Search Results (8,819)

This study presents a pioneering approach, integrating infrared thermography and deep learning to analyse surface oxide layers on AISI 1045 steel, addressing the critical need for advanced monitoring in steelmaking processes. Using thermography for observation and semantic segmentation for accurate identification, 50 tests between 200 and 700 °C were analysed in a Joule-controlled heating system to study the formation and thickening of oxide layers on steel surfaces. A convolutional neural network (CNN), specifically SegNet, was trained for semantic segmentation, facilitating detailed analysis. The model achieved an overall accuracy of 96.40% in identifying the presence of oxide. By quantifying pixelation changes, relationships in oxide evolution kinetics were obtained, and by quantifying the activation energy in isothermal cases, the magnitude is in the range reported by other works. The approach also highlighted the potential for non-destructive monitoring and control on a large scale without compromising personnel safety. This potential could improve industrial process control, predict surface quality or provide data relevant to sub-processes. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) shows a marked biological heterogeneity that is closely associated with tumor aggressiveness. A substantial proportion of clinically significant tumors remain undetected by multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). Elucidating the molecular basis of MRI visibility and identifying non-invasive biomarkers could improve the risk stratification and clinical management of patients. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess tissue and urine proteomic signatures associated with PCa aggressiveness and mpMRI visibility. Methods: In this exploratory study, we performed an integrated proteomic analysis of prostate tissue and preoperative urine samples from 24 patients stratified into four groups: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), indolent PCa (Gleason 6), clinically significant PCa with MRI-visible lesions, and clinically significant PCa with MRI-non-visible lesions. Data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA workflows) was used to identify differentially expressed proteins associated with malignancy, tumor aggressiveness, and MRI visibility. Results: Pairwise proteomic analyses revealed significant molecular differences between BPH and all PCa groups, identifying 694 non-redundant proteins differentially expressed in tissue and 482 in preoperative urine, showing molecular features associated with both disease presence and progression. Comparative tissue and urine analyses identified 82 proteins, reflecting shared biological pathways in metabolism, cytoskeletal organization, immune processes, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Finally, a direct comparison of MRI-visible and MRI-non-visible clinically significant PCa identified a panel of differentially expressed proteins, including LCN2/NGAL, S100A9, and AOC1/DAO, that showed differential urinary abundance and prognostic relevance in the TCGA-PRAD cohort. Conclusion: Our results suggest that proteomic alterations in PCa are associated with disease progression and aggressiveness and capture biologically relevant differences between tissue and urinary proteomes. These differences are also observed between MRI-visible and MRI-non-visible clinically significant prostate cancers, supporting the potential of urinary proteomics as a non-invasive complement to imaging-based diagnostics. Full article

Perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy in oral surgery represents an evolving paradigm. This critical review evaluates the contemporary scientific evidence that challenges the conventional practice of routinely discontinuing anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet agents to prevent postoperative bleeding. The traditional strategy carries an unacceptable risk of iatrogenic, sometimes severe, thromboembolic events. The aim of this systematic narrative review is to synthesize the current evidence (2015–2025) and to outline a new, patient-centered clinical framework that dynamically balances thromboembolic and hemorrhagic risks. Materials and methods: A systematic search of major databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science) identified relevant studies, structured according to the PICO framework. The search strategy prioritized high-level evidence, including clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and prospective cohort studies published between January 2015 and November 2025. Results: The results reinforce an emerging consensus: the basis of safe management is the rigorous application of advanced local hemostasis techniques (e.g., prioritizing resorbable materials, sutures, topical hemostatic agents, and antifibrinolytics) and the use of perioperative decision-making algorithms. These measures allow, in most routine dental surgical procedures, the safe continuation of antithrombotic therapy, thus minimizing the thromboembolic risk without significantly increasing the risk of clinically significant bleeding. In the future, research should focus on optimizing materials science (novel biomaterials and controlled-release systems) and on standardizing and validating protocols in specific populations (e.g., patients on combination therapy or at extreme cardiovascular risk). This review argues that the adoption of this evidence-based model, with local hemostasis as a critical pillar, is essential for modern, ethical, and safe dental practice. Full article

Bone marrow involvement in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma is an adverse prognostic factor; therefore, its detection is necessary at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up. This study evaluates the concordance between flow cytometry (FC) and bone marrow biopsy (BMB) in detecting bone marrow involvement in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas as well as their prognostic relevance in a Chilean cohort. A total of 202 samples from 172 patients with diffuse large B-cell (DLBCL), follicular (FL), marginal-zone (MZL), and mantle cell (MCL) lymphoma were retrospectively analyzed; all patients underwent simultaneous BMB and FC. Bone marrow involvement was identified in 29% of samples via BMB and in 40% via FC, with an overall concordance of 89% (kappa: 0.75), which was lower in mantle cell lymphoma. Eleven percent of cases showed BMB-FC+ discordance, generally associated with low tumor burden. In survival analyses, the BMB+/FC+ group exhibited shorter overall and progression-free survival, and concordant involvement was associated with a higher risk of mortality and progression, particularly among patients with an intermediate or high IPI. Involvement detected exclusively by FC did not have a significant prognostic impact. These findings support the role of FC as a complementary or alternative diagnostic tool in settings with limited resources, improving sensitivity for detecting bone marrow involvement without compromising clinical relevance. Full article

As manufacturing organisations work to align their operations with global sustainability expectations, the integration of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into production systems has become increasingly important and a critical pathway toward Industry 5.0. Sustainable Value Stream Mapping (Sus-VSM) provides a structured approach for assessing economic, environmental, and social performance, but its practical adoption remains limited, and it has not been systematically aligned with SDG Targets. These limitations are particularly evident among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which often lack the resources needed to implement extensive sustainability indicator sets. This study combines a systematic literature review with industrial evidence to identify Sus-VSM indicators and examine their use in practice. A consolidated set of 18 economic, 22 environmental, and 18 social indicators is derived and mapped to 16 SDG Targets relevant to manufacturing by means of a Delphi-based expert assessment. The mapping results are analysed to evaluate indicator usefulness and expert agreement and are complemented by an industrial verification from 30 companies across different sectors that rates each indicator in terms of relevance to SDGs and applicability in real factory contexts. The results show that economic indicators are most aligned with SDG 8, environmental indicators with SDG 9, SDG 12, and SDG 13, and social indicators with SDG 3 and SDG 8, while gaps persist for water, energy transition, and some climate-related Targets. A prioritised indicator set is proposed that maintains coverage of the selected SDG Targets and remains feasible for SMEs, providing a practically oriented basis for embedding SDG-aligned sustainability assessment within Sus-VSM. Full article

Rapid antigenic drift in the coronavirus spike protein motivates alternative antiviral strategies. We target the conserved nucleocapsid (N) protein—central to RNA binding, genome packaging, and replication—and perform a comparative, cross-species 3D structure-based in silico evaluation. A library of 494 compounds (natural, phytochemical, synthetic) was docked with AutoDock Vina against the MERS-CoV N–terminal RNA–binding domain (NTD; PDB 7DYD) and the C–terminal dimerization domains (CTD) of SARS-CoV (2CJR) and SARS-CoV-2 (8R6E), reflecting the availability of high-resolution, functionally relevant domain structures for each virus. Top-ranked poses underwent ADME profiling and 100 ns GROMACS molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations. Myricetin 3-O-β-D-Galactopyranoside (myricetin) showed the most favorable predicted docking scores across targets (−8.9 kcal/mol, MERS–NTD; −10.1, SARS–CTD; −9.8, SARS-CoV-2 CTD). Curcumin showed moderate predicted affinity (−7.1 to −8.1), while MCC950 achieved consistently favorable docking score (−7.9 to −9.0). ADME results highlighted a trade-off: glycosylated flavonoids offered rich interaction networks but violated oral drug-likeness criteria (e.g., high TPSA), whereas MCC950 met Lipinski/Veber guidelines, supporting translational potential. MD analyses revealed ligand- and target-specific stability: myricetin maintained persistent binding over 100 ns in the SARS-CoV-2 CTD with lower RMSD than comparators; curcumin exhibited transient stability (~30 ns) in MERS- and SARS-bound complexes; MCC950 showed intermittent interactions. Collectively, these findings suggest that the conserved N protein RNA-binding groove represents a resistance-resilient target for broad-spectrum antiviral discovery. Natural flavonoids provide promising scaffolds for optimization, and MCC950 warrants further exploration given its drug-like profile. As this study is purely computational, the results are hypothesis-generating and should be validated via RNA-binding disruption assays, antiviral cell studies, and in vivo models. Full article

Alveolar macrophages orchestrate phagocytosis and inflammatory programs during respiratory infection. CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) and BTB and CNC homology 2 (BACH2) are immune-related genes involved in cytoskeletal organization/vesicular trafficking and transcriptional regulation, respectively, but the coding-level constraints shaping their synonymous-site architecture remain unclear. Here, we profiled codon usage bias (CUB) of CD2AP and BACH2 across 49 vertebrate species using nucleotide composition, relative synonymous codon usage, and complementary codon bias diagnostics. Across species, BACH2 preferentially used G/C-ending codons with higher GC3s, whereas CD2AP was enriched for A/T-ending codons with lower GC3s. Both genes showed weak-to-moderate CUB (high ENC and modest CAI). ENC–GC3s and PR2 analyses indicated a strong compositional background at third codon positions, while neutrality analysis yielded shallow GC12–GC3 slopes, suggesting overall coding constraints, with compositional effects acting as a background influence and selective constraints possibly contributing to GC1/GC2 patterns. CD2AP deviated more from composition-only expectations than BACH2, suggesting greater gene-specific modulation. Phylogenetic reconstruction placed Sus scrofa within mammalian clades for both genes. In conclusion, CD2AP and BACH2 display opposite third-base codon-ending preferences across vertebrates, with CD2AP favoring A/T-ending codons and BACH2 favoring G/C-ending codons. This provides a comparative baseline for codon usage analyses of macrophage-relevant immune genes. Full article

Background: This systematic review critically examined how vertical force–velocity profiling has been used and interpreted in soccer research, with particular attention to methodological limitations and practical constraints. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, four databases were searched up to January 2025, and eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: Several studies reported statistical associations between vertical F–V variables (particularly Pmax and V₀) and jump- and sprint-related outcomes; however, these associations were heterogeneous, task-dependent, and sensitive to modeling assumptions. Age- and maturity-related studies demonstrate progressive increases in F₀ and Pmax across developmental stages, explaining much of the inter-individual variability in youth populations. Positional and sex-based analyses reveal distinct neuromuscular profiles, with wide and attacking players displaying more velocity-oriented characteristics, and female players showing lower Pmax values. Indirect links with match-related demands, inferred from positional profiles and external load literature, suggest potential ecological relevance; however, direct evidence linking vertical F–V parameters to match-derived GPS metrics remains limited. Intervention studies show that individualized F–V-based training can modify selected vertical mechanical parameters, but improvements in sprint or match performance are not systematic. Conclusions: Vertical F–V profiling may provide descriptive information under tightly controlled conditions; however, evidence supporting its use for individualized or deficit-based training prescription in soccer remains limited and inconsistent. For this reason, vertical F–V profiling should not be interpreted as a mechanistic model of soccer performance, but rather as a context-dependent descriptive framework with restricted ecological validity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease for which there are no highly effective treatments, which highlights the need for novel therapeutics. Cannabidiol (CBD) has demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Chronic CBD treatment (20 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) reverses social recognition memory deficits of APP_Swe/PS1∆E9 (APP/PS1) transgenic mice; however, it does not produce effects on AD-relevant brain pathology. Methods: Here, we investigated whether chronic high-dose CBD treatment (i.e., 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally) in early symptomatic 7.5-month-old APP/PS1 males would reverse cognitive deficits while also influencing neuropathological markers relevant to AD. Mice were assessed for anxiety, recognition memory, and social and aggressive behaviours before carrying out neuropathological analyses of collected brain tissue. Results: Vehicle-treated APP/PS1 transgenic males demonstrated reduced aggressive behaviour and increased socio-positive behaviour. A moderate deficit in social recognition memory was restored by CBD. APP/PS1 mice also exhibited elevated cortical proBDNF levels under vehicle treatment, and hippocampal levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were reduced in all APP/PS1 mice. AD transgenic mice exhibited no changes in soluble or insoluble Aβ₄₂ levels or PPARγ isoforms. Conclusions: This study found that high-dose CBD restored a moderate social recognition memory deficit. However, CBD did not have marked effects on AD-relevant neuropathological markers assessed, most likely because the AD transgenic mice were evaluated at a disease stage too early to detect significant pathological changes. Thus, the underlying mechanisms for CBD’s effect on social recognition memory require further investigation. Full article

This study reports the development and characterization of chitosan–poly(vinyl alcohol) (CH/PVA) nanofibers (NFs), functionalized with bioactive compounds (ACs) relevant for wound healing and tissue regeneration. CH/PVA NFs loaded with L-arginine (ARG), allantoin (ALA), royal jelly (RJ) and curcumin (CUR), either as single or co-loaded systems, were prepared by electrospinning. The polymer solutions were characterized in terms of key physicochemical properties relevant to electrospinning. The CH/PVA@ACs NFs were characterized morphologically and structurally through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Additionally, surface-related, physical, and functional properties such as wettability, swelling behavior, and in vitro release profiles were examined. The NFs were successfully produced in a uniform and continuous manner, with the fiber diameter and morphology being influenced by the type of ACs. FTIR analysis validated the characteristic functional groups linked to both the polymeric matrix and ACs. The nanofibrous systems demonstrated a high swelling capacity and a release behavior that is dependent on pH. Analyses of surface free energy and wettability revealed favorable interfacial interactions between solid and liquid, indicating compatibility with aqueous biological environments. In summary, the developed CH/PVA@ACs NFs exhibited appropriate morphological, structural, surface, and functional properties, underscoring their potential as effective materials for wound dressings. Full article

A key requirement of associative learning studies is the ability to motivate the subject to acquire memory of the conditioned stimulus–unconditioned stimulus (CS–US) association. Although zebrafish have been found capable of acquiring CS–US associative memory, in many studies, the fish failed to learn. One reason for the failure, I argue in this perspective article, is that we do not yet know how to motivate zebrafish. I illustrate this problem using examples, and offer some solutions, based upon results obtained in my own laboratory for appetitive associative learning tasks for zebrafish. I highlight the value of considering the ethology and ecology of the zebrafish. I discuss why food may have been an ineffective US for zebrafish. I provide examples for how to improve the rewarding properties of food based upon the foraging behaviour of zebrafish in nature. I discuss the efforts to identify alternative USs, including the sight of conspecifics or the presence of other ecologically relevant stimuli. I theorize about conflicting motivators in zebrafish learning studies, including the effect of human handling versus that of experimenter-controlled USs. I conclude that systematic analyses of different USs are needed, along with detailed studies on how they may be optimized for the analysis of learning and memory in zebrafish. Full article

Nutrient surpluses in regions with intensive livestock farming challenge sustainable crop production and have driven interest in alternative fertilization strategies and microbial biostimulants. Although microbial inoculation (MO) has been extensively studied in plant production, its agronomic relevance under field conditions remains controversial due to inconsistent outcomes. To address these inconsistencies, we conducted three-year field trials on two well-fertilized sandy sites in northern Germany. A microbial consortium consisting of Rhizoglomus irregulare, Funneliformis mosseae, Funneliformis caledonium, and Bacillus atrophaeus Abi05 was applied to silage maize (cultivar Amaroc S230) under contrasting fertilization regimes. In two of three years, microbial inoculation increased dry mass yield in the absence of starter fertilization, whereas both a high nutrient input variant (100 kg ha⁻¹ diammonium phosphate, DAP) and a lower nutrient input organo-mineral microgranular fertilizer (25 kg ha⁻¹) suppressed inoculant effects. Notably, yields from plots amended solely with the microbial inoculant reached at least the same level as those obtained with starter fertilization. In the third year, under drought conditions, defined as soil water contents below 10% in the 0–30 cm depth, no positive yield responses to microbial inoculation were observed. Quantitative PCR-based analyses of pre-sowing soils revealed that the abundances of Firmicutes, β-Proteobacteria, and total fungi were associated with yield responses, with Firmicutes and β-Proteobacteria showing negative and fungi showing positive correlations; together, these microbial predictors explained 38% of the variance in inoculant-induced yield response. Our findings demonstrate that soil microbiome characteristics can predict inoculant performance and that microbial inoculation is most effective without starter fertilization and under adequate soil moisture. Full article

In recent decades, profound transformations in work organization, employment conditions, and organizational change processes have intensified workers’ exposure to psychosocial risks, with significant consequences for occupational health and well-being. Despite the growing relevance of these risks, organizations often lack psychometrically robust instruments capable of capturing psychosocial stressors associated with change, Conflicts, and working conditions in an integrated manner. The purpose of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a questionnaire designed to measure psychosocial factors related to organizational changes, interpersonal Conflicts, and occupational well-being. An instrumental study design was employed, following international standards for the construction and validation of psychological instruments. The sample consisted of 350 workers with a mean age of 33.19 years (SD = 9.18; range: 18–66) and an average organizational tenure of 6.71 years (SD = 8.61). The initial 48-item questionnaire was refined to a final version comprising 24 items distributed across 7 scales: Organizational Changes, Work Program, Job Security, Promotion, Training, Interpersonal Conflicts, and Lack of Participation. Preliminary analyses indicated that the data adequately met the assumptions for factor analysis (KMO = 0.81; Bartlett’s test χ² = 4376.98, p < 0.001). The results supported a seven-factor structure explaining 72% of the total variance, with clear and interpretable factor loadings consistent with the theoretical model. Internal consistency was acceptable to excellent across scales (α = 0.72–0.91; ω = 0.84–0.95), including short scales with three items. Inter-scale correlations were low to moderate, supporting discriminant validity and indicating that the dimensions, while related, represent distinct constructs. Overall, the findings provide strong evidence for the instrument’s reliability and validity based on its internal structure, supporting its use for psychosocial risk assessment and research on organizational changes, interpersonal Conflicts, and occupational well-being. Full article

Background: To assess associations between possible dysfunction of autonomic cardiovascular modulation and hemispheric localization, seizure frequency, disease duration, and antiseizure medication (ASM) in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Methods: In this prospective observational study, cardiovascular autonomic modulation was monitored in 31 patients with TLE (12 patients with right TLE, 19 patients with left TLE). From 5 min time series of R–R intervals (RRI) and blood pressure (BP) recordings, we calculated autonomic parameters of sympathetic, parasympathetic, and total autonomic cardiovascular modulation. Data were compared to those of 30 healthy volunteers. Subgroup analyses were performed according to (1) disease localization (right vs. left hemispheric TLE), (2) seizure frequency (< vs. >1/month) and disease duration (< vs. >10 years), (3) number of ASMs, and (4) participants’ age (< vs. >30 years). Results: Between right TLE patients, left TLE patients, and controls, there were no significant differences in the assessed bio-signals. Parameters of sympathetic and total autonomic modulation were slightly lower in right TLE patients than in controls. Additionally, reduced vagal modulation was observed in right TLE patients taking three ASMs or not taking any ASMs at all (applicable to one patient) compared to healthy controls. In general, TLE patients with <1 seizure/month showed lower parameters of sympathetic modulation than healthy controls, with differences reaching statistical significance in left TLE patients. In contrast, parameters reflecting vagal tone showed insignificantly, yet consistently, lower values in left TLE patients with increasing seizure frequency. Alterations in autonomic cardiovascular modulation observed across age-matched subgroups were comparable. Conclusions: A trend towards lower values of sympathetic modulation in patients with right TLE supports previous findings suggesting right hemispheric mediation of sympathetic regulation. A decrease in parasympathetic modulation with increasing seizure frequency underscores the importance of sufficient seizure control in order to prevent autonomic complications. In contrast, the absence of significant associations between disease duration and autonomic alterations suggests that epilepsy exerts an early and clinically relevant effect on the autonomic nervous system. Due to comparable alterations in autonomic modulation in a patient without antiseizure medication and in patients undergoing polytherapy, ASM side effects may not account solely for the observed autonomic dysregulation of our TLE patients. Full article

Passiflora germplasm represents an important genetic resource for improving fruit yield and quality in breeding programs targeting semi-arid environments. This study aimed to assess the phenotypic diversity, genetic parameters, and breeding potential of Passiflora accessions conserved in the Passion Fruit Active Germplasm Bank of Embrapa Semiárido. A total of 55 accessions, predominantly Passiflora cincinnata Mast., were evaluated using morphoagronomic descriptors related to plant, flower, and fruit traits. Quantitative data were analyzed using mixed linear models (REML/BLUP) to estimate genetic parameters, and multivariate analyses were applied to characterize phenotypic divergence. Substantial phenotypic variability was observed, particularly for fruit-related traits. Fruit weight ranged from 43.25 to 142.88 g, pulp weight ranged from 7.86 to 51.37 g, and pulp yield ranged from 17.06% to 40.27% among accessions. Broad-sense heritability estimates for key fruit traits were moderate to high, reaching 0.50 for fruit weight, 0.49 for pulp weight, and 0.36 for pulp yield, indicating favorable prospects for selection. Principal Component Analysis explained 66.0% of the total variation in the first two components, with fruit size, pulp-related traits, and seed number contributing most strongly to accession differentiation. Multivariate analyses consistently identified accessions 1 and 16 as superior for fruit weight and pulp yield, whereas accession 55 combined high fruit weight with elevated soluble solid content (up to 14.24 °Brix) but lower pulp yield. Overall, the observed variability highlights the relevance of Passiflora germplasm conserved under semi-arid conditions as a valuable resource for breeding programs focused on fruit yield, quality, and adaptation to water-limited environments. Full article