Abstract: This study presents a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of seven peanut-derived products processed in central Argentina, aiming to quantify their environmental impacts from agricultural production to end-of-life. The research is framed within the development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14025, 14067 and 14040 standards, using primary data from three farms and one industrial facility representative of the sector. IPCC Tier 2 methodology was applied, with emission factors specific for Argentina, enabling a precise and context-sensitive environmental evaluation. Results show that the agricultural stage is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions (40–66%), particularly due to soil and crop residue management. International distribution, mainly maritime, also represents a significant burden (16–24%). Compared to equivalent products from Brazil and the USA, Argentine peanut products show environmental advantages in terms of carbon footprint, which was 67% lower for peanut butter than in the USA, and 21%lower for blanched peanuts than those from Brazil. The assessment identified opportunities to improve precision agriculture, renewable energy use, and estimation of soil carbon changes, and to optimize packaging. This work provides novel data for the region, strengthens the international competitiveness of Argentina’s peanut sector, and offers valuable inputs for public policy making and business strategies focused on sustainability.

Abstract: Background. The food industry contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and waste generation. Although environmental impact assessment tools have rapidly diversified, methodological fragmentation continues to limit comparability across studies and the formulation of coherent sustainability strategies. Objective. This study conducted a systematic review to synthesize, critically appraise, and map the evidence on methods, technologies, and applications used in assessing the sustainability of food industry processes, with a view to identifying the most effective approaches and the main research gaps. Data sources and eligibility. The Web of Science Core Collection was queried on November 27, 2025 using a structured strategy based on Boolean operators and Topic fields. Original articles and reviews in English, published between 2020 and 2025, that reported quantitative or qualitative indicators of environmental impact, according to the PICO framework, were included. Results. From an initial 1000 records, 225 studies were included and narratively synthesized into seven major themes. LCA predominated as the standard method, but with significant heterogeneity in system boundaries and functional units. Emerging technologies indicated potential for reducing resource consumption, dependent on subsector and scale. Conclusions: Harmonization of assessment frameworks, industrial validation of circular technologies, and robust comparative studies are essential for the transition to a sustainable food system.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) continue to impose substantial health and productivity losses in grazing ruminants, and the accelerating emergence of anthelmintic resistance (AR) underscores the need for SWC strategies. Although multiple SWC approaches have been validated experimentally, their implementation across European livestock systems remains inconsistent, and limited evidence exists regarding the stakeholder’s perceptions that affect decision-making. This study conducted a multilingual cross-sectional survey of 1,261 respondents, including farmers, veterinarians, advisors, and other professionals, across 13 European countries to evaluate perceived worm-control cost burdens and the economic feasibility of seven SWC strategies. Descriptive and regression analyses revealed that a majority of respondents (56.7%) considered diagnostic testing to be financially reasonable, although perceptions varied significantly between countries. Sustainable anthelmintic use, quarantine and strategic screening, and grazing management were perceived as the most viable strategies, whereas biological control and bioactive compound-based approaches elicited greater uncertainty. An aggregated SWC A itude Score demonstrated systematically higher acceptance among veterinarians compared to farmers, while male and older respondents exhibited lower levels of agreement across practices. Overall, the findings indicate that economic constraints may not constitute the primary barrier to SWC adoption.

Abstract: After repair of Boerhaave syndrome, assessment of repair integrity is important because occult dehiscence may progress to mediastinitis or pleural sepsis. Water-soluble contrast esophagography is commonly used before resuming oral intake, but absence of contrast extravasation does not necessarily exclude a small or contained defect. We report a 59-year-old man with post-emetic distal esophageal rupture who underwent emergency primary repair with pleural-flap buttress and drainage. Although he remained clinically stable, water-soluble contrast esophagography on postoperative day (POD) 7 showed no extravasation. Because feeding decisions required greater structural confidence, low-insufflation carbon dioxide (CO₂) esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed on POD 9 and revealed focal suture-line dehiscence. Oral intake was deferred, and conservative management with fasting and total parenteral nutrition was continued. Serial reassessment suggested a contained defect, and oral intake was reintroduced cautiously. A regular diet was started only after POD 28 endoscopy showed marked interval healing, and follow-up endoscopy at 3 months confirmed complete mucosal healing. This case highlights that negative postoperative contrast esophagography does not exclude persistent dehiscence and that low-insufflation CO₂ endoscopy may provide useful complementary structural information in selected patients.

Abstract: Coronary–bronchial artery fistulas (CBAFs) represent a rare subset of coronary artery fistulas characterized by an abnormal communication between an epicardial coronary artery and the bronchial arterial circulation. Although historically considered incidental findings, the widespread use of multimodality cardiovascular imaging—particularly coronary computed tomography angiography—has led to increasing recognition of these anomalies in contemporary clinical practice. The clinical significance of CBAFs varies widely and depends primarily on fistula size, shunt magnitude, and associated cardiopulmonary conditions. While many small fistulas remain asymptomatic, larger or haemodynamically significant lesions may result in myocardial ischaemia due to coronary steal, ventricular remodelling, pulmonary manifestations such as haemoptysis, and aneurysmal degeneration of the fistulous tract. A comprehensive evaluation typically requires an integrated multimodality approach combining anatomical imaging, functional ischaemia testing, and, in selected cases, invasive haemodynamic assessment. Management strategies range from conservative surveillance in small asymptomatic fistulas to percutaneous or surgical closure in symptomatic or haemodynamically significant lesions. This review provides an updated overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation, and management of CBAFs. Particular emphasis is placed on size-based clinical stratification, multimodality imaging strategies, and contemporary therapeutic approaches, with the aim of offering a practical framework for the diagnosis and longitudinal management of patients with this uncommon but clinically relevant coronary anomaly.

Abstract: A recent report on the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from California describes unprecedented levels of ASD in that population. The data indicate a transition or changepoint in 2015-2016 in which the prevalence of ASD began to accelerate more rapidly after almost a decade of consistent yearly increases. The changepoint is associated strongly with socioeconomic status, being most readily observable in black children and in low-income counties. Herein we propose the hypothesis that legalization of recreational cannabis in late 2016 led to several cultural changes that in turn caused socioeconomic-dependent increases in very frequent cannabis use and/or cannabis use disorder (CUD). CUD is strongly associated with ASD, and we hypothesize that an adverse drug-drug interaction between acetaminophen and a component or components of cannabis may be at play. It remains unknown whether prenatal or postnatal exposures may be more critical, and further work aimed at evaluating very frequent cannabis use and/or CUD and ASD rates in subsets of the population is strongly encouraged. Paradoxically, caution is urged so that work to decrease CUD does not impede ongoing and promising work using cannabis and cannabis-derived products for the treatment of patients with ASD.

Abstract:

Background: Primary renal Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an exceptionally rare and aggressive malignancy, posing significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in adults. Clinical presentation is often nonspecific, frequently resulting in delayed diagnosis and early metastatic dissemination. Methods: We report a case of a 45-year-old woman presenting with right lumbar pain and hematuria. Imaging included ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, revealing a well-demarcated multicystic lesion of the right kidney. Partial nephrectomy was performed, followed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular analysis using fluorescence in situ hybridization to confirm ES breakpoint region 1 (EWSR1) rearrangement. Subsequent management included right nephrectomy and systemic chemotherapy following the vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide/ifosfamide, etoposide (VDC/IE) protocol. Results: Histopathology demonstrated sheets of small round cells with Homer-Wright rosettes and strong membranous CD99 expression. Molecular testing confirmed EWSR1 rearrangement. The patient tolerated surgery and chemotherapy well, with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis at six-month follow-up. The case highlights the critical role of integrated imaging, histopathology, immunophenotyping, and molecular diagnostics in establishing the diagnosis of primary renal ES. Conclusion: Primary renal ES in adults requires a high index of suspicion, multidisciplinary evaluation, and personalized therapeutic strategies. Surgical resection combined with systemic chemotherapy can achieve disease control. Early recognition, molecular confirmation, and interdisciplinary coordination are essential to optimize outcomes in this rare malignancy.

Abstract:

Background/Objectives: The quality of intraoral scanner-derived digital models depends not only on deviation-based accuracy, but also on how scanned surfaces are reconstructed into a polygonal mesh. The aim of this prospective within-subject observational study was to evaluate whether tooth morphology influences local mesh density distribution in intraoral scanner-derived STL models of selected maxillary teeth. Methods: Twenty participants underwent maxillary intraoral scanning using a Medit i900 wired intraoral scanner under standardized clinical conditions. For each participant, the buccal surfaces of the maxillary right central incisor (11), canine (13), first premolar (15), and first molar (16) were selected as regions of interest. Surface area (A), number of vertices (V), and number of faces (F) were recorded, and the surface-normalized mesh density parameters vertices per unit area (V/A) and faces per unit area (F/A) were calculated. Comparisons among tooth types were performed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc correction. Results: Significant differences were found among tooth types for both V/A and F/A (p < 0.001). Mean V/A values were 18.2 ± 1.9 for tooth 11, 19.8 ± 1.4 for tooth 13, 23.8 ± 1.7 for tooth 15, and 22.9 ± 2.0 vertices/mm² for tooth 16. Mean F/A values were 34.3 ± 3.6, 37.5 ± 2.7, 44.4 ± 3.3, and 42.9 ± 3.8 faces/mm², respectively. Post hoc comparisons showed significant differences between teeth 11 and 13, 11 and 15, 11 and 16, 13 and 15, and 13 and 16, whereas no significant difference was observed between teeth 15 and 16. Conclusions: Tooth morphology significantly influenced local mesh density distribution in intraoral scanner-derived STL models of selected maxillary teeth. These findings suggest that local anatomical form affects STL mesh reconstruction under standardized in vivo scanning conditions and support local mesh density analysis as a useful complementary approach to conventional deviation-based digital assessment.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. DMD is characterized by exon deletions in about 76% of cases, with common deletions in exons 47, 48, 51, and 52. We evaluated the effectiveness of an mRNA-based therapy targeting these exon deletions, which are frequently seen in DMD patients. Methods: The current study involved two protocols: 1. applying the therapy to cells from patients diagnosed with DMD, and 2. applying the therapy to genetically modified transgenic mdx/d2 mice. After treatment, dystro-phin was detected in all experimental groups. Results: Our study showed that, both in vitro and in vivo analyses demonstrated that the mRNA-based therapy successfully restored dystrophin expression in dystrophic muscle cells and tissues. Gene expression analysis, together with protein-level assessments, including Western blot, immunoflu-orescence (IF), ELISA, and immunohistochemistry (IHC), confirmed a significant in-crease in dystrophin levels in the treated groups compared with the control group. In addition to dystrophin restoration, other key sarcolemmal proteins involved in main-taining muscle membrane stability, such as γ-sarcoglycan, β-dystroglycan, and β-actin, were also highly expressed. These findings suggest an overall improvement in muscle cell membrane integrity. Consistent with the molecular results, behavioral analyses performed in the animal model revealed significant functional improvements, includ-ing enhanced mobility, motor coordination, longer walking and resting durations, and a reduced risk of falls. Overall, the results indicate that mRNA-mediated dystrophin replacement improves both muscle structural integrity and functional performance. Conclusions: Our study proved that the mRNA complex successfully produced func-tional dystrophin in transgenic mdx/d2 mice without causing allergic reactions or damage to the kidney, intestines, muscles, or brain.

Abstract: Consistent behavioural differences among individuals have been documented across many animal taxa, yet their developmental consequences remain less clear in domestic production systems. This gap is especially relevant in managed environments, where food availability and ecological constraints differ markedly from those in the wild. In this study, we assessed behavioural traits in 25 Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) ewes and examined their associations with early growth in their lambs under semi-captive conditions on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. We quantified docility, exploration, vocal responses, and several physiological measures of responsiveness in ewes, and related these variables to lamb birth weight, early weight gain, and a composite growth index. We found that maternal docility had no significant effect on lamb birth weight, whereas maternal activity was negatively associated with offspring birth weight. One possible interpretation is that more behaviourally responsive ewes allocate energy differently during gestation, which could limit fetal growth, although this mechanism was not directly tested here. These results suggest that behavioural effects on offspring development depend strongly on production context. In this semi-captive system, greater maternal responsiveness was not associated with improved offspring performance, unlike patterns often discussed for wild populations. This context dependence may be relevant when behavioural traits are considered in Tibetan sheep management or breeding.

Abstract: Microorganisms can aggregate and organise into structured communities embedded within an exopolysaccharide-based matrix, which serves as a protective barrier and an functional environment around microbial cells. The formation of biofilms is widely recognised as a pivotal factor in bacterial virulence, impeding the efficacy of antimicrobial agents and hindering immune responses, whilst concomitantly contributing to the development of antimicrobial resistance and the onset of persistent infections. Biofilm formation is a tightly regulated and dynamic process, controlled by quorum sensing mechanisms and profoundly influenced by enviromental factors and nutrient availability. The objective of this review is to elucidate the significance of biofilms in clinical settings, with a particular focus on their role in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. Particular attention is devoted to biofilm-associated infections related to invasive medical devices as well as to chronic conditions occurring in predisposed patients, including individuals with cystic fibrosis. This review also examines the structure of biofilms and the bacteria responsible for their production, as well as the latest strategies for combating antibiotic resistance in bacterial biofilms. Furthermore, the role of biofilm-associated infections is analysed, with a focus on recent advancements in biofilm pathogenesis, diagnostic challenges and the necessity for innovative therapeutic strategies to disrupt biofilm integrity.

Abstract: Background: To investigate the association between symptomatic flexible flatfoot, pronated foot, and genu valgum and global postural alignment in children and adolescents, with particular focus on pelvic and spinal parameters and patterns of pain localization. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on a cohort of 2,130 individuals evaluated for postural dysfunction. A paediatric subgroup (=126) between the ages of 6 and 10 years (Mage = 8.50, SD = 1.78), presenting with symptomatic lower-limb deformities was selected. Participants were classified into three groups: symptomatic flexible flatfoot (n = 64), pronated foot (n = 38), and genu valgum (n = 24), based on clinical and radiographic criteria including Foot Posture Index (FPI-6), Staheli Arch Index, Meary’s angle, talo-calcaneal angle, and femoro-tibial angle. Global postural alignment was assessed using optoelectronic analysis and weight-bearing radiographs. Results: Neutral postural alignment was infrequently observed. Recurrent patterns included pelvic anteversion and mild variations in sagittal spinal curves, generally within paediatric reference ranges. Frontal-plane deviations were common but predominantly mild. Differences between groups were mainly related to distribution rather than magnitude of postural variations. Pain was described according to anatomical location. Conclusions: Lower-limb deformities in children appear to be associated with specific patterns of postural adaptation rather than isolated segmental alterations. However, findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the absence of a control group and the cross-sectional design. Further studies are required to determine clinical relevance.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Since the 2010s, Korea has implemented policies to promote physical education for female students. This study aimed to examine changes in self-rated health among Korean men and women in their 20s and 30s over the past 15 years. Methods: This study used data from the Korea Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from 2010 to 2024. The study population comprised adults aged 20–39 years selected through a two-stage sampling process—probability proportional to size sampling followed by systematic sampling. The data were analyzed using frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, independent samples t-test, and two-way analysis of variance. Results: First, self-rated health was highest among men in their 20s, followed by women in their 20s, men in their 30s, and women in their 30s across all years. Second, self-rated health showed a positive correlation with year, indicating higher levels in more recent surveys. It also showed a correlation with age, with younger individuals reporting higher levels of self-rated health. Third, men consistently reported higher self-rated health across all years compared with women. Fourth, individuals in their 20s consistently reported higher self-rated health than those in their 30s. Fifth, the difference between men and women remained relatively consistent over the 15-year period. Conclusions: The findings did not show a clear improvement in women’s self-rated health or a substantial reduction in the gender gap. These results suggest the need for a systematic redesign of policies promoting physical education for female students in Korea.

Abstract: Copper supplementation in European pig production selects for the pandemic multidrug-resistant (MDR) monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium ST34 clone through Salmonella Genomic Island 4, which co-carries copper/silver resistance and antimicrobial resistance determinants on the same mobile genetic element — a paradigmatic example of non-antibiotic co-selective pressure connecting animal health, food safety, and public health under the One Health paradigm. EU Regulation 2025/179, which mandates whole-genome sequencing for foodborne outbreak investigation from August 2026, will generate an unprecedented genomic data infrastructure across Europe; this infrastructure contains, as an inherent by-product of sequencing, the metal resistance markers that would enable quantification of such co-selective pressures — a capability that extends beyond the outbreak detection purpose for which it was conceived. Multi-dimensional genomic risk assessment frameworks integrating virulence, environmental persistence, and antimicrobial resistance into quantitative actionable indices represent a pathway to realise this opportunity, connecting copper reduction in animal feed (Regulation 2018/1039) with genomic surveillance (Regulation 2025/179) along a One Health continuum from farm to patient.

Abstract: Insider threats pose a persistent and evolving challenge to contemporary software ecosystems, where privileged users can exploit access for malicious purposes, often evading traditional perimeter-based defences. This paper introduces a novel hybrid framework that synergistically integrates zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) and behavioural analytics to detect and mitigate such threats with enhanced privacy and precision. ZKPs enable secure authentication and data verification without revealing sensitive information, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR while thwarting unauthorized access. Complementarily, our behavioural analytics engine employs advanced machine learning models, including graph neural networks and unsupervised anomaly detection (e.g., isolation forests), to profile user behaviours across software pipelines, identifying deviations indicative of insider malice. The proposed architecture is deployed in a microservices-based ecosystem, demonstrating scalability via containerized components on Kubernetes. Extensive evaluations on benchmark datasets (e.g., CERT Insider Threat) and simulated enterprise environments yield a 95% detection accuracy, with 40% fewer false positives than state-of-the-art methods like UEBA systems. Latency remains under 50ms for real-time operations, preserving performance in high-throughput scenarios. Our framework outperforms baselines by 25% in F1-score, validated through rigorous ablation studies. By bridging cryptographic privacy with AI-driven intelligence, this work advances proactive security for modern software, offering deployable solutions against sophisticated insiders. Future extensions explore quantum-resistant ZKPs for post-quantum resilience.

Abstract: The rapid proliferation of large language model (LLM) powered multi-agent systems creates a non-trivial combinatorial optimization problem: routing heterogeneous tasks to the most cost-effective model tier while maintaining quality guarantees. Current production systems rely on static lookup tables, which over-provision expensive models and waste computational budget. We formalize the LLM Cascade Routing Problem (LCRP) as a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problem and solve it using the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA). We benchmark QAOA against greedy heuristics and simulated annealing using both Google Cirq simulation and real IBM Quantum hardware (156-qubit Heron processors). Experiments across three IBM backends (ibm_fez, ibm_kingston, ibm_marrakesh) on problem instances from 6 to 18 qubits reveal three key findings: (i) shallow QAOA circuits (p=1, depth 52) achieve 15.4% valid assignment rate on real hardware versus 0.8% for deeper circuits (p=2, depth 101), demonstrating that NISQ noise favors shallow ansatze; (ii) hardware constraint satisfaction degrades steeply with problem size, dropping from 37-43% at 6 qubits to 0.2-0.3% at 18 qubits; and (iii) results are reproducible across all three backends with consistent valid rates within plus or minus 1.5%. To our knowledge, this is the first quantum computing formulation of the LLM model routing problem. We provide an open-source implementation and discuss the projected quantum advantage horizon.

Abstract:

This study investigates whether impact investing through Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) indices listed on India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE) can generate abnormal returns relative to the broader market benchmark. Using data from ESG indices listed on the National Stock Exchange between April 2011 and June 2023, the analysis evaluates the risk–return performance of the Nifty100 ESG and Nifty Enhanced ESG indices relative to the Nifty 100 benchmark. We applied a comprehensive suite of time-series methodologies encompassing unit root testing, month-of-the-year dummy regressions, ARIMA residual modelling, and, critically, Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) family models to test the impact investing hypothesis. Conditional volatility surged in April 2020 during the COVID-19 market shock, however the ESG indices exhibited slightly lower peak volatility than the Nifty 100. Results show that both ESG indices outperformed the conventional benchmark over the full sample period, achieving cumulative gains of about 272–274% compared with 240% for the Nifty 100. A distinct March effect—analogous to the January effect in developed markets—is detected at the 10% significance level for ESG indices. Our findings underscore the growing importance of responsible investing and time-varying risk premia in the Indian equity market.

Abstract: Oxidative stress plays a central role in the development of chronic diseases, increasing interest in natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents derived from plant sources. Although Vaccinium myrtillus L. (bilberry) fruits are well studied, the bioactive potential of its leaves remains insufficiently explored. In this study, dried leaves collected in Estonia were extracted using five solvents of different polarity (MeOH/H₂O 80:20, EtOH, H₂O, MeOH, and acetone). Antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro using FRAP and DPPH assays, total phenolic content was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and selected extracts were qualitatively profiled by LC–ESI/MS in SIM mode. The antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extract was assessed in vitro using an agar-based colony-counting method for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination. The highest antioxidant activity and phenolic content were observed in methanol and hydroalcoholic extracts, with MeOH/H₂O (80:20) showing the lowest DPPH IC₅₀ and highest TPC values. LC–ESI/MS analysis tentatively identified phenolic acids and flavonoids, including gallic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol. The aqueous extract exhibited antibacterial activity, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria (MIC 0.10–0.40 mg/mL). Statistically significant differences among solvent systems were confirmed by one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). These findings support the solvent-dependent bioactivity of V. myrtillus leaves and their potential application in functional formulations.

Abstract: This paper presents a mathematical formalization of human–computer interaction under a zero-distance constraint, introducing a degenerate formulation of Fitts’s Law. In classical models, movement time depends logarithmically on spatial distance and target size. By enforcing D→0, the Index of Difficulty converges to zero, and movement time reduces to a constant equal to the physiological intercept, yielding a constant-time interaction model. A rigorous ε–δ limit analysis proves convergence, while an optimization formulation shows that zero-distance interaction achieves the global minimum of latency. From a control-theoretic perspective, the model eliminates nonlinear dependencies and produces a time-invariant system. The framework is empirically validated on a teleoperated mobile robotic platform using a haptic Touch-Release protocol. Experimental results show a reduction in total response latency from approximately 1040 ms to 450 ms (≈56%). Cryptographically secured telemetry (AES-256) ensures data integrity and reproducibility. The proposed model establishes a new paradigm of constant-time human–computer interaction, with implications for optimization and control in cyber-physical systems and safety-critical applications.

Abstract: This study proposes a mechanobiological model explaining how the multilayered retroperitoneal fascia forms through the interplay of local and systemic tension fields. The classical peritoneal fusion hypothesis (Toldt, 1879) cannot account for the regular lamellar architecture observed in this region, nor for the 10-week temporal lag between early visceral fixation (gestational week 10) and definitive fascial lamination (gestational week 20). We hypothesize that early local tension at gestational weeks 10–12 forms the inner layer of the renal fascia, while a “systemic tension field”—driven by axial skeletal ossification, pelvic expansion, and exponential volumetric growth and converging near gestational week 20—establishes a fetal-scale tensegrity network. This systemic tension triggers orthogonal Poisson effect compression, poroelastic fluid exudation, and lysyl oxidase (LOX)-mediated cross-linking, the integration of which generates the multilayered outer fascial layers. To provide empirical grounding for this theoretical framework, we identified a cohort of adults with pure renal absence (empty renal fossa; n = 3) from 5,509 consecutive CT scans. Despite the absence of a sustained, expanding renal mass (due to true agenesis or severe involution), continuous outer fascial layers were unambiguously preserved in all cases, demonstrating that their formation is tension-driven rather than organ-dependent. This natural “subtraction experiment” resolves a long-standing discrepancy between classical gross anatomy and modern cross-sectional imaging and supports a mechanobiological origin for retroperitoneal fascial lamination.