Search Results (617)

The performance of coatings, corrosion barriers, photocatalysts, and tribological materials is greatly influenced by in situ surface properties, requiring highly sensitive and reproducible operando surface characterization methods. We previously developed a temperature-programmed photoelectron emission (TPPE) method to clarify electron transfer behavior on light-irradiated metal surfaces. TPPE is sensitive to surface temperature and prior chemical exposure, which affect the total photoemitted electron count (N_T), the photothreshold, and the activation energy derived from Arrhenius plots of N_T obtained during heating–cooling cycles. This study examines the reproducibility of TPPE data and the TPPE mechanisms for Cu₂O/Cu surfaces subjected to mechanical abrasion, cleaning, plasma treatment, and subsequent immersion in organic liquids. The resulting Arrhenius plots reveal both positive and negative activation energies, depending on the treatment conditions. Negative activation energies during cooling are associated with photoredox-mediated emission. TPPE is attributed to oxygen vacancies within the Cu₂O surface layer, which is interfaced with metallic Cu, serving as a direct probe of these vacancy-related states. The TPPE characteristics (N_T intensity and activation energy) following exposure to various polar and nonpolar organic molecules (e.g., acetone, toluene, hexane, and ethanol) correlate with the electronic properties of these vacancies, consistent with previous observations for ambient air, alcohol, and water vapor exposure. Under illumination, Cu₂O vacancy states enhance photocarrier extraction (electrons and holes) and accelerate surface redox reactions within adsorbed thin films, thereby improving photocatalytic performance. Notably, the solvent’s reciprocal dielectric constant significantly influences TPPE, indicative of electrostatic surface–solvent interactions. Finally, the TPPE mechanism is discussed in the context of antiviral inactivation at the metallic copper–environment interface. Full article

Pyonephrosis is a rare, life-threatening suppurative disease of the kidney characterised by the accumulation of purulent exudate within the renal pelvis and the destruction of renal parenchyma. It is typically associated with azotaemia and urinary tract obstruction. Extreme leucocytosis (>100 × 10³/µL), known as a leukemoid reaction, has been rarely reported in feline pyonephrosis. A 13-year-old neutered domestic shorthair female cat was brought to a veterinary clinic with symptoms of lethargy and apathy, as well as a significantly enlarged abdominal cavity. Physical examination revealed dehydration and a large, non-painful mass occupying the left abdominal cavity. Haematology revealed severe leucocytosis of 123.22 × 10³/µL and anaemia with haematocrit (HCT) 18.6% and serum biochemistry showed elevated SDMA 17 µg/dL, AST 97 U/L, with hypokalaemia, hypochloraemia and hypoproteinaemia. Creatinine (1.5 mg/dL) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (23 mg/dL) remained within reference values. Abdominal X-ray and ultrasound revealed a large mass of anechoic structure encompassing the entire left side of the abdominal cavity, consistent with pyonephrosis. Microbiological studies of purulent material obtained by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and culturing revealed the presence of Escherichia coli. The day after admission, the patient underwent surgical laparotomy with unilateral nephrectomy. Histopathology confirmed severe inflammatory infiltration of the mucosa, connective tissue proliferation and fibrosis, with partial glomerular hyalinisation and without cellular atypia. Six days after surgical intervention, the leukocyte count decreased to 44.81 × 10³/µL. The patient was alive and clinically healthy 3 months after surgery. This case illustrates that massive unilateral pyonephrosis can occur in geriatric cats without azotaemia due to the compensatory function of the contralateral kidney. Marked leucocytosis of 123.22 × 10³/µL probably represents a leukemoid reaction secondary to severe suppurative inflammation. Moreover, pyonephrosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of large abdominal masses in cats, even in the presence of a normal creatinine level. Full article

This case report describes the investigation of two cases of cutaneous vasculitis in sows following vaccination. The herd was porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-stable, with routine PRRSV-1 and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) sows’ vaccination. Two sows developed red-to-purple macules on the udder, flanks, and hind limbs, occurring two and three days after vaccination, respectively. Diagnostic investigations included biochemistry, complete blood count, PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), serology, histopathology, Gram staining, and immunofluorescence (IF) to assess the involvement of type III hypersensitivity. Clinical examination and herd evaluation revealed no significant abnormalities. Both sows showed biochemistry results within the reference intervals. One sow had lymphocytosis. All PCR PCV2, PCV3 and PRRSV-1/2 on serum and IHC PCV2 conducted on skin biopsies were negative, although both animals were seropositive for PCV2. Histopathology revealed necrotizing leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and Gram staining detected no bacteria. IF failed to identify immune complex or complement deposition. However, type III hypersensitivity could not be excluded, as immune complexes are transient and biopsies were collected about 48 h after lesion onset. Overall, the findings support a vaccine-related adverse reaction. Vaccine adverse effects should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous vasculitis in swine. Full article

Acne vulgaris is one of the most prevalent dermatological conditions, affecting up to 85% of individuals aged 11–30 years. Clascoterone cream is the first topical androgen receptor inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acne vulgaris in patients aged 12 years and older, and the first agent in this class approved for use in both male and female patients. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the current evidence regarding the efficacy, safety profile, and potential future applications of clascoterone in the treatment of acne vulgaris. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE and ClinicalTrials.gov databases up to April 2026. Search terms included “clascoterone,” “cortexolone 17α-propionate,” and “androgen receptor inhibitor acne.” Eligible publications included randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, open-label extension studies, retrospective analyses, case reports, and relevant review articles published in English. Clinical trial registries and regulatory agency announcements were also searched for ongoing studies and recent approval decisions. Phase 3 trials and meta-analyses demonstrate that twice-daily application of clascoterone 1% cream significantly reduces inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesion counts compared to vehicle, with efficacy sustained up to 12 months of treatment. The safety profile is favorable, with adverse events limited predominantly to mild and transient local skin reactions. Subgroup analyses have shown no significant sex-related differences in efficacy or safety, and the safety profile appears comparable between adolescents and adults. In an exploratory pooled subgroup analysis, lesion-count reductions were greater in adults than in adolescents, whereas the adjusted between-group comparison of IGA success was not statistically significant. Because no formal treatment-by-age interaction test was reported, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating. Emerging but still incomplete data suggest potential applications in androgenetic alopecia and mild hidradenitis suppurativa. Clascoterone represents a novel addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for acne vulgaris, offering a unique mechanism of action with a favorable safety profile. Further research is warranted to establish its role in combination therapies and in other androgen-dependent dermatoses. Full article

Background/Objectives: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a joint-preserving procedure for selected patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis and varus malalignment. Postoperative pain after HTO may impair early mobilization and increase systemic opioid requirements. Periarticular infiltration analgesia is commonly used as part of multimodal analgesia; however, comparative evidence regarding opioid-containing and opioid-free infiltration protocols in HTO remains limited. This study compared postoperative pain, systemic opioid consumption, PCA demand, rescue analgesic requirement, and analgesia-related adverse events between a modified opioid-containing Ranawat cocktail and an opioid-free dexmedetomidine-based periarticular infiltration protocol. Methods: This single-center retrospective comparative cohort study included 80 patients who underwent medial opening-wedge HTO between March 2021 and March 2025. Patients were categorized according to the documented periarticular infiltration protocol: modified Ranawat cocktail (n = 40) or dexmedetomidine-based cocktail (n = 40). Postoperative VAS scores were recorded at 6, 12, 18, and 24 h and on postoperative days 7 and 14. Secondary outcomes included 24 h systemic opioid consumption expressed as morphine milligram equivalents, PCA demand count, rescue analgesic use, and analgesia-related adverse events. Longitudinal postoperative VAS trajectories were analyzed using unadjusted and adjusted linear mixed-effects models. The adjusted model included the available covariates of age, body mass index, preoperative VAS score, operative time, and tourniquet time. Results: Baseline demographic and perioperative variables were comparable between groups. The dexmedetomidine group demonstrated lower adjusted postoperative VAS scores during the early postoperative period, with statistically significant between-group differences at 12, 18, and 24 h, whereas pain trajectories converged by postoperative day 14. Twenty-four-hour systemic opioid consumption was lower in the dexmedetomidine group than in the modified Ranawat group (9.78 ± 1.99 vs. 13.92 ± 1.79 MME, p < 0.001). PCA demand was also lower in the dexmedetomidine group (6.30 ± 3.16 vs. 9.63 ± 2.92, p < 0.001). No significant between-group differences were observed in rescue NSAID use, rescue tramadol requirement, nausea/vomiting, hypotension, bradycardia, allergic reactions, or other recorded adverse events. Conclusions: In this retrospective cohort, dexmedetomidine-based opioid-free periarticular infiltration was associated with lower adjusted early postoperative VAS scores, reduced 24 h systemic opioid consumption, and fewer PCA demands compared with a modified opioid-containing Ranawat cocktail after medial opening-wedge HTO. However, because treatment allocation was not randomized and several potentially relevant confounders were not available for adjustment, these findings should be interpreted as associative and hypothesis-generating. Prospective adequately powered randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings and evaluate their effects on functional recovery and osteotomy healing. Full article

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a high-volume by-product of the hydrodesulfurization of fossil fuels, can be valorized by thermolysis to recover both molecular hydrogen and elemental sulfur, rather than being oxidized as in the conventional Claus process. The viability of this route depends on quantitative knowledge of the reaction mechanism and of the energy costs of dissociation, which are difficult to obtain experimentally at the temperatures involved. Here we study H₂S thermolysis by reactive molecular dynamics (RMD) with the ReaxFF potential for systems of 1000 H₂S molecules at 1 atm, addressing three coupled questions: the simulation parameters required for dilute gases, the energetics of dissociation, and the elementary reaction mechanism. The interaction cutoff radius proved critical: the original 10 Å value, parametrized for condensed systems, misses about 23 eV of attractive non-bonded interaction energy in the gaseous system at 298.15 K (≈0.023 eV per molecule) and fails to capture dissociation at 3000 K within 20 ns, whereas radii of 30–40 Å converge. Using a 40 Å cutoff at 2500, 3000 and 3500 K, atom-resolved species-transition records reveal a free-radical chain mechanism built from the same set of elementary steps at the three temperatures, whose relative contributions shift with temperature: S–H homolysis initiates the chain, hydrogen abstraction (H• + H₂S → H₂ + HS•) is essentially the exclusive source of H₂ (persistent H• + H• recombination contributed only 1, 13 and 17 events, below 0.5% of the abstraction count), and a slow sulfur-condensation stage (S₂ → S₃ → S₄) limits the net conversion, which reached 9.3 ± 0.9%, 26.3 ± 1.4% and 46.7 ± 1.6% within the simulated windows (single-trajectory counting resolution)—kinetically limited values, not equilibrium conversions. The enthalpy of the system rises linearly with the number of H₂S molecules consumed (R² ≥ 0.99), defining energy costs of 2.46 ± 0.04, 3.10 ± 0.08 and 3.95 ± 0.18 eV per molecule that increase with temperature by ≈1.48 eV per 1000 K; at 3500 K the cost lies between the 0 K complete-dissociation limit D₀ = 3.90 eV derived from the experimental H–SH bond energy and the Kirchhoff-corrected complete-dissociation enthalpy at that temperature (4.11–4.12 eV), statistically indistinguishable from the latter (a 0.9σ difference). These results provide a thermochemically validated, molecular-level basis for engineering the valorization of residual H₂S as a source of green hydrogen. Full article

This study investigates the wind-induced vibration of railway overhead contact line additional conductors and the service safety of fittings in high-altitude canyon environments. Using the Dadu River canyon railway corridor as the engineering background, a three-dimensional stochastic wind field with temporal and spatial correlations is generated by combining the Kaimal, Tieleman and Panofsky spectra with a fourth-order autoregressive model. Wind-speed histories are converted into wind loads using quasi-steady aerodynamic theory. A geometrically nonlinear model based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation is established, with suspension and support fittings represented by a swingable rod element and three-directional equivalent stiffness, respectively. Time-domain, rainflow-counting, power-spectral and parameter-sensitivity analyses are performed. Results show that fitting type strongly affects conductor-end response but has limited influence on mid-span vibration. Suspension fittings release wind-induced deformation through swinging, reducing stress peaks and high-amplitude cycles, whereas support fittings restrain end displacement but increase local constraint reactions and fatigue risk. The findings support fitting selection and wind-resistant fatigue design for additional conductors in canyon railway overhead contact lines. Full article

The development of antimicrobial compounds using biocatalytic synthesis routes is of interest in sustainability-oriented chemical and food-related research. In this study, phloretic acid was enzymatically esterified with two naturally occurring terpenoid alcohols, geraniol and myrtenol, using Candida antarctica lipase B as a biocatalyst under mild conditions. The study combined terpenoid and phenolic molecular building blocks with a biocatalytic synthesis route and evaluated the resulting esters as preliminary in vitro antimicrobial candidates. The resulting esters were isolated in moderate yields, reaching 65.51% for geranyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate and 54.50% for myrtenyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate. Their antimicrobial activity, together with that of the parent compounds, was evaluated against a limited panel comprising two Gram-positive bacteria, two Gram-negative bacteria, and two yeast species, by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC). The tested terpenoid alcohols showed notable antifungal activity, whereas esterification was associated with a marked increase in activity against the tested Staphylococcus aureus PCM 2054 strain. Both phloretic acid terpenyl esters showed the lowest measured MIC and MMC values against S. aureus, at 0.227 and 0.455 mM, respectively. These MIC values represented 16- and 64-fold decreases relative to the corresponding parent terpenoid alcohols and phloretic acid, respectively. Geranyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate was selected for time-kill analysis because both esters showed the same measured MIC and MMC values against S. aureus PCM 2054, whereas the geranyl ester provided a higher isolated yield, more favorable calculated reaction-stage process descriptors, and a slightly lower geometric mean MIC across the tested microbial panel. In the time-kill experiment, G4HPP at 0.25 and 0.50 mM, corresponding to approximately 75.6 and 151.2 mg/L, respectively, produced an estimated 3-log reduction in viable S. aureus PCM 2054 counts after approximately 4.7 and 4.3 h. A small increase in viable counts was observed between 8 and 24 h. Supporting in silico analysis indicated that esterification increased predicted lipophilicity and decreased predicted aqueous solubility, accompanying the microorganism-dependent changes observed in the antimicrobial activity profile. Overall, the synthesized esters should be regarded as preliminary in vitro antimicrobial candidates displaying greater in vitro activity against the tested S. aureus PCM 2054 strain than the corresponding parent compounds. Broader strain-panel studies and evaluation in food-relevant matrices are required before any potential food-preservation application can be considered. Full article

Laser-ignited particle combustion is critical to energy, aerospace, and defense applications, yet progress in deciphering its physicochemical mechanisms is hindered by poor reproducibility of combustion data from randomly packed samples. Classical theories attribute this inconsistency to variations in bulk packing density. Here, we propose a novel hypothesis that the consistency of the uppermost surface layer topography is the dominant determinant of combustion reproducibility. A two-/three- dimensional discrete element method (DEM) reveals that increasing packing layers markedly reduces surface topography conformity, while gravitational settling maintains bulk packing density near its theoretical maximum. We introduce a constrained droplet method combining multistage sieving, equal-circle packing in a circle theory, and precision droplet deposition. This approach simultaneously yields particles with a narrow size distribution and enables programmable tuning of packing layer counts, producing multilayer particulate packings that accurately reproduce the structural specifications of DEM model. In situ laser ignition diagnostics show that key combustion metrics—including AlO emission spectral profiles, temporal evolution of spectral full width at half maximum (FWHM), ignition delay, and combustion duration—exhibit a rapid decay in consistency with increasing layer count, closely matching the simulated decline in surface topography conformity. These results are attributable to the nanoscale optical penetration depth of the laser, which anchors the nascent reaction front geometry to the pre-combustion surface topography. In contrast, the near- theoretical- maximum bulk packing exerts a less important influence on this interfacial geometry during subsequent propagation. This work also provides a standardized sample preparation protocol, and enables accurate quantification of key combustion parameters that are inaccessible via conventional methods. Full article

Equine piroplasmosis, caused by the intraerythrocytic protozoan Theileria equi, is a globally distributed tick-borne disease characterized by persistent infection and variable clinical manifestations. Although oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several hemoprotozoan diseases, information regarding redox imbalance and its relationship with inflammatory responses in horses naturally infected with T. equi remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate oxidative stress, antioxidant status, inflammatory cytokines, and clinicopathological alterations in horses naturally infected with T. equi. Thirty-five horses naturally infected with T. equi and twenty clinically healthy horses were enrolled. Infection was confirmed by clinical evaluation, hematological and biochemical analyses, an indirect fluorescent antibody test, and polymerase chain reaction. Serum concentrations of interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, reduced glutathione, and malondialdehyde were assayed. Infected horses showed significantly lower platelet counts and significantly higher serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase than controls. Serum interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor concentrations were significantly increased, indicating persistent inflammatory activation. Infected horses also exhibited significantly higher malondialdehyde concentrations and lower reduced glutathione levels, consistent with enhanced lipid peroxidation and impaired antioxidant defenses. Correlation analyses revealed a negative association between reduced glutathione and white blood cell count and between malondialdehyde and red blood cell count, whereas malondialdehyde concentrations were positively associated with clinical score. Chronic T. equi infection is associated with oxidative stress, depletion of antioxidant defenses, and sustained inflammatory responses. The interaction between oxidative stress and inflammation may contribute to hematological abnormalities and disease expression. Full article

Additive manufacturing offers opportunities to improve material efficiency and support more resource-efficient production of furniture components by reducing material consumption while maintaining sufficient mechanical performance for practical use in wooden structures. This study evaluated the effect of perimeter count and cubic infill density on the mechanical behaviour and material efficiency of FDM-printed dovetail connectors made from recycled PLA+ and used in wooden frame corner joints. Connectors were manufactured with three infill densities (20%, 30%, and 40%) and three perimeter configurations (1P, 3P, and 5P). Mechanical tests were performed on beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) corner joints, and maximum bending moment, rotational stiffness, and specific maximum bending moment were evaluated. The experimental results were supported by a homogenized shell–core FEM model used to analyse contact behaviour, load transfer, and critical stress regions. Perimeter count had a statistically significant effect on the maximum bending moment, whereas infill density did not. Among the evaluated configurations, 3P30 exhibited one of the highest mean bending moments (14,998 N·mm) and the highest mean rotational stiffness (6172 N·mm/deg), whereas 3P20 achieved the highest specific maximum bending moment (3903 N·mm/g). Increasing infill density to 40% increased material consumption and printing time without proportional mechanical improvement. FEM analysis showed that configuration 3P30 achieved the highest contact pressure, frictional stress, and reaction force among the analysed 3P variants, whereas increasing infill density from 30% to 40% reduced sliding but did not improve the overall mechanical response of the joint. The results indicate that appropriate selection of perimeter count and infill density can improve material efficiency by reducing material consumption while maintaining the mechanical performance of FDM-printed furniture connectors, thereby supporting more resource-efficient and sustainable furniture manufacturing. Full article

Various Maillard reaction products (MRPs) are formed in infant formula during thermal processing and storage. However, safety assessments are often based on individual compounds, which may not adequately reflect the potential risks associated with exposure to multiple coexisting components in real food products. Therefore, this study used GC–MS to screen for typical MRPs in infant formula. Based on the detection results, glyoxal, 2-acetylfuran, 2-furfural, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) were selected to establish a mixed-exposure system. Subsequently, using zebrafish as a model, we systematically evaluated the toxic effects of two mixture concentrations, 1/9 maximum non-lethal concentration (MNLC) and 1/3 MNLC, on the immune system, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and liver. The results showed that these four MRPs coexisted in infant formula and that combined exposure induced significant biological damage even at low doses. Both mixture concentrations significantly reduced neutrophil and macrophage levels and promoted apoptosis in central nervous system cells. The higher-concentration mixture further reduced T-cell counts, suppressed motor neuron development, and decreased locomotor activity during the light phase. In addition, the higher-concentration mixture decreased the gastrointestinal area, increased the liver area, delayed yolk sac absorption, and caused marked histopathological damage. Compared with single-compound exposure, combined exposure exerted more pronounced effects on immune- and neuro-related endpoints, suggesting synergistic interactions among different MRPs and identifying the immune and nervous systems as the more sensitive targets of toxicity. In summary, mixed exposure to typical MRPs in infant formula may pose a greater biological risk than that predicted by evaluations based on individual components alone. This study provides experimental evidence for identifying combined toxicity and improving the safety risk assessment of MRPs in thermally processed infant foods. Full article

Background: Ischemic stroke has been reported rarely after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, most clearly in association with vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Nevertheless, temporal proximity alone cannot establish causality, particularly when conventional vascular risk factors are present. We report a case of posterior circulation ischemic stroke occurring 36–48 h after first-dose ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 vaccination without VITT and provide a focused narrative review of the clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic evidence regarding post-vaccination stroke. Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging data were reviewed retrospectively. A focused narrative literature review was performed to contextualize VITT-related and non-VITT ischemic stroke after COVID-19 vaccination, pharmacovigilance signals, population-based evidence, and proposed biological mechanisms. Results: A 63-year-old man with well-controlled hypertension and a remote history of smoking developed systemic symptoms within 24 h of first-dose ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 vaccination, followed by severe hypertension and acute posterior circulation neurological symptoms 36–48 h after vaccination. Neuroimaging showed an acute left cerebellar infarct extending into the middle cerebellar peduncle, with approximately 50% stenosis of the intradural left vertebral artery. Platelet counts remained normal, D-dimer and anti-PF4 antibody testing were normal, SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was negative, and routine cardiac evaluation did not identify a definite cardioembolic source. Conclusions: This case highlights an early posterior circulation ischemic stroke temporally associated with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 vaccination in the absence of VITT. Although individual causality cannot be established from a single case, careful reporting of such presentations may improve clinical recognition, etiological evaluation, and pharmacovigilance. Full article

Background: Insect stings, particularly those caused by Hymenoptera such as wasps and bees, are frequent triggers of severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, yet the ability to predict short-term risk periods based on environmental conditions has not been systematically evaluated. Meteorological factors influence both insect activity and human exposure, highlighting a relevant gap in preventive risk assessment. Methods: This exploratory single-center study was conducted in Bochum, Germany, an urban region within the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area. A 17-year retrospective dataset (2005–2022) of clinically treated Hymenoptera-related sting events was analyzed to explore time-resolved, weather-informed patterns using artificial intelligence (AI)-based machine learning. The study emphasizes methodological feasibility and pattern identification rather than clinical prediction. Daily weather parameters were transformed into expert-informed indicators capturing current-season and carry-over environmental conditions. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) was trained to identify periods of increased sting occurrence, and model performance was evaluated primarily using recall to capture rare-event signals. Results: A total of 346 clinically significant sting events were recorded. Weather variables showed strong spatial coherence across four stations and were associated with intra-seasonal clustering of sting events rather than absolute annual incidence. Exploratory analyses suggested that earlier seasonal onset correlated with higher sting counts (Pearson R = −0.52; p = 0.037). Weekly aggregation improved model performance compared with daily prediction. The cross-validated MLP showed moderate recall (0.431) and high specificity (0.86), supporting exploratory risk stratification; however, post hoc benchmarking did not demonstrate consistent superiority over simpler baseline approaches. Conclusions: This study combines a long-term clinical insect sting dataset with high-resolution meteorological data to explore time-resolved, weather-informed risk patterns using machine learning. The findings demonstrate the technical feasibility of exposure-based risk stratification in a rare-event setting. However, benchmarking showed that the MLP did not consistently outperform simpler baseline approaches for binary warning of elevated-risk periods. This proof-of-concept should therefore be interpreted as exploratory and not as a stand-alone warning system, supporting further external validation in larger, multi-center cohorts before clinical, public health, or digital health implementation can be considered. Full article

For condensed-phase detonation, we develop a block-structured adaptive multiresolution method for the reactive compressible Euler equations coupled with the ignition-and-growth model and the JWL (Jones–Wilkins–Lee) equation of state. A second-order Runge–Kutta local time-stepping strategy is employed, and the governing equations are advanced with a two-step operator-splitting procedure. First, the homogeneous conservation laws are discretized by fifth-order WENO (Weighted Essentially Non-Oscillatory) finite differences. Then, the chemical source term is integrated by solving an ordinary differential equation. Because condensed-phase detonations exhibit extremely small characteristic scales in the chemical reaction zone, the proposed method is designed to capture the detonation front, shock waves, and the reaction zone accurately and efficiently. It uses adaptive multiresolution with a reaction zone preservation treatment based on the reaction progress variable to maintain fine resolution in chemically active regions, thereby keeping the lead shock and the reaction zone at the finest grid level. This algorithm significantly improves computational efficiency without compromising key physical features. One-, two-, and three-dimensional benchmark cases are used for validation. The results show that the proposed method accurately captures detonation wave structures and reaction zone characteristics. In particular, compared with uniformly refined computations, it maintains high accuracy while substantially reducing the active-cell count and runtime. Full article