This study focuses on the microstructures and soft-magnetic properties of the Al_1.5Fe₃Co₃Cr₁ multi-principal-element alloy (MPEA) in different states. The MPEA was prepared using arc melting and suction-casting, followed by various heat treatments. The crystal structures were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the microstructures were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results reveal that the MPEA consists mainly of coherent body-centered cubic (BCC) and B2 phases, with a moderate lattice misfit (ε = 0.14~0.21%) between them. The homogenized alloy shows the presence of coarse equiaxed grains and micro-scale cells, and it has good soft-magnetic properties with M_S = 127 emu/g and H_C = 143.3 A/m (1.8 Oe). The thermal stability of the alloy is found to be optimal after aging at 873 K, as there are no significant changes in microstructures and soft-magnetic properties. However, when the aging temperature increases to 973 K, the BCC nanoprecipitates are coarsened, leading to a decrease in the soft-magnetic properties. Full article

Background: This work aimed to study the Village Test (VT) in a group of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and compare the results with those of a group of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and controls. Methods: A total of 50 patients with AD, 28 patients with MCI, and 38 controls were evaluated. All participants underwent the VT and an extensive neuropsychological evaluation. Results: The mean ages of the participants were 74.4 years for those with AD, 74 for those with MCI, and 70.2 for the controls. The AD group built smaller and essential villages with a scarce use of pieces, a poor use of dynamic pieces, and scarce use of human figures. All constructions were often concentrated in the center of the table. Conclusions: The villages built by the AD group represent a cognitive and affective coarctation and indicate a sense of existential disorientation and isolation. The VT is a useful aid for getting in touch with the inner emotional and existential states of patients with AD, and it could represent a complementary screening tool for orienting cognitive impairment diagnoses. Full article

The branched complexes of Schiff bases with various iron(III) salts, named G2-[L₂Fe]⁺A⁻ (A⁻ is NO₃⁻, Cl⁻, PF₆⁻), were synthesized using the condensation reaction between carbazole derivatives of salicylic aldehyde and N’-ethylethylenediamine and characterized by various spectroscopic methods (GPC, IR, ¹H NMR, UV/Vis). The studies revealed that the coordination of the two ligand molecules to metal occurs through the nitrogen ions and oxygen atom of azomethine to form a homoleptic system. All the synthesized coordination compounds were examined for their thermal, optical, and magnetic features. Static magnetic measurements showed that only G2-[L₂Fe]Cl was in a single-phase HS state, whereas the Fe(III) ions of G2-[L₂Fe]NO₃ and G2-[L₂Fe]PF₆ at room temperatures were in mixed low-spin (LS, S = 1/2) and high-spin (HS, S = 5/2) states: 58.9% LS/41.1% HS for G2-[L₂Fe]NO₃, 56.1% LS and 43.9% HS for G2-[L₂Fe]PF₆. All G2-[L₂Fe]⁺A⁻ complexes demonstrate antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between neighboring Fe(III) ions. The ground spin state at 2.0 K revealed a Brillouin contribution from non-interacting LS ions and a proportion of the HS Fe(III) ions not participating in AFM interactions: 57%, 18%, and 16% for G2-[L₂Fe]Cl, G2-[L₂Fe]NO₃ and G2-[L₂Fe]PF₆, respectively. EPR measurements confirmed the presence of magnetically active HS and LS states of Fe(III) ions and made it possible to distinguish two HS types-with strong low-symmetry (I-type) and weak, distorted octahedral environments (II-type). It was shown that G2-[L₂Fe]⁺A⁻ complexes are magnetically inhomogeneous and consist of two magnetic sub-lattices: AFM-correlated chains in layers from the I-type HS Fe(III) centers and dynamic short-range AFM ordered LS/II-type HS Fe(III) centers in the paramagnetic phase located between the layers. Full article

Ejector-based proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are of great interest due to their simplicity and feasibility. Thus, proton exchange membrane fuel cells are considered the most suitable technology for in-vehicle systems, industrial applications, etc. Despite the passive characteristics of the ejector, active control of the hydrogen supply system is needed to ensure sufficient hydrogen, maintain the stack pressure, and ensure effective entrainment. In this research, a novel semi-empirical model is proposed to accurately predict the entrainment performance of the ejector with an 80 kW fuel cell system. According to the precise semi-empirical model, the hydrogen supply system and the anode channel are modeled. Then, a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) is developed to supply sufficient and adequate gas flow and maintain the rapid dynamic response. Compared to the conventional proportional–integral–derivative controller, the fuzzy logic controller could reduce the anode pressure variability by 5% during a stepped case and 2% during a dynamic case. Full article

Thermal energy storage technology has evolved as one of the prominent methods of storing thermal energy when it is available and utilized as per the requirements. In recent years, thermal energy storage has found a variety of applications for thermal management, such as buildings, batteries, electronics, cold storage, textiles, and solar thermal systems. Phase Change Material (PCM) has taken the lead among all other thermal energy storage materials because of various merits such as high energy density, ease of use, low cost, low volume change, environmental friendliness, easy availability, and chemical stability. However, limitations such as poor thermal conductivity and leakage during phase transformation limit their applicability. In this study, Shape Stabilized Composite PCM (SSCPCM) was developed to overcome these drawbacks. Paraffin wax and soya wax were used as PCMs and multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide were used as nano-additives. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is used as a supporting matrix. Leakage test suggest maximum loading of 40 wt% and 35 wt% of paraffin wax and soya wax in HDPE without any leakage at elevated temperature. The prepared SSCPCM shows substantially better thermal energy storage capacity along with improved thermal conductivity. A maximum rise of 260.8% in thermal conductivity was observed in paraffin wax supported by HDPE and loaded with 3 wt% of multi-walled carbon nanotube nanoparticles. The heating and cooling performance suggests an improvement in the heating and cooling rate by adding nano-additives. The prepared SSCPCM are also thermally stable at elevated temperatures up to 150 °C. Full article

Since the discovery of innovative two-dimensional (2D) materials, significant efforts have been dedicated to exploring their intriguing properties and emerging applications. Among all candidates, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have proven to be exceptional for gas sensing, while defects engineering has been introduced to modify the pristine TMDs for better gas sensing performances. In this review, we systematically summarize types of defects, advanced characterization techniques, and state-of-the-art controllable synthetic methods. Various types of defects in TMDs can induce diverse changes in chemical and electron structures, which are closely correlated with gas sensing ability. Therefore, connections between defects and gas sensing mechanisms and performances have been addressed based on both defect categories and electron affinity of gases. This review will be a guide for researchers in defective materials and open up the field of precisely synthesis chemistry and deepen the understanding of the underlying effects of defects in other 2D materials. Full article

Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) develops from very early cells with the potential for both T-cell and myeloid differentiation. The ambiguous nature of leukemic blasts in ETP-ALL may lead to immunophenotypic alterations at relapse. Here, we address immunophenotypic alterations and related classification issues, as well as genetic features of relapsed pediatric ETP-ALL. Between 2017 and 2022, 7518 patients were diagnosed with acute leukemia (AL). In addition to conventional immunophenotyping, karyotyping, and FISH studies, we performed next-generation sequencing of the T-cell receptor clonal repertoire and reverse transcription PCR and RNA sequencing for patients with ETP-ALL at both initial diagnosis and relapse. Among a total of 534 patients diagnosed with T-cell ALL (7.1%), 60 had ETP-ALL (11.2%). Ten patients with ETP-ALL experienced relapse or progression on therapy (16.7%), with a median time to event of 5 months (ranging from two weeks to 5 years). Most relapses were classified as AL of ambiguous lineage (n = 5) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (n = 4). Major genetic markers of leukemic cells remained unchanged at relapse. Of the patients with relapse, four had polyclonal leukemic populations and a relapse with AML or bilineal mixed-phenotype AL (MPAL). Three patients had clonal TRD rearrangements and relapse with AML, undifferentiated AL, or retention of the ETP-ALL phenotype. ETP-ALL relapse requires careful clinical and laboratory diagnosis. Treatment decisions should rely mainly on initial examination data, taking into account both immunophenotypic and molecular/genetic characteristics. Full article

Radio frequency interference (RFI) significantly hampers the target detection performance of frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar. To address the problem and maintain the target echo signal, this paper proposes a priori assumption on the interference component nature in the radar received signal, as well as a method for interference estimation and mitigation via time–frequency analysis. The solution employs Fourier synchrosqueezed transform to implement the radar’s beat signal transformation from time domain to time–frequency domain, thus converting the interference mitigation to the task of time–frequency distribution image restoration. The solution proposes the use of image processing based on the dual-tree complex wavelet transform and combines it with the spatial domain-based approach, thereby establishing a dual-domain fusion interference filter for time–frequency distribution images. This paper also presents a convolutional neural network model of structurally improved UNet++, which serves as the interference estimator. The proposed solution demonstrated its capability against various forms of RFI through the simulation experiment and showed a superior interference mitigation performance over other CNN model-based approaches. Full article

RNA interference inhibitors were initially discovered in plant viruses, representing a unique mechanism employed by these viruses to counteract host RNA interference. This mechanism has found extensive applications in plant disease resistance breeding and other fields; however, the impact of such interference inhibitors on insect cell RNA interference remains largely unknown. In this study, we screened three distinct interference inhibitors from plant and mammal viruses that act through different mechanisms and systematically investigated their effects on the insect cell cycle and baculovirus infection period at various time intervals. Our findings demonstrated that the viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs) derived from plant and mammal viruses significantly attenuated the RNA interference effect in insect cells, as evidenced by reduced apoptosis rates, altered gene regulation patterns in cells, enhanced expression of exogenous proteins, and improved production efficiency of recombinant virus progeny. Further investigations revealed that the early expression of VSRs yielded superior results compared with late expression during RNA interference processes. Additionally, our results indicated that dsRNA-binding inhibition exhibited more pronounced effects than other modes of action employed by these interference inhibitors. The outcomes presented herein provide novel insights into enhancing defense mechanisms within insect cells using plant and mammal single-stranded RNA virus-derived interference inhibitors and have potential implications for expanding the scope of transformation within insect cell expression systems. Full article

There has been an increase in interest in the application of ω-3 PUFAs, especially EPA and DHA, in the development of various food products owing to their myriad health benefits. However, most fish oils do not contain more than 30% combined levels of EPA and DHA. In this study, through the urea complexation procedure, the production of EPA and DHA concentrate in their free fatty acids (FFAs) form was achieved from an enzymatic oil extracted from common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia). To gain the maximum value of EPA and DHA, the response surface methodology (RSM), which is an effective tool to categorize the level of independent variables onto the responses of an experimental process, was also used. Different variables including the urea–fatty acids (FAs) ratio (in the range of 2–6, w/w), the temperature of crystallization (in the range of −24–8 °C), and the time of crystallization (in the range of 8–40 h) were investigated by response surface methodology (RSM) for maximizing the EPA and DHA contents. Following the model validation, the levels of the variables at which the maximum desirability function (0.907 score) was obtained for response variables were 5:1 (urea–FAs ratio), −9 °C (the temperature of crystallization), and 24 h (the time of crystallization). Under these optimal conditions, increases of 2.2 and 4.4 times in the EPA and DHA concentrations were observed, respectively, and an increase in the concentrations of EPA and DHA from 5.39 and 13.32% in the crude oil to 12.07 and 58.36% in the ω-3 PUFA concentrates were observed, respectively. These findings indicate that the urea complexation process is efficient at optimizated conditions. Full article

Frozen soil may cause structures to have different damage statuses, as revealed by earthquakes in northeastern China. ABAQUS (2019), a numerical simulation software application, was adopted to systematically and deeply study the structural seismic response, considering seasonal frozen soil–structure interaction under different ground motion intensities and soil ambient temperatures. The results showed firstly that the variation in soil ambient temperature had a great influence on the seismic response of the structure, as indicated by the damage status of the structure obtained through numerical simulation. Secondly, through further analysis of the numerical simulation results, the influence amplitude of different soil temperatures on the structural seismic response was quantitatively analyzed and systematically summarized. Finally, the structural seismic damage with negative ambient temperature could be significantly lower than that with positive temperature normally. Additionally, such an internal change mechanism was also objectively analyzed to verify the reliability of the conclusion. Full article

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal regulators of gene expression, playing crucial roles in plant developmental processes and environmental responses. However, the function of miRNAs in influencing deciduous traits has been little explored. Here, we utilized sRNA-seq on two deciduous species, Ilex polyneura (Hand.-Mazz.) S. Y. Hu and Ilex asprella Champ. ex Benth., along with an evergreen species, Ilex latifolia Thunb., to identify and annotate miRNAs within these species. Our analysis revealed 162 species-specific miRNAs (termed SS-miRNAs) from 120 families, underscoring the fundamental roles and potential influence of SS-miRNAs on plant phenotypic diversity and adaptation. Notably, three SS-miRNAs in I. latifolia were found to target crucial genes within the abscission signaling pathway. Analysis of cis-regulatory elements suggested a novel regulatory relationship that may contribute to the evergreen phenotype of I. latifolia by modulating the abscission process in a light-independent manner. These findings propose a potential mechanism by which SS-miRNAs can influence the conserved abscission pathway, contributing to the phenotypic divergence between deciduous and evergreen species within the genus Ilex. Full article

Among various non-covalent interactions, selenium-centered chalcogen bonds (SeChBs) have garnered considerable attention in recent years as a result of their important contributions to crystal engineering, organocatalysis, molecular recognition, materials science, and biological systems. Herein, we systematically investigated π–hole-type Se∙∙∙O/S ChBs in the binary complexes of SeO₂ with a series of O-/S-containing Lewis bases by means of high-level ab initio computations. The results demonstrate that there exists an attractive interaction between the Se atom of SeO₂ and the O/S atom of Lewis bases. The interaction energies computed at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level range from −4.68 kcal/mol to −10.83 kcal/mol for the Se∙∙∙O chalcogen-bonded complexes and vary between −3.53 kcal/mol and −13.77 kcal/mol for the Se∙∙∙S chalcogen-bonded complexes. The Se∙∙∙O/S ChBs exhibit a relatively short binding distance in comparison to the sum of the van der Waals radii of two chalcogen atoms. The Se∙∙∙O/S ChBs in all of the studied complexes show significant strength and a closed-shell nature, with a partially covalent character in most cases. Furthermore, the strength of these Se∙∙∙O/S ChBs generally surpasses that of the C/O–H∙∙∙O hydrogen bonds within the same complex. It should be noted that additional C/O–H∙∙∙O interactions have a large effect on the geometric structures and strength of Se∙∙∙O/S ChBs. Two subunits are connected together mainly via the orbital interaction between the lone pair of O/S atoms in the Lewis bases and the BD*(OSe) anti-bonding orbital of SeO₂, except for the SeO₂∙∙∙HCSOH complex. The electrostatic component emerges as the largest attractive contributor for stabilizing the examined complexes, with significant contributions from induction and dispersion components as well. Full article

The dairy and meat industries generate thousands of tons of organic waste and by-products each year, making them two of the least environmentally sustainable sectors. Typical waste includes not only processing by-products such as curds but also commercial products that are defective or unsaleable due to expiration or damaged packaging. This study aimed to evaluate the methanogenic potential of a mixture of 80% inedible curds and 20% expired sausages, as a substrate, using two continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTR). The reactors were fed daily with increasing doses of the 80–20% mixture and an organic loading rate ranging from 0.31 gVS/litre/day at the beginning of the trials to 7.20 gVS/litre/day toward the end. The produced biogas was continuously analysed from both quantitative and qualitative point of view. Also, the process was continuously monitored by withdrawing samples from each reactor during the whole process, to analyse their physical–chemical parameters, including pH, total solids (TS), total volatile solids (TVS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium nitrogen (NH4⁺-N), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and total volatile fatty acids (VFA). The results of this study show a promising increase in biogas production with the increase in feed. In terms of biogas production, organic waste from the dairy and meat industry shows the potential to be exploited as a substrate to produce biomethane. Indeed, in this study, biomethane cumulative production reached 410.86 NL_CH4∙gTVS⁻¹ using an 8 L capacity reactor filled up to 6 L. This makes the tested by-products usable as a renewable energy source in the future, particularly within a circular economy approach, helping to mitigate the effects of global warming and addressing sustainable development goals. Full article

Sechium compositum (Cucurbitaceae) is a wild species that is distributed in the Soconusco region, Chiapas, Mexico, and the border with Guatemala. This species has an intangible biochemical value resulting from the pharmacological relevance of its secondary metabolites. However, as a consequence of the lack of knowledge about its importance, it is being displaced from its habitat at an accelerated rate, incurring the risk of genetic loss. Therefore, an in vitro culture protocol with two experimental phases was evaluated to propagate, conserve, and regenerate this species. The first phases considered the shoot propagation, adding seven concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2 mg mL⁻¹) of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and thidiazuron (TDZ) and evaluating the number of buds and shoots and the shoot height. The best multiplication response was recorded with 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 1.0 mg L⁻¹ of BA and 0.1 mg L⁻¹ of TDZ, as well as the MS base culture medium. The validation of the results of the first phase (0.1 mg L⁻¹ of BA) was compared with the MS in an independent experiment against the control (n = 50 repetitions), obtaining a height of 52 mm, 1.36 shoots, and 9.22 buds, suggesting that this concentration is adequate for the purpose, surpassing the MS control (MS culture medium alone). Of the total volume of roots obtained with packed bud structure in the previous experimental sample, it was reduced to 14% (n = 50). The second phase consisted of inducing callus formation from stem and leaf explants through the addition of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg L⁻¹ of TDZ and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to the medium. Callus induction in S. compositum was better when using the stem in a medium with 2.0 mg L⁻¹ of 2,4-D with a value of 97.8% around the explant. The addition of 500 mg L⁻¹ of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is also suggested to reduce oxidation. This protocol represents a significant advance in the conservation, multiplication, and callus formation of S. compositum and contributes to its rescue and revaluation in the face of the danger of extinction. Full article

A numerical approach to estimating the mean exposure of a tracer to a scalar property is applied to predict the light exposure of sinking phytoplankton. In our application, effective light exposure is defined as the time integral of a light limitation factor commonly used in phytoplankton models. Solutions from an adjoint approach have previously been published for a set of one-dimensional sinking phytoplankton scenarios. We illustrate that a simple extension to a standard advection–diffusion model produces similar results. Specifically, we present numerical solutions using property tracking in a one-dimensional advection–diffusion model for multiple tracers. Solutions are calculated for a range of eddy diffusivity distributions and compared with the published solutions. The consistency of the numerical solutions with the published solutions provides validation of the property-tracking approach. While the adjoint method solution is much less computationally intensive for the test cases, the property-tracking approach can be applied in multidimensional time-varying applications with an arbitrary distribution of sinking speed, diffusivity, and turbidity for which an adjoint solution has not been developed. Our intention is for this example application and corroboration of the “property-tracking” approach to inspire readers to envision additional applications for this approach. Full article

The recycling of NdFeB magnets is necessary to ensure a reliable and ethical supply of rare earth elements as critical raw materials. This has been recognized internationally, prompting the implementation of large-scale legislative measured aimed at its resolution; for example, an ambitious recycling quote has been established in the Critical Raw Materials Act Successful recycling in sufficient quantities is challenged by product designs that do not allow the extraction and recycling of these high-performance permanent magnets without excessive effort and cost. This is particularly true for smaller motors using NdFeB magnets. Therefore, methods of recycling such arrangements with little or no dismantling are being researched. They are tested for the hydrogen-processing of magnetic scrap (HPMS) method, a short-loop mechanical recycling process. As contamination of the recycled material with residues of anti-corrosion coatings, adhesives, etc., may lead to downcycling, the separability of such residues from bulk magnets and magnet powder is explored. It is found that the hydrogen permeability, expansion volume, and the chosen coating affect the viable preparation and separation methods as recyclability-relevant design features. Full article

Energy accounts for a significant share of carbon emissions, and buildings play a substantial role in this by contributing to both direct and indirect emissions throughout their lifecycle. Enhancing energy efficiency in buildings is a strategy to mitigate these impacts. The main goal of this review is to uncover solutions, trends, and examples of good practices in the field of office buildings. It presents effective cases and a SWOT analysis of LEED, BREEAM, and DGNB certifications, highlighting their contributions to energy efficiency in buildings on an international scale. The paper identifies and outlines similarities and differences between each methodology used to achieve energy efficiency in different buildings and contexts. The findings may allow new ways to improve access and obtain results regarding energy efficiency, thereby supporting building owners and companies in finding more effective solutions. The research highlights the necessity for continual enhancements in these systems, which should involve addressing economic factors, conducting post-occupancy evaluations, and considering lifecycle perspectives. The recommendations encompass standardizing practices, considering costs, conducting regular revisions, managing materials and resources, and incorporating occupancy measures. Full article

This survey paper explores advanced nonlinear control strategies for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), including systems such as the Twin Rotor MIMO system (TRMS) and quadrotors. UAVs, with their high nonlinearity and significant coupling effects, serve as crucial benchmarks for testing control algorithms. Integration of sophisticated sensors enhances UAV versatility, making traditional linear control techniques less effective. Advanced nonlinear strategies, including sensor-based adaptive controls and AI, are increasingly essential. Recent years have seen the development of diverse sliding surface-based, sensor-driven, and hybrid control strategies for UAVs, offering superior performance over linear methods. This paper reviews the significance of these strategies, emphasizing their role in addressing UAV complexities and outlining future research directions. Full article

Tanacetum vulgare is a perennial plant growing wild along roadsides, pastures, and agricultural fields. Its prevalence is due to several factors: good climatic adaptability, high self-seeding potential, phenotypic plasticity, multiplying via underground rhizomes and its allelochemicals, which influence the seed germination, root development and the overall vegetation of the surrounding plants. The phytochemistry of tansy extracts and their allelopathic activity on the seed germination and growth of garden pepper cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were investigated. The major volatile compounds, 1,8-cineole, camphor and borneol were determined in tansy flower extracts. The leaf extracts contained appreciable amounts of 1,8-cineole and borneol. Feruloylquinic, (di)ferulic and dehydrocaffeoyl-5-caffeoylquinic acids, acacetin, ludovicin С and tanacetin were determined both in leaf and inflorescence extracts. Root extracts contained minor quantities of some terpenoids and polyphenols. Extracts of T. vulgare’s aerial parts showed strong allelopathic effects on model plants. The flower and leaf water extracts inhibited lettuce and pepper cress seed germination and growth the most. According to the fractions, the acidic solution had the strongest effect, followed by neutral and alkaline solutions. At the highest relative concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 tansy leaf acidic fraction, lettuce seed germination and growth decreased by 89.93% (from 35.07 ± 4.79 to 3.53 ± 2.10 mm) and by 98.46% (from 35.07 ± 4.79 to 0.57 ± 0.98 mm) compared to the control, respectively. Tansy root extracts showed weak effects. Our results demonstrated that the allelopathic inhibitory potential of tansy extracts was higher on garden pepper cress than on lettuce. The presence of allelochemicals in T. vulgare may have a significant impact on plant communities and ecosystems. Full article

Bridges are critical components of transportation networks, and their conditions have effects on societal well-being, the economy, and the environment. Automation needs in inspections and maintenance have made structural health monitoring (SHM) systems a key research pillar to assess bridge safety/health. The last decade brought a boom in innovative bridge SHM applications with the rise in next-generation smart and mobile technologies. A key advancement within this direction is smartphones with their sensory usage as SHM devices. This focused review reports recent advances in bridge SHM backed by smartphone sensor technologies and provides case studies on bridge SHM applications. The review includes modelbased and data-driven SHM prospects utilizing smartphones as the sensing and acquisition portal and conveys three distinct messages in terms of the technological domain and level of mobility: (i) vibration-based dynamic identification and damage-detection approaches; (ii) deformation and condition monitoring empowered by computer vision-based measurement capabilities; (iii) drive-by or pedestrianized bridge monitoring approaches, and miscellaneous SHM applications with unconventional/emerging technological features and new research domains. The review is intended to bring together bridge engineering, SHM, and sensor technology audiences with decade-long multidisciplinary experience observed within the smartphone-based SHM theme and presents exemplary cases referring to a variety of levels of mobility. Full article

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have changed perioperative care, aiming to optimize patient outcomes. This study assesses ERAS implementation effects on postoperative complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), and mortality in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. A retrospective real-world analysis was conducted on CRC patients undergoing surgery within a Northern Italian Cancer Registry. Outcomes including complications, re-surgeries, 30-day readmission, mortality, and LOS were assessed in 2023, the year of ERAS protocol adoption, and compared with data from 2022. A total of 158 surgeries were performed, 77 cases in 2022 and 81 in 2023. In 2023, a lower incidence of postoperative complications was observed compared to that in 2022 (17.3% vs. 22.1%), despite treating a higher proportion of patients with unfavorable prognoses. However, rates of reoperations and readmissions within 30 days post-surgery increased in 2023. Mortality within 30 days remained consistent between the two groups. Patients diagnosed in 2023 experienced a statistically significant reduction in LOS compared to those in 2022 (mean: 5 vs. 8.1 days). ERAS protocols in CRC surgery yield reduced postoperative complications and shorter hospital stays, even in complex cases. Our study emphasizes ERAS’ role in enhancing surgical outcomes and recovery. Full article