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18 pages, 17094 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Analysis of a Fractional-Order Economic Model: Chaos and Control

by Ali Aloui, Louiza Diabi, Omar Kahouli, Adel Ouannas, Lilia El Amraoui and Mohamed Ayari

Fractal Fract. 2025, 9(11), 724; https://doi.org/10.3390/fractalfract9110724 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Fractional calculus in discrete-time is a recent field that has drawn much interest for dealing with multidisciplinary systems. A result of this tremendous potential, researchers have been using constant and variable-order fractional discrete calculus in the modelling of financial and economic systems. This [...] Read more.

Fractional calculus in discrete-time is a recent field that has drawn much interest for dealing with multidisciplinary systems. A result of this tremendous potential, researchers have been using constant and variable-order fractional discrete calculus in the modelling of financial and economic systems. This paper explores the emergence of chaotic and regular patterns of the fractional four-dimensional (4D) discrete economic system with constant and variable orders. The primary aim is to compare and investigate the impact of two types of fractional order through numerical solutions and simulation, demonstrating how modifications to the order affect the behavior of a system. Phase space orbits, the 0-1 test, time series, bifurcation charts, and Lyapunov exponent analysis for different orders all illustrate the constant and variable-order systems’ behavior. Moreover, the spectral entropy (SE) and

C_{0}

complexity exhibit fractional-order effects with variations in the degree of complexity. The results provide new insights into the influence of fractional-order types on dynamical systems and highlight their role in promoting chaotic behavior. Additionally, two types of control strategies are devised to guide the states of a 4D fractional discrete economic system with constant and variable orders to the origin within a specified amount of time. MATLAB simulations are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Dynamic Analysis of Fractional-Order Systems)

20 pages, 3594 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Indica Black Rice, Konjac Powder and Water on the Quality Characteristics of Gluten-Free Taichung Sen 17 Rice Bread

by Jin-Kuan Jiang, Shin-Yu Chen, Chih-Wei Yang, Hui-Shan Shen and Sheng-Dun Lin

Foods 2025, 14(22), 3831; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14223831 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Rice is a safe and widely consumed gluten-free grain; however, breads prepared from white rice flour, such as Taichung Sen 17 (TS17), are prone to rapid staling and typically lack sufficient dietary fiber and bioactive compounds. To address these limitations, this study investigated [...] Read more.

Rice is a safe and widely consumed gluten-free grain; however, breads prepared from white rice flour, such as Taichung Sen 17 (TS17), are prone to rapid staling and typically lack sufficient dietary fiber and bioactive compounds. To address these limitations, this study investigated the effects of partially replacing TS17 flour with indica black rice (B) flour, varying water content, and incorporating the natural hydrocolloid konjac glucomannan (K) on the quality of rice batter and bread. Compared with TS17 flour, B flour contained higher levels of total dietary fiber, total phenols, total anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity. Substituting 15% of TS17 with B flour slightly increased the bread volume from 1032 mL to 1042 mL under 92% water addition (1.01-fold). More notably, it significantly increased the volume from 872 mL to 917 mL under 107% water (1.05-fold), and from 642 mL to 775 mL under 122% water (1.21-fold). However, higher substitution levels of B flour resulted in a reduction in loaf volume. Further incorporation of 2% K under 122% water conditions (TS17B15K2.0-122) resulted in the highest loaf volume of 1063 mL, representing a significant 1.37-fold increase compared to TS17B15-122 (775 mL), and exhibited the slowest staling rate after 24 h. Although K significantly improved bread texture and moisture retention, excessive addition may accelerate staling due to insufficient water availability in the formulation. These findings highlight that combining TS17 flour, B flour, and konjac gum represents a feasible and sustainable strategy for developing functional gluten-free baked products targeted at health-conscious and gluten-intolerant consumers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Processing and Cooking on Physicochemical, Sensory, and Functional Properties of Food: 3rd Edition)

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24 pages, 2769 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hybrid Linear–Nonlinear Model with Adaptive Regularization for Accurate X-Ray Fluorescence Determination of Total Iron Ore Grade

by Lanhao Wang, Zhenyu Zhu, Lixia Li, Zhaopeng Li, Wei Dai and Hongyan Wang

Minerals 2025, 15(11), 1179; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111179 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

In mineral processing and metallurgy, total iron grade serves as a critical indicator guiding the entire production chain from crushing to smelting, directly influencing the quality and yield of steel products. To address the limitations of conventional matrix effect correction methods in X-ray [...] Read more.

In mineral processing and metallurgy, total iron grade serves as a critical indicator guiding the entire production chain from crushing to smelting, directly influencing the quality and yield of steel products. To address the limitations of conventional matrix effect correction methods in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis—such as low accuracy, high time consumption, and labor-intensive procedures—this study proposes a novel hybrid model (DSCN-LS) integrating least squares (LS) with dynamically regularized stochastic configuration networks (DSCNs) for total iron ore grade quantification. Through feature analysis, we decompose the grade modeling problem into a linear structural component and nonlinear residual terms. The linear component is resolved by means of LS, while the nonlinear terms are processed by the DSCN with a dynamic regularization strategy. This strategy implements node-specific weighted regularization: weak constraints preserve salient features in high-weight-norm nodes, while strong regularization suppresses redundant information in low-weight-norm nodes, collectively enhancing model generalizability and robustness. Notably, the model was trained and validated using datasets collected directly from industrial sites, ensuring that the results reflect real-world production scenarios. Industrial validation demonstrates that the proposed method achieves an average absolute error of 0.3092, a root mean square error of 0.5561, and a coefficient of determination (R²) of 99.91% in total iron grade estimation. All metrics surpass existing benchmarks, confirming significant improvements in accuracy and operational practicality for XRF detection under complex industrial conditions Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)

15 pages, 3863 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Distribution Patterns of Dominant Tree Species and Their Associations with Soil Factors in Subalpine Secondary Forests of Western Sichuan

by Jingdong Zhao, Xin Liu, Le Wang, Qiuhong Feng, Chang Gou, Jianhua Bai and Xiaohui Yang

Plants 2025, 14(22), 3424; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223424 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Spatial pattern analysis is essential for understanding forest structure and successional dynamics. Focusing on natural secondary forests in the subalpine region of western Sichuan, China, we established two 1-hectare permanent plots to investigate the spatial distribution of dominant tree species and assess the [...] Read more.

Spatial pattern analysis is essential for understanding forest structure and successional dynamics. Focusing on natural secondary forests in the subalpine region of western Sichuan, China, we established two 1-hectare permanent plots to investigate the spatial distribution of dominant tree species and assess the soil’s water-holding properties, aiming to clarify the relationship between species spatial patterns and edaphic conditions. The pioneer species Betula albosinensis exhibited a unimodal diameter distribution with scarce seedling presence, indicating limited regeneration. In contrast, Abies fargesii var. faxoniana showed a typical inverse J-shaped diameter distribution, suggesting stable population recruitment. At fine spatial scales, dominant species generally exhibited aggregated distributions, with A. fargesii var. faxoniana seedlings showing the strongest clumping; however, as the spatial scale increased, distributions tended toward randomness, likely due to self-thinning and density-dependent interactions. Bivariate spatial association analysis revealed that B. albosinensis was positively associated with A. fargesii var. faxoniana and Picea asperata at small scales, suggesting a potential facilitative effect of B. albosinensis on Pinaceae species. Moreover, capillary water-holding capacity was significantly higher in areas with greater conifer dominance, underscoring the strong environmental filtering effect of microhabitat moisture on community spatial structure. Collectively, our results suggest an ongoing mid- to late-successional shift from pioneer broadleaved to shade-tolerant conifer dominance, with concurrent changes in species composition and soil conditions. This study provides empirical insight into spatial successional processes and highlights their ecological implications for hydrological regulation in subalpine secondary forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Dendrological Research: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Dendrology Branch of the Chinese Society of Forestry)

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24 pages, 2008 KB

Open AccessArticle

Cyberthreats to Smart Inverters in Household Photovoltaic Systems

by Bartosz Toś, Lina Montuori, Andrés Ondó Oná Ayécaba and Piotr Olczak

Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10000; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210000 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

This paper presents threats emerging from the rise in implementation of emerging technologies, such as smart inverters, on everyday human life and their impact on sustainability. Focusing on household photovoltaic systems, this study provides a detailed analysis of the energy production and the [...] Read more.

This paper presents threats emerging from the rise in implementation of emerging technologies, such as smart inverters, on everyday human life and their impact on sustainability. Focusing on household photovoltaic systems, this study provides a detailed analysis of the energy production and the trends in the photovoltaic market. A specific application on household photovoltaic systems located in Poland has been carried out in order to assess the potential danger arising from cyberattacks. As the number of distributed energy resources {XE “distributed energy resources”} on the grid increases, the need for smart inverter functionality has grown. In this framework, the present work includes a review of past cyberattacks and their repercussions on technologic developments of smart inverters and on society in general. Additionally, measures to ensure that smart inverter capabilities can be fully realized and to prevent cyberattacks are also discussed. Through the simulation of multiple experimental scenarios, remaining existing threats to the penetration of smart technologies aimed at enhancing grid reliability are identified. The results achieved provide strategic tools to address cybersecurity issues, including those of photovoltaic installations, as well as to promote countries’ energy independence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microgrids, Electrical Power and Sustainable Energy Systems)

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23 pages, 1169 KB

Open AccessArticle

Field Measurement and 2.5D FE Analysis of Ground Vibrations Induced by High-Speed Train Moving on Embankment and Cutting

by Junwei Bi, Guangyun Gao, Zhaoyang Chen, Jiyan Zhang, Juan Chen and Yuhan Li

Buildings 2025, 15(22), 4034; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224034 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Field measurements of ground vibrations were conducted along the Paris–Brussels high-speed railway (HSR) to systematically analyze vibration characteristics generated by embankment and cutting sections. Utilizing the 2.5D finite element method (FEM), numerical models were developed for both earthworks to evaluate the influences of [...] Read more.

Field measurements of ground vibrations were conducted along the Paris–Brussels high-speed railway (HSR) to systematically analyze vibration characteristics generated by embankment and cutting sections. Utilizing the 2.5D finite element method (FEM), numerical models were developed for both earthworks to evaluate the influences of design parameters on ground vibration responses. Results demonstrate that train axle load dominates vibration amplitude in the near-track zone, while the superposition effect of adjacent wheelsets and bogies becomes predominant at larger distances. Vibration energy attenuates progressively with increasing distance from the track, with medium- and high-frequency components decaying more rapidly than low-frequency components. The dominant vibration frequency is determined by the fundamental train-loading frequency (f₁), which increases with train speed. Distinct attenuation patterns are identified between earthwork types: embankments exhibit a two-stage attenuation process, whereas cuttings undergo three stages, including a vibration rebound phenomenon at the slope crest. Furthermore, greater embankment height or cutting depth reduces ground vibrations, but beyond a critical threshold, further increases yield negligible benefits. A higher elastic modulus of the embankment material correlates with reduced vibrations, and steeper cutting slopes, while ensuring slope stability, contribute to additional mitigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil–Structure Interactions for Civil Infrastructure)

20 pages, 1065 KB

Open AccessArticle

Symmetry–Asymmetry Framework for Rubberized Concrete: Correlations Between Mixture Design and Rubber Properties and Concrete Flowability and Mechanical Characteristics, and Three-Stage Transition of Compressive Strength

by Tetsuya Kouno, Yu Qiu and Rui Tang

Symmetry 2025, 17(11), 1917; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17111917 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study systematically investigated the effects of mix design conditions (water–cement ratio) and rubber properties (particle size, surface area, and mixing ratio) on the flowability and mechanical characteristics of rubberized concrete, in which rubber particles were incorporated as part of the fine aggregate. [...] Read more.

This study systematically investigated the effects of mix design conditions (water–cement ratio) and rubber properties (particle size, surface area, and mixing ratio) on the flowability and mechanical characteristics of rubberized concrete, in which rubber particles were incorporated as part of the fine aggregate. The fresh properties (slump and air content) and hardened properties (compressive strength and Young’s modulus) were measured, and their correlations with rubber surface area and mixing ratio were analyzed. The results showed that slump and air content converged to constant values with increasing rubber surface area, exhibiting symmetric behavior. These characteristics were accurately approximated using logistic and exponential functions. In contrast, compressive strength did not decrease monotonically with increasing rubber content but could be divided into three distinct regions: a low-substitution region (Region I), an intermediate transition region (Region II), and a high-substitution region (Region III). Particularly in Region II, where the rate of strength reduction increased sharply, the logistic function was found to describe the asymmetric behavior more appropriately than the conventional exponential function. Furthermore, an estimation formula incorporating a correction term into the logistic function was proposed to account for the influence of the W/C ratio on compressive strength. This two-stage estimation model achieved higher predictive accuracy than conventional equations, eliminating the 0.88 bias observed in previous models. Finally, a practical design methodology based on this two-stage model was presented, demonstrating its applicability to concrete with various mixture ratios and water–cement ratios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Section "Engineering and Materials" 2025)

23 pages, 631 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Corporate Governance on the Firm’s Cost of Capital: Evidence from the Taiwan Corporate Governance Evaluation System

by Jiang-Chuan Huang, Hueh-Chen Lin and Daniel Huang

Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 9991; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17229991 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study investigates how corporate governance and changes in governance rankings influence firms’ cost of capital. Using data from 1723 Taiwanese listed firms, comprising 11,940 firm-year observations between 2017 and 2024, the analysis applies Taiwan’s corporate governance evaluation system, published by government-affiliated institutions. [...] Read more.

This study investigates how corporate governance and changes in governance rankings influence firms’ cost of capital. Using data from 1723 Taiwanese listed firms, comprising 11,940 firm-year observations between 2017 and 2024, the analysis applies Taiwan’s corporate governance evaluation system, published by government-affiliated institutions. The results reveal a significant negative relationship between corporate governance and firms’ cost of capital, indicating that higher governance rankings are associated with lower financing costs. Moreover, when firms’ governance rankings improve, their cost of capital decreases, whereas downgrades lead to increases. These findings suggest that capital markets adjust firms’ cost of capital inversely in response to changes in governance rankings. The study further shows that the ability to reduce capital costs depends on firms’ governance levels; a downgrade results in a more pronounced cost increase for well-governed firms. Overall, this research provides empirical evidence from an emerging market and offers practical implications for firms, creditors, investors, and regulators aiming to enhance sustainable development, strengthen risk management, optimize investment selection, and improve corporate governance practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Sustainable Business Ecosystems and Corporate Governance)

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15 pages, 6294 KB

Open AccessArticle

First Characterization of Megafire Refugia in a South American Subtropical Mountain Forest

by Daihana Soledad Argibay, Ana María Cingolani, Javier Sparacino, Ricardo Suárez, Isabell Hensen and Daniel Renison

Forests 2025, 16(11), 1705; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16111705 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Fire refugia play an important role in post-fire ecosystem recovery because they preserve areas that represent a persistent legacy in the landscape and serve as propagule sources for forest regeneration. Our objective was to identify the pre-fire topographic and land cover conditions that [...] Read more.

Fire refugia play an important role in post-fire ecosystem recovery because they preserve areas that represent a persistent legacy in the landscape and serve as propagule sources for forest regeneration. Our objective was to identify the pre-fire topographic and land cover conditions that determine the presence and quality of megafire refugia in the mountains of central Argentina. In 208 1-ha field-based plots, we assessed pre-fire topographic and land cover variables along with post-fire vegetation responses two years after the megafires. Based on these assessments, we developed a fire refugia quality index ranging from 0 (no refugia) to 5 (high-quality refugia). Using ordinal logistic regression and a model selection approach, we found that high-quality fire refugia were associated with the more humid east mountain flank and east- and north-facing slopes, as well as with smooth terrain, high topographic positions, greater rock cover, steep slopes, and higher tree-to-grass cover proportions. Our findings highlight the importance of topographic and land cover variables in shaping fire refugia and provide insights into post-fire management and the conservation of biodiversity in mountain ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Fire Detection, Prevention and Management)

17 pages, 1291 KB

Open AccessArticle

Lost Futures: The Human and Economic Cost of Suicide in Türkiye, 2012–2023

by Sevil Akbulut Zencirci, Emrah Atay, Muhammed Fatih Önsüz and Selma Metintaş

Healthcare 2025, 13(22), 2841; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222841 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Suicide is a critical public health issue that leads to premature mortality among young people and requires substantial public health interventions. Demonstrating the importance of developing effective suicide prevention programs through health indicators can be valuable. This study aims to examine [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Suicide is a critical public health issue that leads to premature mortality among young people and requires substantial public health interventions. Demonstrating the importance of developing effective suicide prevention programs through health indicators can be valuable. This study aims to examine the change in suicide rates and Years of Life Lost (YLL) in Türkiye over the 2013–2023 period—a country that displays characteristics of both developed and developing nations—and to reveal the productivity losses using the human capital approach. Methods: The data for this descriptive study were obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute between 2012 and 2023. YLL was computed by determining the difference between the age at which an individual died by suicide and their expected age of death for both males and females. Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL) was estimated using the same method as YLL for individuals aged 15–64 (working age). The time trend of suicide and YLL rates was calculated using Annual Percentage Change and the Average Annual Percent Change values, based on a Poisson-based Generalized Linear Model and the Joinpoint regression method. Using the human capital approach, the economic cost of the labor force lost due to suicide was estimated. Results: The YLL per death was 33.57 years for males, 47.73 years for females, and 37.06 years overall. The age group with the highest YLL percentage is 20–24 among males (23.55%) and 15–19 among females (33.06%). An increase of 7.8% was observed among males from 2018 to 2021. The mean changes in the overall time trend were found to be significant in male suicides. Among females, there was a 5.3% decrease until 2017, followed by a 4.5% increase from 2017 onwards. Combined, male and female suicide rates have significantly increased since 2017. The financial loss associated with suicide over a 12-year period totaled USD 10,775,943,197 with an annual loss of USD 897,995,266. The premature mortality cost per death was estimated at USD 278,400.84 for men and USD 186,625.16 for women, while the premature mortality cost per YLL was USD 8292.23 for men and USD 3910.36 for women. Conclusions: Changes in the temporal trend of suicide may be associated with societal events. The study reveals that premature deaths due to suicide in Türkiye are a multidimensional public health problem that significantly affects not only individuals but also the overall productivity and economic structure of society. Full article

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19 pages, 397 KB

Open AccessReview

Methylarginine Levels in Chronic Inflammatory Skin Diseases—The Role of L-Arginine/Nitric Oxide Pathway

by Clara Matei, Mircea Tampa, Madalina Irina Mitran, Cristina Iulia Mitran, Ilinca Nicolae, Corina Daniela Ene, Andrei Marin, Ecaterina Rinja, Adrian Dumitru, Constantin Caruntu, Carolina Constantin, Monica Neagu and Simona Roxana Georgescu

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(22), 7934; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14227934 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

In recent years, the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) pathway has garnered increasing attention across a range of pathological conditions, including skin diseases. NO is an important modulator of skin homeostasis, being actively involved in numerous processes such as vasodilation, keratinocyte proliferation, melanogenesis and cell [...] Read more.

In recent years, the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) pathway has garnered increasing attention across a range of pathological conditions, including skin diseases. NO is an important modulator of skin homeostasis, being actively involved in numerous processes such as vasodilation, keratinocyte proliferation, melanogenesis and cell signaling. Under inflammatory conditions, post-translational changes in L-arginine take place, resulting in the synthesis of methylarginines including monomethylarginine (MMA), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA). Once ADMA and MMA are generated, they compete with L-arginine to bind to the active site of NO synthase, which reduces the production of NO. Additionally, SDMA inhibits the transport of L-arginine, leading to a lower concentration of this amino acid within cells. Consequently, by impacting both the availability of L-arginine and the production of NO, conditions favoring oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are created. Dysregulation of L-arginine/NO pathway is closely related to inflammation and oxidative stress, two events that play a cardinal role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory skin diseases. We conducted a narrative review that synthesizes current evidence on methylarginine levels in patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Our aim was to enhance our knowledge about the role of these compounds in pathogenesis and provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying these conditions that can be the basis for novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Inflammatory and Infectious Skin Diseases (Second Edition))

10 pages, 399 KB

Open AccessArticle

Treatment of Post-Traumatic Diaphyseal and Distal Tibial Bone Defects by Distraction Osteogenesis: A Monocentric Experience

by Danilo Leonetti, Lorenza Siracusano, Viktor Dietrich Schick, Giovanni Marrara, Leone Larizza, Massimo Brigandì, Angela Alibrandi, Ilaria Sanzarello, Matteo Nanni and Biagio Zampogna

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(22), 7933; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14227933 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Background: Distraction osteogenesis (DO) and the Masquelet technique are currently the preferred treatment options for bone defects larger than 5 cm. Methods: Between January 2019 and December 2023, 19 patients were treated with DO for post-traumatic tibial defects at our institution. The results [...] Read more.

Background: Distraction osteogenesis (DO) and the Masquelet technique are currently the preferred treatment options for bone defects larger than 5 cm. Methods: Between January 2019 and December 2023, 19 patients were treated with DO for post-traumatic tibial defects at our institution. The results were evaluated using the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) scoring system. Results: Patients’ mean age was 32.42 years. The mean defect size was 4.8 cm (range 3.2–8.1 cm), and the mean external fixation time was 21.31 weeks. Bone union was reached on average after 25.9 weeks. The mean follow-up time was 3.7 years. The mean leg length discrepancy at the final follow-up was 0.83 cm. Using the ASAMI system, the functional results were excellent in eight patients, good in eight, and fair in two, with one case of failure; the bone results were excellent in ten patients, good in six, fair in two, and poor in one. Conclusions: DO for the treatment of tibial defects has the potential to yield favourable outcomes, provided that the method is performed correctly. Multicentre prospective studies would allow for more definitive conclusions to be made. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Orthopedics)

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18 pages, 916 KB

Open AccessArticle

SelectVote Byzantine Fault Tolerance for Evidence Custody: Virtual Voting Consensus with Environmental Compensation

by Belinda I. Onyeashie, Petra Leimich, Sean McKeown and Gordon Russell

Sensors 2025, 25(22), 6846; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25226846 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Digital evidence custody requires consensus protocols that guarantee immediate and deterministic finality. Legal admissibility depends on proof that no party can alter or delay confirmation of evidence transfers. Conventional Byzantine fault tolerance protocols scale poorly because of quadratic communication overhead, while probabilistic ledger [...] Read more.

Digital evidence custody requires consensus protocols that guarantee immediate and deterministic finality. Legal admissibility depends on proof that no party can alter or delay confirmation of evidence transfers. Conventional Byzantine fault tolerance protocols scale poorly because of quadratic communication overhead, while probabilistic ledger systems such as IOTA and SPECTRE produce confirmation uncertainty that weakens custody verification. This paper introduces SelectVote Byzantine Fault Tolerance, a deterministic consensus protocol that infers virtual votes from graph structure instead of exchanging explicit messages. The protocol operates in permissioned forensic networks and assigns validation witnesses through a fixed, hash-based selection process. Empirical evaluation demonstrates sub-quadratic communication scaling (

O (n^{1.7})

) compared to traditional

O (n^{2})

Byzantine protocols and maintains Byzantine resilience. To ensure physical integrity, the paper also presents an environmental compensation framework for precision weight verification. The framework models temperature, humidity, and pressure effects on load cells and corrects measurement drift to preserve sub-gram accuracy across normal storage conditions. Experimental evaluation confirms that the integrated system sustains high throughput with deterministic finality and maintains consistent measurement precision under environmental variation. The combined result supports reliable, legally defensible custody of digital evidence across distributed institutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Cyber Security in the IoT Era: Distributed Ledger and AI Solutions for Enhancing Security and Privacy)

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29 pages, 3363 KB

Open AccessArticle

Demand Assessment and Integration Feasibility Analysis for Advanced and Urban Air Mobility in Illinois

by Vasileios Volakakis, Christopher Cummings, Laurence Audenaerd, William M. Viste and Hani S. Mahmassani

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 11901; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211901 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Advanced and Urban Air Mobility (AAM and UAM) represent emerging transportation concepts that involve the use of novel aircraft technologies to transport passengers and cargo within urban, regional, and intra-regional environments. These systems may include Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Short [...] Read more.

Advanced and Urban Air Mobility (AAM and UAM) represent emerging transportation concepts that involve the use of novel aircraft technologies to transport passengers and cargo within urban, regional, and intra-regional environments. These systems may include Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are being considered for a range of applications including passenger transport, cargo delivery, and other specialized operations. This study introduced a state-specific analytical framework that integrates different methodologies and data to enable a more precise evaluation of AAM viability in the State of Illinois, compared to generic national or global assessments, capturing the state’s unique mobility patterns, infrastructure constraints, and demographic distributions. One of the main goals is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the potential implications—both challenges and opportunities—associated with AAM and UAM operations. The analysis examines potential impacts on mobility, infrastructure, economic development, and public services, with particular emphasis on identifying key considerations for policy development. The research framework categorizes use cases into two broad types: AAM for the transportation of people and cargo, and AAM for functional applications such as emergency response, agriculture, and infrastructure monitoring. The study provides a detailed quantitative assessment of passenger air taxi services, including demand estimation, business model feasibility analysis, integration effects on existing transportation systems, and infrastructure requirements. For other AAM applications, the analysis identifies operational considerations, regulatory implications, and potential barriers to implementation, establishing a foundation for future detailed evaluation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Autonomous Vehicles and Robotics—2nd Edition)

21 pages, 1181 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seed 3D Phenotyping Across Multiple Crops Using 3D Gaussian Splatting

by Jun Gao, Chao Zhu, Junguo Hu, Fei Deng, Zhaoxin Xu and Xiaomin Wang

Agriculture 2025, 15(22), 2329; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15222329 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study introduces a versatile seed 3D reconstruction method that is applicable to multiple crops—including maize, wheat, and rice—and designed to overcome the inefficiency and subjectivity of manual measurements and the high costs of laser-based phenotyping. A panoramic video of the seed is [...] Read more.

This study introduces a versatile seed 3D reconstruction method that is applicable to multiple crops—including maize, wheat, and rice—and designed to overcome the inefficiency and subjectivity of manual measurements and the high costs of laser-based phenotyping. A panoramic video of the seed is captured and processed through frame sampling to extract multi-view images. Structure-from-Motion (SFM) is employed for sparse reconstruction and camera pose estimation, while 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) is utilized for high-fidelity dense reconstruction, generating detailed point cloud models. The subsequent point cloud preprocessing, filtering, and segmentation enable the extraction of key phenotypic parameters, including length, width, height, surface area, and volume. The experimental evaluations demonstrated a high measurement accuracy, with coefficients of determination (R²) for length, width, and height reaching 0.9361, 0.8889, and 0.946, respectively. Moreover, the reconstructed models exhibit superior image quality, with peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) values consistently ranging from 35 to 37 dB, underscoring the robustness of 3DGS in preserving fine structural details. Compared to conventional multi-view stereo (MVS) techniques, the proposed method can achieve significantly improved reconstruction accuracy and visual fidelity. The key outcomes of this study confirm that the 3DGS-based pipeline provides a highly accurate, efficient, and scalable solution for digital phenotyping, establishing a robust foundation for its application across diverse crop species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Artificial Intelligence and Digital Agriculture)

23 pages, 1105 KB

Open AccessArticle

IgG Idiotype Diversity Shapes Cytokine Profiles and Autoantibody Targets in HTLV-1 Clinical Outcomes

by Isabela Siuffi Bergamasco, Nicolle Rakanidis Machado, Lais Alves do Nascimento, Beatriz Oliveira Fagundes, Fabio da Ressureição Sgnotto, Jorge Casseb, Sabri Saeed Sanabani, Luiz Henrique Da Silva Nali, Denis Miyashiro, José Antonio Sanches and Jefferson Russo Victor

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(22), 10858; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262210858 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is associated with a spectrum of clinical outcomes, ranging from lifelong asymptomatic carriage to severe conditions such as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Although antibody responses are known to shape immune [...] Read more.

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is associated with a spectrum of clinical outcomes, ranging from lifelong asymptomatic carriage to severe conditions such as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Although antibody responses are known to shape immune regulation, the functional relevance of IgG idiotype repertoires in HTLV-1 pathogenesis remains poorly understood. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of IgG from individuals with distinct HTLV-1 clinical outcomes. IgG was purified from pooled serum samples of asymptomatic carriers (ACs), HAM/TSP, and ATLL patients and used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors. Cytokine production in CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and γδ T cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Additionally, proteome-wide IgG reactivity was evaluated using a human protein microarray encompassing over 21,000 proteins, and bioinformatic analyses were conducted to identify protein–protein interaction networks and tissue-specific autoreactivity. HAM/TSP-derived IgG selectively enhanced IFN-γ production in all T-cell subsets and suppressed IL-4 in CD4⁺ T cells. ATLL-derived IgG induced IL-9 and IL-13 production in CD4⁺ T cells, and both HAM/TSP and ATLL IgG elevated IL-13 levels in CD8⁺ T cells. Microarray data revealed distinct autoreactive IgG profiles across clinical groups, targeting immune-related proteins, apoptotic regulators, and proteins expressed in T cells, monocytes, and non-immune tissues such as brain and testis. Notably, no functional or structural clustering was observed in protein–protein interaction networks, suggesting these reactivities reflect complex, idiotype-specific immune alterations rather than compensatory responses. The present findings suggest that HTLV-1 infection may be associated with the development of distinct IgG repertoires that potentially modulate cytokine responses and exhibit broad reactivity toward human proteins. Such patterns could contribute to immune dysregulation and may partially explain the divergent clinical trajectories observed in HAM/TSP and ATLL. Further investigations are warranted to validate these observations at the individual level and to clarify their mechanistic relevance in disease progression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virus Infection and Infectious Diseases: Unraveling Mechanisms, Innovations and Therapeutic Strategies—Second Edition)

26 pages, 2891 KB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro and Greenhouse Evaluation of Fungicides and Bacillus Antagonists Against Diplodia corticola (Botryosphaeriaceae, Botryosphaeriales) on Quercus suber

by Hanna Rathod Uppara, Dalmau Albó, Carlos Colinas and Emigdio Jordán Muñoz-Adalia

Forests 2025, 16(11), 1704; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16111704 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Cork oak (Quercus suber) forests are threatened by emergent fungal pathogen Diplodia corticola, which causes significant economic and ecological losses. This study evaluates the efficacy of synthetic and natural fungicides, as well as Bacillus antagonistic agents, against this phytopathogen in [...] Read more.

Cork oak (Quercus suber) forests are threatened by emergent fungal pathogen Diplodia corticola, which causes significant economic and ecological losses. This study evaluates the efficacy of synthetic and natural fungicides, as well as Bacillus antagonistic agents, against this phytopathogen in vitro and in vivo. Eighteen fungicidal agents were tested across three concentrations, whereas the bacterial antagonistic agents Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and a mixture of B. amyloliquefaciens + Bacillus mojavensis were tested at a fixed concentration. The assayed chemicals, including penconazole, clove oil, vanillin, and belthanol, showed 100 ± 0.0% radial growth inhibition (n = 24) and conidiation (n = 24), highlighting their potential as alternatives to benomyl and methyl thiophanate (Restricted in the European Union). In vivo assays further validated the efficacy of these agents in reducing symptom incidence and seedling mortality in cork oak seedlings. Similarly, the Bacillus-based treatments showed 47.6 ± 0.9% (n = 35) in vitro antagonistic effects and in vivo application on seedlings (n = 470) significantly reduced disease symptoms and supported physiological stability (GLMs with Tukey HSD post hoc). The study aimed to evaluate chemical, natural and biological control agents against this pathogen to identify effective management alternatives for forest nurseries and cork oak. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biological Control of Forest Diseases and Pests: 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 7503 KB

Open AccessArticle

Can Damage to the Rat Lung Induced by Prolonged Normobaric Hypoxia and Norepinephrine Be Reversed by Normoxic Recovery?

by Sarah Daunheimer, Charly Bambor, Coralie Raffort, Julia Koedel, Aida Salameh and Beate Rassler

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(11), 931; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47110931 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Exposure to hypoxia may cause lung injury characterized by hydrostatic pulmonary edema (PE), inflammation and oxidative stress. Norepinephrine (NE) infusion can also induce lung injury with similar pathogenetic characteristics. The main questions of this study were (i) whether NE infusion aggravates hypoxia-induced pulmonary [...] Read more.

Exposure to hypoxia may cause lung injury characterized by hydrostatic pulmonary edema (PE), inflammation and oxidative stress. Norepinephrine (NE) infusion can also induce lung injury with similar pathogenetic characteristics. The main questions of this study were (i) whether NE infusion aggravates hypoxia-induced pulmonary injury; (ii) whether inflammation and oxidative stress deteriorate the hypoxic PE; and (iii) whether PE and inflammation recede after three days of normoxic recovery. Ninety-eight female rats were exposed for 72 h to normoxia or normobaric hypoxia and received infusions with NaCl or NE. Some of these animals were transferred to a three-day normoxic recovery period thereafter. We performed histological and immunohistochemical analyses of the lung, determined protein concentrations in pleural fluid (PF) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and evaluated hemodynamic parameters. While inflammation and oxidative stress receded after 3 days of normoxic recovery, PE did not resolve. Increased protein concentrations in PF and BALF indicated that capillary stress failure increased even further during the normoxic recovery phase, particularly in animals that had previously received an NE infusion. These results highlight the fact that inflammation does not play a causal role in the development of hypoxic PE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology)

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23 pages, 9199 KB

Open AccessArticle

BiMambaHSI: Bidirectional Spectral–Spatial State Space Model for Hyperspectral Image Classification

by Jingquan Mao, Hui Ma and Yanyan Liang

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(22), 3676; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17223676 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Hyperspectral image (HSI) classification requires models that can simultaneously capture spatial structures and spectral continuity. Although state space models (SSMs), particularly Mamba, have shown strong capability in long-sequence modeling, their application to HSI remains limited due to insufficient spectral relation modeling and the [...] Read more.

Hyperspectral image (HSI) classification requires models that can simultaneously capture spatial structures and spectral continuity. Although state space models (SSMs), particularly Mamba, have shown strong capability in long-sequence modeling, their application to HSI remains limited due to insufficient spectral relation modeling and the constraints of unidirectional processing. To address these challenges, we propose BiMambaHSI, a novel bidirectional spectral-–spatial framework. First, we proposed a joint spectral–-spatial gated mamba (JGM) encoder that applies forward–backward state modeling with input-dependent gating, explicitly capturing bidirectional spectral–-spatial dependencies. This bidirectional mechanism explicitly captures long-range spectral–-spatial dependencies, overcoming the limitations of conventional unidirectional Mamba. Second, we introduced the spatial-–spectral mamba block (SSMB), which employs parallel bidirectional branches to extract spatial and spectral features separately and integrates them through a lightweight adaptive fusion mechanism. This design enhanced spectral continuity, spatial discrimination, and cross-dimensional interactions while preserving the linear complexity of pure SSMs. Extensive experiments on five public benchmark datasets (Pavia University, Houston, Indian Pines, WHU-Hi-HanChuan, and WHU-Hi-LongKou) demonstrate that BiMambaHSI consistently achieves state-of-the-art performance, improving classification accuracy and robustness compared with existing CNN- and Transformer-based methods. Full article

26 pages, 2845 KB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Regulation of Soil Water–Salt Transport by Irrigation Quality, Quota, and Texture

by Nuerjiayinate Wulazi, Yanyan Ge, Sheng Li, Jiahao Liu and Feilong Jie

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 11900; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211900 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study establishes a synergistic Texture–Quota–Salinity (T–Q–S) model to optimize soil water–salt dynamics in arid agricultural systems. Key findings reveal a sand content threshold (S₀ = 45.2%) governing salt transport efficiency: (1) Sandy soils (S > 50%) exhibit high leaching capacity, enabling [...] Read more.

This study establishes a synergistic Texture–Quota–Salinity (T–Q–S) model to optimize soil water–salt dynamics in arid agricultural systems. Key findings reveal a sand content threshold (S₀ = 45.2%) governing salt transport efficiency: (1) Sandy soils (S > 50%) exhibit high leaching capacity, enabling the use of saline water (4 g·L⁻¹) with a 270 mm quota to achieve >75% desalination. (2) Threshold soils (S ≈ 45.2%) balance leaching and retention, maximizing nutrient conservation under brackish water (2 g·L⁻¹) and 260 mm irrigation. (3) Clayey soils (S < 30%) require freshwater (≤2 g·L⁻¹) and reduced quotas (≤230 mm) to mitigate surface salinization. The S₀ threshold enables precise irrigation strategies: deep leaching in sandy soils, balanced management in threshold soils, and salt-suppression in clayey soils, enhancing water efficiency by 25% while controlling root zone salinity. Full article

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9 pages, 996 KB

Open AccessCommunication

Patient Perception of the Relevance of Quality-of-Life Questionnaires in Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia: An International Survey

by Jahanzaib Khwaja, Sotirios Bristogiannis, Ibrahim Tohidi-Esfahani, Yadanar Lwin, Nicole Japzon, David Young, Sossana Delibasi, Shirley D’Sa, Judith Trotman and Charalampia Kyriakou

Cancers 2025, 17(22), 3609; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17223609 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia is an indolent disease which is recognised as contributing to a diverse range of disabling symptoms which can impact quality of life. Little data are available in evaluating patient and healthcare professional views on quality-of-life questionnaires (QLQ) used to evaluate quality [...] Read more.

Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia is an indolent disease which is recognised as contributing to a diverse range of disabling symptoms which can impact quality of life. Little data are available in evaluating patient and healthcare professional views on quality-of-life questionnaires (QLQ) used to evaluate quality of life in Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia. We aimed to assess patient perception of their disease and the relevance of the currently employed QLQs in practice by patients and healthcare professionals. One-hundred-and-twenty patients (22% treatment-naïve) and thirty-four healthcare professionals completed an international survey to understand their perception of the relevance of the currently employed QLQ. Out of 415 questions, 257 questions were classified by patients as relevant. Five themes were discerned as relevant: fatigue, mobility, dyspnoea, paraesthesia, pain in the hands and feet, sleep (physical health limitations); contentment (psychological impact); social and family support. The following were considered irrelevant: lumps or swelling, dry mouth, trouble hearing, sexual dysfunction (physical symptoms); post-traumatic stress (psychological impact); education and training and financial support. Healthcare professionals identified EORTC QLQ-C30 as the most commonly used instruments for Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia trials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life)

25 pages, 11008 KB

Open AccessArticle

CLIP-Driven with Dynamic Feature Selection and Alignment Network for Referring Remote Sensing Image Segmentation

by Qianqi Lu, Yuxiang Xie, Jing Zhang, Yanming Guo, Yingmei Wei, Jie Jiang and Xidao Luan

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(22), 3675; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17223675 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Referring Remote Sensing Image Segmentation (RRSIS) aims to accurately locate and segment target objects in high-resolution aerial imagery based on natural language descriptions. Most existing approaches either directly modify Referring Image Segmentation (RIS) frameworks originally designed for natural images or employ image-based foundation [...] Read more.

Referring Remote Sensing Image Segmentation (RRSIS) aims to accurately locate and segment target objects in high-resolution aerial imagery based on natural language descriptions. Most existing approaches either directly modify Referring Image Segmentation (RIS) frameworks originally designed for natural images or employ image-based foundation models such as SAM to improve segmentation accuracy. However, current RRSIS models still face substantial challenges due to the domain gap between remote sensing and natural images, including large-scale variations, arbitrary object rotations, and complex spatial–linguistic relationships. Consequently, such transfers often lead to weak cross-modal interaction, inaccurate semantic alignment, and reduced localization precision, particularly for small or rotated objects. In addition, approaches that rely on multi-stage alignment pipelines, redundant high-level feature fusion, or the incorporation of large foundation models generally incur substantial computational overhead and training inefficiency, especially when dealing with complex referring expressions in high-resolution remote sensing imagery. To address these challenges, we propose CD2FSAN, a CLIP-driven dynamic feature selection and alignment network that establishes a unified framework for fine-grained cross-modal understanding in remote sensing imagery. This network first follows the principle of maximizing cross-modal information to dynamically select the visual representations most semantically aligned with the language from CLIP’s hierarchical features, thereby strengthening cross-modal correspondence under image domain shifts. It then performs adaptive multi-scale aggregation and alignment to integrate linguistic cues into spatially diverse visual contexts, enabling precise feature fusion across varying object scales. Finally, a dynamic rotation correction decoder with differentiable affine transformation was designed to refine segmentation by compensating for orientation diversity and geometric distortions. Extensive experiments verify that CD2FSAN consistently outperforms existing methods in segmentation accuracy, validating the effectiveness of its core components while maintaining competitive computational efficiency. These results demonstrate the framework’s strong capability to bridge the cross-modal gap between language and remote sensing imagery, highlighting its potential for advancing semantic understanding in vision–language remote sensing tasks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section AI Remote Sensing)

11 pages, 1793 KB

Open AccessArticle

Knee Cartilage Quantification: Performance of Low-Field MR in Detecting Low Grades of Chondropathy

by Francesco Pucciarelli, Antonio Marino, Maria Carla Faugno, Giuseppe Argento, Edoardo Monaco, Andrea Redler, Nicola Maffulli, Pierfrancesco Orlandi, Marta Zerunian, Domenico De Santis, Michela Polici, Damiano Caruso, Marco Francone and Andrea Laghi

J. Imaging 2025, 11(11), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging11110401 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of T2 mapping on low-field (0.31 T) MRI for detecting low-grade knee chondropathy, using arthroscopy as the reference standard. Fifty-two patients (mean age 48.1 ± 17.2 years) undergoing arthroscopy for anterior cruciate ligament or meniscal [...] Read more.

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of T2 mapping on low-field (0.31 T) MRI for detecting low-grade knee chondropathy, using arthroscopy as the reference standard. Fifty-two patients (mean age 48.1 ± 17.2 years) undergoing arthroscopy for anterior cruciate ligament or meniscal tears were prospectively enrolled, excluding those with previous surgery, infection, or high-grade chondropathy (Outerbridge III–IV). MRI was performed with a 0.31 T scanner using a 3D SHARC sequence, and T2 relaxometric maps were generated for 14 cartilage regions per knee according to the WORMS classification. Arthroscopy, performed within one month by two blinded surgeons, served as the gold standard. A total of 728 regions were analyzed. T2 mapping differentiated healthy cartilage (grade 0) from early chondropathy (grades I–II) with an optimal cut-off of 45 ms and moderate discriminative accuracy (AUC = 0.714 for Reader 1 and 0.709 for Reader 2). Agreement with arthroscopy was good (κ = 0.731), with excellent intra-reader (ICC = 0.998) and good inter-reader reproducibility (ICC = 0.753). Most degenerative changes were located at the femoral condyles (59%). Low-field T2 mapping showed good diagnostic performance and reproducibility in detecting early cartilage degeneration, supporting its potential as a cost-effective and accessible quantitative biomarker for the assessment of cartilage integrity in clinical practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging)

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12 pages, 1632 KB

Open AccessArticle

Polyethyleneimine-MOF-235 Composite-Enhanced Electrochemical Detection of Silver Nanoparticles in Cosmetics

by Shuo Duan and Huang Dai

Chemosensors 2025, 13(11), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13110392 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively utilized in cosmetics and healthcare products, creating an urgent need for sensitive quantification methods. We report the first application of a metal–organic framework for electrochemical AgNPs sensing in cosmetic samples. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with polyethyleneimine-encapsulated [...] Read more.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively utilized in cosmetics and healthcare products, creating an urgent need for sensitive quantification methods. We report the first application of a metal–organic framework for electrochemical AgNPs sensing in cosmetic samples. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with polyethyleneimine-encapsulated MOF-235 (PEI-MOF-235/GCE); the PEI layer enriches AgNPs through Ag–N coordination, whereas the high-surface-area MOF catalyzes their oxidative dissolution. Under optimized conditions (catalyst loading 1.4 µg mm⁻³, pH 4.3 PBS), differential-pulse voltammetry provided a linear range of 10–100 ng L⁻¹ and a detection limit of 3.93 ng L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). The sensor exhibited excellent stability (RSD ≤ 4.7%) and good anti-interference capability toward common aquatic ions. Compared with a standard HPLC method, recoveries in spiked cosmetic samples were 97.9–102.6%. This MOF-based strategy offers a sensitive, selective, and field-deployable platform for routine monitoring of trace AgNPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements of Chemosensors and Biosensors in China—3rd Edition)

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14 pages, 1040 KB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical Relevance and Follow-Up of Incidental CT Imaging Findings for COVID-19 Diagnosis: A Retrospective Analysis

by Marc Marty, Bjarne Kerber, Frederik Abel, Jonas Kroschke, Thomas Frauenfelder and Sabine Franckenberg

Diagnostics 2025, 15(22), 2832; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15222832 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of incidental findings in thoracic computed tomography (CT) performed because of COVID-19 and their potential impact on patient management. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 683 CT scans from 327 patients [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of incidental findings in thoracic computed tomography (CT) performed because of COVID-19 and their potential impact on patient management. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 683 CT scans from 327 patients who underwent CT imaging of the thorax with or without the application of intravenous contrast-agents because of the primary indication of COVID-19. Radiological findings were categorized according to the COVID-19 Pneumonia Imaging Classification by four independent readers. Incidental findings were categorized according to a scale ranging from 0 (no patient impairment) to 3b (severe permanent impairment). Results: In the 683 CT-scans, typical COVID-19 findings were present in 273 scans (40.0%), atypical signs in 97 (14.2%), indeterminate findings in 40 (5.9%), and no signs of COVID-19 in 273 (40.0%). Incidental findings were reported in 93 out of 683 cases (13.6%), of which 63 (67.0%) were classified as category 0, 12 (12.8%) as category 1, 9 (9.6%) as category 2a, none (0.0%) as category 2b, 5 (5.3%) as category 3a, and 5 (5.3%) as category 3b. Conclusions: CT scans of the thorax for COVID-19 show a small but significant number of incidental findings that require further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)

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20 pages, 1198 KB

Open AccessArticle

Cross-Layer Optimized OLSR Protocol for FANETs in Interference-Intensive Environments

by Jinyue Liu, Peng Gong, Haowei Yang, Siqi Li and Xiang Gao

Drones 2025, 9(11), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones9110778 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

The conventional OLSR protocol faces substantial challenges in highly dynamic and interference-intensive UAV environments, including high mobility, frequent topology changes, and insufficient adaptability to electromagnetic interference. This paper proposes a cross-layer improved OLSR protocol, OLSR-LCN, that integrates three evaluation metrics—link lifetime (LL), channel [...] Read more.

The conventional OLSR protocol faces substantial challenges in highly dynamic and interference-intensive UAV environments, including high mobility, frequent topology changes, and insufficient adaptability to electromagnetic interference. This paper proposes a cross-layer improved OLSR protocol, OLSR-LCN, that integrates three evaluation metrics—link lifetime (LL), channel interference index (CII), and node load (NL)—to enhance communication stability and network performance. The proposed protocol extends the OLSR control message structure and employs enhanced MPR selection and routing path computation algorithms. LL prediction enables proactive selection of stable communication paths, while the CII helps avoid heavily interfered nodes during MPR selection. Additionally, the NL metric facilitates load balancing and prevents premature node failure due to resource exhaustion. Simulation results demonstrate that across different UAV flight speeds and network scales, OLSR-LCN protocol consistently outperforms both the OLSR and the position-based OLSR in terms of end-to-end delay, packet loss rate, and network efficiency. The cross-layer optimization approach effectively addresses frequent link disruptions, interference, and load imbalance in dynamic environments, providing a robust solution for reliable communication in complex FANETs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Drone Communications)

18 pages, 522 KB

Open AccessArticle

Epilepsy Surgery in Kazakhstan: Outcomes and the Role of Advanced Imaging

by Dina Kalinina, Nazira Bekenova, Alimzhan Muxunov, Zhassulan Utebekov, Gaziz Kyrgyzbay, Darkhan Kimadiev, Guldana Zhumabaeva and Antonio Sarria-Santamera

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(22), 7932; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14227932 (registering DOI) - 8 Nov 2025

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Evidence on epilepsy surgery from Central Asia is limited, reflecting the real-world challenges of developing this service in low- and middle-income settings. We evaluated one-year seizure outcomes after resective surgery for drug-resistant focal epilepsy at a single center in Kazakhstan, [...] Read more.

Background and Objectives: Evidence on epilepsy surgery from Central Asia is limited, reflecting the real-world challenges of developing this service in low- and middle-income settings. We evaluated one-year seizure outcomes after resective surgery for drug-resistant focal epilepsy at a single center in Kazakhstan, and we assessed whether the use of advanced presurgical imaging was associated with seizure freedom. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including consecutive adults who underwent curative-intent resective epilepsy surgery from 2017 to 2023. Outcomes at 12 months or more post-surgery were classified using the Engel criteria. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between the advanced presurgical diagnostic tool and achieving an Engel class I outcome. Crude and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) for not achieving Engel I were estimated using modified Poisson regression with robust SEs. Results: Among 112 patients (median age 31 years; median epilepsy duration 19 years), 76% underwent temporal lobe procedures and 71% had lobectomies. At one year, 74 patients were seizure-free (Engel II: 15.2%, III: 11.6%, IV: 7.1%). Year-to-year Engel I rates varied without a significant linear trend from 2018 to 2023. In bivariable analyses, MRI-defined atrophy (RR, 3.14) and mixed lesions (RR, 2.62) were associated with a higher risk of not achieving Engel I, whereas longer epilepsy duration was linked to a lower risk (RR, 0.97 per year). In adjusted models, predictors of not achieving Engel I included generalized tonic–clonic seizures (aRR, 1.96), atrophy (aRR, 2.98), mixed lesions (aRR, 2.45), and undergoing any advanced diagnostic test (aRR, 3.38). Longer epilepsy durations remained protective (aRR 0.95 per year). In modality-specific logistic models, fMRI use was associated with higher odds of Engel I (aOR 3.39), and MR spectroscopy was associated with lower odds (aOR 0.33). Conclusions: In this Central Asian single-center cohort, about two-thirds of adults achieved complete seizure freedom one year after resective surgery—comparable to international benchmarks. Advanced imaging modalities showed divergent associations with outcomes, likely reflecting confounding by indication. These findings support the feasibility of effective epilepsy surgery in a low-resource context and the value of targeted use of advanced imaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Neurology)

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