Thanks to the pioneering studies of Østerud and co-workers it is now increasingly understood that natural polyphenols present in marine oils play an essential role in protecting omega-3 lipids from oxidation and autooxidation ensuring that no proinflammatory products are formed after intake as it often happens with assumption of refined omega-3 concentrates. Strong antioxidants exerting multiple biological functions, olive biophenols are ideally suited to functionalize marine oils creating a synergy which has the potential to foster public health across the world. This study identifies suitable avenues to advance the sustainable production of health-beneficial formulations based on newly obtained natural marine oils and olive phenolic extracts. Important educational outcomes for bioeconomy educators conclude the study.

This document describes the theoretical basis of the algorithms used to determine properties of snow and ice from the measurements of the Ocean and Land Color Instrument (OLCI) onboard Sentinel-3 satellites within the Pre-operational Sentinel-3 snow and ice products (SICE) project: http://snow.geus.dk/. The code used for the SICE retrieval and its documentation can be found at https://github.com/GEUS-SICE/pySICE. The algorithms were developed after the work from Kokhanovsky et al. (2018, 2019, 2020).

Inflammation is an essential protective response against injury or infection. Physiological inflammation eliminates the pathogen, promotes tissue repair and healing. An exaggerated, out of control inflammation, however, can become pathological. Inflammation can generate secondary cell damage, inflame the vessels (endothelitis), activate coagulation processes. Among these pathogenetic factors (cell damage, inflammation, endothelitis, coagulopathies), self-amplification mechanisms can be created, spreading beyond the initial site, up to Multiple Organ Failure (MOF) and host death. If the inflammation does not resolve in a physiological way, the remodeling of the tissues can be maladaptive and lead to the onset of chronic inflammatory degenerative diseases. Diseases such as sepsis, burns, polytrauma, severe forms of influenza or COVID-19, are characterized by a condition of hyperinflammation, associated with a condition of immunosuppression. The initial events triggered by the pathogen (cell damage, interferon response in the case of viruses) ignite the inflammation by activating the inflammasome, the transcription factor NFkB, the release of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids (Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, Thromboxanes) by neutrophils and macrophages. Hence, the cells of the innate immune system produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Indeed, the ‘’eicosanoid storm’’ precedes the ‘’cytokine storm’’. Eicosanoids are a group of potent endogenous lipid mediators derived from omega-6 fatty acids Arachidonic Acid (AA). Eicosanoids include a group of molecules with pro-inflammatory (Prostaglandins, Leukotriens) and pro-coagulant (Thromboxanes) action. In addition, Arachidonic Acid (AA) is the source of Lipoxins (LXs). Lipoxins belong to a group of molecules collectively referred to as specialized pro-solving mediators (SPMs) which also include molecules derived from w-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): Resolvins (ReV-E sieres) and w-3 docohexanoic (DHA): Resolvins D-series (ReV D-series); Protectins (PTs); Maresins (MaRs). SPMs are important for the resolution phase of inflammation to take place properly. Their deficiency could be involved in both acute uncontrolled inflammation and chronic inflammation. The active regulation of the acute inflammatory process, integrating the precursors of Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators (SPMs), such as ⍵-6 and ⍵-3 in balanced ratio, or the SPMs themselves, could be a complementary therapeutic approach useful for taming the "storm of cytokines '' which characterizes exaggerated forms of inflammation. ⍵-3 and ⍵-6 are part of already widely used, readily available, inexpensive and safe supplements. Resolvins have already been included in clinical trials for various other inflammatory diseases (eye diseases, periodontal diseases).

A shrimp oil rich in omega-3 lipids and carotenoids is obtained in remarkably high 5 wt% yield extending to pink shrimp processing waste (head and carapace) the circular economy approach to extract fish oil from fish processing by-products using d-limonene. Biobased limonene, a powerful antimicrobial and antioxidant agent, is an excellent solvent for both lipids and astaxanthin-based carotenoids preventing oxidative degradation during the extraction cycle including solvent and oil separation at 85°C. A new low cost route is established to extract valued marine oil from biowaste annually made available in over 2.2 million tonnes.

Network Simulators (NS) is typically used to study services and applications in complex scenarios due to the infeasibility of deploying real testbeds. This is the case of Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) which can be extensively used in emergency situations or to gather information without infraestructure. An important factor to get realiable results in the MANETs’ simulations is the wireless channel module of NSs. In this report, we explain how thw wireless channel is implemented in NS-3 and it can be configured.

The efficacy of chemotherapy depends on sensitivity and intrinsic or acquired drug resistance of cancer cells. The n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) are considered chemosensitizing agents and revertants of multidrug resistance by pleiotropic mechanisms. The specific mechanisms are not fully understood, but nowadays, it is widely accepted that there are a complex network of mechanisms, including alteration in gene expression, modulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation, induction of apoptosis, generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. A crucial mechanism in the control of cell drug uptake and efflux is related to n-3 LCPUFA influence on membrane lipid composition. The incorporation of docosahexaenoic acid in the lipid rafts produces significant changes in their physical-chemical properties affecting content and functions of transmembrane proteins, such as growth factors, receptors and ATP-binding cassette transporters. Of note, n-3 LCPUFAs often impact on the lipid compositions more in chemoresistant cells than in chemosensitive cells, suggesting their adjuvant role in cancer treatment.

Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the main cause of mortality worldwide, and it is characterized by high levels of circulating cholesterol. The drugs currently available for hypercholesterolemia control have several side effects, so it is necessary to develop new effective and safer therapies. Seaweeds serve as sources of several bio-active compounds with claimed beneficial effects. Eisenia bicyclis (Aramé) and Porphyra tenera (Nori) are edible seaweeds which were previously recognized as rich in bioactive compounds. In the present study, we aim to evaluate the anti-hypercholesterolemia effect of these two seaweeds ex-tracts and their health potential. Both extracts, but more efficiently Aramé extract demonstrated to have liver 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) inhibitory activity and to reduce approximately 30 % cholesterol permeation through human Caco-2 cells simulating the intestinal lining, targets for hypercholesterolemia treatments. An untargeted metabolomic assay on human intestinal Caco-2 and liver Hep-G2 cells lines exposed to Aramé and Nori extracts revealed changes in the cell’s metabolism as indicators of the extract’s health beneficial effects. The metabolic pathways affected by exposure to both extracts were associated to lipid metabolism, such as phospholipids, and fatty acid metabolism, pathways of amino acid, cofactors and vitamins and cellular respiration metabolism. More profound for Aramé treated cells, but also seen for Nori ex-posed cells, the metabolites modifications were associated with the protection against CVDs and other diseases and, to the improvement of cells oxidative stress tolerance. The results obtained for the anti-hypercholesterolemia properties, in addition to the revelation of the positive impact on cells metabolism, are an important contribution for further evaluation of these seaweeds extracts as functional foods or for CVDs prevention.

Currently, studies are being conducted on the possible role of the cytoprotective effect of biologically active substances in conditions of cerebral hypoxia or cardiomyopathies. At the same time, oxidative stress is considered as one of the important mechanisms of cellular cytotoxicity and a target for the action of cytoprotectors. The aim of this study is to search for derivatives of 3-(arylmethyl)-6-methyl-4-phenylpyridin-2(1H)-ones. The probability of cytoprotective action was assessed by two tests by measuring cell viability (with neutral red dye and MTT test). It was found that some derivatives of 3-(arylmethyl)-6-methyl-4-phenylpyridin-2(1H)-ones under the conditions of our experiment have a pronounced cytoprotective activity, providing better cell survival in vitro, including the MTT test and conditions of blood hyperviscosity. To correlate the obtained results in vitro, molecular docking of the synthesized derivatives was also carried out. The standard drug omeprazole (co-crystallized with the enzyme) was used as a standard. It was shown that all synthesized derivatives of 3-(arylmethyl)-6-methyl-4-phenylpyridin-2(1H)-ones had higher affinity for the selected protein than the standard gastro-cytoprotector omeprazole. The studied derivatives of 3-(arylmethyl)-6-methyl-4-phenylpyridin-2(1H)-ones also fully satisfy Lipinski's rule of thumb of five (RO5), which increases their chances for possible use as orally active drugs with a good ability to absorption and moderate lipophilicity. Thus, the results obtained make it possible to evaluate derivatives of 3-(arylmethyl)-6-methyl-4-phenylpyridin-2(1H)-ones as having a relatively high cytoprotective potential.

The major auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), is associated with a plethora of growth and developmental processes including embryo development, expansion growth, cambial activity, and the induction of lateral root growth. Accumulation of the auxin precursor indole-3-acetamide (IAM) induces stress related processes by stimulating abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. How IAM signaling is controlled is, at present, unclear. Here, we characterize an ami1/rooty double mutant, that we initially generated to study the metabolic and phenotypic consequences of a genetic blockade of the indole glucosinolate and IAM pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our mass spectrometric analyses of the mutant revealed that the combination of the two mutations is not sufficient to fully prevent the conversion of IAM to IAA. The detected strong accumulation of IAM was, however, recognized to substantially impair seed development. We further show by genome-wide expression studies that the double mutant is broadly affected in its translational capacity, and that a small number of cell proliferation and plant growth regulating transcriptional circuits are repressed by the high IAM content in the seed. In accordance with the previously described growth reduction in response to elevated IAM levels, our data support the hypothesis that IAM is a growth repressing counterpart to IAA.

Abstract Introduction: Visual perceptual skills are essential for independent participation in self-care tasks, educational, work and leisure time activities. The effect of HIV on the visual perceptual skills is not well understood among children in low resource settings like Zimbabwe. Methods: A cross sectional comparative study was done with 30 children living with HIV and 30 children living without HIV residing in Harare urban area. The TVPS-3 was used to assess their visual perceptual skills. SPSS version 22, STATISTICA 13 and Microsoft 2016 were used for data analysis. Results: Both groups of children had mean percentile ranks below 50 on their TVPS-3 scores. Children without HIV generally performed better than those with HIV but the difference was not statistically significant in most cases. Through univariate analysis, only performance on Spatial Relations significantly differed between the two groups. Both groups had lowest scores in Basic visual perceptual skills. Age and school grade were the independent predictors of the children’s performances in the study. Conclusion: There is need for Occupational therapy services in public primary schools and in the pediatric Opportunistic Infections clinics in hospitals to be part of the health team which caters for children with visual perceptual challenges.

Mycobacterium avium ssp paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of Johne’s disease (JD) in animals and a suspected cause of Crohn’s disease (CD) in humans. Crohn’s Disease is a progressive, detrimental granulomatous enteritis of which common therapies are targeted to suppressing certain components of the immune system. The efficacy of these treatments can be variable and temporary with no clear process of selection for the individual patient. However, diagnosis of MAP has been elusive in patients with Crohn’s Disease. In animals it can be detected by several different techniques, including bacterial cell culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunological targets. To move to an understanding of the possible pathogenicity of MAP and the sup-posed cause of CD in humans, it is necessary to demonstrate the presence of cell wall deficient mycobacterial (CWDM) forms of MAP in blood and tissue cultures from patients with CD. From this, more tailored and accurate therapies can be implemented and be developed to eradicate this infectious organism from humans. Current anti-mycobacterial antibiotics have limited efficacy as MAP is subtly different from tuberculosis. Newer methods, such as vaccination and gut microbiome remediation will be essential as part of combination therapies.

1). BACKGROUND: Cell wall deficient mycobacteria (CWDM) have seldom been isolated in bacterial culture from human subjects. particularly in clinical disease, such as Crohn’s disease. Techniques have focused on the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of CWDM in association with inflammatory bowel disease. (IBD). This paper is a report of the development of methods to demonstrate the presence of CWDM using the Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain. This is in addition to the detection of the growth of CWDM in fluid media. 2). METHODS: The use of the ZN stain is suitable for the demonstration of CWDM in clinical samples and cultures, when the staining methods that were common prior to the 1970’s, are adopted. Specific culture media are developed and tested in parallel. Alterations in the concentration of basic fuchsin, and changes in the decolourising solutions are necessary. Decolourising solutions such as 20% concentrated sulphuric acid in water are preferable for detection of CWDM in cultures. 3). RESULTS: CWDM can be readily demonstrated using the simple methods outlined in this report. The ability to visualise the presence of CWDM opens the door to the development of specific fluid media for the isolation of CWDM in culture. 4). CONCLUSION: The ZN stain methods optimised for the demonstration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) are not suitable for research into infectious causes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as for the detection of CWDM in latent tuberculosis. Revisiting the techniques for the detection of CWDM may also refocus attention on inflammatory diseases considered to be idiopathic, but having hallmarks of an infectious process.

This research elucidates the dynamic expression of expansin genes during the wheat grain (Triticum aestivum L.) development process using comprehensive meta-analysis and experimental validation. We leveraged RNA-seq data from multiple public databases, applying stringent criteria for selection, and identified 60,852 differentially expressed genes across developmental stages. From this pool, 28,558 DEGs were found to exhibit significant temporal regulation in at least two different datasets, and were enriched for processes integral to grain development such as carbohydrate metabolism and cell wall organization. Notably, 30% of the 241 known expansin genes showed differential expression during grain growth. Hierarchical clustering and expression level analysis revealed temporal regulation and distinct contributions of expansin subfamilies during the early stages of grain development. Further analysis using co-expression networks underscored the significance of expansin genes, revealing their substantial co-expression with genes involved in cell wall modification. Finally, qPCR validation and grain morphological analysis under field conditions indicated a significant negative correlation between expression of select expansin genes and grain size and weight. This study illuminates the potential role of expansin genes in wheat grain development and provides new avenues for targeted genetic improvements in wheat.

This study discusses the experimental assessment of the in-plane mechanical behavior of a multi-leaf stone masonry wall built from cut stone and reinforced with metal connectors (cramps and dowels). The wall, inspired by conventional multi-leaf stone walls, is meant for use in modern stone masonry buildings. The wall is constructed from two parallel load-bearing walls with a cavity between them, which aims to conceal the installation and insulation needed in modern buildings. The load-bearing walls are connected with cramps and dowels at certain intervals so that the wall works as a single section against horizontal and vertical loads. To characterize the in-plane behavior of the proposed wall, compressive, triplet, and diagonal compression tests were conducted to investigate the compressive strength, shear strength, modulus of elasticity, stiffness, ductility, and energy absorption of the wall. Compared with dry and mortar joint walls, the use of dowels increased the initial shear capacity of the wall by 11 and 19 times, respectively. The application of cramps without curving channels inside the individual stone elements decreased the compressive strength by 18%. The energy absorption of the designed walls with metal connectors was substantially increased to that of the specimens representing conventional stone walls. The results obtained show the applicability of the wall due to its higher shear strength and minimal drop in compressive strength, which is within acceptable limits.

Cytokinesis is accomplished in higher plants by the phragmoplast, creating and conducting the cell plate, to separate daughter nuclei by a new cell wall. The microtubule-severing enzyme p60-katanin plays an important role in the centrifugal expansion and timely disappearance of phragmoplast microtubules. Consequently, aberrant structure and delayed expansion rate of the phragmoplast occur in p60-katanin mutants. Here, the consequences of p60-katanin malfunction in cell plate/daughter wall formation were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while deviations in the chemical composition of cell plate/new cell wall were identified by immunolabeling and confocal microscopy, in root cells of the fra2 Arabidopsis thaliana mutant. It was found that, apart from defective phragmoplast microtubule organization, cell plates/new cell walls appeared also faulty in structure, being unevenly thick and perforated by large gaps. In addition, demethylesterified homogalacturonans were prematurely present in fra2 cell plates, while callose content was significantly lower than in the wild-type. Furthermore, KNOLLE syntaxin disappeared from newly formed cell walls in fra2 earlier than in the wild-type. Taken together, these observations indicate that delayed cytokinesis, due to faulty phragmoplast organization and expansion, results in a loss of synchronization between cell plate growth and its chemical maturation.

Tissue clearing methods combined with confocal microscopy have been widely used for studying developmental biology. In plants, ClearSee is a reliable clearing method that is applicable to a wide range of tissues and is suitable for gene expression analysis using fluorescent reporters, but its application to the Arabidopsis thaliana embryo, a model system to study morphogenesis and pattern formation, has not been described in the original literature. Here we describe a ClearSee-based clearing protocol, which is suitable for obtaining 3D images of Arabidopsis thaliana embryos. The method consists of embryo dissection, fixation, washing, clearing, and cell wall staining, and enables high quality 3D imaging of embryo morphology and expression of a fluorescent reporter with the cellular resolution.

Predicting and evaluating the vitality level of public spaces of urban design is crucial before new construction and renewal, especially for developing countries, to avoid failures like "ghost neighborhood" and reduce resource waste. However, existing assessment methods for the urban vitality are either static and ignore changes in the time dimension, or rely on historical big data and are unable to predict unbuilt projects. This study combines previous methods and crowds’ characteristics observation in public space, puts forward the crowd-frequency hypothesis and constructs an algorithm, and establishes a time-dimensional urban vitality dynamic prediction model. Taking the Rundle Mall neighborhood in Adelaide, Australia, as an example, the effec-tiveness of the prediction model was proved through on-site observation sampling comparative verification method. In addition, the decision tree model was used to conduct machine learning on the case data, and a set of algorithm programs were obtained that can directly input some basic information to obtain the urban vitality level (high-medium-low) in a certain period. It can be used as a tool to support the design and decision-making processes of urban planners and government officials, providing a low-cost way to achieve sustainable urban vitality construction of late-developing cities directly.

Development of new techniques of multimodal treatment, diagnostics of various neoplasms and improvement of these techniques can significantly increase the life expectancy of patients with carcinomas of the colon and abdominal cavity organs, since prevention of various side effects of radiation therapy is one of the main problems of oncological care. Electron irradiation is one of the most promising types of radiation therapy. There are no data on proliferation and apoptosis of the colon epithelium after irradiation with electrons, especially in different modes (single and summary). Aim of the study: Morphological evaluation of apoptosis and proliferation of colonic epithelium after local irradiation with electrons at doses 2 Gy and 25 Gy. Materials and methods. Colon fragments from sexually mature Wistar rats (n=50, body weight 200 ± 10 g) were divided into three groups: I - control (n = 10); II - experimental group (n = 20; local single electron irradiation at a dose of 2 Gy), III - experimental group (n=30), local fractional irradiation with electrons at a total dose of 25 Gy. They were studied by light microscopy using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical reactions with antibodies to Ki-67 and Cas3. Morphological disorders were accompanied by increased expression of pro-apoptotic molecules (caspase-3), and the period of regeneration by proliferative marker (Ki-67). Conclusions: Local fractional irradiation of the colon with electrons at a dose of 2 Gy and 25 Gy resulted in minor changes in the epithelium, a decrease in the number of goblet cells, but with preservation of regenerative potential, mild degenerative-dystrophic lesions. Intestinal crypts were damaged, leading to a decrease in Ki-67 and an increase in the number of caspase-3-positive epitheliocytes.

Hip joint surgeries, including total hip replacement or resurfacing, have increased tremendously in the last decades. Number of patients of all ages, replace their hip, due to severe injuries or trauma problems, so as to have a better life. According to these factors, new material and processes in implants manufacturing are imported to medicine, through research programs, every year. In the scope of one of these programs, that has to do with ceramic coatings on metallic resurfacing implants, a new 3axis Hip simulator was designed and manufactured in the Laboratory of Manufacturing Technology of the National Technical University of Athens. The scope of this paper is to present the main parts, materials and process used to manufacture the simulator as well as the way the simulator is working and how its movement in 3axis is accomplished. Furthermore, the evaluation of the machine and its use to examine resurfacing implants is presented.

Background: Cell-free plasma DNA (cfDNA) is composed of circulating extracellular DNA originating from apoptosis or cell necrosis. It is generally present in healthy individuals, but its levels increase in different clinical conditions, such as kidney disease, sepsis, myocardial infarction, trauma and cancer. Caspase-3 plays a central role in apoptosis, a mechanism of programmed cell death involved in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We compared cfDNA and caspase-3 levels in 25 CKD patients and in 10 healthy subjects, evaluating the modification of their concentrations according to CKD stage. We also analyzed the correlation between cfDNA and caspase-3 levels in CKD patients and the correlation between cfDNA and caspase-3 levels and creatinine and urea. Results: CfDNA and caspase-3 levels were higher in CKD patients compared to healthy subjects, in particular in patients with advanced renal disease. A positive correlation between cfDNA and caspase-3 levels and between cfDNA and caspase-3 and creatinine and urea was also observed. Conclusion: Patients with chronic kidney disease present higher levels of cfDNA and caspase-3 levels compared with healthy subjects. The worsening of renal damage and the increase in uremic toxin concentration are associated to higher levels of cfDNA and caspase-3 levels, thus reflecting a central role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of CKD.

The elderly present age-related morphological and histological changes of the oral cavity; Literature displays many studies regarding the specific pathologies of the oral cavity in elderly patients, but no etiologically based classification is available. The aim of this study was to analyze the series of patients over 65 who were treated by our Unit of Pathology between 2020 and 2022 for a suspicion of oral lesion or for preventive dental evaluation (in anticipation of cardiac surgery, anti-resorptive drugs intake, chemotherapy, radiotherapy of the head-neck district or transplantation). The analysis was conducted by dividing oral lesions into 5 groups depending on the etiology: reactive, immunological, traumatic, benign and malignant degenerative. The sixth group consisted of patients undergoing preventive dental evaluation. The study included 435 patients; 91 of them were diagnosed with a reactive origin pathology, 174 with immunological origin pathology, 48 with traumatic pathology and 86 with degenerative pathology (42 benign and 44 malignant). 36 patients went to our Unit for preventive specialist evaluation. Oral health has a major impact on the daily life of the elderly; The examination of oral mucosa in geriatric patients is a fundamental diagnostic moment to report lesions early, thus allowing easier prevention and treatment.

Aim: Evaluation of role of supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on endothelial function in patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Total of 80 patients with metabolic syndrome were enrolled to two groups. We evaluated endothelial function in subjects before and after three-month treatment with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in dose 2.4g daily (800mg 3 times a day) vs placebo. Using the Endo-PAT2000 device (Itamar Medical Ltd. Caesarea, Israel), reactive hyperemia index – a parameter of endothelial function and augmentation index– a parameter of arterial stiffness were measured. Plasmatic level of glutation peroxidase, homocysteine, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a) were also evaluated. Results: The average values of reactive hyperemia index before the treatment with n-3PUFA was 1.62 ± 0.42 , whereas 1.96 ± 0.62 at the end of the study (p<0.005). Augmentation index changed from 14.66 ± 19.55 to 9.21 ± 15.64 after the treatment (p=0.003). We also observed statistically significant decrease of apolipopotein B (0.94 ± 0.36 vs 1.13 ± 0.35, p = 0.001) and homocysteine (19.31 ± 5.29 vs. 13.78 ± 3.05, p = 0.001) and increase of the glutathion perxidase plasma levels (41.65 ± 8.90 vs. 45.20 ± 8.01), p=0.001. Conclusion: We have observed significant improvement of the endothelial function in subjects with metabolic syndrome treated with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in dose 2.4g daily.

This article presents an experimental approach to fatigue testing of cableway gondolas, carried out in accordance with the EN 13796-3 standard. Due to the limitations of the aforementioned regulations and the lack of clarity in their content, when designing and conducting fatigue tests of gondolas, there is a need to find solutions that meet the normative requirements, while ensuring the cost-effectiveness of the tests. The work presents the method of loading, receiving the degrees of freedom, the methodology of gondola strength verification, and additional suggestions allowing for the satisfactory preparation of a plan of fatigue tests and their implementation. The paper shows problems and ways to solve it, what may occur during cableway gondolas fatigue test design. The research object is a 6-seater gondola designed by TRANSSYSTEM S.A. with its registered office in Wola Dalsza (Poland).

After a long limbo, RNA has gained its credibility as a druggable target, fully earning its de-served role in the next-generation area of pharmaceutical R&D. We have recently probed the Trans-Activation Response element (TAR), a RNA stem–bulge–loop domain of the HIV-1 genome with bis-3-chloropiperidines (B-CePs), and revealed the compounds unique behavior in stabiliz-ing TAR structure, thus impairing in vitro the chaperone activity of the HIV-1 nucleocapsid (NC) protein. Seeking to elucidate the determinants of B-CePs inhibition, we have further characterized here their effects on the target TAR and its NC recognition, while developing quantitative analyti-cal approaches for the study of multicomponent RNA-based interactions.

We previously found increases in uncoupling protein (Ucp)-1 transcription in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of mice following a single oral dose of flavan 3-ols (FL), a fraction of catechins and procyanidins. It was confirmed that these changes were totally reduced by co-treatment of adrenaline blockers. According to these previous results, FL possibly activates sympathetic nervous system (SNS). In this study, we confirmed the marked increase in urinary catecholamine (CA) s projecting SNS activity following a single dose of 50 mg/kg FL. In addition, we examined the impact of the repeated administration of 50 mg/kg FL for 14 days on adipose tissues in mice. In BAT, FL tended to increase the level of Ucp-1 along with thermogenic transcriptome factors, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator (PGC)-1α and PR domain-containing (PRDM)1. Transcription of browning markers, such as CD137 and transmembrane protein (TMEM) 26 in addition to PGC-1α were increased in epididymal adipose (eWAT) by FL. A multilocular morphology with cell size reduction was shown in the inguinal adipose (iWAT), together with increasing the level of Ucp-1 following administration of FL. These results suggest that FL produces browning in adipose through activation of the SNS.

Image fusion is a useful tool for producing a high-resolution multispectral image to be used for land use and land cover mapping. In this study, we use nine pansharpening algorithms namely Color Normalized (CN), Gram-Schmidt (GS), Hyperspherical Color Space (HCS), High Pass Filter (HPF), Nearest-Neighbor Diffusion (NND), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Resolution Merge (RM), Stationary Wavelet Transform (SWT), and Wavelet Resolution Merge (WRM) to fusion Worldview-3 multispectral Bands and panchromatic band. In spectral and spatial fidelity, several image quality metrics are used to evaluate the performance of pansharpening algorithms. The SWT and PCA algorithms showed better results compared to other pansharpening algorithms while GS and CN algorithms showed the worst results for the original image fusion. The effect of fusion on each band was separately investigated and according to the calculations, we found that the CoastalBlue band and the Blue band showed the best result and the NIR-1 band and NIR-2 band show the worst result for the original image fusion. In the end, we conclude that the choice of fusion method depends on the requirement of remote sensing application.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy complication. It is associated with high maternal morbidity and mortality rates and intrauterine foetal growth restriction. This condition is characterised by high blood pressure and urinary protein levels. Apelin and galectin-3 (Gal- 3) are peptides involved in the regulation of body fluid homeostasis, inflammation and cardiovascular functions. This study aimed to determine the correlations amongst serum apelin and Gal-3 levels and insulin resistance (IR) in women with PE. Sixty patients with PE and 30 healthy controls participated in this study. The PE group had significantly lower apelin levels (p < 0.01) and higher Gal-3 levels (p < 0.05) than the control group. The PE group had higher serum glucose levels and β-cell functions than the control group. Moreover, patients with PE exhibited dyslipidaemia. Correlation analysis indicated that apelin and Gal-3 levels were not significantly correlated. Moreover, no correlation existed between the apelin levels and any measured parameters of the PE group. In conclusion, the elevations in serum Gal-3 levels with increments in IR-related parameters and lipid profiles reflect the possible contribution of Gal-3 to the harmful effects of IR and dyslipidemia levels on women with PE.

Bacterial indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), an effector molecule in microbial physiology, plays an important role in plant growth-promotion. Here, we comprehensively analyzed about 7282 prokaryotic genomes representing diverse bacterial phyla, combined with root-associated metagenomic data to unravel the distribution of tryptophan-dependent IAA synthesis pathways and to quantify the IAA synthesis-related genes in the plant root environments. We found that 82.2% of the analyzed bacterial genomes were potentially capable of synthesizing IAA from tryptophan (Trp) or intermediates. Interestingly, several phylogenetically diverse bacteria showed a preferential tendency to utilize different pathways and tryptamine and indole-3-pyruvate pathways are most prevalent in bacteria. About 45.3% of the studied genomes displayed multiple coexisting pathways, constituting complex IAA synthesis systems. Furthermore, root-associated metagenomic analyses revealed that rhizobacteria mainly synthesize IAA via IAM and tryptamine (TMP) pathways and might possess stronger IAA synthesis abilities than bacteria colonizing other environments. The obtained results refurbished our understanding of bacterial IAA synthesis pathways and provided a faster and less labor-intensive alternative to physiological screening based on genome collections. The better understanding of IAA synthesis among bacterial communities could maximize the utilization of bacterial IAA to augment the crop growth and physiological function.

Nowadays, network simulators are very useful to model a communications system. In this technical note we will focus in the creation of a new error model in NS-3 network simulator. This note describes the main steps to create or modify an Wi-Fi error model in this network simulator. In our case, we have created a new error model to included the approach of [1] to compute PER (Packet Error Rate) for vehicular environments.

We show that given a Lie superalgebra and an element of its dual space one can construct the 3-Lie superalgebra. We apply this approach to Lie superalgebra of (m,n)-block matrices taking supertrace of a matrix as the element of dual space. Then we also apply this approach to commutative superalgebra and the Lie superalgebra of its derivations to construct 3-Lie superalgebra. The graded Lie brackets are constructed by means of a derivation and involution of commutative superalgebra, and we use them to construct 3-Lie superalgebras.

Satellite altimeters have been used to monitor river and reservoir water levels, from which water storage estimates can be derived. Inland water altimetry can therefore play an important role in continental water resource management. Traditionally, satellite altimeters were designed to monitor homogeneous surfaces such as oceans or ice sheets, resulting in a poor performance over small inland water bodies due to the contribution from land contamination in the returned waveforms. The advent of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) altimetry (with its improved along-track spatial resolution) has enabled the measurement of inland water levels with a better accuracy and an increased spatial resolution. This paper presents three specialized algorithms or retrackers to retrieve water levels from SAR altimeter data over inland water bodies dedicated to minimizing land contamination from the waveforms. The performances of the proposed waveform portion selection method with three retrackers, namely, the threshold retracker, Offset Centre of Gravity (OCOG) retracker and 2-step physical-based retracker, are compared. Time series of water levels are retrieved for water bodies in the Ebro River basin (Spain). The results show good agreement with in situ measurements from the Ebro Reservoir (width is approximately 1.8 km) and Ribarroja Reservoir (width is approximately 400 m) with un-biased root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) of approximately 0.28 m and 0.16 m, respectively. The performances of all three retrackers are also compared with the European Space Agency’s ocean retracker in the Sentinel-3 Level-2 product.

(1) Background If placenta percreta (PP) is suspected, one should take into account ultrasound and MRI data, which allow one to assess not only the depth of invasion of the placenta into the myometrium, but also the degree of involvement of the blood vessels of the uteroplacental region and the pelvis, the formation of adhesions and collaterals between organs as well; (2) Methods: The patient with suspected PP was examined by ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination. Histological study was performed on paraffin sections (hematoxylin &amp; eosin, Mallory staining); cytotrophoblast was detected with antibodies to cytokeratin-8; (3) Results MRI and ultrasound examinations showed placental invasion extending beyond the serous lining of the uterus involving the posterior wall of the bladder. Elective abdominal delivery was performed at 37 weeks. Surgical excision of the uterine wall with invaded villi and involved fibrous bladder wall were performed. Histological study revealed invasive cytotrophoblast cells in the uterine wall located up to adventitia of the uterine subserosal vessels only. Thinning of the uterine wall up to the serous membrane was detected; (4) Conclusions: Placental villi and trophoblast extended beyond the uterus is not histology equivalent to placenta percreta. To diagnose PP instrumental visualization methods should be used.

As the control brain of the petrochemical plant, blast resistant performance requirements of the petrochemical control room should be guaranteed when the vapor cloud explosion occurs in the petrochemical production process. 3D-Kagome truss core sandwich structure is a kind of blast resistant material with high energy absorption. Considering the influence factors of the radius of the truss core rod and thickness of the upper and lower panels, in this paper, blast resistant performance of a real steel petrochemical control room with 3D-Kagome truss core sandwich wall is analyzed. With the optimization goal of plastic deformation energy and panel displacement, the optimal wall thickness and radius of the truss core rode are obtained. The optimized blast resistant wall is assembled, and the dynamic response of the steel petrochemical control room with the 3D-Kagome truss core sandwich blast resistant wall is analyzed. The simulation results show that the truss core layer does not dissipate the blast energy effectively when the radius ratio of the truss core rod is larger than 2.7% of the total thickness of the wall; with the increase of the thickness of the upper and lower panels, the proportion of plastic deformation energy of the truss core layer increases gradually and then tends to be a stable proportion value, that is about 90%; When the thickness ratio of the panel is 6.7% of the total one of the wall and the radius ratio of the truss core rod is 2.7% of the total thickness of the wall, the optimal blast resistant 3D-Kagome sandwich wall is determined.

This paper focused on the finite element analysis of structural system in extreme loading condition. Two different stud shape and thicknesses were analyzed under blast. The stud thickness such as 1.19 mm and 1.5 mm were modelled and analyzed using ABAQUS 6.14. FEM is a tool which predicts the engineering physics of the real structure. To validate the finite element modelling performed by authors, a reference work published by earlier researchers on cold-formed steel stud wall is considered and examined in the present study. The novelty of this study was web corrugation and influence of flange width on stud. The models mimic like an air bag in a car to delay the pressure timing inside the stud wall. The mass of explosive used as 1.56 kg at a standard scaled distance. Time versus displacement was captured out at four locations in the stud wall. One of the objectives is to develop mathematical model to validate the deformation of stud under blast loading. Two mathematical models were validated using Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The results captured in ANN model was error histogram, regression plot, best performance fit and training data. The models were capable of resisting the moderate blast load. The response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to evaluate model performance Regression equations are useful for predicting future trends and outcomes, which is crucial for planning and decision-making. The primary goal of this work is to evaluate cold-formed steel stud walls with varying stud sizes under blast loading using finite element analysis and validated by ANN and RSM.

The uneven immunogenicity of the attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine has created the diffi-culty to achieve a balanced protection against all four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV). To overcome this problem, non-replicative-based vaccines have come into focus as their immuno-genicity is adjustable. This approach is excellent for multivalent vaccines but commonly faces the issue of low immunogenicity. In this present study, we developed a non-replicating dengue vaccine composing of UV-inactivated dengue-2 virus (UV-DENV2) and DENV-2 NS1-279 protein encapsidated within nanoparticles. This vaccine candidate was administered in the presence of BCG cell wall cytoskeleton (BCG-CWS) as an adjuvant. We revealed, here, that encapsidated immunogens with BCG-CWS exerted potent activities on both B and T cells and elicited Th-1/Th-2 responses in mice. This was evidenced by strong neutralizing antibody activity with an unde-tectable antibody enhancing activity in a group of mice receiving encapsidated immunogens with BCG-CWS. Importantly, BCG-CWS significantly augmented antibody-mediated comple-ment-fixing activity, strongly stimulated the antigen-specific polyfunctional T cell responses as well as activated mixed Th-1/Th-2 responses specific to DENV2- and NS1-279 antigens. In conclu-sion, BCG-CWS potently adjuvanted the inactivated DENV-2 and subunit DENV immunogens. The mechanism of adjuvanticity remains unclear. This study revealed the potential use of BCG-CWS in vaccine development.

This study was first time designed to investigate the effect of oxidation on protein digestion and transport properties in boiled sea cucumber body wall (BSCBW) via simulated digestion combine with everted-rat-gut-sac models. Boiling heat treatments led to protein oxidation in SCBW, manifested by increases in free radical intensity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, carbonyl groups, disulfide bonds, dityrosine bonds, advanced glycation end products, protein hydrophobicity and aggregation, declines in free sulfhydryl group, and secondary structure transition from α-helix to β-sheet. Boiling for 2 h caused the anti-digestion collagen unfolding, provided the action site for protease, and improved the protein digestion and transport levels. On the contrary, excessive oxidative modification of 4 h-BSCBW resulted in decreased protein digestion and transport levels. From the perspective of texture, digestion and transport properties, boiling for 2 h can obtain sea cucumber products with better edible and digestible properties, which is considered to be a better processing condition.

The Sun is a frame at relative rest in which sunlight travels at the emitted speed c. Earth travels at the revolving speed v in this frame. The reflection of light as a mechanical phenomenon applies to the modified Michelson interferometer employed by Miller in his experiments with light from the Sun. Unlike the Tomaschek experiments, which use light from stars that may travel in the Universe at velocities different from that of the Sun, the fringe shifts in the Miller experiments are predictable. Based on Michelson's derivation, Miller expected in his experiments at Mount Wilson a 1.12 fringe shift and observed a fringe shift of 0.08 in 1921 and 0.088 in 1925. The reflection of light as a mechanical phenomenon predicts zero fringe shift for Miller's experiment agreeing only with his observations at the Cleveland laboratory in 1924.

This article presents raw data of biaxial tensile measurements of rat heart passive myocardium conducted in lab scale environment. The passive myocardium of the rat was divided into three regions, namely: left ventricle, mid-wall and right ventricle. The biaxial dataset of passive rat myocardia is presented as stress vs strain of the passive rat myocardium in various regions. The determination of valid material properties of the heart plays an important role in the development computational models. These computational models are useful in studying various scenarios and mechanisms of heart diseases. In addition, valid and accurate materials are critical in the development of new therapies. The dataset presented here is useful in the area of soft tissue mechanics including studying the mechanisms of heart diseases such as myocardial infarction. Accordingly, the evaluation of stress and strain in left ventricle, mid-wall and right ventricle was performed.

In thermal friction drilling (TFD) operations, the geometrical dimensions of bushing shape, height and wall thickness are the most vital consequences, due to increasing the connecting length and strength. In this paper, AA7075-T651 aluminum alloys with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm in thicknesses were drilled with TFD process in order to investigate the density, the volume ratio, and height and wall thickness of the bushings. The experiments were conducted at constant spindle speed and feed rate conditions by using HSS conical tools of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm in diameters. It was experimentally found that the bushing height and the wall thickness were tendency of increase linearly with increasing both material thickness and tool diameter. The effect of tool diameter was found to have much of influence on the measured values than the thickness of the drilled material. The density of the bushing was changed inconsiderably. Approximately 70-75 % percentages of the evacuated material composed the bushing shape, in TFD operations.

This article utilized electrodeposition technology to fabricate Zn and Zn-Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃ composite coatings on Q235 steel plates. The composite coatings were obtained by adding Y₂O₃/Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (0, 5, 10, and 15 g/L) to acidic chloride solutions. This study then examined the impact of these nanoparticles on the microstructure, morphology, microhardness, hydrophobicity, and corrosion resistance of the composite coatings. The results indicate that the addition of the nanoparticles increased the nucleation sites on the surface of the coating, thereby refining the grain size and reducing the roughness of the coating surface. When 10g/L of Y₂O₃ and 10g/L of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles were added, the hardness of the composite coating (369 Hv) was 2.49 times higher than that of the pure Zn coating (148 Hv), which was attributed to the dispersion strengthening and grain refinement effects of the nanoparticles. The corrosion resistance of the Zn and Zn-Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃ composite coatings was studied using linear sweep voltammetry and AC impedance spectroscopy. The addition of the nanoparticles improved the corrosion resistance of the composite coating, and the composite coating prepared in an electrolyte containing 10 g/L of Y₂O₃ and 10 g/L of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles exhibited the best corrosion resistance. Meanwhile, the composite coating exhibited good hydrophobicity, with a contact angle of 120.9°, 1.94 times that of the pure Zn coating (62.2°). The Zn-Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃ nanocomposite coating material has significant potential advantages in the field of steel corrosion.

The evolutionary success of land plants largely relies on their ability to cope with constant environmental fluctuations, which negatively impact their reproductive fitness and trigger adaptational responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this challenging scenario, comprehensive research efforts so far aimed at depicting the roles of well-known phytohormones, mainly auxins, along with brassinosteroids, jasmonates, and abscisic acid, although the signaling networks coordinating the crosstalk among them remains vaguely understood. Accordingly, this review focuses on the Arabidopsis Amidase Signature (AS) superfamily members, highlighting the hitherto relatively underappreciated functions of AMIDASE1 (AMI1) and FATTY ACID AMIDE HYDROLASE (FAAH), as crucial coordinators of the growth-defense response trade-off by modulating auxin and ABA homeostasis.

Effects of the enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase (Arylsulfatase B, ARSB), which removes the 4-sulfate group at the non-reducing end of chondroitin 4-sulfate, on the expression of PD-L1 were determined and the underlying mechanism of PD-L1 expression elucidated. Initial experiments in human melanoma cells (A375) showed PD-L1 expression increased from 357 ± 31 to 796 ± 50 pg/mg protein (p

The ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment poses a threat to ecosystems and increases concerns about their exposure to the human body. However, despite being consumed for health improvement, limited research has been conducted on MPs in functional foods. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of MPs and the relation of the source of raw material or the manufacture in various omega-3 oil in the Korean market. MPs in omega-3 capsule and raw oil, sourced from both plant-based (PB) and animal-based (AB) sources, were investigated. We developed the method by direct filtration with acetone washing and analyzed MPs greater than 5 μm using microscope-Raman spectroscopy. The average number of MPs was found to be 1.2 ± 1.7 MPs/g for PB raw oil, 2.2 ± 1.7 MPs/g for AB raw oil, 3.5 ± 3.9 MPs/g for PB capsule oil, and 10.6 ± 8.9 MPs/g for AB capsule oil. Polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate were major specious (83-95 %) found in omega-3 oil. The ratio of size range remained consistent across all groups, with a trend of higher detection rates as the size diminished. The results reveal that the main reason of MPs contamination is not the source of raw material but the manufacturing and packaging process for omega-3 oil.

Ovarian cysts are linked to hormone imbalances and altered gene expressions, but the connection between cysts and ion channel expression is understudied. This study explored the role of TWIK-related acid-sensitive K+ (TASK) channels in bovine ovarian cyst formation. The ovarian follicles were split into small (5 to 10 mm in diameter) and large (> 25 mm in diameter) groups. Among the measured K+, Na+, and Cl- concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) obtained from small-sized follicles (SF) and large-sized follicles (LF), the K+ concentration was significantly lower in LFFF. Quantitative PCR, western blot, and immunocytochemistry data revealed that TASK-3 expression levels significantly decreased by approximately 50% in both LF and granulosa cells obtained from LF (LFGCs) compared to the corresponding controls. The TASK-3 protein was localized to the plasma membrane of GCs. The diameter of LFGCs was larger than that of SFGC. The cell swelling response to exposure to a hypotonic solution (200 mOsm/L) was highly reduced in TASK-3-overexpressing cells compared to vector-transfected cells. TASK-3-knockdown cells showed arrested growth. Senescence markers were detected in LFGCs and TASK-3-knockdown cells. These findings suggest that reduced TASK-3 expression in LF is associated with the inhibition of GC growth, leading to senescence and cyst formation.

The historical and cultural use of food as a remedy for diseases is evident in societies, such as using Hibiscus sabdariffa to address conditions like hypertension and high blood glucose. The natural biocompounds in this plant, including Delphinidin-3-Sambubioside (DS3), Quercetin (QRC), and Hibiscus Acid (HA), have been linked to various health benefits. Despite individual attention, molecular targets for these compounds remain unclear. In this study, in-silico analysis employed bioinformatic tools; including Swiss Target Prediction, ShinnyGo 0.77, KEGG, and Stringdb, to identify molecular targets, pathways, and hub genes. A PubMed literature search complemented the results. DS3 demonstrated potential modifications in genes related to nitrogen and glucose metabolism, inflammation, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation, particularly affecting the PI3K-AKT pathway. QRC displayed interconnected targets across multiple pathways, with overlap with DS3 and a focus on cancer-related pathways. HA showed distinct targets, particularly associated with nervous system-related pathways. These findings highlight the need for targeted research on the molecular effects of DS3, QRC, and HA, providing valuable insights into potential therapeutic pathways.

Although conventional chemotherapeutic drugs are the first line of treatment for cancer, they have numerous side effects. One of the emerging challenges in cancer treatment is drug resistance. Nat-ural compounds have proven effective against various hallmarks of cancer for their multi-target inhibition properties, but especially for their ability to synergistically bypass low bioavailability. Methods: The present study investigated the in vivo antitumor effects of a combination of two natural dietary agents, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) from Camelia Sinensis and curcumin, a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa). We aimed to compare, for the first time in vivo, the antiangiogenic and antitumor effects of sunitinib with the combination of curcumin and EGCG in a mouse model of renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). It was shown that they are able to inhibit cell survival, proliferation of several type of cancer, including renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), by mod-ulating different signaling pathways and that their combination respect to single compound syn-ergistically decreased angiogenesis. Results: Herein, we highlighted that these compounds inhib-ited the growth of xenografted renal cancer in nude mice by significant inhibition of tumor vol-ume, tumor weight and CD31 expression with no signs of hepatic toxicity. Moreover, mice treated with these natural compounds showed a significant reduction in angiogenesis and an improve-ment in survival rate with p<0.05. Finally, pretreatment of mice with a diet containing 0.6% curcumin before injection of tumor cells showed a significant inhibition of tumor engraftment in 60% of mice with respect to controls and other groups. Conclusions: Taken together, our data in-dicate, for the first time, that the combination of curcumin and EGCG acts in a synergistic manner to inhibit the growth and angiogenesis of ccRCC and with less toxicity than sunitinib and provide an important rationale for future clinical development for chemoprevention and treatment of re-nal cancer.

Due to the growing interest in biopolymers, biosynthesizable and biodegradable polymers currently occupy a special place. Unfortunately, the properties of native biopolymers are not satisfactory, which explain that attempts are being made to modify them. The work attempts to improve the properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) using linear aliphatic polyurethane (PU) based on 1,4-butanediol and hexamethylene 1,6-diisocyanate. The conducted studies on the effect of the amount of PU used (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.%) showed an improvement in the thermal properties of the prepared polymer blends. There was an increase in the degradation temperature of the ob-tained blends in relation to the native P3HB by 12-57C, and the difference between the melting point and the degradation point was above 100°C for most of the obtained blends. As part of the tested mechanical properties of the new polymer blends, we noted the desired increase in the tensile strength, in the relative elongation at break and in the impact strength with a decrease in hardness, in particular with the presence of 5 wt.% PU. Therefore, for further improvement, hybrid nanobiocomposites with 5 wt.% PU and organically modified montmorillonite (MMT – Cloisite 30B) were produced. The nanoadditive was used in typical amount of 1-3 wt.%. The nanostructure of the biocomposites produced by extrusion was examined by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and compatibility by infrared spectroscopy (FT IR). In addition, selected mechanical properties were determined and thermal properties were tested by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the standard differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The polyester and polyurethane chains penetrated into the interlayer spaces of organically modi-fied nanoclay – Cloisite30B and the complete delamination occurred during direct mixing in the extrusion process. FT IR spectral analysis showed the compatibility of the polymer biocomposite components by the coexistence of intermolecular interactions in the form of hydrogen bonds. The morphology studies of the produced hybrid nanobiocomposites showed an interaction of the bi-opolymer matrix with PU and Cloisite30B and the formation of easily migrating polyester-polyurethane-montmorillonite adducts, which resulted in improved mechanical properties com-pared to the properties of the native P3HB and P3HB-PU compositions. The influence of the presence of a nanofiller on the properties of the prepared nanobiocomposites was tested and it was found that, as expected, the smallest amount of nanofiller provides the best results.It was found that the obtained nanobiocomposites containing the smallest amount of nano-fillers, i.e. 1 wt.% Cloisite30B exhibited the best mechanical and thermal properties. The desired decrease in hardness by 15% and a higher value of impact strength by 15%, an increase in elonga-tion at break by 60% and an increase in thermal stability of the newly produced biocomposites compared to to the native P3HB were observed. The prepared nanobiocomposites combined the best features caused by the elasticizing effect of polyurethane and the formation of P3HB-PU-MMT adducts.

Background: Prostate cancer remains a significant global health concern, and understanding the molecular drivers of this disease is crucial for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Steroid Receptor Coactivator-3 (SRC-3), a member of the SRC family, has emerged as a key player in prostate cancer pathogenesis. This review comprehensively examine the role of SRC-3 in prostate cancer, encompassing molecular mechanisms, clinical implications, and therapeutic opportunities. Methods: A systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines was conducted in PubMed, PMC, and other relevant databases to identify studies that investigate SRC-3 in prostate cancer. A total of 67 articles were selected based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Results: 785 articles were retrieved from databases using specific keywords and MeSH terms related to SRC-3 and Prostate Cancer. After removing 461 duplicates, 260 articles were excluded based on title and abstract review. Subsequently, a comprehensive screening by three researchers resulted in 47 relevant articles for this systematic review. We summarize its contributions to AR-mediated transcriptional regulation, tumor growth, and metastasis. Evidence suggests that SRC-3 expression correlates with prostate cancer aggressiveness, disease recurrence, and poor patient outcomes. Its potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target is explored, offering insights into personalized medicine approaches. Conclusions: SRC-3 plays a pivotal role in prostate cancer, influencing disease progression and clinical outcomes. Understanding the molecular intricacies of SRC-3 in prostate cancer offers new opportunities for precision medicine and innovative therapeutic approaches. This review provides a comprehensive overview of SRC-3's involvement in prostate cancer, emphasizing its clinical relevance and potential as a therapeutic target, ultimately contributing to improved patient care in the era of personalized oncology.

Background: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a biomarker involved in a wide range of diseases including cardiac remodeling following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Identification of prognostic markers in patients with AMI can guide strategies towards improved survival and the quality of life. Methods: Our study included 59 patients with AMI and preserved ejection fraction. We determined the Gal-3 plasma concentration within 24 hours of chest pain onset from aortic root, femoral/radial artery, coronary sinus and cubital vein. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were evaluated at six months follow-up. Results: MACE at six months post-AMI was recorded in 20 patients (34%). The Gal-3 plasma concentration from aortic root and the femoral/radial artery were independent predictors of MACE at six months follow-up after the first AMI (OR 1.228; 95%CI: 1.011-1.491; p=0.038; OR 3.438; 95%CI: 1.275-9.265; p=0.015). ROC analysis identifies the Gal-3 plasma concentration from aortic root as a better predictor of MACE or death (cut-off &gt;10.86 ng/ml; AUC 0.858; 95%CI: 0.744-0.973; p&lt;0.001) than Gal-3 plasma concentration from femoral/radial artery (cut-off &gt;10.18 ng/ml; AUC 0.742; 95%CI: 0.596-0.888; p=0.006). Conclusion: The Gal-3 plasma concentration in patients with AMI determined during coronary angiography, especially from the aortic root, within 24 hours after chest pain onset is a valuable biomarker of prognosis at six months follow-up.

Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) promotes tumor progression through the recruitment of growth factors, and the acquisition of stemness, invasiveness, and drug resistance. CD44 has multiple isoforms including CD44 standard (CD44s) and CD44 variants (CD44v), which have common and unique functions in tumor development. Therefore, the elucidation of each CD44 isoform’s function in tumor is essential for the establishment of CD44-targeting tumor therapy. We have established various anti-CD44s and anti-CD44v monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) through immunization of CD44v3–10-overexpressed cells. In this study, we established C44Mab-6 (IgG1, kappa), which recognized the CD44 variant 3-encoded region (CD44v3) determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. C44Mab-6 reacted with CD44v3–10-overexpressed Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells (CHO/CD44v3–10) or some cancer cell lines (COLO205 and HSC-3) by flow cytometry. The apparent KD of C44Mab-6 for CHO/CD44v3–10, COLO205, and HSC-3 was 1.5 × 10−9 M, 6.3 × 10−9 M, and 1.9 × 10−9 M, respectively. C44Mab-6 could detect the CD44v3–10 in western blotting, and stained the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor sections in immunohistochemistry. These results indicate that C44Mab-6 is useful for detecting CD44v3 in various experiments, and expected for the application of tumor diagnosis and therapy.

The traditional nomenclature system for classifying Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV), based on clinical phenotype, described Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) as distinct clinical entities. This classification has proved its expedience in clinical trials and every day clinical practice, yet, a substantial overlap in clinical presentation still exists, and often causes difficulties in prompt definition and clinical distinction. Additionally, new insights into the AAV pathogenesis point out that PR3 and MPO-AAV may not represent expressions of the same disease spectrum but rather two distinct disorders, as they display significant differences. Thus, it is supported that a classification based on ANCA serotype (PR3-ANCA, MPO-ANCA or ANCA-negative), could be more accurate and also closer to the nature of the disease, instead of the phenotype-based one. This review aims to elucidate the major differences between PR3 and MPO-AAV, in terms of epidemiology, pathogenesis, histological and clinical manifestations, and response to therapeutic approaches.

The taxonomy of trilobites Abadiella Hupé, 1953 and Parabadiella Zhang, 1966 from the lower Cambrian of Gondwana has long been a controversy. Based on newly-collected and formerly-reported materials, 94 trilobite cranidia within 21 species are selected for morphometric analyses: principal components analysis (PCA) and canonical variates analysis (CVA). The integrated morphological characters are successfully accounted for by two principal components in PCA. The further validations for the presupposed qualitative groupings are indispensable to detect and calibrate the ultimate taxonomic results in CVA. By this way, all specimens distributed in a consistent morphospace in PCA and the short distances between them demonstrate their close morphological affinity, supporting their congeneric status within Abadiella. Additionally, three morphotypes were recognized from all selected specimens and they were eventually revised and incorporated into A. bourgini Hupé, 1953, A. huoi Zhang, 1966, and A. yunnanensis Luo, 1981, through stepwise test-calibration to get a high correct rate as far as possible in CVA. From this, it is certain that A. huoi is conspecific in South Australia and South China. Its occurrence allows to correlate the Australian A. huoi Range Zone to the identical zone in South China (in platform), having an approximately consistent stratigraphic range in the two regions. In comparison with A. huoi, A. bourgini was reported from fewer localities in South China. Nevertheless, its presence in the Daguinaspis Zone of Issendalenian Stage in Morocco permits a correlation with Chinese and Australian A. huoi Zone. As an auxiliary marker for A. huoi, the occurrence of A. bourgini in Morocco, South Australia and South China reinforce the correlation potential and resolution in species-level for the Cambrian Stage 3 in Gondwana region.

Knowledge regarding the influence of the microbial community in cancer promotion or protection has expanded even more through the study of bacterial metabolic products and how they can modulate cancer risk, which represents an extremely challenging approach for the relationship between intestinal microbiota and colorectal cancer (CRC). This review discusses research pro-gresses in the effect of bacterial dysbiosis from a metabolic point of view, particularly on the bio-chemical mechanisms of butyrate, one of the main short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with an-ti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in CRC. Increased daily intake of omega-3 polyun-saturated fatty acids (PUFAs) significantly increases the density of bacteria that are known to produce butyrate. Omega-3 PUFAs have been proposed as a treatment to prevent gut microbiota dysregulation and lower the risk or progression of CRC.

The intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the average consumer is generally low and products like fish oils high in omega-3 PUFA have become a popular dietary supplement. There is a need for more sources of omega-3 PUFA to cover the increasing demand. This study investigated whether livers from different lean fish species could be a potential new source of oils rich in omega-3 PUFA. The seasonal variation in lipid content, fatty acid composition, peroxide value and free fatty acid content of livers from cod, hake, ling, coalfish and monkfish was determined and the effect of storage conditions on the fishing vessel (ice vs frozen) was studied. Generally, the lipid content and composition of the livers from the five fish species varied similarly during the two years of sampling period with significantly lower values in spring (March, April) and higher values in fall (November, October). Storage conditions were found to have no significant effect on the quality and oil composition. Monkfish livers were less suitable for production of omega-3 oil due to their lower lipid and EPA content and higher FFA levels. Coalfish had higher fluctuations in oil composition during sampling period, which potentially makes a standardised quality difficult to obtain. Cod, hake and ling were the most suitable species for fish liver oil production.

Clonal evolution and cellular plasticity are the genetic and non-genetic driving forces of tumor heterogeneity that in turn determines the tumor cell response towards therapeutic drugs. Sever-al lines of evidence suggest that therapeutic interventions foster the selection of drug resistant neural crest stem-like cells (NCSCs) that establish minimal residual disease (MRD) in melano-ma. Here we established a dual reporter system enabling the tracking of NGFR expression and mRNA stability, providing insights into the maintenance of NCSC-states. We observed that the transcriptional reporter that contained a 1kb fragment of the human NGFR promoter was acti-vated only in a minor subset (0.72±0.49%, range 0.3-1.5) and ~2-4% of A375 melanoma cells re-vealed stable NGFR mRNA. The combination of both reporters provided insights into pheno-type switching and revealed that both cellular subsets gave rise to cellular heterogeneity. Moreover, whole transcriptome profiling and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of the minor cellular subset revealed hypoxia-associated genes serving as potential drivers of a NGFR-associated phenotype switching in vitro and in relapsed, post-BRAF inhibitor treated tu-mors. Concordantly, we observed that the minor cellular subset increased in response to dabrafenib over time. In summary, our reporter-based approach provided insights into plastici-ty and identified a cellular subset that might be responsible for the establishment of MRD in melanoma.

Investigation of sea-level positions during the highly-dynamic Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3: 29-61 kyrs BP) proves difficult because: i) in stable and subsiding areas, coeval coastal sediments are currently submerged at depths of few to several tens of meters below present sea level; ii) in uplifting areas, the preservation of geomorphic features and sedimentary records is limited due to the erosion occurred during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) with sea level at depth of -130 m, followed by marine transgression that determined the development of ravinement surfaces. This study discusses previous research in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, and describes new fossiliferous marine deposits laying on metamorphic bedrock of Cannitello (Calabria, Italy). Radiocarbon ages of marine shells (about 43 kyrs cal BP) indicate that these deposits, presently between 28 and 30 meters above sea level, formed during MIS 3.1. Elevation correction of the Cannitello outcrops (considered in an intermediate-to-far-field position with respect to the ice sheet) with the local vertical tectonic rate and Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) rate allows to propose a revision of the eustatic depth for this highstand. Our results are consistent with recently proposed estimates based on a novel ice sheet modelling technique.

Atlantic salmon (Salmo Salar) is one of the fish species that rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids can lower down the risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. The extraction of omega-3 fish oil from Atlantic salmon by using hexane and isopropanol was conducted in this research. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to study the impact of parameters which were temperature (50-90°C), centrifuge speed (1000-3000rpm) and solvent ratio of hexane to isopropanol (0.5-1.5) to the percentage of oil yield. The results obtained shows that 15.23%± 0.61 of oil yield from Atlantic salmon under an optimum condition of 70°C, 3000 rpm and solvent ratio of hexane to isopropanol of 1.5. The acid value, peroxide value and p-anisidine value of the fish oil obtained were 7.48 mg KOH/g, 1.94 meq/kg and 5.56 respectively which were all within the acceptable limit which stipulated by Global Organization for EPA and DHA (GOED) and Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The FTIR analysis proved the presence of alkane and carboxylic acid in the fish oil. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis showed that the fish oil contains higher monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) contents followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and 4.5525% of total omega-3 fatty acids.

In the last decades droughts, deforestation and wildfires have become recurring phenomena that have affected both human activities and natural ecosystems in Amazonia. The time an ecosystem requires to recover from carbon losses is a crucial metric to evaluate disturbance impacts on forests. However, the factors influencing and controlling the recovery time and its spatiotemporal patterns at the regional scale are still poorly understood. In this study, we combined forest growth model, remote sensing and field plots, to map Amazonia-wide (300-ha resolution) impact and recovery time of aboveground biomass (AGB) after drought, fire and a combination of logging and fire. Our simulated results indicate that AGB decreases by 4%, 19% and 46% in forests disturbed by drought, fire and logging + fire, respectively, with an average AGB recovery time of 27 years for drought, 44 years for burned and 63 years for logged + burned areas and with maximum values reaching 184 years in areas of high fire intensity. Our findings provide two major insights in the spatial and temporal patterns of drought and wildfire in the Amazon: 1) the recovery time of the forests takes longer in the southeastern part of the basin, and, 2) as droughts and wildfires become more frequent – since the intervals between the disturbances is getting shorter than forest regeneration – potentially causing a long-lasting damage in these fragile ecosystems and a permanent degradation.

In this manuscript we report new effects of resonance detuning on various dynamical parameters of a generic 3-wave system. Namely, for suitably chosen values of detuning the variation range of amplitudes can be significantly wider than for exact resonance. Moreover, the range of energy variation is not symmetric with respect to the sign of the detuning. Finally, the period of the energy oscillation exhibits non-monotonic dependency on the magnitude of detuning. These results have important theoretical implications where nonlinear resonance analysis is involved, such as geophysics, plasma physics, fluid dynamics. Numerous practical applications are envisageable e.g. in energy harvesting systems.

New corrosion inhibitor derived from coumarin-3-amine namely 3-((2-chlorobenzylidene)amino)coumarin was synthesized and characterized by CHN elemental analysis in addition to Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. The anti-corrosion ability of 3-((2-chlorobenzylidene)amino)coumarin to inhibit the impacts of corrosion has been demonstrated and damage reduction of the mild steel also. 3-((2-chlorobenzylidene)amino)coumarin, has been employed as a good corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in HCL solution. The efficiency of the inhibition was figured according to weight loss method and it was 74.6%.

Some aporphine alkaloids, such as crebanine, were found to present arrhythmic activity and also higher toxicity. A series of derivatives were synthesized by using three kinds of aporphine alkaloids (crebanine, isocorydine, and stephanine) as lead compounds. Chemical methods, including ring-opening reaction, bromination, methylation, acetylation, quaternization, and dehydrogenation, were adopted. Nineteen target derivatives were evaluated for their antiarrhythmic potential in the mouse model of ventricular fibrillation (VF), induced by CHCl₃, and five of the derivatives were investigated further in the rat model of arrhythmia, induced by BaCl₂. Meanwhile, preliminary structure-activity/toxicity relationship analyses were carried out. Significantly, N-acetamidesecocrebanine (1d), three bromo-substituted products of crebanine (2a, 2b, 2c), N-methylcrebanine (2d), and dehydrostephanine (4a) displayedantiarrhythmic effects in the CHCl₃-induced model. Among them, 7.5 mg/kg of 2b was able to significantly reduce the incidence of VF induced by CHCl₃ (p<0.05), increase the number of rats that resumed sinus rhythm from arrhythmia, induced by BaCl₂ (p<0.01), and the number of rats that maintained sinus rhythm for more than 20 minutes (p<0.01). Therefore, 2b showed remarkably higher antiarrhythmic activity and a lower toxicity (LD₅₀=59.62 mg/kg, mice), simultaneously, indicating that 2b could be considered as a promising candidate in the treatment of arrhythmia. Structural-activity analysis suggested that variationsin antiarrhythmic efficacy and toxicity of aporphines were related to the C-1,C-2-methylenedioxy group on ring A, restricted ring B structural conformation, N-quaternization of ring B, levoduction of 6a in ring C, and the 8-, 9-, 10-methoxy groups on ring D on the skeleton.

Banana wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) is a devastating fungal disease. Biocontrol strategies owned immense potential in inhibiting the spread of Foc TR4. Here, thirty actinobacteria were isolated from soils and screened for their antagonistic activity against Foc TR4. Strain SCA4-21T exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activity against nine phytopathogenic fungi including Foc TR4. The strain was identified as the genus Streptomyces according to phenotypic characteristics and 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis. Multi-locus sequence analysis based on five house-keeping gene alleles (atpD, gyrB, recA, rpoB, and trpB) revealed that strain SCA4-21T clustered into S. hygroscopicus subsp. hygroscopicus NBRC 13472T with 100% of bootstrap value. Average nucleotide identity and dDDH were 98.49% and 44.30% above the threshold of novel species. Hence, strain SCA 4-21T represented a novel species within the genus Streptomyces, named as Streptomyces luomodiensis sp. nov.. The type strain is SCA4-21T (=GDMCC4.340T= JCM36555T). By the CAZymes analysis, 348 carbohydrate-active enzymes were detected, including 15 chitinases and 8 β-1,3-glucanases. The fermentation broth of strain SCA4-21T showed high activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase, contributing to the antifungal activity. Our results showed an innovative potential biocontrol agent for managing plant fungal diseases, specifically banana fusarium wilt.

Windows account for a significant proportion of the total energy lost in buildings. The interaction of window type, Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) scheduled and window placement height would influence the natural lighting and heat transfer through windows. This is a pressing issue for non-tropical regions considering their high emissions and distinct climatic characteristics. A limitation exists in the adoption of common simulation-based optimisation approaches in the literature, which are hardly accessible to practitioners. This article develops a numerical-based window design optimisation model using a common Building Information Modelling (BIM) platform adopted throughout the industry, focusing on non-tropical regions of Australia. Three objective functions are proposed; the first objective is to maximize the available daylight, and the other two emphasize on the undesirable heat transfer through windows in summer and winter respectively. The developed model is tested on a case study located in Sydney, Australia, and a set of Pareto-optimum solutions is obtained. Through the use of the proposed model, energy savings of up to 16.43% are achieved. Key findings on the case example indicate that leveraging winter heat gain to reduce annual energy consumption should not be the top priority when designing windows for Sydney.

Background: The purpose was to develop a novel hypothetical method to increase the size of coronary arteries. Methods: In the long-term observation the coronary sizes were dilated in three unexpected scenarios. The coronary artery sizes were observed in patients with mitral stenosis (n=59) by angiogram prior to percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty or valve replacement surgery for severe mitral stenosis. The coronaries of patients with patent ductus arteriosus who underwent surgical closure in the past (n=12) were examined by echocardiogram. Patients with renal failure on long-term dialysis through peripheral arterio-venous fistula without left ventricular hypertrophy (n=17) were studied by echocardiography. Normal age, weight and sex matched coronary sizes served as controls in the study. All these observations were made over a period of 11.5 years. Results: The sizes of coronaries in patients with mitral stenosis, patients who underwent closure for patent ductus arteriosus, and in patients on hemodialysis through arteriovenous fistulas were higher than normal controls (p<0.05, for all). A hypothetical model to increase the coronary sizes could be developed based on the analysis of the differential equations of Poiseuille’s. The proposed method is creating a peripheral arterio-venous fistula, which could be closed later electively by a percutaneous method/surgery. The closure time needs to be determined by experimental studies. The other methods could be a continuous exercise program or usage of beta-blockers. Conclusion: A novel hypothetical method of peripheral arteriovenous fistula formation could potentially increase the size of the coronaries, and this could be closed later.

Serious damage caused by floor heave in the coal given chamber of a vertical coal bunker is one of the challenges faced in underground coal mines. Engineering practice shows that it is more difficult to maintain the coal given chamber (CGC) than a roadway. More importantly, repairing the CGC during mining practice will pose major safety risks and reduce production. Based on the case of the serious collapse that occurred in the bearing structure of the CGC at the lower part of the 214# coal bunker in Xiashijie mine, China, this work analysed (i) the main factors influencing floor heave and (ii) the failure mechanism of the load-bearing structure in the CGC using FLAC^2D numerical models and expansion experiment. The analysis results indicate that: the floor heave, caused mainly by mine water, is the basic reason leading to the instability and repeated failure of the CGC in the 214# coal bunker. Then a new coal bunker, without building the CGC, is proposed and put into practice to replace the 214# coal bunker. The FLAC^3D software program is adopted to establish the numerical model of the wall-mounted coal bunker (WMCB), and the stability of the rock surrounding the WMCB is simulated and analysed. The results show that: (1) the rock surrounding the sandstone segment is basically stable. (2) The surrounding rock in the coal seam segment, which moves into the inside of the bunker, is the main zone of deformation for the entire rock mass surrounding the bunker. Then the surrounding rock is controlled effectively by means of high-strength bolt–cable combined supporting technology. According to the geological conditions of the WMCB, the self-bearing system, which includes (i) H-steel beams, (ii) H-steel brackets, and (iii) self-locking anchor cables, is established and serves as a substitute for the CGC to transfer the whole weight of the bunker to stable surrounding rock. The stability of the new coal bunker has been verified by field testing, and the coal mine has gained economic benefit to a value of 158.026174 million RMB over three years. The new WMCB thus made production more effective and can provide helpful references for construction of vertical bunkers under similar geological conditions.

Cholest-4-en-3-one Δ1-dehydrogenase (AcmB) from Sterolibacterium denitrificans is successfully immobilized on 3-aminopropyltrimethoysilane functionalized MCF and SBA-15 silica supports using adsorption or covalently with glutaraldehyde or divinyl sulfone linkers. The best catalyst, AcmB on MCF linked covalently with glutaraldehyde, retains the specific activity of the homogenous enzyme while exhibiting a substantial increase of the operational stability. The immobilized enzyme was used continuously in the fed-batch reactor for 27 days, catalyzing 1,2-dehydrogenation of androst-4-en-3-one to androst-1,4-dien-3-one with a final yield of 29.9 mM (8.56 g/L) and 99% conversion. The possibility of reuse of the immobilized catalyst was also demonstrated and resulted with a doubling of the product amount compared to that in the reference homogenous reactor. Finally, it was shown that molecular oxygen from the air can efficiently be used as an electron acceptor either reoxidizing directly the enzyme or the reduced DCPIPH2. Keywords: 3-ketosteroid D1-dehydrogenase; KSTD; KSDH; AcmB; 1,2-dehydrogenation; cholest-4-en-3-one Δ1-dehydrogenase; enzyme immobilization, FAD-dependent enzymes; enzyme immobilization;

Driven by environmental sustainability concerns, the integration of biobased components in curtain wall systems is gaining traction in both research and the construction market. This paper explores the development and validation of a bio-based façade system within the Basajaun H2020 project. The project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of introducing environmentally friendly bio-based components into the mature curtain wall façade industry. The paper focuses on identifying technological solutions for replacing key components such as profiles, insulation, and the tightness system with bio-based and less environmental impact alternatives presenting the results achieved in the façade system design of the Basajaun project funded by European Union. These solutions aimed at creating a bio-composite-based curtain wall façade that adheres to current building envelope standards and normative; to implement diverse façade typologies for vision panels, opaque sections, and integrated windows; to engineer the prefabrication process for industrialization, enabling wider market replication and simplified transport and installation. The results demonstrate that the Basajaun façade successfully integrates selected components and meets the performance requirements set by regulations. However, questions remain regarding the workability of bio-based profiles as a commercially viable, ready-to-market solution that can replace traditional aluminum profiles in the curtain wall façade industry.

Keywords: Wall-like RC columns; Strengthening; FRP; NSM rebars; Steel plates; Testing; FE modeling; Preloading.

Applications in security and electronic surveillance require combination of excellent magnetic softness with good mechanical and anti-corrosive properties and low dimensionality. We overviewed the properties of soft magnetic glass-coated microwires and different post-processing making them quite attractive for electronic article surveillance and security applications. We studied the magnetostatic interaction between the microwires and routes to tune the non-linear hysteresis loops by using the arrays of different types of amorphous microwires. The presence of neighbouring microwire (either Fe or Co-based) significantly affects the hysteresis loop of the whole microwires array. In a microwires array containing magnetically bistable microwires we observed splitting of the initially rectangular hysteresis loop with a number of Barkhausen jumps correlated with the number of magnetically bistable microwires. Essentially, non-linear and irregular hysteresis loops have been observed in mixed arrays containing Fe and Co-rich microwires. The observed non-linearity in hysteresis loops allowed to increase the harmonics and tune their magnetic field dependencies. Non-linear hysteresis loops have been also observed upon devitrification of amorphous microwires. On the other hand, several routes allowing to tune the switching field by either post-processing or modifying the magnetoelastic anisotropy have been reviewed. Observed unique combination of magnetic properties together with thin dimensions and excellent mechanical and anti-corrosive properties provide excellent perspectives for the use of glass-coated microwires for security and electronic surveillance applications.

In line with Pomeau’s conjecture about the relevance of directed percolation (DP) to turbulence onset/decay in wall-bounded flows, we propose a minimal stochastic model dedicated to the interpretation of the spatially intermittent regimes observed in channel flow before its return to laminar flow. Numerical simulations show that a regime with bands obliquely drifting in two stream-wise symmetrical directions bifurcates into an asymmetrical regime, before ultimately decaying to laminar flow. The model is expressed in terms of a probabilistic cellular automaton evolving von Neumann neighbourhoods with probabilities educed from a close examination of simulation results. It implements band propagation and the two main local processes: longitudinal splitting involving bands with the same orientation, and transversal splitting giving birth to a daughter band with orientation opposite to that of its mother. The ultimate decay stage observed to display one-dimensional DP properties in a two-dimensional geometry is interpreted as resulting from the irrelevance of lateral spreading in the single-orientation regime. The model also reproduces the bifurcation restoring the symmetry upon variation of the probability attached to transversal splitting, which opens the way to a study of the critical properties of that bifurcation, in analogy with thermodynamic phase transitions.

In this study, the multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method is applied to investigate the oscillatory instability of lid-driven flows in two-dimensional semi-elliptical cavities with different vertical to horizontal aspect ratios K in the range of 1.0--3.0. The program implemented in this study is parallelized using CUDA (compute unified device architecture), a parallel computing platform, and computations are carried out on NVIDIA Tesla K40c GPU. To carry out precise calculations, the CUDA algorithm is extensively investigated, and its parallel efficiency indicates that the maximum speedup is 47.6 times faster. Furthermore, the steady--oscillatory Reynolds numbers are predicted by implementing the CUDA-based programs. The amplitude coefficient is defined to quantify the time-dependent oscillation of the velocity magnitude at the monitoring point. The simulation results indicate that the transition Reynolds numbers correlate negatively with the aspect ratio of the semi-elliptical cavity, and are smaller than those of the rectangular cavity at the same aspect ratio. In addition, the detailed vortex structures of the semi-elliptical cavity within a single period are also investigated when the Reynolds number is larger than the steady--oscillatory value to determine the effects of periodic oscillation of the velocity magnitude.

Aim of expressional space is to facilitate the public to explore their hobby and talent in autodidact. The space for expression in Makassar City is necessary for the mural artist and the youngsters who has a hobby to play a skateboard. Their talent is insufficient attention by the government and create negative attitude because there no space to accommodate their activity. Therefore, this paper presents a design idea of expressional space by implementing the architectural geometry. The architectural geometry design principle is based on simple geometry form application as a realization of form from the space. An experience of the space for the user realizes by the relationship between the space and the interaction with the environment through geometry and form processing as the basic of the creation process in the architectural works. Content analysis method providing a landscape layout and transformation of form and building mass in form of the implementation of architectural geometry principles. The principles are pure geometry, composition of geometry, direction wall, and opening for the transformation process of expressional space form to produce and increase aesthetic value of the environment.

Galectins are a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins that are characterised by their carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) and include galectin-1 and galectin-3. These galectins have been implicated in numerous diseases due to their pleiotropic nature, including cancer and fibrosis, with therapeutic inhibitors being clinically developed to block the CRD. One of the early methods developed to characterise these galectins was hemagglutination of red blood cells. Although insightful this approach has been hampered by a lack of sensitivity and accurate quantification of the agglutination observed. In this study we aimed to validate a more precise and quantitative method to enable further investigation of differences between galectins in respect to agglutination induction in different blood groups as well as characterisation of small molecule inhibitors. Quantification of hemagglutination was shown to be optimal using U-bottom plates imaged and analysed with FIJI ImageJ rather than flat bottom plates read for absorbance on an optical density plate reader. Galectin-3-induced red blood cell agglutination efficacy increased significantly from blood group O to A to B. However, for both the galectin-1 monomer and concatemer a more comparable effect was observed between blood group B and O but with more potent effects than in blood group A. Inhibition assays for both galectin-3 and galectin-1 induced-hemagglutination were able to demonstrate clear concentration-responses and expected selectivity profiles for a set of small molecule glycomimetics, confirming historical profiles obtained in biochemical binding and functional cellular assays.

Core chlorophytes possess glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenases (GPDs) with an unusual bidomain structure, consisting of a glycerol-3-phosphate phosphatase (GPP) domain fused to canonical GPD domains. These plastid-localized enzymes have been implicated in stress responses, being required for the synthesis of glycerol under high salinity and triacylglycerols under nutrient deprivation. However, their regulation under varying environmental conditions is poorly understood. C. reinhardtii transgenic strains expressing constitutively bidomain GPD2 did not accumulate glycerol or triacylglycerols in the absence of any environmental stress. Although, the glycerol contents of both wild type and transgenic strains increased significantly upon exposure to high salinity. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic protein synthesis, abolished this response in the wild type. In contrast, GPD2 transgenic strains were still capable of glycerol accumulation when cultured in medium containing cycloheximide and NaCl. Thus, pre-existing GPD2 protein appears to become activated for glycerol synthesis upon salt stress. Interestingly, staurosporine, a non-specific inhibitor of protein kinases, prevented this post-translational GPD2 protein activation. Structural modeling analyses suggested that substantial conformational rearrangements, possibly triggered by high salinity, may characterize an active GPD2 GPP domain. Understanding this mechanism(s) may provide insights into the rapid acclimation responses of microalgae to osmotic/salinity stress.

This work reports the isolation, purification, and anti-inflammatory evaluation of compounds from the plant species Ageratina pichinchesis. Using open-column chromatography, 11 known compounds were purified, whose chemical structures were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance techniques (1D and 2D). All compounds were evaluated in the in vitro model of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells measuring nitric oxide inhibition as a determination of the anti-inflammatory effect. Outstandingly, the compound betuletol 3-O-β-glucoside (11) exhibited inhibition of nitric oxide with an IC50 of 75.08 ± 3.07% at 75 µM, additionally, it inhibited the secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and activation of nuclear factor (NF-kβ). These results show that compound 11 could be considered as a potential anti-inflammatory agent in suppressing the expression of NF-kβ target genes such as the proinflammatory pathway and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Consequently, the medicinal use attributed in traditional medicine to the A. pichinchensis species is due to the diversity of compounds that the plant biosynthesizes, demonstrating that its effect relates to anti-inflammatory effects associated with compound 11.

With the development of modern industry, the issue of water pollution has garnered increasing attention. Photocatalysis, as a novel green environmental technology that is resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, and highly promising, has found extensive applications in the field of organic pollutant treatment. However, common semiconductor materials exhibit relatively low photocatalytic efficiency in the visible light range or inefficient separation of photogenerated charges, resulting in their limited ability to harness solar energy effectively. Consequently, the development of new photocatalysts has become a pivotal focus in current photocatalysis research to enhance solar energy utilization. This revision provides a brief explanation of the photocatalytic mechanism of the AgIO3/CTF heterojunction photocatalyst. Due to the Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, Ag nanoparticles demonstrate significant absorption in the visible light region, playing a crucial role in the highly efficient photocatalytic reduction of organic pollutants.

Biomimetic materials are substances that replicate natural structures. There are several methods for producing such materials with highly developed surfaces from a wide range of polymers, but electrospinning is of particular interest due to its simplicity of implementation and the ability to modify the produced fibrous materials resembling structures found in living organisms. This study explores new biomimetic materials based on polyhydroxyalkanoates, specifically poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, modified with chlorophyll derivatives. The research investigates the impact of chlorophyll derivatives on the morphology, supramolecular structure, and key properties of nonwoven materials. The obtained results are of interest for the development of new biomimetic environmentally friendly materials for biomedicine with special properties.

Background: The effect of rice bran arabinoxylan compound (RBAC), a plant-based immunomodulator, on the quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients and underlying physiological pathways remains unclear. Trial design: The RBAC-QoL study is a double-blind, randomised, controlled pilot feasibility study. The aim is to determine RBAC’s effects on QoL and the associated action mechanisms. Primary outcomes are the EORTC QLQ-C30 functional, symptom, and global QoL scores with inflammatory, nutritional, and cytokine parameters as secondary and exploratory outcomes. Methods: Recruitment targets adults diagnosed with solid organ tumours (≥ stage II) undergoing active treatment in several outpatient centres in New South Wales, Australia. Interventions are RBAC or matched placebo at 3g/day for 24 weeks allocated through stratified randomisation with participants, oncologists, and data collectors blinded. Data is collected from five study visits six weeks apart. The trial is ongoing. An interim intention-to-treat analysis was performed using repeated measure ANOVA with pairwise comparisons where statistical significance is observed and adjusted with covariates. Results: Global QoL scores from currently available data (n = 16; RBAC = 7, placebo = 9) were statistically different between groups (F[1,8] = 8.6, p = 0.019, eta2[g] = 0.267). Pairwise comparisons found significant differences at week 6 (p = 0.032, Cohen’s d = 1.454) and marginally at week 12 (p = 0.069, d = 1.427). Age-adjusted analysis showed a continuous upward trend in QoL improvement over time with RBAC, while the placebo group did not deviate from baseline QoL. Significant elevations of serum white blood cell count (week 18) and total protein (weeks 12 and 18) were detected in the RBAC group compared to placebo. The total protein levels correlated highly with white blood cell count (Pearson’s r = 0.539, p < 0.001) and moderately with the global QoL scores (r = 0.338, p = 0.01). No intervention-related adverse events were reported in both groups. Conclusions: RBAC improves QoL beyond placebo during active cancer treatment, possibly through the immuno-nutritional pathway. These findings are preliminary but valuable for future research. Funding and registration: Daiwa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Japan; BioMedica Nutraceuticals Pty Ltd., Australia. ANZCTR Reg No: ACTRN12619000562178p.

Background: We aimed to determine the splenic stiffness (SS) values in healthy individuals as measured by 3 Tesla magnetic resonance elastography (3T MRE) and to investigate the possible effects of parameters such as age, sex, spleen volume, diameter, and parenchyma thickness on SS.Methods: A total of 54 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants' age and sex information were recorded, in addition to spleen craniocaudal and anteroposterior diameter, cortical thickness, spleen volume, and SS, which were measured using 3T magnetic resonance imaging and MRE. Results: Twenty-nine male and 25 female subjects with a mean age of 54.78±15.40 years were included in the study. Mean cradiocaudal diameter was 10.46±1.16 cm, anteroposterior diameter was 9.88±1.29 cm, parenchyma thickness was 4.08±0.67 cm, SS was 3721.94±709.69 Pascal (Pa), and median spleen volume was 292.54 (239.40-311.00) cm³. A significant positive correlation was observed between age and SS (r=0.779, p<0.001). The SS values were not associated with sex, craniocaudal diameter, anteroposterior diameter, parenchymal thickness, or volume.Conclusion:Age should be considered when using SS in the diagnosis and staging of relevant diseases such as portal hypertension and esophageal varices. Our results should be confirmed by future studies using 3T MRE in larger populations.

Background: We aimed to determine the splenic stiffness (SS) values in healthy individuals as measured by 3 Tesla magnetic resonance elastography (3T MRE) and to investigate the possible effects of parameters such as age, sex, spleen volume, diameter, and parenchyma thickness on SS. Methods: A total of 54 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants' age and sex information were recorded, in addition to spleen craniocaudal and anteroposterior diameter, cortical thickness, spleen volume, and SS, which were measured using 3T magnetic resonance imaging and MRE. Results: Twenty-nine male and 25 female subjects with a mean age of 54.78±15.40 years were included in the study. Mean cradiocaudal diameter was 10.46±1.16 cm, anteroposterior diameter was 9.88±1.29 cm, parenchyma thickness was 4.08±0.67 cm, SS was 3721.94±709.69 Pascal (Pa), and median spleen volume was 292.54 (239.40-311.00) cm3. A significant positive correlation was observed between age and SS (r=0.779, p<0.001). The SS values were not associated with sex, craniocaudal diameter, anteroposterior diameter, parenchymal thickness, or volume Conclusion:Age should be considered when using SS in the diagnosis and staging of relevant diseases such as portal hypertension and esophageal varices. Our results should be confirmed by future studies using 3T MRE in larger populations.

Norovirus (NoV) is recognised as a major cause of epidemic and sporadic acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in all age groups. Information on the genetic diversity of the NoVs circulating in the 1980s and 1990s, before the development and adoption of dedicated molecular assays, is limited compared to the last decades. In the period 1986-2020, uninterrupted viral surveillance was conducted in symptomatic children hospitalized for AGE in Palermo, Italy, providing a unique time capsule for exploring the epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of enteric viruses. In this 35-year long time span NoVs of genogroup II (GII) were detected in 15.6% of AGE requiring hospitalization, whilst GI NoVs in 1.4%. Overall, the predominant NoV capsid (Cap) genotype was GII.4 (60.8%), with temporal replacement of the GII.4 Cap variants and associated polymerase (Pol) types. The chronology of emergence and circulation of the different GII.4 variants were consistent with the data available in literature. Also, for GII.3 and GII.2 NoVs the circulation of different lineages/strains, differing in either the Cap or Pol genes or in both, was observed. This long-term study revealed the ability of NoVs to modify continuously and rapidly their genomic makeup and highlights the importance of surveillance activities for vaccine design.

Edge computing has emerged as a significant computing trend alongside the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT). Computing operations at the network’s edge offer a solution to the high latency and service overload challenges often associated with cloud computing. Additionally, the Secure Hash Algorithm-3 (SHA-3) plays a crucial role in ensuring data integrity and is implemented for numerous applications in the IoT field. Therefore, integrating the SHA-3 accelerator into edge computing is essential. Moreover, recent studies about SHA-3 have primarily focused on achieving high performance and optimizing resource utilization for SHA-3. However, these studies have overlooked the crucial aspect of data transfer between the external memory and the hash function block, as transfer time plays a significant role. This paper proposes an efficient SHA-3 architecture designed for System-on-Chip (SoC) Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to address the aforementioned challenges and be suitable for real edge computing. The architecture contains three key techniques. First, the harmony of padding and Direct Memory Access (DMA) for managing the data transfer process and enhancing performance efficiency based on Serial Input to Parallel Output (SIPO) and a barrel shifter. Secondly, implementing internal pipelining within the Round Function (RF) to reduce critical path delays and optimize resource utilization. Finally, designing four modes (SHA3-224, SHA3-256, SHA3-384, and SHA3-512) to cater to various applications. Our architecture is implemented and tested on the DE10-Standard Development Kit (Cyclone V SX SoC-5CSXFC6D6F31C6N), which is integrated into the FPGA and is controlled by a Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A9 processor. The result is up to 38.34 Gbps in throughput and 5.61 Mbps/ALM in efficiency for the RF computation, 28.02 Gbps in throughput, and 3.63 Mbps/ALM for the full proposed architecture.

Cervical cancer is the most common female reproductive tract tumor and is currently the only cancer that can be prevented by vaccination. Early detection and treatment of cervical cancer can be achieved through regular screening for human papillomavirus (HPV). Therefore, in this paper, an electrochemical sensor was designed to detect HPV 16 using a dual signal amplification technique. APTES modified glassy carbon electrode to improve stability. Combining gold nanoparticles and chain amplification reactions for signal amplification purposes. The limit of detection (LOD) was 1.731×10-16 mol/L, and the detection range of this electrochemical sensor was increased in comparison to previous research, with a linear response range from 1.0×10-13 mol/L to 1.0×10-5 mol/L (R2 = 0.99232) for the target detector.In addition, the sensor showed equally good recovery in sophisticated human serum samples. It shows that it has good interference resistance and the designed biosensor can be a powerful and reliable tool for clinical disease diagnosis.

Isoamyl (E)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate (1) was obtained 95% yield by 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA)/4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)-catalyzed reaction at room temperature for 190 minutes in dichloromethane. The structure of isoamyl (E)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate (1) was established by NMR, FTIR, and the high resolution of mass spectroscopies. In vitro sun protection factor evaluation exhibited value of 37.10 ± 0.03 which indicates that isoamyl (E)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate (1) as a sunscreen agent with high protection.

Background The main aim of reconstructive surgery (RS) is to restore the integrity of soft tissues damaged by trauma, surgery, congenital deformity, burns or infection. Microsurgical techniques consist of harvesting tissues that are separated from the vascular sources of the donor site and anastomosed to the vessels of the recipient site. In these procedures, there are some preoperative modifiable factors that have the potential to influence the outcome of the flap transfer and its anastomosis. Methods Chronic inflammatory anaemia (ACD) is a constant condition in patients who have undergone RS and correlates with the perfusion of the free flap. In RS, it is important to maintain good tissue oxyporesis, avoiding blood hyperviscosity. From January 2017 to September 2019, we studied 16 patients (16 males, mean age 38 years) who underwent microsurgical procedures for RS. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels, Corpuscular Indexes, Transferring saturation (TSAT) ferritin concentrations and creatinine clearance have been measured the first day after surgery (T0), after the first week (T1) and after five weeks (T2). At T0 all patients showed low hemoglobin levels (average 7.4 g/dl, STD 0,71range 6,2-7,4 g dL-1), with an MCV of 72, MCH 28, MCHC 33, RDW 16, Sideremy 35, Ferritin 28, Ret% 1,36, TRF 277 and Creatinine Clearance 119. . We assessed all patients for clinical status, medical history and comorbidities before starting therapy. Results. In collaboration between the two departments, we started a therapeutic protocol with erythropoietic stimulating agents (ESAs) (Binocrit 6000 UI/week) and intravenous iron every other day, on the second day after surgery. Thirteen patients received ESAs and FCM (500-1000 mg per session), three patients received ESAs and iron gluconate (1 vial every other day). No patients received blood transfusions. No side effects were observed and, most importantly, no limb or flap rejection. Conclusions Preliminary data from our protocol show an optimal therapeutic response in a surgical setting with limited data in the scientific literature. The enrolment of further patients will allow us to validate this therapeutic protocol with statistically significant data.

Rice bran arabinoxylan compound (RBAC) is a polysaccharide modified by Lentinus edodes mycelial enzyme widely used as a nutraceutical. To explore translational research on RBAC, a scoping review was conducted to synthesise research evidence from English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese sources while combining bibliometrics and network analyses for data visualisation. Ninety-eight articles on RBAC and the biological activities related to human health or disease were included. Research progressed with linear growth (median=3/year) from 1998 to 2022, predominantly on Biobran MGN-3 (86.73%) and contributed by 289 authors from 100 institutions across 18 countries. Clinical studies constitute 61.1% of recent articles (2018 to 2022). A shifting focus from immuno-cellular activities to human translations over the years was shown via keyword visualisation. Beneficial effects of RBAC include immunomodulation, synergistic anticancer properties, hepatoprotection, antiinflammation, and antioxidation. Cancer patients reported reduced side effects from chemoradiotherapy and improved quality of life in human studies, indicating RBAC’s impact on the psycho-neuro-immune axis. RBAC has been studied in 17 conditions, including cancer, liver diseases, HIV, allergy, chronic fatigue, gastroenteritis, cold/flu, diabetes, and in healthy participants. Further translational research on the impact on patient and community health is required for the evidence-informed use of RBAC in health and disease.

Binge drinking is a pattern of alcohol abuse. Its prevalence and associated risk factors are not well documented. Heavy drinking, on the other hand, has a well-studied association with bereavement . This report uses a cross-sectional, population-based survey to estimate prevalence of bingeing and its association with new bereavement. Bingeing is defined as 4 or more drinks (women) or 5 or more drinks (men) in a 2-to-4-hour setting. For the first time, the Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) included a bereavement item, ‘Have you experienced the death of a family member or close friend in the years 2018 or 2019?’. Methods: Georgia BRFSS is a complex sampling survey administered annually. It is designed to represent the 8.1 million persons in the U.S. state of Georgia aged 18 years and older. Alcohol consumption patterns are routinely measured in the common core. In the 2019 field survey, the state added a new item probing for bereavement in the prior 24 months predating the pandemic of COVID-19. Imputation and weighting techniques were applied to yield population prevalence rates of new bereavement, bingeing, and their co-occurrence with other high-risk health states. Models, adjusted for age, gender, and race were used to estimate the risk for other unhealthy behaviors posed by the co-occurrence of bereavement and bingeing. Results: In Georgia, bereavement is common (45.8 %), and alcohol consumption is common (48.8 %). Bereavement and alcohol use co-occurred among 1,796,817 persons (45 % of all drinkers). The subset of co-occurring bereavement and binging totaled 608,282 persons. Within this group, the highest rates of bereavement were associated with death of a friend / neighbor (30.7%) or 3 plus deaths (31.8%). Conclusions: While bingeing is a known risk to public health, its co-occurrence with recent bereavement is a new observation. Public health surveillance systems need to monitor this co-occurrence to protect both individual and societal health. In a time of global bereavement, documenting its influence on binge drinking can support the work towards Sustainable Goal #3 – Good health and Well-Being. Keywords: BRFSS, Binge Drinking, Population Survey, Bereavement, SDG#3. Mental Health

Plants are constantly exposed to a variety of different environmental stresses, including drought, salinity, and elevated temperatures. These stress cues are assumed to aggravate in the future driven by the global climate change scenario which we are currently experiencing. These stressors have largely detrimental effects on plant growth and development and, therefore, put global food security in jeopardy. For this reason, it is necessary to expand our understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which plants respond to abiotic stresses. Especially boosting our insight into the ways by which plants balance their growth and their defense programs appears to be of paramount importance, as this may lead to novel perspectives that can pave the way to increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner. In this review, our aim was to present a detailed overview of different factettes of the crosstalk between the antagonistic plant hormones abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin, two phytohormones that are the main drivers of plant stress responses, on the one hand, and plant growth, on the other.

Today's major challenge for smart Microgrids is to ensure the security of communications in a large number of changing data sets that are vulnerable to attacks by denial of services in constant evolution. The Internet Protocol Traceback defines a set of methods that help identify the source of an attack with minimal requirements for memory and processing. However, the concept of Traceback is not yet being used in smart Microgrids. As a result, the main challenge of this article is to incorporate a new Traceback approach into the cybernetic system of a smart mesh Microgrid, which can be tested using a network simulator (NS-3) based on delay, debit, and packet loss rate parameters. In fact, the simulation results show the efficacy of this approach compared to others existing in the literature. Furthermore, using the proposed Traceback technique and the mesh nodes, we were able to create a smart meshed Microgrid. Moreover, using the Traceback approach given for merging Intel Galileo Gen.1 nodes with the Compex WLE200NX.11a/b/g/n to establish a secure test bench, which is deployed as a prototype at the Sfax Digital Research Center in Tunisia, we were able to create an intelligent Microgrid. In fact, by identifying all attack vectors and revealing their origins, we could boost the efficiency of our operation by 100%.

Background: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are increasingly reported to improve chronic neuroinflammatory diseases in peripheral and central nervous systems. Specifically, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) protects nerve cells from noxious stimuli in vitro and in vivo. Recent reports link PUFA supplementation to improving painful diabetic neuropathy (pDN) symptoms. However, the molecular mechanism behind omega-3 PUFAs ameliorating pDN symptoms is lacking. Therefore, we sought to determine the distinct cellular pathways that omega-3 PUFAs dietary supplementation promotes in reducing painful neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) patients. Methods: Forty volunteers diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in the "En Balance-PLUS" diabetes education study. The volunteers participated in weekly lifestyle/nutrition education and daily supplementation with 1,000 mg DHA and 200 mg eicosapentaenoic acid. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire validated clinical determination of baseline and post-intervention pain complaints. Laboratory and untargeted metabolomics analyses were conducted using blood plasma collected at baseline and after three months of participation in the dietary regimen. The metabolomics data was analyzed using random forest, hierarchical cluster, ingenuity pathway analysis, and metabolic pathway mapping. Results: We found that metabolites involved in oxidative stress and glutathione production shifted significantly to a more anti-inflammatory state post supplementation. Example of these metabolites include cystathionine (+90%), S-methylmethionine (+9%), glycine cysteine-glutathione disulfide (+157%) cysteinylglycine (+19%), glutamate (-11%), glycine (+11%) and arginine (+13.4%). In addition, the levels of phospholipids associated with improved membrane fluidity such as linoleoyl-docosahexaenoyl-glycerol (18:2/22:6) (+253 %) were significantly increased. Ingenuity pathway analysis suggested several key bio functions associated with omega-3 PUFA supplementation such as formation of reactive oxygen species (p = 4.38 × 10-4, z-score = -1.96), peroxidation of lipids (p = 2.24 × 10-5, z-score = -1.944), Ca2+ transport (p = 1.55 × 10-4, z-score = -1.969), excitation of neurons (p = 1.07 ×10-4, z-score = -1.091), and concentration of glutathione (p = 3.06 × 10-4, z-score = 1.974). Conclusion: The reduction of pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways following omega-3 PUFAS supplementation is consistent with using omega-3 PUFAs as a complementary dietary strategy as part of the overall treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy.

With the introduction of HTTP/3, whose transport is no longer the traditional TCP protocol but the novel QUIC protocol, research for solutions to the unfairness of Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (HAS) has become more challenging. That is, because of different transport layers, the HTTP/3 may not be available for some networks and the clients have to use HTTP/2 for their HAS applications instead. Therefore, the scenario that HAS over HTTP/3 (HAS/3) compete against HTTP/2 (HAS/2) must be considered seriously. However, there have been a shortage of investigations on the performance and the origin of the unfairness in such a cross-protocol scenario in order to produce proper solutions. Therefore, this paper provides a performance evaluation and root-cause analysis of the cross-protocol unfairness between HAS/3 and HAS/2. It is concluded that, due to differences in the congestion control mechanisms of QUIC and TCP, HAS/3 clients obtain larger congestion windows, thus requesting higher video bitrates than HAS/2. As the problem lies in the transport layer, existing client-side ABR-based solutions for the unfairness from the application layer may perform suboptimally for the cross-protocol case.

Adrenergic receptor β3 (ADRβ3) is a member of the rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptor family. The binding of the ligand to ADRβ3 activates adenylate cyclase and increases cAMP in the cells. ADRβ3 is highly expressed in white and brown adipocytes and controls key regulatory pathways of lipid metabolism. Trp64Arg (W64R) polymorphism in the ADRβ3 has been associated with the early development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, lower resting metabolic rate, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance. It is unclear how the substitution of W64R affects the functioning of ADRβ3. This study was initiated to functionally characterize this obesity-linked variant of ADRβ3. We evaluated in detail the expression, subcellular distribution, and post-activation behavior of the WT and W64R ADRβ3 using a single cell quantitative fluorescence microscopy. When expressed in HEK 293 cells, ADRβ3 shows a typical distribution displayed by other GPCRs with a predominant localization at the cell surface. Unlike Adrenergic receptor β2 (ADRβ2), agonist induced desensitization of ADRβ3 does not involve loss of cell surface expression. WT and W64R variant of ADRβ3 displayed comparable biochemical properties and there was no significant impact of the substitution of Tryptophan with Arginine on the expression, cellular distribution, signaling, and post-activation behavior of ADRβ3. The obesity-linked W64R variant of ADRβ3 is indistinguishable from the WT ADRβ3 in terms of expression, cellular distribution, signaling, and post-activation behavior.

GPR4, a member of proton activated GPCRs group. Previously we have reported that GPR4 is constitutively active at physiological pH and knockout of GPR4 has shown to protect dopaminergic neuronal cells from caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic cell death. In this study we have investigated the role of GPR4 in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treated mice model of Parkinson’s disease. Subchronic administration of MPTP in mice produces oxidative stress induced apoptotic cell death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and motor deficits. Treatment with NE52-QQ57, a selective antagonist of GPR4 reduced dopaminergic neuronal loss MPTP-intoxicated C57BL6/J mice and improved motor deficit and memory impairment. Co-treatment with NE52-QQ57 significantly decreases the protein level of proapoptotic marker (Bax), and increases the antiapoptotic marker (Bcl-2) in the SNpc and striatum tissue collected from the brain of MPTP inflicted mice. Further, MPTP induced activation of caspase 3 and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was significantly decreased in the SNpc and striatum tissue of NE52-QQ57 cotreated mice. Further mice receiving both MPTP and NE52-QQ57 mice showed significantly higher TH positive cells in the SNpc and striatum than MPTP treated mice alone. Moreover, NE52-QQ57 cotreatment improved the motor activity in the rotarod test and pole test and also improved spatial memory in Y maze test. Our findings suggest GPR4 as a potential therapeutic target for PD whereas the activation GPR4 is involved in the caspase mediated apoptotic cell death in SNpc and striatum of MPTP-intoxicated mice.

Toward the standardization of O. biennis sprout extract (OBS-E), we aimed to obtain indicator compounds, using a validated method. HPLC-UVD allowed simultaneous quantification of indicator compounds quercetin 3-glucuronide and ellagic acid. The method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and limit of detection/limit of quantification (LOD/LOQ). High specificity and linearity was demonstrated, with correlation coefficients of 1.0000 for quercetin 3-glucuronide and 0.9998 for ellagic acid. The LOD/LOQ values were 0.486/1.472 μg/mL for quercetin 3-glucuronide and 1.003/3.039 μg/mL for ellagic acid. Intra-day and inter-day variability tests produced relative standard deviation for each compound of &lt;2%, a generally accepted precision criterion. High recovery rate were also obtained, indicating accuracy validation. The OBS-E prepared using various concentrations of ethanol were then analyzed. The 50% ethanol extract had highest content of quercetin 3-glucuronide, whereas the 70% ethanol extract possessed the lowest. However, the ellagic acid content was highest in the 70% ethanol extract and lowest in the 90% ethanol extract. Thus, quercetin 3-glucuronide and ellagic acid can be used industrially as indicator compounds for O. biennis sprout products, and our validated method can be used to establish indicator compounds for other natural products.

We present a cost- and time-efficient method for the controlled preparation of single phase La(IO3)3 nanoparticles via a simple soft-chemical route which takes a matter of hours, thereby providing an alternative to the common hydrothermal method which takes days. Nanoparticles of pure α-La(IO3)3 and pure δ-La(IO3)3 were synthesised via the new method depending on the source of iodate ions, thereby demonstrating the versatility of the synthesis route. The crystal structure, nanoparticle size-dispersal and chemical composition were characterised via angle- and energy-dispersive powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

It was thought until the 1990s that the eukaryotic translation machinery was unable to translate a circular RNA. However internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) and m⁶A-induced ribosome engagement sites (MIRESs) were discovered, promoting 5’end-independent translation initiation. Today a new family of so-called “non-coding” circular RNAs (circRNAs) has emerged, revealing the pivotal role of 5’end-independent translation. CircRNAs have a strong impact on translational control via their sponge function, and form a new mRNA family as they are translated into proteins with pathophysiological roles. While there is no more doubt about translation of covalently closed circRNA, the linearity of canonical mRNA is only theoretical: it has been shown for more than thirty years that polysomes exhibit a circular form and mRNA functional circularization has been demonstrated in the 1990s by the interaction of initiation factor eIF4G with poly(A) binding protein. More recently, additional mechanisms of 3’-5’ interaction have been reported, including m⁶A modification. Functional circularization enhances translation via ribosome recycling and acceleration of the translation initiation rate. This update of covalently and non-covalently circular mRNA translation landscape shows that RNA circular shape might be the rule for translation with an important impact on disease development and biotechnological applications.

Fish oil rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), vitamin D₃ and natural astaxanthin sustainably extracted from anchovy fillet leftovers using biobased limonene only, can be conveniently stabilized by adsorption on periodic mesoporous silicas. The simplicity of the process, the high load of entrapped fish oil, and the biocompatible nature of silica support numerous forthcoming applications of this new class of “Omeg@Silica” materials.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by different cell types play significant role in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. In physiological conditions red blood cells (RBCs) derived EVs compose 4 - 8% of all circulating EVs, and oxidative stress (OS) as a consequence of different pathophysiological conditions significantly increases the amount of circulated RBC-derived EVs, however the mechanisms of EV formation are not fully defined yet. To analyze OS-induced EV formation and RBCs transformations we used flow cytometry to evaluate cell esterase activity, caspase-3 activity, and band 3 clustering. Band 3 clustering was additionally analyzed by confocal microscopy. Two original laser diffraction-based approaches were used for analysis of cell deformability and band 3 activity. Hemoglobin species were characterized spectrophotometrically. We showed that cell viability in tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced OS directly correlated with oxidant concentration to cell count ratio, RBCs-derived EVs contained hemoglobin oxidized to hemichrome (HbChr). OS induced caspase-3 activation and band 3 clustering in cells and EVs. Importantly, we showed that OS-induced EV formation is independent from calcium. Presented data indicated that during OS RBCs eliminate HbChr by vesiculation, in order to sacrifice the cell itself thereby prolonging lifespan and delaying the untimely clearance of in all other respects healthy RBCs.

Background: Although a cholesterol-lowering diet and the addition of plant sterols and stanols are suggested for the lipid management of children and adults with familial hypercholesterolemia, there is limited evidence evaluating such interventions in this population. Objectives: To investigate the impact of cholesterol-lowering diet and other dietary interventions on the incidence or mortality of cardiovascular disease and lipid profile of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Search methods: Relevant trials were identified by searching US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health Metabolism Trials Register and clinicaltrials.gov.gr using the following terms: diet, dietary, plant sterols, stanols, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and familial hypercholesterolemia. Selection criteria: Randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of cholesterol-lowering diet or other dietary interventions in children and adults with familial hypercholesterolemia were included. Data collection and analysis: Two authors independently assessed the trial eligibility and bias risk and one extracted the data, with independent verification of data extraction by a colleague. Results: A total of 17 trials were finally included, with a total of 376 participants across 8 comparison groups. The included trials had either a low or unclear bias risk for most of the parameters used for risk assessment. Cardiovascular incidence or mortality were not evaluated in any of the included trials. Among the planned comparisons regarding patients’ lipidemic profile, a significant difference was noticed for the following comparisons and outcomes: omega-3 fatty acids reduced triglycerides (mean difference [MD]: -0.27 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.47 to -0.07, p<0.01) when compared with placebo. A non-significant trend towards a reduction in subjects’ total cholesterol (MD: -0.34, 95% CI: -0.68 to 0, mmol/L, p=0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD: -0.31, 95% CI: -0.61 to 0, mmol/L, p=0.05) was noticed. In comparison with cholesterol-lowering diet, the additional consumption of plant stanols decreased total cholesterol (MD: -0.62 mmol/l, 95% CI: -1.13 to -0.11, p=0.02) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD: -0.58 mmol/l, 95% CI: -1.08 to -0.09, p=0.02). The same was by plant sterols (MD: -0.46 mmol/l, 95% CI: -0.76 to -0.17, p<0.01 for cholesterol, and MD: -0.45 mmol/l, 95% CI: -0.74 to -0.16, p<0.01 for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol). No heterogeneity was noticed among the studies included in these analyses. Conclusions: Available trials confirm that the addition of plant sterols or stanols has a cholesterol-lowering effect on such individuals. On the other hand, supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids effectively reduces triglycerides and might have a role in lowering the cholesterol of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Additional studies are needed to investigate the effectiveness of a cholesterol-lowering diet or the addition of soya protein and dietary fibers to a cholesterol-lowering diet in familial hypercholesterolemia.

We previously reported that corneal fibroblasts within 3D fibrin matrices secrete, bind, and organize fibronectin into tracks that facilitate cell spreading and migration. Other cells use these fibronectin tracks as conduits, which leads to the development of an interconnected cell/fibronectin network. In this study, we investigate how cell induced reorganization of fibrin correlates with fibronectin track formation in response to two growth factors present during wound healing: PDGF BB, which stimulates cell spreading and migration; and TGFβ1, which stimulates cellular contraction and myofibroblast transformation. Both PDGF BB and TGF stimulated global fibrin matrix contraction (P < 0.005), however cell and matrix patterning were different. We found that during PDGF BB induced cell spreading, fibronectin was organized simultaneously with the generation of tractional forces at the leading edge of pseudopodia. Over time this led to the formation of an interconnected network consisting of cells, fibronectin and compacted fibrin tracks. Following culture in TGFβ1, cells were less motile, produced significant local fibrin reorganization, and formed fewer cellular connections as compared to PDGF BB (P < 0.005). Although bands of compacted fibrin tracks developed in between neighboring cells, fibronectin labeling was not generally present along these tracks, and the correlation between fibrin and fibronectin labeling was significantly less than that observed in PDGF BB (P < 0.001). Taken together, our results show that cell-induced ECM reorganization can occur independently from fibronectin patterning. Nonetheless, both events seem to be coordinated, as corneal fibroblasts in PDGF BB secrete and organize fibronectin as they preferentially spread along compacted fibrin tracks between cells, producing an interconnected network in which cells, fibronectin and compacted fibrin tracks are highly correlated. This mechanism of patterning could contribute to the formation of organized cellular networks that have been observed following corneal injury and refractive surgery.