Search Results (41,231)

Global land use is changing rapidly, particularly in the tropics, where human populations have had relatively high growth rates in recent decades. This has resulted in wildlife increasingly living in or using anthropogenic environments, which often have different thermal properties in comparison to natural habitats. For example, materials used for buildings, such as concrete and brick, typically absorb, retain and radiate more heat than vegetated surfaces. The mosaic of man-made and natural areas formed when anthropogenic environments expand is therefore likely to generate microhabitats with different thermal properties. Here, we investigated the association between microhabitats and the body surface temperature of wild banded mongooses (Mungos mungo), a social mammal living in equatorial Uganda. After controlling for the significant effects of air temperature, humidity, time of day and body contact, we found that mongooses had the highest body surface temperatures when present on anthropogenic substrates, such as discarded roofing straw and refuse, while mongooses present on building materials, dead vegetation and bare soil had intermediate body surface temperatures. In contrast, mongooses had the lowest body surface temperatures when present in more natural, vegetated habitats. Although our study is relatively small scale and limited in scope, our results indicate that anthropogenic modifications to natural environments may result in hotter microhabitats, which may in turn impact space use, movement and thermoregulation in wildlife. We hope that our study encourages further research into this understudied but emerging topic. Full article

In quantum field theory, the vacuum is popularly considered to be a complex medium populated with virtual particle + antiparticle pairs. To an observer experiencing uniform acceleration, it is generally held that these virtual particles become real, appearing as a gas at a temperature that grows with the acceleration. This is the Unruh effect. However, it has been shown that vacuum complexity is an artifact produced by treating quantum field theory in a manner that does not manifestly enforce causality. Choosing a quantization approach that patently enforces causality, the quantum field theory vacuum is barren, bereft even of virtual particles. We show that acceleration has no effect on a trivial vacuum; hence, there is no Unruh effect in such a treatment of quantum field theory. Since the standard calculations suggesting an Unruh effect are formally consistent, insofar as they have been completed, there must be a canceling contribution that is omitted in the usual analyses. We argue that it is the dynamical action of conventional Lorentz transformations on the structure of an Unruh detector. Full article

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a recognized human carcinogen, and topical sunscreens remain the primary strategy for photoprotection. As community pharmacies represent trusted sources of skincare products, evaluating the composition of sunscreens distributed through this channel is particularly relevant. This cross-sectional market analysis investigated UV filters used in sunscreen products available in Lithuanian community pharmacies in November–December 2025. Products were identified through online pharmacy catalogs and assessed for labeled Sun Protection Factor (SPF), number and type of UV filters, and filter combinations in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. A total of 467 products from 98 brands were included, and 26 distinct UV filters were identified. Triazine derivatives predominated, particularly bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (64.67%) and ethylhexyl triazone (58.03%). Most products (61.67%) were labeled SPF ≥ 50 and contained multiple UV filters (mean 4.29 ± 1.66), with significantly more filters in SPF ≥ 50 formulations (p < 0.001). These results indicate that sunscreen products available in Lithuanian pharmacies are dominated by high-SPF formulations and selective multi-filter systems, providing region-specific insights relevant to regulatory oversight and consumer exposure assessment. Full article

Urban planners increasingly require high-resolution thermal comfort maps to prioritize heat adaptation, yet validating the necessary microclimate models against standard field instruments remains methodologically fraught. This study establishes an integrated measurement–modeling framework applied to a study area in Strasbourg, France. First, we evaluate the radiative physics of the LASER/F model against net radiometer measurements at a specific sub-canopy location and against incoming shortwave radiation pyranometer records across three instrumentation sites. Results demonstrate high accuracy for longwave fluxes ($R^2>0.95$) but reveal that simplified tree geometry leads to condition-dependent shortwave discrepancies. Second, we quantify the systematic divergence between Mean Radiant Temperature derived from black globe measurements and six-directional simulations across seven sites. We analyze how these inevitable discrepancies, stemming mainly from geometric mismatch, propagate into the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), resulting in (71.5–75.5%) diurnal exact categorical agreement. Finally, spatial application of the model uncovers a “masked risk”: while temporal averaging suggests that 100% of the district remains safe (mean UTCI $<{32}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$), duration-based analysis reveals that 72.8% of surfaces actually experience critical heat stress for over a quarter of the period. To address these hidden exposure risks, we propose a “Combined Risk Score” (CRS) that integrates thermal intensity and critical exposure duration on an absolute, dataset-independent scale, with a sensitivity analysis demonstrating that spatial risk prioritization is invariant to the intensity–duration weighting choice at the operational threshold. Full article

Inter-individual variability in outcomes following radiotherapy-based treatment remains a major challenge in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Osteopontin (OPN) and its receptor CD44 are key mediators of tumor progression, hypoxia-related treatment resistance, and metastatic dissemination. In this exploratory, hypothesis-generating study, we investigated selected functional polymorphisms in OPN (SPP1) and CD44 genes, together with pretreatment plasma OPN levels, in relation to overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) in 242 HNSCC patients treated with curative-intent radiotherapy alone (RT) or combined with chemotherapy (RT + CT). In individual multivariable models, the OPN rs11730582 C and CD44 rs13347 T variants were associated with improved survival outcomes, while elevated OPN levels correlated with shorter OS. In full multivariable models, rs11730582 C and high OPN levels remained independent predictors of OS in the entire cohort. In the RT + CT subgroup, high OPN independently predicted worse OS, whereas rs13347 T was associated with better MFS. In the RT subset, rs11730582 CC independently predicted longer OS. These findings suggest that both germline variability within the OPN-CD44 signaling axis and circulating OPN levels are associated with treatment outcomes in HNSCC patients receiving radiotherapy-based regimens. Given the exploratory design, further validation in independent cohorts is warranted. Full article

In response to the technical bottleneck of the Venlo greenhouse’s inability to achieve year-round production due to the high temperature and humidity in the summer in South China, this study took an existing Venlo-type greenhouse in Guangzhou as the research object and constructed a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the greenhouse by comprehensively considering key factors such as solar radiation, thermal radiation, and crop canopy resistance. After on-site experiments, it was verified that, except for the top area of the greenhouse, the temperature deviation between the model simulation values and the measured values was less than 2 °C, and the error rate was less than 5%, confirming the model’s accurate representation of the temperature field distribution within the greenhouse. Based on the characteristics of the temperature and humidity fields revealed by the CFD simulation (canopy temperature gradient K = 0.144 °C/m, maximum temperature difference between upper and lower layers 20 °C), an optimized scheme of “wet curtain fan + salt bath dehumidification equipment” for local cooling and dehumidification of the crop canopy was proposed, and a non-uniform air duct layout was designed according to the temperature gradient characteristics. Field experiments showed that after optimization, the daytime temperature of the crop canopy was mostly controlled within 30 °C, the relative humidity was stably maintained below 80%, and the maximum temperature difference along the length of the greenhouse was reduced from 7 °C to 2 °C, effectively solving the problem of poor cooling and dehumidification effects of the traditional system. This scheme enabled the stable operation and year-round production of Venlo-type greenhouses in South China during the summer, providing technical support and engineering reference for greenhouse environmental control in high-humidity areas. Full article

Modern dentistry increasingly relies on light-curing units (LCUs) and lasers in essential clinical procedures such as composite resin polymerization, caries treatment, and periodontal therapy. This review aims to outline the evolution of light-emitting technologies and to assess their potential biological risks, with particular emphasis on effects on the visual system, oral tissues, and microbiome. The development of curing devices is presented chronologically, from the first-generation ultraviolet (UV-A) lamps introduced in the 1970s to current light-emitting diode (LED-LCU) systems and dental lasers (e.g., Er:YAG, Nd:YAG). The progressive increase in light intensity—now exceeding 3000 mW/cm²—has shortened curing times but simultaneously raised safety concerns. Major hazards include the so-called blue-light hazard, where exposure to high-energy visible (HEV) blue light may accelerate macular degeneration, and temperature elevations in the pulp chamber, which may damage the dentin–pulp complex. Laser radiation also exerts significant microbiological effects: Er:YAG and diode lasers demonstrate bactericidal activity against biofilms and oral pathogens (e.g., P. gingivalis), although therapeutic outcomes depend on wavelength, dose, and exposure time. Suboptimal parameters may lead to microbiome disturbances, whereas low-level laser therapy (LLLT; 600–1200 nm) supports tissue regeneration and helps restore microbial balance. The individualization of irradiation parameters, combined with thorough theoretical knowledge, operator expertise, and technical understanding of LCUs and lasers, is essential for maximizing clinical benefits while minimizing health risks and preserving oral microbiome homeostasis. Full article

Groundwater in uranium mining areas is highly sensitive to pollution by radionuclides and toxic elements, especially under in situ leaching mining, which increases their mobility. This study assesses the radiological and chemical features of water sources in the Chu-Sarysu uranium province (Kazakhstan) by evaluating the annual effective dose (AED) from radionuclide ingestion. In total, 98 water samples from boreholes, wells and rivers were analyzed for total alpha and beta activity, followed by radionuclide and chemical analysis of selected samples. High total alpha activity was detected mainly in groundwater and was associated with radium mobilization. On average, ²²⁸Ra constituted between 50% and 60% of the total AED, whereas ²²⁶Ra contributed between 35% and 45%, with uranium isotopes contributing less than 5%. The total AED value for the groundwater ranged from 0.14 to 0.52 mSv/year at average water use, but only one borehole sample had 9.07 mSv/year, reflecting a localized anomaly. Additionally, arsenic, manganese, and mercury displayed high spatial variability. These findings underscore radium’s significant role in radiation exposure and emphasize the need for comprehensive monitoring of both radiological and chemical contaminants in groundwater systems. Full article

(1) Background: Hypofractionated radiotherapy and immunotherapy (IT) are possible treatment options for HNSCC patients unsuitable for standard curative treatment, yet no high-level evidence supports their combined use. We aim to report on the clinical outcome of a single-center cohort of HNSCC patients treated with a hypofractionated radiotherapy (hypoRT) regimen in combination with IT alone or chemo-immunotherapy (CT-IT). (2) Methods: We enrolled a cohort of elderly and frail HNSCC patients unsuitable for standard curative treatment, deemed candidates to undergo hypoRT in a sequential strategy (time interval < 6 months), followed or preceded by IT alone (hypoRT_IT) or CT-IT. We selected our sample using the Geriatric 8 (G8) score and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). (3) Results: At a median follow-up of 11 months (IQR 5–20), the median locoregional control (LRC) was 12 months (95% CI 7.0–17.1) with a 1-year progression-free survival rate of 63%. For the hypoRT-IT group, the median overall survival was 12 months (95% CI 0–24). No grade (G) 4–5 in-field acute side effects were observed, while one case of G3 oral mucositis and two cases of G3 radiation dermatitis were reported. (4) Conclusions: A sequential combination of checkpoint inhibitors and hypoRT may provide clinical benefit with acceptable toxicity in frail and elderly patients with advanced HNSCC unfit for standard therapy. Full article

As a rigorous and comprehensive foundation for electromagnetic information theory (EIT), we develop a general theory that elucidates the universal stochastic structure of radiated electromagnetic (EM) fields and induced currents in generic EM information transmission systems. The framework encompasses arbitrary random scatterers, input information fields, and EM mutual coupling. The system is modeled as a multiply connected, arbitrary Riemannian manifold within the language of differential geometry. Our approach exploits exact Green’s functions (GFs) on manifolds to construct a novel electromagnetic random field theory (EM-RFT). Interpreted as response functions localized on the surfaces of transceivers and scatterers, the GFs allow us to treat the internal physical details of the EM system as a black box, redirecting analytical attention toward external input–output relations in line with signal processing and communication theory. This integration of random fields (RFs), electromagnetics, and GFs yields a unified framework for deriving and characterizing the stochastic structure of arbitrary EM information transmission systems. We rigorously establish that EM random fields satisfying Maxwell’s equations can always be constructed using system GFs driven by external information fields. The theory further decouples stochastic input RFs from random fluctuations associated with the communication medium (e.g., scatterers), and introduces general correlation propagators valid for arbitrary EM links. Using the Karhunen–Loève expansion, all EM random fields are represented as sums of random variables, providing both a simulation framework for arbitrary EM RFs and a basis for evaluating mutual information between input and output spatial domains at arbitrary locations in the system. Full article

Background/Objectives: Total neoadjuvant therapy (TnT) has emerged as a treatment option for locally advanced rectal cancer. Few studies have evaluated specifically the use of chemotherapy and short-course radiation therapy (SCRT) in obtaining a complete clinical response (cCR) or near-complete clinical response (nCR) and offering non-operative management (NOM). This phase II study sequences FOLFOX followed by SCRT with the primary aim of evaluating the rate of cCR or nCR. Methods: Treatment-naïve adults with non-metastatic clinical T2-3N0 or T1-3 with N1-2a rectal adenocarcinoma deemed candidates for total mesorectal excision (TME) were eligible for this open-label, single-arm clinical trial. This trial evaluated TnT with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) followed by SCRT. The primary endpoint was the rate of cCR or nCR. Those with cCR or nCR after TnT were offered NOM and close surveillance; all others underwent TME. Secondary endpoints included 1-year disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and R0 surgical resection rate. Results: Twelve patients of a planned 40 were enrolled with a median follow-up duration of 4.1 years. The study was closed early after results of the OPRA trial suggested a benefit of sequencing radiation prior to chemotherapy when seeking organ preservation. Four of the twelve patients (33%, 95% CI = (9.9%, 65.1%)) achieved cCR or nCR after TnT and underwent NOM; one patient had local regrowth 5.5 months after the completion of TnT and underwent TME. All four were free of disease at time of analysis. The 1-year DFS was 100%. The median OS was not reached. All surgical resections were R0 with no local recurrence after TME. Conclusions: This paper suggests that TnT with FOLFOX followed by SCRT is a safe and effective approach for treating locally advanced rectal cancer. This approach can be considered in select patients. The 33% of patients offered NOM is lower than the published 74% in OPRA, however, suggesting that chemotherapy followed by SCRT may not be the most optimal approach if organ preservation is the primary treatment aim. Full article

Psychrophilic organisms are able to grow at temperatures down to −15 °C, while hyperthermophiles can multiply at temperatures up to 122 °C. What structural changes in extremophile proteins are needed to maintain stable and biochemically active structures under such conditions? Understanding how such extremophiles accomplish this is relevant for human health, biotechnology, and our search for life elsewhere in the universe. The purpose of the current study is to report and compare the structures of four rubredoxins (Rds), the first ever two experimental psychrophile bacteria structures (from Gram-positive Clostridium psychrophilum and Gram-negative Polaromonas glacialis) and two hyperthermophiles from the Gram-negative Thermotoga maritima bacterium and the archaeon Pyrococcus yayanosii, also a piezophile, as part of a program to understand structural variations that support both stability and function under extreme conditions. These structures were obtained using synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction at 100 K. All four structures had the expected overall rubredoxin fold. Rubredoxin from the only aerobic psychrophilic bacterium Polaromonas glacialis had larger variations in sequence and structure, whereas the other psychrophilic bacterium showed properties closely related to hyperthermophile rubredoxins. Multi-subunit structures showed similar RMSD variability independent from their thermal adaptation status. We propose including functional information in the analysis since temperature optimization may not be the only determinant for a specific protein adaptation. Full article

Breast lymphedema is characterized by skin thickening/swelling of the breast and is common following partial mastectomy and radiation. Oncoplastic reduction performed during partial mastectomy removes additional breast tissue compared to partial mastectomy alone to optimize breast contour. Recent literature has suggested oncoplastic reduction in patients with macromastia undergoing breast-conservation surgery is protective of breast lymphedema, decreasing rates from 11% to 3%. The purpose of this study is to assess the rates of breast lymphedema after partial mastectomy and oncoplastic reduction and identify risk factors. A single-center retrospective study was performed of breast cancer patients following partial mastectomy and oncoplastic reduction (2018–2023). Patients underwent contralateral breast reduction for symmetry. Breast lymphedema was assessed. Demographics data and risk factors were evaluated. This study included 158 patients who underwent partial mastectomy and oncoplastic reduction. Breast lymphedema incidence was 3.2% (5/158). Including contralateral non-cancerous breast symmetry reduction, lymphedema occurred in 3.6% (5/140) of irradiated breasts and 0% (0/176) of non-irradiated breasts (p = 0.0164). Among irradiated breasts, skin necrosis occurred in 11.4% (16/140) compared to 4.5% (8/176) of non-irradiated breasts (p = 0.031). Breast lymphedema developed 207.4 ± 37.6 days postoperatively and 101.6 ± 15.9 days following adjuvant radiation. Mean follow-up was 639 days. Breast lymphedema incidence following partial mastectomy and oncoplastic reduction was 3.6% in this series and occurs 3–4 months after radiation. Radiation was the only significant risk factor for developing breast lymphedema. This largest series on breast lymphedema after oncoplastic reduction corroborates that oncoplastic reduction may be protective. Full article

Brazil, as one of the world’s leading fruit producers, faces increasing challenges arising from climate change, particularly in avocado cultivation, where excessive solar radiation and high temperatures impair plant metabolism, yield, and fruit quality. This study evaluated the use of a calcium and magnesium hydroxide-based sunscreen in mitigating heat stress in eight-year-old ‘Hass’ avocado trees. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design in a 4 × 8 factorial arrangement, with five replicates. Sunscreen applications were performed at full bloom and at the initial fruit development stage (18 mm). Leaf temperature, fruit drop rate, yield-related traits, fruit classification, and the percentage of fruit lesions were evaluated. Applications of the calcium and magnesium hydroxide-based sunscreen at concentrations of 3.0% and 4.5% (w/v) reduced leaf temperature and improved fruit biometric attributes compared to the control, although the maximum fruit diameter was achieved at the 2.6% concentration. The 4.5% sunscreen concentration reduced leaf temperature and fruit drop in ‘Hass’ avocado trees by 1.5 °C and 24.5%, respectively, compared with the control and decreased the percentage of small and damaged fruits. The application of sunscreen improved fruit weight and the percentage of fruits with higher market value, while the fruit diameter presented higher values at intermediate concentrations. Full article

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are serious threats to human health and impose a significant burden on individuals and society. As the two critical and complex organs with the highest metabolic demands, the brain and the heart form an interactive relationship through metabolic networks. As a core prerequisite for maintaining the normal physiological functions of the body, metabolic homeostasis is also a crucial foundation for ensuring the brain–heart synergy. When the human metabolism is in a stable state, the energy supply and material exchange of the brain and the heart can accurately match demand, the neural signal transmission is smooth, and the myocardial contraction is strong and regular—thus ensuring the coordinated and unified functions of these two vital organs. However, once metabolic homeostasis is disrupted, problems such as energy metabolism disorders will arise, which will then become a core inducing mechanism for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular comorbidities. This article presents a review of the research progress on the potential mechanisms of brain-heart interactions based on metabolic regulation from three aspects: neurometabolic, endocrino-metabolic and immune–metabolic regulation, the impact of cardiac function on brain metabolism, and the bidirectional regulation of brain-heart metabolism. Full article