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Article
Engineering
Other

Zuo Tang

,

Xiaoheng Wang

,

Yefei Mao

,

Ruochen Zhao

,

Baozhen Zhao

,

Huicong Chang

,

Chang Yang

,

Lin Xiao

Abstract: Strong light interference severely degrades imaging system performance. This paper presents a novel Digital Micromirror Device (DMD)-based imaging system for robust strong light suppression and long-distance detection. Our design strategically places the DMD at the primary image plane, utilizing a large F-number objective for extended depth of field. The relay imaging system employs a tilted image plane in a near-symmetric configuration to effectively balance DMD-induced aberrations, simplifying alignment and achieving a compact, high-performance layout. The DMD's regional flipping capability enables precise, dynamic suppression of strong light. Experimental results from a fabricated prototype demonstrate superior imaging quality (MTF > 0.3 at 167.3 lp/mm) and exceptional suppression of intense laser interference, ensuring clear image acquisition in challenging lighting. This system offers an efficient solution for high-quality, long-range imaging in strong light environments.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Gaetan LeClair

,

Peter Mayo

Abstract: Insect attractant lures come in many formats, one of which utilizes tapered rubber sleeve stoppers, normally utilized to seal laboratory glassware openings. Their cup-shape top happens to be ideal to pipet a solution within this cavity, and, through permeation, load quantities of active ingredients. The expansion or swelling of the rubber facilitates the permeation of the active within its matrix, a role that dichloromethane performs well. Dichloromethane is also favored due to its volatility and broad chemical compatibility. However, this solvent is possibly on the verge of retirement, which would mean finding alternatives. It was found that several other common laboratory solvents could serve as replacement, and of those tested, tetrahydrofuran outperformed dichloromethane in terms of overall volume uptake and swelling. When loading the septum/sleeve with larger amounts of active, a full soaking methodology can disperse the active throughout the rubber sleeve as well as reduce labor requirement since batches can be processed compared to manually pipetting a solution to individual sleeves.

Review
Engineering
Automotive Engineering

Vanchha Chandrayan

,

Ignacio Alvarez

Abstract: In recent years we have seen Large Language Models (LLMs) demonstrating robust reasoning capabilities comparable to human performance. This makes them increasingly appealing for driver assistance, where adaptation to dynamic human context is essential. Yet, research in this area remains fragmented, often focusing on isolated applications, lacking utilization of LLM's full potential to deliver integrated, context-specific support and action. This survey synthesizes recent advancements in LLM-driven occupant monitoring systems, focusing on their capabilities for interpreting driver states and acting appropriately, enabling a new generation of intelligent driver assistance. We critically examine pioneering frameworks, benchmarks, and foundational datasets that employ techniques like reasoning chains, multimodality, and human-in-the-loop feedback to create personalized and safe driving experiences. We lay out the current trends, limitations, emerging patterns, in addition to a novel human-centered evaluation of the field, providing researchers with a roadmap towards transparent and trustworthy in-cabin systems, that bridge safety with driver experience.

Article
Medicine and Pharmacology
Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Ella Findling

,

Terrence Bissoondial

,

Prakash Narayan

Abstract: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in children and is strongly associated with obesity and insulin resistance. In this study, we evaluated the clinical effects of GLP-1 RA therapy in a de-identified cohort of pediatric patients with MASLD and investigated potential molecular mechanisms using publicly available transcriptomic datasets from models of liver disease. Longitudinal FibroScan measurements from seven pediatric patients treated with GLP-1 RAs demonstrated significant reductions in controlled attenuation parameter scores, transient elastography scores and AST levels, indicating improvements in hepatic steatosis, liver stiffness and the liver inflammatory profile, respectively. To explore potential mechanisms underlying these observations, we analyzed transcriptomic datasets from methionine-choline deficient (MCD) and high-fat diet (HFD) mouse models of liver disease. A pattern-matching algorithm identified a core set of ten genes consistently upregulated in both models and downregulated following GLP-1 RA treatment in the HFD model. These genes are enriched in extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammatory signaling, and fibrogenic pathways associated with hepatic stellate cell activation. Collectively, these findings suggest that GLP-1 RA therapy may improve pediatric MASLD by attenuating fibrogenic and inflammatory transcriptional programs. Although limited by a small cohort size, this integrated clinical-transcriptomic approach supports further investigation of GLP-1 receptor agonists as a therapeutic strategy for pediatric MASLD.

Article
Engineering
Architecture, Building and Construction

Przemysław Konopski

,

Wojciech Bonenberg

,

Roman Pilch

Abstract: Despite advances in engineering, fire safety improvements have plateaued in developed nations, necessitating a reassessment of resource allocation. This study develops a comprehensive fire safety assessment model for the Polish context using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). A panel of ten experts—comprising fire safety inspectors, State Fire Service officers, and architects—evaluated safety through a two-dimensional framework: the Fire Hazard Index (FHI) and Fire Safety Index (FSI). The results reveal a critical asymmetry: human factors (0.228) and combustible materials dominate the hazard landscape, whereas intelligent AI/IoT systems (0.4133) and passive protection (0.2113) offer the highest potential for safety enhancement. A novel "convergence-divergence" phenomenon was identified: hazard-focused assessments produce convergent priorities across building types (span 0.116), implying universal mitigation needs (e.g., education), while protection-focused assessments yield divergent priorities (span 0.250), justifying targeted investment. Specifically, healthcare facilities (ZL II) require disproportionate protection investment (priority 0.310). The study concludes that sustainable fire safety strategies must combine universal hazard mitigation with targeted technological interventions, offering a data-driven framework for policy optimization in Poland.

Review
Physical Sciences
Other

Roberto Alvarez-Martinez

,

Pedro Miramontes

Abstract: Ecosystems can undergo abrupt, often irreversible transitions between alternative states —phenomena termed critical transitions or regime shifts— with profound consequences for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being. Early warning signals (EWS) derived from time series analysis offer the prospect of anticipating such transitions before they occur, potentially enabling preventive management intervention. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of EWS methods for ecological systems, encompassing theoretical foundations, statistical indicators, empirical applications, and emerging methodological frontiers. We examine the dynamical basis of EWS in critical slowing down theory, wherein systems approaching bifurcation points exhibit characteristic statistical signatures including rising autocorrelation, increasing variance, and spectral reddening. We present a systematic overview of proposed indicators (Table 1), discuss moving-window frameworks for their computation, and critically evaluate preprocessing requirements and sensitivity to analytical choices. Empirical applications across major ecosystem types---including lakes, coral reefs, grasslands, forests, and marine fisheries---reveal both successes and limitations, with EWS performance depending critically on data quality, transition mechanism, and system-specific dynamics (Table 2). We address recent advances including machine learning approaches, non-equilibrium thermodynamic indicators, multivariate extensions, and the important distinction between bifurcation-induced, noise-induced, and rate-induced tipping. We conclude with recommendations for specialists, emphasizing the integration of EWS within broader monitoring frameworks, systematic sensitivity analysis, and the interpretation of indicators as probabilistic assessments of changing resilience rather than deterministic predictions of imminent collapse.

Article
Computer Science and Mathematics
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Kalin Stoyanov

Abstract: We present an information-theoretic framework that models creative reasoning as structured, task-directed motion within hierarchically organized epistemic structures. Creative problem solving is described as a progressive reconfiguration of an initial epistemic state toward a desired target configuration through a sequence of intermediate representations. Each representation is modeled by an empirical structural distribution over extracted features, enabling two complementary quantitative diagnostics: (i) a divergence measure—the Jensen–Shannon (JS) metric—capturing structural departure, novelty, and analogical proximity; and (ii) energy-based plausibility measures expressing conformity to dominant structural regularities and agent-relative constraints. Their interaction induces a geometry in which exploration balances novelty against structural admissibility, and cross-domain transfer is enabled through alignment of compatible representations. We introduce algebraic and probabilistic principles governing the generation, evaluation, and selection of candidate representations, including neighborhood-restricted exploration, history-sensitive evaluation, and non-redundant comparison under progressively refined interpretive conditions. The framework is operationalized at the level of the epistemic structures accessible to an individual reasoning agent, while large language models are interpreted as mechanisms that facilitate access to broader reservoirs of structured knowledge. Although a musical case study (J. S. Bach’s The Art of Fugue) is used for illustration, the proposed framework is domain-general and applies to any setting involving structured representations and lawful transformations. The resulting formalism supports principled approaches to task-oriented creative search, analogical reasoning, and autonomous knowledge exploration, with potential implications for machine-assisted discovery and structurally grounded communication across intelligent systems.

Article
Environmental and Earth Sciences
Environmental Science

Kerstin Damerau

,

Flaminia Ortzenzi

,

Graham McAuliffe

,

Carlos Gonzalez Fischer

,

Oleksandr Mialyk

,

Hilda Vasanthakaalam

,

Fred Wangila

,

Pablo Manzano

,

Jessica Colston

,

Ty Beal

Abstract: Accelerating sustainable food system transitions requires spatially explicit integration of localproduction conditions and nutritional priorities, yet such assessments remain scarce, particularlyfor low- and middle-income countries. We developed an open-source, reproducible nutritionalLife Cycle Assessment model – Local Environmental and Nutritional Scoring (LENS) – andanalyzed sub-national food supply chains across six environmental impact categories in Kenyaand Rwanda. Results reveal strong context dependency: terrestrial animal products showcomparable impacts to most plant-source foods when comprehensively assessed. Enviro-nutritional efficiencies tend to be highest for wild-caught fish and seafood, pulses, fruit andvegetables from low-input systems, and lowest for starchy staples and poultry. Substantialvariation within food groups, between co-products, and across space necessitates interpretingscores at landscape level rather than as independent benchmarks for scaling production.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Urology and Nephrology

Olga Balafa

,

Marianthi Androulaki

Abstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health burden associated with substantially increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death across all stages of CKD. Over the past decades, several pharmacologic therapies—including renin–angiotensin system inhibitors, sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and lipid-lowering agents—have demonstrated substantial cardio-nephroprotective benefits and are recommended in international guidelines. However, real-world implementation of these therapies remains incomplete, and emerging evidence highlights important sex-based disparities in prescribing patterns. Although CKD is more prevalent in women worldwide, women with CKD are consistently less likely than men to receive guideline-directed cardioprotective and nephroprotective medications. This treatment gap spans both traditional therapies, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins, and newer agents with proven outcome benefits. Women are less likely to initiate treatment, less likely to receive high-intensity or target doses, and less likely to achieve recommended blood pressure and lipid goals. Importantly, the presence of CKD attenuates the usual female survival advantage, and the relative excess cardiovascular risk associated with CKD may be particularly pronounced in women. The under-prescription of cardio-renal therapies in women with CKD reflects a complex interplay of factors. These include older age at presentation, higher reported rates of adverse drug reactions, concerns regarding tolerability and safety in advanced kidney disease, therapeutic inertia, underestimation of cardiovascular risk, and persistent underrepresentation of women in clinical trials. Biological differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, as well as structural and system-level barriers, further contribute to inequities in care. Addressing these disparities requires improved risk recognition, sex-informed prescribing practices, enhanced representation of women in clinical research, and implementation strategies that incorporate sex-disaggregated performance metrics. Reducing treatment gaps is essential to improving cardiovascular and renal outcomes and to achieving equitable, precision-based care for women with CKD.

Article
Public Health and Healthcare
Other

Halil Evren Senturk

,

Gulsum Tanir

,

Ulkum Erdogan Yuce

,

Adem Karatut

,

Ecesu Karakaş

Abstract: Background: The decline in physical activity during the transition to early adolescence poses a significant threat to lifelong health and well-being, directly impacting the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3). To design effective preventive interventions, researchers need developmentally appropriate tools to measure the psychological drivers of physical activity. Objectives: This study aimed to adapt and validate the Attitude To-wards Sport Scale (ATSS), originally developed for high school students, for a middle school population (ages 10–15). Methods: We used a mixed-methods approach, starting with cognitive think-aloud protocols to ensure semantic suitability, followed by a cross-sectional survey of 531 students. Data were analyzed using robust Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Results: The results confirmed that the original three-factor struc-ture (Interest, Lifestyle, and Participation) perfectly fit the early adolescent sample. The scale demonstrated high composite reliability across all dimensions. Furthermore, the adapted ATSS showed strong criterion-related validity through high correlations with perceived physical literacy and actual physical activity durations. It also successfully dif-ferentiated between licensed athletes and non-licensed students. Conclusions: We con-clude that the adapted ATSS is a highly reliable and developmentally sensitive screening tool for pediatricians, educators, and public health professionals to monitor youth sports engagement and promote sustainable health-lifestyle behaviors.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Dietetics and Nutrition

Aleksandra Rodziewicz

,

Ewa Bryl

Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune background and unknown etiology. The importance of genetic factors in the RA development is well established. Environmental factors have also been extensively researched in relation to risk of RA and managing its symptoms. Smoking, physical activity, diet and gut microbiota are considered to be the most essential modifiable factors in RA. Among dietary interventions the most researched is Mediterranean diet, monounsaturated fatty acids, fish consumption and fish oil (EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA, docosahexaenoic acid). Others concerned gluten-free and vegan or vegetarian diet, salt intake, supplementation with vitamin D, antioxidants, prebiotics and probiotics. Diet modifications can alter the gut environment and the association between RA development or severity and composition of gut bacteria has already been shown. This review focuses on effectiveness and usefulness of various dietary approaches and supplements in RA prevention and management, including influence on disease activity and inflammatory status. Composition of gut microbiota and its changes in response to dietary factors are also considered. There is a great need for further research into mutual dependencies of diet, microbiome and RA activity. The current state of knowledge provides promising evidence for future nutrition and microbial therapies.

Article
Medicine and Pharmacology
Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Valentina Chiappa

,

Giulia Gremmo

,

Matteo Interlenghi

,

Christian Salvatore

,

Giorgio Bogani

,

Simona Palladino

,

Umberto Leone Roberti Maggiore

,

Giuseppina Calareso

,

Biagio Paolini

,

Lucia Zanchi

+3 authors

Abstract: Background. The preoperative differential diagnosis of myometrial lesions remains a significant challenge when using conventional imaging techniques, such as ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Radiomics and machine learning, which leverage quantitative features beyond human visual perception, are increasingly recognized as promising tools for improving differential diagnosis in gynecology. Methods. This retrospective study included patients who underwent surgery for uterine masses and had preoperative MR. A machine learning model was developed to analyze radiomic features extracted from T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted MR images. Results. 44 subjects were included: 19 (43.2%) classified as "sarcoma" and 25 (56.8%) as "fibroid" based on histology after surgery. This dataset was used for training and cross-validation of different models. Three models, comprising ensembles of machine learning classifiers (random forests, support vector machines, and k-nearest neighbors), were developed for binary classification using histological diagnosis as reference standard. The best-performing model achieved the following results: AUC 90%, accuracy 82%, sensitivity 95%, specificity 72%, PPV 72%, and NPV 95%. Conclusions. Our model demonstrated high sensitivity and moderate accuracy, suggesting its potential as a valuable tool for assisting clinicians in the preliminary assessment of myometrial lesions and guiding decision-making toward conservative management in cases of non-suspicious masses.

Article
Computer Science and Mathematics
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Penglei Sun

,

Song Tang

,

Jiawen Wen

,

Runwei Guan

,

Yuxuan Liang

,

Weiping Ding

,

Yang Yang

,

Xiaowen Chu

Abstract: Urban Embodied Agents (UrbanEAs) are emerging to actively interact with complex, large-scale city environments and generate vast, heterogeneous data streams, moving beyond the single-vehicle of existing autonomous driving. However, urban environments present distinct challenges, including environmental variability, limited observability, and interaction complexity. These challenges hinder the effectiveness of existing embodied agents, which have focused on controlled indoor environments, and expose the inherent limitations of relying on single-domain data. Therefore, establishing a comprehensive data lifecycle to fuse multidomain data from terrain, aerial, and space is a strategy for developing actionable embodied capabilities from raw urban streams. Distinct from existing surveys that follow a model-centric paradigm for urban computing or autonomous driving, we systematically propose and review a comprehensive Data Lifecycle from a multidomain data perspective, which is critical for the UrbanEA. First, we propose a unified framework containing four key stages of this lifecycle: Data Perception, Data Management, Data Modeling, and Task Application. Next, we establish a taxonomy for each stage of the lifecycle. Specifically, we detail the evolution from static data storage to active agent memory, and analyze integration strategies designed to bridge multidomain gaps. We demonstrate how UrbanEAs empower downstream tasks, including Urban Scene Question-Answering (SQA), Vision-Language Navigation (VLN), and Human-Agent Collaboration (HAC). Finally, we outline the social impact of the data lifecycle of UrbanEA and open research problems with the future directions. Our survey provides a roadmap for designing the robust, high-performance data frameworks essential for these UrbanEAs.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Biology and Biotechnology

Anton Brancelj

,

Josiane Lips

,

Bernard Lips

Abstract: Velika Pasica Cave, 105 m long, 12 m deep, at an elevation of 670 m, situated in the central Slovenia (Europe) has only two to seven meters of thick roof and four permanent trickles from the epikarst zone. From this cave was described the second troglobitic beetle, Anophthalmus hirtus Sturm, 1853. It was about twenty years after the first species, Leptodirus hochenwarti Schmidt, 1832, was described from the cave Postojnska Jama (Slovenia). In the next decades nine more terrestrial species and subspecies were described from the cave belonging to groups Mollusca, Pseudoscorpiones, Collembola and Coleoptera. After 2000, intensive research of the pools and trickles revealed rich aquatic fauna, resulting in the description of four new species of Copepoda and two not yet determined epibiotic protozoans invading them. A complete list of terrestrial and aquatic fauna from the cave has never been published. To fill the gap, data from the literature as well as data from intensive field work in 2019 are presented here. Ninety three terrestrial and 36 aquatic taxa were recorded from the cave so far. Twenty nine aquatic (including two epibionts) and 18 terrestrial species are strict cave-dwelling organisms.

Article
Engineering
Aerospace Engineering

Lei Xia

,

Zhi-Gang Ruan

,

Wen Wang

,

Li-Hong Zhou

Abstract: Raising the turbine inlet gas temperature is an effective strategy for improving turbomachinery efficiency; however, it imposes severe thermal loads on turbine blades. To enhance blade cooling performance, this study employs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate the influence of sinusoidal ribs on turbulent flow and heat transfer in rectangular internal cooling channels. Numerical simulations demonstrate that sinusoidal rib configurations achieve superior heat transfer enhancement with reduced pressure losses across a wide Reynolds number range (Re = 20,000–90,000) compared to conventional transverse rib geometries. This improvement is quantified by higher normalized Nusselt numbers (Nu/Nu0) and lower normalized friction factors (f/f0). Through systematic parametric analysis, the study elucidates how key geometric parameters—amplitude, wave number, and rib height—regulate flow and heat transfer performance. The study ranks nine pre-specified sinusoidal rib configurations under uniform heat flux conditions and identifies SR-I and SR-C as top performers for different design criteria, providing quantitative guidance for the preliminary design of turbine blade cooling channels.

Article
Chemistry and Materials Science
Biomaterials

Alifa Jacob

,

Abiodun Dauda

,

Vivian Okonkwo

,

Nkechi Orji

,

Andrew Ojonugwa

,

Kindness Friday

Abstract:

This study evaluated the in vitro anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities of methanolic leaf extracts of Ximenia caffra (sour plum), a medicinal plant widely used in traditional healthcare systems across tropical Africa. Medicinal plants remain an important source of bioactive phytochemicals, and growing interest in phytopharmaceuticals has intensified the search for natural compounds with therapeutic potential. The present investigation aimed to scientifically validate the ethnomedicinal use of X. caffra leaves by assessing their enzyme inhibitory and anti-inflammatory properties. Fresh leaves of X. caffra were collected, authenticated, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted using methanol through maceration. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined using protein denaturation inhibition and membrane stabilization assays, while antidiabetic potential was evaluated through α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assays. The extract exhibited concentration-dependent biological activities across all experimental models. Anti-inflammatory evaluation showed significant inhibition of protein denaturation and membrane stabilization, with IC₅₀ values of 129.83 µg/mL and 288.11 µg/mL, respectively. Similarly, the extract demonstrated appreciable antidiabetic activity, inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes with IC₅₀ values of 227.01 µg/mL and 179.35 µg/mL, respectively, indicating stronger inhibition of α-glucosidase. These findings suggest that X. caffra leaves contain bioactive compounds capable of modulating inflammatory responses and carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, thereby supporting their traditional medicinal use. The study highlights the potential of X. caffra as a promising natural source for the development of plant-based anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic therapeutic agents.

Article
Medicine and Pharmacology
Endocrinology and Metabolism

Bogdan Mihai Pascu

,

Ana Maria Cula

,

Anca Bălănescu

,

Paul Cristian Bălănescu

,

Ioan Gherghina

Abstract: Background: Childhood obesity is associated with important alterations in body composition that may impair muscular strength and functional capacity. While higher body mass is often accompanied by greater absolute strength, the independent impact of adiposity on muscular strength after accounting for lean tissue remains insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between adiposity, body composition, and muscular strength in children and adolescents, with particular focus on the independent effects of fat mass after adjustment for growth- and maturation-related factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 84 children and adolescents aged 5–18 years. Anthropometric measurements were used to calculate body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio, with weight status classified according to World Health Organization BMI-for-age criteria. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (Tanita), providing estimates of body fat percentage and Tanita-derived muscle mass. Pubertal stage was assessed using Tanner classification. Muscular strength was evaluated using dominant handgrip strength, and habitual physical activity was recorded as hours per week. Associations between adiposity-related indices and muscular strength were explored using correlation and multiple linear regression analyses, with adjustment for age and Tanita-derived muscle mass. Results: Body mass index showed a positive association with handgrip strength, reflecting the contribution of overall body mass. Central adiposity indices demonstrated weak to modest associations with muscular strength. Body fat percentage showed only a limited association with handgrip strength in unadjusted analyses. However, in multivariable regression models adjusting for age and Tanita-derived muscle mass, higher body fat percentage emerged as an independent negative predictor of handgrip strength. Age did not show an independent association with muscular strength in adjusted models. Conclusions: Excess adiposity is independently and negatively associated with muscular strength in children and adolescents, even after accounting for age and Tanita-derived estimates of muscle mass. These findings suggest that increased fat mass may impair neuromuscular performance beyond its effects on body size or lean tissue. Pediatric obesity interventions should therefore focus not only on weight reduction but also on improving body composition and preserving functional strength.

Review
Medicine and Pharmacology
Other

Filippo Tilli

,

Giorgio Tamborrini

,

Felix Margenfeld

Abstract: Background: Human cadaveric models provide a controlled experimental setting to investigate the anatomical basis and mechanical behavior underlying musculoskeletal ultrasound findings. In recent years, both B-mode ultrasound and shear wave elastography have been applied in cadaveric studies to explore muscle architecture, aponeurotic structures, and passive mechanical properties under standardized conditions [3]. Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to map and synthesize cadaveric studies using ultrasound and shear wave elastography to investigate lower-limb muscles and their aponeurotic structures, with emphasis on methodological applications, anatomical insights, and limitations relevant to clinical interpretation. Material and Methods: A scoping review was conducted according to PRISMA-ScR principles. Studies included if ultrasound imaging (B-mode and/or shear wave elastography) was applied directly to human cadaveric lower-limb muscles or aponeurotic structures. Data were extracted and synthesized descriptively by anatomical region and ultrasound technique [8]. Results: A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final qualitative synthesis, all of which applied ultrasound imaging, with or without shear wave elastography, directly to human cadaveric muscle tissue (Table 1). Among these, seven studies specifically investigated lower-limb skeletal muscles and their aponeurotic structures using ultrasound-based techniques to describe muscle architecture, internal connective tissue anatomy, or passive mechanical behavior [5]. These studies focused on the quadriceps femoris, hamstrings, adductor longus, and the gastrocnemius–soleus complex [1]. The remaining four studies were considered relevant and therefore included in the scoping review because, although they did not focus on a specific lower-limb muscle group, they addressed key methodological factors influencing ultrasound and elastography derived measurements in cadaveric muscle tissue [2,4]. These investigations examined the effects of tissue layering, specimen-related characteristics, and measurement conditions, thereby providing essential methodological context for the interpretation of ultrasound-based outcomes across different anatomical regions. Conclusion: Cadaveric ultrasound studies provide essential anatomical context for interpreting musculoskeletal ultrasound, while cadaveric shear wave elastography supports controlled exploration of passive muscle mechanics. At the same time, these studies highlight important methodological sensitivities that should be acknowledged before translating elastography findings to clinical decision-making [2].

Article
Business, Economics and Management
Business and Management

Tatjana Apanasevic

,

Anna Fjällström

Abstract:

Urban freight transport is responsible for creating negative transport externalities in the form of noise and congestion and has a significant environmental impact. One solution is to establish a freight consolidation centre, which could offer benefits such as shorter delivery distances, and fewer delivery routes. However, this would require collaboration between actors with conflicting interests and goals. In this study, we propose a collaborative business model framework for freight consolidation centres. This framework was tested through a pilot project in Gothenburg, using the principles of engaged scholarship. Our results show that last-mile consolidation significantly increases efficiency and enables sustainability gains to be achieved. However, a number of structural, economic and organisational barriers need to be addressed in order to realise the full benefit of the collaborative business model. There is a need for a deeper institualisation of new norms, procedures and policies in the business models of the individual actors involved.

Article
Engineering
Other

SungJin Jeon

,

Woojun Jung

,

Keuntae Cho

Abstract: The mobile industry has experienced long-run changes in its knowledge structure, including identifiable transition points observable through meaning-based analysis. Using abstracts from 86,674 mobile-industry publications published between 2005 and 2024, we embed documents with SPECTER2, build year-specific embedding distributions, and derive knowledge regimes by combining change-point detection with inter-year distribution distances. We then extract regime-specific topics via clustering and reconstruct topic lineages by aligning topic similarities to classify inheritance, differentiation, convergence, and disappearance. The analysis delineates three regimes spanning 2005 to 2012, 2013 to 2019, and 2020 to 2024, with pronounced transitions around 2012 to 2013 and 2019 to 2020. Regime 1 centers on foundational technologies such as wireless communication, power, sensors, and reliability. Regime 2 expands toward platforms, apps, and data analytics alongside cross-domain convergence. Regime 3 is characterized by strengthened 5G operations and data-driven services, together with the independent rise of policy, governance, and regulation topics. Transitions reflect recombination built on inherited knowledge rather than abrupt replacement, and post-transition topics display distinct growth typologies by network position and growth pattern. By integrating embedding-based change-point detection with topic-lineage reconstruction, we provide a reproducible account of regime transitions and quantitative evidence to inform the timing of corporate R&D, standard and platform strategies, and policy and regulatory design.

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