmetic outcomes. As experience with the technique has expanded, so too has interest in adjunctive tools for preoperative tumor delineation and margin control, further refining patient selection and surgical accuracy. Overall, MMS represents an essential advance over conventional excision for selected cutaneous malignancies, offering an optimal balance between radical tumor clearance and preservation of normal tissue. Full article

The development of rapid and reproducible image analysis approaches that support genus-level pre-classification of macrofungi is important for taxonomic pre-evaluation and controlled microscopic data analysis. In this study, an advanced deep learning-based approach, namely the Attention-Enhanced Hybrid CNN–ViT Framework, was rigorously evaluated for genus-level classification, using basidiospore micrographs of five carefully selected macrofungal genera. The proposed approach integrates the ability of convolutional neural networks to identify local texture and contour patterns with the global context-modelling capability of Vision Transformer structures. The objective is to enhance the extraction of distinctive representations from microscopic spore images through feature fusion and attention mechanisms. A series of experiments was conducted on a curated dataset consisting of light microscopy images of the genera Agaricus, Hebeloma, Inocybe, Amanita, and Russula. The models were compared using a range of evaluation metrics, including accuracy, F1-score, MCC, ROC-AUC, and PR-AUC. The results showed that the InceptionV3 + ViT-B16 + Fusion configuration was the most successful hybrid model, achieving an accuracy of 0.9213 ± 0.0182, an F1-score of 0.9212 ± 0.0179, a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.9040 ± 0.0222, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9896 ± 0.0069, and a precision-recall (PR)-AUC of 0.9684 ± 0.0192, respectively. The present findings demonstrate that basidiospore images can carry distinctive visual information for genus-level automated classification under controlled conditions. However, it is important to note that these results should not be interpreted as claims of species-level identification or field generalisability. This is due to the use of a single microscope-camera system, a single preparation protocol, and the absence of an independent external test set. The present study demonstrates that deep learning-based microscopic image analysis can be evaluated as a preliminary classification tool in macrofungal taxonomy. It also shows that such tools can provide a foundation for future work supported by specimen-level validation, external test sets, and different imaging protocols. Full article

Urban microtopography plays an important role in regulating soil processes and vegetation performance in newly constructed green spaces, yet its effects on surface runoff, soil nutrients, and plant growth remain insufficiently quantified in urban relocation sites. This study investigated how slope gradient, slope position, and slope curvature influence surface runoff, soil nutrient distribution, and tree growth in Shanghai Expo Cultural Park. Field monitoring was conducted in 36 plots planted with Cinnamomum camphora and Ginkgo biloba in 2017, 2020, and 2024. Microtopographic characteristics were quantified using terrestrial and handheld three-dimensional laser scanning, point-cloud processing, and digital elevation models (DEMs), and plant growth, calculated runoff, and soil physiochemical properties were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. Annual DBH increments were greatest on meso slopes (mean = 0.558 cm), followed by gentle slopes (0.513 cm) and abrupt slopes (0.511 cm). Growth was also greater at slope-tail positions than at slope-head positions and greater on concave slopes than on convex slopes. The mean calculated runoff increased from gentle to meso and abrupt slopes, and soil organic matter, total nitrogen, hydrolysable nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and cation exchange capacity were generally higher at slope-tail positions. These results indicate that micrographic design affects tree growth mainly through runoff-mediated redistribution of water and soil nutrients. These findings provide practical guidance for optimizing microtopographic design, tree species selection, and soil management in urban green spaces established on relocation sites. Full article

This research is based on the eco-friendly biogenic synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and manganese oxide (MnO) nanoparticles using Lawsonia inermis (henna) leaf extract. The biosynthesized NPs were examined via UV–visible spectroscopy, FTIR, FESEM, EDX, TGA, Zeta potential, and DLS to study their optical characteristics, functional group, structural nature, surface morphology, elemental composition, thermal stability, and surface charge. FTIR peaks confirmed the functional groups responsible for nanoparticle formation. FESEM micrographs indicated spherical TiO₂ nanoparticles and irregular MnO nanoparticles. The biosynthesized nanoparticles revealed antibacterial activity against pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus subtilis. Antioxidant potential was demonstrated using the DPPH assay, with MnO nanoparticles exhibiting higher activity (IC50: 30 µg/mL) than TiO₂ nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity studies on L929 cell lines revealed dose-dependent effects, while wound-healing assays indicated enhanced cell migration, particularly with MnO nanoparticles. This study highlights the L. inermis-mediated nanoparticles as sustainable and biocompatible with biomedical and environmental applications. Full article

Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS) is considered the most conservative and preserving procedure for removing cutaneous tumors. The major disadvantage of MMS is that tumor involvement in tissue may be underestimated. This may lead to large excisions necessitating complex reconstruction with profound effects on cosmetic results. Some patients refuse complex reconstruction and demand simple closure of post-MMS skin defects. This retrospective cohort study describes our technique of serial Mohs excisions of large non-melanoma skin cancers for patients refusing flaps or skin graft reconstructions. A total of 51 patients who underwent MMS according to the described technique February 2020–May 2021 were included. The mean age was 76.5 (range 63–94) years and 55% were male. More than half of the lesions were on the nose. Mean lesion sizes were 14.25–55 mm depending on location. Most cases required two surgeries and only one needed a third surgery. Postsurgical defects were repaired using primary closure in 90% of cases. Mean follow-up was 31 months (range 6–48) with no evidence of local recurrence. In conclusion, this approach of serial excisions with MMS can be performed safely and achieve better cosmetic outcomes for patients presenting with large skin tumors of the face or other functionally important areas. Full article

Metallographic microstructure analysis is essential for understanding the evolution of steel microstructures during heat treatment and mechanical processing. However, accurate analysis of optical micrographs remains difficult because of blurred grain boundaries, grayscale inhomogeneity within grains, and irregular grain morphologies. To address these issues, this work proposes an automated metallographic image-processing method based on superpixels, DPSS (dual-phase steel segmentation), with the main contribution focused on microstructure segmentation. First, image contrast and boundary visibility are enhanced by edge detection and sharpening. Then, superpixel segmentation is combined with extracted edge information to improve boundary localization and preserve irregular grain morphology, enabling more complete extraction of grain or particle regions from optical images. The proposed method is validated on optical micrographs of Mn-Si low-alloy steel, and the results show that it provides more accurate and complete segmentation than conventional ImageJ (Version: 1.54f)-based processing. Based on the segmented regions, a lightweight neural network is further used for phase identification. The final classification recognition accuracy can reach 99.91%. This classification result serves to demonstrate that the improved segmentation results can provide more reliable inputs for subsequent microstructure recognition. Overall, the proposed method offers an effective and automated solution for metallographic image segmentation and supports more accurate downstream phase analysis. Full article

This study addresses the early-age brittleness and performance limitations of sustainable cement soil. While prior works optimized the baseline compressive strength using recycled sand and nanoclay, the multi-scale synergistic effects of fibers and nanomaterials on the post-peak deformation remain underexplored. To address this gap, a composite modification system incorporating recycled sand, nanoclay, polypropylene fibers, and graphene derivatives was developed. The experimental program comprised standard specimen fabrication, early-age curing, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) testing, supplemented by RBF neural network curve fitting and quantitative ArcGIS digital image processing of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. The results demonstrate that optimizing the fiber parameters (0.6% content with 6 mm length) successfully increases the early UCS to 2263.2 kPa, which is further elevated to a peak of 2755.0 kPa upon co-incorporation with 0.05% small-sized graphene oxide. Correspondingly, a newly introduced ductility index quantitatively confirms that the single-fiber reinforcement yields an index of 1.93, which is further enhanced to 2.02 by the graphene composite system. Microstructure tracking and digital image extraction revealed that the SEM-derived surface porosity decreased significantly, exhibiting a clear inverse relationship with the macroscopic mechanical strength. These quantitative microstructural shifts confirm that graphene effectively filled micropores and reinforced the fiber–matrix interface, establishing a dense matrix network with enhanced interfacial bonding. This multi-scale approach offers a sustainable strategy for green geotechnical applications. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prolonged mild thermal treatment (65 °C, 7 days) in the presence of flaxseed oil (0.16%, w/w), on the structural, pasting, texture, and emulsifying properties of cassava starch (CS). The resulting sample was designated as CS-oil-h. Confocal laser scanning micrographs showed oil on the interface of starch granules promoted granule agglomeration. DSC and FTIR analyses showed no detectable evidence of amylose–lipid complexes or new covalent bonds. Compared to CS, CS-oil-h exhibited slight variations in pasting temperature and peak time, and significantly lower peak, trough, breakdown, final, and setback viscosities. CS-oil-h gel showed higher hardness, adhesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness when compared to the CS gel. Crucially, CS-oil-h exhibited the best emulsifying ability (60.8%, volume of emulsion layer relative to total tube volume after 30 min standing) and emulsion stability (94.1%, after 7 days of storage). The result suggested that the prolonged mild thermal treatment may have promoted putative surface association between flaxseed oil and the surface of starch granules, which resulted in inhibition of pasting viscosity and improved gel properties and emulsifying ability. Full article

This study investigates the sampling sufficiency required for accurately characterizing the morphological properties of rigid polyurethane foams across three distinct regions: core, crown, and lateral edge. A total of 200 individual cells were analyzed from 30 SEM micrographs, enabling the quantification of cell length, cell width, anisotropy index, linear cell density, and shape index. Average cell length ranged from 715 to 763 μm, while cell width varied between 386 and 531 μm depending on the region. The anisotropy index increased from 0.186 in the core to 0.289 in the lateral edge, indicating progressively more elongated cells. Linear cell density showed a marked decrease from 0.062 in the core to 0.001 in the crown, reflecting differences in cellular packing. Shape index values remained relatively stable, confirming its lower sensitivity to structural variations. Monte Carlo simulations were employed to evaluate sampling sufficiency for sample sizes ranging from 2 to 30. Results demonstrated that optimal sample sizes varied with foam region and parameter: 16 cells were sufficient for core and lateral regions, whereas up to 22 cells were required for the crown to capture higher structural heterogeneity. For anisotropy and shape indices, sufficient sampling ranged between 13 and 20 cells depending on the region. The results confirm that the core exhibits lower variability (CoV for cell length: 29.1%) compared to the crown (36.4%) and lateral edge (34.9%), supporting its more homogeneous structure. However, exclusive sampling from the core may lead to biased characterization, as crown and lateral regions display significantly higher variability in both geometry and orientation. These findings establish quantitative guidelines for sampling strategies in polyurethane foam morphology, contributing to improved reproducibility and reliability in structure–property investigations of cellular materials. Full article

Advances in polysaccharide-based polymer matrices have expanded the possibilities for developing controlled-release systems for bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the effect of incorporating maltodextrin (0, 1, 3, and 5% w/w) into films composed of thermoplastic starch (5%) and chitosan (2%) was evaluated with the aim of improving their structural, thermal, mechanical, and surface properties. The films were obtained by solvent casting and characterized by XRD, TGA-DSC, FTIR, SEM, contact angle, and mechanical analysis. X-ray diffraction revealed greater organization in sample TPS-CH-M3 compared with TPS-CH-M0 (23,316.7) and TPS-CH-M5 (18,941.4), indicating a balanced semicrystalline structure. Thermal analyses showed an increase in the glass transition temperature from 63.0 °C to 72.6 °C and a shift in the main degradation step from 308 °C to 311 °C, indicating greater thermal stability. The contact angle decreased from 89.5° to 74°, confirming increased hydrophilicity. SEM micrographs revealed a homogeneous surface in TPS-CH-M0 and controlled roughness in TPS-CH-M3. Mechanical tests recorded the highest tensile strength (12.5 MPa) and elongation (18%) for TPS-CH-M3. FTIR spectra revealed physical interactions without the formation of new chemical bands, while colorimetry showed an increase in yellow hue, suggesting potential applications related to photosensitive materials. Overall, the incorporation of 3% maltodextrin optimized the functional properties of the matrices for potential controlled-release applications. Full article

An evaluation of plant ploidy is an important task in breeding and biotechnology. Current methods of ploidy assessment (flow cytofluorometry and microscopy) are time-consuming and costly, and not applicable to real-world agricultural conditions. We developed an automated method for ploidy assessment based on fluorescence microscopy, which aims to accelerate and reduce the cost of plant ploidy analysis. The method is based on the automated selection of plant nuclei in fluorescence micrographs, followed by analysis of nuclear area, fluorescence intensity of the Hoechst DNA-binding probe, and nuclear geometry (circularity, roundness, solidity). The study was conducted on monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants with known genome sizes. Triticum aestivum Wt (6n, hexaploid) and Temp (4n, tetraploid) are monocotyledonous, and Capsella bursa-pastoris (4n, tetraploid) and Capsella rubella (2n, dT/iploid) are dicotyledonous. A simple fluorescent staining protocol combined with automated analysis using our ImageJ macro enables reliable separation of both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants by genome size with an accuracy close (for dicots) or comparable (for monocots) to flow cytofluorometry. For ploidy separation in monocots, the most sensitive parameters are fluorescence intensity, nucleus area, and circularity. For ploidy separation in dicots, the most sensitive parameters are nucleus area, fluorescence intensity, and circularity. Full article

In this investigation, optical emission spectrometers, a Brinell hardness tester, optical light and scanning microscopes, and X-ray diffraction were used for general metallurgical characterization of the experimental irons in as-cast states. The hole-drilling method was used to assess residual stress distributions under gross and net casting weight conditions. To create experimental irons using the casting process, raw materials were transformed from a solid to a liquid state using an industrial furnace and ladle to melt and cast, respectively. The casting shakeout temperatures for samples A and B were recorded at 60 °C and 180 °C, respectively, after a characteristic stress lattice casting component was allowed to cool for about 1645 min and 1295 min. Chemical analysis verified the experimental hypoeutectic irons of ASTM A532, Type A, Class III, 25%Cr, i.e., high chromium white cast iron alloys. Additionally, it was discovered that micrographs were made of an austenitic-martensitic matrix that contained eutectic M₇C₃ and secondary M₂₃C₆-type carbides. The residual stress distributions were found to be influenced by various carbide and metallic volume fraction proportions, casting section thickness, and casting shakeout duration and temperature. Optimal hardness values, however, were shown to be associated with higher residual stress distributions and an increase in major alloying elements in experimental irons. Consequently, different residual stress distributions are produced by casting shakeout temperatures at lower and higher values under gross and net casting weight conditions. Full article

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is an aggressive hematological malignancy whose transformed cells exhibit morphological and immunophenotypic characteristics similar to macrophages, and arises de novo or as part of a clonal ‘evolution’ of other pre-existing hematological neoplasms. This study investigates the potential use of the J774A.1 cell line (a cell line derived from murine tumor cells, commonly used in macrophage research) as a research model to study the role of polydisperse extracellular vesicles (PEVs) secreted by the HS cells, considering that bacterial infections are common in patients with cancer, including HS. The influences of bacterial components on tumor progression are still not fully understood. We stimulated the J774A.1 cell line in vitro with a fraction of E. coli, and our results show that the bacterial stimulation increases the secretion of PEVs by these cells. Comparative results of J774A.1 cells with PEVs using confocal and scanning electron microscopy with micrographic reports of HS histological slides (from several cited mammal species, including humans) suggest a possible relationship of large PEVs with marks, footprints, or traces of possible large PEVs disrupted in the HS of these reports. A subsequent proteomic analysis of these PEVs revealed a diverse subcellular origin of their components, such as proteins including: Triosephosphate isomerase (TPI), Heat shock cognate 71 kDa, Apolipoprotein A-1, Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 1, GAPDH, Galectin, Moesin, globular Actin, and Annexin. These results highlight the importance of studying the interplay between HS, other hematological cancers, and bacterial infections to better understand the progression of this cancer, identify new therapeutic targets, and emphasize the importance of preventing bacterial infections in cancer patients. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the potential use of the stimulated J774A.1 cell line for research on HS-related PEVs. Full article