MDPI - Publisher of Open Access Journals

16 pages, 1119 KB

Open AccessArticle

PopPK and PBPK Models Guide Meropenem Dosing in Critically Ill Children with Augmented Renal Clearance

by Yao Liu, Hua He, Sa-Sa Zhang, Jia Zhou, Jin-Wei Zhu, Jin Xu, Hong-Jun Miao, Ji-Hui Chen and Kun Hao

Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(12), 1544; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17121544 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Background: Meropenem (MEM) is frequently prescribed for the empirical management of severe infections in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Critically ill children exhibit substantial pharmacokinetic (PK) variability, and current dosing strategies remain inadequately evaluated, particularly in neonates, infants, and those with [...] Read more.

Background: Meropenem (MEM) is frequently prescribed for the empirical management of severe infections in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Critically ill children exhibit substantial pharmacokinetic (PK) variability, and current dosing strategies remain inadequately evaluated, particularly in neonates, infants, and those with altered renal function. Methods: This study employed a dual modeling approach integrating population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) methodologies. Clinical data from two PICUs were utilized for PopPK model development and PBPK model evaluation. Both models were rigorously assessed using goodness-of-fit plots and prediction-based metrics. Monte Carlo simulations were subsequently conducted to calculate the probability of target attainment (PTA) for multiple dosing regimens across MICs of 0.25–16 mg/L. The pharmacodynamic target (PDT) was defined as maintaining unbound plasma concentrations above the MIC for 100% of the dosing interval (100% ƒT _{> MIC}), and dosing regimens were considered acceptable if the PTA exceeded 90% for efficacy while avoiding potential toxicity (Css ≥ 50 mg/L). Results: A total of 202 MEM plasma concentrations from 101 pediatric patients were analyzed. Marked inter-individual variability in MEM pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics was observed. Augmented renal clearance (ARC) was frequently identified in PICU patients. We simultaneously developed a two-compartment population pharmacokinetic model incorporating body weight and estimated glomerular filtration rate, and a whole-body physiologically based pharmacokinetic model scaled from adults with adjustments for transporter ontogeny and renal function. The PopPK model, by incorporating interindividual variability on clearance and volume of distribution, captured a wider range of drug exposures and demonstrated superior predictive performance, particularly in subgroups with high eGFR. The PBPK model showed higher precision in the low eGFR subgroup but slightly lower overall predictive accuracy. Both models identified ARC as a key driver of subtherapeutic exposure. Standard regimens were insufficient for preterm neonates when the MIC was ≥4 mg/L, and even the maximum label-recommended dose failed to achieve the pharmacodynamic target for infants older than 1 month when the MIC was ≥2 mg/L. Conclusions: Both PBPK and PopPK frameworks reliably predicted MEM pharmacokinetics in critically ill pediatric patients, with complementary strengths across renal function strata. Model-informed simulations highlighted the inadequacy of standard dosing under conditions of ARC or elevated MIC, supporting individualized, precision-guided dosing strategies based on age, eGFR, and pathogen MIC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Modeling)

17 pages, 6290 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Electrical Conductivity of Electrospun PCL Fibers by Coating with Polydopamine and in Situ Gold Nanoparticles Doped on the Polydopamine Coating

by Taha Buğra Taşdelen, Özlem Eğri and Sinan Eğri

Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3192; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233192 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a synthetic biodegradable polymer widely used in biomedical research due to its flexibility, safety for use in the body, and FDA approval for medical use. Nevertheless, its inherent hydrophobicity and restricted bioactivity limit its direct utilization in the field of [...] Read more.

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a synthetic biodegradable polymer widely used in biomedical research due to its flexibility, safety for use in the body, and FDA approval for medical use. Nevertheless, its inherent hydrophobicity and restricted bioactivity limit its direct utilization in the field of biomaterials. Efforts to overcome these limitations include, but are not limited to, surface modifications, coating, and the use of copolymers of PCL with hydrophilic polymers. Polydopamine (PDA), the oxidative polymerization product of dopamine, a naturally occurring biomolecule in living organisms, is a flexible, bioinspired coating that makes surfaces more hydrophilic and facilitates cell attachment by incorporating numerous catechol and amine functional groups, making it suitable for biomaterial applications. PCL nanofibers were coated with PDA in three concentrations of dopamine solutions (0.2, 2, and 20 mg·mL⁻¹). Then, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were deposited in situ using sodium borohydride reduction. Morphological, physicochemical, and electrical properties of both PDA-coated and AuNP-loaded PCL fibers were comparatively investigated. The PDA coating made the surface significantly more hydrophilic compared to PCL-only surfaces, and AuNP-loaded fibers exhibited an extremely hydrophilic character. The primary concern of this article, electrical conductivity, was found to increase by up to a hundredfold with PDA coating and by a thousandfold with loading of AuNPs. PDA coating or loading AuNPs onto PDA-coated electrospun PCL fibers can provide a wide range of applications in the field of biomaterials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers)

21 pages, 2719 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Fluoride Pollution on Fungal Communities at the Watershed Scale: A Case Study of the Qingshui River, Ningxia

by Zengfeng Zhao, Xiaocong Qiu, Juan Yin, Ruizhi Zhao and Cheng Ni

Microorganisms 2025, 13(12), 2733; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13122733 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study systematically investigated the driving mechanisms and feedback effects of fluoride pollution gradients on fungal communities in water-soil systems, using the Qingshui River basin in Ningxia, China, as a case study. In 2022, 66 sets of samples, each comprising water, sediment, and [...] Read more.

This study systematically investigated the driving mechanisms and feedback effects of fluoride pollution gradients on fungal communities in water-soil systems, using the Qingshui River basin in Ningxia, China, as a case study. In 2022, 66 sets of samples, each comprising water, sediment, and riparian soil, were collected across three phases (May, July, December). High-throughput sequencing combined with fluoride speciation analysis revealed that fluoride pollution significantly reduced fungal alpha diversity (low-fluoride group > high-fluoride group I > high-fluoride group II), with aquatic habitats exhibiting the most sensitive response. Ascomycota and Chytridiomycota were identified as dominant fluoride-tolerant phyla, and Ascobolus and Cladosporium as representative tolerant genera. Fungi influenced fluoride speciation through mediating mineral weathering and organic matter metabolism; for instance, Humicola promoted fluoride immobilization, while Archaeorhizomyces participated in organic matter-bound fluoride (O.M.-F) metabolism. Fungi in sediments tended to promote the accumulation of residual fixed fluoride (Res-F), whereas those in riparian soils exhibited dual regulatory effects on the release of bioavailable fluoride (Ba-F). This research elucidates the succession patterns of fungal communities under fluoride pollution and their feedback mechanisms on fluoride biogeochemical cycling, offering a theoretical basis for ecological restoration in high-fluoride regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Microbiology)

23 pages, 7309 KB

Open AccessArticle

Underwater Sound Source Depth Estimation Using Deep Learning and Vector Acoustic Features

by Biao Wang, Chao Chen, Xuejie Bi and Kang Yang

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(12), 2284; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13122284 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Accurate estimation of underwater sound source depth plays a crucial role in ocean acoustic monitoring, underwater target localization, and marine environment exploration. This study exploits the capability of vector hydrophones to simultaneously and co-locally acquire both scalar and vector components of the underwater [...] Read more.

Accurate estimation of underwater sound source depth plays a crucial role in ocean acoustic monitoring, underwater target localization, and marine environment exploration. This study exploits the capability of vector hydrophones to simultaneously and co-locally acquire both scalar and vector components of the underwater sound field. Based on the study of the line spectrum interference structure characteristics of the underwater sound field, the vertical sound intensity flux of the underwater sound source is extracted. Additionally, a parallel BiLSTM and ResNet network structure is proposed to train this feature and achieve depth estimation of underwater sound sources. Experimental results show that under ±10% and ±15% errors in the source–hydrophone distance, the proposed model maintains stable performance within a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) range of −15 dB to +15 dB. Compared with the LSTM model, the ResNet model, and the matched-field processing (MFP) algorithm, the average RMSE of our model is reduced by 72.4%, 54.0%, and 64.1%, respectively. Furthermore, under 5% and 10% frequency estimation errors, the average RMSE of the proposed model within the same SNR range is reduced by 47.7%, 20.3%, and 79.3%, respectively. It effectively estimates the depth of underwater sound sources, with estimation errors below 5 m under non-extreme SNR conditions. These results fully demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed method under practical uncertainties in the ocean environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)

25 pages, 2875 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Effectiveness of Juvenile Protection: Deep Learning-Based Facial Age Estimation via JPSD Dataset Construction and YOLO-ResNet50

by Yuqiang Wu, Qingyang Gao, Yichen Lin, Zhanhai Yang and Xinmeng Wang

Appl. Syst. Innov. 2025, 8(6), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/asi8060185 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

An increasing number of juveniles are accessing adult-oriented venues, such as bars and nightclubs, where supervision is frequently inadequate, thereby elevating their risk of both offline harm and unmonitored exposure to harmful online content. Existing facial age estimation systems, which are primarily designed [...] Read more.

An increasing number of juveniles are accessing adult-oriented venues, such as bars and nightclubs, where supervision is frequently inadequate, thereby elevating their risk of both offline harm and unmonitored exposure to harmful online content. Existing facial age estimation systems, which are primarily designed for adults, have significant limitations when it comes to protecting juveniles, hindering the efficiency of supervising them in key venues. To address these challenges, this study proposes a facial age estimation solution for juvenile protection. First, we have designed a ‘detection–cropping–classification’ framework comprising three stages. This first detects facial regions using a detection algorithm, then crops the image before inputting the results into a classification model for age estimation. Secondly, we constructed the the Juvenile Protection Surveillance and Detection (JPSD) Dataset by integrating five public datasets: UTKface, AgeDB, APPA-REAL, MegaAge and FG-NET. This dataset contains 14,260 images categorised into four age groups: 0–8 years, 8–14 years, 14–18 years and over 18 years. Thirdly, we conducted baseline model comparisons. In the object detection phase, three YOLO algorithms were selected for face recognition. In the age estimation phase, traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs), such as ResNet50 and VGG16, were contrasted with vision transformer (ViT)-based models, such as ViT and BiFormer. Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) was used for visual analysis to highlight differences in the models’ decision-making processes. Experiments revealed that YOLOv11 is the optimal detector for accurate facial localisation, and that ResNet50 is the best base classifier for enhancing age-sensitive feature extraction, outperforming BiFormer. The results show that the framework achieves Recall of 89.17% for the 0–8 age group and 95.17% for the over-18 age group. However, we have found that the current model has low Recall rates for the 8–14 and 14–18 age groups. Therefore, in the near term, we emphasise that this technology should only be used as a decision-support tool under strict human-in-the-loop supervision. This study provides an essential dataset and technical framework for juvenile facial age estimation, offering support for juvenile online protection, smart policing and venue supervision. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Artificial Intelligence)

17 pages, 4978 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phylogenetic and Pathogenic Characterization of Cytospora Species Causing Apple Canker in Kazakhstan

by Zhanar Tulegenova, Saltanat Nayekova, Alikhan Zhaxylykov, Aidar Spanbayev, Kazbek Dyussembayev, Gulzhamal Mukiyanova, Тursunbayev Nariman, Vladimir Kiyan, Emre Sevindik and Cafer Eken

Agriculture 2025, 15(23), 2490; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15232490 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Apple (Malus domestica) is a very important crop grown in Kazakhstan. Cytospora species are capable of causing destructive stem cankers on a wide range of woody plants, including apples, and can lead to twig and branch dieback. This study aimed to [...] Read more.

Apple (Malus domestica) is a very important crop grown in Kazakhstan. Cytospora species are capable of causing destructive stem cankers on a wide range of woody plants, including apples, and can lead to twig and branch dieback. This study aimed to identify the Cytospora species responsible for canker disease of apple in Kazakhstan and to assess the susceptibility of major apple cultivars to these pathogens. Investigations were conducted in Almaty, Kazakhstan, during 2023 and 2024. Samples from symptomatic trees were collected, and nine Cytospora isolates were obtained from diseased apple trees. Multigene phylogenetic analysis based on combined sequence data of ITS, tef1-α, tub2, and LSU loci, together with morphological characteristics and pathogenicity assays, revealed two Cytospora species: C. leucostoma and C. sorbicola. The reactions of six apple cultivars (Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Jonaprince) to these species were evaluated, and statistically significant differences were found among cultivars (p < 0.05). The largest lesions occurred on Red Delicious and Fuji, indicating that these cultivars are the most susceptible. In contrast, lesion lengths on Jonaprince were significantly smaller than on all other cultivars, suggesting that Jonaprince is resistant to Cytospora species in Kazakhstan. This is the first report of C. leucostoma and C. sorbicola causing apple canker disease in Kazakhstan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Protection, Diseases, Pests and Weeds)

16 pages, 786 KB

Open AccessArticle

Electromyographic Patterns of Scapular Muscles During Four Variations of Protraction–Retraction Exercises

by Eui-Young Jung, Su-Yeon Roh and Woo-Lim Mun

Life 2025, 15(12), 1840; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15121840 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

(1) Background: How variations of the push-up plus (PUP)—particularly changes in the base of support and scapular excursion—affect scapular muscle activation remains unclear. This study compared phase-specific electromyographic (EMG) activity of scapular muscles during four protraction–retraction exercises. (2) Methods: Twenty-six healthy male participants [...] Read more.

(1) Background: How variations of the push-up plus (PUP)—particularly changes in the base of support and scapular excursion—affect scapular muscle activation remains unclear. This study compared phase-specific electromyographic (EMG) activity of scapular muscles during four protraction–retraction exercises. (2) Methods: Twenty-six healthy male participants (age: 22.88 ± 1.45 years; height: 1.74 ± 0.05 m; weight: 77.31 ± 8.61 kg; body mass index (BMI): 25.61 ± 2.43 kg/m²) with Pilates experience performed four scapular protraction–retraction exercises under two base-of-support (quadruped vs. single-leg) and two movement-range (PUP vs. STD) conditions. Exercise order was randomized, and sufficient rest intervals were provided to minimize fatigue effects. Surface electromyography was recorded from six scapular muscles and normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contraction. The study was registered on CRIS (KCT0010032). (3) Results: Single-leg PUP showed the greatest serratus anterior (SA) activation, with increases of approximately 30% in protraction, 20–25% in isometric, and 15–20% in retraction. STD variations elicited higher trapezius activation, especially during large scapular excursions. The UT/SA ratio was significantly lower in PUP conditions (η²p = 0.544), reflecting a more favorable stabilization pattern. (4) Conclusions: This experimental repeated-measures study demonstrates that combining single-leg support with traditional PUP meaningfully increases SA recruitment across all phases, whereas increased scapular range enhances trapezius engagement. These findings provide novel phase-specific insights into how PUP variations modulate closed-chain scapular stabilization and may assist clinicians in selecting targeted exercises. Interpretation should be limited to trained healthy males. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Exercise Training on Muscle Function—2nd Edition)

34 pages, 10774 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Analysis of Low-Cost Devices for High-Precision Diameter at Breast Height Estimation

by Jozef Výbošťok, Juliána Chudá, Daniel Tomčík, Julián Tomaštík, Roman Kadlečík and Martin Mokroš

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(23), 3888; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17233888 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Forestry is essential for environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and renewable resource management. Traditional methods for forest inventory, particularly the manual measurement of diameter at breast height (DBH), are labor-intensive and prone to error. Recent advancements in proximal sensing, including lidar and [...] Read more.

Forestry is essential for environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and renewable resource management. Traditional methods for forest inventory, particularly the manual measurement of diameter at breast height (DBH), are labor-intensive and prone to error. Recent advancements in proximal sensing, including lidar and photogrammetry, have paved the way for more efficient approaches, yet high costs remain a barrier to widespread adoption. This study investigates the potential of close-range photogrammetry (CRP) using low-cost devices, such as smartphones, cameras, and specialized handheld laser scanners (Stonex and LIVOX prototype), to generate 3D point clouds for accurate DBH estimation. We compared these devices by assessing their agreement and efficiency when compared to conventional methods in diverse forest conditions across multiple tree species. Additionally, we analyze factors influencing measurement errors and propose a comprehensive decision-making framework to guide technology selection in forest inventory. The results show that the lowest-cost devices and photogrammetric methods achieved the highest agreement with the conventional (caliper-based) measurements, while mobile applications were the fastest and least expensive but also the least accurate. Photogrammetry provided the most accurate DBH estimates (error ≈ 0.7 cm) but required the highest effort; handheld laser scanners achieved an average accuracy of about 1.5 cm at substantially higher cost, while mobile applications were the fastest and least expensive but also the least accurate (3–3.5 cm error). The outcomes of this research aim to facilitate more accessible, reliable, and sustainable forest management practices. Full article

17 pages, 3500 KB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of the Mitochondrial Genome of Cavariella salicicola: Insight into the Codon Usage Bias and Phylogenetic Implications in Aphidinae

by Tian-Xing Jing, Yan-Jin Zhang, Pei-Xuan Li, Qian Wang, Jin Yang, Hong-Hua Su and Shuai Zhang

Genes 2025, 16(12), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16121427 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Background: Cavariella salicicola (Hemiptera: Aphidinae) is a pest on Salix spp. and various Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) vegetables. However, the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationship of the genus Cavariella within Aphidinae remain controversial due to the small body size and easily confused external morphology. [...] Read more.

Background: Cavariella salicicola (Hemiptera: Aphidinae) is a pest on Salix spp. and various Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) vegetables. However, the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationship of the genus Cavariella within Aphidinae remain controversial due to the small body size and easily confused external morphology. Methods: The complete mitochondrial genome of C. salicicola collected from Oenanthe javanica was sequenced using the Illumina platform and compared with C. theobaldi. The codon usage bias of two Cavariella aphids was assessed through Enc plot, PR2 plot, and neutrality plot analyses. Furthermore, phylogenetic trees were constructed based on both Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analysis. Results: The C. salicicola mitochondrial genome comprises 15,720 bp and represents a typical circular DNA molecule with a high AT content of 83.8%. It contains the standard 37 genes, including 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and 2 long non-coding regions (control and repeat regions). Varying degrees of codon usage bias were found across different PCGs, and the bias was predominantly influenced by natural selection rather than mutational pressure. The ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (Ka/Ks) indicated that all PCGs in C. salicicola, as well as most other Aphidinae species, are under strong purifying selection. The phylogenetic analysis based on Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference both strongly supported the monophyly of Aphidinae, Macrosiphini, and Aphidini. Crucially, the monophyletic genus Cavariella was resolved as a sister group to all other sampled species within the tribe Macrosiphini. Conclusions: This study provides new molecular data to support the sister relationship of the genus Cavariella to other Macrosiphini aphids. This study will enhance our understanding of phylogenetic relationships within the subfamily Aphidinae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Evolution, Mitochondrial Genomics and Mitochondrial Genome Expression in Animals: 2024–2025)

28 pages, 6586 KB

Open AccessArticle

Uncoupled Fracture Indicator Dependent on the Third Invariant and the Level of Ductility: Applications in Predominant Shear Loading

by Leonel L. Delgado-Morales, Lucas O. Barros and Lucival Malcher

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12689; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312689 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

This contribution presents an improved ductile fracture indicator that is dependent on the normalized third invariant and the plastic strain at fracture, which is in turn dependent on the stress state of the material. Lemaitre’s damage model is used to numerically evaluate the [...] Read more.

This contribution presents an improved ductile fracture indicator that is dependent on the normalized third invariant and the plastic strain at fracture, which is in turn dependent on the stress state of the material. Lemaitre’s damage model is used to numerically evaluate the location and level of displacement required to initiate ductile fracture of the alloy. Along with this analysis, the constitutive model based on Gao’s criterion was implemented, to which the fracture indicator was coupled. The proposed fracture indicator is considered a damage denominator function dependent on the normalized third invariant and the plastic strain at the fracture. This damage denominator function seeks to regulate the rate of evolution of the degradation of the material according to its state of stress and level of ductility, which makes the indicator, coupled with the post-processing step of Gao’s model, satisfactorily predict the correct level of force, the appropriate location, and the displacement necessary for the fracture of the material. The predictions made with the help of the indicator were compared to the performance of Lemaitre’s model. In addition, specimens that describe the low triaxiality ratio were evaluated using AISI 4340 alloy at different ductility levels. The new indicator proved to be more advantageous in predicting the mechanical behavior in the fracture of the material for different types of loads, allowing a good estimate of the displacement in the fracture and the levels of force. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Solid Mechanics and Its Applications)

17 pages, 6077 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hull Girder Ultimate Strength Analysis For Thin-Walled Steel Structures

by Mateja Tomičić, Jerolim Andrić, Pero Prebeg and Smiljko Rudan

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(12), 2282; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13122282 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

The ultimate strength of the hull girder represents one of the key criteria in the design of large thin-walled steel structures such as ships and aircrafts. For large ship structures, the hull girder’s ultimate strength is expressed as the maximum internal vertical bending [...] Read more.

The ultimate strength of the hull girder represents one of the key criteria in the design of large thin-walled steel structures such as ships and aircrafts. For large ship structures, the hull girder’s ultimate strength is expressed as the maximum internal vertical bending moment that the hull structure can absorb before collapse. In this paper, a progressive collapse analysis of the hull girder has been performed for several different variants of large steel thin-walled box girders, taken from the literature as benchmark cases, using the nonlinear finite element method (NLFEM), considering both material and geometrical nonlinearity. Results from the performed calculations were compared to the numerical results of other researchers published in the literature, as well as the results of our physical experiment. The influence of initial geometrical imperfection on the value of the ultimate bending moment achieved with NLFEM has been investigated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Analysis of Ship Structure)

23 pages, 4074 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Application for Through-Vial Impedance Spectroscopy (TVIS) in the Qualification of the Pirani-Gauge Assessment of the Ice Sublimation Endpoint

by Pathum Subash Wijesekara, Kiran Malik, Paul Matejtschuk and Geoff Smith

Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(12), 1542; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17121542 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: All the industry standard methods for monitoring the freeze-drying process, from the single-vial assessment using temperature probes, such as thermocouples, to batch assessments using comparative pressure measurements, have poorly defined transitions marking the end of ice sublimation. In this study, through-vial impedance [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: All the industry standard methods for monitoring the freeze-drying process, from the single-vial assessment using temperature probes, such as thermocouples, to batch assessments using comparative pressure measurements, have poorly defined transitions marking the end of ice sublimation. In this study, through-vial impedance spectroscopy (TVIS) is used to characterise and validate the point on the Pirani curve that corresponds to the end of ice sublimation. The impact of the solution composition in relation to its propensity to form crystalline and amorphous domains and the impact of the batch size were investigated. Methods: Individual TVIS vials were placed at specific positions across the shelf, in order to represent the core and edge vials of the batch. The unique features of the high-frequency real part capacitance, with its precise sublimation endpoint-defining plateau, were then used to map the individual-vial sublimation endpoints onto the Pirani profile, with a view to predicting the batch sublimation endpoint. Results: TVIS vial endpoints enabled a key observation that the shape of the Pirani profile may be analysed in terms of two phases, the first being largely associated with ice sublimation and the second being associated with water desorption. Moreover, by identifying the transition point more precisely, even in the small to intermediate scale systems, we provide a scientific basis for predicting the sublimation endpoint for production-scale dryers, where Pirani sensors are already in place. Conclusions: Such qualification of batch sublimation endpoints would allow for earlier, confident switching to the secondary drying stage without unnecessary delay, leading to shorter cycles, reduced energy consumption, and improved utilisation of costly freeze-drying infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Freeze-Drying in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing: Stability and Efficacy)

14 pages, 1623 KB

Open AccessArticle

Promoter Specificity and Transcription Levels Modulate Trans-Splicing Efficiency at the mod(mdg4) Locus in Drosophila

by Oguljan Beginyazova, Iuliia V. Soldatova, Pavel Georgiev and Maxim Tikhonov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(23), 11609; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311609 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Unlike canonical cis-splicing, trans-splicing combines exons from two distinct transcripts, creating chimeric mRNAs. One striking example is the mod(mdg4) locus in Drosophila, where all mRNAs, encompassing over 30 isoforms, are exclusively generated via trans-splicing, which integrates common constitutive exons [...] Read more.

Unlike canonical cis-splicing, trans-splicing combines exons from two distinct transcripts, creating chimeric mRNAs. One striking example is the mod(mdg4) locus in Drosophila, where all mRNAs, encompassing over 30 isoforms, are exclusively generated via trans-splicing, which integrates common constitutive exons with one of the alternative 3′ exons transcribed from independent promoters. This study analyzed the roles of the promoter, exons, and introns in trans-splicing, including in the constitutive part of the mod(mdg4) gene, using a previously validated model in the heterogeneous 22A genomic locus. We found that trans-splicing efficiency was significantly greater with the mod(mdg4) promoter compared to unrelated promoters with the similar transcription level. Trans-splicing efficiency correlates positively with transcriptional strength only at low transcription levels, and it does not change with further increases in mod(mdg4) transcription in the model system. The last common exon and the preceding intron of mod(mdg4) also play a minor role in enhancing trans-splicing. However, low levels of trans-splicing are maintained even when all sequences of the mod(mdg4) gene are replaced, except for the proximal part of the last intron, where trans-splicing is initiated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

17 pages, 11236 KB

Open AccessArticle

TCSN-YOLO: A Small-Target Object Detection Method for Fire Smoke

by Cao Yang, Zhou Jun, Wen Hongyuan and Wang Gang

Fire 2025, 8(12), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8120466 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Forest fires continue to pose a significant threat to public and personal safety. Detecting smoke in its early stages or when it is distant from the camera is challenging because it appears in only a small region of the captured images. This paper [...] Read more.

Forest fires continue to pose a significant threat to public and personal safety. Detecting smoke in its early stages or when it is distant from the camera is challenging because it appears in only a small region of the captured images. This paper proposes a small-scale smoke detection algorithm called TCSN-YOLO to address these challenges. First, it introduces a novel feature fusion module called trident fusion (TF), which is innovatively designed and incorporated into the neck of the model. TF significantly enhances small target smoke recognition. Additionally, to obtain global contextual information with high computational efficiency, we propose a Cross Attention Mechanism (CAM). CAM captures diverse smoke features by assigning attention weights in both horizontal and vertical directions. Furthermore, we suggest using SoftPool to preserve more detailed information in the feature map. Normalized Wasserstein Distance (NWD) metric be embedded into the loss function of our detector to distinguish positive and negative samples under the same threshold. Finally, we evaluate the proposed model using AI For Humankind dataset and FlgLib dataset.The experimental results demonstrate that our method achieves 37.1% APs, 90.3% AP50, 40.4% AP50:95, 45.34 M Params and 170.5 G FLOPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic AI for Natural Disasters Detection, Prediction and Modeling)

12 pages, 1651 KB

Open AccessArticle

Luminescence of BaFBr and BaF₂ Crystals Irradiated by Swift Krypton Ions

by Daurzhan Kenbayev, Abdirash Akilbekov, Alma Dauletbekova, Gulnara Aralbayeva, Balzhan Saduova and Madiyar Knyazev

Crystals 2025, 15(12), 1027; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15121027 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

In this study, radiation damage in BaFBr and BaF₂ crystals irradiated with 147 MeV ⁸⁴Kr ions up to fluences of (10¹⁰–10¹⁴) ions/cm² was investigated using X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) and pulsed cathodoluminescence (PCL). The effect [...] Read more.

In this study, radiation damage in BaFBr and BaF₂ crystals irradiated with 147 MeV ⁸⁴Kr ions up to fluences of (10¹⁰–10¹⁴) ions/cm² was investigated using X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) and pulsed cathodoluminescence (PCL). The effect of oxygen impurities present in the studied crystals was also considered. XEOL spectra revealed bands associated with oxygen impurities occupying halide sites, as well as luminescence bands with maxima at approximately 2.81 eV, 3.7–4 eV, and 2.3 eV. The luminescence at 2.81 eV can be attributed to the recombination of electrons released during X-ray irradiation with holes trapped at specific sites (Type I, PL). The observed highly energetic luminescence is most likely due to perturbed exciton. Such a perturbed exciton can be formed in the configuration F + V_k (Br₂⁻) in the presence of the neighboring impurity ion O²⁻ Oxygen impurities play an important role in the formation mechanisms of these centers. High radiation doses lead to crystal degradation. Excitation by a high-power electron pulse induces excitonic luminescence near the oxygen impurity at 4.2 eV. A distinctive feature of the 4.2 eV emission band is its strong intensity at high temperatures. In the decay kinetics of the PCL spectra, a fast component in the nanosecond range dominates, which remains independent of fluence in BaFBr and BaF₂ crystals irradiated with krypton ions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crystal Engineering)

23 pages, 2280 KB

Open AccessArticle

DAFT: Domain-Augmented Fine-Tuning for Large Language Models in Emotion Recognition of Health Misinformation

by Youlin Zhao, Xingmi Zhu, Wanqing Tang, Linxing Zhou, Li Feng and Mingwei Tang

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12690; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312690 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study proposes a domain-augmented fine-tuning strategy for improving emotion recognition in health misinformation using pre-trained large language models (LLMs). The proposed method aims to address key limitations of existing approaches, including insufficient precision, weak domain adaptability, and low recognition accuracy for complex [...] Read more.

This study proposes a domain-augmented fine-tuning strategy for improving emotion recognition in health misinformation using pre-trained large language models (LLMs). The proposed method aims to address key limitations of existing approaches, including insufficient precision, weak domain adaptability, and low recognition accuracy for complex emotional expressions in health-related misinformation. Specifically, the Domain-Augmented Fine-Tuning (DAFT) method extends a health emotion lexicon to annotate emotion-oriented corpora, designs task-specific prompt templates to enhance semantic understanding, and fine-tunes GPT-based LLMs through parameter-efficient prompt tuning. Empirical experiments conducted on a health misinformation dataset demonstrate that DAFT substantially improves model performance in terms of prediction error, emotional vector structural similarity, probability distribution consistency, and classification accuracy. The fine-tuned GPT-4o model achieves the best overall performance, attaining an emotion recognition accuracy of 84.77%, with its F1-score increasing by 20.78% relative to the baseline model. Nonetheless, the corpus constructed in this study is based on a six-dimensional emotion framework, which may not fully capture nuanced emotions in complex linguistic contexts. Moreover, the dataset is limited to textual information, and future research should incorporate multimodal data such as images and videos. Overall, the DAFT method effectively enhances the domain adaptability of LLMs and provides a lightweight yet efficient approach to emotion recognition in health misinformation scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)

16 pages, 6423 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of the Monodentate Coordination of Biphenyl Carboxylic Acid Isomers on the Luminescent Properties of Mononuclear Europium Complexes

by Carlos Felipe Hernández-Fuentes, Ángel de Jesús Morales-Ramírez, Luis Sergio Cuevas-Cadena, María Luz Carrera-Jota, Ciro Falcony-Guajardo, José Ortíz-Landeros, Adán Ramírez-López and Juan Alberto Alcántara Cárdenas

Crystals 2025, 15(12), 1028; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15121028 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study presents the synthesis, crystal structure determination and luminescence properties of three novel mononuclear europium (III) complexes constructed from sodium benzoate and the three different isomers of biphenylcarboxylic acid (2-, 3-, and 4-). All complexes share a common structural core; consisting of [...] Read more.

This study presents the synthesis, crystal structure determination and luminescence properties of three novel mononuclear europium (III) complexes constructed from sodium benzoate and the three different isomers of biphenylcarboxylic acid (2-, 3-, and 4-). All complexes share a common structural core; consisting of a single europium (III) ion coordinated by three bidentate benzoate ligands and two monodentate biphenylcarboxylate ligands. The synthesis followed a two-step strategy: first, a benzoate-based precursor complex was prepared by displacing the chloride and water molecules from europium (III) chloride hexahydrate with sodium benzoate by chelating process. The remaining water ligands were substituted with each biphenylcarboxylic acid isomer yielding solvent-free luminescent complexes. The structural characterization involved thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to confirm the complete elimination of water molecules. The crystal structures of the europium (III) complexes were solved from X-ray powder diffraction data using the EXPO2014 software; and were deposited in the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) under deposition numbers 2477668, 2477667 and 2476992. The photoluminescence properties, including excitation, emission, decay time, and color purity, were studied. The influence of each biphenylcarboxylate isomer on the symmetry of the europium coordination sphere was assessed by calculating the asymmetry ratio, R = (I⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂/I⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁), revealing clear differences in emission intensity and symmetry distortion, directly correlated to the ligand isomer used. These findings demonstrate the antenna effect and tunable luminescence enabled by ligand design, offering potential applications in optoelectronics, bio-imaging and others. Full article

22 pages, 3331 KB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Acetaldehyde and Dysregulated Mitophagic Lysosomal Processing in Chronic-Binge Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury

by Devadoss J. Samuvel, Emory Foerster, Li Li, Amir K. Richardson, Patrick M. Wooster, John J. Lemasters and Zhi Zhong

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(23), 11608; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311608 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Chronic binge drinking is common among patients with alcohol-associated steatohepatitis. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that chronic binge ethanol exposure disrupts mitophagic processing and stimulates release of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns (mtDAMPs), thereby promoting hepatic inflammation and fibrosis after chronic binge ethanol (CBE) [...] Read more.

Chronic binge drinking is common among patients with alcohol-associated steatohepatitis. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that chronic binge ethanol exposure disrupts mitophagic processing and stimulates release of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns (mtDAMPs), thereby promoting hepatic inflammation and fibrosis after chronic binge ethanol (CBE) exposure in mice using the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism model. After CBE, hepatic steatosis, liver injury, inflammation, and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation occurred. Alda-1, an aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 activator, attenuated these changes. After CBE, mitochondrial depolarization (mtDepo) occurred in ~85% hepatocytes, and mitophagy-associated proteins increased, which Alda-1 blunted. By contrast, transcription factor-EB (master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis) and lysosomal markers decreased, indicating disrupted lysosomal processing. After mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) restores mitochondrial mass and function. After CBE, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (MB regulator), mitochondrial transcription factor-A, oxidative phosphorylation proteins, and fatty acid oxidation all decreased, which Alda-1 largely restored. After CBE, serum mtDAMPs (mitochondrial DNA and cytochrome c) increased 3- to 10-fold. In vitro, mitochondrial DNA stimulated macrophage and HSC activation, which was prevented by toll-like receptor-9 inhibition. In conclusion, CBE increases mtDepo in an acetaldehyde-dependent fashion, leading to mitophagic overburden, disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis, mtDAMP release, and ultimately development of liver inflammation and injury. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances and Insights into Liver Diseases)

17 pages, 806 KB

Open AccessStudy Protocol

Greening Schoolyards to Improve Child Health: A Quasi-Experimental Study Protocol in Belgian and Dutch Primary Schools

by Bo H. W. van Engelen, Lore Verheyen, Bjorn Winkens, Michelle Plusquin, Robert Malina and Onno C. P. van Schayck

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(12), 1805; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22121805 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity and mental health problems are major public health concerns worldwide. Early-life exposure to green spaces has been shown to promote physical activity, reduce obesity risk, and improve cognitive and emotional development. Schoolyards offer a unique opportunity to promote health, as [...] Read more.

Background: Childhood obesity and mental health problems are major public health concerns worldwide. Early-life exposure to green spaces has been shown to promote physical activity, reduce obesity risk, and improve cognitive and emotional development. Schoolyards offer a unique opportunity to promote health, as children spend a large proportion of their time at school. Methods: This quasi-experimental protocol study investigates the effects of transforming gray schoolyards into biodiverse green spaces on children’s health and well-being. Four primary schools in Limburg (Belgium and The Netherlands) were recruited: two intervention schools and two control schools. Children aged 7–12 years were enrolled, with baseline data collected in November 2021 and follow-up measurements scheduled every six months until November 2023. Outcomes include body mass index (BMI) z-score (primary outcome), waist circumference, diet, cognitive performance, psychological well-being, biodiversity knowledge, and physical activity. Data will be analyzed using linear mixed models, and cost-effectiveness analyses will be performed. Expected Results: Improvements in BMI z-scores, cognitive functioning, dietary behavior, and psychological well-being are expected among children in green schoolyards compared to those in control schools. Increased biodiversity awareness and reduced exposure to black carbon are also anticipated. Conclusions: This study is designed to provide evidence on the health impacts of greener schoolyards and contribute to strategies for promoting child development through environmental interventions. Full article

22 pages, 1132 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Global Innovations in Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging in the Last 25 Years: A Scoping Review

by Sophie Jackman, Peter Mc Guinness, Lia Brennan, Ruby Pereira, Anne Tyrrell, Anna Maria Barry, Cait Brennan and Bernard D. Naughton

Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10716; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310716 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Pharmaceutical packaging is integral to the efficacy, safety, quality and regulatory compliance of medicinal products. However, traditional pharmaceutical packaging can cause harmful environmental effects due to a lack of eco-design methods, excessive use of synthetic materials, and a lack of effective recycling techniques. [...] Read more.

Pharmaceutical packaging is integral to the efficacy, safety, quality and regulatory compliance of medicinal products. However, traditional pharmaceutical packaging can cause harmful environmental effects due to a lack of eco-design methods, excessive use of synthetic materials, and a lack of effective recycling techniques. In response, a range of innovations in sustainable pharmaceutical packaging have emerged to mitigate these environmental effects. This scoping review aims to identify and map global innovations in sustainable pharmaceutical packaging developed within the last 25 years, examine implementation challenges, identify gaps in the literature, and suggest a framework to guide the pharmaceutical industry in adopting these eco-innovations. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, this review analysed 100 studies from grey and academic literature published between the years 2000 and 2025. Data extraction and thematic analysis was performed and revealed four main areas of innovation: biodegradable materials, design, smart technology, and waste management. Key barriers to their adoption include regulatory, safety, and economic challenges. One gap identified in the literaturewas the lack of a framework to aid the implementation of innovations in sustainable pharmaceutical packaging. Therefore, this review also proposes a responsible packaging innovation framework. Full article

96 pages, 7721 KB

Open AccessReview

Principles and Applications of Interferometry in Highly Segmented Mirror Co-Phasing

by Shijun Song, Xinyue Liu, Tao Chen, Changhua Liu and Qichang An

Photonics 2025, 12(12), 1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12121181 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

With advances in scientific foundations and engineering practice, segmented mirrors—a key architecture for realizing extremely large apertures and high-resolution imaging—have become foundational across space astronomy, ground-based telescopes, and advanced manufacturing. In recent years, interferometry, which leverages optical coherence and phase sensitivity, has become [...] Read more.

With advances in scientific foundations and engineering practice, segmented mirrors—a key architecture for realizing extremely large apertures and high-resolution imaging—have become foundational across space astronomy, ground-based telescopes, and advanced manufacturing. In recent years, interferometry, which leverages optical coherence and phase sensitivity, has become a powerful tool for inter-segment co-phasing. Its capabilities have advanced markedly owing to developments in multi-wavelength techniques, high-speed high-dynamic-range detectors, and instantaneous phase-shifting methods. Relative to non-interferometric sensing, interferometry directly encodes and unwraps phase. This enables a unified framework that combines millimeter-scale dynamic range with nanometer-level resolution throughout coarse acquisition, fine phasing, and in situ maintenance. This paper first outlines the degrees of freedom and error sources in segmented mirrors. It then reviews the configurations and acquisition strategies of shearing, Mach–Zehnder, Michelson, Fizeau, and PISTIL interferometers, and systematizes interferogram processing methods—such as phase-shifting, synthetic-wavelength techniques, and digital holography—for retrieving piston and tip/tilt. Accuracy of piston is λ/50–λ/100, and tip/tilt accuracy can reach the arcsecond level, with resolution at the nanometer scale. Finally, we discuss pathways to extend interferometric metrology from segmented mirrors to other discontinuous surfaces (e.g., segmented detectors, segmented gratings, microlens arrays) and outlines future research directions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Optical Fiber Sensing Technology)

21 pages, 398 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Emotional Tone Detection in Hate Speech Using Machine Learning and NLP: Methods, Challenges, and Future Directions—A Systematic Review

by Aymé Escobar Díaz, Ricardo Rivadeneira and Walter Fuertes

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12686; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312686 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Hate speech is a form of communicative expression that promotes or incites unjustified violence. The increase in hate speech on social media has prompted the development of automated tools for its detection, especially those that integrate emotional tone analysis. This study presents a [...] Read more.

Hate speech is a form of communicative expression that promotes or incites unjustified violence. The increase in hate speech on social media has prompted the development of automated tools for its detection, especially those that integrate emotional tone analysis. This study presents a systematic review of the literature, employing a combination of PRISMA and PICOS methodologies to identify the most used Machine Learning techniques and Natural Language Processing emotion classification in hostile messages. It also seeks to determine which models and tools predominate in the analyzed studies. The findings highlight LLaMA 2 and HingRoBERTa, achieving F1 scores of 100% and 98.45%, respectively. Furthermore, key challenges are identified, including linguistic bias, language ambiguity, and the high computational demands of some models. This review contributes an updated overview of the state of the art, highlighting the need for more inclusive, efficient, and interpretable approaches to improve automated moderation on digital platforms. Additionally, it includes techniques, methods, and future directions in this topic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)

18 pages, 1937 KB

Open AccessArticle

From Structure to Function: 2-Chloro-5-nitrobenzoic Acid Derivatives as Potential Next-Generation Antibacterials

by Lilia Croitor, Anastasia Gorobet, Marioara Nicoleta Caraba, Pavlina Bourosh, Ion Valeriu Caraba, Daniela Haidu and Manuela Crisan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(23), 11607; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311607 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

The rapid emergence of drug-resistant bacteria demands alternative antimicrobial strategies that extend beyond conventional drugs. In this study, we present the synthesis, structural characterization, and antibacterial evaluation of two new 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid (2Cl5NBH) derivatives: a methylethanolammonium salt (compound 1) and a 2D [...] Read more.

The rapid emergence of drug-resistant bacteria demands alternative antimicrobial strategies that extend beyond conventional drugs. In this study, we present the synthesis, structural characterization, and antibacterial evaluation of two new 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid (2Cl5NBH) derivatives: a methylethanolammonium salt (compound 1) and a 2D coordination polymer (compound 2). Structural characterization by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, complemented by Hirshfeld surface analysis, revealed the supramolecular architectures and highlighted the key intermolecular interactions, providing essential insights into the potential role of these compounds in modulating their physicochemical and biological behavior. Antibacterial assays demonstrated that compound 1 exhibited a broad inhibitory profile against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast, compound 2 exhibited selective inhibition against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) comparable to that of gentamicin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Next-Generation Antimicrobials and Anticancer Agents: From Natural to Synthetic Compounds)

28 pages, 29419 KB

Open AccessArticle

Complex Sound Discrimination in Zebrafish: Auditory Learning Within a Novel “Go/Go” Decision-Making Paradigm

by Anna Patel, Sai Mattapalli and Jagmeet S. Kanwal

Animals 2025, 15(23), 3452; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15233452 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Previous anatomic and physiologic studies of the peripheral and central auditory system, with rare exceptions, have relied on the use of tonal stimuli. Here, we test the hypothesis that zebrafish, Danio rerio, can detect and discriminate between two 6 s long complex [...] Read more.

Previous anatomic and physiologic studies of the peripheral and central auditory system, with rare exceptions, have relied on the use of tonal stimuli. Here, we test the hypothesis that zebrafish, Danio rerio, can detect and discriminate between two 6 s long complex sounds—a sequence of five multi-harmonic, noise-embedded constant frequency (NCF) tone pips and a chirp sequence consisting of six rapid downward frequency-modulated (DFM) sweeps. To test our hypothesis, we develop an associative conditioning assay, requiring prediction of an unconditioned stimulus (US). A video clip of a shoal of free-swimming zebrafish presented on an LCD screen serves as a desirable or rewarding US and a bullfrog with inflating and deflating vocal sacs serves as an aversive or fearful US. Within our novel “Go-to/Go-away” (or Go/Go) assay, sound discrimination allows an animal to decide to go/swim towards the desirable US and away from the undesirable US within a short time window preceding each US. We use markerless tracking of fish locations following twelve training runs and six test runs to determine if zebrafish can discriminate between the two sounds. We discovered that on average, fish move closer to the LCD screen in response to the sound paired to the rewarding CS and farther away from the screen in response to the sound paired with the aversive US. Differences in locations and longest swim trajectories occur in the 3 s time window between the CS and the US. These differences are largely retained on the second day of testing, suggesting overnight memory consolidation. We conclude that adult zebrafish can both perceive and rapidly learn to discriminate between complex sounds and that our novel assay can be implemented for high throughput screening of drugs targeted for alleviating memory and attention deficits as well as other neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Cognition and Behaviour)

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26 pages, 1486 KB

Open AccessReview

Nanoparticle-Mediated Nucleic Acid Delivery Systems in Plant Biotechnology: Recent Advances and Emerging Challenges

by Tengwei Wang, Jiaxin Li, Ruibin Hu, Xuping Shentu, Zihong Ye, Xiaoping Yu and Kai Sun

Plants 2025, 14(23), 3649; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14233649 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Efficient delivery of exogenous genetic material remains a core challenge in plant biotechnology, holding profound implications for sustainable agricultural and forestry development. Although traditional delivery methods such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, gene gun bombardment, and electroporation have been widely applied in plant genetic [...] Read more.

Efficient delivery of exogenous genetic material remains a core challenge in plant biotechnology, holding profound implications for sustainable agricultural and forestry development. Although traditional delivery methods such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, gene gun bombardment, and electroporation have been widely applied in plant genetic engineering, these systems exhibit limitations including species-dependent efficacy, propensity to cause plant tissue damage, low transformation efficiency, susceptibility to environmental factors. In recent years, with the advancement of nanotechnology, nanoparticle-based nucleic acid delivery systems are emerging as novel tools for applications such as novel tools for dsRNA or transgene delivery. These systems leverage the unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, including size-dependent phenomena, tunable surface charge, and enhanced membrane penetration capabilities, to achieve targeted delivery and stable expression of genetic payloads. Nevertheless, nanomaterial-mediated gene delivery systems for plants are still in their nascent stages, and their widespread application faces numerous challenges. This article briefly introduces traditional delivery methods, systematically reviews the applications and progress of nanoparticle-based nucleic acid delivery systems, and discusses the cross-species applicability of nanoparticles, as well as the associated biosafety concerns. We aim to offer insights for tackling the prevailing technical bottlenecks and to provide guidance for the rational design of nanomaterials that efficiently traverse the plant cell wall–plasma membrane barrier and stably deliver nucleic acids without eliciting phytotoxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Nanotechnology for Plant Health and Productivity)

19 pages, 2789 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Correction Algorithm for Structural Elements to Enhance EIS Measurement Reliability in Battery Modules

by Seon-Woong Kim and In-Ho Cho

Energies 2025, 18(23), 6300; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18236300 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

With the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has emerged as a promising method for battery pack diagnostics. However, existing EIS research has been predominantly limited to single cells, presenting challenges for practical implementation in [...] Read more.

With the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has emerged as a promising method for battery pack diagnostics. However, existing EIS research has been predominantly limited to single cells, presenting challenges for practical implementation in actual battery pack systems. In real battery packs, structural elements such as bus plates introduce additional impedance artifacts into measurement data. This parasitic impedance becomes more pronounced as the number of parallel-connected cells increases, degrading measurement reliability. This study presents a systematic analysis of bus plate effects on EIS measurements of parallel battery modules and develops a correction algorithm to extract pure module impedance. Standalone bus plate EIS measurements were conducted to establish geometry-based impedance prediction formulas, and correction factors accounting for current distribution and frequency dependence were derived. The algorithm was validated on 2P-4P parallel modules of NCA and LFP batteries, achieving RMSE reduction from 1.18–2.65 mΩ to 0.10–0.17 mΩ, corresponding to an 88–96% error reduction. These results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm effectively improves module-level EIS measurement reliability regardless of battery chemistry and parallel configuration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrochemical Energy Storage: Batteries, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technologies)

34 pages, 2568 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Machine Learning Approach to Relate Green Space Landscape Metrics to Net Primary Production Across Shanghai’s Built Environment

by Rongxiang Chen, Xunrui Ou, Mingjing Xie, Zixi Chen and Kaida Chen

Land 2025, 14(12), 2349; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14122349 (registering DOI) - 29 Nov 2025

Abstract

Achieving carbon neutrality has become one of the core objectives in contemporary urban development and sustainable growth, underscoring the importance of clarifying the relationship between urban green space landscape metrics and plant carbon sequestration. While existing research confirms the significant role of the [...] Read more.

Achieving carbon neutrality has become one of the core objectives in contemporary urban development and sustainable growth, underscoring the importance of clarifying the relationship between urban green space landscape metrics and plant carbon sequestration. While existing research confirms the significant role of the structure and pattern of green spaces in carbon sequestration, systematic understanding of their relationship at the local scale within diverse built environments remains limited. To address this, this study objectively categorises five types of built environments using K-means clustering and conducts in-depth analysis on four representative areas. Employing the CatBoost machine learning model and the Shapley Additive Propensity (SHAP) method, we highlighted the influence of green space pattern characteristics on net prmary productivity (NPP) across different built environments. The findings are as follows: (1) GCR exhibits the highest contribution among all explanatory variables across different built environments. In low-intensity built environments, it contributes 74% to the overall explanation, showing a stable association between higher green space proportion and higher carbon sink levels. (2) In high-intensity built environments, limited green spaces exhibit a pronounced “spatial compensation effect” through morphological optimisation and enhanced spatial connectivity. In medium-intensity built environments, they demonstrate a “moderate positive effect,” with peak carbon sequestration efficiency occurring when GCR ranges from 0.25 to 0.75, aggregation index (AI) from 94 to 98, and splitting index (SI) from 1.2 to 1.4. (3) Significant interactions exist among green space landscape metrics, with moderately connected and moderately complex spatial structures enhancing carbon sink efficiency. This study reveals the differentiated impact by which green space landscape metrics influence carbon sink effects under varying urban built environments, providing scientific basis for optimising urban green space systems and low-carbon spatial planning. Full article

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