Search Results (3,975)

The current study focused on the synthesis of doped silver nanoparticles (doped AgNPs) with yttrium (Y), gadolinium (Gd), and chromium (Cr) from pine needle leaf extract (PNLE). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was performed to assess the phase formation, detecting 61.83% from Ag and 38.17% for secondary phases of AgCl, AgO, Y, Cr-, and Gd phases. The size and shape of the NPs were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), showing a spherical shape with an average particle size of 26.43 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) detected the oxidation state of the presented elements. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) determined the morphology and elemental composition of the NPs, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) determined the different functional groups indicating the presence of Ag, Y, Gd, Cr, and other groups. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy showed the optical properties of the NPs. A vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) revealed the ferromagnetic behavior of the doped AgNPs. The antibacterial activity of the doped AgNPs was tested against six uro-pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) microdilution assays, agar well diffusion assay, time–kill test, and antibiofilm screening assays, revealing significant activity, with MICs ranging between 0.0625 and 0.5 mg/mL and antibiofilm activity between 40 and 85%. The antioxidant activity was determined by the 1,1, diphenyl 1-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay with a potential of 61.3%. The docking studies showed that the doped AgNPs had the potential to predict the inhibition of crucial enzymes such as penicillin-binding proteins, LasR-binding proteins, carbapenemase, DNA gyrase, and dihydropteroate synthase. The results suggest that the doped AgNPs can be applied in different medical domains. Full article

The Arxan Volcanic Field (AVF) is an active volcanic region in Northeast Asia, and its last eruption occurred approximately 2000 years ago. Its eruption mechanism remains unknown. To investigate the shallow magma system beneath the volcanic cones in the AVF, we deployed a dense seismic array consisting of 227 portable seismographs and conducted high-resolution ambient noise tomography (ANT). The results of checkerboard test (CRT) and restoring resolution test (RRT) demonstrate that our imaging results are reliable. These results reveale significant slow-velocity anomalies at depths of 5~9 km below the Tianchi caldera and GD1213 volcano in Arxan, with the highest anomaly reaching up to approximately 15%. These anomalies suggest partial melting in a shallow magma chamber, indicating ongoing volcanic activity in the AVF. The velocity of the magma chamber corresponding to a melt fraction of approximately 7.4~12.9%. Therefore, the presence of the magma chamber poses potential hazards to the Arxan region, including volcanic eruptions and their associated risks. Full article

Water ecosystem services (WESs) are intrinsically associated with the livelihood of urban residents and are frequently disrupted by human activities. Land use and landscape patterns are key driving factors of alterations in WESs. However, existing research primarily quantifies single-factor influences and often overlooks the interactions between these factors. This study addresses this gap by employing a multi-model coupling approach, integrating the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS), Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model, and Geographical Detector (GD) models alongside various indicators to analyse the evolution of land use, landscape patterns and WESs in the Greater Bay Area from 2000 to 2020, and to simulate spatio-temporal change patterns in different scenarios from 2030 to 2050. Additionally, this study examines the multi-factorial interactions between land use, landscape patterns, and WESs. The results indicate that (1) urbanisation steadily increased, leading to intensified landscape fragmentation, and water yield (WY) and total phosphorus (TP) consistently increased, while total nitrogen (TN) in water gradually decreased; (2) urban areas exerted the most significant impact on WY in the Greater Bay Area while Patch density (PD) had a stronger influence on WY, and Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI) had the most pronounced effect on TN and TP; (3) the interaction between any two land-use types or landscape indices exerted a greater impact on WESs compared with the impact of individual factors alone. The interaction between urban areas and cropland substantially influenced WY (q¯ = 0.634) and most strongly affected TN and TP in water (q¯ = 0.74 and 0.73, respectively). SHDI and PD had the most significant impact on WY in the economic development scenario (q¯ = 0.19) and exhibited the greatest influence on the TN and TP levels in the ecological priority scenario (q¯ = 0.12 and 0.15, respectively). Our findings can provide theoretical and technical support for the integrated scientific planning of regional water ecosystems and the development of comprehensive land use policies in the future. Full article

Small-scale pedestrian detection is one of the challenges in general object detection. Factors such as complex backgrounds, long distances, and low-light conditions make the image features of small-scale pedestrians less distinct, further increasing the difficulty of detection. To address these challenges, an Enhanced Feature-Fusion YOLO network (EFF-YOLO) for small-scale pedestrian detection is proposed. Specifically, this method employs a backbone based on the FasterNet block within YOLOv8n, which is designed to enhance the extraction of spatial features while reducing redundant operation. Furthermore, the gather-and-distribute (GD) mechanism is integrated into the neck of the network to realize the aggregation and distribution of global information and multi-level features. This not only strengthens the faint features of small-scale pedestrians but also effectively suppresses complex background information, thereby improving the accuracy of small-scale pedestrians. Experimental results indicate that EFF-YOLO achieves detection accuracies of 72.5%, 72.3%, and 91% on the three public datasets COCO-person, CityPersons, and LLVIP, respectively. Moreover, the proposed method reaches a detection speed of 50.7 fps for 1920 × 1080-pixel video streams on the edge device Jetson Orin NX, marking a 15.2% improvement over the baseline network. Thus, the proposed EFF-YOLO method not only boasts high detection accuracy but also demonstrates excellent real-time performance on edge devices. Full article

Objectives: Observational research shows associations of the gut microbiota and its metabolites with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), but the causality is undetermined. Methods: Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was employed to analyze the association of the gut microbiota and its metabolites with AITD. A total of 119 gut microbiotas and nine fecal/circulating metabolites were the exposures. AITD, Graves’ disease (GD), and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) were the outcomes. Inverse-variance weighting (IVW) was primarily used to assess causality; Cochran’s Q was used to assess heterogeneity. Sensitivity analyses (weighted median, MRPRESSO regression, MRPRESSO intercept, MRPRESSO global, Steiger filtering, leave-one-out) were conducted to assess causal estimate robustness. Multivariable MR (MVMR) was used to estimate the effects of body mass index (BMI) and alcohol consumption frequency on causality. Results: The outcomes were potentially causally associated with 22 gut microbiotas and three metabolites. After multiple-test correction, 3-indoleglyoxylic acid retained significant causality with AITD (IVW: odds ratio [OR] = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05–1.14, p = 2.43 × 10⁻⁵, FDR = 0.009). The sensitivity analyses were confirmatory (weighted median: OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01–1.12, p = 0.025; MRPRESSO: OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.15–1.14, p = 0.001). MVMR revealed no confounding effects on this association (BMI: OR = 1.21, 95% CI =1.08–1.35, p = 0.001; drinks/week: OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.04–1.43, p = 0.014). Conclusions: MR revealed no significant causal effects of the gut microbiota on the outcomes. However, MR revealed the causal effects of 3-indoleglyoxylic acid on the risk of AITD. Full article

Introduction: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, often resulting in low levels of physical activity post-discharge. A comprehensive exercise program could be a safe method to increase stroke patients’ physical activity and exercise volume. This pilot study examines the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of a comprehensive exercise regimen for stroke patients residing in the community after discharge. Methods: This single-group pilot study included patients who received inpatient rehabilitation for motor impairment following a stroke. Community-dwelling participants engaged in a comprehensive exercise program, which was structured and individualized, consisting of stretching, aerobic exercise, strength training, and balance exercises, conducted under the supervision of a health exercise specialist in a dedicated living lab within the hospital. The program involved 20 sessions, each lasting 50 min, conducted three to five times weekly. The pre- and post-intervention evaluations were comprehensive, including safety and validity assessments, along with physical function tests such as cardiopulmonary exercise testing and various fitness tests (6 min walk test, timed up and go test, chair stand test, figure-of-8 walk test, grip strength test, and sit-and-reach test). Depression levels were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: A total of 22 subjects were recruited, with 21 completing the study after one dropout due to fatigue and visiting distance. Among the 21 completers, one subject experienced a mild adverse event (hypoglycemia), which was not serious, confirming the program’s safety. The exercise participation rate was 95.5%, and the adherence rate averaged 95.2%, with all completers achieving over 80% adherence. Significant improvements were observed in VO₂ peak (p = 0.000), 6 min walk test (p = 0.000), timed up and go test (p = 0.000), chair stand test (p = 0.000), figure-of-8 walk test (p = 0.000), and grip strength (p = 0.001). However, changes in the peak respiratory exchange ratio (p = 0.078), sit-and-reach test (p = 0.228) and GDS scores (p = 0.275) were not significant. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the comprehensive exercise program is sufficiently safe and valid for stroke rehabilitation patients. The program significantly enhances cardiopulmonary endurance, walking ability, balance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, and coordination. Further research with larger sample sizes and control groups is needed to confirm these findings and explore additional benefits. Full article

Background/Objectives: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may serve as an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study investigates regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) alterations in individuals with SCD using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). To characterize rCBF patterns in SCD patients compared to healthy controls and examine the relationship between rCBF and cognitive function. Methods: We compared rCBF in 20 SCD patients and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls using 99mTc-ECD SPECT imaging. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI). Results: SCD patients demonstrated significantly reduced rCBF in the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG) (mean uptake ratio [UR] = 0.864 ± 0.090 vs. 1.030 ± 0.074, p < 0.001) and right caudate (mean UR = 0.783 ± 0.068 vs. 0.947 ± 0.062, p < 0.001) compared to controls. Additionally, negative correlations were observed between rCBF in these regions and CDR scores, particularly in the memory domain (rSTG: r = −0.37, p = 0.016; right caudate: r = −0.39, p = 0.011). Conclusions: Reduced rCBF in the rSTG and right caudate may represent early biomarkers for SCD, which could aid in the early detection of AD. These findings suggest that SPECT imaging might be a valuable tool for identifying individuals at risk of cognitive decline, potentially allowing for earlier intervention and targeted preventive strategies in the management of AD. Full article

Five sows, non-pregnant after the first parity (body weight: 174 ± 11 kg), were used to determine energy expenditure (EE) measured as heat production (HP). Sows were fed first 1.0, then 2.0, times the recommended maintenance energy requirement (ME_m) for one week each. Sows received half their daily ration in 16 half-hourly meals, then the remaining half in a large meal followed by an overnight fast in respiration chambers. Sows fed 1.0 ME_m consumed 473 kJ ME/kg^0.75 (22.8 MJ/d) and lost weight (−198 g/d) because HP (24.0 MJ/d) was greater than intake. Sows fed 2.0 ME_m consumed 925 kJ ME/kg^0.75 (44.9 MJ/d) and gained 1292 g/d and HP was 32.3 MJ/d. The respiratory quotient (RQ) of sows fed 2.0 ME_m was greater than one, indicating body fat deposition. The HP when sows were eating repeated small meals (33.6 MJ/d) or a single large meal (29.8 MJ/d) was greater (p < 0.05) than the HP in the following 2 h (25.2 MJ/d). Based upon the recalculation of ME_m using the present data, 506 kJ ME/kg^0.75 is proposed as the ME_m for non-pregnant modern sows. Full article

The objective was to evaluate the evolution of the population structure, reproductive performance, inbreeding, and genetic diversity in Charolais cattle. Official genealogical information from the Ecuadorian Charolais Association was divided into five populations: (a) historical (total), (b) 2008–2012 (natural mating period), (c) 2013–2017 (natural mating + artificial insemination period), (d) 2018–2022 (artificial insemination + embryo transfer period), and (e) the reference (known sires and dams) from which the population structure was evaluated using pedigree completeness and the generation interval (GI). Meanwhile, for genetic diversity (GD), inbreeding (F), average relatedness (AR), and the effective population size (Ne) were estimated. The gene origin probability (number of founders, effective number of founders/ancestors, and number of founder genomes) explaining genetic variability, reproductive efficiency, the number of offspring per sire and dam, and the average ages of parents at the birth of their offspring were determined. The database was analyzed using the ENDOG, POPREP, and CFC software programs. The results indicate that pedigree completeness and the GI decreased over time among populations, although the first generation showed higher values. The sire gametic pathway was greater in all populations. F increased over time, although not markedly. Although Ne variations were observed, the levels remained above the recommended limit value. The GD loss increased progressively over time although the most recent population was not significantly affected. Finally, the female reproductive efficiency increased over time as well. In conclusion, the Charolais cattle GI should be reduced. After 2012, the use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and breeding schemes raised the GD loss. Finally, the F increased over time although it could be reduced using foreign genetic resources in the current Ecuadorian Charolais population. Full article

Background: The pre-surgical evaluation for drug-resistant epilepsy achieves seizure freedom in only 50–60% of patients. Efforts to identify quantitative intracranial EEG (qEEG) biomarkers of epileptogenicity are needed. This review summarizes and evaluates the design of qEEG studies, discusses barriers to biomarker adoption, and proposes refinements of qEEG study protocols. Methods: We included exploratory and prediction prognostic studies from MEDLINE and Scopus published between 2017 and 2023 that investigated qEEG markers for identifying the epileptogenic network as the surgical target. Cohort parameters, ground truth references, and analytical approaches were extracted. Results: Out of 1789 search results, 128 studies were included. The study designs were highly heterogeneous. Half of the studies included a non-consecutive cohort, with sample sizes ranging from 2 to 166 patients (median of 16). The most common minimum follow-up was one year, and the seizure onset zone was the most common ground truth. Prediction studies were heterogeneous in their analytical approaches, and only 25 studies validated the marker through post-surgical outcome prediction. Outcome prediction performance decreased in larger cohorts. Conversely, longer follow-up periods correlated with higher prediction accuracy, and connectivity-based approaches yielded better predictions. The data and code were available in only 9% of studies. Conclusions: To enhance the validation qEEG markers, we propose standardizing study designs to resemble clinical trials. This includes using a consecutive cohort with long-term follow-up, validating against surgical resection as ground truth, and evaluating markers through post-surgical outcome prediction. These considerations would improve the reliability and clinical adoption of qEEG markers. Full article

The management of variety collections can be supported by integrating molecular data into Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) testing. DurdusTools is a genetic distance (GD) calculation tool that supports planning field trials in durum wheat. A commercially available single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) wheat microarray is used to profile varieties and candidate varieties. Their molecular profiles are stored in a database. SNP markers selected based on quality parameters are used to calculate the pairwise genetic distance (GD) between the varieties. Combining molecular and variety information creates a downloadable, user-friendly Excel-based output. The file shows the pairwise GD of the varieties most similar to the candidate variety of interest and selected variety information. After the first year of field trials, the DUS experts use the phenotypic assessment data together with the GD information to select genotypes to be grown in the field for side-by-side comparisons. The principles of DurdusTools allow for an easy integration of molecular data into DUS testing. Using the tool requires neither specific infrastructure nor molecular expert knowledge and was developed by its users for DUS testing purposes. This makes DurdusTools an easily accessible and user-friendly tool that supports variety selection for DUS field trials through an improved data basis. Full article

Gaucher disease (GD) is a lysosomal lipid storage disorder caused by β-glucocerebrosidase (encoded by GBA1 gene) activity deficiency, resulting in the accumulation of glucosylceramide (Gb1) and its deacylated metabolite glucosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb1). Lyso-Gb1 has been studied previously and proved to be a sensitive biomarker, distinguishing patients with GD from carriers and healthy subjects. It was shown that its level corresponds with β-glucocerebrosidase activity, thus it remains unknown as to why carriers have slightly higher lyso-Gb1 level than healthy population. This is the first report on lyso-Gb1 levels describing representative cohort of GD carriers. Our data of 48 GD carriers, including three newborns, indicated that there are significant differences in lyso-Gb1 levels between carriers having a GD-affected mother and a healthy mother (11.53 and 8.45, respectively, p = 0.00077), and between carriers of the L483P GBA1 variant and carriers of other GBA1 pathogenic variants (9.85 and 7.03, respectively, p = 0.07). Through analysing our unique data of three newborns whose mothers are patients with GD, we also found that lyso-Gb1 is most probably transferred to the foetus via placenta. Full article

This study aimed to compare the photosynthetic physiological traits, fruiting characteristics, and fruit quality of four different chestnut cultivars. The cultivars studied were ‘Yanshanzaofeng’ (YS), ‘Guangdedahongpao’ (GD), ‘Chang’anhuijianli’ (CA), and ‘Guizhouyouli’ (GZ). Leaf functional traits, photosynthetic activity, fruit setting characteristics, and both external and internal fruit quality indicators were measured. The results indicated significant differences in leaf traits among cultivars. Cultivar GD exhibited the largest leaf area and dry matter content, while cultivar GZ had the smallest. The photosynthetic rate (Pn) followed a bimodal curve, with an obvious ‘lunch break’ caused by stomatal limitations. Cultivar GD had the highest Pn, followed by CA, YS, and GZ. The water use efficiency (WUE) and CO₂ utilization of cultivar CA were notably superior, indicating its suitability for arid conditions. In terms of yield, cultivar GD had the highest bur, nut weight, and plant yield, followed by CA, YS, and GZ. The phenotypic quality of the fruit was also superior in cultivar GD. However, cultivar YS had the highest amylopectin and soluble sugar content, and cultivar GD had the greatest amylose, total starch, and fat content. Cultivars CA and YS exhibited better overall fruit quality than GZ. Correlation analysis revealed that single bur weight, single nut weight, and single plant yield all exhibited highly significant or significant positive correlations with Pn, stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci), and the transpiration rate (Tr). The longitudinal diameter of burs showed a significant positive correlation with vitamin C (Vc), Pn, and Gs, with a correlation coefficient of 0.99. Additionally, both the transverse and longitudinal diameters of nuts were significantly positively associated with Pn and Ci. Furthermore, the total starch content and water content of nuts demonstrated a significant positive correlation with Pn. In conclusion, cultivar GD was found to be ideal for high-yield starch production, while cultivar YS offers superior sweet and waxy nut qualities. Cultivar CA presents a balance of photosynthetic capacity, yield, and quality, making it the second-best candidate. Cultivar GZ is unsuitable for large-scale cultivation. Full article

The objective of this two-year study was primarily the evaluation of the free and the bound forms of phenolic acids and phenolic aldehydes (PAAs) in grains of four selected cultivars of spring durum wheat subjected to three treatment intensities (GD—Green Deal, BT—Basic and IT—Intensive). All treatments included a common basic level and different spring production levels of nitrogen fertilisation (0 kg N in the case of GD; 30 kg N in the case of BT; and 60 kg N in the case of IT). Pesticide applications included herbicides and insecticides in both the BT and IT treatments, which were supplemented by combinations of fungicide and morphoregulator in the IT treatment. The GD treatment included only basic nitrogen, herbicide protection, and the application of a biostimulator (ExelGrow). The spring durum wheat cultivars subjected to testing were cultivated under Central European conditions, specifically in the Czech Republic’s central Bohemian region. UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS was used for the detection and accurate quantification of PAAs. In parallel, 12 other nutritional and basic technological parameters of the cereal were evaluated. Nine bound and seven free forms of PAAs were quantified in the analysed cereal samples. Bound forms of PAAs were dominant, accounting for 99.4% of total PAAs. Considering single PAAs, ferulic acid was the most abundant, accounting for 87% of the total bound PAAs. Interestingly, year and treatment intensity were the key factors in the variability of both free and bound PAAs, but these factors had different effects on bound PAAs. Under low nitrogen conditions, plants responded with an increase in free PAAs in particular, as well as in three bound PAAs. Unfavourable weather conditions, combined with the presence of biotic factors (e.g., Fusarium infections), significantly influenced the increase in both PAA groups, with the exception of free p-coumaric acid. PCA analysis confirmed close relationships between PAAs within both categories (free and bound). Subsequent correlation analysis further revealed that the immunoreactive gluten component (G12) exhibited a high negative correlation with the dominant ferulic acid (r = −0.70) and sinapic acid (r = −0.68). Additionally, moderate negative correlations were observed between four bound phenolic acids and grain hardness (r = −0.48–−0.60). Full article

This paper reports on the successful preparation of a low absorption–emission thermal control coating on the surface of LAZ933 magnesium–lithium alloy using the micro-arc oxidation method. This study analyzed the microstructure, phase composition, and thermal control properties of the coating using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible near-infrared spectroscopy (UV-VIS-NIR) and infrared emissivity measurements. The results indicate that the hemispherical emissivity of the coating remains unaffected with an increase in temperature and holding time, while the solar absorption ratio gradually increases. The thermal control performance of the coating after a high-temperature experiment was found to be related to the diffusion of the Li metal element in the magnesium lithium alloy matrix, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), flame graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GD-OES). As the holding time is extended, the coating structure gradually loosens under thermal stress. The Li metal element in the substrate diffuses outward and reacts with O₂, H₂O and CO₂ in the air, forming LiO₂, LiOH, Li₂CO₃ and other products. This reaction affects the coating’s solar absorption ratio in the end. Full article