Search Results (8,482)

Background/Objectives: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic, autoimmune-mediated mucocutaneous disorder that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life. Conventional therapies, such as corticosteroids, are often associated with side effects, prompting the exploration of alternative treatments. High-power lasers, including CO₂ and Er:YAG lasers, have emerged as promising options due to their precision and therapeutic potential in managing OLP. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of high-power lasers in reducing lesion size, pain, and recurrence rates in OLP patients. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane using keywords related to laser therapy and OLP. Inclusion criteria focused on randomized controlled trials and clinical studies with clear methodologies. Data from eight studies were analyzed, covering various laser types and treatment parameters. Results: The findings indicate that high-power laser therapy significantly reduces lesion size, pain levels, and recurrence rates compared to conventional treatments. CO₂ lasers demonstrated superior outcomes in lesion resolution and pain relief, while Er:YAG lasers offered precision in treating localized lesions. Most studies reported minimal side effects and faster recovery times, enhancing patient satisfaction. Conclusions: High-power lasers, particularly CO₂ and Er:YAG, represent a safe and effective alternative to conventional therapies for OLP, with advantages such as reduced side effects and improved patient outcomes. Future research should focus on standardizing protocols and conducting large-scale randomized trials to validate these findings and establish lasers as a reliable treatment modality for OLP. Full article

We present a high-dimensional quantum key distribution protocol by using N-qudits quantum light states—that is, product states with N photons, each of them in a quantum superposition of dimension d, which provides a high dimension $d^N$ and, accordingly, a very high security level. We present the implementation of this protocol in different types of optical fibers, where quantum states can undergo polarization and phase perturbations under propagation in optical fibers; however, polarization perturbations can be notably reduced in a passive or active way, and, more importantly, these states can become insensitive to phase perturbations. Thus, N-qubits are fully robust to relative phase perturbations between any pair of 1-qubits, and therefore do not require any phase compensation, which, on the contrary, is absolutely necessary in high-dimensional QKD with 1-qudits (one photon). Likewise, quantum states also undergo attenuation, that is, some photons are lost under propagation in the optical fibers and thus $N^{\prime }(<N)$-qudits are used; however, even for standard optical fiber attenuation values, high secret key rates are still obtained. Finally, we analyse the security of this high-dimensional protocol under an intercept and resend attack performed by Eve, and the resulting secure key rates are calculated, showing a significant increase with the dimension provided by number N of photons. Full article

Thermodynamic entropy generation quantifies irreversibility in energy conversion processes, providing rigorous thermodynamic foundations for optimizing efficiency and sustainability in thermal and energy systems. This critical review synthesizes advances in computational entropy modeling across numerical methods, optimization strategies, and sustainable energy applications. Computational fluid dynamics, finite element methods, and lattice Boltzmann methods enable spatially resolved entropy analysis in convective, conjugate, and microscale systems, but exhibit varying maturity levels and accuracy–cost trade-offs. The minimization of entropy generation and the integration of artificial intelligence demonstrate quantifiable performance improvements in heat exchangers, renewable energy systems, and smart grids, with reported efficiency gains of 15 to 39% in specific applications under controlled conditions. While overall performance depends critically on system scale, operating regime, and baseline configuration, persistent limitations still constrain practical deployment. Systematic conflation between thermodynamic entropy (quantifying physical irreversibility) and information entropy (measuring statistical uncertainty) leads to inappropriate method selection; validation challenges arise from entropy’s status as a non-directly-measurable state function; high-order maximum entropy models achieve superior uncertainty quantification but require prohibitive computational resources; and standardized benchmarking protocols remain absent. Research fragmentation across thermodynamics, information theory, and machine learning communities limits integrated frameworks capable of addressing multi-scale, transient, multiphysics systems. This review provides structured, cross-method, application-aware synthesis identifying where computational entropy modeling achieves industrial readiness versus research-stage development, offering forward-looking insights on physics-informed machine learning, unified theoretical frameworks, and real-time entropy-aware control as critical directions for advancing sustainable energy system design. Full article

Background: Proprioceptive deficits, commonly quantified as joint position sense error (JPSE), are frequently reported in musculoskeletal conditions. Articular manual therapy may influence afferent input and sensorimotor integration. This review synthesised the effects of joint mobilization and/or high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust manipulation on quantitative proprioception outcomes in humans. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and MEDLINE Complete were searched (from inception to November 2025) for randomized or sham-controlled trials assessing proprioception after eligible articular manual therapy. Searches were limited to English-language publications. Risk of bias was assessed using Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2). Random-effects meta-analysis (Hedges’ g) was conducted when outcomes and time points were comparable; pooling was possible for only one outcome/time-point comparison. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Results: Database searches yielded 483 records; after duplicate removal, 371 records were screened. Eighteen full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, of which 11 were excluded, resulting in seven randomized clinical trials (2018–2025; total n = 350) evaluating spinal or peripheral mobilization/manipulation. No eligible randomized or sham-controlled trials meeting the prespecified criteria were identified before 2018. In chronic mechanical neck pain, cervical thrust manipulation improved cervical JPSE versus sham with large partial eta-squared effects (η²p = 0.23–0.36). Cervical mobilization improved left rotation JPSE (4.15 → 1.65° vs. 4.01→3.74°). In patellofemoral pain, lumbopelvic manipulation produced immediate reductions in knee JPSE at 60° (6.58 → 4.48° vs. 5.91 → 6.05°). Only one outcome/time-point was suitable for meta-analysis (knee JPSE at 60° flexion in patellofemoral pain; two trials), showing no statistically significant pooled effect (Hedges’ g = −0.21, 95% CI −1.36 to 0.94; I² ≈ 83%). Remaining outcomes could not be pooled due to heterogeneity and incompatible reporting. Conclusions: Evidence from seven randomized trials indicates that articular manual therapy (mobilization and/or HVLA thrust manipulation) can improve quantitative proprioceptive outcomes immediately post-intervention, particularly JPSE in neck and patellofemoral pain; however, effects are condition- and outcome-specific, and confidence is limited by heterogeneity and the predominance of narrative synthesis with sparse poolable data. Future adequately powered trials should standardize proprioception protocols, include longer follow-up, and report data to enable robust meta-analysis. Full article

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) present a fundamental design paradox: their exceptional properties arise from complex, high-dimensional composition–process–microstructure–property (CPMP) relationships, yet the knowledge needed to navigate this space is fragmented across a vast and unstructured literature. Large language models (LLMs) offer a transformative interface to this complexity. By extracting structured facts from text, they can convert dispersed and heterogeneous evidence (i.e., findings scattered across many studies and reported with inconsistent test protocols or characterization standards) into queryable knowledge graphs. Through code generation and tool composition, they can automate simulation pipelines, surrogate model construction, and inverse design workflows. This review analyzes how LLMs can augment key stages of HEA research—from intelligent literature mining and multimodal data integration (using LLMs to automatically extract and structure data from texts and to combine information across text, images, and other data sources) to model-driven design and closed-loop experimentation—illustrated by emerging case studies. We propose concrete evaluation protocols that measure direct scientific utility, including knowledge-graph completeness, workflow setup efficiency, and experimental validation hit rates. We also confront practical limitations: data sparsity and noise, model hallucination, domain bias (where models may exhibit superior predictive performance for specific, well-represented alloy systems over others due to imbalances in training data), and the imperative for reproducible infrastructure. We argue that domain-specialized LLMs, embedded within grounded, verifiable research systems, can not only accelerate HEA discovery but also standardize the representation, sharing, and reuse of community knowledge. Full article

The windings of aerospace motors are fabricated using enameled wires; with polyimide (PI) serving as the primary material for their insulating enamel coatings, thermal aging is the predominant factor contributing to insulation failure in enameled wires. The prolonged natural aging process of enameled wires, coupled with the complexity and sluggish variation rates of dielectric parameters used for aging monitoring, presents significant challenges in developing a universal method for assessing insulation performance. To address this challenge, our study determined accelerated aging conditions based on the Arrhenius law, fabricated twisted-pair specimens, and implemented a step-stress aging protocol, in order to monitor the insulation capacitance (IC) and dielectric dissipation factor (tan δ) of the sample. Finally, a two-parameter Weibull distribution plot was established to characterize the relationship between service life and failure probability. Initial-value normalization combined with B-spline interpolation was employed to construct IC–life correlation curves. A novel method for monitoring PI-enameled wire insulation life using IC variation rate was proposed and experimentally validated, providing a methodological framework for lifespan prediction of aerospace motor windings. Finally, a two-parameter Weibull distribution plot was established to characterize the relationship between service life and failure probability. Initial-value normalization combined with B-spline interpolation was employed to construct IC–life correlation curves. The rationality of the method using IC change rate to monitor the insulation lifetime of polyimide-enameled wire was verified, the lifetime assessment of aviation motor stator windings was achieved by monitoring corresponding dielectric parameters, and a reference standard for the maintenance and support of aviation equipment was provided. Full article

Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, threatens global wheat production, with climate change intensifying its spread. This meta-analysis, following PRISMA protocol, evaluated chemical and biological control methods through a systematic review of literature (2005–2025), identifying 12 peer-reviewed studies with 156 experimental comparisons under various conditions. Random effects models assessed treatment impacts on disease severity and grain productivity using standardized mean differences (SMDs). Chemical control significantly reduced stripe rust severity (SMD = −1.04) and improved productivity (SMD = 1.30), with low to moderate variability and consistent yield responses. Effectiveness varied by active ingredients and wheat types, with the greatest benefits in highly susceptible varieties. Biological control agents, particularly Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Trichoderma species, also reduced disease severity (SMD = −2.19) and increased yield (SMD = 2.39), though with greater heterogeneity reflecting strain-specific and environmental effects. Chemical fungicides provided more predictable disease control, while biological agents offered significant yield increases with agroecological benefits. This meta-analysis demonstrates complementary roles for both approaches, strongly supporting integrated disease management combining plant resistance, optimal fungicide use, and strategic biological control to enhance resilience and sustainability of global cereal production systems. Full article

Wetlands have been recognized as nature-based solutions to the climate crisis. This study evaluates the state of standardization in nationwide inland wetland survey datasets and analyzes terrestrial vertebrate patterns by integrating datasets with public environmental data. Species richness data for amphibians/reptiles (432 wetlands), birds (1183 wetlands), and mammals (72 wetlands) were compiled from 134 reports published between 2000 and 2021. Using generalized linear models (GLMs) and generalized additive models (GAMs), we assessed how 15 explanatory variables (climate, topography, wetland information, land use, and water quality) relate to species richness. Model families were chosen for each taxonomic group, and variables were selected using the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and ecological plausibility. Deviance explained was 55.5% for amphibians/reptiles, 60.1% for birds, and 52.4% for mammals. Wetland area and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were positively associated with species richness across all groups. Despite the large volume of survey data, inconsistent reporting formats and limited metadata constrain longitudinal and time series analyses. Standardized protocols and metadata management are therefore needed to build a systematic national database that can support wetland ecological modeling and conservation policy. Full article

Smart devices and multimodal biosignal systems, including electroencephalography (EEG/MEG), ECG-derived heart rate variability (HRV), and electromyography (EMG), increasingly supported by artificial intelligence (AI), are being explored to improve the assessment and longitudinal monitoring of mental health conditions. Despite rapid growth, the available evidence remains heterogeneous, and clinical translation is limited by variability in acquisition protocols, analytical pipelines, and validation quality. This systematic review synthesizes current applications, signal-processing approaches, and methodological limitations of biosignal-based smart systems for mental health monitoring. Methods: A PRISMA 2020-guided systematic review was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, the Web of Science Core Collection, IEEE Xplore, and the ACM Digital Library for studies published between 2013 and 2026. Eligible records reported human applications of wearable/smart devices or multimodal biosignals (e.g., EEG/MEG, ECG/HRV, EMG, EDA/GSR, and sleep/activity) for the detection, monitoring, or management of mental health outcomes. The reviewed literature after predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria clustered into six themes: depression detection and monitoring (37%), stress/anxiety management (18%), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/trauma (5%), technological innovations for monitoring (25%), brain-state-dependent stimulation/interventions (3%), and socioeconomic context (7%). Across modalities, common analytical pipelines included artifact suppression, feature extraction (time/frequency/nonlinear indices such as entropy and complexity), and machine learning/deep learning models (e.g., SVM, random forests, CNNs, and transformers) for classification or prediction. However, 67% of studies involved sample sizes below 100 participants, limited ecological validity, and lacked external validation; heterogeneity in protocols and outcomes constrained comparability. Conclusions: Overall, multimodal systems demonstrate strong potential to augment conventional mental health assessment, particularly via wearable cardiac metrics and passive sensing approaches, but current evidence is dominated by proof-of-concept studies. Future work should prioritize standardized reporting, rigorous validation in diverse real-world cohorts, transparent model evaluations, and ethics-by-design principles (privacy, fairness, and clinical governance) to support translation into practice. Full article

Background: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of microabrasion as a surface pretreatment and to compare an experimental resin infiltrant with a commercially available system (ICON) in terms of enamel surface microhardness recovery and resin penetration depth in artificially demineralized enamel lesions. Methods: Forty-eight caries-free human third molars were prepared to obtain standardized enamel specimens, and artificial enamel lesions were created using a pH-cycling model. Specimens were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 12): experimental resin with microabrasion, experimental resin without microabrasion, ICON resin with microabrasion, and ICON resin without microabrasion. When indicated, microabrasion was performed using a 6.6% hydrochloric acid paste for a total application time of 30 s, followed by standard hydrochloric acid etching as part of the infiltration protocol. Enamel surface microhardness was measured at baseline, after demineralization, and after resin infiltration. Resin penetration depth was assessed using confocal laser scanning microscopy, with six specimens per group (n = 6). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures mixed-effects models and one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). Results: Resin infiltration resulted in a partial recovery of enamel surface microhardness following demineralization; however, baseline hardness values were not fully restored, and no statistically significant differences were observed among the study groups (p > 0.05). These findings indicate surface stabilization rather than complete mechanical or mineral restoration. The ICON resin demonstrated significantly greater penetration depth than the experimental resin. In both resin systems, microabrasion significantly increased penetration depth. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, resin infiltration primarily contributed to the stabilization of demineralized enamel surfaces rather than true remineralization or full mechanical recovery. Although microabrasion enhanced resin penetration depth, this effect should be interpreted with caution due to the potential for cumulative enamel loss. From a clinical perspective, these findings support the selective use of microabrasion to enhance resin infiltration in early enamel lesions with pronounced surface barriers, while emphasizing the need to balance penetration benefits against enamel preservation. Full article

The SM2 key exchange protocol, proposed by the Chinese State Cryptography Administration and adopted as a national standard, is extensively deployed in commercial applications across China. It has also been incorporated by global industrial organizations and integrated into numerous international products, such as TPM. Today, any cryptographic protocol aspiring to become widely adopted and standardized requires a rigorous security proof within a modern security model. Although Yang et al. claimed to have established such a proof for the SM2 key exchange protocol in the Bellare–Rogaway (BR) model, we show that their proof is flawed. Moreover, we present a group representation attack against the SM2 key exchange protocol, illustrating that the protocol cannot be proven secure in any contemporary security models. Our findings thus delineate the security boundary of the SM2 key exchange protocol. Full article

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common knee injuries sustained during sport. Following injury, only 65% of patients may return to their previous level of sport. Individuals who have suffered ACL injury are far more likely to develop post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the knee (PTOA). This suggests an unmet need for strategies to help advance return to play, reduce risk of PTOA, and provide additional options for pain management after ACL injury. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and radial pressure waves (RPW) are non-invasive treatment options that have been shown effective for treatment of a variety of orthopedic injuries. This perspective proposes the use of ESWT and RPW as treatment options during the peri-operative and post-operative management of ACL injuries, with the goal of modifying risk for PTOA. The available literature indicates that ESWT may have chondroprotective effects after ACL injury, and numerous clinical trials demonstrate the effectiveness of ESWT and RPW for orthopedic conditions including tendinopathy or bone marrow edema. Limited data and a lack of consensus on standardized rehabilitation protocols present gaps in the literature and emphasize the need for research leading to evidence-based recommendations for the use of ESWT and RPW to modify risk for the onset of PTOA after ACL injuries. Full article

Background/Objectives: The combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy represents a standard adjuvant treatment for patients with high-risk endometrial cancer. However, limited access to radiotherapy in many healthcare systems frequently results in treatment delays, potentially compromising outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncologic outcomes and toxicity profile of an inverted treatment sequence consisting of upfront chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center study including patients with non-metastatic high-risk endometrial cancer. Eligible patients had FIGO stage I grade 3 disease with lymphovascular space invasion, stage II–III disease, or non-endometrioid histology. All patients received four cycles of paclitaxel–carboplatin followed by pelvic radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin. Survival outcomes, including local recurrence-free survival, disease-free survival, metastasis-free survival, and overall survival, were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. Acute hematologic toxicity was graded according to CTCAE v5.0. Bone marrow dose–volume parameters were evaluated, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to identify thresholds associated with grade ≥ 2 hematologic toxicity. Results: Fifty-two patients were included, with a median follow-up of 31.4 months. Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 86.1% and 77.5%, respectively. Ten patients relapsed, with distant metastases observed in all cases and synchronous local recurrence in one. Delays between surgery and radiotherapy of 20 weeks or more, as well as delays exceeding 10 weeks before initiation of chemotherapy, were associated with significantly reduced disease-free survival. Grade ≥ 2 hematologic toxicity was frequent, and neutropenia was associated with inferior overall survival. Bone marrow dose–volume thresholds predictive of hematologic toxicity included V40 Gy < 20–25% and V30 Gy < 40%. Conclusions: A chemotherapy-first adjuvant strategy provides favorable oncologic outcomes and excellent locoregional control in high-risk endometrial cancer when radiotherapy is delayed. However, increased hematologic toxicity highlights the importance of optimized bone marrow sparing. Full article

This protocol details an optimized step-by-step procedure for performing the Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Test on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using the Agilent Seahorse XF Pro Analyzer. Designed to address practical challenges often overlooked in standard manuals, the method preserves the native adherent state of HUVECs—a key in vitro model in vascular aging (VA) research—enabling real-time, label-free measurement of mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic function without cell detachment. The workflow is presented chronologically, covering instrument preparation, cell seeding, compound loading, assay execution, and post-assay normalization, with integrated notes and troubleshooting tips refined through hands-on experience based on the official manuals. This protocol aims to set up a detailed, rearranged standard workflow to improve experimental efficiency, reduce operator error, and support reproducible and well-organized metabolic profiling of HUVECs in aging and cardiovascular studies. Full article

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and reduced quality of life. Exercise therapy, including Pilates, is commonly recommended; however, current reviews report inconsistent findings across specific modalities. This PRISMA 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis with a PROSPERO-registered protocol, designed as a focused update of post-2020 RCTs complementing prior comprehensive syntheses, evaluated Pilates-based interventions for pain and fibromyalgia impact (FIQ). HRQoL outcomes were synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity in measurement instruments, and all outcomes were extracted at the first post-intervention assessment (no pooled long-term data were available). Seven RCTs (6–12 weeks; 2–3 sessions/week) met eligibility criteria. Methodological quality was generally moderate (PEDro), and risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2. Certainty of evidence (GRADE) was rated very low for pain and low for FIQ. Among trials reporting adherence (4/7), values ranged from 68% to 92%; adverse event monitoring was inconsistent (systematically reported in 2/7), limiting tolerability conclusions. Between-group effects versus active comparators were small and non-significant for pain (pooled Hedges’ g = −0.10, 95% CI [−0.83, 0.63], p = 0.79; I² = 73%); this wide interval, spanning potential benefit to harm, precludes definitive conclusions. For FIQ, the primary (unadjusted) analysis was non-significant: pooled MD = −5.53 (95% CI [−11.96, 0.89], p = 0.09); sensitivity analysis using ANCOVA-adjusted estimates yielded MD = −6.71 (95% CI [−13.11, −0.30], p = 0.04). Both estimates remained below MCID thresholds and were sensitive to estimator choice. Absence of statistical significance does not demonstrate equivalence; non-inferiority designs with predefined margins would be required. Given very low (pain) to low (FIQ) certainty of evidence, adequately powered trials with standardized protocols and longer follow-up are needed to resolve uncertainty regarding Pilates’ comparative effectiveness within multimodal fibromyalgia management. Full article