Search Results (35)

Vertebral artery injury (VAI) is a known complication of blunt cervical spine trauma with a potential risk of stroke. Factors including cervical bony injury, spinal cord injury, and overall trauma severity have been linked to an increased risk of VAI. Despite its prevalence, there is little consensus on various aspects of this pathology, including its initial screening, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic strategies. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis from our group highlighted the dynamic nature of vertebral artery occlusion, revealing the underrecognized recanalization rates and potential stroke risks associated with delayed recanalization. While anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet therapy (ACAP) remains the cornerstone of VAI management, treatment is often complicated by co-existing injuries, such as intracranial hemorrhage or cervical trauma, which may preclude or delay ACAP usage or necessitate surgical intervention. This comprehensive narrative review synthesizes the latest evidence on VAI and associated ischemic sequelae, with the goal of elucidating its pathophysiology and natural history, summarizing current data on screening and diagnosis, and exploring key considerations for medical and endovascular management. Full article

Particle detectors at accelerators generate large amounts of data, requiring analysis to derive insights. Collisions lead to signal pile-up, where multiple particles produce signals in the same detector sensors, complicating individual signal identification. This contribution describes the implementation of a deep-learning algorithm on a Versal Adaptive Compute Acceleration Platform (ACAP) device for improved processing via parallelization and concurrency. Connected to a host computer via Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe), this system aims for enhanced speed and energy efficiency over Central Processing Units (CPUs) and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). In the contribution, we will describe in detail the data processing and the hardware, firmware and software components of the system. The contribution presents the implementation of the deep-learning algorithm on a Versal ACAP device, as well as the system for transferring data in an efficient way. Full article

The growing complexity of electrical systems requires advanced analysis tools to optimize the design time and resources. While many circuit simulators exist, they often lack the flexibility needed for real-world applications. In this context, our paper develops practical approaches to building Thévenin and Norton equivalent diagrams by means of modern software facilities which overpass the capabilities of common commercial circuit simulators. They use the symbolic computation of two simulation tools developed by our research team. The proposed algorithms are not limited by the operation behavior of the analyzed systems, being usable in both DC and AC circuits, as well as in transients. The developed method facilitates and speeds up the complex analyses required by repeated simulations specific to the modern design process. Three case studies are discussed to prove the efficiency of the developed algorithms. They cover real DC and AC applications, respectively. The results obtained using the Thévenin and Norton equivalent diagrams were validated through analyses of the initial systems. Full article

Endogenous DNA damage occurs throughout the cell cycle, with cells responding differently at various stages. The base excision repair (BER) pathway predominantly repairs damaged bases in the genome. While extensively studied in interphase cells, it is unknown if BER operates in mitosis and how apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites, intermediates in the BER pathway that inhibit transcriptional elongation, are processed for post-mitotic gene reactivation. In this study, using an alkaline comet assay, we demonstrate that BER is inefficient in mitosis and that AP endonuclease 1 (APE1), a key BER enzyme, is required for the repair of damage post-mitosis. We previously demonstrated that APE1 is acetylated (AcAPE1) in the chromatin. Using high-resolution microscopy, we show that AcAPE1 remains associated with specific regions in the condensed chromatin in each of the phases of mitosis. This association presumably occurs via the binding of APE1 to the G-quadruplex structure, a non-canonical DNA structure predominantly present in the transcribed gene regions. Additionally, using a nascent RNA detection strategy, we demonstrate that the knockdown of APE1 delayed the rapid post-mitotic transcriptional reactivation of genes. Our findings highlight the functional importance of APE1 in the mitotic chromosomes to facilitate faster repair of endogenous damage and rapid post-mitotic gene reactivation in daughter cells. Full article

The soil aggregate is the fundamental unit of soil structure. The fractionation characteristics and influencing factors of phosphorus (P) in soil aggregates inherently link its geochemical characteristics and recycling mechanism. This work investigated the fractionation characteristics of inorganic P in cold temperate forest soils and studied the impacts of recovery periods after forest fires and soil aggregate protection mechanisms on P fractionation. Our results showed that the TP, active P, stable P, and total organic carbon (TOC) contents varied with increasing recovery years after forest fire disturbance. The TP content in the coarse particulate organic matter fraction (cPOM) exhibited an increasing trend with the number of recovery years. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and correlation analysis indicated that TOC played a crucial role in influencing the dynamics of P fractionation during the recovery process. The order of TP levels in different soil aggregate fractions was as follows: μClay > dClay > LF > cPOM > dSilt > μSilt > iPOM, with significant contributions from the cPOM and dSilt fractions. The ranking of P fractions in bulk soils was as follows: ACa-P > Fe-P > Oc-P > Or-P > De-P > Al-P > Ex-P. The protective mechanism of soil aggregates had a more significant effect on TOC than TP, with the order of protective abilities being: Phy×biochem-protected > Biochem-protected > Phy-protected > Non-protected mechanism. TOC and recovery years emerged as critical factors influencing the dynamics of different P fractions during post-fire recovery. Soil aggregate protection mechanisms demonstrated significantly higher effects on TOC than on TP. This study provides insights into the fractionation mechanisms of P in the soil–forest ecosystem of the Greater Khingan Mountains, contributing to the sustainable development and utilization of cold temperate forest ecosystems. Full article

While prevalent in enterprise practice, business development (BD) activities have garnered limited attention within academic circles, leading to a noticeable dearth of discussions regarding their comprehensive understanding and the contemporary research landscape. Previous research has underscored the pivotal role and importance of business development activities in generating new growth opportunities and enhancing dynamic capabilities for enterprises. This article seeks to bridge this academic gap by synthesizing six decades of research literature on enterprise business development activities and tracing the progression of its research trajectory to uncover its complete narrative. Its contributions are manifold: firstly, we intensified the foundational elements of business development research by conducting a meticulous examination of various perspectives and providing insights into former ambiguities surrounding crucial aspects; secondly, it elucidates how contextual factors influence the emergence and evolution of enterprises’ business development activities, highlighting its research significance across different eras; thirdly, it conducts a comprehensive exploration of various research streams within business development and their nuanced interactions across key dimensions. Through these endeavors, this study aims to enrich academic discourse in the domain of business development, establishing a robust academic foundation for subsequent research. Full article

Aquaculture of ornamental marine fish is often conducted in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) using artificial seawater. Considering the cost of salts to produce artificial seawater (salinity 35‰), we investigated the effect of different salinities (5, 15, 25, and 35‰) on survival, growth, and oxidative stress responses of juvenile clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris. All fish died when reared at salinity 5‰, but at all other salinities survival was ≥95% in the other treatment groups. There was no influence of salinity on growth and oxidative stress responses of clownfish reared at salinities 15, 25, and 35‰, except for the activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) of fish reared at 25‰, which was significantly lower compared to those reared in salinity 35‰. The salinity of home aquariums is usually 35‰, so even though clownfish can be reared in brackish water, they need to be transferred to full strength seawater (35‰) in order to be commercialized. Therefore, we also evaluated the responses of acute transference of fish reared at 15 to salinity 35‰. There were no mortalities associated with acute salinity transference and no oxidative damage was observed either. The total capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP) was immediately increased after fish were placed in salinity 35‰, and remained high after 168 h (7 days), helping fish to deal with oxidative threats. In conclusion, it is possible to rear juvenile clownfish at 15‰ without harming growth or inducing oxidative stress, possibly reducing costs of water salinization. They can be transferred from brackish water to salinity 35‰ immediately before going to the retail market, with no mortality or oxidative damage. Full article

In this study, we developed a series of Au/electroactive polyimide (Au/EPI-5) composite for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) using NaBH₄ as a reducing agent at room temperature. The electroactive polyimide (EPI-5) synthesis was performed by chemical imidization of its 4,4′-(4.4′-isopropylidene-diphenoxy) bis (phthalic anhydride) (BSAA) and amino-capped aniline pentamer (ACAP). In addition, prepare different concentrations of Au ions through the in-situ redox reaction of EPI-5 to obtain Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) and anchored on the surface of EPI-5 to form series of Au/EPI-5 composite. Using SEM and HR-TEM confirm the particle size (23–113 nm) of the reduced AuNPs increases with the increase of the concentration. Based on CV studies, the redox capability of as-prepared electroactive materials was found to show an increase trend: 1Au/EPI-5 < 3Au/EPI-5 < 5Au/EPI-5. The series of Au/EPI-5 composites showed good stability and catalytic activity for the reaction of 4-NP to 4-AP. Especially, the 5Au/EPI-5 composite shows the highest catalytic activity when applied for the reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP within 17 min. The rate constant and kinetic activity energy were calculated to be 1.1 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ and 38.9 kJ/mol, respectively. Following a reusability test repeated 10 times, the 5Au/EPI-5 composite maintained a conversion rate higher than 95%. Finally, this study elaborates the mechanism of the catalytic reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP. Full article

The aim of the article is to investigate the seasonality of acute submacular hemorrhages (SMHs) in a European population and analyze the influence of the seasons, arterial hypertension, and intake of anticoagulatory/antiplatelet (AC/AP) medication on hemorrhage size. This retrospective, monocentric study included 164 eyes of 164 patients treated for acute SMH at the University Hospital Münster, Germany, between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2021. Data on the day of occurrence, hemorrhage size, and general patient characteristics were recorded. “Test for cyclic trends in incidence data” and the Chi-Square Test were applied to investigate seasonal variations in SMH incidence. Fisher’s exact test was used to investigate the influence of the seasons, arterial hypertension, and intake of AC/AP medication on hemorrhage size. A statistical analysis did not reveal significant seasonal variations in the occurrence of SMHs (p = 0.81). While the seasons and the presence of systemic arterial hypertension did not exert a significant influence, the intake of AC/AP medication significantly affected the size of SMH (p = 0.03). In this European cohort, no significant seasonal variations of SMHs were observed. However, in patients with risk factors, such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), the chance of an increase in hemorrhage size should be considered when initiating AC/AP therapy. Full article

The toxicity of commonly used drugs, such as acetaminophen (ACAP) and its degradation-derived metabolite of 4-aminophenol (4-AP), underscores the need to achieve an effective approach in their simultaneous electrochemical determination. Hence, the present study attempts to introduce an ultra-sensitive disposable electrochemical 4-AP and ACAP sensor based on surface modification of a screen-printed graphite electrode (SPGE) with a combination of MoS₂ nanosheets and a nickel-based metal organic framework (MoS₂/Ni-MOF/SPGE sensor). A simple hydrothermal protocol was implemented to fabricate MoS₂/Ni-MOF hybrid nanosheets, which was subsequently tested for properties using valid techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherm. The 4-AP detection behavior on MoS₂/Ni-MOF/SPGE sensor was followed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Our experimental findings on the generated sensor confirmed a broad linear dynamic range (LDR) for 4-AP from 0.1 to 600 μM with a high sensitivity of 0.0666 μA/μM and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.04 μM. In addition, an analysis of real specimens such as tap water sample as well as a commercial sample (acetaminophen tablets) illuminated the successful applicability of as-developed sensor in determining ACAP and 4-AP, with an impressive recovery rate. Full article

Antrodia cinnamomea, a rare medicinal fungus endemic to Taiwan, contains numerous active components and displays strong antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. We isolated and purified a novel A. cinnamomea active protein (termed ACAP) from liquid fermentation mycelia and evaluated its antitumor activity. A homogeneous protein-eluted fraction was obtained by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography, and ACAP was identified based on the antitumor activity screening of this fraction. An in vitro assay of three tumor cell lines (HeLa, Hep G2, and Hepa 1-6) revealed significant antiproliferative effects of ACAP at low concentrations, with IC₅₀ values of 13.10, 10.70, and 18.69 µg/mL, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis showed that ACAP induced late apoptosis of Hep G2 cells. The apoptosis rate of 50 µg/mL ACAP-treated cells (60%) was significantly (p < 0.01) more than that of the control. A Western blotting assay of apoptotic pathway proteins showed that ACAP significantly upregulated p53 and downregulated caspase-3 expression levels. Our findings indicate that ACAP has strong antitumor activity and the potential for development as a therapeutic agent and/or functional food. Full article

Digitalization is essential for supply chain (SC) systems to thrive in the extremely dynamic and competitive business environment of the present day. The purpose of this study is to examine the role and the importance of absorptive capacity (ACAP) on supply chain innovation performance (SCIP), mediated by digital capability (DCAP), supply chain resilience (SCR), supply chain agility (SCA), and digital innovation (DI). The study has been designed to empirically investigate the hypothesized relationships on a sample of 116 firms across industries in Saudi Arabia, using a partial least-squares-based structural equation model (PLS-SEM). Based on the findings, all the hypothesized paths are supported, justifying that ACAP positively and significantly impacts DCAP, SCA, and SCR. Moreover, SCA and SCR partially mediated the relationship between ACAP and SCIP. This study contributes to the resource-based view (RBV) and a dynamic capability (DC) theories by examining how the innovation of digital technologies affects SCIP, providing empirical support to the ACAP and SCIP interaction through numerous mediators to develop SCIP, from which also many practical implications emerged. For instance, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses must improve their SC performance by building and integrating their ACAP to make the most of their digital-platform-based dynamic capabilities. Full article

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) roots instead of fruits are widely used as Chinese medicine, but the functional metabolites remain unclear. In this study, we conducted comparative metabolome analysis between root and fruit in kiwifruit. A total of 410 metabolites were identified in the fruit and root tissues, and of them, 135 metabolites were annotated according to the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway. Moreover, 54 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were shared in root and fruit, with 17 DEMs involved in the flavonoid pathway. Of the 17 DEMs, three flavonols (kaempferol-3-rhamnoside, L-Epicatechin and trifolin) and one dihydrochalcone (phloretin) showed the highest differences in the content level, suggesting that flavonols and dihydrochalcones may act as functional components in kiwifruit root. Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes related to flavonols and dihydrochalcones were highly expressed in root. Moreover, two AP2 transcription factors (TFs), AcRAP2-4 and AcAP2-4, were highly expressed in root, while one bHLH TF AcbHLH62 showed extremely low expression in root. The expression profiles of these TFs were similar to those of the genes related to flavonols and dihydrochalcones, suggesting they are key candidate genes controlling the flavonoid accumulation in kiwifruit. Our results provided an insight into the functional metabolites and their regulatory mechanism in kiwifruit root. Full article

Background: ACAP1 plays a key role in endocytic recycling, which is essential for the normal function of lymphocytes. However, the expression and function of ACAP1 in lymphocytes have rarely been studied. Methods: Large-scale genomic data, including multiple bulk RNA-sequencing datasets, single-cell sequencing datasets, and immunotherapy cohorts, were exploited to comprehensively characterize ACAP1 expression, regulation, and function. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to uncover the pathways associated with ACAP1 expression. Eight algorithms, including TIMER, CIBERSORT, CIBERSORT-ABS, QUANTISEQ, xCELL, MCPCOUNTER, EPIC, and TIDE, were applied to estimate the infiltrating level of immune cells. Western blotting, qPCR, and ChIP-PCR were used to validate the findings from bioinformatic analyses. A T-cell co-culture killing assay was used to investigate the function of ACAP1 in lymphocytes. Results: ACAP1 was highly expressed in immune-related tissues and cells and minimally in other tissues. Moreover, single-cell sequencing analysis in tumor samples revealed that ACAP1 is expressed primarily in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), including T, B, and NK cells. ACAP1 expression is negatively regulated by promoter DNA methylation, with its promoter hypo-methylated in immune cells but hyper-methylated in other cells. Furthermore, SPI1 binds to the ACAP1 promoter and positively regulates its expression in immune cells. ACAP1 levels positively correlate with the infiltrating levels of TILs, especially CD8+ T cells, across a broad range of solid cancer types. ACAP1 deficiency is associated with poor prognosis and immunotherapeutic response in multiple cancer types treated with checkpoint blockade therapy (ICT). Functionally, the depletion of ACAP1 by RNA interference significantly impairs the T cell-mediated killing of tumor cells. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that ACAP1 is essential for the normal function of TILs, and its deficiency indicates an immunologically “cold” status of tumors that are resistant to ICT. Full article

In our previous study, a novel method combining underwater high-voltage plasma discharge with acoustic cavitation (ACAP) was developed and implemented using rhodamine B (RhB) as a model organic pollutant. Results revealed that injecting argon gas into the ACAP reactor positively influences RhB decomposition efficiency, but there is still further potential for improvement. The aim of this study was therefore to further improve the efficiency of the ACAP process through Fenton reactions. Two options for ferrous ion supply were considered: the addition of FeCl₂ or the dissolution of iron from ACAP reactor steel parts into the RhB-containing solution. The results revealed that the degradation efficiency is increased by 20% due to the Fenton reactions when the concentration of ferrous ions reaches an optimal value. Lower pH was found to be desirable for the effect of Fenton reactions. Based on measurements using high performance liquid chromatography, a plausible mechanism of RhB degradation by the ACAP process assisted by Fenton reactions is additionally proposed and discussed. Full article