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15 pages, 1592 KB

Open AccessArticle

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Fibroblast Growth Factor 21: Their Role in Early Cardiovascular Involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis

by Mariusz Ciołkiewicz, Anna Kuryliszyn-Moskal, Ewa Jabłońska, Wioletta Ratajczak-Wrona, Mariusz Wojciuk and Piotr A. Klimiuk

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(24), 8844; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14248844 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) represents an early sign of cardiac involvement in RA. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of LVDD and the association of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [...] Read more.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) represents an early sign of cardiac involvement in RA. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of LVDD and the association of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and circulating FGF21 levels with chosen LVDD echocardiographic parameters, as well as to assess their diagnostic utility for LVDD in a cohort of patients with RA. Patients and Methods: A total of 51 RA patients (46 females, 5 males; average age 48.8 ± 8.2 years; median disease duration of 12 years) were enrolled. NLR and serum FGF21 levels were analysed for association with echocardiographic parameters of LVDD using univariate regression models. The diagnostic performance of these markers was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: LVDD was diagnosed in 10 patients (19.6%). The NLR was associated negatively with E velocity (β = −4.99, p = 0.02), E/A ratio (β = −0.16, p = 0.004), lateral and medial e′ velocities (β = −1.05, p = 0.038 and β = −0.97, p = 0.013, respectively), and positively with left atrial diameter (β = 2.08, p = 0.006). Serum FGF21 levels were negatively associated with the E/A ratio (β = −0.0005, p = 0.009) and lateral e′ velocity (β = −0.003, p = 0.04). ROC analysis demonstrated a greater diagnostic value for NLR (Youden index 0.30, cut-off point 2.26, sensitivity 50%, specificity 80%, and area under curve [AUC] 0.58) compared to FGF21 (Youden index 0.30, cut-off value 852.85 pg/mL, 100% specificity, 30% sensitivity, and AUC 0.48). Conclusions: NLR and FGF21 are associated with the echocardiographic parameters of the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction prior to the fulfilment of LVDD diagnostic criteria. RA patients with elevated NLR and FGF21 serum levels should be considered for LVDD screening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Immunology & Rheumatology)

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19 pages, 2956 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ultrasound Evaluation of Upper Facial Muscles to Guide Botulinum Toxin Application

by Dominika Jaguś, Anna Pawłowska and Robert Krzysztof Mlosek

Toxins 2025, 17(12), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17120595 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Background: Botulinum toxin injection is one of the most common esthetic procedures, yet complications may occur due to anatomical variability or suboptimal injection technique. This study aimed to evaluate the upper facial muscles using ultrasound, focusing on inter- and intraindividual variability. Methods: The [...] Read more.

Background: Botulinum toxin injection is one of the most common esthetic procedures, yet complications may occur due to anatomical variability or suboptimal injection technique. This study aimed to evaluate the upper facial muscles using ultrasound, focusing on inter- and intraindividual variability. Methods: The study involved volunteers aged 21–40 years, excluding those with prior facial treatments, trauma, or muscle disorders. The muscles examined included the occipitofrontalis (frontal belly), procerus, corrugator supercilii, and orbicularis oculi. Muscle thickness and distance from the epidermis were measured using high-frequency ultrasound. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation with age and BMI, sex comparisons, and symmetry assessment. Results: A total of 127 participants (103 women and 24 men) were enrolled, with a mean age of 28.8 ± 4.4 years. Age showed no significant correlation with muscle thickness or depth, supporting the internal consistency of the studied age group. BMI showed moderate correlations with the depth of the selected forehead muscles. Males showed greater thickness in the frontal and procerus muscles. Relative side-to-side asymmetry coefficients reached 40% for both thickness and depth, indicating notable individual laterality. Conclusions: The study provides normative ultrasound parameters for the upper facial muscle in healthy adults. The results demonstrate significant anatomical variability depending on sex, BMI, and facial laterality, supporting individualized ultrasound-guided approaches for botulinum toxin injection. Full article

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26 pages, 1740 KB

Open AccessArticle

Diffusion Neural Learning for Market Power Risk Assessment in the Electricity Spot Market

by Peng Ji, Li Tao, Ying Xue and Liang Feng

Energies 2025, 18(24), 6542; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18246542 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Market power remains a persistent challenge in liberalized electricity spot markets, where generators can manipulate bids to distort prices and extract rents. Traditional monitoring approaches—such as structural indices or simulation-based models—offer partial insights but fail to capture the nonlinear, spatially correlated propagation of [...] Read more.

Market power remains a persistent challenge in liberalized electricity spot markets, where generators can manipulate bids to distort prices and extract rents. Traditional monitoring approaches—such as structural indices or simulation-based models—offer partial insights but fail to capture the nonlinear, spatially correlated propagation of strategic behavior across transmission-constrained networks. This paper develops a diffusion neural learning framework for market power risk assessment that integrates welfare optimization, nodal pricing dynamics, and graph-based deep learning. Specifically, a Graph Diffusion Network (GDN) is trained on simulated spot market scenarios to learn how localized strategic deviations spread through the network, distort locational marginal prices, and alter system welfare. The modeling framework combines a system-wide welfare maximization objective with multi-constraint market clearing, while the GDN embeds network topology into predictive learning. Results from a case study on an IEEE 118-bus system demonstrate that the proposed method achieves an R² of 0.91 in predicting market power indices, outperforming multilayer perceptrons, recurrent neural networks, and Transformer baselines. Welfare analysis reveals that distributionally robust optimization safeguards up to 3.3 million USD in adverse scenarios compared with baseline stochastic approaches. Further, congestion mapping highlights that strategic bidding concentrates distortions at specific nodes, amplifying rents by up to 40 percent. The proposed approach thus offers both predictive accuracy and interpretability, enabling regulators to detect emerging risks and design targeted mitigation strategies. Overall, this work establishes diffusion-based learning as a novel and effective paradigm for electricity market power assessment under high uncertainty and renewable penetration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advanced Operation, Control, and Planning of Intelligent Energy Systems)

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21 pages, 1667 KB

Open AccessArticle

Advanced Retinal Lesion Segmentation via U-Net with Hybrid Focal–Dice Loss and Automated Ground Truth Generation

by Ahmad Sami Al-Shamayleh, Mohammad Qatawneh and Hany A. Elsalamony

Algorithms 2025, 18(12), 790; https://doi.org/10.3390/a18120790 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

An early and accurate detection of retinal lesions is imperative to intercept the course of sight-threatening ailments, such as Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) or Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Manual expert annotation of all such lesions would take a long time and would be subject [...] Read more.

An early and accurate detection of retinal lesions is imperative to intercept the course of sight-threatening ailments, such as Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) or Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Manual expert annotation of all such lesions would take a long time and would be subject to interobserver tendencies, especially in large screening projects. This work introduces an end-to-end deep learning pipeline for automated retinal lesion segmentation, tailored to datasets without available expert pixel-level reference annotations. The approach is specifically designed for our needs. A novel multi-stage automated ground truth mask generation method, based on colour space analysis, entropy filtering and morphological operations, and creating reliable pseudo-labels from raw retinal images. These pseudo-labels then serve as the training input for a U-Net architecture, a convolutional encoder–decoder architecture for biomedical image segmentation. To address the inherent class imbalance often encountered in medical imaging, we employ and thoroughly evaluate a novel hybrid loss function combining Focal Loss and Dice Loss. The proposed pipeline was rigorously evaluated on the ‘Eye Image Dataset’ from Kaggle, achieving a state-of-the-art segmentation performance with a Dice Similarity Coefficient of 0.932, Intersection over Union (IoU) of 0.865, Precision of 0.913, and Recall of 0.897. This work demonstrates the feasibility of achieving high-quality retinal lesion segmentation even in resource-constrained environments where extensive expert annotations are unavailable, thus paving the way for more accessible and scalable ophthalmological diagnostic tools. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Algorithms for Multidisciplinary Applications)

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16 pages, 2413 KB

Open AccessArticle

Eating Disorders in an Immigrant Population: Are Clinical Features and Treatment Outcomes Different from the Native-Born Spanish Population?

by Magda Rosinska, Silvia Tempia Valenta, Isabel Sánchez, Olga Jordana Ovejero, Teresa Alonzo-Castillo, Laura Gálvez Solé, Rosa Fontana Eito, Lucero Munguia, Elena Caravaca Sanz, Anna Rita Atti, Roser Granero, Susana Jiménez-Murcia and Fernando Fernández-Aranda

Nutrients 2025, 17(24), 3914; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17243914 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Sociocultural factors, including migration and acculturation, may influence the clinical profile and course of eating disorders (EDs). This study examined differences between immigrant and native-born Spanish patients with EDs in (1) clinical presentation and (2) treatment response. Methods: Consecutive outpatients from the [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Sociocultural factors, including migration and acculturation, may influence the clinical profile and course of eating disorders (EDs). This study examined differences between immigrant and native-born Spanish patients with EDs in (1) clinical presentation and (2) treatment response. Methods: Consecutive outpatients from the Eating Disorders Unit at Bellvitge University Hospital (Barcelona, Spain) were assessed using the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R). Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, ANOVA, Cox regression for dropout, and logistic regression for predictors of poor outcome, adjusted for ED subtype. Results: The sample included 1104 patients (947 native-born; 157 immigrants). Immigrant patients showed a distinct clinical profile, with lower drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction but higher interpersonal distrust, maturity fears, perfectionism, anxiety-related symptoms, and self-transcendence. They also presented a worse treatment response, including higher dropout rates, poorer outcomes, and lower remission rates. Predictive models identified different risk factors for poor treatment response in each group: among native-born patients, younger age of ED onset, higher novelty seeking, and lower self-directedness were associated with worse outcomes, whereas among immigrant patients, greater ED severity, lower harm avoidance, and lower self-transcendence predicted poorer results. Conclusions: Immigrant patients with EDs exhibit a differentiated clinical presentation and less favorable treatment response compared to native-born patients. The differential predictors of poor outcome highlight the need for culturally informed and individually tailored interventions that consider both sociocultural context and personality-related vulnerabilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Nutrition and Obesity)

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20 pages, 437 KB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Distinct Profiles of Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Practices, and Their Determinants Among Adult Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Elżbieta Wierzbicka, Barbara Pietruszka and Agata Wawrzyniak

Nutrients 2025, 17(24), 3916; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17243916 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine nutrition-related knowledge (NRK) and the implementation of national dietary guidelines (NDGs) as nutrition-related practices (NRPs) among women, identifying profiles and their determinants. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 1294 Polish women (mean age 35.8 ± [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine nutrition-related knowledge (NRK) and the implementation of national dietary guidelines (NDGs) as nutrition-related practices (NRPs) among women, identifying profiles and their determinants. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 1294 Polish women (mean age 35.8 ± 14.6 years) was conducted in the period June 2021–December 2022 using the Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method. K-means cluster analysis was applied to standardized variables (NRK and NRP scores, age, and BMI), with the optimal number of clusters determined using the elbow method, to identify major participant profiles representing knowledge and practices with respect to the NDGs. Results: Three distinct clusters were identified. The “High” cluster showed median NRK and NRP scores of 15 (IQR = 14–17) and 11 points (IQR = 10–13), significantly higher than those of the “Low” (11 (IQR = 9–13) and 8 points (IQR = 7–10); p < 0.001) and “Moderate” cluster (13 (IQR = 11–14) and 7 points (IQR = 6–9); p < 0.001), respectively. There were significant differences between clusters in socio-demographics, lifestyle, and health-related distribution. Cluster “High” (38% of sample) had the best NRK and NRP scores and more advantageous socio-economic and lifestyle profiles (higher education, employment, better financial situation, normal BMI, less smoking and higher levels of physical activity), p < 0.001; “Moderate” (39%) was characterized by average to relatively good NRK but weaker implementation of NRPs, particularly among younger women, representing more advantageous socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health-related characteristics (p < 0.001); and “Low” (23% of sample) comprising middle-aged and older women with lower education, more frequent rural residence, poorer financial status, less favourable lifestyle factors, the lowest NRK and NRP scores, higher prevalence of overweight or obesity, and the lowest level of physical activity (p < 0.001)—thus indicating a marked knowledge–practice gap, with this group constituting a potential high-risk population. Conclusions: Greater awareness of national dietary guidelines among women is observed alongside higher nutrition-related knowledge and healthier dietary practices. A persistent gap between knowledge and practical implementation among women highlights the need for interventions that support behaviour change alongside nutritional education. Targeted public health strategies are required for women with lower levels of nutrition-related knowledge and less favourable lifestyle profiles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Habits, Nutritional Knowledge, and Nutrition Education)

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17 pages, 4452 KB

Open AccessArticle

SAUCF: A Framework for Secure, Natural-Language-Guided UAS Control

by Nihar Shah, Varun Aggarwal and Dharmendra Saraswat

Drones 2025, 9(12), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones9120860 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Precision agriculture increasingly recognizes the transformative potential of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) for crop monitoring and field assessment, yet research consistently highlights significant usability barriers as the main constraints to widespread adoption. Complex mission planning processes, including detailed flight plan creation and way [...] Read more.

Precision agriculture increasingly recognizes the transformative potential of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) for crop monitoring and field assessment, yet research consistently highlights significant usability barriers as the main constraints to widespread adoption. Complex mission planning processes, including detailed flight plan creation and way point management, pose substantial technical challenges that mainly affect non-expert operators. Farmers and their teams generally prefer user-friendly, straightforward tools, as evidenced by the rapid adoption of GPS guidance systems, which underscores the need for simpler mission planning in UAS operations. To enhance accessibility and safety in UAS control, especially for non-expert operators in agriculture and related fields, we propose a Secure UAS Control Framework (SAUCF): a comprehensive system for natural-language-driven UAS mission management with integrated dual-factor biometric authentication. The framework converts spoken user instructions into executable flight plans by leveraging a language-model-powered mission planner that interprets transcribed voice commands and generates context-aware operational directives, including takeoff, location monitoring, return-to-home, and landing operations. Mission orchestration is performed through a large language model (LLM) agent, coupled with a human-in-the-loop supervision mechanism that enables operators to review, adjust, or confirm mission plans before deployment. Additionally, SAUCF offers a manual override feature, allowing users to assume direct control or interrupt missions at any stage, ensuring safety and adaptability in dynamic environments. Proof-of-concept demonstrations on a UAS plat-form with on-board computing validated reliable speech-to-text transcription, biometric verification via voice matching and face authentication, and effective Sim2Real transfer of natural-language-driven mission plans from simulation environments to physical UAS operations. Initial evaluations showed that SAUCF reduced mission planning time, minimized command errors, and simplified complex multi-objective workflows compared to traditional waypoint-based tools, though comprehensive field validation remains necessary to confirm these preliminary findings. The integration of natural-language-based interaction, real-time identity verification, human-in-the-loop LLM orchestration, and manual override capabilities allows SAUCF to significantly lower the technical barrier to UAS operation while ensuring mission security, operational reliability, and operator agency in real-world conditions. These findings lay the groundwork for systematic field trials and suggest that prioritizing ease of operation in mission planning can drive broader deployment of UAS technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Artificial Intelligence in Drones (AID))

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29 pages, 789 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Opuntia dillenii as a Nutraceutical and Dietary Resource for Disease Prevention and Management: A Systematic Review

by Nisa Buset-Ríos, Mussa Makran and Ruymán Santana-Farré

Nutrients 2025, 17(24), 3915; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17243915 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Background: Chronic diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and their prevalence is increasing due to aging and lifestyle factors. A central element in their pathophysiology is chronic low-grade inflammation, linking metabolic, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and proliferative disorders. In this context, Opuntia [...] Read more.

Background: Chronic diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and their prevalence is increasing due to aging and lifestyle factors. A central element in their pathophysiology is chronic low-grade inflammation, linking metabolic, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and proliferative disorders. In this context, Opuntia dillenii, a cactus species traditionally used in folk medicine, has attracted considerable scientific interest due to its promising nutraceutical potential. Methods: This systematic review was conducted through a PRISMA-guided literature search using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, identifying 45 studies that analyze the phytochemical composition and biological activity of O. dillenii. Results: The compounds highlighted include betalains, polyphenols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides that exhibit potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects by modulating key inflammatory mediators. In addition, O. dillenii demonstrates antiproliferative activity, inducing apoptosis and inhibiting tumor growth in various in vivo models, suggesting a potential role in cancer prevention and as a complementary therapy. The cactus also exhibits antiatherogenic and hypotensive effects, as well as hypolipidemic and antidiabetic properties by improving lipid profiles, reducing serum cholesterol and triglycerides, and enhancing insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, its protective actions against tissue damage extend its therapeutic potential. Antimicrobial properties have also been reported, reinforcing its value as a functional food. Conclusions: Taken together, the evidence supports the use of O. dillenii as a versatile nutraceutical resource with a low toxicity profile, capable of contributing to the prevention and treatment of various chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Nevertheless, human clinical trials are needed to validate these findings and explore their full therapeutic utility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Plant, Fungi and Algae Nutritive Compounds in the Management of Health and Disease)

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13 pages, 647 KB

Open AccessArticle

Increased suPAR Plasma Levels May Indicate Postoperative Sepsis Following Open Thoracoabdominal Aortic Repair

by Dragos Socol, Cathryn Bassett, Bernhard Hruschka, Jelle Frankort, Moustafa Elfeky, Katja Heller, Florian Kahles, Berkan Kurt, Christian Uhl, Panagiotis Doukas and Alexander Gombert

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(24), 8843; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14248843 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Postoperative organ complications following open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair pose significant challenges during the early postoperative period, where prompt detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Sepsis is often a central factor in these complications. This study investigates the perioperative [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Postoperative organ complications following open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair pose significant challenges during the early postoperative period, where prompt detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Sepsis is often a central factor in these complications. This study investigates the perioperative dynamics of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) plasma levels in TAAA patients undergoing elective surgical repair and evaluates its diagnostic potential for early detection of postoperative sepsis. Methods: In this retrospective, single-center study, 28 patients (mean age 52.6 ± 13.4 years; 67.9% male) underwent elective open TAAA repair between 2022 and 2024. Blood samples were collected at five perioperative time points, and suPAR levels were measured using ELISA. The primary endpoint was the onset of postoperative sepsis, with secondary endpoints including other organ complications. The predictive performance of suPAR levels was evaluated using Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) analysis. Results: Postoperative sepsis developed in 7 of 28 patients (25%), with the diagnostic criteria met at a mean of 9.7 ± 6.9 days. Baseline suPAR levels did not differ between groups; however, from 12 h after surgery, the sepsis group exhibited significantly higher serum concentrations (14.43 ng/mL vs. 7.23 ng/mL; p = 0.004), a difference that persisted throughout the first 24 h. At 24 h, suPAR had the highest predictive accuracy for sepsis, with an AUC of 0.90, 90% sensitivity, and 86% specificity at a 9 ng/mL cut-off (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Elevated suPAR levels in the early postoperative period are strongly associated with the later onset of sepsis. Early monitoring may enable timely intervention, potentially improving outcomes in this high-risk patient population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Cardiovascular Medicine)

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19 pages, 2466 KB

Open AccessArticle

Disrupted miRNA Biogenesis Machinery Reveals Common Molecular Pathways and Diagnostic Potential in MDS and AML

by Kenan Çevik, Mustafa Ertan Ay, Anıl Tombak, Özlem İzci Ay, Ümit Karakaş and Mehmet Emin Erdal

Biomedicines 2025, 13(12), 3082; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13123082 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are clonal stem cell disorders in which disrupted post-transcriptional regulation contributes to aberrant hematopoiesis and leukemic transformation. The miRNA biogenesis machinery, which comprises Drosha, DGCR8, Dicer, TARBP2, and AGO1, ensures the precise maturation [...] Read more.

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are clonal stem cell disorders in which disrupted post-transcriptional regulation contributes to aberrant hematopoiesis and leukemic transformation. The miRNA biogenesis machinery, which comprises Drosha, DGCR8, Dicer, TARBP2, and AGO1, ensures the precise maturation of miRNAs that control lineage commitment and proliferation. However, the extent to which alterations in this pathway reshape hematopoietic gene networks during myeloid disease evolution remains largely unexplored. Methods: Bone marrow samples from newly diagnosed, untreated MDS and AML patients and matched healthy controls were analyzed for the expression of five key miRNA biogenesis genes using quantitative real-time PCR. Statistical comparisons, correlation matrices, and ROC analyses were performed to characterize gene-expression differences. These results were integrated with multigene logistic modeling, decision-curve analysis, and exploratory random forest/SHAP approaches to evaluate molecular interactions and diagnostic relevance. Results: DROSHA, DICER1, and TARBP2 were significantly downregulated in both MDS and AML, suggesting impaired miRNA maturation and a loss of global post-transcriptional control. DGCR8 expression increased across higher-risk MDS groups, suggesting compensatory activation of the Microprocessor complex, whereas AGO1 levels remained relatively stable, consistent with partial maintenance of RISC function. Correlation analyses revealed a co-regulated DROSHA–TARBP2–AGO1 module. ROC, logistic, and machine learning models identified DGCR8 and DICER1 as the strongest diagnostic discriminators. The integrated five-gene signature achieved high discriminative performance (AUC ≈ 0.98) and showed promise but remains preliminary potential for clinical application. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that defects in miRNA biogenesis disrupt hematopoietic homeostasis, reflecting common mechanisms in MDS and AML. The dysregulation of DICER1, DGCR8, and TARBP2 offers insights into miRNA-driven leukemogenesis and may pave the way for miRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, pending validation in larger cohorts. Although transcript-level data are provided, future studies should include functional validation to determine the impact on downstream miRNA processing and hematopoietic pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue MicroRNAs in Precision Medicine: Regulation, Biomarkers and Novel Therapeutics)

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21 pages, 2820 KB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Small Target Detection Method for Poppy Plants in UAV Aerial Photography Based on Improved YOLOv8

by Xiaodan Feng, Lijun Yun, Chunlong Wang, Haojie Zhang, Rou Guan, Yuying Ma and Huan Jin

Agronomy 2025, 15(12), 2868; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15122868 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

In response to the challenges in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based poppy plant detection, such as dense small targets, occlusions, and complex backgrounds, an improved YOLOv8-based detection algorithm with multi-module collaborative optimization is proposed. First, the lightweight Efficient Channel Attention (ECA) mechanism was integrated [...] Read more.

In response to the challenges in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based poppy plant detection, such as dense small targets, occlusions, and complex backgrounds, an improved YOLOv8-based detection algorithm with multi-module collaborative optimization is proposed. First, the lightweight Efficient Channel Attention (ECA) mechanism was integrated into the YOLOv8 backbone network to construct a composite feature extraction module with enhanced representational capacity. Subsequently, a Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network (BiFPN) was introduced into the neck network to establish adaptive cross-scale feature fusion through learnable weighting parameters. Furthermore, the Wise Intersection over Union (WIoU) loss function was adopted to enhance the accuracy of bounding box regression. Finally, a dedicated 160 × 160 pixels detection head was added to leverage the high-resolution features from shallow layers, thereby enhancing the detection capability for small targets. Under five-fold cross-validation, the proposed model achieved mAP@0.5 and mAP@0.5:0.95 of 0.989 ± 0.003 and 0.850 ± 0.013, respectively, with average increases of 1.3 and 3.2 percentage points over YOLOv8. Statistical analysis confirmed that these performance gains were significant, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method as a reliable solution for poppy plant detection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Imagery and Machine Vision)

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16 pages, 714 KB

Open AccessReview

Mycotoxins in Fish Aquaculture—Occurrence and Future Perspective

by Ana Vulić, Nina Kudumija, Tanja Šegvić-Bubić and Tina Lešić

Foods 2025, 14(24), 4301; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14244301 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi which are commonly found as natural contaminants in food and feed worldwide. In recent years, aquaculture research has increasingly focused on changing fish feed by replacing traditional protein sources with plant-based and insect ingredients [...] Read more.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi which are commonly found as natural contaminants in food and feed worldwide. In recent years, aquaculture research has increasingly focused on changing fish feed by replacing traditional protein sources with plant-based and insect ingredients to promote sustainability. However, this shift has raised concerns about mycotoxin contamination in farmed fish, fish products, and processing by-products. As a result, the pursuit of sustainable aquaculture practices may inadvertently increase the risk of mycotoxin exposure. To date, studies on freshwater fish have focused primarily on regulated mycotoxins, and the findings have demonstrated their occurrence in muscle, liver, intestine, ovaries, and hepatopancreas. Most studies have investigated aflatoxin B1, and its presence has been confirmed in the muscle tissue of several fish species. In marine fish, research has encompassed a broader spectrum of mycotoxins, including emerging and masked forms, across multiple tissues and organs. However, across various studies, conflicting results have been reported regarding the occurrence of emerging mycotoxins, particularly enniatins and beauvericin. This paper reviews current research on mycotoxin contamination in farmed fish, summarising detected levels across freshwater and marine species and in derived products, and also discusses future perspectives on mycotoxin risks in sustainable aquaculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxins as Food Contaminants: Detection, Prevalence and Safety Assessment)

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12 pages, 6047 KB

Open AccessArticle

Basic Concept of Purity Analysis of Facilities for High-Temperature Non-Oxide Crystal Growth

by Elena Voronina, Elena Mozhevitina, Karina Kim, Victoria Solomatina, Oleg Nefedov and Igor Avetissov

Crystals 2025, 15(12), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15121059 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

The general procedure for measurement of impurities in hot zones of high-temperature growth setups is proposed and developed. In the first step, we prepared extra-pure 15 × 15 × 8 mm collecting cubes from composite graphite by high-temperature annealing in dry dynamic vacuum. [...] Read more.

The general procedure for measurement of impurities in hot zones of high-temperature growth setups is proposed and developed. In the first step, we prepared extra-pure 15 × 15 × 8 mm collecting cubes from composite graphite by high-temperature annealing in dry dynamic vacuum. The collecting cubes were placed in different parts of the hot zones of growth setups. We tested two types of crystal growth setups: single- and multi-crucible growth setups of a VGF configuration for A^IIIB^V semiconductors’ crystal growth. The hot zones of the setups were built from different types of graphite materials and high-temperature dielectric ceramics (BN and Al₂O₃) as insulators. The growth setups with collecting cubes without raw crystal materials were heated to operating temperatures, exposed for certain operating periods, and cooled to room temperature. The cubes were taken off and analyzed by extraction of condensed impurities into an analytic super-pure acid. The extracted impurities in the acid were determined by ICP-MS analysis. We showed that the hot zone of a single-crucible growth setup was nearly twice as pure (averaged 2.45 mg/g) compared with the hot zone of a multi-crucible setup (averaging 4.06 mg/g) because of the different graphite materials of the constructions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Industrial Crystallization)

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14 pages, 1636 KB

Open AccessArticle

Rethinking the Evolution of Tubulin Polymerization Promoting Proteins

by Ferenc Orosz

Biology 2025, 14(12), 1784; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14121784 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

TPPP (tubulin polymerization promoting protein)-like proteins are found throughout the living world. The individual members of this protein family are distinguished according to how many times and how completely their characteristic structural element, the p25alpha domain, is found in them. Phylogenomic occurrences of [...] Read more.

TPPP (tubulin polymerization promoting protein)-like proteins are found throughout the living world. The individual members of this protein family are distinguished according to how many times and how completely their characteristic structural element, the p25alpha domain, is found in them. Phylogenomic occurrences of the members of the family differ from each other. Animals, fungi, algae, and various groups of unicellular organisms have their characteristic proteins. The two phylogenomic multi-supergroups, Opimoda+ and Diphoda+, show very different patterns in the occurrence of TPPP types. By using BLAST search in protein and nucleotide databases, we found that the previously known phylogenomic distribution is not strictly true, e.g., fungal type TPPPs are not only found in fungi. We primarily analyzed the Opisthokonta clade but also examined broader relationships. It was confirmed that the occurrence of TPPPs/genes is linked to the presence of the eukaryotic flagellum. A TPPP that contains the entire p25alpha domain twice and occurs only in Opisthokonta was identified. We also identified a TPPP in choanoflagellates and in the uncertainly classified Opisthokonta Tunicaraptor unikontis, which was previously known only in the Diphoda+ clade. On the other hand, we found an Opisthokonta (Opimoda+)-specific TPPP in a Heterolobosea (Diphoda+). Based on these results, we need to rethink the evolutionary history of TPPPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Evolutionary Biology)

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13 pages, 3447 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Triboelectric Nanogenerator from Abalone Shell Powder for Self-Powered Humidity Sensing

by Yunsook Yang, Farhan Akhtar, Shahzad Iqbal, Muhammad Muqeet Rehman and Woo Young Kim

Sensors 2025, 25(24), 7584; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25247584 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Self-powered sensors are critically important for IoT, yet most rely on synthetic polymers that lack environmental sustainability. This work presents a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) made from marine biowaste which operates as both an energy generator and humidity sensor. Abalone shell powder (ASP) majorly [...] Read more.

Self-powered sensors are critically important for IoT, yet most rely on synthetic polymers that lack environmental sustainability. This work presents a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) made from marine biowaste which operates as both an energy generator and humidity sensor. Abalone shell powder (ASP) majorly composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) was used as its tribopositive layer in combination with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as tribonegative layer. The developed ASP-TENG device generated 410 V peak to peak open-circuit voltage (V_OC) and 2.79 W·m⁻² peak power density at an operating frequency of 4 Hz. These obtained results match or surpass existing biowaste-based TENGs. ASP-TENG efficiently worked as a self-powered humidity sensor because its output voltage decreased steadily from 410 V to 176 V in response to an increase in relative humidity (%RH) from 40% to 80% (decreases of 5.8 V for every 1%RH). The triboelectric charges become screened by water molecules that adsorb onto the porous CaCO₃ surface which leads to faster leakage current. This work demonstrates a sustainable method to create TENGs with multiple functions while developing environmentally friendly sensing systems for environmental tracking and sustainable energy harvesting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Applications of IoT in Multidisciplinary Areas)

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22 pages, 2484 KB

Open AccessArticle

Discovering Anticancer Effects of Phytochemicals on MicroRNA in the Context of Data Mining

by Yumi Sakai and Kurataka Otsuka

Nutrients 2025, 17(24), 3913; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17243913 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Background: miRNA is linked to a variety of human diseases, including cancer. The expression levels and profiles can be related to disease prevention and the promotion of good health. Understanding the beneficial changes in miRNA expression mediated by micro- and macronutrients is [...] Read more.

Background: miRNA is linked to a variety of human diseases, including cancer. The expression levels and profiles can be related to disease prevention and the promotion of good health. Understanding the beneficial changes in miRNA expression mediated by micro- and macronutrients is vital for maintaining optimal health. However, it remains unknown which phytochemicals affect miRNA expression, thereby hindering the identification of novel dietary functions. Methods: We searched for and investigated novel phytochemicals that would regulate miRNAs in colon cancer using artificial intelligence. We comprehensively analyzed miRNA expression in colon cancer cell lines treated with new phytochemical candidates using next-generation sequencing. Results: We identified three phytochemicals (fisetin, glabridin, and silibinin) that suppressed cell proliferation and were associated with changes in cancer-related miRNA expression in colon cancer cells. The miRNA expression profiles observed in response to each phytochemical shared some common features while also displaying compound-specific miRNA signatures. Exploratory pathway analyses of fisetin, glabridin, or silibinin have shown that each affects pathways involved in tumor development, including the p53 signaling pathway, apoptosis, cellular senescence, and colorectal cancer. Conclusions: The use of artificial intelligence to explore candidate compounds is beneficial, leading to the discovery of new phytochemicals modulating tumor-related miRNAs. Investigating the mechanisms of action of miRNAs will be essential for understanding new functions of dietary nutrients, thereby providing further insights into the development of diet-based health promotion and disease prevention strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Antioxidant-Rich Natural Food)

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24 pages, 858 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Spillover Effect of National Auditing on the ESG Performance of Supply Chains: Empirical Evidence from the Quasi-Natural Experiment of China’s NAO Auditing SOEs

by Hui Wu, Xiaoyu Zhao, Yixuan Li and Xuming Shangguan

Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11190; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411190 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Supply chains play a crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the improvement of ESG performance. From the perspective of synergy between national auditing and corporate governance, this study integrates the SDGs into the supply chain ESG strategy and evaluates [...] Read more.

Supply chains play a crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the improvement of ESG performance. From the perspective of synergy between national auditing and corporate governance, this study integrates the SDGs into the supply chain ESG strategy and evaluates the spillover effects of national auditing on supply chain ESG performance, drawing on the quasi-natural experiment of China’s National Audit Office (NAO) auditing state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The findings illustrate that national auditing has a significant positive spillover effect on the ESG performance of supply chains. These findings remain robust after addressing potential endogeneity via placebo tests, PSM-DID, and Heckman two-step method. Heterogeneity analysis highlights that supply chains with strong cooperation stability, high concentration, and presence in the same industry have more pronounced ESG spillover effects. Mechanism analysis further demonstrates that national auditing enhances the ESG performance of supply chains by exerting imitative, mandatory, and normative pressures. Moreover, audit regulatory agencies should establish a mechanism for sharing audit results to exert mandatory institutional pressure, thereby ensuring this mechanism enables audits to fully fulfill their role in improving supply chain ESG performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Industrial Engineering and Management Towards Sustainable Development Goals)

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23 pages, 4862 KB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Insights into Islanding Detection in PV Inverters: Foundations for a Parallel-Operation Test Standard

by Krzysztof Chmielowiec, Aleks Piszczek and Łukasz Topolski

Sensors 2025, 25(24), 7582; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25247582 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

With the rapid increase in photovoltaic (PV) micro-installations in Europe, ensuring the stability and safety of the power grid has become a critical challenge. A key aspect in this context is the reliable detection of unintentional islanding by distributed energy resources. This paper [...] Read more.

With the rapid increase in photovoltaic (PV) micro-installations in Europe, ensuring the stability and safety of the power grid has become a critical challenge. A key aspect in this context is the reliable detection of unintentional islanding by distributed energy resources. This paper presents the results of metrological tests on seven commercially available three-phase and single-phase PV inverters, conducted in accordance with the requirements of the EN 50549-1 and EN 62116 standards. A dedicated test setup was developed to enable measurements following standardized procedures. The tests assessed both the response time and the effectiveness of islanding detection mechanisms under various fault scenarios, including simulations of autonomous operation of multiple inverters. The main findings indicate that while all inverters with active islanding protection successfully detected islanding within the mandated 2-s limit, their individual response times varied significantly. Parallel operation further influenced this behavior: when one inverter operated with its islanding protection intentionally disabled, the remaining units exhibited notably increased detection times, though still within regulatory thresholds. Moreover, the inverter with disabled protection was capable of sustaining stable islanded operation indefinitely under balanced load conditions. Repeated multi-inverter tests also revealed significant variability in detection time within the same scenario, demonstrating that detection dynamics are sensitive to subtle changes in operating conditions. These findings highlight important limitations of existing certification procedures, which focus primarily on single-inverter testing. Real-world interactions between simultaneously operating inverters can substantially affect detection performance. The results therefore support the need to revise and extend test standards to include controlled multi-inverter parallel-operation conditions, ensuring the safe integration of prosumer PV systems into distribution networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metrology in Modern Measurement Systems and Sensors: Design, Application, Research and Challenges)

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22 pages, 3276 KB

Open AccessArticle

Deep Neural Network-Based Inverse Identification of the Mechanical Behavior of Anisotropic Tubes

by Zied Ktari, Pedro Prates and Ali Khalfallah

J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2025, 9(12), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp9120410 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Tube hydroforming is a versatile forming process widely used in lightweight structural applications, where accurate characterization of the hoop mechanical behavior is crucial for reliable design and simulation. The ring hoop tensile test (RHTT) provides valuable experimental data for evaluating the elastoplastic response [...] Read more.

Tube hydroforming is a versatile forming process widely used in lightweight structural applications, where accurate characterization of the hoop mechanical behavior is crucial for reliable design and simulation. The ring hoop tensile test (RHTT) provides valuable experimental data for evaluating the elastoplastic response of anisotropic tubes in the hoop direction, but frictional effects often distort the measured force–displacement response. This study proposes a deep learning-based inverse identification framework to accurately recover the true hoop stress–strain behavior from RHTT data. Convolutional and recurrent neural network architectures, including CNN, long short term memory (LSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU), bidirectional GRU (BiGRU), bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) and ConvLSTM, were trained using numerically generated datasets from finite element simulations. Data augmentation and hyperparameter tuning were applied to generalization. The hybrid ConvLSTM model achieved superior performance, with a minimum mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.08 and a coefficient of determination (R²) value of approximately 0.97, providing a close match to the Hill48 yield criterion. The proposed approach demonstrates the potential of deep neural networks as an efficient and accurate alternative to traditional inverse methods for characterizing anisotropic tubular materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Metal Forming and Joining Technologies)

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14 pages, 4269 KB

Open AccessArticle

Perioperative Chemotherapy in Bladder and Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: Outcomes by Nodal Status and Lymphovascular Invasion

by Nobuki Furubayashi, Jiro Tsujita, Azusa Takayama, Yuta Shiraishi, Motonobu Nakamura and Takahito Negishi

Cancers 2025, 17(24), 3986; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17243986 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Optimal selection for perioperative therapy in urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains uncertain. We evaluated the efficacy of neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC/AC) for patients with bladder cancer (BC) and upper tract UC (UTUC), examined the role of lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and considered the [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Optimal selection for perioperative therapy in urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains uncertain. We evaluated the efficacy of neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC/AC) for patients with bladder cancer (BC) and upper tract UC (UTUC), examined the role of lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and considered the implications for adjuvant nivolumab. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy or radical nephroureterectomy at a single center (July 1998–April 2021; observation to 31 March 2025). After exclusions, 252 BC and 153 UTUC patients were included. Endpoints were cancer-specific survival, progression-free survival (PFS; BC), non-urinary-tract recurrence-free survival (NUTRFS; UTUC), and overall survival (OS). Survival was estimated by Kaplan–Meier analysis and compared by log-rank tests. Results: For BC, AC did not improve the PFS or OS in the overall pT ≥ 2 population, whereas node-positive (pN+) disease derived significant benefits in both endpoints among NAC-naïve patients (PFS and OS, p = 0.002 and p = 0.008). For UTUC, AC conferred no advantage in NUTRFS or OS for the overall pT ≥ 2 population. However, NUTRFS benefits emerged in the pN+ subset (p = 0.049), although the OS was not improved. Among NAC-treated BC, the outcomes were poorest for ≥ypT3 and ypN+, whereas ypT ≤ 2 fared better. LVI was associated with adverse outcomes and was borderline higher in pN+ versus pT ≥ 2/pN− for BC (p = 0.056) and significantly higher for UTUC (p = 0.012). Conclusions: In this retrospective, single-center cohort, our exploratory analyses suggest that perioperative benefit is largely node-dependent, supporting prioritizing systemic therapy for pN+ disease and cautioning against routine AC for pT2/ypT2 without nodal involvement. After NAC, adjuvant therapy appeared most justified for ≥ypT3/ypN+. Prospective biomarker-integrated validation is warranted and, given the small and underpowered subgroups and the potential for selection and immortal time biases, these observations should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating rather than causal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunotherapy in Urothelial Carcinoma)

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18 pages, 3720 KB

Open AccessArticle

Embedding Math Problems in Cultural City Tours to Increase Student Engagement and Inclusion

by Fotis Lazarinis

Educ. Sci. 2025, 15(12), 1683; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15121683 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate whether embedding mathematical problems in cultural tours around cities can effectively increase student engagement, enhance knowledge retention, and promote inclusivity among students with varying abilities. First, we present the content development process and then the evaluation process with [...] Read more.

This paper aims to investigate whether embedding mathematical problems in cultural tours around cities can effectively increase student engagement, enhance knowledge retention, and promote inclusivity among students with varying abilities. First, we present the content development process and then the evaluation process with the participation of 78 high school students and six teachers. Quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-tour questionnaires, while qualitative data were gathered through teacher interviews to evaluate engagement, knowledge acquisition, and inclusivity. The results indicate that the pedagogical tours significantly enhance student engagement and foster collaboration among students of different abilities. This study contributes to the development of innovative pedagogical approaches by integrating storytelling, gamification elements, and real-world contexts to make mathematics learning more engaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section STEM Education)

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21 pages, 1151 KB

Open AccessArticle

Edge-Enabled Hybrid Encryption Framework for Secure Health Information Exchange in IoT-Based Smart Healthcare Systems

by Norjihan Abdul Ghani, Bintang Annisa Bagustari, Muneer Ahmad, Herman Tolle and Diva Kurnianingtyas

Sensors 2025, 25(24), 7583; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25247583 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing is transforming healthcare by enabling real-time acquisition, processing, and exchange of sensitive patient data close to the data source. However, the distributed nature of IoT-enabled smart healthcare systems exposes them to severe [...] Read more.

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing is transforming healthcare by enabling real-time acquisition, processing, and exchange of sensitive patient data close to the data source. However, the distributed nature of IoT-enabled smart healthcare systems exposes them to severe security and privacy risks during health information exchange (HIE). This study proposes an edge-enabled hybrid encryption framework that combines elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), HMAC-SHA256, and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and efficient computation in healthcare communication networks. The proposed model minimizes latency and reduces cloud dependency by executing encryption and verification at the network edge. It provides the first systematic comparison of hybrid encryption configurations for edge-based HIE, evaluating CPU usage, memory consumption, and scalability across varying data volumes. Experimental results demonstrate that the ECC + HMAC-SHA256 + AES configuration achieves high encryption efficiency and strong resistance to attacks while maintaining lightweight processing suitable for edge devices. This approach provides a scalable and secure solution for protecting sensitive health data in next-generation IoT-enabled smart healthcare systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Edge Artificial Intelligence and Data Science for IoT-Enabled Systems)

24 pages, 8449 KB

Open AccessArticle

From Ecological Functions to Green Space Management: Driving Factors and Planning Implications of Urban Ecosystem Service Bundles

by Jingyi Wei, Mengbo Wu, Na Liu, Daihui Rao, Xiong Yao and Zhipeng Zhu

Forests 2025, 16(12), 1856; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16121856 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Amidst rapid urbanization, balancing ecological protection with development demands has become a critical challenge for sustainable planning. This article collected data on the natural geography and socio-economic aspects of Fuzhou City and quantified five key ecosystem services—crop production, water yield, carbon sequestration, soil [...] Read more.

Amidst rapid urbanization, balancing ecological protection with development demands has become a critical challenge for sustainable planning. This article collected data on the natural geography and socio-economic aspects of Fuzhou City and quantified five key ecosystem services—crop production, water yield, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, and habitat quality—using the InVEST model. By using SOFM to identify different ESBs and combining sensitivity analysis to form different ecological functional zones, and using geographic detectors to detect their driving factors, this aims to provide a framework for urban green space management. The results indicate that ecosystem services have a significant northwest southeast spatial gradient and can be divided into five types of ESBs. Among them, the core ecological clusters account for 59.36% of the study area and are mainly distributed in the forest-covered northwest region. Based on different service bundles and sensitivity levels, it is divided into five ecological functional zones. Geographic detector analysis shows that the interaction effect between natural factors (such as altitude and precipitation) and socio-economic factors (such as GDP density and land use) significantly enhances the explanatory power of ESB distribution. This study provides a transferable model for ecological management in global coastal cities facing similar terrain complexity and urbanization pressures. The framework demonstrates how understanding ecosystem service packages and their driving factors can effectively guide urban ecological planning decisions and provide valuable insights into coordinating ecological protection and urban development through targeted green space management methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Urban Green Spaces)

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18 pages, 1785 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Genotoxic Potential of Food Additive Titanium Dioxide in Human Intestinal Cell Systems

by Han-Na Nam, Su-Min Jeong, Su-Bin Kim and Soo-Jin Choi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(24), 12026; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262412026 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂), widely recognized as a whitening food additive, has been extensively employed in food products such as confectionery, sauces, and coffee creamers. The potential genotoxicity of TiO₂ has recently raised increasing concern, especially after the European Union prohibited [...] Read more.

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂), widely recognized as a whitening food additive, has been extensively employed in food products such as confectionery, sauces, and coffee creamers. The potential genotoxicity of TiO₂ has recently raised increasing concern, especially after the European Union prohibited its use as a food additive due to genotoxicity risks. The contradictory outcomes of in vitro and in vivo studies emphasize the necessity for more rigorous and systematic evaluation. In this study, we assessed the potential genotoxicity of food-grade TiO₂ in human intestinal cell lines and intestinal barrier models. Three distinct genotoxicity assays were conducted: the comet assay (DNA tail formation), chromosomal aberration analysis, and the micronucleus assay. The results revealed that TiO₂ exposure led to DNA damage primarily associated with oxidative stress in various intestinal cell systems at actual intake levels, regardless of metabolic activation; however, it did not trigger chromosomal aberrations or micronucleus formation. Thus, TiO₂ appears to cause in vitro genotoxic damage at the DNA level, but not at macroscopic endpoints, such as chromosomal aberrations or micronucleus formation. Further in-depth in vivo study is required to definitively determine the potential genotoxicity of TiO₂ in the food industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Immunotoxicity and Oxidative Stress)

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24 pages, 3511 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Antioxidative Exopolysaccharide–Protein Complex of Cordyceps Cs-HK1 Fungus and Its Epithelial Barrier-Protective Effects in Caco-2 Cell Culture

by Yan Yu Zhu, Margaret M. H. Wu, Zi Chen Zhao, Fang Ting Gu, Lin Xi Huang, Kevin W. H. Kwok and Jian Yong Wu

Antioxidants 2025, 14(12), 1501; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14121501 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

The exopolysaccharides (EPS) from the mycelial fermentation of Cordyceps sinensis Cs-HK1, especially the low-molecular weight, protein-rich exopolysaccharide fractions (EPS-LM), have previously exhibited significant antioxidant activity. This study further investigated the antioxidant and protective effects of EPS-LM on intestinal epithelial barrier integrity in Caco-2 [...] Read more.

The exopolysaccharides (EPS) from the mycelial fermentation of Cordyceps sinensis Cs-HK1, especially the low-molecular weight, protein-rich exopolysaccharide fractions (EPS-LM), have previously exhibited significant antioxidant activity. This study further investigated the antioxidant and protective effects of EPS-LM on intestinal epithelial barrier integrity in Caco-2 monolayers challenged with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂, 550 μM). EPS-LM contained two major molecular-weight fractions, 25 kDa and 1.7 kDa, with 19.3% total carbohydrate and 28.7% protein content (w/w). Treatment of the cells with EPS-LM (50–200 μg/mL) showed concentration-dependent protective effects against ROS-induced losses of cell viability and epithelial barrier integrity. EPS-LM treatment enhanced the activities of major antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT) and modulated NRF2 and its downstream target NQO1, consistent with alleviated oxidative stress. It also improved several indicators of intestinal barrier function, including increased transepithelial electrical resistance and upregulation of tight junction proteins (Occludin, ZO-1, and Claudin-1). These results provide new experimental evidence and theoretical basis for the nutraceutical potential of EPS-LM to mitigate oxidative stress and preserve intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Outcomes of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress)

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24 pages, 5566 KB

Open AccessArticle

Histological and Immunohistological Alterations in Carrot Roots and Leaves Under Salt Stress

by Ewa Kurczyńska, Katarzyna Sala-Cholewa, Kamila Godel-Jędrychowska, Kamil Szymonik, Magdalena Klimek-Chodacka and Rafal Baranski

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(24), 12027; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262412027 (registering DOI) - 14 Dec 2025

Abstract

Salt stress significantly reduces plant growth and yield, which has led to extensive research on the mechanisms underlying plant salinity tolerance. Carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus) is a glycophyte highly sensitive to soil salinity. We investigated root and leaf anatomical, histological, [...] Read more.

Salt stress significantly reduces plant growth and yield, which has led to extensive research on the mechanisms underlying plant salinity tolerance. Carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus) is a glycophyte highly sensitive to soil salinity. We investigated root and leaf anatomical, histological, and immunohistological alterations in two carrot accessions, previously identified as salt-sensitive (DH1) and salt-tolerant (DLBA), growing under control and salt stress conditions. The results demonstrate that the salt-tolerant DLBA growing under control conditions has trichome-rich leaves, high starch reserves and a hydraulically safer root xylem. Under salt stress, DLBA maintains mesophyll integrity, and increases the number of vessels and deposition of highly esterified pectins, hemicelluloses and spatially regulated AGPs in cell walls. In contrast, DH1 develops thinner, trichome-free leaves, and roots almost free of starch with fewer cambial cells and vessels. Salt stress induces overexpansion of palisade parenchyma, excess starch accumulation, loss of arabinan epitopes, disappearance of extensins in vascular bundles, and changes in hemicellulose and AGP distribution. These findings indicate that salt tolerance of DLBA plants results from the combination of constitutive anatomical characteristics and adaptive responses that together support tissue hydration, wall elasticity and stable water transport when plants are growing in saline soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Plant Cell Biotechnology: From Genes to Structure, 2nd Edition)

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