RAMOSA1 (RA1) is a Cys2-His2-type (C2H2) zinc finger transcription factor that controls plant meristem fate and identity and has played an important role in maize domestication. Despite its importance, the origin of RA1 is unknown, and the evolution in plants is only partially understood. In this paper, we present a well-resolved phylogeny based on 73 amino acid sequences from 48 embryophyte species. The recovered tree topology indicates that, during grass evolution, RA1 arose from two consecutive SUPERMAN duplications, resulting in three distinct grass sequence lineages: RA1-like A, RA1-like B, and RA1; however, most of these copies have unknown functions. Our findings indicate that RA1 and RA1-like play roles in the nucleus despite lacking a traditional nuclear localization signal. Here, we report that copies diversified their coding region and, with it, their protein structure, suggesting different patterns of DNA binding and protein–protein interaction. In addition, each of the retained copies diversified regulatory elements along their promoter regions, indicating differences in their upstream regulation. Taken together, the evidence indicates that the RA1 and RA1-like gene families in grasses underwent subfunctionalization and neofunctionalization enabled by gene duplication. Full article

In contextual vocabulary acquisition, second language learners address both morphological and contextual cues to infer the meanings of novel words. The study investigated cognitive strategies and their eye movement correlates in contextual vocabulary inferencing task. A sample of 30 healthy participants with normal or corrected to normal vision read an Intermediate-level text in English, aiming to define the meaning of 10 low-frequency words embedded in the text. Based on both unstructured and structured post-hoc reports, we attributed the inferencing process either to word-level processing, context-level processing, or discourse-level processing strategy. Eye movements were recorded on the target word and on the target word clause areas of interest. Inferencing success was associated with increased first fixation duration on the target word both for word- and context-level processing strategy, and increased dwell time on the target word clause for context-level processing strategy. Our findings emphasize the role of both morphological and contextual processing in vocabulary inferencing task. Full article

In this paper, a six-degree-of-freedom analog tactile probe with a new, simple, and robust mechanical design is presented. Its design is based on the use of one elastomeric ring that supports the stylus carrier and allows its movement inside a cubic measuring range of ±3 mm. The position of the probe tip is determined by three low-cost, noncontact, 2D PSD (position-sensitive detector) sensors, facilitating a wider application of this probe to different measuring systems compared to commercial ones. However, several software corrections, regarding the size and orientation of the three LED light beams, must be carried out when using these 2D sensors for this application due to the lack of additional focusing or collimating lenses and the very wide measuring range. The development process, simulation results, correction models, experimental tests, and calibration of this probe are presented. The results demonstrate high repeatability along the X-, Y-, and Z-axes (2.0 µm, 2.0 µm, and 2.1 µm, respectively) and overall accuracies of 6.7 µm, 7.0 µm, and 8.0 µm, respectively, which could be minimized by more complex correction models. Full article

Using the solid-state reactions method Na_0.55(Co,M)O₂ (M = Cr, Ni, Zn, W, and Bi) ceramics were prepared and their crystal structure, microstructure, electrophysical, thermophysical, and thermoelectric properties were studied. Doping of Na_0.55CoO₂ by transition or heavy metal oxides led to the increase in the grain size of ceramics, a decrease in electrical resistivity and thermal diffusivity values, and a sharp increase in the Seebeck coefficient, which resulted in essential enhancement of their thermoelectric properties. The largest power factor (1.04 mW/(m·K²) at 1073 K) and figure of merit (0.702 at 1073 K) among the studied samples possessed the Na_0.55Co_0.9Bi_0.1O₂ compound, which also demonstrated the highest values of the Seebeck coefficient (666 μV/K at 1073 K). The obtained results show that the doping of layered sodium cobaltite by different metal oxides allows for improving its stability, microstructure, and functional properties, which proves the effectiveness of the doping strategy for developing new thermoelectric oxides with enhanced thermoelectric performance. Full article

The Anthropocene, marked by human-induced climate change, necessitates urgent action to address climate goals and respect planetary boundaries. While sustainability research provides knowledge, the first challenge lies in communicating the findings in an adequate manner to the public and several stakeholders, such as economic and political actors. Therefore, this study explores the significance of science communication in sustainability science, focusing on a case study—the True Cost Accounting (TCA) campaign by the University of Greifswald, Technical Institute of Nuremberg, and German retailer PENNY. TCA herein serves as a transparency tool, economic incentive, and discussion basis for sustainable consumption. This study investigates consumer perceptions of ecological prices of foods through a face-to-face survey during the 2023 PENNY campaign, comparing results to an informational campaign carried out in 2021. Findings indicate a high awareness of the true cost campaign in 2023, with 50.8% of participants hearing about it. Consumers’ willingness to pay true costs and potential behavior changes were explored. In comparison to results from the informational campaign of 2021, customers showed a decrease in this WTP when the true prices would actually impact their spending, indicating an attitude–behavior gap. In addition, a willingness to reduce the consumption of animal foods—if TCA was implemented—of 60.5% was determined, which suggests that TCA has the potential for sustainable behavior change. This study highlights factors that influence consumer attitudes and preferences regarding the inclusion of TCAs, such as environmental, social, and animal welfare costs. Customers’ understanding of increased prices—like, in this case, the compensation for environmental and social costs—is an argument in favor of true prices. The results emphasize the need for differentiated scientific communication strategies to bridge knowledge and action gaps in sustainability science. Full article

Internet-of-things networks consist of multiple sensor devices spread over a wide area. In order to protect the data from unauthorized access and tampering, it is essential to ensure secure communication between the sensor devices and the central server. This security measure aims to guarantee authenticity, confidentiality, and data integrity. Unlike traditional computing systems, sensor node devices are often limited regarding memory and computing power. Lightweight communication protocols, such as LoRaWAN, were introduced to overcome these limitations. However, despite the lightweight feature, the protocol is vulnerable to different types of attacks. This proposal presents a highly secure key establishment protocol that combines two cryptography schemes: Elliptic Curve Qu–Vanstone and signcryption key encapsulation. The protocol provides a method to establish a secure channel that inherits the security properties of the two schemes. Also, it allows for fast rekeying with only one exchange message, significantly reducing the handshake complexity in low-bandwidth communication. In addition, the selected schemes complement each other and share the same mathematical operations in elliptic curve cryptography. Moreover, with the rise of a community-friendly platform like RISC-V, we implemented the protocol on a RISC-V system to evaluate its overheads regarding the cycle count and execution time. Full article

In this study, TiO₂ nanospheres (TiO₂-NS) were synthesized by the solvothermal method. Firstly, the synthesized nanomaterial was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS). To study the photocatalytic degradation of Tartrazine (TTZ) and Naphthol Blue Black (NBB) in a binary mixture, the influence of some key parameters such as pH, pollutant concentration and catalyst dose was taken into account under visible and UV light. The results show a 100% degradation efficiency for TTZ after 150 min of UV irradiation and 57% under visible irradiation at 180 min. The kinetic study showed a good pseudo-first-order fit to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. Furthermore, in order to get closer to the real conditions of textile wastewater, the influence of the presence of salt on TiO₂-NS’s photocatalytic performance was explored by employing NaCl as an inorganic ion. The optimum conditions provided by the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were low concentrations of TTZ (2 ppm) and NBB (2.33 ppm) and negligible salt (NaCl) interference. The percentage of photodegradation was high at low pollutant and NaCl concentrations. However, this yield became very low as NaCl concentrations increased. The photocatalytic treatment leads to 31% and 53% of mineralization yield after 1 and 3 h of visible light irradiation. The synthesis of TiO₂-NS provides new insights that will help to develop an efficient photocatalysts for the remediation of contaminated water. Full article

This article presents an analysis of the performance of a 14.04 kWp grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) installation consisting of monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon and bifacial glass–glass monocrystalline silicon modules. The photovoltaic system was mounted in Poland, a location characterized by temperate climate conditions. On the basis of the obtained results, the photovoltaic parameters were determined in accordance with the international standard. The annual energy yield of the entire system was 1033 kWh/kWp, and the performance ratio achieved was 83%. The highest average daily final yield was in the range of 4.0–4.5 kWh/kWp for each photovoltaic technology under investigation. In the cold part of the year, the efficiency of the photovoltaic modules was estimated to be 15%, and it was estimated to be 7% during the warm part of the year. Array capture losses accounted for around 0.75 kWh/kWp of energy loss per day, whereas the inverter efficiency was over 95% during the months that are beneficial for energy production. Full article

In 2021, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) added “the impact of climate change on environmental and population health” into The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Presently, little guidance exists for nursing faculty new to climate education. The year prior, the Nurses Climate Challenge (NCC)—a campaign to educate 50,000 health professionals about health impacts of climate change—launched the School of Nursing Commitment through a series of focus groups and collaborative content development. With an aim of increasing access to knowledge and tools to support education about the health impacts of climate change, the NCC Commitment partners with nursing schools and provides a community of practice. Partner schools use NCC resources in courses and report the number of students educated. Within three years, 61 nursing schools in 30 states joined the Commitment. Participants included academic health centers, research institutions, multi-state schools, and small private colleges, and programs ranged from AD to PhD. Faculty (1) integrated resources into didactic and clinical settings, such as population or organ-system content, leadership, and policy; and (2) used resources to support assignments. In four years, faculty reported educating over 37,700 students, using NCC resources in 439 educational sessions. The Commitment may be valuable for faculty fulfilling AACN Essentials by bringing climate change to the classroom, community, and bedside. Furthermore, the Commitment may be a replicable model for health professional education and inspiring action on climate change. Full article

A PLS-based quality prediction method is proposed for batch processes using two-dimensional extended windows. To realize the adoption of information in the directions of sampling time and batch, a newly defined region of support (ROS), called the k-i-back-extended region of support (KIBROS), is proposed; it establishes an extended window by adding two regions of data to the traditional ROS to include all possible important data for quality prediction. Based on the new ROS, extended windows are established, and different models are proposed using the extended windows for batch process quality prediction. Furthermore, using the typical injection molding batch process as an example, the proposed quality prediction method is experimentally verified, proving that the proposed methods have higher prediction accuracy than the traditional method and that the prediction stability is also improved. Full article

Mitochondrial genomes are playing an increasingly important role in molluscan taxonomy, germplasm, and evolution studies. The first complete mitochondrial genome of the commercial big brown mactra clam, Mactra grandis, was characterized using Illumina next-generation sequencing in this study. The 17,289 bp circular genome has a typical gene organization of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNAs, and 22 tRNAs, with an obvious (A + T)-bias of 64.54%. All PCGs exhibited a homogeneous bias in nucleotide composition with a (A + T)-bias, a positive GC skew, and a negative AT skew. Results of phylogenetic analysis showed that Mactra grandis was most closely related to Mactra cygnus. The functional gene arrangement of the two species was identical but different from other Mactra species. The congeneric relationships among Mactra species were demonstrated by genetic distance analysis. Additionally, the selective pressure analysis suggested that cox1 was highly efficient for discriminating closely related species in genus Mactra, while nad2 was the most appropriate marker for population genetic analysis. Full article

The competitive colonization of bacteria on similar ecological niches has a significant impact during their establishment. The synthesis speeds of different chemical classes of molecules during early competitive colonization can reduce the number of competitors through metabolic effects. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time that Kosakonia cowanii Cp1 previously isolated from the seeds of Capsicum pubescens R. P. produced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during competitive colonization against Pectobacterium aroidearum SM2, affecting soft rot symptoms in serrano chili (Capsicum annuum L.). The pathogen P. aroidearum SM2 was isolated from the fruits of C. annuum var. Serrano with soft rot symptoms. The genome of the SM2 strain carries a 5,037,920 bp chromosome with 51.46% G + C content and 4925 predicted protein-coding genes. It presents 12 genes encoding plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes (PCDEWs), 139 genes involved in five types of secretion systems, and 16 genes related to invasion motility. Pathogenic essays showed soft rot symptoms in the fruits of C. annuum L., Solanum lycopersicum, and Physalis philadelphica and the tubers of Solanum tuberosum. During the growth phases of K. cowanii Cp1, a mix of VOCs was identified by means of HS-SPME-GC-MS. Of these compounds, 2,5-dimethyl-pyrazine showed bactericidal effects and synergy with acetoin during the competitive colonization of K. cowanii Cp1 to completely reduce soft rot symptoms. This work provides novel evidence grounding a better understanding of bacterial interactions during competitive colonization on plant tissue, where VOC synthesis is essential and has a high potential capacity to control pathogenic microorganisms in agricultural systems. Full article

The Chinese Loess Plateau has undergone extensive revegetation to restore degraded land and enhance carbon sequestration. However, soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestrated in the soil profiles of deep-rooted plants has not been fully studied. Here, we investigated the SOC within a 0–23 m profile in farmlands and apple orchards converted from farmlands with different ages (A5, <5 years; A10, ~10 years; A15, ~15 years; A20, >20 years) and the controlling factors on three loess tablelands (Changwu, Qingyang, and Luochuan). The results show that SOC stocks among farmlands and orchards showed no significant difference (p = 0.88); however, SOC stocks showed a trend with tree ages, i.e., a decrease for A5 and A10 but an increase for A15 and A20. For the vertical variability, the SOC stock was the highest within 0–1 m, regardless of the standing age; however, the SOC stock in this layer only accounted for 8.8% of the total SOC stock (97.93 ± 9.18 kg m⁻²). Climate accounted for 82% of the variations and controlled the changes in SOC in the 0–1 m range, while soil texture dominated the SOC in the soil below 1 m, accounting for 57% of the SOC variations. The variations in SOC in the thick, unsaturated zones provide implications for future land use management and the sustainability of apple orchards in arid regions. Full article

Urology is one of the most competitive specialties in medicine, creating a challenge for prospective students looking to secure a residency position. Our study aims to assess online interest in urology residency by querying online interaction with search terms and criteria for urology residency programs. Utilizing Google Trends analysis from 2011 to 2024, this study examined urology-related search volume indexes, as well as temporal and geographical patterns. Furthermore, the number of residency positions from the American Urological Association database for the 2022 match process was evaluated. Our analysis of temporal trends revealed increased interest in urologist salaries from 2011 to 2019, followed by a decline from 2019 to 2023. Interest in urology-related interviews, applications, research, and letters increased in 2019, marked by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. California, New York, and Texas had the lowest interest-to-position (IP) ratio, while Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia had the highest IP ratio. Our analysis reveals an evolving interest in salaries, residency programs, and USMLE Step 1 changes in areas connected with urology. We report key geographical areas with high urology residency interest and low numbers of programs, implying a need for expanded residencies in underserved yet high-interest areas. Awareness and continued interest monitoring after the COVID-19 pandemic is critical for understanding interest in urology applicants. Full article

Background: Skin substitutes play a crucial role in wound care by actively modulating the wound healing process, promoting angiogenesis, and protecting the integrity of the native extracellular matrix. Consequently, surgeons have increasingly recognized these resources as excellent complements to improve reconstructive outcomes. This review focuses on the author’s experience using these biomaterials in complex cases, highlighting the benefits they bring to patient care. Methods: A literature review was conducted to evaluate the regenerative properties of skin substitutes and their applicability in head and neck, upper and lower extremities, and trunk reconstruction. Results: The reviewed literature, along with the authors’ experience, supports the adjunct use of skin substitutes in various reconstructive situations. Combining them with skin grafts improves resulting skin quality and may also enhance donor site healing. They have proven to be effective in addressing chronic venous ulcers, traumatic wounds with limited donor tissues for coverage, extensive burns, diabetic foot ulcers, and oncological resections in the face and scalp. Furthermore, combining them with autologous tissue shows promising results in achieving stable closure. Conclusions: Incorporating skin substitutes in complex reconstructive scenarios offers multiple benefits. Their regenerative properties and ability to modulate the healing process contribute to enhanced outcomes and reduced overall costs. Full article

Background: Taeniosis and cysticercosis are human infections caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. This study is a baseline for community-based intervention. We determined the prevalence of human cysticercosis and associated risk factors following a deworming program conducted throughout the country, with Mbulu District being among the districts in Northern Tanzania. Methods: Human cysticercosis was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag- ELISA). Household interviews and observations were conducted to identify risk factors for cysticercosis transmissions among households and communities. Results: Three hundred individuals participated in this study. The age ranged from 5 to 89 years, with a median of 19 years. The prevalence of human cysticercosis was 23 (7.67%). The prevalence was high with 6 (11.76%) among individuals aged 26 to 35 years and ±45 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence by age group, sex, or occupation. Among the 300 participants, 82 (27.3%) had received anthelmintics during the previous year; among these, 5 (21.7%) were infected. The likelihood of infection was low among anthelmintic users by 28% [0.72 (0.26–2.01)], but the protection was not significant. The communities differed in risk factors on the availability of a clean and safe water supply; 52.7% (46/86) of households visited had no pit latrine. The cysticercosis prevalence showed a significant difference in communities. Conclusions: The prevalence of human cysticercosis was high and associated with higher age groups. The prevalence was low among those who had taken anthelmintics and was associated with lower age groups. The current school deworming program has a positive effect on school children, while the elderly are at higher risk because the intervention did not target them. It is recommended to scale up anthelmintic intervention to higher age groups. Full article

Fresh, green leaves are increasing as resources in aquatic ecosystems due to more frequent severe spring and summer storms, but research on allochthonous resources typically uses senescent leaves. We examined macroinvertebrate colonization of green leaves of three native deciduous trees (red maple, red oak, and tulip poplar) over two weeks within both a stream and fishless pond. Leaf colonization varied depending on the taxa of leaves and colonizers, submersion time, and the ecosystem examined. Within the stream, the densities of isopods (Lirceus sp.) and snails (mostly the invasive Potamopyrgus antipodarum) did not vary significantly across leaf species. In contrast, mayflies (Tricorythodes sp.) in the stream colonized tulip poplar in greater numbers than red oak leaves, while higher densities of planarians (order Tricladida) occurred within red oak leaves. The numbers of mayflies and snails decreased significantly by the second week, but the densities of isopods and planaria within stream leaf packs were consistent. In contrast, within the pond, significantly more isopods (Caecidotea communis) were collected after the first than after the second week of submersion and in tulip poplar leaves. Clams (Sphaeriidae) in the pond, on the other hand, were more prevalent in the second week but did not discriminate among leaf species. While the number of leeches (mostly Helobdella stagnalis) was consistent across weeks, significantly fewer leeches resided within tulip poplar leaves than within red oak leaves. Our results suggest that there are no consistent colonization-preference rankings of species of fresh leaves across freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate taxa. Even within a functional feeding group (e.g., the two types of isopods and snails, all detritivore-herbivores), there were differences in colonization patterns. Therefore, increased allochthonous inputs of fresh leaf litter due to severe spring- and summer-time storms are likely to promote the populations of various taxa to different extents. Full article

Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (SCNECC) is a rare cancer with poor prognosis, with limited data to guide its treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate practice patterns in the management of SCNECC. A 23-question online survey on management of SCNECC was disseminated to Canadian gynecologic oncologists (GO), radiation oncologists (RO) and medical oncologists (MO). In total, 34 practitioners from eight provinces responded, including 17 GO, 13 RO and four MO. During staging and diagnosis, 74% of respondents used a trimodality imaging approach, and 85% tested for neuroendocrine markers. In early-stage (1A1-1B2) SCNECC, 87% of practitioners used a surgical-based approach with various adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments. In locally advanced (1B3-IVA) SCNECC, 53% favored primary chemoradiation, with cisplatin and etoposide, with the remainder using surgical or radiation-based approaches. In metastatic and recurrent SCNECC, the most common first-line regimen was etoposide and platinum, and 63% of practitioners considered clinical trials in the first line setting or beyond. This survey highlights diverse practice patterns in the treatment of SCNECC. Interdisciplinary input is crucial to individualizing multimodality treatment, and there is a need for prospective trials and intergroup collaboration to define the optimal approach towards managing this rare cancer type. Full article

The widespread application of CAD/CAM technology in contemporary dentistry led to the development of promising restorative materials, such as resin composite blocks (RCBs). Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the mechanical properties of RCBs, comparing this material to the direct composite resin from the same manufacturer. Samples retrieved from three CAD/CAM resin composite blocks (Tetric CAD (TC), Ivoclar Vivadent, Grandio blocs (GB), VOCO GmbH and Brilliant Crios (BC), Coltene/Whaledent) and four direct composite resins (Tetric EvoCeram (TEC), Ivoclar Vivadent, GrandioSO (GS), VOCO GmbH, Brilliant EverGlow Translucent (BET) and Universal Shade (BEU), Coltene/Whaledent) were submitted to three-point bending flexural test and Vickers microhardness test. The resulting data of the flexural strength were analyzed using one-way ANOVA considering Bonferroni correction for post hoc tests (α = 0.05). The flexural modulus and Vickers microhardness results were analyzed using Welch’s ANOVA considering Games–Howell correction for post hoc tests (α = 0.05). Regarding results, flexural strength and flexural modulus values ranged from 81.1 MPa (BEU) to 246.5 MPa (GB) and 10.6 GPa (BEU) to 20.3 GPa (GB), respectively. GS (121.2) and GB (136.2) groups were associated with the highest microhardness values. According to the post hoc tests, statistically significant differences in flexure strength were found in RCBs (BC, GB, and TC) compared to all direct composite resins. Flexural modulus and Vickers microhardness of RCBs (BC, GB, TC) were also significantly different from the direct composite resin (BET, BED, and TEC), except when comparing GS and GB for microhardness. In conclusion, differences between RCBs and direct composite resins were observed regarding flexural strength, flexural modulus, and microhardness, revealing that RCBs have enhanced mechanical properties compared to direct composite resins. Full article

Persistent dizziness and balance deficits are common, often with unknown etiology. Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (3PD) is a relatively new diagnosis with symptoms that may include dizziness, unsteadiness, or non-vertiginous dizziness and be persistent the majority of time over a minimum of 90 days. The purpose of this case series was to investigate short-term outcomes of reducing dizziness symptoms using a manual therapy intervention focused on restoring mobility in the fascia using a pragmatically applied biomechanical approach, the Fascial Manipulation^® method (FM^®), in patients with 3PD. The preliminary prospective case series consisted of twelve (n = 12) patients with persistent complaints of dizziness who received systematic application of manual therapy to improve fascial mobility after previously receiving vestibular rehabilitation. The manual therapy consisted of strategic assessment and palpation based on the model proposed in the FM^® Stecco Method. This model utilizes tangential oscillations directed toward the deep fascia at strategic points. Six males (n = 6) and females (n = 6) were included with a mean age of 68.3 ± 19.3 years. The average number of interventions was 4.5 ± 0.5. Nonparametric paired sample t-tests were performed. Significant improvements were observed toward the resolution of symptoms and improved outcomes. The metrics included the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and static and dynamic balance measures. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores decreased (i.e., improved) by 43.6 points (z = −3.1 and p = 0.002). The timed up and go scores decreased (i.e., improved) by 3.2 s (z = −2.8 and p = 0.005). The tandem left increased (i.e., improved) by 8.7 s (z = 2.8 and p = 0.005) and the tandem right increased (i.e., improved) by 7.5 s (z = 2.8 and p = 0.005). Four to five manual therapy treatment sessions appear to be effective for short-term improvements in dizziness complaints and balance in those with 3PD. These results should be interpreted with caution as future research using rigorous methods and a control group must be conducted. Full article

Detection and segmentation of brain metastases (BMs) play a pivotal role in diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up evaluations for effective BM management. Given the rising prevalence of BM cases and its predominantly multiple onsets, automated segmentation is becoming necessary in stereotactic radiosurgery. It not only alleviates the clinician’s manual workload and improves clinical workflow efficiency but also ensures treatment safety, ultimately improving patient care. Recent strides in machine learning, particularly in deep learning (DL), have revolutionized medical image segmentation, achieving state-of-the-art results. This review aims to analyze auto-segmentation strategies, characterize the utilized data, and assess the performance of cutting-edge BM segmentation methodologies. Additionally, we delve into the challenges confronting BM segmentation and share insights gleaned from our algorithmic and clinical implementation experiences. Full article

Viscoelastic relaxation measurements on styrene-butadiene rubbers (SBRs) doped with carbon nanotube (CNT) at different concentrations around the sol-gel transition show the time–temperature superposition (TTS). This process is described in terms of the mode coupling theory (MCT) approach to viscoelasticity by considering the frequency behavior of the loss modulus $E^{″}\left(\omega \right)$ and showing that the corresponding TTS is linked to ${\omega }^{1/2}$ decay. From the analysis of the obtained data, we observe that the interaction between SBRs and CNT determines different levels of decay according to their concentration. Systems with the lowest CNT concentration are only characterized in the studied T-range by their fragile glass-forming behavior. However, at a specific temperature $T_L$, those with the highest CNT concentration show a crossover towards pure Arrhenius that, according to the MCT, indicates the presence of kinetic glass transition (KGT), where system response functions are characterized by scaling behaviors. Full article