Search Results (15,292)

Introduction: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a vital role in the innate immune response, recognizing pathogens and initiating the inflammatory response. Research suggests that TLRs may also have a significant impact on the development and progression of cancers, including gastric cancer (GC). Understanding the role of individual TLRs in the immunopathogenesis of gastric cancer may provide new information necessary to develop more effective diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Aim of the study: This study aimed to determine the role of selected TLR-2, -3, -4, and -9 in the immunopathogenesis of patients with newly diagnosed and untreated gastric cancer. Materials and methods: The study included 60 newly diagnosed, untreated GC patients and 25 healthy volunteers. The research included analyses assessing the percentage of the tested TLRs on T and B lymphocyte subpopulations using multicolor flow cytometry and assessing their concentration in the serum of the examined patients using ELISA tests. The statistical analyses performed included a comparison of patients in individual stages of gastric cancer, an analysis of the most common clinical subtypes of gastric cancer, and a comparative analysis of differences in the gender of recruited patients. Results: Our studies showed different expression levels of TLR-2, -3, -4, and -9 on T and B lymphocyte subpopulations, as well as their different concentrations in patients’ serum. Significant differences in the expression of these receptors were observed depending on the stage of gastric cancer and its clinical subtypes. These differences were also visible in the context of patient gender. Summary: The results of our studies suggest that TLR-2, -3, -4, and -9 may play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of gastric cancer. The differential expression of these receptors depending on the stage of the disease, clinical subtype, and gender of patients may have potential diagnostic and therapeutic significance. Further research is necessary to understand better the mechanisms of action of TLRs in gastric cancer and to apply this knowledge in clinical practice. Full article

The circular economy, as a new model of waste management through energy self-sufficiency and valorisation, can be applied to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Screening waste from WWTP pretreatment is the only waste that is not energetically recovered and thus constrains the achievement of zero waste. Previous studies demonstrated the technical feasibility of producing solid recovered fuel (SRF) from this waste. Environmental benefits, including waste reduction, resource conservation, or reduced greenhouse gas emissions are analysed in this work. Environmental impact is quantified using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology through the SimaPro 9.2. software and the CML-IA baseline v3.08 impact methodology, that propose 11 impact categories. Five scenarios were established to compare current landfill disposal with the production of densified and non-densified SRF using solar and thermal drying. Within the system boundaries studied, from waste generation to SRF production, results show that landfill is the most environmentally damaging option while producing non-densified SRF using solar drying is the most environmentally viable scenario. Full article

There are significant environmental and health consequences associated with oil-contaminated sand due to its toxic and persistent nature. The impacts include disrupted ecosystems with harm to plants and animals and contamination of water sources, requiring immediate and sustained remediation. Using oil-contaminated sand in construction addresses waste management and promotes sustainability by reducing waste, protecting the environment, saving energy, and driving innovation. This study investigates the impact of crude oil-contaminated sand on concrete’s physical and mechanical characteristics. It focuses on assessing the impact of incorporating four different fibres (Forta Ferro PP, ReoShore 45 PP, glass, and steel fibres) and finding the optimal quantity (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5%) to improve the physical and mechanical properties of concrete prepared with sand contaminated by crude oil. The impact of crude oil on the bond strength between fibres and concrete was examined. Additionally, the effect of crude oil on heat flow and cumulative heat was analysed. The results demonstrated that increasing oil content decreases concrete density and compressive strength. Nevertheless, the findings indicated that sand contaminated with 10% oil is suitable for low-strength concrete applications. Incorporating 0.1% of Forta Ferro PP, glass, and ReoShore 45 PP fibres had a negligible impact on the mechanical properties of concrete contaminated with 10% oil. Comparatively, steel fibres enhanced the concrete’s compressive strength by 30% at 0.1%, and the flexural strength improved by 9.6% at 0.5%. Concrete with a 10% crude oil content reinforced with steel fibres hinders fracture stabilisation and load transfer, making it suitable as a sustainable material for low-strength civil engineering applications. Full article

This study introduces a novel hybrid solar–biomass cogeneration power plant that efficiently produces heat, electricity, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen using concentrated solar power and syngas from cotton stalk biomass. Detailed exergy-based thermodynamic, economic, and environmental analyses demonstrate that the optimized system achieves an exergy efficiency of 48.67% and an exergoeconomic factor of 80.65% and produces 51.5 MW of electricity, 23.3 MW of heat, and 8334.4 kg/h of hydrogen from 87,156.4 kg/h of biomass. The study explores four scenarios for green hydrogen production pathways, including chemical looping reforming and supercritical water gasification, highlighting significant improvements in levelized costs and the environmental impact compared with other solar-based hybrid systems. Systems 2 and 3 exhibit superior performance, with levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) of 49.2 USD/MWh and 55.4 USD/MWh and levelized costs of hydrogen (LCOH) of between 10.7 and 19.5 USD/MWh. The exergoenvironmental impact factor ranges from 66.2% to 73.9%, with an environmental impact rate of 5.4–7.1 Pts/MWh. Despite high irreversibility challenges, the integration of solar energy significantly enhances the system’s exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental performance, making it a promising alternative as fossil fuel reserves decline. To improve competitiveness, addressing process efficiency and cost reduction in solar concentrators and receivers is crucial. Full article

Background: Human placental allografts are widely used to promote wound healing. Placental (or amniotic membrane/umbilical cord) allografts are placed along the neurovascular bundles during radical prostatectomy to improve continence and erectile function recovery. It is unknown whether placental allografts impact biochemical recurrence (BCR). Methods: This was a single-surgeon retrospective study of 566 robotic radical prostatectomies performed from April 2015 to March 2021. The patients were divided into three groups: the negative control, Brand A, and Brand B. Brand A and Brand B were both cryopreserved amniotic membrane (CAM) allografts. A total of 324 cases were included for BCR Kaplan–Meier and risk-adjusted multivariate analyses (362 for continence analysis). In vitro analyses were performed to determine the effect of CAM allografts on prostate cancer (PCa) cell line growth. Results: For propensity score-matched analysis (adjusting for pre-operative PSA, tumor stage, Gleason Grade, and margin status), (1) the allograft groups did not show differences in time to BCR vs. the negative control group (p = 0.7), and (2) combined allograft treatment groups showed better continence recovery vs. the negative controls (p = 0.01). In vitro, placental allografts reduced PCa cell line growth in co-culture assays. Conclusions: cryopreserved AM allografts (combined or individual brands) did not show a significant effect on BCR but improved continence recovery for PCa patients. Full article

This study focused on optimising the window-to-wall ratio (WWR) as a design solution to reduce energy consumption and enhance building intelligence from an energy-saving perspective. It examines the impact range of the WWR in improving the energy efficiency in low-rise residential apartments in Sulaimaniyah City, which experiences a hot summer Mediterranean climate. This study employed a quantitative approach, simulating and analysing the energy consumption of the selected samples using specific tools, such as Autodesk Revit and Insight Cloud. The findings show that improving the window-to-wall ratio can significantly reduce the energy use intensity (EUI) across various building orientations. Southern-facing walls permit reductions ranging from 1.23 to 14.98 kWh/m², whereas northern-facing walls show losses ranging from 2.03 to 12.98 kWh/m². Similarly, western-facing walls show decreases ranging from 0.41 to 6.41 kWh/m² and eastern-facing walls from 1.44 to 5.59 kWh/m². These energy-saving ranges improve building intelligence in terms of energy utilisation. Furthermore, the recommended WWR is 65% for southern and eastern walls and 95% and 30% for northern and western walls. This study underscores the significance of optimising the window-to-wall ratio in intelligent building design. Neglecting this can significantly impact energy use and represents a missed opportunity to improve building intelligence. Full article

(1) Background: Despite the recognized importance of the patient–doctor relationship (PDR) for pediatric diabetes management, the literature presents diverse and emerging findings regarding its impact on treatment outcomes for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). (2) Methods: Using a meta-analytic approach, a comprehensive search for relevant studies was conducted across major databases, from the earliest study to June 2024. Inclusion criteria were studies on PDR and T1D outcomes in underaged individuals, providing quantitative results. (3) Results: Fifteen reports were included, showing a small but significant overall effect size (r = 0.165, p < 0.05) of PDR on T1D outcomes. Moderator analyses revealed significant associations from elements of PDR, duration of diagnosis, outcome assessment methods, information reporters, and being Caucasian. Demographic variables like gender, age, not being Caucasian, and caregiver’s marital status did not significantly impact the association. Specific elements of PDR, such as clinician’s objectives, communication, partnership, respect, and supportive care, showed significant positive effect sizes, while telecommunication did not. (4) Conclusions: A strong PDR is essential for managing diabetes in children, particularly in the early years of diagnosis. Future studies should use quantitative designs and include diverse demographics to better understand PDR’s connection to T1D outcomes. Full article

Although the petals of Rosa rugosa are rich in flavonoids and their bioactivity has a significant impact on human health, the flavonoid content decreases during flower development. In this study, R. rugosa ‘Feng hua’ was used to investigate the effects of the melatonin foliar spray on enhancing the quality of rose by focusing on major flavonoids. The results showed that the contents of total flavonoids in rose petals at the full bloom stage induced by melatonin obeyed a bell-shaped curve, with a maximum at 0.3 mM, indicating the concentration-dependent up-regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis. In the treatment with 0.3 mM melatonin, metabolomic analyses showed that the concentrations of ten main flavonoids were identified to be increased by melatonin induction, with high levels and increases observed in three flavonols and two anthocyanins. KEGG enrichment of transcriptomic analysis revealed a remarkable enrichment of DEGs in flavonoid and flavonol biosynthesis, such as Rr4CL, RrF3H, and RrANS. Furthermore, functional validation using virus-induced gene silencing technology demonstrated that Rr4CL3 is the crucial gene regulating flavonoid biosynthesis in response to the stimulant of melatonin. This study provides insights into the exogenous melatonin regulation mechanism of biosynthesis of flavonoids, thereby offering potential industrial applications. Full article

Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, represents a severe and imminent threat to the global citrus industry. With no complete cure currently available, effective control strategies are crucial. This article presents a transmission model of HLB, both with and without nutrient injection, to explore methods for controlling disease spread. By calculating the basic reproduction number (R0) and analyzing threshold dynamics, we demonstrate that the system remains globally stable when R0<1, but persists when R0>1. Sensitivity analyses reveal factors that significantly impact HLB spread on both global and local scales. We also propose a comprehensive optimal control model using the pontryagin minimum principle and validate its feasibility through numerical simulations. Results show that while removing infected trees and spraying insecticides can significantly reduce disease spread, a combination of measures, including the production of disease-free budwood and nursery trees, nutrient solution injection, removal of infected trees, and insecticide application, provides superior control and meets the desired control targets. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers in understanding and managing HLB outbreaks. Full article

The water supply system (WSS) is an anthropotechnical system whose reliability depends on proper human activity. Research indicates that 75% of WSS failures are due to human errors. The water treatment plant (WTP) is a key element of the WSS. The water treatment process requires human control as the operator. His task is to maintain an appropriate level of reliability and safety for the system by controlling the technological objects. The aim of the work was to assess the reliability of the WTP operator. The paper presents a Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) of the operator of the WTP using the Fuzzy-Bayes CREAM method. The values of the Human Error Probability (HEP) for operators were determined, which are key to carrying out further analyses of the human impact on the reliability and operational safety of anthropotechnical critical infrastructure systems. The HEP value of the water treatment plant operator varies in the range of 0.0005–0.0746 (depending on the technological process). Identification of new threats related to the impact of the human factor on the WSS’s functioning and taking them into account in reliability calculations will allow for a better representation of actual operating conditions. Full article

Despite the growing importance of resilience in the construction sector, the existing literature often focuses on specific systems or functions without integrating a holistic view of resilience. Hence, there is a pressing need for comprehensive research that synthesizes these dimensions to provide a clearer framework for resilience in the construction industry. To find the inherent patterns and trends of resilience, we carried out research from the perspective of three elements defining resilience (the subject of resilience, the influencing factors, and the subject’s ability). In this systematic review, 70 articles were rigorously handpicked from Web of Science, Scopus, and authoritative journals and divided into 6 major categories and 24 subcategories for quantitative and temporal analyses. The evolution of resilience in the construction industry is investigated in this review, shifting from specific systems facing defined impacts to addressing the complexities of diverse and unpredictable disruptions within VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environments. As Industry 4.0 and digital transformation progress, the significance of functional resilience across various system levels becomes apparent, necessitating a reconstitution into structural, operational, and supply chain resilience. This study encourages the use of advanced methodologies like big data, AI, and high-level architecture (HLA) federated simulations to predict disruptions and optimize resilience strategies, thus providing a robust foundation for handling future uncertainties. Full article

Protective structures are critical in mitigating the dangers posed by debris flows. However, evaluating their performance remains a challenge, especially considering boulder transport in complex 3D terrains. This study introduces a comprehensive methodology to appraise the effectiveness of protective structures under the impact of debris flows for real-world conditions along the Hobart Rivulet in Tasmania, Australia. The validation of the Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) model against experimental data demonstrates its high accuracy in predicting flow dynamics and impact forces, whereby flow velocities are estimated for subsequent Finite Element (FE) analyses. By simulating boulder-barrier interactions, weak points in I-beam post barriers are identified, with a broad investigation of the effects on the barrier performance under various conditions. The establishment of a 3D CEL model to assess the interactions between debris flow, boulders, and I-beam post barriers in a complex rivulet terrain is of particular significance. Through CEL and FE analyses, various aspects of debris flow-structure interactions are presented, including structural failure, impact force, and boulder velocity. The findings provide insights into the suitability of various numerical methods to assess the performance of protective measures in real-world scenarios. Full article

Despite the efforts made to promote consumption, some countries are not increasing their fruit and vegetable intake, while household structures are undergoing relevant changes. Fruit and vegetable consumption is necessary but not sufficient for a healthy diet. Previous research has linked adequate fruit and vegetable consumption to a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and some mental health conditions. Furthermore, millions of deaths are reported annually worldwide due to diets low in fruit and vegetables, highlighting their critical public health importance. This study aims to separately analyze the purchases of fruit and vegetables in single-person households. We used three waves of the Family Budget Survey, Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares, in Chile, which is nationally representative of urban areas and includes over 10,000 households in each wave. We employed descriptive statistics to examine the characteristics of the head of household and the food shopper as well as the structure, composition, and overall characteristics of households. Additionally, we performed separate analyses for fruit and vegetable purchases, using these variables to determine the marginal effect on the probability of purchasing fruit or vegetables through probit models. Results show that, from 2011–2012 to 2021–2022, the share of households not purchasing fruit and vegetables increased from 5.0% to 8.4% and that, in single-person households, it rose from 11.2% to 19.1%. Male-headed, single-person households with low education and income were more likely not to purchase fruit, and these households also have decreasing vegetable purchases. Additionally, household income significantly impacts fruit purchases but does not significantly affect vegetable purchases. Our findings highlight the importance of considering single-person households as a target population segment for future public policies to promote fruit and vegetable consumption. Full article

Background and Objective: Cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts quality of life globally. Hip dysplasia (HD) is a common musculoskeletal issue in CP patients. This study investigates the prevalence, risk factors, and impact of HD on CP patients using a large national database. Materials and Methods: Data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2016–2019) were used, identifying CP and HD diagnoses through ICD-10 codes. Baseline characteristics were tabulated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses examined predictors of HD development in CP patients, presenting data as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Among 3,951,040 pediatric patients, 28,880 had CP (27,466 without HD, and 1414 with HD), and 3,922,160 did not have CP. CP significantly increased the likelihood of developing HD in univariate (OR = 35.03, 95% CI [33.01, 37.17], p < 0.0001) and multivariate (OR = 26.61, 95% CI [24.94, 28.40], p < 0.0001) analyses. Among patients with CP, race was significantly associated with HD, with ORs below 1 for all racial categories compared to Whites. Females had nearly twice the odds of HD compared to males (OR = 1.96, 95% CI [1.86, 2.05], p < 0.0001). Age was significantly associated with HD, with each additional year increasing the odds (OR = 1.03, 95% CI [1.026, 1.034], p < 0.0001). Individuals in the high 51st–75th income quartile had a 17% increase in the odds of HD (OR = 1.17, 95% CI [1.09, 1.25], p < 0.0001) compared to the low 1st–25th income quartile. Conclusions: This study reinforces the strong association between CP and HD, highlighting the need for further research and prospective studies to validate these findings. Full article

The substantial influences of masonry infills used as partition walls on the seismic behavior of multistory reinforced concrete (RC) structures have long been recognized. Thereupon, in this study, considering open-ground floors due to a lack of infills (pilotis configuration), the structural pounding phenomenon between adjoining RC buildings with unequal story levels and unequal total heights is investigated. Emphasis is placed on the impact of the external columns of the higher structure, which suffer from the slabs of adjoining shorter buildings. The developing maximum shear forces of the columns due to the impact are discussed and compared with the available shear strength. Furthermore, it is stressed that the structures are partially in contact, as is the case in most real adjacent structures; therefore, the torsional vibrations brought about due to the pounding phenomenon are examined by performing 3D nonlinear dynamic analyses (asymmetric pounding). In this study, an eight-story RC frame structure that is considered to be fully infilled or has an open-ground floor interacts with shorter buildings with n_s stories, where n_s = 6, 3, and 1. Two natural seismic excitations are used, with each one applied twice—once in the positive direction and once in the negative direction—to investigate the influence of seismic directionality on the asymmetric pounding effect. Finally, from the results of this study, it is concluded that the open-ground story significantly increases the shear capacity demands of the columns that suffer the impact and the inelastic rotation demands of the structure, whereas these demands further increase as the stories of the adjoining shorter building increase. Full article