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Search Results (19,865)

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Keywords = precision detection

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20 pages, 1146 KB  
Article
UAV-Based Forest Fire Early Warning and Intervention Simulation System with High-Accuracy Hybrid AI Model
by Muhammet Sinan Başarslan and Hikmet Canlı
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 1201; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031201 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
In this study, a hybrid deep learning model that combines the VGG16 and ResNet101V2 architectures is proposed for image-based fire detection. In addition, a balanced drone guidance algorithm is developed to efficiently assign tasks to available UAVs. In the fire detection phase, the [...] Read more.
In this study, a hybrid deep learning model that combines the VGG16 and ResNet101V2 architectures is proposed for image-based fire detection. In addition, a balanced drone guidance algorithm is developed to efficiently assign tasks to available UAVs. In the fire detection phase, the hybrid model created by combining the VGG16 and ResNet101V2 architectures has been optimized with Global Average Pooling and layer merging techniques to increase classification success. The DeepFire dataset was used throughout the training process, achieving an extremely high accuracy rate of 99.72% and 100% precision. After fire detection, a task assignment algorithm was developed to assign existing drones to fire points at minimum cost and with balanced load distribution. This algorithm performs task assignments using the Hungarian (Kuhn–Munkres) method and cost optimization, and is adapted to direct approximately equal numbers of drones to each fire when the number of fires is less than the number of drones. The developed system was tested in a Python-based simulation environment and evaluated using performance metrics such as total intervention time, energy consumption, and task balance. The results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid model provides highly accurate fire detection and that the task assignment system creates balanced and efficient intervention scenarios. Full article
21 pages, 4701 KB  
Article
Research and Implementation of an Improved Non-Contact Online Voltage Monitoring Method
by Meiying Liao, Jianping Xu, Wei Ni and Zijian Liu
Sensors 2026, 26(3), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26030782 (registering DOI) - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
High-precision non-contact online voltage monitoring has attracted considerable attention due to its improved safety. Based upon existing research works and validation of non-contact voltage measurement techniques, an enhanced approach for online voltage monitoring is proposed in this paper. By analyzing the influence of [...] Read more.
High-precision non-contact online voltage monitoring has attracted considerable attention due to its improved safety. Based upon existing research works and validation of non-contact voltage measurement techniques, an enhanced approach for online voltage monitoring is proposed in this paper. By analyzing the influence of the relationship between coupling capacitance and input capacitance on monitoring results, an RC-type signal input circuit with enhanced adaptability has been designed for practical engineering scenarios that may involve large input capacitance. Furthermore, a mixed-signal measurement method based on phase dithering is proposed to eliminate detection errors caused by relative phase drift during synchronous sampling in existing signal injection approaches. This improvement enhances measurement accuracy and offers a more robust theoretical basis for selecting injection signal frequencies. The hardware circuit architecture and data processing scheme presented in this work are straightforward and have been validated using an experimental prototype tested at 50 Hz/500 V and 2000 Hz/300 V. Long-term energized testing demonstrates that the system operates stably at room temperature with a relative measurement error below 0.5%. This study provides a high-precision, easily implementable non-contact measurement solution for online monitoring of low-frequency, low-voltage signals in complex electromagnetic environments such as industrial control signals, low-voltage power signals, and rail transit signals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sensors Development)
47 pages, 948 KB  
Review
A Decade of Innovation in Breast Cancer (2015–2025): A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Trials, Targeted Therapies and Molecular Perspectives
by Klaudia Dynarowicz, Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher, Sara Czech, Aleksandra Kawczyk-Krupka and David Aebisher
Cancers 2026, 18(3), 361; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18030361 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed an unprecedented transformation in breast cancer management, driven by parallel advances in targeted therapies, immunomodulation, drug-delivery technologies, and molecular diagnostic tools. This review summarizes the key achievements of 2015–2025, encompassing all major biological subtypes of breast cancer as [...] Read more.
The past decade has witnessed an unprecedented transformation in breast cancer management, driven by parallel advances in targeted therapies, immunomodulation, drug-delivery technologies, and molecular diagnostic tools. This review summarizes the key achievements of 2015–2025, encompassing all major biological subtypes of breast cancer as well as technological innovations with substantial clinical relevance. In hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2− disease, the integration of CDK4/6 inhibitors, modulators of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, oral Selective Estrogen Receptor Degraders (SERDs), and real-time monitoring of Estrogen Receptor 1 (ESR1) mutations has enabled clinicians to overcome endocrine resistance and dynamically tailor treatment based on evolving molecular alterations detected in circulating biomarkers. In HER2-positive breast cancer, treatment paradigms have been revolutionized by next-generation antibody–drug conjugates, advanced antibody formats, and technologies facilitating drug penetration across the blood–brain barrier, collectively improving systemic and central nervous system disease control. The most rapid progress has occurred in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), where synergistic strategies combining selective cytotoxicity via Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), DNA damage response inhibitors, immunotherapy, epigenetic modulation, and therapies targeting immunometabolic pathways have markedly expanded therapeutic opportunities for this historically challenging subtype. In parallel, photodynamic therapy has emerged as an investigational and predominantly local phototheranostic approach, incorporating nanocarriers, next-generation photosensitizers, and photoimmunotherapy capable of inducing immunogenic cell death and modulating antitumor immune responses. A defining feature of the past decade has been the surge in patent-driven innovation, encompassing multispecific antibodies, optimized ADC architectures, novel linker–payload designs, and advanced nanotechnological and photoactive delivery systems. By integrating data from clinical trials, molecular analyses, and patent landscapes, this review illustrates how multimechanistic, biomarker-guided therapies supported by advanced drug-delivery technologies are redefining contemporary precision oncology in breast cancer. The emerging therapeutic paradigm underscores the convergence of targeted therapy, immunomodulation, synthetic lethality, and localized immune-activating approaches, charting a path toward further personalization of treatment in the years ahead. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cancer Therapy)
16 pages, 18584 KB  
Article
A Framework for Nuclei and Overlapping Cytoplasm Segmentation with MaskDino and Hausdorff Distance
by Baocan Zhang, Xiaolu Jiang, Wei Zhao and Shixiao Xiao
Symmetry 2026, 18(2), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18020218 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
Accurate segmentation of nuclei and cytoplasm in cervical cytology images plays a pivotal role in characterizing cellular morphology. The primary challenge is to precisely delineate boundaries within densely clustered cells, which is complicated by low-contrast edges and irregular morphologies. This paper introduces a [...] Read more.
Accurate segmentation of nuclei and cytoplasm in cervical cytology images plays a pivotal role in characterizing cellular morphology. The primary challenge is to precisely delineate boundaries within densely clustered cells, which is complicated by low-contrast edges and irregular morphologies. This paper introduces a novel framework combining MaskDino architecture with Hausdorff distance loss, enhanced by a two-phase training strategy. The method begins by employing MaskDino for precise nucleus segmentation. Building on this foundation, the framework then enhances cytoplasmic boundary detection in cellular clusters by incorporating a Hausdorff distance loss, with weight transfer initialization ensuring feature consistency across tasks.. The symmetry between the nucleus and cytoplasm servers as a key morphological indicator for cell assessment, and our method provides a reliable basis for such analysis. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our method achieves state-of-the-art cytoplasm segmentation results on the ISBI2014 dataset, with absolute improvements of 2.9% in DSC, 1.6% in TPRp and 2.0% in FNRo. The performance of nucleus segmentation is better than the average level. These results validate the proposed framework’s effectiveness for improving cervical cancer screening through robust cellular segmentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computer)
26 pages, 8183 KB  
Article
MEE-DETR: Multi-Scale Edge-Aware Enhanced Transformer for PCB Defect Detection
by Xiaoyu Ma, Xiaolan Xie and Yuhui Song
Electronics 2026, 15(3), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15030504 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
Defect inspection of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is essential for maintaining the safety and reliability of electronic products. With the continuous trend toward smaller components and higher integration levels, identifying tiny imperfections on densely packed PCB structures has become increasingly difficult and remains [...] Read more.
Defect inspection of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is essential for maintaining the safety and reliability of electronic products. With the continuous trend toward smaller components and higher integration levels, identifying tiny imperfections on densely packed PCB structures has become increasingly difficult and remains a major challenge for current inspection systems. To tackle this problem, this study proposes the Multi-scale Edge-Aware Enhanced Detection Transformer (MEE-DETR), a deep learning-based object detection method. Building upon the RT-DETR framework, which is grounded in Transformer-based machine learning, the proposed approach systematically introduces enhancements at three levels: backbone feature extraction, feature interaction, and multi-scale feature fusion. First, the proposed Edge-Strengthened Backbone Network (ESBN) constructs multi-scale edge extraction and semantic fusion pathways, effectively strengthening the structural representation of shallow defect edges. Second, the Entanglement Transformer Block (ETB), synergistically integrates frequency self-attention, spatial self-attention, and a frequency–spatial entangled feed-forward network, enabling deep cross-domain information interaction and consistent feature representation. Finally, the proposed Adaptive Enhancement Feature Pyramid Network (AEFPN), incorporating the Adaptive Cross-scale Fusion Module (ACFM) for cross-scale adaptive weighting and the Enhanced Feature Extraction C3 Module (EFEC3) for local nonlinear enhancement, substantially improves detail preservation and semantic balance during feature fusion. Experiments conducted on the PKU-Market-PCB dataset reveal that MEE-DETR delivers notable performance gains. Specifically, Precision, Recall, and mAP50–95 improve by 2.5%, 9.4%, and 4.2%, respectively. In addition, the model’s parameter size is reduced by 40.7%. These results collectively indicate that MEE-DETR achieves excellent detection performance with a lightweight network architecture. Full article
21 pages, 2026 KB  
Review
Adsorption and Removal of Emerging Pollutants from Water by Activated Carbon and Its Composites: Research Hotspots, Recent Advances, and Future Prospects
by Hao Chen, Qingqing Hu, Haiqi Huang, Lei Chen, Chunfang Zhang, Yue Jin and Wenjie Zhang
Water 2026, 18(3), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18030300 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
The continuous detection of emerging pollutants (EPs) in water poses potential threats to aquatic environmental safety and human health, and their efficient removal is a frontier in environmental engineering research. This review systematically summarizes research progress from 2005 to 2025 on the application [...] Read more.
The continuous detection of emerging pollutants (EPs) in water poses potential threats to aquatic environmental safety and human health, and their efficient removal is a frontier in environmental engineering research. This review systematically summarizes research progress from 2005 to 2025 on the application of activated carbon (AC) and its composites for removing EPs from water and analyzes the development trends in this field using bibliometric methods. The results indicate that research has evolved from the traditional use of AC for adsorption to the design of novel materials through physical and chemical modifications, as well as composites with metal oxides, carbon-based nanomaterials, and other functional components, achieving high adsorption capacity, selective recognition, and catalytic degradation capabilities. Although AC-based materials demonstrate considerable potential, their large-scale application still faces challenges such as cost control, adaptability to complex water matrices, material regeneration, and potential environmental risks. Future research should focus on precise material design, process integration, and comprehensive life-cycle sustainability assessment to advance this technology toward highly efficient, economical, and safe solutions, thereby providing practical strategies for safeguarding water resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Treatment Technology for Emerging Contaminants, 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 1799 KB  
Article
Quantitative Analysis of Lightning Rod Impacts on the Radiation Pattern and Polarimetric Characteristics of S-Band Weather Radar
by Xiaopeng Wang, Jiazhi Yin, Fei Ye, Ting Yang, Yi Xie, Haifeng Yu and Dongming Hu
Remote Sens. 2026, 18(3), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18030392 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
Lightning rods, while essential for protecting weather radars from direct lightning strikes, act as persistent non-meteorological scatterers that can interfere with signal transmission and reception and thereby degrade detection accuracy and product quality. Existing studies have mainly focused on X-band and C-band systems, [...] Read more.
Lightning rods, while essential for protecting weather radars from direct lightning strikes, act as persistent non-meteorological scatterers that can interfere with signal transmission and reception and thereby degrade detection accuracy and product quality. Existing studies have mainly focused on X-band and C-band systems, and robust, measurement-based quantitative assessments for S-band dual-polarization radars remain scarce. In this study, a controllable tilting lightning rod, a high-precision Far-field Antenna Measurement System (FAMS), and an S-band dual-polarization weather radar (SAD radar) are jointly employed to systematically quantify lightning-rod impacts on antenna electromagnetic parameters under different rod elevation angles and azimuth configurations. Typical precipitation events were analyzed to evaluate the influence of the lightning rods on dual-polarization parameters. The results show that the lightning rod substantially elevates sidelobe levels, with a maximum enhancement of 4.55 dB, while producing only limited changes in the antenna main-beam azimuth and beamwidth. Differential reflectivity () is the most sensitive polarimetric parameter, exhibiting a persistent positive bias of about 0.24–0.25 dB in snowfall and mixed-phase precipitation, while no persistent azimuthal anomaly is evident during freezing rain; the co-polar correlation coefficient () is only marginally affected. Collectively, these results provide quantitative, far-field evidence of lightning-rod interference in S-band dual-polarization radars and provide practical guidance for more reasonable lightning-rod placement and configuration, as well as useful references for -oriented polarimetric quality-control and correction strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Engineering Remote Sensing)
16 pages, 2368 KB  
Article
PSCAD-Based Analysis of Short-Circuit Faults and Protection Characteristics in a Real BESS–PV Microgrid
by Byeong-Gug Kim, Chae-Joo Moon, Sung-Hyun Choi, Yong-Sung Choi and Kyung-Min Lee
Energies 2026, 19(3), 598; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19030598 (registering DOI) - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
This paper presents a PSCAD-based analysis of short-circuit faults and protection characteristics in a real distribution-level microgrid that integrates a 1 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) with a 500 kW power conversion system (PCS) and a 500 kW photovoltaic (PV) plant connected [...] Read more.
This paper presents a PSCAD-based analysis of short-circuit faults and protection characteristics in a real distribution-level microgrid that integrates a 1 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) with a 500 kW power conversion system (PCS) and a 500 kW photovoltaic (PV) plant connected to a 22.9 kV feeder. While previous studies often rely on simplified inverter models, this paper addresses the critical gap by integrating actual manufacturer-defined control parameters and cable impedances. This allows for a precise analysis of sub-millisecond transient behaviors, which is essential for developing robust protection schemes in inverter-dominated microgrids. The PSCAD model is first verified under grid-connected steady-state operation by examining PV output, BESS power, and grid voltage at the point of common coupling. Based on the validated model, DC pole-to-pole faults at the PV and ESS DC links and a three-phase short-circuit fault at the low-voltage bus are simulated to characterize the fault current behavior of the grid, BESS and PV converters. The DC fault studies confirm that current peaks are dominated by DC-link capacitor discharge and are strongly limited by converter controls, while the AC three-phase fault is mainly supplied by the upstream grid. As an initial application of the model, an instantaneous current change rate (ICCR) algorithm is implemented as a dedicated DC-side protection function. For a pole-to-pole fault, the ICCR index exceeds the 100 A/ms threshold and issues a trip command within 0.342 ms, demonstrating the feasibility of sub-millisecond DC fault detection in converter-dominated systems. Beyond this example, the validated PSCAD model and associated data set provide a practical platform for future research on advanced DC/AC protection techniques and protection coordination schemes in real BESS–PV microgrids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section A1: Smart Grids and Microgrids)
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12 pages, 583 KB  
Article
Insights on Stereoselective Residue and Degradation of Spirotetramat Enantiomers on Tubifex of the Qinghai Plateau
by Hongyu Chen, Yang Zhang, Kaifu Zheng, Shuo Shen, Shujing Yu and Wei Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(3), 1170; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031170 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
This study established an HPLC-MS/MS method to quantify the enantiomers of spirotetramat in tubifex. To assess the accuracy and precision of the approach, recovery tests were conducted for insecticide. For all enantiomers, the limits of detection were 0.003 mg/kg. The quantization limits were [...] Read more.
This study established an HPLC-MS/MS method to quantify the enantiomers of spirotetramat in tubifex. To assess the accuracy and precision of the approach, recovery tests were conducted for insecticide. For all enantiomers, the limits of detection were 0.003 mg/kg. The quantization limits were 0.01 mg/kg. Spirotetramat enantiomers recovery rates in tubifex were found to be between 81 and 114%, with relative standard deviations being less than 7%. The half-lives of spirotetramat enantiomers in tubifex were 3.81–10.58 d, respectively. The 22.4% spirotetramat suspension was sprayed on tubifex three times at a low dosage (high dosage advised). After 14 days after harvesting, the terminal residues of spirotetramat enantiomers in the tubifex were less than 0.03 mg/kg. The findings offer a quantitative foundation for setting China’s maximum residue limits as well as a recommendation for the safe and responsible usage of spirotetramat enantiomers in tubifex. Full article
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22 pages, 1407 KB  
Review
Artificial Intelligence Drives Advances in Multi-Omics Analysis and Precision Medicine for Sepsis
by Youxie Shen, Peidong Zhang, Jialiu Luo, Shunyao Chen, Shuaipeng Gu, Zhiqiang Lin and Zhaohui Tang
Biomedicines 2026, 14(2), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14020261 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome characterized by marked clinical heterogeneity and complex host–pathogen interactions. Although traditional mechanistic studies have identified key molecular pathways, they remain insufficient to capture the highly dynamic, multifactorial, and systems-level nature of this condition. The advent of high-throughput omics [...] Read more.
Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome characterized by marked clinical heterogeneity and complex host–pathogen interactions. Although traditional mechanistic studies have identified key molecular pathways, they remain insufficient to capture the highly dynamic, multifactorial, and systems-level nature of this condition. The advent of high-throughput omics technologies—particularly integrative multi-omics approaches encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics—has profoundly reshaped sepsis research by enabling comprehensive profiling of molecular perturbations across biological layers. However, the unprecedented scale, dimensionality, and heterogeneity of multi-omics datasets exceed the analytical capacity of conventional statistical methods, necessitating more advanced computational strategies to derive biologically meaningful and clinically actionable insights. In this context, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful paradigm for decoding the complexity of sepsis. By leveraging machine learning and deep learning algorithms, AI can efficiently process ultra-high-dimensional and heterogeneous multi-omics data, uncover latent molecular patterns, and integrate multilayered biological information into unified predictive frameworks. These capabilities have driven substantial advances in early sepsis detection, molecular subtyping, prognosis prediction, and therapeutic target identification, thereby narrowing the gap between molecular mechanisms and clinical application. As a result, the convergence of AI and multi-omics is redefining sepsis research, shifting the field from descriptive analyses toward predictive, mechanistic, and precision-oriented medicine. Despite these advances, the clinical translation of AI-driven multi-omics approaches in sepsis remains constrained by several challenges, including limited data availability, cohort heterogeneity, restricted interpretability and causal inference, high computational demands, difficulties in integrating static molecular profiles with dynamic clinical data, ethical and governance concerns, and limited generalizability across populations and platforms. Addressing these barriers will require the establishment of standardized, multicenter datasets, the development of explainable and robust AI frameworks, and sustained interdisciplinary collaboration between computational scientists and clinicians. Through these efforts, AI-enabled multi-omics research may progress toward reproducible, interpretable, and equitable clinical implementation. Ultimately, the synergy between artificial intelligence and multi-omics heralds a new era of intelligent discovery and precision medicine in sepsis, with the potential to transform both research paradigms and bedside practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular and Translational Medicine)
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20 pages, 3656 KB  
Article
Efficient Model for Detecting Steel Surface Defects Utilizing Dual-Branch Feature Enhancement and Downsampling
by Quan Lu, Minsheng Gong and Linfei Yin
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16031181 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
Surface defect evaluation in steel production demands both high inference speed and accuracy for efficient production. However, existing methods face two critical challenges: (1) the diverse dimensions and irregular morphologies of surface defects reduce detection accuracy, and (2) computationally intensive feature extraction slows [...] Read more.
Surface defect evaluation in steel production demands both high inference speed and accuracy for efficient production. However, existing methods face two critical challenges: (1) the diverse dimensions and irregular morphologies of surface defects reduce detection accuracy, and (2) computationally intensive feature extraction slows inference. In response to these challenges, this study proposes an innovative network based on dual-branch feature enhancement and downsampling (DFED-Net). First, an atrous convolution and multi-scale dilated attention fusion module (AMFM) is developed, incorporating local–global feature representation. By emphasizing local details and global semantics, the module suppresses noise interference and enhances the capability of the model to separate small-object features from complex backgrounds. Additionally, a dual-branch downsampling module (DBDM) is developed to preserve the fine details related to scale that are typically lost during downsampling. The DBDM efficiently fuses semantic and detailed information, improving consistency across feature maps at different scales. A lightweight dynamic upsampling (DySample) is introduced to supplant traditional fixed methods with a learnable, adaptive approach, which retains critical feature information more flexibly while reducing redundant computation. Experimental evaluation shows a mean average precision (mAP) of 81.5% on the Northeastern University surface defect detection (NEU-DET) dataset, a 5.2% increase compared to the baseline, while maintaining a real-time inference speed of 120 FPS compared to the 118 FPS of the baseline. The proposed DFED-Net provides strong support for the development of automated visual inspection systems for detecting defects on steel surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)
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15 pages, 3380 KB  
Systematic Review
Re-Evaluating the Progesterone Challenge Test as a Physiologic Marker of Endometrial Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Rachel J. Woima, Derek S. Chiu, Elise Abi Khalil, Sabine El-Halabi, Andrea Neilson, Laurence Bernard, Jessica N. McAlpine and Aline Talhouk
Diagnostics 2026, 16(3), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16030378 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: With the rising incidence of obesity-related endometrial cancer, there is renewed interest in physiologic, low-cost approaches to identify women with hormonally active endometrium who may benefit from early preventive interventions. The progesterone challenge test (PCT), an established clinical tool for evaluating [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: With the rising incidence of obesity-related endometrial cancer, there is renewed interest in physiologic, low-cost approaches to identify women with hormonally active endometrium who may benefit from early preventive interventions. The progesterone challenge test (PCT), an established clinical tool for evaluating amenorrhea, has been previously proposed as a method to detect endometrial pathology. This study systematically evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the PCT for detecting endometrial hyperplasia, intraepithelial neoplasia, and carcinoma in asymptomatic postmenopausal women to determine its potential role as a physiologic marker of endometrial cancer risk. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA-DTA guidelines. MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBM Reviews, and CINAHL were searched from inception to 20 January 2025, along with ClinicalTrials.gov and grey literature. Eligible studies prospectively evaluated the PCT with endometrial biopsy as the reference standard. Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were performed in duplicate. Risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS-2. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were estimated using hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic models. Results: Nineteen studies (n = 3902) met the inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the PCT for detecting endometrial pathology were 95% (95% CI 86–100%) and 87% (76–96%), respectively. The positive predictive value was 32% (95% CI, 16–50%) and the negative predictive value was 100% (100–100%). When endometrial proliferation was included in the target condition, sensitivity decreased to 82%, but positive predictive value increased to 70%. Conclusions: The PCT shows high diagnostic accuracy for identifying estrogen-driven endometrial pathology in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Re-evaluating this simple, physiologic test as a functional risk-stratification tool could inform precision prevention strategies for endometrial cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnosis and Management of Endometrial Diseases)
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16 pages, 2575 KB  
Article
Analysis of Pre-Seismic Disturbances Based on Dynamic Variations in Gravity Solid Tide Amplitude Factors
by Zheng Mu, Xiaoqing Su, Kai Chang and Yaxin Zhao
Geosciences 2026, 16(2), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences16020053 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
Pre-seismic anomalies in solid tidal factors can reveal crustal stress accumulation and predict seismic risk; such disturbance signals associated with earthquake incubation are extremely subtle and easily obscured by environmental noise, instrument errors, and other interference factors, placing heightened demands on the precision [...] Read more.
Pre-seismic anomalies in solid tidal factors can reveal crustal stress accumulation and predict seismic risk; such disturbance signals associated with earthquake incubation are extremely subtle and easily obscured by environmental noise, instrument errors, and other interference factors, placing heightened demands on the precision of gravity data acquisition and the capability to detect and isolate solid tidal signals effectively. In this paper, we propose a novel method for determining time-varying solid tidal factors based on the normal time–frequency transform (NTFT) theory, an approach allowing us to unbiasedly determine the instantaneous amplitude, frequency, and phase of time-varying signals, while mitigating the influence of edge effects to a certain extent. In the study outlined in this paper, we first design simulation experiments to validate the effectiveness of the new method. Subsequently, utilising high-precision superconducting gravimeter observation data, the proposed method is applied to the detection of pre-seismic disturbances preceding the 2004 Sumatra megathrust earthquake. Our results demonstrate that, compared to traditional harmonic analysis methods, this novel approach more accurately filters out interference signals, effectively captures the faint pre-seismic perturbations of solid tides, and significantly enhances the timeliness of pre-seismic disturbance detection, thus providing more reliable technical support for earthquake precursor monitoring. Full article
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20 pages, 49658 KB  
Article
Dead Chicken Identification Method Based on a Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolution Network
by Jikang Yang, Chuang Ma, Haikun Zheng, Zhenlong Wu, Xiaohuan Chao, Cheng Fang and Boyi Xiao
Animals 2026, 16(3), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16030368 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
In intensive cage rearing systems, accurate dead hen detection remains difficult due to complex environments, severe occlusion, and the high visual similarity between dead hens and live hens in a prone posture. To address these issues, this study proposes a dead hen identification [...] Read more.
In intensive cage rearing systems, accurate dead hen detection remains difficult due to complex environments, severe occlusion, and the high visual similarity between dead hens and live hens in a prone posture. To address these issues, this study proposes a dead hen identification method based on a Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network (STGCN). Unlike conventional static image-based approaches, the proposed method introduces temporal information to enable dynamic spatial-temporal modeling of hen health states. First, a multimodal fusion algorithm is applied to visible light and thermal infrared images to strengthen multimodal feature representation. Then, an improved YOLOv7-Pose algorithm is used to extract the skeletal keypoints of individual hens, and the ByteTrack algorithm is employed for multi-object tracking. Based on these results, spatial-temporal graph-structured data of hens are constructed by integrating spatial and temporal dimensions. Finally, a spatial-temporal graph convolution model is used to identify dead hens by learning spatial-temporal dependency features from skeleton sequences. Experimental results show that the improved YOLOv7-Pose model achieves an average precision (AP) of 92.8% in keypoint detection. Based on the constructed spatial-temporal graph data, the dead hen identification model reaches an overall classification accuracy of 99.0%, with an accuracy of 98.9% for the dead hen category. These results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively reduces interference caused by feeder occlusion and ambiguous visual features. By using dynamic spatial-temporal information, the method substantially improves robustness and accuracy of dead hen detection in complex cage rearing environments, providing a new technical route for intelligent monitoring of poultry health status. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welfare and Behavior of Laying Hens)
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26 pages, 4548 KB  
Article
Design and Experimentation of High-Throughput Granular Fertilizer Detection and Real-Time Precision Regulation System
by Li Ding, Feiyang Wu, Yuanyuan Li, Kaixuan Wang, Yechao Yuan, Bingjie Liu and Yufei Dou
Agriculture 2026, 16(3), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16030290 - 23 Jan 2026
Abstract
To address the challenge of imprecise detection and control of fertilizer application rates caused by high granular flow during fertilization operations, a parallel diversion detection method with real-time application rate regulation is proposed. The mechanism of uniform distribution of discrete particles formed by [...] Read more.
To address the challenge of imprecise detection and control of fertilizer application rates caused by high granular flow during fertilization operations, a parallel diversion detection method with real-time application rate regulation is proposed. The mechanism of uniform distribution of discrete particles formed by high-throughput aggregated granular fertilizer was elucidated. Key components including the uniform fertilizer tube, sensor detection structure, six-channel diversion cone disc, and fertilizer convergence tube underwent parametric design, culminating in the innovative development of a six-channel parallel diversion detection device. A multi-channel parallel signal detection method was studied, and a synchronous multi-channel signal acquisition system was designed. Through calibration tests, relationship models were established between the measured flow rate of granular fertilizer and voltage, as well as between the actual flow rate and the rotational speed of the fertilizer discharge shaft. A fuzzy PID control model was constructed in MATLAB2023/Simulink. Using overshoot, response time, and stability as evaluation metrics, the control performance of traditional PID and fuzzy PID was compared and analyzed. To validate the control system’s precision, device performance tests were conducted. Results demonstrated that fuzzy PID control reduced the time required to reach steady state by 66.87% compared to traditional PID, while overshoot decreased from 7.38 g·s−1 to 1.49 g·s−1. Divergence uniformity tests revealed that at particle generation rates of 10, 20, 30, and 40 g·s−1, the coefficient of variation for channel divergence consistency gradually increased with rising tilt angles. During field operations at 0–5.0° tilt, the coefficient of variation for channel divergence consistency remained below 7.72%. Bench tests revealed that the fuzzy PID control system achieved an average accuracy improvement of 3.64% compared to traditional PID control, with a maximum response time of 0.9 s. Field trials demonstrated detection accuracy no less than 92.64% at normal field operation speeds of 3.0–6.0 km·h−1. This system enables real-time, precise detection of fertilizer application rates and closed-loop regulation. Full article
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