Search Results (5,881)

Land and place are often framed within Western ecological traditions as “wild”, meaning pristine, uninhabited, and separate from human life, yet from a First Nations perspective no place exists without relationship, story, or responsibility. This study investigates how environmental understanding emerges when land is approached as a living, relational system rather than an object of detached observation. Guided by a sensory–phenomenological framework, the research brings together phenomenological attention to lived experience with First Nations sensory practices and arts-based methods. Fieldwork was undertaken on Dharug Country with First Nations women artists and cultural practitioners and involved walking on Country, deep listening, stillness, sensory mapping, visual making, and group yarning as interconnected ways of generating knowledge. The findings show that environmental awareness developed through attention to sound, rhythm, vibration, seasonal change, and affect, revealing Country as an active participant in knowledge formation rather than a passive setting. The study concludes that what is commonly described as “the wild” is not unknown or untouched but deeply known through sustained sensory, relational, and creative engagement, demonstrating that ecological reconnection arises through ethical, culturally grounded relationships with living systems and offering implications for more respectful, place-responsive approaches to environmental research and care. Full article

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of musculoskeletal conditions characterized by pain, restricted mandibular movement, and joint sounds, which may significantly impair quality of life. Among conservative treatment modalities, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has gained increasing attention due to its noninvasive nature and its documented analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite growing evidence supporting the clinical effectiveness of LLLT in the management of TMD-related pain and dysfunction, there is still no consensus regarding the optimal energy density parameters to achieve the most favorable therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, the primary objective of this randomized clinical trial was to determine the optimal energy density of low-level laser therapy. This clinical study evaluated the effects of LLLT applied at different energy densities in patients diagnosed with disk displacement with reduction (DDwR) and myofascial pain. A total of 100 patients were divided into two diagnostic groups, each divided into three subgroups: 940 nm, 1.5 W, 90 J; 940 nm, 3 W, 180 J; and a soft diet group. Laser treatment was performed three times per week for three weeks, for a total of nine sessions. Pain intensity, mandibular movements, and joint sounds were assessed at baseline and at one and six months. Comparable and favorable clinical improvements were achieved in both the laser therapy groups and the soft diet group. The 1.5 W-treated group showed the most significant VAS (visual analog scale) parameter reduction at 6 months. Laser treatment outcomes can be summarized as follows: low-level laser therapy was associated with clinical improvement; however, similar positive outcomes were also observed in the soft diet group. These findings indicate that further controlled studies are needed to better clarify the specific role of laser therapy in the management of temporomandibular disorders. Full article

Adhesives and sealants are critical yet still underrepresented components in packaging science. Existing reviews mainly address specific chemistries, sealing technologies, or application niches, whereas integrated analyses of adhesive and sealant families within a unified packaging-system framework remain limited. This review addresses this gap by proposing a three-dimensional classification framework—functional role, material chemistry and activation mechanism, and performance constraints—that connects functional roles, processing routes, regulatory constraints, and circularity requirements. The framework is applied across natural, synthetic, hot-melt, pressure-sensitive, and tie-layer adhesives, as well as conventional thermoplastic, barrier-oriented, and biodegradable sealant systems. Special attention is given to hybrid systems operating at the boundary between bonding and sealing, and to the performance–recyclability trade-offs that arise in multilayer architectures. Structure–property–function relationships are analysed qualitatively with respect to bond and seal strength, seal initiation temperature, hot-tack behaviour, and end-of-life compatibility. Part I establishes the classification and functional groundwork for the two-part review; Part II will extend the analysis to quantitative performance data, advanced materials, and emerging technologies. Full article

In modern reliability engineering, modeling bounded lifetime data under realistic experimental conditions is still challenging, especially when censoring schemes and unit removals are random. This study proposes a new and unified reliability framework by combining the flexible powering new power (PNP) distribution with a grouping-based progressive first-failure mechanism using a beta-binomial random design. The proposed approach explicitly accounts for the randomness in group removals, providing a more realistic description of practical life-testing experiments. Classical estimation is carried out using maximum likelihood methods with the Newton-Raphson algorithm, along with confidence intervals constructed under both standard and log-transformed parameterizations. To increase flexibility in inference, a Bayesian approach is developed based on a joint gamma and shifted log-normal prior, which respects parameter constraints and incorporates prior uncertainty. Since the posterior distributions cannot be obtained in closed form, a Metropolis-Hastings Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm is used to generate reliable posterior estimates and credible intervals. Additionally, beyond sensitivity analysis, multiple prior robustness diagnostics are incorporated to ensure reliable hyperparameter calibration and to safeguard against prior misspecification. The performance of the proposed estimators is carefully examined through extensive Monte Carlo simulations under different censoring schemes and parameter settings. The simulation results indicate that the proposed Bayesian procedures often provide more stable estimation and shorter interval estimates with competitive coverage probabilities compared with the corresponding classical methods, particularly under moderate-to-heavy censoring settings. To demonstrate its practical usefulness, the proposed model is applied to two real datasets on tensile strength of carbon and polyester fibers, where it provides a good fit and useful insights into material reliability and failure behavior. In the same applications, the practical relevance and superior performance of the proposed distribution are demonstrated, where it outperforms existing bounded versions of several well-known models, including the gamma, Weibull, and Birnbaum-Saunders distributions. Overall, this work contributes to reliability analysis by offering a flexible and computationally efficient framework that accounts for both random censoring and complex lifetime patterns, with potential applications in engineering, materials science, and applied reliability studies. Full article

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a major complication of extreme prematurity, driven in part by persistent inflammation. Interleukin (IL)-1–mediated signaling plays a central role in sustaining lung injury, making IL-1 blockade a potential therapeutic target. Evidence on the use of anakinra, a recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist, in neonatal BPD is still limited. We report the case of a female preterm infant (28⁺² weeks’ gestation, birth weight 800 g, −1.41 zs) affected by BPD requiring prolonged respiratory support. Due to persistent respiratory failure despite standard therapies, off-label treatment with subcutaneous anakinra (5 mg/kg twice daily) was initiated at 150 days of life. Clinical respiratory parameters and exploratory salivary inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6 and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, suPAR) were longitudinally monitored. Following anakinra initiation, the patient showed a gradual improvement in respiratory parameters, with reduction in oxygen requirement, mean airway pressure, and improved gas exchange. Respiratory support was gradually de-escalated from nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation to continuous positive airway pressure and subsequently to high-flow nasal cannula. Salivary suPAR levels demonstrated a decreasing trend, while IL-6 showed transient fluctuations, partly associated with intercurrent infections. Treatment was generally well tolerated during the observation period. The infant was discharged on minimal respiratory support, with continued improvement during follow-up. This case suggests a possible role of IL-1 blockade in the modulation of persistent inflammation in BPD with a refractory clinical course, although the observed clinical course may also reflect the natural evolution of the disease. Longitudinal salivary biomarkers may represent a feasible, exploratory, non-invasive approach to describe inflammatory dynamics over time. Larger prospective studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and optimal treatment protocols of anakinra. Full article

Arterial wall fragility represents a unifying pathophysiological substrate underlying a broad spectrum of aortic diseases, including aneurysms, dissections, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers, and aortitis. Rather than distinct entities, these conditions increasingly appear as interconnected manifestations of impaired wall integrity and maladaptive vascular remodeling. This narrative review provides a structured overview of the imaging correlates of arterial wall fragility from a CT-centered, multimodality perspective. Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) remains the first-line imaging modality in acute settings, enabling rapid and comprehensive assessment of vascular anatomy, luminal integrity, and the presence of life-threatening complications. Complementary modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound, contribute additional information on tissue characterization and hemodynamic evaluation in selected stable patients, follow-up settings, or specific clinical scenarios. Across imaging modalities, specific features—such as false lumen patency, intramural hematoma characteristics, ulcer-like projections, aneurysm morphology, and periaortic inflammatory changes—have been reported as markers of wall instability. These imaging-derived findings may provide clinically relevant information beyond traditional diameter-based assessment and support more refined risk stratification. Emerging approaches, including artificial intelligence, radiomics, computational modeling, and advanced MRI techniques, are expanding the role of imaging toward quantitative evaluation. However, their routine clinical implementation still requires standardization and prospective validation. Overall, a CT-centered multimodality imaging strategy may support a more comprehensive assessment of arterial wall fragility and contribute to individualized clinical decision-making in patients with aortic disease. Full article

Whether learned cognition can affect evolutionary outcomes remains a long-standing question. This study addresses a narrower mechanism: whether a model-based planner benefits from learned rules that explicitly condition on the action just taken. The testbed is a spatial artificial ecology with plants, shelters, a predator, reproduction, and a day/night cycle. Five rule-use arms are evaluated on matched simulation seeds. At age 200, agents switch to a weaker learned-lite planner that relies more strongly on learned rule predictions. The pre-specified hypothesis is that access to filtered action-conditioned rules improves outcomes relative to an otherwise identical no-rule-policy baseline, in which rules are still induced and stored but are not used for action selection. In thirty paired replicates under the default reproductive gates, the action-conditioned arm outperforms the no-rule baseline on all four pre-specified primary endpoints. The strongest effect is behavioural: the action arm produces 91.4 additional successful post-switch eating events per run ($d_z=1.56$, 93.3% paired win rate, $p<{10}^{-4}$). It also produces 10 additional crystallized clean-causal rules per replicate ($d_z=0.58$, $p_t=0.0034$). All four primary paired-t p-values remain significant after Bonferroni correction across the four-endpoint family. A diagnostic check shows that omitting reproductive cooldown from the planner’s rollout reverses the arm ordering on the same paired seeds; reinstating cooldown recovers the reported result. Two exploratory checks delimit the claim: broad unfiltered rule access can impair foraging, and a means–ends extension shifts behaviour toward reproduction without producing a robust whole-life fitness gain. Within this simulation, access to action-conditioned rules has a measurable effect on post-switch behaviour that is distinct from passive environmental prediction and from clean-crystallized rules alone. Full article

Nutrition in the early years of life plays a fundamental role in newborn growth, immune maturation, metabolic regulation, endocrine signaling, and neurological development, specifically through its interaction with the developing gut microbiota. Breast milk is the biological gold standard for infant nutrition; however, when breastfeeding is not possible, the development of formulations supplemented with bioactive substances can improve functional outcomes in comparison to standard milk formula. This narrative review discusses current evidence on formulas enriched with prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, synbiotics, human milk oligosaccharides, and other bioactive molecules. The review focuses on gut microbiota modulation, gastrointestinal function, growth and nutritional adequacy, immune development, infection-related outcomes, safety and tolerability, endocrine signaling, intestinal stem-cell regulation, obesity-related metabolic pathways, and emerging gut–brain axis interactions. Overall, available data indicate that bioactive-supplemented formulas are generally safe, well tolerated, and able to support normal growth, including in selected infants with specific clinical conditions. The most consistent effects are observed in the gastrointestinal tract, where supplementation promotes a more bifidogenic microbial profile, improves stool characteristics, supports intestinal barrier function, and influences microbial metabolic activity. By contrast, evidence regarding systemic immune effects, endocrine modulation, obesity prevention, and neurodevelopmental outcomes remains promising but heterogeneous and is still largely derived from preliminary human studies and experimental models. Therefore, these formulas may be considered a useful option when breastfeeding is not feasible, provided that their use is clinically appropriate and evidence based. Further studies are needed to clarify their long-term functional and clinical implications. Full article

Human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the spinal cord induced by immunological activation due to high HTLV-1 proviral load in the peripheral blood. HAM/TSP is representative of HTLV-1-related inflammatory diseases, and its main neurological symptoms—namely, motor dysfunction of the lower extremities through spastic paraparesis with urinary disturbance—are progressive and lead to deterioration in the quality of life of patients once these dysfunctions develop. Therefore, novel and safe therapeutic regimens are needed, enabling patients to commence treatment as soon as possible after the diagnosis of HAM/TSP. To date, various treatments have been developed for the correction of the associated immunological or virological abnormalities, which have produced some good results. However, there are still many problems, such as insufficient treatment effects and side effects. In addition, most of these treatments have only been characterized in the short term, being in the open trial phase, and it remains unclear whether or not they are suitable for the long-term treatment of HAM/TSP induced by a chronic inflammatory status. Thus, we need effective therapeutic regimens with safety for long-term or even lifelong courses of treatment. In this review, we summarize the clinical trials conducted to date for various therapeutic approaches, including representative regimens against HAM/TSP, while touching on the problematic issues. In addition, we discuss several agents with the potential to enable the development of novel therapeutic regimens as emerging interventions for further investigation in future research. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in men and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Growing evidence indicates that metabolic syndrome components, including obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia, contribute to PCa development, and progression to more aggressive form. At the same time, standard treatments such as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) significantly improve oncologic outcomes but are associated with adverse metabolic effects, including increased fat mass, insulin resistance, and sarcopenia, potentially worsening patients’ overall metabolic profile and quality of life. Tumor progression in PCa is strongly driven by androgen receptor (AR) signaling, which is closely linked to cellular metabolic reprogramming, highlighting metabolism as a potential therapeutic target. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and synthesize current evidence on the role of the ketogenic diet (KD) in PCa, with particular emphasis on its interaction with hormonal therapies, underlying metabolic and endocrine mechanisms, and its potential application as an adjunctive strategy in integrated oncologic care. Results: The KD, characterized by high fat and very low carbohydrate intake, induces a metabolic state of ketosis that reduces circulating glucose, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), potentially counteracting metabolic alterations associated with PCa and its treatments. Preclinical studies consistently demonstrate that carbohydrate restriction and KD can slow tumor growth, modulate key oncogenic pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, reduce systemic insulin signaling, and enhance survival in prostate cancer models. Additionally, emerging evidence suggests possible synergistic effects when KD is combined with standard therapies, including ADT and immunotherapy. Clinical data, although limited, indicate that low-carbohydrate dietary interventions may improve metabolic parameters and could delay biochemical progression, as suggested by increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time. However, results across studies remain heterogeneous, and robust evidence on long-term oncologic outcomes is lacking. Conclusions: Overall, the KD represents a promising but still experimental strategy in PCa management, requiring careful nutritional supervision to avoid adverse effects such as unintended weight loss or sarcopenia. Further well-designed randomized clinical trials are needed to clarify its safety, efficacy, and role in routine clinical practice. Full article

An aging population, increased life expectancy and loneliness among older people constitute a growing challenge, driving interest in technological solutions such as home drones. The aim of this study is to analyze their potential for older adults through a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, including articles indexed in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and the ACM Digital Library up to February 2026 and following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. A total of 285 records were initially identified and imported into JBI, of which 41 duplicate records were removed, and 231 studies were excluded after screening, resulting in 13 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies suggest generally favorable perceptions among some older adults regarding the use of drones in the areas of health, support and safety, alongside barriers related to usability, trust and user interaction. Recent studies incorporate practical applications, highlighting the potential applicability of drones in supporting aspects related to autonomy, health and safety among older adults. Overall, the literature, though still limited, shows a shift towards more specific applications, highlighting the potential of drones to support the autonomy, health and safety of older adults, although their implementation remains influenced by factors of acceptance and user experience. Full article

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is highly prevalent worldwide and is the third leading cause of death. While some aspects of the disease were known since the Enlightenment, Laennec’s work in the 19th century began the process of our current understanding of this disease. In this narrative review, 13 clinicians and scientists with over three centuries of cumulative experience treating and studying COPD give their perspectives on the science underpinning our modern concept of this disease and its management. These include (1) the challenges of coming up with a name for what is a complex syndrome; (2) the evolution of our thinking on the natural history of the disease; (3) the importance of particulate matter inhalation in its pathogenesis; (4) the often-overlooked but important—and often treatable—systemic effects of the disease that contribute to its morbidity and mortality; (5) the changes in our perspective of not just addressing pathologic or physiologic abnormalities but also measuring outcomes, such as breathlessness or health-related quality of life, that are of considerable importance to the patient; (6) the role of pharmacologic therapy in not only providing symptomatic relief by increasing airway caliber but also in disease modification, especially by reducing exacerbation frequency; (7) lung hyperinflation as an essential feature of COPD pathophysiology, driving symptom burden, exercise limitation, and mortality risk; (8) long-term oxygen therapy, despite being demonstrated to prolong survival in a defined set of hypoxemic patients with COPD, still having unanswered questions regarding its application and delivery; and (9) pulmonary rehabilitation, a major component of the non-pharmacologic treatment of COPD patients and prominently situated in clinical guidelines for this disease. While this, by necessity, must be a brief review of a very complex disease, the perspectives of these esteemed clinicians and scientists should be of use to other clinicians in understanding and managing this disease. Full article

Background/Objectives: Musculoskeletal pain represents a frequent and increasingly recognized health issue during adolescence. During this developmental phase, daily habits such as prolonged sitting, sedentary behaviors and the adoption of non-neutral postures may contribute to spinal overload and pain symptoms. This study contributes to the existing literature by focusing on concrete postural behaviors in real-life daily situations, an aspect that is still underexplored despite its relevance for musculoskeletal health. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between daily habits, postural behaviors and the presence of back and neck pain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 70 adolescents aged 10–20 years. Data were collected using the Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument for Children and Adolescents (BackPEI-CA), administered online. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests with effect sizes (Cramer’s V) were used to examine associations between postural behaviors, lifestyle factors, and pain outcomes, providing an inferential assessment beyond simple descriptive analysis. Results: Significant associations were found between gender and back pain, sitting posture during daily activities (writing at the desk and talking with friends) and back pain, with flexed or asymmetrical postures more frequently reported among participants with pain, and between back and neck pain (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings highlight the relevance of gender and daily postural behaviors as factors associated with musculoskeletal pain in adolescents. By identifying posture-specific behaviors linked to pain, this study provides preliminary evidence that can inform targeted preventive strategies and guide future research on modifiable daily habits in youth. Full article

By allowing continuous connectivity, automation, and data-driven decision-making across these areas, Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed certain facets of daily life, including home automation and healthcare, as well as business operations like supply chain management and smart manufacturing. IoT systems are susceptible to different cyberattacks, though, because of different designs, lack of funds, and inadequate security policies, which creates major security issues given their fast growth. Covering important topics including protocols, architectures, attack classification, detection methods, countermeasures, and research issues, this paper offers a thorough study of IoT security. Emphasizing their relevance in enhancing the security of IoTs, the article offers a thorough analysis of machine and deep learning-based detection techniques. It also offers recommendations for future paths to handle changing risks by means of particular proposals and provides tools and datasets required for IoT security studies. When considering recent progress, however, there are still some major limitations in scaling, real-time detection, dataset availability, and versatility of current solutions. We identified these issues and provided guidance on future research; we also offered a selected set of tools and datasets for further research. Additionally, this paper provides an overview of the most important issues related to IoT security as documented in the current literature, providing a framework for developing resilient and adaptable IoT security solutions in the future. Full article

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) play essential roles in the brain, influencing neuronal and dendritic growth, as well as neurotransmission. These effects persist throughout life. Numerous studies in animals and humans have demonstrated the beneficial effects of GH therapy on memory and cognitive function, as well as on the restoration of neuronal function following injury. All nerve cells, including neurons, glia, endothelial, epithelial, and perivascular cells, are affected by the actions of GH/IGF-1. IGF-1, in particular, has been associated with cognitive function. The GH-IGF-1 axis increases the proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells and the formation of new neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. In this study, we searched databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase for human clinical trials evaluating the effect of growth hormone (GH) therapy on dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), post-traumatic brain injury (PTI), and stroke. The following search terms were used: “GH and dementia,” “GH and Alzheimer’s disease,” “GH and TBI,” and “GH and stroke.” Inclusion criteria were all randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Exclusion criteria included the lack of cognitive and memory assessments. We found 28 articles. Most studies show the beneficial effects of GH therapy on memory and recovery of brain function after traumatic injury and stroke; however, consistent data are still lacking. The limited number of clinical trials, the small number of patients, and the lack of data on plasma levels of sex hormones that clearly contribute to brain function are limiting factors. This is the case, for example, with androgens. Other critical factors are dosage and treatment duration. Prolonged administration and supraphysiological doses are more effective in inducing positive clinical changes. Growth hormone (GH) therapy is a very promising intervention for preventing and treating dementia and early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, and it contributes significantly to the recovery of brain function in patients after traumatic injury and stroke. Further studies with more robust methodologies are needed to confirm these results. Full article