Search Results (4,973)

A trend toward comorbid conditions is seen in around 50% of gynecological patients, with a significant contribution made by endometriosis as a common and incurable gynecological condition. Over the last decades, the global burdens of different forms of endometriosis have shown a progressive increase, while their diagnosis and management present persistent and significant challenges. Currently, endometriosis is divided into two primary types: genital (adenomyosis and external genital endometriosis, including ovarian endometriosis) and extragenital endometriosis. Regardless of the location of endometriosis, lesions or ectopic endometrium follow a consistent pathological process characterized by active proliferation, local inflammation, neoangiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. These pathogenetic patterns are associated not only with process progression, but also with the impact on the eutopic endometrium. External genital or extragenital endometriosis and adenomyosis (an internal genital endometriosis) are currently considered as a major cause of infertility and implantation failures due to the negative impact on the eutopic endometrium. However, it has been proven that the pathogenetic pathways for the development of eutopic endometrium dysfunction in these endometriosis phenotypes (despite the common pathophysiology of the ectopic endometrium) differ significantly. This narrative review is focused on highlighting the relevance and pathogenetic patterns of the two most frequently diagnosed forms of endometriosis—adenomyosis and ovarian endometrioid cysts—as key areas of research interest relating to their relevance, specific pathophysiology and impacts on the eutopic endometrium. Full article

Designing an aircraft requires multidisciplinary analysis and data processing abilities, which are often spread over various partners. Effective collaboration across organisational boundaries is difficult, but essential. As the aerospace industry becomes increasingly digitalised, ever larger volumes of data and models must be exchanged. Heterogeneous tools, data formats, and infrastructures make it difficult to exchange data and to trace it. We propose using semantic graphs for data exchange to ensure interoperability, while semantic links between data models facilitate multidisciplinary and cross-organisational collaboration. Furthermore, our approach captures comprehensive metadata that describes the creation and modification of each dataset, thereby establishing a fully traceable data provenance chain. We demonstrate its functionality via a design process for an electromechanical actuator (EMA) given requirements from a different stakeholder (simulated). Having the requirements and the EMA models translated in Resource Description Framework (RDF) graphs, we are able to create links between them. This then enables the EMA model to be automatically re-evaluated when requirements change, ensuring that it complies with them. For the data exchange, we use the DLR SemanticHub, which utilises a graph database. By providing traceability of the data results provided in different data formats and the data origins, we enable transparency and accountability across organisational boundaries, which is important for trusted collaboration and compliance in intercorporational data exchange. Full article

Pixelated detectors based on inorganic scintillation materials are widely used in radiation detection systems for medical imaging and many other fields of science and technology. A substantial application is X-ray scanning using flat-panel detectors (FPDs) for both fluorography and mammography. In this article, the detection properties of the monolithic planar ceramic scintillation elements are reported for the first time. A high-light yield (Gd,Y)₃Al₂Ga₃O₁₂:Ce,Mg garnet-type scintillation material was used to form square-shaped pixels, while a material of similar composition was used as a substrate. Green bodies were successfully fabricated by a digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing method. Subsequent debinding and pressureless high-temperature sintering resulted in composite elements consisting of two layers with different chemical compositions. The lower bulk layer consisted of transparent, non-luminescent garnet, whereas the upper pixelated layer, with pixel dimensions of 230 × 230 µm, was made of scintillation material. The spatial resolution of the matrices under UV light and alpha-particle excitation was evaluated. It was confirmed that the spatial resolution of the matrices produced by the developed technology is approximately 0.4 times the pixel size. The proven ability of the integrated technology of inorganic scintillation matrix production opens the way for future improvement in spatial resolution through optimizing the printed pixel dimensions. Full article

Modelling constitutes a disciplined transformation process through which heterogeneous, unstructured evidence is translated into structured representations that support reasoning and decision-making. The integration of generative artificial intelligence into such processes introduces new possibilities for automation, yet risks undermining methodological rigour, traceability, and human accountability. This paper proposes a methodology-grounded multi-agent architecture for constructing structured business ecosystem maps from unstructured document collections. The architecture decomposes the modelling lifecycle into specialised agent functions covering boundary specification, source discovery, document analysis, semantic extraction, and controlled model editing, addressing four of the five methodology stages while leaving automated completeness verification outside the current scope. A central orchestrator coordinates agents while enforcing ontological constraints derived from a formal modelling methodology. All proposed modifications are staged for human review before execution, and each map element maintains explicit provenance links to source material. To evaluate the reliability and correctness of generative modelling pipelines, a hybrid evaluation framework integrates operational metrics, semantic assessment using an LLM-based judge, and human agreement validation. Empirical evaluation across 34 generative models and 4382 experimental runs characterises capabilities across modelling tasks. In a controlled single-document extraction task, text-based extraction achieves a mean semantic match score of 0.947, whereas interaction extraction scores 0.431 and visual diagram interpretation scores 0.470, identifying relational reasoning and multimodal interpretation as principal bottlenecks. Model performance varies across agent roles, with task-aligned model selection associated with larger performance changes than hyperparameter tuning; the architecture’s causal contribution is not isolated, and comparison against monolithic or ablated baselines remains future work. Full article

Coral mucus serves as a crucial defensive barrier for corals, where the mucus microbes play a vital role in the coral’s resistance to external stresses. However, detailed knowledge of the effect of UV radiation on coral mucus microbiome is limited, particularly regarding the UV resistance mechanisms of coral mucus microbes. This study investigates changes in the mucus microbial community and possible UV-resistant mechanisms of the mucus microbiota of Porites sp. and Favites sp. under UV stress using high-throughput sequencing, UV-resistant microbial isolation, and RT-qPCR analysis. Compared to the control, UV stress alters microbial community structure by reducing microbial diversity, e.g., the relative abundance of Aquibacter, Agaribacter, and Oleibacter in coral Porites sp., and the Roseobacter clade CHAB_I_5 lineage, Roseivirga, and Nautella in coral Favites sp. increase under UV stress. Meanwhile, it is indicated that the Favites sp. mucus microbiome is much more sensitive than the Porites sp. mucus microbiome. A total of 428 microbial strains belonging to 5 phyla, 7 classes, 15 orders, 23 families, and 47 genera were isolated from these two coral mucus species, with Ruegeria and Rossellomorea as the most abundant cultured taxa. Pseudoalteromonas galatheae strain P12 and Limimaricola pyoseonensis strains P2 and P9 have been proven to exhibit higher UV resistance by enhanced expression of tyr, sod, gogat, and uvrC genes, indicating that the UV resistance of coral mucus bacteria involves complex molecular processes, including upregulation of antioxidant enzyme expression and enhancement of melanin and glutamic acid biosynthesis. These findings enhance our understanding of coral mucus microbial ecological functions, particularly highlighting the coral mucus microbial UV resistance strategy. Full article

The present work represents a step forward in the production of a battery that can be recharged with light, without the need to integrate an energy generation device (e.g., a solar cell). Here, a silicon Li-ion battery electrode is reported, which has a current collector with an optical window that allows the impinging of light to it. The contact between the current collector and silicon is Schottky-type, behaving as a photodiode that injects charges into the electrode, which are added to the current applied to it when it is charged. The electrode presented in the present work is a proof of concept, with one of the simplest possible structures that the electrode could have to be functional (an optimized microstuctured electrode with improved charge/discharge cycling stability is envisioned): the electrode consists of monolithic silicon that has been microstructured in the backside by metal assisted chemical etching and has been decorated with Cu particles that work as a current collector. I-V curves show that the electrode by itself functions as a Schottky-type photodiode. On the other hand, when the chip is used as an electrode of a Li-ion battery, it can be properly lithiated/delithiated (it is a rechargeable electrode). Furthermore, it has been proven that when lithiation has been performed, this process has been enhanced by applying light to the current collector. Full article

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis, characterized by immune dysregulation and progressive renal injury. Among immunoregulatory mediators, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-27 (IL-27) have been implicated in inflammatory and immune processes; however, their combined role in IgAN remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, serum levels of IL-6 and IL-27 were measured in 51 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN and 62 healthy controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Associations with clinical and histopathological parameters, including the Oxford MEST-C classification, were evaluated. Results: Serum IL-27 levels were significantly higher in patients with IgAN compared to controls (p = 0.001), while IL-6 levels did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.820). A positive correlation between IL-27 and IL-6 levels was observed in the patient group (Spearman’s rho = 0.287, p = 0.044). Higher IL-27 concentrations were associated with the absence of mesangial proliferation (p = 0.021) and erythrocyturia (p < 0.001), and showed a trend toward lower proportions of global and segmental glomerulosclerosis. ROC analysis demonstrated moderate discriminatory ability for IL-27 (AUC = 0.708), while the combined IL-6/IL-27 model showed only modest improvement (AUC = 0.661). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that IL-27 may play a modulatory and potentially protective role in IgAN, possibly through attenuation of IL-6–mediated inflammatory pathways. Full article

Vaccination stands as a preeminent public health measure in the fight against infectious diseases, with a proven track record of significantly reducing morbidity and mortality rates. However, the presence of vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, particularly evident during the course of the pandemic, has emerged as a significant challenge. The present study analyzes public perceptions of vaccination by examining YouTube comments on 215 vaccine-related videos, which total over 94,000 comments. Employing advanced topic modeling techniques, such as Hierarchical Dirichlet Process (hLDA), Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA), and Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), the study identifies key themes, including vaccine safety, side effects, pharmaceutical ethics, and public trust in healthcare authorities. The findings indicate that debates frequently center on political, social, and scientific concepts. Vaccine hesitancy has emerged as a pervasive global phenomenon that transcends cultural boundaries. The dissemination of misinformation regarding the efficacy of vaccines and the safety of treatments, such as ivermectin, is a prevalent phenomenon on social media platforms. This poses significant challenges to public health efforts. The subjects of child vaccination and parental standpoints are also recurring topics of concern. This study underscores the pivotal function of digital platforms such as YouTube in influencing public attitudes regarding vaccination. This underscores the necessity for targeted communication strategies, advanced digital literacy, and proactive policies by social media platforms to address misinformation and promote evidence-based information. Such precautions are imperative to sustaining elevated vaccination rates and safeguarding public health in the digital age. Full article

The desalination of brackish and seawater has emerged as a critical strategy to address growing water scarcity in regions experiencing water stress, particularly within the context of sustainable water resource management. Among available technologies, forward osmosis (FO) has gained increasing attention due to its potential for lower energy consumption and reduced environmental impact compared to conventional desalination processes. In this study, commercial HFFO₂ (Aquaporin Inside) membrane from FO was used. A complete factorial design with three factors was used: feed solution concentration (1.5 and 3 g/L NaCl), draw solution concentration (15, 25, and 35 g/L NaCl), and feed solution flow rate (600 and 1000 mL/min) on the percentage of recovery and water flux. Tests showed that as the feed concentration decreases from 3 to 1.5 g/L of NaCl, water recovery improves by 23.6%. The results revealed that increasing the concentration of the draw solution from 15 to 25 g/L of NaCl increased water recovery by 22.2%. However, for a concentration variation of 25 to 35 g/L, this increase is insignificant at 0.92%. The results showed that, with a concentration of 1.5 g/L of NaCl, a feed flow rate of 1000 mL/min, and a concentration of 25 g/L of NaCl as the draw solution, a higher water recovery rate (95.4839%) was achieved. Similarly, average water flux values of 2.18, 2.43, and 2.68 $L{m}^{-2}{h}^{-1}$ were observed when using draw solutions of 15, 25, and 35 g/L of NaCl, respectively. In addition, increasing the FS flow rate slightly reduces water recovery (from 76.04% to 74.06%). Consequently, the forward osmosis process has proven to be effective, practical, viable, and environmentally friendly for water desalination, as well as being applicable to the treatment of wastewater with high electrical conductivity. Full article

Studies employing animal models play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology of retinal diseases. These models enable the investigation of molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying retinal structural damage, as well as the assessment of genetic and environmental factors contributing to disease development. The application of appropriate experimental models provides essential insights into the progression of degenerative processes and tissue responses to therapeutic interventions. The advancement of modern molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques has facilitated the development of increasingly precise animal models, which have proven crucial for identifying pathological alterations occurring in the course of retinal diseases. In recent years, research has demonstrated that, depending on the model employed, the observed changes may involve inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, photoreceptor dysfunction, extracellular matrix remodeling, and aberrant glial cell responses. It has also been shown that the nature and dynamics of these alterations vary according to the specific disease entity and the animal species used. The aim of this review is to compile and systematize current knowledge regarding the most commonly used animal models in retinal disease research and to discuss their utility in analyzing potential pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic targets. The review also highlights emerging complementary research strategies associated with New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), including retinal progenitor and iPSC-derived cell-based approaches, advanced retinal imaging techniques, and alternative experimental platforms such as the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, which may support translational retinal research and reduce reliance on traditional animal models. The authors hope that this work will contribute to the refinement of preclinical research methodologies and, through an improved understanding of the processes underlying the development of retinal diseases, facilitate the advancement of more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the future. Full article

The Central Basin Fault Rift (CBFR) is a key area for studying deep-sea sedimentation and paleoclimate, yet its sedimentary process and provenance and their links to geological and climatic changes remain poorly understood. This study therefore conducted systematically sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical analyses of sediments in core ZK06 from the CBFR to address the above question. The results show that the sediments are dominated by silt and clay, with multiple graded rhythms related to gravity flows. Provenance analysis shows that the sediments are composed primarily of proximal andesitic volcaniclastic detritus, with additional Asian aeolian dust and minor authigenic components. It is recognized that the proportion of Asian aeolian dust increases from the lower to medium part of the sediment sequence but decreases in the upper part, which may correspond to the input history of Asian aeolian dust in the West Philippine Basin during the late Pleistocene to Holocene. This study therefore provides not only new insights into sedimentary processes and the provenance of sediments but also the input history of the Asian aeolian dust in central CBFR. Full article

This paper presents a Sim2Real policy transfer framework for distributed control in cyber-physical production systems using State-Based Potential Games (SbPGs). While fuzzy inference systems (FISs) or other conventional control policies provide interpretable and stable control policies for manufacturing processes, their direct deployment in real systems is often affected by Sim2Real discrepancies caused by actuator imperfections, sensor uncertainty, and process variability. To address this limitation, we propose a hybrid control architecture in which an optimized rule-based conventional control policy (i.e., FIS used in a non-adaptive, expert-knowledge-driven manner) serves as a baseline controller and SbPG-based policy adaptation refines the control actions online, while keeping the distributed manner, and is proven to converge. To evaluate robustness during Sim2Real deployment, deterministic and stochastic noise injection mechanisms are introduced to emulate systematic actuator biases and random disturbances. The proposed framework is validated on a laboratory-scale distributed production system. Experimental results in both simulation and real-world environments demonstrate that the SbPG-based adaptation compensates for disturbances and maintains production objectives under actuator, sensor, and parameter uncertainties. Compared to standalone FIS control, the proposed approach consistently reduces overflow and power consumption while satisfying production demands under noisy operating conditions. Additional ablation studies further confirm the robustness of the policy transfer strategy and the effectiveness of global and local interpolation mechanisms in the SbPG learning. Full article

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has proven to be an effective technique for aptamer selection. Here, we directly integrated the separation advantages of CE into a live-cell system, thereby establishing an integrated and highly efficient CE-Cell-SELEX screening model for bone microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) without the need for negative selection. The selection progress was monitored through quantitative real-time fluorescence PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, which yielded 7 candidate sequences from the amplified library after four rounds of selection. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that aptamer T-24 exhibited high affinity for BMECs, with a Kd of 111.86 ± 18.36 nM. Owing to its high affinity and specificity, coupled with its small molecular weight and non-immunogenicity, T-24 holds great potential as a biological probe for the identification and isolation of BMECs. Furthermore, molecular docking was performed by MOE 2022 software to validate the candidate sequences and assist in the identification process. The CE-Cell-SELEX method eliminates the need for negative screening and traditional elution, greatly reduces the screening cycle, and may provide a valuable reference system for the early diagnosis and precise treatment of femoral head ischemia. Full article

Fractional derivatives introduce an effective mathematical structure to describe memory effects, long-range interactions, and anomalous transport processes that are not well represented by the traditional integer-order models. This paper presents the unidirectional fractional longitudinal wave equation as a governing equation where a model is proposed to explain the steady wave propagation of solitary waves in a magneto-electro-elastic circular rod. Magneto-electro-elastic substances are a groundbreaking category of advanced functional materials with tremendous nanotechnology and biomedical engineering prospects because of their effective multi-field energy conversion and temperature responsiveness. In order to solve this complicated fractional nonlinear equation, we introduce a new computation-analysis approach: the Riccati subequation neural network method. This hybrid solution is a synergistic combination of an analytical solution structure and a neural network structure consisting of input, hidden, and output layers, with interconnection between neurons through weighted connections and activation functions. It is important to note that every neuron in the first hidden layer is coupled to the solutions of the Riccati equation, and this allows the systematic use of the new trial functions. With the suggested method, analytical solutions are obtained for the spacetime fractional partial differential equations of the unidirectional fractional longitudinal wave equation in the exact form of trigonometric, hyperbolic, and rational functions. This paper is the first attempt to combine the Riccati subequation method with a neural network model, which has given rise to new types of solitary wave solutions. The three-dimensional, two-dimensional, and contour plots are used to visualize the dynamic nature of these solutions and to display the rich nonlinear wave behavior. The effectiveness and the robustness of the implemented technique is not only proven through our findings but also provides more profound information about the nonlinear wave phenomena in the advanced multifunctional materials, which can inform future developments in energy harvesting and the design of biomedical devices. Full article

The nitrile butadiene rubber-based viscoelastic damper (NVED) has been proven effective in improving the seismic performance of various types of structures. This study proposes to enhance the hysteretic behavior of traditional Chinese wooden joints using the NVED. The cyclic tests on the NVED are first conducted to derive their mechanical properties. Secondly, two configurations of the mortise-tenon joints are selected as the prototype models to fabricate four specimens, and the hysteretic loading tests are conducted on the specimens to derive their hysteretic behaviors. Comparisons are made between the models with and without the NVED to clarify its reinforcing effects. On the basis of the test results of the mortise-tenon joints and the NVED, a simplified simulation method is proposed to represent the joints with the NVED. The test results show that the installation of the NVED can remarkably improve the hysteretic performance of mortise-tenon joints throughout the entire loading process. Compared with the unreinforced joints, the bearing capacity and energy dissipation of the NVED-reinforced specimens can increase by approximately 40%, particularly under large deformation conditions. The proposed simplified simulation method, which adopts zero-length elements to simulate the rotational response of the joints and the NVED, can adequately capture the pinching effect as well as the stiffness and strength degradation of the NVED-reinforced mortise-tenon joint models. Full article