Search Results (117)

Background/Objectives: Immediate dentin sealing (IDS) has been widely investigated in sound dentin; however, its efficacy on demineralized dentin remains insufficiently explored. This in vitro experimental study aimed to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of indirect composite resin restorations bonded to demineralized dentin using IDS, assessed at 24 h and after 6 months of aging. Methods: Twenty-five extracted premolars were randomly divided into five groups: (1) control (no sealing), (2) IDS applied to sound dentin (sound-IDS), (3) IDS applied to demineralized dentin (carious-IDS), (4) delayed dentin sealing (DDS) on sound dentin (sound-DDS), and (5) DDS on demineralized dentin (carious-DDS). SBS values were analyzed using a three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with dentin condition (sound vs. demineralized), aging time (24 h vs. 6 months), and sealing strategy (control, IDS, DDS) as independent variables. Statistical analyses were performed using SigmaPlot 12.0, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The results showed that IDS led to significantly higher SBS than DDS (p < 0.05). Bond strength was significantly influenced by dentin condition (p < 0.05), and all interactions between variables—particularly between dentin condition and sealing strategy, and between aging time and treatment—were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Overall, bond strength was higher at 24 h than after 6 months. IDS showed optimal performance in sound dentin, while DDS resulted in better long-term outcomes in demineralized dentin. Conclusions: These findings suggest that DDS may be the more effective approach in cases of carious or demineralized dentin. Full article

This paper presents the design, implementation, and experimental validation of a Condition Monitoring (CM) circuit for SiC-based Power Electronics Converters (PECs). The paper leverages in situ drain–source resistance (R_ds,on) measurements, interfaced with cloud connectivity for data processing and lifetime assessment, addressing key limitations in current state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods. Traditional approaches rely on expensive data acquisition systems under controlled laboratory conditions, making them unsuitable for real-world applications due to component variability, time delay, and noise sensitivity. Furthermore, these methods lack cloud interfacing for real-time data analysis and fail to provide comprehensive reliability metrics such as Remaining Useful Life (RUL). Additionally, the proposed CM method benefits from noise mitigation during switching transitions by utilizing delay circuits to ensure stable and accurate data capture. Moreover, collected data are transmitted to the cloud for long-term health assessment and damage evaluation. In this paper, experimental validation follows a structured design involving signal acquisition, filtering, cloud transmission, and temperature and thermal degradation tracking. Experimental testing has been conducted at different temperatures and operating conditions, considering coolant temperature variations (40 °C to 80 °C), and an output power of 7 kW. Results have demonstrated a clear correlation between temperature rise and R_ds,on variations, validating the ability of the proposed method to predict device degradation. Finally, by leveraging cloud computing, this work provides a practical solution for real-world Wide Band Gap (WBG)-based PEC reliability and lifetime assessment. Full article

The present study highlights the critical role of surface type, insect species, and exposure duration in determining the efficacy of surface-applied insecticides in stored-product pest management. Four insecticides were sprayed and evaluated on different surfaces (concrete, metallic, plastic, and ceramic) against two beetles: the red flour beetle and the tobacco beetle. Alpha-cypermethrin and spinosad exhibited rapid and high efficacy, particularly on non-porous surfaces such as metal and ceramic, whereas pirimiphos-methyl was less effective initially and required extended exposure to achieve complete mortality, especially against Tribolium castaneum. In contrast, Lasioderma serricorne showed greater susceptibility across all insecticides and surfaces. Spinosad maintained high efficacy across all surface types, suggesting broader applicability under variable conditions. The reduced performance of insecticides on concrete surfaces underscores the influence of substrate porosity on insecticide bioavailability. Additionally, the observed delayed mortality effect in all treatments indicates that even brief exposure can result in lethal outcomes, emphasizing the long-term potential of these applications. These findings underscore the need for surface-specific application strategies and support the integration of surface treatments into comprehensive pest management programs. Further research is warranted under simulated field conditions to assess residual efficacy over time and in the presence of food, thereby enhancing the relevance of laboratory findings to real-world storage environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global cancer care. This study compared gastric cancer surgical outcomes before and during the pandemic in Turkey. We also aimed to analyze the impact of the pandemic and factors on survival and mortality in gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included 324 patients from three tertiary centers in Turkey who underwent gastric cancer surgery between January 2018 and December 2022. Patients were stratified into Pre-COVID-19 (n = 150) and COVID-19 Era (n = 174) groups. Comprehensive demographic, surgical, pathological, and survival data were analyzed. To identify factors independently associated with postoperative mortality, a multivariable logistic regression model was applied. For evaluating predictors of long-term survival, multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was conducted. Results: The median time from diagnosis to surgery was comparable between groups, while the time from surgery to pathology report was significantly prolonged during the pandemic (p = 0.012). Laparoscopic surgery (p = 0.040) and near-total gastrectomy (p = 0.025) were more frequently performed in the Pre-COVID-19 group. Although survival rates between groups were similar (p = 0.964), follow-up duration was significantly shorter in the COVID-19 Era (p < 0.001). Comparison between survivor and non-survivor groups showed that several variables were significantly associated with mortality, including larger tumor size (p < 0.001), greater number of metastatic lymph nodes (p < 0.001), elevated preoperative CEA (p = 0.001), CA 19-9 (p < 0.001), poor tumor differentiation (p = 0.002), signet ring cell histology (p = 0.003), lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001), and perineural invasion (p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression identified total gastrectomy (OR: 2.14), T4 tumor stage (OR: 2.93), N3 nodal status (OR: 2.87), and lymphovascular invasion (OR: 2.87) as independent predictors of postoperative mortality. Cox regression analysis revealed that combined tumor location (HR: 1.73), total gastrectomy (HR: 1.56), lymphovascular invasion (HR: 2.63), T4 tumor stage (HR: 1.93), N3 nodal status (HR: 1.71), and distant metastasis (HR: 1.74) were independently associated with decreased overall survival. Conclusions: Although gastric cancer surgery continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, some delays in pathology reporting were observed; however, these did not significantly affect the timing of adjuvant therapy or patient outcomes. Importantly, pandemic timing was not identified as an independent risk factor for mortality in multivariable logistic regression analysis, nor for survival in multivariable Cox regression analysis. Instead, tumor burden and aggressiveness—specifically advanced stage, lymphovascular invasion, and total gastrectomy—remained the primary independent determinants of poor prognosis. While pandemic-related workflow delays occurred, institutional adaptability preserved oncologic outcomes. Full article

This study investigates the short- and long-run drivers of natural gas consumption in the European Union using an ARDL bounds testing approach. The analysis incorporates GDP per capita, liquid fuel use, and solid fuel use as explanatory variables. Augmented Dickey–Fuller tests confirm mixed integration orders, allowing valid ARDL estimation. The results reveal a statistically significant long-run relationship (cointegration) between gas consumption and the energy–economic system. In the short run, the use of liquid fuel exerts a strong positive influence on gas demand, while the effects of GDP materialise only after a two-year lag. Solid fuels show a delayed substitutive impact, reflecting the ongoing transition from coal. An error correction model confirms rapid convergence to equilibrium, with 77% of deviations corrected within one period. Recursive residual and CUSUM tests indicate structural stability over time. These findings highlight the responsiveness of EU gas demand to both economic and policy signals, offering valuable insights for energy modelling and strategic planning under the European Green Deal. Full article

Bilateral teleoperation systems have been widely used in many fields of robotics, such as industrial manipulation, medical treatment, space exploration, and deep-sea operation. Delays in communication, known as an inevitable issues in practical implementation, especially for long-distance operations and challenging communication situations, can destroy system passivity and potentially lead to system failure. In this work, we address the time-delayed three-channel teleoperation design problem to guarantee system passivity and achieve high transparency simultaneously. To realize this, the three-channel teleoperation structure is first reformulated to form a two-channel-like architecture. Then, the wave variable technique is used to handle the communication delay and guarantee system passivity. Two novel wave variable compensators are proposed to achieve delay-minimized system transparency, and energy reservoirs are employed to monitor and regulate the energy introduced via these compensators to preserve overall system passivity. Numerical studies confirm that the proposed method significantly improves both kinematic and force tracking performance, achieving near-perfect correspondence with only a single-trip delay. Quantitative analyses using Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) metrics show substantial error reductions compared to conventional wave variable and direct transmission-based three-channel teleoperation approaches. Moreover, statistical validation via the Mann–Whitney U test further confirms the significance of these improvements in system performance. The proposed design guarantees passivity with any passive human operator and environment without requiring restrictive assumptions, offering a robust and generalizable solution for teleoperation tasks with communication time delay. Full article

Algal blooms pose significant risks to public health and aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the need for real-time water quality monitoring. Traditional manual methods are often limited by delays in data collection, which can hinder timely response and effective management. This study proposes a solution by integrating automated monitoring systems (AMSs) with advanced machine learning (ML) techniques to predict chlorophyll-a ($Chl-a$) concentrations. Utilizing low-cost and readily available input variables, we developed energy-efficient ML algorithms optimized for deployment on buoys with a battery and hardware resources. The AMS employs preprocessing methods like the SMOTE and Random Forest (RF) for feature selection and ranking. Deep feature extraction is performed through a ResNet-18 model, while temporal dependencies are captured using a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network. A Softmax output layer then predicts $Chl-a$ concentrations. An alert system is incorporated to warn when $Chl-a$ levels exceed 10 μg/L, signaling potential bloom conditions. The results show that this approach offers a rapid, cost-effective, and scalable solution for real-time water quality monitoring, enhancing manual sampling efforts and improving management of water bodies at risk. Full article

This case study presents the long-term management of a 14-year-old male diagnosed with 18q deletion syndrome, also known as de Grouchy Syndrome, highlighting the challenges of treating rare chromosomal disorders in rural Romania. Background and Clinical Significance: 18q deletion syndrome, also known as de Grouchy syndrome, is a chromosomal disorder caused by the deletion of a part of the long arm of chromosome 18. This syndrome is seen in one out of 10,000 live births. The main features of the syndrome are short stature, hearing loss, hypotonia, mental retardation, endocrine disorders, and autoimmunity. Case Presentation: The patient’s condition was initially suspected at birth due to abnormal features and was later confirmed through genetic testing, revealing a 46,XY,del(18) karyotype. Key clinical features include craniofacial dysmorphism, delayed growth, congenital cardiac anomalies, developmental delay, severe neurological impairment, and multiple comorbidities such as endocrine dysfunction, dental anomalies, and orthopedic deformities. Despite early interventions such as cardiac surgery, the patient’s management has been challenged by limited access to specialized care. Conclusions: The case underscores the importance of timely genetic testing, early multidisciplinary care, and the role of family support in managing complex disorders. This report also addresses the gaps in healthcare accessibility in rural settings and emphasizes the need for improved infrastructure and genetic services. By comparing this case with the existing literature, the study explores the variability in clinical presentations of 18q deletion syndrome and advocates for more precise genetic testing to better understand its phenotypic spectrum. The patient’s ongoing challenges with medical and socio-economic factors emphasize the critical need for coordinated care and family support in managing rare genetic conditions. Full article

This research focuses on the theoretical asymptotic stability and long-time decay of the zero solution for a system of time-fractional nonlinear Schrödinger delay equations (NSDEs) in the context of the Caputo fractional derivative. Using the fractional Halanay inequality, we demonstrate theoretically when the considered system decays and behaves asymptotically, employing an energy function in the sense of the L₂ norm. Together with utilizing the finite difference method for the spatial variables, we investigate the long-time stability for the semi-discrete system. Furthermore, we operate the L1 scheme to approximate the Caputo fractional derivative and analyze the long-time stability of the fully discrete system through the discrete energy of the system. Moreover, we demonstrate that the proposed numerical technique energetically captures the long-time behavior of the original system of NSDEs. Finally, we provide numerical examples to validate the theoretical results. Full article

Thermal processes with prolonged and variable delays pose considerable difficulties due to unpredictable system dynamics and external disturbances, often resulting in diminished control effectiveness. This work presents a hybrid control strategy that synthesizes deep reinforcement learning (DRL) strategies with nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) to improve the robust control performance of a thermal process with a long time delay. In this approach, NMPC cost functions are formulated as learning functions to achieve control objectives in terms of thermal tracking and disturbance rejection, while an actor–critic (AC) reinforcement learning agent dynamically adjusts control actions through an adaptive policy based on the exploration and exploitation of real-time data about the thermal process. Unlike conventional NMPC approaches, the proposed framework removes the need for predefined terminal cost tuning and strict constraint formulations during the control execution at runtime, which are typically required to ensure robust stability. To assess performance, a comparative study was conducted evaluating NMPC against AC-based controllers built upon policy gradient algorithms such as the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) and the twin delayed deep deterministic policy gradient (TD3). The proposed method was experimentally validated using a temperature control laboratory (TCLab) testbed featuring long and varying delays. Results demonstrate that while the NMPC–AC hybrid approach maintains tracking control performance comparable to NMPC, the proposed technique acquires adaptability while tracking and further strengthens robustness in the presence of uncertainties and disturbances under dynamic system conditions. These findings highlight the benefits of integrating DRL with NMPC to enhance reliability in thermal process control and optimize resource efficiency in thermal applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: The inconsistent clinical outcomes of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) highlight the need to elucidate PRP’s therapeutic potential and influencing factors. Real-world evidence can provide valuable insights in a broad patient population. This study aims to analyze real-world data from KOA patients treated with PRP. Methods: Real-world data from 86 KOA patients treated with intraosseous combined with intra-articular (IO + IA) PRP injections were utilized to retrospectively evaluate the long-term effectiveness of this procedure and the impact of PRP characteristics and patient variables on treatment response. Results: The WOMAC score was reduced 2 months after completing the treatment procedure. Such a reduction was sustained throughout the follow-up time points, up to 18 months. The percentage of responders was between 55 and 67%. The PRP erythrocyte and leukocyte counts negatively correlated with the change in WOMAC score (ΔWOMAC). The PRP platelet count did not correlate with the WOMAC or the ΔWOMAC scores. The KL severity degree did not affect the responsiveness to treatment. Women reported a higher WOMAC score than men, both before and 2 and 3 months after PRP treatment. However, the ΔWOMAC score was not different between sexes within this period. A negative correlation trend was detected between the patient’s age and the ΔWOMAC score. Conclusions: IO + IA PRP administration alleviated severe KOA symptoms with sustained relief for up to 18 months in most patients, potentially delaying the need for knee prostheses. The clinical efficacy was not influenced by narrow platelet dose variations but was negatively impacted by the leukocyte content in the long term, while sex and KOA severity had no influence. Full article

Introduction: Basketball performance requires not only intermittent high-intensity movements—such as sprinting, jumping, and rapid directional changes—but also rapid decision-making under cognitive and psychological stress. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a potential modality to enhance both physical and mental performance due to its capacity to modulate cortical excitability and promote synaptic plasticity. Although the broader literature suggests that tDCS can benefit motor performance and endurance across various sports, its specific impact on basketball remains underexplored. Methods: This scoping review aimed to summarize current evidence on the effects of tDCS in basketball. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Cochrane, identifying studies published between January 2008 and February 2025. Only clinical trials investigating tDCS interventions in basketball players were included. Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized narratively, with a focus on stimulation parameters (site, duration, intensity) and performance outcomes (shooting accuracy, dribbling, sprinting, decision-making, fatigue). Results: The reviewed studies indicated that tDCS—particularly when applied over the motor cortex—was associated with moderate improvements in shooting accuracy, dribbling time, repeated-sprint performance, and decision-making under fatigue. Some studies reported delayed rather than immediate benefits, suggesting that tDCS may prime neural networks for enhanced learning and retention. However, not all findings were consistent; certain interventions produced minimal or no significant effects, especially regarding subjective mental fatigue and cognitive workload. The variability in electrode placements and stimulation protocols highlights the need for methodological standardization. Conclusions: Current evidence partially supports the potential of tDCS to improve specific performance domains in basketball, particularly in skill acquisition, neuromuscular efficiency, and decision-making. Nevertheless, the findings are limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous protocols, and a lack of long-term follow-up. Future research should prioritize larger, multisite studies with standardized tDCS parameters and ecologically valid outcome measures to confirm the efficacy and practical relevance of tDCS in competitive basketball settings. Full article

Background: Disadvantaged children often enter kindergarten with delays in fundamental motor skill (FMS) competence, which is critical for future physical activity engagement. The Summer Success—Successful Kinesthetic Instruction for Preschoolers (SS-SKIP) program was designed to address these developmental gaps, with a short, intensive intervention. This pilot study evaluated the impact of a 4-week SS-SKIP program on FMS, perceived motor competence (PMC), and executive function (EF). Methods: Twenty-one preschool children (mean age = 62.62 ± 4.61 months) from disadvantaged communities participated in an intensive, month-long (240 min) program. FMS were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2), PMC was evaluated using the Pictorial Scale for Perceived Competence, and EF was measured via the Head–Toes–Knees–Shoulders (HTKS), Go/No-Go, and Sorting cards tests. Standing long jump was measured in meters. A pretest–post-test design assessed program impact using 2 Gender X 2 Session MANOVAs/ANOVAs on dependent variables. Results: Analysis of differences in baseline measures of FMS competence and EF by Gender and Session revealed no significant main effects of Gender, Session, or their interaction across measures (all p > 0.05). Repeated measures ANOVAs by Gender revealed a significant main effect for Time for locomotor standard scores (p < 0.001), object control standard scores (p < 0.001), and HTKS scores (p < 0.001), indicating improvement from pretest to post-test. By contrast, jump distance, PMC, Go/No-Go and Card Sorting scores were non-significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: A short, intense SS-SKIP FMS intervention significantly enhanced FMS and improved HTKS performance. This pilot study was limited by the lack of a control group and small N. These findings underscore the potential of short, targeted interventions in addressing early motor delays in disadvantaged preschoolers, warranting further investigation into their long-term impacts. Full article

Satellite retrievals can capture the spatiotemporal variation of O₃ over a large area near the surface. However, due to the unstable functional relationships between variables across spatiotemporal scales, the outlier predictions will reduce the accuracy of the prediction model. Therefore, a validated residual constrained random forest model (RF-RVC) is proposed to estimate the monthly and annual O₃ concentration datasets of 0.1° in China from 2005 to 2020 using O₃ precursor remote-sensing data and other auxiliary data. The temporal and spatial variations of O₃ concentrations in China and the four urban agglomerations (Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH), Yangtze River Delta (YRD), Pearl River Delta (PRD) and Sichuan–Chongqing (SC)) were calculated. The results show that the annual R² and RMSE of the RF-RVC model are 0.72~0.89 and 8.4~13.06 μg/m³. Among them, the RF-RVC model with the temporal residuals constraint has the greatest performance improvement, with the annual R² increasing from 0.59 to 0.8, and the RMSE decreasing from 17.24 μg/m³ to 10.74 μg/m³, which is significantly better than that of the RF model. The North China Plain is the focus of ozone pollution. Summer is the season of a high incidence of ozone pollution in China, YRD, PYD, and SC, while pollution in the PRD is delayed to October due to the monsoon. In addition, the trend of the O₃ and its excess proportion in China and the four urban agglomerations is not satisfactory; targeted measures should be taken to reduce the risk of environmental ozone. The research findings confirm the effectiveness of the residual constraint approach in long-term time-series modeling. In the future, it can be further extended to the modeling of other pollutants, providing more accurate data support for health risk assessments. Full article

In this work, we present a novel four-species periodic diffusive predator–prey model, which incorporates delay and feedback control mechanisms, marking substantial progress in ecological modeling. This model offers a more realistic and detailed portrayal of the intricate dynamics of predator–prey interactions. Our primary objective is to establish the existence of a periodic solution for this new model, which depends only on time variables and is independent of spatial variables (we refer to it as a spatially homogeneous periodic solution). By employing the comparison theorem and the fixed point theorem tailored for delay differential equations, we derive a set of sufficient conditions that guarantee the emergence of such a solution. This analytical framework lays a solid mathematical foundation for understanding the periodic behaviors exhibited by predator–prey systems with delayed and feedback-regulated interactions. Moreover, we explore the global asymptotic stability of the aforementioned periodic solution. We organically combine Lyapunov stability theory, upper and lower solution techniques for partial differential equations with delay, and the squeezing theorem for limits to formulate additional sufficient conditions that ensure the stability of the periodic solution. This stability analysis is vital for forecasting the long-term outcomes of predator–prey interactions and evaluating the model’s resilience against disturbances. To validate our theoretical findings, we undertake a series of numerical simulations. These simulations not only corroborate our analytical results but also further elucidate the dynamic behaviors of the four-species predator–prey model. Our research enhances our understanding of the complex interactions within ecological systems and carries significant implications for the conservation and management of biological populations. Full article