Search Results (8,811)

Background/Objectives: Surgical site infection (SSI) after surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been described microbiologically in the Arabian Peninsula, where extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) prevalence is high and prophylaxis remains largely cephalosporin-based. We described the microbiology of SSI after IBD surgery and the extent to which recovered microorganisms were expected to be covered by the prophylaxis administered. Methods: We retrospectively studied consecutive gastrointestinal operations for IBD at a tertiary center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (April 2014 to November 2025). Of 118 eligible operations, 8 performed through a dirty/infected wound were reported separately, leaving a primary cohort of 110 operations in 91 patients. The primary outcome was deep incisional or organ/space SSI by CDC/NHSN criteria; models used cluster-robust standard errors for repeated operations. The microbiological analysis was exploratory. Results: SSI followed 33 of 110 operations (30.0%; 95% CI 22.2–39.1), of which 22 (66.7%) were deep or organ/space. Cultures were positive in 23 of 33 infections; because specimens were obtained at clinician discretion, microbiological estimates apply to this subset only. An acquired resistance phenotype was recorded in 10 of 23 (43.5%): ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in 8 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 2. All operations received prophylaxis within 60 minutes of incision, but five regimens were in use. Expected non-coverage of at least one isolate, assigned from recorded phenotype and intrinsic resistance, was present in 7 of 11 culture-positive infections after cephalosporin-based prophylaxis (63.6%; 95% CI 35.4–84.8) and 0 of 12 after broader-spectrum regimens, with 5 indeterminate. Low preoperative serum albumin and absence of IBD-directed therapy were associated with deep infection after adjustment; emergent surgery was not, although it was in a sensitivity analysis that included the dirty/infected operations. Conclusions: These findings describe prophylaxis–spectrum discordance and support microbiological surveillance and locally informed review of prophylaxis policy rather than empirical broadening. Full article

Offshore renewable energy (ORE) systems experience interacting chemical, biological, and mechanical stresses that make coating performance dependent on component duty and maintenance access. This critical narrative review evaluates conventional and advanced coatings across atmospheric, splash, tidal, and submerged zones, distinguishing laboratory demonstrations from field evidence. Coupled degradation is analyzed in relation to coating architecture: strain-assisted ingress and delamination in organic multilayers; cathodic disbondment in immersed barrier systems; sacrificial consumption in metallic and duplex systems; and wear-induced loss of support in ceramic-rich layers. Surface preparation, layer dimensions, filler dispersion, and wet interfacial properties govern these pathways. Component-specific multi-stressor protocols use matched controls to distinguish interaction from coincident damage. An explicitly illustrative worked example links assumed defect-area histories to a remaining protective life of 2.64 years, repair area, discounted intervention cost, and climate impact. Growth-rate and access-delay scenarios show why these outputs require site calibration and cannot be treated as validated offshore predictions. Qualified multilayer organic and metallic–organic systems remain practical reference options, while nanofillers, self-healing, and sensing functions require demonstrated benefits at matched thickness, cure, and damage state. Full article

Involvement of the female reproductive tract is rare in canine lymphoma. A 9-year-old spayed female Maltese dog was presented with generalized lymphadenopathy. Cytology of a mandibular lymph node aspirate indicated large cell lymphoma, whereas PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) of the same sample was polyclonal. Splenectomy confirmed splenic large cell lymphoma, classified as World Health Organization clinical stage IVa. After 12 cycles of a CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone)-based protocol, restaging computed tomography showed a marked reduction in all measurable lymph nodes, whereas gastric and subcutaneous nodules persisted. On Day 181 (168 days after the start of chemotherapy), vulvar swelling was noticed and progressed despite antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory treatment, together with inguinal lymphadenopathy. Disease progression was diagnosed by inguinal lymph node cytology, and rescue chemotherapy was started; however, the dog developed acute dyspnea and died two days later. Results reported after death showed a mixed monoclonal and polyclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) pattern in the inguinal lymph node and a clonal IgH rearrangement in the vulvar aspirate, which was cytologically consistent with lymphoma. In dogs treated for lymphoma, vulvar swelling may reflect neoplastic infiltration, and PARR results may differ between samples obtained at different sites and time points. Full article

The Nabataean Kingdom, which flourished between the fourth century BCE and the second century CE, produced a remarkable architectural heritage across the arid landscapes in northwestern Arabia and Jordan. Nabataean architectural heritage is characterized by complex rock-cut monuments, intricate decorative carvings, and ongoing deterioration processes, creating significant challenges for accurate digital documentation, information management, and conservation. Despite the increasing scholarly attention devoted to these sites, the available documentation and datasets remain fragmented across institutions, disciplinary domains, and digital formats, limiting their accessibility and long-term management. While Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) has become an effective system for modeling historic structures, existing approaches often emphasize geometric reconstruction of monuments with limited integration of detailed decorative elements and multidisciplinary heritage information. This study proposes a centralized HBIM framework for the documentation and management of Nabataean architectural heritage by integrating terrestrial laser scanning, close-range photogrammetry, and parametric HBIM. The proposed workflow combines accurate geometric acquisition with semantic information management within a unified workset-based HBIM environment. A major contribution of this research is the development of a dedicated digital library of Nabataean decorative motifs, comprising high-resolution textured mesh models that preserve the intricate geometry and visual characteristics of recurring sculptural elements. These meshes are accurately scaled and georeferenced using laser scanning data and integrated into the HBIM environment to support systematic classification, reuse, and heritage information management. Furthermore, a hybrid mesh–HBIM approach is introduced by integrating realistic mesh models with the parametric HBIM representation of the monument, enabling detailed documentation and analysis of intricate carvings and deteriorated surfaces that cannot be adequately represented using conventional parametric modeling alone. Finally, architectural, historical, conservation, geological, and condition assessment datasets are consolidated within a centralized HBIM platform organized through the proposed workset structure to facilitate efficient data management, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The proposed framework advances current HBIM methodologies by integrating realistic decorative asset libraries, hybrid mesh–parametric modeling, and centralized heritage information management, providing a transferable methodology for the digital documentation and information management of Nabataean and other complex archaeological heritage sites. The framework establishes a structured basis for future applications in condition monitoring, conservation planning, knowledge preservation, and sustainable heritage management. Full article

Metal–organic framework (MOF) membranes combine the structural designability of MOFs with a continuous membrane architecture that integrates reactant enrichment, active-site accessibility, and product separation. This review surveys catalytic MOF membranes reported from 2016 to 2025, from fabrication strategies—classified by how catalytic function is integrated with the membrane (intrinsic framework active sites, guest species incorporation, and non-catalytic microenvironment coating)—to catalytic performance in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and thermocatalysis. In electrocatalysis, non-catalytic MOF coatings improve CO₂ reduction and nitrogen reduction, whereas MOF-derived electrodes currently lead water-splitting benchmarks. In photocatalysis, MOF membranes have enabled CO₂ reduction with near-unity HCOOH selectivity, pollutant degradation, Cr(VI) reduction, and H₂ evolution stable for over 1000 h. In thermocatalysis, membrane demonstrations are so far confined to low- and medium-temperature antibacterial and oxidative desulfurization applications, whereas alkyne semihydrogenation and high-temperature operation of intact membranes remain largely unexplored. Across all three regimes, membrane geometry governs reactant enrichment, separation, and catalyst recoverability, yet inconsistent reporting limits cross-study comparison. Key challenges and future directions are discussed. Full article

Organic fertilizer substitution is widely used to improve acidified tea plantation soils, but the coupled effects of substitution gradients on soil aggregates, microbial carbon utilization, and microbial C–N–P limitation remain insufficiently quantified. This study aimed to determine how gradient organic fertilizer substitution regulates soil physicochemical properties, aggregate-size distribution, extracellular enzyme stoichiometry, and microbial carbon-source utilization in a subtropical tea plantation, and to identify a suitable substitution range under the experimental conditions. A long-term field experiment was conducted in an acidic red-soil tea plantation in Wuyishan, Fujian Province, China. Five treatments were established: pure chemical fertilizer (CF) and organic fertilizer substituting 33% (OF33), 50% (OF50), 67% (OF67), and 100% (OF100) of chemical fertilizer nitrogen. Tea growth indices, soil physicochemical properties, aggregate mechanical stability, microbial biomass C, N, and P (MBC, MBN, and MBP), extracellular enzyme activities, and BIOLOG-ECO carbon-source utilization profiles were measured. Results showed that OF33 and OF67 increased soil pH by 0.46–0.60 units relative to CF. OF33 generally improved available N and K and aggregate stability indices, whereas OF50 increased 100-bud weight and microbial carbon-source richness. OF100 increased MBC but also increased vector length and vector angle, indicating stronger relative C and P limitation. BIOLOG-ECO profiles separated treatments, and moderate substitution (OF33–OF50) broadened the carbon-source utilization niche. However, different indicators peaked under different treatments; therefore, 33–50% substitution should be regarded as a suitable range under the conditions of this experiment rather than a universally optimal rate. These findings provide a site- and cultivar-specific basis for reducing chemical fertilizer use in red-soil tea plantations. Full article

Reconstruction of large craniofacial bone defects typically relies on vascularized autografts, but involves donor-site morbidity and limited availability. Tissue-engineered vascularized grafts could address this gap; however, current strategies remain limited by in vitro cell manipulation, regulatory complexity, high costs, and difficult clinical scaling up. We previously prefabricated a maxillary graft combining a devitalized bone matrix (DBM), freshly isolated human adipose-derived cells, known as the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), and Bone Morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Here, we tested if cells were essential by developing a cell-free approach with only DBM (SmartBone) and BMP-2. SmartBone blocks were loaded with BMP-2 (60 µg/mL in a fibrin hydrogel) with or without SVF cells and implanted subcutaneously in nude mice for 12 weeks (ectopic model) or combined to an axial arteriovenous (AV) bundle in nude rats (785 mm³) for 2 or 12 weeks (vascularized model). Bone formation was assessed by X-ray tomography and histology. Across both mice and rats, BMP-2 alone was sufficient to generate robust and organized bone, and adding SVF cells provided no additional benefit at this BMP-2 dosage. In mice, BMP-2 grafts formed lamellar bone with marrow, while grafts without BMP-2 produced only calcified fibrous tissue. Bone and marrow volumes did not differ between BMP-2 and BMP-2 + SVF groups (p > 0.05). In rats, both conditions showed significant increases in mineralized volume from 2 to 12 weeks (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the dose of BMP-2 tested here, combined with DBM, is enough to robustly generate pedicled bone grafts while using off-the-shelf, approved materials and microsurgical prefabrication, providing a simplified, translationally feasible approach for the reconstruction of large bone defects. Full article

The USGS Landsat 8 Provisional Aquatic Reflectance (PAR) product offers a standardized basis for inland water monitoring, but its reliability is constrained by spectral uncertainty and valid-data availability. This study evaluated PAR using GLORIA in situ observations, Lake Lanier field measurements, and cross-sensor comparisons, with ACOLITE and OC-SMART as alternative atmospheric correction methods. In the full GLORIA comparison, PAR showed median absolute percentage differences (MAPDs) of 115.9% and 75.2% at 443 and 483 nm, respectively, compared with 40.0% at 561 nm and 66.5% at 655 nm. Moreover, 310 of 579 PAR matchups contained negative reflectance in at least one band, substantially limiting usable observations. Water quality retrievals evaluated using common matchups yielded PAR MAPD values of 71.6% for chlorophyll-a, 71.0% for total suspended solids, and 117.7% for colored dissolved organic matter absorption, indicating substantial retrieval uncertainty even after sample availability was controlled. Over Lake Lanier, narrow water branches exhibited substantial PAR data loss and less reliable retrievals, highlighting limitations associated with shoreline proximity and mixed pixels. Differences in valid-data coverage also constrained direct comparisons among methods at this site. Cross-sensor comparisons over Lake Victoria and Lake Michigan, nevertheless, showed that PAR captured broad spatial patterns, while time-series comparisons suggested potential for resolving seasonal variability, particularly in chlorophyll-a. Overall, PAR may support monitoring of larger inland waters when sufficient valid observations are available. Applications in small or narrow waters, and retrievals sensitive to blue-band errors, require particular caution. Broader operational and long-term use requires further validation across sites and years. Full article

Intelligent monitoring in grain-reserve warehouses increasingly combines fixed sensors, UAVs, quadruped robots, human review, and site information systems, yet the resulting operational records are typically stored separately. This fragmentation makes it difficult to reconstruct how a detected problem evolves from observation to execution, evidence, and review, and limits traceable data-driven decision support. To address this issue, this study proposes a Geospatial Operational Event Knowledge Graph (GOEKG) that uses a stable managed-event identity to organize geographic anchors, source provenance, air–ground tasks, evidence, review, and lifecycle states within a property graph. The framework combines source-record normalization and graph mapping with competency queries and operational-semantic constraints for temporal order, spatial continuity, review reachability, lifecycle transitions, and provenance-aware reconciliation. A Panqiao warehouse case is used to instantiate and evaluate the graph. The case instantiated 11 reference-case nodes and 15 typed relations; six competency queries recovered the corresponding paths with temporal and spatial continuity across both robot branches. Controlled mutations of a source-derived record fixture returned UNKNOWN for missing temporal anchors, resolved spatial conflicts by explicit rules, and rejected temporal-order, spatial-linkage, and unauthorized-closure violations. A Neo4j benchmark on synthetic fixtures scaled from 1000 to 50,000 events. Secondary evaluations measured chronological alert-type relation completion and strict temporal fixed-snapshot follow-up candidate ranking. Under the latter protocol, Context-only achieved Macro-F1 0.783 and balanced accuracy 0.836, while Full context achieved average precision 0.952 and prioritized Pending Verification records in the limited-budget queue. The fixed-snapshot analysis supports context-assisted review prioritization under a retrospective event-time protocol. GOEKG therefore provides a traceable event-centered integration layer for intelligent monitoring and review-oriented operational decision support. Full article

This review examines current approaches to the development of multicomponent functional systems based on secondary aluminum alloys, mechanochemically modified metal powders, metal–organic frameworks, and aerosol-generating materials. It is shown that controlling the morphology, particle size, phase composition, and surface state of aluminum-containing powders is among the key factors governing their reactivity in high-temperature processes. Particular attention is paid to mechanochemical activation as a method for the controlled modification of particle structure, enhancement of crystal lattice defect density, formation of new interfacial contacts, and surface modification. The potential of metal–organic frameworks for interfacial modification, structural functionalization, and incorporation of active sites is critically assessed, while emphasizing that direct experimental evidence for their integration with secondary-aluminum-based powder systems remains limited. The use of carbon-containing and mineral materials for the preparation of aerosol-generating systems with tailored optical and spectral characteristics is analyzed separately. The application of secondary aluminum alloys is shown to provide opportunities for reducing production costs, improving resource efficiency, and advancing import-substitution technologies. The review identifies the integration of secondary aluminum alloys, mechanochemical activation, SHS, and MOF-based functionalization as an emerging research direction and highlights the need for further experimental validation, quantitative comparison, and pilot-scale assessment before such systems can be regarded as an established technological platform. Full article

Background: Aortic endograft infection (AEI) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is rare but life-threatening. The Management of Aortic Graft Infection Collaboration (MAGIC) criteria define infection, but there is no standard way to report the extent of infection. We describe patients who developed AEI after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and propose a descriptive clinical–radiological PET/CT staging framework. Methods: Retrospective, single-centre case series of EVAR patients who underwent [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) between 2020 and 2023. Six index patients (Group A) were managed for AEI after PCR-confirmed COVID-19. Five reference patients without COVID-19, imaged during the same period for suspected infection at another site (Group B, n = 2) or malignancy (Group C, n = 3), were included to describe endograft uptake in the absence of AEI; they were not matched controls. Each patient was classified according to MAGIC, with the finding supporting each criterion recorded. Each endograft was assigned a descriptive clinical–radiological stage (0–III): Stages 0–II were defined by PET/CT uptake pattern and anatomical extent, and Stage III by an additional imaging-defined (e.g., endograft limb thrombosis) or clinical (sepsis) complication, recorded separately. Results: Mean age was 76 years (9 men). Of the six index patients, one (Case 6, organism cultured from the explanted endograft) met the MAGIC definition of diagnosed AEI and five met that of suspected AEI. All six presented with fever, and every index patient had at least one additional source of bacteraemia or cause of immunosuppression, including corticosteroids given for COVID-19 pneumonia. Five had iliopsoas abscess. Four index endografts were classified as Stage III (clinical complication, sepsis, in all four; imaging-defined complication, endograft limb thrombosis, also in one) and two as Stage II; all five reference endografts were Stage 0. The median interval from COVID-19 to AEI diagnosis was 14 months (IQR 10–16), and from EVAR to PET/CT 15 months (IQR 4–35). Three index patients died (two infection- or aorta-related), and all three Group C patients died of malignancy progression. Conclusions: This case series describes late AEI, frequently with iliopsoas involvement, in patients with prior COVID-19 and multiple other risk factors. The design does not permit any conclusion as to whether COVID-19 contributes to endograft infection. The proposed descriptive clinical–radiological PET/CT framework may help standardise the reporting of disease extent alongside MAGIC-based diagnosis but requires validation in larger, independent cohorts before any diagnostic or therapeutic use. Full article

Metastasis is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. During metastasis, cancer cells undergo a series of biological events that allow them to invade surrounding tissues, disseminate through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and colonize secondary sites. Cancer cells’ phenotypic plasticity facilitates this process by enabling them to adapt to diverse microenvironments. Unlike localized tumors, metastasis is more challenging to treat because it represents a systemic disease that can no longer be managed solely through surgery or radiotherapy. Additionally, specific mechanisms underlying metastasis may contribute to resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Therefore, identifying new therapeutic strategies to regulate the key processes underlying metastasis is essential. In recent years, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have garnered increasing interest because of their anticancer properties. AMPs are small molecules that are part of the innate immune system of virtually all living organisms and are characterized by their ability to selectively interact with the cell membranes of pathogens and cancer cells. Diverse AMPs have been shown to induce cancer cell death, inhibit proliferation, and interfere with processes associated with metastasis. This review discusses the potential of AMPs as metastasis modulators, highlighting their proposed mechanisms of action, their advantages over conventional therapeutic approaches, and the conceptual framework governing their dual pro- and anti-metastatic activities. Full article

Carbonaceous aerosols represent a major component of atmospheric particulate matter. However, current characterization methods have limitations in sensing these particles because they either measure only one type of aerosol property or rely on offline measurement from collected samples. In-situ sensing is crucial for characterizing the physical and chemical properties of carbonaceous aerosols while they remain airborne. In this work, optical trapping–Raman spectroscopy (OT–RS) was applied for in-situ sensing of single carbonaceous aerosol particles in freshly generated smoke. Nylon rope and plastic fiber were ignited inside an open chamber using the trapping laser itself. The resulting particles were captured directly in air by the optical trap and immediately analyzed using Raman spectroscopy and real-time imaging within seconds. The optically trapped particles had spatial dimensions of several micrometers and estimated masses on the order of ~10 pg. We demonstrate that this minute amount of material is sufficient to obtain detailed Raman spectral fingerprints. Furthermore, analysis of the Raman bands allowed two types of particles to be clearly distinguished based on their distinct Raman features. Spatially resolved Raman spectra further resolved that individual trapped particles are chemically heterogeneous, with organic carbon and soot located in different regions within the same particle. These results demonstrate that OT–RS provides an effective platform for in-situ characterization of single carbonaceous aerosol particles and possesses strong potential for future on-site atmospheric sensing and monitoring. Full article

Solar-driven CO₂ reduction requires a photocatalyst to integrate light harvesting, exciton dissociation, long-range charge transport, CO₂ adsorption and activation, and multielectron proton-coupled electron transfer within a single structural platform. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are attractive in this context because their π-conjugated backbones, periodic pores, linkage chemistry, stacking modes, and catalytic sites can be programmed with molecular precision. Nevertheless, the literature remains dominated by phenomenological correlations between optical response and product yield, while the causal relationships among exciton binding energy (E_b), free-carrier generation, interfacial charge transfer, intermediate adsorption, and product selectivity remain insufficiently resolved. This review develops a unified structure–activity framework in which intrinsic π-conjugation and donor–acceptor polarization regulate E_b and exciton diffusion; morphology and heterojunctions control the competition between interfacial transfer and recombination; and active-site coordination and pore microenvironments determine local electron density, proton delivery, and the adsorption energies of *COOH, *OCHO, *CO, *CHO, and *OCCO intermediates. Representative performance is benchmarked only when ¹³CO₂ isotope tracing and appropriate blank controls are available, with external homogeneous photosensitizer systems treated separately. Among the entries retained in the condition-aware benchmark, reported CO production rates span 17.75–20,110 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and wavelength-specific AQYs span 0.058–5.1%; these values are not directly comparable without the associated photon flux, reactor configuration, catalyst loading, and auxiliary components. Finally, operando spectroscopy, density functional theory, microkinetic modelling, stability analysis, standardized reporting, machine-learning-assisted discovery, and device-oriented scale-up are discussed as routes toward predictive and reproducible COF photocatalyst engineering. Full article

CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is an architectural protein that organizes 3D genome architecture by binding to tens of thousands of genomic loci in a typical human cell type. Although DNA-binding affinity contributes to CTCF occupancy in vivo, the principles distinguishing robust from context-dependent occupancy remain incompletely understood. Here, we integrated quantitative measurements of CTCF-DNA binding affinity with genome-wide occupancy profiles. Using synthetic tandem arrays of CTCF sites with defined affinity levels, we experimentally tested whether DNA-encoded affinity establishes a predictable hierarchy of CTCF occupancy in vivo. We identified two CTCF-DNA binding affinity thresholds defining three distinct CTCF occupancy regimes. High-affinity sites were more frequently and consistently occupied across diverse cellular contexts and chromatin environments, whereas intermediate- and low-affinity sites showed greater context dependence. Synthetic arrays further revealed a reproducible occupancy hierarchy that was maintained across different motif arrangements. High-affinity sites were preferentially associated with strong chromatin loops and TAD boundaries, and flanking CTCF motifs that contribute to binding affinity were enriched at strong loop anchors. Together, these findings establish a quantitative framework in which CTCF-DNA binding affinity links sequence-encoded binding properties to the robustness and context dependence of CTCF occupancy and to features of CTCF-mediated 3D genome organization. Full article