Search Results (129)

Background: Peripheral nerve injuries, especially involving the facial nerve, present unique reconstructive challenges due to their complex functional demands and limited regenerative potential. While autografts remain the gold standard, their drawbacks—such as donor-site morbidity and limited availability—have driven interest in processed nerve allografts. Acellular grafts, in particular, offer promising off-the-shelf alternatives without the need for immunosuppression. Methods: We conducted a narrative review of the literature (1990–2023), identifying 55 peer-reviewed studies via PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The studies included clinical and preclinical work on motor nerve regeneration using processed nerve allografts, with particular attention to outcomes in facial nerve repair. Two independent reviewers conducted abstract screening, full-text review, and data extraction. Results: Processed nerve allografts show encouraging motor recovery in gaps under 50 mm, with recovery rates of up to 85% reported. Outcomes decrease significantly in longer gaps (>50–60 mm) and in complex cases, including facial nerve repairs, where evidence remains sparse and largely extrapolated from broader motor nerve data. Registry data (e.g., RANGER) support their use but are limited by heterogeneity and lack of randomization. Conclusions: Processed nerve allografts represent a viable alternative to autografts in selected cases—especially short to mid-length motor nerve defects. However, their role in facial nerve reconstruction remains insufficiently studied. Further trials are needed to address specific anatomical and functional challenges in this subgroup and to clarify long-gap efficacy. Full article

Directed grey-box fuzzers focus on testing specific target code. They have been utilized in various security applications, such as reproducing known crashes and identifying vulnerabilities resulting from incomplete patches. Distance-guided directed fuzzers calculate the distance to the target node for each node in a CFG or CG, which has always been the mainstream in this field. However, the distance can only reflect the relationship between the current node and the target node, and it does not consider the impact of the reaching sequence before the target node. To mitigate this problem, we analyzed the properties of the instrumented function’s call graph after selective instrumentation, and the complexity of reaching the target function sequence was estimated. Assisted by the sequence complexity, we proposed a two-stage function call sequence-based seed-scheduling strategy. The first stage is to select seeds with a higher probability of generating test cases that reach the target function. The second stage is to select seeds that can generate test cases that meet the conditions for triggering the vulnerability as much as possible. We implemented our approach in SEZZ based on SelectFuzz and compare it with related works. We found that SEZZ outperformed AFLGo, Beacon, WindRanger, and SelectFuzz by achieving an average improvement of 13.7×, 1.50×, 9.78×, and 2.04× faster on vulnerability exposure, respectively. Moreover, SEZZ triggered three more vulnerabilities than the other compared tools. Full article

Deposition of intramuscular fat (IM), also known as marbling, is the deciding factor of beef quality grade in the U.S. Defining molecular mechanisms underlying the differential deposition of adipose tissue in distinct anatomical areas in beef cattle is key to the development of strategies for marbling enhancement while limiting the accumulation of excessive subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). The objective of this exploratory study was to define the IM and SAT transcriptional heterogeneity at the whole tissue and single-nuclei levels in beef steers. Longissimus dorsi muscle samples (9–11th rib) were collected from two finished beef steers at harvest to dissect matched IM and adjacent SAT (backfat). Total RNA from IM and SAT was isolated and sequenced in an Illumina NovaSeq 6000. Nuclei from the same samples were isolated by dounce homogenization, libraries generated with 10× Genomics, and sequenced in an Illumina NovaSeq 6000, followed by analysis via Cell Ranger pipeline and Seurat in RStudio (v4.3.2) By the expression of signature marker genes, single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) analysis identified mature adipocytes (AD; ADIPOQ, LEP), adipose stromal and progenitor cells (ASPC; PDGFRA), endothelial cells (EC; VWF, PECAM1), smooth muscle cells (SMC; NOTCH3, MYL9) and immune cells (IMC; CD163, MRC1). We detected six cell clusters in SAT and nine in IM. Across IM and SAT, AD was the most abundant cell type, followed by ASPC, SMC, and IMC. In SAT, AD made up 50% of the cellular population, followed by ASPC (31%), EC (14%), IMC (1%), and SMC (4%). In IM depot, AD made up 23% of the cellular population, followed by ASPC at 19% of the population, EC at 28%, IMC at 7% and SMC at 12%. The abundance of ASPC and AD was lower in IM vs. SAT, while IMC was increased, suggesting a potential involvement of immune cells on IM deposition. Accordingly, both bulk RNAseq and snRNAseq analyses identified activated pathways of inflammation and metabolic function in IM. These results demonstrate distinct transcriptional cellular heterogeneity between SAT and IM depots in beef steers, which may underly the mechanisms by which fat deposits in each depot. The identification of depot-specific cell populations in IM and SAT via snRNAseq analysis has the potential to reveal target genes for the modulation of fat deposition in beef cattle. Full article

Field-based landslide mapping is a crucial task for geo-hydrological risk assessment but is often limited by the lack of integrated tools to capture accurate spatial and temporal data. This research investigates a Direct Numerical Cartography (DNC) system’s ability to capture both spatial and temporal landslide features during fieldwork. DNC enables fully digital surveys, minimizing errors and delivering real-time, spatially accurate data to experts on site. We tested an integrated approach combining the Ground Operative System for GIS Input Remote-data Acquisition (GOGIRA) with the Expert-based Multitemporal AI Detector (ExMAD). GOGIRA is a low-cost system for efficient georeferenced data collection, while ExMAD uses AI and multitemporal Sentinel-2 imagery to detect landslide triggering times. Upgrades to GOGIRA’s hardware and algorithms were carried out to improve its mapping accuracy. Field tests in Western Greece compared data to 64 expert-confirmed landslides, with the Range-R device showing a mean spatial error of 50 m, outperforming the tripod-based UGO device at 82 m. Operational factors like line-of-sight obstructions and terrain complexity affected accuracy. ExMAD applied a pre-trained U-Net convolutional neural network for automated temporal trend detection of landslide events. The combined DNC and AI-assisted remote sensing approach enhances landslide inventory precision and consistency while maintaining expert oversight, offering a scalable solution for landslide monitoring. Full article

Autonomous drone navigation presents challenges for users unfamiliar with manual flight controls, increasing the risk of collisions. This research addresses this issue by developing a multifunctional drone control system that integrates hand gesture recognition, obstacle avoidance, and 3D mapping to improve accessibility and safety. The system utilizes Google’s MediaPipe Hands software library, which employs machine learning to track 21 key landmarks of the user’s hand, enabling gesture-based control of the drone. Each recognized gesture is mapped to a flight command, eliminating the need for a traditional controller. The obstacle avoidance system, utilizing the Flow Deck V2 and Multi-Ranger Deck, detects objects within a safety threshold and autonomously moves the drone by a predefined avoidance distance away to prevent collisions. A mapping system continuously logs the drone’s flight path and detects obstacles, enabling 3D visualization of drone’s trajectory after the drone landing. Also, an AI-Deck streams live video, enabling navigation beyond the user’s direct line of sight. Experimental validation with the Crazyflie drone demonstrates seamless integration of these systems, providing a beginner-friendly experience where users can fly drones safely without prior expertise. This research enhances human–drone interaction, making drone technology more accessible for education, training, and intuitive navigation. Full article

Nature-inspired metaheuristics have proven effective for addressing complex structural optimization challenges where traditional deterministic or gradient-based methods often fall short. This study investigates the feasibility and benefits of embedding three prominent metaheuristic algorithms, the Genetic Algorithm (GA), the Firefly Algorithm (FA), and the Group Search Optimizer (GSO) embedded into the ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). The performance of each optimizer was assessed in three case studies. The first two are spatial truss structures, one comprising 22 bars and the other 25 bars, commonly used in structural optimization research. The third is a planar 15-bar truss in which member sizing and internal topology were simultaneously refined using a Discrete Topology (DT) variable method. For both the FA and the GSO, enhanced ranger-movement strategies were implemented to improve exploration–exploitation balance. Comparative analyses were conducted to assess convergence behavior, solution quality, and computational efficiency across the different metaheuristics. The results underscore the practical advantages of a fully integrated APDL approach, highlighting improvements in execution speed, workflow automation, and overall robustness. This work not only provides a comprehensive performance comparison of GA, FA, and GSO in structural optimization tasks, but it can also be considered a novelty in employing native APDL routines for metaheuristic-based finite element analysis. Full article

A sufficient number of sensors installed in all structural components is a prerequisite for obtaining the full-field temporal–spatial displacement and is essential for large-scale structure health monitoring. In this paper, a novel lightweight vision-based temporal–spatial deflection measurement method is proposed to measure the full-field temporal–spatial displacement of slender structures. First, the geometric and mechanical properties of slender members are introduced as the priori information to vision-based measurement. Then, a slice template matching model is proposed by deploying a one-dimensional template matching model in every pixel column of each image frame, based on traditional digital image correlation (DIC) method. An indoor experiment was carried out to verify the proposed method, and experiment results show that measurement precision of STMM agrees well with the theory and the laser ranger, with a maximum measurement error of 0.03 pixels and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.052 mm, for transient beam deflection curve; with the correlation coefficient and coefficient of determination of 0.9994 and 0.9986, for dynamic deflection–time history curves at the middle-span point. Finally, further investigation reveals that brightness inconstancy is the source of STMM measurement error. Full article

Background: Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) represents a progressively adopted life-sustaining intervention worldwide, particularly in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Nevertheless, data concerning the prognostic significance of fungal isolation in this setting remain unclear. This study aims (i) to assess the incidence of fungal infection and colonization in a homogeneous cohort of V-V ECMO patients, and (ii) to evaluate the association between fungal infection or colonization and 1-year mortality, with a focus on the impact of specific fungal species. Methods: All consecutive adults admitted to the Intensive Care Units of five Italian university-affiliated hospitals and requiring V-V ECMO were screened. Exclusion criteria were age < 18 years, pregnancy, veno-arterial or mixed ECMO-configuration, incomplete records and survival < 24 h after V-V ECMO placement. A standard protocol of microbiological surveillance was applied and the distinction between different fungal species were made through in vivo and vitro tests. Cox-proportional hazards models, Kaplan–Meier curves and linear logistic regressions were applied for investigating mortality. Results: Two-hundred and seventy-nine V-V ECMO patients (72% male) were enrolled. The overall fungal isolation was 41% (n. 114): 23% infections and 18% colonizations. The overall 1-year mortality, among fungal isolations, was 40%, with no different risk in case of fungal infection (26 out of 63, 41%) (aHR 0.85, 95% CI [0.53–1.37], p-value 0.505) and colonization (20 out of 51, 39%) (aHR 0.86, 95%CI [0.51–1.43], p-value 0.556), as compared to patients never detecting fungi (68 out of 165, 41%, reference). According to the isolated mycotic species, as compared to Candida sp. group (reference), the risk of death was greater when different fungal species (e.g., Aspergillus sp. and Candida sp.) were concomitantly isolated in the same patient (OR 1.17, 95%CI [1.12–11.07], p-value 0.031. Conclusions: In the overall population, 23% V-V ECMO patients recorded ‘late’ fungal infections and 18% fungal colonizations, with a similar risk of death as compared to patients never experiencing fungi during the V-V ECMO course. The detection of concomitant different fungal species was an independent risk factor for 1-year mortality. Full article

Amid urbanization, many forest farmers have migrated for work, leading to a shortage of young labor in forestry. Socialized prevention and control (SPC) measures have emerged as a new forestry model. By integrating forestland property rights theory, SPC economic principles, and collaborative disaster governance, this study compares the econometrics methods of seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) and structural equation models (SEMs) to address correlation and endogeneity issues. It aims to understand forest farmers’ willingness to pay for SPC services, purchase forest insurance, and join as forest rangers. The findings offer theoretical and practical insights that address current challenges and rationalize SPC promotion costs, filling gaps in the existing literature. The results indicate that high-quality foresters with more home-planted forests are more inclined to hire SPC companies, while better-educated farmers are less likely to purchase forest insurance. Western forest farmers, highly reliant on forests, show greater willingness to become rangers under village committee organization. Farmers organized by committees or with prevention experience suggest SPC costs around USD $65/ha and forest premiums at USD $5/ha, with high-quality farmers proposing a ranger salary of USD $190/month. Recommendations include collecting SPC funds from farmers and supplementing through local finances; enhancing the forest insurance system; monitoring SPC companies; and recruiting young, skilled rangers. Full article

This study evaluated heavy metal levels (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cu) and the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in mussels and commonly consumed fishery products from the Marmara region of Türkiye. Health risks were evaluated using total hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) values, while microbial risks in fresh and ready-to-eat (RTE) products were estimated via the Risk Ranger tool. Among 625 samples, Hg (36.96%; CI95 = 33.27–48.81), Pb (9.76%; CI95 = 7.67–12.34), and Cd (19.36%; CI95 = 16.45–22.64) exceeded permissible limits, except in crabs, which remained compliant. Anchovy, sardines, bluefish, shrimps, and octopus met EU Cd limits. Shrimps exhibited higher As_in levels than crabs (p < 0.05), while squids had significantly higher As_in than octopus but lower Pb (p < 0.05). Microbiological analysis detected Salmonella spp. in 4.00% of samples (CI95 = 2.50–6.30) and L. monocytogenes in 4.24% (CI95 = 2.70–6.59). Surmullet, bluefish, red mullet, crabs, mussels, and octopus tested negative for both, while anchovy was negative for Salmonella spp. only. THQ and HI assessments emphasized the need for environmental monitoring to mitigate heavy metal contamination. The detection of pathogens highlights the importance of stringent surveillance measures to ensure the safety of fishery products and bivalves. Full article

DNA G-quadruplexes (G4) are non-canonical DNA structures that play key roles in various biological processes. Antibody-dependent sequencing is an important tool for identifying intracellularly formed DNA G4s, and peak calling is a crucial step in processing the sequencing data. As the applicability of existing peak calling algorithms to intracellular G4 data has not been previously assessed, we systematically compared and evaluated these algorithms to determine those best suited for G4 detection. We selected seven representative candidates from 43 published peak calling algorithms for detailed evaluation. The performance of each candidate on six published intracellular G4 sequencing datasets (GSE107690, GSE145090, GSE133379, GSE178668ChIP-seq, GSE178668CUT&Tag, GSE221437) were assessed by precision and recall against customized benchmarks integrating results from multiple algorithms, as well as consistency with known G4 information (pG4 predicted by pqsfinder, oG4 from GSE63874, and multi-cell-line conserved G4s) and epigenetic signals. We identified MACS2, PeakRanger, and GoPeaks as the most effective algorithms for analyzing intracellular G4 sequencing data, and attributed their superior performance partially to the distribution model of sequencing reads/fragments used in the hypothesis testing step of the peak calling procedures. These findings provide guidance and rationale for selecting peak callers appropriate for intracellular G4 data. Full article

The JUpiter Icy Moon Explorer (JUICE) mission, launched on 14 April 2023, aims to explore Jupiter and its Galilean moons, with arrival in the Jovian system planned for mid-2031. One of the scientific investigations is the Geodesy and Geophysics of Jupiter and the Galilean Moons (3GM) radio science experiment, designed to study the interior structures of Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede and the atmospheres of Jupiter and the Galilean moons. The 3GM experiment employs a Ka-band Transponder (KaT) to enable two-way coherent range and Doppler measurements used for the gravity experiment and an Ultra Stable Oscillator (USO) for one-way downlink occultation experiments. This paper analyzes KaT data collected at the ESA/ESTRACK ground station in Malargüe, Argentina, during the Near-Earth Commissioning Phase (NECP) in May 2023 and the first in-cruise payload checkout (PC01) in January 2024. The radiometric data were fitted using both NASA’s Mission Analysis, Operations, and Navigation Toolkit Environment (MONTE) and ESA’s General Orbit Determination and Optimization Toolkit (GODOT) software. The comparison of the orbital solutions showed an excellent agreement. In addition, the Doppler and range residuals allowed a preliminary assessment of the quality of the radiometric measurements. During the NECP pass, the radio link data showed a range-rate noise of 0.012 mm/s at 1000 s integration time, while the root mean square of the range residuals sampled at 1 s was 8.4 mm. During the first payload checkout, the signal power at the KaT input closely matched the value expected at Jupiter, due to a specific ground station setup. This provided early indications of the 3GM’s performance during the Jovian phase. In this test, the accuracy of range data at an integration time of 1s, particularly sensitive to the link signal-to-noise ratio, degraded to 13.6 cm, whilst the range-rate accuracy turned out to be better than 0.003 mm/s at 1000 s, thanks to the accurate tropospheric delay calibration system (TDCS) available at the Malargue station (inactive during NECP). Full article

Cross-project software defect prediction (CPDP) refers to the construction of defect prediction models by collecting multi-source project data, but the heterogeneity of data among projects and the modern problem of “data islands” hinder its development. In response to these challenges, we propose a CPDP algorithm based on differential perception combined with inheritance federated learning (FedDPI). Firstly, we design an efficient data preprocessing scheme, which lays a reliable data foundation for federated learning by integrating oversampling and optimal feature selection methods. Secondly, a two-stage collaborative optimization mechanism is proposed in the federated learning framework: the inheritance private model (IPM) is introduced in the local training stage, and the differential perception algorithm is used in the global aggregation stage to dynamically allocate aggregation weights, forming positive feedback for training to overcome the negative impact of data heterogeneity. In addition, we utilize the Ranger optimization algorithm to improve the convergence speed and privacy security of the model through its irreversible mixed optimization operation. The experimental results show that FedDPI significantly improves predictive performance in various defect item data combination experiments. Compared with different deep learning and federated learning algorithms, the average improvement in AUC and G-mean indicators is 0.2783 and 0.2673, respectively, verifying the practicality and effectiveness of federated learning and two-stage collaborative optimization mechanisms in the field of CPDP. Full article

The activity-height distribution of radioactive particles in the stabilization cloud of a nuclear burst plays a crucial role in the radioactive fallout prediction model, serving as the source for transport, diffusion, and dose rate calculation modules. A gas-particle multiphase flow solver was developed using the OpenFOAM Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) library and discrete phase method (DPM) library under a two-way coupling regime to simulate the U.S. standard atmosphere of 1976 with good stability. The accuracy of the numerical model was verified through low-equivalent nuclear weapons tests, including RANGER-Able and BUSTER-JANGLE-Sugar, depicting reasonable spatio-temporal changes in cloud profiles. The initialization module of the Defense Land Fallout Interpretative Code (DELFIC) and activity-size distribution, which considered fractionation, were employed for nuclear fireball and radioactive particle initialization. Simulations indicated that the activity-height distribution of the stabilization cloud mainly concentrated on the lower third of air burst cloud caps, while settling near the burst center for surface or near-surface bursts. This study has confirmed the effectiveness of the gas-particle flow solver based on the CFD-DPM method in simulating low-equivalent nuclear clouds and enriching research on radioactive fallout prediction models. Full article

Northern Australia is considered a ‘lifeboat’ region for globally threatened shark and ray species (elasmobranchs), although much of the region is understudied. The Roper River in the Northern Territory’s Gulf of Carpentaria has been inadequately surveyed, with most elasmobranch data gained opportunistically through freshwater fish surveys. This study aimed to report the occurrence of elasmobranch species in the Roper River through targeted field surveys conducted between 2016 and 2024 and to review data from other sources. Four euryhaline species were recorded, comprising two sharks, a sawfish, and a stingray. Records of the globally Vulnerable speartooth shark (Glyphis glyphis) represented a significant range extension and the documentation of a new reproductive population. Records of the Critically Endangered largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) extended almost 400 km upstream, highlighting extensive use of the river system. A predominantly marine species, the Critically Endangered giant guitarfish (Glaucostegus typus) was observed in brackish estuarine waters, approximately 15 km upstream from the river mouth. Further research is required to develop a more thorough understanding of abundance, life history, and population connectivity for these species in this river system. Given the documentation of threatened species, the potential impacts of fisheries, water allocations, and climate change require assessment. Full article