Search Results (1,512)

Alpine glaciers are a vital resource for mountain regions. They provide water reserves, support energy production and tourism, and promote biodiversity. However, they are highly susceptible to climate change. In fact, they are recognised as being among the areas most affected by, and increasingly exposed to, natural hazards. The Rutor glacier in Aosta Valley, Italy, which has been the subject of repeated measurements since the 19th century and currently covers an area of around 8 km${}^2$, is undergoing significant and continuous retreat. It thus serves as an exemplary case study of the impact of climate change on the Italian Alps. This ongoing research has made it possible to conduct multi-temporal analysis of the glacier. Within this framework, Politecnico di Torino, in collaboration with ARPA Valle d’Aosta, has developed a multidisciplinary research approach focused on the characterisation of alpine environments. This study illustrates the geomatic workflows and derived geospatial products that can be used to carry out a 4D monitoring of the extent and volume of the Rutor Glacier and estimate its mass balance over the past six years. A specific focus of the study is the propagation of errors in multi-temporal analyses used to quantify glacier melt, with particular attention to the precision of input 3D geospatial data and to the Limit of Detection of elevation differences, ultimately enabling the estimation of the uncertainty associated with the derived quantities and their temporal trends. Finally, advantages and limitations in the multi-temporal and multi-sensor monitoring of glaciers are presented and discussed. Full article

This study applies Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory as an analytical framework to examine the development of Peking opera along the Beijing Central Axis during the Qing Dynasty. It explores how the interaction between the court and folk fields contributed to the formation of its artistic form. From this perspective, social space is understood as a structured network of objective relations, shaped by the distribution of different forms of capital and the habitus of social actors. In the Qing Dynasty, as the core of political and cultural activities, the Peking opera field along the Beijing Central Axis was divided into two major sub-fields: the court field, centered around imperial power and subject to political discipline, and the folk field, market-oriented and following secular logic. By analyzing the differences between the two fields in terms of core power, spatial characteristics, capital distribution, and the habits of actors, this study reveals their two-way interaction achieved through the movement of artists, adaptation of repertoires, and capital conversion. The interaction between the two fields was not symmetrical: while the folk field contributed performative vitality and responsiveness to audience demand, the court provided institutional authority and symbolic legitimacy. Ultimately, in the dynamic balance between power and the market, the unique form of Peking opera, characterized by the integration of elegance and vulgarity, is refined. This study deepens our understanding of the interaction between spatial organization and artistic form, while further elucidating how power, culture, and art were structurally interconnected in the Qing Dynasty through the framework of field, capital, and habitus. In doing so, it offers both theoretical insights and empirical evidence for interdisciplinary research on the social and cultural functions of traditional art. Full article

Omega-6 polyunsaturated fats (ω-6 PUFAs) are vital for many physiological functions, but their impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is controversial. Eryptosis alters blood viscosity by providing a procoagulant surface and leads to anemia, which is a recognized risk factor for CVD. This study examines the toxic mechanisms of adrenic acid (ADR), an ω-6 PUFA enriched in inflammatory and oxidative conditions, in red blood cells (RBCs). Purified RBCs were prepared from healthy volunteers and treated with 10–100 μM of ADR for 24 h at 37 °C under various physiological conditions. Eryptotic markers were studied through flow cytometry including Ca²⁺ (Fluo4/AM), loss of volume (forward scatter), phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure (annexin-V-FITC), and oxidative stress (H₂DCFDA). Moreover, hemolytic markers were measured by colorimetric methods, whereas cellular morphology was visualized using a scanning electron microscope. ADR led to significant Ca²⁺ elevation, cell shrinkage and schistocyte formation, PS externalization, hemolysis, and oxidative stress. While guanosine, heparin, and NSC 23766 prevented eryptosis and hemolysis, melatonin, ATP, adenine, and L-NAME only prevented eryptosis. Conversely, mannitol and urea exacerbated eryptosis, whereas caffeine, mannitol, and urea under Ca²⁺ deprivation and membrane potential dissipation aggravated hemolysis. ADR induces erythrocyte membrane injury and eryptosis through Ca²⁺ elevation, oxidative stress, and metabolic exhaustion subject to inhibition by the Rac1 GTPase/NOS/COX pathway. Altogether, these findings present a novel mechanistic link between lipid dysregulation and RBC dysfunction which may improve dietary strategies to prevent and manage CVD. Full article

Public digital cultural services (PDCS) are vital for providing cultural resources in the digital age, and their success is closely associated with active public collaboration. While the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) explains behavioral intention through attitudes and subjective norms, it overlooks the role of institutional structures. Drawing on TRA and Control Rights Theory, this study constructs an extended theoretical framework by introducing perceived shared control rights as a core antecedent variable and digital trust as a moderating variable, aiming to explore the psychological factors associated with individual collaborative behavior in PDCS. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 819 users of PDCS platforms, and the research hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modeling. The results show that individuals’ attitudes and subjective norms are positively associated with their collaborative willingness, which in turn is positively associated with actual collaborative behavior. Perceived shared control rights are positively associated with both collaborative willingness and collaborative behavior, and also show an indirect association with collaborative behavior through collaborative willingness. Additionally, digital trust moderates the relationship between collaborative willingness and collaborative behavior, with this positive association being stronger for individuals with higher digital trust. This study bridges the gap between macro-institutional structures and micro-psychological behavior in PDCS research, offering theoretical insights and practical references for advancing collaborative governance and supporting the sustainable development of PDCS. Full article

Background: Effective communication with patients is vital for improving health outcomes in chronic disease management. In this study, we investigated WoundScribeAI’s Scribe AI, also known as Ambient Technology, and its patient education and engagement app, Pingoo.AI. It employed a multi-agent AI model that leveraged Large Language Models (LLMs) and NotebookLM to enhance patient communication in clinical settings. Methods: The system comprised specialized agents that transcribed healthcare provider–patient conversations through ambient dictation. This transcription generated medical notes that followed the Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan (SOAP) format—a structured document used by healthcare providers to record and communicate information about patient encounters. Simultaneously, comprehensive visit summaries were also created. In the next step, these visit summaries were used to produce conversational and educational content by leveraging NotebookLM, an AI model introduced by Google that can generate podcast-style conversations from provided information. Integrating these agents allows clinicians to deliver engaging, empathetic, and actionable information to patients. Medical experts conducted a two-phase evaluation of the system’s performance based on multiple criteria, with a particular focus on diabetes education and diabetic foot care. The first phase used pre-recorded training videos, while the second phase involved simulated consultations by clinicians using the system. To validate the AI-generated educational content, we used several established frameworks in health communication that closely align with our enhancement goals. Results: The results showed that the AI model generated accurate clinical documentation and met the criteria for accurate SOAP Notes, visit summaries, and engaging educational content for patients. Given that hallucination is a significant concern related to large language models, especially in critical fields like healthcare, we meticulously analyzed the generated outputs to identify any signs of hallucinated information. Three outcomes successfully passed the validation criteria, including accuracy, completeness, comprehensiveness, absence of potential harm, and no hallucination. Additionally, the Conversational Education content was confirmed against established patient education frameworks and met criteria such as the use of metaphors, empathetic tone, and appropriate language, providing additional detail to help manage the condition. Conclusions: By providing specific instructions and prompts to NotebookLM to transform visit summaries into educational conversations, we significantly enhanced the comprehensiveness and engagement of the content for patients. In contrast to a traditional summary of the clinical visit, the podcast-style conversation enriched the content with background information, encouraging language, an empathetic tone, and helpful metaphors. Our analysis confirmed that the system did not exhibit any hallucinations, highlighting the effectiveness of our approach in mitigating this risk. These findings support the use of multi-agent AI models, combined with ambient dictation and tools like NotebookLM, to improve patient communication that surpasses traditional paper-based brochures, which are often impersonal, minimal, and do not always adhere to recommended factors for health literacy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the main thoracic manifestation of connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest is considered the gold standard imaging method for detecting and accurately characterizing ILD. This study aims to perform longitudinal visual and quantitative analyses of HRCT scans of patients with ILD secondary to CTD (ILD-CTD) and to correlate these findings with clinical outcomes (functional decline and death) in order to identify tomographic prognostic markers. Methods: This retrospective and longitudinal study included 195 patients with CTD who underwent HRCT at baseline and after two follow-ups. Data collected included initial disease extent and subjective impression of progression, as well as quantitative parameters such as lung volume and mean lung density. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) values were also recorded, along with information on patient outcome. Results: Quantitative and visual assessments demonstrated moderate agreement in estimating ILD extent. Variations in lung volume, ground-glass index, pulmonary vascular volume-to-lung volume ratio, and disease extent correlated with subjective perception of disease progression. Lung volume reduction and increased disease extent were associated with FVC decrease at follow-up 1, whereas an increased fibrosis index correlated with reduced FVC at follow-up 2. No quantitative parameter was associated with mortality risk. Conclusions: The results support the potential benefit of using quantitative CT analysis as a complementary tool to pulmonary function tests and visual analysis in the longitudinal evaluation of ILD-CTD. Full article

This review explores the hypothesis that schizophrenic symptoms may be understood not as isolated deficits, but as interconnected manifestations of a structural reorganization of consciousness. The premises of this work are grounded in a comparative matrix that suggests an underlying “consanguinity” between the philosopher’s voluntary epoché—the suspension of the natural attitude performed to study the inner workings of consciousness—and the involuntary “unworlding” passively experienced in schizophrenia. By exploring this shared ontological ground, the text suggests how specific phenomenological shifts, such as the collapse of the “vital drive,” may manifest as clinical markers; this process may eventually lead to an involuntary “transcendental reduction” where the mind’s internal machinery becomes an object of forced awareness. Building on these premises, the review tentatively outlines several key achievements. It addresses the substrate-subjectivity gap by linking biological sensory-binding failures to the onset of involuntary hyper-reflexivity. Regarding structural loss and gain of function, it suggests that the psychotic transition involves a simultaneous erosion of common-sense coherence and an intensified receptivity to unfiltered perceptual fragments, which may trigger a search for metaphysical meanings. In terms of a therapeutic synthesis, it proposes exploring the conversion of “artless decentering” into a manageable, strategic distance through mindfulness and person-centered position-taking. Finally, it discusses a potential nosographic evolution, advocating for future diagnostic classifications that prioritize the experiencing self and qualitative insights to support a more translational and empathetic approach to psychiatry. Full article

The subjective perception of safety in public space is a crucial indicator of urban participation, shaping how people experience and navigate their surroundings. Urban fear spaces highlight how physical, social, and emotional factors unequally structure access to and use of public environments, linking spatial perception to social justice. This paper addresses the question: What opportunities and limitations does a mixed-methods approach—combining immersive Virtual Reality (VR), electrodermal activity (EDA) measurement, and semi-structured interviews—offer for examining subjective perceptions of urban fear? It offers a methodological reflection on an exploratory study of potential fear spaces on the campus of Ruhr University Bochum, hypothesizing that mixed-methods integration reveals non-conscious arousal patterns inaccessible via verbal data alone. We discuss methodological potentials and limitations in integrating physiological data within qualitative frameworks. The study design comprised VR simulation, physiological signal acquisition, and qualitative interpretation and triangulation. Findings show that combining immersive VR with EDA detects non-conscious physiological arousal patterns that would remain inaccessible through verbal data alone, while simultaneously revealing substantial interpretative challenges that necessitate qualitative contextualization. Integrating interviews proved vital for linking physiological patterns to subjective meaning. The reflection concludes with implications for applying such multimodal approaches in participatory urban planning and spatial research. Full article

Sound field reproduction (SFR) is vital for noise simulation and acoustic comfort optimization in vehicle cabins. This paper reviews three core SFR techniques: Wave Field Synthesis (WFS), Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA), and Pressure Matching (PM). Their theoretical fundamentals, engineering optimizations, and adaptability to narrow enclosed cabins are analyzed. We compare the three methods in terms of reproduction accuracy, system complexity, and cost. Key challenges in vehicular applications are summarized, including strong reverberation, multi-source coupling, and the mismatch between physical reproduction and subjective perception. Future directions are proposed, such as physics-data hybrid optimization, low-cost lightweight design, and personalized acoustic comfort. This review offers a practical reference for the engineering application of SFR in vehicle cabin acoustic optimization. Full article

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an effective treatment for hematologic malignancies. However, it is limited by high costs, risk of severe toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, and heterogeneous patient responses. The current therapy monitoring depends largely on subjective symptom assessment, routine laboratory tests, and basic vital signs, without real-time, quantitative evaluation of CAR T-cell expansion or activation in clinical practice. This lack of timely immune monitoring hampers individualized care and contributes to increased treatment costs. To address this need, we present a proof-of-concept, label-free rapid optical imaging (ROI) biosensor with automated machine learning analysis for direct quantification of CAR T-cells from whole blood. This microfluidic platform integrates red blood cell (RBC) removal, CAR T-cell capture, and imaging-based quantification on a single chip, eliminating the need for centrifugation, staining, and operator-dependent interpretation. For validation, 50 μL whole blood samples spiked with Jurkat cells expressing CD19 CARs underwent RBC depletion by agglutination and microfiltration. The remaining blood components were then incubated on a sensor chip functionalized with recombinant CD19 protein. Captured CAR T-cells were imaged by brightfield microscopy and automatically enumerated using a machine learning algorithm trained on fluorescence-validated cells. The CD-19 cells’ capture performance was validated by flow cytometry and fluorescence imaging. The trained machine learning model validated at 88% sensitivity and 96% specificity. Buffer and whole blood calibration curves were established across clinically relevant concentrations (1–1000 cells/µL) with triple replicates. The results showed high correlation (0.975 and 0.990 R²) between the spiked concentration and the detected CAR T-cells, with a 95% certainty limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.6 and 1.1 cells/µL for spiked buffer, and 14 and 67 cells/µL for spiked whole-blood, respectively. Full article

Imageability is a cognitive measure of environmental differentiation and place memory. However, the existing literature focuses mainly on static morphological descriptions or subjective perception, without systematic quantitative studies of how physical environment and behavioral activity jointly generate the imageability of characteristic districts. This limits active responses to the rise of “placelessness” in numerous cities. Based on the S-O-R theory, this study proposes a “visual–activity” two-channel mediation model. Based on 65 typical characteristic districts in Wuhan, and using multi-source data in the research, PLS-SEM was employed to systematically study the process that influences imageability in urban environments. It was found that (1) behavioral activity serves as the core mediating link between the physical environment and imageability; (2) scenic beauty exerts a partial mediating effect between visual sensitivity and imageability; (3) vitality exerts a full mediating effect between activity support and imageability. This study is expected to provide a scientific foundation for design refinements, quality enhancement, and place identity construction in urban characteristic districts oriented toward perceptual experience in the post-industrial era. Full article

Surface discharge-induced degradation poses a significant threat to the operational reliability of high-voltage insulation systems. This research investigates the dielectric endurance of polyester-based nanocomposites reinforced with seven distinct nano-additives: iron oxide (Fe₃O₄), copper oxide (CuO), titanium oxide (TiO₂), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), zinc borate (ZnB) and graphene oxide (GO). Specimens were fabricated at 0.5% and 0.75% weight concentrations and subjected to constant AC electrical stress of 4.5 kV at 50 Hz until failure using the first-plane tracking method. To accurately monitor the aging process, a sophisticated signal processing framework involving Hankel-matrix-enhanced Robust Principal Component Analysis (RPCA) was developed to extract high-frequency discharge features from captured leakage current signals. The degradation characteristics were quantified using various statistical metrics, including Kurtosis, RMS and Burst Discharge Index (BDI). Experimental findings demonstrate that the incorporation of nanoparticles significantly extends the time-to-failure compared to neat polyester, although the effectiveness is highly dependent on both additive type and concentration. At 0.5 wt.%, ZnB exhibited the superior performance in delaying carbonized track formation. However, at 0.75 wt.%, Al₂O₃ emerged as the most effective additive, achieving a maximum endurance time of 31.61 min. In contrast, certain additives like TiO₂ showed a performance decline at higher loadings, likely due to nanoparticle agglomeration. The Hankel-RPCA methodology successfully isolated discharge-specific signatures from background noise, establishing a strong correlation between signal features and material failure stages. This study confirms that the synergy between advanced nanomaterial modification and robust signal processing provides an effective diagnostic tool for monitoring insulation health, offering a vital pathway for the designing of high-performance dielectrics for real-world power system applications. Full article

This study evaluates the effects of a 30-week mindfulness-enhanced resistance training (MRT) program on the physical and mental health of female college students and explores whether changes in self-esteem or mindfulness mediate the relationship between MRT and subjective well-being. Sixty-four healthy female college students were randomly assigned to either the MRT or resistance training (RT) group. Both groups participated in 90 min weekly sessions for 30 weeks. A 2 × 2 mixed-design ANOVA analyzed the intervention’s effects on physical health, mindfulness, self-esteem, and subjective well-being. PROCESS macro (Model 4) tested mediation effects. MRT and RT significantly improved physical health, with MRT showing superior improvements in waist-to-hip ratio, flexibility, and vital capacity. Only MRT improved mindfulness, self-esteem, and subjective well-being. Self-esteem changes fully mediated the relationship between MRT and subjective well-being. MRT as a comprehensive mind–body intervention significantly enhanced the physical health and subjective well-being of female college students, outperforming resistance training. Improvements in self-esteem mediated the relationship between MRT and increased subjective well-being. MRT can serve as an effective approach to promote the physical and mental health of female college students. Full article

Wildlife health surveillance is a vital element of disease prevention, biodiversity conservation, and public health protection, especially as most emerging infectious diseases originate from wildlife. In Slovenia, long-term passive surveillance based on necropsy data has yielded valuable insights into wildlife mortality patterns over the past three decades, despite inherent limitations such as carcass detectability, reporting bias, scavenging, and decomposition. Ongoing cooperation among governmental institutions, veterinary services, hunters, and wildlife management organisations has enabled the effective operation of this system, although passive surveillance remains subject to spatial, temporal, and species-specific biases. Necropsy data show that infectious diseases, particularly parasitic infections, are the main causes of mortality in key species such as roe deer and chamois, reflecting both their population abundance and targeted monitoring. In contrast, carcasses of species such as wild boar, red deer, small mammals, and birds are underrepresented due to ecological factors, biosecurity constraints, or low detectability. Overall, while passive wildlife surveillance does not provide representative population-level mortality estimates, it remains a reliable tool for identifying the presence or absence of significant diseases and for understanding broad mortality patterns when interpreted in the context of known methodological and ecological limitations. Full article

To evaluate the effectiveness of an adaptive physical education (APE) program using VR technologies, we studied the physical development and vitality indicators of college female students in two groups: those with and without functional health limitations (N = 70 each). Students with disabilities were randomly divided into experimental and control groups of 35 people each. The experimental group participated in physical education classes using VR. The health assessment included heart rate, blood pressure, and subjective health assessments. Physical development was assessed by the biological age index (BAI) by Voitenko, static balance duration, and breath-holding time. Psychological activity was assessed using the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Rezapkina Vitality Test, and the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS). The delayed effect was assessed using a questionnaire. Students with functional impairments initially demonstrated a significant decrease in overall vitality, physical activity duration, and more negative health self-perception. After the virtual reality sessions, they showed a restoration of physical development and vitality indicators to levels close to healthy, as well as a decrease in BAI. The delayed effect was confirmed after three months. The use of virtual reality technologies in the APE program effectively improves the physical development and activity (vitality) of students with functional health impairments. Full article