Search Results (224)

Wound healing is a fundamental biological process essential to maintaining structural integrity and survival across both plant and animal life. Despite the profound evolutionary distance separating these kingdoms, wound healing provides one of those momentous occasions when these biological universes collide, revealing significant evolutionary parallels in the core mechanisms of healing, despite clear molecular and physiological differences. However, two challenges have hindered systematic cross-kingdom comparisons. First, unlike animal wound healing, the major phases of plant wound healing have not been organized into a universally accepted classification. Second, no comparative framework exists for systematically comparing wound-healing processes across plant and animal kingdoms. To address these challenges, we developed a comparative classification framework that organizes wound healing into three functional phases: (1) bioelectrical signaling, (2) immune responses, and (3) tissue formation and remodeling. This classification defines the major phases of plant wound healing, while the comparative framework establishes a common basis for systematic cross-kingdom comparison. Through comparative analysis, multiple shared cellular and molecular mechanisms were identified. These findings led to a conceptual model termed the hybrid-wound healing system, integrating plant- and animal-derived regenerative responses and providing a theoretical basis for future bioinspired regenerative strategies. Within this system, living plant stem cells are proposed as central biological components that may potentially act as intelligent pharmaceutical microfactories, releasing bioactive molecules in suitable microenvironments. This approach represents a hypothetical future strategy requiring extensive preclinical validation to strategies based on extracts, conditioned media, extracellular vesicles, or isolated bioactive compounds. Collectively, this descriptive review establishes a conceptual foundation for future investigations in plant biology, wound healing, and regenerative medicine. Full article

Accurate calculation of mutual inductance (MI) between solenoid coils is essential for system design, but complex geometries and spatial arrangements make it challenging. This paper presents a modified analytical method for calculating the MI between two circular-wound air-core solenoid coils arbitrarily oriented in three-dimensional (3D) space. The analytical model used to calculate the MI between two solenoid coils is based on the use of magnetic vector potential (MVP). The helical structure of the solenoid coils is represented by successive coaxial circular filaments arranged along their central axes. Each filament is represented by an equivalent regular polygon with a sufficient number of sides. The proposed approach allows the MI between two solenoid coils to be calculated using a single analytical formula, without imposing restrictions on the relative positions of the coils, while taking lateral and angular misalignments into account. The modified analytical model is validated for accuracy and applicability by comparing its results with experimental measurements and FEM-based simulation results for coil systems with different diameters, turn numbers, and turn pitches. The MI results for various angular and lateral misalignments are in good agreement with experimental measurements and FEM results. The MI calculation model proposed in this work provides a fast and reliable tool for analyzing the electromagnetic behavior of coupled coil systems, designing inductive power transfer systems, and assessing electromagnetic compatibility. Full article

Protecting the safety and well-being of children in public child welfare is one of the most critical and demanding jobs in social work. Burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and moral injury are prevalent in this field and often occur simultaneously. This intersectional experience impacts the deepest level of a person—their soul. When left unaddressed, these soul wounds come at a high cost to the workers, organizations they work for, the clients they serve, and their greater communities. This qualitative study sought to explore and identify the characteristics of soul care and the power it has to transform the lived experiences of child welfare workers. Collaborative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven workers who had been in this field for 10 or more years and described themselves as having good soul care. Findings from this study concluded the combination of strongly held core beliefs and engagement in a steady regulation loop constituted soul care. Soul care can occur regardless of circumstance. When a soul wound occurs, the Soul Wound Cycle is activated. The momentum of the regulation loop propels one’s movement through this cycle, allowing the processing of the soul wound, resulting in increased resiliency and regaining of equilibrium, ultimately leading to better outcomes for children. Full article

Background/Objectives: Foot and ankle presentations during Hajj occur in a dense mass-gathering environment where prolonged walking, heat exposure, crowding, variable footwear, and limited self-care can interact with chronic disease and wound vulnerability. Previous Hajj studies have described foot injuries and diabetes-related complications, but less is known about whether simple high-risk foot documentation flags identify presentation records with higher care-pathway intensity. The primary objective was to estimate the presentation-level burden of core high-risk foot profiles among pilgrims presenting with foot and ankle conditions during Hajj 2025. Secondary objectives were to evaluate associations with a surgery-coded care-intensity indicator, hospital referral, and component heterogeneity. Methods: This observational presentation-level analysis included 3957 foot and ankle presentation records. The unit of analysis was the presentation/case record, not a unique individual pilgrim. A core high-risk foot profile was defined as diabetes, neuropathy, diabetic foot ulcer, foot ulcer, complications of open wound, or osteomyelitis. The primary outcome was a surgery-coded care-intensity indicator, defined solely from treatment documentation containing “Surgery” and interpreted as a care-pathway proxy rather than confirmed operating-room surgery. Logistic regression estimated crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs); exploratory risk-category analyses assessed heterogeneity within the composite profile. Results: Core high-risk foot profiles were identified in 1793/3957 presentations (45.3%). The primary outcome occurred in 239/1793 high-risk presentations (13.3%) and 201/2164 non-high-risk presentations (9.3%), an absolute difference of 4.0 percentage points. The crude OR was 1.50 (95% CI 1.23–1.83; p < 0.001). The association persisted in the primary adjusted model (adjusted OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.20–1.79; p < 0.001) and in the extended clinical sensitivity model (adjusted OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.20–1.80; p < 0.001). Care pathways and secondary outcomes are summarized was also more frequent in high-risk presentations (12.2% vs. 9.8%; crude OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.05–1.57; p = 0.017). Exploratory category analysis showed that chronic-risk-only presentations had a primary outcome rate similar to non-high-risk presentations (9.0% vs. 9.3%), whereas ulcer/wound/deep-infection presentations had a higher rate (17.3%; crude OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.63–2.55; p < 0.001). Model discrimination was modest (C-statistics 0.55–0.64). Conclusions: Core high-risk foot flags were common among Hajj foot and ankle presentation records and were associated with surgery-coded care-intensity and referral documentation. However, the composite was clinically heterogeneous, the outcome was not a validated surgery endpoint, and the models were not prediction tools. These findings support cautious use of high-risk foot flags as operational prompts for assessment and pathway planning rather than as standalone clinical risk estimates. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs) remain a major source of morbidity, healthcare utilization, and limb loss, despite adherence to established standards of care protocols and the widespread availability of advanced wound technologies. Many advanced modalities only target isolated aspects of wound healing and fail to address the complex, interdependent pathophysiology of chronic wounds, particularly tissue hypoxia, edema, impaired microcirculation, and persistent inflammation. Cyclical Pressurized Topical Wound Oxygen (TWO₂) therapy is a home-based, multimodal intervention that combines humidified topical oxygen delivery with cyclical non-contact compression to address these core drivers simultaneously. Methods: This review synthesizes mechanistic rationale and evidence from randomized controlled trials, long-term venous ulcer studies, and real-world comparative effectiveness analyses. Emphasis is placed on the large cohort study by Yellin et al., which directly compared TWO₂ with other advanced modalities including negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), skin substitutes, and growth factor therapies. Results: Across these studies, TWO₂ therapy is consistently associated with improved healing durability, reduced recurrence, and substantial reductions in hospitalization and amputation rates compared with both standard care and advanced wound therapies. Conclusions: The convergence of randomized and real-world evidence supports TWO₂ therapy as a clinically meaningful and mechanism-driven adjunctive treatment option for patients with chronic, high-risk lower-extremity wounds. Full article

This review systematically illustrates the application and research progress of endoscopically delivered hydrogels as a novel strategy in the endoscopic treatment of early-stage gastrointestinal tumors. It focuses on analyzing the unique physicochemical properties, biological functions, and clinical value of hydrogels as submucosal injection materials, and delves into their core roles in achieving sustained mucosal lifting, effective hemostasis, and wound repair during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Representative hydrogel materials, such as chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and sodium alginate, are driving the evolution of ESD technology from a mere “resection” procedure toward an integrated “lift-resect-repair” therapeutic model, owing to their excellent biocompatibility, injectability, and controllable degradability. Although challenges in clinical translation remain, including long-term safety, precise control of degradation rates, and scalable production, the field is poised for further breakthroughs with the development of smart responsive hydrogels and their deep integration with emerging technologies. Full article

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCA) represents one of the most common aggressive malignancies worldwide. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP1), a typical member of the IGF superfamily, is closely linked to adverse prognosis in numerous cancers. Up to now, little is known about its functional relevance to cell migration and tumor progression in ESCA. This work focuses on clarifying the relationship between IGFBP1 expression and the progression and migratory characteristics of ESCA. Methods: mRNA expression profiles from ESCA patients were obtained from the TCGA and GEO databases. Differential expression analysis was performed using R software(version 4.2.2), followed by an intersection of DEGs between datasets. The STRING database was applied to establish PPI networks. Cytoscape software(Version 3.7.2) was then used for visual presentation and hub gene identification. IGFBP1 expression was validated in ESCA tissues versus adjacent normal tissues. Prognostic correlation was assessed using GEPIA, while diagnostic and predictive values were evaluated through ROC analysis and Cox regression. Genetic alterations of IGFBP1 were analyzed via cBioPortal. Immune cell infiltration patterns were investigated using TIMER. Functional enrichment analyses (GO, KEGG) were performed on IGFBP1-associated DEGs. In the in vitro experiments, esophageal cancer cell lines (such as Eca109 and TE-1) and normal human esophageal epithelial cell lines (such as HEEC) were selected. The transcriptional level of IGFBP1 was examined using RT-qPCR, while Western blot analysis was conducted to validate its protein expression changes. Changes in the proliferative capacity of cancer cells after IGFBP1 silencing were detected by the CCK-8 assay, and cell migration capacity was determined via wound scratch assays to clarify the related biological effects. Results: Overall, 2870 DEGs were screened from the GEO database, 153 DEGs were screened from the TCGA database, and 34 genes were found to be common to both databases; 10 core genes were screened from the PPI network. IGFBP1 was abnormally expressed in esophageal cancer. Cox regression confirmed that IGFBP1 is an independent risk factor, and prognostic analysis indicated that IGFBP1 is closely associated with poor prognosis. Gene mutation analysis showed that amplification mutations are the most common type of IGFBP1 gene mutation, and genetic alterations in IGFBP1 in ESCA patients are significantly associated with overall survival (OS) (p = 0.0002568). GO analysis indicated that IGFBP1-related differentially expressed genes were enriched in organic anion transport, epidermal development, apical cell components, and metal ion transmembrane transporter activity. Pathway enrichment based on the KEGG database illustrated the main enrichment of target genes in neuroactive ligand–receptor interactions, calcium signaling and cAMP signaling pathways. Additionally, remarkable differences in immune cell infiltration were observed between IGFBP1 high-expression and low-expression subgroups through tumor immune profiling. IGFBP1 expression differed significantly between esophageal cancer cells and normal esophageal epithelial cells, as detected by RT-qPCR (p < 0.05). Moreover, knockdown of IGFBP1 markedly inhibited the proliferation (p < 0.05) and migration abilities (p < 0.05) of TE-1 and Eca109 cells. Conversely, IGFBP1 overexpression facilitated these cellular processes. Conclusions: As a key oncogenic driver for ESCA, IGFBP1 may participate in the oncogenesis of ESCA, possibly influencing clinical outcomes via IGF signaling and the tumor microenvironment. Its dual functions in tumor and immune systems suggest it might be a candidate for ESCA immunotherapy research. Full article

Background/Objectives: Contemporary implant dentistry is increasingly oriented toward minimally invasive regenerative strategies designed to reduce surgical morbidity while preserving or improving clinical outcomes. Conventional bone augmentation procedures remain effective and biologically well established, but they may be associated with greater patient burden, increased risk of complications, and higher technical demands in selected clinical scenarios. This narrative review critically examines minimally invasive bone regeneration approaches in implant dentistry, with particular focus on the Bone Core Technique, the Sub-Periosteal Peri-implant Augmented Layer (SPAL) technique, and Immediate Dentoalveolar Restoration (IDR), emphasizing their biological rationale, clinical indications, surgical workflows, limitations, and reported outcomes. Methods: A structured, non-systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify publications relevant to minimally invasive bone regeneration in implant dentistry. Priority was given to clinical studies, prospective cohorts, case series, technical descriptions, and biologically oriented conceptual papers addressing vascular preservation, flap limitation, donor-site morbidity, and peri-implant hard- and soft-tissue integration. Results: Available evidence suggests that minimally invasive regenerative protocols may offer favorable clinical and patient-centered outcomes only in carefully selected indications and when performed by experienced operators. The strength of support is uneven across techniques: the Bone Core Technique currently has the strongest dedicated prospective follow-up for localized peri-implant defects, SPAL is supported by limited retrospective and emerging histologic evidence, and IDR remains largely based on case reports, technique-driven descriptions, and broader immediate implant literature. Conclusions: Minimally invasive bone regeneration reflects a shift toward biologically guided and patient-centered treatment concepts in implant dentistry, but it should not be interpreted as a universal substitute for conventional augmentation. Its successful application depends on careful case selection, sound knowledge of wound healing and defect morphology, and advanced surgical and prosthetic expertise. Further research should prioritize standardized outcome measures, longer follow-up, and comparative prospective studies. Full article

The treatment of full-thickness skin defects remains a major challenge in clinical medicine. Accelerating wound healing and promoting the restoration of tissue function are of paramount importance. Stem cell therapy has been applied in clinical practice to facilitate wound repair. However, the low survival rate of transplanted stem cells in an ischemic and hypoxic microenvironment severely limits the effectiveness of their clinical application. Microspheres, owing to their excellent biocompatibility and drug delivery capabilities, can serve as effective carriers for oxygen transport. It is worthwhile to evaluate the timing and process of oxygen release under hypoxic conditions. In this study, core–shell structured oxygen-releasing microspheres were prepared and incorporated with the photosensitizer hypericin (HYP) to enable dynamic tracking of the oxygen release process via fluorescent signals. The effects of the oxygen-releasing microspheres on cells under hypoxic conditions were analyzed, focusing primarily on the characterization of the microspheres, their biocompatibility, luminescent properties, and oxygen-releasing capacity. Furthermore, the efficacy of the oxygen-releasing microspheres in combination with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in promoting wound healing was evaluated in vivo. The results indicate that the addition of the microspheres improved cell survival rates in hypoxic environments; meanwhile, their luminescent properties demonstrated the potential of fluorescence intensity as a visual indicator of oxygen release. Full article

Grain-oriented (GO) silicon steel cores in low-voltage current transformers suffer magnetic degradation from residual stress and increased dislocation density during slitting and winding. This study addresses the gap in systematic optimization of secondary annealing on assembled toroidal cores using a 3² full-factorial design varying temperature (650, 850, 1050 °C) and holding time (60, 90, 120 min) on M4 grade cores. Results showed temperature is the dominant factor, while holding time exhibits a synergistic non-linear effect. The optimal condition (850 °C, 90 min) reduced specific losses from 0.85 W/kg to 0.43 W/kg (49% reduction). Mechanistic analysis confirmed this improvement is driven by complete primary recrystallization (equiaxed grains ~50–60 µm), dislocation annihilation (~10 HV hardness reduction), and reinforcement of the Goss texture ({110} <001>). SEM, EDS, and ICP-OES demonstrated that the Carlite coating remained dimensionally (1.67–1.83 µm) and chemically stable, with beneficial decarburization. Temperatures above 850 °C caused magnetic deterioration due to excessive grain growth. These results provide a validated, industrial framework for recovering magnetic efficiency in wound toroidal cores without compromising coating integrity. Full article

Temperature/pH dual-responsive hydrogels are a class of smart materials capable of undergoing reversible structural or functional changes in response to temperature and pH stimuli. Owing to their remarkable dual-stimuli-responsive characteristics, these hydrogels have demonstrated significant potential in various biomedical applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and diagnostics technologies, making them a prominent research focus. Although considerable progress has been made in recent years, a systematic summary of the preparation methods, structural design strategies and complex biomedical applications of these materials remains conspicuously absent. Consequently, this review aims to comprehensively examine the latest advancements in this field. First, the primary preparation methods of temperature/pH dual-responsive hydrogels, including chemical crosslinking, physical crosslinking, and hybrid crosslinking, are introduced and compared. Subsequently, the main structural design strategies, including microsphere, core–shell and layered structures, and their corresponding fabrication processes are systematically elucidated. Finally, the recent progress of temperature/pH dual-responsive hydrogels in biomedical applications is discussed, including drug delivery, cancer therapy, biosensing and diagnosis, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, as well as wound healing. Based on the current research progress, this review also outlines the major challenges in the development of temperature/pH dual-responsive hydrogels, and presents perspectives on future research directions. Full article

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation, chronic airway inflammation, and immune dysregulation, and currently available therapies remain insufficient to effectively halt disease progression. In this study, we used an integrative, hypothesis-generating strategy to investigate the potential mechanisms of baicalein against COPD by combining multi-dataset transcriptomic analysis, single-cell transcriptomics, machine learning-based feature selection, Mendelian randomization (MR), molecular simulation, virtual knockout analysis, and in vitro validation. Putative targets of baicalein were predicted using CTD, SEA, and SwissTargetPrediction, and were intersected with COPD-related genes collected from GeneCards and OMIM. Four GEO datasets (GSE20257, GSE42057, GSE76925, and GSE130928) were integrated after batch-effect correction, yielding a combined cohort of 260 control samples and 250 COPD samples. Candidate genes were prioritized by intersecting the results of LASSO regression, random forest, and support vector machine. Immune-cell infiltration was estimated using CIBERSORT, and single-cell transcriptomic data were used to define the cellular localization of prioritized genes. Formal protein-level MR analysis was conducted for CD163 using deCODE plasma protein pQTL/GWAS summary statistics as the exposure dataset and the IEU OpenGWAS COPD dataset (ebi-a-GCST90018807) as the outcome dataset. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and virtual knockout analysis were further used to provide structural and network-level supportive evidence. Finally, LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells were used as an epithelial inflammatory model to evaluate the effects of baicalein by CCK-8 assay, wound-healing assay, ELISA, and RT-qPCR. Five core genes were prioritized, namely ABCC1, CD163, CYP1B1, IKBKB, and PIK3CA. Immune infiltration and single-cell analyses suggested that macrophage-associated immune regulation may represent an important mechanistic direction. MR analysis provided supportive genetic evidence for prioritizing CD163 in COPD. Molecular simulation offered preliminary structural support for several target-compound interactions. In LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells, baicalein reduced inflammatory cytokine release and modulated the expression of IKBKB, PIK3CA, IL1B, IL6, and IL10, thereby providing epithelial-level support for the predicted network. Taken together, these findings suggest that baicalein may exert anti-inflammatory effects in COPD through a multi-target, immune-associated mechanism, with macrophage-related regulation and CD163 emerging as noteworthy candidate directions for further investigation. This study provides an integrative framework for target prioritization and mechanistic exploration, while the predicted macrophage-centered mechanisms still require dedicated validation in immune-cell and in vivo models. Full article

The hot-spot temperature in oil-immersed 3D wound core transformer has a significant impact on its performance. The complexity of the winding structure and the characteristics of oil flow increase the difficulty of temperature field analysis. To address this challenge, this study aims to propose a comprehensive thermal network model for oil-immersed 3D wound core transformers to accurately calculate the winding average temperature rise and local hot-spot temperature rise with high efficiency. First, based on the principle of constant thermal resistance, a detailed model of high- and low-voltage winding is calculated using 2D finite element simulation technology. An equivalent model is established to obtain the equivalent thermal conductivity. This model considers various variables, including wire diameter, external insulation dimensions, and the vertical and longitudinal spacing of the windings. Next, multiple types of thermal resistance are defined using the thermoelectric analogy method, and a global thermal network model of the oil-immersed 3D wound core transformer is constructed. Using the Gauss–Seidel method and relevant heat transfer theory, factors such as the flow of transformer cooling oil are taken into account, which allows for the calculation of the average temperature rise and local hot-spot temperature rise in the windings. This approach effectively reduces calculation time while ensuring accuracy. Finally, a 50 kVA oil-immersed amorphous alloy 3D wound core transformer is used as a case study, and temperature field experimental tests are conducted to verify the accuracy of the proposed analytical model. Full article

Self-healing materials (SHMs) are a class of bio-inspired materials capable of autonomously repairing damage, similar to how living organisms heal wounds. The core motivation behind SHMs is to extend the service life of components while enhancing safety and reducing maintenance or replacement needs. SHMs can be broadly categorized into intrinsic systems, which rely on reversible internal bonds (dynamic covalent or supramolecular interactions) to heal repeatedly, and extrinsic systems, which embed external healing agents (e.g., microcapsules or vascular networks) that are released upon damage to effect repairs. Researchers have demonstrated self-healing behavior in diverse material families, including polymers, metals, ceramics/cementitious materials, and protective coatings, thereby improving crack resistance, fatigue life, and reliability across aerospace, automotive, civil infrastructure, energy storage, and microelectronics applications. Advances in material design and additive manufacturing have started integrating SHMs into practical structures. However, challenges such as scaling up production, maintaining mechanical performance, and ensuring long-term durability remain. Reported healing efficiencies in self-healing materials typically range from ~50% to near-complete recovery (~100%), depending on material systems and testing conditions, highlighting key trade-offs between healing performance, mechanical integrity, and scalability. Overall, SHMs represent a promising strategy for creating safer and more sustainable engineering systems, with ongoing developments aimed at overcoming current limitations and expanding their capabilities. This review highlights key trade-offs between healing efficiency, mechanical performance, and scalability, providing insights into the design and application of next-generation self-healing materials. Full article

Vibration energy is widely present in the natural environment. In the development of wearable self-powered systems, how to efficiently harvest the low-frequency mechanical energy of human motion has always been a core challenge. The piezoelectric–electromagnetic hybrid energy harvester designed in this paper consists of two units: a piezoelectric unit and an electromagnetic unit. The piezoelectric unit is composed of two arched plates, a piezoelectric layer, and an end magnet. The two sides of the piezoelectric unit are completely symmetrical. The electromagnetic unit is composed of a hollow tube, a central magnet, and a coil. The coil is wound around the outside of the center of the hollow tube to ensure that the central magnet can cut more magnetic flux lines. The two units output voltage through an external load. Firstly, based on a physical model, the force–electricity coupling mechanism is derived, and the dynamic response of the harvester at different frequencies is systematically tested. Secondly, through simulation and experiment, the influencing factors of the output voltage are deeply studied, and it is concluded that at medium and low frequencies (5 Hz–15 Hz), the harvester can provide efficient voltage output. The electromagnetic unit dominates at low frequencies and can output a larger voltage, but the voltage drops significantly after a certain frequency. The piezoelectric unit can supplement after the electromagnetic voltage drops, and the two have a synergistic effect. In addition, the output characteristics of the system mainly depend on frequency, initial distance, coil turns, and magnet mass. This paper clarifies the inherent physical mechanism of the hybrid energy harvester and provides an effective scientific reference for practical human motion energy conversion applications. Full article