Search Results (167,140)

Objectives: This paper presents a principle and framework for generating social trust in AI outputs as an institutional structure rather than an ethical declaration. Sound technical design alone does not guarantee the institutional trust required to establish social measurement. What is needed is not a declaration of trust but the construction of an infrastructure that supports it. Methods: First, the Extended Kelvin Principle is derived by prepending to Kelvin’s measurement–understanding–control chain the links “no social trust without trust infrastructure; no legitimate social measurement without social trust.” Infrastructure-scale trust requires not declarations but verifiability, recordability, and auditability. Just as GUM and calibration infrastructure underpin trust in measured values, AI output governance requires GLO, a common language for expressing output legitimacy, implemented by a VRAIO-type infrastructure. GLO treats an output candidate as a “claim” and declares the rule-conformity of its purpose and content as a legitimacy confidence L, derived from a fact-based argument accompanied by a legitimacy budget. Results: VRAIO integrates declaration, rule verification, tamper-resistant recording, and independent auditing. A sealed, deterministic verifier makes L reproducible: computational falsity is caught by re-computation, factual falsity by checking authoritative records, and severe sanctions render false declaration irrational. Conclusions: GLO is not a mere AI version of GUM but a common language for an underdeveloped domain, whose effectiveness depends on connection to an enforceable output-governance infrastructure. Full article

A field experiment was conducted in three ecological zones to evaluate the effects of broadcast sowing (BS), drill sowing (DS), and ridge–furrow precision sowing (RFS) on winter rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.) grown in lightly saline–alkaline soils, using two cultivars (L6 and L7). RFS improved soil temperature and soil moisture conditions across the zones. Its warming effect was most pronounced in the JT zone, where soil temperatures at seedling and flowering stages were 9.7% and 10.3% higher than under BS, respectively. RFS also showed a moisture-conservation advantage at regreening, with soil moisture 13.8% and 6.6% higher than under BS and DS, respectively. In addition, RFS reduced soil salinity and increased soil total carbon, available potassium, and ammonium nitrogen contents. Plants under RFS showed higher SPAD values, net photosynthetic rates, and transpiration rates at seedling and regreening stages, along with higher antioxidant enzyme activities and lower MDA accumulation. RFS advanced key phenological stages, improved overwintering survival, and produced the highest yield. Compared with BS and DS, respectively, RFS increased the mean yield of L6 by 11.46% and 6.97%, and that of L7 by 16.02% and 10.52%. Overall, RFS promoted yield formation by improving soil conditions, photosynthetic activity, and stress resistance. Full article

Rice starch (RS) is widely consumed, but is usually rapidly digested, which may increase postprandial blood glucose levels. Therefore, regulating RS digestibility is important for development functional starch-based foods. In this study, sodium alginate (NaAlg) was incorporated into RS gels and subsequently crosslinked with Ca²⁺ to form a calcium alginate (CaAlg) network, and its effects on the physicochemical properties, digestion behavior, and physiological responses of RS gels were evaluated. Rheological measurement showed that the Ca²⁺-crosslinked alginate network increased the viscosity and viscoelastic moduli of RS gels. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed that the Ca²⁺-crosslinked alginate network reduced free water mobility. Structural characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and cold-field scanning electron microscopy shows that the Ca²⁺-crosslinked alginate network was associated with enhanced intermolecular interactions and a more continuous gel network, while all gelatinized samples exhibited predominantly amorphous structures. In vitro digestion experiments showed that the hydrolysis degree at 120 min decreased from 92.3% in RS to 85.6% in HCaAlg/RS. The rapidly digestible starch content significantly decreased from 72.4% to 68.4% (p < 0.05), while resistant starch significantly increased from 7.7% to 14.4% (p < 0.05). First-order kinetic fitting showed that C_∞ significantly decreased from 93.0% to 86.0%, and k significantly decreased from 0.027 to 0.013 min⁻¹ (p < 0.05). In vivo experiments showed that the Ca²⁺-crosslinked alginate/RS gels were associated with a lower postprandial glycemic response, with the incremental area under the curve significantly decreased from 747.2 to 591.7 mmol·min/L (p < 0.05), and the intestinal propulsion rate decreased from 89.6% to 75.3% (p < 0.05). These results suggest that Ca²⁺-crosslinked alginate network formation may modulate the structural properties, digestion behavior, and digestion-related physiological responses of RS gels, providing a basis for the development of starch-based functional foods with improved glycemic control. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fig (Ficus carica L.) is considered a valuable fruit owing to its rich health-promoting ingredients, including anthocyanins. However, little information is available on the regulatory networks that reveal anthocyanin biosynthesis in figs, especially the new fig cultivar “Silu Hongyu” (HY). Methods: In this study, multi-omics analysis was performed to dissect the regulatory networks responsible for anthocyanin accumulation in the female flower tissues of HY. Results: we found that the anthocyanin content in the female flower tissues of HY is higher than that of “Chinese Ziguo” (ZG). Metabolomic profiling identified 350 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), among which 108 were flavonoids. The contents of multiple metabolites responsible for anthocyanin accumulation, such as naringenin chalcones, cyanidin 3-glucoside, and pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside, were significantly increased in the HY female flower tissues. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 3696 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened from the female flower tissues of ZG and HY, with 1730 upregulated DEGs and 1966 downregulated DEGs in HY compared to ZG. The key structural genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, including FcPAL, Fc4CL, FcCHS, FcF3′H, and FcBZ1, were significantly upregulated in the female flower tissues of HY compared with ZG. KEGG analysis also demonstrated that five flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were co-enriched by DAMs and DEGs. Conclusion: These findings provide a multi-omics framework that governs anthocyanin biosynthesis in the female flower tissues of HY, which will facilitate the genetic breeding and improvement of high-anthocyanin fig cultivars. Full article

Background and Objectives: Evidence linking sarcopenia and myosteatosis to oncological outcomes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains inconsistent. We aimed to evaluate whether preoperative psoas muscle measurements are associated with tumor stage, recurrence, and survival in RCC patients undergoing nephrectomy. Materials and Methods: A total of 199 patients who underwent nephrectomy with a diagnosis of RCC between 2018 and 2024 were retrospectively evaluated. Preoperative computed tomography images were used to measure the bilateral psoas muscle area at the L3 vertebral level and Hounsfield unit (HU) values. The psoas muscle index (PMI) was calculated. PMI and psoas HU values were analyzed as continuous variables, as this approach preserves statistical information and avoids misclassification bias inherent to arbitrary dichotomization, particularly given the absence of population-specific validated thresholds for Turkish RCC patients. Tumor stage, metastasis, recurrence, and survival data were analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 60.29 ± 11.62 years, and 67.84% were male. The mean PMI was 5.11 ± 1.54 cm²/m² while the mean psoas HU value was 38.63 ± 8.95 HU. PMI was significantly higher in patients with advanced-stage (T3 and T4) disease than in those with early-stage (T1 and T2) disease (5.57 ± 1.49 vs. 4.30 ± 1.28, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between T stage and PMI (r = 0.396, p < 0.001) and between tumor size and PMI (r = 0.215, p = 0.002). Modest but significant correlations were found between age and both PMI (r = −0.274, p < 0.001) and psoas HU values (r = −0.347, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this retrospective nephrectomy series, conducted in a cohort inherently enriched for adequate performance status and surgical fitness, PMI showed a positive correlation with pathological T stage and tumor size, intriguingly higher PMI values were observed in patients with advanced T stages. These findings suggest that the role of psoas-based muscle measurements in the prognostication of this subset of RCC patients (advanced disease but candidates for surgical treatment) may be limited. Full article

Although long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) are typically passed down to descendants as part of the genome, the Bov-B LINE was likely horizontally transferred from a snake to the ancestor of ruminants. Plant RTE-clade LINEs and their associated SINEs possess a genomic insertion signature different from that of mammalian L1 LINEs. However, the reason for the increased frequency of horizontal transfer in RTE-clade LINEs such as Bov-B relative to that in L1-clade LINEs has not yet been clarified. In this study, we identified family members of the reptilian Bov-B LINE and associated Sauria SINE across various squamate species to determine the amplification timing of the LINE. The findings revealed that the LINE may be over 180 million years old. Moreover, profiling of target site duplications showed that a characteristic genomic insertion signature of the LINE and SINE closely resembled the signature of the plant RTE-clade LINEs. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of RTE-clade LINEs with characteristic genomic insertion signatures and estimated their divergence times. The findings suggest an ancient origin (over 411 MYA) of the retrotranspositional mechanism underlying this signature; however, a complex evolutionary trajectory of LINEs across species warrants further investigation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Anterior direct composite restorations are evaluated through instrumental color matching, clinician appraisal, and patient perception, but these endpoints may diverge by age. This cross-sectional study compared adolescents/young adults (AYA, 15–25 years) with adults/elderly (AE, 50–75 years) for spectrophotometric color difference (ΔE*ab), patient and clinician aesthetic ratings, patient–clinician agreement, and oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Methods: Consecutive recall patients with at least one anterior direct composite restoration placed ≥6 months earlier were screened; 128 were enrolled, and 126 completed all assessments (AYA n = 64; AE n = 62). Participants completed the OHIP-14 and aesthetic visual analogue scale (VAS) before receiving any USPHS, clinician VAS, or spectrophotometric feedback. A separate clinician, masked to patient scores and spectrophotometric outputs but not to patient age, recorded clinician VAS and modified USPHS criteria. Results: AE restorations showed higher ΔE*ab than AYA restorations (4.8 ± 1.6 vs. 3.2 ± 1.1; p < 0.001), whereas AYA reported lower patient VAS (72.4 ± 12.3 vs. 81.6 ± 10.8; p < 0.001) and higher OHIP-14 psychosocial burden (7.2 ± 2.8 vs. 4.0 ± 2.3; p < 0.001). Clinician VAS was higher in AYA (85.2 ± 7.3 vs. 79.4 ± 8.9; p < 0.001). Patient VAS correlated modestly with ΔE*ab (ρ = −0.38 in AYA; ρ = −0.31 in AE) and more strongly with psychosocial OHIP-14 scores (ρ = −0.54 and −0.47, respectively). Patient-clinician agreement was poor in AYA (ICC = 0.26) and moderate in AE (ICC = 0.58), with larger negative patient-minus-clinician discrepancies in AYA. Exploratory mediation statistically decomposed the age-related patient-satisfaction difference more through patient–clinician discrepancy than through ΔE*ab; causality cannot be inferred. Conclusions: Younger patients may experience dissatisfaction and psychosocial burden despite better instrumental color match. Assessment of anterior composites should combine objective shade measurement with patient-centered expectation clarification, and longitudinal studies should test temporal mechanisms and communication interventions. Full article

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop is a perennial plant of the family Asteraceae that is mainly distributed in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite being widely recognized as an invasive weed in agriculture, most of the scientific evidence shows its significant phytochemical and pharmacological importance. In the present review article, a comprehensive summary of the available literature on C. arvense’s botanical properties, phytochemical composition, biological activities, standardization potential, and future therapeutic prospects has been carefully provided. This plant has been used traditionally for the treatment of inflammation, infections, bleeding disorders, and liver-related disorders. Phytochemical investigations showed the presence of many bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes, sterols, tannins, glycosides, and volatile compounds. Among the reported biological activities, antioxidants and antimicrobial properties are the most studied activities. In addition, anticancer, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities have also been investigated. The environmental adaptability, rapid growth, and extensive root system of C. arvense highlight its potential for development as a sustainable medicinal and industrial crop. However, there are critical research gaps present in phytochemical standardization, toxicity assessment, pharmacokinetics, and clinical validation, warranting further comprehensive studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance and bacterial persistence underscore the need to develop new chemotypes with multifunctional antibacterial mechanisms. This study aimed to design, synthesize, and evaluate curcumin-inspired 3,5-diarylidene-4-piperidones as versatile small molecules exhibiting antibacterial, antibiofilm, anti-efflux, DNA gyrase-inhibitory, and antiproliferative properties. Methods: A targeted series of triazole-conjugated 3,5-diarylidene-4-piperidones was synthesized through copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry and subsequently characterized using standard spectroscopic techniques. The compounds were assessed for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Escherichia coli. Selected active compounds underwent further evaluation for DNA gyrase inhibition, antibiofilm activity against multidrug-resistant S. aureus ATCC 33591, ethidium bromide accumulation, and antiproliferative effects on HCT116 and MCF7 cancer cells, with RPE1 cells serving as a control to evaluate cytotoxicity in normal cells. Additionally, computational studies, including QSAR analysis and molecular docking, were conducted to bolster structure–activity relationships and provide mechanistic insights. Results: Several derivatives demonstrated selective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, particularly S. aureus, while exhibiting limited or no efficacy against E. coli. Compounds 7n and 7l emerged as the most potent against S. aureus, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 7.8 and 8.2 μM, respectively. Notably, compound 7l inhibited S. aureus DNA gyrase supercoiling, displaying an IC₅₀ of 3.20 μM, comparable to ciprofloxacin. Compound 7e exhibited the strongest antibiofilm activity against multidrug-resistant S. aureus, whereas compound 7a resulted in the highest accumulation of ethidium bromide, indicating robust anti-efflux activity. Antiproliferative assays revealed that select halogenated derivatives were effective against HCT116 and MCF7 cells, while the most promising antibacterial compounds exhibited minimal cytotoxicity toward RPE1 cells. Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) and docking studies supported the observed structure–activity relationships and suggested potential interactions with the ATPase binding site of DNA gyrase B. Conclusions: Triazole-conjugated 3,5-diarylidene-4-piperidones are promising multifunctional scaffolds with selective anti-S. aureus activity, antibiofilm and anti-efflux properties, and, for compound 7l, potent DNA gyrase inhibition. These findings support further optimization of this chemotype as a platform for developing antibacterial agents with polymechanistic activity. Full article

This study was conducted to explore how varying the concentration of nano-La₂O₃ particles in the plating bath influences the morphology, constitution, and corrosion resistance of Ni-B composite coatings deposited on N80 carbon steel via electroless plating. The novelty of this work lies in the systematic investigation on the co-deposition behavior and grain refinement mechanism of nano-La₂O₃ in electroless Ni-B system, which has been rarely reported in previous studies. The microstructure and chemical composition of the coatings were characterized through a combination of SEM, EDS, XPS and XRD analyses. SEM confirmed that a dense Ni-B/La₂O₃ composite coating was formed, with a uniform thickness of approximately 10 μm, and the nano-La₂O₃ particles were evenly distributed. XPS analysis verified the presence of B, C, O, Ni and La, while XRD analysis revealed a refinement in crystalline size due to the addition of the nanoparticles. The corrosion resistance enhancement mechanism is attributed to the triple synergistic effect: nano-La₂O₃ pins grain boundaries and refines Ni-B grains to the minimum average size of 12.943 nm at the optimal concentration of 8 g·L⁻¹; the refined grain structure promotes the formation of a continuous and dense Ni(OH)₂ passive film; the uniformly dispersed nanoparticles act as physical barriers to block the penetration of corrosive media. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated that this coating exhibited outstanding anti-corrosion performance, as confirmed by a remarkably positive corrosion potential (E_corr = −0.37189 V) and a minimal corrosion current density (I_corr = 3.7524 μA/cm²). The results conclusively show that nano-La₂O₃ reinforcement effectively enhances the corrosion protection performance of electroless Ni-B alloy coatings. Full article

This study was conducted to investigate a novel quaternary hybrid nanocomposite (QHNC) that can successfully remove Mn(VII) ions from contaminated water. The nanocomposite was analyzed using FTIR, XRD, BET, TGA/DTG and FESEM/EDX techniques to investigate whether the synthesis led to an outcome with optimal properties that will enable it to effectively remove Mn ions from aqueous solutions. Optimal results have been achieved by conducting the analysis at a pH level of 2, using 25 mg of the adsorbent material, an interaction time of 60 min and a concentration of 500 mg/L. The Freundlich isotherm best described the adsorption equilibrium. Further analysis through advanced computational simulations indicated that a sorption process underpins the phenomenon based upon a complex geometry mechanism with a preferential horizontal to inclined orientation of the adsorbate upon the surface. The techno-economic assessment reveals the biosorbent’s viability—with a production cost that is highly competitive at USD 9.95/kg, yet with a stable removal efficiency of nearly 60% over five cycles. Such factors lead to a treatment cost of around USD 7.3 for 1 m³ of 500 mg/L Mn(VII)—confirming both the economic viability and scalability for advanced tertiary wastewater remediation applications. Full article

Microbial inactivation is essential for extending the shelf life of raw milk. Radio frequency (RF) thermal pasteurization has emerged as a promising technology for small-scale dairy processing. This study aimed to determine optimal RF temperature–time conditions, evaluate their effects on milk quality across milk from different species of cows, and assess economic feasibility. Raw milk from Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Brown Swiss cows was treated using a dielectric heating system (40.68 MHz) at 72–92 °C for 20–100 s. The results were compared with conventional low-temperature long-time (LTLT) pasteurization of untreated milk. The optimal condition was 92 °C for 50 s, reducing the aerobic plate count from 5.80 to 0.69 log CFU/mL (a 5.11 log reduction), with no detection of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli. RF treatment did not significantly affect milk composition (p > 0.05), and color changes remained within acceptable limits. Milk stored at 4 °C maintained quality and safety for up to 28 days. Economic analysis indicated a net present value of USD 134,721.78, a benefit–cost ratio of 3.25, and a payback period of 6.8 months, confirming economic feasibility. These findings demonstrate that RF pasteurization can improve processing efficiency and support sustainable dairy production. Full article

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of control strategies for a highly energy-efficient plus-energy terraced housing complex equipped with photovoltaic generation, modulating ground-source heat pumps, electrical and thermal energy storage systems, and activation of building thermal mass. The study combines long-term monitoring data, annual simulations, and hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) experiments to assess modulating heat-controlled operation (HC), PV-controlled (PVC), and predictive control strategies, including simple predictive control (SPC) and model predictive control (MPC). The simulation results show that the baseline HC operation already achieves a high load cover factor (LCF), defined as the fraction of total electrical demand covered by local PV generation (direct use + battery discharge) of 65.6% and a seasonal performance factor (SPF) of the central heat pumps of 5.8. PVC increases LCF (71.0%) by shifting heat pump operation toward PV-rich periods but leads to elevated storage temperatures up to 5 K and a reduced SPF of 4.8. MPC further enhances LCF by 4–7 percentage points in simulated and HiL environments. However, its real-world performance is strongly influenced by forecast quality and the limited controllability of the heat pump system. In addition, building thermal mass activation is investigated as a complementary flexibility option. Simulation and monitoring results demonstrate that moderate room temperature set-point (2 K) increases during PV availability significantly improve LCF from 20% to 55% while maintaining thermal comfort. Overall, the findings indicate that in highly efficient plus-energy buildings, robust rule-based strategies combined with thermal mass activation can achieve a large share of the attainable benefits, while the added complexity of MPC must be carefully weighed against practical limitations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress, leading to severe systemic complications. Medicinal plants rich in polyphenolic compounds have gained increasing attention as complementary therapeutic agents. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the chemical composition, as well as the antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects of Polygonum persicaria and Vaccinium myrtillus in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic model. Although Vaccinium myrtillus has been more extensively investigated for its antidiabetic potential, the pharmacological relevance of Polygonum persicaria in diabetes remains insufficiently characterized, particularly in direct comparison with a recognized phytotherapeutic comparator. Methods: Hydroalcoholic tinctures prepared from Polygonum persicaria L. herb and Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaves were subjected to phytochemical analysis using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) for the identification of flavonoids and phenolcarboxylic acids, alongside spectrophotometric determination of total polyphenol and flavonoid content. Experimental diabetes was induced in CD1 mice by streptozotocin administration. Animals were treated orally for 35 days, and glycemic parameters, lipid profile, body weight, food and water intake, and oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, TAC, and GPx) were evaluated. Results: HPTLC/CSS screening indicated the presence of rutin, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid in Polygonum persicaria, while Vaccinium myrtillus showed stronger densitometric signals for phenolcarboxylic acid-type compounds, particularly chlorogenic and caffeic acids. Total polyphenol and flavonoid content were also higher in Vaccinium myrtillus (433.89 ± 8.67 mg/L GAE; 154.38 ± 3.08 mg/L QE) compared to Polygonum persicaria (269.28 ± 5.25 mg/L GAE; 132.75 ± 2.65 mg/L QE). Functionally, Vaccinium myrtillus demonstrated a significant antihyperglycemic effect from day 14 (p = 0.009) and improved lipid parameters, while Polygonum persicaria showed a delayed glycemic effect, significant only at day 35 (p = 0.014), without significant hypolipidemic activity. In contrast, Polygonum persicaria exerted a marked antioxidant effect, significantly increasing GPx activity (p = 0.025) and reducing MDA levels (p = 0.053). Conclusions: Vaccinium myrtillus showed stronger antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, while Polygonum persicaria was mainly associated with antioxidant-related biochemical changes. These differences may be influenced by phytochemical composition, but they cannot be attributed solely to total polyphenol or flavonoid content. Full article

Soil pH constitutes a key factor in the nutrient availability and initial growth of maize (Zea mays L.). Inadequate management of soil pH can lead to problems in plant growth, which may result in reduced food production yields and agricultural investment. To evaluate the effects of pH dynamics on seedling development in soils, not only was a correlational and quantitative study conducted, which included a completely randomised laboratory experiment design with three treatments (pH < 6, pH > 7, and pH 6–7), each with five replicates, but a systemic analysis using a causal map also described the impacts of pH on plant growth. The initial pH was measured every four days, as were the germination rate, electrical conductivity, and final biomass. The results show that in alkaline soil, seedling germination is reduced by 87%, whilst in acidic soil it is reduced by 80% in comparison to the neutral scenario. pH values are therefore shown to affect early development due to reduced nutrient availability. These results reveal the need for the consideration of measures that influence management practices for the promotion of uniform and sustainable growth to favour the early establishment of crops such as native maize. Full article