Practice procrastination is a commonly observed yet understudied issue in music education, including among piano majors who face sustained demands for daily deliberate practice. Perfectionism, a common personality trait in music students, may be associated with practice procrastination, and MPA may serve as an intermediary in this relationship by translating perfectionistic concerns into avoidance-oriented practice behavior. However, this mechanism remains empirically untested, and how individual differences moderate this process is unclear. This cross-sectional study examined these relationships using a moderated mediation model among 156 Chinese undergraduate piano majors (67.9% female; M age = 20.35 years, SD = 1.42). Participants completed the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory-Revised (K-MPAI-R), General Self-Efficacy Scale, and an adapted Practice Procrastination Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS macro (Model 14) with 5,000 bootstrap samples. Perfectionism was positively associated with practice procrastination both directly and indirectly, with MPA serving as an intermediary variable in this relationship. Self-efficacy moderated the association between MPA and procrastination, such that higher self-efficacy attenuated or eliminated the positive link between anxiety and procrastination. The moderated mediation analysis supported the conditional nature of the indirect pathway, with its strength varying as a function of self-efficacy level. These findings suggest a cognitive-emotional-behavioral pathway in which perfectionism is associated with practice procrastination, with MPA appearing to function as an emotional intermediary and self-efficacy serving as a potential protective factor. The results offer empirically informed guidance for music educators seeking to identify at-risk students and develop targeted interventions, and they suggest that enhancing self-efficacy may help disrupt the anxiety-procrastination association.
Frontal sinus setback is a procedure used for addressing severe protrusion of the frontal area. Various surgical techniques have been developed over time to address frontal sinus abnormalities with varying etiologies and severity. The present article introduces the piano technique as a novel method for frontal sinus setback with less aggressiveness and complexity compared to other available methods, while being efficient in providing substantial long-term improvements in aesthetic outcomes. In this method, the anterior wall of the frontal sinus is divided into numerous rectangular bony segments attached to the superior area (like piano keys), which makes the process of shaping the frontal area easier, with the resultant more natural appearance post-surgically and eliminating the need for application of technical modifications and/or bone cement for filing the bone gap as used in conventional methods.
Although piano performance is often treated as centered on sound production, it also involves body movements commonly discussed as ancillary, whose observable role extends beyond immediate sound production. These movements have often been discussed through broad embodied-cognition frameworks, yet the empirical basis for specific mechanistic claims remains uneven. This critical narrative review synthesizes research on movements commonly discussed as ancillary from two related but unevenly developed bodies of evidence: their reported relationships with musical organization in performers, and their role as visual cues in audience evaluation. On the performer side, kinematic findings suggest that movements commonly discussed as ancillary are often systematically related to phrasing, meter, and expressive organization, but direct evidence for cognitive-load reduction remains limited. On the audience side, audiovisual studies indicate that visible kinematics can substantially shape judgments of expressivity, emotion, and performance quality, although the strength of these effects varies across tasks and study designs. Across both domains, the literature remains constrained by small samples, limited ecological breadth, and an overreliance on correlational evidence. We therefore argue that current findings support the relevance of movements commonly discussed as ancillary as structural and perceptual cues, but do not yet justify strong claims that they function as cognitive scaffolds. Future work should combine controlled kinematic manipulation with multimodal measurement to clarify how these movements may simultaneously serve overlapping communicative, regulatory, and biomechanical functions.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly applied in music pedagogy, yet reproducible workflows that jointly evaluate knowledge acquisition and anxiety regulation remain limited. This protocol describes a randomized controlled workflow for implementing an AI-driven music education platform within routine studio-class teaching and assessing its effects in undergraduate piano majors. Participants are screened and randomly allocated to an AI-driven platform or traditional instruction for 2 weeks (twelve 30-min sessions). Outcomes include a structured music-theory/analysis test and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S; 20 items, 4-point scale; total 20-80). Heart-rate variability (HRV) is recorded during a 5-min seated rest and a 5-min standardized practice segment; primary indices include the root mean square of successive differences of normal-to-normal intervals (RMSSD; short-term vagal activity), the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN; overall variability), and high-frequency (HF) power (parasympathetic-related spectral component). The protocol enables instructors and researchers to deploy the platform and follow a standardized sequence covering participant screening, randomization execution, platform setup/configuration, HRV sensor placement and recording, artifact handling and HRV computation, administration/scoring of all outcome measures, and final data export, file naming, and secure storage for statistical analysis. Analyses use independent-samples t-tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with baseline as a covariate. Representative results show higher adjusted post-test theory performance in the AI-driven arm (partial η2 = 0.206) and lower post-intervention state anxiety (t(38) = -3.486, p = 0.001; Cohen's d ≈ 1.10) than controls, with HRV patterns providing physiological context and secondary cognitive-load outcomes indicating reduced extraneous load.
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Additive manufacturing (3D printing) allows the fabrication of complex 3D geometries, yet the integration of long-range ordered nanostructures within printed materials remains a fundamental challenge. In vat photopolymerization, rapid crosslinking kinetics typically arrest block copolymers in kinetically trapped, disordered morphologies. Here, we introduce Polymerization-Induced Arrangement of Nanostructures with Order-tunability (PIANO), a strategy that overcomes this kinetic mismatch by decoupling nanoscale ordering from network formation. PIANO utilizes a mobility mediator, ethylene glycol, to enhance polymer chain mobility, enabling rapid in situ ordering, while maintaining a hydrogen-bonding network capable of sustaining 3D printing stresses. This approach yields tunable lamellar and hexagonally packed cylindrical morphologies with domain spacings of 20-60 nm. Furthermore, ethylene glycol acts as a latent crosslinker during post-printing annealing, locking the ordered nanostructure while enhancing macroscopic mechanical strength. By reconciling the divergent timescales of molecular self-assembly and additive manufacturing, this strategy provides a robust platform for the hierarchical design of functional systems.
Live piano accompaniment for dance poses a "zero-latency paradox": performers achieve near-simultaneous audiovisual alignment despite sensory and integration delays that should make purely reactive control too slow. This review argues that pianist-dancer coordination can be usefully framed as bidirectional inference under cross-modal predictive coding, supported by converging behavioral, kinematic, and neurophysiological evidence. Motion-capture and time-series studies suggest that pianists can use dancers' preparatory kinematics, such as trajectory shifts and acceleration changes, to shorten the prediction window for timing and dynamics, while neuroimaging and EEG findings indicate action-perception coupling consistent with internal simulation of action-sound mappings ("seeing sound"). Sensorimotor synchronization paradigms show that micro-timing perturbations in auditory beats elicit rapid, asymmetric phase correction in stepping and tapping, consistent with predictive control in dancers ("hearing movement"), and autonomic measures further suggest that musical tension can modulate arousal before overt movement changes. Integrating coupled-oscillator modeling and EEG hyperscanning, we highlight quantifiable bidirectional adaptation and converging evidence that coordination is dynamically co-regulated rather than purely reactive or unidirectional. Taken together, the reviewed literature supports a neurally informed account of closed-loop dyadic coordination while also underscoring the need for more direct evidence from pianist-dancer interaction itself.
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), especially among ESKAPE infections, highlights the pressing necessity for novel chemical frameworks with atypical modes of action. Transition-metal complexes have emerged as attractive possibilities owing to their varied geometries, redox activity, and capacity to interact with biological sites inaccessible to traditional chemical antibiotics. This study presents the antibacterial and antifungal assessment of a series of Ru(II) pyrazolyl-pyridine half-sandwich complexes (C1-C6), thereby broadening the chemical scope of metalloantibiotics previously investigated inside pyridyl-1,2,3-triazolyl frameworks. The compounds were synthesized with good yields and structurally validated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, demonstrating piano-stool topologies with unique ligand-dependent anion orientations. Extensive biological screening via the Community for Open Antimicrobial Drug Discovery (CO-ADD) platform revealed selective efficacy of complexes C1-C3 against Acinetobacter baumannii, a significant multidrug-resistant pathogen. Cytotoxicity and hemolysis assessments revealed advantageous therapeutic ranges for the most potent combinations. Biophysical investigations, encompassing DNA-binding fluorescence displacement, linear dichroism, and in silico molecular docking and dynamics, elucidated that the lead drug interacts with bacterial DNA via partial intercalation and groove contacts. Collectively, our findings establish Ru(II) pyrazolyl-pyridine complexes as prospective candidates for the advancement of next-generation metalloantibiotics and underscore the significance of coordination-chemistry-driven approaches in addressing AMR.
Many users of hearing aids report challenges when listening to music. In the future, it may be possible to develop hearing aids that monitor brain activity in real-time and adapt their output to the volitions of the user. In music, this could mean selectively amplifying the sound of the instrument the listener wants to hear. The objective of this research is to determine whether traditional machine learning can be used to identify which instrument an individual is listening to based only on single-trial EEG. In this work, participants were presented with a series of brief tones that varied in timbre (Trombone, Clarinet, Cello, Piano and Pure Tone) while their ongoing EEG was recorded from 73 electrodes. To distinguish between EEG responses to the five different musical instruments, we investigated the use of four different classifiers - Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Gradient Boosting (GB), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and k-NN, and four different sets of features - raw EEG, ERP-based features, harmonics-based features and regularity-based features. N1 and P2 components of the ERP were analyzed for differences between instruments. All four classifiers performed significantly above chance (i.e., approximately 20% for 5 classes) when trained using the raw EEG features (LDA: 34%, GB: 35%, SVM: 33%, k-NN: 26%). Precision, Recall and F1-scores closely mirrored overall accuracy. It may be possible to improve these results with more advanced classification algorithms or different transformations of features. Statistical analysis found the Cello to have contributed to the largest P2 amplitude and Pure Tone to the smallest, and for Cello to have contributed to the earliest N1 latency and Clarinet the latest.
To evaluate the impact of waiting room media interventions on patient-reported anxiety, satisfaction, and perceived helpfulness in a high-volume tertiary-care ophthalmology clinic. This is a single-center, prospective quasi-experimental quality improvement study performed at a teaching hospital clinic. Three waiting room environments were implemented using a pseudo-randomized day-of-week allocation: (1) No Media, (2) Music Only (instrumental jazz/piano, 40-70 dB), and (3) Multimedia (slow-moving ocean and aquatic nature footage accompanied by background music). Each group was assigned 125 participants. Anxiety, satisfaction, and perceived helpfulness were measured using 0-10 visual analogue scales. Outcomes were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc testing and Welch's t-tests where appropriate. In total there were 375 participants, with no dropouts. Anxiety scores differed significantly across waiting room environments (F(2372)=19.09, P<0.001). Both Music Only (mean 3.59) and Multimedia (mean 3.74) significantly reduced anxiety compared with No Media (mean 5.69; mean difference 2.10, 95% CI 1.34-2.86, P<0.001 and mean difference 1.94, 95% CI 1.18-2.70, P<0.001, respectively). Multimedia yielded significantly higher satisfaction scores than No Media (P=0.023) and Music Only (P=0.041). Multimedia was also rated significantly more helpful than Music Only (mean difference 1.03, 95% CI 0.42-1.65, P=0.001). Low-cost sensory interventions significantly reduce patient anxiety in ophthalmology waiting rooms. While background music alone is sufficient for anxiolysis, multimedia environments provide additional benefits in satisfaction and perceived helpfulness. Benefits were particularly pronounced in emergent-care patients, highlighting the utility of these interventions in high-anxiety clinical scenarios. These findings support the implementation of scalable, low-resource strategies to improve patient experience in busy outpatient ophthalmology settings.
The dehydrogenation of benzyl amines to produce the corresponding nitriles and H2 is an appealing strategy due to their application in hydrogen storage technologies. On the other hand, a wide range of current synthetic strategies to produce nitriles require a stepwise synthesis and severe reaction conditions. Here, we report an efficient visible-light promoted ruthenium(II) catalyzed hydrogen production from benzylic amines to the corresponding nitrile derivatives at room temperature and without additives. Our photocatalytic system comprises a single anionic 2-pyridonate based piano stool ruthenium precatalyst playing a dual role, harvesting visible-light and enabling H2 generation in methanol. Mechanistic studies support pre-dissociation of the p-cymene ligand after light irradiation and formation of a solvato derivative that further enhances the catalytic activity towards nitrile formation.
Soft robotic actuators often require relatively high driving voltages, which limit their portability, safety, and compatibility with compact electronic systems in wearable haptic interfaces. Achieving strong electromechanical coupling at low voltage while maintaining mechanical compliance remains a key challenge for soft actuator design. Here, we present an origami-mediated low-voltage electret soft robotic actuator that integrates mechanical compliance and electrical functionality within a symmetric multilayer architecture. Two double-layer fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) electret films with enclosed micro air-cavity arrays are positioned on both sides of a folded copper origami structure. The origami layer acts as a compliant electrode with a tunable spring-like response, while the air-cavity arrays promote high surface potential and stable charge retention. By jointly optimizing electret charging and origami stiffness, the actuator produces perceptible vibrotactile feedback at driving voltages as low as 20 V and supports reliable tactile digital recognition at 70 V using a 7-segment actuator array. Stable output and durability are maintained over 10 h of high-frequency operation. Application in a virtual reality piano training task further demonstrates statistically significant improvements in motor learning performance and perceived immersion. This approach offers a compelling pathway toward compact, low-voltage human-machine haptic interfaces with robust tactile performance.
The Rickettsiales are an alphaproteobacterial lineage engaging in ancient associations with a variety of eukaryotic hosts and with a wide spectrum of effects. They include vector-borne pathogens, as well as Wolbachia, which ranges from a reproductive manipulator to a mutualist in arthropods and nematodes. The majority of Rickettsiales are associated with aquatic protists, but these interactions are poorly understood. Here, we explored by dual RNA-Seq the effect of the host-generalist Rickettsiales bacterium Megaera polyxenophila on the protist Paramecium primaurelia. Megaera induces substantial changes in host gene expression, in particular, increased expression levels of certain cell replication-related functions, consistent with the higher growth observed in previous experiments. Conversely, the co-occurring reduction of catabolism and energy metabolism can be explained by the capability of the bacterium to efficiently exert the same pathways also for the host's benefit. Therefore, Megaera likely behaves as a facultative mutualist, consistent with its predicted ability to provide the host with Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and biotin, the latter synthesized, thanks to a recently horizontally acquired operon. At the same time, this bacterium expresses several genes involved in host cell invasion and possibly toxicity. Accordingly, it is envisioned that the overall effect of Megaera on its host is rather plastic, being the fine-tuned sum of supportive and parasitic actions, likely resulting in flexibility according to host and symbiont genotypes and environmental conditions, and subjected to evolutionary changes. Such flexibility may also explain the broad host range of Megaera and, from a more general perspective, hints for shared traits and analogies among other protist-associated Rickettsiales.
Next generation sequencing (NGS) represents the "holy grail" for the diagnostic algorithm for advanced solid tumors. In our experience, we commonly use our customized DNA-based NGS panel (namely, SiRe®). The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of our customized DNA-based NGS panel in detecting molecular alterations in both tissue and liquid biopsy samples. We retrospectively retrieved molecular data from our electronic archives of advanced stage solid tumor cases tested by our DNA-based NGS approach from January 2018 to December 2022. Almost all samples (2045/2173, 94.1%), including liquid biopsies, were analyzed with our DNA-based NGS approach. We also retrieved all relevant molecular data on other tested biomarkers. A total of n = 2173 advanced stage solid tumor patients were tested. Overall, at least one DNA-based alteration was detected in 52.7%, 66.6%, 87.6%, 68.8%, 46.7% of NSCLC ADC, CRC, GIST, melanoma, and breast cancer cases. The present study has provided a real-world practice experience on the efficiency of applying DNA-based NGS analysis to both tissue and liquid biopsy samples in detecting actionable mutations in advanced stage solid tumor patients.
Liver failure is associated with severe lipid alterations including pronounced reductions of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels that are also of prognostic value. In the present study we developed an optimized prognostic model based on HDL-C and other readily available blood parameters for survival prediction in patients with acutely decompensated (AD) cirrhosis. We measured HDL-C in biobanked plasma samples of patients recruited from the large prospective CANONIC and PREDICT cohorts. Multivariable competing risk analysis was performed with death as the event of interest and liver transplantation (LT) as competing risk. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to construct a new prognostic model and its performance was evaluated using C-index and compared to other prognostic scores by Integrated Discrimination Index statistics test. We analyzed 1035 patients with AD/ACLF (median age 59 y; 70% male; ACLF at inclusion 20%; etiology alcohol 59%). Multivariable analysis yielded 6 independent prognostic variables associated with 90-day survival, i.e. age, HDL-C, creatinine, sodium, WBC, and INR, that were incorporated in a new prognostic model termed CLIF-C HDL score. The new model showed superior discrimination ability for prediction of 90-day mortality by C-index of 0.768 for CLIF-C HDL score vs. 0.735 for MELDNa (p<0.001) vs. 0.738 for MELD 3.0 (p<0.001). This superior performance of CLIF-C HDL score was confirmed in two external validation cohorts (Turin, n=338; Vienna, n=185). The new prognostic CLIF-C HDL score yields superior accuracy for prediction of short-term mortality in AD cirrhosis as compared to other prognostic scores.
The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices for intensive horticultural production could determine less damage to the ecosystem is a fundamental need increasing worldwide. In this trial the effect of two commercial microbial consortia, applied on two hybrid rootstocks of tomato grafted by two scions, were evaluated both on yield components and on the compositions of the rhizosphere microbiome. The rhizosphere was collected from each grafting combination, in both treated and non-treated plots. Microbiome DNA extracted was then sequenced by amplifying two specific regions ITS1-1F for fungus and 16SV34 for bacteria. At the morphological level, the effect of microbial consortia application on the total production and yield showed to be highly dependent on the grafting combination, yield increased by 9.1, 10.3 and 12.6% in treated plots of Auto S2, R1/S1 and R1/S2 respectively but registered a reduction of 22.4% in NG.S2 and 9.3% in R2/S2 plots. The metagenomic sequencing revealed that fungal community composition was significantly influenced by both grafting combinations and microbial treatments (especially on the relative abundance of major phyla; Ascomycota and Basidiomycota), whereas bacterial communities exhibited stronger shifts in response to microbial consortia application than to grafting combinations. Correlation analysis between the rhizosphere microbial taxa, yield, and root weight highlighted significant associations supporting the potential of combined use of these practices. Notably, although the inoculated microorganisms were detected at low abundance or were not detectable in treated soils, pronounced shifts in the overall microbiome structure were observed, suggesting indirect yet significant ecological effects of the consortia. This study demonstrates that microbial consortia and grafting synergistically enhance tomato productivity and modulate rhizosphere microbial communities in the monoculture degraded soil under intensive Mediterranean greenhouse conditions. These findings advance current understanding of plant genotype × microbial consortium interactions by demonstrating that microbial inoculant relevant effects are highly modulated by plant genotype and can indirectly restructure rhizosphere microbial assemblages, contributing to the development of more sustainable and resilient horticultural systems.
Although the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is increasingly used for the treatment of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms, including in the acute rupture setting, comparative evidence assessing the impact of rupture status remains limited. This study compared angiographic, safety, and clinical outcomes between ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with WEB. We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the multicenter cohort registry WorldWideWEB, including consecutive adult patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the WEB. Patients were stratified into groups of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics between both groups. Retreatment rate was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included mRS, safety events (thromboembolic complications) and angiographic outcomes (periprocedurally and last follow-up). Among 1,220 patients, 342 (28.0%) presented with ruptured aneurysms. Propensity-score-matched analyses revealed no significant difference in thromboembolic complications (11.8% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.056), similar periprocedural adequate occlusion (53.3% vs. 53.8%, p > 0.9), and similar retreatment rates (11.8% (95% CI 7.8-17.6%) vs. 7.1% (95% CI 4.1-12.0%), p = 0.14); however, adequate occlusion at follow-up was lower (82.2% vs. 93.3%, p = 0.002) and functional outcomes were worse (mRS ≥ 2 in 34.1% vs. 21.9%, p = 0.012) among patients with ruptured aneurysms. Ruptured aneurysms demonstrated expected inferior follow-up functional and angiographic outcomes when compared with unruptured aneurysms, but no difference in retreatment rate and procedural safety. These findings support WEB as a safe and effective treatment option for appropriately selected ruptured intracranial aneurysms in routine clinical practice.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), linked to chromosome 5q, is a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron loss. It is classified into subtypes based on age at onset and the highest motor milestone achieved. This cross-sectional observational study aimed to describe the clinical profile of patients with types 2 and 3 SMA followed within the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS). Clinical data from patients with types 2 and 3 SMA followed at nine national reference centers (2020-2021) were analyzed. A total of 155 patients were included: 76 with type 2 and 79 with type 3 SMA. Disease duration was longer in type 3 patients. Time from symptom onset to genetic confirmation was also longer in this group. Functional impairment was observed in both subtypes. Type 2 patients had lower HFMSE scores overall, though higher scores were seen among those on disease-modifying therapies. In type 3, earlier symptom onset and longer disease duration were associated with worse motor outcomes. HFMSE scores varied with treatment use and disease duration. Findings reveal the clinical heterogeneity of SMA and emphasize the impact of diagnostic delays and disease duration on function. Early diagnosis and ongoing multidisciplinary care are crucial.
Under climate change, yield stability depends heavily on the ability to develop resilient crops, better adapted to water scarcity. Studies in model systems have uncovered molecular pathways and genes that potentiate the plant response to environmental stress. CRISPR-based editing technologies enable the precise and rapid transfer of beneficial traits from model species to crops. Previous work identified Solanum lycopersicon MYB60 (SlMYB60) as the functional ortholog of the Arabidopsis guard cell-related AtMYB60 transcription factor. Loss of AtMYB60 function results in reduced stomatal opening and enhanced stress resistance, providing a valuable target for crop improvement. Here, we report the CRISPR-mediated exploitation of SlMYB60 in two tomato commercial varieties. Unexpectedly, editing of SlMYB60 did not result in reduced stomatal opening and enhanced stress resistance. Independent edited lines showed increased stomatal size, enhanced leaf water loss, and cuticle permeability. RNAseq analyses revealed that the expression of genes involved in cell wall and cuticle metabolism was altered in the edited lines. Scanning electron microscope analysis of leaf epidermis revealed defects in cuticle deposition and in the formation of outer cuticle ledges. As opposed to the guard cell-specific activity of the AtMYB60 promoter, we found that the SlMYB60 promoter was active in both stomata and epidermal cells. Our findings indicate functional divergence between AtMYB60 and SlMYB60, providing valuable insights into species-specific regulatory mechanisms and emphasizing the complexities of translating gene-editing strategies across plant systems.
Transport to slaughterhouses is a critical phase in pig production, affecting welfare and economics. Mortality during transport, or dead-on-arrival (DOA), is a direct indicator of welfare compromise. This study evaluated the association between estimated transport distance, ambient temperature, and consignment size with mortality in commercial pig journeys lasting ≤ 8 h. Data from 34,239 consignments from 434 farms transported to a high-throughput slaughterhouse were analyzed. Consignment size ranged from 5 to 164 pigs, estimated transport distances from 5 to 605 km, and ambient loading temperatures ranged from 0.9 °C to 31.2 °C. Overall average mortality rate was 0.062%, with 93.1% of consignments showing no DOA pigs. Seasonal patterns were pronounced, with summer exhibiting the highest mortality and winter/spring the lowest. Mixed-effects logistic regression showed that ambient temperature and estimated transport distance were positively associated with mortality (OR = 1.354 and 1.086, respectively), while larger consignments exhibited a negative association (OR = 0.910). Each 1 °C increase in temperature corresponded to a 3.86% rise in the odds of pigs being DOA. Random farm effects showed substantial between-farm variability. Average transport mortality per farm categorized 36.9% of farms as being at very low risk, 13.1% as low, 24.9% as medium, and 25.1% as high risk. Best Linear Unbiased Predictors (BLUP) estimates identified 38 farms with significantly higher-than-average mortality, while funnel plot analysis highlighted 26 outliers, providing complementary approaches to benchmark farm performance and prioritize high-risk holdings for welfare monitoring. Among 664 (1.95%) consignments inspected by official veterinarians, mortality was 0.036%, and inspections were evenly distributed across seasons, ambient temperatures, and consignment characteristics. Only 86 (12.95%) of inspections targeted the 26 high-risk farms identified by the funnel plot. These results suggest that inspection efforts were not preferentially directed toward farms with elevated predicted mortality. Pig mortality during journeys lasting ≤ 8 h transports is mainly associated with ambient temperature and, to a lesser extent, estimated transport distance, with summer as a high-risk period. Larger consignments modestly reduce risk, and mortality per farm highlight the potential for targeted interventions. Current veterinary inspections are not systematically aligned with risk, suggesting scope to optimize monitoring and welfare outcomes.