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23 pages, 2051 KB  
Article
Experimental Analysis of Ultraviolet Radiation Transmission Behavior in Fiber-Reinforced Thermoset Composites During Photopolymerization
by Ludovico Biavati, Sylvester Vogl and Klaus Drechsler
Textiles 2025, 5(4), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/textiles5040044 (registering DOI) - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
As the importance of sustainability and performance increases, new developments in the manufacturing of fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPC) are requested. Ultraviolet (UV) curing offers a faster, more economical, and eco-friendlier alternative to conventionally used thermal curing methods, e.g., autoclave curing, but according to [...] Read more.
As the importance of sustainability and performance increases, new developments in the manufacturing of fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPC) are requested. Ultraviolet (UV) curing offers a faster, more economical, and eco-friendlier alternative to conventionally used thermal curing methods, e.g., autoclave curing, but according to extant research, also presents some shortcomings, such as limitations to thin FRPCs and transparent glass fibers (GFs). This study analyses the UV light transmission in different thermoset FRPCs by irradiating various fiber samples on one side, while a sensor on the opposite side measures the transmitted irradiance. The materials investigated include unidirectional (UD) carbon fibers (CF), UD flax fibers (FF), and six GF fabrics with different ply structures. The fiber samples are tested in a dry, non-impregnated state and a resin-impregnated state using a UV-curable vinyl-ester-based resin. The results show that up to 16 plies of five GF fabrics are fully cured within the 20 s irradiation time and still exhibit a relatively high light transmission, revealing the potential of curing thick FRPCs with UV light. Furthermore, up to three plies of non-transparent FFs are cured, which is promising for the UV curing of natural fibers. Full article
17 pages, 682 KB  
Review
Evolutionary Game Theory Use in Healthcare: A Synthetic Knowledge Synthesis
by Peter Kokol, Jernej Završnik, Helena Blažun Vošner and Bojan Žlahtič
Information 2025, 16(10), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16100874 (registering DOI) - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Background: Evolutionary game theory (EGT), originating from Darwinian competition studies, offers a powerful framework for understanding complex healthcare interactions where multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests evolve strategies over time. Unlike traditional game theory, EGT accounts for bounded rationality and strategic evolution through imitation [...] Read more.
Background: Evolutionary game theory (EGT), originating from Darwinian competition studies, offers a powerful framework for understanding complex healthcare interactions where multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests evolve strategies over time. Unlike traditional game theory, EGT accounts for bounded rationality and strategic evolution through imitation and selection. Aims and objectives: In our study, we use Synthetic Knowledge Synthesis (SKS) that integrates descriptive bibliometrics and bibliometric mapping to systematically analyze the application of EGT in healthcare. The SKS aimed to identify prolific research topics, suitable publishing venues, and productive institutions/countries for collaboration and funding. Data was harvested from the Scopus bibliographic database, encompassing 539 publications from 2000 to June 2025, Results: Production dynamics is revealing an exponential growth in scholarly output since 2019, with peak productivity in 2024. Descriptive bibliometrics showed China as the most prolific country (376 publications), followed by the United States and the United Kingdom. Key institutions are predominantly Chinese, and top journals include PLoS One and Frontiers in Public Health. Funding is primarily from Chinese entities like the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Bibliometric mapping identified five key research themes: game theory in cancer research, evolution game-based simulation of supply management, evolutionary game theory in epidemics, evolutionary games in trustworthy connected public health, and evolutionary games in collaborative governance. Conclusion: Despite EGT’s utility, significant research gaps exist in methodological robustness, data availability, contextual modelling, and interdisciplinary translation. Future research should focus on integrating machine learning, longitudinal data, and explicit ethical frameworks to enhance EGT’s practical application in adaptive, patient-centred healthcare systems. Full article
15 pages, 1670 KB  
Article
Effects of Separate Cognitive Training on Endurance Exercise Performance
by Neil Dallaway, Steven R. Bray, Kira L. Innes, Kathryn E. Andrusko and Christopher Ring
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(4), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10040391 (registering DOI) - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Background: Combined cognitive and physical training develops resilience to mental fatigue, reduces perceived effort, and improves endurance exercise performance when compared to physical training and no training. The isolated contribution of cognitive training toward endurance performance has yet to be determined. Accordingly, we [...] Read more.
Background: Combined cognitive and physical training develops resilience to mental fatigue, reduces perceived effort, and improves endurance exercise performance when compared to physical training and no training. The isolated contribution of cognitive training toward endurance performance has yet to be determined. Accordingly, we examined the effects of separate cognitive training on endurance exercise performance. Method: Two studies employed a pre-test/training/post-test design, with participants randomly assigned to cognitive training or control groups. At pre-test and post-test, participants completed a rhythmic handgrip task (Study 1) or a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer (Study 2). In Study 1, the cognitive training group completed 20 sessions (four 20 min sessions per week for five weeks) of cognitive training (incongruent Stroop and 2-back tasks), whereas the control group completed no training. In Study 2, the cognitive training group completed nine sessions (three 10 min sessions per week for three weeks) of cognitive training (incongruent Stroop, stop-signal and typing inhibition tasks), whereas the control group completed nine sessions of sham training (congruent Stroop, sham stop-signal and sham typing inhibition tasks). Endurance exercise performance was measured as force production (Study 1) and time to exhaustion (Study 2). Heart rate, exertion and fatigue were also measured. Results: Endurance performance, indexed by force production (Study 1) and time to exhaustion (Study 2), did not change from pre-test to post-test and did not differ between cognitive training and control groups. Similarly, ratings of perceived exertion and heart rate during the exercise tasks did not differ between cognitive training and control groups (Studies 1 and 2). Conclusions: Since separate cognitive training did not improve exercise endurance performance, combined training should be used to create a synergistic training stimulus for brain adaptation and performance enhancement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Kinesiology and Biomechanics)
25 pages, 3602 KB  
Article
Rulers of the Open Sky at Risk: Climate-Driven Habitat Shifts of Three Conservation-Priority Raptors in the Eastern Himalayas
by Pranjal Mahananda, Imon Abedin, Anubhav Bhuyan, Malabika Kakati Saikia, Prasanta Kumar Saikia, Hilloljyoti Singha and Shantanu Kundu
Biology 2025, 14(10), 1376; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14101376 (registering DOI) - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Raptors, being at top of the food chain, serve as important models to study the impact of changing climate, as they are more vulnerable due to their unique ecology. They are vulnerable to extinction, with 52% species declining population and 18% are threatened [...] Read more.
Raptors, being at top of the food chain, serve as important models to study the impact of changing climate, as they are more vulnerable due to their unique ecology. They are vulnerable to extinction, with 52% species declining population and 18% are threatened globally. The effect of climate change on raptors is poorly studied in the Eastern Himalayan region. The present study offers a complete investigation of climate change effects on the raptors in the northeast region of the Eastern Himalayas, employing ensemble species distribution modeling. The future predictions were employed to model the climate change across two socioeconomic pathways (SSP) i.e. SSP245 and SSP585 for the periods 2041–2060 and 2061–2080. Specifically, five algorithms were employed for the ensemble model, viz. boosted regression tree (BRT), generalized linear model (GLM), multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), maximum entropy (MaxEnt) and random forest (RF). The study highlights worrying results, as only 10.5% area of the NE region is presently suitable for Falco severus, 11.4% for the critically endangered Gyps tenuirostris, and a mere 6.9% area is presently suitable for the endangered Haliaeetus leucoryphus. The most influential covariates were precipitation of the driest quarter, precipitation of the wettest month, and temperature seasonality. Future projection revealed reduction of 33–41% in suitable habitats for F. severus, G. tenuirostris is expected to lose 53–96% of its suitable habitats, and H. leucoryphus has lost nearly 94–99% of its suitable habitats. Such decline indicates apparent habitat fragmentation, with shrinking habitat patches. Full article
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15 pages, 3254 KB  
Article
Rodent Social Behavior Recognition Using a Global Context-Aware Vision Transformer Network
by Muhammad Imran Sharif, Doina Caragea and Ahmed Iqbal
AI 2025, 6(10), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/ai6100264 (registering DOI) - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Animal behavior recognition is an important research area that provides insights into areas such as neural functions, gene mutations, and drug efficacy, among others. The manual coding of behaviors based on video recordings is labor-intensive and prone to inconsistencies and human error. Machine [...] Read more.
Animal behavior recognition is an important research area that provides insights into areas such as neural functions, gene mutations, and drug efficacy, among others. The manual coding of behaviors based on video recordings is labor-intensive and prone to inconsistencies and human error. Machine learning approaches have been used to automate the analysis of animal behavior with promising results. Our work builds on existing developments in animal behavior analysis and state-of-the-art approaches in computer vision to identify rodent social behaviors. Specifically, our proposed approach, called Vision Transformer for Rat Social Interactions (ViT-RSI), leverages the existing Global Context Vision Transformer (GC-ViT) architecture to identify rat social interactions. Experimental results using five behaviors of the publicly available Rat Social Interaction (RatSI) dataset show that the ViT-RatSI approach can accurately identify rat social interaction behaviors. When compared with prior results from the literature, the ViT-RatSI approach achieves best results for four out of five behaviors, specifically for the “Approaching”, “Following”, “Moving away”, and “Solitary” behaviors, with F1 scores of 0.81, 0.81, 0.86, and 0.94, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI in Bio and Healthcare Informatics)
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19 pages, 2281 KB  
Article
Resisting the Toxic Tide: Multi-Metal Resistance of Bacteria Originating from Contaminated Šibenik Bay Sediments
by Ana Ramljak, Marta Žižek, Anastazija Huđ, Goran Palijan, Mavro Lučić and Ines Petrić
Microorganisms 2025, 13(10), 2326; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102326 - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
In this study, 74 bacterial isolates were obtained from sediments of Šibenik Bay, which has historically been impacted by heavy metal pollution. Isolates were tested for tolerance to cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), tin [...] Read more.
In this study, 74 bacterial isolates were obtained from sediments of Šibenik Bay, which has historically been impacted by heavy metal pollution. Isolates were tested for tolerance to cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn), both individually and in mixtures, and for their biofilm-forming ability. Toxicity followed the trend Hg > Sn > Zn/Cd/Cr > Co/Ni > Pb, with Cu showing resistance across different concentrations. Resistance traits were observed against all tested metals, with some isolates displaying multi-metal resistance to as many as seven metals, reflecting long-term selective pressure in the Bay. The Bacillus species dominated the community (48 isolates across five clusters), confirming this genus as the principal group in metal-polluted sediments. Several less-explored genera, including Ruegeria/Cribrihabitans, Bhargavaea, Pseudoalteromonas, and Lysinibacillus/Sporosarcina, also exhibited notable resistance traits, underscoring their potential as novel candidates for bioremediation. Eleven isolates from Bacillus/Mesobacillus/Cytobacillus, Bacillus/Peribacillus/Rossellomorea, Bacillus/Pseudoalkalibacillus/Alkalibacillus, Lysinibacillus/Sporosarcina, and Ruegeria/Cribrihabitans clusters showed resistance and robust growth under metal mixtures. Among all isolates, 11, 32, 81, and 82 (Bacillus/Mesobacillus/Cytobacillus and Bacillus/Peribacillus/Rossellomorea) combined broad multi-metal tolerance with strong biofilm formation, positioning them as candidates for site-specific, nature-based bioremediation of heavy-metal-impacted coastal ecosystems such as Šibenik Bay. Full article
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16 pages, 3400 KB  
Article
EF1α and αTUB Are Stable Reference Gene Pairs for RT-qPCR-Based Gene Expression Studies in Salix suchowensis Under Nitrogen Treatment Conditions
by Lei Huang, Yuyi Zhang, Fei Gao, Yu Fu, Jing Sun, Jie Zhou, Jun Tao, Xudong He and Nan Guo
Plants 2025, 14(19), 3101; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193101 - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Salix suchowensis is an ideal model organism for investigating nitrogen (N) transport mechanisms due to its low N-input requirements. Accurate quantification of gene expression is essential for elucidating these processes, with quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) being the preferred method. However, the identification of [...] Read more.
Salix suchowensis is an ideal model organism for investigating nitrogen (N) transport mechanisms due to its low N-input requirements. Accurate quantification of gene expression is essential for elucidating these processes, with quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) being the preferred method. However, the identification of stable reference genes for normalization in Salix suchowensis under varying N conditions remains unresolved. In this study, thirteen commonly employed candidate reference genes were evaluated across root, stem, and leaf tissues, under four N treatments (NH4NO3, NH4+, NO3, and N deficiency). Five genes (UBQ1, UBQ3, 18S, H2A2, and H2B2) were excluded due to poor amplification efficiency or irregular melting curves. The remaining eight genes were further assessed for expression stability using the geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper algorithms. Integrated ranking via RefFinder identified EF1α, EFβ, and αTUB as the most stable reference genes. GeNorm analysis suggested that two reference genes were sufficient for reliable normalization. Validation using the N-responsive gene SsAMT1 and SsNRT2 confirmed the stability of EF1α, EFβ, and αTUB as suitable reference genes. Based on comprehensive stability assessments and experimental validation, we recommended EF1α + αTUB as optimal reference gene pairs for RT-qPCR normalization under varying N conditions. Furthermore, the consistent expression of EF1α and αTUB across nine willow genotypes highlighted their broader applicability within Salix species. This study provides valuable methodological guidance for advancing molecular research on N transport in woody perennial plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)
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30 pages, 7388 KB  
Article
From Denial to Acceptance—Leveraging the Five Stages of Grief to Unlock Climate Action
by Ivo Baselt, Sabine Erber, Laurence Monnet, Frédéric Berger, Fabio Carnelli, Lydia Pedoth, Andrea Moro, Elena Bazzan and Rogelio Bonilla
Sustainability 2025, 17(19), 8929; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198929 - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Climate change is not only a technical and environmental challenge but also an emotional and psychological one that affects public engagement, policy acceptance, and long-term sustainability. This study presents a conceptual framework based on the Kübler-Ross model from psychotherapy to explore emotional responses [...] Read more.
Climate change is not only a technical and environmental challenge but also an emotional and psychological one that affects public engagement, policy acceptance, and long-term sustainability. This study presents a conceptual framework based on the Kübler-Ross model from psychotherapy to explore emotional responses to climate change: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Based on a thematic analysis of the interdisciplinary secondary literature and illustrative cases, we analyse how these emotional dynamics influence climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Each stage reveals specific psychological barriers and entry points for communication, resilience-building, and policy design. We argue that emotional readiness is a critical yet underacknowledged factor in sustainable development and societal transformation. Addressing emotional dimensions can support mental health, increase acceptance of climate measures, and improve the alignment between sustainability strategies and public responses. Our findings emphasise the importance of tailoring sustainability communication and policies to different emotional stages to foster inclusive, effective, and lasting climate action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Air, Climate Change and Sustainability)
17 pages, 3992 KB  
Article
Mitogenomic Characterization of Mining Bee Family Andrenidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) and Insights into Bee Phylogeny
by Dan Zhang
Biology 2025, 14(10), 1374; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14101374 - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Andrenidae is a major pollinator lineage with considerable ecological importance, yet limited molecular resources have impeded comprehensive understanding of its evolutionary history. This study sequenced and assembled five mitogenomes of Andrenidae, which were collected from Xizang, Tibet. Analyses included sequence size, nucleotide composition, [...] Read more.
Andrenidae is a major pollinator lineage with considerable ecological importance, yet limited molecular resources have impeded comprehensive understanding of its evolutionary history. This study sequenced and assembled five mitogenomes of Andrenidae, which were collected from Xizang, Tibet. Analyses included sequence size, nucleotide composition, Ka/Ks ratios, and gene rearrangements. The assembled mitogenomes ranged from 15,631 to 18,506 bp in length. AT content (%) varied between 74.46 and 79.85. Relative synonymous codon usage analysis revealed that AUU, UUA, UUU, and UUA were the most frequently preferred codons. All 13 protein-coding genes displayed Ka/Ks values below one, with ATP8 showing the highest ratio and COX1 the lowest. Gene rearrangements occurred in all mitogenomes, and three distinct tRNA rearrangement patterns were detected. This study provided more available molecular data for future evolutionary biology studies of Andrenidae. Additionally, 24 previously published Apoidea mitogenomes (three outgroups and 26 ingroups) were incorporated to infer phylogenetic relationships using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference methods. The results supported Melittidae as the basal lineage of bees, while Andrenidae was recovered as the sister clade to Halictidae + Colletidae. Full article
23 pages, 3440 KB  
Article
Drivers of Alpine Mire Vegetation at Their Range Limit
by Aaron Pérez-Haase and Josep M. Ninot
Diversity 2025, 17(10), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17100702 - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Mires are fragile ecosystems in which plant communities are structured by complex interactions among hydrological regimes and groundwater properties. Although extensively studied in boreal and temperate regions, their environmental drivers in southern European mountains remain poorly understood. We investigated five complex mires in [...] Read more.
Mires are fragile ecosystems in which plant communities are structured by complex interactions among hydrological regimes and groundwater properties. Although extensively studied in boreal and temperate regions, their environmental drivers in southern European mountains remain poorly understood. We investigated five complex mires in the Pyrenees, sampling 156 plots of vascular plants and bryophytes while measuring water table dynamics and groundwater chemistry over two years. Vegetation was classified into six main groups, including acid and alkaline fens, transition mires and Sphagnum hummocks. Ordination analyses (tb-PCA and RDA) revealed that mean water table depth, groundwater calcium and silicon content, and pH were the most important determinants of floristic composition. Bryophytes responded primarily to pH, whereas vascular plants were more influenced by water table variables, reflecting functional trait differences. Despite these environmental effects, spatial structure explained a comparable or greater proportion of variance, especially for vascular plants, underscoring the roles of local species pools, dispersal limitation, and site history in shaping community patterns. Establishing a reliable baseline is crucial for interpreting the distribution patterns of mire vegetation. Our results demonstrate that both environmental gradients and spatial processes are fundamental to understanding mire vegetation and highlight the importance of analyzing plant taxonomic groups separately. Full article
27 pages, 5625 KB  
Article
Spawning Habitat Partitioning of Sympatric Salmonid Populations in the Upper Bois Brule River, Wisconsin
by Benjamin T. Schleppenbach, Thomas R. Hrabik, Daniel D. McCann, Karen B. Gran and Greg G. Sass
Fishes 2025, 10(10), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10100506 - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Spawning habitat partitioning can be important for maintaining sympatric fish species. Likewise, critical spawning habitat loss may challenge the long-term persistence of sympatric fish species. The Bois Brule River, Wisconsin, USA, is a spring-fed, western Lake Superior tributary that supports five naturally reproducing [...] Read more.
Spawning habitat partitioning can be important for maintaining sympatric fish species. Likewise, critical spawning habitat loss may challenge the long-term persistence of sympatric fish species. The Bois Brule River, Wisconsin, USA, is a spring-fed, western Lake Superior tributary that supports five naturally reproducing populations of salmonids (native brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis; introduced brown trout Salmo trutta, rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, coho salmon O. kisutch, and chinook salmon O. tshawytscha). Given increases in recreational angler use and predicted climate-associated changes to trout stream habitat, a better understanding of species interactions during spawning is important to guide future management and conservation of these anthropogenically derived sympatric native and introduced salmonids. Our aim was to establish whether there was partitioning or overlapping in the redd site location preferences among native and introduced salmonids inhabiting the Bois Brule River. We mapped species-specific redd locations by canoe over a 15.3 river km section known to be important for salmonid spawning and evaluated physical, flow, and thermal conditions of these habitats of the Bois Brule River during 2021–2022. We found that spring spawning rainbow trout and fall spawning pacific salmonids and brown trout used the same spawning locations on mid-channel, larger gravel reefs downstream of riffle sections. Native brook trout spawned on smaller substrates with lower streamflow on the edges of the channel, with the highest spawning activity occurring in littoral areas of lentic portions of the river. Our findings provide valuable knowledge of critical spawning habitats for sympatric salmonids that may inform habitat conservation and enhancement efforts in the Bois Brule River and other Great Lakes tributaries with similar sympatric, naturally reproducing salmonids populations. Full article
23 pages, 3240 KB  
Article
The Effect of High-Speed Fragment Impact on the Overall Strength of Concrete Columns Under Pressure Load
by Zhenning Wang, Jianping Yin, Zhijun Wang and Jianya Yi
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(19), 10812; https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910812 - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
As a common engineering building material, concrete material is widely used in buildings, bridges, and protective structures. Concrete load-bearing columns are one of the main load-bearing components in buildings. In order to analyze the change rule of strength of plain concrete column under [...] Read more.
As a common engineering building material, concrete material is widely used in buildings, bridges, and protective structures. Concrete load-bearing columns are one of the main load-bearing components in buildings. In order to analyze the change rule of strength of plain concrete column under small size impact damage, the impact concrete test of 11 mm prefabricated tungsten alloy spherical fragment at different speeds was carried out, and the damage parameters of concrete were obtained. The numerical simulation was carried out with the concrete material model under the experimental strength. Based on the obtained material parameters, five initial variables of load (10–30 MPa), column side length (0.1–0.3 m), fragment velocity (500–1500 m/s), impact angle (0–45°), and position height (200–400 mm) were numerically simulated. Based on the action law of each variable on the concrete column, a comprehensive numerical calculation of orthogonal optimization with five variables and five levels was carried out. The calculation results show that the structural strength of concrete is mainly affected by the side length of the column, and the initial velocity of the fragment determines the size of the loss mass. The greater the load on the concrete column, the greater the height of the position, and the more easily the column collapses; when the side length of the concrete column reaches more than 250 mm, the fragment has little effect on the overall strength of the concrete column. Through the results obtained in this paper, it can be further extended to the evaluation of damage of building components under different loads, so as to obtain whether the bearing level of damaged concrete components can meet the requirements. Full article
14 pages, 1917 KB  
Article
Moroccan Sign Language Recognition with a Sensory Glove Using Artificial Neural Networks
by Hasnae El Khoukhi, Assia Belatik, Imane El Manaa, My Abdelouahed Sabri, Yassine Abouch and Abdellah Aarab
Digital 2025, 5(4), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital5040053 - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Every day, countless individuals with hearing or speech disabilities struggle to communicate effectively, as their conditions limit conventional verbal interaction. For them, sign language becomes an essential and often sole tool for expressing thoughts and engaging with others. However, the general public’s limited [...] Read more.
Every day, countless individuals with hearing or speech disabilities struggle to communicate effectively, as their conditions limit conventional verbal interaction. For them, sign language becomes an essential and often sole tool for expressing thoughts and engaging with others. However, the general public’s limited understanding of sign language poses a major barrier, often resulting in social, educational, and professional exclusion. To bridge this communication gap, the present study proposes a smart wearable glove system designed to translate Arabic sign language (ArSL), especially Moroccan sign language (MSL), into a written alphabet in real time. The glove integrates five MPU6050 motion sensors, one on each finger, capable of capturing detailed motion data, including angular velocity and linear acceleration. These motion signals are processed using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN), implemented directly on a Raspberry Pi Pico through embedded machine learning techniques. A custom dataset comprising labeled gestures corresponding to the MSL alphabet was developed for training the model. Following the training phase, the neural network attained a gesture recognition accuracy of 98%, reflecting strong performance in terms of reliability and classification precision. We developed an affordable and portable glove system aimed at improving daily communication for individuals with hearing impairments in Morocco, contributing to greater inclusivity and improved accessibility. Full article
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14 pages, 1437 KB  
Article
Implementing Culture of Care in Germany
by Katharina Ameli and Stephanie Krämer
Animals 2025, 15(19), 2918; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192918 - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
The implementation of the 3Rs principles is an essential part of daily routines and structural processes in animal research. The work of Russell and Burch regarding the 3Rs has been implemented in the field over the course of decades, but since 2002, the [...] Read more.
The implementation of the 3Rs principles is an essential part of daily routines and structural processes in animal research. The work of Russell and Burch regarding the 3Rs has been implemented in the field over the course of decades, but since 2002, the concept of a Culture of Care has come more to the forefront. In the present project, 503 experts in Germany were exploratively surveyed about their individual perceptions of Culture of Care and its implementation within their institutions. Using a questionnaire with closed questions (five-point agreement scale) and open questions, the data offer insights into Culture of Care in Germany. The results allow for the initial conclusion that a Culture of Care has not been fully established yet. Further research is needed to address a holistic and critical interdisciplinary Culture of Care that focuses on the animals’ perspective in a transformative way. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Care and Well-Being of Laboratory Animals: Second Edition)
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13 pages, 797 KB  
Article
An Exploratory Analysis of Public Perspectives and Attitudes Towards Radiation in Saudi Arabia
by Hanan M. Alzahrani, Fahad Alzahrani, Hala Aljohani, Shouq Albalawi, Shatha Aljurbua, Maisa Elzaki, Walaa Alsharif, Bashair Alhummiany, Awadia Gareeballah, Eman Abdurhman Altay, Tasneem S. A. Elmahdi, Amirah Alsaedi, Manal J. Abdallah, Lamia Ghazi Jamjoom and Bander S. Almutairi
Healthcare 2025, 13(19), 2538; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13192538 - 8 Oct 2025
Abstract
Aim: Radiation exposure is a growing public health concern; however, public understanding of its sources, risks, and protective measures remains limited. This study examined familiarity, misconceptions, and attitudes towards both ionising and nonionising radiation among residents of Saudi Arabia, an area that has [...] Read more.
Aim: Radiation exposure is a growing public health concern; however, public understanding of its sources, risks, and protective measures remains limited. This study examined familiarity, misconceptions, and attitudes towards both ionising and nonionising radiation among residents of Saudi Arabia, an area that has received limited attention in the literature. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 888 Saudi residents aged 18 years and above by using a validated online questionnaire. The instrument comprised demographic items, 13 statements assessing radiation familiarity (including knowledge of sources and safety), and 21 items assessing attitudes (including safety practices and willingness to receive further education), all rated on a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric inferential analyses were performed using SPSS v27. Results: Participants had a moderate mean familiarity score (3.34 ± 1.16), whereas attitude scores were high (3.56 ± 1.14). Demographic variables, including age, sex, region, and previous training, significantly affected familiarity and attitudes. A medical background and previous radiation education were associated with a higher familiarity level. Nonetheless, most participants expressed a strong interest in acquiring additional knowledge. Conclusion: Moderate familiarity with radiation and strong attitudes towards protection among the Saudi public highlight opportunities to strengthen practical safety knowledge. These findings indicate the need for targeted, accessible educational initiatives, particularly through digital platforms, to enhance radiation literacy and support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Healthcare Organizations, Systems, and Providers)
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