Search Results (363)

Urban air pollution remains a critical public health issue, especially in densely populated cities where pedestrians experience direct exposure to traffic-related and environmental emissions. This study develops and tests a pollution-aware pedestrian routing framework for Thessaloniki, Greece, designed to minimize environmental exposure while maintaining route efficiency. The framework combines high-resolution air-quality data and computational techniques to represent pollution patterns at pedestrian scale. Air-quality is expressed as a continuous European Air Quality Index (EAQI) and is embedded in a network-based routing engine (OSRM) that balances exposure and distance through a weighted optimization function. Using 3000 randomly sampled origin-destination pairs, exposure-aware routes are compared with conventional shortest-distance paths across short, medium, and long walking trips. Results show that exposure-aware routes reduce cumulative AQI exposure by an average of 4% with only 3% distance increase, while maintaining stable scaling across all route classes. Exposure benefits exceeding 5% are observed for approximately 8% of medium-length routes and 24% of long routes, while short routes present minimal or no detours, but lower exposure benefits. These findings confirm that integrating high-resolution environmental data into pedestrian navigation systems is both feasible and operationally effective, providing a practical foundation for future real-time, pollution-aware mobility services in smart cities. Full article

The wettability of a carbon fiber surface is an important factor that determines the strength of its bonding with matrices, and hence, an optimized criterion is required to accurately measure the wettability. In this study, the Washburn capillary rise method was used to select the capillary constant with the minimal deviation among various carbon fiber lengths, and it was applied to determine the contact angle and surface free energy of each carbon fiber length according to the wetting liquid. The smallest deviation in the contact angle was observed for a carbon fiber length of 2 inches, and this observation was attributed to the pores in the fibers and the orientation of the carbon fibers packed inside the column. By reducing the number of pores and achieving favorable packing, the surface free energy of carbon fibers can be measured with a high degree of accuracy, contributing to an improved understanding of fiber–matrix interactions. Full article

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is widely used to improve gait in individuals with neurological impairments; however, early responses in adults with congenital conditions, such as cerebral palsy, who are newly exposed to FES, remain poorly understood. This study investigated the orthotic and therapeutic effects of FES in short- and long-term users using standardized three-dimensional gait analysis. In this longitudinal study, short-term users (G1; n = 13; mean age 31.7 ± 18.1 years) were evaluated both without and with FES and followed over a 4–12-week insurance-covered trial period. Long-term users (G2; n = 11; mean age 32.2 ± 11.0 years), who had used FES for at least one year, were reassessed over a standardized 12-week interval. Linear mixed-effects models assessed the effects of FES and time, with subjects included as random effects to account for inter-individual variability. G1 showed significant therapeutic adaptations, including increased walking speed and step length and reduced step width, accompanied by decreased dorsiflexion during stance and swing, while no significant orthotic effects were observed. G2 demonstrated clear orthotic responses, such as increased dorsiflexion at heel strike and during swing and improved walking speed and step length, with minimal evidence of additional therapeutic adaptation. The initial reduction in dorsiflexion in G1 warrants further investigation. These findings suggest that evaluation timelines may need to be extended and that outcome measures beyond foot clearance should be considered, particularly given the heterogeneity and severity of congenital neurological conditions. Full article

Background: This propensity-score-matched retrospective study compared radiographic accuracy and short-term functional outcomes between MAKO robotic-arm-assisted and conventional dual-incision minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (THA). It was hypothesized that robotic assistance would provide superior radiographic accuracy, primarily smaller absolute deviations from the planned acetabular inclination and anteversion and a higher proportion of cups within the Lewinnek safe zone, without improving early functional outcomes. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent dual-incision total hip arthroplasty were retrospectively analyzed at two affiliated institutions between March 2023 and March 2025. The study included 52 robotic-arm-assisted cases. The dual-incision technique used an anterolateral incision for acetabular preparation and cup implantation and a posterolateral incision for femoral preparation and stem implantation. Propensity score matching (1:1) generated 52 balanced pairs for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), preoperative Harris Hip Score (HHS), ASA class, and diagnosis. Operative time, blood loss, radiographic accuracy (acetabular anteversion, inclination, leg-length discrepancy [LLD], femoral and combined offsets, and stem subsidence), and functional outcomes (HHS, Oxford Hip Score [OHS], Forgotten Joint Score-12 [FJS-12]) were compared. Results: The robotic group achieved smaller deviations from the planned anteversion (1.15° vs. 3.0°, p < 0.001) and inclination (1.33° vs. 4.5°, p < 0.001), with a higher proportion of cups within the Lewinnek safe zone (98.1% vs. 82.7%, p = 0.016). Significant improvements were also seen in femoral stem subsidence (p = 0.006) and offset restoration, although the reduction in leg-length discrepancy did not reach statistical significance. Operative time was longer (77.8 vs. 65.0 min, p = 0.001), while blood loss and 6-month functional scores were comparable (HHS, p = 0.144; OHS, p = 0.328). Multivariable regression confirmed that greater deviations in acetabular orientation, higher LLD, and increased subsidence were independent predictors of poorer functional outcomes. Conclusions: MAKO robotic-arm assistance was associated with improved radiographic accuracy and biomechanical restoration in dual-incision THA, but no direct short-term functional advantage was observed. Greater radiographic precision was independently associated with better patient-reported outcomes, suggesting that technical precision is a key factor in optimizing early postoperative outcomes, highlighting the importance of technical accuracy in total hip arthroplasty. Full article

Background and Objectives: Surgical stress during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) elicits a measurable systemic inflammatory response despite the minimally invasive approach. Intravenous lidocaine has been increasingly investigated for its potential anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulatory benefits, but evidence in robotic urologic oncology remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate whether intraoperative lidocaine infusion attenuates postoperative inflammation, improves analgesic outcomes, and accelerates early recovery following RARP. Materials and Methods: This prospective non-randomized observational study included 80 patients undergoing elective RARP, divided into a Lidocaine Group (n = 40) receiving an intraoperative bolus and continuous infusion, and a Control Group (n = 40) receiving standard anesthesia without lidocaine. Serum IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, and fibrinogen were measured at baseline, end of surgery, and 24 h postoperatively. Postoperative pain scores, opioid consumption, gastrointestinal recovery, ambulation, and length of stay were recorded. Statistical analyses included repeated-measures ANOVA, correlation testing, and between-group comparisons. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. At 24 h postoperatively, lidocaine administration was associated with a significantly attenuated inflammatory response, with lower levels of IL-6 (45.7 ± 10.8 vs. 68.9 ± 12.6 pg/mL, p < 0.01) and TNF-α (20.5 ± 5.1 vs. 27.2 ± 6.4 pg/mL, p < 0.01) compared with controls. Patients receiving lidocaine reported lower postoperative pain scores and required significantly less opioid analgesia, with a total 24 h consumption of 8.9 ± 3.4 vs. 14.8 ± 5.2 mg morphine milligram equivalents (p < 0.001). Lidocaine was also associated with faster recovery, including earlier oral intake and a shorter length of hospital stay (2.9 ± 0.7 vs. 3.6 ± 0.9 days, p = 0.003). No lidocaine-related adverse events were observed. Conclusions: In this prospective observational study, intraoperative intravenous lidocaine was associated with attenuated early postoperative inflammation, improved analgesic outcomes, and enhanced early recovery following RARP. These findings support the potential role of intravenous lidocaine as a safe adjunct in multimodal perioperative management; however, given the non-randomized observational design, causal inferences should be interpreted with caution. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm causality and to validate long-term clinical and mechanistic effects. Potential residual confounding inherent to the observational design should be considered when interpreting these findings. Full article

The structure–property relationship of chitin nanofibrils (NCh) with tailored lengths (L-, M-, S-NCh) and their efficacy in stabilizing Pickering emulsions were systematically investigated. The nanofibrils, produced via high-pressure homogenization and ultrasonication (20 or 60 min), were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Emulsion stability was predominantly governed by nanofibril length and concentration, with S-NCh (shortest) exhibiting superior performance, as evidenced by its minimal creaming index, smallest droplet size (1.18 μm at 0.5%), and homogeneous microstructure observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). A critical stabilizer concentration of 0.05% was identified, below which instability occurred due to insufficient interfacial coverage. Rheological analysis confirmed shear-thinning behavior and solid-like viscoelasticity at high frequencies. CLSM microstructural observations directly confirmed nanofibril adsorption at the interface and the formation of a continuous network between droplets, elucidating the stabilization mechanism. These findings demonstrate that shorter chitin nanofibrils provide a marked improvement in emulsion stability, offering a superior biomass-derived alternative for the design of stabilizers in food and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

Conservation programmes for two local dairy cattle breeds—Latvian Brown old type (BV) and Latvian Blue (LZ)—commenced in 2004. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic diversity in the BV and LZ local cattle populations using SNP data. This study was based on genotype data from 96 BV and 75 LZ cows and 20 BV and 18 LZ bulls. The SNPs were determined using the GGP 100K bovine SNP BeadChip. Quality control (QC) and genotype data analysis were performed using PLINK v1.9. The observed heterozygosity was moderate, at around 0.4, for both breeds. Inbreeding coefficients were estimated based on homozygosity runs (F_ROH) to compare recent and ancient inbreeding in the BV and LZ populations. Therefore, the ROH segments were divided into segments with the four classes (1–4 Mb, 4–8 Mb, 8–16 Mb, and above 16 Mb). Shorter ROH regions (ROH < 4 Mb) predominated in the genome. ROH regions with lengths above 16 Mb covers 4–6% of the genome in BV and 11% in LZ population. The average inbreeding coefficient for approximately three generations (F_ROH>16) was 2.30% and 4.87% for BV and LZ cows (p < 0.05), respectively, and 2.59% and 3.85% for BV and LZ bulls, respectively. This study demonstrates that inbreeding has increased from generation to generation (F_ROH>16 is higher compared with F_ROH<16) in both populations. The level of current inbreeding in LZ is higher compared with that in the BV breed. The overall level of inbreeding in the BV and LZ populations is low, but there is a high level of inbreeding among a few animals. The impact of inbreeding on cow productivity has been observed in the LZ and BV cow populations. As a result, breeding organisations need to monitor and control the level of inbreeding and prevent the loss of genetic diversity in these animal populations. Breeders should minimize mating among close relatives; introduce genetically unrelated animals, use pedigree, and genomic information in controlling rates of inbreeding. Full article

Background: Conceptualizing gestation as a developmental continuum highlights that even among term infants, distinct subgroups—such as early-term and full-term infants—may exhibit meaningful differences in morbidity and clinical outcomes. Objective: To compare early neonatal outcomes among late-preterm (LP), early-term (ET), and full-term (FT) infants. Methods: A retrospective observational study analyzed data of infants born between 34⁺⁰ and 41⁺⁶ weeks at Hadassah Medical Centers in 2023. Infants were stratified by gestational age. Late-preterm was defined as birth between 34 − 36 + 6 weeks of gestation, early-term 37 − 38 + 6 weeks, and term birth between 39 − 41 + 6 weeks. Primary outcome was length of stay (LOS), secondary outcomes included NICU admissions, respiratory support, feeding type, weight loss, and re-hospitalizations within the first year following discharge. Results: ET infants had intermediate outcomes between LP and FT groups. LOS and respiratory support needs were higher in ET than FT infants. NICU admissions were significantly more frequent in LP infants; ET infants exhibited higher weight loss and more frequent elective cesarean deliveries compared to FT infants. Readmission rates were higher in ET compared to FT infants. Conclusions: ET infants, while more stable than LP infants, experienced increased short-term morbidity compared to FT neonates. These findings support minimizing elective delivery before 39 weeks unless clinically indicated. Full article

Objective: Accurate knowledge of apical morphology is crucial for determining the correct working length and achieving an optimal seal, both of which are vital for long-term endodontic success. This review summarizes and evaluates the current literature on the physiological foramen, focusing on its diameter and the distance between the anatomical apex and the physiological foramen. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using the databases PubMed (via Medline), Embase, LILACS, and Scopus. Studies addressing the anatomy of the physiological foramen were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. A total of 743 records were identified. After removing 103 duplicates, the titles and abstract of 640 records were screened, with 625 being excluded as irrelevant. Fifteen full texts were assessed and six excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria. Five additional articles were found through manual search. In total, 14 studies were included in the review. The risk of bias was assessed using the AQUA tool. Results: Considerable variation in the diameter of the physiological foramen was observed across the included studies, ranging from 0.15 mm to 0.43 mm depending on tooth type and location. Additionally, the distance between the anatomical apex and the physiological foramen varied from 0.1 mm to 1.2 mm. Conclusions: The results demonstrate considerable heterogeneity in the dimensions and position of the physiological foramen, with oval shapes occurring more frequently than round or irregular ones. Standardized definitions and consistent terminology are essential to improve comparability across studies and to enhance the clinical applicability of research findings. Recognizing these anatomical variations optimizes endodontic treatment outcomes and minimizes procedural errors. Full article

Alternative splicing is a key regulator of immune regulation by enabling rapid and context-specific responses. However, the role of splicing regulators such as CDC-like kinase 1 (CLK1) in monocyte biology remains poorly defined. Here, we identify and characterize distinct CLK1-splice isoforms in human CD14⁺ monocytes using long-read RNA sequencing. In resting monocytes, we observe predominant expression of a truncated isoform lacking exon 4 (CLK1Δ4), which undergoes nonsense-mediated decay resulting in minimal protein output. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation induces a shift toward the full-length isoform (CLK1+4), associated with increased transcript stability and protein expression. This splicing switch was confirmed by RT-qPCR, short-read RNA sequencing, and Western blot analysis. Pharmacological inhibition of CLK1 selectively reduced TNFα production without affecting cell viability, implicating that the isoform shift enhances pro-inflammatory signaling. These findings uncover a stimulus-dependent splicing mechanism that modulates monocyte activation through differential CLK1 isoform expression and suggest a potential therapeutic avenue by targeting splicing regulators in immune-related disease with an established role of activated monocytes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Reconstruction of membranous urethral strictures poses significant surgical challenges, including risks of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Optilume drug-coated balloon dilation (DCBD) is a minimally invasive treatment for short, recurrent bulbar urethral strictures, but its application in strictures involving the sphincteric urethra remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and impact on continence of DCBD in membranous urethral strictures involving the male sphincter. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 53 consecutive patients with urethral strictures involving the sphincteric urethra, treated with Optilume DCBD between June 2021 and June 2025 at a tertiary center. After preoperative imaging, dilation to 20 Fr, then DCBD (30 Fr, 10 bar, 10 min) were performed. We assessed anatomical success (≥18 Fr as per cystoscopy/calibration), freedom from re-intervention, and continence status. Patients with neurological conditions or urinary infections were excluded. Results: The cohort included 35 membranous urethral strictures and 18 vesicourethral anastomosis stenoses that extended into the sphincter. The median follow-up was 13.3 months. At last follow-up, 66.6% and 65.6% of patients in both groups were free from recurrence and re-intervention with satisfactory voiding. No de novo incontinence was observed; two patients with prior post-prostatectomy incontinence remained incontinent. The median age was 68 years; median prior interventions were 2.5, and median stricture length was 3 cm. Conclusions: Optilume DCBD appears to be a safe and effective option for membranous urethral strictures involving the sphincter, without inducing de novo incontinence. Although not a replacement for reconstruction, it offers a minimally invasive alternative for selected patients. Full article

With the rapid development of the vegetable industry and the accelerating pace of population aging, mechanization in the core production process of vegetable seedling grafting has become an inevitable trend. To address this, various vegetable grafting devices have been developed globally. However, most existing equipment exhibits limited automation and is prone to damaging young plant stems during operation. To effectively reduce seedling injury, improve grafting quality, and increase success rates, this study focused on tray seedlings of cucurbitaceous vegetables as grafting subjects. Based on the bud grafting method, we conducted mechanistic analysis and structural design for the cutting module, the integrated clamping and grafting mechanism, and the clip supply and binding system. Experiments were carried out at the Protected Agriculture Demonstration Base in Ke Township, Yecheng County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang. The study adopted the multiple-group repeated experiment verification method, and completed verification through cutting tests and grafting efficiency tests. Specifically, 250 rootstocks and 250 scions were selected for the cutting tests, while 500 rootstocks and 500 scions were selected for the grafting efficiency tests; both tests were divided into 5 groups, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. Cutting trials and clamping performance tests demonstrated that the designed mechanism improves the precision of alignment between rootstock and scion cuts while minimizing potential damage during clamping, confirming the rationality of the design. The overall performance was further validated in grafting trials using Qingyan rootstock No. 1 pumpkin and Yongtian No. 5 melon as scions. Results showed that with rootstock and scion cutting angles set at 30° and 25°, respectively, and corresponding cut surface lengths of 6.34 ± 0.18 mm and 6.29 ± 0.14 mm, the device achieved a grafting efficiency of 1400 plants per hour with an average success rate of 90%, and no obvious stem damage was observed during the clamping process. These results demonstrate that the proposed grafting machine design is effective in enhancing both grafting efficiency and quality. Full article

Mixed cropping may positively affect soil fertility and soil biological activities, such as those related to mycorrhizal colonization intensity (M%), which plays a vital role in the plant nutrient cycle and can improve tolerance to drought and pathogens. This plant and soil fungi symbiosis helps to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers, promotes sustainable agricultural practices, and minimizes environmental impacts. However, field studies that clearly assess the effects of cereal/legume intercropping on mycorrhizal intensity and relate it to plant productivity, yield quality, and plant adaptation to climate change are lacking. This field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of cereals/legume intercropping on mycorrhizal colonization, and to explore its interaction with physical cereal root parameters and crop yield. Three main crops, spring barley, oat, and field pea, were grown as monocultures. For the spring barley and oat, the study also included two different fertilization levels (with and without organic fertilizers) and legume intercropping (field pea and red clover). The intercropping had a significant impact on spring barley and oat root length, diameter, and specific root length. The general average of root length and diameter was higher in oat–pea and barley–pea cropping systems. The most significant effect in root architecture parameters observed in red clover was when it was intercropped with barley or oat. The establishment of field pea intercrop significantly increased M% in spring barley and had a positive effect on the grain yields of both spring barley and oat. Meanwhile, red clover intercropping enhanced M% and grain yield in oats but had no such effect in barley. In both spring barley and oat, M% was positively correlated with grain yield. Full article

The efficiency of intelligent urban mobility increasingly depends on adaptive mathematical models that can optimize multimodal transportation resources under stochastic and heterogeneous conditions. This study proposes a Markovian stochastic modeling and metaheuristic optimization framework for the adaptive management of bus lane capacity in mixed connected traffic environments. The heterogeneous vehicle arrivals are modeled using a Markov Arrival Process (MAP) to capture correlated and busty flow characteristics, while the system-level optimization aims to minimize total fuel consumption through discrete lane capacity allocation. To support real-time adaptation, a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is integrated for queue-length estimation under partial observability. The resulting nonlinear and nonconvex optimization problem is solved using Genetic Algorithm (GA), Differential Evolution (DE), and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), ensuring robustness and convergence across diverse traffic scenarios. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the proposed stochastic–adaptive framework can reduce fuel consumption and vehicle delay by up to 68% and 65%, respectively, under high saturation and connected-vehicle penetration. The findings verify the effectiveness of coupling stochastic modeling with adaptive control, providing a transferable methodology for energy-efficient and data-driven lane management in smart and sustainable cities. Full article

Far-infrared imaging is a powerful tool in night vision and temperature measurement, with broad applications in military, astronomy, meteorology, industrial, and medical fields. However, conventional imaging lenses face challenges such as large size, heavy weight, and difficulties in miniaturization, which hinder their integration and use in applications with strict requirements for mass and volume, such as drone-based observation and imaging. To address these limitations, we designed a dual-plane diffractive optical lens optimized for the 10.9–11.1 μm wavelength band with a 0.2 μm bandwidth. By optimizing parameters including focal length, spot size, and field of view, we derived the phase distribution of the lens and converted it into the surface sag. To enhance diffraction efficiency and minimize energy loss, the lens was fabricated using a continuous phase surface on single-crystal Germanium. Finally, an imaging system was constructed to achieve clear imaging of various samples, demonstrating the feasibility of both the device and the system. This approach shows great potential for applications requiring lightweight and miniaturized solutions, such as infrared imaging, machine vision, remote sensing, biological imaging, and materials science. Full article