Search Results (83,642)

This paper investigates the degradation of 28 nm technology NMOS devices under high-temperature and high-field conditions following heavy-ion irradiation. The effects of stress time, stress magnitude, temperature, device structural dimensions, and heavy-ion radiation fluence on device degradation were analyzed. The results indicate that under positive gate bias stress, the threshold voltage of NMOS devices exhibits a continuous positive shift. Increased stress time, higher stress magnitude, elevated temperature, and reduced device structural dimensions all aggravate device degradation. The combined effects of electrical stress and radiation lead to a degradation that initially decreases and then increases. This is because the trap charges generated in the gate oxide layer by radiation are positive charges at low fluence, compensating for the negative charges generated under electrical stress, thereby reducing degradation. However, at high fluence, the negative interface trap charges increase, while radiation also generates positive charges in the shallow trench isolation (STI) region. These two factors collectively contribute to increased device degradation. Full article

The sustainable transformation of resource-based cities (RBCs) is a critical global challenge. The digital economy is emerging as a potential catalyst for this transition, but the precise mechanisms and spatial dynamics underlying its influence on urban resilience remain underexplored. This study addresses this gap by investigating how the digital economy impacts RBC’s resilience, with a focus on both internal mechanisms and cross-regional spatial effects. Fixed effects, mediation, exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and spatial Durbin model (SDM) are used to examine the complex relationships observed in this context. The results reveal the following: (1) While the digital economy in Chinese RBCs demonstrated a stable upward trajectory, urban resilience, although it exhibited a general increase, remained fragile. (2) The digital economy significantly enhanced urban resilience (coefficient = 0.117, p < 0.05), in which context the most pronounced effects pertained to the social and economic resilience subsystems. (3) Green technological innovation (GTI) served as the core intermediary pathway (a × b = 0.017, p < 0.01). Industrial structure rationalization also served as a mediator. (4) The digital economy and urban resilience exhibited positive spatial autocorrelation (significant direct effects 0.032, p < 0.05), and the advancement of the digital economy in a focal city can enhance both the urban resilience of that city itself and that of neighboring cities indirectly. Full article

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB) presents significant challenges in pediatric oncology, particularly in high-risk cases where local recurrence occurs in ~35% of patients. Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) has emerged as a promising treatment due to its selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Methods: This study assessed CAP efficacy using in vitro NB cell lines (SK-N-AS and LAN-5) and in vivo xenograft murine models. In vitro, CAP was applied via a helium jet, and cellular responses were evaluated for viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and cell cycle, while apoptosis was measured by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry. In vivo, CAP was applied to unresected tumors and residual tumors after incomplete resection. Tumor regrowth was monitored, and histological analysis was performed. Results: CAP reduced NB cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner by increasing intracellular ROS and lipid peroxidation. CAP-treated NB cells showed a 50% rise in oxidative DNA damage, a two-fold increase in apoptosis, and alterations in cell-cycle progression, while normal fibroblasts showed modest effects. CAP predominantly induced apoptosis, though secondary necrosis appeared with prolonged exposures, consistent with caspase-3 and PARP pathways. In xenografts, CAP reduced tumor diameter by 60% and increased caspase-3-positive cells, with minimal effects on normal tissue. Conclusions: CAP demonstrates strong therapeutic potential as a targeted, non-invasive NB treatment, particularly for residual tumors near vascular structures with consistent exposure times (60–300 s). Full article

To navigate dynamic environments safely, UAVs require accurate, real time onboard perception, which relies on ego motion compensation to separate self-induced motion from external dynamics and enable reliable obstacle detection. Traditional ego-motion compensation techniques are mainly based on optimization processes and may be computationally expensive for real-time applications or lack the precision needed to handle both rotational and translational movements, leading to issues such as misidentifying static elements as dynamic obstacles and generating false positives. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that integrates an event camera-based perception pipeline with an ego-motion compensation algorithm to accurately compensate for both rotational and translational UAV motion. An enhanced warping function, integrating IMU and depth data, is constructed to compensate camera motion based on real-time IMU data to remove ego motion from the asynchronous event stream, enhancing detection accuracy by reducing false positives and missed detections. On the compensated event stream, dynamic obstacles are detected by applying a motion aware adaptive threshold to the normalized mean timestamp image, with the threshold derived from the image’s spatial mean and standard deviation and adjusted by the UAV’s angular and linear velocities. Furthermore, in conjunction with a 3D Artificial Potential Field (APF) for obstacle avoidance, the proposed approach generates smooth, collision-free paths, addressing local minima issues through a rotational force component to ensure efficient UAV navigation in dynamic environments. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated through simulations, and its application for UAV navigation, safety, and efficiency in environments such as warehouses is demonstrated, where real-time response and precise obstacle avoidance are essential. Full article

Timely reporting of microbiological results is critical for clinical decision-making, particularly in pediatric hospitals where delays can significantly impact outcomes. Despite advances in laboratory automation, workflow inefficiencies and resistance to change remain barriers to improvement in Latin America. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of implementing a Kaizen-based change management strategy on reducing turnaround time (TAT) in the microbiology laboratory of Hospital Roberto del Río, Santiago, Chile. We conducted a prospective, pre–post intervention study focusing on blood culture processing. The baseline period (July 2022) included 961 cultures processed with the BacT/ALERT^® 3D system. A Kaizen/LEAN intervention was designed, comprising workflow redesign, staff training, and installation of the BACT/ALERT^® Virtuo^® (bioMerieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France) continuous-loading blood culture system. The intervention engaged all technical and professional staff in a five-day Kaizen immersion, followed by eight months of monitoring. Outcomes were assessed by comparing TAT for positive blood cultures before and after implementation (June 2023, 496 samples). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, with p < 0.05 considered significant. The intervention achieved a median reduction in TAT from 68.22 h (IQR 56.14–88.59) pre-intervention to 51.52 h (IQR 41.17–66.57) post-intervention, corresponding to a 24.48% improvement (p < 0.001), surpassing the 20% target. Time to preliminary Gram reporting also decreased, and workflow standardization enhanced staff productivity and culture validation frequency. Implementation of Kaizen principles in a pediatric microbiology laboratory significantly reduced blood culture TAT and improved workflow efficiency. Beyond technological upgrades, active staff engagement and structured change management were key to success. These findings support the applicability of Kaizen-based interventions to optimize laboratory performance in resource-constrained public healthcare systems. Full article

Intensive mothering is a widespread cultural ideology positioning mothers as uniquely responsible for their children’s optimal development through emotionally and cognitively intensive caregiving. A key belief within this framework is maternal essentialism, which asserts that mothers are biologically and morally best suited for parenting young children. Guided by the Family Stress–Proximal Process (FSPP) model, this study examined whether maternal essentialist beliefs act as distal sociocultural stressors influencing children’s executive functioning indirectly through parenting stress and positive parenting behaviors. Data were collected via self-report from 255 U.S. mothers of 3- to 5-year-old children. Path analyses showed that stronger maternal essentialism was associated with increased parenting stress, which predicted lower engagement in positive parenting and greater reported difficulties in children’s executive functioning. The indirect effect of maternal essentialism on children’s executive functioning was statistically significant. These findings suggest that internalized cultural ideologies, often viewed as aspirational, may inadvertently increase parenting stress and reduce caregiving quality, which is associated with diminished child cognitive outcomes. This study extends prior research by linking maternal essentialist beliefs to child developmental outcomes through specified psychological and relational processes, supporting the usefulness of the FSPP framework in understanding how sociocultural pressures influence family dynamics and child development. Full article

This study examines the effects of an intervention program aimed at enhancing personal competencies in secondary education students, focusing on resilience, emotional intelligence, self-esteem and assertiveness. A descriptive, quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention assessments was employed. A total of 36 first-year secondary education students participated and completed the Resilience Scale, Wong-Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Rathus Assertiveness Scale. Positive associations were observed among resilience, emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and assertiveness at both time points, with the exception of a post-intervention negative correlation between self-esteem and the appraisal of others’ emotions. While emotion use increased significantly following the intervention, no significant changes were observed in the other variables, indicating a limited impact on these specific aspects of mental and emotional health. These findings highlight the relevance of training and promoting personal competencies in secondary school students, since they serve as protective factors against social exclusion, mood disorders (e.g., anxiety and depression), and behavioral problems. Although the program improved the use of emotions, its lack of significant effects in other domains highlights the need for more programs to support adolescents’ holistic development in the academic context. Full article

In the context of a complex and volatile domestic and global environment, Chinese enterprises face frequent risks of supply chain disruption that seriously hinder their operations. The rise of the digital economy offers new opportunities to strengthen supply chain resilience. Building on supply chain collaboration and value co-creation theories, this study conceptualizes supply chain collaboration through three dimensions, namely information collaboration, governance collaboration, and innovation collaboration, and explores their role in enhancing resilience. Using panel data of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2011 to 2023, this study investigates the impact of focal firm digitalization on supply chain resilience and its underlying mechanisms. The results indicate that focal firm digitalization generates significant backward spillover effects, enhancing the resilience of its upstream suppliers. Although its positive influence on supply chain stability (measured by supply chain demand and supply fluctuations) is not statistically significant, it substantially enhances recovery (measured by supply chain efficiency) and adaptability (measured by supplier innovation). Mechanism analysis further reveals that digitalization strengthens supply chain collaboration through information, governance, and innovation channels, thereby reinforcing resilience. Moreover, the positive effects are heterogeneous, varying with industry competition intensity, the closeness of upstream–downstream relationships, and suppliers’ regional resource endowments. These findings highlight the need to design digitalization strategies centered on focal firm leadership and upstream–downstream collaboration, thereby advancing both resilience improvement and collaborative mechanism development through differentiated and targeted approaches. Full article

Residing in public housing is associated with adverse health outcomes, partly due to higher prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors linked to lower socioeconomic status. Health promotion and disease prevention interventions can mitigate these disparities but are often underutilized due to accessibility barriers and low health literacy. Delivering interventions directly within public housing areas may enhance reach and effectiveness. However, synthesized knowledge of such interventions remains limited. This scoping review aimed to identify and summarize available evidence on health-promoting and disease-preventive interventions in these settings. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRIMA-ScR) guidelines. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus. Articles were screened using predefined criteria. Intervention details, key findings, and digital components were extracted and categorized. 31 articles were included, covering eight intervention categories: (1) Health promoter programs, (2) Nutrition programs, (3) Health screenings, (4) Health promotion messages, (5) Physical activity programs, (6) Mental health programs, (7) Oral health programs, and (8) Other health interventions. Five articles incorporated digital components. This review highlights the value of resident involvement, demonstrated by positive outcomes in interventions with strong community engagement. Despite promising effects, digital health components were underutilized, representing a missed opportunity for scalable, cost-effective interventions. Full article

A series of novel γ-halo-δ-lactones and δ-halo-γ-lactones bearing a phenolic ring at the β-position were synthesized from vanillin. The divergent seven-step synthetic route commenced with the benzyl protection of the hydroxy group of the starting material, followed by a four-step transformation that led to the corresponding β-aryl-γ,δ-unsaturated carboxylic acids. Subsequent halolactonization (iodo-, bromo-, and chlorolactonization), followed by selective benzyl deprotection, gave the target halolactones. The structures of all intermediates and final lactones were confirmed by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including NMR and HRMS. The resulting halolactones were evaluated for antiproliferative activity against two canine (CLBL-1, CLB70) and two human (T-24, CaCo-2) cancer cell lines, as well as non-cancerous mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH/3T3). Hemolytic assays were performed to assess toxicity against human red blood cells (RBCs). Among the tested lactones, the transδ-iodo-γ-lactone was the most active, particularly against CLBL-1 and T-24 cells. All compounds demonstrated no inhibitory effects on normal fibroblasts and no hemolytic toxicity. This favorable selectivity profile positions this group of lactones, particularly trans-δ-iodo-γ-lactone, as a promising candidate for further development as potential anticancer agents. Full article

Labor shortages in seedling nurseries, particularly in manual inspection and replanting, hinder operational efficiency despite advancements in automation. This study aims to develop a cost-effective, GPU-free machine vision system to automate the detection of deficient seedlings in plug trays, specifically for small-scale nursery operations. The proposed Deficiency Detection and Replanting Positioning (DDRP) machine integrates low-cost components including an Intel RealSense Depth Camera D435, Raspberry Pi 4B, stepper motors, and a programmable logic controller (PLC). It utilizes OpenCV’s Haar cascade algorithm, HSV color space conversion, and Otsu thresholding to enable real-time image processing without GPU acceleration. The proposed Deficiency Detection and Replanting Positioning (DDRP) machine integrates low-cost components including an Intel RealSense Depth Camera D435, Raspberry Pi 4B, stepper motors, and a programmable logic controller (PLC). It utilizes OpenCV’s Haar cascade algorithm, HSV color space conversion, and Otsu thresholding to enable real-time image processing without GPU acceleration. Under controlled laboratory conditions, the DDRP-Machine achieved high detection accuracy (96.0–98.7%) and precision rates (82.14–83.78%). Benchmarking against deep-learning models such as YOLOv5x and Mask R-CNN showed comparable performance, while requiring only one-third to one-fifth of the cost and avoiding complex infrastructure. The Batch Detection (BD) mode significantly reduced processing time compared to Continuous Detection (CD), enhancing real-time applicability. The DDRP-Machine demonstrates strong potential to improve seedling inspection efficiency and reduce labor dependency in nursery operations. Its modular design and minimal hardware requirements make it a practical and scalable solution for resource-limited environments. This study offers a viable pathway for small-scale farms to adopt intelligent automation without the financial burden of high-end AI systems. Future enhancements, adaptive lighting and self-learning capabilities, will further improve field robustness and including broaden its applicability across diverse nursery conditions. Full article

Background and Objectives: Resilience and perceived social support are crucial factors influencing psychological well-being among breast cancer survivors. Understanding their levels and interrelations can inform psychosocial interventions aimed at improving survivorship outcomes. This study aimed to examine the relationship between resilience and perceived social support, to evaluate the psychometric properties of the applied scales, and to explore their associations with key sociodemographic factors among breast cancer survivors. Materials and Methods: A total of 193 women in clinical remission, at least six months post-primary treatment, were recruited from the General Hospital Sombor. Participants completed sociodemographic and clinical questionnaires, the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, and group comparisons (t-tests and ANOVA) were conducted to assess the relationships among study variables and sociodemographic factors. Results: Participants demonstrated moderate resilience (57 ± 18), with Coping and Hardiness as the strongest domains and Optimism the lowest. Perceived social support was also moderate (4.65–4.82) across all domains, highest for family and significant others. Resilience and perceived social support were positively correlated (r = 0.616, p < 0.001), with Hardiness most strongly associated with overall resilience (r = 0.899). Support from a significant other was particularly linked to adaptability (r = 0.617). Participants living in urban areas and those with higher income reported significantly higher resilience and social support, though with low effect sizes. No other sociodemographic associations were observed. Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors in this Serbian cohort reported moderate resilience and social support, with a strong interrelationship between the two. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening social support networks as a potential pathway to enhance resilience and psychological well-being in cancer survivorship care. Full article

Urban green spaces (UGS) are crucial for mitigating rising urban land surface temperatures (LST). Rapid urbanization presents unresolved questions regarding (a) seasonal variations in the spatial co-distribution of UGS and LST, (b) the temporal and spatial changes in UGS cooling, and (c) the dominant factors driving cooling effects during different periods. This study focuses on Beijing’s Fifth Ring Road area, utilizing nearly 40 years of Landsat remote sensing imagery and land cover data. We propose a novel nine-square grid spatial analysis approach that integrates LST retrieval, profile line analysis, and the XGBoost algorithm to investigate the long-term spatiotemporal evolution of UGS cooling capacity and its driving mechanisms. The results demonstrate three key findings: (1) Strong seasonal divergence in UGS-LST correlation: A significant negative correlation dominates during summer months (June–August), whereas winter (December–February) exhibits marked weakening of this relationship, with localized positive correlations indicating thermal inversion effects. (2) Dynamic evolution of cooling capacity under urbanization: Urban expansion has reconfigured UGS spatial patterns, with a cooling capacity of UGS showing an “enhancement–decline–enhancement” trend over time. Analysis through machine learning on the significance of landscape metrics revealed that scale-related metrics play a dominant role in the early stage of urbanization, while the focus shifts to quality-related metrics in the later phase. (3) Optimal cooling efficiency threshold: Maximum per-unit-area cooling intensity occurs at 10–20% UGS coverage, yielding an average LST reduction of approximately 1 °C relative to non-vegetated surfaces. This study elucidates the spatiotemporal evolution of UGS cooling effects during urbanization, establishing a robust scientific foundation for optimizing green space configuration and enhancing urban climate resilience. Full article

Background/Objectives: Prediabetes markedly increases the risk of progression to type 2 diabetes. While exercise and dietary polyphenols independently enhance metabolic health, their combined and synergistic effects remain unclear. This randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the synergistic effects of concurrent training and a microencapsulated persimmon–karonda polyphenol formulation on glycemic control and inflammatory outcomes in adults with prediabetes and who are overweight/obese. Methods: Forty-three participants completed the intervention and were assigned to placebo, concurrent training (CBT), supplementation (EATME), or the combined intervention (CBT + EATME) for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes included fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), adiponectin, physical fitness, and quality of life (QoL). Results: All intervention groups (CBT, EATME, and CBT + EATME) showed improvements in glycemic indices, with the greatest reductions in FBG (p < 0.01), HbA1c (p < 0.05), and HOMA-IR (p < 0.01) observed in the CBT + EATME group compared with placebo. All interventions significantly reduced hs-CRP (p < 0.01) and IL-6 (p < 0.01), accompanied by marked increases in adiponectin (p < 0.01), compared with placebo. In the CBT + EATME group, reductions in hs-CRP were positively correlated with improvements in HOMA-IR (r = 0.627, p < 0.05). Both CBT and CBT + EATME improved muscular strength and maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O₂max), with the combined intervention producing greater gains in upper- and lower-body strength (p < 0.05), V̇O₂max (p < 0.05), and the psychological well-being domain of QoL (p < 0.05) compared with placebo. Conclusions: These findings highlight that combining concurrent training with microencapsulated polyphenol supplementation produced the most consistent improvements across metabolic, inflammatory, and fitness outcomes, supporting this combined approach as an integrated and synergistic strategy to reduce diabetes risk and promote overall health in at-risk adults. The trial was registered at the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20250512003). Full article

Background/Objectives: The optimal healing process following root canal treatment involves biological apical sealing through new cementum formation. Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) has recently gained attention as a potential regulator of cementoblast differentiation and periodontal regeneration. However, its effects on periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs) and the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate whether BMP-7 induces cementoblast-like differentiation of PDLFs both in vivo and in vitro via the BMP-SMAD signaling pathway. Methods: In a rat pulpectomy model, root canals were treated with or without BMP-7 and examined histologically and immunohistochemically for F-spondin (Spon1) expression. In vitro, human PDLFs were stimulated with BMP-7, and analyses of mineralization, cementoblast marker expression, alkaline phosphatase activity, and SMAD-1/5/9 phosphorylation were conducted. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Spon1-positive regions increased around the apical area following BMP-7 treatment, suggesting the induction of cementoblast-like differentiation. In vitro, BMP-7 enhanced the expression of cementoblast-associated genes and mineral deposition while activating SMAD-1/5/9 signaling. Phosphorylation was suppressed by the BMP receptor inhibitor LDN-193189, indicating canonical BMP-SMAD pathway involvement. Conclusions: Although the specific concentration range of maximal activity remains to be determined, the findings collectively suggest that BMP-7 can promote cementoblast-like differentiation of PDLFs and may contribute to apical healing through cementum-related mechanisms. These results provide mechanistic and biological insights that support the potential of BMP-7 as a modulator for biologically favorable periapical tissue regeneration following root canal therapy. Full article