Search Results (5,700)

Background and Objectives: Persistent urogenital sinus (PUGS) is a rare congenital anomaly resulting from disruptions in urogenital development during embryogenesis. Characterized by the confluence of the vaginal canal and urethra into a single channel, it poses diagnostic and management challenges, particularly in adult patients. Surgical correction remains the primary treatment at an early age, yet there are no universally accepted guidelines regarding treatment at later stages in life. We explored current evidence on the management of high urogenital sinus (HUGS) in adults, focusing on surgical techniques, outcomes, perioperative care, and follow-up. Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, including studies published up to August 2024. Search terms included “high urogenital sinus”, “adult patients”, and related conditions. Articles were included if they addressed clinical, diagnostic, or therapeutic data on HUGS in adult populations. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers, and a PRISMA-ScR flow diagram was used to outline the study selection process. Results: Nine studies met inclusion criteria, with data on surgical techniques, perioperative care, and long-term outcomes extracted for analysis. The included studies highlighted diverse surgical approaches, such as feminizing genitoplasty, buccal mucosa vaginoplasty, posterior prone techniques, and robotic-assisted urogenital sinus mobilization. Complications like vaginal stenosis, urethrovaginal fistula, and urinary incontinence were reported. Long-term outcomes were under-reported, with limited data on sexual function and patient satisfaction. Hormonal therapies, including glucocorticoids, played critical roles in managing cases associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Conclusions: The management of HUGS requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating advanced surgical techniques and individualized perioperative care. While short-term outcomes are generally favorable, long-term data on sexual function and quality of life remain scarce. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies to address these gaps, aiming to optimize surgical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and psychosocial well-being. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the side effects of two techniques of rapid maxillary expansion—Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (SARPE) and Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE)—in adult patients, to guide the selection of the most cost-effective clinical treatment plan. Methods: The review protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis—extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Eligibility criteria were defined based on the study objectives. The research team formulated a PICO question to identify relevant studies in the literature. Five databases were queried: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase. Additionally, a manual search was conducted. Results: The computer-assisted search identified 746 articles, of which only 26 fully met the inclusion criteria and were included in the scoping review. Among the included studies, 11 were retrospective, 12 were prospective, and 3 were randomized clinical trials. SARPE was evaluated in 21 studies, MARPE in 4 studies, and 1 article reported complications associated with both techniques. The side effects described in the studies were synthesized and categorized into five groups: expansion failure, asymmetric expansion, dentoalveolar issues, surgical complications, and appliance-related problems. Conclusions: The results indicate that both techniques involve risks. The most reported adverse effects were dentoalveolar and surgical in nature. Dentoalveolar side effects, such as dental tipping, were predominantly associated with the MARPE technique, while surgical complications were more commonly observed with the SARPE technique. Patient age is crucial for treatment choice as well as proper design and planning of the expansion device. Consequently, careful patient selection and treatment planning are essential to minimize the side effects of maxillary expansion in adult patients. Full article

Digital twin (DT) is an emerging technology gaining traction across various industries. However, its development and application in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry remain in their early stage, lagging considerably behind other sectors. This is primarily attributed to the challenges facing the AEC industry, including digital transformation and the lack of formal standards for DT implementation. This study aims to contribute to the conceptualization of DT planning—the early stage of the DT lifecycle—focusing on the road transportation sector, particularly road physical twin planning within the AEC industry. To achieve this, we reviewed the relevant literature defining DT planning. We also examined stakeholders’ relevant guidelines and documents from national bodies that roadmap the road DT planning process to understand the scope and identify knowledge gaps. Based on the findings, mapping the existing road planning process to the constituents of road DT planning was performed for the applicable planning steps. Finally, we proposed a five-layered road DT planning framework that will roadmap future implementations comprising data acquisition, data processing, data modeling and algorithms, data analysis and control, and a service layer plus users. In addition, a case study is incorporated to validate the feasibility of the framework toward applying it further in practice. Full article

Global warming is a significant threat to the future of humankind. It is caused by greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere. CO₂ emissions are one of the main drivers of global warming, and the energy sector is one of the main contributors to CO₂ emissions. Recent technological advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have accelerated the adoption of AI in numerous applications to solve many problems. This study carries out a scoping review to understand the use of AI solutions to reduce CO₂ emissions in the energy sector. This paper follows the PRISMA-ScR guidelines in reporting the findings. The academic search engine Google Scholar was utilized to find papers that met the review criteria. Our research question was “How is artificial intelligence used in the energy sector to reduce CO₂ emissions?” Search phrases and inclusion criteria were decided based on this research question. In total, 186 papers from the search results were screened, and 16 papers fitting our criteria were summarized in this study. The findings indicate that AI is already used in the energy sector to reduce CO₂ emissions. Three main areas of application for AI techniques were identified. Firstly, AI models are employed to directly optimize energy generation processes by modeling these processes and determining their optimal parameters. Secondly, AI techniques are utilized for forecasting, which aids in optimizing decision-making, energy transmission, and production planning. Lastly, AI is applied to enhance energy efficiency, particularly in optimizing building performance. The use of AI shows significant promise of reducing CO₂ emissions in the energy sector. Full article

The circular economy (CE) is a global proposition about decoupling consumption and production from resource use through reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) and other r-strategies. In addition to promoting responsible consumption and production (SDG12), advocates claim the CE has wide-ranging impacts on sustainable development. Critics, however, see ambiguous definitions, practical conflicts with sustainability, and limited global appetite for a sustainability transition through the CE. Despite these criticisms, following the lead of other countries in Asia, Nepal has recently adopted the CE as an answer to waste recycling, sustainable tourism, energy generation, e.g., biogas, and and sustainable development in general. Until recently, the discussion about promoting circular r-strategies in Nepal, such as recycling, has lacked any critical review of circular claims for Nepal. Addressing this lack, this perspectives paper critically examines the scope and claims for the CE in Nepal relative to its sustainable development commitments. In contrast to the prevailing enthusiasm, our review finds that the CE may contribute little to Nepal’s development ambitions, that the EU influence is questionable, and the mainstream CE ignores a tradition of resource efficiency in Nepal. Our review suggests that other institutional demands must be met before with a transition to a sustainable circular economy can happen. The authors hope this perspectives paper will be read by governments, businesses, and other actors to inform a critical review of Nepal’s CE ambitions. Full article

The efficient, low-cost, and large-scale development and utilization of offshore wind energy resources is an inevitable trend for future growth. With the continuous increase in the scale of wind turbines and their expansion into deep-sea locations, there is an urgent need to develop ultra-long, flexible blades suitable for future high-capacity turbines. Existing reviews in the field of blade design lack a simultaneous focus on the two core elements of blade performance calculation and design methods, as well as a detailed evaluation of specific methods. Therefore, this paper reviews the performance calculation and design methodologies of horizontal-axis wind turbine blades from three aspects: aerodynamic design, structural design, and coupled aero-structural design. A critical introduction to various methods is provided, along with a key viewpoint centered around design philosophy: there is no global optimal solution; instead, the most suitable solution is chosen from the Pareto set according to the design philosophy. This review not only provides a concise and clear overview for researchers new to the field of blade design to quickly acquire key background knowledge but also offers valuable insights for experienced researchers through critical evaluations of various methods and the presentation of core viewpoints. The paper also includes a refined review of extended areas such as aerodynamic add-ons and fatigue characteristics, which broadens the scope of the review to touch on multiple research areas and inspire further research. In future research, it is crucial to identify new key issues and challenges associated with increased blade length and flexibility, address the challenges faced in integrated aero-structural design, and develop platforms and tools that support multi-objective optimization design of blades, ensuring the safe, stable, and orderly development of wind turbines. Full article

Silver gallium sulfide (AgGaS₂) is a ternary A^(I)B^(III)X^(VI)₂-type semiconductor featuring a direct bandgap and high chemical stability. Structurally resembling diamond, AgGaS₂ has gained considerable attention as a highly promising material for nonlinear optical applications such as second harmonic generation and optical parametric oscillation. In attempts to expand the research scope, on the one hand, AgGaS₂-derived bulk materials with similar diamond-like configurations have been investigated for the enhancement of nonlinear optics performance, especially the improvement of laser-induced damage thresholds and/or nonlinear coefficients; on the other hand, nanoscale AgGaS₂ and its derivatives have been synthesized with sizes as low as the exciton Bohr radius for the realization of potential applications in the fields of optoelectronics and lighting. This review article focuses on recent advancements and future opportunities in the design of both bulk and nanocrystalline AgGaS₂ and its derivatives, covering structural, electronic, and chemical aspects. By delving into the properties of AgGaS₂ in bulk and nanocrystalline states, this review aims to deepen the understanding of chalcopyrite materials and maximize their utilization in photon conversion and beyond. Full article

Natural cyclic peptides, a diverse class of bioactive compounds, have been isolated from various natural sources and are renowned for their extensive structural variability and broad spectrum of medicinal properties. Over 40 cyclic peptides or their derivatives are currently approved as medicines, underscoring their significant therapeutic potential. These compounds are employed in diverse roles, including antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, immune modulators, and anti-inflammatory agents. Their unique ability to combine high specificity with desirable pharmacokinetic properties makes them valuable tools in addressing unmet medical needs, such as combating drug-resistant pathogens and targeting challenging biological pathways. Due to the typically low concentrations of cyclic peptides in nature, effective synthetic strategies are indispensable for their acquisition, characterization, and biological evaluation. Cyclization, a critical step in their synthesis, enhances metabolic stability, bioavailability, and receptor binding affinity. Advances in synthetic methodologies—such as solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), chemoenzymatic approaches, and orthogonal protection strategies—have transformed cyclic peptide production, enabling greater structural complexity and precision. This review compiles recent progress in the total synthesis and biological evaluation of natural cyclic peptides from 2017 onward, categorized by cyclization strategies: head-to-tail; head-to-side-chain; tail-to-side-chain; and side-chain-to-side-chain strategies. Each account includes retrosynthetic analyses, synthetic advancements, and biological data to illustrate their therapeutic relevance and innovative methodologies. Looking ahead, the future of cyclic peptides in drug discovery is bright. Emerging trends, including integrating computational tools for rational design, novel cyclization techniques to improve pharmacokinetic profiles, and interdisciplinary collaboration among chemists, biologists, and computational scientists, promise to expand the scope of cyclic peptide-based therapeutics. These advancements can potentially address complex diseases and advance the broader field of biological drug development. Full article

Internet of Things aims to simplify and automate complicated tasks by using sensors and other inputs for collecting huge amounts of data, processing them in the cloud and on the edge networks, and allowing decision making toward further interactions via actuators and other outputs. As connected IoT devices rank in billions, semantic interoperability remains one of the permanent challenges, where ontologies can provide a great contribution. The main goal of this paper is to analyze the state of research on semantic interoperability in well-being, aging, and health IoT services by using ontologies. This was achieved by analyzing the following research questions: “Which IoT ontologies have been used to implement well-being, aging and health services?” and “What is the dominant approach to achieve semantic interoperability of IoT solutions for well-being, aging and health?’ We conducted a scoping literature review of research papers from 2013 to 2024 by applying the PRISMA-ScR meta-analysis methodology with a custom-built software tool for an exhaustive search through the following digital libraries: IEEE Xplore, PubMed, MDPI, Elsevier ScienceDirect, and Springer Nature Link. By thoroughly analyzing 30 studies from an initial pool of more than 80,000 studies, we conclude that IoT ontologies for well-being, aging, and health services increasingly adopt Semantic Web of Things standards to achieve semantic interoperability by integrating heterogeneous data through unified semantic models. Emerging approaches, like semantic communication, Large Language Models Edge Intelligence, and sustainability-driven IoT analytics, can further enhance service efficiency and promote a holistic “One Well-Being, Aging, and Health” framework. Full article

Paper-based cultural relics experience aging and deterioration during their long-term preservation, which poses a serious threat to their lifetime. The development of conservation materials with high compatibility and low intervention has been expected to extend the lifetime of paper artifacts. As a new type of biological macromolecule, nanocellulose has been extensively utilized in paper conservation, attributed to its excellent paper compatibility, high optical transparency, outstanding mechanical strength, and large specific surface area with abundant hydroxyl groups. This review systematically summarizes the latest development of three kinds of nanocellulose (cellulose nanofibril, cellulose nanocrystal, and bacterial nanocellulose) and their composites used for the multifunctional conservation of paper relics. Owing to the strong hydrogen bond interactions between hydroxyls of nanocellulose and paper fibers, nanocellulose can effectively consolidate paper without adding adhesives. The composite of nanocellulose with other functional materials greatly expands its application scope, and the superior performance has been emphasized in paper deacidification, consolidation, antimicrobial effect, antioxidation, UV resistance, self-cleaning, promotion of printing property, reduction in air permeability, and flame retardancy. The application characteristics and future prospects of nanocellulose composites are highlighted in the conservation of paper-based cultural relics. Full article

Digitalization is reshaping the landscape of sustainability in enterprises by enhancing information flows within socio-technical systems and enabling more informed decision-making through advanced communication and data capabilities. However, while digitalization creates opportunities to adopt environmental practices and deploying sustainable strategies, it also introduces complexities and challenges. This study examines the information-centered drivers of digitalization that push enterprises toward sustainable practices, such as technological advancements and the increased demand for transparency, while identifying challenges, including integration costs, technological readiness, and managerial hesitation. Using a multidimensional framework that combines capabilities, environmental practices, and motivations, we provide insights into how technology can both support and challenge sustainability efforts in industry. Our aim is to introduce a methodology to guide the development of strategies for facilitating environmental transitions of enterprises. Within the context of informational capabilities, this scoping review identifies two environmental archetypes—spontaneity and planning—that represent common workforce mindsets toward sustainability. It also classifies universal practices and motivations, with associations being validated through a focus group of members from a French industrial consortium, which also facilitates understanding how digitalized capabilities impact environmental actions and behavioral dynamics. The key findings reveal that while digital communication capabilities significantly enhance the return on investment for environmental practices, barriers remain, such as insufficient alignment of digital tools with sustainable outcomes and variable technology access across industries. The results also underscore the role of product-data and sensor-based analytics in reducing environmental impacts, inviting a further exploration of digitalization’s role in sustainability within the frameworks of behavioral and organizational theories. Full article

Objective: In developed countries, stroke is the fifth cause of death, with a high mortality rate, and with recovery to normal neurological function in one-third of survivors. Atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the extracranial part of the internal carotid artery and related embolic complications are common preventable causes of ischemic stroke (IS), attributable to 7–18% of all first-time cases. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a soluble member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily, is considered a modulator of vascular calcification linked to vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and collagen production in atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, OPG emerges as a potential biomarker (BM) of calcified carotid plaques and carotid artery stenosis (CAS). Methods: We performed a literature search of PubMed on OPG in CAS and atherosclerosis published until 2024. Results: Increased levels of serum OPG were reported in both patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic CAS, and higher values were observed in those with unstable atherosclerotic plaques. Notably, increased OPG levels were observed regardless of the location of atherosclerosis, including coronary and other peripheral arteries. In addition, chronic kidney disease, the most significant confounder disturbing the association between vascular damage and circulating OPG levels, decreases the usefulness of OPG as a BM in CAS. Conclusions: Osteoprotegerin may be considered an emerging BM of global rather than cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. Its diagnostic significance in identifying patients with asymptomatic CAS and their monitoring is limited. Full article

Researchers have outlined the components of healthy aging, and a 2022 scoping review by Quigley et al. examined healthy aging from Indigenous perspectives. Quigley’s review reinforced the notion that Indigenous health, and thus healthy aging, is a holistic concept. However, no review has specifically addressed Elderhood from an Indigenous perspective. This scoping review aimed to fill that gap by analyzing studies from Quigley’s review and sourcing additional literature on Indigenous Elderhood. Eligible articles identified participants as Indigenous and described Elderhood within the culture. From the 20 included publications, six themes were identified, suggesting that Elderhood was a term limited to adults who were respected for their wisdom, were active in the community, cared for others, passed down Indigenous knowledge, and promoted a vision of the future that built on tradition. Age was not a criterion, as older people who are not seen as respected contributors do not earn the title of Elder. The findings suggest that achieving Elderhood is key to healthy aging for Indigenous adults, regardless of one’s physical health status. Programs and policies offered in Indigenous communities should recognize this distinction. Further research should explore ways to support successful Elderhood, as defined here, as a component of healthy aging in Indigenous communities. Full article

Mikania micrantha Kunth is native to tropical America and has invaded tropical and subtropical Asia and numerous Pacific Islands. It forms dense thickets and reduces native species diversity and populations in its introduced range. This invasive vine also seriously impacts many agricultural crops and is listed as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species. Its life history characteristics, such as the production of large numbers of wind-dispersed seeds, vegetative reproduction, rapid growth, and genetic diversity all contribute to its invasiveness. In this review, we focus on how mechanisms to defend against its natural enemies boost the invasiveness of M. micrantha. It possesses potent defenses against natural enemies such as pathogenic fungi, herbivorous insects, and parasitic nematodes, and exhibits allelopathic potential against plant competitors. These defensive abilities, in concert with its formidable life history characteristics, contribute to the invasiveness of M. micrantha, potentially leading to further naturalization. Several other reviews have summarized the biology and management of the species, but ours is the first review to focus on how the defensive mechanisms of M. micrantha likely enhance its invasiveness. Relatively little is known about the array of defensive capabilities of M. micrantha; therefore, there is considerable scope for further research on its chemical defenses. Full article

Promoting rapid healing is a concern in skin wound treatment, as the increased pain and the loss of functional ability when wounds become chronic create a complex problem to manage. This scoping review aimed to explore the literature and synthesize existing knowledge on the therapeutic use of CO₂ in treating cutaneous wounds. The literature was selected using previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 22 articles were selected for data extraction. The most researched type of injury was chronic wounds located on the extremities of the limbs. Carboxytherapy was performed in five different ways: subcutaneous, intradermal, or intralesional injections; in hot water baths with temperatures ranging from 30 to 42 °C; transcutaneous application; intra-abdominal insufflation; and a paste for transcutaneous local application. The main effects of CO₂ therapy described were as follows: improved blood flow and local oxygenation, reduction of the inflammatory process, increased collagen production, and improved clinical aspects of wounds, with faster healing. Carboxytherapy can be considered a good alternative for treating skin wounds, although further studies should be pursued to elucidate its molecular mechanisms and enhance its efficacy. Full article