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The dissemination of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing Escherichia coli poses a serious threat to public health. Although increasing attention has been paid to the relationship between temperature and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) transmission, research in China’s Xinjiang region remains scarce. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1914 samples from intensive livestock farms across Xinjiang to characterize the detection rate and antimicrobial resistance profiles of bla_NDM-positive E. coli. Using selective culture, PCR, and 16S rRNA sequencing, we identified 140 bla_NDM-positive E. coli (7.3%), predominantly in northern Xinjiang. The highest detection rate of bla_NDM-positive E. coli was found in Tacheng Prefecture (24.0%), followed by Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture (4.3%) and Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (0.6%). No bla_NDM-positive E. coli isolates were detected in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Kashgar Prefecture, or from pigeon samples. Binomial logistic regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between regional temperature and the detection rate of bla_NDM-positive E. coli. Genotypic analysis identified 35 distinct resistance gene profiles, with predominant resistance genes including bla_TEM (87.9%), ant(3″)-Ia (97.1%), qnrS (92.9%), tet(A) (95.0%), sul1 (70.0%), sul3 (85.0%), and floR (97.1%); mcr-1 and mcr-8 were not detected. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that all isolates were resistant to imipenem and exhibited universal resistance to ampicillin, ceftiofur, tetracycline, florfenicol, and enrofloxacin, whereas the majority remained susceptible to amikacin (99.3%), tigecycline (94.3%), and polymyxin (77.1%). These findings indicate that livestock farms, particularly laying-hen systems in northern Xinjiang, may serve as reservoirs of multidrug-resistant bla_NDM-positive E. coli, and that elevated regional temperature is an environmental factor associated with higher detection rates, underscoring a potential climate-associated risk for the spread of AMR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue One Health Perspectives on Foodborne Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance in Poultry Production)

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12 pages, 936 KB

Open AccessArticle

Melanoma Detection in Pigmented Lesions ≤ 6 mm Selected for Excision After Dermoscopy in Routine Practice: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

by Vincenzo De Giorgi, Giovanni Cecchi, Virginia Marabini, Ginevra Gurioli, Gabriella Perillo, Federica Fazzari and Biancamaria Zuccaro

Cancers 2026, 18(14), 2183; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18142183 (registering DOI) - 8 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background: Dermoscopy has increased the excision of very small pigmented lesions in routine practice, yet the diagnostic efficiency of excising lesions ≤ 6 mm judged suspicious for melanoma remains incompletely defined. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to quantify melanoma detection yield and number needed to excise (NNE) for pigmented lesions ≤ 6 mm excised after clinical and dermoscopic suspicion of melanoma and to describe melanoma characteristics according to lesion diameter. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational cross-sectional study at a tertiary dermatologic oncology referral center within the Tuscany Regional Health Service, Florence, Italy. All pigmented lesions excised between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2023 were screened. Consecutive lesions were included if they were excised because melanoma or suspected melanoma was the preoperative clinicodermoscopic diagnosis; lesions removed for benign or cosmetic indications were excluded. Primary outcomes were melanoma yield and number needed to excise, overall and stratified by clinical diameter. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess whether lesion diameter was independently associated with melanoma diagnosis after adjustment for age, sex, and anatomical site. Results: Among 2240 included excisions, 609 melanomas were diagnosed, corresponding to an overall yield of 27.2%. Lesions ≤ 6 mm accounted for 1331 excisions and yielded 175 melanomas, with a yield of 13.1% and a number needed to excise of 7.6. Lesions > 6 mm accounted for 909 excisions and yielded 434 melanomas, with a yield of 47.7% and a number needed to excise of 2.1. Thus, 86.9% of excised lesions ≤ 6 mm were benign on histopathology. Melanomas diagnosed in lesions ≤ 6 mm showed a more favorable histopathologic profile than larger melanomas. In multivariable analysis, lesions > 6 mm had significantly higher odds of melanoma than lesions ≤ 6 mm after adjustment for age, sex, and anatomical site (adjusted odds ratio 4.77, 95% confidence interval 3.81–5.97; p < 0.001). Conclusions: In routine practice, excision of dermoscopically suspicious pigmented lesions ≤ 6 mm has markedly lower melanoma yield and higher NNE than excision of larger lesions. These findings support risk-stratified management approaches and careful consideration of excision thresholds for very small lesions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Cancer Causes, Screening and Diagnosis)

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16 pages, 3797 KB

Open AccessArticle

Host Identity Shapes Taxonomic Composition and Predicted Functional Potential of Coral-Associated Bacteriomes in the Gulf of California

by Irán Suárez-González, Adina Howe, Julio A. Hernández-González, Pablo Misael Arce Amézquita, Mario Rojas Arzaluz, Ricardo Vázquez-Juárez and Maurilia Rojas-Contreras

Microbiol. Res. 2026, 17(7), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/microbiolres17070130 (registering DOI) - 8 Jul 2026

Abstract

Coral-associated microbial communities play a critical role in the health and resilience of reef ecosystems; however, the relative importance of host identity and environmental factors in shaping these communities remains unclear, particularly in understudied regions such as the Gulf of California. In this study, we characterized the taxonomic composition, diversity patterns, persistent taxa (core bacteriome), and predicted functional potential of bacterial communities associated with three coral genera (Pocillopora, Porites, and Pavona) and surrounding seawater using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and PICRUSt2-based functional inference. Bacterial community structure differed significantly among coral hosts (PERMANOVA, p < 0.01), whereas geographic location and measured physicochemical parameters had no detectable effect. Coral-associated bacterial communities exhibited lower alpha diversity than seawater and formed distinct host-specific clusters in beta-diversity analyses. Core bacteriome analysis revealed a combination of conserved and host-specific taxa, with Acinetobacter consistently present across hosts, while genera such as Pseudovibrio and Ruegeria showed host-specific associations. Differential abundance analyses further confirmed distinct bacterial signatures among coral genera. Predicted functional profiles were dominated by central metabolic pathways and exhibited significant differences among hosts, although overall functional composition remained relatively conserved. Stratified analyses indicated that similar metabolic pathways were supported by different taxonomic assemblages, suggesting functional redundancy. Overall, our results demonstrate that host identity is the primary driver of both taxonomic composition and predicted functional potential in coral-associated bacterial communities in the Gulf of California, highlighting the coexistence of stability and host-specific differentiation within the coral holobiont. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Microbial Ecology and Microbiomes)

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23 pages, 6259 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Influencing Factors of Landscape Ecological Risk in the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration Based on Sub-Watershed Units

by Jue Xiao, Linyu Ma, Longqian Chen, Ting Zhang and Gan Teng

Remote Sens. 2026, 18(13), 2266; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18132266 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Quantifying landscape ecological risk (LER) using multi-period land use data and ecological indicators is essential for understanding regional ecological dynamics. However, LER assessment is sensitive to spatial delineation, introducing uncertainty. This study developed an integrated LER model that incorporates the remote sensing ecological index and abundance index, and evaluated spatial unit effects through comparative analyses of fishnet, hexagonal, sub-watershed, and county units. LER dynamics in the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration (SPUA) from 2004 to 2024 were analyzed, and a boosted regression trees model was applied to quantify the relative importance of influencing factors and their nonlinear effects. The results indicate that: (1) sub-watershed units showed greater robustness and stability across multiple evaluation indicators, supporting their suitability for LER assessment; (2) LER in the SPUA exhibited a fluctuating but overall slightly increasing trend over the past two decades, with a persistent west-low and east-high spatial pattern; and (3) relief degree (29.13%) and nighttime light (17.78%) were the dominant factors shaping LER, showing an inverted U-shaped response and a saturating nonlinear increase, respectively. This study supports the use of sub-watershed units as an appropriate spatial unit for LER assessment and provides insights into terrain-sensitive conservation and sustainable land-use management in urbanizing regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Remote Sensing and Sustainable Development Evaluation in Coastal Zones)

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21 pages, 12858 KB

Open AccessArticle

Association of KRTAP24-1 Gene Polymorphisms with Wool Traits in Tibetan Sheep (Ovis aries)

by Hongjie Zhao, Shike Ma, Wu Sun, Yujie Lu and Xiayang Jin

Animals 2026, 16(13), 2111; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16132111 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

KRTAP24-1 belongs to the high-sulphur KAP family and has been associated with cashmere fibre diameter in goats, but its role in ovine wool traits remains unclear. This study assessed KRTAP24-1 tissue expression by RT-qPCR and investigated genetic variation and associations with wool traits in 277 Tibetan sheep. Polymorphisms in the coding region were identified by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing, and genotyping was performed using PARMS. A linear mixed model (LMM) incorporating a genomic relationship matrix (GRM) was used to evaluate associations between SNPs, haplotypes, and 12 wool traits. Bioinformatic analyses were restricted to the five haplotypes observed in the study population and were used as preliminary in silico assessments. Three missense SNPs were identified: c.191C>T (p.L64P), c.527G>A (p.G176D), and c.656C>T (p.A219V). The c.191C>T variant was associated with mean fibre length (MFL), single fibre tenacity (SFT), and scoured yield (SY), whereas c.656C>T was associated with lock length (LL) and clean fleece yield (CFY). Several haplotype combinations were also associated with LL, elongation at break (EB), and CFY. KRTAP24-1 showed high expression in skin. The observed haplotypes showed only minor differences in predicted mRNA secondary structure and mainly local changes in predicted protein features. These findings suggest that KRTAP24-1 may provide a preliminary basis for marker-assisted selection in Tibetan sheep breeding, but its functional role requires further validation in independent populations and experimental systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Molecular Genetics and Breeding of Cattle, Sheep, and Goats, 2nd Edition)

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28 pages, 27136 KB

Open AccessArticle

Automated Adaptive Approach for Specular Highlight Removal in Digital Dentistry: A Proof-of-Concept Study for Preserving Tooth Surface Texture

by Ji Su Han, Sung-Ae Son, Il-Ho Park, Eun-Ha Jung, Jeong-woo Lee, Seok-Woo Park and Jae-Seung Jeong

J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(13), 5319; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15135319 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Digital intraoral photography is widely used for clinical documentation, longitudinal monitoring, and AI-assisted dental image analysis. However, specular highlights caused by saliva and intense illumination can obscure tooth texture and compromise image fidelity. This study aimed to develop an automated method for removing specular highlights from intraoral images while preserving tooth surface texture. Methods: A three-stage pipeline consisting of adaptive threshold prediction, mask generation, and image inpainting was proposed. Initially, the Hue, Saturation, Value (HSV) statistical features were extracted from each image and used to train a regression model that predicts an image-specific threshold. Subsequently, the predicted threshold was applied in the CIE LAB color space, followed by a condition-based dynamic adjustment algorithm to refine the mask area and distribution. Finally, an Aggregated Contextual Transformation (AOT)-based generator network was used to restore the masked regions. Results: The proposed dynamic adjustment reduced over-masking compared with regression-only processing and better preserved tooth surface texture. Pixel distribution analysis demonstrated a lower distributional discrepancy, with the Wasserstein distance reduced from 2.9601 to 1.3505 and the Kullback–Leibler divergence reduced from 0.3451 to 0.0618. In the clinical expert evaluation, the proposed method was preferred in 69.5% of the 200 evaluation responses, and the preference difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: As a proof-of-concept study conducted under controlled conditions using synthetic images, the proposed pipeline reduced specular highlights while better preserving tooth surface texture than the baseline approaches. These findings suggest that the pipeline may support standardized preprocessing of dental image datasets, although broader applications such as long-term monitoring and AI-assisted diagnostic workflows require validation on real clinical photographs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Machine Learning and Deep Learning in Medical Imaging)

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16 pages, 4049 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Implementation of TREC/KREC Newborn Screening in a High-Birth-Rate Population: A Pilot Study of 5000 Neonates in South Kazakhstan

by Gulzada Abdushukurova, Alken Auyelova, Banu Kadyrbayeva, Ardak Ayazbekov, Dina Mussayeva, Ainash Oshibayeva, Kumissay Babayeva, Liliya Khairullina, Karlygash Sadykova and Gulnaz Nuskabaeva

Int. J. Neonatal Screen. 2026, 12(3), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijns12030051 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

The early detection of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) prevents fatal outcomes. This study presents the first pilot TREC/KREC newborn screening (NBS) program in southern Kazakhstan, a high-birth-rate region, to establish local reference ranges and assess operational viability. A multiplex real-time PCR assay was used to quantify T-cell (TREC) and kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KRECs) from dried blood spots of 5000 unselected neonates. Biomarkers were normalized to copies per

10^{6}

cells using albumin as a diploid reference gene. Regional 0.5th percentile cut-offs were established (TREC < 3165 copies/

10^{6} c e l l s

and KREC < 2554 copies/

10^{6}

cells), and gender and gestational age did not significantly impact biomarker levels. While a low birth weight (≤2500 g) significantly reduced KREC levels, the extreme lower distribution tails remained unaffected, validating the use of universal, unstratified thresholds. Applying these cut-offs yielded an optimal 1.0% initial recall rate. Consistent with global incidence rates, no true positive cases were identified. The established assay and universal percentile cut-offs demonstrate high levels of analytical reliability and demographic stability. This pilot confirms the regional pediatric healthcare infrastructure’s readiness for a routine, population-based NBS program without the need for complex algorithms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Newborn Screening Developing Programs in Asia)

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24 pages, 33106 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Vascular Flora of Sirente-Velino Regional Park (Abruzzo, Central Italy)

by Fabio Conti, Chiuchiarelli Igino, Miglio Marinella, Petriccione Bruno, Santucci Bruno and Fabrizio Bartolucci

Biology 2026, 15(13), 1093; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15131093 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

We present the first vascular flora of Sirente-Velino Regional Park, a protected area located in central Apennine (Abruzzo, Central Italy), covering 550 km². The floristic inventory was compiled based on extensive field surveys conducted from 1990 to 2025. Thanks to specific funding secured for the final three years (2023–2025), field trips became systematic, aimed at covering the entire territory of the park, including its diverse habitats across different seasons. Furthermore, an analysis of the relevant literature was performed, alongside a comprehensive review of herbarium specimens housed at APP, FI, NAP, and RO. The park’s flora comprises 2066 taxa (1370 species and 696 subspecies, including 11 hybrids), belonging to 117 families and 671 genera, with 122 classified as alien. Notably, 169 taxa are endemic to Italy. Our study reports 234 taxa for the first time within the park, while 52 remained unconfirmed in recent times and 22 are of doubtful occurrence. Five taxa are newly recorded for the Abruzzo region: Alchemilla alpinula, A. obtusa, A. vulgaris, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, and Salsola tragus. Additionally, the revision of APP herbarium specimens led to the exclusion of Euphorbia tommasiniana from the regional flora, reassigning the material to the alien E. saratoi. The species richness of the native flora exceeds expectations by 50.8%, a finding likely driven by the area’s significant geographical, geological, and microclimatic diversity, which results in high environmental heterogeneity. Conversely, alien taxa are 5.6% lower than expected, probably due to the high ecological integrity of the park, a predominantly mountainous territory with low population density and minimal anthropogenic disturbance. Representing 20.6% of the entire Italian flora, the Sirente-Velino Regional Park stands out as one of Europe’s protected areas with the greatest diversity of vascular plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Science)

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31 pages, 3038 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Geotechnical and Structural Resilience: A 25-Year Case Study of Slope Stabilization and Infrastructure Rehabilitation in Madeira Island

by Raul Alves and Sérgio António Neves Lousada

Buildings 2026, 16(13), 2697; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16132697 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

The stabilization of public infrastructure on active volcanic slopes presents significant geotechnical challenges, particularly in coastal regions exposed to extreme hydrological stressors. This paper presents a forensic diagnosis and the structural rehabilitation of the Porto da Cruz Cemetery (Madeira Island, Portugal), which suffered severe progressive failure following localized, shallow-founded interventions in 2004. Historical inclinometer data (2015–2022) revealed continuous deep-seated creep within the volcanic colluvium (Geotechnical Zone 2–ZG2) at rates up to 0.17 mm/day, triggered by basal fluvial undercutting. To mitigate these kinematic drivers, a systemic “Toe-to-Crest” stabilization paradigm was implemented. Following the hydraulic confinement of the slope’s lower boundary, a high-capacity deep foundation network—comprising 26 m rock-socketed micropiles and 600 kN active multi-strand anchors—was executed to bypass the failure plane and encastre directly into the competent basaltic bedrock (Geotechnical Zone 1–ZG1). The structural performance was validated through rigorous load testing and a real-time robotic Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system. Post-construction telemetry confirmed absolute kinematic stabilization, maintained continuously throughout the critical execution phases and subsequent monitoring period (2024–2025). By integrating deep bedrock anchoring, pore-pressure mitigation, and digital telemetry, this case study validates the economic and geomechanical superiority of systemic subsurface bypass over reactive surface maintenance. Ultimately, it establishes a scalable, climate-adaptive engineering blueprint for safeguarding critical coastal heritage across Macaronesia against escalating environmental multi-hazards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)

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22 pages, 908 KB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting pH-Dependent Solubility Enhancement and Precipitation Suppression in Drug–Cyclodextrin–Arginine Formulations

by Natalia Bolocan, Igor Povar, Alina Catrinel Ion and Oxana Spinu

Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(7), 834; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18070834 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Cyclodextrin-based ternary systems are widely used to improve the solubility of poorly soluble drugs. Amino acids such as L-arginine may further increase dissolved drug concentrations and reduce precipitation under physiologically relevant conditions. In many systems, apparent solubility enhancement is influenced simultaneously by drug ionization, inclusion complex formation, multicomponent interactions, and solid–liquid equilibria. This study presents a physicochemical modeling approach for analyzing pH-dependent solubility enhancement and precipitation behavior in drug–cyclodextrin–L-arginine systems. Methods: The model combines acid–base equilibria, binary inclusion complexation, ternary association, and explicit solid-phase partitioning within a unified mass-balance treatment. The approach was applied to representative ternary systems containing repaglinide, sulfadiazine, cefixime, and meloxicam. Results: Quantitative comparison with published phase-solubility data for the repaglinide–HPβCD–L-arginine system confirmed the numerical consistency of the model. The calculated profiles showed that enhanced solubilization and reduced precipitation occur only within specific pH regions determined by coupled equilibrium effects. For cefixime and meloxicam, the calculations were interpreted as predictive applications because directly comparable validation datasets were not available. Outside the favorable pH regions, a substantial fraction of the drug remained in the solid phase. Conclusions: These observations support the importance of pH and multicomponent interactions in controlling formulation performance in cyclodextrin-containing systems. The obtained profiles may support preliminary optimization of formulation pH and excipient composition before experimental screening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Physical Pharmacy and Formulation)

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36 pages, 12729 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Smart Port System and Blue Economy Principles for the Sustainable Maritime Development of an Island Region in Indonesia: A Bayesian Network Approach

by Akhmad Fauzi, Kastana Sapanli, Gatot Yulianto and Tomi Ramadona

Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6923; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136923 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

The global maritime sector is undergoing rapid transformation, creating an urgent need to align digital port technologies with a sustainable development framework. However, existing research on smart ports and the blue economy is fragmented and predominantly driven by deterministic approaches that overlook systemic complexity and uncertainty. This study develops a smart port system model grounded in blue economy principles, using a Bayesian network to analyze causal relationships among operational, environmental, and governance variables under uncertainty. The model incorporates key factors including port operational efficiency, logistics reliability, environmental compliance systems, coastal employment, and regulatory enforcement. The findings indicate that operational and logistical factors are the primary drivers of the system, while environmental and socioeconomic variables strongly shape sustainability outcomes. Scenario analysis shows that coordinated interventions targeting these key variables generate the greatest improvements in Smart Port–Blue Economy integration. Sensitivity analysis further identifies coastal economic output, regional competitiveness, and marine ecosystem health as the most responsive outcome variables. The research offers lessons for policymakers to enhance port management by integrating logistics and technological considerations with blue economy principles to design adaptive and resilient policies, particularly in island regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Logistics Management: Research Focus on Port and Maritime Transportation)

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53 pages, 4050 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hierarchical GA–LP Framework with Explainable AI and Clustering for Generating and Interpreting Diverse Feasible Solutions in Net-Zero Energy Systems: An Illustrative Case Study

by Ryosuke Gotoh, Wataru Sato, Yuuri Nagase and Tomohiro Mizukami

Energies 2026, 19(13), 3222; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19133222 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

The transition to net-zero energy systems involves substantial uncertainty in exogenous conditions such as policy, fuel prices, and technology deployment. Conventional energy system optimization models, formulated as forward problems, excel at identifying a single least-cost solution but provide limited insight into the diverse configurations feasible within an acceptable cost range. This study proposes a hierarchical inverse-analysis framework integrating a genetic algorithm (GA) and linear programming (LP). The upper-level GA explores a broad space of exogenous conditions, including selected fuel-price assumptions, technology-cost conditions, equipment capacities, end-use electrification rates, CO₂-capture installation rates, and CO₂-storage limits, while the lower-level LP rigorously optimizes operations for each candidate. The framework applies explainable AI (SHAP) to identify dominant cost-determining factors and their interactions, and employs k-means clustering to compress the high-dimensional feasible solution space into illustrative archetypes. As an illustrative demonstration, the framework is applied to a hypothetical 2050 net-zero case for the Kanto region. The framework, under the assumed conditions, generates diverse feasible solutions, identifies influential cost-related conditions and their interactions, and organizes the generated solution set into five illustrative archetypes. The proposed framework extends energy system modeling beyond single-optimum solutions toward interpretable decision-support analytics for long-term net-zero planning under deep uncertainty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Informatics and Intelligent Systems: IoT, AI, and Machine Learning Applications)

19 pages, 7629 KB

Open AccessArticle

BSEF-Stereo: A Stereo Matching Model Based on Branching Strategy and Error Feedback

by Kaicheng Li, Jinlong Yang and Chin Chi Choi

Sensors 2026, 26(13), 4318; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26134318 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Iterative stereo matching remains challenging in weakly textured regions, repetitive patterns, occlusions, and object boundaries, where ambiguous correspondence cues require broad contextual reasoning while accurate reconstruction depends on preserving local structural details. Existing recurrent updaters with a fixed receptive field struggle to balance these requirements, and their initial disparity estimates may retain local geometric inconsistencies. To address these limitations, we propose BSEF-Stereo, an iterative framework that combines adaptive recurrent updating with explicit error-feedback refinement. A channel–position attention module strengthens discriminative channel and spatial cues, while a branch-strategy gated recurrent unit uses complementary small- and large-kernel branches to preserve boundary details and aggregate context in ambiguous regions. An error-aware refinement module subsequently exploits reprojection error and image guidance to correct the initial disparity map. Experiments on Scene Flow, KITTI 2012, KITTI 2015, and Middlebury demonstrate competitive performance across synthetic, outdoor, and indoor scenes. BSEF-Stereo achieves 0.41 px EPE and 2.27% D1 on Scene Flow and a D1-all error of 1.48% on KITTI 2015. Ablation and sensitivity studies verify the complementary contributions of the three modules and support the selected design settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI-Based Visual Sensing for Object Detection)

24 pages, 9501 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phenology-Adaptive Maize Mapping Using an Enhanced Red-Edge NDVI from Sentinel-2 Across Representative Global Agroecosystems

by Han Zhang, Lingbo Yang, Ran Huang, Limin Wang and Jingcheng Zhang

Remote Sens. 2026, 18(13), 2261; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18132261 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

Accurate maize distribution information is critical for crop-area statistics, food-security assessment, and agricultural monitoring, but large-scale maize-mapping remains difficult in regions with limited reference samples, heterogeneous crop calendars, and frequent optical data gaps. This study proposes a phenology-adaptive maize mapping framework based on Sentinel-2 time-series imagery and an Enhanced Red-edge NDVI (ENDVIre). ENDVIre was constructed from the Sentinel-2 red-edge 4 and red-edge 2 bands to enhance the spectral response of maize during the silking-to-grain-filling stage, when maize develops a dense canopy and high chlorophyll content but is often confused with soybean. The framework first reconstructed the NDVI time series using an upper-envelope-constrained Whittaker smoother to identify key phenological stages, including sowing–emergence, vigorous growth, and maturity–harvest. NDVI, ENDVIre, and LSWI were then integrated into an interpretable decision-tree model with phenology-aligned time windows to distinguish maize from soybean, rice, wheat, and other non-maize backgrounds. The method was evaluated in six representative maize-growing regions across the United States, Brazil, China, Kenya, and Ukraine, covering different crop calendars, field sizes, and agricultural systems. The mean overall accuracy, F1-score, and Kappa coefficient across the six regions reached 93.27%, 93.14%, and 0.8652, respectively. Cross-year experiments in a winter-wheat–summer-maize rotation region from 2020 to 2024 achieved overall accuracies of 89.80–96.80%, while spatial-transfer experiments in six independent regions achieved overall accuracies of 87.40–95.40%. A comparison with existing high-resolution maize products in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain further showed that the proposed method better balanced omission and commission errors. These results indicate that ENDVIre-based phenology rules provide an interpretable and transferable solution for maize mapping under limited-sample conditions, although persistent cloud contamination and fragmented smallholder landscapes remain important challenges. Full article

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23 pages, 1224 KB

Open AccessArticle

Unlearning the Past: The Politics of Exclusion at the Golan Archaeological Museum in Israel–Palestine

by Ronit Milano

Heritage 2026, 9(7), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage9070267 (registering DOI) - 7 Jul 2026

Abstract

This article examines the Golan Archaeological Museum as a site where archaeology, museum pedagogy, and political power intersect in producing historical knowledge. Established after the Six-Day War and inaugurated shortly after Israel’s 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights, the museum emerged from archaeological practices conducted alongside military occupation and territorial consolidation. Drawing on archival documents, excavation reports, museum display analysis, and theories of visuality and heritage, the article argues that the museum functions as a continuation of wartime practices of erasure through curatorial and pedagogical means. The study shows how archaeological material is selectively transformed into a narrative of continuous Jewish presence in the region, while Islamic and Syrian histories are marginalized or rendered invisible despite their substantial presence in the archaeological record. Through exhibition design, visual framing, and educational mediation, the museum constructs a singular historical narrative that aligns archaeological evidence with contemporary territorial sovereignty. The article contends that the museum operates not only as a cultural institution but also as an agent of political visuality, shaping the boundaries of historical consciousness, democratic representation, and public memory in a contested landscape. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Controversial Heritage, Museums and History Education Challenges and Experiences from Democratic Culture and Critical Intersectionality)

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