Search Results (1,777,697)

Milk sources directly influence digestion, absorption, and overall nutrient utilization during early infant nutrition. Goat milk features a nutritional composition and digestive properties that are more similar to human breast milk. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different milk sources on the immunity, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, and intestinal microbiota in neonatal piglets. Sixteen 7-day-old suckling piglets were randomly allocated into two groups (eight replicates/group, one piglet/replicate) and fed with standard formula milk powder (CON) and goat milk formula powder (GMF). The formal experiment lasted for 14 days. Results showed that compared with the CON group, the GMF group showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the final weight, the serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, IgM and C-reactive protein (CRP4), and intestinal trypsin content. Additionally, the GMF group had higher (p < 0.05) serum essential and non-essential amino acid and fatty acid levels, and had trends toward upregulation (0.05 < p < 0.1) in hepatic mRNA expression of spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1 (SAT1), duodenal peptide transporter 1 (PePT1), and jejunal cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT1). Microbiome sequencing revealed that GMF enhanced intestinal microbial richness and diversity and increased concentrations of acetic and propionic acids (p < 0.05). In conclusion, GMF suggests a potential improvement in the growth performance by enhancing immunity, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism and optimizing intestinal microbiota composition in neonatal piglets. These findings further support the favorable nutritional properties and tolerability of GMF in early-life nutrition. Full article

This study examines the effects of an intervention program aimed at enhancing personal competencies in secondary education students, focusing on resilience, emotional intelligence, self-esteem and assertiveness. A descriptive, quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention assessments was employed. A total of 36 first-year secondary education students participated and completed the Resilience Scale, Wong-Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Rathus Assertiveness Scale. Positive associations were observed among resilience, emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and assertiveness at both time points, with the exception of a post-intervention negative correlation between self-esteem and the appraisal of others’ emotions. While emotion use increased significantly following the intervention, no significant changes were observed in the other variables, indicating a limited impact on these specific aspects of mental and emotional health. These findings highlight the relevance of training and promoting personal competencies in secondary school students, since they serve as protective factors against social exclusion, mood disorders (e.g., anxiety and depression), and behavioral problems. Although the program improved the use of emotions, its lack of significant effects in other domains highlights the need for more programs to support adolescents’ holistic development in the academic context. Full article

Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) is used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) to improve the chances of embryo implantation into the uterine wall by creating a small, precise opening in its outer shell (zona pellucida). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety profile of LAH performed using an infrared femtosecond laser system (λ = 1028 nm, E = 155 nJ, and I = 6.5 TW/cm²). We aimed to identify and quantify the potential biological effects of the laser and compare them with results from previous studies that used visible wavelength laser pulses (λ = 514 nm, E = 49 nJ, and I = 2.5 TW/cm²). To achieve this, we designed a controlled experiment using a mouse model. A critical component of our safety assessment involved quantifying the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and analyzing the expression of heat-shock proteins (HSPs). Robust analyses revealed no statistically significant differences in either ROS production or HSP expression—assessed at both the protein and mRNA levels—between embryos in the negative control group and those subjected to the femtosecond LAH procedure. This key finding indicates that neither infrared nor visible femtosecond laser microsurgery of the zona pellucida induced a detectable oxidative or thermal stress response within the tested parameters. Full article

Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), as an organophosphate contaminant, poses a significant threat to the growth and development of plants, especially roots. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms of TCEP’s toxicity and damage to root systems, as well as the mechanisms of its damage to the respiration and energy metabolism of alfalfa root cells. The results showed that TCEP obviously affected the root length, root surface area, root volume, and root diameter of alfalfa. With increasing stress intensity, the total mitochondrial respiration rate and Cytochrome C Oxidase (COX) pathway respiration rate progressively declined, while the Alternative Oxidase (AOX) pathway respiration rate and its proportion of total respiration gradually rose. In addition, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and root vigor were significantly reduced. Moreover, with an increase in TCEP concentration, root superoxide anion radical content in alfalfa root cells was significantly elevated, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly lowered, and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POD) activities were significantly enhanced. The present study indicated that respiration was disrupted, causing a lack of ATP in root cells under TCEP. Both the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the mitochondrial respiratory electron transport chain (mECT) and the deficiency of ROS-scavenging enzymes caused ROS accumulation, which led to the destruction of the cell membrane structure and exacerbated the disruption of the respiratory metabolism. The disruption of the conversion and reuse of energy by TCEP affected root growth and development. Full article

The treatment of parasitic infections has evolved in terms of effectiveness and the prevention of drug resistance. This is highlighted by the discovery of ivermectin (IVM), a macrocyclic lactone and broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent. IVM garnered scientific attention by presenting a therapeutic alternative in the field of veterinary medicine due to its control of multiple parasite species, including nematodes and soil-transmitted helminths. Shortly after its discovery, IVM was approved for human use by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for combating head lice, onchocerciasis, rosacea, scabies, and worm infestations within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In veterinary medicine, IVM is available in a range of formulations and can be administered via different routes (i.e., oral, topical, and parenteral), whereas for humans, IVM is only approved as a single oral dose and dermal cream. Establishing a comprehensive overview of IVM’s applications in both human and veterinary medicine is necessary, particularly in light of its repurposing potential as a treatment for various conditions and emerging diseases. Given its primary application in veterinary medicine, there is a need to enhance the development of dosage forms suitable for human use. Therefore, this review details the discovery, mechanisms, and applications of IVM, while also examining the challenges of resistance, side-effects, and controversy surrounding its use, to ultimately emphasize the importance of targeted, optimized IVM delivery via tailored dosage form development in animals and humans as part of the One Health approach to interlink innovations across veterinary and human medicine fields. Full article

This paper proposes a novel image tone-mapping framework that incorporates meta-learning, a psychophysical model, Bayesian optimization, and light-field virtual diffraction. First, we formalize the virtual diffraction process as a mathematical operator defined in the frequency domain to reconstruct high-dynamic-range (HDR) images through phase modulation, enabling the precise control of image details and contrast. In parallel, we apply the Stevens power law to simulate the nonlinear luminance perception of the human visual system, thereby adjusting the overall brightness distribution of the HDR image and improving the visual experience. Unlike existing methods that primarily emphasize structural fidelity, the proposed method strikes a balance between perceptual fidelity and visual naturalness. Secondly, an adaptive parameter tuning system based on Bayesian optimization is developed to conduct optimization of the Tone Mapping Quality Index (TMQI), quantifying uncertainty using probabilistic models to approximate the global optimum with fewer evaluations. Furthermore, we propose a task-distribution-oriented meta-learning framework: a meta-feature space based on image statistics is constructed, and task clustering is combined with a gated meta-learner to rapidly predict initial parameters. This approach significantly enhances the robustness of the algorithm in generalizing to diverse HDR content and effectively mitigates the cold-start problem in the early stage of Bayesian optimization, thereby accelerating the convergence of the overall optimization process. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method substantially outperforms state-of-the-art tone-mapping algorithms across multiple benchmark datasets, with an average improvement of up to 27% in naturalness. Furthermore, the meta-learning-guided Bayesian optimization achieves two- to five-fold faster convergence. In the trade-off between computational time and performance, the proposed method consistently dominates the Pareto frontier, achieving high-quality results and efficient convergence with a low computational cost. Full article

Background/Objectives: The prison environment presents a unique context for examining the impact of addiction on physical and psychological functioning. Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) are overrepresented in correctional facilities and often experience greater emotional difficulties and impaired physical capacity. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of psychological and functional profiles between addicted and non-addicted male inmates in a semi-open correctional facility. Methods: The study included 47 male prisoners (19 addicted, 28 non-addicted). Physical performance was assessed using the Countermovement Jump (CMJ), handgrip strength, the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and the FitLight reaction time test. Psychological functioning was evaluated using six standardized questionnaires: problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant coping strategies, depression (PHQ-9), perceived stress (PSS-10), and self-compassion (SCS). Results: No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between addicted and non-addicted inmates in physical performance parameters. Addicted individuals demonstrated slightly higher handgrip strength with lower variability, while non-addicted inmates showed slightly better lower-body power in the CMJ test. Functional movement quality and reaction speed were similar between groups. Psychological assessments also revealed no significant differences between the groups. Coping styles, depressive symptoms, perceived stress levels, and self-criticism scores were comparable in both populations. In the addicted group, deeper squats correlated with lower stress (rho = −0.46, p = 0.047), and better hurdle step performance correlated with emotion-focused coping (rho = 0.46, p = 0.048). Conclusions: Although no statistically significant differences were found between addicted and non-addicted male inmates in the assessed physical and psychological outcomes, the limited sample size and context-specific nature of this pilot study suggest that these findings should be viewed as preliminary and interpreted with caution. Nonetheless, the observed associations between physical performance and psychological variables indicate subtle interconnections between motor capacity, stress perception, and coping mechanisms that merit further investigation in larger, longitudinal studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Preterm birth (PTB), defined as birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation, is a major global health challenge and a leading cause of neonatal mortality. PTB is broadly classified into spontaneous and medically indicated (iatrogenic), which have distinct etiologies. While prediction is key to improving outcomes, there is a lack of models that specifically differentiate between spontaneous and iatrogenic PTB subtypes. This study aimed to develop and validate predictive models for the prediction of spontaneous and iatrogenic PTB at <32, <34, and <37 weeks’ gestation using medical history and readily available second-trimester data. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study on singleton pregnancies from a single tertiary institution (2012–2025). Predictor variables included maternal characteristics, obstetric history, and second-trimester ultrasound markers. Four algorithms, including multivariable Logistic Regression and three machine learning methods (Random Forest, XGBoost, and a Neural Network), were trained and evaluated on a held-out test set (20% of the data). Model performance was primarily assessed by the Area Under the Curve (AUC). Results: In total, 9805 singleton pregnancies were included. The models performed significantly better for iatrogenic PTB than for spontaneous PTB. For delivery <37 weeks, the highest AUC for iatrogenic PTB was 0.764 (Random Forest), while for spontaneous PTB it was 0.609 (Neural Network). Predictive accuracy improved for earlier gestations; for delivery <32 weeks, the best model for iatrogenic PTB achieved an AUC of 0.862 (Neural Network), and the best model for spontaneous PTB achieved an AUC of 0.749 (Random Forest). Model interpretation revealed that iatrogenic PTB was primarily driven by markers of placental dysfunction, such as estimated fetal weight by ultrasound scan and uterine artery pulsatility index, while spontaneous PTB was most associated with a history of PTB and a short cervical length. Conclusions: Models using routine mid-gestation data demonstrate effective prediction for iatrogenic PTB, with accuracy improving for earlier, more severe cases. In contrast, performance for spontaneous PTB was modest. Traditional Logistic Regression performed comparably to complex machine learning algorithms, highlighting that the clinical value is rooted in the subtype-specific modeling approach rather than in algorithmic complexity. Full article

Genipin, a natural compound derived from Gardenia jasminoides, is widely used as an inhibitor of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), a protein located in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) that plays a crucial role in regulating oxidative stress and cellular metabolism. Pharmacological inhibition of UCP2 has been explored as a strategy to modulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory responses. However, the utility of genipin is limited by its relatively low bioavailability and dose-dependent toxicity. To address these limitations, we developed mito-genipin, a mitochondria-targeted genipin derivative incorporating a triphenylphosphonium (TPP⁺) moiety, designed to enhance mitochondrial accumulation and thereby increase efficacy. In macrophages, mito-genipin induced mitochondrial hyperpolarization, elevated ROS production, and amplified pro-inflammatory cytokine expression compared with control or genipin treatment. In cells lacking UCP2, mito-genipin did not enhance ROS production. Our data identify mito-genipin as an effective modulator of oxidative stress and inflammation, supporting a putative link to UCP2 inhibition and highlighting potential implications in redox biology and immunomodulation. Full article

This study presents the application of Mycelial_Net, a biologically inspired deep learning architecture, to the analysis and classification of mineral images in thin section under optical microscopy. The model, inspired by the adaptive connectivity of fungal mycelium networks, was trained on a test mineral image database to extract structural features and to classify various minerals. The performance of Mycelial_Net was evaluated in terms of accuracy, robustness, and adaptability, and compared against conventional convolutional neural networks. The results demonstrate that Mycelial_Net, properly integrated with Residual Networks (ResNets), offers superior analysis capabilities, interpretability, and resilience to noise and artifacts in petrographic images. This approach holds promise for advancing automated mineral identification and geological analysis through adaptive AI systems. Full article

Real-time object detection in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery is critical yet challenging, requiring high accuracy amidst complex scenes with multi-scale and small objects, under stringent onboard computational constraints. While existing methods struggle to balance accuracy and efficiency, we propose RTUAV-YOLO, a family of lightweight models based on YOLOv11 tailored for UAV real-time object detection. First, to mitigate the feature imbalance and progressive information degradation of small objects in current architectures multi-scale processing, we developed a Multi-Scale Feature Adaptive Modulation module (MSFAM) that enhances small-target feature extraction capabilities through adaptive weight generation mechanisms and dual-pathway heterogeneous feature aggregation. Second, to overcome the limitations in contextual information acquisition exhibited by current architectures in complex scene analysis, we propose a Progressive Dilated Separable Convolution Module (PDSCM) that achieves effective aggregation of multi-scale target contextual information through continuous receptive field expansion. Third, to preserve fine-grained spatial information of small objects during feature map downsampling operations, we engineered a Lightweight DownSampling Module (LDSM) to replace the traditional convolutional module. Finally, to rectify the insensitivity of current Intersection over Union (IoU) metrics toward small objects, we introduce the Minimum Point Distance Wise IoU (MPDWIoU) loss function, which enhances small-target localization precision through the integration of distance-aware penalty terms and adaptive weighting mechanisms. Comprehensive experiments on the VisDrone2019 dataset show that RTUAV-YOLO achieves an average improvement of 3.4% and 2.4% in mAP50 and mAP50-95, respectively, compared to the baseline model, while reducing the number of parameters by 65.3%. Its generalization capability for UAV object detection is further validated on the UAVDT and UAVVaste datasets. The proposed model is deployed on a typical airborne platform, Jetson Orin Nano, providing an effective solution for real-time object detection scenarios in actual UAVs. Full article

We adapt previous conceptual and numerical models of ciguateric food chains for the bioaccumulation of Pacific-ciguatoxin-1 (P-CTX-1) to a general model for bioaccumulation of P-CTX3C by parrotfish (Scarus frenatus, S. niger, and S. psittacus) that feed by scraping turf algae, and surgeonfish (Naso unicornis) that mostly feed on macroalgae. We also include the Indian Ocean parrotfish Chlorurus sordidus as a model for an excavator feeding parrotfish and include comparisons with the detritivorous surgeonfish Ctenochaetus striatus that brush-feeds on turf algae. Our food chain model suggests that, of the Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa species so far analysed for ciguatoxin (CTX) production from the Pacific, only G. polynesiensis produces sufficient P-CTX3C to consistently produce parrotfish or N. unicornis with poisonous flesh. Our model suggests that insufficient CTX would accumulate into the flesh of parrotfish or N. unicornis to become poisonous from ingesting benthic dinoflagellates producing ≤0.03 pg P-CTX3C eq./cell, except from extended feeding times on high-density blooms and in the absence of significant depuration of CTX. Apart from G. polynesiensis, only G. belizeanus and possibly G. silvae and G. australes are thought to produce >0.03 pg P-CTX3C eq./cell in the Pacific. However, with relatively low maximum concentrations of ≤0.1 pg P-CTX3C eq./cell it is likely that their contribution is minimal. Our model also suggests that the differences between the area of turf algae grazed by parrotfish and similar sized C. striatus results in greater accumulation of CTX by this surgeonfish. This makes C. striatus a higher ciguatera risk than similar sized parrotfish, either directly for human consumption or as prey for higher trophic level fishes, consistent with poisoning data from Polynesia. It also suggests the possibility that C. striatus could bioaccumulate sufficient CTX to become mildly poisonous from feeding on lower toxicity Gambierdiscus or Fukuyoa species known to produce ≥0.02 P-CTX3C eq./cell. This indicates the potential for at least two food chain pathways to produce ciguateric herbivorous fishes, depending on the CTX concentrations produced by resident Gambierdiscus or Fukuyoa on a reef and the grazing capacity of herbivorous fish. However, only G. polynesiensis appears to produce sufficient P-CTX3C to consistently accumulate in food chains to produce higher trophic level fishes that cause ciguatera in the Pacific. We incorporate CTX depuration into our model to explore scenarios where mildly poisonous parrotfish or N. unicornis ingest CTX at a rate that is balanced by depuration to estimate the Gambierdiscus/Fukuyoa densities and CTX concentrations required for these fish to remain poisonous on a reef. Full article

Follicular lymphoma management is rapidly evolving with advanced cellular therapies. This review examines the optimal sequencing of autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT), allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT), and CAR T-cell therapy. AutoSCT is a crucial intervention for chemosensitive relapsed FL, prolonging progression-free survival, though not typically curative. AlloSCT, offering a potential cure via a graft-versus-lymphoma effect, carries significant risks like graft-versus-host disease and non-relapse mortality, thus primarily serving as a salvage option for high-risk or treatment-refractory cases after other modalities, including autoSCT. CAR T-cell therapy, utilizing genetically modified T cells targeting CD19, has revolutionized relapsed/refractory FL. Products like axicabtagene ciloleucel, tisagenlecleucel, and lisocabtagene maraleucel have demonstrated high response rates and durable remissions even in heavily pretreated patients with high-risk features. This potent therapy is increasingly considered a bridge between autoSCT and alloSCT, expanding treatment options. Additionally, bispecific antibodies such as mosunetuzumab, epcoritamab and odrenextamab provide convenient off-the-shelf options, exhibiting strong efficacy and favorable safety. However, their impact on subsequent CAR-T outcomes, especially with CD19-targeting bispecifics, remains an area of ongoing investigation and uncertainty. The complex interplay of these therapies necessitates individualized decisions, emphasizing patient characteristics and disease-specific factors to optimize outcomes in FL. Further research into predictive biomarkers and refined treatment algorithms is crucial for future management. Full article

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is considered a rich source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant activity; however, information on cultivars grown in Korea remains limited. This study aimed to compare the physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant compound contents, including lycopene content, and radical scavenging activities of five guava cultivars (‘Gihyun gold no. 2’, ‘Gihyun gold no. 3’, ‘Gihyun green’, ‘Gihyun red’, and ‘Redlee’) cultivated in Eumseong, Korea, during the 2022 season. Significant differences were observed among cultivars in soluble solids, acidity, firmness, and color, as well as in their organic acid, sugar, and polyphenol profiles. Lycopene was detected only in red-fleshed cultivars, with ‘Gihyun gold no. 2’ showing the highest content (5.21 ± 0.20 mg/100 g FW), while ‘Redlee’ exhibited the highest levels of total phenolics (474.92 ± 9.37 mg GAE/100 g FW), ascorbic acid (292.38 ± 4.40 mg/100 g FW), and radical scavenging activities in both assays (432.16 ± 13.37 mg VCE/100 g FW for DPPH and 640.59 ± 50.44 mg VCE/100 g FW for ABTS). In contrast, ‘Gihyun gold no. 2’ consistently showed the lowest antioxidant values. Correlation analysis revealed that total phenolics and ascorbic acid were strongly associated with both DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. These findings indicate that guava cultivars grown in Korea possess high nutritional and functional value, and highlight ‘Redlee’ as a promising source of vitamin C, polyphenols, and lycopene with potential applications in health-promoting foods, nutraceuticals, and value-added product development. Full article