Search Results (56,044)

The stream of onions entering a self-propelled onion collector varies with field conditions, feeding density, and the transient lifting behavior of the onion–soil mass, whereas the collection conveyor is conventionally operated at a fixed speed, wasting hydraulic energy. This study proposes and evaluates, through field-calibrated simulation, a vision-based feedforward conveyor speed control framework that couples reel-synchronous onion counting with variable-displacement pump control. To mitigate the periodic occlusion caused by the compact dual-conveyor structure, a frame-selection method synchronized with the detected conveyor position was implemented, and a YOLOv8n detector was trained and evaluated on 314 images extracted from 32 indoor and field source videos partitioned at the source-video level. On the independent test subset, the model achieved precision, recall, and mAP@0.5 of 0.952, 0.944, and 0.959, and the proposed counting method maintained count recovery ratios above 95% across all engine speeds in 45 independent field trials, outperforming fixed-period sampling and tracking-based baselines by 6.6 and 3.8 percentage points, respectively. An AMESim model of the fixed-displacement hydraulic system was calibrated and shown to be consistent with field measurements and was then used to evaluate the variable-displacement configuration. Net conveyor-related fuel savings (engine no-load consumption subtracted) were estimated at 14.3–18.7% under the field-identified constant transmission efficiency, with conservative estimates of 11.5–16.9% when partial-displacement efficiency losses were accounted for through an anchored loss model. These results demonstrate the feasibility of vision-based feedforward conveyor speed control and its potential for energy savings in bulb-crop collection. Full article

The rhizosheath is a dynamic plant–soil interface in which root traits, microbial activity, and soil physical properties jointly regulate plant adaptation to drought and nutrient limitation. Despite the growing interest in this field, it remains conceptually fragmented. This study mapped the development, structure, and emerging directions of rhizosheath research at the intersection of microbiome interactions, stress adaptation, and root-trait genetics. Bibliometric and science-mapping analyses were performed on 136 publications (2015–2026) retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Using the Bibliometrix framework, we examined publication dynamics, collaboration networks, citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic structures. The dataset comprised 136 publications, 6366 cited references, and 723 authors, with 54.41% international co-authorship. Logistic modeling described the accumulation of publications through 2025, identifying a growth inflection at 2022.54; a reliable saturation level could not be estimated because the 2026 data cover only a partial year. Document coupling resolved nine clusters dominated by soil–root interface processes (n = 51; 1358 citations) and plant–microbe interactions (n = 18; 895 citations). Thematic analysis positioned soil and rhizosheath as central domains and identified water stress as a key motor theme, whereas mucilage, hydraulic functioning, and microbiome assembly emerged as recent trends. Rhizosheath research is transitioning from descriptive characterization toward more integrated, mechanistic perspectives linking root traits, soil processes, and microbial dynamics. Progress will depend on resolving genotype × soil × microbiome interactions and advancing field-based cross-scale phenotyping to support climate-resilient cropping systems. Full article

Laboratory practices in engineering education, and particularly first-year Physics laboratories, are traditionally considered a cornerstone for acquiring technical competencies. However, this study examines whether the correspondence between laboratory and theoretical-exam performance is uniform across student cohorts. We present a quantitative analysis of 477 student performance observations from the Universitat Politècnica de València across three degree programs with different aggregate admission profiles: Telecommunications Engineering (GITST), Agricultural Engineering (GIAMR), and Forestry Engineering (GIFMN). The methodology focuses on thematic course units designed under the established framework of constructive alignment, with GIAMR and GIFMN providing the closest within-study comparison because the same course is taught in both programs by the same teaching staff, with shared laboratory activities and procedures and jointly administered assessments. For GITST, only the laboratory and written partial-exam outcomes corresponding to the Magnetism and Induction thematic unit were analyzed, whereas GIAMR and GIFMN contributed separate assessment pairs for the two thematic units. GIAMR Partial 1 showed a positive association that reached the significance threshold under both Pearson’s chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests (OR = 2.53; Pearson $p=0.039$; Fisher $p=0.046$). GIAMR Partial 2, the GITST pairing, and GIFMN Partial 1 showed positive but non-significant associations, whereas GIFMN Partial 2 showed a pronounced inverse descriptive pattern that did not reach the significance threshold under Fisher’s exact test ($p=0.062$). In this study, “curricular decoupling” denotes a weakening or loss of correspondence between laboratory and theoretical-exam outcomes; the observational design does not establish that aggregate entry profiles caused the observed differences. Full article

The inadequacy of traditional preclinical oncology models, specifically two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures and murine in vivo systems, in predicting human drug responses has led to the development of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and microfluidic organ-on-chip (OoC) technologies. These innovations represent significant recent methodological advancements in the field of cancer research. This review synthesizes the biological rationale, technical principles, and translational applications of PDO–OoC integration, with an emphasis on recent clinical validation studies, AI integration, and post-FDA Modernization Act 2.0 regulatory evolution—areas that have not been comprehensively addressed in prior reviews. We examined the predictive limitations of 2D models, organoid generation, and ToC engineering principles. The synergistic integration of organoids into chip-based systems, extended into multi-organ “Body-on-a-Chip” architectures, is presented as a unifying framework that combines patient-specific biological fidelity with dynamic microenvironmental control. We further reviewed the research applications and early clinical validation studies of high-throughput drug screening, immuno-oncology modeling, and patient-specific drug response prediction across multiple tumor types. Clinical validation studies have reported moderate correlations (r ~ 0.4–0.6) between organoid responses and outcomes, indicating partial predictive capacity. Despite this progress, clinical translation remains constrained by standardization and reproducibility deficits, biomaterial limitations (e.g., PDMS drug absorption and Matrigel batch variability), and regulatory ambiguities within the evolving FDA Modernization Act 2.0. Finally, we discuss the emerging integration of artificial intelligence, including transfer learning-based drug response prediction and real-time organoid avatar systems in clinical trials, as a pathway toward closed-loop individualized functional precision oncology. Organoid and tumor-on-chip platforms have advanced toward clinical utility, although barriers remain. Full article

Fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials have been improved for use in repairing and strengthening existing infrastructure over the past few decades. This case study focuses on the effect of confinement with GFRP strips on the structural performance of out-of-service beams in bridge applications due to the impact of over-height vehicles or inadequate lap-spliced reinforcements. In this study, beams with inadequate lap splices in the tension zone were utilized to mimic the damaged area in out-of-service RC beams. The proposed repair technique is a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite in the form of longitudinal sheets and U-wrapped strips. The experimental study determined the ultimate load capacity, energy absorption, ductility, and mode of failure for different GFRP configurations. The test results revealed that the GFRP repair technique was partially able to restore the load-carrying capacity in the range between 70% and 92% of that in the reference beam (without any damage). Additionally, a comparison study was conducted with other case studies related to damaged beams repaired using different techniques and theoretical results. The three repair techniques were transverse steel reinforcement, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), and steel-reinforced polymer (SRP). The comparison study indicated that the effect of the techniques’ configuration is important in the case of repairing damaged beams. Full article

Background: Microalgae and cyanobacteria represent a largely unexplored source of bioactive compounds, but systematic screening of extensive strain collections is limited by the cost and complexity of conventional chemical and pharmacological characterization. Here, we evaluated a scalable functional screening strategy integrating human cell-based gene expression profiling, quantitative molecular pathway analysis, and direct cytotoxicity testing to prioritize bioactive microalgal and cyanobacterial extracts for subsequent investigation. Results: Forty-eight extracts were screened using HL-60 human leukemia cells, and eight demonstrated detectable cytotoxic activity. Pathway-based prediction showed 92% agreement with direct cytotoxicity measurements. To assess whether pathway profiling could provide information on mechanisms of action, we performed an in-depth analysis of the most active Nostoc sp. SBV-48 extract and the control antimicrobial peptide Polyphemusin III. The inferred pathway responses were consistent with their previously reported mechanisms of cytotoxicity. Fractionation and chemical characterization of the Nostoc sp. SBV-48 extract identified Cryptophycin-1 as its major cytotoxic component, illustrating the intended sequential workflow from primary screening to characterization of prioritized hits. In addition, previously unreported cytotoxic activity against HL-60 cells was detected in three Desmidiales strains belonging to the genera Closterium, Cosmarium, and Spondylosium, which showed partially convergent pathway-level responses. Conclusions: Overall, the proposed approach provides a cost-effective first-stage strategy for functional screening and prioritization of complex microalgal extracts, allowing resource-intensive chemical characterization and broader pharmacological validation to be focused on the most promising candidates. Full article

Background/Objectives: Wide-field swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (WF-SS-OCTA) enables non-invasive, layer-specific retinal microvascular assessment. We explored treatment-associated microvascular change in acute leukemia and its concurrent association with post-induction response. Methods: In this prospective single-center cohort (ChiCTR2300077558), 111 newly diagnosed adults (58 AML, 53 ALL) and 40 healthy controls underwent pre-induction 16 × 16 mm WF-SS-OCTA; 77 were re-imaged at first response assessment. Response (complete remission (CR)/CRi vs. partial/no response (PR/NR)) was adjudicated independently of OCTA. The focal exploratory outcome was deep capillary plexus vessel density change (ΔDCP-VD). This outcome was designated after completion of data collection, and all analyses are exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Results: DCP-VD showed an AML < ALL < control baseline gradient (42.49 ± 3.15%, 43.45 ± 2.89%, 44.27 ± 2.78%; ANOVA p = 0.014), and 10 of 20 baseline metrics survived false-discovery-rate correction. ΔDCP-VD was higher in CR/CRi than PR/NR (1.50 (1.00, 2.00) vs. 0.50 ± 0.83 percentage points; difference 0.97, 95% CI 0.57–1.37; p < 0.01) and correlated with hemoglobin change (r_s = +0.546, p < 0.01); in-sample discrimination gave an AUC of 0.799 (95% CI 0.674–0.907). Conclusions: ΔDCP-VD differed by concurrent response and tracked hemoglobin change; findings establish no causality, prediction, or clinical threshold and require independent prospective validation. Full article

The compressive strength of 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) varies with the loading direction, and the lowest-strength direction is not fixed across printing groups. Testing in a limited number of directions may miss the governing direction and bias the acceptance decision toward false acceptance. This study used the RILEM TC 304-ADC interlaboratory database comprising 27 laboratories, 34 printing groups, and 907 directional compressive test specimens. Exact sampling-without-replacement enumeration and leave-one-laboratory-out (LOLO) cross-validation were used to evaluate the relationships among directional coverage, false acceptance, and specimen consumption. The observed governing directions of the 34 printing groups were distributed across the U, V, and W directions. At an operational threshold of 40 MPa, the observed false-acceptance rates of the single-direction V3 and two-direction VW6 strategies were 13.7% and 10.6%, respectively, compared with 4.9% for the complete-direction UVW9 baseline. The early-acceptance strategy reduced the expected specimen count from 9.00 to 4.97, a reduction of 44.8%, but the observed false-acceptance rate increased from 4.93% to 9.15%. The risk difference was 4.22 percentage points, exceeding the 2.5-percentage-point screening criterion. Under the restricted-direction strategy, partial-direction results could trigger only early rejection, and final acceptance required complete U, V, and W directional evidence; the strategy therefore produced no acceptance decisions beyond those of the UVW9 baseline. In the present evaluation set, the restricted-direction strategy yielded group-by-group decisions identical to those of the UVW9 baseline, with an expected specimen count of 6.49, a reduction of 27.9% (95% interval 16.8% to 39.9%). Adaptive direction ordering saved 0.47 specimens relative to the original fixed order, and a simple fixed order that tests the most frequently governing direction first achieved the same saving; the overall savings arose primarily from printing groups that did not meet the strength requirement. Overall, the results show that cross-directional historical information can optimize the testing order and identify nonconforming printing groups earlier, whereas final acceptance should continue to require complete directional evidence. In production settings where staged specimen preparation and testing are feasible, this procedure could reduce the cost of destructive testing and bring forward the review and process correction of anomalous printing groups. Full article

Aspergillus section Nigri is distributed ubiquitously in nature and is reported to be the third most clinically significant species of the Aspergillus genus. In this study, we surveyed Aspergillus section Nigri isolates from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, from 2019 to 2023. We determined the species distribution of section Nigri isolates by partial β-tubulin gene sequencing. We characterized the antifungal susceptibility profiles of these isolates to medical azoles (itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole) using the Sensititre^TM custom-designed broth microdilution system. The cyp51A sequences were compared between azole-resistant and azole-susceptible strains in order to determine the potential antifungal resistance mechanism. A total of 54 Aspergillus section Nigri isolates were obtained. A. tubingensis (50.0%) and A. niger (46.3%) were the most prevalent species. Two isolates of A. welwitschiae were identified. Resistance to Itraconazole, voriconazole, and isavuconazole was found in 26%, 33.3%, and 33.3% of A. tubingensis isolates, respectively. All A. niger and A. welwitschiae isolates were sensitive to these azoles. Three amino acid mutations were found in azole-resistant A. tubingensis isolates, namely Y119F, Y119H, and T321A. Results from this study provide us with an understanding of species distribution and antifungal susceptibility profiles of clinical Aspergillus section Nigri isolates in Eastern China. It highlights the importance of accurate species identification and antifungal susceptibility testing. Our results also suggest that the novel Y119F substitution is potentially a key player in azole resistance. Full article

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder in which variable symptom profiles, progression rates, and treatment responses likely reflect distinct but partially convergent pathogenic mechanisms. Among these, mitochondrial dysfunction recurs across both familial and sporadic PD; however, this broad concept alone cannot explain disease heterogeneity. To preserve mitochondrial homeostasis, cells rely on a complex mitochondrial quality control (MQC) system that encompasses protein import and proteostasis, redox surveillance, organellar dynamics and positioning, biogenesis, and selective elimination of damaged mitochondria. MQC also depends on coordination with other organelles, particularly the endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes. In this review, we discuss how different layers of MQC maintain mitochondrial integrity and how these pathways are functionally coupled. We further consider how an MQC-based framework may help explain the clinical heterogeneity of PD, including selective neuronal vulnerability, subtype formation, and divergent disease progression, and how it can frame recent therapeutic advances aimed at biologically stratified intervention. Full article

The ring laser gyroscope (RLG), a representative type of optical gyroscope, exhibits a lock-in region in which very small angular velocity inputs cannot be measured due to backscattering from the mirrors. Generally, this lock-in effect is mitigated by applying a high-amplitude sinusoidal vibration to the gyro body. The mechanical device used to induce this sinusoidal vibration is referred to as a dither. Dithers vary in configuration depending on the size of the gyro; while single-axis dithers are applied to gyros with relatively large optical paths, a cluster dither—which simultaneously applies sinusoidal vibrations to three-axis gyroscopes—is used for those with smaller optical paths. Unlike in the single-axis dither, the gyro body is mounted on the cluster dither at a specific angle. Furthermore, while the dither fixing hole in a single-axis dither is located at the center of the gyro body, it is positioned on the periphery in a cluster dither. Consequently, the center of rotation for a cluster dither is located at the center of the dither itself, rather than coinciding with the center of the gyro body. To increase the natural frequency of the cluster dither with such a configuration, this paper proposes a design employing a partially tapered non-uniform and heterogeneous cantilever beam, rather than the uniform and homogeneous cantilever beam used in conventional single-axis dither spokes, and presents a corresponding natural frequency analysis method. The accuracy of the proposed natural frequency analysis method is validated through modeling and simulation (M&S) and through experimental testing of fabricated prototypes. Full article

Tribology, the science of friction, wear, and lubrication, governs the reliability of nearly every mechanical system. Tribological contacts account for approximately 23% of global energy consumption, including 20% used to overcome friction and 3% associated with remanufacturing worn components. Nevertheless, the field has remained constrained by low experimental throughput, operator variability, and a scarcity of standardized, reusable datasets. This review surveys two converging trends positioned to address these limitations: the development of robotic and automated platforms for tribological experimentation, and the growing application of artificial intelligence to tribological analysis. High-throughput tribometer architectures, robotic specimen preparation, and multi-modal in situ sensing are examined as components of an emerging automated tribometry infrastructure. Supervised learning, physics-informed neural networks, and Bayesian optimization are reviewed as AI methods organized by the data regime in which they operate. The convergence of these trends in closed-loop autonomous tribological experimentation is assessed, including system architecture, optimization target specification, current partial implementations, and tribology-specific integration barriers that distinguish this domain from adjacent self-driving laboratory applications. Application domains spanning industrial machinery, biomedical implants, and aerospace and automotive drivetrains are discussed. Key challenges including dataset standardization, model transferability, and hardware-software integration complexity are identified. Prospects for fully autonomous tribological discovery pipelines are outlined, with emphasis on open-access data infrastructure and physics-constrained learning as the enabling conditions for the field. Full article

Image reconstruction aims to restore missing parts of the image while keeping geometry and quality intact. The traditional second-order partial differential equation (PDE) and Total Variation (TV) methods can be used to perform such an action; nonetheless, their disadvantages, such as over-smoothing, staircase effect, and loss of cornerstones in image details, have been noted. The major disadvantages of those approaches led to the idea of developing a second-order Total Variation–biharmonic (TV²–BH) model in which the TV method is used in combination with a fourth-order Laplacian diffusion term. The Euler–Lagrange equation is derived as a nonlinear fourth-order PDE and solved using appropriate numerical methods. The experience gained from using the TV²–BH method shows that the proposed approach yields much better results in comparison with the standard inpainting methods due to the preservation of texture patterns and edge information, as well as homogeneous areas and staircase effect minimization. The soundness of the proposed model is duly proved through quantitative assessments based on Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM), and Mean Squared Error (MSE). The obtained results confirm that improved reconstruction performance can be achieved by the proposed model compared with classical TV, biharmonic, and TV² inpainting methods. Full article

Radiological emergencies necessitate biomarkers that not only estimate absorbed ionizing radiation (IR) dose but also guide timely interventions to prevent or delay multi-organ injury. Conventional LC–MS-based metabolomics of bulk plasma is constrained by matrix effects that mask low-abundance species. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) constitute a metabolically enriched, underexplored compartment that can provide complementary insight into systemic metabolic and redox responses to IR. Female WAG/RijCmcr rats were exposed to 13.0 Gy leg-out partial-body X-rays and treated with one of three activated protein C (APC) variants—rat wild-type (WT), rat 3K3A-APC, or human WT APC—administered 24- and 48 h post-irradiation. Longitudinal plasma collections (days 1, 14, 30, and 90) were subjected to metabolomic and lipidomic profiling of whole plasma and matched EV-enriched fractions to define signatures of acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE), and their modulation by APC. ARS was marked by early dyslipidemia and widespread metabolic disruption, evolving into DEARE with persistent alterations in energy metabolism, and nucleotide biosynthesis, consistent with sustained oxidative and inflammatory stress. EV profiles showed matrix-specific, time-dependent trajectories distinct from plasma, with prominent lipid dysregulation and enrichment of fatty acid β-oxidation, sphingolipid, and cholesterol pathway metabolites at day 90. Rat 3K3A-APC promoted early EV metabolic normalization, whereas rat WT APC more effectively mitigated late DEARE-associated changes. Elevated sphingomyelins in plasma EVs at day 90 may suggest a compensatory or anti-inflammatory lipid response. These findings suggest that plasma-derived EVs may provide a sensitive matrix for radiation biomarker discovery and may help elucidate APC-mediated modulation of IR-induced metabolic and redox disturbances. Full article

Objective: Ablative fractional laser (AFL) therapy impairs epidermal barrier integrity through the disruption of stratum corneum lipids and keratinocyte differentiation, resulting in increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and delayed functional recovery. This study aims to develop a more effective barrier repair strategy and evaluate the efficacy of topical safflower seed oil (SSO) in promoting post-AFL barrier restoration. Methods: An optimized murine AFL model (20 W, 0.5 ms pulse delay, and 0.7 mm spot spacing) was established to investigate skin repair mechanisms. SSO composition was characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Epidermal repair was assessed using confocal laser scanning microscopy, while Oil Red O staining and immunofluorescence were employed to evaluate lipid formation and the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes, respectively. Results: GC-MS analysis identified SSO as a rich natural source of linoleic acid (69.1%) and oleic acid (18.7%). Over the 7-day period of AFL exposure alone, TEWL rose by 4–6 fold in mouse skin, accompanied by a near-complete loss of epidermal lipid synthesis. However, upon SSO administration, a marked reduction in TEWL was observed from day 1, and epidermal lipid synthesis recovered by day 7. Moreover, SSO treatment significantly upregulated epidermal PPARγ expression in AFL-injured skin. Pharmacological inhibition of PPARγ (T0070907) largely abrogated the lipid synthesis and barrier repair effects of SSO, while PPARα antagonism (GW6471) showed no obvious interference with SSO’s therapeutic efficacy, suggesting a potential association between PPARγ signaling modulation and SSO-mediated skin barrier restoration. Conclusions: These findings suggest that SSO is a promising natural agent for post-AFL skin care, which improves AFL-impaired skin barrier function by remodeling lipid metabolism, at least in part through PPARγ signaling, and warrants further preclinical and clinical investigation. Full article