Search Results (10,839)

Background: Neurofeedback training has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing performance by targeting specific brain activity patterns linked to motor skills, decision-making, and concentration. This study aimed to explore the associations between neurofeedback outcomes and football-specific performance metrics, including anthropometric, physical, technical, and tactical dimensions. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used to examine the effects of a six-week neurofeedback training program on motor skills, tactical decision-making, and physical performance in young women’s football players (n = 8, aged 14–18). Participants underwent 30-min sessions three times a week targeting sensorimotor rhythms (SMRs) in the 12–15 Hz range within virtual football scenarios. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included anthropometric measures, neurophysiological evaluations, Loughborough Soccer Shooting Test (LSST), and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIR1). Tactical decision-making was evaluated with a FUT-SAT-based instrument, and biological maturity was estimated using the Mirwald equations. Results: Statistical analyses using Pearson’s correlations revealed significant associations between neurofeedback outcomes, motor efficiency indices (MEIs), decision-making (DM), and football performance metrics. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.504 to 0.998, with p-values from 0.010 to <0.001, indicating significant associations across physical, technical, and tactical dimensions. Conclusions: This study highlights the beneficial impact of neurofeedback on football performance in young female athletes. Full article

Accurate estimates of Chlorophyll-a (Chl) concentration from satellite observations are critical for understanding large-scale phytoplankton variations, particularly in the context of climate change. However, existing operational Chl retrieval algorithms have been shown to perform poorly in the Southern Ocean (SO). To address this issue, this study proposed improved Chl algorithms tailored to the SO. To this end, three Chl satellite products (MODIS, OC-CCI, and GlobColour) were evaluated against high-precision (high-performance liquid chromatography-derived, HPLC), long-term (1997–2021), and spatially widespread (south of 40°S) in situ Chl observations. Subsequently, OC3M-based empirical algorithms were improved using remote sensing reflectance (R_rs) data. Among the original products, OC-CCI exhibited the best overall performance (R² = 0.36, Slope = 0.36), followed by GlobColour-AVW (R² = 0.27, Slope = 0.21), whereas Aqua-MODIS showed the worst agreement (R² = 0.18, Slope = 0.18) with in situ observations. All three products systematically underestimated Chl concentrations, with average biases of 43% (Aqua-MODIS), 24% (OC-CCI), and 36% (GlobColour-AVW), particularly at high Chl concentrations (> 0.2 mg/m³ for Aqua-MODIS and GlobColour-AVW; > 0.3 mg/m³ for OC-CCI). The parameter-tuned algorithms significantly reduced these biases to 1% (OC-CCI), 3% (GlobColour-AVW), and a slight overestimation of 2% (Aqua-MODIS). All products showed marked improvements in performance, with R² increasing to 0.68–0.91, slopes approaching 1.0 (0.62–0.92), and notable reductions in MAE (1.39–1.42) and RMSE (1.49–1.51). These results offer enhanced capabilities for Chl retrieval in the data-sparse and optically complex waters of the SO. Full article

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized by ‘green’ methods using plant extracts have emerged as promising antimicrobial agents for combating soilborne pathogens. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of four AgNP formulations prepared using various reducing agents (AgNP#1, AgNP#2, AgNP#3, AgNP#4) against sanitary-indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29213, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853) and phytopathogenic Pseudomonas syringae strains isolated from Zea mays plants was estimated. The results demonstrated that AgNP#3 and AgNP#4 exhibited the greatest antibacterial efficacy, with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). The soil incubation studies confirmed that AgNPs reduced the population of P. syringae without significant effects on beneficial soil microbiota. AgNP#1 and AgNP#2 exhibited a stimulatory effect on the Zea mays seed germination, bringing out their potential for agricultural applications. Thus, the developed biogenic AgNPs could serve as efficient antimicrobial agents for sustainable soil sanitation while minimizing environmental risks. Full article

Nano- and microplastics (NMPs) in waterways reflect the impact of anthropogenic activities. This study examined spatial variations in the presence and types of NMPs in Galveston Bay (Texas, USA) surface waters and eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). The results reveal most MPs carried by surface waters are fibers > films > fragments. Up to 200 MPs were present in individual oysters [=1.88 (± 0.22 SE) per g wet weight]. Oyster health, based on condition index, varied spatially, but was not correlated with MP load. Based on attenuated total reflectance—Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, polyamide and polypropylene were frequently found in waters in the upper bay while ethylene propylene and polyethylene terephthalate were more common in the lower parts of the bay. Pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed a very large range in concentrations of NMPs, from 28 to 10,925 µg ∑NMP/g wet weight (or 172 to 67,783 µg ∑NMP/g dry weight) in oysters. This chemical analysis revealed four main types of plastics present in oysters regardless of location: polypropylene, nylon 66, polyethylene and styrene butadiene rubber. Based on this finding, the average daily intake of NMPs estimated for adult humans is 0.85 ± 0.45 mg NMPs/Kg of body weight/day or a yearly intake of 310 ± 164 mg NMPs/Kg of body weight/year. These findings reveal higher body burdens of plastics in oysters are revealed by the chemical analysis relative to the traditional approach; this is not unexpected given the higher sensitivity and selectivity of mass spectrometry and inclusion of the nanoplastic particle range (i.e., <1 mm) in the sample preparation and analysis. Full article

This study investigates the impact of 1 MeV electron beam and 80 keV X-ray irradiation on the decomposition rate and radiation–chemical yield of 1-hexanol in aqueous saline solution to develop a comprehensive approach to determining reliable volatile organic compound markers for food irradiation. A 50 mg/L 1-hexanol solution was irradiated with the doses ranging from 100 to 8000 Gy at various dose rates ranging from 0.2 to 10 Gy/s to assess the impact of irradiation parameters on the decomposition rate and radiation–chemical yield of volatile compounds typically found in food. GC–MS analysis revealed a non-linear decrease in 1-hexanol concentration with increasing dose, accompanied by the formation of aldehydes, ketones, and secondary alcohols. Among these products, hexanal was detected at the lowest applied dose and exhibited dose-dependent behavior that correlated strongly with 1-hexanol degradation. Density functional theory calculations identified the most probable pathways for the formation of hexanol decomposition products, involving direct ionization, radical reactions, and oxidation. A mathematical model proposed in the study describes dose-dependent transformations of 1-hexanol into hexanal, enabling quantitative estimation of the degradation extent of hexanol. The findings suggest that hexanal can serve as a quantitative marker for hexanol degradation, supporting the development of rapid “dose range” determination methods for food irradiation that ensure microbial safety while minimizing undesirable oxidation of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Full article

The article reports for the first time the application of a solid silver microelectrode array for the anodic stripping voltammetric determination of thallium(I) ions (Tl(I)). The microelectrode properties of the presented sensor were tested. The proposed solid metal microelectrode array is characterized by its eco-friendly nature due to the use of non-toxic electrode material. The advantage of this procedure is that no surface modification of the microelectrode was required. The optimization of the procedure for determining Tl(I) was performed. The experimental parameters (e.g., pH of supporting electrolyte, conditions of activation step, potential and time of deposition, effects of possible interferences) were investigated. The dependence of the thallium peak current on its concentration was linear in the range from 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 1 × 10⁻⁷ mol·L⁻¹ (deposition time of 120 s). The estimated detection limit was 1.35 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol·L⁻¹. The repeatability of the procedure expressed as RSD% for a Tl(I) concentration of 2 × 10⁻⁸ mol·L⁻¹ was 3.6% (n = 5). The proposed procedure was applied for determining Tl(I) in certified reference materials and for studying recovery in the environmental water sample. The obtained results indicated the possibility of an analytical application of the elaborated procedure in practice. Full article

On 6 February 2023, an earthquake doublet of Mw 7.8 and Mw 7.5 occurred in southeastern Turkey and caused surface ruptures over 350 km for the eastern Anatolian fault (EAF) and 150 km for the Surgu fault (SF), respectively. Over 3700 Mw > 3.0 aftershocks occurred within 5 months following the earthquake doublet, indicating that postseismic stress adjustment is evident. Here, we utilize InSAR technology to investigate the earthquake doublet in terms of its coseismic and postseismic deformations and to estimate the changes in Coulomb stress. We found that the postseismic surface deformation is consistent with the coseismic rupture, characterized by left-lateral strike-slip movement. The coseismic deformations (>5 m) are concentrated in the central-eastern (Pazarcik and Erkenek) segments in the EAF and the central (Cardak) segment in the SF. Notably, the maximum coseismic slip (up to 10 m) and the largest postseismic slip (∼0.5 m) both occurred on the Cardak segment. Postseismic deformations (>0.05 m) are concentrated in the northeastern Erkenek segment and southwestern Amanos segment of the EAF, as well as the eastern Dogansehir segment of the SF. Compared with the coseismic deformation, the postseismic slip compensated for the insufficient deeper slip of the southwestern Amanos segment of the EAF and the central Cardak segment of the SF. Additionally, the postseismic slip extended the rupture area to both the northeast of the Dogansehir segment along the SF and the epicentral area of the 2020 Mw 6.7 earthquake along the EAF. The postseismic afterslip largely reduced the potential seismic hazard of the seismic gap between the eastern end of the coseismic rupture of the 2023 Mw 7.8 earthquake and the epicentral area of the 2020 Mw 6.7 earthquake, as well as the southwestern Amanos segment of the EAF and the eastern Dogansehir segment of the SF. Full article

Microplastic (MP) analysis via microspectroscopy typically examines only 1–10% of filter substrates due to time constraints, requiring reliable extrapolation methods for quantitative environmental monitoring. Current subsampling strategies suffer from heterogeneous particle dispersion, leading to 50–80% error in MP quantification. Additionally, MP researchers require enhanced environmental MP mass datasets, necessitating reliable conversion algorithms from two-dimensional morphological data to mass estimates. This study introduces an area-based extrapolation technique for organic rich samples that compares the MP-to-generic particle area ratio within a rectangular field of view against total particle area on the entire filter membrane, combined with a simplified fragment morphology-to-mass conversion model (SFMM). First, two Sphagnum moss samples were analyzed using Raman microspectroscopy and critical angle darkfield illumination microscopy. The results demonstrated stable MP concentrations (17% RSD [n = 8]) despite heterogeneous generic particle distribution (31% RSD [n = 8]), with mean particle-area coverage of 2.4% per subsample. Then, twenty EasyMP^TM fragment reference materials (10 µm to 1500 µm), of known composite mass, were used to calibrate two different volume (V) expressions, one based on analyzed particle area (A) and minimum Feret diameter (F_Min, i.e., width), yielding V = 0.34 × F_Min × A. A second more approximate expression based on only the maximum Feret diameter (F_Max, i.e., length) yielded V = 0.097 × (F_Max)³. These methods enable MP quantification and mass estimation from limited spectroscopic analysis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) being major risk factors. Diet is a key modulator of these parameters, and healthful plant-based diets—popular particularly among women—are associated with cardiovascular benefits. The present study aimed to evaluate the serum lipid profile and to identify dietary components associated with differences in lipid fractions in healthy women adhering to different dietary patterns. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, single-center, convenience sample study of 128 healthy women of similar age, normal BMI, and comparable body fat, allocated to four dietary groups: vegans (n = 45), lacto-ovo-vegetarians (n = 52), pescatarians (n = 12), and omnivores (n = 19). Serum lipid profiles were determined using enzymatic kits. Intake of selected nutrients was assessed based on 7-day dietary records. Physical activity was estimated using the physical activity level (PAL) index. Analyses included different ANOVA approaches and PCA. Results: Omnivores exhibited the highest serum concentrations of LDL-C, TC, and TGs compared with other dietary groups. A significant association was noted between elevated TC and higher intake of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), cholesterol, and animal protein, accompanied by lower intake of fiber and plant protein. Additionally, women with lower TGs and higher HDL-C showed lower PAL values. No significant differences in HDL-C concentrations were observed between groups. Conclusions: Plant-based diets, defined by lower consumption of SFAs, cholesterol, and animal protein alongside higher intake of fiber and plant protein, were associated with a more favorable lipid profile. These findings support the role of vegetarian and vegan diets in CVDs prevention and management, particularly when coupled with regular physical activity; however, further interventional studies among diverse populations are necessary to confirm our results. Full article

Assessing soil fertility is a complex task as it is determined by natural and anthropogenic factors, including specific agronomic interventions (e.g., fertilization and crop rotation) and broader soil management (e.g., tillage and drainage). For agricultural management, soil represents a primary production factor whose chemical–physical characteristics and macro-elements content must be known. This work presents the maps of three macronutrients, i.e., N, K, and P, in the topsoils (0–30 cm layer) of the Emilia-Romagna (21,710.1 km²) region in NE Italy. The maps and associated uncertainty at 100 m resolution were obtained via digital soil mapping (DSM) resorting to Quantile Random Forests using topsoil data from the regional soil database (N = 34,750). As Emilia-Romagna is characterized by two distinct major landforms, i.e., the intensively cultivated alluvial plain and the extensively managed mountain range of the Northern Apennines, each representing nearly half of the region, two distinct sets of numerical and categorical covariates were used as predictors for the DSM estimation of each macronutrient. Results highlight an average N content of approximately 1.57 ± 0.83 (standard deviation) g kg⁻¹ in the alluvial plain and of 1.63 ± 0.49 g kg⁻¹ in the Apennines. For exchangeable potassium (K), concentrations were 275.90 ± 92.6 mg kg⁻¹ and 210.2 ± 86.3 mg kg⁻¹ in the plain and Apennines, respectively. A stark contrast was observed for available phosphorus (P), with mean values of 40.4 ± 11.0 mg kg⁻¹ in the alluvial plain, dropping to 15.2 ± 6.1 mg kg⁻¹ in the Apennines. Such results provide useful information for assessing the fertility of regional soils and provide a reference baseline for soil quality monitoring. The resulting macronutrient maps were eventually compared with those based on the Land Use and Cover Area frame Survey (LUCAS), which represents the reference baselines at the EU scale. Full article

Diabetes is a significant global health issue that demands accurate, accessible, and non-invasive diagnostic methods for effective prevention and treatment. Conventional diagnostic systems are often expensive, painful, time-consuming, and not universally available. In this study, we present a smart system for acetone estimation using simulated breath and a recurrent neural network (RNN) model. The detection system employs a new sensor fabricated from a composite of 1D nanostructured KWO (K₂W₇O₂₂) and 2D nanosheet MXene (Ti₃C₂), designed to measure the chemiresistive response to acetone by mimicking human breath. Resistance data collected by the sensor are used to compute sensitivity values for each acetone concentration (in parts per million, PPM). These values serve as input features for the RNN model, which learns to evaluate health as healthy, high-risk, or diabetic. Trained on acetone concentrations ranging from 0.4 to 2 PPM, the RNN achieves an R² of 99.41% in predicting potential for accurate breath acetone prediction. In future work, we aim to develop a smart device and mobile application based on this model to facilitate real-time diabetes monitoring and prediction. Full article

The Directional Polarimetric Camera (DPC) onboard the Gaofen-5 (02) satellite includes gas absorption bands that are crucial for the quantitative retrieval of clouds, atmospheric aerosols, and surface parameters. However, in-flight radiometric calibration of these bands remains challenging due to strong absorption features and the lack of onboard calibration devices. In this study, a calibration method that exploits functional relationships between the reflectance ratios of gas absorption and adjacent reference bands and key surface–atmosphere parameters over sunglint were presented. Radiative transfer simulations were combined with polynomial fitting to establish these relationships, and prior knowledge of surface pressure and water vapor column concentration was incorporated to achieve high-precision calibration. Results show that the calibration uncertainty of the oxygen absorption band is mainly driven by surface pressure, with a total uncertainty of 3.01%. For the water vapor absorption band, uncertainties are primarily associated with water vapor column concentration and surface reflectance, yielding total uncertainties of 3.45%. Validation demonstrates the robustness of the proposed method: (1) cross-calibration using desert samples confirms the stability of the results, and (2) the retrieved surface pressure agrees with the DEM-derived estimates, and the retrieved total column water vapor agrees with the MODIS products, confirming the calibration. Overall, the method provides reliable in-flight calibration of DPC gas absorption bands on Gaofen-5 (02) and can be adapted to similar sensors with comparable spectral configurations. Full article

A continuum model for describing pseudo-turbulent flows of a dispersed phase is developed using a statistical approach based on the kinetic equation for the probability density of particle velocity and temperature. The introduction of the probability density function enables a statistical description of the particle ensemble through equations for the first and second moments, replacing the dynamic description of individual particles derived from Langevin-type equations of motion and heat transfer. The lack of detailed dynamic information on individual particle behavior is compensated by a richer statistical characterization of the motion and heat transfer within the particle continuum. A numerical simulation of the unsteady flow of a gas–particle suspension generated by the interaction of a shock wave with a particle cloud is performed using an interpenetrating continua model and equations for the first and second moments of both gas and particles. Numerical methods for solving the two-phase gas dynamics equations—formulated using a two-velocity and two-temperature model—are discussed. Each phase is governed by conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy, written in a conservative hyperbolic form. These equations are solved using a high-order Godunov-type numerical method, with time discretization performed by a third-order Runge–Kutta scheme. The study analyzes the influence of two-dimensional effects on the formation of shock-wave flow structures and explores the spatial and temporal evolution of particle concentration and other flow parameters. The results enable an estimation of shock wave attenuation by a granular backfill. The extended pressure relaxation region is observed behind the cloud of particles. Full article

Oxidative stress observed in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders can induce neuronal damage and modulate intracellular signaling, ultimately leading to neuronal death by apoptosis or necrosis. The aim of this study was to estimate in vitro the possible antioxidant properties of curcumin, the natural polyphenolic antioxidant, and its protective effects against lipid peroxidation induced by the atypical antipsychotic Ziprasidone. Curcumin (5 µg/mL, 12.5 µg/mL, 25 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL) was added to human plasma and incubated for 1 and 24 h, alone and in the presence of Ziprasidone (40 ng/mL, 139 ng/mL, 250 ng/mL). Control plasma samples were incubated for 1 and 24 h. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARSs; lipid peroxidation marker) was determined by the spectrophotometric method according to Rice-Evans. Curcumin at the tested concentrations significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation in human plasma by about 60%. Ziprasidone (40 ng/mL, 139 ng/mL, 250 ng/mL) significantly increased TBARS levels, but in the presence of the studied curcumin concentrations, its pro-oxidative effects were reduced by about 56%. Our results confirm that Ziprasidone in vitro may induce lipid peroxidation in human plasma, whereas curcumin protects against lipid peroxidation in human plasma caused by the antipsychotic Ziprasidone. Full article

The Strait of Malacca faces persistent maritime safety challenges due to high vessel density and complex navigational conditions. Current risk assessment methods often lean towards treating static accident analysis and dynamic traffic modeling separately, although some nascent hybrid approaches exist. However, these hybrids frequently lack the capacity for comprehensive, real-time factor integration. This study proposes an integrated framework coupling accident hotspot identification with vessel traffic network analysis. The framework combines trajectory clustering using improved DBSCAN with directional filters, Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) for accident hotspots, and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) for multi-factor risk evaluation, acknowledging its subjective and region-specific nature. The model was trained and tuned exclusively on the 2023 dataset (47 incidents), reserving the 2024 incidents (24 incidents) exclusively for independent, zero-information-leakage validation. Results demonstrate superior performance: Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) improved by 0.14 (0.78 vs. 0.64; +22% relative to KDE-only), and Precision–Recall AUC (PR-AUC) improved by 0.16 (0.65 vs. 0.49); both p < 0.001. Crucially, all model tuning and parameter finalization (including DBSCAN/Fréchet, FAHP weights, and adaptive thresholds) relied solely on 2023 data, with the 2024 incidents reserved exclusively for independent temporal validation. The model captures 75.2% of reported incidents within 20% of the study area. Cross-validation confirms stability across all folds. The framework reveals accidents concentrate at network bottlenecks where traffic centrality exceeds 0.15 and accident density surpasses 0.6. Model-based associations suggest amplification through three pathways: environmental-mediated (34%), traffic convergence (34%), and historical persistence (23%). The integrated approach enables identification of both where and why maritime accidents cluster, providing practical applications for vessel traffic services, risk-aware navigation, and evidence-based safety regulation in congested waterways. Full article