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Morpho-physical and biochemical traits associated with potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes conferring resistance to potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)
Bacterial wilt in melon caused by a complex of novel pathogens
A miniature piezoelectric-thermomagnetic generator for low-grade waste heat recovery
Abstract This paper presents the experimental and model-based investigation of a compact miniature-size generator for conversion of low-grade waste heat at temperatures near 100 °C to electricity leveraging the combined transducer effects of a thermomagnetic (TM) and a piezoelectric (P) layer. TM energy conversion is achieved via the recently developed effect of resonant self-actuation of a cantilever using the large temperature-induced change of magnetization at the ferromagnetic transition of a Ni-Mn-Ga film. The resulting kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy via the piezoelectric effect of a thin lead-zirconium-titanate (PZT) layer, which enables rectification of the harvested energy using standard electrical circuitry. The performance of the generator is characterized with respect to the effects of tip mass and length of the piezoelectric layer as well as heat transfer and damping. A lumped element model (LEM) of the coupled system shows that heat intake and heat dissipation have to be balanced to achieve resonant self-actuation, while damping limits the oscillation frequency of the cantilever. A single P-TM generator generates an average power output of 0.8 µW at 105 °C. After rectification, this corresponds to 1.25 µW/cm² of DC power at a voltage of 2 V DC.
Development of a hybrid Pumped-storage Hydropower–photovoltaic complementary system and analysis of its complementarity characteristics
Enhanced dielectric response and thermally activated charge transport in co-precipitated nanostructured chromium oxide systems
Machine learning assisted surrogate modeling with multi objective optimization and decision making of a steam methane reforming reactor
Digital twin state-realignment-based cloud infrastructure for resource allocation and fault prediction using HCPF and LST-TICaLUM
Favorable outcome of engraftment of custom designed RADA16-I based hydrogels functionalized with SDF1 or IL4 mimicking peptides to injured or dystrophic muscles
Dynamic thermography used to support the diagnosis of diabetic foot with the assessment of balance and foot positioning
Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of dynamic thermography combined with controlled foot cooling in detecting changes associated with diabetic foot abnormalities and to investigate the relationship between plantar thermal asymmetry, subjective pain, and body-load distribution. The study included 45 participants: 36 patients with diabetes and 9 healthy controls. Participants were divided into four groups: controls ( n = 9), diabetic patients with foot pain (D-pain, n = 8), diabetic patients with neuro-metabolic disorders/neuropathy (D-neuropathy, n = 9), and diabetic patients with other minor comorbidities (D-other, n = 19). Thermograms were acquired before and after controlled cooling of the feet to 17 °C using a custom-designed heat pump-based cooling platform. Temperature differences (ΔT) between ten corresponding anatomical points of the left and right foot were analysed. Anatomical point significantly affected ΔT ( P < 0.001), and a significant Group × Point interaction was observed ( P < 0.001), indicating that the distribution of thermal asymmetry depended on the foot region and clinical group. The D-pain group showed the most pronounced local asymmetry at L9_R9. Pain intensity differed significantly between groups ( P = 0.002), whereas body-load asymmetry (ΔL) did not ( P = 0.951). The method appears promising as an adjunctive, non-invasive screening approach, but further validation in larger and clinically more homogeneous cohorts is required.
Discovery of basaltic and magnesian andesite magmas within the Hunga volcanic system, Tonga arc
Establishing functional mouse primary nasal epithelia in the air-liquid interface to study bacterial infection
Associations between key macroeconomic determinants and infant mortality in BRICS countries from 2000 to 2025
Abstract Despite economic progress in BRICS countries, infant mortality remains a major public health concern. Existing studies have examined some of its determinants but have rarely considered the heterogeneous associations between DPT and measles immunizations and key macroeconomic and demographic factors in a distributional panel framework. Guided by Grossman’s health capital framework, this study investigates the associations between DPT and measles immunizations, health expenditure, GDP per capita, urbanization, and infant mortality across BRICS countries from 2000 to 2025. The analysis applies panel quantile regression, supported by robustness checks using PCSEs and DKSE, as well as the Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality test. The results show that DPT and measles immunizations, as well as health expenditure, exhibit mixed associations across quantiles. GDP per capita is negatively associated with infant mortality across much of the distribution, while urbanization shows a less uniform but generally negative association. The Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality results indicate significant predictive linkages among several variables, though these should not be read as definitive causal effects. Taken together, the findings suggest that BRICS policymakers should give particular attention to strengthening routine immunization systems, improving the allocation and effectiveness of health spending, and aligning broader economic and urban development strategies with child survival objectives.
Cross-sectional associations between drinking water arsenic and health outcomes in a South Texas Colonias pilot study
Abstract South Texas colonias experience persistent water insecurity and disproportionate environmental health burdens. Although arsenic is a well-established drinking water contaminant, limited community-level research has examined whether chronic low-level exposure below current regulatory standards is associated with adverse health outcomes in colonia residents. From May 2023 to March 2024, we conducted a community-engaged cross-sectional study in two colonias in Hidalgo County, Texas (Santa Amalia in Progreso and South Tower Estates in Alamo). Trained community health workers administered Spanish-language household surveys to collect sociodemographic information and participant self-reported health data, including chronic conditions, cancer history, family-member cancer history within the household, and health-related quality of life measured using the SF-12. Drinking water samples were collected from enrolled households and analyzed for arsenic using atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We compared SF-12 domain and composite scores to the United States norm of 50 using one-sample t tests and estimated prevalence odds ratios for adverse health outcomes per unit increase in arsenic concentration using multivariable logistic regression. A total of 203 households participated (85% response rate), with most respondents reporting less than a high school education (63.6%) and annual household income below $14,999 (57.1%). All arsenic concentrations were below the EPA and WHO guideline of 10 ppb (median 2.9 ppb; mean 3.0 ppb). The mean physical component score was significantly below the national norm (45.3; 95% CI 43.8 to 46.8), with particularly low general health scores. In adjusted models, higher arsenic concentrations were associated with increased odds of reduced vitality and reporting any chronic condition, while associations with cancer outcomes were imprecise. In two South Texas colonias, drinking water arsenic concentrations were uniformly below regulatory standards, yet residents reported substantially worse physical health than the United States norm, and higher arsenic levels within this low range were associated with select adverse health indicators. These findings support continued investigation of cumulative risks and low-level arsenic exposure in structurally marginalized communities and can inform future biomonitoring, water quality surveillance, and health equity–focused policy discussions.