Search Results (47,736)

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acidic soils poses significant challenges to crop growth and development. However, the response mechanism of Shatian pomelo (Citrus maxima ‘Shatian Yu’) roots to Al toxicity remains poorly understood. This study employed root phenotype analysis, physiological response index measurement, root transcriptome analysis, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) validation to investigate the effects of Al toxicity on Shatian pomelo roots. The findings revealed that Al toxicity inhibited root growth and development, resulting in reduced root biomass, total root length, total root surface area, root volume, average root diameter, and root tip count. Antioxidant enzyme activities (peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase activity) and soluble protein content increased with rising Al toxicity, whereas malondialdehyde content initially increased and then declined. Additionally, Al toxicity stress increased Al (1439.25%) content and decreased boron (B, 50.64%), magnesium (Mg, 42.04%), calcium (Ca, 46.02%), manganese (Mn, 86.75%), and iron (Fe, 69.92%) levels in the roots. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis identified 3855 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 0 mmol/L Al (control) and 4 mmol/L Al (Al toxicity) concentrations, with 1457 genes up-regulated and 2398 down-regulated, indicating a complex molecular regulatory response. The qPCR results further validated these findings. This study elucidates the response mechanisms of Shatian pomelo roots to Al toxicity stress, providing insights into the regulatory pathways involved. The findings offer valuable reference points for breeding Al-resistant Shatian pomelo varieties. The results of this study provide important genetic tools and technical support for the screening and breeding of highly resistant varieties of Shatian pomelo. On the one hand, by detecting the key indexes (such as antioxidant enzyme activity and nutrient absorption capacity) of Shatian pomelo, varieties with excellent anti-Al toxicity characteristics can be selected. On the other hand, the Al-resistant genes identified in this study, such as TFM1 and ALERTFA0, can be used to develop molecular markers, assisted marker breeding, or transgenic breeding to accelerate the breeding process of Al-resistant strains. Full article

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is recognized as an independent risk factor for diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) development, which is twice as common in patients with OSA compared to non-OSA patients. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate changes in oxygen metabolism and their role in T2DM development among OSA patients through epigenetic processes via miRNA-181a, miRNA-199a, and enzymatic processes via SIRT1 and HIF-1α. Methods: Based on polysomnography, apnea–hypopnea index and the presence of T2DM patients were divided into three groups: control group (n = 17), OSA group (n = 11), OSA&T2DM (n = 20) group. Total RNA was extracted from the buffy coat. Moreover, HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance) was counted. Results: Morning miRNA-181a expression was significantly higher in the OSA&T2DM group than in the control group: 67.618 vs. 32.685 (p = 0.036). Evening miRNA-199a expression was significantly higher in the OSA group than in the control group: 5.043 vs. 2.081 (p = 0.042), while its morning expression was significantly higher in the OSA&T2DM group when compared to the control: 4.065 vs. 1.605 (p = 0.036). MiRNA-181a evening expression revealed a negative correlation with the SIRT1 evening and morning expressions (R = −0.367, p = 0.010 and R = −0.405, p = 0.004, respectively). Moreover, morning miRNA-181a was positively correlated with HOMA-IR (R = 0.321, p = 0.034). MiRNA-199a evening expression presented a moderate positive correlation with the SIRT1 morning expressions (R = 0.48, p < 0.001) and HOMA-IR (R = 0.35, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Patients suffering from OSA and T2DM had an increased expression of miRNA-181a. Moreover, a negative correlation between miRNA-181a and SIRT1 expression was observed, while a correlation between miRNA-181a and insulin resistance was positive. This phenomenon might suggest a possible epigenetic pathway for an increased incidence of T2DM in OSA patients however further research is needed. Full article

Biochar-based additives can enhance the ability to produce methane during anaerobic digestion (AD), and biogas residues (BRs) are solid waste that can cause environmental pollution. Therefore, in this work, BRs were used as raw material to prepare biochar, and Fe³⁺ was used to modify biochar for use in the AD process, generating pig manure water (PMW). The results showed that biogas residue biochar (BRB) showed good pore size and had a “honeycomb structure” on its surface. The commercially available iron–carbon composite material (Fe-C) showed the greatest cumulative methane production (CMP), the greatest removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD), and the greatest degradation rate of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), with the order of Fe-C > Fe³⁺-modified biogas residue biochar (FBRB) > BRB > control group. Fe³⁺ and Fe⁰ showed similar effects, where both could enhance the methanogenesis performance of anaerobic digestion by promoting direct interspecific electron transfer, and Fe⁰ was slightly more effective than Fe³⁺. Bacteroidotas and Firmicutes were the predominant phyla, and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 was the predominant genus. The addition of biochar and Fe³⁺ promoted the transformation of microorganisms from the conventional metabolic mode into an efficient metabolic mode. Extracellular electron transfer played a crucial role in this. Full article

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias of clinical relevance and a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Following a diagnosis of AF, patients are directed towards therapy with anticoagulant drugs to reduce the thromboembolic risk and antiarrhythmics to control their cardiac rhythm, with periodic follow-up checks. Despite the great ease of handling these drugs, we soon realized the need for follow-up models that would allow the appropriateness and safety of these pharmacological treatments to be monitored over time. This pilot study was conducted at a rural pharmacy. The study comprised 47 patients (average age 71.22 years) with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (68% being paroxysmal) on NOACs. Twenty percent of the enrolled subjects lived alone and fifty-four percent of the participants stated that they were not independent in managing their treatment. The primary aim was to describe the implementation and the outcomes of an innovative smart clinic model in which a local trained pharmacist is a case manager, and the patient carries out the required checks via telemedicine and point-of-care testing systems (POCT) under the service pharmacy regime; the results of the checks could be shared in real time with the attending general practitioner and the relevant specialist. The secondary aims of this study were to evaluate adherence to the planned controls, the prescriptive appropriateness of the dosages and drugs and adherence to the prescribed therapy, the occurrence of pharmacological problems linked to drug type interactions, the occurrence of hemorrhagic and/or thromboembolic complications, the acceptance by the general practitioners and/or the specialists of the reports made by the pharmacist on the subsequent actions undertaken, the economic and social impact of this model on the National Health Service and on the patient, and the impact on the quality perceived by the patients involved in this innovative monitoring process. Compliance with the planned checks was 93%. The dosage of the anticoagulant drug during enrollment was found to be inappropriate, without apparent clinical reasons, in 11% of the sample. Adherence to the anticoagulant therapy was found to be 98%. In total, 214 drug–drug interactions of varying clinical relevance were detected. No embolic events were detected; however, 13% of the sample reported a major hemorrhagic event, which came to light thanks to the close monitoring of hemoglobinemia. A total of 109 reports were made to the patients’ referring doctors in relation to the summarized anomalies, and 84% were accepted by the referring clinicians. Therefore, community pharmacists and pharmacy services represent ideal actors and contexts that, when integrated into the care network, can really favor individual care plan adherence and achieve daily morbidity reductions and cost savings through proper disease control and the early diagnosis of complications. Full article

A virtual flight test is the process of flying an aircraft model inside a wind tunnel in a manner that replicates free-flight. In this paper, a 3-DOF aircraft-manipulator system is proposed that can be used for longitudinal dynamics virtual flight tests. The system consists of a two rotational degrees-of-freedom manipulator arm with an aircraft wind tunnel model attached to the third joint. This aircraft-manipulator system is constrained to operate for only the longitudinal motion of the aircraft. Thus, the manipulator controls the surge and heave of the aircraft whilst the pitch is free to rotate and can be actively controlled by means of an all-moving tailplane of the aircraft if required. In this initial study, a flight dynamics model of the aircraft is used to obtain dynamic response trajectories of the aircraft in free-flight. A model of the coupled aircraft-manipulator system developed using the Euler method is presented, and PID controllers are used to control the manipulator so that the aircraft follows the free-flight trajectory (with respect to the air). The inverse kinematics are used to produce the reference joint angles for the manipulator. The system is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink and a virtual flight test trajectory is compared with a free-flight test trajectory, demonstrating the potential of the proposed system for virtual flight tests. Full article

In the field of wireless charging technology for electric vehicles, the charging process of lithium-ion batteries is typically divided into two stages: constant-current (CC) charging and constant-voltage (CV) charging. This two-stage charging method helps protect the battery and extend its service life. This paper proposes a family of circuit topology design schemes that achieve a smooth transition from CC to CV charging stages by using two relays. Additionally, the paper derives the corresponding system efficiency formulas and provides constraints on device parameters to ensure that the charging efficiency remains high during different charging stages. The proposed family of circuit topologies adopt unified device parameters and relay control logic, simplifying the design and operation process, and making these topologies more suitable for large-scale applications. To verify the practical performance of these topologies, the paper constructs experimental prototypes and conducts tests. The experimental results show that the proposed family of topologies can stably achieve CC and CV output, with smooth transitions between the two charging modes, and the efficiency can be maintained above 89% before and after mode switching over a wide load range. Furthermore, the mode switching points of the proposed family of topologies are multiples of two. Full article

Need for Cognition (NFC) refers to the enjoyment of and the search for intellectual challenges. Although numerous studies suggest associations between NFC and cognitive performance, the processes and factors that may mediate the relationship are not yet well understood. Based on the literature suggesting that self-efficacy (SE) expectancies mediate the relationship between NFC and cognitive performance, we sought to investigate this relationship systematically under controlled laboratory conditions. Additionally, we were interested in whether the visibility of the test subject’s performance to others (i.e., the experimenter) would influence these correlations. After an online questionnaire assessing NFC, 204 participants completed a set of highly demanding intelligence tasks in the laboratory. Following the sample tasks and prior to working through the task battery, task-specific SE about solving the tasks was assessed. To examine the role of visibility, participants either worked alone or were observed by the investigator while completing the tasks. We found a moderate positive association between NFC and task-specific SE, as well as a significant small positive association between NFC and task performance. Further analyses indicated that the relationship between NFC and task performance is fully mediated by task-specific SE, without any moderation effects related to the visibility of one’s own task performance to others. Our study suggests that the relationship between NFC and cognitive performance is also due to the positive influence of NFC on task-specific SE, which in turn influences cognitive performance. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the development of new antiviral agents specifically intended for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but has also increased the use of some already known antiviral agents originally intended for other viruses. Although the pandemic has ended, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is expected to be present in the human population forever, as is the case with the influenza virus, for example. Such a scenario guarantees the continued use of SARS-CoV-2 antivirals and, accordingly, their continued release into the environment. Unfortunately, there is little or no information on the adverse potential of most of these antiviral agents. In this study, the acute toxicity of six antiviral agents used in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections was determined. These are atazanavir, ribavirin, emtricitabine, nirmatrelvir, sofosbuvir and oseltamivir, sorted according to their toxicity, starting with the most toxic agent. Toxicity was determined using the marine bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri according to the ISO 11348-1:2007 standard. In addition to the toxicities of the individual antiviral solutions, the toxicities of binary antiviral mixtures were also determined. By comparing the experimentally determined toxicities of the mixtures with the values estimated by the concentration addition model and the independent action model, we analyzed the mode of joint toxic activity of these antiviral agents. Additive behavior was observed for most binary combinations. The combination of nirmatrelvir and sofosbuvir led to an antagonistic deviation from the concentration addition model, while a synergistic deviation was observed for the combinations of emtricitabine with atazanavir and with nirmatrelvir, as well as for the combinations of ribavirin with atazanavir, oseltamivir and sofosbuvir. All tested binary combinations showed a synergistic deviation from the independent action model. Full article

Background: The role of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) indices in predicting the outcome of the weaning process remains a subject of debate. The aim of this study is to investigate HRV analysis in critically ill adult patients undergoing weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Methods: The protocol of this systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024485800). We searched PubMed and Scopus databases from inception till March 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials and observational studies investigating HRV analysis in critically ill adult patients undergoing weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation. Our primary outcome was to investigate HRV changes occurring during the weaning from IMV. Results: Seven studies (n = 342 patients) were included in this review. All studies reported significant changes in at least one HRV parameter. The indices Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio seem to be the most promising in predicting the outcome of weaning with reliability. Some HRV indices showed modification in response to different ventilator settings or modalities. Conclusions: Available data report HRV modifications during the process of weaning and suggest a promising role of some HRV indices in predicting weaning outcomes in critically ill patients. Point-of-care HRV monitoring systems might help to early detect patients at risk of weaning failure. Full article

Phytomonas is the only kinetoplastid that can parasitize plants, causing economically relevant issues. Phytomonas serpens share similarities with pathogenic trypanosomatids, including surface enzymes that are involved in adhesion to the salivary gland of their experimental host, the insect Oncopeltus fasciatus. Ectophosphatases are cell surface enzymes involved in host–parasite interactions that are widely distributed among microorganisms. This work aimed to perform the biochemical characterization of P. serpens ectophosphatase activity, investigating and discussing its possible physiological role. This activity presented an acidic profile, and its kinetic parameters K_m and V_max were calculated as 1.57 ± 0.08 mM p-NPP and 10.11 ± 0.14 nmol p-NP/(h × 10⁸ flagellates), respectively. It was stimulated by cobalt, inhibited by zinc, and insensitive to EDTA, a divalent metal chelator. The inhibitor sodium orthovanadate was able to decrease P. serpens ectophosphatase activity and growth, suggesting its involvement in cell proliferation. Given that P. serpens can uptake inorganic phosphate (P_i) from the extracellular medium, it is likely that its ectophosphatase activity acts together with the transport systems in the P_i acquisition process. The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in this process emerges as a relevant perspective, providing new strategies for controlling Phytomonas infection. Full article

In the realm of global food security, plants serve as the primary source of sustenance. However, plant diseases pose a significant threat to this security. The process for diagnosing these diseases forms the bedrock of disease control efforts. The precision and expediency of these diagnoses wield substantial influence over disease management and the consequent reduction of economic losses. This research endeavors to diagnose the prevalent crops in Jordan, as identified by the Jordanian Department of Statistics for the year 2019. These crops encompass four key agricultural varieties: cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and cabbage. To facilitate this, a novel dataset known as “Jordan22” was meticulously curated. Jordan22 was compiled by collecting images of diseased and healthy plants captured on Jordanian farms. These images underwent meticulous classification by a panel of three agricultural specialists well-versed in plant disease identification and prevention. The Jordan22 dataset comprises a substantial size, amounting to 3210 images. The results yielded by the CNN were remarkable, with a test accuracy rate reaching an impressive 0.9712. Optimal performance was observed when images were resized to 256 × 256 dimensions, and max pooling was used instead of average pooling. Furthermore, the initial convolutional layer was set at a size of 32, with subsequent convolutional layers standardized at 128 in size. In conclusion, this research represents a pivotal step towards enhancing plant disease diagnosis and, by extension, global food security. Through the creation of the Jordan22 dataset and the meticulous training of a CNN model, we have achieved substantial accuracy in disease detection, paving the way for more effective disease management strategies in agriculture. Full article

Background: The swift expansion of the invasive malaria vector Anopheles stephensi throughout Africa presents a major challenge to malaria control initiatives. Unlike the native African vectors, An. stephensi thrives in urban settings and has developed resistance to multiple classes of insecticides, including pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates. Methods: Insecticide susceptibility tests were performed on field-collected An. stephensi mosquitoes from Awash Sebac Kilo, Ethiopia, to assess insecticide resistance levels. Illumina RNA-seq analysis was then employed to compare the transcriptomes of field-resistant populations and susceptible laboratory strains (STE2). Results: An. stephensi populations exhibited high levels of resistance to both deltamethrin (mortality, 39.4 ± 6.0%) and permethrin (mortality, 59.3 ± 26.3%) in WHO tube bioassays. RNA-seq analysis revealed that both field-resistant and field-unexposed populations exhibited increased expressions of genes associated with pyrethroid resistance, including esterases, P450s, and GSTs, compared to the susceptible STE2 strain. Notably, esterase E4 and venom carboxylesterase-6 were significantly overexpressed, up to 70-fold, compared to the laboratory strain. Functional enrichment analysis revealed a significant overrepresentation of genes associated with catalytic activity under molecular functions and metabolic process under biological process. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we identified two co-expression modules (green and blue) that included 48 genes strongly linked to pyrethroid insecticide resistance. A co-expression network was subsequently built based on the weight values within these modules. Conclusions: This study highlights the role of esterases in the pyrethroid resistance of an An. stephensi population. The identification of candidate genes associated with insecticide resistance will facilitate the development of rapid diagnostic tools to monitor resistance trends. Full article

Background: Diabetes is a growing global health crisis that requires effective therapeutic strategies to optimize treatment outcomes. This study aims to address this challenge by developing and characterizing extended-release polymeric matrix tablets containing metformin hydrochloride (M-HCl), a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, and honokiol (HNK), a bioactive compound with potential therapeutic benefits. The objective is to enhance glycemic control and overall therapeutic outcomes through an innovative dual-drug delivery system. Methods: The tablets were formulated using hydrophilic polymers, such as Carbopol^® 71G NF and Noveon^® AA-1. The release kinetics of M-HCl and HNK were investigated through advanced mathematical models, including fractal and multifractal dynamics, to capture the non-linear and time-dependent release processes. Traditional kinetic models (zero-order, first-order, Higuchi equations) were also evaluated for comparison. In vitro dissolution studies were conducted to determine the release profiles of the active ingredients under varying polymer concentrations. Results: The study revealed distinct release profiles for the two active ingredients. M-HCl exhibited a rapid release phase, with 80% of the drug released within 4–7 h depending on polymer concentration. In contrast, HNK demonstrated a slower release profile, achieving 80% release after 9–10 h, indicating a greater sensitivity to polymer concentration. At shorter intervals, drug release followed classical kinetic models, while multifractal dynamics dominated at longer intervals. Higher polymer concentrations resulted in slower drug release rates due to the formation of a gel-like structure upon hydration, which hindered drug diffusion. The mechanical properties and stability of the matrix tablets confirmed their suitability for extended-release applications. Mathematical modeling validated the experimental findings and provided insights into the structural and time-dependent factors influencing drug release. Conclusions: This study successfully developed dual-drug extended-release matrix tablets containing metformin hydrochloride and honokiol, highlighting the potential of hydrophilic polymers to regulate drug release. The findings emphasize the utility of advanced mathematical models for predicting release kinetics and underscore the potential of these formulations to improve patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes in diabetes management. Full article

This study introduces a novel method for the fabrication of concave microwells involving water vapor permeation through polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This method leverages the exceptional water vapor permeability of PDMS to enable a scalable and cost-effective fabrication process, addressing the limitations of existing techniques such as photolithography that are resource-intensive and complex. PDMS is more permeable to water vapor than to other gas molecules, resulting in the formation of microwells. Smooth-sloped concave microwells are formed by depositing droplets of 10% ethylene glycol on a PDMS substrate followed by curing at 70 °C and evaporation of water vapor. These microwells exhibit a unique structural gradient that is highly conducive for biological applications. Concave microwells were further used as a platform to generate animal cell spheroids, demonstrating their potential for three-dimensional cell culture. Unlike conventional methods, this approach allows precise control over microwell morphology by simply adjusting droplet size and curing conditions, offering enhanced tunability and reproducibility. The formation yield of these microwells is dependent on the volume of the water droplets, demonstrating the importance of droplet size in controlling microwell morphology. This approach provides a simple and effective method for creating microwells without complex lithographic processes, making it a highly promising tool for a range of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, cancer research, and high-throughput drug screening. Full article

Over the past 30 years, China has emerged as the country with the world’s largest engineering construction industry. However, rockbursts induced by tunnel excavation in rock engineering have resulted in a substantial number of casualties and extensive property damage. Understanding the brittle failure behavior of rock masses and identifying the mechanism of rockbursts have become critical challenges in the field. Physical model tests can provide a more intuitive simulation of the rockburst process. The selection and proportioning of materials similar to brittle rocks are crucial factors for the success of these model tests. This study selected refined iron powder, barite powder, quartz sand, gypsum powder, and a rosin–alcohol solution to prepare rockburst simulation materials characterized by a low strength and high brittleness. The rockburst tendency and brittleness indices were introduced, and an orthogonal experimental design was used to establish 25 different formulation schemes. The influence of the material component proportions on the physical and mechanical properties of the specimens, as well as their brittleness characteristics, was systematically analyzed. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to derive linear regression equations for the physical and mechanical parameters of the brittle rock simulation materials. In addition, simulation materials and standard specimens of Jinping marble were prepared. The brittle failure modes and acoustic emission characteristics of the specimens under uniaxial compression and Brazilian splitting conditions were analyzed. The results indicate that component proportions significantly affected the physical and mechanical properties of the specimens. The refined iron powder–barite powder ratio, as well as the concentration of the rosin–alcohol solution, played a primary role in controlling the physical and mechanical parameters of the brittle rock simulation materials. Full article