Artiles
Open Access
Review
04 March 2026Vena Cava Occlusion Reveals Site-Specific Preload Dynamics: Implications for Volume Management in Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) is marked by impaired ventricular function, neurohormonal activation, and volume overload. While therapies target remodeling and neurohormonal pathways, preload management remains pivotal for symptom relief and preventing decompensation. Pressure–volume (PV) loop analysis enables precise characterization of cardiac performance during acute loading changes. To define the differential hemodynamic impact of transient inferior vena cava occlusion (IVCO) versus superior vena cava occlusion (SVCO) using PV loop analysis in a large-animal model. Controlled IVCO and SVCO were performed in healthy animals to reduce preload. PV-derived indices included stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), end-systolic elastance (Ees), volume-axis intercept (V₀), and preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW). IVCO, removing ~70% of venous return, produced a marked leftward PV loop shift, decreased SV and CO, and a near-zero V₀, consistent with near-complete ventricular unloading. The end-systolic pressure–volume relationship steepened, suggesting an acute compensatory inotropic response, though Ees remained unchanged, indicating preserved intrinsic contractility. In contrast, SVCO (~30% venous return) caused only modest PV loop shifts, with preserved end-diastolic volume and stable or slightly rightward V₀. Across both interventions, preload, not intrinsic contractility, accounted for changes in mechanical work and PRSW. IVCO and SVCO elicit distinct preload-dependent hemodynamic profiles. Interpretation of PV loop–derived metrics must account for dynamic loading conditions. These findings provide mechanistic insight into acute volume regulation and warrant validation in HF-specific models to inform decongestive management strategies.
Open Access
Article
04 March 2026Effects of Mid-Infrared Light Intervention on Mood, Executive Control and Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Young Adults with Sub-Clinical Psychological Distress: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Mid-infrared light on executive control functions and autonomic nervous system dysregulation in early adulthood in screen-positive for depression and general psychological symptoms group. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and the Depression Screening Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were administered online to 74 adolescent participants aged 18–22 years. Functional near-infrared brain imaging (fNIRS) was used to test brain function during the Stroop task, and heart rate variability (HRV) devices were used to test the autonomic nervous system. After a two-week Mid-infrared light intervention, subjects showed significant improvement in their depressive symptoms and psychological distress. The mean strength of brain functional connectivity was much more increased in the screening positive group, and significantly decreased after intervention. HRV measure showed significant differences across several indicators: LF, HF, LF/HF, SDNN, and RMSSD between screening positive and health control, and significant improvements in several key indicators: LF/HF, RMSSD, and HF after intervention. This integration of mood, HRV, and functional brain imaging data provides a comprehensive view of Mid-infrared light interventions, which can restore autonomic balance and enhance cognitive efficiency, highlighting its potential as a non-pharmacological approach worthy of further investigation for regulating mood and cognitive function. It is important to underscore that this study is exploratory and hypothesis-generating in nature. The modest sample size from a single population limits generalizability. The lack of pre-registration and the control condition, which did not fully mimic the device’s placebo effect, are notable limitations. Consequently, all findings should be interpreted as preliminary, serving primarily to generate hypotheses and guide the design of more definitive future studies, rather than to inform direct clinical practice. Future research necessitates larger-scale, pre-registered, double-blind, sham-controlled trials to verify these initial observations.
Open Access
Review
04 March 2026Advances in the Application of CRISPR/Cas Systems in Molecular Diagnostics
Rapid advances in CRISPR/Cas systems and the growing global demand for rapid, accurate diagnostics underscore the necessity of reviewing how these technologies are transforming molecular testing. Conventional diagnostic approaches are frequently constrained by prolonged turnaround times, complex instrumentation, and limited analytical sensitivity, and these limitations were starkly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, we present a comprehensive and timely overview of CRISPR/Cas-based molecular diagnostics. We begin by summarizing the classification and molecular mechanisms of CRISPR/Cas types I–VI, followed by a detailed discussion of innovative detection strategies such as SHERLOCK, DETECTR, and amplification-free platforms that significantly enhance analytical sensitivity and specificity. We further explore clinical applications across infectious disease surveillance, antimicrobial resistance profiling, early cancer detection, genetic variant identification, and the emerging detection of non-nucleic acid biomarkers. Finally, we discuss future perspectives, including the development of miniaturized, high-throughput, and AI-assisted diagnostic platforms, their integration with microfluidics and portable readout systems for point-of-care applications, and highlight critical challenges such as standardization, automation, and cost-effectiveness that must be addressed to facilitate clinical translation.
Open Access
Article
04 March 2026Impact of Urban Topography and Infrastructure on Air Pollution Dispersion Using UAV-Based AQI Systems
Urban air quality reflects the combined effects of topography, built form, and emission sources, producing pronounced spatial and temporal variability in pollutant dispersion. This study investigates how urban morphological features-building density, green-space distribution, and transportation corridors-shape these dispersion patterns by deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with Air Quality Index (AQI) sensors. Multi-altitude, high-resolution drone transects were conducted across contrasting urban settings to capture fine-scale pollutant distributions and their dynamics. The measurements reveal localized hotspots and zones of limited dispersion that align with variations in building layout, vegetation presence, and traffic intensity. Compared with fixed-site monitors, the UAV approach resolves vertical and horizontal gradients that are otherwise missed, providing complementary evidence of three-dimensional micro-scale heterogeneity. Taken together, the results indicate that decisions on urban design and infrastructure placement materially influence air-quality outcomes. These findings support the integration of UAV-based observations with conventional monitoring networks to inform targeted mitigation measures, exposure-aware mobility planning, and evidence-based strategies for public health and urban sustainability.
Open Access
Article
03 March 2026Data-Driven Design of High-Purity Ni–Cr–Nb Master Alloy and Its Application in Scale-Up GH4169D Alloy
To address the challenge of further reducing impurities in raw materials for high-purity melting of industrial-superalloys such as GH4169D, this study employed a CALPHAD-based high-throughput computational approach to establish the composition-phase stability-impurity behavior relationship. A low-melting-point, high-cleanliness Ni–Cr–Nb master alloy was developed and characterized with oxygen and nitrogen contents of 76 ppm and 36 ppm, respectively, and an inclusion number density of approximately 540 ± 20 cm−2 and an average inclusion size of 2.2 ± 0.15 μm, demonstrating excellent cleanliness and compositional controllability. In industrial-scale 3-ton GH4169D melting trials using the Ni–Cr–Nb master alloy, the oxygen content was reduced from 12 ppm to 8 ppm. The inclusion number densities at the ingot center, R/2 position, and edge were decreased by 7.75%, 36.1%, and 81.5%, respectively, while the maximum inclusion size was reduced from approximately 28 μm to 9–17 μm. The results indicate that the developed master alloy effectively suppresses the formation, growth, and radial segregation of inclusions in GH4169D, significantly enhancing its metallurgical uniformity and cleanliness. Furthermore, melting efficiency increased by 52.6%, and production costs decreased by approximately 2.3% per ton, highlighting substantial process and economic advantages. This work establishes a closed-loop research framework integrating “CALPHAD-based experimental design—industrial pilot-scale validation—production-line metallurgical quality evaluation”. It confirms the effectiveness of the master alloy strategy for high-purity scale-up superalloy production and provides a transferable technological pathway for the compositional design and industrial application of other master alloy systems and commercial alloys.
Open Access
Review
02 March 2026“What the Meta Is Going On?”—A Scoping Review of the Different Methods and Methodology of Qualitative Synthesis
There is a proliferation of terms that are used to define and describe qualitative methods of review synthesis. These terms can make understanding which approach to use difficult, and the ability to generate operational clarity challenging. This is particularly important for lifespan mental health research, and further research is required that examines and maps the terms and approaches to synthesis. This scoping review aims to map the landscape of qualitative synthesis methods, evaluate the ability to operationalise named methods, explore their philosophical foundations and methodological associations, and consider the application within a specifically identified area of lifespan mental health research. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a scoping review was undertaken. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases and grey literature sources. Articles were included that examined a methodological approach to qualitative synthesis. Data extraction and charting focused on synthesis type, frameworks, philosophical alignment, and operational guidance. Fifty-four articles were identified, and within these, 14 qualitative methodologies were identified, 5 types of aggregative methods, and 10 types of interpretive methods of synthesis. Meta-ethnography, meta-synthesis, and framework synthesis were the most frequently cited methodologies. A subset of these methodologies and methods was found to be the more operationalizable, and these are discussed. The review highlights significant terminological and methodological fragmentation in qualitative synthesis. It underscores the need for clearer guidance, standardised terminology, and stronger links between synthesis methodologies, methods, and philosophical traditions. A decision tree is proposed to support researchers in selecting appropriate synthesis methodologies.
Open Access
Article
28 February 2026Photocatalyzed Thiocarbamylation of Alkenyl Radicals via Thiophene Salts
In recent years, visible-light-induced transformations have taken a central role in driving forward the progress of modern organic synthesis. Despite the abundance of synthetic strategies enabling access to aryl- and alkyl-centered radicals, the exploitation of photochemistry to generate highly reactive alkenyl radicals has remained notably underdeveloped. Herein, we report a sustainable strategy for generating alkenyl radicals based on a photocatalytic single-electron transfer process. Through systematic optimization of conditions such as photocatalysts, light sources, and additives, we confirmed that radical reactions can efficiently occur under metal-free conditions using styrenylthiophene salt as radical donors, thiuram derivatives as radical acceptors, and 4CzIPN (1,2,3,5-tetrakis(carbazol-9-yl)-4,6-dicyanobenzene) as the photocatalyst. This method is operationally simple, environmentally friendly, and does not require the addition of precious metal reagents, providing a novel strategy for the methodology of alkenyl radical generation.
Open Access
Article
28 February 2026Unveiling the Dynamics: How Does the Digital Economy Influence the Development of New-Type Urbanization in China
Digital economy is a vital driving engine for new-type urbanization and continues to promote the regional economy. In this study, it adopts the entropy weight method is adopted to measure the digital economy and new-type urbanization in 31 provinces in China from 2011 to 2021, and conducts an in-depth analysis on the relationship between them. The conclusions are: Digital economy has a significant role in promoting new-type urbanization and is regionally heterogeneous, especially the impact in eastern region; Moreover, through the mediating mechanisms analysis, it indicates that industrial structure and innovation level are important paths to promote new-type urbanization. Along with the increase of R&D intensity, the promotion effect shows a non-linear characteristic of “increasing marginal effect”. In light of this, the following countermeasures are put forward to strengthen digital economy’s impetus for new-type urbanization: promote the gradient development of digital technologies and innovate digital economy application scenarios to fuel new-type urbanization; establish a novel digital-industrial integration model and capitalize on the fundamental role of industrial transformation in new-type urbanization; and refine the innovation system and fully realize the marginal incremental effect of R&D intensity once it crosses the threshold.
Open Access
Article
28 February 2026Euclid sUAV Handling Qualities Evaluation Through Flight Simulation, Using Cooper-Harper Handing Qualities Rating Scale
This article briefly presents the design steps, from the conceptual design up to flight simulation of the Euclid 3D printed small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (sUAV). The use of valid tools and proper methodology implementation is essential throughout this entire path to render the aircraft’s kinematics properly in the flight simulator. The primary object of study in this article is the Euclid sUAV handling qualities evaluation through flight simulation, using Cooper-Harper Handing Qualities Rating Scale. A novel methodology consisting of eighteen flight tests is presented, each one evaluating a certain flight procedure. For each procedure, performing instructions are provided. This methodology can be used either as is, or modified, to evaluate the handling qualities of similar sUAV’s. Furthermore, a full video of the procedure is given for validation and replication purposes. The results from the application of the 18-step procedure for the Euclid sUAV, indicated that all scores fluctuated in the (1–3) score region. These score region is translated as satisfactory handling qualities, without improvement needed to the system, according to Cooper-Harper Handing Qualities Rating Scale.
Open Access
Article
26 February 2026Associations of Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Irritability, and Headstrong Dimensions with Other Psychological Disorders in Adolescents
The current study aimed to use both multiple regression analyses (MRA) and latent regression analysis (LRA) to examine unique and suppression effects of DSM-5 oppositional defiant disorder irritability and headstrong dimensions with common DSM-5 internalizing (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), externalizing (ADHD, and Conduct Disorder), neurodevelopmental (Specific Reading Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Language Disorder, and Speech Sound Disorder) and eating disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, and Bulimia Nervosa) among clinic-referred adolescents. Parents of 1877 adolescents [boys = 1089, girls = 788; age range = 11 to 17 years] provided ratings of their adolescents’ ODD symptoms and the symptoms for the other 14 disorders. The MRA findings indicated that, generally, internalizing disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and eating disorders were associated positively and uniquely with the irritability dimension, and externalizing disorders were associated positively and uniquely with the headstrong dimension. With the exception of autism spectrum disorder, the other neurodevelopmental disorders showed little or no associations with irritability or headstrong dimensions. There was little evidence of suppression effects. The LRA findings for unique associations were generally comparable with the MRA findings, except that there was strong evidence for the headstrong dimension suppressing the unique associations involving irritability, and irritability suppressing the unique associations involving the headstrong dimension. These findings raise the possibility that both irritability and headstrong may be transdiagnostic, having a dominant influence on the comorbidity of internalizing (and possibly eating disorders) and externalizing disorders, respectively. To date, there has been little discussion on headstrong being a major transdiagnostic factor for externalizing disorders. Further theoretical, methodological. and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.