Search Results (5,025)

This study presents a segmentation framework for images of 220 kV cable insulation that addresses sample scarcity and blurred boundaries. The framework integrates data augmentation using the Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network with Gradient Penalty (WGAN-GP) and the TransUNet architecture. Considering the difficulty and high cost of obtaining real cable images, WGAN-GP generates high-quality synthetic data to expand the dataset and improve the model’s generalization. The TransUNet network, designed to handle the structural complexity and indistinct edge features of insulation layers, combines the local feature extraction capability of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with the global context modeling strength of Transformers. This combination enables accurate delineation of the insulation regions. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves mDice, mIoU, MP, and mRecall scores of 0.9835, 0.9677, 0.9840, and 0.9831, respectively, with improvements of approximately 2.03%, 3.05%, 2.08%, and 1.98% over a UNet baseline. Overall, the proposed approach outperforms UNet, Swin-UNet, and Attention-UNet, confirming its effectiveness in delineating 220 kV cable insulation layers under complex structural and data-limited conditions. Full article

Objective: The prevalence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increase with age, suggesting that age-related factors are etiological factors for OSA in older adults. In addition to anatomic contractions of the upper respiratory tract, such as those caused by obesity and retrognathia, sleep is impaired in older OSA patients due to aging. Although aging has long been associated with structural changes in the upper airway potential, specific age-related anatomical differences in patients with OSA are not established. This study aimed to examine age-related morphological differences in OSA patients, particularly in older adults. Methods: This study was designed as a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at the Center for Dental Sleep Medicine, Osaka Dental University, between May 2017 and September 2022. From an initial cohort of 1032 patients, 183 male participants were included after applying strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were classified into two age groups: middle age (40–60 years) and older age (≥65 years). Polysomnographic parameters; body mass index (BMI); airway space (AS) obtained from cephalometric radiographs; length of the soft palate (PNS-P); SNB angle, as an indicator of mandibular position; and the position of the hyoid bone (MP-H) were compared between the groups. Statistical analysis included Levene’s test for homogeneity of variances, independent sample t-tests for group comparisons, and multiple regression analyses to identify independent predictors of AHI. This study was conducted with the approval of the Ethics Committee of Osaka Dental University (No. 111047). Results: Older patients showed significantly lower REM sleep percentage (13.5 ± 1.31% vs. 16.4 ± 0.59%, p = 0.047), significantly lower BMI (23.6 ± 0.45 kg/m² vs. 24.6 ± 0.29 kg/m², p = 0.049), and significantly larger AS (15.8 ± 0.52 mm vs. 12.0 ± 0.27 mm, p = 0.000) compared to middle-aged patients. Furthermore, in the middle-aged group, BMI (β = 0.40, 95% CI: 1.46 to 3.41, p < 0.001), SNB (β = −0.18, 95% CI: −1.75 to −0.09, p = 0.030), and MP-H (β = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.10 to 1.01, p = 0.018) were significant independent predictors of AHI. In the older group, no parameters were significant predictors of AHI. Conclusions: We found that older adult patients had a larger airway diameter and lower REM sleep percentage and BMI than middle-aged patients. Furthermore, regarding factors associated with AHI, which is an indicator of sleep apnea severity, in the middle-aged group, anatomical factors such as BMI, SNA, and MPH contributed significantly, but in the older adult group, anatomical factors were not relevant. The results suggested that anatomical factors alone may not fully explain the pathogenesis of OSA in older patients, highlighting the need for further studies focusing on other age-related factors. Full article

The increasing presence of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in environmental matrices presents substantial analytical challenges due to their small size and chemical diversity. This study introduces a novel enzymatic biosensor based on the Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) platform for the sensitive detection of MPs and NPs, utilizing laccase as the recognition element. Standard plastic particles, including polystyrene (PS, 0.1 µm), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, 1.0 µm and 100 µm), and polyethylene (PE, 34–50 µm), were analyzed using SPR angular interrogation along with a fixed-angle scheme. The angular approach revealed a clear relationship between the resonance angle, particle size, and refractive index, while the fixed-angle method, combined with immobilized laccase, facilitated specific detection through enzyme/substrate interactions. The analytical parameters showed detection limits ranging from 7.5 × 10⁻⁴ µg/mL (PE, 34–50 µm) to 253.2 µg/mL (PMMA, 1 µm), with significant differences based on polymer type and enzymatic affinity. Application of the biosensor to real rainwater samples collected from two regions in Mexico (Tula and Molango) confirmed its functionality, although performance varied depending on matrix composition, exhibiting inhibition in samples with high manganese (Mn²⁺), chromium (Cr²⁺), and zinc (Zn²⁺) content. Despite these limitations, the sensor achieved a 113% recovery rate in Tula rainwater, demonstrating its potential for straightforward in situ environmental monitoring. This study highlights the capabilities of laccase-based SPR biosensors in enhancing microplastic detection and underscores the necessity of considering matrix effects for real-world applications. Full article

The assessment of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial ecosystems has garnered increasing global attention due to their accumulation and migration in soils, which may have potential impacts on soil health, biodiversity, and agricultural productivity. However, research on their distribution and interactions in soil remains limited, especially in tropical regions. This study aimed to characterize MPs extracted from tropical soil samples and relate their abundance to soil and terrain attributes under different land uses (forest, grassland, and agriculture). Soil samples were collected from an experimental farm in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil, to determine soil physical and chemical attributes and MP abundance in a micro-watershed. These locations were also used to obtain terrain attributes from a digital elevation model and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The majority of microplastics found in all samples were identified as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and vinyl polychloride (PVC). The spatial distribution of MP was rather heterogeneous, with average abundances of 3826, 2553, and 3406 pieces kg⁻¹ under forest, grassland, and agriculture, respectively. MP abundance was positively related to macroporosity and sand content and negatively related to clay content and most chemical attributes. Regarding terrain attributes, MP abundance was negatively correlated with plan curvature, convergence index, and vertical distance to channel network, and positively related to topographic wetness index. These findings indicate that continuous water fluxes at both the landscape and soil surface scales play a key role, suggesting a tendency for higher MP accumulation in lower-lying areas and soils with greater porosity. These conditions promote MP transport and accumulation through surface runoff and facilitate their entry into the soil. Full article

Microplastic (MP) pollution in aquatic ecosystems poses significant ecological and public health risks. A comprehensive understanding of estuarine MP pollution, influenced by multiple anthropogenic and environmental factors, remains elusive in current research. This study investigated the spatial distribution patterns and dominant factors influencing MP abundance (MPA) and physicochemical diversity in the river water and sediments of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), while also assessing the associated ecological risks. The dominant MP categories in river water and sediments were fibers, clear in color, <1 mm in length, and composed of polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene. Whereas inland regions showed higher MPA, nearshore regions exhibited marginally greater physicochemical diversity. Multivariate statistical analysis identified population density as the primary driver of both MPA in river water and MP physicochemical diversity in sediments. MP physicochemical diversity in river water was predominantly governed by the synergistic effect of salinity and the vegetation land. MPA in sediments depended on the synergistic effect of flow rate and watershed area. Ecological risk assessment identified elevated risks in the eastern study area driven by the presence of polymethyl methacrylate. This study establishes a scientific basis for PRE region MP management and provides global comparative data for estuarine MP research. Full article

This study investigates reading performances and eye movements in individuals with eccentric fixation due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Overall, 17 individuals with bilateral AMD (7 males; mean age 77.47 ± 5.96 years) and 17 controls (10 males; mean age 72.18 ± 5.98 years) were assessed for reading visual acuity (VA), reading speed (Minnesota low vision reading chart in Slovene, MNREAD-SI), and near contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robson). Microperimetry (NIDEK MP-3) was used to evaluate preferential retinal locus (PRL) location and fixation stability. Eye movements were recorded with Tobii Pro-glasses 2 and analyzed for reading duration, saccade amplitude, peak velocity, number of saccades, saccade duration, and fixation duration. Individuals with AMD exhibited significantly reduced reading indices (worse reading VA (p < 0.001), slower reading (p < 0.001), and lower near contrast sensitivity (p < 0.001)). Eye movement analysis revealed prolonged reading duration, longer fixation duration, and an increased number of saccades in individuals with AMD per paragraph. The number of saccades per paragraph was significantly correlated with all measured reading indices. These findings provide insights into reading adaptations in AMD. Simultaneously, the proposed approach in analyzing eye movements puts forward eye trackers as a prospective diagnostic tool in ophthalmology. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are a growing environmental concern due to their ability to adsorb hazardous chemicals, such as estrogens, and be ingested by marine organisms. This study focuses on low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a polymer widely used in Kuwait, to assess its role as a carrier of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), specifically estrogens. Biological effects were evaluated using biomarkers such as cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) and vitellogenin (Vtg) gene expression. Virgin LDPE MPs were exposed to influent and effluent from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for four weeks to facilitate estrogen absorption. The MPs were then incorporated into fish feed pellets for dietary exposure experiments. Fish were divided into three treatment groups—exposed to either virgin MPs, WWTP-influent MPs, or WWTP-effluent MPs—and monitored over four weeks. The results showed that WWTP-exposed MPs carried detectable levels of estrogen, leading to physiological effects on yellowfin bream. Fish in the control group, which received MP-enriched diets without estrogen, experienced significant weight loss due to nutrient deprivation. In contrast, weight patterns in the treatment groups were influenced by estrogen exposure. The condition factor (CF) decreased across groups during the experiment but remained within acceptable health ranges. A significant reduction in the hepatosomatic index (HSI) was observed in the effluent-exposed group, likely due to lower estrogen levels reducing physiological stress. The findings confirm that LDPE MPs can act as carriers for estrogens, impairing fish growth and metabolism while disrupting biological processes such as cytochrome oxidase function. These results highlight the potential risks of MPs in marine ecosystems and underscore the need for further research to understand their long-term effects. Full article

Polystyrene microplastic (MP) and its co-existing contaminants may exert different toxic effects on its surrounding aquatic organisms. In order to detect the intestinal harmful responses, tilapia were subjected to exposure with 75 nm of MPs, 100 ng·L⁻¹ of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), 5 ng·L⁻¹ of BDE153, and combinations thereof over periods of 2, 4, and 8 days. Enzymatic assays, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics were employed to evaluate intestinal histopathological effects. Results showed that significant reductions were observed in ATP, ROS, SOD, EROD, lipid metabolism-related enzymes, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-1β), and apoptosis marker caspase 3 across all groups at day 8. Histological evaluation revealed diminished goblet cell density, with distinct vacuole formation in the BDE153+MPs group. KEGG pathway analysis highlighted disruptions in endocytosis, MAPK signaling, phagosome formation, and actin cytoskeleton regulation. Proteomic findings indicated notable enrichment in endocytosis (decreased sorting nexin-2; increased Si:dkey-13a21.4), MAPK/PPAR signaling, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (Sec61 subunit gamma), and cytoskeletal modulation (reduced fibronectin; elevated activation peptide fragment 1), with or without SMZ and BDE153. Metabolomic profiling showed significant alterations in ABC transporters, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, protein digestion and absorption, and linoleic acid metabolism. In summary, these findings suggest that BDE153 and MPs synergistically exacerbate intestinal damage and gene/protein expression over time, while SMZ appears to exert an antagonistic, mitigating effect. Full article

The evolution of robotic surgery in urologic oncology has led to the emergence of single-port (SP) robotic systems as a potential alternative to the widely adopted multi-port (MP) platforms. This narrative review provides a comprehensive comparison between SP and MP robotic systems, the former of which received FDA approval in 2018 and CE marking in 2024, focusing on their application across radical prostatectomy, partial and radical nephrectomy, and radical cystectomy. Drawing from the most current literature, we examine perioperative outcomes, oncologic efficacy, postoperative recovery, and complication rates. The review highlights the technical challenges unique to SP surgery, including restricted triangulation, limited instrumentation, and a defined learning curve, while also emphasizing innovations such as transvesical prostatectomy and the Supine Anterior Retroperitoneal Access (SARA) approach. Additionally, we explore the potential impact of emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and telesurgery—on the future of SP platforms. Despite early limitations, SP systems have demonstrated comparable safety and effectiveness in selected cases and may offer unique advantages in specific anatomical scenarios. Continued innovation, structured training, and robust long-term outcome data will be essential for the broader adoption and integration of SP robotic surgery in clinical practice. Full article

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of AI-assisted biparametric MRI (AI-bpMRI) in detecting prostate cancer (PCa) as a possible replacement for multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) depending on readers’ experience. Methods: This fully crossed, multireader multicase, single-centre, consecutive study retrospectively included men with suspected PCa. Three radiologists with different levels of experience independently scored each participant’s biparametric (bp) MRI, mpMRI, and AI-bpMRI according to the PI-RADS V2.1 classification. The AI-assisted image processing was based on a sequential deep learning network. Histopathological findings were used as a reference. The study evaluated the mean areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) using the jackknife method for covariance. AUCs were tested for non-inferiority of AI-bpMRI to mpMRI (non-inferiority margin: −0.05). Results: A total of 105 men (mean age 66 ± 7 years) were evaluated. AI-bpMRI was non-inferior to mpMRI in detecting both Gleason score (GS) ≥ 3 + 4 PCa (AUC difference: 0.03 [95% CI: −0.03, 0.08], p = 0.37) and GS ≥ 3 + 3 PCa (AUC difference: 0.04 [95% CI: −0.01, 0.09], p = 0.14) and was superior to bpMRI in detecting GS ≥ 3 + 3 PCa (AUC difference: 0.07 [95% CI: 0.02, 0.12], p = 0.004). The benefit of AI-bpMRI was greatest for the readers with low or medium experience (AUC difference in detecting GS ≥ 3 + 4 compared to mpMRI: 0.06 [95% CI: −0.03, 0.14], p = 0.19 and 0.06 [95% CI: −0.03, 0.14], p = 0.19, respectively). Conclusions: This study indicates that AI-bpMRI detects PCa with a diagnostic accuracy comparable to that of mpMRI. Full article

This research paper analyzes and highlights the benefits of parallel processing to enhance performance and computational efficiency in modern computing systems. It explores two primary models of parallelism—single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) and multiple instruction, multiple data (MIMD)—by examining their architectures and real-world use cases such as artificial intelligence, image processing, and cloud computing. Special emphasis is placed on the role of parallel programming in real-time systems, with a focus on APIs such as OpenMP and Ada, which facilitate structured parallelism. To demonstrate the practical advantages of parallelism, a comparative study is presented between a parallel merge-sort algorithm and its serial counterpart. Experimental analysis across datasets ranging from 100,000 to 1,000,000 elements shows that execution time can be reduced by up to 60–70% when using eight-core parallelization compared to serial execution. These results illustrate the scalability and effectiveness of parallel processing in handling large-scale computations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cholera remains a significant global health challenge. Shanchol (ShantaBiotech, India), one of the WHO prequalified Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCVs) available until recently, has been used to immunize people as a two-dose regimen (14 days apart, on day 0 and 14). However, growing evidence suggests that a single-dose strategy may mediate short-term protection, especially in those over 5 years of age. Hence, it is crucial to design a suitable and effective administration scheme for Shanchol, particularly in cholera-endemic regions. Methods: In this study, adult volunteers were vaccinated with either a single dose, a two-dose regimen with a 14-day interval, or a two-dose regiment with a 30-day interval. We studied the antigen-specific helper memory (CD4+CD45RO+) and cytotoxic memory (CD8+CD45RO+) T cells responses of vaccinees along with the specific mucosal immune responses to gut-homing ß7 lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). Results: By day 7 post-vaccination, Shanchol induced robust helper and cytotoxic memory T cell responses to V. cholerae membrane protein (AKI-MP) following a single dose of vaccination. In the two-dose groups, we observed a significant elevation of AKI-MP-specific responses after the 2nd dose. We found that circulatory gut homing (β7+) LPS-specific IgA responses of antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) peaked at D7 among all vaccine groups. Moreover, we observed that β7+ LPS-specific ASCs at D7 significantly correlated with the LPS-specific antibody titer in plasma. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a single dose of OCV in adults induces immune responses comparable to a two-dose regimen, suggesting a single-dose vaccination may be adequate to mediate protection against cholera in cholera endemic zones—especially in reactive campaigns. Full article

Microplastic pollution and herbivory are increasingly recognized as significant stressors in terrestrial ecosystems, yet their interactive effects on native and invasive plants remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the individual and combined effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and herbivory by Helicoverpa armigera on the growth and functional traits of twelve plant species (six invasive and six native). Exposure to PE-MPs significantly reduced biomass accumulation, with larger reductions in shoot, root, and total biomass for native plants than for invasive ones. Herbivory also significantly reduced biomass accumulation. When combined, PE-MPs and herbivory produced antagonistic effects on shoot, root, and total biomass. No significant three-way interaction was found among PE-MPs, herbivory, and plant status. Both PE-MPs and herbivory significantly reduced the root mass fraction and root-to-shoot ratio (RSR) while increasing the shoot mass fraction, with the PE-MP-induced reduction in RSR being stronger in native plants. Our findings suggest that multiple anthropogenic stressors can act as ecological filters, reshaping plant competitive dynamics and accelerating community shifts toward stress-tolerant species. Full article

A new negative-strand RNA virus was identified in grapevines from a 38-year-old ‘Chardonnay’ block in Idaho through high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of total RNA. This virus was tentatively named grapevine-associated cogu-like Idaho virus (GaCLIdV). GaCLIdV has three negative-sense, single-stranded RNA genome segments of ca. 7 kb, 1.9 kb, and 1.3 kb, encoding L protein (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, RdRP), a movement protein (MP), and a nucleocapsid protein (NC), respectively, identified based on pair-wise comparisons with other cogu- and cogu-like viruses. In phylogenetic analysis based on the RdRP, GaCLIdV grouped within the family Phenuiviridae and was placed in a lineage of plant-infecting phenuiviruses as a sister clade of the genus Laulavirus, clustering most closely with switchgrass phenui-like virus 1 (SgPLV-1) and more distantly related to grapevine-associated cogu-like viruses from the Laulavirus and Coguvirus clades. Both GaCLIdV and SgPhLV-1 are proposed to form a new genus, Switvirus, within the family Phenuiviridae. The presence of GaCLIdV in the original ‘Chardonnay’ samples was confirmed by RT-PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. This new virus was found in five wine grape cultivars and in six vineyards sampled in Idaho and in Oregon during the 2020–2024 seasons. GaCLIdV may have contributed to the decline observed in the old ‘Chardonnay’ block, although the role of the virus in symptom development awaits further investigation. Full article

Monascus pigments (MPs) are the most valuable secondary metabolites of Monascus. To improve the production of MPs is of great importance to food processing. Currently, studies using rice bran as the substrate to produce MPs are rare. In this study, rice bran with different carbon sources and cellulase hydrolysis conditions were explored in Monascus purpureus M9 in this study. Through single-factor experiments and Box–Behnken response surface optimization, we demonstrated that mannitol supplementation combined with cellulase treatment of substrate significantly enhanced the yields of MPs. The optimal conditions (4.00% mannitol, cellulase hydrolysis at 60 °C for 2 h) achieved a maximum color value of 3538 U/g. Furthermore, comparative evaluation under different culture conditions, including only rice bran (RB), cellulase hydrolysis of rice bran (Cel), rice bran supplemented with mannitol (Man), mannitol supplementation combined with cellulase pretreatment of substrate (Opti), and only rice (Rice), confirmed the effectiveness of the optimized treatment. The color value of the Opti group was 27.95 times more than that of the RB group and reached 80.96% of the counterpart of the Rice group. The Opti group also significantly enhanced the yields of two orange pigments (Monascorubrin and Rubropunctatin), induced more sexual spore formation, and exhibited the maximum biomass and colony diameter among different groups. The hyphae of the Man and Opti groups were full, intact, and tubular. The citrinin content in the Opti group was under the limit standard of China. The data provides a theoretical basis reference for improving the yields of MPs with RB as the substrate. Full article