Search Results (89,577)

This study presents the development and validation of a comprehensive numerical optimisation methodology used to improve the energy efficiency of a pump with normal characteristics: volume flow rate, Q nom = 6.3 m³/h, and head, H = 20 mH₂O. The methodology was implemented in ANSYS Workbench using ANSYS CFX and optiSLang. The optimisation process is based on data from 853 RANS (SST) calculations on a sample generated by the LHC method, varying the parameters of the blades and flow path. Response surfaces (RSM) were constructed using anisotropic and classical kriging, which were optimised using an Evolutionary Algorithm (EA). The optimised geometry was verified numerically by URANS SST and experimentally. For physical validation, the wheel was manufactured using SLS technology from PA-12 Industrial powder, a strength assessment FSI was performed, and the geometry was checked by 3D scanning. 3D scanning showed a high manufacturing accuracy (deviations of 0.1–0.3 mm). The result is a geometry that increases efficiency while maintaining head, which has been confirmed by experimental validation. Full article

Dynamic drawing has emerged as a strategy to communicate tactical diagrams, yet its effectiveness remains uncertain and appears to depend on individual differences. This study investigated how the memorization and visual processing of tactical soccer scenes are influenced by drawing format (static drawing vs. dynamic drawing) and moderated by visuospatial abilities (VSA) and expertise. Expert (N = 57) and novice (N = 54) participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. In the static drawing condition, participants viewed a pre-drawn, completed tactical diagram accompanied by an oral explanation. In the dynamic drawing condition, they observed the coach drawing the diagram in real time while delivering the same explanation. VSA was first assessed using a control test. Then, in the main test, participants memorized and reproduced the tactical scene while their eye movements were recorded using an eye tracker. Key findings revealed a three-way interaction, highlighting the occurrence of an expertise reversal effect: high VSA novices performed better with dynamic drawing, whereas low VSA experts benefited more from static drawing, showing distinct visual processing patterns across groups. Overall, the results highlight the need to tailor drawing strategies to individual characteristics, particularly VSA and expertise, to optimize visual attention and tactical memorization. Full article

Background: Overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence represent one of the most significant public health challenges of our century. Affected children and adolescents often face psychosocial maladaptation, including low self-esteem, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and behavioral problems, many of which may persist till later in life. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary, personalized lifestyle intervention program on psychosocial and behavioral symptoms, assessed through standardized psychometric questionnaires, and to investigate their relation with cardiometabolic parameters in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 537 children and adolescents (6–18 years; females: 52.9%; pubertal: 43.6%) with obesity (n = 44.3%), overweight (n = 33.7%), or normal BMI (n = 22%) participated in a personalized lifestyle intervention program for one year. Clinical and laboratory evaluations, including anthropometric, cardiometabolic, and endocrinologic parameters, as well as psychosocial functioning assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self-Report (YSR), were performed at the beginning and the end of the study. Linear regression analyses identified predictors of psychometric change. Results: At initial evaluation, children and adolescents with obesity displayed a less favorable cardiometabolic profile and greater emotional/conduct difficulties compared to their overweight and normal-BMI counterparts. Following the intervention, significant improvements were observed in BMI, anthropometric and cardiometabolic parameters, as well as reductions in internalizing, externalizing, and total problem scores across multiple CBCL and YSR domains (p < 0.05). The improvements in psychosocial functioning were partly independent of BMI reduction. Linear regression analyses identified cardiometabolic and endocrine markers as significant predictors of psychometric change (p < 0.05), highlighting interactions between metabolic recovery, pubertal hormones, and stress physiology. Conclusions: A personalized, multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention program implemented for 1 year led to parallel improvements in psychosocial and cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. Identification of specific metabolic and endocrine predictors provides novel insights into potential biological mechanisms associated with adiposity, emotional well-being, and neurodevelopment. Full article

Chrysanthemums are appreciated not only for their ornamental and medicinal attributes but also as edible plants long incorporated into teas, infusions, and culinary traditions. Yet, hybrid cultivars specifically adapted to European growing conditions remain poorly characterized with respect to their medicinal potential. In this study, we investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant properties, and enzyme-inhibitory activities of inflorescences of four field-grown Chrysanthemum × morifolium ‘Donna’ × C. rubellum ‘Clara Curtis’ hybrids of European origin (CD 7, DC 19, DC 26, CD 46). Their profiles were compared with those of a Chinese tea cultivar (C. morifolium CHR18) and a commercial herbal product (CH B). Chemical constituents were analyzed using GC–MS and LC–MS, while antioxidant activity was evaluated by FRAP, CUPRAC, DPPH, ABTS, and iron-chelating assays; hyaluronidase (HYAL) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition were also assessed. A total of 61 volatile compounds were identified, with several terpenoids—such as chrysanthenone and verbenone—occurring exclusively in the European hybrids. CHR 18 possessed the highest flavonoid and phenolic acid levels, whereas hybrid CD 46 exhibited the most pronounced overall antioxidant performance. Hyaluronidase inhibition was strongest in DC 26 and CD 46 (60–62%), surpassing both reference samples, while BChE inhibition remained generally low. Overall, the results highlight that C. morifolium × C. rubellum hybrids developed for cultivation in the temperate European climate offer a unique combination of phytochemical richness, robust antioxidant activity, and noteworthy enzyme inhibition. These traits underscore their promise as emerging functional chrysanthemum resources and support future applications in European herbal products, nutraceutical development, and region-specific functional food innovation. Full article

Background: Healthcare quality is increasingly dependent on the patients’ perspective to ensure care aligns with patients’ needs and experiences, especially for those living with chronic conditions such as diabetes. The Swedish National Diabetes Register instrument (NDR) combines patient-reported experiences and outcomes to evaluate patient-centered diabetes care, but it has not yet been accessible in Arabic. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the Swedish National Diabetes Register questionnaire among patients with diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from July to August 2023 at 47 primary healthcare centers in Saudi Arabia, involving 594 adult patients with diabetes. Reliability was measured with Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability. Construct validity was tested using confirmatory factor analysis, and discriminant validity was assessed through the Heterotrait–Monotrait Ratio. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (version 28) and the lavaan package in R (version 4.3.2). Results: The Arabic version showed high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s α ranging from 0.716 to 0.886 and CR between 0.663 and 0.855. It also exhibited good model fit indices, including χ²/df of 2.72, RMSEA of 0.054, SRMR of 0.073, and a CFI above 0.90. All item loadings were statistically significant (p < 0.01). The HTMT values were below 0.85, confirming adequate discriminant validity. Conclusions: The Arabic version of the NDR instrument is a valid and reliable tool for measuring patient-reported experiences and outcomes among Arabic-speaking patients with diabetes, which supports its application in diabetic care across the Arab region. Health policymakers in the region are recommended to incorporate this validated Arabic tool into their national diabetes initiatives. Full article

Cyberbullying has become a pervasive threat on social media, impacting the safety and wellbeing of users worldwide. Most existing studies focus on monolingual content, limiting their applicability to online environments. This study aims to develop an approach that accurately detects abusive content in bilingual settings. Given the large volume of online content in English and Arabic, we propose a bilingual cyberbullying detection approach designed to deliver efficient, scalable, and robust performance. Several datasets were combined, processed, and augmented before proposing a cyberbullying identification approach. The proposed model (FusionBullyNet) is based on fine-tuning of two transformer models (RoBERTa-base + bert-base-arabertv02-twitter), attention-based fusion, gradually unfreezing the layers, and label smoothing to enhance generalization. The test accuracy of 0.86, F1 scores of 0.83 for bullying and 0.88 for no bullying, and an overall ROC-AUC of 0.929 were achieved with the proposed approach. To assess the robustness of the proposed models, several multilingual models, such as XLM-RoBERTa-Base, Microsoft/mdeberta-v3-base, and google-bert/bert-base-multilingual-cased, were also trained in this study, and all achieved a test accuracy of 0.84. Furthermore, several machine learning models were trained in this study, and Logistic Regression, XGBoost Classifier, and Light GBM Classifier achieved the highest accuracy of 0.82. These results demonstrate that the proposed approach provides a reliable, high-performance solution for cyberbullying detection, contributing to safer online communication environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Recent preclinical studies suggest that acute exercise induces immune modulation, enhances tumor blood perfusion, and is associated with reduced tumor growth. Adding exercise to immunochemotherapy treatment (ICT) has been proposed as a strategy to increase treatment effectiveness. The ERICA trial (NCT04676009) aimed to assess the feasibility of acute aerobic exercise performed immediately before the administration of ICT in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) and to explore hypothesis-generating outcomes related to physical fitness and patient-reported outcomes. Methods: Newly diagnosed mNSCLC patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to the exercise or control group. The exercise intervention included supervised acute exercise before each of four ICT cycles plus a 3-month home-based walking program with an activity tracker and step goals. The feasibility of the exercise protocol was assessed through adherence, acceptability, tolerability, and safety. Clinical, physical, and patient-reported outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 3 months. Results: Twenty-six patients (mean age 60.6 years; SD 10.65) participated, with an 87.5% acceptance rate. In the exercise group (n = 17), 80.9% of participants completed the acute exercise sessions, with a median interval of 38 min [IQR, 20–60] between exercise and ICT. No exercise-related adverse effects were reported. After 3 months, 60% of participants in the exercise group were classified as active and maintained their step goals. Self-reported measures suggest that maintaining physical fitness is favorable for reducing fatigue and insomnia, and therefore improving quality of life. Conclusions: Acute exercise performed immediately before each ICT administration in patients with mNSCLC appears feasible and safe. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study evaluated the differences in force–time characteristics of different incrementally loaded countermovement jumps (CMJs) and assessed their relationship to one-repetition maximum (1-RM) back squat performance. Methods: Nineteen resistance-trained males participated in this cross-sectional study, performing CMJs under six conditions (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% body mass) followed by a 1-RM back squat. Multiple regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between discrete CMJ metrics (net concentric impulse, net concentric mean force, eccentric duration) with 1-RM values. Additionally, one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was used to evaluate the intact force–time curve between jump conditions. Results: The multiple regression models explained 53–66% of the variance in 1-RM squat performance, which was greatest under the 80% body mass condition. One-dimensional SPM analysis revealed significant differences in force–time curves across all loading conditions. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that metrics from a loaded CMJ explained up to 66% of variance in the 1-RM back squat, suggesting the two tests are independent measures of strength. Further, each loaded jump condition elicited unique force-time curves, suggesting that each load requires a different neuromuscular technique. Full article

Background: Chest X-ray (CXR) imaging is crucial for diagnosing thoracic abnormalities; however, the rising demand burdens radiologists, particularly in resource-limited settings. Method: We used large-scale, diverse public CXR datasets with noisy labels to train general-purpose deep learning models (ResNet, DenseNet, EfficientNet, and DLAD-10) for multi-label classification of thoracic conditions. Uncertainty quantification was incorporated to assess model reliability. Performance was evaluated on both internal and external validation sets, with analyses of data scale, diversity, and fine-tuning effects. Result: EfficientNet achieved the highest overall area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.8944) with improved sensitivity and F1-score. Moreover, as training data volume increased—particularly using multi-source datasets—both diagnostic performance and generalizability were enhanced. Although larger datasets reduced predictive uncertainty, conditions such as tuberculosis remained challenging due to limited high-quality samples. Conclusions: General-purpose deep learning models can achieve robust CXR diagnostic performance when trained on large-scale, diverse public datasets despite noisy labels. However, further targeted strategies are needed for underrepresented conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alveolitis, or “dry socket,” is a common complication after tooth extraction, associated with pain, inflammation and delayed healing. Standard surgical treatments are often invasive and insufficient. Laser therapy offers antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of 980 nm monolaser therapy and 980 nm and 1550 nm dual-wavelength therapy on alveolar socket healing in a rabbit model. Methods: In vitro tests evaluated bactericidal effects of 980 nm laser exposure. Eighteen adult male chinchilla rabbits underwent the extraction of the first incisors with the prevention of clot formation to model alveolar socket healing. On day 3, animals were randomized to three groups: mechanical curettage and antiseptic irrigation, 980 nm diode laser therapy, or combined 980 nm + 1550 nm therapy. Clinical parameters (hyperemia, edema, pain, socket closure) were assessed up to day 7. Histological and microbiological analyses were performed on days 7 and 12. Results: Laser therapy showed superior outcomes compared to mechanical treatment. In vitro, 980 nm exposure eradicated microorganisms after 3 s. By day 7, hyperemia decreased to 0.7 ± 0.6 points in the dual-laser group, versus 2.0 ± 0.0 (980 nm) and 3.0 ± 0.0 (mechanical). Complete socket closure occurred in 33% with mechanical treatment and in 67% of sites in the dual-laser group. Pain was fully resolved only after dual-laser therapy. Histology confirmed more organized granulation tissue and angiogenesis in the dual-laser group. Conclusions: Dual-wavelength laser therapy demonstrated superior anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and regenerative effects compared with diode monotherapy and mechanical treatment. These findings highlight its promise as a minimally invasive approach for managing alveolitis, warranting further clinical evaluation. Full article

This study investigates the tri-objective optimization of underground metro station structures, considering structural reliability, life-cycle economic cost, and annualized carbon emissions simultaneously. Using a representative metro station in Guangzhou as a case study, a multi-objective optimization framework is developed. The model defines structural failure probability, discounted life-cycle cost, and average annual carbon emissions as the primary objectives, with decision variables including concrete strength, cover thickness, the use of epoxy-coated reinforcement, and various maintenance/repair strategies. Material quantities are calculated through Building Information Modeling (BIM), while cost–carbon relationships are derived from industry price data and carbon emission factors. An improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm (OMOPSO) is used to derive the Pareto-optimal front. Case study results show that increasing cover thickness significantly improves durability and reduces carbon emissions with only moderate cost increases. In contrast, epoxy-coated reinforcement is excluded from the Pareto set due to its high cost under the given conditions. To facilitate practical decision-making, a weight-based solution selection method is introduced, and sensitivity analyses are performed to assess the model’s robustness. The study concludes by emphasizing the framework’s applicability and limitations: the findings are specific to the case context and require recalibration for use in other sites or construction practices. This research contributes by integrating durability, cost, and carbon considerations into an engineering-level optimization workflow, providing valuable decision support for sustainable metro station design. Full article

Investigation and quality assessment of veterinary orthopaedic implants are seldom undertaken, despite their critical role in clinical outcomes. Dimensional accuracy is particularly important for screw–bone interface stability. This study aimed to evaluate the dimensional consistency of commonly used veterinary bone screws. Sixty unused stainless steel cortical screws (2.0 mm and 3.5 mm) were randomly selected from larger batches. Each screw was examined microscopically, and six measurements were obtained from three distinct regions along the screw length. Major (outer) diameter and pitch were recorded and compared against standard tolerance ranges. For 2.0 mm screws, 28.6% of major diameter and 75% of pitch measurements were outside the tolerance range. For 3.5 mm screws, only 56% (major diameter) and 26% (pitch) of measurements fell within tolerance. With the exception of the major diameter of the 2.0 mm screws, most screws exhibited dimensional variation along their length. This study demonstrates considerable variability in screw dimensions within and between individual screws of the same classification. While tolerance ranges are expected between different screws, dimensional uniformity is essential along the length of a single screw. The observed variability indicates suboptimal manufacturing quality, which may compromise screw–bone interface integrity and clinical performance. These findings highlight the need for improved quality control in the production of veterinary orthopaedic implants. Full article

Background: Sarcopenia, which has traditionally been considered to be an exclusively geriatric syndrome, has an increased frequency within the general population and fosters interest in its complex neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and metabolic basis. The current systematic review, adopting the recognized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) methodology, seeks to highlight current evidence on the underlying mechanisms as well as approaches to sarcopenia diagnosis and management. Methods: A comprehensive search of major international databases identified studies published between January 2023 and December 2024, from which 42 articles were retained according to prespecified criteria. To further enrich the present work, eleven additional studies of high relevance were included. Results: The selected literature describes sarcopenia’s multifactorial pathophysiology, including mitochondrial dysfunction, neuromuscular junction (NMJ) degeneration, chronic inflammation, anabolic resistance, endocrine and metabolic dysregulation, altered motor-unit remodeling, and molecular alterations. Diagnostic methods focus on functional assessments, especially muscle strength and physical performance. In addition, imaging techniques and new circulating biomarkers enhance precision in specific situations. Over the years, rehabilitation has proven to be one of the most effective therapeutic approaches. Complementary strategies, ranging from nutritional optimization to pharmacologic modulation of the renin–angiotensin system, show promise in specific patient subsets. Discussion and Conclusions: As supported by the works collected within the current study, future approaches will need to consider sarcopenia as a multifactorial disease that goes beyond aging. Full article

Background: The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is one of the top health concerns. Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterium that commonly causes severe infections. However, this research exposed its antibiotic-producing potential. Methods: Rifampicin-resistant mutants of E. coli C91 were generated to activate cryptic BGCs. Mutants (C91-R1, R2 and R3) were tested for antimicrobial production using agar-well diffusion assays. Metabolite profiling was performed by LC-MS/MS. Siderophore production was tested by construction of a Δycao deletion mutant. Growth of this mutant was assessed under iron-limited conditions versus iron-rich conditions using dipyridyl. qRT-PCR was used to analyze gene expression entB, mcmA and mchF. Genome mining was performed using antiSMASH and BAGEL4. Results: Compared to the wild type, Mutant C91-R1(S531L) displayed clear antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. LC-MS/MS revealed unique metabolites, including a novel peak at m/z 410.5, specific to the mutant C91-R1. A reduction in siderophore production of 61% was demonstrated in the Δycao mutant, and downregulation of entB, mcmA and mchF. Conclusions: Genome mining predicted non-ribosomal peptide, thiopeptide and polyketide BGCs. E. coli C91 offers antibiotic-producing potential that can be activated through ribosome-engineering-type approaches. Moreover, E. coli C91-R1 has unique metabolites and is considered as a promising candidate for novel antibiotic discovery. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to assess stroke coordination and biomechanics in elite U23 male kayakers under valid on-water conditions (instrumented K1 kayak on a competition lake) across race-relevant stroke frequencies (60, 80, and 100 strokes·min⁻¹). Methods: To achieve our aims, twelve male athletes (age 21.00 ± 0.47 years) completed 500 m trials at three randomized paddle frequencies (60, 80, 100 strokes·min⁻¹) with 10 min of passive recovery in-between. Data were collected with inertial measurement units, and a customized seat/footrest with integrated strain-gauge sensors. Results: Principal Component Analysis identified four key components: Mechanical Work, Mechanical Energy, Stroke Variability (PCI, Phase Coordination Index), and boat acceleration, accounting for 76% of total variance. Linear mixed-effects models (within-subject LME; Participant random intercept; Satterthwaite df) revealed that Mechanical Work (χ² = 17.10, p < 0.001) and Mechanical Energy (χ² = 53.10, p < 0.001) increased significantly with stroke frequency. Phase Coordination Index showed a significant increase at 60 and 100 strokes·min⁻¹ (χ² = 16.78, p < 0.001; t = 4.78, p < 0.001), while boat acceleration was not significantly affected (χ² = 4.95, p = 0.08). The PCI correlated negatively with Mechanical Work (r = −0.37, p = 0.022) and positively with boat acceleration (r = 0.39, p = 0.010). Effect sizes were moderate to large (ηp² = 0.18–0.36; corresponding 95% confidence intervals are reported in the main text). For the primary mechanical indicator (Paddle Factor), the mixed-effects model yielded a marginal R² = 0.57, reflecting the proportion of variance explained by cadence. Conclusions: Approximately 80 strokes·min⁻¹ may represent a condition in which coordination metrics appear comparatively favorable. These findings are exploratory and hypothesis-generating, not prescriptive. No causal inference can be drawn, and any training application attempts should await replication in larger, longitudinal and randomized studies. Full article