Search Results (67,279)

The sealing reliability of hydrogen-cooled generator systems in nuclear power plants is directly related to unit safety and outage critical-path optimization. Conventional airtightness pressure-holding tests usually use the 24 h leakage result as the acceptance criterion, but this occupies a long maintenance window. Early pressure and temperature signals are affected by thermal equilibration, environmental disturbances, and gas–oil coupling, making direct early assessment difficult. Based on historical pressure-holding test data from multiple nuclear power plants, this study develops a short-duration auxiliary assessment method. Test records from different plants are converted into a unified equivalent leakage rate, and a standardized dataset is established. A multi-branch framework is then developed, including leakage-trend prediction, local fluctuation identification, and feature-space validation. A conservative review strategy is introduced to support safety-oriented field decision making. The validation results show that the first 12 h monitoring data can support assessment of the 24 h leakage state. No false negatives were observed within the limited validation set. Samples with inconsistent outputs, near-threshold predictions, or abnormal feature-space locations are recommended for extended pressure holding and further review. Full article

Colloidal gold dietary supplements intended for oral consumption are increasingly marketed as nano-enabled products, yet their physicochemical characteristics and biological effects remain insufficiently documented. In this study, commercially available colloidal gold supplements produced and marketed in Romania (30, 55, and 110 mg/L) were investigated to determine their classification as nanomaterials and to assess their preliminary biological effects in the context of oral exposure. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a narrow particle size distribution (4–11 nm), while SAED and EDX confirmed the presence of metallic gold nanoparticles. UV-VIS spectroscopy showed the characteristic surface plasmon resonance, supported by comparison with citrate-stabilized reference AuNPs (5–20 nm). DLS and zeta potential measurements indicated stable electrostatically stabilized colloids. According to the current EU definition, the number-based size distribution supports classification as nanomaterials. Manufacturer-recommended daily intakes were compared with doses reported in the literature using HED conversion to contextualize oral exposure. In vitro assays showed no pronounced acute cytotoxic or antitumoral effects on HCT-8 cells and no inhibitory effects on selected LAB. However, increased cytotoxicity was observed in HEK293 cells exposed to the dietary supplement formulation compared with the corresponding standard AuNP formulation. These results underscore the importance of considering cell-specific responses when evaluating the safety of nano-enabled dietary supplements and support the need for long-term toxicological studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Polypharmacy is common in elderly nursing home residents (NHR), due to the high prevalence of chronic diseases. This practice increases the risk of clinically significant drug–drug interactions (DDIs) with serious consequences for patient health and safety. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of DDIs using the UpToDate Drug–Drug Interaction Checker, potentially inappropriate medication (PIM, as defined by the STOPP-START criteria), and their association with major clinical outcomes. Methods: Demographic data, clinical history and detailed medication records of 275 patients from Romania were collected. Potentially inappropriate medications were identified using 16 selected criteria from the 2023 STOPP/START guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad, R, and Python, involving Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests with Benjamini–Hochberg correction, linear regression, and drug-interaction network analysis to characterise interaction frequency and severity. Results: Detailed medical histories over the past year were available for 76 patients. The mean number of drugs prescribed was 9.61 ± 4.47 drugs, with an average of 10.68 ± 10.54 potential interactions per patient. The primary clinical outcome was associated with not respecting certain STOPP-START recommendations (p < 0.01). Overall, 33.1% of NHRs utilised herbal supplements, resulting in a total of 76 potential herb–drug interactions. Conclusions: The results suggest a potential impact of DDIs on clinical outcomes, underscoring the need for further studies to clarify causality. The use of STOPP/START recommendations and deprescribing could lead to better tolerability and smaller drug-related burden in the institutionalised, elderly population. Full article

This research aims to understand Chinese international students’ perceptions of the academic support provided by Spanish universities. It explores students’ feedback on their participation in such support, its perceived effectiveness, and their expectations and needs. Drawing from a hybrid sociocultural framework, this study employed a qualitative research design, conducting semi-structured interviews to collect data from 14 Chinese postgraduate students at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to uncover key themes related to the students’ experiences with the academic support system. The findings reveal that, although UAB offers various forms of academic support, both participation in, and the perceived effectiveness of, these provisions remain limited. Chinese students encounter challenges such as language barriers, unfamiliarity with the academic support system, and varying attitudes from faculty. The findings highlight a need for more practical and systematic academic writing and speaking courses, as well as culturally sensitive and internationalised support mechanisms. As a practical implication, the study suggests that universities should prioritise “situational” oral communication training that prepares students for active classroom participation and implement proactive outreach strategies, such as engaging departmental coordinators to directly promote available library and digital resources, thereby overcoming the current lack of student awareness. This study contributes to addressing a gap in the literature by providing empirical insights into the learning experiences of Chinese postgraduate students regarding academic support in Spain. It offers recommendations for UAB and other Spanish institutions to enhance their academic support systems, promoting a more inclusive and international environment for international students. Full article

Background: Foliar fertilization is a crucial practice in modern viticulture to enhance grape yield and fruit quality. Micronized calcite is a fine-particle mineral fertilizer that potentially improves vine performance; however, its treatment timing and optimal dosage require further scientific validation under field conditions. Methods: This study investigated the effects of the use of micronized calcite as a foliar biostimulant on the Red Globe grape variety. Control and three treatments were compared: a control (no treatment), a single treatment (pre-bloom, 0.5%), two treatments (pre- and post-bloom, 0.5% + 0.5%), and three treatments (pre-bloom, post-bloom, and véraison, 0.5% + 0.5% + 0.5%). The evaluation encompassed phenological stages, total effective temperature, yield components, cluster and berry characteristics, and must composition. This was a single-season trial (2022) conducted at a single location with three replicates per treatment (n = 3); multi-year, multi-location validation is therefore required before the findings can be generalized. Results: All micronized calcite treatments slightly shortened the vegetation period compared to the control. Under the conditions of this single-season trial, the single pre-bloom treatment was associated with the highest yield parameters, with the average number of clusters per vine, cluster weight, and total grape yield per vine being higher than the control by 48.67%, 51.16%, and 121%, respectively. For must composition, only must yield differed significantly (between the 1st and 3rd treatments; p < 0.05); soluble solids content (+5.64%) and ripening index (+16.99%) were numerically higher but not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.05) and are therefore reported as trends rather than improvements. By contrast, the two-treatment (pre- and post-bloom) showed the highest values for physical berry traits, with cluster width and 100-berry weight exceeding the control by 35.03% and 11.11%, respectively. Conclusion: Under the semi-arid conditions of this single-season trial, foliar treatments of micronized calcite, particularly a single pre-bloom application, were associated with notable improvements in yield and must quality of Red Globe grapevines. These preliminary findings suggest that finely milled calcite may serve as a promising supplementary foliar fertilizer in viticulture; however, the results are context-specific, and multi-year, multi-location trials are required before broader recommendations can be made. Full article

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) remains one of the most curable hematologic malignancies, with long-term survival exceeding 80–90% in most contemporary series. However, a subset of patients experience primary refractory disease, relapse, treatment-related toxicity, or late complications associated with conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Over the last decade, major advances in frontline treatment have transformed the therapeutic landscape of cHL through the incorporation of targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibition into first-line regimens. Brentuximab vedotin (BV), an anti-CD30 antibody–drug conjugate, and programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab have significantly improved outcomes in advanced-stage disease and are increasingly being explored in limited-stage settings. The ECHELON-1 trial established BV-AVD as superior to ABVD in advanced-stage disease with improved progression-free survival and overall survival, while the SWOG S1826 study demonstrated superior progression-free survival and reduced toxicity with nivolumab-AVD compared with BV-AVD. Based on the SWOG S1826 data, nivolumab-AVD is emerging as the preferred frontline standard for most fit patients with advanced-stage cHL, though this remains an area of evolving practice. PET-adapted strategies remain a critical backbone of treatment optimization even in the era of novel agents, enabling individualized de-escalation or escalation based on early metabolic response. These advances have shifted frontline treatment paradigms toward chemotherapy de-escalation, PET-adapted strategies, and immune-based treatment approaches. In parallel, the role of radiotherapy continues to evolve with efforts aimed at minimizing long-term toxicity without compromising cure rates, particularly in PET-negative patients with limited-stage disease. This review summarizes the biological rationale, pivotal clinical trials, evolving treatment strategies, current guideline recommendations, and future directions in first-line treatment of cHL, with emphasis on evidence-based incorporation of novel agents and practical implications for modern clinical practice. Full article

Agricultural socialized services (ASS) play an important role in connecting smallholders with modern agriculture and in strengthening agricultural economic resilience (AER). Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces for 2011–2022, this study applies two-way fixed-effects, mediation, and threshold models to examine the effect of ASS on AER and the associated mechanisms. The results show that: (1) ASS significantly enhances AER, and this finding remains robust after excluding municipalities and the COVID-19 period; (2) the positive effect of ASS is more pronounced in non-major grain-producing regions than in major grain-producing regions; (3) ASS strengthens AER by reducing agricultural product import dependence and expanding agricultural operation scale; and (4) agricultural industrial restructuring exhibits a threshold effect, with the effect of ASS becoming positive when the restructuring coefficient exceeds 0.0057. Based on these findings, this study recommends improving the agricultural socialized service system, strengthening domestic agricultural supply capacity, diversifying supply channels, promoting land transfer and moderate-scale operations, and aligning service policies with regional industrial restructuring. Full article

Background: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and early diagnosis and accurate disease stratification are still major clinical challenges. Radiomics has emerged as a quantitative imaging approach that extracts high-dimensional features from radiological imaging, with applications in diagnosis, prognosis, radio genomics, and assessment of treatment response. However, its clinical translation is still limited by methodological heterogeneity and a lack of standardization. Aim: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on radiomics in thoracic imaging for lung cancer, focusing on clinical applications, methodological limitations, and translational challenges. Methods: A structured search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus using predefined keywords related to radiomics, lung cancer, and imaging modalities. Only peer-reviewed systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in English were included. In total, 27 studies were selected and synthesized using a structured narrative approach guided by the ANDJ checklist. A differential integrative framework was adopted to connect evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses with primary empirical studies and policy documents through an intermediate layer of translational recommendations, ensuring a multi-level and interpretation-driven synthesis. Results: Radiomics demonstrated consistent potential across multiple clinical domains, including lesion classification, histological differentiation, molecular profiling, prognostic stratification, and prediction of treatment response. Machine learning and deep learning approaches frequently improved predictive performance. However, key limitations were identified, including heterogeneity in imaging protocols, lack of external validation, small single-centre datasets, and limited reproducibility of radiomic features. Conclusions: Radiomics in lung cancer imaging shows strong clinical potential but remains constrained by methodological and translational barriers. Future progress will depend on standardization, external validation, multimodal data integration, and improved interpretability, alongside alignment with regulatory and clinical implementation frameworks. Full article

Background/Objectives: Apathy is among the most common neuropsychiatric features of late-life neurocognitive disorders and predicts functional decline and greater caregiver burden. As no treatment is formally established, identifying effective interventions is a priority. We systematically reviewed non-pharmacological randomized controlled trials (RCTs) targeting apathy in older adults with neurocognitive disorders. Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycInfo, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar (final search 23 March 2026). Eligible studies were non-pharmacological RCTs reporting an apathy outcome. Evidence levels were graded with OCEBM and quality with PEDro; two reviewers mapped PEDro items onto Cochrane risk-of-bias domains. Reporting followed PRISMA 2020. Results: Sixty-two RCTs were included. Physical exercise and music-based interventions showed the most consistent benefit, whereas technology-based and brain stimulation approaches remained experimental. Only 30 trials (48%) showed a significant between-group effect on apathy—most were null, within-group, or had apathy as a secondary outcome. Marked heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. Most trials were of moderate to high quality, though near-universal performance bias arose from the inability to blind participants and providers. Conclusions: Managing apathy in these populations remains challenging, and the certainty of the evidence is limited. Purpose-built, apathy-focused trials reporting effect sizes and durability are needed before disease-specific recommendations can be made. Full article

Background: Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective for HIV prevention, identifying individuals who may benefit from PrEP and delivering personalized prevention recommendations remain challenging in routine and digital health settings. Objective: This study aimed to develop and preliminarily evaluate an integrated artificial intelligence framework combining machine learning (ML) for HIV risk stratification and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for personalized PrEP recommendation support. Methods: A curated dataset of 2000 de-identified client profiles from Love2Test platform was used for proof-of-concept model development. Profiles were labeled as low or high HIV acquisition risk by domain experts based on structured behavioral information. Multiple ML classifiers were trained and compared using PyCaret. The selected model was integrated with a generative AI model through structured prompting to generate personalized PrEP recommendation content. The integrated framework was evaluated through structured physician assessment by four independent medical doctors. Results: The selected model showed strong internal discrimination for classifying high versus low HIV acquisition risk. The integrated framework also received favorable physician evaluation for clinical accuracy, explanation validity, contextual relevance, and error minimization across fixed and randomly selected profiles. However, because expert labeling was based on structured behavioral indicators closely related to the model inputs, the high internal performance should be interpreted within the context of this proof-of-concept study. Conclusions: The proposed framework provides a structured approach to support HIV risk stratification and personalized PrEP recommendations in a clinician-aligned manner. However, this study was an offline proof-of-concept and did not directly evaluate patient interaction, PrEP uptake, stigma, adherence, or clinical outcomes. Prospective studies using larger and more representative real-world datasets are needed to assess implementation, generalizability, and impact on service engagement and PrEP initiation. Full article

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has introduced modern, high technologies that are automated, such as precision farming, to enhance agricultural production. However, this comes at the cost of human labor being replaced by machines that are deemed efficient. This study investigated the impact of 4IR automation on agricultural employment in South Africa, spanning from 1990 to 2024. To analyze this, the study employed the Johansen test for cointegration and the vector error correction model to test for long-run and short-run dynamics. Stationarity was achieved, and the Johansen test confirmed cointegration. The vector error correction model results revealed that both long-run and short-run relationships between 4IR automation and agricultural employment exist, indicating that human labor is particularly at risk of being replaced by automation, such as advanced agricultural machinery. The results imply that, although automation improved agricultural productivity, it caused an increase in agricultural unemployment within South Africa. Therefore, to balance the advancement of technology and agricultural employment, the study recommends skills improvement and government intervention for enhancing human labor within the agricultural sector. Full article

(1) Background: Artificial intelligence tools have become integrated into undergraduate students from academic assignments to seek help with psychological concerns, particularly during the crises period. Scales measuring Artificial Intelligence-help-seeking behavior (AI-HSB) are still limited. This study aims to develop a new bilingual scale (Arabic and English) to assess AI-HSB by providing a reliable and useful tool for researchers worldwide. (2) Methods: We conducted a methodological cross-sectional design among 416 undergraduate students in United Arab Emirates (AUE) between the period of 1 October 2025 and 10 December 2025, using an online Google Form. The development, translation, validation, and reliability processes were conducted for the AI-HSB scale. (3) Results: It has been found that 13 items (two factors) are strong indications of factorial validity, reliability, and construct validity of AI-HSB scale. The two factors explained about 58% of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure with all items loading above recommended thresholds and the goodness-of-fit indices of AI-HSB all exceeded 0.90. (4) Conclusions: The AI-HSB is a valid and reliable tool for assessing AI-based psychological help-seeking behavior among university students in the UAE. This scale will allow universities, counselors, and policymakers to use a well-validated scale to measure the extent to which students are using AI for psychological coping. Full article

Background: Early rehabilitation after pediatric ischemic stroke may support neuroplasticity and improve long-term functional outcomes. However, rehabilitation practices remain heterogeneous, and evidence-based recommendations regarding the optimal timing and intensity of intervention are limited. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to evaluate the available evidence regarding early rehabilitation after pediatric ischemic stroke, identify prognostic factors associated with functional recovery, summarize current therapeutic approaches, and highlight gaps in the existing literature. Eligibility Criteria: Eligible studies included children and adolescents aged 0–18 years diagnosed with ischemic stroke and receiving rehabilitation or therapeutic intervention. Studies addressing the timing, intensity, and effects of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, neuropsychological intervention, neuromodulation, or multidisciplinary rehabilitation were considered for inclusion. Sources of Evidence: A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2000 and January 2025. Charting Methods: Data were extracted using a standardized charting form and synthesized narratively because of substantial heterogeneity in study design, populations, interventions, and outcome measures. Results: Twenty-one sources met the inclusion criteria. Direct evidence specifically addressing early rehabilitation after pediatric ischemic stroke was limited and consisted primarily of observational studies. A substantial proportion of the available evidence was indirect, originating from studies of perinatal stroke, unilateral brain injury, cerebral palsy, and related pediatric neurorehabilitation populations, as well as clinical guidelines and expert consensus documents. The available evidence suggests potential benefits across motor, cognitive, communication, and functional domains, although the strength and directness of evidence varied substantially. Several studies identified the early post-stroke period as a potentially important window for neuroplasticity, while family involvement, individualized treatment planning, and interdisciplinary care were consistently highlighted as important components of rehabilitation. Evidence supporting neuromodulation techniques remained preliminary and was largely limited to selected pediatric populations. Conclusions: The available evidence, although heterogeneous and largely indirect, suggests that early coordinated and multidisciplinary rehabilitation may be beneficial in pediatric ischemic stroke care. However, the current evidence base remains limited, and high-quality prospective studies are needed to establish standardized rehabilitation protocols and determine the optimal timing and intensity of therapeutic interventions. Full article

Background: The 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the gold standard for diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and, according to current guidelines, is recommended for postpartum testing. German guidelines recommend a two-step screening approach, which can delay treatment initiation. In order to prevent complications for mother and child, treatment of GDM should be started as early as possible. To expedite clinical decisions, point-of-care testing (POCT) is often used alongside venous laboratory analysis. For historical reasons, capillary blood was used for POCT at our competence center. This analysis evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of capillary POCT compared to the venous reference standard analyzed in our department of clinical chemistry. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 401 OGTTs (260 during pregnancy, 141 postpartum) with simultaneous capillary POCT and venous laboratory glucose measurements and investigated the agreement between the two methods. Optimal capillary cut-offs were determined using ROC analysis. Results: In pregnant women (n = 260), capillary POCT showed 80.8% sensitivity and 73.4% specificity. Regarding the diagnostic classification, the initial agreement with the reference standard at fasting was 71.9% (8.9% false positives, 19.2% false negatives). Optimized capillary cut-offs—fasting ≥95 mg/dL (5.3 mmol/L), 1-h ≥203 mg/dL (11.3 mmol/L), and 2-h ≥174 mg/dL (9.7 mmol/L)—increased the proportion of correctly classified cases to 85.5% (fasting), 97.0% (1-h), and 94.4% (2-h), respectively, and effectively eliminated false negatives. Conclusions: While capillary POCT offers >80% sensitivity, its false-positive rate of more than 20% must be managed. Utilizing optimized cut-off values can mitigate this uncertainty. If at least one of these cut-offs is exceeded, capillary POCT via StatStrip^® (Nova Biomedical Corporation, Waltham, MA, USA) provides a sufficient basis for treatment initiation. Full article

Adhesive dentistry has undergone a significant evolution, transitioning from classical multi-step adhesives to simplified single-bottle or universal adhesives and now towards self-adhesive composites that no longer require a separate adhesive. This review focused on clinical applications, recent developments, and future trends in peer-reviewed articles identified through database searches in PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, EBSCO DOSS, and Google Scholar without date restrictions. Reference mining of the identified articles was also used. Significant advances in the clinical performance of simplified adhesives are challenging the status of “gold standard” adhesives, although their long-term reliability in load-bearing (Class II) composite restorations remains uncertain due to a lack of longitudinal real-world data and extended survival metrics. Integration of acidic functional monomers like 10-MDP is becoming a standard to create a more stable chemical bond with dentin hydroxyapatite, rather than relying solely on micromechanical retention. Ensuring long-term stability of the hybrid layer against degradation remains a challenge. When enamel is present, etching with phosphoric acid is still recommended, while the necessity of enamel beveling is being questioned. As the clinical success of self-adhesive flowable composites is limited to non-load-bearing areas, further developments are moving toward self-adhesive bioactive composites for bulk-filling that combine self-adhesive properties with load-bearing capacity. Full article