Search Results (6,686)

Background: Traditional orthopaedic casting has remained the cornerstone of non-surgical fracture management for more than a century. Although plaster and fiberglass casts reliably stabilize fractures, they are associated with physical, psychological, emotional, social, and economic burdens that extend beyond bone healing. Children, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing vulnerabilities may be disproportionately affected. Despite increasing recognition of these complications, existing orthopaedic literature has historically prioritized radiographic healing and biomechanical stability, with limited synthesis of the broader multidimensional patient impact of traditional casting. Emerging technologies such as light-cured polymer mesh (LCPM) systems and 3D-printed lattice immobilizers have been developed to address these limitations and better align fracture care with patient-centered principles. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using a structured and transparent literature identification approach informed by PRISMA reporting principles; however, this study was not conducted as a formal systematic review and did not include risk-of-bias assessment or quantitative synthesis. A broad search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was performed for studies published between January 2000 and July 2025. Search strategies combined MeSH terms and free-text keywords relating to orthopaedic casting, complications, psychosocial impacts, LCPM, and 3D-printed immobilizers. Following duplicate removal and a structured review process, 87 studies were included in the final narrative synthesis. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, observational studies, qualitative research, case series, and systematic reviews. Data were synthesized narratively across five domains: physical, psychological, emotional/social, economic, and technological alternatives. Results: Traditional plaster and fiberglass casts were consistently associated with musculoskeletal deterioration, joint stiffness, dermatological complications, and hygiene challenges. Psychological and emotional consequences included cast-induced anxiety, claustrophobia, depressive symptoms, and diminished autonomy. Social participation was frequently reduced due to mobility restrictions and perceived stigma, while economic impacts included hidden out-of-pocket expenses, caregiver burden, lost wages, and disparities in access to follow-up care. In contrast, emerging alternatives demonstrated promising advantages. LCPM systems improved ventilation, comfort, and hygiene, while reducing saw-related anxiety. Preliminary evidence suggests that both LCPM and 3D-printed systems may support improved patient experience and earlier return to selected activities, although larger comparative studies are needed to confirm effects on complication rates and long-term outcomes. Over time, these benefits may help offset higher upfront material costs. Conclusions: Fracture care should be evaluated not only by radiographic healing but also by patient-centered outcomes such as comfort, independence, and quality of life. Traditional casting imposes significant multidimensional burdens, whereas newer technologies such as LCPM and 3D-printed systems may offer a more holistic approach to immobilization while maintaining acceptable fracture stability in appropriately selected patient populations. While current evidence indicates potential physical, psychological, and economic advantages, large-scale comparative trials remain necessary to confirm long-term clinical, psychosocial, and cost-effectiveness outcomes across diverse populations. Future integration of emerging immobilization technologies into clinical practice may support more patient-centered, function-oriented, and cost-conscious approaches to fracture care. Full article

Background/Objectives: Advances in restorative caries management have shifted operative dentistry from complete caries excavation toward selective, tissue-preserving strategies that maintain remineralizable dentin and support adhesive restoration. Chemomechanical systems and self-limiting burs may reduce unnecessary dentin removal, but their effects on residual dentin quality remain relevant to restorative decision-making. This in vitro study compared Carisolv™, Papacarie^®, Smart Burs™, and conventional tungsten carbide burs with respect to caries removal time, residual bacterial load, laser fluorescence, Vickers microhardness, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) features of residual dentin. Methods: Forty-eight extracted permanent molars were selected. Standardized class I cavities were prepared and subjected to an artificial caries protocol using a demineralizing solution for 240 h. A cariogenic biofilm model was then established using Streptococcus mutans. Specimens were allocated to four excavation groups: Carisolv™, Papacarie^®, Smart Burs™, and conventional carbide burs. Caries removal was performed according to each system, and the operative time was recorded. Residual bacterial contamination was estimated through colony-forming unit counts. Residual dentin was assessed using DIAGNOdent™ laser fluorescence, Vickers microhardness testing, and SEM at multiple magnifications. Results: Mean removal times were 2.82 ± 1.64 min for Carisolv™, 2.50 ± 1.15 min for Papacarie^®, 2.05 ± 0.70 min for Smart Burs™, and 0.61 ± 0.44 min for carbide burs. Residual bacterial growth was detected in all groups. Vickers microhardness values were 79.2 ± 24.66 VHN for Carisolv™, 79.6 ± 22.30 VHN for Papacarie^®, 83.4 ± 28.73 VHN for Smart Burs™, and 92.9 ± 24.66 VHN for intact dentin control. SEM revealed dentin morphology closer to the control after carbide bur excavation, partially obliterated tubules after Carisolv™, and more evident tubular obliteration after Papacarie^® and Smart Burs™. Conclusions: Chemomechanical excavation, particularly Carisolv™, generated a residual dentin substrate with microhardness values compatible with a conservative restorative approach, although with longer operative time than conventional burs. The findings support the role of selective caries removal in minimally invasive restorative protocols and highlight the need to connect residual dentin characteristics with adhesive performance, bioactive materials, and long-term restoration outcomes. Full article

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is a major fruit crop of global economic importance, and China ranks first worldwide in both apple cultivation area and total production. With the large-scale renewal of aging orchards, apple replant disease (ARD) has become increasingly prevalent in major apple-producing regions. ARD is typically characterized by severe growth suppression, impaired root development, increased incidence of soil-borne diseases, and, in severe cases, seedling mortality. These symptoms substantially constrain orchard renewal, limit improvements in fruit yield and quality, and threaten the sustainable development of the apple industry. The etiology of ARD is complex and involves the synergistic interaction of three factors: soil microbial dysbiosis characterized by pathogen enrichment and the depletion of beneficial microorganisms; allelopathic autotoxicity caused by the accumulation of phenolic acids, especially phloridzin; and degraded soil physicochemical properties, including acidification, compaction, and nutrient imbalance. Current management strategies mainly include the use of ARD-tolerant rootstocks, microbial regulation, chemical and physical soil disinfection, and agronomic practices such as crop rotation and organic amendment application. Among these approaches, biological regulation mediated by beneficial rhizosphere and endophytic microorganisms has attracted increasing attention because of its environmental compatibility and sustainability. This review summarizes the occurrence patterns, regional characteristics, core pathogenic mechanisms, and integrated management strategies of ARD, with particular emphasis on the functional roles of rhizosphere and endophytic microbiomes in disease alleviation. The review provides a theoretical basis and practical reference for the development of green, efficient, and sustainable strategies for ARD control and apple orchard management. Full article

Increasing power density of electrical devices in electrified transportation is an irreversible trend which involves power electronic-type supply, higher voltage and temperature. However, fast converter-switch rise times, high modulation and carrier frequencies, harmonics, and increased design field and temperature constitute potential causes of accelerated electrothermal aging of insulation, especially if harmful phenomena, as partial discharges (PDs), incept. This paper focuses on solving issues related to PD monitoring under power electronics waveforms, dealing with effective and automatic tools for noise rejection and for the identification of the type of source generating PD, the latter being fundamental for quality control, diagnostic and condition maintenance. It is shown that innovative techniques are available, which allow PD to be measured even under fast switching (rise time) and high frequency, separating, in the time domain, PD pulses from switching noise. This approach can be carried out automatically by the PD detector software presented here, not requiring experts for measurement management and, thus, making it a feasible tool also for on-line PD monitoring and condition-based maintenance. PD monitoring results from accelerated aging tests on a motor under pulse-width modulation (PWM supply) are presented. In order to assess the insulation health condition, progressive degradation of the motor is quantified using a dynamic health index (DHI), primarily based on key PD parameters, i.e., PD magnitude, repetition rate, and likelihood of discharge type (surface or internal). The proposed DHI approach not only provides meaningful metrics for translating PD data into a diagnostic tool, but it also offers insights into residual life estimation and failure risk prediction. Full article

Agentic artificial intelligence (AAI) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) are increasingly embedded in organisational business intelligence (BI) and business process management (BPM). Unlike conventional AI, these systems set sub-goals, plan multi-step workflows, and retrieve and store information under limited human supervision. This article argues that such autonomy not only transmits human cognitive bias into organisational decisions but also amplifies that bias under identifiable conditions. We develop the Bias Amplification Model (BAM), a three-layer account of how bias enters and escalates. In the injection layer, human biases enter through goal framing, prompt design, and data scoping. In the propagation layer, the agent compounds these biases across autonomous execution steps. In the crystallisation layer, RAG memory encodes biassed outputs as retrievable organisational knowledge that later cycles treat as evidence. A feedback loop links the three layers, converting episodic human bias into structural organisational bias. We state seven propositions, specify amplifying and mitigating conditions, and ground the model in a PRISMA-guided synthesis of 47 studies. A controlled, replicated experiment with an autonomous agent in a supplier-selection pipeline provides initial empirical support for injection, propagation, the mitigating effect of a single governance checkpoint, and bias transmission across a task boundary via retrieved memory. The framework reframes AI-driven process optimisation as a possible source of silent decline in decision quality. Full article

Colorectal cancer frequently metastasizes to the liver, and a substantial proportion of patients present with unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), which are associated with limited survival. While systemic chemotherapy remains a central component of management, advances in liver-directed therapies and transplantation have significantly expanded therapeutic possibilities in selected patients. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of current management strategies for unresectable CRLM, with a focus on systemic chemotherapy, intra-arterial therapies, and liver transplantation. Systemic chemotherapy plays a central role, either as conversion therapy aimed at achieving secondary resectability or as palliative treatment to prolong survival and maintain quality of life. The integration of targeted agents and molecular profiling has enabled increasingly personalized therapeutic strategies. Liver-directed therapies, including hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, transarterial chemoembolization, and radioembolization, provide effective local disease control and may facilitate downstaging in selected patients. In parallel, liver transplantation has re-emerged as a promising option for highly selected patients with liver-only disease, demonstrating encouraging long-term survival in recent prospective studies. However, optimal patient selection, timing, and sequencing of these modalities remain key challenges. The management of unresectable CRLM is evolving toward a multidisciplinary and individualized approach that integrates systemic, locoregional, and transplant-based strategies. In selected patients, this paradigm shift may translate into meaningful survival benefit, although further prospective studies are required to refine indications and optimize treatment sequencing. Full article

The changing climate raises the level of hydroclimatic non-stationarity and export of pollutants at the event scale in agricultural, mixed-land-use, and urbanizing watersheds. In this review, there is an emphasis on nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment; however, selective references are made to pesticides, pathogens, microplastics, and wet-weather mixed-source processes when characteristics similar to event-driven transport, threshold exceedance, and adaptive control are identified. Drawing on a structured literature search of studies published from 2000 to December 2025, this narrative review synthesizes evidence from 138 selected references on how extreme rainfall, drought–rewetting, warming, and freeze–thaw processes alter source activation, hydrological connectivity, biogeochemical processing, and receiving-water hazards. Our resilience assessment is based on resistance, recovery, robustness, and persistence, which we interpret using exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. It is shown that standard average-load and fixed-baseline measurements may not detect short pollution pulses, cross-scenario failure, and long-term drift; operational measurement must thus involve event thresholds, recovery trajectories, tail-risk measures, and propagation of uncertainty. Extrapolation, interpretability, data demand, and applicability for data-sparse basins are used to compare process-based, data-driven, and hybrid models. Adaptation options are associated with measurable triggers as part of a monitoring–trigger–action cycle with location-specific instructions for monsoon-agricultural, cold-region, semi-arid and urban systems. The novel aspect of this framework is the integration of mechanism-based evidence, quantitative resilience indicators, model uncertainty, and adaptive governance into one decision-focused workflow. This sustainability-oriented framework advances long-term watershed management by linking water-quality protection and resilient development. Full article

Fungal communities associated with the phyllosphere can influence plant health, stress responses, and disease dynamics in managed crop systems. However, limited information is available on fungal microbiome structure across phyllosphere compartments of Eucalyptus cinerea cultivated for cut foliage production. In this study, fungal communities (including epiphytic and endophytic fungi) associated with leaf, stem, and bark tissues of intensively managed E. cinerea grown in Ireland were characterised using ITS amplicon sequencing. Samples were collected from five trees, with tissues pooled by compartment to generate 15 biological samples. Following quality control and denoising, 405 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were retained for analysis. Observed richness, Shannon and Simpson indices, and Faith’s phylogenetic diversity differed among compartments, with bark exhibiting higher values than leaf and stem tissues (p < 0.05). PERMANOVA analysis indicated that both compartment (R² = 0.239, p = 0.002) and tree identity (R² = 0.451, p = 0.002) significantly influenced fungal community composition. Bark communities were dominated by Diaporthe (52.9%), Peniophora (12.8%), and Talaromyces (10.4%), whereas leaf and stem communities were characterised primarily by Vishniacozyma and Sporobolomyces. Differential abundance analysis identified 26 and 23 differentially abundant ASVs between bark and leaf, and bark and stem tissues, respectively, whereas no significant differences were detected between leaf and stem communities. Weighted UniFrac analyses further revealed separation of bark-associated communities from photosynthetic tissues. These findings demonstrate compartment-associated variation in fungal community structure within the phyllosphere of managed E. cinerea and highlight the importance of considering both host-level and tissue-level effects in plant microbiome studies. This study provides a baseline assessment of fungal assemblages associated with commercially managed Eucalyptus under Irish growing conditions and supports future investigations into the functional significance of these microbial communities for plant health and resilience. Full article

Marine by-products, including fishery discards, seafood-processing residues, aquaculture wastes, crustacean shells, and seaweed-derived side streams, are heterogeneous feedstocks rich in proteins, lipids, minerals, chitinous materials, polysaccharides, and bioactive compounds. This review examines insect-mediated bioconversion as a controlled biorefinery strategy for transforming these unstable marine residues into functional aquafeed ingredients and value-added bioproducts. We compare major marine feedstock classes and industrially relevant insects, with emphasis on substrate–insect matching, moisture control, salinity, lipid and ash load, texture, spoilage risk, and safety. Particular attention is given to how marine substrates can tailor insect meal, insect oil, chitinous fractions, hydrolysates, frass, and functional feed additives. The review further summarizes aquafeed applications of insect-derived products, including fishmeal and fish-oil replacement, protein and amino acid quality, lipid enrichment, gut health, immunity, and disease resistance in aquatic animals. Microbiome-assisted strategies, such as fermentation, enzymatic pretreatment, and gut or substrate microbial management, are discussed as tools to improve substrate stability, digestibility, and product quality. Finally, safety, regulation, scale-up, life cycle assessment, and techno-economic issues are considered. Overall, marine insect biorefineries should be optimized not only for biomass yield, but also for product quality, traceability, and application-specific safety. Full article

This study investigates the causal relationship between profit efficiency and bank risk in Southeast Asian commercial banks using a Panel Vector Autoregression framework. The banking data is unbalanced panel data collected from BankFocus from 2007 to 2022 from the data of financial institutions in 11 Southeast Asian countries. The author excluded commercial bank data from three countries, including Brunei, East Timor, and Myanmar, due to their lack of financial reports. Therefore, the number of commercial banks obtained is 118 banks from eight countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Profit efficiency is measured by ROA and ROE, and bank risk is proxied by Z-score. The results reveal a bidirectional causal relationship between profit efficiency and bank risk. Bank risk positively affects ROA at a 10% significance level, while ROA has a negative effect on bank risk at a 1% level. In contrast, bank risk exerts a negative and significant impact on ROE at a 1% level, whereas changes in ROE do not significantly influence bank risk. These findings imply that Vietnamese commercial banks need to maintain a balance between traditional operations and diversification strategies. Simultaneously, evidence of a causal relationship between profitability and risk supports hypotheses of poor management and austere behavior, thereby highlighting the need to strengthen governance capacity, improve operational quality, and implement appropriate development strategies to optimize efficiency and ensure sustainable risk control. Full article

Strenuous exercise is a well-established physiological stimulus that enhances muscular strength and hypertrophy but can also increase reactive oxygen species production, leading to oxidative stress (OS). Numerous studies have investigated whether dietary supplements can attenuate exercise-induced OS, yet findings remain inconsistent, and methodological quality varies. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current clinical evidence on dietary supplementation for OS management in young adults undergoing intensive exercise and to evaluate study methodology critically. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2021 guidelines and the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB 2.0) framework and was prospectively registered in PROSPERO. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane Central, ClinicalTrials.gov, OpenGrey, and ISRCTN identified interventional and observational human studies assessing supplementation and OS biomarkers. Forty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed substantial heterogeneity in study design and reporting quality. Frequent methodological limitations included incomplete reporting of allocation concealment, participant and investigator blinding, examiner involvement, and deviations from intended interventions. Despite these limitations, several studies reported favorable effects of specific supplements on OS modulation and post-exercise recovery. Overall, the findings highlight widespread methodological shortcomings and emphasize the need for standardized trial designs, consistent biomarker selection, and transparent reporting. Well-designed, long-term randomized controlled trials are required to establish robust, evidence-based guidelines for dietary supplement use in managing exercise-induced OS in young adults. Full article

Maintaining a stable melt flow index (MFI) is a critical objective in industrial polypropylene production because MFI directly reflects polymer molecular weight and strongly influences downstream processing performance. Although the effects of catalyst formulation and hydrogen concentration on polypropylene properties are well established, the operational origins of residual fluctuations in MFI under highly stable industrial conditions remain poorly understood. In this work, the relationships between feedstock quality, process operation, and residual MFI variability were investigated during the production of a commercial polypropylene grade in an industrial gas-phase reactor. A dataset comprising 61 industrial observations was assembled by integrating laboratory quality measurements with operational variables related to hydrogen concentration, catalyst management, reactor hydrodynamics, thermal behavior, productivity, and fouling. In parallel, the concentrations of key catalyst inhibitors, including carbon oxides, sulfur compounds, water, oxygen, acetylene, methylacetylene, propadiene, arsine, and phosphine, were quantified before and after the use of a modified zeolite-based purification system. The purification process reduced catalyst poisons to ppb levels, producing polymer-grade propylene with monomer purity exceeding 99.95 wt.%. Under these highly controlled conditions, the production campaign exhibited remarkable quality stability, with an average MFI of 3.03 g/10 min and a coefficient of variation of only 6.63%. Principal component analysis revealed that two dominant operational domains could describe 86.49% of the total process variability. The first domain was associated with reactor hydrodynamics, fouling behavior, and thermal conditions, whereas the second domain was governed by catalyst-system variables and hydrogen-mediated chain-transfer mechanisms. Variable importance in projection analysis identified Plate Fouling Factor (VIP = 2.17), Production Rate (VIP = 1.33), and H₂/C₃ Ratio (VIP = 1.17) as the variables most strongly associated with residual MFI fluctuations. The results demonstrate that once feedstock-related disturbances are effectively minimized, residual MFI variability arises from interactions among the hydrodynamic, thermal, and catalytic operational domains rather than from a single controlling parameter. These findings provide new insights into process–quality relationships in industrial polypropylene manufacturing and establish a practical framework for identifying the operational origins of subtle fluctuations in polymer quality in highly stabilized production systems. Full article

Surface dust samples were collected from bus stops and parking lots in different functional areas of Binzhou City, Shandong Province, China. This study investigated the contamination characteristics, source apportionment, and potential ecological and health risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in these dust samples. Eight target PTEs, including As, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Mn, were quantitatively analyzed. The results revealed distinct concentration differences in these elements between bus stop dust and parking lot dust. Several PTEs exceeded the corresponding local soil background values, predominantly Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd and Cr. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Mn in bus stop dust were mainly sourced from traffic emissions, whereas As and Cd primarily originated from atmospheric deposition. For parking lot dust, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, and Mn were predominantly attributed to traffic sources, while As and Ni were mainly derived from natural background sources. The geo-accumulation index (I_geo) demonstrated that As, Cr, Ni, and Mn had negligible environmental impact, Pb, Cu, and Cd induced slight pollution, and Zn resulted in moderate pollution. Except for Cd, the average individual potential ecological risk index ($E_r^i$) values for all elements were below 40, suggesting a low ecological risk. Cd posed a moderate ecological hazard, whereas the comprehensive ecological risk index ($E_r^i$) values of all analyzed elements were at an extremely low level. The hazard index (HI) values via different exposure pathways and for all PTEs in both bus stops and parking lots were lower than 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic health risk. The carcinogenic risk ranking of elements was Cr > Cd > Ni > As, and their carcinogenic risk values (CR) via inhalation exposure were below 1 × 10⁻⁶, indicating no carcinogenic risk. This study provides a scientific basis for the environmental quality control and risk management of surface dust in urban bus stops and parking lots. Full article

Ground-level ozone (O₃) has become a major air pollutant in China following PM_2.5, particularly in the southeastern coastal region, where the frequent interaction of typhoons and the subtropical high complicates pollution control. In this paper, spatial autocorrelation and a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model were employed to estimate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and driving mechanisms of O₃ in the Southeast Coastal urban agglomerations from 2015 to 2024. Temporally, the annual average O₃ concentration exhibited a fluctuating trend of an initial increase, followed by a decrease and a subsequent rebound. A bimodal monthly pattern was observed, with peaks in May–June and August–September and minima in winter. Diurnally, the concentration showed a consistent pattern of being higher in the daytime and lower at night, peaking in the afternoon, driven by solar radiation and temperature. Spatially, O₃ exhibited a distinct north–south gradient, with the highest in Jiangsu Province, followed by Shanghai, Zhejiang and Guangdong, and the lowest in Fujian. Significant spatial autocorrelation was detected, with hot spots in the Yangtze River Delta and cold spots in Fujian and adjacent areas. Seasonally, the most severe pollution with the greatest spatial heterogeneity, occurred in summer, contrasting with the uniformly low concentrations in winter. Compared with OLS and GWR, the MGWR demonstrated superior explanatory power. O₃ was jointly influenced by precursors, natural factors, and socioeconomic factors, with the influence intensity ranked as follows: NO₂ > average elevation > population density > annual precipitation> wind speed > built-up area > proportion of the secondary industry in GDP. Notably, the effects of NO₂, annual precipitation, and the proportion of the secondary industry exhibited strong spatial heterogeneity, operating at finer spatial scales. These findings provide scientific support for sustainable air quality management and region-specific O₃ control in southeastern coastal China. Full article

Background and Objectives: Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) remains a challenging condition to manage, as current treatments show variable efficacy and are often limited by tolerability, particularly in older and medically complex patients. This has prompted interest in topical neuromodulatory strategies targeting peripheral mechanisms while minimizing systemic exposure, with topical pregabalin emerging as a potential option. Materials and Methods: In this prospective longitudinal real-world study, 100 patients with BMS treated at a tertiary referral center received topical pregabalin as an off-label intraoral swish-and-spit solution. Patients were assessed at baseline and after 3 months using validated measures of pain intensity (VAS), qualitative pain perception (SF-MPQ), anxiety (HAM-A), depression (HAM-D), sleep quality (PSQI, ESS), and global clinical severity (CGI-S). Results: After 3 months, median VAS decreased from 8 (IQR 7–9) to 5 (IQR 4–6) and SF-MPQ from 10 (IQR 7–17) to 6.5 (IQR 4–10) (both p < 0.001), with concurrent improvements in anxiety, depressive symptoms, and clinical severity. Overall, 46% of patients achieved ≥30% pain reduction, while 73% and 16% reached ≥20% and ≥50% reductions, respectively. Higher baseline pain predicted greater improvement. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: These findings suggest that topical pregabalin may represent a safe and potentially effective option for BMS, although controlled studies are required to confirm its efficacy. Full article