Search Results (20,230)

Background/Objectives: Female sex is one of the Long COVID (LC) risk factors; however, the LC predictors in females have not been established. This study was conducted to assess the influence of LC on the cardiovascular system and to assess the age-independent predictors of LC in females. Methods: Patient information and the course of the disease with symptoms were collected in women at least 12 weeks after COVID-19 recovery. The study participants were followed for 12 months. ECG monitoring, 24 h ECG monitoring, 24 h blood pressure monitoring, echocardiography, and biochemical tests were performed. Results: We studied 1946 consecutive female patients (age 53.0 [43.0–63.0] vs. 52.5 [41.0–63.0], p = 0.25). A more frequent occurrence of LC was observed in females with a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = 0.0001). Women with LC compared to the control group had higher body mass index (p = 0.001), lower level of HDL cholesterol (p = 0.015), higher level of TG (p < 0.001) and higher TG/HDL ratio (p < 0.001), more often myocardial damage (p < 0.001), and lower LVEF (p = 0.01). LC women had more often QRS fragmentation, longer QTcB, and one of the ECG abnormalities. In a multivariate analysis in younger females with BMI > 24.8 kg/m², TG/HDL ratio > 1.89 and severe course of COVID-19 and in older females, TG/HDL ratio > 1.89, lower LVEF, and also severe course of infection were independent LC predictors. Conclusions: Independent predictors of LC occurrence in women, regardless of age, are severe course of COVID-19 and TG/HDL ratio > 1.89. The presence of comorbidities and lifestyle before COVID-19 had no impact on the occurrence of LC in females regardless of age. Full article

Submerged macrophytes play a crucial role in the ecological restoration of water bodies, and their restoration capacity is closely related to the underwater lighting conditions. This study explored the effects of underwater lighting time on the growth characteristics of Vallisneria spinulosa Yan (V. spinulosa) and its water restoration process. V. spinulosa achieved a higher Fv/Fm (0.64), ETRmax (10.43), chlorophyll content (0.85 mg/g), and removal efficiency of total phosphorus (0.37 × 10⁻³ g m⁻³ d⁻¹) and a lower algal abundance with a longer lighting time (18 h every day). However, a higher removal efficiency of NH₄⁺–N and TN was obtained with a shorter lighting time (6–12 h every day). The lighting time showed a significance influence on the microbial community of the V. spinulosa growth system, and the influence was significantly different in different regions. Temperature and electrical conductivity were the main environmental impact factors for the microbial community under different lighting times. The abundances of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Verrucomicrobia exhibited a great positive correlation with each other and a strong positive correlation with the two factors. In addition, the lighting time had a strongly significant correlation with the physical and chemical characteristics of the water environment (p < 0.001) and a significant correlation with the growth characteristics of V. spinulosa (p < 0.05). Full article

In this paper, we investigated the efficient metal-free phosphorus–nitrogen (PN) catalyst and used the PN catalyst to degrade waste PU with two-component binary mixed alcohols as the alcohol solvent. We examined the effects of reaction temperature, time, and other factors on the hydroxyl value and viscosity of the degradation products; focused on the changing rules of the hydroxyl value, viscosity, and molecular weight of polyols recovered from degradation products with different dosages of the metal-free PN catalyst; and determined the optimal experimental conditions of reaction temperature 180 °C, reaction time 3 h, and PN dosage 0.08%. The optimal experimental conditions were 180 °C, 3 h reaction time, and 0.08% PN dosage, the obtained polyol viscosity was 3716 mPa·s, the hydroxyl value was 409.2 mgKOH/g, and the number average molecular weight was 2616. The FTIR, ¹H, NMR, and other tests showed that the waste urethanes were degraded into oligomers successfully, the recycled polyether polyols were obtained, and a series of recycled polyurethanes with different substitution ratios were then prepared. A series of recycled polyurethane materials with different substitution rates were then prepared and characterized by FTIR, SEM, compression strength, and thermal conductivity tests, which showed that the recycled polyurethane foams had good physical properties such as compression strength and apparent density, and the SEM test at a 20% substitution rate showed that the recycled polyol helped to improve the structure of the blisters. Full article

Photocatalytic technology holds significant promise for sustainable development and environmental protection due to its ability to utilize renewable energy sources and degrade pollutants efficiently. In this study, BiOI nanosheets (NSs) were synthesized using a simple water bath method with varying amounts of mannitol and reaction temperatures to investigate their structural, morphological, photoelectronic, and photocatalytic properties. Notably, the introduction of mannitol played a critical role in inducing a transition in BiOI from an n-type to a p-type semiconductor, as evidenced by Mott–Schottky (M-S) and band structure analyses. This transformation enhanced the density of holes (h⁺) as primary charge carriers and resulted in the most negative conduction band (CB) position (−0.822 V vs. NHE), which facilitated the generation of superoxide radicals (·O^2-) and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Among the samples, the BiOI-0.25-60 NSs (synthesized with 0.25 g of mannitol at 60 °C) exhibited the highest performance, characterized by the largest specific surface area (24.46 m²/g), optimal band gap energy (2.28 eV), and efficient photogenerated charge separation. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that BiOI-0.25-60 NSs achieved superior methylene blue (MB) degradation efficiency of 96.5% under simulated sunlight, 1.14 times higher than BiOI-0-70 NSs. Additionally, BiOI-0.25-60 NSs effectively degraded tetracycline (TC), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-D), and rhodamine B (Rh B). Key factors such as photocatalyst concentration, MB concentration, and solution pH were analyzed, and the BiOI-0.25-60 NSs demonstrated excellent recyclability, retaining over 94.3% of their activity after three cycles. Scavenger tests further identified ·O^2- and h⁺ as the dominant active species driving the photocatalytic process. In this study, the pivotal role of mannitol in modulating the semiconductor characteristics of BiOI nanomaterials is underscored, particularly in promoting the n-type to p-type transition and enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. These findings provide a valuable strategy for designing high-performance p-type photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications. Full article

The perennial species Hypericum perforatum, commonly known as St. John’s Wort, is well regarded for its medicinal attributes, particularly its strong anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects. Hypericum perforatum L., commonly known as balsam, is extensively employed in both traditional and contemporary medicine due to its biological properties, although the plant’s medicine distribution is limited to Europe and Asia. This study pioneers the investigation of Hypericum perforatum cultivation in a Mediterranean country, specifically Greece, focusing on the effects of irrigation and biostimulants of two distinct genotypes on quantitative (height, drug yield, essential oil yield) and qualitative (essential oil content and composition) characteristics. A field trial was conducted at the experimental farm of the Agrotechnology Department at the University of Thessaly, located in the Larissa region. This study investigated various testing varieties under different irrigation levels and biostimulant applications. The results underscore the importance of customized irrigation and biostimulant strategies in improving yield and quality during the second growing season, establishing a foundation for sustainable agricultural progress. Notably, irrigated treatments significantly increased plant height, dry biomass yield, and essential oil production per hectare. Specifically, the essential oil yields for irrigated treatments were nearly double those of rainfed treatments, with 219 kg/ha for rainfed and 407 kg/ha for irrigated. The genotype played a crucial role in influencing production potential, height, flowering, and essential oil composition, with one variety demonstrating biennial blooming and modified essential oil compounds. While irrigation positively impacted yield, it also reduced certain essential oil compounds while increasing β-pinene content. The effects of biostimulants varied based on their composition, with some enhancing and others diminishing essential oil content. Notably, the biostimulant containing algae with auxin and cytokinin (B2) proved to be the most effective in improving the therapeutic profile. This study offers valuable insights into the cultivation of H. perforatum in a Mediterranean climate, highlighting the necessity for ongoing research into native populations, irrigation levels, biostimulants, fertilization, and other factors that affect crop yield and quality characteristics. Full article

Assessing a built environment’s functional performance and physical and psychological impact is essential for understanding its effect on users, particularly in higher education, where it informs the creation of effective learning spaces. This study aims to explore the application of Space Syntax Theory in a higher-educational context and examines the functional efficiency of three architecture schools in Erbil: Salahaddin University-Erbil, Koya University, and Cihan University-Erbil. Using a quantitative research paradigm, the study employs space-syntax methodologies, including axial map analysis and justified graphs, to evaluate key syntactical parameters such as mean depth, relative asymmetry (RA), real relative asymmetry (RRA), real ring-ness (R-value), and the difference factor (H*). The analysis, conducted via Depthmap X software, examines spatial permeability and connectivity within educational layouts, providing insights into their functional performance. The findings indicate that the architecture school at Cihan University-Erbil, characterised by a ring-like spatial structure, achieves a moderate level of functional performance, outperforming Salahaddin University-Erbil and Koya University. Moreover, productive spaces consistently exhibit higher functional performance than supportive spaces across all case studies. This research proposes a framework for optimising spatial configurations in higher education, providing evidence-based strategies to enhance functionality and promote best practices in educational architecture. Full article

Biofilms can enhance industrial fermentation efficiency by increasing cell density, stability, and metabolic activity and have been successfully applied to the continuous production of many small-molecule chemicals. However, the continuous production of proteins by biofilms has been less studied. This study used secretory human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) as a representative product to evaluate and optimize biofilm-based continuous protein production. First, by deleting the protease and overexpressing eight key genes involved in protein secretion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yield of hEGF was improved by 82.6% from 77.4 to 141.3 mg/L in shake flasks. Subsequently, the flocculation genes FLO11 and ALS3 were introduced to facilitate the establishment of a biofilm-based continuous immobilization fermentation model. The optimal strain SIC-ALS3-PDI1 produced 583.8 mg/L of hEGF, with a productivity of 4.9 mg/L/h during traditional free-cell fermentation, while it produced an average of 300.0 mg/L of hEGF in 10 continuous batches of biofilm-based fermentation, with a productivity of 6.3 mg/L/h. Although the hEGF production in biofilms was lower than that in free-cell fermentation, biofilm fermentation demonstrated greater productivity, with the advantage of not requiring seed culture for each batch of fermentation. This study provided a valuable reference for the biofilm-based production of other peptides. Full article

To investigate the effects of kitchen waste on the chemical properties of acidic red soil and the community structure of ammonia–oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia–oxidizing bacteria (AOB), a study was conducted in the flue–cured tobacco farmland ecosystem of the Erlongtan small watershed in central Yunnan. Eight fertilization methods were applied: no fertilization control CK, single application of chemical fertilizer T1 (1 t·hm⁻²), kitchen waste combined with a chemical fertilizer (T2:12 t·hm⁻² + 1 t·hm⁻², T3:15 t·hm⁻² + 1 t·hm⁻², T4:18 t·hm⁻² + 1 t·hm⁻²), and single application of kitchen waste (T5:12 t·hm⁻², T6:15 t·hm⁻², T7:18 t·hm⁻²). The numbers twelve, fifteen, and eighteen in brackets represent the amount of food waste applied, and one represents the amount of chemical fertilizer applied. The study evaluated the effects of kitchen waste on soil chemical properties, the community structure and composition of AOA and AOB, and the relationship between soil chemical properties and these microbial communities in acidic red soil. The results showed that: (1) single application of kitchen waste (T5, T6, T7) effectively improved soil nutrient status (SOC increased by 15.79–217.24%; TN increased by 1.53–92.99%; NH₄⁺–N increased by 18.19–520.74%; NO₃⁻–N) increased by 15.54–750.61%), and alleviated acidification. (2) Temporal variations had a more significant effect on the community structure of AOA and AOB than different treatments. The dominant phyla of AOA were Thaumarchaeota, Crenarchaeot. The dominant phylum of AOB was Proteobacteria, and the dominant genera were Nitrosospira and norank_Bacteri. (3) The number of AOA co–occurrence network nodes were equivalent to that of AOB, but AOB had more connection edges, indicating a more complex interaction network. In contrast, AOA exhibited higher modularity, reflecting tighter internal connections and greater stability. The AOA co–occurrence network showed stronger performance during the maturity and fallow stages, while AOB interactions were most active during the topping stage. (4) AOA demonstrated a strong correlation with soil chemical properties during the topping and maturity stages, whereas AOB showed a stronger correlation at the rosette and fallow stages. Among soil chemical factors, pH and SOC were identified as the primary drivers influencing AOA and AOB community abundance and structural differentiation. In conclusion, kitchen waste application enhances the nutrient content of acidic red soil and influences the niche differentiation of AOA and AOB, thereby affecting nitrogen recycling. This approach represents an environmentally friendly and sustainable fertilization method. Full article

Abstract: Plants are sessile organisms that overcome environmental stress by activating specific metabolic pathways, leading to adaptation and survival. In addition, they recruit beneficial bacterial strains to further improve their performance. As plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are able to trigger multiple targets to improve plant fitness, finding effective isolates for this purpose is of paramount importance. This metabolic activation involves the following two stages: the priming pre-challenge with no evident changes, and the post-challenge, which is characterized by a faster and more intense response. Eight Bacillus strains, obtained in a previous study, were tested for their ability to improve plant growth, and to protect Arabidopsis thaliana plants against biotic and abiotic stress. After the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, three isolates were selected for their ability to improve growth (G7), and to protect against biotic and abiotic stress (H47, mild protection, with a similar intensity for biotic and abiotic stress; L44, the highest protection to both); moreover the expression of Non-Expresser of Protein Resistance Gene 1 (NPR1) and Protein resistance (PR1) as markers of the Salicylic Acid (SA) pathway, and lipooxygenase (LOX2) and plant defensin gene (PDF1) as markers of the Ethylene/Jasmonic Acid (Et/Ja) pathway, was determined 24 h after the stress challenge and compared to the expression in non-stressed plants. The results indicated that (i) the three strains prime Arabidopsis according to the more marked and faster increases in gene expression upon stress challenge, (ii) all three strains activate the SA-mediated and the Et/Ja-mediated pathways, therefore conferring a wide protection against stress, and (iii) PR1 and PDF1, traditionally associated to Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) and Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) protection against pathogenic stress, are also overexpressed under abiotic stress conditions. Therefore, it appears that the priming of the plant adaptive metabolism is strain-dependent, although each stress factor determines the intensity in the response of the expression of each gene; hence, the response is determined by the following three factors: the PGPR, the plant, and the stress factor. Full article

In video encoding rate control, adaptive selection of the initial quantization parameter (QP) is a critical factor affecting both encoding quality and rate control precision. Due to the diversity of video content and the dynamic nature of network conditions, accurately and efficiently determining the initial QP remains a significant challenge. The optimal setting of the initial QP not only influences bitrate allocation strategies but also impacts the encoding efficiency and output quality of the encoder. To address this issue in the H.266/VVC standard, this paper proposes a novel hierarchical reinforcement learning-based method for adaptive initial QP selection. The proposed method introduces a hierarchical reinforcement learning framework that decomposes the initial QP selection task into high-level and low-level strategies, handling coarse-grained and fine-grained QP decisions, respectively. The high-level strategy quickly determines a rough QP range based on global video features and network conditions, while the low-level strategy refines the specific QP value within this range to enhance decision accuracy. This framework integrates spatiotemporal video complexity, network conditions, and rate control objectives to form an optimized model for adaptive initial QP selection. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly improves encoding quality and rate control accuracy compared to traditional methods, confirming its effectiveness in handling complex video content and dynamic network environments. Full article

A novel bacterial strain, Enterobacter quasihormaechei DGFC5, was isolated from a municipal sewage disposal system. It efficiently removed ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite under conditions of 5% salinity, without intermediate accumulation. Provided with a mixed nitrogen source, DGFC5 showed a higher utilization priority for NH₄⁺-N. Whole-genome sequencing and nitrogen balance experiments revealed that DGFC5 can simultaneously consume NH₄⁺-N in the liquid phase through assimilation and heterotrophic nitrification, and effectively remove nitrate via aerobic denitrification and dissimilatory reduction reactions. Single-factor experiments were conducted to determine the optimal nitrogen removal conditions, which were as follows: a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 15, a shaking speed of 200 rpm, a pH of 7, C₄H₄Na₂O₄ as the carbon source, and a temperature of 30 °C. DGFC5 showed efficient nitrogen purification capabilities under a wide range of environmental conditions, indicating its potential for disposing of nitrogenous wastewater with high salinity. Full article

The soil’s biological quality and its functions are closely linked. They determine the ecological processes and ecosystem services. Therefore, the heavy metal contamination of forest soils, leading to their degradation, is a major international problem. Soil is a habitat for many organisms, and the strong correlations between soil properties, vegetation, and soil fauna are particularly evident in the rhizosphere. Therefore, comprehensive soil monitoring must take all these elements into account. In forest soils, Vaccinium myrtillus plays a vital role. Despite this, there is still a lack of information in the literature on the interrelationship between microarthropod biodiversity, including predatory soil mites, and heavy metals in the rhizosphere zone of blueberry plants. To fill this gap, we assessed the impact of the V. myrtillus rhizosphere on soil stability and biological quality using a bioindicator based on predatory mites. We conducted the study in Poland, on selected forest sites characterised by varying degrees of soil contamination. In our study, we used a combined analysis based on the following indicators: maturity index (MI), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PERI), which allowed us to determine the level of soil contamination. We extracted 4190 Gamasina mites from soil samples. We also investigated soil properties such as pH, organic matter content, total carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio, and heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ni). Our study proved that the rhizosphere zone significantly influences the stability of the predatory soil mite community, but this influence depends on the degree of soil contamination. We found that in unpolluted or moderately polluted soil, soil mites prefer habitats with less biological activity, i.e., non-rhizosphere zones. These main results are fascinating and indicate the need for further in-depth research. Our study’s comprehensive combination of methods provides valuable information that can facilitate the interpretation of environmental results. In addition, our study can be a starting point for analysing the impact of the rhizosphere zones of many other plant species, especially those used in the reclamation or urban spaces. Full article

Microencapsulation of polyphenols is an innovative approach in food technology by which to protect these bioactive compounds from degradation and increase their bioavailability. Polyphenols, naturally occurring in plants, exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, which make them valuable functional ingredients in foods. However, their susceptibility to external factors, such as light, temperature and pH, presents a significant challenge for their incorporation into food products. Microencapsulation, based on various techniques and carriers such as polysaccharides, proteins and lipids, allows polyphenols to be stabilized and released in a controlled manner in the digestive system. This article reviews the different microencapsulation techniques, carrier properties, and the applications of microencapsulated polyphenols in food products, including bakery, dairy and functional beverages. Additionally, the article discusses the benefits and challenges associated with this technology, highlighting its potential to improve the stability, nutritional value and sensory acceptance of food products. Full article

Background/Objectives: Parent–child attachment and family relationships have been identified as risk factors for childhood internalising symptoms such as anxiety and depressive symptoms. This mixed-methods evaluation examined the feasibility of a recently developed attachment-based family intervention, Behaviour Exchange Systems Therapy-Foundations (BEST-F), delivering 16 h of therapy over 8 weeks to treat internalising symptoms in children aged between 3 and 11 years. Methods: The quantitative outcomes of this uncontrolled study of 17 families were based on the parent-reported Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) measure, completed at four-timepoints (baseline, pre-, post-intervention, and follow-up), while qualitative data were collected from interviews with participants at follow-up. Results: Pre- and post-BEST-F intervention results demonstrated a significant change in internalising symptoms from the borderline and clinical range to the normal range, with a large effect size (d = 0.85). Notably, additional reductions in internalising symptoms were reported two months after cessation of treatment, with a very large effect size (d = 1.85). Furthermore, there were substantial reductions in child externalising symptoms and parental mental health symptoms, with large effect sizes ranging from d = 0.80 to 1.12. Qualitative reports were consistent with these quantitative findings. Conclusions: These pilot results suggest that children presenting with clinical-range internalising symptoms may benefit from family-based approaches where the parent–child relationship is a focus. Full article

Low-profile, cross-ventilated (LPCV) dairy barns represent a modern trend in farm buildings but are associated with notable air quality challenges. To evaluate the annual variations in the pollutants in an LPCV dairy barn, an Internet-of-Things (IoT)-based environmental monitoring system was installed to continuously measure the total suspended particle (TSP), particle with aerodynamic diameters of ≤2.5 μm (PM_2.5), and NH₃ concentrations year round at multiple points. Spatiotemporal distributions and main factors were analyzed. The results showed that the annual average concentrations of indoor TSP, PM_2.5, and NH₃ were 86.4, 28.5, and 875.0 μg/m³, respectively. Corresponding emission rates were 140.6, 28.5, and 3461.1 mg/(h·cow). TSP concentrations were significantly higher during winter and spring (p < 0.05) and were elevated during daily operational hours, particularly in feeding alleys and downwind areas. Emissions were significantly higher in winter and summer (p < 0.05). Indoor PM_2.5 concentrations in winter exceeded China’s standards for 24.9% of the time, which were 2.2 times higher than those in other seasons (p < 0.05), peaking in the morning hours. NH₃ concentrations and emissions were consistently high throughout the year, with peak levels in manure and downwind areas. The building’s structure, ventilations, and daily operations were key factors affecting air pollutant levels, which need to be considered when implementing mitigation measures. Full article