Search Results (13,357)

Background and objectives: Articular cartilage provides low-friction articulation across joint surfaces, distributes loads, and absorbs stress, all of which are crucial mechanical functions of joints. Changes in the mechanical characteristics of cartilage are among the first signs of degenerative joint disease, and they are especially important for athletes who are subjected to high-impact, high-magnitude loading on a regular basis. The objective of this study was to: (i) compare the mechanical characteristics of tibiofemoral cartilage in healthy and osteoarthritic conditions across medial and lateral anatomical compartments; and (ii) use nonlinear phenomenological viscoelastic modeling in conjunction with unconfined compression testing to characterize compartment-specific viscoelastic behavior. Materials and Methods: Forty-six human tibiofemoral cartilage samples were collected during knee surgeries and classified as healthy (n = 17) or osteoarthritic (n = 29) and as medial (n = 26) or lateral (n = 20). Quasi-static unconfined compression tests were performed at 1 mm/min to obtain stress–strain responses, Young’s modulus, maximum compressive stress, and energy absorption. Viscoelastic behavior was analyzed using a nonlinear phenomenological viscoelastic model. Appropriate parametric or non-parametric statistical tests and effect size measures were applied. Results: Osteoarthritic cartilage’s stiffness and energy absorption were significantly higher than those of healthy tissue (p < 0.05). Medial cartilage exhibited significantly greater stiffness and stress than lateral cartilage (p < 0.001). The nonlinear phenomenological viscoelastic model provided an excellent fit (R² > 0.999). Conclusion: The mechanical profile of osteoarthritic tibiofemoral cartilage is characterized by pathological mechanical remodeling and increased stiffness. Greater mechanical susceptibility in the medial compartment supports the significance of cartilage biomechanical properties as sensitive indicators of early degeneration and osteoarthritis risk in athletic populations. Full article

Forest fires pose a considerable threat to the security of ecosystems and human society, rendering accurate assessments of fire severity critical for ecological recovery and effective fire management. The differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) has been employed to evaluate forest fire severity; however, it presents notable uncertainties owing to variations in data sources, temporal phases, and environmental factors. To address these challenges, this study analyzed 10 forest fires occurring between 2006 and 2023 in central Yunnan Province, China. First, a rapid sampling method utilizing very high-resolution imagery was developed to assess the performance of dNBR classification under varying conditions. Second, the study identified the optimal post-fire observation window and compared classification thresholds and accuracy between Landsat and Sentinel-2 imagery in assessing fire severity. Finally, the research explored the impacts of topographic correction and pre-fire vegetation differences on classification outcomes. The findings revealed the following: (1) Imagery captured in the spring of the fire year, characterized by minimal vegetation interference, demonstrated the highest classification stability and superior capability for identifying high-severity burns. (2) Landsat outperformed Sentinel-2 in regional accuracy (0.92 vs. 0.87), and direct threshold transfer between sensors resulted in a 39% underestimation of high-severity areas, underscoring the necessity for sensor-specific calibration. (3) Topographic correction provided limited practical benefits, merely yielding a marginal improvement in accuracy (+1.44%) with the SCS+C model in steep terrain, and was generally unnecessary. (4) The influence of pre-fire vegetation was discovered to be threshold-dependent: dNBR performed reliably in forests with pre-fire NDVI > 0.5, while adjusted approaches were solely recommended for sparse or heterogeneous vegetation. Overall, this study establishes a systematic framework for optimizing dNBR-based severity assessment, enhancing its accuracy and operational utility in forest fire management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Prevention of virus-related cancers is a multifaceted process shaped by vaccination and public awareness. This study assessed awareness of virus–cancer relationships and willingness to vaccinate against a cancer-associated virus among medical and non-medical students. We also evaluated whether human papillomavirus (HPV)-vaccinated students demonstrate greater awareness of the HPV-cancer link compared to unvaccinated students, and examined willingness to vaccinate against a certain cancer-associated virus according to HPV vaccination status. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Poland (October 2023–June 2024) and included 1013 first- and second-year university students recruited via convenience sampling. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Results: Awareness of virus–cancer relationships was low, ranging from 19% for Epstein–Barr virus-related cancers to 43.8% for HPV-related cervical cancer. Women were more likely than men to recognize the HPV–cervical cancer link (OR = 2.08, p < 0.001), supporting gender differences and the need for gender-neutral HPV education with targeted strategies for men. Medical students demonstrated higher awareness than non-medical students. HPV vaccination coverage was low (14.5%), with higher uptake among medical students (21.2% vs. 8.2%). Notably, 41.3% of non-medical students and 7.5% of medical students had never heard of HPV vaccination. Willingness to vaccinate against a cancer-associated virus varied according to perceived infection risk. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to improve awareness of HPV–cancer links and risk perception, as well as to ensure ongoing education of both HPV-vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals to support informed health decisions and vaccine acceptance. Full article

Reducing traction energy in urban rail systems while preserving safety, punctuality, and passenger comfort remains challenging. Additionally, route-level tram studies that train deep reinforcement learning (DRL) policies using Operational Train Monitoring Recorder (OTMR) logs and benchmark them across multiple objectives remain limited. This study develops and evaluates a Human-Assisted Deep Reinforcement Learning (HADRL) framework for multi-objective tram control in an OTMR-grounded simulation. Two HADRL agents were trained using a human-assistance action mapping: a standard Proximal Policy Optimisation (PPO) baseline and a recurrent, history-augmented PPO. Their performance was compared against that of four human drivers using indices for speed-limit compliance, schedule deviation, traction energy, jerk-based comfort, and stopping accuracy. These performance measures were aggregated using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) with both equal and entropy-derived weights. Both HADRL agents reproduce the characteristic accelerate–coast–brake driving pattern, reduce traction energy relative to all human baselines, and achieve near-complete speed-limit compliance, all while remaining within the specified schedule-deviation and comfort thresholds. TOPSIS yields identical rankings under both weighting schemes, with Multi-Objective Tram Operation Non-Stationary Proximal Policy Optimisation (MOTO-NSPPO, a recurrent, history-augmented PPO) ranked first and PPO second. Full article

Chandipura virus (CHPV) is a neurotropic rhabdovirus associated with recurrent outbreaks of acute encephalitis in children and a high case fatality rate, particularly in India. Despite its public health relevance, the host molecular processes governing CHPV infection and disease progression remain poorly defined. To address this gap, we conducted a time-resolved transcriptomic analysis to characterize host responses to CHPV infection and to explore host-directed therapeutic opportunities. Human HEK293T cells were infected with CHPV, followed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 h post infection (hpi). Transcriptome profiling revealed a temporally ordered host response. At 6 hpi, CHPV infection was dominated by strong activation of innate immune and inflammatory pathways, including interferon-stimulated genes and cytokine signaling. Antiviral responses persisted at 12 hpi, accompanied by suppression of metabolic and translational processes, indicating a shift in host cellular priorities. By 18 hpi, metabolic reprogramming—particularly involving lipid and sphingolipid metabolism—was observed alongside altered immune signaling, consistent with viral exploitation of host cellular machinery. At 24 hpi, repression of genes involved in chromatin organization, RNA processing, spliceosome assembly, and ribosome biogenesis reflected a global transcriptional shutdown associated with cytopathic effects. Integration of temporal transcriptomic signatures enabled identification of host pathways amenable to pharmacological targeting. Selected host-directed compounds were evaluated in vitro and exhibited antiviral activity against CHPV in a neuronal cell line. Collectively, this study provides the first time-resolved transcriptomic landscape of CHPV infection in human cells and identifies host-targeted strategies relevant for antiviral development. Full article

Propolis is a resin collected by bees from several plant sources and used by humans for centuries. Its commercial use is usually based on alcoholic extracts, which is a drawback for some applications. Conversely, oil extracts are non-toxic and capable of extracting and dissolving a wide range of less polar compounds. As previous studies showed that oil extracts presented bioactivity similar to ethanolic extracts, a reproducible method for the extraction of green Brazilian propolis was developed and patented. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the ethanolic and oil extracts of green propolis were compared as well as their ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) profiles, with similar results. A method was developed to recover propolis bioactive compounds from the oily matrix in order to allow its qualitative and quantitative quality control, according to parameters determined by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, and is presented herein for the first time. The total flavonoid and phenolic contents, antioxidant activity and dry mass are comparable to the ethanolic extract. Therefore, OEP can be recommended for the diverse food supplements and cosmetic products that currently use the ethanolic extract of propolis, without the drawbacks of the presence of alcohol in these formulations. Full article

Pig behavior statistics can reflect their health status. Conventional approaches depend on manual observation to derive behavioral information from video recordings, a process that demands substantial time and human effort. To overcome these limitations in indoor intensive farming environments, this study introduces an effective approach for recognizing pig behaviors, employing an enhanced YOLOv8n architecture. The approach utilizes advanced object detection algorithms to automatically identify pig behaviors, including stand, lie, eat, fight, and tail-bite, from overhead video footage of the enclosure. First, images of daily pig behaviors are collected using cameras to build a pig behavior dataset. To boost detection accuracy, the SE attention mechanism is embedded within the feature extraction backbone of the YOLOv8n network to enhance its representational capacity, strengthening the model’s capacity to grasp overarching contextual information and improve the expressiveness of extracted features. The GIoU loss function is employed during training to reduce computational cost and accelerate model convergence. Moreover, integrating Ghost convolution into the backbone significantly reduces both computational complexity and the total number of parameters. The experimental findings reveal that the optimized YOLOv8n model contains just 1.71 million parameters, marking a 42.93% reduction relative to the baseline model. Its floating-point operations total 5.0 billion, indicating a 38.27% decrease, while the mean average precision (mAP@50) reaches 96.8%, surpassing the original by 2.6 percentage points. Compared with other widely used YOLO-based object detection frameworks, the proposed approach achieves notably higher accuracy while requiring significantly lower computational resources and model complexity. Full article

Background: Lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) is a surgical procedure that is additionally implemented in concurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Although numerous articles have addressed the use of LET in conjunction with ACLR, few definitive contraindications were identified. Given the scarcity of literature evaluating contraindications for LET modality, this study aimed to systematically review the reported contraindications of this procedure in the context of concurrent ACLR. Methods: The searched key terms: (extra-articular OR extraarticular) AND (tenodesis OR plasty OR augmentation OR procedure or reconstruction OR reconstructive OR surgical OR surgery OR technique) AND (ACL OR anterior cruciate ligament), with no publication date restrictions in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, and Embase databases. We included clinical human studies, with levels of evidence I–III and in the English language. Results: The analysis evaluated fourteen articles published between 2012 and 2024. Level III evidence was found in the majority of studies (n = 9) and Level I evidence was found in the rest (n = 5). The majority of the included articles were retrospective (n = 8) and there were also prospective studies (n = 6). The articles reviewed showed that articular cartilage damage and concomitant injuries to other knee ligaments, alongside ACL injury, are the most frequently mentioned. Conclusions: This is the first study that systematized the contraindications for the LET procedure in ACLR. The contraindications remain unclear; however, the following may be highlighted: articular cartilage damage and injury to another ligament in the knee, in addition to ACL injury. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) has emerged as a promising target for oncologic molecular imaging due to its high expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts and low presence in healthy tissues. Among available FAP ligands, [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPi-46 has shown rapid tumor accumulation, low background uptake, and broad tumor applicability. This study reports the successful translation of [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPi-46 from preclinical development to routine clinical radiopharmacy practice, detailing automated synthesis, quality control performance, radiochemical stability, and the first clinical imaging results. Methods: Automated radiolabeling of FAPi-46 with gallium-68 was performed using a synthesis module. Quality control included radiochemical purity assessments by iTLC, SPE, and RP-HPLC (pH, appearance, endotoxin levels, and membrane integrity testing). Radiochemical stability was evaluated in saline (up to 6 h) and human serum (up to 90 min). In vitro characterization included the partition coefficient and serum protein binding determination. A clinical evaluation was conducted in a woman with newly diagnosed lung adenocarcinoma who underwent both [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT and [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPi-46 PET/CT. Results: Automated synthesis of [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPi-46 achieved a high radiochemical yield (87.9 ± 1.3%) and radiochemical purity greater than 98%. All batches met release specifications for sterility, apyrogenicity, and physicochemical parameters. The radiotracer demonstrated high stability in saline and human serum, with radiochemical purity consistently above 95% at all evaluated time points. The compound showed a hydrophilic profile (LogP = −3.32 ± 0.14) and 40–60% serum protein binding. Clinically, [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPi-46 PET/CT provided superior lesion delineation compared to [¹⁸F]FDG, revealing additional mediastinal, supraclavicular, and brain metastases. Conclusions: [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPi-46 can be reliably synthesized using automated procedures under routine radiopharmacy conditions, meeting regulatory quality standards and demonstrating excellent stability. Its enhanced lesion detectability compared with [¹⁸F]FDG in the first patient case supports its potential value for oncological staging and clinical implementation. Full article

Due to long-term burial underground, oil and gas pipelines are susceptible to external surface corrosion influenced by time and soil conditions, which can lead to leakage and burst failures. Pipeline failure not only results in significant economic losses but also has catastrophic impacts on human safety and the environment. Therefore, modeling and analyzing the corrosion failure of these pipelines is of critical practical importance to ensure their safe operation during service. Addressing the insufficient research on correlation effects in current reliability evaluations of corroded pipelines, this paper proposes a calculation method for the failure probability of corroded oil and gas pipelines that considers the influence of two-layer correlations. Taking a specific segment of the Shaanxi–Beijing pipeline as a case study, the Monte Carlo sampling algorithm is employed to calculate the impact of two-layer correlations and the quantity of defect on the pipeline’s failure probability. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis of the correlation coefficients is conducted. The results indicate that the influence of defect correlation on pipeline failure probability is significantly more pronounced than that of random variable correlation. The probabilities of pinhole leakage and burst failure decrease as the correlation coefficient between defects increases, while they increase with the number of defects. Random variable correlation exhibits no impact on pinhole leakage probability; however, the burst failure probability decreases with an increasing correlation coefficient between wall thickness and pipe diameter, but increases as the correlation between initial defect length and depth grows. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient between axial and radial defect growth rates exerts a bidirectional effect on burst failure probability: during the first 25 years of the prediction period, the failure probability increases with the correlation coefficient, whereas it subsequently decreases after approximately 25 years. These findings are applicable to the reliability evaluation of oil and gas pipelines containing multiple corrosion defects, providing valuable technical references for ensuring safe operation and the steady supply of energy resources. Full article

The large-scale deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in mixed-traffic environments raises an important question: how do human drivers evaluate safety when interacting with AVs under real-world uncertainty? This study aims to examine how drivers’ objective knowledge of AVs shapes their perceived safety when sharing the road with AVs in mixed-traffic environments. Using survey data from 905 licensed drivers in Wuhan, China, this study treats perceived road-sharing safety as an interaction-level evaluative outcome rather than merely a precursor of adoption intention. Latent class analysis was first used to identify knowledge-based driver segments, structural equation modeling was then applied to estimate Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)-related psychological constructs, and ordered logit regression was finally employed to examine the determinants of perceived safety across segments. The results indicate that behavioral intention consistently shows a positive association with perceived safety; however, attitude toward AVs exhibits a significant negative association among high-knowledge drivers. This attitudinal reversal challenges the implicit homogeneity assumption embedded in conventional TPB applications and suggests that cognitive familiarity may recalibrate, rather than amplify, technological optimism. Overall, the findings show that knowledge-based heterogeneity changes the psychological mechanisms underlying safety appraisal in mixed traffic. These insights carry important implications for differentiated communication strategies and trust calibration in transitional automated mobility systems. Full article

Exercise-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) are required for mitochondrial and hypertrophic adaptations, creating a practical trade-off: antioxidant strategies may support short-term performance and recovery yet blunt training signals when mis-timed or over-dosed. We performed a structured narrative review informed by transparent database searches of MEDLINE, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus (2000–2025), prioritizing human intervention studies and using mechanistic evidence to interpret plausibility. Evidence was mapped by antioxidant class, dose, timing, training modality, and context. Across trials, chronic high-dose vitamins C/E taken close to key sessions are most consistently associated with attenuation of redox-sensitive signaling, whereas food-first polyphenols and selected bioactives (e.g., tart cherry/anthocyanins, pomegranate, and curcumin) more often support recovery when positioned away from adaptation-critical workouts, without clear evidence of impaired training gains. N-acetylcysteine can acutely improve tolerance to repeated high-intensity exercise, but effects during prolonged training remain uncertain and appear context-dependent. We propose Redox-Adaptive Periodization, aligning antioxidant class, dose, and timing with the primary objective (adaptation vs. immediate readiness) and environmental constraints, and we outline methodological priorities to advance precision redox management. Full article

Munronia pinnata (Meliaceae), a medicinal plant used in Zhuang traditional medicine, is recognized as a rich source of structurally diverse limonoids. In our continuing investigation of bioactive constituents from Guangxi medicinal plants, four new prieurianin-type limonoids, munropins G–J (1–4), were isolated from their aerial parts. Their structures were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectrometry, and further supported by quantum chemical calculations for electronic circular dichroism and statistical probability analysis. Munropins G (1) and H (2) feature an unprecedented C-12 β-D-glucosylated α-methyl-2′-hydroxypentanoate side chain and a C-17 β-substituted furan ring, with 1 being the 7-O-acetyl derivative of 2. Munropins I (3) and J (4) possess a formyl group at C-11, a 3-methyl-2-hydroxypentanoate ester at C-12, and a C-17 γ-hydroxy-α,β-unsaturated γ-lactone unit (21-hydroxy for 3, 23-hydroxy for 4), each existing as an equilibrating mixture of C-21 epimers—a phenomenon observed for the first time within a prieurianin-type framework. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were established by quantum chemical electronic circular dichroism calculations, while those of 3 and 4 remain to be assigned. All compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against human lung (A549), liver (HepG2), breast (MCF-7), and colon (HCT116) cancer cell lines and for anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophages, but none exhibited significant effects at a concentration of 80 μM. This study expands the chemical diversity of Munronia limonoids and provides new molecular scaffolds for future structure–activity relationship investigations and chemotaxonomic markers for the Meliaceae family. Full article

Background: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Nigeria. In 2023, the Government of Nigeria, with support from Gavi and partners, introduced the single-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine through a phased, school-based campaign. The first phase was launched in October 2023 across 16 states, followed by a second phase in May 2024 that expanded coverage to the remaining states and the Federal Capital Territory. This study evaluates the additional impact of a behavioral insights–informed digital intervention, comprising a social media campaign amplified by trained pharmacists serving as local influencers, implemented in 2025 to increase acceptance and uptake of HPV vaccination during routine immunization. Methods: A pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design with a control group was implemented in three Nigerian states in 2025 to assess the additional impact of a behavioral insights–informed social media campaign designed to strengthen social approval for HPV vaccination, increase awareness of vaccination locations, and reinforce caregivers’ recognition of their adolescent daughters’ desire to be vaccinated. Messages were amplified by trained pharmacists who served as local influencers. Caregivers of adolescent girls aged 9–17 years were recruited online through targeted Facebook and Instagram advertisements during Nigeria’s transition from school-based HPV vaccination campaigns to routine immunization. Caregivers in treatment areas were exposed to geofenced social media advertisements on Facebook and Instagram and pharmacist counseling, while those in control areas were not. Logistic regression models using a difference-in-difference approach estimated the campaign’s effect on HPV vaccination, controlling for caregiver and adolescent characteristics. Additional statistical models assessed the campaign’s impact on caregivers’ motivation and ability—key drivers of behavior according to the Fogg Behavior Model. Results: HPV vaccination increased at a significantly higher rate in the treatment compared to the control area. The adjusted odds of an adolescent girl being vaccinated were 1.48 times higher in the treatment area at follow-up (95% CI: 1.14–1.92). Adjusted marginal effects indicated that exposure to the campaign increased the probability of vaccination by 8.9 percentage points relative to the control group. The rate at which caregivers’ motivation (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.00–1.70) and ability (knowing where to get vaccinated: aOR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07–1.79; ease of vaccination: aOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.22–2.06) increased was also higher in the treatment area. There was no relative increase in intervention versus control groups in factual knowledge regarding HPV vaccination. Conclusions: A behavioral insights–informed social media campaign in which pharmacists served as influencers was associated with higher HPV vaccine uptake during routine immunization. The higher rate of vaccination observed in intervention areas was associated with higher rates of caregiver motivation and ability but not with higher rates of caregiver knowledge. These findings are consistent with the potential of behavioral insights–informed digital campaigns to complement routine immunization efforts and improve vaccine uptake in low- and middle-income countries. Full article

Natural products from bryophytes represent an underexplored source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds. In this study, extracts of Isotachis serrulata collected in southern Ecuador were evaluated for antiproliferative activity against five human tumor cell lines. Sequential extraction and chromatographic fractionation yielded six fractions, among which fraction IsF5 displayed the most notable activity, particularly against lung (SW1573) and breast (T-47D) cancer cell lines, with GI₅₀ values within the moderate activity range according to National Cancer Institute criteria. Phytochemical investigation of IsF5 revealed the presence of two glycosylated aromatic constituents, tentatively assigned as tachioside and isotachioside, based on comparative ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic analysis. These compounds were obtained as a mixture and were not evaluated individually due to limited material. Additionally, species distribution modeling using MaxEnt indicated that I. serrulata is primarily associated with humid montane and páramo ecosystems in the southern, central and northern Andes of Ecuador, where elevation and precipitation variables strongly influence its distribution. This study provides the first integrated assessment of the antiproliferative activity, chemical profiling, and ecological distribution of I. serrulata. Full article