Saved Queries

by Giulia-Mihaela Cojocaru, Antoniu Octavian Petriş, Alin-Constantin Pînzariu, Tudor Cojocaru, Andreea Coca, Ruxandra Cojocaru, Catherine-Teodora Costan, Victorița Șorodoc and Elena Cojocaru

Biomedicines 2025, 13(9), 2232; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13092232 (registering DOI) - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

Objectives: Post-acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-recognized complication of COVID-19, driven by persistent endothelial dysfunction and thromboinflammation. Identifying simple clinical predictors of VTE may optimize therapy and limit adverse outcomes. We propose a pragmatic risk-stratification approach, based on clinical and echocardiographic parameters. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a Romanian tertiary hospital (March 2020–April 2022) in 54 adults with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and imaging-confirmed VTE. Demographics, comorbidities, laboratory markers, and echocardiographic variables—particularly tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and left-ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD)—were collected. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients receiving systemic thrombolysis. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney U tests, chi-square, Spearman correlations, and multivariable logistic regression. Results: The mean age was 61.2 ± 14.7 years, and 63% were men. Eleven patients (20.4%) underwent thrombolysis. Compared with conservatively managed patients, those receiving thrombolysis had lower TAPSE (13.0 vs. 20.8 mm), lower SpO₂ (90.1 vs. 97.0%), and smaller LVEDD (24.4 vs. 46.1 mm); all differences were statistically significant. Each 1 mm decrease in TAPSE and 1% decrease in SpO₂ increased the likelihood of thrombolysis (adjusted odds ratios 1.58 and 1.34, respectively). Inflammatory markers and right-ventricular diameter were not associated with treatment. Conclusions: Reduced TAPSE, lower SpO₂, and decreased LVEDD identify post-COVID VTE patients at elevated risk of hemodynamic compromise requiring thrombolysis. A point-of-care assessment incorporating these variables may improve early risk stratification and guide therapeutic decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cardiac and Vascular Diseases: Pathogenesis, Pharmacological Treatments, Advances in Therapies (3rd Edition))

16 pages, 25931 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Bidirectional, Full-Duplex, Implantable Wireless CMOS System for Prosthetic Control

by Riccardo Collu, Cinzia Salis, Elena Ferrazzano and Massimo Barbaro

J. Sens. Actuator Netw. 2025, 14(5), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan14050092 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

Implantable medical devices present several technological challenges, one of the most critical being how to provide power supply and communication capabilities to a device hermetically sealed within the body. Using a battery as a power source represents a potential harm for the individual’s health because of possible toxic chemical release or overheating, and it requires periodic surgery for replacement. This paper proposes a batteryless implantable device powered by an inductive link and equipped with bidirectional wireless communication channels. The device, designed in a 180 nm CMOS process, is based on two different pairs of mutually coupled inductors that provide, respectively, power and a low-bitrate bidirectional communication link and a separate, high-bitrate, one-directional upstream connection. The main link is based on a 13.56 MHz carrier and allows power transmission and a half-duplex two-way communication at 106 kbps (downlink) and 30 kbps (uplink). The secondary link is based on a 27 MHz carrier, which provides one-way communication at 2.25 Mbps only in uplink. The low-bitrate links are needed to send commands and monitor the implanted system, while the high-bitrate link is required to receive a continuous stream of information from the implanted sensing devices. The microchip acts as a hub for power and data wireless transmission capable of managing up to four different neural recording and stimulation front ends, making the device employable in a complex, distributed, bidirectional neural prosthetic system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Wireless Energy Harvesting and Power Transfer for Communications and Networks)

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22 pages, 1302 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Intelligent Design Method for Product Remanufacturing Based on Remanufacturing Information Reuse

by Chao Ke, Yichen Deng, Shijie Liu and Hongwei Cui

Processes 2025, 13(9), 2899; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13092899 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

Design for remanufacturing (DfRem) is a green design mode that ensures good remanufacturability at the end-of-life (EOL) of the product. However, the diversity of service environments and operating modes makes it difficult to generate accurate DfRem solutions for the smooth implementation of remanufacturing. Moreover, the historical remanufacturing process contains a great deal of information conducive to DfRem. It will greatly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of remanufacturing design by feeding effective remanufacturing information back into the product design process. Unfortunately, there is a lack of direct correlation between them, which prevents remanufacturing information from effectively guiding DfRem. To improve the accuracy of DfRem solutions and the utilization rate of remanufacturing information, an intelligent design method for product remanufacturing based on remanufacturing information reuse is proposed. Firstly, rough set theory (RST) is used to identify key remanufacturability demand, and the quality function development (QFD) is used to establish a relationship between remanufacturability demand and engineering characteristics, which can accurately obtain the design objectives. Then, the correlation between remanufacturability demand, remanufacturing information, and DfRem parameters is analyzed, and the ontology technology is applied to construct the DfRem knowledge by ingratiating remanufacturing information. In addition, case-based reasoning (CBR) is applied to search for design cases from DfRem knowledge that best match the design objectives, and gray relational analysis (GRA) is used to calculate the similarity between design knowledge. Finally, the feasibility of the method is verified by taking an ordinary lathe as an example. This method has been implemented as a DfRem interface application using Visual Studio 2022 and Microsoft SQL Server 2022, and the research results indicate that this design method can accurately generate a reasonable DfRem scheme. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence Technologies and Methods for Green Manufacturing)

17 pages, 1256 KB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Non-Contact Low-Voltage Transmission Line Voltage Measurement Method Based on Switched Capacitor Calibration

by Yuanhang Yang, Qiaowei Yang, Hengchu Shi, Hao You, Chengen Jiang, Xiao Hu, Yinyin Li and Wenbin Zhang

Electronics 2025, 14(18), 3603; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14183603 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

Capacitive-coupling non-contact voltage sensors face a key challenge: their probe-conductor coupling capacitance varies, making it hard to accurately determine the division ratio. This capacitance is influenced by factors like the conductor’s insulation material, radius, and relative position. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a sensor gain self-calibration method based on switching capacitors. This method obtains multiple sets of real-time measurement outputs by connecting and switching different standard capacitors in parallel with the sensor’s structural capacitance, and then simultaneously solves for the coupling capacitance and the voltage under test, thereby achieving on-site autonomous calibration of the sensor gain. To effectively suppress interference from stray electric fields in the surrounding space, a shielded coaxial probe structure and corresponding back-end processing circuitry were designed, significantly enhancing the system’s anti-interference capability. Finally, an experimental platform incorporating insulated conductors of various diameters was built to validate the method’s effectiveness. Within the 100–300 V power-frequency range, the reconstructed voltage amplitude shows a maximum relative error of 1.06% and a maximum phase error of 0.76°, and harmonics are measurable up to the 50th order. Under inter-phase electric field interference, the maximum relative error of the reconstructed voltage amplitude is 1.34%, demonstrating significant shielding effectiveness. For conductors with diameters ranging from 6 mm² to 35 mm², the measurement error is controlled within 1.57%. These results confirm the method’s strong environmental adaptability and broad applicability across different conductor diameters. Full article

22 pages, 2499 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of a Model-Based Methodology to Implement a Fused Health Indicator for a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

by Andrea Ambrosino, Giovanni Bove, Marco Sorrentino and Fabio Postiglione

Energies 2025, 18(18), 4822; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18184822 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

Hydrogen-based technologies are growing, thanks to recent advancements in systems such as fuel cells and electrolyzers. The present work aims to develop a methodology for the definition of a fused health indicator to monitor the operating and health conditions of a solid oxide fuel cell system. A suitable degradation model was built to yield four trendable output indicators, which were subsequently merged to create the fused health indicator. Subsequently, the assessment of off-design conditions and two realistic scenarios (leakage and constant excess of air working regime) was carried out. The health indicator has proved suitable for fault detection, prognostic applications, control strategy improvement, and health management. In particular, the methodology has underlined the necessity of making the control strategy adaptive with respect to degradation. Through this approach, it is observed that reducing the solid oxide fuel cell temperature difference by 10 °C can result in a 1.2% increase in lifetime. In contrast, the leakage simulation reveals a decrease of about 10.5% in the health state after 100 h, resulting in about a 21% lower end-of-life. Full article

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18 pages, 849 KB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Invasive Redox Biomarkers Detected in Organ Preservation Outflow Solution Enable Early Prediction of Human Liver Allograft Dysfunction

by Daniel Vidal-Correoso, María José Caballero-Herrero, Ana M. Muñoz-Morales, Sandra V. Mateo, Marta Jover-Aguilar, Felipe Alconchel, Laura Martínez-Alarcón, Víctor López-López, Antonio Ríos-Zambudio, Pedro Cascales, José Antonio Pons, Pablo Ramírez, Kristine Stromsnes, Juan Gambini, Santiago Cuevas and Alberto Baroja-Mazo

Antioxidants 2025, 14(9), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14091104 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

^{Liver transplantation is commonly used for end-stage liver disease, but the demand for organs exceeds the supply, leading to the use of expanded criteria donors (ECDs). Organs from ECDs, especially from donors after circulatory death (DCD), encounter challenges like increased ischemia damage. Biomarkers, especially oxidative stress markers, may provide valuable insights for understanding and monitoring post-transplant events. Here, we highlight the unique value of organ preservation solution (OPS) as a non-invasive and early source of redox biomarkers, directly reflecting graft status during critical cold storage. This study investigated oxidative stress in 74 donated livers using OPS samples collected after cold storage, and also liver biopsies obtained before and after storage. We measured lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, DNA oxidation, and total antioxidant capacity from OPS, and performed gene expression analysis of liver biopsies. Oxidative stress markers differed based on donation type, with higher lipid peroxidation in DCD samples compared with donation after brain death (18.51 ± 2.77 vs. 11.03 ± 1.31 nmoles malondialdehyde (MDA)/mg protein; p = 0.049). Likewise, oxidative damage markers were associated with clinical outcomes: lipid peroxidation was increased in patients who developed biliary complications (21.86 ± 5.91 vs. 11.97 ± 1.12 nmol MDA/mg protein; p = 0.05), and protein carbonylation was elevated in those experiencing acute rejection (199.6 ± 22.02 vs. 141.6 ± 15.94 nmol carbonyl/mg protein; p = 0.005). Moreover, higher protein carbonylation levels showed a trend toward reduced survival (p = 0.091). Transcriptomic analysis revealed overexpression of genes associated with reactive oxygen species production in DCD livers. A predictive model for acute rejection integrating OPS biomarkers with clinical variables achieved 83% accuracy. Hence, this study underscores the importance of assessing oxidative stress status in preservation fluid as a biomarker for evaluating liver transplant outcomes and highlights the need for validation in larger, independent cohorts.} Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Liver Disease)

21 pages, 6526 KB

Open AccessArticle

Tissue Characterization by Ultrasound: Linking Envelope Statistics with Spectral Analysis for Simultaneous Attenuation Coefficient and Scatterer Clustering Quantification

by Luis Elvira, Carla de León, Carmen Durán, Alberto Ibáñez, Montserrat Parrilla and Óscar Martínez-Graullera

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(18), 9924; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15189924 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

This paper proposes the use of quantitative methods for the characterization of tissues by linking, into a single approach, ideas coming from the spectral analysis methods commonly used to determine the attenuation coefficient with the envelope statistics formulation. Initially, the Homodyned K-distribution model used to fit data obtained from ultrasound signal envelopes was reviewed, and the necessary equations to further derive the attenuation coefficient from this model were developed. To test and discuss the performance of these methods, experimental work was conducted in phantoms. To this end, a series of tissue-mimicking materials composed of poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) loaded with different particles (aluminium, alumina, cellulose) at varying concentrations were manufactured. A single-channel scanning system was employed to analyse these samples. It was verified that quantitative images obtained from the attenuation coefficient and from the scatterer clustering μ parameter (associated with scatterer concentration) effectively discriminate materials exhibiting similar echo envelope patterns, enhancing the information obtained in comparison with the conventional analysis based on B-scans. Additionally, the implementation of quantitative bi-parametric imaging mappings based on both the μ parameter and the attenuation coefficient, as a means to rapidly visualize results and identify areas characterized by specific acoustic features, was also proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Ultrasonic Technology in Biomedical Sciences)

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22 pages, 5732 KB

Open AccessArticle

Explainable Transformer-Based Framework for Glaucoma Detection from Fundus Images Using Multi-Backbone Segmentation and vCDR-Based Classification

by Hind Alasmari, Ghada Amoudi and Hanan Alghamdi

Diagnostics 2025, 15(18), 2301; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15182301 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) that affects the optic nerve head (ONH), leading to vision problems and irreversible blindness. Background/Objectives: Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, and the number of people affected is increasing each year, with the number expected to reach 111.8 million by 2040. This escalating trend is alarming due to the lack of ophthalmology specialists relative to the population. This study proposes an explainable end-to-end pipeline for automated glaucoma diagnosis from fundus images. It also evaluates the performance of Vision Transformers (ViTs) relative to traditional CNN-based models. Methods: The proposed system uses three datasets: REFUGE, ORIGA, and G1020. It begins with YOLOv11 for object detection of the optic disc. Then, the optic disc (OD) and optic cup (OC) are segmented using U-Net with ResNet50, VGG16, and MobileNetV2 backbones, as well as MaskFormer with a Swin-Base backbone. Glaucoma is classified based on the vertical cup-to-disc ratio (vCDR). Results: MaskFormer outperforms all models in segmentation in all aspects, including IoU OD, IoU OC, DSC OD, and DSC OC, with scores of 88.29%, 91.09%, 93.83%, and 93.71%. For classification, it achieved accuracy and F1-scores of 84.03% and 84.56%. Conclusions: By relying on the interpretable features of the vCDR, the proposed framework enhances transparency and aligns well with the principles of explainable AI, thus offering a trustworthy solution for glaucoma screening. Our findings show that Vision Transformers offer a promising approach for achieving high segmentation performance with explainable, biomarker-driven diagnosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostics)

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22 pages, 707 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stigma and Emotion Regulation in Intimate Partner Violence: A Pilot Exploratory Study with Victims, Offenders and Experts

by Christian Moro, Michela Scaccia, Teresa Camellini, Livia Lugeri, Emanuele Marrocu and Gian Piero Turchi

Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 1229; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091229 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

In the field of gender-based violence research, the social constructionist strand focuses on how stereotypes and discourses impact the psychological, socio-economical and sanitary levels of actors involved. Narratives of victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) often revolve around feelings such as shame, guilt and fear; these are related to emotion regulation. Considering this, narratives on how the roles of victims, but also offenders, are shaped are pivotal for clinical interventions. Considering gender-based violence as a product of human discursive interaction, this exploratory work investigates the terms used to describe these two roles and the ways in which those terms are conveyed. Ad hoc open-ended questionnaires were administered to 35 respondents from an Italian anti-violence centre, including IPV victims and offenders and healthcare experts. Their answers were analysed through MADIT (Methodology for the Analysis of Computerised Text Data), while the software IRaMuTeQ (version 0.7 alpha 2) was used for content analysis. Starting from the research question of “how do victims, offenders and experts groups narrate the roles of victim and offender”, the research hypothesis states that all three groups will adopt modalities that define the two roles into fixed and typical emotional categories. As anticipated, the results show that victims, offenders and experts depict both roles as immutable, categorising and judging the victims with words related with fear and self-guilt, while offenders are described with words related to anger and pathology. Lastly, we propose a framework for clinical intervention focused on fostering change towards a broader narrative to reduce the psychological impact of IPV events for victims, as well as modifying offenders’ violent behaviours. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intimate Partner Violence: A Focus on Emotion Regulation)

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12 pages, 606 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hypothermic Machine Perfusion vs. Static Cold Storage in Kidney Transplantation: A Retrospective Paired-Kidney Study from Latvia

by Pāvils Plūme, Igors Losevs, Elizabete Anna Loseva, Aleksandrs Maļcevs, Vadims Suhorukovs, Olga Jegorova, Viktors Ševeļovs and Jānis Jušinskis

Medicina 2025, 61(9), 1641; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61091641 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Kidney transplantation remains the gold-standard treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). For deceased donor transplantation, optimal allograft preservation represents a critical determinant of success. While static cold storage (SCS) has been the historical standard, hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) has emerged in recent decades as a technologically advanced alternative. However, comparative data from smaller-volume centers utilizing exclusively donation after brain death (DBD) donors remain scarce. Materials and Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 94 patients who received kidney transplants from deceased DBD donors between January 2018 and December 2024. We employed a paired kidney study design where one kidney from each donor was preserved using HMP (LifePort, set at 30/20 mm Hg pressure), while the contralateral kidney was stored in SCS. Parameters compared were creatinine concentration in recipient serum after transplantation, DGF, acute rejection and hospital stay. Results: The HMP group had a significantly longer cold ischemia time (CIT) (18.09 ± 5.91 h, range: 6.5–34.0 h) compared to the SCS group (12.36 ± 5.18 h, range: 4.0–23.0 h; p < 0.005). The DGF rate was significantly lower in the HMP group (4.3%) than the SCS group (25.5%) (p = 0.004). HMP was also associated with a shorter mean hospitalization (11.81 vs. 15.66 days, p = 0.008) and superior early graft function, particularly in kidneys with CIT ≥ 18 h, which showed significantly lower serum creatinine at day 14 (124.48 vs. 164.89 µmol/L, p = 0.036). Conclusions: HMP usage in kidney transplantation decreased the possibility for DGF in DBD donors and shortened the post-op hospitalization time. It is a feasible method for kidney storage before transplantation even in a case of prolonged CIT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Urology & Nephrology)

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9 pages, 1118 KB

Open AccessArticle

Inflammatory Molecule Elaboration in Secondhand Smoke (SHS)-Induced or Conditional RAGE Transgenic Modeling of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS)

by Logan Ponder, Ryan Kinney, Ankita Chatterjee, Kristina Vu, Harishma Sidhu, Neha Patel, Tejus Desai, Daniel L. Orr, Juan A. Arroyo and Paul R. Reynolds

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(9), 740; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47090740 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by sinonasal inflammation, mucus overproduction, and edematous mucosal tissue. This inflammatory condition is characterized by mucosal thickening, nasal obstruction, facial pain or pressure, hyposmia, and nasal discharge. The aim of this research was to clarify a potential role for the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) in mouse nasoantral epithelium in perpetuating pro-inflammatory cytokine elaboration similarly expressed by CRS patients. Specifically, wild-type (WT) mice and transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing RAGE in sinonasal epithelium (RAGE TG mice) were maintained in room air or subjected to secondhand smoke exposure using a nose-only delivery system (Scireq Scientific, Montreal, QC, Canada) for five days per week over a 30-day period. Histological analysis was performed using staining for RAGE. Tissue lysates were analyzed for pro-inflammatory cytokines. We observed increased RAGE expression in sinus tissue following SHS exposure and in sinuses from RAGE TG mice in the absence of SHS. We also discovered elevated T helper (Th)1 products (TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ) and Th2/Th17 (IL-5, IL-13, IL-17A) cytokine abundance in SHS-exposed WT and SHS-exposed RTG tissues compared to room air controls. These findings highlight the pivotal role of RAGE signaling in the exacerbation of inflammatory processes, particularly in the context of chronic inflammation induced by smoke exposure. The study expands our understanding of the RAGE signaling axis as a key contributor to the progression of smoke-related lung and sinonasal pathologies. Targeting RAGE-mediated pathways could represent a novel therapeutic strategy to mitigate the progression of chronic sinusitis associated with smoke exposure. Full article

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

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33 pages, 2623 KB

Open AccessReview

Biodegradable Plastics as Sustainable Alternatives: Advances, Basics, Challenges, and Directions for the Future

by Eunbin Hwang, Yung-Hun Yang, Jiho Choi, See-Hyoung Park, Kyungmoon Park and Jongbok Lee

Materials 2025, 18(18), 4247; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18184247 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

This review explores the current state and future potential of bioplastics as sustainable alternatives to conventional fossil-based polymers. It provides a detailed examination of the classification, molecular structures, and synthetic routes of major bioplastics, including polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Special emphasis is placed on the unique properties and degradation behaviors of each material across various environmental conditions, such as industrial composting, soil, and marine ecosystems. The manuscript further discusses advanced strategies in polymer design, such as copolymerization, reactive blending, and incorporation of nano- or micro-scale additives, to enhance flexibility, thermal resistance, barrier properties, and mechanical integrity. In addition to technical advancements, the review critically addresses key limitations impeding large-scale commercialization, including high production costs, limited availability of bio-based monomers, and inadequate end-of-life treatment infrastructure. Finally, future research directions are proposed to advance the development of fully bio-based, functionally tunable, and circular bioplastics that meet the performance demands of modern applications while reducing environmental impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomass-Derived and Biodegradable Polymer Materials: Synthesis and Application)

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41 pages, 47405 KB

Open AccessReview

Research Progress on Path Planning and Tracking Control Methods for Orchard Mobile Robots in Complex Scenarios

by Yayun Shen, Yue Shen, Yafei Zhang, Chenwei Huo, Zhuofan Shen, Wei Su and Hui Liu

Agriculture 2025, 15(18), 1917; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15181917 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

Orchard mobile robots (OMR) represent a critical research focus in the field of modern intelligent agricultural equipment, offering the potential to significantly enhance operational efficiency through the integration of path planning and tracking control navigation methods. However, the inherent complexity of orchard environments presents substantial challenges for robotic systems. Researchers have extensively investigated the robustness of various path planning and tracking control techniques for OMR in complex scenes, aiming to improve the robots’ security, stability, efficiency, and adaptability. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art path planning and tracking control strategies for OMR in such environments. First, it discusses the advances in both global and local path planning methods designed for OMR navigating through complex orchard scenes. Second, it examines tracking control approaches in the context of different motion models, with an emphasis on the application characteristics and current trends in various scene types. Finally, the paper highlights the technical challenges faced by OMR in autonomous tasks within these complex environments and emphasizes the need for further research into navigation technologies that integrate artificial intelligence with end-to-end control systems. This fusion is identified as a promising direction for achieving efficient autonomous operations in orchard environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Technology)

9 pages, 640 KB

Open AccessArticle

Possibilities of Titanium Nickelide Implant Application in Radical Trachelectomy in Patients of Reproductive Age with Invasive Cervical Cancer

by Alyona Chernyshova, Michael Krylyshkin, Alexander Chernyakov, Julia Truschuk, Ekaterina S. Marchenko, Sergey Fursov, Olga Tkachuk and Svetlana Tamkovich

Reprod. Med. 2025, 6(3), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/reprodmed6030024 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of the modified technique of radical organ-preserving surgery of invasive cervical cancer (CC) in patients of reproductive age. Methods: This study included 118 patients of reproductive age (34.9 ± 4.8 years) with a morphologically verified diagnosis of invasive CC (T1a-1bNxM0). All patients underwent organ-preserving surgery in the scope of radical trachelectomy. A shape memory mesh implant woven in the form of a stocking from superelastic nickelide titanium thread with subsequent fixation with separate sutures around the perimeter was used to form the uterine closure apparatus and to strengthen the utero-vaginal anastomosis. The mesh implant was made of superelastic thin nickelide titanium threads with a diameter of 60–40 microns on a metal knitting machine. All patients were prospectively followed up for a mean of 120 months. Results: No intraoperative or postoperative complications were revealed when using a shape memory implant made of titanium nickelide during radical trachelectomy to form a locking apparatus and strengthen the anastomosis zone. No cervical stenoses or mesh failures were noted in any case. The 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival rates were 100% and 98%, respectively. Two patients indicated recurrence; it occurred in 3 and 36 months. There were 42 spontaneous pregnancies, and 29 resulted in full-term delivery, whereas 2 and 11 ended in miscarriage and early abortion, respectively. Currently, 18 patients are at different stages of the use of assisted reproductive technologies. Conclusions: The shape memory implant made of titanium nickelide integrates well into the surrounding tissues and successfully imitates the effect of the cervix. The use of this sparing-surgery technique has shown reasonably good results in carrying the pregnancy to term and good reproductive outcomes. Full article

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32 pages, 15669 KB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Study on the Performance and Failure Modes of Bolted Connections in Pultruded-Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (PFRP) Profiles

by Abdur Rahman, Ingrid Boem and Natalino Gattesco

J. Compos. Sci. 2025, 9(9), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs9090492 - 10 Sep 2025

Abstract

The use of pultruded-fibre-reinforced polymer (PFRP) composite profiles in structural applications is rapidly increasing, due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and durability. Bolted joints between PFRP play a critical role, as localized high stresses in a material that typically exhibits brittle behaviour—especially in tension and shear—can lead to sudden failure. This study aims to investigate the mechanical performance of such bolted connections (in terms of stiffness, strength, displacement capacities and failure modes), contributing to the development of reliable yet optimized design criteria for structural applications. In particular, numerical analyses of single-bolted connections in PFRP profiles are presented in the paper. To emphasize the general validity of the model and demonstrate its applicability across different configurations, the simulations were validated against experimental results from three separate test campaigns, which varied in both material (three different PFRP composites) and geometry (profile thickness, bolt diameter, and hole–end distance). Finite element models using continuum shell elements in ABAQUS, based on the Hashin failure criteria, successfully captured typical failure modes, including shear-out and pin-bearing. Two analysis approaches—implicit and explicit solvers—were also compared and discussed. Sensitivity analyses were carried out to enhance the model’s accuracy and its computational efficiency. The validated model was then extended to simulate different configurations, investigating the role of the main parameters influencing the connections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Modeling and Simulation of Composite Materials)

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