Search Results (183)

Substrate type exerts a critical influence on the growth, development, and nutritional quality of Auricularia heimuer. In this study, agricultural waste-derived corncob was used as the treatment group (T1), with sawdust serving as the control (CK), to systematically investigate the variation in free amino acid (FAA) content and transcriptomic expression profiles in fruiting bodies of A. heimuer under the two substrate conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a clear separation between CK and T1 samples in terms of FAA composition, indicating that substrate type significantly affects FAA profiles. The corncob substrate notably increased the total FAA content in A. heimuer (2624.57 mg/kg), representing an 11.4% elevation compared to the sawdust group (2355.86 mg/kg), and markedly enhanced the proportion of flavor-associated amino acids (49.2% vs. 42.6%). In particular, the umami amino acid content was 74% higher than in the CK group. Transcriptome analysis identified 20 differentially expressed genes associated with FAA biosynthesis and degradation, including key enzymes involved in umami amino acid metabolism, such as aspartate decarboxylase (ADC), glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), and glutamate N-acetyltransferase (GNA), which were downregulated in T1. This suggests that glutamate and aspartate may have accumulated due to suppressed catabolism. KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment analysis further indicated that the differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to branched-chain amino acid metabolism, carbon metabolism, and secondary metabolism. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that corncob substrate significantly alters the accumulation and metabolic profile of FAAs in A. heimuer by modulating the expression of key metabolic enzymes, providing a theoretical foundation for the efficient cultivation of A. heimuer using agricultural waste and for enhancing its flavor quality. Full article

Background: Degenerative lumbar disease (DLD) affects older adults, causing lumbar degeneration and lower extremity dysfunction. The five-times sit-to-stand test (5xSTS) reveals kinematic changes associated with DLD. While marker-based motion capture systems detect these changes, their complexity limits clinical use. Markerless motion capture offers a portable alternative, yet its functional assessment applications in DLD remain underexplored. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of markerless motion capture for assessing functional tests in DLD patients. Methods: This study included 11 healthy individuals (mean age: 27.28 ± 6.92 years) and 10 with DLD (mean age: 70.00 ± 8.08 years). Participants performed the 5xSTS while being recorded by marker-based (VICON) and markerless (MediaPipe) systems using two synchronized cameras. Test–retest reliability was assessed over one week via the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Concurrent validity and agreement between VICON and MediaPipe were evaluated via Pearson/Spearman correlation coefficients, systematic bias, and the root mean square error (RMSE). Movement time, joint excursions, and angular velocities were also analyzed and compared across two groups. Results: Both systems showed high test–retest reliability (ICC: 0.81–0.99) and strong correlations (r: 0.75–0.99). The highest RMSE was observed at the ankle in the anterior–posterior (A–P) direction in the DLD group (54.55 mm) and at the hip A–P axis in the control group (51.20 mm). The lowest RMSE was found at the knee medial–lateral (M–L) axis in the DLD group (7.88 mm) and at the ankle M–L axis in the control group (8.54 mm). Bias values ranged from 0.30 mm (hip vertical in control group) to +53.47 mm (ankle A–P in DLD group), with underestimation more common at the hip and overestimation at the ankle. The control group demonstrated a faster 5xSTS completion time (5.89 ± 0.69 s vs. 8.13 ± 1.96 s, p < 0.05), greater hip joint excursions during sit-to-stand (65.07 ± 25.94° vs. 38.13 ± 9.84°, p < 0.05) and stand-to-sit (62.56 ± 24.74° vs. 27.85 ± 11.45°, p < 0.05) tests, and higher angular velocities compared to the DLD group. Conclusion: MediaPipe markerless motion capture can quantify 3D kinematic changes in DLD patients during functional performance. It enables a clinical evaluation with minimal setup, offers potential for remote assessment, and accurately detects sagittal plane movement. The two-camera system provides 3D kinematic data comparable to multi-camera systems, suitable for home rehabilitation and assessment. Full article

Atrial leadless pacemakers (ALPMs) offer a minimally invasive solution for patients requiring atrial pacing, but current designs face significant challenges related to fixation stability, perforation risk, and retrievability. This study presents a novel self-expanding nitinol fixation system designed for deployment within the left atrial appendage (LAA), incorporating a flexible adapter for secure pacemaker engagement and retrieval. Finite-element simulations were conducted to assess gravitational displacement across different anatomical orientations, and fixture-expansion behavior was analyzed under various mesh configurations. The pacemaker drop analysis results demonstrated minimal displacement in neutral and upward-tilted LAA models, with increased instability observed in downward-tilted orientations. The fixture-expansion study showed that the 0.2 mm mesh design provided adequate mechanical strength and strain tolerance while maintaining a compact profile. This novel fixation system improves current ALPM limitations by providing stable, retrievable anchoring and favorable biomechanical performance. It may also serve as a dual-function platform for atrial pacing and stroke prevention when integrated with a left atrial appendage (LAA) occluder. These findings support further preclinical validation for clinical translation. Full article

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) presents aggressive features and a tumor microenvironment with T cell depletion. However, the role of tumor-associated neutrophils in UTUC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate how UTUC tumor-derived factors modulate neutrophils and their impact on T cell immune responses. Our findings demonstrate that UTUC secreted tumor-derived factors, with apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) being the predominant factor, which upregulated arginase-1 expression in neutrophils. STAT3 activation was responsible for the upregulation of arginase-1 in neutrophils. Blocking the interactions between Apo-A1 and its receptors reduced arginase-1 expression in neutrophils treated with tumor tissue culture supernatant (TTCS). Moreover, both CD4⁺ T and CD8⁺ T cell proliferation were inhibited by neutrophils treated with Apo-A1 or TTCS. Importantly, blocking Apo-A1 signaling in neutrophils reversed the inhibitory effects on T cells. In UTUC patients, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was higher than that in healthy subjects. The expression of arginase-1 in neutrophils and the level of Apo-A1 within UTUC tumors were negatively correlated with tumor-infiltrating CD4⁺ T cells. Additionally, neutrophils from UTUC patients showed increased expression of arginase-1 and exhibited inhibitory effects of T cell functions. These findings suggest that UTUC orchestrates an immune-suppressive microenvironment through Apo-A1-mediated upregulation of arginase-1 in neutrophils, ultimately leading to the inhibition of T cell proliferation. Full article

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is a promising treatment option for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) comorbid with cirrhosis. However, HCC with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) remains an absolute contraindication for LT. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of LT in patients with HCC plus portal vein thrombosis and further evaluate the impact of PVTT on the long-term outcomes of patients. Methods: Among the 501 patients who underwent LT for HCC between January 2000 and March 2023, 29 (5.8%) patients with HCC who had portal vein thrombosis were further analyzed. Of these 29 patients with portal vein thrombosis, 12 (41.4%) were preoperatively diagnosed with PVTT and underwent LT after receiving downstaging therapy. The remaining 17 (58.6%) patients were PVTT-free prior to LT. Results: Overall, the recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 96.3%, 74.2%, and 74.2%, respectively, while the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 82.4%, 74.2%, and 70.1%, respectively. However, patients with viable PVTT had significantly worse outcomes than those without viable PVTT (p = 0.030). The 5-year recurrence-free and overall survival rates for patients with viable PVTT were 57.5% and 57.0%, respectively. Conclusions: LT may still be a promising option for patients with HCC and PVTT after appropriate downstaging. However, caution should be adopted, as remnant viable PVTT might lead to unsatisfactory outcomes after transplantation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic inflammation significantly contributes to human malignancies. We investigated the prognostic significance of the preoperative modified systemic inflammation score (mSIS) in patients with primary oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 320 OCSCC patients who underwent curative surgery between 2007 and 2017. Based on preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and serum albumin levels, patients were classified into three groups: mSIS = 2 (LMR < 3.4 and albumin < 4.0 g/dL), mSIS = 1 (LMR < 3.4 or albumin < 4.0 g/dL), and mSIS = 0 (LMR ≥ 3.4 and albumin ≥ 4.0 g/dL). We explored the associations between the preoperative mSIS and overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). We developed a nomogram based on mSIS for OS prediction. Results: The distribution was mSIS = 0 (n = 197, 61.6%), mSIS = 1 (n = 99, 30.9%), and mSIS = 2 (n = 24, 7.5%). Kaplan–Meier estimated OS and DFS for the mSIS = 0, mSIS = 1, and mSIS = 2 groups demonstrated a sequential decrease (both p < 0.001). The prognostic significance of mSIS was consistent across subgroup analyses. Multivariable analysis revealed that mSIS = 1 and mSIS = 2 were independent negative prognostic indicators. The mSIS-based nomogram effectively predicted OS (concordance index: 0.755). Conclusions: The mSIS reliably predicts OS and DFS in OCSCC patients undergoing surgery, with the nomogram providing individualized OS estimates, enhancing mSIS’s clinical utility. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a leading neurodegenerative disorder, is closely associated with the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides in the brain. The enzyme β-secretase (BACE1), pivotal in Aβ production, represents a promising therapeutic target for AD. While bioactive peptides derived from food protein hydrolysates have neuroprotective properties, their inhibitory effects on BACE1 remain largely unexplored. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory potential of protein hydrolysates from gliadin, whey, and casein proteins prepared using bromelain, papain, and thermolysin. Through in vitro and cellular assays, bromelain-hydrolyzed gliadin (G-Bro) emerged as the most potent BACE1 inhibitor, with an IC₅₀ of 0.408 mg/mL. G-Bro significantly reduced BACE1 expression and amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing in N2a/PS/APP cell cultures, suggesting its potential to attenuate Aβ aggregation. The unique peptide profile of G-Bro likely contributes to its inhibitory effect, with proline residues disrupting β-sheets, lysine residues introducing positive charges that hinder aggregation, hydrophobic residues stabilizing binding interactions, and glutamine residues enhancing solubility and stability. These findings highlight gliadin hydrolysates, particularly G-Bro, as potential natural BACE1 inhibitors with applications in dietary interventions for AD prevention. However, further studies are warranted to elucidate specific peptide interactions and their bioactivity in neural pathways to better understand their therapeutic potential. Full article

Edible sweet potato leaf can be exploited in the management and treatment of insulin resistance. This study investigated the effects of three sweet potato leaf extracts (SPLEs) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) on glucose uptake (2-NBDG uptake and GLUT4 abundance) and expression of their related regulatory factors (such as IR, IRS-1, p-Akt1, and p-AMPKα1 abundances) using Western blot analysis in insulin-treated insulin-resistant C2C12 cells. The results show that both purple and green SPLEs improved glucose (2-NBDG) uptake efficacy with insulin treatments, and both SPLEs also increased GLUT4 and IR abundances via activation of p-Akt in the PI3K/Akt pathway, whereas the IR abundance efficacy influence was the same as in the insulin-treated group. The yellow SPLE and CGA have higher protein abundances of IR and IRS-1, while CGA (20 μg/mL) exhibits the highest abundance of p-Akt1 and p-AMPKα1. These results suggest potential benefits of purple and green SPLEs in promoting glucose uptake, possibly through modulation of insulin signaling pathways. Full article

In this study, a novel cloud-hosted software solution, titled as Anomaly Leak Finder (ALF), has been developed in collaboration with PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, to enhance leak detection and localization in four major water distribution networks (WDNs) in Singapore. The large networks which span over 1000 km of underground pipelines are monitored 24/7 with 90+ smart sensors. Leveraging on near real-time hydraulic time-series data, ALF employs data-driven prediction (DDP) and physics-based simulation (PBS) models to minimize the total non-revenue water (NRW) losses by detecting and localizing hidden pipe leak events before they become disruptive events. Full article

Background: Preterm birth significantly contributes to mortality and morbidities, with recent studies linking these issues to gut microbiota imbalances. Probiotic supplementation shows promise in mitigating adverse outcomes in preterm infants, but optimal timing and guidelines remain unclear. This study assesses the benefits of probiotic supplementation for preterm infants without consistent guidelines. Methods: This retrospective study examined extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants in neonatal intensive care units from 2017 to 2021. Mortality and preterm-related outcomes were compared between infants receiving probiotics and those not. Subgroup analyses based on probiotic initiation timing were conducted: early (≤14 days), late (>14 days), and non-probiotic groups. Results: The study included 330 ELBW infants: 206 received probiotics (60 early, 146 late), while 124 did not. Probiotic supplementation was associated with lower overall mortality (adjusted OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.09–0.48) and decreased mortality from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or late-onset sepsis (LOS) (adjusted OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.03–0.45). Early probiotics reduced overall mortality, NEC/LOS-related mortality, and NEC/LOS-unrelated mortality. Late probiotics decreased overall mortality and NEC/LOS-related mortality. Early probiotic use also expedited full enteral feeding achievement. Conclusions: Probiotic supplementation reduces mortality and improves feeding tolerance in preterm infants. Establishing guidelines for probiotic use in this population is crucial. Full article

This paper presents an integrated approach using both data-driven and hydraulic model-based methods to localize anomaly events in near real time (NRT). Upon detecting an NRT anomaly event, the pressure drops at sensor locations are calculated, followed by estimating the pressure drops at junction nodes via an inverse-distance weighted interpolation method. Clustering is then performed based on pressure drops at junction nodes and network topology to segregate and reduce the search areas. Afterwards, a genetic algorithm optimization is performed with hydraulic model simulations to further pinpoint the anomaly hotspots. The integrated method has been tested on real leakage events with field data, where the localized leak hotspots are within 300 m of the ground-truth leaks. Full article

To obtain a high-performance extended gate field-effect transistor for pH detection, hafnium nitride (HfN) was first fabricated on an indium tin oxide on polyethylene terephthalate (ITO/PET) substrate using a high-power impulse magnetron sputter system (HiPIMS) in this study. It can be easily applied in biomedical diagnostic and environmental monitoring applications with the advantages of flexible, disposable, cost-effective, and reliable components. Various duty cycle conditions in HiPIMSs were designed to investigate the corresponding sensing performance and material properties including surface morphology and composition. As the duty cycle increased, the grain size of HfN increased. Additionally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis illustrated the presence of HfO_xN_y on the deposited HfN surface. Both behaviors could result in a better pH sensing performance based on the theory of the site-binding model. Subsequently, HfN with a 15% duty cycle exhibited excellent pH sensitivity and linearity, with values of 59.3 mV/pH and 99.8%, respectively; its hysteresis width and drift coefficient were −1 mV and 0.5 mV/h, respectively. Furthermore, this pH-sensing performance remained stable even after 2000 repeated bending cycles. These results indicate the potential and feasibility of this HiPIMS-deposited HfN for future wearable chemical applications. Full article

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a global health concern, necessitating adjuvant chemotherapy post-curative surgery to mitigate recurrence and enhance survival, particularly in intermediate-stage patients. However, existing therapeutic disparities highlight the need for biomarker-guided adjuvant chemotherapy to achieve better CRC inhibition. This study explores the molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibition of CRC through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) focused on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based adjuvant therapy in intermediate-stage CRC patients, a domain previously unexplored. We retrospectively included 226 intermediate-stage CRC patients undergoing surgical resection followed by 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy. The exploration cohort comprised 31 patients, and the validation cohort included 195 individuals. Genotyping was carried out using either Axiom Genome-Wide TWB 2.0 Array Plate-based or polymerase chain reaction-based methods on genomic DNA derived from collected tissue samples. Statistical analyses involved descriptive statistics, Kaplan–Meier analyses, and Cox proportional hazard analyses. From the GWAS, potential genetic predictors, GALNT14-rs62139523 and DNMBP-rs10786578 genotypes, of 5-FU-based adjuvant therapy following surgery in intermediate-stage CRC patients were identified. Validation in a larger cohort of 195 patients emphasized the predictive significance of GALNT14-rs62139523 genotypes, especially the “A/G” genotype, for improved overall and progression-free survival. This predictive association remained robust across various subgroups, with exceptions for specific demographic and clinical parameters such as age < 58 years old, CEA ≤ 2.5 ng/mL, tumor diameter > 44.0 mm, and tumor-free margin ≥ 50 mm. This study identifies that the GALNT14-rs62139523 “A/G” genotype modulates therapeutic outcomes, establishing it as a promising biomarker for predicting favorable responses to 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy in intermediate-stage CRC patients, although further investigations are needed to detail these mechanisms. Full article

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in an increasing population that is experiencing a wide range of long-lasting symptoms after recovery from the acute infection. Long COVID refers to this specific condition and is associated with diverse symptoms, such as fatigue, myalgias, dyspnea, headache, cognitive impairment, neurodegenerative symptoms, anxiety, depression, and a sense of despair. The potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to improve chronic fatigue, cognitive impairments, and neurological disorders has been established; therefore, the use of HBOT to treat long COVID has also been studied. We conducted a literature search between 1 January 2019 and 30 October 2023, focusing on the clinical efficacy and utility of HBOT for treating long COVID and found ten clinical studies that fit the review topic, including one case report, five one-group pretest-posttest design studies, one safety report from a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and three complete reports of RCTs. Most studies found that HBOT can improve quality of life, fatigue, cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cardiopulmonary function. Although HBOT has shown some benefits for long COVID symptoms, further rigorous large-scale RCTs are required to establish precise indications, protocols, and post-treatment evaluations. Full article

Recently, data-driven approaches have become the dominant solution for prediction problems in agricultural industries. Several deep learning models have been applied to crop yield prediction in smart farming. In this paper, we proposed an efficient hybrid deep learning model that coordinates the outcomes of a classification model and a regression model in deep learning via the shared layers to predict the rice crop yield. Three statistical analyses on the features, including Pearson correlation coefficients (PCC), Shapley additive explanations (SHAP), and recursive feature elimination with cross-validation (RFECV), are proposed to select the most relevant ones for the predictive goal to reduce the model training time. The data preprocessing normalizes the features of the collected data into specific ranges of values and then reformats them into a three-dimensional matrix. As a result, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the proposed model in rice yield prediction has achieved 344.56 and an R-squared of 0.64. The overall performance of the proposed model is better than the other deep learning models, such as the multi-parametric deep neural networks (MDNNs) (i.e., RMSE = 370.80, R-squared = 0.59) and the artificial neural networks (ANNs) (i.e., RMSE = 550.03, R-squared = 0.09). The proposed model has demonstrated significant improvement in the predictive results of distinguishing high yield from low yield with 90% accuracy and 94% F1 score. Full article