Search Results (83,373)

Background: Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are the most common upper limb fractures worldwide. The main goal of DRF treatment is to achieve optimal functional outcomes with the lowest complication rate as rapidly as possible. Achieving full limb function may be delayed by emerging complications or, in some cases, may never occur. Preserving muscle strength and as full a range of motion (ROM) in the wrist as possible are key in DRF management since they enable patients to perform the activities of daily living. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of ossein–hydroxyapatite complex (OHC), used as an adjunct in conservative DRF treatment, on muscle strength and ROM. Methods: This was a prospective randomized clinical study. We assessed 31 patients who underwent non-surgical DRF treatment at our center in the years 2024–2025 and were receiving OHC throughout their fracture treatment. K-Grip and K-Push dynamometers were used to measure the maximum and average muscle strength via tests of grip strength, palmar flexion, and dorsal flexion. Wrist ROM was also evaluated. The results were compared with those of the control group (31 patients receiving DRF treatment without OHC) and with the intact limb. Results: The medians of the maximum muscle strength in each test were comparable between the study groups. Both groups showed a higher median average strength in the intact limb than in the treated limb. We observed no intergroup differences in wrist ROM, with ROM parameters lower in the fractured limb than in the intact limb. Conclusions: The additional use of OHC was not associated with statistically significant improvements in functional outcomes. The patients from both groups achieved worse muscle strength and ROM outcomes in the fractured than in the intact limb. We recommend a longer and more intense rehabilitation of patients with DRFs. More studies on this topic are needed in order to unequivocally verify the effects of OHC on functional parameters in fracture patients. Full article

Hill-shading, also referred to as relief shading, is an important visualization method in small- and medium-scale topographic mapping. Although analytical hill-shading methods offer high generation efficiency, they often suffer from terrain detail overload. Some deep learning generative models have introduced terrain priors, but they still have deficiencies in the controllable representation and reasonable simplification of terrain structures. This study proposes a Swiss-style hill-shading method based on hierarchical terrain structure lines. By introducing ridgelines with hierarchical semantics as priors, a synergistic regulation mechanism of enhancement and suppression is constructed to emphasize major terrain structures while moderately weakening secondary details. The model adopts a hybrid architecture integrating a Transformer encoder and a convolutional decoder to model global terrain structures. In the testing phase, by adjusting the combinations of different levels of ridgelines, the controllable adjustment of the level of detail and structural significance in hill-shading representation is realized. Multi-region experimental results show that the proposed method can generate hill-shading results with clear structural hierarchies and distinct primary–secondary relationships. Compared with other models, the proposed method demonstrates more stable performance in achieving reasonable hierarchical representation of terrain structures and detail simplification, approaching the visual style of Swiss-style manual hill-shading. Full article

Grounding connectors critically influence the safety and long-term reliability of earthing systems through coupled electro-thermal, mechanical, and corrosion behaviors, yet no standardized quantitative framework exists for jointly evaluating these performance dimensions across diverse deployment scenarios. This study introduces a unified multi-criteria evaluation framework applied to six grounding connector configurations spanning four alloy families and three joining technologies. Electro-thermal response was characterized by coupled finite element simulations (0–100 A), mechanical reliability by quasi-static tensile testing (n = 10 per configuration), and corrosion durability by accelerated salt-spray exposure with image-based corroded area fraction quantification. Performance metrics were normalized and aggregated using equal-weight, Analytic Hierarchy Process, and Shannon entropy weighting schemes, with the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution applied for multi-scenario ranking. One-way analysis of variance confirmed statistically significant effects of connector type on tensile performance (F(5, 54) = 3154.90, p < 0.001). The exothermic welded joint achieved the highest mean ultimate tensile load (61.5 ± 1.5 kN), while copper mechanical connectors exhibited the lowest steady-state temperature rise (~2 K above ambient at 100 A). Compression-crimped connectors ranked first under both equal and Analytic Hierarchy Process weighting (closeness coefficients 0.737 and 0.807, respectively), while stainless steel connectors ranked first under corrosion-critical deployment scenarios. Scenario-weighted analyses demonstrate that the optimal material–process combination shifts with environmental severity, current duty, and mechanical demand, providing a reproducible, evidence-based basis for context-dependent connector specification. Full article

As the rapid development of the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) progresses, some data in the IIoT start to present the following characteristics: huge volume, high dimensions, distributed storage across multiple devices, and restricted data sharing due to privacy protection concerns. Such data presents a significant challenge to existing data processing methods. To this end, this work proposes an intelligent distributed-data processing method with privacy protection for IIoT (I2DPM). In this method, a federated feature integrator is first designed to capture the global feature subset of the distributed data under privacy protection. Based on the captured feature subset, a many-objective feature selection model is constructed by including the feature number, feature cost, cross-entropy, accuracy, and recall as the five objectives, where these five objectives represent the key factors influencing the feature selection performance. Then, an feedback-assisted information clustering many-objective evolutionary algorithm (MaOEA-IFC) is developed to solve the constructed model and thus obtain the optimal feature subsets, which fully utilizes the ideas of feedforward and feedback control. Finally, MaOEA-IFC is first compared with five state-of-the-art methods on two benchmark test suites to validate its ability to obtain reliable experimental results, and then our method is tested on eight datasets. Extensive results demonstrate that MaOEA-IFC is highly competitive, and our method can obtain the feature subsets with good comprehensive performance on the premise of protecting data privacy. In summary, this work provides a method for processing the data with the above characteristics in IIoT. Full article

This study assesses the future availability of water resources in Lake Guiers by 2050, considering the combined impacts of climate change and human activities, using the Water Evaluation and Planning System. As Senegal’s main freshwater source, the lake faces growing pressure from agricultural expansion, aquatic plant overgrowth, competing stakeholder demands, and increasing water use. The study combines field data on hydrological flows and agricultural water use with climate projections under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. Climate data were downscaled and bias-corrected using CMhyd, multiple linear regression, and the Mann–Kendall test. Model calibration showed strong performance (NSE = 0.95; R² = 0.96). Results reveal decreasing precipitation and rising temperatures under both scenarios. Agricultural withdrawals (79,331,457.14 m³/year) already exceed crop water needs (69,115,088.03 m³/year), resulting in significant water losses estimated at over 10 million m³ per year. Scenario analysis indicates that high water demand under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways SSP8.5 could lead to critical declines in lake volume as early as 2026 (550 million m³), while moderate demand growth under SSP4.5 could maintain water availability until 2050. The proposed PREFERLO-Grand Transfer project would add further stress to the lake’s capacity. These findings emphasize the urgent need for sustainable water management and policy actions. Full article

The accurate prediction of resistance and running attitudes of high-speed planing crafts is of great significance for the improvement of ship hydrodynamics. In this study, the lab model tests and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods are employed to investigate the effects of volumetric Froude number and longitudinal center of gravity (LCG) position on the resistance performance, motion characteristics, and free-surface wave patterns for a planing craft. The capability of the CFD model was validated through towing tank resistance tests conducted under various LCG conditions. A systematic analysis of the influence mechanism of LCG variation on the hydrodynamic performance of the craft was conducted. The results indicate that an aftward LCG position can improve the resistance performance; however, it also leads to an increase in the pitch angle. These findings can provide a foundation for the optimization design of high-speed planing craft. Full article

As a highly oxidizing and toxic gas, ozone (O₃) poses significant hazards to human health and the environment even at low concentrations. Therefore, the development of ozone gas sensors that can operate stably at low temperatures while simultaneously exhibiting high response, fast response characteristics, excellent selectivity, and long-term stability remains a crucial challenge in the field of gas sensing. In this work, Pure In₂O₃ and Yb-doped urchin-like hierarchical In₂O₃ microspheres were successfully synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method. The crystal structure, morphological features, elemental composition, and band structure of the as-prepared samples were systematically characterized by XRD, FESEM, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, and UV–vis spectroscopy. Gas-sensing tests demonstrated that Yb doping significantly enhanced the ozone-sensing performance of In₂O₃. Among all the samples, the 3%Yb-doped In₂O₃ sensor exhibited the best response toward 1 ppm ozone at 40 °C, reaching approximately 1015, which was about 11 times higher than that of pristine In₂O₃. Meanwhile, the sensor showed a response time of 172 s. In addition, the 3%Yb-doped In₂O₃ sensor exhibited good repeatability, excellent selectivity, and long-term stability. The excellent gas-sensing performance can be attributed to the electronic structure modulation and increased O_V-related oxygen defect component induced by Yb doping, as well as the enhanced gas diffusion and interfacial reaction capability provided by the urchin-like hierarchical structure. Full article

Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of a flat oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) pattern and its association with obstetric and perinatal outcomes, focusing on fetal growth. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary referral center between January 2023 and November 2025. A total of 1198 women who underwent a two-step OGTT between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation were screened, and 685 eligible participants were included. A flat OGTT pattern was defined as fasting glucose < 95 mg/dL with all postprandial values < 100 mg/dL. The primary outcome was small-for-gestational-age (SGA); secondary outcomes included fetal growth restriction (FGR) and other obstetric outcomes. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess independent associations. Results: Thirty-nine women (5.7%) exhibited a flat OGTT pattern. These pregnancies were characterized by a markedly attenuated postprandial glycemic response and lower fasting glucose levels. Most maternal and neonatal outcomes were similar between groups. However, SGA was significantly more frequent in the flat OGTT group (20.5% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, a flat OGTT pattern remained independently associated with SGA (aOR 4.05, 95% CI 1.70–9.68, p = 0.002). Both SGA and FGR were more frequent among women with a flat OGTT pattern, although the association appeared stronger for SGA. Conclusions: A flat OGTT pattern appears to represent a distinct glycemic response characterized by an attenuated postprandial glucose response and lower fasting glucose levels. Although this pattern was not associated with a generalized increase in adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes, it was associated with an increased risk of small-for-gestational-age infants. Full article

Background: Scar carcinoma represents a distinct subtype of lung malignancy developing in areas of chronic pulmonary fibrosis, inflammation, and structural remodeling, frequently associated with previous pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The present study aimed to evaluate the radiological, clinical, inflammatory, and histopathological characteristics associated with the scar carcinoma phenotype in patients with lung cancer (LC) and previous TB-related pulmonary abnormalities. Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study conducted between February 2020 and December 2025 included 844 patients diagnosed with lung cancer. The scar carcinoma phenotype was operationally defined by the coexistence of: (1) confirmed lung cancer, (2) post-tuberculous structural pulmonary abnormalities on thoracic imaging, and (3) clinical history compatible with prior pulmonary TB. Associations between the scar carcinoma phenotype and clinicopathological variables were evaluated using Pearson’s Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictive factors associated with scar carcinoma. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and precision–recall curve analyses were additionally performed. Results: Post-TB sequelae were identified in 58.2% of patients, while active TB was present in 7.8% of cases. Adenocarcinoma represented the predominant histopathological subtype (63.3%). Fibrotic/interstitial/bronchial abnormalities (67.7%), cavitary/destructive lesions (69.0%), atelectatic/retractile changes (65.4%), and infectious/inflammatory pulmonary abnormalities (60.4%) were highly prevalent. Significant associations were identified between scar carcinoma and TB sequelae (χ² = 811.850, p < 0.001), adenocarcinoma histology (χ² = 655.545, p < 0.001), infectious/inflammatory changes (χ² = 635.168, p < 0.001), cavitary/destructive lesions (χ² = 508.347, p < 0.001), fibrotic/interstitial abnormalities (χ² = 539.895, p < 0.001), and atelectatic/retractile changes (χ² = 597.346, p < 0.001). Logistic regression identified haemoptysis (OR = 0.651 (95% CI: 0.486–0.871), p = 0.005) and pulmonary opacities and/or condensation (OR = 1.343 (95% CI: 1.014–1.779), p = 0.040) as independent predictive factors. ROC analysis demonstrated moderate predictive performance (AUC = 0.703). Conclusions: TB-associated pulmonary remodeling was strongly associated with the scar carcinoma phenotype, consistent with an associative role of chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and post-TB structural damage in lung carcinogenesis; however, causal inferences cannot be drawn from this retrospective observational design. Full article

Most studies in the field of application technology have focused on the interaction between adjuvants and agrochemicals, highlighting the need for further research to evaluate the behavior of adjuvants in association with other classes of crop protection products. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of adjuvants and air velocity on spray drift deposition in simulated applications conducted in a wind tunnel using a bioinsecticide based on Bacillus thuringiensis. The experiment was carried out in an open-circuit, blower-type wind tunnel installed at the Agricultural Machinery Laboratory of the State University of Goiás—Central Campus. The study was conducted in a completely randomized design arranged in a 5 × 4 × 4 factorial scheme, with three replications. Treatments consisted of five horizontal distances from the spraying point (0.45, 0.75, 1.05, 1.35, and 1.65 m), four wind speeds inside the tunnel (1 m s⁻¹, 2 m s⁻¹, 3 m s⁻¹, and 4 m s⁻¹), and four spray solution formulations (water; Dipel^®, Dipel^® + Veget’Oil^®, and Dipel^® + Break Thru^®). Artificial targets positioned transversely to the airflow were used to collect spray deposition and, after spraying, were divided into lower, middle, and upper thirds according to the height of the test section. Data were obtained by spectrophotometry and, after verification of the ANOVA assumptions, were subjected to analysis of variance (p < 0.05). When significant effects were observed, regression analyses were applied. Statistical analyses were conducted using the R and Sisvar software packages. Mean deposition values were converted into deposition percentage as a function of the total sprayed volume. The experimental data were also subjected to geostatistical analysis using GS+ software (Version 7^®). After confirming spatial dependence, contour maps were generated using kriging. Higher wind speeds led to higher deposition percentages. The use of adjuvants affected spray deposition in the upper and middle thirds, with responses depending on the spray solution composition. Spray deposition in the wind tunnel can be analyzed using geostatistics, as this variable showed a high degree of spatial variability across all treatments evaluated. Full article

Background: Post-COVID syndrome represents a significant medical and public health challenge, particularly among older adults and individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), in whom disturbances in immune and metabolic homeostasis may contribute to the development and persistence of symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Objective: To investigate the clinical, immunological, and metabolic characteristics of post-COVID syndrome in older adults with T2DM. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted involving 141 patients aged ≥ 60 years who were evaluated more than one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical data, anthropometric measurements, complete blood count parameters, biochemical markers, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed using nonparametric methods, while Pearson’s χ² test was applied for categorical variables. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Symptoms consistent with post-COVID syndrome one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified in 53.2% of participants. No significant differences in anthropometric characteristics, hematological parameters, or most biochemical markers were observed between patients with and without post-COVID syndrome. Patients with T2DM exhibited higher fasting glucose, HbA1c, and SARS-CoV-2–specific IgG antibody levels, reflecting underlying metabolic characteristics and differences in humoral immune responses during the late post-COVID period. Conclusions: Post-COVID syndrome symptoms were frequently observed among older adults at the time of assessment, more than one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection, despite normalization of most laboratory parameters. In patients with T2DM, higher glucose, HbA1c, and antibody levels likely reflect underlying metabolic characteristics rather than a direct effect of post-COVID syndrome. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the long-term clinical significance of the observed metabolic and immunological findings. Full article

Shale oil is a vital unconventional resource. Large-scale hydraulic fracturing serves as the core technology for the efficient development of shale oil reservoirs. Well testing can be applied to characterize the reservoir parameters of fractured shale formations. Nevertheless, conventional well testing approaches fail to account for numerous discrete fractures and complex formation geometries. Based on the embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM)—an effective tool for simulating flow in discrete fractures—this work proposes a numerical well testing approach for horizontal wells in hydraulically fractured shale reservoirs. The effects of fracture permeability, number of fracture clusters, matrix permeability, and water saturation on well testing curves are also investigated. The results showed that the parameters such as the main fracture permeability, the number of fracture clusters, and the matrix permeability all have significant effects on the well test curves. When the permeability of main fractures exceeds 20D, radial flow characteristics appear in Stage V. For the distance between fracturing intervals and pressure monitoring points within 0 m to 200 m, it imposes the most significant impact on Stage I and Stage II. The half-length of main fractures, the SRV extent in the Y-direction, and boundary conditions mainly affect Stage VI and Stage VII. Full article

Hemp and linseed are nutritionally valuable commodities that exhibit considerable varietal differences in composition. Nutrient composition was evaluated in 12 hemp and 11 linseed varieties, including commercially cultivated varieties from the EU Common Catalogue and newly bred lines, to assess varietal variability. Field experiments were conducted under uniform agronomic conditions in the Czech Republic during a single growing season using field-block samples. Analyses included proximate composition (dry matter, crude protein, fat, fiber, ash), fatty acid and amino acid profiles, carotenoids, vitamins, and cannabinoid content. Statistical evaluation was performed using a General Linear Model with Duncan’s multiple range test (p < 0.05). Significant differences were observed across most parameters, indicating substantial inter-varietal variability under the experimental conditions. Fat content ranged from approximately 200 to 377 g/kg in both oilseeds, with lipids dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic (n-6) and α-linolenic (n-3) acids. Hemp and linseed show potential as alternative plant protein sources in animal nutrition, but further digestibility and feeding studies are needed to confirm their suitability as partial soybean meal substitutes. Varietal selection may contribute to improved nutritional quality while influencing levels of undesirable constituents such as Δ⁹-THC in hemp. Full article

The corrosion phenomenon can cause negative allergic and cytotoxic reactions in the human body, inflammation, and, in the future, the development of cancer. Their sources may be corrosion products, metal ions released during the corrosion process, and galvanic currents that penetrate the surrounding tissues. In order to avoid the negative effects of using metal alloys, their surface can be modified by applying coatings. The aim of this study is to determine and compare the amount of ion release from Si(C,N) coatings with varying carbon and nitrogen contents, as well as from the uncoated substrate alloy (Group A) in various aqueous environments. Si(C,N) coatings were applied to the surface of the prosthetic alloy. Si(C,N) coatings with different carbon and nitrogen contents were deposited using the reactive magnetron sputtering (RMS) method. The research included determining the amount of ions released into the environment: distilled water, 0.9% NaCl and artificial saliva. Assessments were made at 10, 30 and 90 days. All tested Si(C,N) coatings significantly limit the amount of metal ions in the surrounding medium. Due to the lack of statistically significant differences in the number of ions released by individual coatings, when selecting them, other properties related to the operating conditions of the elements should also be taken into account. Full article

Background: Chung–Jansen syndrome (CHUJANS) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic condition caused by pathogenic variants in the PHIP gene, which encodes a protein involved in neurodevelopmental processes and IGF-1 signalling. The phenotype is characterised by variable degrees of intellectual disability, early-onset obesity or overweight, distinctive facial dysmorphisms, and behavioural disturbances. We here present a case of Chung–Jansen syndrome with a detailed endocrine work-up, highlighting the metabolic component of this syndrome. Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 21-year-old woman referred to our centre for evaluation of oligomenorrhea in the context of severe obesity (BMI 50.4 kg/m²), short stature (151 cm, <3rd percentile), and moderate-to-severe intellectual disability (full-scale IQ 38). Physical examination revealed dysmorphic features, including a round face, upslanting palpebral fissures, prominent zygomatic bones, anteverted nares, a prominent chin, and bilateral brachydactyly type E1. Laboratory investigations documented subclinical primary hypothyroidism of autoimmune origin, impaired glucose tolerance with associated hyperinsulinism, and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, previously known as PCOS). Exome analysis by next-generation sequencing (NGS) identified a heterozygous c.328C>T [p.(Arg110Cys)] variant in the PHIP gene, already reported in literature and classified as likely pathogenic (ACMG class 4). Segregation analysis in the mother (father was not available for the test) did not reveal the variant, suggesting a de novo origin in the patient. Concurrently, the same analysis revealed a variant of uncertain significance in the ANKRD17 gene, while array-CGH detected a maternally inherited microdeletion of uncertain significance on chromosome X (Xp11.23). Conclusions: This case confirms the association between the PHIP p.(Arg110Cys) variant and the phenotype of Chung–Jansen syndrome, providing a detailed characterisation of the endocrine and psychiatric comorbidities. Indeed, our report expands the knowledge on the endocrine phenotype providing further suggestion for personalised patient management. It underscores the importance of NGS in the diagnostic workup of syndromic obesity with intellectual disability, especially in the presence of negative family history and prior inconclusive genetic testing. This case suggests the inclusion of comprehensive endocrine evaluations in future studies on patients with Chung–Jansen syndrome, in order to support endocrine work-up and facilitate early identification and appropriate management of potentially treatable alterations. Full article