MDPI - Publisher of Open Access Journals

32 pages, 4107 KB

Open AccessArticle

Longitudinal Seismic Mitigation and Response Asymmetry of a High-Pier Long-Span Stiff-Skeleton Arch Bridge with Fluid Viscous Dampers

by Huaping Yang, Ruifeng Yu, Linxi Duan, Qiming Qi, Changjiang Shao and Wanting Gong

Symmetry 2026, 18(9), 1460; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18091460 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

The longitudinal seismic response of a high-pier long-span stiff-skeleton arch bridge is spatially asymmetric because unequal pier heights, the fixed–movable bearing arrangement, and arch–pier interaction create nonuniform force transfer paths, even when the installed fluid viscous dampers (FVDs) obey a symmetric velocity-dependent law. [...] Read more.

The longitudinal seismic response of a high-pier long-span stiff-skeleton arch bridge is spatially asymmetric because unequal pier heights, the fixed–movable bearing arrangement, and arch–pier interaction create nonuniform force transfer paths, even when the installed fluid viscous dampers (FVDs) obey a symmetric velocity-dependent law. This study evaluates that response redistribution and the mitigation achieved by longitudinal FVDs under near-fault motions. A three-dimensional SAP2000 model was established using elastic beam elements for the girder, arch ribs, cap beams, and piers, Plastic (Wen) links for spherical steel damping bearings, foundation springs for pile–soil interaction, and Maxwell-type FVD links. Thirty combinations of damping coefficient and velocity exponent were first screened under an El Centro record scaled to 0.64 g. The selected case (α = 0.3 and C = 2000 kN· Full article

(This article belongs to the Section F: Engineering and Materials)

14 pages, 854 KB

Open AccessReview

Optimising Autologous Breast Reconstruction: Pneumothorax and Pneumomediastinum—A Literature Review and First Reported Case of Pneumomediastinum Following Bilateral DIEP Flap Reconstruction

by Akshay Soni, Ishith Seth, Kaiyang Lim, Alexander Phan, Richard J. Ross, Mathew Lee and Warren M. Rozen

J. Pers. Med. 2026, 16(9), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm16090458 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background: Thoracic air complications after autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) are uncommon and incompletely characterised. A personalised perioperative approach requires integration of patient anatomy, reconstructive technique, anaesthetic exposures and the postoperative clinical trajectory rather than reliance on population-level estimates alone. Methods: We [...] Read more.

Background: Thoracic air complications after autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) are uncommon and incompletely characterised. A personalised perioperative approach requires integration of patient anatomy, reconstructive technique, anaesthetic exposures and the postoperative clinical trajectory rather than reliance on population-level estimates alone. Methods: We report a 41-year-old woman in whom pneumomediastinum was identified after bilateral DIEP flap reconstruction and performed a focused literature review restricted to primary studies of pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum following autologous flap breast reconstruction. Searches across MEDLINE-Ovid, PubMed and Wiley Online Library using predefined MeSH terms were conducted. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, incidence, mechanism of injury, perioperative factors, and management. Results: The patient developed postoperative hypotension and persistent tachycardia, followed by pleuritic chest pain. CT excluded pulmonary embolism and oesophageal perforation but demonstrated Moderate volume pneumomediastinum without pneumothorax. She was managed conservatively and discharged on postoperative day 7. Five primary studies met the eligibility criteria. Study-specific pneumothorax frequencies were 1/463 (0.22%) after rib-sparing free-flap reconstruction, 3/749 (0.4%) after extended latissimus dorsi reconstruction, and 4/180 patients (2.2%; 1.4 per 100 internal mammary vessel dissections). Reported mechanisms included pleural injury during internal mammary vessel dissection, inadvertent puncture during regional anaesthesia, barotrauma under positive-pressure ventilation, and drain-related barotrauma. No previous primary report of pneumomediastinum after autologous flap breast reconstruction was identified. Conclusions: Pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are uncommon but potentially serious complications of ABR. They are rarely documented postoperatively; however, surgeons and anaesthetists must remain vigilant, particularly during exposure of the internal mammary vessels and airway management. Patient-specific assessment, symptom-directed imaging and multidisciplinary management may support early recognition to prevent morbidity and preserve the outcomes of reconstructive procedures. Full article

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22 pages, 486 KB

Open AccessArticle

Psychometric Validation of the Arabic Doomscrolling Scale Among Saudi Young-Adult Social Media Users: Factor Structure, Measurement Invariance Across Gender, and Digital Correlates

by Emadeldin M. Elsokkary

Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 1528; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091528 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Doomscrolling has emerged as a specific pattern of digital engagement involving habitual and immersive exposure to negative online news, yet no published Arabic validation of the Doomscrolling Scale has been identified. This study aimed to translate the Doomscrolling Scale into Arabic and evaluate [...] Read more.

Doomscrolling has emerged as a specific pattern of digital engagement involving habitual and immersive exposure to negative online news, yet no published Arabic validation of the Doomscrolling Scale has been identified. This study aimed to translate the Doomscrolling Scale into Arabic and evaluate preliminary psychometric evidence for its use among Saudi young-adult social media users by examining its factor structure, reliability, measurement invariance across gender, and convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 793 Saudi social media users aged 18–25 years. The sample was randomly split into exploratory factor analysis (EFA; n = 396) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; n = 397) subsamples. Parallel analysis and EFA supported a one-factor structure. Ordinal CFA using WLSMV in the independent CFA subsample supported the 15-item one-factor model, scaled χ²(90) = 216.48, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.976, TLI = 0.972, RMSEA = 0.060, 90% CI [0.050, 0.070], and SRMR = 0.040; standardized loadings ranged from 0.585 to 0.787. Internal consistency was high in the full sample (Cronbach’s α = 0.921), and model-based reliability was strong (McDonald’s ω/composite reliability = 0.924). Ordinal measurement invariance across gender was supported up to the strict level. Doomscrolling correlated positively with fear of missing out, problematic social media use, daily social media use, and news-checking frequency, and negatively with perceived digital well-being. In a latent incremental-validity model, doomscrolling retained a unique negative association with perceived digital well-being (β = −0.269, p < 0.001). The 15-item Arabic Doomscrolling Scale has preliminary support as an internally consistent and valid research measure for assessing doomscrolling among Saudi young-adult social media users. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technologies, Mental Health and Well-Being)

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21 pages, 3593 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Error Function-Based Regression Model for Depressogenic Reasoning Data Analysis

by Julio Cezar S. Vasconcelos and Gauss M. Cordeiro

Stats 2026, 9(5), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/stats9050092 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

This study proposes a flexible three-parameter distribution to capture complex patterns in continuous positive data. By combining the generalized log-logistic odd generator with an error function distribution, our model successfully accommodates various density shapes, including strong skewness and bimodality. Using Monte Carlo simulations [...] Read more.

This study proposes a flexible three-parameter distribution to capture complex patterns in continuous positive data. By combining the generalized log-logistic odd generator with an error function distribution, our model successfully accommodates various density shapes, including strong skewness and bimodality. Using Monte Carlo simulations and maximum likelihood estimation, we validate our regression model’s estimators and confirm that larger sample sizes yield high precision, consistency, and inferential stability. Using data from hospitalized depression patients, we demonstrate the model’s practical application. This new distribution fits the data better than competing models, supported by lower statistical metrics and likelihood ratio tests. Furthermore, the variables’ “simplicity” and “fatalism” significantly influence observed depression levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Regression Models)

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37 pages, 3374 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Trajectories of Self-Awareness Across the Alzheimer’s Disease Spectrum: A Systematic Review of Its Potential Contribution to Early Diagnosis

by Anastasia Tsouvala, Despina Moraitou, Panagiota Metallidou, Glykeria Tsentidou, Ioanna-Giannoula Katsouri, Georgia Papantoniou, Maria Sofologi and Magdalini Tsolaki

Diagnostics 2026, 16(17), 2791; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16172791 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Self-awareness constitutes a key metacognitive construct supporting self-regulation and adaptive functioning in aging. This systematic review examined how self-awareness fluctuates across the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continuum and explored its associations with cognitive performance and neuroimaging markers. Methods: A systematic search was [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Self-awareness constitutes a key metacognitive construct supporting self-regulation and adaptive functioning in aging. This systematic review examined how self-awareness fluctuates across the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continuum and explored its associations with cognitive performance and neuroimaging markers. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Web of Science covering the period from 2016 to 2026, and the review was registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF). The selection process followed PRISMA guidelines, and a total of 334 studies were screened for eligibility while 42 met the inclusion criteria. Studies were eligible if they examined self-awareness in relation to cognitive and/or neuroimaging parameters, with individuals in the preclinical and clinical spectrum of AD as the reference population. Results: The included studies highlighted self-awareness as a dynamic construct closely linked to cognitive performance and neural integrity, with measurable deviations emerging along the continuum from subjective cognitive decline to dementia. Accordingly, the findings suggest that alterations in self-awareness may reflect the stage-dependent cognitive and neurobiological changes that characterize the progression of AD. Conclusions: Converging evidence suggests that assessing fluctuations of self-awareness, ranging from heightened awareness to reduced awareness, may contribute to the early identification of individuals at risk of progression across the AD continuum. However, the substantial methodological heterogeneity across studies precludes definitive conclusions regarding its clinical utility. Future longitudinal studies employing standardized assessment protocols are needed to determine whether these changes can reliably predict disease progression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Diagnosis and Prognosis)

31 pages, 957 KB

Open AccessArticle

Scenario-Based Robust Tuning and Generalization Analysis of PID and Fractional-Order PID Controllers for a Nonlinear Cart-Inverted Pendulum Under Parametric and Disturbance Uncertainty

by Hasan Zorlu, Merve Türktam and Selim Soylu

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(17), 8633; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16178633 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Robust controller tuning is essential for nonlinear systems operating under plant uncertainty and external disturbances. This study proposes a scenario-based framework for tuning PID and FOPID controllers for a nonlinear cart-inverted-pendulum system, using separate training and test scenarios to assess generalization. Five training [...] Read more.

Robust controller tuning is essential for nonlinear systems operating under plant uncertainty and external disturbances. This study proposes a scenario-based framework for tuning PID and FOPID controllers for a nonlinear cart-inverted-pendulum system, using separate training and test scenarios to assess generalization. Five training scenarios incorporating parametric variations, disturbances, and noise are used during optimization, while four unseen scenarios are reserved for evaluation. The Slime Mold Algorithm (SMA), Artificial Hummingbird Algorithm (AHA), and Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) are compared under identical computational budgets and initial populations. The objective combines weighted integral of time-weighted absolute error (ITAE) measures with a standard-deviation penalty to promote consistent performance across scenarios. Robust tuning reduces the mean unseen test cost of PID controllers by approximately 20% compared with nominal tuning. Its effect is more pronounced for FOPID controllers: nominal tuning causes instability in several unseen cases, whereas robust tuning eliminates failures in the test set. Increasing the robustness penalty reduces the generalization gap by about 17% for PID and 46% for FOPID. Across fifteen unseen plant configurations, the robust-tuned FOPID-AHA controller remains stable, while the nominal counterpart fails under the two most severe combined-stress conditions. These results show that scenario-based tuning improves controller reliability beyond a single nominal operating point. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering)

34 pages, 1851 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of ICS Cybersecurity Testbeds Using a Purdue-Aligned Approach

by Jovan Andrés Guillén-Mass and Roberto Magán-Carrión

Electronics 2026, 15(17), 3910; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15173910 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Industrial Control Systems (ICSs), which underpin communications and operations in industrial environments in general and in critical infrastructures in particular, are targeted by malicious actors for diverse reasons. To strengthen their resilience against cybersecurity attacks, testbeds play a fundamental role in supporting experimentation, [...] Read more.

Industrial Control Systems (ICSs), which underpin communications and operations in industrial environments in general and in critical infrastructures in particular, are targeted by malicious actors for diverse reasons. To strengthen their resilience against cybersecurity attacks, testbeds play a fundamental role in supporting experimentation, the validation of defense mechanisms, dataset generation, and architecture evaluation, among other activities. However, existing testbeds differ considerably in their functional capabilities, architectural completeness, implemented technologies, and degree of documentation, making systematic comparison and classification difficult. This paper presents a comparative analysis of 34 ICS cybersecurity testbeds within a Purdue-aligned framework based on two complementary dimensions: Functional Maturity (FM) and Architectural Completeness (AC). The former evaluates capabilities relevant to cybersecurity experimentation, while the latter measures the coverage of Purdue-aligned and supporting IT/OT components the testbed includes. To address this problem, we propose a methodology that enables the identification of technology adoption patterns, capability distributions, and recurring architectural characteristics across contemporary testbed implementations. Results reveal that many platforms provide advanced experimentation capabilities while offering only partial representation of industrial and enterprise environments. Moreover, the analysis also highlights underrepresented architectural components that may influence the scope of cybersecurity, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and Industry 5.0 research that can be conducted within a testbed. Finally, based on these findings, a Purdue-aligned testbed blueprint is proposed as a reusable conceptual baseline for the design and comparison of future industrial cybersecurity experimentation environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced and Intelligent Industrial IoT Systems for Industry 5.0)

20 pages, 11460 KB

Open AccessArticle

Leaf-Root Trait Coordination Among Dominant Herbaceous Species Across Three Marsh Habitats in Northeast China

by Qiuyu Meng, Shilin Liu, Jiping Liu and Yanhui Chen

Plants 2026, 15(17), 2661; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15172661 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Plant functional traits are key indicators of plant responses to environmental conditions and resource-allocation trade-offs, thereby providing insights into adaptive mechanisms across habitats. Wetlands are one of the major habitats worldwide, yet organ-level plant life adaptive strategies in different wetland types remain insufficiently [...] Read more.

Plant functional traits are key indicators of plant responses to environmental conditions and resource-allocation trade-offs, thereby providing insights into adaptive mechanisms across habitats. Wetlands are one of the major habitats worldwide, yet organ-level plant life adaptive strategies in different wetland types remain insufficiently understood. This study compared three representative marsh systems located in different regions of Northeast China. Forty-five plant community plots were established, and 10 leaf traits, 13 root traits, and 8 soil environmental variables were systematically measured for dominant herbaceous species. We examined above- and belowground trait trade-offs using Pearson correlation analysis and assessed their responses to environmental gradients using redundancy analysis (RDA). The results showed that trait variability differed markedly among marsh types. Inland salt marshes exhibited the greatest variation in leaf and root morphology, while morphological traits generally varied more strongly than ecophysiological traits. In inland salt marshes, root ecophysiological traits were closely associated with leaf morphology. Forested marshes showed multi-trait trade-offs and nutrient regulation, whereas freshwater herbaceous marshes displayed strong leaf-root trait correlations, indicating flexible inter-organ nutrient allocation. Soil environmental properties explained different proportions of functional trait variation across habitats, with the highest explanatory power in forested marshes (42.85%), followed by freshwater herbaceous marshes (34.56%) and inland salt marshes (34.41%). Soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio significantly affected plant growth in all three habitats, although the other environmental drivers were habitat-specific. These findings reveal distinct community-level patterns of leaf–root trait variation and coordination among the sampled dominant herbaceous species across the three marsh habitats, providing empirical evidence for understanding wetland plant adaptation mechanisms in Northeast China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Traits of Wetland Plants)

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36 pages, 2382 KB

Open AccessArticle

Delayed Marks, Funding Memory, and Forecasting Liquidation-Tail Risk in Crypto Perpetual Futures

by Edson Pindza and Hopolang Phillip Mashele

Forecasting 2026, 8(5), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/forecast8050076 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Crypto perpetual futures embed liquidation risk in one chain: leverage and funding move the margin boundary, the mark determines when a crossing is observed, and executable depth determines the concession paid after detection. The primary forecasting question is how to quantify both the [...] Read more.

Crypto perpetual futures embed liquidation risk in one chain: leverage and funding move the margin boundary, the mark determines when a crossing is observed, and executable depth determines the concession paid after detection. The primary forecasting question is how to quantify both the probability of an isolated-margin boundary breach and the loss hidden by delayed or smoothed detection. This paper develops a first-passage density-forecasting framework in which the executable price is observed through a delayed or smoothed mark, funding is a persistent collateral drain, and liquidation occurs when isolated-margin surplus reaches its maintenance boundary. The output is a joint predictive distribution: a horizon-specific probability of a boundary breach and, conditional on detection, a distribution of catch-up loss. Under a fixed delay, expected overshoot is

σ \sqrt{δ / 2 π}

, and bad-debt probability is a Gaussian tail governed by the latency-to-margin ratio

σ \sqrt{δ} / m

. Its leverage independence is exact only in the constant-maintenance, fixed-non-price-drain benchmark. For time-weighted-average marks, fixed-time variance reduction does not imply liquidation-time safety. A stationary-downcrossing approximation size-biases the stale error in the adverse direction, producing a mean overshoot about

1.6

times the same-window fixed-delay value. A rolling comparison with historical simulation scores model-consistent margin-breach forecasts from public price and funding paths. The structural forecast has lower Brier scores at

10 \times

over 24-, 72- and 168-hour horizons and across the 24-hour grid, but historical simulation performs better for one-week forecasts at

20 \times

and

50 \times

. The evidence supports a conditional risk-forecasting use of the framework, while not establishing uniform forecast dominance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forecasting in Economics and Management)

25 pages, 5645 KB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study of Shock Wave Boundary Layer Interaction Using High-Frame-Rate Schlieren Images

by Panrui Ge and Tian Gan

Aerospace 2026, 13(9), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13090783 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted on Mach 3 compression-ramp-induced shock wave/boundary layer interactions (20–30° ramp angles) using time-resolved schlieren imaging at 50 kHz. Snapshot proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) with spectral analysis showed high accuracy in capturing the dominant low-frequency unsteadiness for the strong [...] Read more.

An experimental study was conducted on Mach 3 compression-ramp-induced shock wave/boundary layer interactions (20–30° ramp angles) using time-resolved schlieren imaging at 50 kHz. Snapshot proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) with spectral analysis showed high accuracy in capturing the dominant low-frequency unsteadiness for the strong interaction (30° ramp), where the extracted frequency (St = 0.017–0.033) matched reference data and reached a 38.6% occurrence concentration. For the weak interaction (20° ramp), POD energy was spread over a broad band (St = 0.01–0.34) with at most 17.3% for any single frequency. Dynamic mode decomposition (DMD), which orders modes by frequency, complemented these results by revealing that even at 20° a low-frequency main mode exists alongside foot-region instabilities (modes 07–09). At 24° and 30°, DMD further identified breathing, flapping and bifurcating motions, with oscillation amplitude and spectral width increasing with ramp angle. It is concluded that schlieren-based POD is a robust tool for strong interactions, while DMD provides essential multi-scale frequency-resolved insights, especially for weaker interactions, together establishing a validated data-driven framework for analyzing unsteady compressible flows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Aeronautics)

47 pages, 2465 KB

Open AccessReview

Machine Learning-Enabled Photocatalytic Wastewater Treatment: Recent Advances in Catalyst Design, Performance Prediction, and Process Optimization

by Mai M. A. Hassan Shanab, Taoheed Abiodun Yusuf, Abdullah M. Aldawsari, Amani M. Alansi, Musaad Aleid, Idris K. Popoola, Alya M. Alotaibi and Talal F. Qahtan

Catalysts 2026, 16(9), 786; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16090786 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Photocatalytic wastewater treatment is a promising technology for degrading persistent organic pollutants; however, its optimization remains challenging because photocatalytic performance depends on complex interactions among catalyst properties, operating conditions, and wastewater composition. Machine learning (ML) has emerged as a powerful tool for accelerating [...] Read more.

Photocatalytic wastewater treatment is a promising technology for degrading persistent organic pollutants; however, its optimization remains challenging because photocatalytic performance depends on complex interactions among catalyst properties, operating conditions, and wastewater composition. Machine learning (ML) has emerged as a powerful tool for accelerating catalyst development, predicting photocatalytic performance, and optimizing process parameters. This review critically analyzes recent studies on ML-assisted photocatalytic wastewater treatment, covering supervised learning, ensemble learning, deep learning, and hybrid optimization approaches for predicting degradation efficiency, reaction kinetics, and catalyst performance. Rather than simply summarizing existing studies, the review compares the strengths, limitations, and applicability of different ML models while evaluating the influence of dataset quality, feature engineering, and validation strategies on predictive reliability. Emerging developments in explainable artificial intelligence, physics-informed machine learning, digital twins, and autonomous catalyst discovery are also discussed. Current challenges, including limited datasets, data heterogeneity, model overfitting, lack of standardized benchmarking, and poor transferability to real wastewater systems, are critically examined. Finally, future perspectives emphasizing standardized datasets, interpretable AI, rigorous model validation, and intelligent catalyst design are proposed. This review provides a practical roadmap for integrating artificial intelligence with photocatalysis to accelerate the development of reliable and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Photocatalysts to Photoreactors: Scalable and Sustainable Technologies for Water Treatment)

14 pages, 3769 KB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Reproductive Performance Between Shiqi and Dabao Pigeons: Insights from Multi-Omics Analysis

by Xingyu Tang, Chenbo Zhao, Jinquan Xi, Tieshan Xu, Tiantian Gu, Jindong Ren, Shihong Liu, Lihong Gu and Lizhi Lu

Genes 2026, 17(9), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17091049 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Shiqi and Dabao pigeons are two Chinese meat-pigeon breeds with distinct breeding backgrounds and production-related phenotypes, but whether these differences extend to ovarian physiology and molecular profiles remains unclear. This study compared ovarian physiological traits and multi-omics profiles between the breeds. Methods: [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Shiqi and Dabao pigeons are two Chinese meat-pigeon breeds with distinct breeding backgrounds and production-related phenotypes, but whether these differences extend to ovarian physiology and molecular profiles remains unclear. This study compared ovarian physiological traits and multi-omics profiles between the breeds. Methods: Seven-month-old reproductively mature females were studied. Flock-level laying and fertilization records were obtained from 456 breeding pairs per breed and recorded every 2 days. Serum reproductive hormones were measured in 10 females per breed. Follicle numbers, atresia, and mature follicle diameter were evaluated in three females per breed. Ovarian samples from six females per breed were analyzed by paired-end RNA sequencing and untargeted LC–MS/MS metabolomics in positive- and negative-ion modes. Results: Dabao pigeons had higher serum progesterone concentrations than Shiqi pigeons (1.35 ± 0.49 vs. 0.32 ± 0.19 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and larger mature follicles (2.25 ± 0.31 vs. 1.08 ± 0.56 mm, p = 0.034), whereas follicle numbers were not significantly different. Transcriptomic analysis identified 761 DEGs (FC > 2 or < 0.5; adjusted p < 0.05), mainly involving extracellular-matrix, cholesterol-, estrogen-, PI3K–Akt-, and TGF-β-related processes. Metabolomic analysis identified five differential metabolites (VIP > 1, FC > 2 or < 0.5; adjusted p < 0.05), including three taurine-conjugated bile acids. Integrated analysis revealed exploratory gene–metabolite associations related to lipid metabolism, follicular signaling, and extracellular-matrix remodeling. Conclusions: Shiqi and Dabao pigeons differed mainly in ovarian physiological and molecular characteristics, whereas short-term flock-level reproductive records were broadly similar. Metabolomic differences were limited but concentrated in bile-acid- and lipid-related features. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Genetics and Genomics)

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22 pages, 331 KB

Open AccessReview

Advancing Chikungunya Prevention and Vaccination in Mexico: A Position Paper by the Immunization Committee of the Mexican Association of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

by Jorge A. Vázquez-Narváez, Martha Avilés-Robles, Carmen Espinosa-Sotero, Cesar Adrián Martínez-Longoria, Sarbelio Moreno-Espinosa, Monica L. Reyes-Berlanga and Enrique Chacon-Cruz

Vaccines 2026, 14(9), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14090756 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus transmitted predominantly by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Infection is characterized by an acute febrile illness accompanied by debilitating polyarthralgia, myalgia, and cutaneous manifestations. Although the acute syndrome is usually self-limited, a substantial proportion [...] Read more.

Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus transmitted predominantly by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Infection is characterized by an acute febrile illness accompanied by debilitating polyarthralgia, myalgia, and cutaneous manifestations. Although the acute syndrome is usually self-limited, a substantial proportion of patients experience persistent musculoskeletal symptoms that may progress to chronic inflammatory arthritis, resulting in prolonged disability and impaired quality of life. Objective: To summarize current evidence on the epidemiology, virology, immunopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnosis, prevention, and vaccine development of CHIKV, with particular emphasis on its implications for public health policy and immunization strategies in Mexico. Methods: This position paper was developed through a structured narrative review of the scientific literature. Publications indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, together with documents issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and European Medicines Agency (EMA), were critically reviewed. Evidence was selected according to its scientific quality and relevance to Mexico and Latin America. Because this work represents an expert consensus rather than a systematic review, no formal risk-of-bias assessment was performed. Results: CHIKV circulates through both urban and sylvatic transmission cycles and continues to expand into regions where competent mosquito vectors are established. Disease progression is driven by complex innate and adaptive immune responses, with exaggerated inflammatory activation contributing to chronic rheumatologic sequelae. Laboratory confirmation relies primarily on molecular assays during the viremic phase and serological testing thereafter. Recent advances in vaccine development—including live-attenuated and virus-like particle (VLP) platforms—have demonstrated favorable immunogenicity and acceptable safety profiles. However, vaccination should be considered one component of an integrated prevention strategy that also includes vector surveillance, environmental control, and rapid outbreak detection. Conclusions: Chikungunya remains an emerging global public health challenge because of its expanding geographic distribution, epidemic potential, and long-term clinical consequences. Incorporating vaccination into comprehensive arboviral control programs, together with strengthened surveillance and integrated vector management, may substantially reduce disease burden. This position paper provides evidence-based recommendations to support future chikungunya prevention and vaccination policies in Mexico. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Vaccines Against Tropical and Other Infectious Diseases)

19 pages, 1445 KB

Open AccessArticle

Climate-Impact Uncertainty in Bio-Asphalt–Rubber Binders: Probabilistic Cradle-to-Gate Screening of Bio-Oil Inventory and Crumb Rubber Allocation

by Yemao Zhang and Xijuan Zhao

Polymers 2026, 18(17), 2107; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18172107 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Bio-asphalt–rubber (BAR) binders combine plant-based bio-oil, end-of-life tire crumb rubber, and petroleum asphalt binder, but their climate advantage remains uncertain because bio-oil supply chains, asphalt-binder inventories, and tire-rubber allocation choices can substantially change cradle-to-gate results. This study develops a probabilistic cradle-to-gate life-cycle assessment [...] Read more.

Bio-asphalt–rubber (BAR) binders combine plant-based bio-oil, end-of-life tire crumb rubber, and petroleum asphalt binder, but their climate advantage remains uncertain because bio-oil supply chains, asphalt-binder inventories, and tire-rubber allocation choices can substantially change cradle-to-gate results. This study develops a probabilistic cradle-to-gate life-cycle assessment for one metric ton of binder at plant gate. Eight alternatives were evaluated: a neat petroleum binder, a rubberized binder, a bio-oil modified binder, and five BAR binders with crumb rubber contents of 20–30% and bio-oil contents of 5–15%, expressed relative to neat asphalt mass. The model includes A1 material production, A2 inbound transport, and A3 binder blending energy. Plant-based bio-oil was represented using a literature-derived inventory, while crumb rubber was evaluated under cut-off, avoided-burden, and clinker-fuel system-expansion scenarios. A 10,000-iteration Monte Carlo simulation propagated inventory, transport, energy, and allocation uncertainty. Under cut-off allocation, mean GWP decreased from 496 kg CO2e/t for the neat binder to 446–471 kg CO2e/t for BAR binders, with BAR_30CR_15BIO showing the lowest mean impact and a 98.8% probability of outperforming the control. Avoided-burden allocation strengthened the apparent benefit, whereas system expansion against clinker fuel reversed the conclusion for rubber-containing alternatives. Results show that BAR can reduce binder-level GWP, but the conclusion is not inherent to the material; it depends strongly on tire-rubber counterfactuals and asphalt-binder inventory assumptions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Circular and Green Sustainable Polymer Science)

23 pages, 629 KB

Open AccessArticle

Educommunication and Biocultural Interpretation in Socio-Ecological Contexts: An Interpretive Trail in the “Los Arrayanes” Forest Reserve, Carchi, Ecuador

by Carmen Amelia Trujillo, Rocío León-Carlosama, Johanna Paulina Flores Ruano and Fabio Elton Cruz Góngora

Societies 2026, 16(9), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16090277 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Environmental interpretation (EI) in protective forests remains an underexplored field, despite its demonstrated potential for fostering emotional place attachment and conservation attitudes. This study aims to design and evaluate in situ the “Magical Portal of Biodiversity and Culture” self-guided interpretive trail at the [...] Read more.

Environmental interpretation (EI) in protective forests remains an underexplored field, despite its demonstrated potential for fostering emotional place attachment and conservation attitudes. This study aims to design and evaluate in situ the “Magical Portal of Biodiversity and Culture” self-guided interpretive trail at the “Los Arrayanes” Protective Forest (16 ha, Montúfar Canton, Carchi Province, Ecuador), a native arrayan forest (Myrcianthes hallii) deeply rooted in the ancestral territory of the Pasto-Tuza people, and to formulate educommunicational strategies. The trail design is grounded in Tilden’s interpretive principles, Morales’s topic–theme structure, and Ham’s TORE model, and it formulates Environmental Education and Communication Strategies. A qualitative, multimethod design was employed, with in situ field observation, participatory action research (PAR) workshops with the de Monteverde community, and in-depth interviews with seven key informants (March–April 2026); data were analyzed through the hermeneutic interpretive method and validated through categories, method, and theory triangulation, member checking, and researcher reflexivity. The analysis yielded five emergent categories: (1) vital and heritage place attachment; (2) psychological restoration and sensory reconnection; (3) environmental curiosity and empathy; (4) situated conservation learning; and (5) community governance and intergenerational education. Additionally, it identified six educommunicational strategies: (1) sensory learning; (2) storytelling; (3) participatory interaction; (4) guided self-learning; (5) situated learning; and (6) the biocultural approach. These findings provide empirical evidence that biocultural interpretation promotes conservation attitudes and community participation. In practical terms, this research offers protected-area managers, community organizations, and interpretation planners a model replicable for designing self-guided interpretive trails in biodiverse territories where living biocultural heritage is at risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Society in the Making: Technological Innovation, Social Change and Education)

26 pages, 7166 KB

Open AccessArticle

Intelligent Corrosion Sensing and Detection for Aerospace Ground Equipment: A YOLOv11-Based Framework with Shallow Attention and Bidirectional Feature Fusion

by Fang Fang, Dongping Sun, Mingyang Geng, Zhaoyang Qu and Shanzhi Gu

Sensors 2026, 26(17), 5504; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26175504 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Aerospace ground facilities operating in harsh "three-high" marine environments face rapid corrosion that threatens structural safety. Automated visual inspection is fundamentally hindered by two intertwined challenges: extreme scarcity of annotated real samples, and the intrinsic complexity of corrosion targets themselves—micro-pitting and fine cracks [...] Read more.

Aerospace ground facilities operating in harsh "three-high" marine environments face rapid corrosion that threatens structural safety. Automated visual inspection is fundamentally hindered by two intertwined challenges: extreme scarcity of annotated real samples, and the intrinsic complexity of corrosion targets themselves—micro-pitting and fine cracks occupy only a handful of pixels with signals easily overwhelmed by complex backgrounds, while mature corrosion regions exhibit extreme geometric irregularities that defeat conventional detection and regression methods. To tackle these challenges, this paper proposes CorrSense, a YOLOv11-based framework with three synergistic innovations. First, we establish a dual-path data ecosystem combining real acquisition with diffusion-driven augmentation that synthesizes visually realistic and structurally consistent corrosion samples to expand training distribution. Second, we develop a saliency-based feature enhancement strategy using parameter-free SimAM attention in shallow layers, which amplifies micro-corrosion responses while suppressing background activations with zero parameter overhead. Third, we formulate a dual-pronged geometric calibration strategy: a customized BiFPN with learnable weighted fusion for dynamic cross-scale feature orchestration, coupled with a morphology-adaptive CIoU loss that modulates aspect ratio constraints according to target shape. Extensive experiments demonstrate that CorrSense consistently outperforms state-of-the-art detectors including YOLOv8, YOLOv9, and RT-DETR on challenging samples, particularly on irregularly shaped corrosion and micro-pitting targets where competing methods typically struggle, validating its effectiveness as a promising solution for intelligent corrosion inspection in coastal launch sites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sensing and Imaging)

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27 pages, 7915 KB

Open AccessArticle

DualSlim-YOLO: A Lightweight Detection Model Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Imagery for Cauliflower Seedling Identification and Growth Assessment

by Yike Wang, Jun Zhang, Dongfang Zhang, Yanxu Hou, Xinzhuo Gao, Jing Cui, Xiaofei Fan, Xingwei Yao and Deling Sun

Agriculture 2026, 16(17), 1883; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16171883 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Cauliflower emergence rate and seedling growth are key indicators of field conditions and varietal potential. Traditional manual surveys are unsuitable for continuous monitoring across multiple varieties. This study integrates UAV RGB imagery with the DualSlim-YOLO model to estimate cauliflower emergence rates and monitor [...] Read more.

Cauliflower emergence rate and seedling growth are key indicators of field conditions and varietal potential. Traditional manual surveys are unsuitable for continuous monitoring across multiple varieties. This study integrates UAV RGB imagery with the DualSlim-YOLO model to estimate cauliflower emergence rates and monitor seedling growth. Built on YOLOv11, the model incorporates a lightweight feature extraction structure and an optimized detection-scale configuration. It reduces computational complexity while maintaining detection accuracy, thereby improving the efficiency of cauliflower seedling detection. DualSlim-YOLO achieved P, R, F1-score, mAP@0.5, and mAP@0.5:0.95 of 95.35%, 96.75%, 96.05%, 98.55%, and 86.65%, respectively. The number of parameters was reduced by 38.61%, while the inference speed increased by 22.16%, demonstrating good lightweight performance. Based on this model, UAV images of 171 cauliflower varieties acquired at 7, 21, and 28 d after transplanting were used for seedling detection and emergence rate estimation. In addition, 18 time-series seedling phenotypic traits were extracted, enabling a comprehensive quantitative evaluation of emergence dynamics and early-growth performance across multiple cauliflower varieties. This method effectively screens cauliflower varieties for high emergence rates, rapid emergence, and excellent seedling growth performance. It provides technical support for high-throughput, nondestructive seedling phenotyping and early germplasm screening under field conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unmanned Aerial System for Crop Monitoring in Precision Agriculture)

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16 pages, 22105 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Tempering Temperature on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of D406A Steel

by Ziyuan Xu, Fu Xiao and Yuanbiao Tan

Crystals 2026, 16(9), 567; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst16090567 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

D406A steel serves as a critical structural material for load-bearing components in aerospace solid rocket motors. To achieve an excellent strength-plasticity balance of D406A steel in this work, the quenched specimens austenitized at 890 °C were subjected to tempering treatments at 320 °C, [...] Read more.

D406A steel serves as a critical structural material for load-bearing components in aerospace solid rocket motors. To achieve an excellent strength-plasticity balance of D406A steel in this work, the quenched specimens austenitized at 890 °C were subjected to tempering treatments at 320 °C, 350 °C, 380 °C and 410 °C, respectively. SEM and EBSD characterization were adopted to systematically investigate the effects of tempering temperature on the microstructure, grain boundary characteristics, local strain, Schmid factor and mechanical properties. The results reveal that the lath martensite gradually undergoes recovery and disintegration with increasing tempering temperature, while the fraction of low-angle grain boundaries rises first and then falls, reaching the maximum value of 48.2% for the specimen tempered at 350 °C. At this tempering temperature, the KAM distribution is uniform, the Schmid factors shift toward the medium-to-high range, the proportion of grains with soft orientation increases, and the deformation coordination capacity is optimal. The specimen tempered at 350 °C exhibits an ultimate tensile strength of 1633.9 MPa, a yield strength of 1262.5 MPa and a Vickers hardness of 485.4 HV, achieving the optimal synergy between strength and plasticity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crystalline Metals and Alloys)

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21 pages, 7265 KB

Open AccessArticle

Composition and Function of Decellularized Human Lung Extracellular Matrix from Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation

by Yanan Li, Ping Yang, Miao Yuan, Xinglong Zhu, Shengqiang Mao, Ying Yang, Menglin Yao, Fei Chen, Yanyan Zhou, Ji Bao, Chang Xu and Yi Li

J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(17), 6742; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15176742 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background: Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) is a rare developmental disorder characterized by cystic lung lesions, yet its extracellular matrix (ECM) composition remains poorly understood. This study employed decellularization and data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics to compare ECM profiles between cystic (CPAM) and [...] Read more.

Background: Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) is a rare developmental disorder characterized by cystic lung lesions, yet its extracellular matrix (ECM) composition remains poorly understood. This study employed decellularization and data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics to compare ECM profiles between cystic (CPAM) and histologically normal non-diseased (ND) regions from the lungs of four patients. Results: The decellularized scaffolds retained their native architecture with minimal residual DNA (<50 ng/mg). Proteomic analysis revealed 431 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with 171 upregulated and 260 downregulated in CPAM. Key findings revealed CPAM-specific enrichment of collagens (COL4A6, COL4A2, COL10A1, COL21A1 and PIIINP), glycoproteins (SPP1, FRAS1, FREM1, FREM2, LTBP1 and FBLN7), ECM regulators (TENM2, ROR2 and OMD), and ECM-affiliated proteins (ANXA7), alongside downregulation of glycoproteins (VASN and ABI3BP), proteoglycans (PODN and MXRA7), ECM regulators (SCARA5, PAPPA, SAA4, CPXM1, CTSC, THY1, SERPINA6/A1/D1, BSG, LYVE1, ITIH4 and CD44), and ECM-affiliated proteins (LGALSL). Pathway analysis highlighted the dysregulation of TGF-β, PI3K–AKT, and mTOR signaling in CPAM and aberrant ECM–cell interactions in pathogenesis. We also evaluated their functional properties and investigated the impact of ECM-based hydrogels on recellularization. Conclusions: These findings provide a comprehensive proteomic atlas of CPAM ECM alterations, offering insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Pulmonology: Recent Developments and Emerging Trends—Second Edition)

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33 pages, 1072 KB

Open AccessArticle

Crossing or Halting at the Threshold? The Nonlinear Impact of Patent-Based Breakthrough Technological Innovation on Urban–Rural Common Prosperity in China

by Siyuan Li, Zhanpeng Qu, Xinying Li, Yixin Wei, Jiayuan Wang, Ziyao Li and Yue Wang

Sustainability 2026, 18(17), 8886; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18178886 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Does patent-based breakthrough technological innovation (KI) continually improve urban–rural common prosperity, or does its marginal relationship reverse beyond a sample-specific empirical turning point? Employing a balanced panel of 266 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2020, this study operationalizes KI via patent textual similarity [...] Read more.

Does patent-based breakthrough technological innovation (KI) continually improve urban–rural common prosperity, or does its marginal relationship reverse beyond a sample-specific empirical turning point? Employing a balanced panel of 266 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2020, this study operationalizes KI via patent textual similarity (incorporating a 5-year forward and backward window) and substantiates an inverted U-shaped relationship with urban–rural common prosperity via the Lind–Mehlum test, with the estimated turning point located at the 34.7th percentile of the observed KI distribution. These baseline dynamics remain robust across lagged specifications, winsorization, sample restrictions, and double machine learning; IV estimates corroborate a similar nonlinear shape, although exclusion–restriction diagnostics are mixed. Transmission-channel results are stage-dependent: the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem exhibits a positive indirect association at low KI and a negative one at high KI, while non-farm employment absorption uncovers pronounced positive transmission, concentrated at low KI. Digital financial inclusion and informatization significantly modify the conditional KI–CP relationship, whereas the joint moderation test for industrial chain resilience is not statistically significant. Furthermore, spatial diagnostics and SDM estimates reveal significant spatial dependence and a robust positive indirect effect of KI across cities, despite limited regional heterogeneity. These findings underscore the importance of considering innovation intensity together with the conditions governing the distribution and diffusion of innovation gains. Full article

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39 pages, 2683 KB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Weak-Point Identification and Strength Assessment of a 15 MW Semi-Submersible Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Under Representative Stages of Typhoon Evolution

by Bin Wang, Yujia Tang, Jiawei Yu, Yongqing Lai and Wenze Liu

Energies 2026, 19(17), 4083; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19174083 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Conventional typhoon-resistant assessments of floating offshore wind turbines commonly adopt a single stationary extreme environmental condition, although wind and wave characteristics vary substantially among different stages of typhoon evolution. This study investigates the structural weak points and strength performance of the IEA 15 [...] Read more.

Conventional typhoon-resistant assessments of floating offshore wind turbines commonly adopt a single stationary extreme environmental condition, although wind and wave characteristics vary substantially among different stages of typhoon evolution. This study investigates the structural weak points and strength performance of the IEA 15 MW reference wind turbine supported by the VolturnUS-S semi-submersible platform under five representative stages of Typhoon Lekima: the front outer vortex, front eyewall, eye center, back eyewall, and back outer vortex regions. Stage-dependent wind profiles, turbulence spectra, and wave spectra were constructed and applied to a fully coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic model. The resulting global motions and environmental loads were transferred to a shell finite-element model for time-domain load reconstruction and local stress assessment. The overall stress distribution pattern remained broadly similar among the analyzed conditions, whereas the stress levels and stress ranges varied considerably. Stress concentrations consistently occurred at the column–pontoon connections. Stress Concentration Zones 1 and 3 satisfied the adopted allowable stress of 511 MPa under all load cases, with Zone 1 reaching 493.2 MPa under the back eyewall condition. In contrast, Zone 2 exceeded the allowable stress under the front outer vortex, eye center, back eyewall, and back outer vortex conditions. Its maximum von Mises stress reached 591.0 MPa under the front outer vortex condition, corresponding to an exceedance of 15.7%. The eye center condition generally produced relatively low and spatially uniform stresses at the selected monitoring points, whereas the back eyewall condition generated substantially increased stress ranges at several locations, indicating more severe cyclic loading. These results demonstrate that the governing structural strength condition does not necessarily coincide with the maximum wind-speed stage and highlight the need for stage-dependent typhoon assessment and targeted reinforcement of side column–pontoon connections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Marine Renewable Energy)

22 pages, 4699 KB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Outcrop Modeling and Structural Characterization of Continental Shale Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Gulong Shale, Songliao Basin, China

by Yangxin Su, Xiuli Fu, Xianghui Zhang, Jinlong Li, Haoyu Su and Qinghai Xu

Energies 2026, 19(17), 4084; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19174084 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Continental shale reservoirs exhibit pronounced multi-scale heterogeneity, with reservoir quality governed by the interplay of lamina assemblages, bedding continuity, and lithological spatial variability. Conventional digital outcrop modeling (DOM) primarily targets geometric reconstruction and three-dimensional (3D) visualization of sedimentary bodies, which is insufficient for [...] Read more.

Continental shale reservoirs exhibit pronounced multi-scale heterogeneity, with reservoir quality governed by the interplay of lamina assemblages, bedding continuity, and lithological spatial variability. Conventional digital outcrop modeling (DOM) primarily targets geometric reconstruction and three-dimensional (3D) visualization of sedimentary bodies, which is insufficient for the fine-scale structural characterization and quantitative modeling required for shale reservoirs. Here we present a Digital Shale Outcrop Modeling method (DSOM) tailored to continental shale reservoirs, exemplified by the Gulong Shale in the Qingshankou Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of the Songliao Basin, northeastern China. DSOM integrates six sequential modules: digital outcrop reconstruction, digital section interpretation, virtual well construction, virtual well correlation, 3D structural modeling, and parameter extraction. A high-precision digital outcrop model covering 0.369 km² was constructed from 1885 calibrated UAV images (DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise) using Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry, yielding derived products including a digital outcrop model (DOM), digital surface model (DSM), digital elevation model (DEM), orthomosaic, and dense point cloud. Seven virtual wells were extracted along the outcrop strike, and a unified lithological classification comprising seven lithotypes was established. A regionally persistent rusty-yellow ferruginous siltstone layer served as a marker bed for virtual well correlation. Results reveal a distinct vertical lithological transition: the section above the marker bed is dominated by muddy deposits, with black mudstone and dark-gray silty mudstone collectively accounting for 52.84% of the total area, whereas the section below the marker bed exhibits a marked increase in silt-grade material, with gray siltstone reaching 32.78%. This vertical evolution reflects a depositional shift from relatively high-energy to low-energy conditions. Using the virtual wells as conditioning data, 3D lithological probability models for all seven lithotypes were constructed via Sequential Indicator Simulation (SIS), achieving quantitative representation of lithological spatial distribution and lateral variability under bedding constraints. Our results demonstrate that DSOM effectively converts outcrop digital information into reservoir structural data, providing reliable constraints for multi-scale structural characterization, 3D geological modeling, and heterogeneity evaluation of the Gulong Shale. More broadly, DSOM establishes a methodological framework for digital characterization of fine-grained sedimentary reservoirs, bridging the gap between outcrop-scale observations and subsurface reservoir modeling. Full article

23 pages, 13805 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Analytical Approach to the Influence of Rotating Shear Stress on the Stress State in Combined-Load H-Profile Shafts: A Contribution to DIN 3689—Part 2

by Masoud Ziaei

J. Exp. Theor. Anal. 2026, 4(3), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/jeta4030030 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

This article presents analytical approaches for determining the stress state in hypotrochoidal profiles (H-profiles) under torsional, bending, and shear loading. The focus lies on shear loading. Using conformal mapping, a formulation of elasticity theory is first adapted to H-profile cross-sections. Closed-form solutions for [...] Read more.

This article presents analytical approaches for determining the stress state in hypotrochoidal profiles (H-profiles) under torsional, bending, and shear loading. The focus lies on shear loading. Using conformal mapping, a formulation of elasticity theory is first adapted to H-profile cross-sections. Closed-form solutions for the respective stress components are then derived by solving a reformulated surface integral. Suitable conformal mappings for hypotrochoidal contours are obtained through a successive method applied to their parametric description. These mappings are essential for the elasticity-theoretical formulation used to determine the stress state in the profile bar. Building on this, the transverse shear stresses for H-profile cross-sections are determined for the first time. The influence of shear stresses on the overall stress state is discussed in detail. These stresses generally act in a rotational manner and superimpose on the torsional stresses. This effect proves more pronounced here than in circular cross-sections. Accompanying finite element analyses (FEA), carried out for several examples, showed very good agreement with the analytical solutions. From the resulting maximum stress values and stress gradients, form and notch factors are calculated. The proposed procedure also applies to combined loading cases. It is intended for use in the new standard covering hypotrochoidal profile contours. Full article

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29 pages, 11174 KB

Open AccessArticle

Weld Width Measurement and Defect Detection Method for Desiccant Cartridges Based on Machine Vision

by Qixuan Wang, Songxiao Cao, Sujuan Xiang, Dong Zhang, Tao Song, Zhipeng Xu and Qing Jiang

Sensors 2026, 26(17), 5499; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26175499 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

In industrial automated production, reliable inspection of welded desiccant cartridges is challenging because polypropylene welds exhibit irregular boundaries, low-contrast defects, and non-uniform surface reflections. This study proposes a machine vision-based method for integrated weld width measurement and multi-type weld defect detection. A cubic [...] Read more.

In industrial automated production, reliable inspection of welded desiccant cartridges is challenging because polypropylene welds exhibit irregular boundaries, low-contrast defects, and non-uniform surface reflections. This study proposes a machine vision-based method for integrated weld width measurement and multi-type weld defect detection. A cubic B-spline fitting strategy is first employed to extract the weld boundaries and suppress interference from non-weld regions. The weld width is then measured along the local normal direction using an orthogonal projection method, with the minimum width used to identify excessively narrow welds and weld breakage. For pore and burn-through detection, distance transform-based watershed segmentation is combined with grayscale polarity analysis to separate true defects from pseudo-defects. The polarity thresholds are determined using an independent calibration batch and further verified on a separate production batch before evaluation on an independent 500-sample test set. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves an average IoU of 96.7% for weld region extraction. The average and minimum width absolute errors are 0.0509 mm and 0.0438 mm, respectively, with relative errors of 1.69% and 1.72%. Compared with four representative geometric width measurement methods, the proposed method achieves the lowest measurement errors while requiring only 1.84 ms for width measurement. On the independent 500-sample test set, the proposed system achieves an overall defect detection accuracy of 97.20% and a Macro-F1 score of 97.82%. The average end-to-end processing time is 55.48 ms per sample, demonstrating the potential of the proposed method for real-time weld quality inspection of desiccant cartridges under the evaluated industrial imaging conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Optical Sensors)

25 pages, 6344 KB

Open AccessArticle

Straw Return and Tillage Management Strategies Reshape Soil Functionality and Enhance Maize Productivity

by Ju-Zhi Lv, Peng-Ju Gao, Fa-Qiao Li, Xian-Jie Tan, Guo-Rong Tang, Rui-Ling Li, Nan-Nan He and Xun-Bo Zhou

Agronomy 2026, 16(17), 1664; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16171664 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

Long-term intensive maize cultivation under subtropical double-cropping systems has resulted in increased compaction and declining fertility. Although conservation tillage and straw return have been widely adopted to improve soil quality, their combined effects on soil physicochemical properties, biological functions across the 0–40 cm [...] Read more.

Long-term intensive maize cultivation under subtropical double-cropping systems has resulted in increased compaction and declining fertility. Although conservation tillage and straw return have been widely adopted to improve soil quality, their combined effects on soil physicochemical properties, biological functions across the 0–40 cm soil profile, and maize yield performance remain poorly understood. A six-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of straw management (CK: conventional practice; SR: straw return) and tillage systems (NT: no-tillage; RT: rotary tillage; SS: subsoiling; SS+RT: subsoiling combined with rotary tillage) on the soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and maize yield. The integrated SR+SS+RT treatment significantly reduced soil bulk density by 2.57% while increasing soil water content by up to 12.20%. Compared with traditional seeding, straw return increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) by 8.38% and 13.52%, respectively. Enhanced soil biological activity was also evident, with MBC increasing by 7.70% and substantial enhancements in soil enzyme activities, particularly cellulase (+12.08%) and acid phosphatase (+15.80%). Moreover, the combined SS+RT treatment was associated with a more even vertical distribution of carbon and nitrogen, thereby alleviating nutrient stratification within the soil profile. The grain yield was strongly and positively correlated with sucrase (r = 0.773) and cellulase (r = 0.738) activities, indicating significant associations between selected soil biological indicators and maize yields. Consequently, the SR+SS+RT treatment produced the highest spring and autumn grain yield (9405 and 8696 kg ha⁻¹), compared with SR+NT. Integrating straw return with subsoiling and rotary tillage provides a synergistic strategy for alleviating soil compaction, improving soil physicochemical and biological properties throughout the root zone, and enhancing maize productivity. This integrated management practice offers a sustainable approach for restoring soil fertility and maintaining high crop yields in intensive subtropical agricultural systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Soil Tillage and Fertilizer Management on Production of Cereal Crops: 3rd Edition)

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45 pages, 70211 KB

Open AccessArticle

Bias-Aware Machine Learning Spatial Downscaling of GRACE Signals: Application to the Bug River Basin

by Vytautas Samalavičius, Tatiana Solovey, Justyna Śliwińska-Bronowicz, Anna Stradczuk and Ilya Zaslavsky

Remote Sens. 2026, 18(17), 2909; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18172909 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2026

Abstract

GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite gravimetry provide unique observations of terrestrial water storage (TWS), but their coarse effective resolution and intermittent temporal gaps limit water-resource applications at subregional and basin scales. This study presents a framework to temporally reconstruct and spatially downscale GRACE TWS [...] Read more.

GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite gravimetry provide unique observations of terrestrial water storage (TWS), but their coarse effective resolution and intermittent temporal gaps limit water-resource applications at subregional and basin scales. This study presents a framework to temporally reconstruct and spatially downscale GRACE TWS anomalies for the transboundary Bug River Basin (Poland–Ukraine–Belarus), a region where in situ monitoring is limited and further disrupted by the 2022 war in Ukraine. First, missing monthly GRACE TWS anomalies (2002–2024) are imputed using a Random Forest model driven only by lagged GRACE values (1–3 months) and seasonal timing, thereby avoiding potential information leakage. Second, the continuous GRACE signal is downscaled to 0.1° using an independent set of hydroclimatic predictors with lagged and rolling features, together with elevation, land type and lithology. Model performance is evaluated under strict spatiotemporal holdouts and cross-validation. The key methodological advance is a bias-aware, block-wise mass-conserving correction that reconciles downscaled fields with the original GRACE water mass at coarse resolution. After downscaling to 0.1°, systematic residual biases between aggregated high-resolution estimates and GRACE observations are quantified monthly and redistributed within spatial blocks using river-runoff-based weights. This procedure enforces exact mass closure while preserving physically meaningful sub-grid variability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatiotemporal Variability in Hydrologic Systems from GRACE, Remote Sensing, and Climate Data)

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