Search Results (896)

Outdoor air pollution poses a major global health risk, yet monitoring remains insufficient, especially in regions with limited infrastructure. Solar-powered monitors could allow for increased coverage in regions lacking robust connectivity. However, reliable sample collection can be challenging with these systems due to extreme temperatures and insufficient solar energy. Proper planning can help overcome these challenges. Air Sampler Solar and Thermal Optimization for Reliable Monitoring (Air-STORM) is an open-source tool that uses meteorological and solar radiation data to identify temperature and solar charging risks for air pollution monitors based on the target deployment area. The model was validated experimentally, and its utility was demonstrated through illustrative case studies. Air-STORM simulations can be customized for specific locations, seasons, and monitor configurations. This capability enables the early detection of potential sampling risks and provides opportunities to optimize monitor design, proactively mitigate temperature and power failures, and increase the likelihood of successful sample collection. Ultimately, improving sampling success will help increase the availability of high-quality outdoor air pollution data necessary to reduce global air pollution exposure. Full article

Heterotopic ossification (HO) refers to the pathological formation of bone in soft tissues, typically following trauma, surgical procedures, or as a result of genetic disorders. Notably, injuries to the central nervous system significantly increase the risk of HO, a condition referred to as neurogenic HO (NHO). This review outlines the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving HO, focusing on the inflammatory response, progenitor cell reprogramming, and current treatment strategies. HO is primarily fuelled by a prolonged and dysregulated inflammatory response, characterized by sustained expression of osteoinductive cytokines secreted by M1 macrophages. These cytokines promote the aberrant differentiation of fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells (FAPs) into osteoblasts, leading to ectopic mineralization. Additional factors such as hypoxia, BMP signalling, and mechanotransduction pathways further contribute to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling and osteogenic reprogramming of FAPs. In the context of NHO, neuroendocrine mediators enhance ectopic bone formation by influencing both local inflammation and progenitor cell fate decisions. Current treatment options such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), radiation therapy, and surgical excision offer limited efficacy and are associated with significant risks. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting inflammation, neuropeptide signalling, and calcium metabolism may offer more effective approaches to preventing or mitigating HO progression. Full article

Endometriosis is a benign and often underdiagnosed condition that affects women of reproductive age, typically between 18 and 45 years. It can cause infertility and pain, including radicular pain and low back pain (LBP). The aim of this case report is to emphasize the importance of making a differential diagnosis when facing LBP and radicular symptoms. We report the case of a 17-year-old female patient, R.A., presented with a significant LBP (NPRS 8/10) radiating from her lumbar spine to her right buttock and occasionally to both legs, accompanied by weakness. She revealed exacerbation of pain during menstruation, despite being under hormonal contraceptive treatment. After three physiotherapy sessions that included education, manual therapy and exercise, the patient’s pain persisted so her physiotherapist recommended an evaluation in the emergency department, where standard radiography did not reveal any significant findings. Physiotherapy continued until the fifth session, when the patient agreed to undergo evaluation at a specialized endometriosis centre. Further investigations revealed endometriotic tissue on the uterosacral ligament, leading to hormonal therapy adjustment, with which pain gradually decreased to a manageable level (NPRS 2/10). This case report highlights the importance of an early differential diagnosis in patients with LBP, as endometriosis can present not only in older women but also in younger patients, including those already on oral contraceptives. Therefore, to mitigate the risk of pattern recognition bias, clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for endometriosis, even in atypical or unlikely clinical presentations. Full article

Radiation-induced keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a significant late complication in dogs receiving radiation therapy for intranasal tumors, particularly with hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This retrospective case-control study was performed to identify anatomical and dosimetric risk factors for KCS in 15 canine patients treated with IMRT delivered in 4–6 weekly fractions of 8 Gy. Orbital structures were retrospectively contoured, and dose–volume metrics (D50) were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and odds ratios were used to evaluate the associations between radiation dose and KCS development. Six dogs (33%) developed KCS within three months post-treatment. Statistically significant dose differences were observed between affected and unaffected eyes for the eyeball, cornea, and retina. ROC analyses identified dose thresholds predictive of KCS: 13.8 Gy (eyeball), 14.9 Gy (cornea), and 17.0 Gy (retina), with the retina showing the highest odds ratio (28.33). To ensure clinical relevance, KCS was diagnosed based on decreased tear production combined with corneal damage to ensure clinical relevance. This study proposes dose thresholds for ocular structures that may guide treatment planning and reduce the risk of KCS in canine patients undergoing IMRT. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these thresholds and explore mitigation strategies for high-risk cases. Full article

Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) has shown neuroprotective effects in acute brain injury, but its role in chronic radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) remains unclear. This study investigated the long-term efficacy of HRW in mitigating cognitive impairment and neuronal damage caused by chronic RIBI. Fifty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, irradiation (IR), IR with memantine, IR with HRW, and IR with combined treatment. All but the control group received 20 Gy whole-brain X-ray irradiation, followed by daily interventions for 60 days. Behavioral assessments, histopathological analyses, oxidative stress measurements, ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging, transcriptomic sequencing, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and serum ELISA were performed. HRW significantly improved anxiety-like behavior, memory, and learning performance compared to the IR group. Histological results revealed that HRW reduced neuronal swelling, degeneration, and loss and enhanced dendritic spine density and neurogenesis. PET/CT imaging showed increased hippocampal glucose uptake in the IR group, which was alleviated by HRW treatment. Transcriptomic and molecular analyses indicated that HRW modulated key genes and proteins, including CD44, CD74, SPP1, and Wnt1, potentially through the MIF, Wnt, and SPP1 signaling pathways. Serum CD44 levels were also lower in treated rats, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for chronic RIBI. These findings demonstrate that HRW can alleviate chronic RIBI by preserving neuronal structure, reducing inflammation, and enhancing neuroplasticity, supporting its potential as a therapeutic strategy for radiation-induced cognitive impairment. Full article

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions due to human activities are responsible for approximately 80% of the drivers of global warming, resulting in a 1.1 °C increase above pre-industrial temperatures. This study quantified the CO₂ assimilation and productivity of the brown macroalgae Lessonia spicata in the central Pacific coast of Chile, across seasonal and daily cycles, under different environmental stressors, such as temperature and solar irradiance. Measurements were performed using an infra-red gas analysis (IRGA) instrument which had a chamber allowing for precise quantification of CO₂ concentrations; additional photophysiological and biochemical responses were also measured. CO₂ assimilation, along with the productivity and biosynthesis of proteins and lipids, increased during the spring, coinciding with moderate temperatures (~14 °C) and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Furthermore, the increased production of photoprotective and antioxidant compounds, including phenolic compounds, and carotenoids, along with the enhancement of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), contribute to the effective photoacclimation strategies of L. spicata. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed seasonal associations between productivity, reactive oxygen species (ROSs), and biochemical indicators, particularly during the spring and summer. These associations, further supported by Pearson correlation analyses, suggest a high but seasonally constrained photoacclimation capacity. In contrast, the reduced productivity and photoprotection observed in the summer suggest increased physiological vulnerability to heat and light stress. Overall, our findings position L. spicata as a promising nature-based solution for climate change mitigation. Full article

Chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy are highly effective in treating malignancies. However, they carry a significant risk of harming the gonads and may lead to endocrine dysfunction and reproductive issues. This review outlines the molecular mechanisms of gonadotoxic therapies, focusing on radiation, alkylating agents, and platinum compounds. It discusses the loss of PMFs due to gonadotoxic exposure, including DNA double-strand breaks, oxidative stress, and dysregulated signaling pathways like PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR and TAp63-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, it explores strategies to mitigate gonadal damage, including GnRH agonists, AMH, imatinib, melatonin, sphingolipid metabolites, G-CSF, mTOR inhibitors, AS101, and LH. These therapies, paired with existing fertility preservation methods, could safeguard reproductive and hormonal functions and improve the quality of life for young cancer patients. Despite the progress made in recent years in understanding gonadotoxic mechanisms, gaps remain due to questionable reliance on mouse models and the lack of models replicating human ovarian dynamics. Long-term studies are vital for wider analyses and exploration of protective strategies based on various animal models and clinical trials. It is essential to verify that these substances do not hinder the anti-cancer effectiveness of treatments or cause lasting DNA changes in granulosa cells, raising the risk of miscarriages and infertility. Full article

In advanced Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technologies, where diminished feature sizes amplify radiation-induced soft errors, the optimization of fault-tolerant circuit designs requires detailed transistor-level analysis of reliability–performance trade-offs. As a fundamental building block in digital systems and critical data paths, the 2:1 multiplexer, widely used in data-path routing, clock networks, and reconfigurable systems, provides a critical benchmark for assessing radiation-hardened design methodologies. In this context, this work aims to analyze the power consumption, area overhead, and delay of 2:1 multiplexer designs under transient fault conditions, employing the CMOS and Differential Cascode Voltage Switch Logic (DCVSL) logic styles and mitigation strategies. Electrical simulations were conducted using 32 nm high-performance predictive technology, evaluating both the original circuit versions and modified variants incorporating three mitigation strategies: transistor sizing, D-Cells, and C-Elements. Key metrics, including power consumption, delay, area, and radiation robustness, were analyzed. The C-Element and transistor sizing techniques ensure satisfactory robustness for all the circuits analyzed, with a significant impact on delay, power consumption, and area. Although the D-Cell technique alone provides significant improvements, it is not enough to achieve adequate levels of robustness. Full article

Dark asphalt surfaces, absorbing about 95% of solar radiation and warming to 60–70 °C during summer, intensify urban heat while providing substantial prospects for energy extraction. This review evaluates four primary technologies—asphalt solar collectors (ASCs, including phase change material (PCM) integration), photovoltaic (PV) systems, vibration-based harvesting, thermoelectric generators (TEGs)—focusing on their principles, efficiencies, and urban applications. ASCs achieve up to 30% efficiency with a 150–300 W/m² output, reducing pavement temperatures by 0.5–3.2 °C, while PV pavements yield 42–49% efficiency, generating 245 kWh/m² and lowering temperatures by an average of 6.4 °C. Piezoelectric transducers produce 50.41 mW under traffic loads, and TEGs deliver 0.3–5.0 W with a 23 °C gradient. Applications include powering sensors, streetlights, and de-icing systems, with ASCs extending pavement life by 3 years. Hybrid systems, like PV/T, achieve 37.31% efficiency, enhancing UHI mitigation and emissions reduction. Economically, ASCs offer a 5-year payback period with a USD 3000 net present value, though PV and piezoelectric systems face cost and durability challenges. Environmental benefits include 30–40% heat retention for winter use and 17% increased PV self-use with EV integration. Despite significant potential, high costs and scalability issues hinder adoption. Future research should optimize designs, develop adaptive materials, and validate systems under real-world conditions to advance sustainable urban infrastructure. Full article

This work investigates the effects of radiation on FinFET-based full adders, which are crucial components of arithmetic units, particularly in aerospace and space applications. While FinFETs offer significant advantages, they remain susceptible to single-event transients (SETs) induced by radiation, which can cause computational errors. We assess three circuit-level mitigation techniques against SETs in FinFET adders: decoupling cells (DCELLs), transistor sizing (TS), and a combined approach incorporating both methods. Our results demonstrate that the most sensitive nodes and critical vectors in the adders vary depending on the mitigation strategy, underscoring their impact on overall radiation resilience. By analyzing these techniques alongside critical node evaluation, we identify their advantages and limitations, providing insights to enhance the robustness of FinFET-based processors in radiation-prone environments. Full article

This review article focuses on the long-term durability challenges associated with bamboo fiber-reinforced polymer composites when subjected to various environmental aging conditions such as water immersion, hygrothermal fluctuations, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, soil burial, and refrigerated storage. The primary issue addressed is the degradation of mechanical and structural performance of bamboo fiber-reinforced polymer composites due to moisture absorption, fiber swelling, and fiber–matrix interface deterioration. To mitigate these aging effects, the study evaluates and compares multiple strategies, including chemical and physical fiber surface treatments, filler additions, and fiber hybridization, which aim to enhance moisture resistance and mechanical stability. These composites are relevant in automotive interiors, construction panels, building insulation, and consumer goods due to their eco-friendly nature and potential to replace conventional synthetic composites. This review is necessary to consolidate current knowledge, identify effective enhancement approaches, and guide the development of environmentally resilient bamboo fiber-reinforced polymer composites for real-world applications. Full article

Typhoons are major climate disturbances that significantly impact coastal ecosystems, particularly mangrove forests. This study examines the effects of typhoons on mangrove communities at different stages of recovery, focusing on how environmental factors influence carbon storage and net ecosystem exchange (NEE). Three mangrove sites were selected based on their recovery age: young, moderately restored, and mature. The results revealed that typhoons had the most pronounced effect on young mangroves, resulting in significant reductions in both above-ground and soil carbon storage. In contrast, mid-aged and mature mangroves demonstrated greater resilience, with mature mangroves recovering most rapidly in terms of community structure and carbon storage. Key factors such as wind speed, heavy rainfall, and changes in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) contributed to carbon storage losses, particularly in young mangrove forests. This study underscores the importance of recovery age in determining mangrove resilience to extreme weather events and offers insights for enhancing restoration and conservation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on coastal carbon sequestration. Full article

The performance of solar thermal systems for space heating and domestic hot water (DHW) production depends on the tilt angle of solar collectors, which governs the amount and seasonal distribution of captured solar radiation. This study evaluates the impact of fixed collector tilt angles on the annual solar fraction (SF) of a solar heating system designed for a typical single-family house located in Kraków, Poland (50° N latitude). A numerical model based on the f-Chart method was employed to simulate system performance under varying collector areas, storage tank volumes, heat exchanger characteristics, and DHW proportions. The analysis revealed that although total annual irradiation decreases with increasing tilt angle, the SF reaches a maximum at a tilt angle of approximately 60°, which is about 10° higher than the local geographic latitude. This configuration offers a favorable balance between winter energy gain and summer overheating mitigation. The results align with empirical recommendations in the literature and offer practical guidance for optimizing fixed-tilt solar heating systems in temperate climates. Full article

This paper describes a compact multi-port sub-6 GHz multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system tailored for 5G NR mobile terminals operating in the n77 (3.3–4.2 GHz), n78 (3.3–3.8 GHz), and n79 (4.4–5.0 GHz) frequency bands. The proposed design leverages a shared coupling approach that exploits the smartphone metal frame as the radiating element, facilitating efficient integration within the spatial constraints of modern mobile devices. A two-stage method is used to mitigate the mutual coupling and correlation issues typically encountered when designing compact MIMO configurations. Initially, a four-port structure is used to evaluate broadband impedance and spatial feasibility. Based on the observed limitations in terms of isolation and the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), the final configuration was reconfigured as an optimized two-port layout with a refined coupling geometry and effective current path control. The fabricated two-port prototype exhibited a measured voltage standing wave ratio below 3:1 across the n78 band on both ports, with the isolation levels attaining –12.4 dB and ECCs below 0.12. The radiation efficiency exceeded −6 dB across the operational band, and the radiation patterns were stable at 3.3, 3.5, and 3.8 GHz, confirming that the system was appropriate for MIMO deployment. The antenna supports asymmetric per-port efficiency targets ranging from −4.5 to −10 dB. These are the realistic layout constraints of commercial smartphones. In summary, this study shows that a metal frame integrated two-port MIMO antenna enables wideband sub-6 GHz operation by meeting the key impedance and system-level performance requirements. Our method can be used to develop a scalable platform assisting future multi-band antenna integration in mass-market 5G smartphones. Full article

Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation has been identified as a significant factor contributing to skin photoaging and skin diseases, operating through the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the subsequent induction of DNA damage. Plant-derived antioxidants have demonstrated efficacy in mitigating UVA-induced damage; nevertheless, their instability limits their therapeutic potential. This study investigates the mechanisms of antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of squalane (Sq), a stable, plant-derived triterpene, in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) exposed to UVA radiation. Sq was administered at concentrations ranging from 0.005% to 0.015% prior to UVA exposure (10 J/cm²). It has been found that Sq counteracted UVA-induced ROS formation, decreased the level of reduced thiol groups, activated apoptosis, and inhibited DNA biosynthesis. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that Sq suppressed the UVA-induced expression of p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, while restoring the activity of the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway. The findings indicate that Sq exerts protective effects on UVA-induced fibroblast damage through a combination of antioxidant and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Full article