Search Results (292)

Root length is increasingly used as a rapid endpoint in duckweed ecotoxicology, yet biologically distinct assays are often treated as equivalent. Two 72 h root-length tests are now in use: root re-growth after excision in mature Lemna aequinoctialis fronds, and root development during germination of rootless Spirodela polyrhiza turions exposed directly to the test solution. Both begin from zero initial root length, but for different biological reasons. We asked whether they produce comparable herbicide responses. Thirteen herbicides were drawn from a screening campaign in which both assays were run under matched exposure conditions. Nine compounds returned quantified EC₅₀ estimates (with the L. aequinoctialis coefficient of variation below 40%) and formed the primary comparison. EC₅₀ ratios (S. polyrhiza/L. aequinoctialis) ranged from 0.75 to 430 (median 2.76). Five compounds agreed within about three-fold, whereas four compounds spanning several target-site classes diverged by 74- to 430-fold, and potency rankings were not significantly correlated (Spearman ρ = 0.43, p = 0.24). For the common reference toxicant, the two assays differed by only about two-fold, and in the opposite direction; comparable reference-toxicant performance therefore did not predict comparable herbicide responses. The two assays should not be treated as interchangeable root-length tests. However, they differ not only in the biological origin of the measured root but also in species and developmental starting condition, and the present design cannot separate these factors; the observed differences therefore demonstrate assay-level non-equivalence without identifying its biological cause. Full article

This review evaluates urinary catheter sensors designed to warn of crystalline encrustation and blockage or to monitor infection-related microbial, interfacial, and host-response states. A source-to-claim framework links each measured state and sampling compartment with its readout, reference endpoint, and supportable clinical claim. The analysis also considers whether catheter integration preserves the relationship between source, readout, and claim. pH-responsive systems have the strongest human feasibility evidence, although the studies are small, use different sampling configurations, and include few blockage events. Evidence for urease sensing is confined to analytical studies and controlled in vitro experiments. Mineral-deposition and hydraulic approaches rely mainly on catheter models or adjacent-device studies. Most infection-related platforms are sample-based assays, prototypes, or short-duration systems that measure clinically non-equivalent states. Analyte detection alone cannot establish a diagnosis or predict a later event in either application. Interpretation also changes with sensor location and with the effects of transport, fouling, and mechanical loading on the recognition interface. Translation requires validation over complete catheter episodes against an endpoint matched to the intended claim. An additional channel is warranted only if it resolves a prespecified uncertainty and improves clinically relevant performance against a fixed comparator. Full article

Reliable aquaculture monitoring requires spatial, administrative, and environmental evidence to be integrated without treating these sources as equivalent. This study characterized mapped aquaculture land-cover dynamics in six coastal provinces of Ecuador from 1985 to 2024, assessed their 2023 correspondence with authorized or concessioned shrimp-farm area, quantified 2023–2024 land-cover transitions, and described climate exposure over a fixed historical aquaculture footprint. Annual MapBiomas Ecuador Collection 3.0 classifications were aggregated by province, canton, and parish; MPCEIP records were harmonized with INEC administrative codes; and CHIRPS v3 precipitation and ERA5-Land temperature were summarized over the union of all pixels mapped as aquaculture at least once during the study period. Mapped class 31 area increased from 58,198.792 ha in 1985 to 138,200.970 ha in 2024, with a maximum of 153,516.642 ha in 2022. In 2023, mapped area represented 74.508% of 202,114.900 ha of authorized or concessioned area, with strong canton-level rank correspondence. Between 2023 and 2024, persistence reached 135,774.430 ha, gross loss 14,816.766 ha, gross gain 2426.130 ha, and net change −12,390.636 ha. Climate exposure was wettest in 1998 and warmest in 2023. Together, the results show that coastal aquaculture development cannot be inferred reliably from a single territorial measure: long-term mapped expansion, administrative extent, recent classification changes, and climate exposure describe complementary but non-equivalent dimensions of the system. This distinction provides a more defensible basis for interpreting aquaculture land-use change and for targeting territorial monitoring and administrative verification. Full article

Background: Saudi Arabia maintains official statistics on its food security, in addition to conducting surveys on health parameters and performing national health assessments. Also, several academic papers on dietary patterns are published every year. Many published documents analyze data on food availability, self-reported eating habits, and biomarker-based health risks. However, individually, they represent distinct aspects of nutrition. Hence, this study was undertaken to examine publicly accessible nutrition-related evidence in Saudi Arabia and assess whether existing public food and nutrition datasets consistently align with the biological indicators of nutritional risk. Methods: Searches were conducted using defined criteria in publicly available Saudi and international sources published or updated between 2005 and 2025. These were identified through official reports, global food databases, WHO-aligned surveys, and peer-reviewed articles, with searches conducted and updated during June–July 2026. Sources were classified by representativeness, recency, measurement validity, accessibility, and analytical role. The primary outcome was the completeness and interpretability of public evidence streams rather than a pooled prevalence estimate. Results: SHIS 2013 remains the top public national dietary intake dataset, which shows that only 5.2% and 7.5% of people met their fruit and vegetable intake recommendations, respectively. GASTAT Health Determinants Statistics 2024 indicated that only 10.2% of people aged 15 years and above ate five or more portions of fruits and vegetables daily, yet GASTAT Food Security Statistics 2024 indicated significant per capita availability of rice, milk, poultry, eggs, red meat, onions, tomatoes, and dates. High levels of biological risk were evident in WHS 2019 biomarkers; for example, 42.6% of people had hypercholesterolemia and 50% had low hemoglobin according to the WHS 2019 indicator definition. Recent studies provided additional data on beverages, sugars, dietary habits of adolescents, and diet quality but lacked national food-wide intake data. Conclusions: Public Saudi nutrition data provide complementary but non-equivalent information; indicators show low dietary adequacy and high biomarker-defined risk, supporting the need for integrated individual-level nutrition surveillance. In the future, Saudi national nutrition surveillance must focus on individual-level intake data and biomarker-based measurements. Full article

This exploratory study examined a dual-role artificial intelligence-supported programming environment that integrated human-in-the-loop item generation and on-demand AI debugging within a flipped cognitive apprenticeship framework. Programming tasks were initially generated by GPT-4o and were subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by the instructor before release. Both instructional conditions completed the same instructor-approved tasks and received the same compiler and automated test-case feedback. Students in the AI Debug-enabled condition could additionally request diagnostic guidance after an unsuccessful submission, whereas students in the comparison condition did not have access to AI-generated debugging assistance. The analytic sample comprised 45 students in the AI Debug-enabled condition and 16 students in the comparison condition. Prior-semester programming achievement, operationalized as the total grade obtained in the preceding programming course, was used as an archival baseline covariate. The observed baseline difference was not statistically significant. Programming-task performance was recorded across 13 instructional weeks. A generalized estimating equation model controlling for prior-semester programming achievement showed no significant overall condition effect, but revealed significant effects of instructional week and the Condition × Week interaction. Prior-semester programming achievement significantly predicted weekly task performance. The comparison condition also obtained higher midterm and final examination scores after adjustment for prior achievement. The findings do not demonstrate a consistent programming-performance advantage associated with access to AI Debug. Instead, adjusted differences varied across instructional weeks and assessment contexts. Because the study used naturally occurring nonequivalent groups and did not retain AI Debug activation records, the results should be interpreted as exploratory associations concerning feature availability rather than causal effects of actual AI use. The primary contribution lies in documenting a human-supervised architecture that integrates instructor-facing AI item generation and student-facing debugging assistance while distinguishing AI-supported task performance from independent programming achievement. Full article

Background/Objectives: Scenario-specific anticipatory anxiety among anesthesia professionals is poorly characterized. We describe scenario ratings, career incidents, and associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional survey (20 June–6 July 2026) included a self-selected convenience sample of 400 anesthesia professionals in Bursa, Türkiye. Participants rated 12 scenarios and reported incidents, post-event impact, burnout, and institutional preparedness. Multivariable regression examined the preliminary mean index. Results: An internal split-sample stability assessment—not independent validation—showed inadequate confirmatory fit; the 12-item mean was therefore treated as a preliminary descriptive index, not a validated scale. Ratings were highest for pediatric complications (7.01), medication errors (6.45), and malignant hyperthermia (6.15). Difficult airway was selected most often in a separate, non-equivalent incident item (95.8%); selections indicate citation salience, not prevalence. All respondents reported a participant-defined career incident. The invitation denominator was unknown; self-selection may have inflated the observed 100% incident-reporting proportion. Only 7.8% reported past-year simulation training. The exploratory model explained 10.9% of the index variance. Higher values were associated, after adjustment, with female sex (β = 0.55, 95% CI 0.15–0.96), faculty (β = 1.58, 95% CI 0.50–2.66) and specialist roles (β = 1.36, 95% CI 0.82–1.90) relative to technicians, and with a higher study-specific burnout rating (β = 0.20/point, 95% CI 0.09–0.31). Reporting ≥6 vs. <6 incidents was associated with a modestly lower value (β = −0.64, 95% CI −1.20 to −0.09), without a monotonic trend. Conclusions: The findings are hypothesis-generating. Selection, reverse causation, measurement error, untested cross-role measurement invariance, common method covariance, multiplicity, and unexplained variance limit interpretation. Multisite studies using validated measures are required before application. Full article

Hydrogen transport and cyclic loading complicate O-ring assessment. This study developed an automated sequential screening workflow for ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) O-rings, linking Abaqus mass diffusion, one-way concentration-field transfer to nonlinear structural/contact analysis with prescribed isotropic swelling, and fe-safe/Rubber fatigue post-processing. EPDM 60A and 90A were evaluated at sampled pressures of 3, 7, 14, and 21 MPa and circumferential installation stretches of 1–5%, with radial squeeze fixed at 20%. Structural analyses used third-order Reduced Polynomial models with built-in Mullins effects. Material-specific diffusivities characterized at approximately 1 bar were held constant across pressures; hydrogen-content and post-decompression free-specimen volume-change data informed model inputs. Fatigue inputs were characterized in air at approximately 23 °C using non-equivalent bases for the two compounds. At 1% stretch, fatigue-life outputs decreased from 6.877 × 10⁷ to 12.923 repeats for 60A and from 3.155 × 10⁹ to 3.896 repeats for 90A between 7 and 14 MPa. At 21 MPa, outputs were 0.712 and 0.041 repeats, respectively; these fractional values are numerical screening indicators without assignment to a within-cycle event or damage mode. The outputs support only input-conditional comparison of axisymmetric cases and experimental prioritization; they do not support decisions on component durability, leakage, sealing performance, or operating pressure. Full article

Background/Objectives: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour are related but distinct components of adolescent movement behaviour and may combine into heterogeneous lifestyle profiles. This study aimed to identify empirically derived physical activity–sedentary behaviour profiles and to examine sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with profile membership. Methods: This cross-sectional, school-based study included 3307 Polish adolescents aged 15–17 years (52.22% girls; mean age, 15.89 ± 0.71 years). Weekly sedentary time and walking, moderate-intensity, and vigorous-intensity physical activity were assessed using the IPAQ-LF, reprocessed using predefined truncation procedures, standardised using z-scores, and entered into k-means clustering. Two- and three-cluster solutions were evaluated. Separate binary logistic regression models examined crude and sex- and school-type-adjusted associations between candidate lifestyle correlates and profile membership. Results: Although the two-cluster solution had a higher average silhouette coefficient (0.36 vs. 0.28), the three-cluster solution was retained because it provided a more differentiated and substantively interpretable representation of movement-behaviour patterns. The profiles comprised a walking-dominant activity profile (C1; n = 645; 19.50%), a high moderate-to-vigorous activity/lower sedentary profile (C2; n = 354; 10.71%), and a lower physical activity profile (C3; n = 2308; 69.80%). C3 had substantially lower walking, moderate-intensity, and vigorous-intensity activity than C1, while sedentary time was similar in magnitude between these profiles. After adjustment for sex and school type, C2 membership was associated with irregular eating patterns (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.05–2.84), school-day sleep ≥ 9 h/day (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.11–3.54), weekend sleep < 7 h/day (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.02–2.82), and weekend sleep ≥ 9 h/day (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.16–2.16). No lifestyle candidate correlate reached statistical significance in the adjusted C3-versus-C1 analyses. Conclusions: The identified profiles support viewing physical activity and sedentary behaviour as related but non-equivalent dimensions of adolescent movement behaviour. Lower physical activity did not necessarily coincide with higher sedentary time, while selected sleep-duration and eating-regularity characteristics were associated with the high moderate-to-vigorous activity/lower sedentary profile. These findings are exploratory and warrant confirmation in longitudinal studies using objective measures. Full article

Winter-sport wearable technology spans motion and force sensing, physiological monitoring, thermal intervention, flexible bioelectronics, equipment-integrated systems, and safety technologies. This structured critical review synthesizes an evidence base of 80 unique scholarly records identified through a systematic Boolean search executed on 15 August 2026 in four standard academic databases (Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore), which retrieved 1466 records (808 unique after cross-database deduplication), supplemented by backward/forward citation chasing for eligible records not indexed in these databases. The corpus comprises 32 direct winter-sport records, 15 cold-context translational records, 14 contextual validation records, and 19 secondary/background records. For empirical records containing sufficient information, validation maturity was additionally coded on a seven-stage ordinal scale; 54/80 records could be staged without inference, whereas 26/80 were retained as ‘not staged’. The corpus shows that translational maturity is strongly domain dependent. Motion and kinematic sensing frequently reaches real winter-sport training or field settings, whereas antifreezing hydrogels and flexible bioelectronics have advanced substantially in conductivity, adhesion, self-healing, conformability, and low-temperature operation but remain concentrated at material, integrated-device, and human-demonstration stages. The five recurring constraints—thermodynamic, interface, ecological, connectivity, and equity—are therefore reframed as non-equivalent, context-dependent dimensions rather than universal burdens. The revised architecture also distinguishes digitally mediated sense–decide–actuate loops from material-native stimulus–response and hybrid pathways, while continuous remote monitoring is treated as one option within an energy–communication trade-space. The resulting framework links evidence type, validation depth, system interface, and deployment context without equating commercial availability with scientific validation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Communication training in undergraduate nursing skills courses is often overshadowed by procedural skill acquisition, leaving limited opportunities for students to develop patient-centered communication skills and engage in reflective learning. This study evaluated a reflection-integrated CICARE communication program embedded in a Fundamentals of Nursing skills course and explored students’ learning experiences. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with an embedded qualitative component was conducted among second-year undergraduate nursing students in China. The quantitative component used a non-equivalent control group design, while reflective journals from the Intervention Group provided qualitative data on students’ learning experiences. Two intact classes were assigned to the Intervention Group (n = 65), and two intact classes were assigned to the Control Group (n = 66). The Intervention Group received an 18-week CICARE-based communication program integrated into skills training, including scenario-based role-play, emotional cue recognition, demonstration videos, feedback, and reflective journals. The Control Group received conventional skills training. Outcomes included communication competence, empathy, professional identity, clinical judgment, and course performance. Analysis of covariance was used to compare post-intervention outcomes after adjustment for baseline scores. Reflective journals from the Intervention Group were analyzed thematically. Results: After adjustment for baseline scores, the Intervention Group showed significantly higher communication competence than the Control Group (adjusted mean difference = 2.699, 95% CI: 0.108–5.291, p = 0.041). Empathy was also higher in the Intervention Group (adjusted mean difference = 3.796, 95% CI: 0.538–7.053, p = 0.023). The between-group difference in professional identity was not statistically significant (p = 0.073). The Intervention Group achieved higher total clinical judgment scores than the Control Group (31.52 ± 5.50 vs. 27.20 ± 6.45, p < 0.001), with significant differences in noticing, interpreting, and reflecting. Course performance was also higher in the Intervention Group. In their reflective journals, students described greater patient-centered awareness, attention to patients’ emotional needs, professional reflection, and motivation for self-directed learning. Conclusions: Integrating CICARE-based communication training with reflective learning may strengthen communication competence, empathy, clinical judgment, and course performance in undergraduate nursing skills education. Further studies with longer follow-up are needed to determine whether the observed differences persist over time and whether professional identity and action-oriented clinical responses improve with longer educational exposure. Registration: This study was not registered. Full article

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Limited knowledge regarding cervical cancer prevention and elevated anxiety levels may hinder women’s participation in preventive measures. Mindfulness-Based Social–Emotional Learning integrates mindfulness practices with social–emotional learning strategies and may enhance health knowledge while reducing anxiety. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest non-equivalent control group design was conducted among 80 women attending gynecological outpatient clinics in Egypt. Participants were assigned to a study group (n = 40) and a control group (n = 40). Data were collected using a structured interview questionnaire, a cervical cancer knowledge questionnaire, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The study group received an eight-week MBSEL intervention incorporating mindfulness exercises, social–emotional learning activities, and cervical cancer education, while the control group received routine health education. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were performed. Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Following the intervention, the study group had significantly higher mean knowledge scores regarding cervical cancer prevention, with mean knowledge scores increasing from 38.71 ± 10.41 to 66.25 ± 8.95 compared with 42.09 ± 15.95 in the control group (t = 8.355, p < 0.001). Good knowledge levels increased from 2.5% to 35.0%, while poor knowledge declined from 62.5% to 0.0%. Anxiety levels significantly improved in the study group, with mean BAI scores decreasing from 38.68 ± 6.32 to 22.20 ± 3.91 compared with 34.28 ± 9.53 in the control group (t = 7.414, p < 0.001). Low anxiety increased from 2.5% to 62.5% in the study group compared with 7.5% to 12.5% in the control group, and severe anxiety was eliminated from 27.5% to 0.0% in the study group compared with 32.5% to 22.5% in the control group after the intervention. Conclusions: The MBSEL approach effectively enhanced women’s knowledge regarding cervical cancer prevention and significantly reduced anxiety levels. Integrating mindfulness practices with social–emotional learning and health education appears to strengthen cognitive engagement and emotional regulation. Clinical Trial Registration: Registered in accordance with WHO and ICMJE standards (Trial number: PACTR202605512267205). Registration date: 29 May 2026. Full article

Insufficient vascularization remains a major limitation in tissue engineering, restricting the survival and maturation of larger bioengineered constructs. While candidate hydrogels are commonly characterized with regard to physicochemical properties, gelation behavior, mechanical performance, and cytocompatibility, simple functional assays that assess their capacity to support vascular sprouting are less frequently integrated into early-stage biomaterial evaluation. Here, we investigated the established ex vivo aortic ring assay (ARA) as an exploratory functional approach for the initial comparison of selected hydrogel formulations. Murine aortic rings were embedded in collagen I (Col I), alginate (Alg), or gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and cultured under control conditions or with vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) stimulation. These hydrogels were intentionally selected as a proof-of-concept panel of representative, non-equivalent material classes with distinct expected cell-interactive properties. After five days, Col I supported robust capillary-like outgrowth that was further enhanced by VEGF-A, whereas the tested GelMA formulation supported only limited cellular migration and the tested unmodified Alg formulation showed no detectable sprouting under the conditions examined. Cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) immunostaining supported the presence of an endothelial component within the Col I-supported sprouting structures. These findings demonstrate that the ARA can detect pronounced formulation-dependent differences among the specific hydrogels tested using straightforward morphological and immunostaining readouts. Within the scope of the formulations tested, these findings support the ARA as a complementary functional readout alongside conventional biomaterial characterization before more complex tissue engineering or biofabrication studies are performed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Home-based telemedicine requires patients to perform technical tasks independently, whereas assisted public health center (PHC)-based telemedicine transfers some of these tasks to on-site personnel. This study describes model-specific perceptions and estimates the difference in intention to use between the two scenarios among relatively digitally capable, community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional, fixed-order, scenario-based online survey was completed by 300 adults aged 65 years or older in South Korea. Home-based barriers and PHC-based facilitators were analyzed as non-equivalent descriptive domains. The primary paired comparison used three conceptually matched intention items. Internal consistency, exploratory factor evidence, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), Pearson and Spearman correlations, and multivariable linear regressions with HC3 robust standard errors were reported. Results: The seven-item home-based barrier score was 2.80 (SD 0.76; 95% CI 2.71–2.89), and the seven-item PHC facilitator score was 3.58 (SD 0.58; 95% CI 3.52–3.65). Intention scores were 3.91 (SD 0.64) for home-based and 3.88 (SD 0.66) for PHC-based telemedicine. The paired mean difference (PHC minus home) was −0.030 (95% CI −0.107 to 0.047; p = 0.441; Cohen’s dz = −0.045, bootstrap 95% CI −0.155 to 0.071). Preferences were home-based 42.7% (95% CI 37.2–48.3%), PHC-based 41.3% (95% CI 35.9–47.0%), and unsure 16.0% (95% CI 12.3–20.6%). After adjustment, digital literacy remained positively associated with both intention outcomes. Conclusions: No statistically detectable difference in intention to use was observed between the two hypothetical scenarios; this finding does not establish equivalence. The item-level results generate a hypothesis that staff-supported PHC delivery may be useful for some older adults, but actual uptake, effectiveness, accessibility, and equity require evaluation in real-world studies that include less digitally capable and more vulnerable populations. Full article

Background: Biofilm formation on polyethylene surfaces contributes significantly to treatment failure in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). In certain clinical situations, such as discontinued implant systems, replacement polyethylene liners may be unavailable, necessitating more complex revision procedures. This study evaluated the efficacy of a low-cost ultrasonic bath sonicator for biofilm removal and bacterial reduction on polyethylene surfaces, with and without povidone–iodine. Methods: An exploratory in vitro experimental study was performed using twenty ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) coupons (1 × 1 cm, 3 mm thickness) allocated into five groups (n = 4/group): negative control, positive control, povidone–iodine only (PVP-I), sonication only (SON), and sonication with povidone–iodine (SON+PVP-I). Biofilm formation using Staphylococcus epidermidis was established through an optimized protocol developed from sequential pilot experiments. Residual biofilm was quantified using optical density at 600 nm (OD600), while viable bacterial burden was determined by colony-forming unit counts per milliliter (CFU/mL). Results: SON demonstrated the lowest residual biofilm burden (OD600 = 0.194), whereas no culturable bacteria were detected above the assay detection limit (<10 CFU/mL) in the SON+PVP-I group. SON alone resulted in the greatest reduction in residual biofilm biomass, while the addition of PVP-I was associated with reduced recovery of culturable bacteria. Conclusions: A low-cost ultrasonic bath sonicator effectively reduced residual biofilm biomass on polyethylene surfaces, while no culturable bacteria were detected following combined sonication and povidone–iodine treatment. These findings suggest that sonication and chemical disinfection may provide complementary roles in polyethylene decontamination strategies. However, because of the exploratory study design and non-equivalent bacterial recovery procedures across treatment groups, the bacterial recovery findings should be interpreted cautiously. Further studies are required before clinical application. Full article

In operational terms, post-fire landscapes require monitoring priorities that reflect hydrogeomorphic susceptibility rather than burned extent alone. This study tests whether European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) burned area evidence, combined with open terrain, rainfall, drainage, soil, land cover, and settlement context data, can be translated into source-to-output traceable monitoring priority units across Mediterranean and Iberian–Atlantic regions. The backbone integrates Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) driver structuring, cell criticality score (CCS) screening from the CCS-V0 conventional weighted linear GIS baseline to CCS-V5 staged refinement, upper-quartile (Q75) hotspot topology, multi-criteria decision analysis/cost penalty (MCDA/COST-PEN) ranking, and quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO)-ready selected/reserve organization. Across Vesuvius–Campania, Attica, Cyprus, Portugal, and Spain, the screening outputs show procedural portability without implying geomorphological equivalence, field-confirmed hydrogeomorphic damage, or cross-theater hazard comparability: hotspot geometry, dominance, fragmentation, and candidate composition remain theater-dependent. In Vesuvius–Campania, CCS-V1 rainfall conditioning reduced Q75 hotspot clusters from 58 to 18 and increased the dominant cluster ratio from 23.1% to 63.07%; in Portugal, CCS-V5 contracted hotspot support from 17,240 to 862 cells while increasing dominance to 66.13%. The final QUBO-ready layer retained 11 of 32 candidate units. The contribution links (i) EFFIS/Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) source sector traceability and valid support construction, (ii) DEMATEL-informed CCS refinement and hotspot topology interpretation, (iii) role-based transfer testing across non-equivalent theaters, and (iv) QUBO-ready prioritization for verification-oriented post-fire monitoring. Full article