Search Results (88)

Background: Orthorexia nervosa (OrNe) and healthy orthorexia (HeOr) are two distinct but related dimensions of interest in eating behavior research. Evidence regarding their associations with sociodemographic, dietary, and sport-related variables in physically active young adults remains limited. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 190 physically active young adults (53.2% women; mean age = 23.16 ± 5.13 years). Participants practiced a variety of sports including fitness (25.3%), soccer (13.7%), handball (10.5%), athletics, martial arts, cycling, and other individual or team sports. Although all participants belonged to organized sports teams or structured training groups, 38.9% were not actively competing at the time of data collection. Participants completed validated instruments assessing OrNe, HeOr, and eating-related cognitions, alongside questionnaires on sociodemographic data, dietary habits, sport discipline, training frequency, and supplement use. Hierarchical and K-means clustering were applied using the standardized scores of HeOr, OrNe, and the EHQ total score. Group differences were assessed using t-tests and ANOVA with effect sizes (η²p) reported. Results: Age correlated positively with OrNe, HeOr, and eating-related cognitions, indicating greater consolidation of rigid eating patterns in young adulthood. BMI was associated with OrNe only among men. Vegetarian participants showed higher nutritional knowledge but lower overall orthorexia scores. Supplement users in fitness-related sports reported higher OrNe, whereas participants in collective sports reported lower scores. Three distinct orthorexia profiles were identified, characterized by lower, slightly above-average, and higher scores on orthorexia-related variables. Participants in the higher-scoring profile showed significantly higher EHQ total, OrNe, and HeOr scores compared with the other groups (η²p range = 0.11–0.19). Correlations among orthorexia dimensions were positive and moderate to large. Differences between clusters in sport modality, training frequency, and supplement use underscored the influence of the sporting context. Conclusions: Orthorexia in young physically active adults reflects heterogeneous patterns shaped by the interplay of individual (age, sex, BMI), dietary, and sport-related factors. The identification of differentiated profiles reinforces the multidimensional nature of orthorexia and underscores the relevance of considering specific sport environments when interpreting orthorexic tendencies. Longitudinal research is warranted to examine the stability or variability of these patterns over time and to enable the use of more robust multivariate approaches that further clarify the characterization of orthorexia. Full article

The purpose of this study is to ascertain how the dynamic reactions of a flexible biogas digester composed of PVC coated on PET polyester fabric are affected by nanocoating retrofitting. In this study, the effects of seismic movements on a ZrO₂-coated and uncoated PVC-PET biogas digester were investigated. A semi-sphere biogas digester that was 2.5 m high was chosen for development with nanocoating. Frequency values and mode shapes were acquired by first creating a three-dimensional finite element model of the biogas digester and then performing modal analysis in SAP2000 software. Later, the ground motion data from the 1994 Northridge earthquake were used to do linear assessments of the methane digester. Dynamic evaluations were then performed after a 0.25 mm ZrO₂ nanocoating was installed onto the digester’s exterior. Finally, the dynamic behavior of the biogas digester, characterized by minimum and maximum von Mises stresses and corresponding displacements, was evaluated before and after the ZrO₂ coating. By the end of the study, the maximum von Mises stress had decreased from 60.47 kPa to 15.18 kPa, while the minimum von Mises stress at the digester bottom was reduced from 11.41 kPa to 4.47 kPa. Additionally, the displacements along the digester height, particularly the maximum values, were reduced from 0.057 mm to 0.013 mm. The reduction in frequency values demonstrated that ZrO₂ nanocoating improved the biogas digester’s rigidity. This study makes it clear that nanocoatings will have an impact on dynamic parameters and be highly beneficial for improving biogas digesters. Full article

Objectives: Psychological distress has been linked to dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and altered cortisol secretion. Exercise is increasingly recognized as a non-pharmacologic strategy for stress regulation. This systematic review and network meta-analysis assessed the relative efficacy of different exercise modalities and the optimal dose in modulating cortisol levels in adults with psychological distress. Methods: We systematically searched five databases up to 30 June 2025 for relevant randomized controlled trials. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessments. Pairwise meta-analyses and a frequentist network meta-analysis were performed with random-effects models. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Dose–response relationships were examined, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE framework. Results: Forty-four studies were included. Overall, exercise was associated with moderate cortisol reductions. Yoga demonstrated the greatest effect (SMD = −0.59; 95% CI = −0.90 to −0.28; SUCRA = 93%), followed by qigong and multicomponent exercise. High-intensity interval training tended to increase cortisol levels, although not significantly. The dose–response analysis revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship, characterized by an optimal response at approximately 530 MET-min/week, and longer intervention duration predicted greater reductions. The certainty of evidence ranged from very low to high, with yoga–control comparisons supported by the strongest evidence. Conclusions: Exercise, particularly mind–body practices such as yoga and qigong, can reduce cortisol levels in individuals with psychological distress. The dose–response relationship exhibited a non-linear pattern, with optimal efficacy observed at approximately 530 MET-min/week. Nevertheless, further high-quality trials are required to confirm the optimal modality and dose. Full article

Background: As survival rates among breast cancer (BC) patients continue to rise, Emotional Functioning (EF)—has become increasingly clinically relevant; however, researchers have yet to fully characterize its long-term, dynamic trajectories following surgery. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to (1) characterize the longitudinal trajectories of EF after BC surgery and (2) examine the moderating effects of surgical modality and age. Methods: We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We synthesized data from studies published between 2000 and 2024 that assessed EF using the EORTC QLQ-C30 at multiple post-surgical time points. Using multilevel random-effects meta-analytic models, we examined EF trajectories across 116 effect sizes derived from 40 studies, and evaluated time, surgical modality (breast-conserving surgery (BCS), mastectomy (MA), mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (Mx + IR) and age group as moderators. Results: The overall pooled estimate for EF was 73.44 (95% CI: 70.29–76.58, p < 0.001). Time since surgery significantly influenced EF: scores were lowest during the initial 6 months (66.82, 95% CI: 59.75–73.89), peaked at 7–15 months (77.86, 95% CI: 74.51–81.22) and 31–54 months (77.52, 95% CI: 70.44–84.59), and showed lower values at 16–30 months (72.58, 95% CI: 61.45–83.72) and 55–72 months (69.81, 95% CI: 64.08–75.54). Surgical modality significantly shaped these trajectories (p = 0.013). The overall pooled estimate for EF was 73.44 (95% CI: 70.29–76.58, p < 0.001). Time since surgery significantly influenced EF: scores were lowest during the initial 6 months (66.82, 95% CI: 59.75–73.89), peaked at 7–15 months (77.86, 95% CI: 74.51–81.22) and 31–54 months (77.52, 95% CI: 70.44–84.59), and showed lower values at 16–30 months (72.58, 95% CI: 61.45–83.72) and 55–72 months (69.81, 95% CI: 64.08–75.54). Surgical modality significantly shaped these trajectories (p = 0.013). The BCS group showed a significant inverted-U trajectory in EF scores, with a positive linear slope (β = 1.22, SE = 0.50, p = 0.046) and a small negative quadratic term (β = −0.02, SE = 0.01, p = 0.046), indicating initial improvement followed by decline. A similar pattern was observed for MA, where the linear term (β = 1.19, SE = 0.51, p = 0.054) and quadratic curvature (β = −0.02, SE = 0.01, p = 0.054) suggested an early rise with subsequent decline. In contrast, Mx + IR displayed a high intercept (β = 71.46, SE = 4.46, p < 0.001) but no significant trajectory over time (p = 0.582), indicating stability. The 45–60 year group demonstrated a significant inverted-U trajectory in EF scores, with a positive linear coefficient (β = 0.87, SE = 0.38, p = 0.067) and a negative quadratic coefficient (β = −0.01, SE = 0.01, p = 0.067), suggesting an early rise in emotional functioning followed by a subsequent decline. Participants <45 years also showed a significant inverted-U pattern, starting from a moderately high baseline (β = 67.56, SE = 4.26, p < 0.001) with a positive linear slope (β = 0.82, SE = 0.34, p = 0.051) and a negative quadratic curvature (β = −0.01, SE = 0.01, p = 0.051). In contrast, the >60 year group reported the highest baseline scores (β = 75.60, SE = 5.18, p < 0.001) with no significant trajectory, indicating overall stability. These findings confirm that EF follows a significant inverted-U trajectory (p < 0.001) and is influenced by time, surgical modality, and age. Full article

Background/Objective: This study aims to better characterize the clinical presentation, histology, and imaging features of breast sarcomas on mammography, ultrasound, and MRI, in addition to analyzing the effectiveness of AI DS in detecting breast sarcomas. Methods: A retrospective review from 2008–2024 yielded 18 patients with histologically proven breast sarcomas with imaging available for review. Mammography was available for 13 lesions, ultrasound for 19 lesions, and MRI for 9 lesions. Imaging features were classified according to the BI-RADS 5th edition lexicon. Images were reviewed by two radiologists, and consensus was obtained regarding imaging features. AI DS was retrospectively applied to the breast masses identified on ultrasound. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Results: 17 females and 1 male were included in this study. Mammographic findings varied from solitary masses (3/13 [23.1%]), asymmetries (3/13 [23.1%]), architectural distortion (1/13 [7.7%]), skin thickening (3/13 [23.1%]), focal asymmetry with calcifications (1/13 [7.7%]), or no suspicious findings (2/13 [15.4%]). Sonography often revealed masses with an irregular shape (13/16 [81.2%]), non-circumscribed margins (15/16 [93.7%]), hypoechoic echo pattern (10/16 [62.5%]), and vascular flow (12/16 [75%]). MRI showed heterogeneously enhancing masses (6/9 [66.7%]) or isolated skin enhancement (3/9 [33.3%]). AI DS analyzed 16 masses on ultrasound and identified 15 (93.8%) as suspicious. Conclusions: Breast sarcomas had a variable appearance on breast imaging, ranging from a solitary mass to isolated skin findings. Awareness of how breast sarcomas can present across imaging modalities while using AI DS as an aid may help radiologists in making the correct diagnosis of this rare and aggressive disease. Full article

Myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) are characterized by remarkable heterogeneity in clinical manifestations, posing significant management challenges arising due to genetic plasticity. While the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) has traditionally stratified MDS into higher-risk (HR) and lower-risk (LR) categories, the recently developed Molecular International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-M) integrates molecular signatures and has further enhanced prognostic stratification. In LR-MDS, current therapeutic interventions remain non-curative and the goal of treatment is centered along three critical axes: reducing transfusion dependence, improving quality of life, and reducing the risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This review examines recent progress made in the therapeutic landscape of LR-MDS, with particular emphasis on the molecular basis of these novel agents that may have disease-modifying potential. We evaluate the clinical trials and targeted agents in the pipeline for treating LR-MDS, providing a comprehensive perspective where these treatment modalities are placed in the current standard of care and how these novel targets can shape future therapeutic innovations. Full article

This work develops and validates a high-order, three-dimensional Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF) framework for coupled structural–acoustic eigenanalysis, aiming at accurate low-frequency modal characterization of interior cavity-structure systems with significantly reduced degrees of freedom. The proposed approach employs high-order polynomial expansions to discretize both the structural and fluid domains. The methodology integrates fully coupled fluid-structure analyses into a unified variational formulation, enabling the systematic assembly of global stiffness and mass matrices via sophisticated numerical integration techniques. Validation against a Comsol Multiphysics benchmark model confirms that the CUF-based high-order frameworks converge with significantly fewer degrees of freedom and reliably capture the intricate interactions at the fluid–structure interface. In addition, the approach is versatile, accommodating a range of boundary conditions and material models, underscoring its broad applicability in modern engineering design. Overall, this work advances the state of the art in vibroacoustic analysis by offering a robust tool for predicting natural frequencies and mode shapes, and it lays the groundwork for future extensions to nonlinear, transient, and data-driven applications. Full article

This study presents the development of a prototype anthropomorphic soft robotic gripper intended for applications in rehabilitation and assistive robotics, where safe and adaptive interaction with humans is required. The device consists of three elastomeric fingers, fabricated in TPU via FFF 3D printing and actuated through pneumatic soft actuators that ensure compliant contact with both biological tissue and rigid objects. A custom 3D-printed pneumatic rotary actuator enables finger reconfiguration, thereby extending the range of grasping modalities. The actuation system comprises six 2/2 solenoid valves controlled by an Arduino Uno and integrated into a dedicated pneumatic circuit. Experimental characterization demonstrated a peak grasping force exceeding 17 N on rigid targets, while functional tests in table-picking scenarios confirmed adaptability to objects of varying shapes and sizes. Owing to its anthropomorphic configuration, mechanical compliance, and ease of fabrication and control, the proposed gripper represents a versatile solution for rehabilitation-oriented devices as well as assistive robotic end-effectors in pick-and-place tasks. Full article

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are versatile determinants of cell fate, tipping the balance between survival and death. By exceeding critical thresholds or perturbing compartment-specific signaling, ROS can initiate, modulate, or suppress regulated cell death (RCD). Importantly, their influence extends across the full spectrum of currently characterized RCD modalities. 19 distinct forms of cell death—including both long-established and recently described entities—are shaped by ROS, either as triggers, modulators, or inhibitors. Beyond pathway-specific effects, ROS promote crosstalk between death programs, enabling switches from one mode to another and determining whether outcomes are inflammatory or non-inflammatory. By systematically integrating 19 RCD types, the unifying role of ROS emerges as both gatekeeper and connector of diverse death pathways. Such a comprehensive perspective underscores the centrality of redox imbalance in cell fate control and highlights its broader implications for inflammation and disease. Full article

Seismic facies recognition constitutes a fundamental task in seismic data interpretation, playing an essential role in characterizing subsurface geological structures, sedimentary environments, and hydrocarbon reservoir distributions. Conventional approaches primarily depend on expert interpretation, which often introduces substantial subjectivity and operational inefficiency. Although deep learning-based methods have been introduced, most rely solely on unimodal data—namely, seismic images—and encounter challenges such as limited annotated samples and inadequate generalization capability. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a multimodal seismic facies recognition framework named GAT-UKAN, which integrates a U-shaped Kolmogorov–Arnold Network (U-KAN) with a Graph Attention Network (GAT). This model is designed to accept dual-modality inputs. By fusing visual features with knowledge embeddings at intermediate network layers, the model achieves knowledge-guided feature refinement. This approach effectively mitigates issues related to limited samples and poor generalization inherent in single-modality frameworks. Experiments were conducted on the F3 block dataset from the North Sea. A knowledge graph comprising 47 entities and 12 relation types was constructed to incorporate expert knowledge. The results indicate that GAT-UKAN achieved a Pixel Accuracy of 89.7% and a Mean Intersection over Union of 70.6%, surpassing the performance of both U-Net and U-KAN. Furthermore, the model was transferred to the Parihaka field in New Zealand via transfer learning. After fine-tuning, the predictions exhibited strong alignment with seismic profiles, demonstrating the model’s robustness under complex geological conditions. Although the proposed model demonstrates excellent performance in accuracy and robustness, it has so far been validated only on 2D seismic profiles. Its capability to characterize continuous 3D geological features therefore remains limited. Full article

On the south–central Iberian Peninsula, big game hunting is traditionally carried out using big-game hunting under the “Montería” modality, with dog packs. Breeders of these dogs value their versatility in both chasing and capturing prey. In this context, the most popular breed is the Large-sized Podenco Andaluz, colloquially known as Podenco Campanero. In this study, we aimed to morphologically characterize the hounds of the Sierra Morena in Córdoba and evaluate their possible relationships with other Spanish hunting dog breeds. For this purpose, 255 dogs were measured to obtain sixteen morphometric measurements and eleven indices. To assess morphostructural differentiation, we applied multivariate methodologies. The Podenco Campanero exhibited pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males being significantly (p < 0.001) longer, taller, wider, and deeper than females. The morphostructural model of this breed demonstrated considerable homogeneity and harmony, and the population exhibited distinct morphostructural characteristics, with body size and regional width varying between individuals. The morphometric characteristics of the breeds used in Monterías on the central and southern Iberian Peninsula highlight that the diversity of these local genetic resources is shaped by genetic relationships and selective breeding models chosen by dog pack breeders, which depend on the hunting modality and the terrain characteristics where it is practiced. Full article

This article presents an extensive experimental investigation of the dynamic characteristics of three-arch historical masonry bridges, using Operational Modal Analysis (OMA). The research thoroughly characterizes the dynamic behavior of four representative masonry bridges from the Apulia Region in Southern Italy through detailed experimental campaigns. These campaigns employed calibrated and optimally implemented accelerometric monitoring systems to acquire high-quality dynamic data under controlled excitation and environmental conditions. The selected bridges include the Santa Teresa Bridge in Bitonto, the Roman Bridge in Bovino, the Roman Bridge in Ascoli Satriano and a moderner road bridge on the Provincial Road SP123 in Troia; they span almost two millennia of construction history. The experimental framework incorporated several non-invasive excitation methods, including controlled vehicle passes, instrumented hammer impacts and ambient vibration tests, strategically chosen for optimal signal quality and heritage preservation. This investigation demonstrates the feasibility of capturing the dynamic behavior of these complex and specific historic structures through customized sensor configurations and various excitation methods. The resulting natural frequencies and mode shapes are accurate, robust, and reliable considering the extended data set used, and have allowed a rigorous seismic assessment. Eventually, this comprehensive data set establishes a fundamental basis for understanding and predicting the seismic response of several three-span masonry bridges to accurately identify their long-term resilience and effective conservation planning of these valuable and vulnerable heritage structures. In conclusion, the data comparison enabled the formulation of a predictive equation for the identification of the first natural frequency of bridges from geometric characteristics. Full article

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, most frequently arising from the choroid, followed by the ciliary body and iris. Its diagnosis and management require precise characterization of tumor morphology, localization, and associated complications to optimize visual and systemic outcomes. Recent advances in optical coherence tomography (OCT), anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT), and OCT angiography (OCTA) have expanded the ophthalmologist’s ability to non-invasively visualize structural and vascular changes associated with this disease. In fact, enhanced depth imaging (EDI) and swept-source (SS) OCT can provide detailed views of deep ocular structures, enabling early detection of hallmark features such as subretinal fluid, retinal pigment epithelium disruption, and dome- or mushroom-shaped choroidal elevations; AS-OCT improves evaluation of lesions of the anterior segment, revealing iris architecture distortion and angle involvement; OCTA facilitates the visualization of abnormal tumor vasculature and detection of radiation-induced microvascular changes, including capillary dropout and foveal avascular zone enlargement. Moreover, these imaging modalities have demonstrated utility in differentiating uveal melanoma from pseudomelanomas, such as choroidal nevi, hemangiomas, and metastases. The present review aims at objectively assessing the use of OCT and OCTA in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow up of ocular melanoma, emphasizing their crucial role in identifying pathologic biomarkers of this potentially fatal ocular disease. Full article

Multiple cluster validity indices (CVIs) have been introduced for diverse applications. In practice, clusters exhibit varying shapes, sizes, densities, and closely spaced centers, which are typically unknown beforehand. It is desirable to develop a versatile CVI that performs well in general settings rather than being tailored to specific ones. Drawing inspiration from distance based on local density, where it is observed that cluster centers feature higher densities than their neighbors and are relatively distant from higher-density points, this paper introduces a novel CVI. This CVI employs a modified distance, adjusted for local density, to measure cluster compactness, replacing the traditional Euclidean distance with the minimum distance to a higher-density point. This adjustment accounts for cluster shapes and densities. The experimental results highlight the proposed index’s dual capability: it not only outperforms conventional methods by a remarkable margin of 32 percentage points in controlled synthetic environments but also maintains a 23+ percentage-point accuracy lead in real-world data regimes characterized by noise and heterogeneity. This consistency validates its generalizability across data modalities. Full article

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder characterized by systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and placental insufficiency. While inadequate trophoblast invasion and impaired spiral artery remodeling have long been recognized as central to its pathogenesis, emerging evidence underscores the critical roles of dysregulated iron metabolism and its crosstalk with immune responses, particularly macrophage-mediated inflammation, in driving PE development. This review systematically explores the dynamic changes in iron metabolism during pregnancy, including increased maternal iron demand, placental iron transport mechanisms, and the molecular regulation of placental iron homeostasis. We further explore the contribution of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, to trophoblast dysfunction and pregnancy-related diseases, including PE. Macrophages, pivotal immune regulators at the maternal–fetal interface, exhibit distinct polarization states that shape tissue remodeling and immune tolerance. We outline their origin, distribution, and polarization in pregnancy, and emphasize their aberrant phenotype and function in PE. The bidirectional crosstalk between iron and macrophages is also dissected: iron shapes macrophage polarization and function, while macrophages reciprocally modulate iron homeostasis. Notably, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted by M1-polarized macrophages may exacerbate trophoblast ferroptosis, amplifying placental injury. Within the context of PE, we delineate how iron overload and macrophage dysfunction synergize to potentiate placental inflammation and oxidative stress. Key iron-responsive immune pathways, such as the HO-1/hepcidin axis and IL-6/TNF-α signaling, are discussed in relation to disease severity. Finally, we highlight promising therapeutic strategies targeting the iron–immune axis, encompassing three key modalities—iron chelation therapy, precision immunomodulation, and metabolic reprogramming interventions—which may offer novel avenues for PE prevention and treatment. Full article