Search Results (35,004)

Residual kidney function (RKF) plays a crucial role in improving outcomes for dialysis patients. Enhanced middle molecular clearance has been proposed as one of the several benefits of preserved RKF. Most patients who start dialysis retain some residual kidney function, providing a rationale for using incremental dialysis. RKF has been associated with mortality benefit in both peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD). It also influences technique longevity and lowers peritonitis rates in patients on PD. In both dialysis modalities, RKF improves volume management and blood pressure control. Additional potential benefits include reduced dietary restrictions, improved nutritional status, better quality of life (QOL), reduced erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) requirements, lower inflammatory marker levels, and improved bone health. RKF is less frequently measured in HD patients primarily due to the lack of standardized methods and logistical challenges. Several equations for estimating RKF have been proposed, but none are widely adopted in clinical use. Historically, HD was believed to cause a rapid loss of RKF; however, more recent data have challenged this view. Future research should focus on identifying factors that affect RKF, standardizing measurement methods, and developing strategies for preservation. Efforts to preserve RKF should be made for all dialysis patients, regardless of modality. Full article

This three-year study in southern Brazil assessed the effectiveness of the preharvest spraying of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP; Harvista™ 1.3 SC) in reducing the fruit drop, delaying the maturity, and maintaining the postharvest quality of ‘Maxi Gala’ apples. 1-MCP was sprayed at 0, 75, 125, 175, and 225 mg a.i. L⁻¹ seven days before the anticipated harvest time (DBAH). Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG; Retain^®), a commercial control, was applied at 124 mg a.i. L⁻¹ 28 DBAH. After harvest, the fruit were stored for seven months under a controlled atmosphere (CA; 1.5 kPa O₂ and 2.5 kPa CO₂ at 0.8 ± 0.6 °C/RH of 94–95%), followed by seven days of shelf life (23 ± 1 °C/RH of 70–80%). Increasing 1-MCP concentrations significantly reduced preharvest fruit drop, and 1-MCP at 175 and 225 mg L⁻¹ was more effective over time than AVG. While 1-MCP, like AVG, delayed red color development, fruit treated with 175 and 225 mg L⁻¹ still achieved over 44.5 N firmness after CA storage, even when harvested 28 days after spraying, allowing for red color development and an average 12 g fruit weight increase. 1-MCP at ≥75 mg L⁻¹ was more efficient than AVG in maintaining flesh firmness, while at 225 mg L⁻¹, it also preserved higher titratable acidity and a lower soluble solid content after CA storage. Thus, the preharvest spraying of 1-MCP is a valuable tool for growers to schedule the harvest and maintain the postharvest quality of ‘Maxi Gala’ apples. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered a key contributor to the pathogenesis of sepsis, but its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we used a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model to induce sepsis in wild-type (WT) and cyclophilin D knockout (CypD KO) mice. Liver tissues were collected at 0, 6, and 18 h post-CLP and analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results: Metabolomic profiling revealed that lactate levels significantly increased in the WT mice but remained stable in the KO mice. While AMP levels were preserved in the KO mice, these mice had significantly higher glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and spermidine concentrations than the WT mice at 18 h (p < 0.05). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress, were also significantly lower in the KO mice at 18 h (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that CypD deficiency preserves mitochondrial function, enhances resistance to oxidative stress, and mitigates septic liver injury. Conclusions: Our results highlight the potential of targeting mitochondrial permeability transition as a therapeutic strategy for sepsis. Full article

Accurate sea clutter modeling is crucial for clutter suppression in edge radar processing. On resource-constrained edge radar platforms, spatiotemporal statistics, together with device-level computation and memory limits, hinder the learning of representative clutter features. This study presents a transformer-based generative adversarial model for sea clutter modeling. The core design of this work uses axial attention to factorize self-attention along pulse and range, preserving long-range dependencies under a reduced attention cost. It also introduces a two-dimensional variable-length spatiotemporal window that retains temporal and spatial coherence across observation lengths. Extensive experiments are conducted to verify the efficacy of the proposed method with quantitative criteria, including a cosine similarity score, spectral-parameter error, and amplitude–distribution distances. Compared with CNN-based GAN, the proposed model achieves a high consistency with real clutter in marginal amplitude distributions, spectral characteristics, and spatiotemporal correlation patterns, while incurring a lower cost than standard multi-head self-attention. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves improvements of 9.22% and 7.8% over the traditional AR and WaveGAN methods in terms of the similarity metric, respectively. Full article

This study evaluates the physical, mechanical, durability, and environmental properties of geopolymer mortars (GMs) produced using waste tire steel fibers (WTSFs), hemp fibers (HFs), waste marble powder (WMP), and recycled fine aggregates (RFAs). Within the scope of this study, fibers were incorporated as single and hybrid types at 0.5% and 1% by volume. The addition of HFs generally reduced dry unit weight, as well as compressive and flexural strength but increased fracture energy by nearly three times. The addition of WTSFs improved compressive and flexural strengths by up to 42% and enhanced fracture energy by 840%. Hybrid fibers increased the strength values by 21% and the fracture energy by up to four times, demonstrating a clear synergistic effect between HFs and WTSFs in enhancing crack resistance and structural stability. In the durability tests conducted within the scope of this study, HFs burnt at 600 °C, while WTSFs showed signs of corrosion under freeze–thaw and acid conditions; however, hybrid fibers combined the benefits of both materials, resulting in an effective preservation of internal structure. The fact that the materials used in the production of GM samples were waste or recycled products reduced the total cost to 188 USD/m³, and thanks to these materials and the carbon-negative properties of HFs, CO₂ emissions were reduced to 338 kg CO₂/m³. The presented study demonstrates the potential of using recycled and waste materials to create sustainable building materials in the construction industry. Full article

This review provides an overview of the cross-sectional imaging features of gastrointestinal (GI) metastases presenting with a linitis plastica (LP) pattern and illustrates these findings through a series of cases from various primary tumors. It also addresses key diagnostic challenges, with particular attention to differential diagnosis. The term linitis plastica (LP) refers to the macroscopic appearance of a hollow organ with diffuse mural tumor infiltration, leading to loss of parietal distensibility. Although rare, primary LP can occur throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. First described in the stomach—the most common site—it is typically associated with undifferentiated adenocarcinoma composed of poorly cohesive cells, often with signet ring morphology. Beyond primary GI tumors, LP-like metastases may also arise from extragastrointestinal primaries, most notably breast carcinoma (particularly the lobular subtype), as well as urinary bladder and prostate carcinomas. LP-like GI metastases typically manifest as circumferential, enhancing wall thickenings with exaggerated zonal anatomy and luminal narrowing. Due to diffuse parietal tumor infiltration—often with mucosal preservation—the submucosa and serosa appear disproportionately thickened and show greater enhancement relative to the muscularis propria (MP). This specific imaging appearance is known as the malignant target sign, which must be distinguished from the benign target sign, where the most prominent low-density layer corresponds to edematous submucosa. Additional key features include homogeneous enhancement with loss of layer differentiation on delayed-phase imaging and a concentric ring pattern on MR. Secondary findings may also be present, such as intestinal obstruction and concomitant peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Gastrointestinal metastases with an LP pattern present a significant diagnostic challenge, as they can mimic both primary tumors and benign inflammatory or infectious conditions. Accurate diagnosis is critical because management strategies differ substantially. Since the mucosa is often spared, endoscopy and superficial biopsies may yield false-negative results. Therefore, while immunohistochemistry (IHC) remains essential for confirmation, radiologists play a pivotal role in raising suspicion for LP-like GI metastases and recommending deep, extensive biopsies to obtain adequate representative tissue. Furthermore, in cases of an unknown primary tumor, recognition of the LP pattern can provide important clues to the potential site of origin. Full article

This research addresses the critical need for language preservation among the Higaonon indigenous community in Mindanao, Philippines, through the development of a culturally responsive mobile dictionary application. The Higaonon language faces significant endangerment due to generational language shift, limited documentation, and a scarcity of educational materials. Employing user-centered design principles and participatory lexicography, this study involved collaboration with tribal elders, educators, and youth to document and digitize Higaonon vocabulary across ten culturally significant semantic domains. Each Higaonon lexeme was translated into English, Filipino, and Cebuano to enhance comprehension across linguistic groups. The resulting mobile application incorporates multilingual search capabilities, offline access, phonetic transcriptions, example sentences, and culturally relevant design elements. An evaluation conducted with 30 participants (15 Higaonon and 15 non-Higaonon speakers) revealed high satisfaction ratings across functionality (4.81/5.0), usability (4.63/5.0), and performance (4.73/5.0). Offline accessibility emerged as the most valued feature (4.93/5.0), while comparative analysis identified meaningful differences in user experience between native and non-native speakers, with Higaonon users providing more critical assessments particularly regarding font readability and performance optimization. The application demonstrates how community-driven technological interventions can support indigenous language revitalization while respecting cultural integrity, intellectual property rights, and addressing practical community needs. This research establishes a framework for ethical indigenous language documentation that prioritizes community self-determination and provides empirical evidence that culturally responsive digital technologies can effectively preserve endangered languages while serving as repositories for cultural knowledge embedded within linguistic systems. Full article

NiTi alloy has emerged as a promising bipolar plate (BP) material for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), combining Ti-like corrosion resistance with Ni-like electrical conductivity through its intermetallic characteristics. However, its performance faces greater challenges under aggressive operating conditions (70 °C, F⁻-containing acidic solution with air bubbling). This study demonstrates that Nb alloying effectively enhances NiTi while preserving its balanced properties. The developed NiTiNb alloy exhibits improved performance with 26% lower corrosion current density (i_c) and 29% reduced interfacial contact resistance (ICR) compared to conventional NiTi, effectively overcoming the conventional corrosion–conductivity trade-off in metallic BPs. The alloy also shows superior electrochemical stability and microhardness relative to pure Ti and Ni. These enhancements stem from a unique dual-phase microstructure comprising a NiTi (B2) matrix with continuous β-Nb grain boundary networks. During operation, this structure enables in situ formation of protective TiO₂-Nb₂O₅ films while maintaining conductive Nb/Nb₂O₅ pathways and metallic Ni domains. The findings establish Nb alloying as a viable optimization strategy for NiTi-based BP substrate in demanding PEMFC applications. Full article

Oxidative stress is a factor implicated in chronic diseases and aging, motivating the search for natural antioxidants. Over the past ten years, food-derived peptides have been recognized as potent antioxidants. Carp, a globally farmed fish, is a protein-rich raw material for producing antioxidant peptides and hydrolysates. This review summarizes the current knowledge on these antioxidant peptides and hydrolysates, including their production, bioactivity, and applications. We discuss how enzymatic hydrolysis of carp by-products (e.g., skin, scales, and swim bladders) represents a strategy for waste valorization. Cellular and in vivo findings demonstrate the effectiveness of carp peptides and hydrolysates in tackling oxidative stress by reducing reactive oxygen species and enhancing cellular antioxidant enzymes. In addition to their antioxidant properties, these peptides and hydrolysates also possess anti-inflammatory, anti-melanogenic, and wound-healing properties. Potential applications of carp peptides and hydrolysates include their use as natural food preservatives and as active ingredients for skincare, nutraceuticals, and sports nutrition. Future research should focus on validating the in vivo bioavailability and assessing the long-term safety of carp peptides and hydrolysates to support their potential application in health. Carp-derived peptides are a valuable resource for developing functional foods and health products, which can contribute to a more sustainable food industry. Full article

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disorder that is characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function, often leading to end-stage renal failure. Recent research has highlighted the role of gut dysbiosis and its metabolic byproducts in the pathogenesis of CKD, with a particular focus on short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, are primarily produced by the fermentation of dietary fibers by the gut microbiota and are known for their systemic anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. In CKD, gut dysbiosis results in a reduction in SCFA-producing bacteria and an increase in uremic toxin-producing microorganisms, contributing to systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and renal fibrosis. The depletion of SCFAs has been shown to exacerbate glomerular injury, whereas their presence supports integrity of the glomerular barrier and confers protection against damage. These protective effects are mediated by several mechanisms, including the modulation of immune responses, preservation of epithelial barrier function, and activation of specific receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41), GPR43, and GPR109A. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of current understanding of SCFA-mediated pathways in glomerular protection during CKD progression. It highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting the gut–kidney axis to mitigate CKD progression by examining the complex interplay between gut microbiota and disease development, with a particular focus on strategies to protect the glomerular structure and function. Full article

Automated landmark recognition represents a cornerstone technology for advancing smart tourism systems, cultural heritage documentation, and enhanced visitor experiences. Contemporary deep learning methodologies have substantially transformed the accuracy and computational efficiency of destination classification tasks. Addressing critical gaps in existing approaches, we introduce an enhanced Samarkand_v2 dataset encompassing twelve distinct historical landmark categories with comprehensive environmental variability. Our methodology incorporates a systematic multi-threshold pixel intensification strategy, applying graduated enhancement transformations at intensity levels of 100, 150, and 225 to accentuate diverse architectural characteristics spanning from fine-grained textural elements to prominent reflective components. Four independent YOLO11 architectures were trained using original imagery alongside systematically enhanced variants, with optimal epoch preservation based on validation performance criteria. A key innovation lies in our intelligent selective ensemble mechanism that conducts exhaustive evaluation of model combinations, identifying optimal configurations through data-driven selection rather than conventional uniform weighting schemes. Experimental validation demonstrates substantial performance gains over established baseline architectures and traditional ensemble approaches, achieving exceptional metrics: 99.24% accuracy, 99.36% precision, 99.40% recall, and 99.36% F1-score. Rigorous statistical analysis via paired t-tests validates the significance of enhancement strategies, particularly demonstrating effectiveness of lower-threshold transformations in capturing architectural nuances. The framework exhibits remarkable resilience across challenging conditions including illumination variations, structural occlusions, and inter-class architectural similarities. These achievements establish the methodology’s substantial potential for practical smart tourism deployment, automated heritage preservation initiatives, and real-time mobile landmark recognition systems, contributing significantly to the advancement of intelligent tourism technologies. Full article

This article examines how Oaxacan chefs from Columbus, Ohio make their home and build their success. Prior scholarship shows how chefs establish home to offer themselves a springboard for future success, how chefs foster home through cooking and enjoying familiar dishes, and that food is only truly ‘at home’ when found outside of its original context. Ethnographic interviews with Oaxacan chefs working in food hall stands, taco trucks, bakeries, and restaurants in Columbus demonstrate how they move and adjust to the city; obtain their eateries; and shape their menus and future goals. Oaxacan chefs in Columbus have cultivated a sense of belonging and established a foothold in the city by employing strategies that combine preservation of cultural heritage and adherence and adjustment to local tastes. Full article

The Pinghu Oil and Gas Field in the East China Sea Shelf Basin represents a significant offshore hydrocarbon-producing region in East Asia. However, the Paleogene hydrocarbon system in the Pinghu Oil and Gas Field is complex, and the fluid properties, charging stages, and hydrocarbon accumulation process are still unclear. A comprehensive integrated analysis of the hydrocarbon accumulation characteristics, fluid properties, temperature pressure regimes, primary hydrocarbon sources and origins (genesis), charging stages, preservation conditions, and evolutionary history of hydrocarbon accumulation have been studied by utilizing a series of well data, oil and gas geochemical parameters, carbon isotope, and fluid inclusion analyses. Hydrocarbon charging in the Huagang Formation experienced one stage, and the crude oil is characterized as light and conventional, exhibiting low density and viscosity, a low pour point, and low contents of wax, resin, and sulfur. In contrast, the reservoir of the overpressured Pinghu Formation experienced a two-stage hydrocarbon charging process (oil filling and gas filling), exhibiting higher density, viscosity, and wax content compared to the Huagang Formation. The hydrocarbon charging and evolution process of the Pinghu Formation and Huagang Formation in the Pinghu Oil and Gas Field can be summarized in three different stages, including the oil filling period (10–5 Ma), gas filling period (5–2 Ma), and oil and gas adjustment period. The Pinghu Oil and Gas Field, especially in the lower Pinghu Slope Belt (Fangheting Structure), has good potential for further exploration. Full article

Urban forests are natural habitat areas within urban ecosystems that enhance physical, mental, and social well-being. By integrating natural and cultural values into the urban landscape, these areas offer individuals opportunities to interact with nature and engage in various recreational activities. Recreational activities increase physical activity levels, help reduce stress, strengthen mental health, and foster social interaction, thereby significantly protecting and improving public health. This study aims to evaluate the recreational performance of urban forests—an essential component of the urban ecosystem—through a multidimensional approach. In this context, ecological (topography, vegetation, water resources, soil structure, climate), physical (accessibility, infrastructure, area size), social (activity diversity, usage intensity, community events), and cultural (landscape values, urban identity, conservation status of cultural landscapes) factors were considered as key indicators. Bursa Atatürk Urban Forest was selected as the study area, and the methodology integrated SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis with weighted multi-criteria decision-making techniques. In addition, the qualitative data obtained were supported by statistical analysis methods to reveal the relationships among the criteria quantitatively. Through this holistic approach, the recreational performance of the urban forest was evaluated scientifically, leading to the conclusion that the area’s strengths should be preserved, its weaknesses improved, and its cultural landscape values managed sustainably. The study provides a valuable decision-support framework capable of guiding strategic planning for the future. Full article

Clean water security demands autonomous systems that sense, reason, and act at scale. We introduce AquaSurveil, a unified multi-agent platform coupling mobile robots, fixed IoT nodes, and privacy-preserving machine learning for continent-scale water health surveillance. The architecture blends Gaussian-process mapping with distributed particle filtering, multi-agent deep-reinforcement Voronoi coverage, GAN/LSTM anomaly detection, and sheaf-theoretic data fusion; components are tuned by Bayesian optimization and governed by Age-of-Information-aware power control. Evaluated on a 2.82-million-record dataset (1940–2023; five countries), AquaSurveil achieves up to 96% spatial-coverage efficiency, an ROC-AUC of 0.96 for anomaly detection, ≈95% state-estimation accuracy, and reduced energy consumption versus randomized patrols. These results demonstrate scalable, robust, and energy-aware water quality surveillance that unifies robotics, the IoT, and modern AI. Full article