Search Results (107,358)

Background/Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) often leads to gait impairments, even in early stages, and can affect autonomy and quality of life. Traditional assessment methods, while widely used, have been criticized because they lack sensitivity to subtle gait changes. This scoping review aims to map the landscape of advanced gait analysis technologies—both wearable and non-wearable—and evaluate their application in detecting, characterizing, and monitoring possible gait dysfunction in individuals with MS. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed and Scopus databases for peer-reviewed studies published in the last decade. Inclusion criteria focused on original human research using technological tools for gait assessment in individuals with MS. Data from 113 eligible studies were extracted and categorized based on gait parameters, technologies used, study design, and clinical relevance. Results: Findings highlight a growing integration of advanced technologies such as inertial measurement units, 3D motion capture, pressure insoles, and smartphone-based tools. Studies primarily focused on spatiotemporal parameters, joint kinematics, gait variability, and coordination, with many reporting strong correlations to MS subtype, disability level, fatigue, fall risk, and cognitive load. Real-world and dual-task assessments emerged as key methodologies for detecting subtle motor and cognitive-motor impairments. Digital gait biomarkers, such as stride regularity, asymmetry, and dynamic stability demonstrated high potential for early detection and monitoring. Conclusions: Advanced gait analysis technologies can provide a multidimensional, sensitive, and ecologically valid approach to evaluating and detecting motor function in MS. Their clinical integration supports personalized rehabilitation, early diagnosis, and long-term disease monitoring. Future research should focus on standardizing metrics, validating digital biomarkers, and leveraging AI-driven analytics for real-time, patient-centered care. Full article

Settlement control for tunnel–terminal co-construction projects remains undefined, despite the growing trend of integrating multiple transportation modes within large-scale transport hubs. This study investigates a large underground structure passing beneath an airport terminal, combining field investigations, statistical analyses, and finite element simulations to examine differential settlement behavior under non-uniform loading conditions. The key contribution of this work is the proposal of a differential settlement control standard, defined by the tangent of the rotation angle between adjacent column foundations, with a recommended value of 1/625. Case analysis at cross-section E–E shows that the measured maximum tangent rotation angle was 1/839, corresponding to base slab settlements of 40.5 mm and 33.1 mm for the high-speed railway and metro structures, respectively. Application of the proposed 1/625 criterion yields allowable maximum base slab settlements of 55.28 mm for the high-speed railway and 44.83 mm for the metro, with differential settlement limits of 7.5 mm and 3.13 mm. Numerical simulations confirm the validity of this standard, ensuring the structural integrity of co-constructed systems and providing practical guidance for future airport terminal–tunnel integration projects. Full article

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is a clinical syndrome associated with worsening quality of life and increased mortality among patients with various interstitial lung diseases. This review aims to update the concepts and criteria that adequately define PPF, aiming to facilitate earlier recognition and optimize clinical management. Fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD-f) can progress over time despite optimal management of the underlying conditions. Current criteria for defining PPF include worsening respiratory symptoms, decline in pulmonary function tests (particularly forced vital capacity and diffusing capacity), and radiographic progression over a 1-year follow-up period. However, implementation of these criteria in clinical practice poses challenges. This review discusses the limitations of current evaluation methods and proposes future directions, including the need for validated symptom assessment tools, standardization of pulmonary function testing, and improvements in quantitative radiological evaluation methods. Full article

This study aimed to clarify the sensory characteristics of Koshu wine, which is the most popular white wine produced in Japan, by identifying descriptive terms for sour taste, a primary aspect of wine flavor. A sensory evaluation generated 56 terms related to sour taste quality. Some terms were categorized on the basis of the timing of perception— immediately after sipping, holding in the mouth, and after swallowing—while others were classified as expressing “temporal change”, “overall impression terms”, or “metaphorical terms”. From these, 12 terms—“fresh”, “stand out”, “sharp”, “soft”, “round”, “gentle”, “bright”, “duration”, “crisp”, “intensity”, “mild”, and “calm”—were selected, with definitions and reference standards (materials or examples that represent each characteristic) established. A trained sensory panel evaluated 16 Koshu wines, revealing significant differences in all sour taste quality terms except “duration”. The evaluation of “duration” may require improvement. Correlation analysis indicated that pH was strongly associated with “sharp” sour taste immediately after sipping, while titratable acidity and pH correlated with “round” and “gentle” sour taste when the wine was held in the mouth. Total acidity was linked to the duration of sour taste. Applying the sour taste quality terms determined from this study will enable the quantification of the sour taste quality of wines. Full article

Background: The management of ovarian cysts in postmenopausal women is still a diagnostic dilemma. Although ultrasound is the diagnostic cornerstone of the initial assessment, it is limited by its interpretation in cases without clear morphological features of malignancy. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether the addition of grayscale ultrasound features with inflammatory markers including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) can improve diagnostic accuracy in the identification of malignant ovarian lesions as compared to benign cysts in postmenopausal women. Methods: A total of 103 surgically removed adnexal masses were examined retrospectively. Ultrasound morphology was categorized to either simple or complex while NLR and PLR were calculated from preoperative full blood counts. The reference standard was histopathology. Results: Of the 103 cysts taken out, 74 cysts (71.8%) were benign while 29 cysts (28.2%) were malignant. Complex morphology was shown by all malignant lesions. NLR values in malignancy vs. benignancy showed a mean NLR of 4.96 ± 2.3 in the malignant cases, while it was 2.56 ± 1.2 in the benign cases (p < 0.001). In a similar fashion, the PLR was 198.4 ± 45.1 in malignant compared to 134.2 ± 32.7 in benign cases (p < 0.001). In the group of complex cysts (n = 52), NLR and PLR were compared to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions. In logistic regression, complex morphology was an independent predictor of malignancy, while NLR showed a positive, non-significant trend; PLR was not independently associated. Conclusions: Use of NLR and PLR in combination with grayscale ultrasonographic morphology improves the diagnostic characterization of postmenopausal women with adnexal masses. This easy, cost-effective method might aid in better triage and surgery planning. Full article

The new generation of Eurocode standards has prompted enquiries regarding the major distinctions from the current version, particularly in relation to the application of the N2 method. A substantial change has been made to the definition of elastic spectra. The new spectra are defined through a series of fixed, probabilistically determined points, yet they remain rooted in a probabilistic approach. Three building types—multi-storey reinforced concrete (RC) frames, steel moment frames, and steel braced frames—were analysed in accordance with ground accelerations of 1, 2, and 3 m/s², as well as across five soil types (A–E). Variations in target displacements between soil types, particularly A, B, and D, are notable in the results. For accelerations of 2 and 3 m/s², steel structures demonstrate consistent displacements, whereas RC frames exhibit values that are up to 20% higher, particularly on soils C and E. For soils A and B, the distribution of inter-storey drift remains consistent. Nevertheless, in the case of 1 m/s², the utilisation of next-generation spectra results in an average 46% decrease in inter-storey drifts. The significance of adapting design methods to the updated Eurocode provisions is underscored by these findings, which emphasise the substantial influence of soil type on building response and safety performance, particularly under increased seismic demands. Full article

The Haiyang-2B (HY-2B) satellite, launched on 25 October 2018, carries both active and passive microwave sensors, including a scanning microwave Radiometer (SMR), to deliver high-precision, all-weather global observations. Sea surface temperature (SST) is among its key products. We evaluated the HY-2B SMR Level-4A (L4A) SST (25 km resolution) over the North Pacific (0–60°N, 120°E–100°W) for the period 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2025 using the extended triple collocation (ETC) and dual-pairing methods. These comparisons were made against the Remote Sensing System (RSS) microwave and infrared (MWIR) fused SST product and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in situ SST Quality Monitor (iQuam) observations. Relative to iQuam, HY-2B SST has a mean bias of –0.002 °C and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.279 °C. Compared to the MWIR product, the mean bias is 0.009 °C with an RMSE of 0.270 °C, indicating high accuracy. ETC yields an equivalent standard deviation (ESD) of 0.163 °C for HY-2B, compared to 0.157 °C for iQuam and 0.196 °C for MWIR. Platform-specific ESDs are lowest for drifters (0.124 °C) and tropical moored buoys (0.088 °C) and highest for ship and coastal moored buoys (both 0.238 °C). Both the HY-2B and MWIR products exhibit increasing ESD and RMSE toward higher latitudes, primarily driven by stronger winds, higher columnar water vapor, and elevated cloud liquid water. Overall, HY-2B SST performs reliably under most conditions, but incurs larger errors under extreme environments. This analysis provides a robust basis for its application and future refinement. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the most common and disabling complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), affecting motor, sensory, and autonomic nerves. Genetic factors, particularly polymorphisms in the Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene, have been proposed as contributors to DN susceptibility. This study aimed to synthesize the scientific evidence on ACE gene polymorphisms and their association with DN through a scoping review combined with scientometric analysis. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed in February 2025, following JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Observational studies involving individuals with DN and the genotyping of ACE polymorphisms were included. Scientometric mapping was conducted using the Bibliometrix package in RStudio to identify publication trends and key thematic terms. Results: From 100 screened articles, 11 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies (72.7%) addressed diabetic peripheral neuropathy, while 27.3% investigated cardiac autonomic neuropathy. All studies analyzed the I/D polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene. The D allele and DD genotype were associated with increased susceptibility to DN in over half of the studies (6/11), while the II genotype was reported as protective in 3/11. Findings varied by ethnicity and study design. The scientometric analysis identified ‘peripheral diabetic neuropathy’, type 2 diabetes’, and ‘ACE gene polymorphism’ as the most frequently co-occurring terms, indicating that research on this topic has been concentrated around these themes, while showing limited diversity in geographic origin and scope. Conclusions: ACE I/D polymorphism appears to modulate susceptibility to DN, though interethnic variability and methodological heterogeneity challenge definitive conclusions. Broader, standardized studies are needed to validate its utility as a predictive biomarker. Full article

Background/Objectives: Emotional eating has been linked to neurobiological mechanisms similar to those observed in addictive behaviors, and this occurrence appears not fully understood, even in academic communities/environments. To supplement existing information, a preliminary assessment of university students' emotional eating patterns, nutritional status, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes has been performed in this current work. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 129 students from the University of Extremadura, Spain. Emotional eating was assessed using the Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EEQ) and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire—Spanish version (TFEQ-R18(SP)) questionnaires, while type 2 diabetes risk was evaluated through the Finnish Diabetes Risk (FINDRISC) score test. Anthropometric data, including height, weight, BMI, and body composition, were collected using standardized measurement protocols. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: Significant differences were observed in BMI (mean ± SD: 23.93 ± 5.36 kg/m²) and total EEQ score (mean ± SD: 9.82 ± 5.82) across FINDRISC risk categories (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The Very Emotional Eaters group presented higher BMIs and FINDRISC scores, along with greater score dispersion. No significant differences were identified in EEQ subscales. Conclusions: Emotional eating behaviors may serve as indirect indicators of metabolic vulnerability, particularly when combined with excess body weight. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating emotional regulation and mindful eating strategies into health promotion programs for young adults. Full article

The self-starting capability of straight-bladed H-type Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) remains a major constraint for deployment, particularly in urban, low speed, and turbulent environments. We conducted a systematic review of technological strategies to improve self-starting, grouped into five categories: (1) aerodynamic airfoil design, (2) rotor configuration, (3) passive flow control, (4) active flow control, and (5) incident flow augmentation. Searches in Scopus and IEEE Xplore (last search 20 August 2025) covered the period from 2019 to 2026 and included peer-reviewed journal articles in English reporting experimental or numerical interventions on H-type Darrieus VAWTs with at least one start-up metric. From 1212 records, 53 studies met the eligibility after title/abstract screening and full-text assessment. Data were synthesized qualitatively using a comparative thematic approach, highlighting design parameters, operating conditions, and performance metrics (torque and power coefficients) during start-up. Quantitatively, studies reported typical start-up torque gains of 20–30% for airfoil optimization and passive devices, about 25% for incident-flow augmentation, and larger but less certain improvements (around 30%) for active control. Among the strategies, airfoil optimization and passive devices consistently improved start-up torque at low TSR with minimal added systems; rotor-configuration tuning and incident-flow devices further reduced start-up time where structural or siting constraints allowed; and active control showed the largest laboratory gains but with uncertain regarding energy and durability. However, limitations included heterogeneity in designs and metrics, predominance of 2D-Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFDs), and limited 3D/field validation restricted quantitative pooling. Risk of bias was assessed using an ad hoc matrix; overall certainty was rated as low to moderate due to limited validation and inconsistent uncertainty reporting. In conclusions, no single solution is universally optimal; hybrid strategies, combining optimized airfoils with targeted passive or active control, appear most promising. Future work should standardize start-up metrics, adopt validated 3D Fluid–Structure Interaction (FSI) models, and expand wind-tunnel/field trials. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aims to build an interpretable and accurate predictive model for myocardial infarction (MI) using Explainable Boosting Machines (EBM), a state-of-the-art Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) technique. The objective is to identify and rank clinically relevant biomarkers that contribute to MI diagnosis while maintaining transparency to support clinical decision making. Methods: The dataset comprises 1319 patient records collected in 2018 from a cardiology center in the Erbil region of Iraq. Each record includes eight routinely measured clinical and biochemical features, such as troponin, CK-MB, and glucose levels, and a binary outcome variable indicating the presence or absence of MI. After preprocessing (e.g., one-hot encoding, normalization), the EBM model was trained using 80% of the data and tested on the remaining 20%. Model performance was evaluated using standard metrics including AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and Matthews correlation coefficient. Feature importance was assessed to identify key predictors. Partial dependence analyses provided insights into how each variable affected model predictions. Results: The EBM model demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.980, an accuracy of 96.6%, sensitivity of 96.8%, and specificity of 96.2%. Troponin and CK-MB were identified as the top predictors, confirming their established clinical relevance in MI diagnosis. In contrast, demographic and hemodynamic variables such as age and blood pressure contributed minimally. Partial dependence plots revealed non-linear effects of key biomarkers. Local explanation plots demonstrated the model’s ability to make confident, interpretable predictions for both positive and negative cases. Conclusions: The findings highlight the potential of EBM as a clinically useful and ethical AI approach for MI diagnosis. By combining high predictive accuracy with transparency, EBM supports biomarker prioritization and clinical risk stratification, thus aligning with precision medicine and responsible AI principles. Future research should validate the model on multi-center datasets and explore additional features for broader clinical use. Full article

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a progressive and often fatal disease caused by a virulent biotype of feline coronavirus (FCoV). Although antiviral treatments are now available, relapse and resistance remain ongoing concerns. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of P. indusiatus, a medicinal mushroom, for its antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities against FIP. The main protease (FIPV M^pro) of feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) was recombinantly expressed and purified to facilitate enzyme inhibition screening. P. indusiatus exhibited the strongest FIPV M^pro inhibitory activity among the 17 mushroom extracts tested (69.2%), showing a notable level of inhibition relative to standard antiviral agents such as lopinavir and ritonavir. To assess its anti-inflammatory potential, PBMCs derived from healthy cats and FIP-associated effusions (FIP fluid) were cultured and stimulated with LPS to induce inflammation. In healthy PBMCs, P. indusiatus significantly reduced nitrite levels, with effects similar to dexamethasone. However, PBMCs from FIP fluid, already in an activated state, showed no additional response. Notably, this study is the first to successfully isolate and culture PBMCs from FIP fluid, providing a new platform for future immunological research. These findings suggest that P. indusiatus possesses both antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, positioning it as a potential dual-action therapeutic candidate for FIP. Further investigation into cytokine signaling pathways is warranted to clarify its mechanisms of action and advance future therapeutic development. Full article

The search for natural alternatives to sodium nitrite in meat products is driven by concerns about consumer health and the need to maintain product quality and safety. In this study, the effect of sodium nitrite reduction on the quality parameters of canned pork meat with 1% lyophilized cell-free supernatant (CFS) from L. paracasei B1, during 30 days of storage, was assessed. Reduction of sodium nitrite content led to measurable changes in the color, texture, and oxidative stability of canned pork; however, the presence of 1% CFS helped preserve color, alleviated the negative impact on textural parameters, and limited lipid oxidation, thereby counteracting the typical consequences of nitrite reduction. Among the tested variants, S_75, containing 75% of the standard nitrite dose, showed the best overall balance between color retention, textural integrity, and oxidative stability. Samples without nitrite (S_0) exhibited a noticeable increase in lightness (L*) and decrease in redness (a*) over time, accompanied by a shift towards yellow-brown hues (b*, C*, H°). Importantly, the total color difference (ΔE) was least pronounced in the S_75 variant, with values of approximately 2.5 after 1 day and 2.7 after 30 days, which was markedly lower than in S_50 (ΔE ≈ 6.0 and 3.9) and S_0 (ΔE ≈ 7.9 and 8.5), thereby confirming superior color retention and overall stability during storage. Texture analysis showed that initial hardness and chewiness were higher in nitrite-free samples (S_0), suggesting that the complete omission of nitrite may negatively affect product structure. Nevertheless, all variants softened during storage, and samples with higher nitrite content, particularly S_75, retained better elasticity and cohesiveness. Lipid oxidation, expressed as TBARS values, progressed fastest in samples completely depleted of nitrite (S_0), increasing from 0.31 mg MDA/kg (day 1) to 1.35 mg MDA/kg (day 30), which confirms the antioxidant role of sodium nitrite. Interestingly, the presence of 1% CFS in the variants with reduced nitrite content partially mitigated this effect, as TBARS values in S_75 increased only from 0.29 to 0.46 mg MDA/kg, and, in S_50, from 0.45 to 0.66 mg MDA/kg, compared to the nitrite-free variant. This suggests that CFS may also have contributed to antioxidant protection. Fatty acid profiles remained relatively consistent across methods. Microbiological analysis revealed no significant differences between groups. These results demonstrate that partial nitrite reduction combined with CFS is effective, highlighting the potential of CFS as a promising functional additive in clean label meat preservation. Furthermore, reducing the sodium nitrite content in canned pork products may contribute to improved consumer health by reducing exposure to potentially harmful nitrosamine precursors. Full article

Digital holography enables the reconstruction of both 2D and 3D object information from interference patterns captured by digital cameras. A major challenge in this field is speckle noise, which significantly degrades the quality of the reconstructed images. We propose a novel speckle noise reduction method based on 3D adaptive filtering. Our technique processes a stack of holograms, each with an uncorrelated speckle pattern, using an adapted 3D Frost filter. Unlike conventional filtering techniques, our approach exploits statistical adaptivity to enhance noise suppression while preserving fine image details in the reconstructed holograms. Both numerical simulations and optical experiments confirm that our 3D filtering technique significantly enhances reconstruction quality. Specifically, it reduces the normalized standard deviation by up to 40% and improves the structural similarity index by up to 60% compared to classical 2D, 3D median, BM3D, and BM4D filters. Optical experiments validate the method’s effectiveness in practical digital holography scenarios by local and global image quality estimation metrics. These results highlight adaptive 3D filtering as a promising approach for mitigating speckle noise while maintaining structural integrity in digital holography reconstructions. Full article

Background: Autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT)—the transfer of hyaline cartilage with its underlying subchondral bone—is well established for focal osteochondral lesions, yet evidence for larger (>200 mm²) defects is limited. We assessed clinical and functional outcomes of AOT in patients with osteochondral knee lesions exceeding 200 mm². Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 52 patients underwent AOT for full-thickness osteochondral defects of the femoral condyles or patellofemoral joint. All lesions were ≥200 mm² and treated with a standardized press-fit technique using one to four overlapping cylindrical grafts. Pain and knee function were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Tegner–Lysholm Knee Score (TLKS), and Knee Society Score (KSS). Results: Mean defect size was 224.4 ± 84.5 mm². The VAS improved from 6.32 ± 1.1 preoperatively to 0.72 ± 0.6 at 12 months (p < 0.001). The TLKS rose from 58.6 ± 11.4 to 95.0 ± 6.8 and the KSS from 63.8 ± 12.2 to 97.4 ± 4.9 during the same period (both p < 0.001). Most gains occurred within the first 3–6 months and were sustained at 12 months. No major surgical complications were observed, and outcomes were unaffected by age, sex, or graft number/size. Conclusions: AOT is a safe, effective option for large osteochondral knee defects (>200 mm²), offering rapid, durable pain relief and excellent functional recovery while preserving native joint structures. Accurate donor site reconstruction and precise graft placement in the weight-bearing zone appear critical for optimal results. Longer-term prospective studies are needed to confirm durability and refine patient-selection criteria. Full article