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PubMed2026

Real-time intraoperative perfusion assessment using indocianine green in pediatric extrinsic ureteropelvic junction obstruction with crossing vessel.

INTRODUCTION: In vascular hitch (VH) particular attention must be paid to preserving lower pole perfusion. Hypoperfusion is normally excluded by macroscopic visual assessment of parenchyma appearance. Our aim is to explore the possible role of indocyanine green (ICG) in highlighting focal hypoperfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included pediatric patients with UPJO caused by crossing vessels, treated with robot-assisted VH. Intraoperative evaluation assessed UPJ appearance, reduction of hydronephrosis after vessel mobilization, and the adequacy of pelvic drainage during diuretic testing. ICG was used to assess renal perfusion via NIRF imaging. A 25 mg ICG solution was prepared in 10 mL and administered in 1 mL doses. Fluorescence distribution, operative time, and complications were recorded. Follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months included clinical evaluations, blood pressure measurements, and Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: Eight patients (median age 8years) were enrolled between October 2023 and February 2025. ICG assessed renal perfusion post-procedure; one case of focal hypoperfusion due to vessel tension was resolved with intraoperative revision. At a median follow-up of 18 months, no hypertension, pain, or UTIs were observed. Ultrasound demonstrated improved hydronephrosis and normal Doppler flow. CONCLUSION: ICG angiography is a safe and effective tool for the real-time assessment of renal perfusion during pediatric VH procedures.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Smart crutch tipsTM real-time feedback improves adherence to partial weight-bearing protocols following lower extremity fracture surgery: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of Smart Crutch Tips™ in promoting adherence to prescribed early partial weight-bearing (PWB) protocols and to assess patient experience with real-time weight-bearing feedback during home rehabilitation. METHODS: Twenty patients with lower extremity fractures prescribed partial weight-bearing (PWB) were randomized into two groups utilizing real-time feedback crutch tips (RFC). The Intervention group (n = 10) used Smart Crutch Tips™ (ComeBack Mobility Inc., Kiev, Ukraine), which provided real-time feedback on weight-bearing compliance. The Control group (n = 10) also used crutches equipped with Smart Crutch Tips™, but notifications were disabled, allowing passive data collection without patient feedback. Weight-bearing compliance was defined as the percentage of steps within ± 10% of the prescribed target. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction and device usability assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS) throughout the home rehabilitation period. RESULTS: The Intervention group demonstrated significantly greater PWB compliance compared with the Control group (73.6% vs. 21.1%, p < 0.01). The Intervention group reported a mean SUS score of 84.25, indicating excellent usability. No device-related complications or adverse events were observed. Patient satisfaction, assessed through video interviews, was high, with participants in the Intervention group expressing a strong willingness to recommend the device to others with similar injuries and rating it 10 out of 10. CONCLUSION: Smart Crutch Tips™ significantly improved adherence to prescribed partial weight-bearing protocols following lower extremity fracture surgery. The RFC device demonstrated high usability, excellent patient satisfaction, and no device-related complications during home rehabilitation throughout the study period.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Impact of real-time respiratory function monitoring on neonatal mask ventilation training: a multicentre simulation-based crossover study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether visibility of respiratory function monitor (RFM) feedback improves mask ventilation performance and influences subsequent ventilation performance during neonatal resuscitation training. DESIGN: multicentre randomised crossover simulation study. PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare professionals involved in neonatal resuscitation training across participating centres. INTERVENTION: Participants performed positive pressure ventilation (PPV) on both term and premature manikins under two conditions: with visible RFM feedback and with the display masked. The order of feedback visibility was randomised. Each participant completed ventilation assessments in both conditions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were expired tidal volume (Vte) and mask leak (%). The proportion of breaths within the target Vte range (4-8 mL/kg) was calculated as a performance indicator. Secondary outcomes included variability in Vte and mask leak to assess ventilation stability between conditions. RESULTS: Visible RFM feedback was associated with lower mask leak and improved ventilation stability in the preterm manikin and with tidal volumes entering the target range in the term manikin. Participants initially ventilated with visible feedback maintained performance after feedback removal, suggesting a carry-over learning effect. CONCLUSION: In this multicentre crossover simulation study, visible RFM feedback was associated with changes in mask ventilation performance and evidence of a carry-over learning effect following feedback removal. Real-time visibility of respiratory parameters may strengthen neonatal resuscitation training.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Post-weaning social isolation increases reward-seeking behavior in mice.

Social isolation is a growing public health concern. Although isolation at any age is harmful, previous studies have shown that isolation during adolescence, correlating with critical periods of brain development, can impair cognitive function and increase the risk for psychiatric illness later in life. In this study, we utilized a mouse model of social isolation (SI) during adolescence (postnatal day 21-35) and compared performance of isolated and group-housed mice on a touchscreen-based continuous performance test (rCPT) and fixed ratio/progressive ratio (FR/PR) tasks in adulthood. SI improved performance in the rCPT and the improvement in performance was consistent across time bins within the 45-minute testing session. There were no effects of SI on reaction times or reward retrieval latencies. A possible confound for performance in the rCPT would be SI-induced changes in reward-seeking or motivation for the strawberry milk reward. We next compared the SI mice to their group-housed littermate controls on both PR and FR schedules of reinforcement and found that SI mice had higher breakpoints on a PR4 schedule and earned significantly more reinforcers on an FR1 schedule of reinforcement compared to their group-housed littermates, suggesting that high performance in the CPT may be due to increased motivation for food rewards. These data indicate that SI during adolescence has significant effects on reward-seeking behavior in adult mice and may provide a useful behavioral model for studying the link between SI and risk for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

The effect of combining visuo-vestibular exercises with manual therapy and exercise on sensorimotor function in chronic neck pain: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether adding visuo-vestibular exercises to standard manual therapy and exercise produces superior improvements in sensorimotor function, pain, balance, and functional disability in adults with chronic neck pain. METHODS: This prospective, randomized controlled trial enrolled 58 adults with chronic neck pain (≥3 months) allocated to a manual therapy and exercise group (MtE; n = 29) or MtE plus visuo-vestibular exercises (MtE-VVE; n = 29). Both groups completed 12 supervised sessions over six weeks with a daily home exercise programme. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks, and included pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale [VAS]), upper extremity reaction time, computerized posturography, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and cervical muscle endurance. RESULTS: Fifty-four participants (27 per group) completed the study. Both groups improved significantly across all outcomes (p < 0.001). At 12-week follow-up, the MtE-VVE group demonstrated superior outcomes: activity-related pain was reduced by an additional 2.00 cm (95% CI: 0.75-3.25; p = 0.005), bilateral reaction time improved by 1.70 s (p = 0.001), eyes-open mediolateral sway decreased by 0.50 mm (p < 0.001), NDI score was 6.30 points lower (95% CI: 3.42-9.18; p < 0.001), and cervical flexion and extension endurance improved by 12.00 s and 27.70 s, respectively (p ≤ 0.020). CONCLUSION: Adding visuo-vestibular exercises to standard manual therapy and exercise produces clinically meaningful and sustained improvements in activity-related pain, sensorimotor function, postural control, and functional disability in adults with chronic neck pain, and may be recommended as an effective adjunctive intervention.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

AI-driven snapshot hyperspectral imaging for on-line sorting systems in food industry: From real-time sensing to intelligent decision-making.

High-throughput food sorting requires rapid, non-destructive detection of external defects, foreign materials, and internal quality attributes in heterogeneous food matrices. Conventional scanning hyperspectral imaging may suffer from motion-induced spatial-spectral mismatches, whereas snapshot hyperspectral imaging (S-HSI) captures spectral images within a single integration time. However, its advantage is limited by trade-offs in resolution, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), reconstruction uncertainty, and calibration stability, which are further amplified by variable tissue structure, surface reflection, moisture, and fat distribution in foods. This review critically examines artificial intelligence (AI)-driven S-HSI for on-line food sorting within a sensing-representation-decision-execution framework. Compact architectures are compared according to their physical constraints, food-sorting suitability, and ability to support mapping between spectral responses and physicochemical quality attributes. AI strategies are reviewed for spectral reconstruction, image restoration, spatial-spectral representation, band selection, uncertainty-aware decision-making, and edge implementation. AI can partially compensate for snapshot-specific limitations, but current evidence remains largely limited to laboratory or prototype studies. Future work should link system performance to food safety and quality outcomes by reporting throughput, decision latency, calibration drift, missed-detection risk, false-rejection cost, and closed-loop sorting success.

Hyperspectral Imaging↗

PubMed2026

Dissociating behavioral, neural and experiential effects of prefrontal HD-tDCS during conflict resolution.

Inconsistent evidence regarding the cognitive effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) highlights the need for more comprehensive approaches to assess its impact. This study aimed to investigate the effects of high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) on conflict resolution by combining behavioral, neural, and subjective experience measures. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to anodal, cathodal, or sham HD-tDCS groups and completed a 30-min flanker task. EEG was recorded during the first and last blocks (without stimulation), while stimulation was applied during the intermediate blocks of the task. Using a multidimensional methodological approach including Drift-Diffusion Modeling (DDM), EEG spectral analysis, Lempel-Ziv complexity, and Temporal Experience Tracing (TET), we assessed the cognitive, neural, and phenomenological effects of stimulation. Behavioral results indicated no significant improvements in reaction times or accuracy across the stimulation groups. Similarly, DDM parameters showed no effect of HD-tDCS on latent cognitive processes. However, EEG data revealed a significant reduction in neural complexity in the anodal group during resting-state, suggesting a stabilization or reorganization of neural dynamics. Subjective experience analysis identified two distinct clusters of task-related feelings, though time spent in these experiential states did not differ between groups. Interestingly, sensation of stimulation was significantly higher for anodal stimulation than sham when analyzed as a single dimension. Despite null behavioral effects, this study provides important insights into the neural and subjective responses to HD-tDCS and highlights the value of integrating complementary multidimensional approaches to better characterize brain stimulation effects. These findings contribute to the ongoing debate about the efficacy of tDCS in cognitive enhancement.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of acute resistance exercise on prefrontal oxygenation and task-switching performance: Considerations of loading strategies and blood flow restriction.

Although acute resistance exercise (RE) has been proposed to influence cognitive flexibility and underlying neural mechanisms, it remains unclear whether these effects vary across loading strategies and whether exercise-induced prefrontal hemodynamic responses translate into cognitive outcomes. The present study examined (1) prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb) responses across exercise sets and conditions, (2) the effects of low-load (LL), LL with blood flow restriction (BFR), and high-load (HL) RE on task-switching performance, and (3) whether exercise-related PFC O2Hb responses were associated with pre- to post-exercise changes in task-switching performance. Thirty physically active adults completed three randomized, counterbalanced RE conditions consisting of four sets of barbell squats. LL was performed at 30% one-repetition maximum (1RM) with and without BFR, whereas HL was performed at 70% 1RM. Cognitive flexibility was assessed pre- and post-exercise using a modified Stroop task, indexed by switch-cost reaction time (RT) and accuracy. PFC O2Hb was assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy during exercise and expressed as changes from the resting baseline for each set (Sets 1-4). PFC O2Hb increased across sets, rising from Set 1 to Set 3 before plateauing, with no differences observed across conditions. Switch cost RT and accuracy did not improve from pre- to post-exercise, and no differences across conditions were detected. PFC O2Hb during the final set was not associated with changes in switch cost. These findings suggest that although acute RE elicits robust increases in prefrontal hemodynamic activity, such responses may not translate into acute improvements in cognitive flexibility.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Norgestrel drives mitochondrial collapse and plasma membrane impairment in Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) sperm by triggering premature acrosome reaction.

The toxic mechanisms of norgestrel (NGT), an emerging marine pollutant, on the sperm from externally fertilized invertebrates remain elusive. This study employed an integrated physiological and multi-omics framework to elucidate how NGT (10 and 1000 ng/L) disrupts acrosome reaction (AR) signaling machinery, thereby impairing the functional integrity of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas, also known as Magallana gigas) sperm. Exposure to NGT triggered a significant, dose-dependent premature AR, characterized by elevated acrosin activity and a loss of acrosomal integrity. Multi-omics integration supports a model in which this premature exocytosis is linked to signaling disturbances, including disruption of calcium signaling and reduced transcript abundance of calmodulin (CaM) and the primary recognition protein zonadhesin (Zan). This signaling interference induced an premature AR, subsequently driving a cascade of bioenergetic and structural failures. At the mitochondrial level, NGT induced abnormal mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening and elevated the transcript levels of antioxidant defense genes (e.g., peroxiredoxin-5, PRDX5). These alterations indicate the occurrence of mitochondrial collapse. Concurrently, scanning electron microscopy verified localized plasma membrane wrinkling and pore formation in sperm. In addition, NGT exposure decreased the transcript abundance of cytoskeleton-related genes, including solute carrier family 26 member 6 (SLC26A6), actin (ACT), and tubulin polymerization promoting protein family member 3 (TPPP3). These molecular changes further disrupted membrane phospholipid homeostasis, as represented by altered glycerophospholipid metabolism. At the same time, cumulative cellular stress was associated with decreased transcript abundance of cytoprotective factors (e.g., baculoviral IAP repeat-containing proteins, birc2) and changes in apoptosis-related genes consistent with activation of a caspase-8-mediated apoptotic programme. In conclusion, NGT, as a representative synthetic progestin, exerts reproductive toxicity by interfering with signaling mediators to induce premature AR, which subsequently exhausts metabolic energy and triggers plasma membrane impairment. These findings provide a critical mechanistic basis for the aquatic ecological risk assessment of synthetic progestins.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Catecholaminergic Contributions to Inhibitory Control Following Physical Fatigue: Behavioral and Neurophysiological Findings.

Acute physical fatigue can impair cognitive control, yet its underlying neurochemical mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated whether catecholaminergic modulation influences behavioral and neural markers of inhibitory control following physical fatigue. Eighteen healthy, recreationally active adults (9 males, 9 females; 23.4 ± 2.2 years) completed a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. On separate visits, participants received methylphenidate (MPH; 20 mg; a dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor), reboxetine (REB; 8 mg; a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor), or placebo. Physical fatigue was induced by repeated bilateral leg extensions to task failure. Cognitive performance was assessed before and after physical fatigue using a Go/No-Go task with electroencephalographic recording. Behavioral outcomes included reaction time and accuracy, while event-related potentials measured neural stages of response execution and inhibition (N2 and P3). Mixed-effects models were used for statistical analysis. For No-Go trials, a significant MPH × Time interaction was observed for accuracy (p = 0.008), with improved post-fatigue performance following MPH administration (p = 0.048). At the neural level, MPH was associated with shorter fronto-central No-Go N2 latency (p = 0.038) and altered fatigue-related changes in No-Go P3 latency (p = 0.047). REB did not produce comparable behavioral or neural effects. These findings provide pharmacological evidence that catecholaminergic mechanisms contribute to inhibitory control following physical fatigue. The differential effects of MPH and REB suggest that selective noradrenergic enhancement alone is insufficient to maintain inhibitory control following physical fatigue. Instead, the findings implicate broader dopaminergic and noradrenergic mechanisms, potentially involving alterations in the temporal dynamics of inhibitory processing. TRIAL REGISTRATION: (G095422N and identifier NCT05880342).

Adult↗

PubMed2026

A framework for delivering real-time, instrument-relative navigation in transoral robotic surgery.

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is a minimally invasive, inside-out technique that, compared with traditional open approaches, provides fewer post-operative complications, shorter hospital stays, and improved survival for early-stage head and neck cancer. However, TORS is limited by its steep learning curve and poor visualization of deep tumor margins. This randomized crossover study evaluated a surgical navigation system's potential to enhance accuracy and user experience with real-time, instrument-relative feedback. Seven Teflon beads (d = 2.381 mm) were embedded at the tongue base of a porcine pharynx-and-larynx model. Tongue blade compression and retraction were applied to the model to mimic intraoperative tissue deformation, reproducing the anatomical shifts that occur relative to preoperative imaging. Eight participants used the da Vinci Surgical system to localize the beads by placing pins under two conditions: (a) preoperative computed tomography with no navigation; (b) model-based visual navigation with quantitative instrument-to-target metrics. Surgical accuracy was determined by calculating the target localization error (TLE, pin-to-bead Euclidean distance) and the angular error (AE, pin axis trajectory to bead). Accounting for training level and bead depth, surgical navigation reduced TLE by 5.44 mm (95% CI, 4.02-6.86 mm; p = 2.00e-11) and AE by 8.47 degrees (95% CI, 6.21-10.72 degrees; p = 5.17e-11). Impressions of the system were generally favorable using a 5-point Likert survey and task duration (p = 0.26) or cognitive workload via the NASA-Task Load Index (p = 0.22) were not significantly affected. The navigation system demonstrated translational promise, offering improved target localization accuracy and more consistent performance across experience levels, two critical determinants of surgical quality in TORS.

Robotic Surgical Procedures↗

PubMed2026

Advanced mitigation strategies for acrylamide formation in foods: Mechanistic insights, emerging innovations, and future perspectives.

Acrylamide is a heat-induced contaminant formed predominantly in carbohydrate-rich foods during high-temperature processing, posing significant concerns due to its potential carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and genotoxic effects. This review critically examines the mechanisms of acrylamide formation, emphasizing the role of the Maillard reaction and key precursors such as asparagine and reducing sugars, along with the influence of processing conditions including temperature, time, pH, and moisture. Various mitigation strategies are comprehensively discussed, ranging from raw material selection and genetic approaches to enzymatic treatments such as asparaginase and the application of natural and chemical inhibitors. Advances in processing technologies, including optimization of conventional thermal methods and emerging non-thermal techniques such as cold plasma and ultrasound, are evaluated for their effectiveness. The review also highlights the role of food additives, functional ingredients, and fermentation in reducing acrylamide formation. Furthermore, recent developments in analytical techniques, including chromatographic methods, biosensors, and artificial intelligence-based predictive models, are explored for improved detection and control. Risk assessment, toxicological implications, and global regulatory frameworks are also examined. Finally, future perspectives focusing on genetic engineering, personalized nutrition, and digital technologies such as AI and blockchain are discussed to support sustainable and industry-applicable mitigation strategies.

Acrylamide↗

PubMed2026

Effects of six weeks of guanidinoacetic acid supplementation with and without creatine monohydrate on cognitive function and markers of health in healthy adults.

BACKGROUND: Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation has been reported to increase brain creatine content more effectively than creatine monohydrate (CrM). However, the effects on cognitive function are unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this proof-of-concept exploratory clinical trial was to determine whether GAA supplementation with and without CrM affects cognitive function and/or markers of health. METHODS: In a double-blind, randomized, and counterbalanced manner, 58 healthy and active adults (33 females, 35.5 ± 14 years, 76.2 ± 14 kg) ingested a PLA (PLA, 2 × 6 g/d maltodextrin), GAA (2 × 1 g/d) + PLA (2 × 5 g/d), or GAA (2 × 1 g/d) + CrM (2 × 5 g/d) for six weeks. The participants donated fasting blood samples and completed a battery of tests and questionnaires assessing various aspects of function, mood, stress, sleep quality, and markers of health at baseline and after six weeks of supplementation. Data were analyzed using General Linear Model (GLM) multivariate and univariate with repeated measures, and mean changes from baseline with 95% confidence intervals, and Chi-squared analysis, and considered significant when the probability of error was 0.05 or less, and approaching significance (p > 0.05-p < 0.10). RESULTS: GAA supplementation tended to improve overall reaction time (-241.8 ms [-533, 50], p = 0.10) while significant interaction effects were observed in overall reaction time (p = 0.031-330 ms [-629, -31]) and YES reaction time (-290 ms [-484, -96], p = 0.004) while recalled correct reaction time (-178 ms [-374, 21], p = 0.078) and recalled correct YES (7.4 % [-1, 15.8], p = 0.084) approached significance compared to PLA. Limited to no effects were observed on the Delayed Picture Recognition Task Test, Digit Vigilance Task Test, Corsi Block Task Test, or Stroop Color-Word Task Test. The amount of time engaged in moderate physical activity was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the GAA group compared to PLA. Participants in the GAA group reported a lower frequency of controlling irritations (p = 0.036), and feeling like difficulties are mounting (p = 0.053) on the Perceived Stress Scale. Some positive and potentially undesirable effects were observed in sleep quality assessments. The quality of life assessment revealed that participants in the GAA group reported less frequent feelings of being worn out (p = 0.068) and that their health was excellent (p = 0.092) while those in the GAA + CrM group reported more frequent limitations when bending, kneeling, or stooping (p = 0.053), more often feeling full of life (p = 0.081), and less frequency in feeling downhearted and depressed (p = 0.066). No clinically meaningful changes were observed in blood markers or self-reported side effects among the groups. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation with GAA (2 g/d) and the combination of CrM (10 g/d + GAA 2 g/d) for six weeks improved delayed verbal episodic recognition memory and retrieval speed and some measures of perceived stress, sleep quality, and quality of life. However, most cognitive tests were not affected, particularly when comparing the GAA to the PLA group; there were some inconsistencies in the findings, and several differences only approached significance. Additional research is needed before conclusions can be drawn. Clinical trial registration: ISRCTN68542582.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Application of Perioperative Real-Time Fluorescence Imaging to Achieve High-Quality Debridement: A Randomized Control Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of real-time fluorescence imaging (RTFI)-assisted debridement in managing chronic wounds compared with standard surgical debridement. APPROACH: This study was a patient-blinded, randomized clinical trial conducted from February 17, 2021, to July 30, 2021, on patients with chronic wounds. Patients were randomized to an RTFI group (M group) or conventional group (C group). The primary outcomes were as follows: percentage of residual bacterial area (preoperative and postoperative), number of debridements, high-quality debridement ratio, operation duration, and wound healing duration. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were enrolled in both groups. No significant difference in the percentage of preoperative residual bacterial area or high-quality debridement ratio was seen. The M group underwent debridement an average of 2.6 times and had a significantly longer duration of operation (33.5 ± 12.7 min) than the C group (29.9 ± 10.4 min; p = 0.031). The postoperative residual bacterial area was significantly lower in the M than in the C group (6.83% ± 1.39% vs. 30.0% ± 12.37%, respectively; p < 0.001). The M group required significantly fewer wound healing days (49.2 ± 25.3 vs. 63.0 ± 27.9, p < 0.001). Secondary outcomes also demonstrated statistically significant differences in total hospitalized days (17.5 ± 9.3 vs. 21.5 ± 12.5, p < 0.01), days of antibiotic use (15.5 ± 8.7 vs. 18.7 ± 6.7, p < 0.01), and reinfection rates (4 of 100 vs. 22 of 100, p < 0.001). INNOVATION: RTFI can detect signals from normal skin components and bacterial metabolites. Therefore, interpretation of RTFI results should be correlated with the clinical condition. RTFI is associated with high-quality debridement. This technique can also be applied in targeted biopsy and in training young staff to mature debridement procedures. CONCLUSION: RTFI in debridement is associated with favorable clinical outcomes and may have a positive influence on chronic wound healing.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Toward real-time quantification of driving risks: a systematic review and research agenda of risk field theory.

In complex traffic systems, driving risk often evolves in a continuous and progressive manner prior to crash occurrence. How to effectively represent and analyze such latent risk states remains a central challenge in traffic safety research. In recent years, risk field-based approaches have introduced spatial and spatiotemporal continuous modeling paradigms, providing new perspectives for characterizing the distribution of traffic risk and its dynamic evolution. Motivated by the rapid growth of this research area and the lack of a systematic synthesis, this paper presents a comprehensive review of studies applying risk field theory to driving safety and traffic risk analysis. Following the PRISMA guidelines, relevant literature was collected through multi-database searches and analyzed using a combination of bibliometric analysis and qualitative review. The review systematically summarizes the theoretical foundations, modeling elements, data sources, analytical methods, and application domains of risk field-related research. Particular attention is given to studies that conceptualize traffic risk as a continuous field, complemented by a broader review of traffic risk factor literature to identify key elements and analytical dimensions involved in risk field modeling. On this basis, the paper synthesizes research progress in major application areas, including traffic safety state representation, driving behavior analysis, traffic conflict assessment, and autonomous driving and human-machine cooperative systems. Differences and commonalities among existing studies are compared in terms of modeling strategies, data support, and application scenarios. Through this systematic review, the paper clarifies the main research themes and methodological trends of risk field-based studies, providing a structured framework for understanding the evolution and application of this approach and offering methodological insights for risk perception modeling and safety-oriented decision support in intelligent transportation systems (ITS).

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Faster N1 latency in response to homeostatic-like plasticity of PREPs is impaired during pain: A randomized-placebo capsaicin-pain study.

INTRODUCTION: Homeostatic-like plasticity (HP-like) stabilizes cortical excitability through long-term potentiation and depression-like mechanisms. The efficacy of homeostatic regulation in the corticomotor system is impaired during pain, which may have functional relevance for chronic pain. This study investigated whether a cortical HP-like response could be assessed by nociceptive stimulation, and if such response was impaired by experimental tonic pain. METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy participants completed placebo and capsaicin sessions, with 11 sham controls for time and design. HP-like plasticity was induced with two blocks of anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex. The N1 (TP7) and N2P2 (Cz) components of electrically induced pain-related evoked potentials (PREPs) were assessed from the volar forearm before and after patch application, and again immediately and 20 min after HP-like induction. An HP-like response was defined by PREP decrease after induction, and further normalization to baseline. RESULTS: Anodal tDCS did not induce an HP-like regulation of PREP amplitudes. Interestingly, an HP-like response was observed as a fastening of N1 latency after HP-like induction, which returned to baseline values after 20 min. The latter effect was impaired during capsaicin-induced pain, where N1 was slower. The N2P2 component showed habituation over time in all sessions. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that investigates the HP-like regulation of nociceptive-evoked responses. An HP-like response was observed as a shortening of N1 latency, suggesting that early nociceptive processing may be susceptible to homeostatic regulation. In contrast, the later component, N2P2, showed habituation over time, which prevented evaluation of HP-like effects.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Structural and physicochemical characterisation of branched dextrans produced by an active α-(1→2) branching sucrase from Apilactobacillus kunkeei PDER37.

Recently, branching sucrases encoded in the genomes of certain Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) strains have become novel enzymes to obtain branched α-glucans. In this study an active α-(1 → 2) branching sucrase from Apilactobacillus kunkeei PDER37 was expressed, characterised and distinct branched dextrans was obtained with reactions under different sucrose: dextran ratio. Structural characterisation by 1H and 13C NMR analysis demonstrated the branching of the dextran with (1 → 2)-linked α-d-glucose units with no alteration in the final structure depending on sucrose: dextran ratio (D0) but this ratio was effective for the determination of the molecular weights of the branched dextrans (D1, D2 and D3). FTIR analysis further supported the dextran structures and suggested the higher accumulation of the α-Glc units in the branched dextrans. Thermal characterisation of the branched dextrans obtained by TGA and DSC analysis suggested the increased hygroscopicity of the branching units. Both SEM and AFM analysis demonstrated more porous chain like structures in the branched dextrans. This study provides valuable information on the role of active α-(1 → 2) branching sucrase (BS37) for the production of branched dextrans with potential increased physicochemical status applicable for food and other industries.

Dextrans↗

PubMed2026

Webcam-Based Real-Time Visual Feedback During Baduanjin Practice in Older Adults: 6-Week Pilot Randomized Study.

BACKGROUND: Baduanjin qigong is a traditional mind-body exercise used to support balance and physical health in older adults. Age-related changes in proprioception may make accurate self-directed performance difficult without external guidance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore whether webcam-based real-time visual feedback delivered during supervised laboratory sessions was associated with differences in webcam-derived 2D pose discrepancy and movement consistency during Baduanjin practice in older adults. METHODS: A total of 31 older adults were enrolled, and 28 participants with complete analyzable records were included in this complete-case dataset (feedback group, n=14; nonfeedback group, n=14). All sessions were conducted face-to-face in a supervised motion-analysis laboratory. Weekly 2D pose-discrepancy values were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model with fixed effects for group, categorical week, and the group-by-week interaction and a participant-specific random intercept. Joint- and movement-specific participant-level 6-week means were analyzed exploratorily using Welch independent-samples t tests. Holm correction was applied across 24 exploratory contrasts (6 week-specific, 8 joint-specific, and 10 movement-specific comparisons), and Hedges g and 95% CIs were reported. Participant-specific weekly slopes and within-participant variability were additionally examined to directly assess longitudinal error drift. RESULTS: The linear mixed-effects model showed no significant group-by-week interaction (Wald χ25=1.09; P=.96) and no significant overall week effect (Wald χ25=6.40; P=.27). Averaged across 6 weeks, the feedback group had an estimated mean 2D pose discrepancy 1.20° lower than the nonfeedback group (95% CI -2.38° to -0.02°; P=.046), although this marginal pilot finding was sensitive to an analytic approach. No week-specific contrast remained significant after Holm adjustment. Nominal right elbow, right shoulder, and right knee differences did not survive global Holm correction. Form 3 showed a lower mean discrepancy in the feedback group (mean difference -3.70°, 95% CI -5.86° to -1.54°; Hedges g=-1.30; unadjusted P=.002; Holm-adjusted P=.04). Direct analyses of participant-specific slopes and within-participant SDs did not support a significant between-group difference in longitudinal error drift. CONCLUSIONS: In this small exploratory pilot study conducted under supervised laboratory conditions, the 6-week trajectories did not differ significantly between groups. A marginally lower average 2D pose discrepancy was observed in the feedback group across the 6 weeks, but no individual week- or joint-specific comparison remained significant after multiplicity adjustment. Form 3 was the only exploratory contrast that remained significant after global Holm correction. Direct longitudinal analyses did not demonstrate prevention of error drift. Larger studies using validated reference measurements, prespecified outcomes, and adequately powered longitudinal designs are required.

Humans↗