Search Results (63,804)

Background: Mobile health has been increasingly integrated into tuberculosis care to support patient education, communication, and treatment engagement. However, evidence remains limited regarding whether positive engagement with mHealth is associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. This study aimed to examine the association between positive mHealth engagement and knowledge, attitude, practice, and total KAP among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the engagement score used as the primary exposure variable. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. A positive mHealth engagement score was constructed from 12 mHealth-related items after harmonizing item directionality so that higher scores indicated more favorable engagement. The 12 items reflected five behavioural domains: intensity of use, ease and acceptability of use, functional engagement (communication with providers, access to health information, and perceived benefit for disease self-management), continuity of use, and barriers to sustained engagement. The composite score was computed as the mean of the 12 standardised items, with higher values indicating more positive engagement. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and corrected item–total correlations, and structural validity was explored using principal component analysis. Adjusted linear regression models were used to examine associations between the engagement score and Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and total KAP scores, controlling for age, sex, and occupation. Sensitivity analyses were performed after excluding a poorly performing item, and tertile analyses were used to assess dose–response patterns. Results: The positive mHealth engagement score showed good internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.852. One item demonstrated poor psychometric performance, and Cronbach’s alpha increased to 0.864 after its exclusion. The data were suitable for dimensionality assessment, with a Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin value of 0.870 and a significant Bartlett’s test. Principal component analysis identified a dominant first component explaining 43.29% of the total variance. Using the refined score, higher positive mHealth engagement was significantly associated with higher Knowledge scores (β = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.28–2.85; p < 0.001), higher Attitude scores (β = 4.68; 95% CI: 3.30–6.06; p < 0.001), and higher total KAP scores (β = 6.68; 95% CI: 4.62–8.74; p < 0.001), whereas no significant association was observed for the Practice score (β = −0.07; 95% CI: −0.63 to 0.49; p = 0.804). In tertile analyses, Knowledge, Attitude, and total KAP scores increased significantly across engagement levels, while Practice scores did not. Conclusions: Positive mHealth engagement was associated with better knowledge, attitudes, and overall KAP among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, but not with practice. These findings are associative; the cross-sectional design does not permit causal conclusions. The engagement score demonstrated good reliability and acceptable structural validity and may be a useful summary measure for evaluating patient interaction with mHealth interventions in tuberculosis care. Integrated strategies combining mHealth with clinical follow-up, adherence counseling, and structural support may be needed to translate informational and attitudinal gains into practice change. Full article

Graphene derivatives and nano-silicon dioxide (nano-SiO₂) have been widely studied as functional nanofillers for architectural coatings. They have the potential to improve mechanical performance, barrier properties, durability, and versatility. However, despite encouraging results in laboratory settings, their use in commercial coating formulations is still limited. This is mainly due to challenges with dispersing nanoparticles, ensuring compatibility with polymer binders, maintaining long-term durability, and achieving formulation stability. In this work, we conducted a thorough review and meta-analysis of 20 peer-reviewed studies to evaluate the performance and limitations of graphene-based materials and nano-SiO₂ in architectural and protective coatings. Our literature search followed PRISMA guidelines and included studies that provided quantitative data on dispersion methods, surface functionalization strategies, nanofiller loading levels, and coating performance metrics. This review highlights key relationships between structure, properties, and processing. It points out ongoing challenges that prevent practical use and suggests future research directions to enhance formulation design, improve dispersion stability, and extend the long-term performance of graphene- and nano-SiO₂-modified architectural and protective coatings. Full article

Hypoxia is a prevalent pathophysiological condition. Prolonged exposure to hypobaric hypoxia can lead to maladaptation, increasing the risk of chronic hypoxic diseases such as high-altitude polycythemia (HAPC). Dauricine, an alkaloid derived from the root of Menispermum dauricum DC, has been demonstrated to possess anti-hypoxic properties; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, a potential multi-target anti-hypoxic mechanism of dauricine was proposed and computationally evaluated using an integrated approach combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Common targets between dauricine and hypoxia-related genes were identified through network pharmacology screening. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify core targets, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. Molecular docking was subsequently employed to evaluate the binding affinities between dauricine and the candidate core targets, while molecular dynamics simulations were performed to assess the dynamic stability of the resulting complexes. Additionally, the drug-likeness and safety profiles of dauricine were assessed. The results suggest that dauricine may exert its anti-hypoxic effects by modulating candidate core targets, including ESR1, PIK3CA, and MTOR, and by acting on key signaling pathways such as PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and mTOR. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the further investigation of dauricine as a multi-target candidate for intervention in hypoxia and establishes a bioinformatics basis for subsequent experimental validation. Full article

Ozonated vegetable oils are increasingly recognized as bioactive agents with both antimicrobial and functional properties, attracting growing interest for their potential applications in food systems. This review critically synthesizes current knowledge on their chemical transformations, physicochemical properties, antimicrobial and functional properties, their toxicological and safety considerations and the implications of their regulatory classification based on 84 studies published between 2005 and 2026. Evidence shows that antimicrobial performance increases with oxidation level, but significant variability in ozonation conditions and analytical methods limits comparability and hinders standardization. Despite encouraging in vitro results and early applications in food matrices and packaging systems, major gaps remain regarding toxicology, sensory quality, regulatory classification, and real-world functionality. Overall, ozonated vegetable oils hold notable potential as antimicrobial and functional tools, yet further research is required to ensure their safe and practical implementation in food systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: The convergence of traditional medicinal practices in Brazil’s vast biodiversity has fueled pharmaceutical interest in advancing plant-derived formulation. Copaiba (Copaifera spp.) and andiroba (Carapa guianensis) are central to both the economic landscape and healing traditions of the Amazon rainforest. Derivatives from these species have diverse applications, with their oils representing important raw materials for therapeutic use. However, the poor aqueous solubility of oils remains a major barrier to developing formulations with optimal bioavailability. Nanotechnology offers a strategic approach to address this limitation, as nanosystems improve stability, solubility, and biological performance. Methods: This narrative review compiles and analyzes contemporary literature on the chemical composition, physicochemical properties, and pharmacological activities of copaiba and andiroba oils, with emphasis on studies involving nanoformulations, aiming to overcome the solubility limitations of these oils. Results: Evidence from the literature indicates that nanoencapsulation enhances the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing activity of the oils’ main constituents, such as beta-caryophyllene and limonoids. However, inconsistencies in reported chemical composition and physicochemical properties across studies highlight the lack of standardized characterization and extraction methods, potentially hindering the development of reproducible nanosystems. Conclusions: Nanoencapsulation represents a promising strategy to improve the therapeutic potential of Amazonian oils. Nevertheless, further efforts are required to standardize methodologies and expand clinical studies to confirm the efficacy and safety of nanosystems derived from these natural products. Full article

Modern wound care is challenged by the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, causing the need for advanced dressing materials that provide infection control while promoting healing. Although polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels are widely investigated due to their biocompatibility, their lack of intrinsic antibacterial activity and poor mechanical properties restrict their clinical use. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a natural–synthetic hydrogel that combines PAAm with TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (TOCNF) functionalized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesis is performed through the polymerization of the synthetic monomer in the presence of the TOCNF–AgNPs, the nanofibrillar cellulose simultaneously serving as a reducing and stabilizing agent for AgNPs, and as a plasticizer for the PAAm network. Morpho-structural analysis of the hybrid precursor (TOCNF–AgNPs) revealed two populations of AgNPs, offering a cumulative effect between rapid bacterial penetration and a prolonged ionic reservoir, while maintaining the stability of the system. The subsequent incorporation of the hybrid into PAAm matrix resulted in tunable swelling kinetics and mechanical properties. Wettability and surface stiffness improve with the increase in hybrid content. The antibacterial effect was confirmed by a colony-counting assay for formulations with higher AgNPs content, exhibiting inhibitory metabolic activity against several pathogenic strains. These results suggest that PAAm/TOCNF–AgNPs (PTA) nanocomposites represent a promising mechanically adaptive candidate for wound-care applications. Full article

Radiation detection technology is critical in medical diagnosis, high-energy physics experiments, nuclear environmental monitoring, and radiation safety protection. Its technological iteration stems from innovations in high-performance radiation detection materials. Traditional materials often have narrow dose–response intervals, insufficient high-precision measurement capability, low spatial resolution, and poor stability, failing to meet high-precision detection requirements. Ag-doped phosphate glass (Ag-PG), based on radio-photoluminescence (RPL), effectively addresses these limitations with its comprehensive advantages: high radiation sensitivity, a wide linear dose–response range, submicron spatial resolution for radiation imaging, write-erase-rewrite capability, and visualized dose monitoring potential, and it also boasts significant fundamental research value and engineering application prospects. Specifically, while existing RPL reviews mainly provide a comprehensive analysis from the perspective of RPL and present typical RPL material systems, this paper systematically analyzes the structural characteristics of the Ag-PG matrix and the coordination configuration and site occupation of Ag ions. It clarifies RPL luminescence properties, dose–response mechanisms, and the evolution of luminescence centers, while reviewing advancements in applications such as radiation dose detection and high-resolution X-ray imaging. By summarizing the current research status, technical advantages and existing challenges of Ag-PG, this study provides theoretical references and conceptual insights to promote breakthroughs in its fundamental research and practical applications in high-precision radiation dose detection, advanced medical imaging, micro-nano-scale radiation detection, and nuclear industry non-destructive testing. Full article

Currently, dual-functional composites that simultaneously provide structural support and energy storage capabilities have garnered significant attention. However, the challenge of balancing mechanical strength and energy storage performance remains a limiting factor for their application. Herein, a novel N-doped reduced graphene oxide/nano-sulfur@porous SiC (N-rGO/S@porous SiC) composite material was successfully prepared by in situ embedding N-rGO supported with nano-sulfur into a 3D-printed porous SiC scaffold via a hydrothermal synthesis approach. The hierarchical porous structure composed of SiC and N-rGO facilitates mass transport of the liquid electrolyte. Benefiting from the high strength of SiC, the novel material achieves a compressive strength of 93.5 MPa. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of the N-rGO/S composite and the high ionic conductivity of the liquid electrolyte, the electrode material delivers superior electrochemical energy storage performance, achieving a specific capacitance of 800.7 mF/cm² at a current density of 1 mA/cm², together with remarkable rate capability and good cycling stability. To our knowledge, this composite exhibits a high level of integrated properties. More importantly, the strategy of integrating porous, high-strength supports with high-performance electrode materials opens new avenues for the synthesis of structure-energy-storage dual-functional composites. Full article

Brush seals, as a fundamental dynamic sealing technology in the aerospace and energy propulsion industries, require performance enhancement through instantaneous adjustment of the friction coefficient and force analysis of brush filaments. This paper establishes an instantaneous friction coefficient correction method based on the open volume between bristles and the backing plate. The downstream section of the double-row brush wire (2.6 mm) was quantitatively identified as the maximum leakage point, and it was found that the vortex characteristic length in the downstream area is approximately 1–3 times the bristle gap, with an increasing pressure ratio enhancing downstream turbulence and reducing gas leakage. A cantilever beam structural model was developed to assess the motion, force, and hysteresis properties of a single filament. Additionally, a porous medium model was utilized to elucidate the flow field and temperature distribution within the seal. The results suggest that the lag angle increases linearly over the first one-third of the brush wire’s length from the free end to the fixed end and is directly proportional to the pressure difference ΔP, reaching a maximum of 10.18°. The viscous drag causes the radial force y-component F_xy to increase and then decrease near the free end. The rear baffle contact force, F_b, shows variable peaks at two-thirds of the filament length. The displacement at the brush filament’s free end, the deflection angle, and the bending moment are directly proportional to the pressure differential. As pressure increases, the deformed region propagates toward the fixed end, and the maximum displacement at the free end of the brush wire reaches 13.04 mm. The leakage rate increases nearly linearly with ΔP and its deformation, reaching a maximum of 0.00849 m²/s. The pressure gradient growth rates of 164%, 73%, and 29% at the front baffle corner demonstrate that adding pressure chambers on front and rear baffles is optimal for high-pressure scenarios (ΔP > 0.3 MPa), while the formation of vortices between bristles and rotor reduces tip friction force and front-row turbulent disturbance, providing design guidance for extending seal service life. Full article

Interest in phytotherapy and phytogenic additives in veterinary medicine and animal production has increased considerably, driven by the search for functional alternatives to extensive antimicrobial use and the growing emphasis on food safety. In this context, Curcuma longa L. and its main bioactive compound, curcumin, have attracted attention because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antimicrobial properties. This review synthesizes recent evidence on the use of C. longa and curcumin in veterinary medicine, with emphasis on the botanical and phytochemical basis of the plant, the main biological mechanisms involved, and reported applications in poultry, swine, ruminants, aquaculture, and companion animals. It further highlights that the interpretation of findings is strongly influenced by botanical identity, phytochemical variability, product type, standardization, dose and route of administration. Available evidence indicates promising effects on antioxidant status, intestinal health, productive performance and hepatic protection in selected experimental models. However, translation into practice remains constrained by the low oral bioavailability of curcumin, formulation heterogeneity and inconsistent reporting. Overall, C. longa represents a promising phytogenic resource, but robust veterinary recommendations require studies in target species, better characterized products and standardized experimental protocols for application. Full article

Chitosan-based interpenetrating networks (IPNs) have become highly attractive as advanced super-adsorbent materials due to their ability to combine a high density of functional adsorption sites with enhanced structural stability under physiological conditions. While chitosan offers intrinsic advantages such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and chemical functionality, its adsorption efficiency, mechanical strength, and long-term stability may offer limited performance in complex biomedical environments. The formation of interpenetrating networks provides an effective strategy to overcome these limitations by interlacing chitosan with other polymer networks, resulting in a synergistic enhancement of physicochemical and adsorption properties. The formation of chitosan-based IPNs offers tunable control of network structure, porosity, swelling behaviour, and adsorption kinetics, which in turn results in enhanced retention and controlled interaction of drugs, biomolecules, toxins, and other therapeutic agents. Variations in polymer composition, crosslinking density, and network interactions further facilitate the controlled tailoring of adsorption properties for targeted biomedical applications. This review presents a comprehensive and critical assessment of recent progress in the fabrication, functionalization, and structure–property relationships of chitosan-based IPNs, with a main emphasis on their super-adsorbent behaviour. Furthermore, this review highlights key biomedical applications of IPNs, including controlled drug delivery, wound healing systems, tissue engineering scaffolds, detoxification platforms, and biosensing devices. Current issues in scalability, stability, and clinical translation are discussed, as well as future perspectives that highlight the potential of chitosan-based IPNs as high-performance, sustainable super-adsorbent materials for advanced biomedical technologies. Full article

Wireless power transfer (WPT), characterized by its excellent insulation properties and ease of maintenance, has recently emerged as a promising solution to the power supply challenges faced by online monitoring equipment on high-voltage transmission towers in complex environments. Existing research primarily relies on regular, closely wound solenoids to power these monitoring devices; however, this approach often makes it difficult to optimize the magnetic field distribution to maximize mutual inductance, thereby limiting transmission efficiency and power and hindering lightweight design. To address these issues, this paper proposes an optimized design scheme for variable-pitch (non-uniform) domino WPT coils based on insulator string structures. First, a parameter calculation model utilizing segmented current analysis is constructed to accurately determine the inductance of non-uniform solenoids, with simulations confirming an error rate below 5%. Subsequently, by integrating domino multi-coil theory into an elitist non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), dual-objective optimization is performed. Targeting maximum transmission efficiency and output power under spatial and insulation constraints, a set of Pareto optimal solutions is derived. Ultimately, a 113.7 W insulator domino coil WPT system prototype is constructed to validate the design’s stability. The proposed system achieves a maximum efficiency of 85.73%, with a single-stage load delivering up to 97.48 W. Full article

For the first time, a regulatory network linking melanin, genes, pathways, and edible quality was constructed for 138 Auricularia cornea strains sourced domestically and internationally. This marks the inaugural study of A. cornea spanning from cellular to physical-mechanical properties. Correlation analysis between melanin and edible quality traits (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience) revealed that hardness, cohesiveness, and gumminess increased with rising melanin content, while springiness correspondingly decreased. Genome-wide association analysis identified 15,597,589 SNP loci. A total of 39 genes related to food quality were annotated, including one melanin-related lacquer enzyme gene, ACW004924. Real-time quantitative PCR validation of key genes identified for melanin and edible quality traits revealed results consistent with those from correlation analysis. The lacquer enzyme genes ACW004736, ACW006232, which regulate melanin synthesis, and the tyrosinase genes ACW001451, ACW002443, and ACW001003 were also identified in edible quality traits. These genes perform similar functions in GO-enriched metabolic processes, catalytic activity, and cellular structural complexes, as well as in KEGG-enriched pathways such as carbon metabolism and polysaccharide synthesis. They catalyze melanin synthesis and promote interactions between melanin and cell wall polysaccharides, chitin, and structural proteins, thereby stabilizing the cellular scaffold structure, jointly mediating the effect of melanin on the edible quality of A. cornea. The results supplement the downstream regulatory chain of catalytic enzymes and edible quality in the γ-L-glutaminyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzene (GDHB) pigment synthesis pathway, and form an information network of melanin synthesis, cell wall structure optimization, and edible quality regulation. Full article

This paper extends cyclic permutation coding, previously applied for error correction in power-line communications (PLC), to synchronization-oriented sequence design by introducing a novel class of Non-Binary Cyclic Permutation Sequences (NCPS) for low-correlation multiuser synchronization. Unlike conventional Zadoff–Chu (ZC) and constant-amplitude zero-autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequences that rely on complex-valued phase laws, NCPS employ discrete modular permutations mapped to complex exponentials. Autocorrelation properties were analytically derived where tractable, while general correlation behavior was characterized through structural analysis and confirmed via simulation. Results demonstrated that NCPS achieved near-orthogonal cyclic correlation performance comparable to ZC sequences while preserving optimal Hamming distance, beneficial for error correction, and offering reduced implementation complexity. These characteristics highlight the potential of NCPS as synchronization preambles in PLC systems and other low-complexity or quantized communication platforms, including Internet of Things networks. Full article

Phase-modulated continuous wave (PMCW) has emerged as a promising waveform candidate for next-generation integrated sensing and communication systems due to its favorable sensing performance and multiplexing capability. In multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) PMCW systems, fast-time code-division multiplexing enables simultaneous transmission from multiple transmitters but causes inter-transmitter code interference due to non-ideal cross-correlation properties. The interference is observed to manifest as a low-rank component in the range–Doppler domain while target echoes appear as sparse components. This structural distinction motivates the use of robust principal component analysis (RPCA) for interference mitigation. In practice, conventional RPCA incurs high computational complexity due to the singular value decomposition (SVD) required at every iteration. To address this limitation, we propose an unfolded RPCA network in which each iterative step is mapped to a network stage and SVD is replaced by a factorized low-rank approximation. The proposed network also incorporates stage-wise learnable parameters for adaptive interference mitigation in MIMO PMCW systems. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves interference mitigation performance comparable to conventional RPCA with 21.2 times lower inference latency. These results confirm the effectiveness and computational efficiency of the proposed method for real-time mitigation of inter-transmitter code interference in MIMO PMCW systems. Full article