Saved Queries

by John H. Hartig, Lori Newton, Todd Scott, Marlaine Koehler, John E. Gannon, Sam Lovall, Tom Woiwode, Amy Greene, Weston Hillier and Eric Antolak

Green Health 2025, 1(3), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/greenhealth1030020 (registering DOI) - 15 Nov 2025

Abstract

The 2026 opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Detroit, Michigan, USA, with its multi-use trail for cyclists and pedestrians, is projected to catalyze cross-border trail tourism and help further revitalize these two border cities. Both Windsor and Detroit have unique, extensive trail systems with compelling destinations. However, cross-border trail tourism institutionalization needs improvement. Tourism, greenway, and destination partners should explore creating a boundary organization to foster and market cross-border trail tourism. Recommendations from a 2024 cross-border trail tourism conference include: develop strategies for community engagement and storytelling to enhance cultural connections between regions; strengthen ties between trail groups and environmental organizations to provide trail experiences that reconnect people with the river and other natural resources; support the region’s efforts to obtain a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for the Underground Railroad and support the Canadian federal designation of Windsor’s Ojibway National Urban Park; strengthen collaborations between tourism and cycling partners to promote and market cross-border trail tourism; institutionalize greenway assessments (every 5–10 years) to evaluate trail segment completions, gaps, potential route improvements, safety improvements, equity considerations, etc., and to keep greenways in the public consciousness; and measure and broadly communicate the economic impact of cross-border trail tourism resulting from the bridge. Full article

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16 pages, 2103 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrological and Geochemical Responses to Agricultural Activities in a Karst Catchment: Insights from Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Source Apportionment

by Le Cao, Qianyun Cheng, Shangqing Wang, Shaoqiang Xu, Qirui He, Yanqiu Li, Tao Peng and Shijie Wang

Water 2025, 17(22), 3264; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17223264 (registering DOI) - 15 Nov 2025

Abstract

Karst aquifers, vital freshwater resources, are highly vulnerable to agricultural pollution, yet their hydro-geochemical responses remain poorly understood due to high spatial heterogeneity. This study aimed to unravel these complex responses in a subtropical karst agricultural catchment to provide a basis for its sustainable management. We employed high-frequency monitoring at a headwater spring (background), a depression well (hotspot), and the catchment outlet (integrated) in Southwest China. Using hydrological and geochemical data from 2017, we applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to apportion natural and anthropogenic sources. The main findings revealed significant spatial heterogeneity, with the depression well acting as a contamination hotspot characterized by rapid hydrological responses and elevated SO₄²⁻ and Cl⁻ concentrations. PCA successfully decoupled an “anthropogenic factor” (PC1, 40.5%) from a “natural weathering factor” (PC2, 25.2%). Critically, agricultural SO₄²⁻ at the hotspot was counter-intuitively higher during the wet season than the dry season, opposing the typical dilution pattern of background ions and revealing that depressions act as contaminant-concentrating pathways, whose risks are severely underestimated by traditional outlet monitoring. The anomalous sulfate dynamics reveal a cross-seasonal “storage-and-release” mechanism (legacy effect) within the karst Critical Zone, demonstrating that these systems can buffer and “remember” contaminants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Hydrogeology)

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30 pages, 11720 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation in the Semi-Arid Region of Oum El Bouaghi (Northeastern Algeria) Using Groundwater Quality and Pollution Indices and GIS Techniques

by Norelhouda Messaid, Ramzi Hadjab, Hichem Khammar, Aymen Hadjab, Nadhir Bouchema, Abderrezzeq Chebout, Mourad Aqnouy, Ourania Tzoraki and Lahcen Benaabidate

Water 2025, 17(22), 3266; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17223266 (registering DOI) - 15 Nov 2025

Abstract

Groundwater quality in the semi-arid region of Oum El Bouaghi, Northeastern Algeria, was assessed for irrigation suitability using hydrogeochemical analyses, water quality indices, and GIS techniques. The study analyzed 23 groundwater samples during dry and wet seasons in 2022–2023, several physicochemical parameters were measured. Results revealed neutral to slightly alkaline pH levels, except for one acidic sample, with salinity (EC: 527–5001 µS·cm⁻¹) exceeding WHO guidelines, particularly during the dry season due to evaporation and anthropogenic activities. Hydrogeochemical facies showed dominance of Na⁺-HCO₃⁻ and Ca²⁺-Cl⁻/SO₄²⁻ water types, indicating rock–water interactions and evaporation control, as confirmed by Gibbs plots. The IWQI classified water into five categories, with severe restrictions (IWQI < 40) in 13% of samples during the dry season, improving slightly in the wet season. Indices such as SAR, Na%, and RSC indicated low to moderate sodium hazard, while KR and PS highlighted salinity risks in specific areas. Spatial analysis revealed localized pollution hotspots, with the (GPI) identifying minimal to high contamination levels, linked to agricultural and geogenic sources. These findings underscore needs for sustainable groundwater management, including monitoring, optimized irrigation practices, and mitigation of anthropogenic impacts, to ensure long-term agricultural viability in this water-scarce region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry: Challenges and Prospects)

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22 pages, 444 KB

Open AccessReview

Advancements in Understanding Spasticity: A Neuromusculoskeletal Modeling Perspective

by Mohammad S. Shourijeh, Argyrios Stampas, Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Radha Korupolu and Gerard E. Francisco

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(22), 8092; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14228092 (registering DOI) - 15 Nov 2025

Abstract

Spasticity, a complex consequence of upper motor neuron lesions, poses challenges for clinical assessment due to its neural and mechanical origins. Traditional scales like the Modified Ashworth and Tardieu Scales provide subjective, context-limited insights, often missing spasticity’s dynamic nature. Neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) modeling offers objective, quantitative insights by integrating patient-specific muscle–tendon properties, reflex dynamics, and multi-joint biomechanics. This scoping review examines advancements in spasticity modeling, comparing mechanical, neurological, and integrated approaches, and their applications in conditions like cerebral palsy and stroke. We highlight barriers to clinical translation, including computational demands and regulatory challenges, and propose future directions, such as real-time simulation and machine learning integration, to enhance personalized assessment and treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Rehabilitation)

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23 pages, 543 KB

Open AccessArticle

Responding to Precarity: Young People’s Ambiguity Aversion, Resilience, and Coping Strategies

by Audrey Ansay Antonio, Nadiyah Afifah Niigata Ramadhani and Rita Chiesa

Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(11), 668; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14110668 (registering DOI) - 15 Nov 2025

Abstract

The nature of contemporary careers has shifted and is characterized by precarity, emphasizing the need for young people to possess adequate career resources in their pursuit of decent work. Grounded in the dual-process model and the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study examines the loss impact caused by ambiguity aversion and low resilience on young people’s responses to career ambiguity, specifically, their coping strategies (i.e., avoidance and approach) and career anxiety. In this cross-sectional study, we collected data using online surveys from young adults aged 18–35 (N = 156) in Norway, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. Serial mediation analyses were conducted using IBM-SPSS Statistics. Our findings found that ambiguity aversion had significant positive relations with career anxiety. Furthermore, resilience and avoidance coping were found to play mediating roles in the ambiguity aversion–career anxiety association. The results of the exploratory analyses also revealed significant differences in variable levels between the three countries examined. Our results have both theoretical and practical implications that contribute to the knowledge and practices in helping young people navigate the risks of precarity by developing adaptive career resources. We acknowledge the limitations regarding sample size and research design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Precarious Work to Decent Work)

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15 pages, 1265 KB

Open AccessArticle

Lightweight Multimodal Adapter for Visual Object Tracking

by Vasyl Borsuk, Vitaliy Yakovyna and Nataliya Shakhovska

Big Data Cogn. Comput. 2025, 9(11), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/bdcc9110292 (registering DOI) - 15 Nov 2025

Abstract

Visual object tracking is a fundamental computer vision task recently extended to multimodal settings, where natural language descriptions complement visual information. Existing multimodal trackers typically rely on large-scale transformer architectures that jointly train visual and textual encoders, resulting in hundreds of millions of trainable parameters and substantial computational overhead. We propose a lightweight multimodal adapter that integrates textual descriptions into a state-of-the-art visual-only framework with minimal overhead. The pretrained visual and text encoders are frozen, and only a small projection network is trained to align text embeddings with visual features. The adapter is modular, can be toggled at inference, and has negligible impact on speed. Extensive experiments demonstrate that textual cues improve tracking robustness and enable efficient multimodal integration with over 100× fewer trainable parameters than heavy multimodal trackers, allowing training and deployment on resource-limited devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI, Computer Vision and Human–Robot Interaction)

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30 pages, 8975 KB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling of Exploitation Influence on Rock Mass Seismicity in Boundary Coal Pillar Areas—A Single-Longwall Option

by Dariusz Chlebowski and Grażyna Dzik

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 12126; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152212126 (registering DOI) - 15 Nov 2025

Abstract

The article is devoted to the issues of designing the exploitation of a seam deposit in the boundary areas of underground mines in terms of minimizing the risk of dynamic phenomena. Its main goal was to attempt to demonstrate the relationship between the method of extracting resources trapped in the boundary pillar and the magnitude of the induced seismicity of the rock mass accompanying this process. The substantive considerations concerned the single-wall model and were divided into two main parts—theoretical and verification. As part of the theoretical piece, based on model studies, a geomechanical assessment of the impact of the working face advance on changes in the stress–strain behaviour occurring in the burst-prone layer in terms of the possible loss of continuity of its original structure was carried out. The starting point for the key analyses were the results of numerical simulations based on the algorithms of S. Knothe and W. Budryk’s theories in combination with classical solutions of the mechanics of deformable bodies. Two variants of mining operations in a two-sided environment of goaf were considered, differing in the direction of progress, the degree of constraint of the start and end of the face advance, and mining circumstances in the vicinity of both sides of the advancing face. As part of the verification piece, the results of model analyses were related to an example polygon of a crossing longwall in one of the functioning, rockburst USCB hard coal mines. The scope of the research included a comparison of the experimentally indicated zones of occurrence of tremor-favourable effort processes in the roof of the seam with the actual location of the seismic phenomena foci recorded during the ongoing exploitation. The considerations included in the work formed the basis for formulating conclusions of a cognitive and applicable nature. Full article

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31 pages, 353 KB

Open AccessArticle

Woman as a Victim—Examples of Discriminatory Provisions in Criminal Law

by Olga Sitarz

Laws 2025, 14(6), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/laws14060086 (registering DOI) - 15 Nov 2025

Abstract

The publication analyses three criminal justice structures prominent in the scientific debate across various countries from the perspective of human rights, with particular emphasis on the principles of gender equality—the order to temporarily vacate the premises shared with the victim, the public-complaint nature of the offense of rape and the prohibition of mediation in cases of domestic violence. Their shared characteristic is their assumed support for victims of a specific type of criminal offenses, which justifies the premises and scope of these constructs (or the submitted postulates). The analysis has confirmed that all the indicated instruments unreasonably restrict the rights of victims. They are all grounded in a single model of the victim as a person—a weak, powerless woman, unable to decide about herself freely and without coercion. At the same time, it can be argued that they exemplify legal paternalism and systemic gender-based discrimination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Law and Gender Justice)

15 pages, 708 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Myrcianthes hallii Leaf Essential Oil Across Phenological Stages: Application in Nutraceutical Fermented Beverage

by Raluca A. Mihai, Erly J. Melo Heras, Nelson S. Cubi Insuaste, Lisbeth M. Topón Quinga and Rodica D. Catana

Fermentation 2025, 11(11), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11110648 - 14 Nov 2025

Abstract

In the context of natural beverages used for human nutrition, our study explored the potential of Myrcianthes hallii leaves (rich in bioactive compounds) as a raw material for the production of non-traditional craft beer. We hypothesized that the phenological stage affects essential oil yield and bioactivity, which in turn influences the functional properties of fortified beer. In our case, M. hallii leaves collected during the flowering stage yielded the highest amount of essential oil (0.5 v/m/%) and exhibited the greatest concentrations of total phenolics (7.7149 ± 0.02143 mg GAE/mL) and flavonoids (1.6531 ± 0.03355 mg QE/mL), correlating with increased antioxidant capacity. These findings suggest this stage as the most suitable period for harvesting M. hallii leaves for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. This non-traditional beer demonstrated notable antioxidant activity, and sensory analysis revealed high acceptance regarding aroma, taste, and color, supporting its potential as a functional beverage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Fermentation for Food and Beverages)

13 pages, 849 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Evaluation of the Digestive Enzyme Inhibition, Protein, and Starch Components of Ten Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. Accessions

by Queeneth A. Ogunniyi, Ada F. Molokwu, Abraham O. Nkumah, Abdullahi A. Adegoke, Olaniyi A. Oyatomi, Omonike O. Ogbole, Oluwatoyin A. Odeku, Joerg Fettke and Michael T. Abberton

Plants 2025, 14(22), 3483; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223483 - 14 Nov 2025

Abstract

Digestive enzymes play a crucial role in carbohydrate hydrolysis and subsequent glucose absorption, and their inhibition can contribute to improved glycemic regulation. Legumes, with their inherent enzyme-inhibitory properties, offer a natural approach for achieving this. In this study, accessions of M. uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc, an underutilized legume, were evaluated in vitro for their α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, as well as their protein, amylose, and resistant starch contents. The results revealed significant variation among the accessions. PI 174827 01 SD (IC₅₀ = 23.29 ± 0.01 µg/mL) and PI 173901 01 SD (IC₅₀ = 24.60 ± 0.01 µg/mL) demonstrated strong inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. Protein content ranged from 13.81 to 27.08%w/w d.w., with PI 180437 01 SD showing the highest percentage. Total starch content ranged from 27.48 to 54.70%w/w d.w., amylose from 27.05 to 48.13%w/w d.w., and resistant starch from 5.89% to 7.09%w/w d.w., with PI 174827 01 SD exhibiting both higher amylose and resistant starch contents. These findings suggest that M. uniflorum accessions possess enzyme-inhibitory and nutritional components that could be harnessed to develop functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals for the management of diabetes and obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)

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23 pages, 1774 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stability Calculation and Roll Analysis for Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Buoy

by Songgen Zheng, Jiangyan Ke, Chenglong Li, Yongqiang Tu, Haoran Zhang and Shaohui Yang

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(11), 2159; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13112159 - 14 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study presents a systematic analysis of the stability and roll characteristics of an Oscillating Water Column (OWC) wave energy buoy. By integrating theoretical derivation and AQWA simulation, the research identifies thirteen possible heeling states of OWC buoy, focusing on five representative states applicable to the current design. A novel segmented-integration model is proposed to compute the centre of buoyancy and righting moment for the hollow-annular OWC buoy, accurately capturing the evolution of static and dynamic stability across heel angles from 0° to 90°. Results show that the buoy has an initial metacentric height of 0.33 m, a maximum righting arm of 0.713 m, a limiting static heel angle of 77°, and a minimum capsizing moment of 22,887 N·m—all significantly exceeding regulatory requirements. The roll natural period ranges from 5.8 to 7.7 s, with a tuning factor above 1.3, effectively avoiding resonance with typical wave periods in the target sea area. The buoy demonstrates excellent dynamic stability and capsize resistance. This study fills a gap in OWC buoy stability analysis and provides a practical guidance for the safe design of wave energy devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Energy)

47 pages, 27545 KB

Open AccessReview

Enhancing the Performance of FFF-Printed Parts: A Review of Reinforcement and Modification Strategies for Thermoplastic Polymers

by Jakub Leśniowski, Adam Stawiarski and Marek Barski

Materials 2025, 18(22), 5185; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18225185 - 14 Nov 2025

Abstract

The technology of 3D printing has become one of the most effective methods of creating various parts, such as those used for fast prototyping. The most important aspect of 3D printing is the selection and application of the appropriate material, also known as filament. The current review concerns mainly the description of the mechanical and physical properties of the different filaments and the possibilities of improving those properties. The review begins with a short description of the development of 3D printing technology. Next, the basic characteristics of thermoplastics used in the fused filament fabrication (FFF) are discussed, namely polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). According to modern con-cepts, the printed parts can be reinforced with the use of different kinds of fibers, namely synthetic fibers (carbon, glass, aramid) or natural fibers (wood, flax, hemp, jute). Thus, the impact of such a reinforcement on the performance of FFF composites is also presented. The current review, unlike other works, primarily addresses the problem of the aging of parts made from the thermoplastics above. Environmental conditions, including UV radiation, can drastically reduce the physical and mechanical properties of printed elements. Moreover, the current review contains a detailed discussion about the influence of the different fibers on the final mechanical properties of the printed elements. Generally, the synthetic fibers improve the mechanical performance, with documented increases in tensile modulus reaching, for instance, 700% for carbon-fiber-reinforced ABS or over 15-fold for continuous aramid composites, enabling their use in functional, load-bearing components. In contrast, the natural ones could even decrease the stiffness and strength (e.g., wood–plastic composites), or, as in the case of flax, significantly increase stiffness (by 88–121%) while offering a sustainable, lightweight alternative for non-structural applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Manufacturing Technology: Materials, Innovations and Applications, Second Edition)

16 pages, 1711 KB

Open AccessArticle

Beta-Blockers as Potential Adjuvants in Melanoma Treatment

by Laura Rama, Mónica Almeida, Jiya Jose, Maria de Lourdes Pereira and Miguel Oliveira

Toxics 2025, 13(11), 981; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13110981 - 14 Nov 2025

Abstract

Melanoma, in advanced stages, is the most invasive type of skin cancer, with currently available treatments showing limited efficiency. The number of melanoma cancer cases is expected to increase in the coming years, emphasizing the need for more efficient therapeutic strategies. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of β-blockers, commonly used to treat cardiac conditions, to be repurposed for the treatment of melanoma. The effects of non-selective β-blockers (carvedilol and propranolol), β1 selective blockers (atenolol and metoprolol) and antineoplastics drugs (cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) on the A375 melanoma cell line were studied, individually and in combined exposures, by assessing cell viability over a 72 h period. The 72 h half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀s) determined for A375 cells allow the ranking of toxicity as: cisplatin (2.46 (1.87–3.38) µM) > 5-fluorouracil (4.77 (4.48–5.07) µM) > carvedilol (16.91 (15.47–18.99) µM) > propranolol (58.03 (57.08–59.11) µM) > atenolol and metoprolol (β1 selective blockers that exhibited no significant effect on the cell’s viability). The effects of combined exposures were also studied. Metoprolol and carvedilol exhibited synergistic interactions with cisplatin at specific concentrations. Overall, the data highlight the concentration-dependent nature of mixture effects and support the potential application of β-blockers melanoma treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Drugs Toxicity)

24 pages, 4131 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pedestrian-Induced Bridge Vibration Driven by Behavioral Preferences

by Jinbao Yao, Yueyue Chen, Weiwei Yang, Yu Sun and Zhaozhi Wu

Buildings 2025, 15(22), 4114; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224114 - 14 Nov 2025

Abstract

Modern lightweight pedestrian bridges exhibit heightened susceptibility to human-induced vibration due to low natural frequencies and high flexibility. This study integrates behavioral science to explore pedestrian–structure coupling, developing a novel bidirectional biomechanical model capturing vertical/lateral movements. Body dynamics were solved iteratively. Concurrently, an agent-based cellular automata model embedded pedestrian social attributes and mutual exclusion to simulate crowd flow. Coupling these with finite element bridge analysis simulated vibration responses. Experimental validation confirms the model’s validity. This work advances a behavioral science perspective for mechanistically understanding pedestrian-induced vibration in flexible bridges, thereby contributing to strategies for mitigating vibration-induced disasters like structural damage or crowd panic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)

20 pages, 1265 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Biopreservative Effect of Non-Starter Lactic Acid Bacteria Using Soluble Fiber During Cheese Ripening

by Rakesh Kaushik and Sanjeev Anand

Appl. Microbiol. 2025, 5(4), 132; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol5040132 - 14 Nov 2025

Abstract

Cheddar cheese ripening creates favorable conditions for desired microbial changes but also allows survival and outgrowth of spores like Clostridium tyrobutyricum and Bacillus licheniformis, leading to late-blowing defects. In the first phase of the study, NSLAB dynamics were evaluated in the presence of spores, where pilot-scale cheeses (110 L) were produced in four treatments: control, T1 (BL), T2 (CT), and T3 (BL+CT), each inoculated at 2.0 Log₁₀ CFU/mL with spores. Results showed that SLAB declined from 8.0 to 0.2 Log₁₀ CFU/g, while NSLAB increased from 2.0 to 8.5 Log₁₀ CFU/g by the third month and remained stable thereafter. Spore counts reached 2.94 ± 0.02 (T2) and 2.48 ± 0.03 (T3) Log₁₀ CFU/g, with visible spoilage signs appearing after five months, indicating that native NSLAB populations were inadequate to control late-blowing defects. In this study, the effect of soluble fiber (inulin) in stimulating NSLAB was evaluated by incorporating 1% inulin into Cheddar cheese across four treatments: T1 (C SF), T2 (BL SF), T3 (CT SF), and T4 (BL+CT SF). Inulin addition resulted in significantly higher NSLAB counts (>10.5 Log₁₀ CFU/g) and suppressed spore levels (<0.91 ± 0.03 Log₁₀ CFU/g), with no spoilage observed. Inulin addition selectively enhanced beneficial NSLAB, suppressing spore-forming bacteria and preventing late-blowing defects without affecting cheese quality. This provides a natural, sustainable strategy to enhance microbial safety during Cheddar cheese ripening. Full article

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