Search Results (14,526)

The phenomenon of mindset provides a lens to understand more clearly the reasons for, the timing of and the resulting transformation of the Anglican Communion (AC) of its schism. It has been transformed by the interaction between those of a strong conservative mindset and those of a strong progressive mindset. The former are now in schism with those who remain in the AC. The schism is usually explained in terms of opposing doctrinal beliefs and values, which is valid as far as it goes. More fundamental is mindset because it explains why people hold these beliefs and values, which determine how they interact in society. The schism of the AC is chosen as a context or case study to which the scientific research behind mindset is applied. However, it is something that is general and fundamental, which operates in society for both the religious and secular domains. Full article

The substantial quantity of discarded tomato pomace (TP) results in the waste of valuable resources. This study utilizes these tomato by-products by mixing them with water in a specific proportion and fermenting the mixture in two stages: first with yeast, and then with lactic acid bacteria. The most suitable microbial strains for TP fermentation were identified by evaluating parameters such as peptide content, degree of hydrolysis, and gel electrophoresis analysis. Subsequently, tomato pomace peptides (TPPs) were separated into peptides of different molecular weights using ultrafiltration. The IC₅₀ values, ACE inhibitory activities, and in vitro stability of these peptides were compared, and their secondary structures and microstructures were characterized. The results indicated that the soluble protein concentration increased from 26.25 mg/g to 39.03 mg/g after 32 h of fermentation with strain RV171. After an additional 32 h of fermentation with Bifidobacterium thermophilum, the peptide content reached 49.18 ± 0.43%. SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis showed that the TPP molecular weights were predominantly below 10 kDa. The IC₅₀ results demonstrated that fractions with smaller molecular weights exhibited greater ACE inhibitory activities. Structural analysis confirmed that the TP hydrolysate was indeed a peptide. Full article

The operation of converter valves in converter stations often results in high reactive power consumption and harmonic generation, necessitating measures to maintain reactive power balance and ensure power quality. To achieve this, the filter bank circuit breaker is frequently switched on and off during daily operation. In recent years, multiple incidents of circuit breaker breakdown during the opening process have been reported. In this study, power systems computer-aided design (PSCAD)/electromagnetic transients including DC (EMTDC) V5.0 electromagnetic transient simulation software is used to simulate and calculate the overvoltage and inrush current under different configurations of circuit breaker operating mechanism dispersion, opening phase angle, and operating speed. Additionally, the suppression effects of two measures are compared: “phase selection opening” and “phase selection opening combined with controlled opening speed” to mitigate overvoltage and inrush current. The results demonstrate that for BP11/13 filters, HP24/36 filters, and HP3 filters, the combined strategy of “phase-selective opening with controlled opening speed” is more effective in suppressing inrush current and overvoltage. However, for SC filters, the suppression effect of this combined strategy is not significant. Considering economic and practical factors, it is more reasonable to adopt the phase-selective opening measure for SC filters. These findings provide guidance for ensuring the safe operation of AC filter circuit breakers. Full article

Background: In the case of threatened preterm birth (PTB) before the 34th week of pregnancy, the application of antenatal corticosteroids (ACSs) for the maturation of the fetal lung is a standard procedure in perinatal medicine. Common diagnoses for ACS use in pregnancy are the preterm rupture of membranes (PPROMs), placental bleeding, premature labor, preeclampsia, oligohydramnios, amniotic infection syndrome (AIS), and cervical insufficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the current diagnosis, which results in ACS, and the patient’s risk factors influence the risk of PTB events. Methods: The data of all affected women were extracted, who were hospitalized in 2016 due to a threatening PTB and administered corticosteroids in the German federal state Rhineland-Palatinate (n = 1544), so the study was conducted as a retrospective cohort trial. Frequency analyses, Friedman tests, Chi square tests, logistic regressions, Spearman correlation, and moderation analysis were performed to determine the Odds ratio (OR) for PTB in ACS patients in relation to diagnosis and risk factors. Results: Only 60% of all patients with PTB risk delivered prematurely, whereby patients with different diagnoses differ in terms of the PTB risk; the highest risk could be found in AIS (OR = 16.12) or preeclampsia (OR = 5.46). For prior PTB, stillbirth, or abortion, there is a moderation effect (based on the confounders), while multiple pregnancies influence the PTB risk irrespective of diagnosis (OR = 6.45). In the whole collective, the OR for PTB was 6.6 in relation to all pregnant women in Germany. Conclusions: A higher risk of PTB could be found in patients with a diagnosis of AIS, preeclampsia, as well as in multiple pregnancies. Prior PTB, stillbirth, or abortion act as a relevant confounder. Full article

Seaweed presents a sustainable alternative source of valuable fatty acids (FAs) involving omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6). As such, there is great potential to reduce pressure on wild fish populations, helping to combat overfishing and its associated global impacts. This study explored the effect of various environmental factors on the FA content and profile of Ulva lactuca using indoor photobioreactors. The taxonomic identity of U. lactuca was confirmed through DNA sequencing using 3 markers (rbcL, ITS, and tufa). The effects of temperature (8, 20, and 30 °C), seawater salinity (3.5, 3.0, 2.5, and 2.0% w/v), nutrient type and concentration (0 or 6.4 ppm, consisting of 50% w/w N-NO₃, 50% w/w N-NH₄, and 0–1 ppm P-PO₄), and irradiance (50, 100, and 150 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) were evaluated. This study assessed their influence on U. lactuca’s biomass production rate (BPR), dry weight (DW), ash content (AC), and FA composition after 7 and 21 days. The results revealed that after 21 days, the polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) content decreased with the increasing seawater salinity (i.e., 38.9% ± 0.7, 33.8% ± 0.4, and 27.0% ± 0.4, and 6.6% ± 0.1 for a salinity of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5% w/v, respectively). The content of n-3 after 21 days increased significantly under the following conditions: 8 °C, a salinity of 2.5% w/v, 6.4 ppm of nitrogen without the addition of phosphorous, and an irradiation of 50 and 150 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, affording a low n-6/n-3 proportion that fits a desirable level of an n6/n3 ratio (1–10) for a balanced nutritional diet. Full article

Evidence indicates a difference between men and women in oral anticoagulation control, but the results were discrepant. This study investigated the association of sex with oral anticoagulation control in patients on warfarin assisted by anticoagulation clinics (ACs) in Brazil. The cross-sectional study included patients on warfarin recruited at three public ACs in southeast Brazil (2014–2015). The quality of oral anticoagulation was estimated by the time in therapeutic range (TTR). Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were built to examine the association of sociodemographic, behavior, clinical, and drug therapy variables with TTR. Overall, 801 participants were studied (455; 56.8% women), with a mean age of 65.0 (13.4) years. The female sex was associated with lower TTR than the male sex (Beta (95% CI) = −17.01 (−30.25; −3.76), p = 0.012), however, this difference decreased with increasing age, becoming null after age 60. Smoking patients had a lower TTR than non-smokers (−5.18 (−10.02; −0.34), p = 0.036). The results showed that the association of sex with oral anticoagulation control is dependent on age. Women have lower TTR than men, but this difference is null in older patients. Knowledge of these factors may be useful for developing strategies to improve care for these patients. Full article

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has presented formidable challenges to global health since its emergence in late 2019. While primarily known for respiratory symptoms, it can also affect the ocular surface. This review summarizes the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on ocular surface immunity and inflammation, focusing on infection mechanisms, immune responses, and clinical manifestations. Ocular symptoms, though uncommon, include conjunctivitis, dry eye, and blurred vision. SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 receptors in ocular surface epithelial cells, facilitating viral entry, replication, and local dissemination. The innate immune responses involving corneal epithelial cells and immune cells are discussed, alongside mechanisms of antigen presentation and adaptive immunity. The review also examines the roles of cytokines and chemokines in mediating ocular surface inflammation and explores the impact of cytokine storms and chronic inflammation on ocular health. Additionally, the interplay between systemic and ocular immune responses is highlighted, analyzing how systemic COVID-19 inflammation influences ocular surface health. These insights underscore the broader implications of COVID-19 beyond localized ocular infection. By consolidating current findings, this review aims to guide preventive and therapeutic strategies while identifying directions for future research to mitigate the ocular consequences of COVID-19. Full article

Cell lysis is the starting step of many biomedical assays. Electric field-based cell lysis is widely used in many applications, including point-of-care (POC) applications, because it provides an easy one-step solution. Many electric field-based lysis methods utilize micro-electrodes to apply short electric pulses across cells. Unfortunately, these cell lysis devices produce relatively low cell lysis efficiency as electric fields do not reach a significant portion of cells in the sample. Additionally, the utility of syringe pumps for flow cells in and out of the microfluidics channel causes cell loss and low throughput cell lysis. To address these critical issues, we suspended the cells in a sessile drop and concentrated on the electrodes. We used low-frequency AC electric fields (1 Vpp, 0–100 kHz) to drive the cells effectively towards electrodes and lysed using a short pulse of 10 V. A post-lysis analysis was performed using a hemocytometer, UV-vis spectroscopy, and fluorescence imaging. The results show that the pre-electric polarization of cells, prior to applying short electrical pulses, enhances the cell lysis efficiency. Additionally, the application of AC electric fields to concentrate cells on the electrodes reduces the assay time to about 4 min. In this study, we demonstrated that low-frequency AC electric fields can be used to pre-polarize and concentrate cells near micro-electrodes and improve cell lysis efficiency. Due to the simplicity and rapid cell lysis, this method may be suitable for POC assay development. Full article

COVID-19-related persistent olfactory dysfunction (OD) presents remarkable interindividual differences, and little is known about the host genetic factors that are involved in its etiopathogenesis. The goal of this study was to explore the genetic factors underpinning COVID-19-related OD through the analysis of Whole Genome Sequencing data of 153 affected subjects, focusing on genes involved in antiviral response regulation. An innovative approach was developed, namely the assessment of the association between a “gene score”, defined as the ratio of the number of homozygous alternative variants within the gene to its length, and participants’ olfactory function. The analysis highlighted how an increased gene score in the ACE2 gene is associated with a worse olfactory performance, while an increased gene score in the IFI44 and NDUFAF4 genes is associated with a better olfactory function. Considering the physiological role of the proteins encoded by these genes, it can be hypothesized that a reduced expression of ACE2 may be associated with a protracted and severe inflammatory response in the olfactory epithelium, thus worsening patients’ smell abilities. Conversely, an increased gene score in IFI44 and NDUFAF4 might be associated with a decreased inflammatory response, thus correlating with a better olfactory performance. Overall, this study identified new host genetic factors that may play a pivotal role in determining COVID-19-related OD heterogeneity, possibly enabling more personalized and effective clinical management for affected individuals. Full article

This study analyzes the relationships between the onset, the duration, and the maximum extent of the Atlantic Cold Tongue (ACT) using ERA5 reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) over the period 1979–2019. After calculating the start and end dates of the ACT each year, this study investigates potential relationships between early or late onset that may be linked to the maximum duration and extent of the ACT, which is known to influence weather patterns and precipitation in surrounding regions and the West African Monsoon System. Results show that 68% of years with a short ACT duration are associated with a late-onset ACT, while 70% of years with a long ACT duration are associated with early ACT onset years. In addition, 63% of years with a short duration of ACT have a cold tongue with a low maximum extent, while 83% of years with a long duration of ACT have a cold tongue with a greater maximum extent. Finally, 78% of early ACT onset years are associated with the coldest SST tongue in the eastern equatorial Atlantic Ocean. A comparison of the last 20 years (1999–2019) with the previous 20 years (1979–1998) shows a cooling trend in SST, with ACT occurring and ending earlier in recent years than in the past. However, as the changes in the end date are greater than those in the onset date, the duration of the ACT has been 5–12 days shorter in the last 20 years than in the previous 20 years. Knowledge of these ACT characteristics and their interrelations and drivers is crucial for understanding the West African Monsoon System and for improving climate models and seasonal forecasts. Full article

(1) Background: Prostate cancer treatment efficacy is significantly influenced by androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathways. SLC22A3, a membrane transporter, has been linked to SNP rs9364554 risk loci for drug efficacy in prostate cancer. (2) Methods: We examined the location of SNP rs9364554 in the genome and utilized TCGA and other publicly available datasets to analyze the association of this SNP with SLC22A3 transcription levels. We verified onco-mining findings in prostate cancer cell lines using quantitative PCR and Western blots. Additionally, we employed electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) to detect the binding affinity of transcription factors to this SNP. The ChIP-Seq was used to analyze the enrichment of H3K27ac on the SLC22A3 promoter. (3) Results: In this study, we revealed that SNP rs9364554 resides in the SLC22A3 gene and affects its transcription. The downregulation of SLC22A3 is associated with drug resistance. More importantly, we found that this SNP has different binding affinities with transcription factors, specifically FOXA1 and AR, which significantly affects their regulation of SLC22A3 transcription. (4) Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potential of using this SNP as a biomarker for predicting chemotherapeutic outcomes and uncover possible mechanisms underlying drug resistance in advanced prostate cancers. More importantly, it provides a clinical foundation for targeting FOXA1 to enhance drug efficacy in prostate cancer patients. Full article

This study was developed with the goal of exploring the impact of capsaicin on ruminal fermentation and ruminal bacteria in beef cattle affected by high-grain diet-induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). In total, 18 healthy Simmental crossbred cattle were randomized into three separate groups (n = 6/group): (1) control diet (CON; forage-to-concentrate ratio = 80:20); (2) high-grain diet (SARA; forage-to-concentrate ratio = 20:80); and (3) high-grain diet supplemented with capsaicin (CAP; 250 mg/cattle/day). The study was conducted over a 60-day period. The results showed that the SARA model was successfully induced in the SARA group with a high-grain diet. Relative to the SARA group, the addition of capsaicin elevated the ruminal pH from 5.40 to 6.36 (p < 0.01), and decreased the total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from 133.95 to 82.86 mmol/L (p < 0.01), aligning closely with the levels observed in the CON group. The addition of capsaicin increased the alpha diversity of ruminal bacteria relative to the SARA group, as evidenced by a lower Simpson index (p < 0.05), together with increases in the Ace, Chao, and Shannon indices (p < 0.05). Bacteroidota and Firmicutes were the most common phyla across all treatment groups, while Prevotella was the predominant genera. The unique bacterial genera (LDA scores > 4) identified within the SARA group comprised Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-001, Succinivibrio, NK4A214_group, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, and Ruminococcus, which may serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of SARA. The unique genera associated with the CON group included Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, and U29-B03, while those for the CAP group included Succiniclasticum and Prevotellaceae_UCG-004. In summary, these results suggest that dietary capsaicin supplementation can limit the adverse effects of SARA through the modulation of bacterial communities within the rumen, thus altering ruminal fermentation in beef cattle. Full article

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HDC) as a pre-treatment method is innovative and has potential for wide-scale industrial applications. The novelty of this research involves evaluating the enzymatic activity in the anaerobic co-digestion (AcD) of hydrodynamically cavitated coffee waste (CW) and municipal sewage sludge (SS) as well as its influence on the AcD performance. The effectiveness of AcD was assessed on the basis of changes in the physico-chemical composition of the feedstock and digestate as well as the biogas/methane yield, and attention was paid to the effect of coffee waste on enzyme activity, including that of β-Glucosidases (β-Glu), protease (PR), urease (URE), phosphomonoesterases acid (ACP) and alkaline (ALP). Moreover, the changes in the heavy metal content after the AcD of CW and SS were investigated. Comparing the enzymatic activity of the feedstock and digestate, we observed that the URE, ACP and ALP activities were 4.5 to 11 times higher for the feedstock than the enzyme activities in the digestate. Moreover, when using CW cavitated for 30 min, the highest enzymatic activity in both the feedstock and digestate occurred. The results indicated that the relationship between the β-Glu activity and biogas yield showed the strongest positive correlation (r = 0.98 at p ≤ 0.05). At the same time, a positive correlation between the PAC, PAL, URE and PR activity and methane yield and methane content at p ≤ 0.05 was observed. The obtained results allow us to conclude that, in the future, such a digestate could be used as a bio-fertilizer to improve degraded soil to activate microbial populations. Full article

This paper presents the design, simulation, and experimental evaluation of a low-cost, fixed-step MPPT algorithm based on the incremental conductance technique for operation in a low-power photovoltaic (PV) system with a full-bridge DC-AC converter. The performance of the MPPT algorithm was improved by selecting an appropriate fixed perturbation step size and frequency, ensuring efficient power tracking. The implementation was further optimized by restructuring the conventional algorithm and adapting the DC-AC converter control parameters, which enhanced overall performance and optimized coupling for AC loads. The simulation was performed in Simulink/Matlab with a 560 Wp PV system and a resistive load, under variable irradiation conditions. The perturbation step size was set to 1%, and the perturbation frequency ranged between 2 Hz and 15 Hz, with the converter output at 60 Hz. Experimentally, it was validated at an irradiance of 1000 W/m² and an ambient temperature of 45 °C. The algorithm achieved simulation efficiencies of up to 98.93% and an average experimental efficiency of 96.76%. The response time improved by 86% with a perturbation frequency of 15 Hz. This developed MPPT algorithm demonstrates its reliability, accuracy, and feasibility for implementation. Full article

Metagenomic sequencing of the microbial soil community was used to assess the effect of various nitrogen fertilizer treatments in combination with constant rice straw return to the soil in the tiller layer of Northeast China’s black paddy soil used for rice production. Here, we investigated changes in the composition, diversity, and structure of soil microbial communities in the soil treated with four amounts of nitrogen fertilizers (53, 93, 133, and 173 kg/ha) applied to the soil under a constant straw return of 7500 kg/ha, with a control not receiving N. The relationships between soil microbial community structure and soil physical and chemical properties were determined. The results showed that the available K content of the soil significantly (p < 0.05) increased in soil receiving the lowest N-fertilizer dose. When applied at high amounts, N-fertilizer changed the Chao1 and ACE indices of the soil microorganisms (p < 0.05), and the treatments resulted in significant differences in the β-diversity of the soil microorganisms. By NMDS analysis it was demonstrated that the treatment significantly affected the structure of the soil microbial communities. Redundancy analysis showed that the main physicochemical drivers behind these differences were total nitrogen, total potassium, ammonium nitrogen, total phosphorus, and available potassium. The soil microbial communities in the control treatment were negatively correlated with nitrate and ammonium nitrogen; the lowest N-fertilizer treatment produced positive correlations with total nitrogen, total potassium, and total phosphorus and negative correlations with ammonium nitrogen; the highest dose negatively correlated with total nitrogen, available potassium, available phosphorus, total phosphorus, and pH. This study showed that moderate N fertilizer application is an effective way to increase soil microbial diversity and improve soil quality. This experiment provides technical support for the application of the alternative fertilizer technology of straw return to the field and provides a theoretical basis for rational fertilization of paddy fields in a cold climate. Full article